This coming Sunday, Palm Sunday, we re-tell (and in some cases re-enact) Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We hand out palms and shout Hosannas, as we hear and sing the story of Jesus, who is the hope for all Israel, as he enters the capital city. Once inside, Jesus will sit on the throne and become king, the puppet government will be vanquished - and Roman rule will be over. Or so they expect.

The people were excited and expectant - but the Roman authorities were ready. Read more.

Bishop Mark Beckwith attended the House of Bishops Spring 2018 meeting held March 6-9 at Camp Allen in Navasota, TX.

Afterwards a video overview, Greetings from the House of Bishops, was presented by Bishop Ian Douglas of Connecticut and Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe of Central New York.

Among the discussions and actions of the House of Bishops retreat meeting:

• The bishops heard a letter from the parents of an Episcopal youth who died in the recent shooting in Parkland, FL.
• The bishops unanimously accepted a statement on gun violence.
• The bishops unanimously accepted a statement on sexual harassment and gender bias.

See all Episcopal News Service articles on the House of Bishops Spring 2018 meeting.

The Petition Process ended at 5 PM on Thursday, March 15, 2018. No nominations by petition were received.

The final slate of candidates standing for election on May 19 for XI Bishop of Newark is the Rev. Carlye Hughes (Diocese of Fort Worth), the Rev. Lisa Hunt (Diocese of Texas) and the Rev. Canon Scott Slater (Diocese of Maryland).

The candidates for the XI Bishop of Newark have been invited to participate in a "Walkabout" tour of our diocese. Walkabouts are intended to provide both candidates and diocesan members with opportunities to meet and get to know each other, and to allow the candidates to address concerns and questions from both laity and clergy.

A total of five Walkabouts are planned for May 4, 5 & 6, 2018 (see schedule below). To facilitate interaction with all, one is for clergy only, one is for lay only, and three are open to both lay and clergy.

The locations for the Walkabouts were selected based on their geographical location, meeting facilities, accessibility, and proximity to public transit and parking.

Friday, May 4 at Church of the Savior, Denville
9 AM - 12:30 PM for Clergy only
1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy

Saturday, May 5 at Calvary Church, Summit
9 AM - 12:30 PM for Lay only
1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy

Sunday, May 6 at St. Paul's Church, Englewood
1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy

This is an amazing opportunity for our youth to observe leadership from across The Episcopal Church in action!

Youth who have completed grades 9-12, and young adults under 21, are invited to observe the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas.

A deposit of $200 by Monday, April 16 will secure a spot and initiate the registration process. (Deposits may be closed earlier if the cap of 14 participants is reached before April 16.) Find out more.

Read the March 2018 issue of YOUTH NOTES, a monthly newsletter for youth and young adult ministries.

The Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry of New Jersey (LEAMNJ) is organizing buses to Washington, D.C. so that members of the Diocese of Newark, the Diocese of New Jersey and the New Jersey Synod of the Lutheran Church can join the March For Our Lives, a gun violence prevention march, on Saturday, March 24. The deadline to pay for your bus ticket is TODAY, March 21. Find out more.

Not able to travel this weekend? You can also search for a local march by zip code.

Share your march stories and photos: If you attend any of the marches this Saturday, please send photos and stories to Nina Nicholson, diocesan Director of Communications, at nnicholson@dioceseofnewark.org.

There are three opportunities to attend at different locations around the diocese. Find out more and register online.

In partnership with the Clergy Leadership Institute, we are pleased to offer Appreciative Interim Ministry Training with the Rev. Dr. Rob Voyle, a week-long intensive.

This conference, hosted by the Commission on Ministry, will provide an overview of the discernment process. Those expected to attend are the people discerning their next steps in ministry (called Aspirants), their rectors and all members of their Discernment Committees. Individuals who want to attend by themselves for information and exploration are also invited. Registration deadline: Friday, April 13. Find out more.

SAT, MAR 24 @ GRACE CHURCH, MADISON

The VOICE Online
WED, MAR 28 for Apr. 4 issue

Christine Mary & John Shelby Spong Lecture Series: The Rev. Fred Plumer

SAT, APR 28, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
@ EPIPHANY & CHRIST CHURCH, ORANGE 

See the Community Calendar for many other public events hosted by our congregations and associated organizations.
 

St. James, Upper Montclair:

The gun 'conversation' is just beginning (with photo gallery)
TV Video: New Jersey church creates unique memorial for school shooting victims

St. Pauls's, Grace Van Vorst and Incarnation, Jersey City:

Episcopalians follow Way of the Cross out of churches to pray at Lenten stations in their communities

The Bishop's Church Emergency Fund (BCEF) provides financial support for church buildings in the diocese needing repairs and renovation, usually with a special focus on emergency and unforeseen needs. Through the BCEF, you can support the critical needs identified by the Bishop. The first BCEF call of 2018 is to repave the driveway at Christ Church, Bloomfield / Glen Ridge. Find out more.

The Gertrude Butts Fund, which provides collegiate or vocational scholarship assistance to youth in need in the Diocese of Newark, is accepting applications for the 2018-2019 academic year.  The application deadline is May 4, 2018. Find out more.

• The Rev. Keith Gentry, Rector, St. Michael's, Wayne
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A new resource, Holy Week Sermons 2018, is an ideal companion for Holy Week devotions. The 28-page Holy Week Sermons 2018 is designed for public and personal use for group discussions, personal meditations, reflections, and devotional reading by preachers, groups, individuals, adults and youth. Find out more and download the resource.

The Good Friday Offering supports the ministries of the four dioceses of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, helping the Christian presence there to be a vital and effective force for peace and understanding among all of God's children. Bulletin inserts and other resources are available here.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has announced the launch of The Episcopal 2018 Annual Appeal and calls upon Episcopalians throughout the church to participate. The Episcopal Church 2018 Annual Appeal marks the first churchwide appeal in the Episcopal Church. The goal is to assist the costs of churchwide ministries. Find out more.