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Appalachian Alliance of Episcopal Parishes | Weekly Newsletter | June 1, 2026
Appalachian Alliance Newsletter
Week of June 1, 2026
“We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become. Imitation is not a literal mimicking of Christ; rather, it means becoming the image of the beloved, an image disclosed through transformation. This means we are to become vessels of God’s compassionate love for others.”
St. Clare of Assisi
Stay connected with the weekly news, schedules, and updates from the Appalachian Alliance.
Subscribe to Email UpdatesQuick Look: Dates to Notice
| Date | Event | What to know | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Now / by June 1 | Pentecost photos due | Parishes may submit up to 3 photos from Pentecost Sunday services. | Submit photos |
| June 7 | Second Sunday after Pentecost | Regular Alliance worship schedule begins below. | |
| June 9, 5:30 pm | Christ Church Vestry | Zoom meeting. | Zoom |
| June 13 | Ordination and Consecration | Registration remains open for the in-person celebration in Roanoke. | Register |
| June 18, 6:00 pm | All Saints Vestry | Zoom meeting. | Zoom |
| August 2, 10:30 am | Bishop's Visitation | Christ Church, Marion. | |
| August 29, 9:30 am-3:00 pm | DioSWVA Formation Day | Christ Church, Roanoke. Hospitality begins at 9:00 am. | |
| August 30, 11:00 am | Fifth Sunday Event | St. Mark’s, St. Paul. | |
| October 25, 11:00 am | Sunday Event | Stras Memorial, Tazewell. | |
| December 20, 11:00 am | Bishop's Visitation | St. Mark’s, St. Paul. |
Alliance Worship & Parish Schedule
Sorted by date so parishioners can quickly find the next service or meeting. “Rev. Church” means the Very Rev. John Church; “Rev. Edmondson” means the Rev. Emily Fisher Edmondson.
| Date | Parish | Service / Meeting | Time | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 7 | All Saints | Morning Prayer | 11:15 am | |
| June 7 | Christ Church | Holy Eucharist | 10:30 am | Rev. Church |
| June 7 | St. Mark’s | Holy Eucharist | 5:00 pm | Rev. Church |
| June 7 | Stras Memorial | Holy Eucharist | 11:00 am | Rev. Edmondson |
| June 9 | Christ Church | Vestry Meeting | 5:30 pm | Zoom |
| June 14 | All Saints | Holy Eucharist | 11:15 am | Rev. Church |
| June 14 | Christ Church | Holy Eucharist | 10:30 am | Rev. Edmondson |
| June 14 | St. Mark’s | Morning Prayer | 10:00 am | |
| June 14 | Stras Memorial | Holy Eucharist | 5:00 pm | Rev. Church |
| June 18 | All Saints | Vestry Meeting | 6:00 pm | Zoom |
| June 21 | All Saints | Holy Eucharist | 11:15 am | Rev. Edmondson |
| June 21 | Christ Church | Holy Eucharist | 4:00 pm | Rev. Edmondson |
| June 21 | St. Mark’s | Holy Eucharist | 10:00 am | Rev. Church |
| June 21 | Stras Memorial | Morning Prayer | 11:00 am | |
| June 28 | All Saints | Holy Eucharist | 5:00 pm | Rev. Church |
| June 28 | Christ Church | Morning Prayer | 10:30 am | |
| June 28 | St. Mark’s | Holy Eucharist | 10:00 am | Rev. Edmondson |
| June 28 | Stras Memorial | Holy Eucharist | 11:00 am | Rev. Church |
| July 5 | All Saints | Morning Prayer | 11:15 am | |
| July 5 | Christ Church | Holy Eucharist | 10:30 am | Rev. Church |
| July 5 | St. Mark’s | Holy Eucharist | 5:00 pm | Rev. Church |
| July 5 | Stras Memorial | Holy Eucharist | 11:00 am | Rev. Edmondson |
| July 12 | All Saints | Holy Eucharist | 11:15 am | Rev. Church |
| July 12 | Christ Church | Holy Eucharist | 10:30 am | Rev. Edmondson |
| July 12 | St. Mark’s | Morning Prayer | 10:00 am | |
| July 12 | Stras Memorial | Holy Eucharist | 5:00 pm | Rev. Church |
| July 14 | Christ Church | Vestry Meeting | 5:30 pm | Zoom |
| July 16 | All Saints | Vestry Meeting | 6:00 pm | Zoom |
| July 19 | All Saints | Morning Prayer | 11:15 am | |
| July 19 | Christ Church | Holy Eucharist | 4:00 pm | Rev. Church |
| July 19 | St. Mark’s | Holy Eucharist | 10:00 am | Rev. Church |
| July 19 | Stras Memorial | Morning Prayer | 11:00 am | |
| July 26 | All Saints | Holy Eucharist | 5:00 pm | Rev. Church |
| July 26 | Christ Church | Morning Prayer | 10:30 am | Rev. Elliott |
| July 26 | St. Mark’s | Morning Prayer | 10:00 am | |
| July 26 | Stras Memorial | Holy Eucharist | 11:00 am | Rev. Church |
Zoom link for vestry meetings: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89418779459
Diocesan News: Action Items
| Item | At-a-glance summary | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Ordination Registration | June 13 in Roanoke. Seats remain available at St. John’s for the celebration, Eucharist, and reception. | Register for June 13 in Roanoke |
| Ordination Gifts for Bishop-elect Karin | The diocese will present traditional ordination gifts for the new Bishop. | Give or learn more |
| Pentecost Sunday Photos | Parishes may share up to 3 photos from Pentecost Sunday services by June 1. | Submit photos |
| Parish Livestream Links | Submit parish livestream links so they can be added to the diocesan website. | Submit livestream link |
| Forward Movement Survey | Clergy and wardens are asked to complete the survey on Episcopal Church “bright spots.” | Contact Rev. Chris Corbin / survey info |
Diocesan News: Updates & Resources
| Resource | At-a-glance summary | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop-elect Karin’s Monday Noon Notes | Newsletter reflections from Bishop-elect Karin MacPhail on her first weeks with the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, parish visits, and diocesan staff work. | Read Monday Noon Notes |
| Updated Prayer Calendar | New diocesan prayer calendar covers June 7 through December 27, 2026. | Open prayer calendar |
| Rector Searches | St. John’s Roanoke, St. John’s Lynchburg, and Emmanuel Staunton are searching for their next Rector. | Open positions |
| Episcopal Creation Care Gathering | September 23-26 at Procter Center in London, Ohio. Workshops, plenaries, outdoor experiences, and conversation. | Register |
| Diocesan Youth News | Includes youth events postcard, Youth Ministry Team highlights and applications, and youth seating for the consecration. | Youth News Update |
| Standing Committee / Bishop-elect Update | Clarifies Bishop-elect Karin’s current role and authority and notes important upcoming events. | Read update |
| Pastoral Notice | Notice of the deaths of retired clergy: the Rev. Mitzi Noble, the Rev. Roger Baroody, and the Rev. M. Webster Maughan. | Pastoral Notice |
| Immigration Toolkit | Episcopal Church resource for parishes supporting immigrant neighbors. | Immigration Toolkit |
| Episcopal Asset Map | Parishes are encouraged to review service times, worship locations, and ministries on the Asset Map. | Episcopal Asset Map |
Useful Links
| Link | Open |
|---|---|
| Parish Events Calendar | Open parish events |
| Open Positions / Transition & Pastoral Development | Open positions |
| Zoom Meeting Link | Open Zoom meeting |
Clergy Contacts
| Name | Role / note | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Very Rev. John Church | Rector, Appalachian Alliance of Episcopal Parishes; Dean, Abingdon Convocation | 276-235-5230 | rev.johnc1@gmail.com |
| The Rev. Emily Fisher Edmondson | 276-971-0046 | emilye20192@gmail.com | |
| Deacon Diane Elliott | 3632 Cedar Springs Rd, Rural Retreat, VA 24368 | deacondianeelliott@gmail.com |
Sunday Lectionary Readings
| Date | Sunday | Old Testament | Psalm | Epistle | Gospel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 7 | Second Sunday after Pentecost | Genesis 12:1-9 | Psalm 33:1-12 | Romans 4:13-25 | Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 |
| June 14 | Third Sunday after Pentecost | Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7 | Psalm 116:1, 10-17 | Romans 5:1-8 | Matthew 9:35-10:23 |
| June 21 | Fourth Sunday after Pentecost | Genesis 21:8-21 | Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 | Romans 6:1b-11 | Matthew 10:24-39 |
| June 28 | Fifth Sunday after Pentecost | Genesis 22:1-14 | Psalm 13 | Romans 6:12-23 | Matthew 10:40-42 |
| July 5 | Sixth Sunday after Pentecost | Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 | Psalm 45:11-18 | Romans 7:15-25a | Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 |
| July 12 | Seventh Sunday after Pentecost | Genesis 25:19-34 | Psalm 119:105-112 | Romans 8:1-11 | Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 |
| July 19 | Eighth Sunday after Pentecost | Genesis 28:10-19a | Psalm 139:1-11, 22-23 | Romans 8:12-25 | Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 |
| July 26 | Ninth Sunday after Pentecost | Genesis 29:15-28 | Psalm 105:1-11, 45b | Romans 8:26-39 | Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 |
“We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison
Appalachian Alliance of Episcopal Parishes | Weekly Newsletter | June 1, 2026
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