On Friday, January 20, Donald J. Trump will take the oath of office as the 45th President of the United States. Some of the President-Elect's actions and statements have admittedly raised anxiety, uncertainty and fear among several segments of our society. And many in the religious community are openly asking, "Should we pray for the President?" Indeed in our own Episcopal Church, the appropriateness of the Washington National Cathedral hosting the Inaugural Prayer Service this year has been questioned. Others are asking if church choirs should be participating at the Inaugural at all. An easy answer might be found by citing to the numerous prayers for the President and our government in the Book of Common Prayer. While acknowledging that fact, others are rightly asking, "Isn't there something more at stake here?" After all, prayer should involve something more than merely a traditional recitation of some printed form. The answer (at least in part) is understanding, as our Presiding Bishop recently pointed out, what the true nature of prayer is all about. Here is an excerpt from his recent letter to our church: read more.

Attendees at the Listening Tables in 2016 saw a presentation by Paul Shackford and the Rev. Ginny Dinsmore illustrating our diocese's journey of Joining God in Shaping Our Future, and our next steps, using the metaphor of crossing a river as we go from the old way of living to a new way of living.

Their presentation has been compiled into this brief video. All Convention deputies and guests are encouraged to watch this video before attending Convention, where we will embark on the next steps of our journey.

Time: 13:24

Watch for a special email tomorrow with diocesan CFO Paul Shackford's detailed presentation of the proposed 2017 diocesan budget, in the form of six brief videos that can be viewed online. It is recommended that deputies view the video presentation prior to Convention.

 

Presented by Alzheimer's New Jersey at the invitation of Senior Ministries, this program provides a comprehensive overview for anyone who wants to learn about memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of dementia. Information about risk factors and warning signs, steps to obtaining a diagnosis, and treatment options are discussed. Planning for the future, coping with behavioral and other changes, and accessing community resources are also reviewed. Find out more.

You're invited to come to the Parsippany Hilton at 9 PM the Friday of Convention (January 27) to dance and sing along with Walkin' The Boulevard. You don't have to be part of a business meeting to come on out and have a good time!

RSVP by this Friday, Jan. 20 to attend

For all Convention news and resources, see dioceseofnewark.org/convention.

St. Elizabeth's Church, Ridgewood:

First imam speaks at MLK celebration in Ridgewood

Candidates standing for office at the Annual Diocesan Convention must complete anti-racism training. Workshops hosted by the Dioceses of NJ and NY fulfill our diocesan requirements. Find out more.

The Diocese of Newark Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians will celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first person of African descent ordained a deacon and priest in the Episcopal Church.

This conference will feature speakers and discussions on poverty, racism and gun violence, contextual Bible study, education and advocacy workshops and a prayerful procession to sites of gun violence on Chicago's South Side. It is open to everyone who is committed to exploring the intersection of racism, poverty and gun violence as people of faith. Find out more.

Bishop Mark Beckwith is a co-convener of Bishops United Against Gun Violence.

This is a part-time position (25 hours/week). Applications must be received by March 15, 2017. Find out more.
 

Find out more at crossroadsretreat.com/employment.
 

Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations are sponsoring an important webinar to discuss the basic root causes of refugee crises and to examine critical questions such as: who is a refugee; how a refugee is resettled to the U.S.; how resettled refugees benefit their communities; and how you can engage with local communities to welcome these new Americans. Find out more.