News, events and features of interest to members and friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, the Episcopal Church in northern New Jersey.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020
From Our Bishop
Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Mark 6:31b

Jesus’ invitation to go to a quiet place for rest comes in the midst of life-changing ministry for all who were near him. I imagine some of the disciples may have wondered why Jesus would lead them to a quiet place and rest when they had just returned from starting new ministries. They returned full of stories and may have been ready to do more. But before they could start something new Jesus suggested rest in a quiet place. Read more.
From Our Canons
Just in Time: Lent
By Canon Wright
Lent begins next week and many churches have been making their plans for some time. However, if you are still trying to decide how to observe the season, here are some ideas just in time for Lent. I particularly have in mind smaller churches and churches without regular clergy, but these could be used in almost any church. Many thanks to Canon Clark for brainstorming many of these ideas. Read more.
Upcoming Events
Requiem for Louie Crew Clay
THU, FEB 20, 10 AM @ GRACE, NEWARK
Join Bishop Hughes in celebrating the life of Louie Crew Clay, a giant of the Church. Parking information for Grace Church is here .
Houses of Worship Security Presentation
SAT, MAR 7, 11 AM @ TRINITY & ST. PHILIP'S CATHEDRAL, NEWARK
Parish Safety Committee Chairpersons may wish to attend this presentation hosted by our Cathedral. Find out more.
Confirmation Retreats
SAT, MAR 7, 9 AM - 4 PM
@ CHRIST CHURCH, POMPTON
Registration deadline: MON, MAR 2, 5 PM
SAT, APR 4, 9 AM - 4 PM
@ ST. JAMES, UPPER MONTCLAIR
Registration deadline: MON, MAR 30, 5 PM
Church Leader University Spring 2020
SAT, MAR 21, 7:45AM @ ST. ELIZABETH'S, RIDGEWOOD
Registration is open and workshop descriptions are available for Church Leader University, a training day for ALL congregational lay leaders to learn, network and celebrate your ministry. Find out more and register online.

Registration is required by 5 PM on Monday, March 16 . Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
Anti-Racism Dialogues
FRI & SAT, MAR 13 & 14 @ EPISCOPAL HOUSE
Candidates elected office at the Annual Diocesan Convention must have completed anti-racism training with the past five years. Registration deadline: MAR 6. Find out more and register online.
See also Upcoming Community Events , posted by our congregations and associated organizations.
For Youth & Young Adults
Episcopal Youth Event 2020
TUE, JUL 7 - SAT, JUL 11
@ UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
Applications are being accepted until Feb. 28 for the 2020 Episcopal Youth Event (EYE20), a churchwide gathering of youth, from all over the US and beyond, that occurs every three years.

Youth participants must be enrolled in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade during this school year or must have turned at least 15 and be no older than 19 by the start of the event. We also need an adult chaperone for every 6 youth who attend. Find out more.
Pop Up Youth Event: Cross Roads' Middle School Retreat
FRI-SUN, MAR 13-15
FRI-SUN, APR 24-26
Middle schoolers gather for an intimate weekend at Cross Roads. The same great retreat will be offered on the weekends of March 13-15 and April 24-26, so choose the date that works for you. Find out more.
Cross Roads Camp is hiring Summer Staff 2020
The application to join the Cross Roads Summer Staff next summer is now open! Encourage young adults you know to consider spending their summer making a difference while having fun. Find out more at crossroadsretreat.com/employment.

Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center is a welcoming, ecumenical retreat center and camp of our diocese and the NJ Synod of the ELCA. Find out more at crossroadsretreat.com .
UBE Scholarship applications now accepted for 2020-21
Applications for the annual scholarship offered by the Newark Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) are now being accepted. The UBE Scholarship is open to ALL high school seniors graduating in 2020 and entering any institution of higher education, who are actively engaged in the life, work and ministry of an Episcopal Congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. Application deadline: April 3, 2020 for 2020-2021 academic year. Go to the application form.
In the News
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry (originally from this diocese) :
FEB 8, 2020 | FOX 2 Detroit
FEB 10, 2020 | CNN
St. Luke's, Montclair:
FEB 10, 2020 | Montclair Local
We love to share stories of what our congregations are doing! Wednesday, Feb. 26 is the deadline to submit stories, photos and links to media coverage for the next issue of The VOICE Online on March 4 . Go to the submission guidelines .
Diocesan Announcements
Grant application deadlines
MON, MAR 2, 12 NOON - ACTS/VIM Fund
Provides financial support of programs and projects that encourages community outreach.

Provides congregational missional funds for the support, strengthening, development and renewal of our congregations’ mission and ministry.
Sign up for Lenten email meditations
Lenten email meditations will be published starting Ash Wednesday, February 26, and continuing through and including Holy Saturday, April 11.

To subscribe to the meditations, please visit dioceseofnewark.org/publications.
Lent Madness begins Feb. 27!
Want to be inspired by some saintly souls this Lent and have fun along the way? Join with thousands of Christians across denominations who have discovered the joyful online learning community that is Lent Madness. Read more.
Behold, Become, Begin:
The Stewardship Game
A highlight of Convention was the introduction of Behold, Become, Begin: The Stewardship Game, a game specially created for the diocese to help each of us explore new and creative ways to put our spiritual gifts to work. Each congregation was given a game set to take back, and more are available to purchase. Find out more.
Clergy ministry transitions
Arrivals
  • The Rev. Jill Williams, Curate, Christ Church, Ridgewood - FEB 1

See all clergy ministry transitions in 2019 and 2020 .
Check out our other publications
The Winter 2019-20 issue of The VOICE Digest, a quarterly printable publication, can now be downloaded here, to share with congregations and visitors through March 17.

Also, check out our other diocesan e-newsletter, Leadership News. Emailed monthly on the last Wednesday, it contains key information from Episcopal House for church leaders, including - but not restricted to - clergy, staff, wardens, vestry and committee chairs. Click here to subscribe to future issues and read archived issues.
The VOICE Online is published twice a month September-May (1st and 3rd Wednesday) and monthly June-August (3rd Wednesday only).