Bishop San enjoyed his visitation with St. Alban’s in Salisbury this past weekend where he also got to view and bless the quilts that will be going home with our Agape families this Christmas (see article below). He commends the entire parish for their resilience, love, and dedication as a community living into God’s vision for the Church. He complimented Arlene White, Senior Warden, and other lay leaders who have been doing a wonderful job in leading the parish, particularly in the last two years and as their search process continues. Bishop San also recently visited St. Paul’s in Marion Station – a beautiful church situated in the fields of Somerset County. He commended the pastoral leadership of the Rev. Mike Lokey and the lay leadership, whose example once again showcases how a small church in rural Eastern Shore can be a central worshipping community for fellowship & Christian faithfulness. The Bishop continues to be inspired by the level of commitment that all the parishes across the diocese have been exhibiting during this season of Pandemic – showing great creativity, adaptability, and technological savvy even in the most remote areas of the Diocese. The Bishop is always excited when he goes on his visitations – "Sunday visitations are the most inspiring and fulfilling day of my week!"

Bishop San recently announced the appointment of a new Dean for the Southern Convocation, The Very Rev. David Michaud of St. Peter’s in Salisbury, who accepted the Bishop’s appointment during a meeting last week. The Very Rev. Michael Moyer recently resigned the position to accept a call to be Rector of St. Alban's in Tokyo, Japan. Look for more on Rev. Moyer’s transition in a future eNews as we draw closer to his departure.  

When Carrie Connelly (St. Alban’s Salisbury) asked her ShoreBirds Quilt Guild to help make quilts for Agape children, she had no idea the amazing response she would get! The guild has a long history of making quilts for charity and so the idea was very well received. The guild decided they would make about 25 quilts to be distributed at Agape week at Camp Wright in June 2020. The quilters got busy and were on their way to meeting this goal when the Pandemic hit.

One thing not affected by COVID was quilting and so by the end of May the Shorebird ladies had made 43 Agape quilts of all shapes, colors and patterns. Although delayed for over a year, the quilts will finally make it home this Christmas as they become a special part of the Annual Agape Christmas Party. The members of St. Alban’s, along with Bishop San, blessed the quilts last Sunday during worship services. We are grateful for the thousands of hours of work donated to give comfort and warmth to each of our Agape children.

Formation Deep Dives:

Please contact Joanne Fisher or Kate Riley if you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive future invitations - all are welcome.

In 2015 it was determined that the month of October would be designated as ‘Diocesan Heritage Month’. As part of this year’s observance, we are asking that Sunday, October 24th be celebrated as “Essential Workers Sunday”. Read More. Some ideas to consider for October 24th include:

In addition, I am encouraging every parish to designate any Sunday in October to be Diocesan Heritage Sunday. Read More.

Anyone wishing to attend the virtual Forma Conference in January can do so at the discounted cost of $25 by registering through the Diocese. This discount of over $100 is made possible by our partnership with Province 3. Look for registration information in the next eNews or email Joanne Fisher for more information.

The annual Forma Conference is an opportunity to encourage and develop Christian educators, inside and outside the Episcopal tradition, to grow in how they educate and minister. This year, our theme is "The Church for Today and Tomorrow." Read More  

Save the Date – March 5^th, 2022

Worship Leader Training, via Zoom – Three sessions required

Eucharistic Minister Training, in person only

Eucharistic Visitor Training*, in person only (Participants must have completed E.M. training.)

Please contact Dee Rinehart, deerinehart43@gmail.com, to register or ask questions about training.

* Those who plan to participate in both the EM and EV sessions should pack a lunch.

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A Weekend Retreat with Steve Garnaas-Holmes  

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See our calendar for programs and special events. For more information, call (410) 364-7069, click the buttons below or contact Francie Thayer.

St. Paul's Berlin Open House: October 17, 2021: 2:00 - 4:00 pm

We have all missed the puppy kisses and tail wagging. Come to Sailwinds Park in Cambridge, Maryland on October 30th from 9 am to 2 pm to enjoy the dogs again with a Halloween theme. Click here for flyer.

St. Peter's, Salisbury Inquirers Class begins Novemember 9th. Register Today! Interested in becoming Episcopalian, or just curious about the church? Already Episcopalian but want to know more about the faith? Have some questions about worship, or practices, or beliefs, or something else associated with the Episcopal Church? Sign up and take part in this fall’s adult Inquirer’s Class, Tuesday evenings at 7pm. We will begin with a zoom meeting and decide how we want to meet as a class for future meetings. The class will meet six times to learn and discuss issues regarding Episcopal worship, the prayer book, church history, beliefs, church organization, practices and more. The class is informal and can be tailored to topics the group wants to explore. A schedule and a list of topics is available by clicking here: https://stpeterschurch.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-2022-Schedule-Inquirers-Class.pdf,

There are no costs but advanced registration is required: email Father David at davidmichaud07@gmail.com or call the Parish Office and give name and contact information. Deadline for registration is November 1 – so that Father David can order materials for the class.

Church of the Holy Trinity, Oxford Modern Day Missionary On Tuesday, October 5^th Holy Trinity’s Mission Team hosted a Zoom presentation by Matt and Lori Stephens. Both Matt and Lori are Master Mariners who one year ago pulled up stakes from their work in the oil industry in Houston to serve as missionaries on the Logos Hope. Matt, Lori, and their two children have been traveling to islands in the Caribbean bringing the Good News of Christ to each port they visit. The overall purpose of their work is to mobilize local churches around the world into gospel mission so that everyone could have the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus.  We recorded their presentation and it is available for viewing by clicking on the link below.

Christ Church, Easton is looking for someone to lead contemporary music

Job posting is available on our website. If you know someone interested, please have them contact Megan at secretary@christchurcheaston.org.

Organist Wanted: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Princess Anne, Maryland seeks a part time organist for Sunday services from approximately 9:30-11:30am. St. Andrew’s is a historic church in downtown Princess Anne and is rich in the traditions of the Episcopal Church. We have a beautiful Allen pipe organ with 3 manuals, pedals, and MIDI capabilities. Applicants are expected to have a working knowledge of common Hymns, must be able to read music, and ideally, have experience with liturgy. Ear musicians need not apply. The organist is expected to accompany church holidays, weddings, funerals, evening services as needed, and occasionally other significant services as scheduled. Please submit a detailed resume, complete with past experience in the areas outlined above to the church at somersetparish@gmail.com..

Send an email with a short description plus links or attachments to Joanne. Churches are also encouraged to add joanne@dioceseofeaston.org to their local enews.

We are quickly approaching the holiday season and we are so excited to see our parish's celebrating with fun activities!! If you have a holiday event you would like to share with the Diocese, please send a brief article to Beth Devenny for inclusion in our future Enews.

St. Stephen's, Earleville Annual Christmas Bazaar is scheduled for Saturday, November 13, 2021 from 9:00am to 2:00 pm. Vendors, homemade baked goods, crafts, raffle, white elephant & of course, Santa Claus and lots of yummy foods to eat including chili & crab bisque!

St. Andrew's, Princess Anne Annual Bazaar is scheduled for Saturday November 13, 2021. Christmas items, baked goods, and white elephant sale items will be offered. There are always a variety of unique and fascinating items to buy including antiques, fine china, and useful household items. If you love bargains, then this is the place to be! Shop early for Christmas to find that one in a million gift. Mark you calendars and check back on this website to learn more as the time approaches.

St. Peter’s, Salisbury will be holding a HOLIDAY BAZAAR and MARKETPLACE on Friday, November 19th (5-8 pm) and Saturday, November 20th (8 am-1 pm). All are welcome in the air-filtered Parish Hall or online, beginning November 1st, at www.biddingowl.com. Offerings include unique gifts, oyster fritters, baked goods, wreaths and an astonishing assortment of experiences, services and gift baskets. Check https://stpeterschurch.net/holiday-bazaar/ as event nears. 

From the Maryland Department of Health If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19, you may qualify for monoclonal antibody treatment. It’s not a cure, but it may lessen your severity of symptoms. Find out if you’re eligible

Maryland Department of Health launched a new public service announcement urging Marylanders to get their annual flu shots. In the new PSA, MDH also encourages eligible Marylanders to consider getting a COVID-19 booster at the same time. Learn more here.

Book your booster / vaccination appointment today. Make an appointment to get vaccinated by visiting covidvax.maryland.gov or by calling COVID-19 Vaccination Support Center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829) seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Find other vax site locations near you at covidvax.maryland.gov. Federal Government vaccine finder - visit Vaccines.gov or text your zip code to 438829 to find a location near you.

Following a churchwide call for applications, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has named 24 delegates—selected from among 70 applicants—to represent the presiding bishop’s office at the United Nations 26^th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as “COP26.”

Stephen Ministries St. Louis is now training caring ministry leaders through a live, interactive online training experience called the Bridge Leader’s Training Course (BLTC). This event fully trains Stephen Leaders—the pastors, church staff, and lay leaders who begin and lead Stephen Ministry in their congregation. Learn more here.

To learn more about Stephen Ministry, visit www.stephenministries.org or call (314) 428-2600. Additional information about the Bridge Leader’s Training Course is available at www.stephenministries.org/bridge.

These grants are intended to provide funding for an Episcopal ministry (or ecumenical ministry with an Episcopal presence) in a diocese, congregation, or college/university that is currently engaging in or seeking a new relationship with young adults on and off college campuses. An informational webinar is offered Oct. 15 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Learn more and apply here. 

The Executive Council of The Episcopal Church will convene a hybrid meeting Oct. 25-28 in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. Read more here.

What: Informational webinar

When: Noon or 7 p.m. ET Oct. 26

Grant application deadline: Feb. 4

Register here.

Grant applications open for Episcopal Church Constable Fund, Roanridge Trust Applications are open for two grant opportunities offered annually by The Episcopal Church—Constable Fund grants, which focus on religious education, and Roanridge Trust grants, which support leadership development in small towns and rural communities. The application deadline for both is Dec. 12. Learn more here.

“My Way of Love for Small Groups”

“My Way of Love for Small Groups” is an initiative of RenewalWorks, a ministry of Forward Movement, and The Episcopal Church.

Episcopal Church applauds US decision to allow more refugee admissions The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations has issued the following statement about President Joe Biden’s Oct. 8 directive raising the refugee ceiling to 125,000 people for fiscal year 2022, which began Oct. 1. Read more here.

Episcopal Relief & Development supports Food for the Poor’s response to earthquake in Haiti Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with Food For The Poor to provide humanitarian assistance to communities in Haiti that were impacted by the recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

With the support of Episcopal Relief & Development and other partners, Food For The Poor has designed a multi-step response that will support marginalized communities both in the short term and over time. Learn more here.

“Reports to the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church,” commonly referred to as “The Blue Book,” is now available online and in print. The Spanish translation of this publication, “El Libro Azul,” is also available in both formats.

“I encourage all Episcopalians to read through the research, findings, actions, and summaries contained in the 2021 Blue Book reports,” said the Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe, executive officer of the General Convention. “They provide great insight into the myriad work taking place in all facets of The Episcopal Church as we navigate the pressing issues around us and envision our future.” Read more here.

Register now to exhibit at The Episcopal Church’s 80th General Convention Registration for exhibit space at the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church is now open to all organizations and vendors. This triennial event is scheduled for July 7–14, 2022, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Space is limited, and over half of the floorplan has been reserved. Read more here.

Church Pension Group Releases 2021 Annual Report The Church Pension Group (CPG), a financial services organization that serves The Episcopal Church, announced the release of its 2021 Annual Report. Through a series of videos, articles, photographs, and graphics, the Annual Report highlights CPG’s commitment to serve as a stable presence for The Episcopal Church even in the most turbulent of times. Read more here.