"Whether you love guns or hate them, there is no doubt that the topic takes up prime space in the American conversation." So began the description of " Loving Arms," an exhibit hosted by St. Paul's, Jersey City from Sept. 30 through Oct. 26, in which artists used a variety of media to explore the pervasive human attraction to guns as well as why America, in particular, has embraced gun culture so readily when many other nations haven't.

The day after the exhibit's opening, the need for this conversation was demonstrated when the deadliest mass shooting committed by an individual in the U.S. to date occurred in Las Vegas.

Al Jazeera English covered the "Loving Arms" exhibit with a brief video (time: 2:24). Watch now.

Thanks to support from New Jersey's Clean Energy Program and the Diocese of Newark's new Green Revolving Fund loan program, Church of the Holy Spirit in Verona was able to implement energy-saving measures that they anticipate will cut their energy costs by $200 a month. Read more.

Deacons' Day with Bishop Beckwith
SAT, NOV 18, 9 AM - 3 PM @ ST. STEPHEN'S, MILLBURN

Want to submit events to the Community Calendar? Find out how.

Medicare: An Introduction
SAT, NOV 18, 9:30AM @ ATONEMENT, FAIR LAWN
Presented by Scott Bennett, a licensed insurance agent and chair of Senior Ministries.

Shepherds' Gathering
A weekend of renewal for pastors, priests, youth ministry leaders and all adults who work with young people in the church.

St. George's Merry Marketplace
Annual holiday gift sale, featuring handcrafted items, antiques and collectibles, homemade jams and honey, cakes, cookies and refreshments.

Fools Mass by Dzieci Theatre
Bursting with buffoonery and comic audience participation, Fools Mass is balanced with lovely hymns and chants from the 8th to the 14th centuries.

This Friday, Nov. 17 is the deadline for those who feel called to be a candidate for the XI Bishop Diocese of Newark to submit the Application form with all requested items. Individuals who have been nominated and have accepted the nomination must also submit the Application form by the deadline.

Support the Bishop Search with prayer

The Bishop Search/Nominating Committee has  created a bookmark that includes the Bishop Search prayer (sample shown at right) that was written by members of the Standing Committee earlier this year. Please consider downloading the PDF and printing it on blue or yellow cover stock paper, cutting them and providing copies to all members of your congregation.

Questions?

All updates and materials relating to the Bishop Search process are being posted on the Bishop Search page of the diocesan website. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the co-chairs of the Search/Nominating Committee at BishopSearch@DioceseofNewark.org.

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, Episcopal House will be closed from the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 22 through Friday, Nov. 24.

The diocesan staff wishes you and your a happy and healthy holiday weekend.

Has your congregation been experiencing any of the following?

WED, NOV 29 - Submissions for the Dec. 6 issue of The VOICE Online

FRI, DEC 1 - 2018 Congregationsl pledges

Since the pledge cards are to be approved and signed by the Vestry, plans should be made now to review the pledge in November.

Arrivals

• The Rev. Rick Laribee, Interim Priest, St. Luke's, Phillipsburg
  NOV 13

  Departures

• The Rev. Ronnie Stout-Kopp, Interim Priest, Holy Trinity, Hillsdale
  OCT 31
• The Rev. Dr. Joy A. Rose, Priest-in-Charge, St. Luke's, Haworth
  NOV 28

See all clergy ministry transitions in 2017.

The deadline for providing comments is Jan. 10, 2018. Following comments and suggestions, the preliminary draft budget will be prepared for approval by the Episcopal Church Executive Council at its January 2018 meeting. From there, Executive Council will present the draft budget to Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance (PB&F) in February, which will then prepare a final budget for approval at General Convention next summer. Find out more.