News, events and features of interest to members and friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, the Episcopal Church in northern New Jersey.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019
From Our Bishop
Be a messenger of God
During this Advent and Christmas, at this time, we need each other to be messengers of God's love.

Click here to watch the video (time: 2:48) or read the transcript.
Features
American-Afghan pen-pal program gives girls glimpses into each others' lives
Sending messages around the world is commonplace in the age of email – but schoolgirls in rural Afghanistan don’t have ready access to email. Fortunately, they have Carola Walton. (Although she could use some help – more about that later.)

Walton, a parishioner at St. Luke & St. Mary in Hope and Belvidere, manages the Afghan School Project, which matches American girls about 12 years old in pen-pal relationships with Afghan girls of similar age at Yakawlang Central Girls High School in Bamiyan Province, 150 dangerous miles away from Kabul. Read more.
In the News
St. Clement's, Hawthorne:
With photos gallery
NOV 23, 2019 | TAP into Hawthorne
Christ Church, Short Hills & St. Stephen's, Millburn:
NOV 26, 2019 | TAP into Millburn/ShortHills
Church of the Atonement, Tenafly:
With video & photos
NOV 27, 2019 | NorthJersey.com
Louie Crew Clay:
NOV 29, 2019 | The Living Church
DEC 2, 2019 | Episcopal News Service
We love to share stories of what our congregations are doing! The deadline to submit stories, photos and links to media coverage for the December 18 issue of The VOICE Online is Wednesday, December 11 . Go to the submission guidelines .
Diocesan Events
Preaching Advent and Christmas: A lunchtime clergy conversation
THU, DEC 5, 12-1:30 PM @ EPISCOPAL HOUSE
Clergy are invited to participate in a conversation about “Preaching Advent and Christmas” with the respected author and presenter on homiletics, the Rev. Dr. Raewynne J. Whiteley.

Bring questions, ideas and a brown bag lunch. Beverages and light refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP by emailing Canon Clark at mapclark@dioceseofnewark.org. Find out more.
Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate: Raul Ausa
SAT, DEC 7, 10 AM @ TRINITY & ST. PHILIP'S CATHEDRAL
Reception following at Episcopal House, 31 Mulberry Street.
Pop Up Youth Event:
Christmas Party!
SAT, DEC 14, 2-6:15 PM
@ ST. ALBAN'S, OAKLAND/FRANKLIN LAKES
All youth in grades 6-12 from throughout the diocese are invited to wear their fun ugly Christmas sweaters to our afternoon Christmas party! Find out more.

Click here to learn more about Pop Up Youth Ministry and upcoming youth events.
See also Upcoming Community Events , posted by our congregations and associated organizations.
News & Events at Cross Roads
Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center is a welcoming, ecumenical retreat center and camp of our diocese and the NJ Synod of the ELCA. Find out more at crossroadsretreat.com .
Now Hiring: Summer Staff 2020
The application to join the Cross Roads Summer Staff next summer is now open! Encourage young adults you know to consider spending their summer making a difference while having fun. Find out more at crossroadsretreat.com/employment.
Young Adult Retreat
JAN 3-5, 2020
Are you between the ages of 18-30ish? Join us for relaxation, contemplation, good food (a.k.a., lots of snacks), and awesome fellowship at the 2020 Young Adult Retreat at Cross Roads. And be sure to invite your friends, family, neighbors, and other young adults you know who would enjoy this time away. Find out more at crossroadsretreat.com/young-adult-retreat.
Diocesan Announcements
Convention 2020
We want your congregation to be part of Mission Minutes!

Mission Minutes are short videos shown at Diocesan Convention to share stories from our congregations about how they are engaging in God's ministry. The theme for our 2020 Convention is Behold God's Gifts, Become God's Steward, which lends itself to several opportunities to be part of Mission Minutes. The submission deadline is Friday, Dec. 13. Find out more.

Other upcoming Convention deadlines

This Friday, Dec. 6:

Next Monday, Dec. 9:
Clergy ministry transitions
Departures
  • The Rev. Peter Savastano, Priest Associate, Christ Church, Short Hills - NOV 17

Arrivals
  • The Rev. Peter Savastano, Priest Associate, St. Luke's, Montclair - DEC 1

See all clergy ministry transitions in 2019 .
Check out our other diocesan publications
The VOICE Digest - A new, printable publication, published quarterly. Click here to download the first issue covering Fall 2019. The Winter 2019-20 issue will be available at the same link on Dec. 17.

Leadership News - Key information from Episcopal House for church leaders, including - but not restricted to - clergy, staff, wardens, vestry and committee chairs. Emailed monthly on the last Wednesday (usually).* Click here to subscribe to future issues and read archived issues.

*Due to the last Wednesday of December being Christmas Day, the January 2020 Leadership News will be sent on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020.
The VOICE Online is published twice a month September-May (1st and 3rd Wednesday) and monthly June-August (3rd Wednesday only).