Quick Links to Diopa Website
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#diopacomeandsee
#diopalove
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The 22nd World Council of the Girls' Friendly Society (GFS)
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Fifteen women from our diocese attended the 22nd World Council of the Girls' Friendly Society in Western Australia.
Our group consisted of members from the age of 15 to 75. They came from our GFS branches at; The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Grace Church & the Incarnation, Holy Apostle & the Mediator, St. Luke's, Bustleton, St. Luke's, Germantown, and St. Simon the Cyrenian.
We were extremely proud to have our own Juanita Miller (St. Thomas) represent the GFS/USA as our National Junior Delegate. Twenty-two countries were represented at the GFS World Council. The focus of GFS Worldwide for the next three years will be to bring awareness to Gender Violence. We learned during our time together that human issues are the same throughout the world.
The Girls' Friendly Society of the Diocese of Pennsylvania continues to play an important role in the faith development of our young girls and woman. Please visit our Facebook
group
at
GFS
PA
to see some of the highlights of our trip. We all came home with a renewed commitment to Christ and our neighbor.
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Canadian Anglicans Step Up Fight Against Human Trafficking
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The Primate of Canada, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, in a screenshot from a video on the province's new human trafficking web hub. Photo Credit: Anglican Church of Canada
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The Anglican Church of Canada is taking another step forward in its fight against human trafficking and modern slavery with the formation of a new discernment group led by General Synod Global Relations and Public Witness teams and the creation of an online human trafficking hub with information and resources. The moves are part of the province's response to Resolution 15.10 of the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2012.
The resolution was officially endorsed by the Church of Canada's Council of General Synod (Cogs) when it met in June this year.
The members of the new discernment group will hold their first meeting in September "to assess the current scope of Anglican work in this ministry, identify priorities in this work, and to plot out a detailed plan going forward," the Church said in a statement.
"Crucial to this process will be identifying Anglicans involved in work against human trafficking," the statement said as they called on those working to eradicate human trafficking to contact them.
"The data gathering process is a way of beginning to better understand the nature, the incidence, the existence of trafficking and slavery in Canada, how the church is responding to those realities within local communities, and how other people can become involved," discernment group member Andrea Mann said.
"It's data that identifies people, ministry, cities and towns, and rural and remote areas in the church where people are thinking about this and responding."
Members of the discernment group have begun conversations with the Lutheran Church of Canada, which is also working in this area. The Lutheran Church's sub-theme for its 500th anniversary of the Reformation is "Human Beings - Not For Sale".
In March, Caitlin Beck, missioner for children, youth, and families in the Diocese of New Westminster, took a delegation of teenagers and young adults to the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women where human trafficking is often a recurring theme. Many panels and events discussed the need to protect the rights of sex workers and migrant workers and involve them in conversations related to human trafficking, and is now preparing a letter to the Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, to set out some of the findings of the delegation.
"I'm actually excited to be able to share some of that as a part of the new discernment group that they're putting together for this issue," she said. "I think that's a really great step that the national church has taken to ensure that we do this work in the right way - in a way that includes the voices of people who are caused the most harm by human trafficking, and that we learn from their experiences and don't base our actions on assumptions when we don't have the direct experience. I think that's a good thing for us to be careful about."
The chief executive of the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, Barbara Gosse, is a parishioner at St. Cuthbert's Anglican Church in Toronto. She said that churches often have a reach that other activist groups or police may not have.
"There's no question that the Anglican Church has a substantial reach across the country, and that faith communities can play a very important part in educating the public, on bringing people together to really look at grassroots efforts that could combat human trafficking," Gosse said.
"Also, I think faith communities are very respected as being cohesive and organized and caring and positive on some of these socioeconomic issues. So when you have the opportunity to speak to your policy makers and lawmakers and political representatives, I think it brings with it a lot of clout and a lot of credibility."
Click here to access the Anglican Church of Canada's new human trafficking web hub, which includes a video featuring Archbishop Fred Hiltz.
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The Basics of Godly Play
Full Day Introduction and Refresher Workshop
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Saturday, September 9
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
St. David's Episcopal Church
763 South Valley Forge Road, Wayne, PA 19087-4794
Training session led by Dawn Stewart, Accredited Godly Play Teacher Trainer
* Experience a complete Godly Play® session as a learner.
* Examine the structure of Godly Play® and how Godly Play® nurtures a child's spirit.
* Experience and explore storytelling and wondering with each kind of Godly Play® presentation: Sacred Story, Parable, Liturgical Action, Silence
* Observe and identify the roles of Godly Play® Mentors, Storyteller and Door Person
This day-long workshop offers an introduction to Godly Play® for those exploring resources for children, for new Godly Play mentors (Storytellers and Door Persons), and a refresher for those already using this method of spiritual formation with children.
Cost: $50 per person, checks payable to St. David's Church
Morning coffee and Lunch provided
Experiencing Godly Play® is worth more than a 1000 words about it!
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Veterans Mental Health Training
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August 26, 2017
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
11-19 South 38th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Coffee and breakfast will be provided.
As the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania continues its movement to address the mental health needs of veterans and be a spiritual safe space in the community, we are hosting a Veterans Mental Health First Aid Training on August 26, 2017. The training will be led by a veteran from the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health. It will provide us with knowledge and tools to support veterans and their families who may need or seek help.
The training aims to:
- Break down the stigmas associated with mental illness
- Reach out to those who suffer in silence and are reluctant to seek help
- Let veterans know that support is available in their community
- Provide community resource information
- Make mental healthcare and treatment accessible to thousands in need
This training is free to all. Please register online at this link:
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Discipleship Matters Conference
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Helping leaders create a culture of discipleship in their congregations and community.
This national conference will explore Christian formation for discipleship, scripture engagement, habits of daily prayer, serving the poor, and sharing the Good News. Built on the model of the very successful Evangelism Matters conference held in Dallas in November 2016, this conference will offer keynote presentations, workshops, and networking time, and will be undergirded with Eucharist and the Daily Office.
The conference will include findings from RenewalWorks, a research-based Forward Movement initiative that has identified key catalysts for spiritual vitality in congregations and for individuals. A focus on discipleship is one of those primary catalysts, based on research from nearly half a million participants across the country.
Brought to you by Forward Movement and RenewalWorks
Hosted by St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh
Sponsored by the Diocese of Pennsylvania
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Diocese of Pennsylvania T-Shirts
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What's there not to love?
Check out DIOPA's
awesome new shirts!
The #diopaLOVE T-shirts were so popular they were all claimed within 48 hours! Another order has been placed and we will be getting more. If you are still interested in a T-shirt, don't worry! Just contact Kristen Kelly at 215-627-6434 or through
[email protected]
and she will contact you once they are in!
Kristen is taking orders now. If we don't have the size you want she will order more at a later date.
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~ SAVE THE DATE! ~
Friday, October 6, 2017
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez,
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
The Very Rev. Judith A. Sullivan,
Dean, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
&
The Philadelphia Committee of AFEDJ
Invite you to a Benefit Event in
Support
of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
Special
Guest
Speaker
The Rev. Canon John L. Peterson
Supporting the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza
An excellent 4 min. video of the Al Ahli Arab Hospital is linked below. This hospital is in Gaza and an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East. First hand interviews give us an excellent picture of the near insurmountable challenges in the devastated part of the Diocese.
On October 6, Canon John Peterson, who has a long working relationship with the Diocese of Jerusalem and the hospital will speak at a Benefit for the hospital at the Episcopal Diocesan Cathedral on 38
th street adjacent to the Penn Campus. Refreshments will be served from 6-7 with accompanying music by the Arab Music Ensemble and program from 7-9.
The Philadelphia Committee of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem is organizing the event. The invitation above is issued by The Rt. Rev. G.P. Gutiérrez, Dean Judith Sullivan and the Board of AFEDJ.
Sustaining
the Christian Community in the Middle East
with
Supper
* Art Exhibit * Music
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
23 South 38th Street, Philadelphia 19104
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ECW Grant Requests
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Each year the Steering Committee of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Pennsylvania distributes the legacy gifts of our foremothers. One of the designated categories is Domestic Mission. These grants remain in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. An extended statement about this is on the Diocese of Pennsylvania webpage.
Each request must be no more than a single page, be accompanied by a simple budget and signed by the parish priest.
* Any specific project/program is considered.
* One thousand two hundred dollars is the maximum grant.
* Assets-Based Community outreach is the primary ministry.
* The intentional inclusion of each deanery by the committee will reflect the diocesan structure.
* No grant money is for food, perishables and travel.
Requests received by September 30 will be considered for fall.
Requests are to be submitted electronically at
[email protected] or by USPS c/o ECW: Domestic Grants, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, 3717 Chestnut Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
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A Message from Bishop Gutiérrez Regarding the 2018 Diocesan Budget
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Diocesan Ordination Summer 2017
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CAMINOS: Our Road Together
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The Office of the Diocese of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the publication of our new magazine "CAMINOS: Our Road Together".
While this magazine will be published online, it is also available in a print format for anyone who does not have internet access. If you know someone in your congregation who cannot receive it electronically, please send us their name and address and we will be sure to send them a hard copy version.
In order to have the best viewing experience, once you click on the link below, put your cursor under the image of the magazine cover. A timeline will appear. Click on the square at the far right of the timeline and the issue can be read full screen. Once you are viewing it full screen, clicking on the arrows at the far right or left will turn the pages forward or backward.
We want to help tell your stories. If you would like to submit an article for publication, please contact Henry Carnes at
[email protected]
and he will be glad to assist you.
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Summer Bible Challenge
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Heard the word?
Staycation
or
Vacation
The Bible Challenge Continues!
SEND US A PHOTO OF YOUR
SUMMER BIBLE CHALLENGE
Camping, Fishing, Rowing, Throwing
,
Strolling, Cooking, Hiking, Biking
,
Flying, Cruising, Playing, Praying
,
Sailing, Swimming, Running, Sunning
.
Let's see where the challenge goes - Post to the Facebook Group Page or email [email protected]
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Diocesan Communications Conference for Congregational Development
Social Media, Video Production and Website Design Videos
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Servant Year is On!
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"Are you called to serve?"
Our new Servant Year Corps Members have answered this question with an unabashedly faithful
"YES"!
This DioPA ministry is an intentional faith-based community where young adults give of themselves while faithfully discerning where they are being called in their lives. On August 19th
, six members will arrive to begin their year of service among us. As we get closer to August look for Introductions to our members right here. We are excited for people to get to know them and their many talents and gifts.
Members in this urban missionary like program receive full-time volunteer positions at a partner site, monthly stipends, housing, health insurance, meals and public transportation tokens. Servant Year is a supportive community that includes regular spiritual direction and formation. It is perfect for new graduates who want to "give back" before they start their career; want a break in between college and graduate school; or need a little extra time to discern where their life is calling them after plans change or do not materialize as expected.
If you know of a college graduate who sounds like a good fit for this ministry please have them contact
[email protected].
This program is not limited to Episcopalians. But for those young adults who grew up in the Episcopal Church,
Servant Year
can be the next step in maturing their faith and discerning their call to ministry, whether that is ordained or lay. Thank you for your help in finding those being called to
Servant Year
.
Where are YOU being called to serve?
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DIOPA Resource Guide
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The DIOPA Resource Guide is here!
We have heard your suggestions, compiled them, and we would like to present the DIOPA Resource Guide: a directory of information about the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and how we can best serve you. We encourage you to explore the website at
http://www.dioparesourceguide.com/
.
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DIOPA Deanery Calendar
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Our DIOPA Deanery Calendar is fully operational and available to capture and disseminate your event information - diocesan wide! It's the place to post parish events in each deanery and can be found on www.diopa.org at the bottom right of the home page under Calendars. It's a read-only site, with information being posted by an administrator in your deanery. Call your parish office to have your administrator post an event you want to share.
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Video Invitation to Join the Bishop's Bible Challenge!
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As another part of my promise to better serve you, I am pleased to present another major initiative from the Offices of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. This Bible App will help us all to feel connected, provides a platform for participating in the Bishop's Bible Challenge, and perhaps most importantly is a powerful tool for you to read or hear the Word of God in 1,000 languages. With the Bible App, many now have access to the word of God in their primary language. Reading the Bible together as a diocesan community will have a life changing effect. The importance of Christian people using Holy Scripture as a foundation for daily life is hard to overstate. Who we are as the People of God flows directly from our worship, doctrine, and liturgy, which are all rooted in Scripture. To know the Bible better, is to know ourselves as the People of God better, to know our mission to the world better, and to know our faith better. We are here to help and to serve you, and this mobile app is another important step in showing the kind of innovation and emphasis that is placed on equipping our congregations to build the Kingdom of God.
The Rt. Rev. Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez
XVI Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
The Bishop's Bible Challenge leads us through the entire bible in a year's time. Not only will you find the daily reading and meditation rewarding, but you will be joining in community with hundreds, possibly thousands, of fellow Episcopalians in our diocese. While this may seem like a daunting undertaking, as the Bible tells us "Fear Not", for there are many ways to connect!
You can download The DIOPA Bible in a Year App from iTunes, Apple App Store, and Google Play. To download the mobile application, go to the "App Store" icon on your iPhones or the "Google Play" icon on your Android Phone and search for "DIOPA" or "DIOPA bible." It is a self-contained way to participate and has everything you need including a link to the registration page, the Bible readings for each day, an online link to the Bible in audible and readable forms and daily reading or listening selections that will help everyone to read the same selections each day.
* If you do not use a computer or smart phone simply call the Offices of the Diocese at 215-627-6434 to register and receive a Bible Study Packet; or contact your Priest for these materials.
* Join our online Facebook group at <
DIOPA Bishop's Bible Challenge>. This is where you can post your own testimonies on the readings. These responses can be written or use your phone or camera to take a picture that reflects your response to the reading. Include a brief description and post with the hash tag #wordon and #diopabbc. Check the group page or the hash tags to see what other participants are saying!
* Information and resources regarding The Bishop's Bible Challenge can be found online:
http://www.diopa.org/bishops-bible-challenge/
The important thing to know is that you are not alone in this and you cannot mess this up! If you miss a day of reading, or a week for that matter, just jump back in to the schedule because there is no wrong way to do this. If you'd rather not read, the Bible App will play the day's selections in a dramatized audio format for you to listen.
So let's come together as a diocesan family and build the Kingdom of God -praying together, worshipping together, studying together - in this the "come and see" diocese. #diopalove #diopacomeandsee #wordon #diopabbc - there are multiple ways to connect!
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Online Staff Directory
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Visit our new "Staff Directory" page on the diocesan website to see photos, bios, and job descriptions
of the current staff of the Offices of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
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Download our Diocesan Mobile App "DIOPAConnect"
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As part of my promise to better serve you, I am pleased to offer a major initiative from the Offices of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. This mobile directory app will help us all to feel connected, provides useful information about parishes, and enables us to have one more important way to stay informed about everything going on in our wonderful Diocese. We are here to help and to serve you, and this mobile app is an important step in showing the kind of innovation and emphasis that is placed on equipping our congregations to build the Kingdom of God.
The Rt. Rev. Daniel G.P.
Gutiérrez
XVI Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
To download the mobile application go to the "App Store" icon on your iPhones
or the "Google Play" icon on your Android Phone
and
search for "DIOPA" or "DIOPA mobile directory."
Let us know how DiopaConnect works for you.
User feedback helps us to tailor our applications to better meet your needs.
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