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

Wednesday, October 21, 2020
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From Our Bishop
A blessed effort: Diocesan Communion on November 8
Bishop Hughes invites members of the diocese to participate in – and pray for – the first Diocesan Communion on Sunday, November 8, 2020.

Click on the video at right to watch (time: 3:49), or click here to read the transcript.
A Season of Prayer for an Election
A Season of Prayer: For an Election
#seasonofprayer Oct 27 - Nov 4
The Diocese of Newark is joining with Forward Movement and The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations for A Season of Prayer: For an Election for a novena (nine days) October 27 - November 4.

A novena is an ancient tradition of nine days of devotional prayers, often with a specific intention. In this case, we pray for discernment in voting and for the well-being of our nation.

As we move toward the election of leaders for the United States, may we all join in a season of prayer, committing to offer to God our fears and frustrations, our hopes and dreams.

Printable materials from Forward Movement are available in English and Spanish to download and use at home or with your congregation. These prayers, drawn from The Book of Common Prayer, can be printed out and tucked in a Bible or prayer journal.

Forward Movement has also made available graphics to share on social media which can be downloaded in English and Spanish.
Election vigils via live stream
NOV 2, 3 & 4
Short services will be held via live stream on the Eve of Election Day, Election Day and the day after Election Day, as follows:

  • 8 PM on Monday, Nov. 2 (Election Eve)
  • 7 PM on Tuesday, Nov. 3 (Election Day)
  • 7 PM on Wednesday, Nov. 4

In addition, the Great Litany will be prayed by live stream at 12 noon on each of those three days.

These services are intended to help us focus on repentance, reconciliation, and the work before us, no matter the outcome of the election.

More information about the services will be posted here as it becomes available.

We thank the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis for sharing their graphic LIGHT A CANDLE, PRAY FOR THE NATION, VOTE with the wider Church.
Other Upcoming Events
Practicing Christ: The Way of Jesus as Transformative Practice
Free preview: THU, NOV 12, 6-7:30 PM
Full course: MON, JAN 11 - MAR 1, 6-7:30 PM
“This is a time for emotional, mental, spiritual resilience. We've got to have the resilience and flexibility to roll with the punches,” says the Rev. Bob Morris.

“Each of us has an irrevocable connection with God whether we know it or not – a taproot into the divine spirit. The purpose of spiritual practice is to keep that healthy and to let it grow deeper, so the source of our resilience is not just in our own psychological practices, but is open it to the flow of grace which is available to all of us.”

To that end, Morris and the Rev. Anthony Puca have organized an eight-week online course, Practicing Christ: The Way of Jesus as Transformative Practice. Read more.
Plan Ahead Workshop on Planned Giving
SAT, OCT 24, 9:30-11:30 AM
Hosted by the Bishop’s Office on Stewardship, the all-new Plan Ahead Zoom worship with Jim Murphy of the ECF will provide church leaders with a road map for either getting started in planned giving, or re-vitalizing an existing planned giving program.

The registration deadline is 5 PM Thursday, October 22. Find out more and register online.
A Speaker Series on Race
MON, NOV 2, 9 & 16, 6:30-8 PM
The Diocese of Newark is hosting a Speaker Series on Race co-hosted by Bishop Hughes and the Namaste Anti-Racism Commission. On three consecutive Mondays in November, three leaders from within The Episcopal Church will reflect on the question “How are we talking about race in The Episcopal Church?” Each speaker will provide a unique understanding and an opportunity for reflections on race.

The speakers will be:
Dr. Catherine Meeks
Diocese of Atlanta
Monday, November 2
The Rev. Charles Wynder, Jr.
Diocese of New Hampshire
Monday, November 9
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
Diocese of New York
Monday, November 16
Find out more, and please advertise the dates and times within your congregation.
Namaste Anti-Racism Dialogue via Zoom
SAT, NOV 7, 14 & 21 9 AM - 12 PM
The Namaste Commission Members are piloting an Anti-Racism Dialogue on three consecutive Saturdays in November via Zoom. Attendance at all three sessions is required to receive the certification necessary to hold any diocesan office. Find out more and register online.
Save the date:
Diocesan Communion
SUN, NOV 8
During these unusual circumstances, Bishop Hughes wants to ensure that everyone in the Diocese of Newark has the opportunity to receive Communion at least three times in this program year. The first Diocesan Communion will be Sunday, November 8. Find out more.
Features
Stewardship Matters: It's personal
Over the past several weeks, we've held a number of stewardship talks, centered on three key concepts – all particularly relevant to running an Annual Pledge Campaign in a pandemic:

  1. Stewardship is relationship-based
  2. Why we need to "layer" communications
  3. The power of focused messaging

Don't let your congregation's story go untold!
Submit items for consideration for the Nov. 4 issue of The VOICE Online by 10 AM Friday, Oct. 30 at dioceseofnewark.org/VOICE-submissions.
Diocesan Announcements & Resources
Marge Christie Fund to support churches’ online worship
The Marge Christie Fund has a balance of unallocated funds, and Diocesan Council has approved a second funding cycle for 2020.

All purchases of physical A/V equipment to support online worship, made between Mar. 9 - Nov. 15, are eligible for consideration.

The application deadline is 12 noon on Monday, November 16. Find out more and apply online.
On the COVID-19
Information page
Please send changes to Nina Nicholson at nnicholson@dioceseofnewark.org.
Updates received after 4 PM Friday will be posted the following week.

A holy place in virtual space for mourning and memory.
Prayers can be sent to Canon Wright at awright@dioceseofnewark.org for posting.
Please include the name and town of your church.
Clergy ministry transitions
Arrivals
  • The Rev. Beverly Huck, Priest-in-Charge, St. Luke’s, Haworth - OCT 15
  • The Rev. Anne C. Thatcher, Rector, St. Peter's, Morristown - NOV 23

Departures
  • The Rev. Dean Weber, Rector, All Saint's, Leonia - OCT 5

Click here for all clergy ministry transitions in 2020.
Happening at Cross Roads
Gap Year Program at Cross Roads
Applications to join this Gap Year Program at Cross Roads for the spring semester are now open! Young adults ages 18+ are invited to apply to live on-site as part of an intentional community, while taking classes online, working, and/or spending the year doing service in the community. Learn more and apply here.
Wednesdays Away
WED, NOV 4
Join us for Wednesdays Away, a time of spiritual renewal one Wednesday a month. This upcoming year we will continue to gather virtually from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Zoom. Explore upcoming themes and register for one or more gatherings on the Cross Roads' website. The next gathering is on Wednesday, November 4, and Ruth Roemer will lead a session titled, “Give Thanks, with a Grateful Heart.” Register here.
Partner with Cross Roads for Christian Education
It is not too late to join the Cross Roads Bold Transformational Faith (BTF) initiative! BTF is an opportunity for congregations to work with summer camp professionals to strengthen faith formation programs, develop new ways of engaging youth and young adults, and build up leaders. Learn more about BTF and how to get involved.
Volunteers Needed
There are a number of projects around camp that we could use volunteers to help us work on this fall. If you are interested in donating your time and talents, please email our Maintenance Director Joe Marra at Joe@CrossRoadsRetreat.com to talk about potential projects.
News from the wider church
Episcopal Evangelism Grants accepting applications
Deadline: NOV 15
Episcopal institutions can now apply for the next round of the Episcopal Evangelism Grants Program, designed to fund local and regional evangelism efforts in the Episcopal Church. The new grant cycle will focus on projects that explore new methods of evangelism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out more.
The VOICE Online is currently being published every other Wednesday