In November, four-time Alleluia Fund grant recipient Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges sent a letter to John King, Director of Administration, explaining why they would not be applying for a grant this year. "Compared to where we were when we became a 501(c)3 organization 5 years ago, we are on much surer financial ground. We are grateful to all the Diocese has done for us and are happy that the Alleluia Fund will be able to support other needy organizations in our stead." Read their story, below.

Dear Mr. King,

I am afraid this is an overdue letter to thank the Alleluia Fund and the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for their past support - and to explain why we have not applied for a grant this year. The Alleluia Fund has been very generous to us over the years as your grant enabled us to distribute fresh produce each week to our clients. These fresh fruits and vegetables have been a welcome and healthy addition to all the canned and shelf stable items we normally provide and allowed us to raise our sights. As an Episcopalian and member of the Diocese, I took special pride in being able to say each week that the fresh produce was from the Diocese.

Over that past five years, our ability to interest our respective congregations and other organizations has grown enormously and so have our programs - all in conjunction with a tremendous increase in our client base. Read more.

The Alleluia Fund for Outreach provided the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges with its first-ever grant! These monies enabled the food pantry to provide its clients with fresh produce each week. Many of the nearly 30 organizations that the Alleluia Fund will be supporting in 2018 have similar stories - a small, dedicated group of people providing practical, hands-on support for those most vulnerable in our diocese. (Please visit dioceseofnewark.org/alleluia for more information.)

Your gift to the Alleluia Fund can make a tremendous difference - and not just during Advent and Christmas but through the coming year. You can donate online now or see the instructions for making a gift by check.

Google is currently rolling out its updated Calendar for web, with significant changes to both appearance and functionality. How will this impact churches that use Google Calendar? Read more.

Christ Church, Newton:
Newton Organist Celebrates Fifty Years of Service

  S. Gregory Shaffer, the organist who helps spearhead the heralded music program at Christ Episcopal Church in Newton is celebrating his fiftieth year of service in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.

St. John's Church, Dover:

Pasties: a church baking tradition with roots in England's mines

Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate

SAT, DEC 9, 10 AM @ GRACE CHURCH, MADISON

Young Adult Retreat
FRI, JAN 5, 7 PM - SUN, JAN 7, 12 PM @ CROSS ROADS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER

 

Online registration for Confirmation Retreats will open on January 3, 2018. The Bishop strongly urges everyone preparing for Confirmation, Reception or Reaffirmation of their baptismal vows in April 2018 to attend one of these Confirmation Retreats. Each retreat is capped at 75 participants, so register early to get the best location and date for you.

The retreats will be held on three Saturdays in February and March:

• February 24 at St. James' Church, Upper Montclair
• March 3 at Christ Church, Pompton Lakes
• March 24 at Grace Church, Madison

The day will begin at 9 AM, and we will have program, snacks, games, lunch and time with our Bishop, finishing at 6 PM. There will be a small charge to cover lunch and supplies.

Questions? Contact the Rev. Sheelagh Clarke, Interim Coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, at sclarke@dioceseofnewark.org or 973-430-9991.

 

In keeping with our very successful Vestry University program, we are pleased to introduce a new program designed to create and enhance supportive networks of individuals in congregations that work on specific roles: Episcopal Vo-Tech! As in Vocational & Technical - the roles that every church has and perhaps needs to seek and share wisdom about. Network with peers from other congregations, discuss best practices, share challenges and explore opportunities!

This program will run during the Saturday morning of our Annual Diocesan Convention, January 27, in the workshop spaces while Convention is in session in the main ballroom. Find out more.

Calls

• The Rev. Rodrigo Perez-Vega, Rector, St. John's Church, Dover
  NOV 3

  See all clergy ministry transitions in 2017.

Upcoming issues of The VOICE Online

• WED, DEC 13 for December 20 issue
• WED, DEC 20 for January 3 issue - Deadline moved up 1 week due to holidays

"An Introduction to the 79th General Convention for Deputies and Bishops" is now available on the General Convention website. This publication is an important reference for deputies and bishops and a good source of information for anyone interested in General Convention and the legislative process.

The Episcopal Church 79th General Convention will be held Thursday, July 5 to Friday, July 13, 2018 at The Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas (Diocese of Texas). The theme will be The Jesus Movement: Loving, Liberating and Life-giving.

The application deadline is March 2, 2018 by 5 PM. See the announcement for application forms, detailed guidelines, list of allowable projects, and more.