A biweekly publication for telling and hearing the stories
of this extraordinary time
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
|
|
Pastoral letter on the guidelines for in-person worship in the Diocese of Newark
|
|
This week, guidelines for indoor worship and gatherings have been published for the use of all the churches of our diocese. We can all be grateful for the Journey Forward Team’s hard work. Co-chaired by the Rev. Vicki McGrath, All Saints’, Millington and Ms. Pat McKenzie, Church of the Saviour, Denville, this group researched and reflected on the challenges and needs of our congregations at worship.
The guidelines and planning forms they created are important tools for helping every congregation to decide when and how to begin in-person worship.
Read more.
|
|
|
Bishop Hughes' sermon at the diocesan Memorial Service
|
Here is Bishop Hughes' sermon at the live-streamed diocesan Memorial Service on June 13, 2020, at which we mourned online those whom we could not mourn in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click on the video at right to watch (closed captions available; time: 12:51), or
click here to read the transcript.
|
|
|
If you'd like to watch the full Memorial Service (time: 55:15),
click here.
|
|
Stories of the journey – floods, deserts, and home by another way – forward
|
|
These last few months have been different from anything in living memory. We are all left in some way unmoored, set adrift, not knowing how to find the way, or even where we are going. Some of us are still in the early stages of dealing with unbearable loss, some have risked their lives for the good of the community, some of us find ourselves in a precarious status with regard to job, home or food, some of us have had the relative luxury of working safely from home and had food and family with us—and yet, none of us knows really what we will face next.
Read more.
|
|
|
Stories from Our Congregations
|
|
Montclair congregation’s food ministry addresses often-unseen food insecurity in the suburbs
|
|
The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is transforming the 38-year-old feeding ministry of one Diocese of Newark congregation. Toni’s Kitchen at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, New Jersey, has quadrupled the number of meals it serves each week, causing the ministry to run far over budget and turning its normally quiet building into a bustling food warehouse.
Read more.
|
|
|
The Diocese of Newark has set up online giving to support the diocese’s food pantries. Simply visit
e-giving.dioceseofnewark.org
and go to Area of Greatest Need: Food Pantries (second item from the top). Donations made from June 24 through July 7, 2020 will go to Toni's Kitchen.
|
|
St. Mark's, Teaneck moves annual variety show online
|
The red carpet was out on Saturday, May 16th, but it was more likely trod by bunny slippers than platform heels as choir members and friends of St. Mark’s Church in Teaneck staged a “virtual variety show” called
Saturday Night, Semi-Live.
Read more.
|
|
|
St. Stephen's Red Ribbon for Racial Justice Project
|
If you happen to be driving or walking by St. Stephen’s Church in downtown Millburn, you'll see a simple, pandemic-safe way to show support for racial justice: you can stop and tie one of the red ribbons provided on their fence, joining with others in the community who have already done so. This visual witness might just encourage someone’s change of heart, which is the first step to the kind of change that can literally change the world.
|
|
Checking In: A Lay Conversation with the Bishop
TUE, JUN 30, 6 PM
|
Bishop Carlye Hughes is eager to once again spend time in conversation with the members of the diocese, to reflect and consider what we, our churches, and our communities have learned and experienced as we have adjusted to the changes this time has demanded of us. This second monthly Zoom conversation is open to all members of the diocese.
Find out more.
|
|
|
Also, save the date for next Lay Conversation with the Bishop on
Tuesday, July 21.
|
|
Save the date for your Regional Ministry Network's summer Zoom call
|
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on every aspect of our lives has yet to be fully realized. The impact on mental health has already begun to show itself.
In May and early June, Bishop Hughes hosted Zoom gathering with all diocesan congregations, grouped into eight
Regional Ministry Networks. For the Summer Zoom gatherings of these Networks, the Bishop has asked Canon Margo Clark to engage an expert on mental health topics, depression in particular, so prevalent during this time of sustained trauma due to the pandemic. Dr. Dan Hale from Johns Hopkins will be with us to talk about depression mental health in communities of faith. He has a new book on the topic (limited copies will be available) In the words of an early book review, his book will help us all “… (become) well informed, inspired to seek help, engage in self-care, remain hopeful, and reach out to those who have suffered in the shadows for so long from this crippling illness.” Please join to learn more and to talk about how to help support mental health in our congregations and in other parts of our lives! Dr. Hale is a passionate and interesting speaker, you will learn a lot!
The four Summer Zoom gatherings will each include two adjacent Networks as follows:
- THU, JUL 23: Benedict of Nursia (North East) and Augustine of Hippo (East)
- THU, JUL 30: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Central North) and Absalom Jones (South East)
- THU, AUG 20: Florence Li Tim-Oi (Central South) and Evelyn Underhill (South)
- THU, AUG 27: Constance and her Companions (North West) and Harriet Tubman (South West)
More information will be forthcoming in the July 8 edition of
The Voice Online.
|
|
Cross Roads' Wednesdays Away: Summer Edition
WED, JUL 7 & WED, AUG 5
|
Join Cross Roads this summer for special online Wednesdays Away gatherings on July 1 and August 5. These gatherings will occur virtually on Zoom, from 10 am until noon, and are open to all people interested in deepening their spiritual life this summer.
Click here to learn more and register.
|
|
|
Anti-Racism Training via Zoom
FRI, JUL 10, JUL 17, JUL 24 & JUL 31, 7-9 PM
|
Did you know? While anti-racism training is required for diocesan office holders, clergy and diocesan staff, it's open to - and recommended for - everyone. What better time than now?
This training, offered by the Diocese of New Jersey in four Friday evening sessions, fulfills our diocesan requirements. Registration deadline
July 6; fee $50.
Find out more.
|
|
Prayers and Reflections on Pandemic, Racism, and Protest
for college students
THU, JUN 25, 6:30 PM
|
All college students of the diocese (rising Freshmen through Seniors) are invited to join online via Zoom with Bishop Hughes to share hopes, worries and fears in this uncertain time. The gathering will begin and end with prayers and hymns and will feature a stirring homily by Bishop Hughes.
Find out more.
|
|
|
Pop In With Pop Up
SUN, JUL 5, 4 PM
|
|
|
Cross Roads Camp Sunday
SUN, JUL 12
|
Join Episcopal and Lutheran congregations around the state for a Cross Roads Camp Sunday on July 12! The camp staff will provide a ready-to-use worship service recording, including a sermon from Executive Director Anthony Briggs, for churches to use if they choose, in place of or as part of their services.
Congregational leaders will have the option to download the full service, just the sermon, or stream the service on the
Cross Roads YouTube channel. Materials, including the videos, will be available by Monday, July 6 on the
Cross Roads website.
|
|
|
Cross Roads' summer programs for youth
|
Registration is OPEN for Cross Roads' virtual summer camp programming, including
Leadership Lab, a week-long leadership program for high schoolers (July 19-25), and
Day Camp at Home, a five-day day-camp-at-home program for younger campers (July 13-17).
|
|
|
Diocesan Announcements & Resources
|
|
New Journey Forward page for congregational worship guidelines & resources
|
|
Opportunities to worship online
|
We are continuing to post opportunities to worship online with congregations across our diocese on our
Online & Home Worship page. Please send changes to Nina Nicholson at
nnicholson@dioceseofnewark.org.
Updates received after 4 PM Friday will be posted the following week.
|
|
Prayers of Pandemic from the Diocese of Newark
|
|
News from The Episcopal Church
|
|
LEARN, PRAY, ACT:
Resources for Addressing Racist Violence and Police Brutality
|
In this time of national upheaval, outrage, and fear, The Episcopal Church’s Department of Reconciliation, Justice and Creation Care and the Office of Government Relations have assembled resources to assist individuals, congregations and communities seeking to LEARN, PRAY and ACT. Please use and share these resources, and send your own resources and stories.
|
|
A Toolbox for Understanding Data Trends in The Episcopal Church
|
In January of 2020, the General Convention Office released a new data tool that allows congregations and dioceses to view ten year trends in Parochial Report data, as well as provide a demographic snapshot for the neighborhood around every parish in the United States. This tool is available online and accessible to everyone.
|
|
Episcopal News Service coverage of COVID-19 and the Church
|
|
The VOICE Online is currently being published every other Wednesday
|
|
Follow the Episcopal Diocese of Newark at:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
