Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we enter into a new chapter together in the Diocese of Virginia following the retirement of Bishop Shannon Johnston and my becoming Ecclesiastical Authority, I invite us into renewed mission together in Christ’s name. I invite us to look back – not to the recent past – but to our roots in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to a deep recollection of who we are called to be and what we are called to do in his name.

Strengthened by that recollection, I invite us to connect more deeply than ever with one another as lay people, deacons, priests and bishops, and to connect more powerfully than ever with a world so in need of the Good News we have to share in Christ Jesus. Summarized in two words, I invite us to RECALL and RECONNECT.

We will engage this work of recalling and reconnecting in five Community Listening Sessions that will take place around the Diocese during the season of Epiphany. I hope you will attend one. Each session will include a time for your Bishops and other diocesan leaders to talk about our deepest longings and heart-felt desires for our Diocese, followed by time for us to listen to yours.

Here is the schedule for the Recall and Reconnect Listening Sessions. You can register online at thediocese.net

Thursday, January 17, 6-8 p.m. Christ Church, Spotsylvania

Saturday, February 9, 1-3 p.m. St. Barnabas, Annandale

Wednesday, February 13, 5-7 p.m. Emmanuel, Woodstock

Saturday, February 16, 5-7 p.m. Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond

Monday, March 4, 3-5 p.m. St. Margaret’s School, Tappahannock*

*We hope to broadcast this listening session via Facebook Live.

What we hear from each other in these sessions will shape subsequent opportunities for sharing as we deepen dialogue and grow in community. What we learn will strengthen us to go Now Into the World. Please do plan to be a part of this time.

Faithfully yours,

The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff

Bishop Suffragan and Ecclesiastical Authority