What are we to do in times like this? | |
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Dear Companions on the Journey,
It has been a week ruled by the horrible aftermath of terrorism. So many times, we have heard the words: “Never again.” Never again will there be another slaughter of Jewish people. Never again we will remain silent or look away from brutality heaped upon our siblings. Never again will we allow antisemitism to rise and flourish among us. Never again.
And yet an act of terrorism aimed at non-combatants has taken place that continues to shake us each day as more detailed information is discovered. It is absolutely necessary that we hold on to hope for the missing, the kidnapped, and any being held against their will. At the same time, we must hold the same hope for those caught in the danger of the war that resulted from terrorism. Read more.
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This Is My Story: Learning to Share Our Faith Stories
Fall Diocesan Learning Event
SAT, OCT 21 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM | St. Elizabeth's, Ridgewood
Registration deadline: 5 PM TODAY
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Choosing God's Way: Baptismal Promises, Discernment and Justice
THU, NOV 16 | 7-8:30 PM | ZOOM
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Each November, as we celebrate All Saints and All Souls, close out the church liturgical year and move towards Advent, we will be pausing to focus on the essential Christian practice of discernment. We are called to so much more than belief and participation in Sunday worship in order to become fully disciples of Christ. The practices of our spiritual lives enrich us and make us more able to proclaim the gospel and serve others. Discernment means seeking God’s will and way alongside our own needs and desires, and responding to community with an awareness of God and self. How do we do all this? What does a faithful life marked by discernment look like?
Our speaker at this year’s online discernment event will be the Rev. Melanie Mullen, who serves as The Episcopal Church’s Director of Reconciliation, Justice & Creation Care, charged with bringing the Jesus Movement to the world’s concerns. Before joining the Presiding Bishop’s staff, she was the Downtown Missioner at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, leading a historic southern congregation’s missional, civic, and reconciliation ministries.
This event will be held via Zoom. Please register online and the Zoom link will be emailed to you on the morning of Nov. 16.
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Anti-Racism Dialogues
SAT, NOV 4, 11 & 18 | 9 AM – 12:30 PM | Zoom
There is still time to register for the November session of the Anti-Racism Dialogues. The dialogues are presented over three consecutive Saturdays, November 4, 11 and 18 over ZOOM. Registrants must attend all three dates in order to complete the program and receive a certificate. The dialogues are open to all people in the Diocese of Newark and encouraged for those in parish leadership roles like vestry, finance committee, youth ministry and Sunday School, and greeters and ushers. Please note, if you are sitting on a board or any office of the Diocese this training is a requirement.*
Please consider members of your congregations, vestries or others who are interested in the work of our commission to consider attending these sessions. By our Baptism and promise to uphold the dignity of all, we are called to this ongoing learning of what it means to follow The Way of Love.
Each installment runs from 9 AM - 12:30 PM on ZOOM. We meet via Zoom for large and small group discussions on the interconnected topics of racism, oppression, equity and justice.
The deadline for registration is Friday, October 27 by 5 PM.
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Anti-Sexism Training
SAT, NOV 4 | 8:30 AM - 3 PM | St. Stephen's, Millburn
Like the Anti-Racism Dialogues, Anti-Sexism Training is also required for diocesan office holders.*
The training includes thoughtful discussion, interactive exercises, videos, and presentations. The format has been changed to work virtually, with pre-work in the form of readings and surveys that will be mailed to each registrant.
Cost: $25 per person, to cover the cost of food and materials. The registration deadline is Monday, OCT 30 by 5 PM.
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*No person shall be eligible for election to any office at Convention, nor shall any person elected by Districts, or appointed to serve on Diocesan Council or other Diocesan Standing Committees, Commissions or Boards accede to that office, unless that person shall have first completed or arranged for the completion of anti-racism dialogues and anti-sexism training as approved by the Bishop after consultation with the Diocesan bodies responsible for each training. (Diocesan Canon 2.6) | | |
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Registration for 2024 Confirmation services
WED, NOV 1
Registration for our 2024 Confirmation services opens on Wednesday, November 1. Clergy and wardens are asked to mark your calendars and be ready to register your Candidates.
The schedule for the six Confirmation services being held in 2024 is posted on the Confirmation webpage, along with the maximum number of Candidates for each service. Registration for each service will close automatically once the maximum number of Candidates is reached, or on March 1, 2024, whichever comes first.
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Youth events
Diocese of Newark Youth Rally
SAT, OCT 21 | 2:30-6:30 PM | St. Stephen's, Millburn
A time of worship, formation, and fun "get to know you" activities for youth in grades 6-12 from across our diocese, with a dinner of pizza and s'mores.
Applications open for General Convention 2024 Official Youth Presence
Episcopal teens ages 16 to 19 are invited to apply to become part of the 81st General Convention’s Official Youth Presence, a group whose members have seat and voice in the House of Deputies and can testify at hearings before and during the summer 2024 convention. The deadline to apply is Nov. 17.
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October 2023 update from the Strategic Visioning Team | |
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A year after the Diocese of Newark launched a visioning process in September 2022, the Strategic Visioning Team presented their recommendations to the diocese’s governing bodies in three meetings held September 27 and 28 and October 1.
Their final report is now in the hands of Diocesan Council, which has principal oversight for deciding how the recommended goals and initiatives will be implemented. Read more.
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Open enrollment for eligible clergy and lay employees
October 11 - November 1, 2023 is Annual Enrollment time for medical and dental plans for eligible clergy and lay employees.
This year’s big news is that we will have a new dental provider. If you intend to have dental insurance next year you must login and select a plan. Find out more.
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Volunteers needed to help with diocesan archives | |
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Are you interested in volunteering some time from your own home to assist the Diocese of Newark in maintaining our historical archives?
As we prepare to move to our new headquarters, John King is organizing and digitizing archival materials. This includes The Newark Churchman, the predecessor to The VOICE and The VOICE Online, with over 400 issues published from 1905 - 1977. We are attempting to create an online library of The Newark Churchman that will be accessible to the entire diocese.
We need individuals who are interested in reviewing the issues online and cataloguing the churches, committees and individuals mentioned in the articles. This will help us create an index of articles so we can locate information when the need arises.
We are also missing a few issues of The Newark Churchman and asking any individuals or churches who have copies to let us know.
Find out more.
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Clergy ministry transitions
Arrival: AUG 1 - The Rev. Lorraine Harris, Rector, Epiphany & Christ Church, Orange
Departure: OCT 1 - The Rev. Dr. Bill Allport, Rector, St. Paul's, Engelwood
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Happening at Our Churches | |
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Rummage Sale
FRI, NOV 10 | 2-7 PM & SAT, NOV 11 | 9 AM - 1 PM
St. Clement's, Hawthorne
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Holiday Gala
SAT, NOV 18 | 7-10 PM | St. George's, Maplewood
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Cross Roads is the ecumenical camp and retreat center of our diocese and the NJ Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Women’s Retreat: "Breathe"
OCT 20-22
Take time to catch your breath this fall at the annual Women's Retreat. Using the spiritual gifts of prayer, scripture, song, conversation, and silence, we will be invited to breathe in the Spirit of the Living God. This is a great opportunity to rest and reconnect with God and our community. This year's theme is BREATHE and will be led by Led by Laurie Matarazzo and Dale Selover. Learn more and register online.
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| Do you put out a Jack-o-lantern for Halloween? | | | |
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The VOICE Online is published every other Wednesday
Next issue: WED, NOV 1
Submission deadline: FRI, OCT 27, 10 AM
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Follow the Episcopal Diocese of Newark at: | | | | |
