Download The VOICE Digest printable PDF with highlights from this issue.

Bishop Hughes talks about preparing for this Christmas in a way that we've never prepared for Christmas before.

Click on the video at right to watch (time: 4:39), or click here to read the transcript.

Our struggles this past year, with our own global pandemic, with deep concerns for racial justice, with political division, with economic distress, all make me yearn for a reminder of hope.

Advent does that for us; it’s a season rooted in hope. Read more.

This Friday, the Diocese of Newark is invited to join in the final Advent Noonday Prayer at 12 pm on Zoom. The service includes a “Litany of Hope.” Find out more and download the service bulletin.

Zoom and phone information was sent in last Monday's What's happening this week email.

The congregation of Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral in Newark invites you to join them for their Christmas Eve service, being held online via Zoom. Bishop Hughes will be the officiant and preacher.

Sign-in instructions for Zoom will sent in next Monday's What's happening this week email to all subscribers to The VOICE Online.

In observance of Christmas and New Year's, the Bishop and her staff will be on holiday break starting 1 PM Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021.

This six-week study group will focus on building a spiritual and theological response to racial injustice.

At the first session on Jan. 5, we will discuss Chapter 1 of Philippians and the film Harriet. Bring a Bible and Book of Common Prayer. Find out more.

Please register here by 5 PM Monday, Jan. 4. Registrants are asked to commit to attending at least four of the six sessions.

Sponsored by the Diocesan Nourishing Spirituality Group and Interweave, this eight-session course will feature a rooting in Scripture, presentation, discussion, worship and a variety of spiritual practices.

Registration is required. Find out more.

All members of the diocese are welcome to participate in this online event. We hope that all congregations will be represented.

More information will be coming in the Jan. 6, 2021 issue of The Voice Online.

Watch the third and final speaker, Dr. Catherine Meeks, recorded Monday, December 7. (Time: 1:27:39.)

You also can watch the recordings of the first two speakers:

The Very Rev. Miguelina Howell (formerly of this diocese):

The next issue of The VOICE Online will be published Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Submit items for consideration by 10 AM Wednesday, Dec. 23 at dioceseofnewark.org/VOICE-submissions.

Effective Dec. 14, 2020, the revised Journey Forward guidelines will be in effect. All counties in the diocese are currently at a critical risk level, limiting in-person worship to those required to be present to lead worship or provide recording/live streaming support.

Also on the COVID-19 Information page:

Please send changes to Nina Nicholson at nnicholson@dioceseofnewark.org.

A holy place in virtual space for mourning and memory.

Prayers can be sent to Canon Wright at awright@dioceseofnewark.org for posting.

The Ward J. Herbert Board is excited to introduce the new online application process for Ward J. Herbert grants. This process will replace the long Word document with a simple three-step process. Find out more.

The application deadline for the first Ward J. Herbert grant cycle of 2021 is Tuesday, Feb. 16 by 12 noon.

This presentation of the preliminary diocesan budget for 2021 was given by diocesan CFO Sam Reckford on Dec. 9. (Time: 30:53.)

The budget is a work in progress and is expected to be finalized in January 2021 and approved in early February 2021.

For questions, please contact Sam at sreckford@dioceseofnewark.org, or diocesan Controller Noel Garcia at ngarcia@dioceseofnewark.org.

How to identify scam emails.

How to report scam emails.

The pandemic has definitely changed our year. We especially feel it in the holiday season: fewer people are traveling; family gatherings are smaller; many people may be alone this year for the holidays. We need to still be there for each other in this time, though. Reach out to your friends and family and see how they are doing. Make phone calls and video calls, share holiday celebrations by Zoom, have drinks or dinners over FaceTime. Even “old-fashioned” traditions like sending Christmas cards can make a difference. (My wife hangs ours on the kitchen cupboards - looking at them helps us feel more connected to people who are far away.)

It may also help you to keep things as normal as possible. Put up those Christmas decorations and enjoy them, even if guests are not coming to visit. Share photos of your decorations, instead. Christmas can still be festive even with fewer people visiting.

Finally, remember that having more time on our hands due to the restrictions of the pandemic can also be seen as a blessing. It gives us the opportunity to focus ourselves on the true meaning of the season.

The Episcopal Mental and Spiritual Health Crisis Ministry is a group of ordained and lay leaders from mental health fields committed to supporting Episcopalians across New Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rev. Alan Leonard, who serves in the Diocese of New Jersey, is a member along with clergy and laity from the Diocese of Newark. For resources: njmindspirit.org. To talk to someone: 609-365-WARM (9276) Wednesdays 10 AM - 12 noon & Fridays 4 - 6 PM.

Your church can still join the Bold Transformational Faith (BTF) initiative. Join Cross Roads for weekly Sunday School at 11 am or 4 pm or use the curriculum on your own time. The four-week ADVENTure curriculum begins on Sunday, November 29 and after a Christmas break, BTF resumes with a NEW Sunday School curriculum on January 10. Learn more here.

Are you looking to meet new people and explore your faith in the new year? In place of a one weekend retreat, this year Cross Roads is offering a weekly Young Adult Small Group devotional experience for the month of January, from 7-8 pm every Thursday on Zoom. All young adults, ages 18 to 30ish, are invited to participate. Sign up here.

EXPLORE! with Cross Roads this winter at our virtual youth retreats. Over the course of a few hours, kids and youth leaders will EXPLORE the ways God is present in our world and in our lives. There are three EXPLORE! retreat dates and times for different age groups. Find all information including registration here.

No matter what exactly next summer at Cross Roads looks like, we will need trustworthy and creative young adults to help serve the Cross Roads community. Applications to work on Summer Staff 2021 are now OPEN! Learn more and apply on the Cross Roads website. You can read the most recent update about summer camp at Cross Roads here.

While we may not feel joyful this year – as the pandemic of disease continues to bring sickness and death, when fear and mistrust – a darkness – threatens to overcome the light – we, as followers of Jesus Christ must bear joy to this aching world. We must shine light into the darkness. Joy to the world! Read the full message, and watch the video.