November 25, 2020
In this edition: Convention elections results, photos, and videos; Advent blessings; Fun Fact; Did You Know?; Check it Out!; news from the diocese; more ...
The 236th Annual Convention
was held on
Saturday, November 21

Introductory & Fun
Convention Video
featuring all parishes
of the diocese.
Bishop Brown's Convention Sermon
a powerful and
passionate homily!
Holy Eucharist
streamed live from
St. Albans Chapel
with prerecorded pieces from around the diocese
May the upcoming Advent season deepen our desire for the coming of Jesus,
who brings peace to
us and to our world.
Advent begins Sunday, November 29, 2020
The first season of the church year begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues through the day before Christmas. The name is derived from a Latin word for "coming." The season is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity, and for the final coming of Christ "in power and glory."
As we face a Thanksgiving so different from any other year,
we offer you some hope and cheer in two videos!
Did you know?
Together We'll Come Through!
Koolulam is a social-musical initiative aimed at strengthening the fabric of society. It brings together people from all walks of life to do one thing: stop everything for a few hours and just sing — together. Coronavirus cancelled its mass singing events, so Koolulam went online and drew more than 5,000 people from 66 countries to participate in singing a global medley. Click on image above to view video.
Check it out!
Invocation Before Dinner
As we gather in Thanksgiving this season, we are grateful for all we have. With the recent surge in coronavirus cases across the country, we remember especially those who can be most vulnerable — seniors. At a gathering of senior care experts, the invocation before dinner was given by a senior who delivered it with the flair and timing of a seasoned comedian. Click on image above to view video.
Fun Fact
After our recent convention elections, we ask...
Question: When was the first woman in the diocese of Delaware elected to a mission committee?

Clue: It came about after a significant event led to more women being recognized for their efforts and abilities.

Answer: Here
Cycle of Prayer in the Episcopal Church in Delaware
This week (week of November 22), in our diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we hold up in prayer all clergy in the Episcopal Church in Delaware, active and retired. For the 2020-2021 diocesan Cycle of Prayer Calendar click here.
News from the Episcopal Church in Delaware and community
Save the Dates!

Sunday, December 13, 4:00 p.m.
The Choir School concert as Artists-in-Residence at Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library!
This fun-filled holiday concert is sure to warm your heart. The intergenerational choir will tell classic holiday stories through song, including “A Dickens Christmas” and other traditional favorites. Reserve tickets to this family-friendly event today! Optional Add-On: Winterthur Yuletide House Tour. Make us a part of your family’s holiday traditions! Tickets and more information

Sunday, December 20, 6:00 p.m.
Second Annual Diocesan Christmas Lessons and Carols
a livestream service
led by the Choir School of Delaware
Bishop Brown preaching
Update on mission efforts at the US Mexico border
In March, a team from St. Barnabas, Wilmington, planned to go to the southern border and support the efforts of Team Brownsville there, until their plans were changed by COVID-19. For an update on the work that is being done, see here.
The Rev. Canon Mark Harris makes headlines in the Cape Gazette
"Plagued by thoughts of the increasing pandemic death toll across the nation, Mark Harris, a retired Episcopal priest and creative printmaker, struggled with how he could memorialize those who had fallen victim to the COVID-19 virus." Read article here.

Join Province III's Racial Justice Ministry for a book discussion of
How to Be an Antiracist, culminating in a session with Ibram X. Kendi
Province III is hosting 10 Zoom sessions on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
You may join at any time.

News from the Episcopal Church
AdventWord provides visual and written meditations during the liturgical season of Advent. In 2020, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29. The written meditations will be provided in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and in American Sign Language on YouTube. Each morning during Advent, the meditations are distributed: on AdventWord.org, Email, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Around the world, prayers ascend in response to the meditations. People post their reflections on their respective social media pages, tagging AdventWord on the platform. From there, AdventWord shares and reposts on each site – amplifying the prayers during this holy season. Explore the different ways that people respond to the daily words, whether written meditations, drawings, photographs, or poems.
New this year! #AdventWord offerings include a podcast for each day, voiced by Virginia Theological Seminary community members, and produced in partnership with Forward Movement. More information about how to sign up here.
Looking Ahead: 80th General Convention Set for July 7-14, 2022 in Baltimore
Read a letter to Episcopalians from Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings here.
Episcopal Church plants seeds for 11 new ministries
At its October meeting, The Episcopal Church Executive Council approved grants totaling $365,000 for new church starts and missional communities. More information in English here and in Spanish here.
Fourth season of The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry podcast continues with guests Kory Caudill and Wordsmith
Season 4 of The Episcopal Church’s podcast The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry, is now available. In the latest episode, Bishop Curry talks with Kory Caudill and Wordsmith, two musicians supporting the Concert for the Human Family series — a project in collaboration with The Episcopal Church’s Becoming Beloved Community initiative, which seeks to build a world where all people may experience dignity and abundant life and see themselves and others as beloved children of God. More information here.
Tell Me Something Good, a new web series from The Episcopal Church. Now available!
A new web series from the Episcopal Church, highlights positive stories from around the church through conversations with a variety of guests. New episodes of Tell Me Something Good will be released every two weeks. Episode 1 is available for viewing on the website here, on Facebook here. More information
Teaching and Preaching: Churches Revisioning Unity in Christ through the Holidays
Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), an ecumenical multi-lateral dialogue among ten Protestant faith communions in the USA announces the release of new, ecumenical resources for local congregations to utilize during the upcoming holiday season. The resources are designed to help local churches experience Thanksgiving and Watchnight (New Year’s Eve) through the lens of racial equity. More information
Showing Up for Each Other: Conversations with Episcopal Missionaries
The Episcopal Church Global Partnerships Office presents a new webinar series, Showing Up for Each Other: Conversations with Episcopal Missionaries, this November and December. Members of the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) and Episcopal Volunteers in Mission (EVIM) will share stories and lessons they have learned through walking alongside partners across the worldwide Anglican Communion. More information
‘You can’t just jump to hope’: Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on healing after the election
Curry spoke to Religion News Service about what divides the United States, what people of faith can do to help bridge those divisions and why he believes healing is possible. More information.
Fauci and Collins dispense Thanksgiving COVID-19 advice at National Cathedral forum
Infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci advised weighing the risks. National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said he’s skipping the family gathering this year. More information.
November issue of the Episcopal Evangelism Newsletter
"My prayer for all of us as we move toward Thanksgiving and Advent is that we can share the Good News of this great love in ways that will help others feel known and seen, welcomed and wanted, loved and cared for, no matter how different we are." Jerusalem Greer, Staff Officer for Evangelism, reflects upon the Doxology. Read newsletter here.
Kent K. Anker named Episcopal Church Chief Legal Officer
Kent K. Anker of Pleasantville, New York, has been named chief legal officer of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. The appointment was made by the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church. He was jointly nominated by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings. More information.
How to bring together a divided nation
Bishop Michael Curry shares his message of how to hold onto hope in troubling times. See Good Morning America video here.
Preparing to Become the Beloved Community curriculum revised for Advent 2020
New and updated Advent and Christmas resources for congregations, dioceses, and communities of faith are available, with additional resources coming soon. Available now: Preparing to Become the Beloved Community Advent curriculum; Way of Love Digital Invitation Kit; updated Journeying the Way of Love Advent calendar and curriculum; AdventWord 2020; Episcopal Migration Ministries Refugee Prayer Vigil. And be sure to sign up for daily Advent and Christmas emails. Find Advent and Christmas resources from The Episcopal Church here. More information here. Spanish here. French here.
Episcopal Church announces 2020 Beloved Community “Rapid-Response” grant recipients
The Executive Council of The Episcopal Church has awarded thirty-three Beloved Community “Rapid-Response” grants totaling $187,800 to address the racial disparities laid bare by the coronavirus pandemic and for groups responding to racist violence and policing reform. Awards began in late summer and the final round were approved at Council’s October 2020 meeting. More information here. Spanish here.
Special 2020 Parochial Report Form
Following the October 9-12, 2020 meeting of Executive Council, the Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe, Executive Officer of the General Convention, has announced that the form for the 2020 Parochial Report is now viewable on the General Convention website. More information here. Spanish here. French here.
2021 Roanridge Trust grants available for leadership development in small towns and rural communities Applications due December 18, 2020
Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 Roanridge Trust Grant Awards. Dioceses, congregations, and Episcopal Church related organizations and institutions are invited to apply. More information here. Spanish here. French here.
News from the Anglican Communion
Church of England’s “Anglican Communion” service
The national weekly online worship service from the Church of England on Sunday 15 November, broadcast from Lambeth Palace, was themed around the Anglican Communion and featured speakers from. around the world in celebration of the connectedness of the Anglican Communion .View service here.
Living in love and faith
The culmination of what is thought to be the largest research and consultation project into identity and sexuality carried out by a Christian church has been published by the Church of England. Living in Love and Faith (LLF) is a collection of Christian teaching resources to help parishioners address issues of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. More information
Archbishop Justin Welby pays tribute after death of Britain’s former Chief Rabbi Sacks
The Archbishop of Canterbury paid tribute to the former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth, Lord Jonathan Sacks, who died on November 7. Rabbi Sacks served as Chief Rabbi for 22 years before retiring in 2013. Archbishop Justin spoke of his “deep sadness”, and said that Rabbi Sacks had “devoted so much of his life to reflecting on God at the most profound level – and we are all the beneficiaries of his wisdom...His books, other writings, lectures, and media appearances were followed and admired not only by the Jewish community but by millions of Christians and people of all faiths and none. His sparkling address to the Lambeth Conference in 2008 is still remembered today ... His influence will endure for years to come through the many he inspired, influenced and touched with his warmth and wisdom." More information, including Rabbi Sacks’ address to the 2008 Lambeth Conference.
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