Upcoming Events
Upcoming events, training, and workshops for laity and clergy.
Safe Church Training Workshops
Specialized Safe Church Training
- Saturday, Oct 17 – 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
| St. Paul’s, Petersburg - Saturday, Oct 31 – 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
| Eastern Shore Chapel, VB
Universal Safe Church Training
- More Dates Coming Soon!
Donor & Ambassador Celebration:
A Day of Thanksgiving - Saturday, November 21
September 25 - 27
In gratitude for your commitment to Chanco on the James, please join us for our 2026 Donor and Ambassador Appreciation Luncheon and Eucharist as we celebrate the people whose generosity, service, and love have shaped Chanco, and the legacy we are creating together for generations to come.
Not yet a Chanco donor? There’s still time to be part of this year’s celebration. Make your 2026 gift to Chanco today and join us on Nov. 21 as we give thanks for the community of supporters helping sustain Chanco’s ministry and mission for generations to come.
For Chanco Ambassadors:
Ambassadors are invited to arrive at 9 a.m. for our annual on-site training session; details and agenda will follow by email.
Hollerith Hall
Registration: 11:30 a.m.
Luncheon: 12 p.m.
A Legacy of Chanco: Then, Now, and Next
Davenport Spirit Center
Thanksgiving Eucharist: 2 p.m.
Celebrated by the Rev. Talley Sale Banazek
Please Respond by November 12, 2026
Contact Hospitality at: (888) 724-2626 or hospitality@chanco.org.
Guests with dietary restrictions, questions, or wishing to purchase an overnight stay should also contact the Hospitality Staff directly.
Interested in becoming an Ambassador? Not sure if your church has one? Reach out to director@chanco.org for more information.
ECW's Women in Leadership Symposium
Saturday, October 17 | 9:30 a.m - 2 p.m. | Zoom or In Person
You're invited to an inspiring Women in Leadership Symposium hosted by Episcopal Church Women, featuring distinguished leaders in the Church.
Date: Saturday, October 17 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: Christ & Grace Episcopal Church
Whether you're seeking inspiration, professional development, or fellowship with parishioners from across the Diocese of Southern Virginia, this symposium offers an excellent opportunity to learn from experienced leaders and strengthen your own leadership journey.
Attendance: In-person or via Zoom
Cost: No registration fee; lunch available for $15
Contact Ann Ifekwunigwe for more information.
Pilgrimages from Education for Ministry
2027
Education for Ministry (EfM) has put in place a series of pilgrimages! These are journeys that invite change along the way. The journeys will be led by spiritual leaders of EfM.
The trips for 2027 include the Civil Rights Trail in Alabama, the Camino in Spain, and the Stations in New Orleans.
Whether exploring sacred landscapes, retracing the footsteps of remarkable witnesses, engaging places of justice and reconciliation, or being immersed in communities of faith, each pilgrimage becomes a living classroom where learning and spiritual formation happen together.
Groups will meet on Zoom prior to the journey to build community and prepare spiritually. If you have always wanted a guided spiritual journey to one of these sacred places, this is for you!
For more information on these exciting opportunities, contact Cindy Jordan, EfM Diocesan Coordinator.
2026 Vergers Guild Annual Conference
October 22-25 | Christ & St. Luke's
Christ & St. Luke’s is hosting the 2026 Vergers Guild Annual Conference right here in Norfolk. Set against the backdrop of the city's deep Anglican roots and the nation’s 250th anniversary, the weekend blends ordered worship, sacred art, and local heritage - extending beyond the host parish to include historic tours, museum visits, and unique musical performances.
When: October 22 - 25, 2026
Host Location: Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Norfolk
Historic Parish Tours: Exploring the shared 17th-century ancestry of St. Paul’s, St. Andrew’s, and Grace Church.
Special Events & Highlights:
A visit to the Chrysler Museum of Art to view the historic Norfolk Mace.
Public Evensong with Bishop Susan preaching.
The Phantom of the Opera screening featuring a live, improvised organ score by Dorothy Papadakos.
Guided, docent-led reflections on the newly gifted St. John’s Bible.
Closing Celebration: Welcoming new Fellows at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club.
Discover the Ministry of the Verger
Saturday, October 24, 12-1:30 p.m. | Christ & St. Luke's
Have you ever wondered what a verger actually does besides carrying the mace and leading processions? On October 24, Christ & St. Luke’s is hosting a free, behind-the-scenes workshop exploring this centuries-old lay ministry. Led by Albie Bell, Vice President of the Vergers Guild, this special addition to the 2026 Annual Conference is a rare chance to learn about the history and practical duties of the role - and it's open to anyone in the diocese.
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026 • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Where: Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 560 West Olney Road, Norfolk, VA
Cost: Free (Registration required)
RSVP: Email David Phillips at dphillips2@me.com
"Lament, Repent, Reconcile, Heal" Service
November 2, 2026 | 10:00 AM | Bruton Parish Church
The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia will host a solemn service of remembrance and reconciliation titled “Lament, Repent, Reconcile, Heal” on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Williamsburg, Virginia. The service will include a worship liturgy and the reverent reinterment of remains of enslaved Africans that were transferred to the Virginia Historical Society from the Smithsonian Institution.
The service will take place at Bruton Parish Church in the Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg and will gather clergy, descendant family members, community leaders, and invited guests for prayer, remembrance, and reflection. The liturgy will acknowledge the suffering and injustice endured by enslaved Africans and will seek to honor their lives with dignity and reverence.
The Right Reverend Susan Haynes, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, is providing episcopal leadership and oversight for the Diocese’s work on this service. The Most Reverend Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, will officiate the service, and The Right Reverend Michael B. Curry will preach. The Rev. Jan Brown is serving as convener. Patsy Martin, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Southern Virginia, is coordinating communications.
The service will include scripture, prayer, music, and a ceremonial procession culminating in the reinterment. The reinterment will take place at the Utopia Site at Kingsmill on the James in Williamsburg, VA. Information about public attendance and access will be shared as details and space availability are finalized. Additional information about opportunities for community participation will be released in the coming weeks.
EYC Fall Weekend
November 6-8, 2026 | Chanco on the James
Fall Weekend is an opportunity to connect with friends old and new from across the Diocese and to spend time in retreat with God at Chanco on the James.
Youth in grades 6 through 12 (and their adult leaders) are invited to join us for a weekend of fun and fellowship as we explore what it means that Christ is our Past, Present & Future: We are a New Creation. Participants will be staying in retreat lodgings on the Bluff and will have an opportunity to not only grow in their faith and develop community but also take advantage of some of the activities at Chanco.
Fall Weekend will be filled with fellowship, fun, spiritual growth and music and it all happens at Chanco!
Registration is open until Monday, October 26.
Online Events
Diocesan Call to Prayer
Second Monday of the month | 7 PM | Zoom
The Diocesan Prayer Team, which consists of members from each of our nine convocations, invites everyone in the diocese to join us for a 30-minute monthly time of prayer and connection.
We gather on the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. via Zoom starting on September 14. A Prayer Team member will officiate the simple service of Daily Devotions in the Evening, leaving ample room for the thanksgivings and petitions brought by those attending for themselves, their loved ones, their churches, and their wider community. Please join us!
Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future
Tuesday evenings, September 15 – October 13 | 7 – 8 p.m. | Zoom
How might your congregation discover and follow God’s leading as we face the changes and challenges of church and culture? Join Jeunée Godsey, Canon for Congregational Vitality in a presentation and discussion of the book Leading Faithful Innovation by Dwight Zscheile, Michael Binder, and Tessa Pinkstaff via Zoom.
We’ll explore the three-step process of “Listen, Act, and Share” that can help your congregation discover and respond to what God may be up to in your community. Reading the book is strongly encouraged, however individuals without the book will still benefit from participation in these sessions.
ECW's Women in Leadership Symposium
Saturday, October 17 | 9:30 a.m - 2 p.m. | Zoom or In Person
You're invited to an inspiring Women in Leadership Symposium hosted by Episcopal Church Women, featuring distinguished leaders in the Church.
Date: Saturday, October 17 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: Christ & Grace Episcopal Church
Whether you're seeking inspiration, professional development, or fellowship with parishioners from across the Diocese of Southern Virginia, this symposium offers an excellent opportunity to learn from experienced leaders and strengthen your own leadership journey.
Attendance: In-person or via Zoom
Cost: No registration fee; lunch available for $15
Contact Ann Ifekwunigwe for more information.
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