Online Edition - Wednesday, February 20, 2019

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

From the Bishop

Practice your spiritual gifts Your spiritual gifts are the way God not only takes care of you, but also takes care of the world around you. And the more you practice your spiritual gifts, the better you'll get at them. This can feel like a daunting prospect, but Bishop Carlye has some simple suggestions for how to approach this. (Time: 2:05.)

Breaking Bread with Bishop Carlye

Bishop Carlye has said several times that she has “fallen in love with the people of the Diocese of Newark” and, as she announced at Convention, she wants to meet, greet and break bread with YOU! You, your family and your congregations are invited to partake of a light meal and then engage in a relaxed exchange of information, ideas and dreams with each other and with Bishop Carlye. You can select from one of these five gatherings:

Thursday, Feb. 28 at Epiphany and Christ Church, Orange Light supper 6:30 PM, program 7-9 PM, RSVP deadline TOMORROW, Feb. 21 Thursday, Mar. 7 at St. Michael’s, Wayne Light supper 6:30 PM, program 7-9 PM, RSVP deadline Feb. 28 Tuesday, Mar. 19 at St. Paul’s, Chatham Light supper 6:30 PM, program 7-9 PM, RSVP deadline Mar. 12 Thursday, Apr. 4 at Messiah, Chester Light supper 6:30 PM, program 7-9 PM, RSVP deadline Mar. 28 Saturday, Apr. 13 at Church of the Saviour, Denville Continental breakfast 9 AM, program 9:30-11:30 AM, RSVP deadline Apr. 6 This gathering is designed specifically for churches currently engaged in clergy transition. Others may attend, but the program will be geared toward support and best practices – you are not alone! To insure we have enough food for everyone, we need you to RSVP online no later than one week before your desired gathering. Find out more and RSVP online .

Other Upcoming Events

Church Leader University SAT, MAR 9, 9 AM - 12 NOON @ ST. ELIZABETH'S, RIDGEWOOD Come join us at Church Leader University to learn, network and celebrate your ministry! Participants are also invited to a light breakfast with Bishop Carlye Hughes before the workshop sessions, to share ideas and dreams about our future.

Schedule 8 AM Registration 8:30 AM Light breakfast with the Bishop 9:15-10:30 AM Workshop Session A 10:45 AM - 12 noon Workshop Session B 12 noon Adjourn Cost: $20 per person. Registration deadline: 5 PM on Monday, March 4 Registration is required. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated. To download the workshop descriptions and flyer, and register and pay online, click here. Note: A church leader is ANYONE who cares for their church and its ministries, including the ordained, the elected, the appointed, the volunteer and the self-identified.

Ordinations & Celebrations of New Ministry

Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate: Peter Savastano SAT, FEB 23, 10 AM @ TRINITY & ST. PHILIP'S CATHEDRAL, NEWARK Celebration of New Ministry: The Rev. Paula Toland SAT, MAR 30, 2 PM @ ST. STEPHEN'S, MILLBURN

Anti-Racism Dialogues FRI, MAR 15 - SAT, MAR 16, 2019 @ EPISCOPAL HOUSE Candidates elected to office at the Annual Diocesan Convention must have completed anti-racism training within the past five years. The next opportunity is March 15-16 ( details here) and you can register online here.

Confirmation Retreats SAT, MAR 23, 9 AM @ ST. ELIZABETH'S, RIDGEWOOD SAT, APR 6, 9 AM A2 ST. JAMES, UPPER MONTCLAIR Registration is now open for the two Confirmation Retreats being held this spring. The Bishop strongly urges all youth preparing for Confirmation this year to attend one. Find out more.

Living the Way of Love: A day of reflection and discernment SUN, APR 28 1-7 PM @ COMMUNITY OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, MENDHAM

Presented by Diocesan Council Empowering Committee, the purpose of this workshop is to build trusting relationships with God and one another. When we meet each other for conversation, practice, and prayer, we learn how to love. A small group provides space for prayerful support and accountability as we seek to live the Jesus Way. Please register early – space is limited. Find out more and register online.

Features

How the Way of Love can support Living Local The Way of Love, which Presiding Bishop Michael Curry unveiled at the 2018 General Convention, is a set of seven spiritual practices that have been used by Christians since the days of the apostles. Each of these practices can form, equip, and strengthen us to Live Local and Join God. Read more.

In the news All Saints Episcopal Day School in Hoboken: Hoboken single-use plastic bag ban FEB 4, 2019 | The Stute

Lent Begins March 6

Lenten email meditations begin March 6 These meditations are being produced under the oversight of the Empowering People Action Team of Diocesan Council. To subscribe, or manage your existing subscription, go to dioceseofnewark.org/meditations.

Lent Madness begins March 7! Want to be inspired by some saintly souls this Lent and have fun along the way? Join with thousands of Christians across denominations who have discovered the joyful online learning community that is Lent Madness. With its unique blend of competition, education, and humor, Lent Madness allows participants to be inspired by the ways in which God has worked through the lives of saints over the generations. Based loosely on the NCAA basketball tournament of a similar name, this online devotion pits 32 saints against one another in a single-elimination bracket as voters choose their favorites throughout Lent. Read more, and download the bracket.

Diocesan Announcements

Share your stories with the diocese Wednesday, Feb. 27 is the deadline to submit articles for the March 6 issue of The VOICE Online. Please email submissions to nnicholson@dioceseofnewark.org.

Cross Roads News & Events

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 .

Summer Camp Registration is OPEN! Visit the Cross Roads website to learn all about the opportunities for youth of all ages at camp this summer. From the six-week Leaders-in-Training program for teenagers to Curtains Up! theater camp to NJ Synod Confirmation Camp, there is something for every child!

Cross Roads is hiring! Are you or a young adult you know looking for a life-changing summer experience for 2019? Join the Cross Roads team for a summer of growing in your faith, helping shape the faith of others, and making unforgettable memories! The applications for multiple positions are posted on the website. Please share this opportunity with young adults you think would be a great fit at Cross Roads!

WOW (Women of the Woods) Retreat SAT, MAY 4, 9 AM - 4 PM Come to Cross Roads for the 2nd Annual WOW Retreat — a one-day retreat for women of all ages to come together at the change of seasons. At the start of spring, our leaders will gather us around God’s gift of laughter. Your $25 registration fee includes lunch, snacks and coffee. Click here to register.

News from the Wider Church

Did you know? The Episcopal Church is divided into nine provinces for the purpose of sharing ministry and resources. The Diocese of Newark is a member of Province II, along with the Diocese of New Jersey, the six dioceses of New York and the off-shore dioceses of Cuba, Haiti, the Virgin Islands and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. Because it spans the Atlantic Ocean, it is also known as the International Atlantic Province.

A great way to learn more about our province and our fellow member dioceses is to subscribe to In Prov 2, the monthly newsletter of Province II. If you look at the most recent issue, you will see news highlights from each of the 12 member dioceses, links to resources, and news about its governing body, the Provincial Council. You can subscribe here.

Litany in the Wake of a Mass Shooting, updated Bishops United Against Gun Violence has updated its Litany in the Wake of a Mass Shooting to include the most recent incidents in 2019. Downloadable PDFs are available in both English and Spanish.

Video message from the Presiding Bishop: March 3 is World Mission Sunday Traditionally celebrated on the last Sunday after Epiphany, this year, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on March 3. On World Mission Sunday, Episcopalians are invited to focus on the global impact of the Baptismal Covenant’s call to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305). It is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the many ways in which The Episcopal Church participates in God’s mission around the world. Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry invites the church to observe World Mission Sunday in a video here.

The VOICE Online is published on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays September through May, and on the 3rd Wednesdays only in June, July and August. The deadline to submit items for consideration is one week prior to publication. Questions? Please contact Nina Nicholson, Director of Communications.

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