A weekly publication for telling and hearing the stories
of this extraordinary time

Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Download the The VOICE Digest printable PDF with highlights from this issue.
From Our Bishop
This Easter, remember that God cares for us and is leading us to safety
As we prepare to celebrate Easter in our homes instead of our church buildings, Bishop Hughes reflects on what the story of Hagar teaches about how God can help us deal with circumstances beyond our control.

Click on the video at right to watch (time: 5:18), or click here to read the transcript.
From Our Canons
Baptism and the Body of Christ
Canon Wright reflects, "When we gather for Eucharist, we are returning to our Baptism. Of course, that's part of our challenge right now, isn't it? To be, for the most part, unable to receive Holy Communion in a direct fashion, to gather with our fellow Christians. That is a challenge. And yet, we are no less the Body of Christ, each of us in our homes, than we are when we gather." Read more.
Diocesan Online Worship
for Holy Week & Easter
Each day throughout Holy Week we are featuring a service from a different church around our diocese, culminating with a live stream of the Easter Day service celebrated by Bishop Hughes at our Cathedral. ( Click here to download the service bulletins in advance.)

Wednesday in Holy Week, April 8, 6 PM
Video: Tenebrae at St. Paul’s Church in Englewood

Maundy Thursday, April 9, 8 PM
Video: Maundy Thursday Mass at Grace Church in Newark

Good Friday, April 10, 12 noon
Video: “Walking the Way of the Cross” at St. Mark’s Church in Teaneck
Video: The Passion Narrative with music at Grace Church in Nutley

Holy Saturday, April 11, 8 AM
Video: Liturgy of Holy Saturday by St John’s Church in Montclair
Live stream: The Great Vigil of Easter at All Saints Parish in Hoboken

Easter Sunday, April 12, 10 AM
Live stream: Bishop Hughes will celebrate & preach
at Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral in Newark
NOTE: We hope to have a direct link to the Easter Day live stream
available in advance, and if so will send it out in a separate email.
How to find the services
There are several ways you can find these services once they become available:

  • Go to the diocesan website, dioceseofnewark.org, and scroll down to the "Featured Video" section.

  • Go to dioceseofnewark.org/worship-online - you will see a link in the Holy Week schedule to each service that's available. (Links to services will remain on this page for later viewing.)

  • Follow the diocesan Facebook page, facebook.com/dionewark. Each service is being posted there as it becomes available.
  • Turn on live stream notifications. The Easter Vigil will be streamed on All Saint's YouTube channel and the Easter Day service will be streamed on the diocesan YouTube channel. Go to each channel and click the red "Subscribe" button to subscribe, then click the bell icon to receive notifications.
We're continuing to post regular Sunday and weekday worship on the Worship Online page . Please send changes to Nina Nicholson at nnicholson@dioceseofnewark.org . Updates received after 4 PM Friday will be posted the following week.
Other Upcoming Online Events
Pop In With Pop Up
SUN, APR 19, 4 PM
Due to the state-wide "Stay at home" order, Pop Up Youth Ministry has started to meet via Zoom. All youth grades 6-12 are invited to participate in the next Zoom meeting, scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at 4 PM. Find out more and register online.
Stories from Our Congregations
We want your stories and photos of this time. What is your congregation doing that's different or new, that might help or inspire other congregations? What is your congregation experiencing that will be important to remember? Was your church covered by local media? We want to share those stories! The submission deadline is 10 AM Friday for the following Wednesday's issue; see the Submission Guidelines .
Adapting discipleship online
The Rev. Tom Mathews, Rector of  Christ Church in Ridgewood, describes how the parish has adapted to remain in communion while they are unable to gather in their church building. Read more.

Right: Christ Church's new Curate, the Rev. Jill Williams, has started posting uplifting messages on the church's Facebook page. This message is from March 14.
The Bells of St. James
St. James Church in Upper Montclair is closed, but their bells let the town know "We are still here for you."

After the noonday chime, Director of Music Sean Price plays hymns and secular songs. This is not recorded - he is up in the bell tower, physically ringing the bells for about 10 minutes.
People walking by stop and listen, smiles on their faces. Drivers even pull over in their cars to listen.

Play the video at right to hear for yourself. (Time: 0:57.)
In the News
The Rev. Janet Broderick:
MAR 31, 2020 | New York Magazine
Diocese of Newark:
APR 3, 2020 | New Jersey Monthly
APR 7, 2020 | New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio
Diocesan Announcements & Resources
Episcopal House is closed to routine operations at this time. Staff are continuing to work remotely from home, and can be reached via their usual work emails and phone numbers as listed in the Staff Directory.

All diocesan events scheduled in April have been postponed or canceled. A decision about May events will be made later in April.
News & resources for this time
Visit dioceseofnewark.org/covid-19 for news and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including messages from Bishop Hughes.

New resource recently added:

Home worship for Holy Week by Canon Wright.
Stewardship Reflections: Gratitude Matters
This week's reflection is "Focusing on the good" by Paul Shackford of St. Andrew's, Harrington Park.

If you'd like to participate in this weekly series please send your reflection (250 word maximum) to Cynthia McChesney, cmcchesney@dioceseofnewark.org.
In addition to these mini-essays, we hope you'll also participate on social media for more! We'll be posting with the hashtag #GratitudeMatters.
Report from Diocesan Council
Diocesan Council met via Zoom on April 1, 2020 to conduct business matters remotely. John King, Director of Administration & Secretary of Convention, reports that Diocesan Council took the following actions:
  • Passed the first cycle recommendations for the Ward J. Herbert Fund's mid-spring funding, totaling just over $65,500.
  • Established the COVID-19 Relief Loan Program for congregations affected by the pandemic.
  • Completed the revisions to the Asset Distribution Policy, which dictates how the proceeds from the sale of closed church properties are allocated.
Grant deadlines
The deadline to submit applications to the Ward J. Herbert Fund for late-spring funding is 12 noon on Monday, April 15. Find out more.
Scholarship funds accepting applications for 2020-21 academic year
The Gertrude Butts Fund, a non-profit corporation organized in 1929, and closely affiliated with the Diocese of Newark, seeks applicants for the 2020-2021 academic year. Application deadline: MON, MAY 4, 2020.

Applications are also being accepted for educational scholarships from The Episcopal Church. A scholarship applicant must be an Episcopalian and must have the endorsement of his/her bishop. Application deadline: TODAY, APR 8, 2020.
News from the Wider Church
"Habits of Grace" from Presiding Bishop Curry
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is offering Habits of Grace, a weekly meditation published on Mondays, to help Episcopalians cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week's meditation: "His eye is on the sparrow." Click here to watch.
Episcopal News Service coverage of COVID-19 and the Church
Go to episcopalnewsservice.org/tag/coronavirus for their full coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic as it's affecting The Episcopal Church.
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