What can you do? Give this a try
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Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action
In the month of June, join The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Migration Ministries for
Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action, a series of webinars to learn and advocate with and on behalf of immigrants, DACA recipients, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Find out more >
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Watch for Synod information
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The COVID-19 pandemic is making many changes necessary. One of these is the re-planning of the 2021 Synod. It will be necessary to make changes to ordinances prior to that time. Watch for the notices regarding these issues.
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This issue features stories and updates on the ministries and programs happening around our Diocese, including a special message from Bishop Bill.
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Matthew 6: 19-21 tells us “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Wait a minute—surely, they didn’t know there would be a Coronavirus pandemic—could Jesus have known there would be shortages? Should I be tearing down my barn to build a bigger barn, so I can stockpile my toilet paper?
In these extraordinary times, your diocesan Stewardship committee offers you the following information and inspiration to help you navigate these uncharted waters.
Read more >
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Pentecost Project 2020 - The Convocation Youth are invited to submit creative ideas for a project we are calling “Pentecost Project 2020”. We are going to tell the story of Pentecost and we need your help! Check out the
attachment for all the details. You can create a short video, drawing, claymation, lego scene…anything that helps tell the story of Pentecost. We’ve broken down the reading into different parts and you can choose what part you want to focus on. Or you can submit something for every part! For any questions, email
Youthcommission@tec-europe.org
We can’t wait to see what creative ways we can tell the story of Pentecost!
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Bishop Dietsche's reconciliation sermon from March 8th, 2020:
Here is the full transcript of Bishop Dietsche's reconciliation sermon that he gave following the 111th Synod in Havana - where the US and Cuban Episcopal Churches were officially reunited. It's a historically significant sermon that is worth reading from start to finish.
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Teaming Up For Health
May 5, 2020 - My plans were set. I was traveling to la Gonâve, Haiti with a medical team from First Scots Presbyterian Church during the last week of February. I am not a medical professional, so I planned to do educational/recreational outreach at St. Croix, a school near the clinic. As sometimes happens in Haiti, plans change. When we arrived on the island, we learned that schools were closed for “Carnivale.” Another team member and I volunteered to paint the school cafeteria instead. Many students and teachers joined us. We were even treated to a musical kazoo concert.
Read the story >
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How can faith help us face the challenges of coronavirus? How do we manage our desire to help others while maintaining our own safety? Father John Merz, an Episcopal priest in Brooklyn, has answers. Drawing on his disaster relief experiences during Hurricane Sandy, Father Merz shares practical lessons for doing charitable work in times of crisis, as well as spiritual lessons for helping loved ones through one of the greatest struggles of our lifetime. Hosted by Ginia Bellafante, writer of the Big City column in The Times.
Find the story here >
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As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people across the world to shelter in place, many have turned to the arts for entertainment, solace and inspiration. The VOICE Online is profiling some of the many artists in the Diocese of Newark and sharing examples of their talents.
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The two diocesan bishops who share responsibility for the State of New Jersey have called on the state to reduce its prison population, and take other measures to counter the disparate impact that the COVID-19 virus is having on people of color.
In a wide-ranging
pastoral letter, Carlye J. Hughes, the Bishop of Newark, and William H. Stokes, the Bishop of New Jersey, address “the evil of mass incarceration” and call for:
- Stopping or severely curbing the arrest and incarceration rate of persons for low-level offenses;
- Releasing those in prison who are vulnerable to COVID-19 due to age or health conditions and who statistically represent a low risk of recidivism.
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Congregational Vitality and Formation Webinars: The ministry of strengthening and building a congregation is a truly vital one. The maxim that if you are standing still you are probably really going backwards is as true of churches as it is of businesses. While there are no simple answers—every congregation is different and should celebrate the fact—there are extensive resources available to help each one discern the path that will work best, and then to act effectively. Available webinars:
- Online Giving: Diocesan Formation Corner
- Online Giving: Diocesan Clergy Corner
- Grief and Loss
- Talk Saves Lives
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Barnie Parker's Sharing Shed sits outside St. John’s of Catharine, stored with basic needs from boxed foods, feminine hygiene, to cleaning products and more for the community.
Read more HERE on the shed, and about Barnie Parker.
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Diocese of the Virgin Islands
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The Episcopal Dioceses of Western New York & Northwestern Pennsylvania
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edotvi.org/visiting-supply-clergy - The Episcopal Diocese of the Virgin Islands in partnership with The Episcopal Church (TEC) through the Office of Black Ministries has embarked on a collaborative program to provide supply clergy support to some of its parishes and missions in the Diocese of the Virgin Islands. There are 7 congregations in the program that reside on four islands. The program is seeking visiting supply clergy desiring to provide Eucharistic Services, Christian Formation and Pastoral Care to a participating church. Clergy will be required to commit to a minimum of 2 weeks, or for up to 4 weeks. Air transportation, housing and a small stipend for ground transportation will be provided. Clergy will be responsible for incidentals. For additional information please email the Reverend Ronald C. Byrd, Sr., at the Office of Black Ministries. (
rbyrd@episcopalchurch.org).
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Parishes across our dioceses continue to respond to the needs of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trinity, Fredonia has raised $1,200 to provide meals purchased from a local restaurant to first responders from the Fredonia Police and Fredonia Fire Departments.
The St. Peter's Blessing Box aka "The Mini Pantry" at
St. Peter's, Niagara Falls is refilled two or three times per week with non-perishable foods and personal care items.
(Photo: The Rev. Helen Harper of St. Peter's, Niagara Falls)
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Complete information is on the website
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President:
T
he Rev. Dahn Dean Gandell
(Rochester)
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Lay Representative to Provincial Council:
Yvonne O’Neal
(New York)
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