From the Office of the Bishop
BISHOP'S REFLECTION SERIES
‘Remember From Where We Came’
Final Reflection

Remember - Zakar - Anamnesis – The 2021 Diocesan Convention reviewed some of the fruitfulness of the Diocesan Vision of Parousia: God’s Vision for God’s Church on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. During which, the 152nd Diocesan Convention gave its overwhelming approval and support for its implementation and progress. The Bishop’s Address for the past three conventions has focused on the vision God’s Spirit offered to our diocese and the fruit of the Spirit’s work in manifesting and leading its implementation. Much credit goes out to the over 100 lay and clergy (including many who had not been previously involved in diocesan ministry) who have embraced this vision and devoted precious time, talent and energy to ensure God’s will and purpose is faithfully carried out.

Also, of the delegates surveyed after the 153rd Diocesan Convention over 85% of respondents felt confident that the diocese is heading in the right direction. This is testament that, despite a global pandemic, there is a high level of optimism for the present and future ministry and mission of the Diocese of Easton and its family of churches. Equally, God’s people are supportive of their parishes, clergy, and lay people and this is indeed reaffirming and worthy of commendation.

It would be sacrilegious and dishonorable to allow the sacrifice and labor of love of the thousands of lay, clergy and bishops, that have nurtured and sustained this church for over 150 years to vanish into oblivion. We owe it to them to continue to labor in love and sacrifice to ensure that this evolving community of faith remains alive and bearing fruit for the kingdom of God here on the eastern shore.

I have heard the stories of clergy and lay and come to discern how much the Diocese of Easton has been integral to their ministry. It has certainly given a second chance (parousia) to many whose ministry was at a crossroads and who needed a place to recover and reconnect with their faith call; to recapture the passion and reason for their call to ministry, to recalibrate, rejuvenate and fall in love with Jesus all over again. One of the greatest gifts of this church is the enormous grace and mercy shared with so many in their times of weariness – often under the burden and weight of some horrible experiences. Therefore, I believe that this church deserves our faithful discipleship in this, its hour of struggle, to survive as God’s church on the eastern shore. Granted, as fallible and broken humans, we will get many things wrong. However, through our collective will and determination inspired by the Holy Spirit we shall certainly get many things right as well. We call on the whole community of faith and body of Christ to recommit to this new energy and determination to lead our diocese to fulfill God’s mission, grounded in the ministry call to be the ‘light of the world’ and ‘salt of the earth.’

While healthy critique helps to keep us humble and prayerful, unhealthy negativism has no place in this new and evolving enterprise. "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17. Let me take this opportunity to appeal to everyone to join this movement and become part of something ‘bigger’ than ourselves for God’s kingdom on the eastern shore.

My beloved in Christ, I love you with unwavering loyalty and unflappable commitment to be your friend and servant bishop. Together, by God’s grace and the Spirit’s guidance we shall overcome and prosper. As the hymn writer reminds us, TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!

+San
Bishop's Spotlight
With food insecurities more acute in light of the ongoing pandemic, St. Andrews Princess Anne now has a 'Blessing Box.' Bishop San blessed the box and prayed for the initiative during his most recent visit. People are encouraged to take what they need and leave what they can from the little supermarket at St. Andrews.
Bishop San also recently welcomed five new confirmands at Emmanuel Church, Chestertown. He was encouraged to see the number of young people joining the Episcopal Church.

This past Sunday, Bishop San visited Christ Church, Stevensville and received four members into the Episcopal Church. The bishop was impressed with the many ministries at their parish that extend into the wider community. He visited the room where the Backpack Ministry is administered, he shared in their Soup & Salad Ministry and was encouraged to hear of the many initiatives the Parish continues to engage in even during the pandemic.
Province 3 Synod

The Province 3 Synod meets on Monday, May 3rd from 9:30 - 12:30. The diocesan delegates representing Diocese of Easton are Jane Morgan, Catherine Wise Ridley & Mary Friel.
Thank you for your continued support
of the mission and ministries of our Diocese.

More From the Office of the Bishop
Brayhouse summer office hours will begin on June 1st.
Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 4:30 pm.
3rd Annual Clergy Conference
May 10th - 11th via Zoom

The guest speaker will be The Right Rev. Mark D. W. Edington, the Bishop Suffragan of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, speaking on his new book We Shall Be Changed. Questions for the Post-Pandemic Church. We will be welcoming clergy from the Diocese of Delaware as well as the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. This is a unique opportunity to meet clergy from other dioceses and to participate in discussions about what our Church will look like as we come out of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.
Rev. Chuck and Adele Hatfields’ Retirement

The Reverend Chuck Hatfield, Rector, All Hallows’ Parish, Snow Hill, has indicated his decision to retire from active ministry as of May 23, Feast of Pentecost. Chuck was called as rector in the fall of 2017 and has been very instrumental in leading the parish through a very critical period of transition and pastoral stability, more so in these times of COVID 19. Adele came out of retirement to accept the call to serve as Assistant Rector, St. Peter’s Parish, Salisbury. They have both been an integral part of diocesan life and ministry and clericus gatherings.
 
The Hatfields are retiring to North Carolina to be around family members especially grandchildren but will remain canonically resident in the Diocese of Easton. The Bishop and diocesan family extend God’s blessing and guidance to the Hatfileds in their retirement. Prayers and best wishes!
                                                            Diocesan Council

The Diocesan Council, at its first meeting post-convention, and in compliance to Canons 302. Sec 1 of the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Easton elected the Reverend Dr. Darcy Williams (Priest-in-Charge, Emmanuel Parish, Chestertown) as Vice-President of Council, the Reverend David Michaud, (Rector, St. Peter’s Parish, Salisbury) as Secretary and the Reverend Laura McCarthy (Deacon, St. Peter's Parish, Salisbury) as Recording Secretary. Laura also serves as Secretary of Diocesan Convention. We give thanks for the leadership of these servants of the church and continue to support them in their respective responsibilities.
Difference Movement - Global Champions Gathering

Members of the Diocese of Easton's Difference movement were invited by the Difference Team at Lambeth Palace and the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Justin Welby, to join them for a Global Champions Gathering. The gathering took place on Wednesday, April 21st and included church and community leaders across the globe who are actively engaging: Difference: The Power of Faith in a Conflicted World. The program is an initiative launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office on Healing and Reconciliation. In attendance from the Diocese of Easton were Bishop San, Joanne Fisher, Rev. Kevin Cross and Jim Kamihachi.

It was remarkable to be among leaders around the Anglican Communion sharing their faith stories on the impact the program has been having in their local and global jurisdictions. There were participants from Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the United States. The diocesan team was up at 4:00 in the morning to participate in the gathering which was 9:00 a.m. United Kingdom time. It was a wonderful to witness the Diocese of Easton connecting in a common cause for reconciliation under the aegis and leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury and to listen to his vision for the program’s global impact.
Invitation from Archbishop Justin & Difference Run the Course - Difference

In a divided and fractured world, it can be hard to know where to begin with the issues that surround us.

Difference is a 5 session course that explores what it means to follow Jesus in the face of conflict and see transformation through everyday encounters.

This course is designed for both large and small, new and existing church-based groups online or in person. Learn more here.

The Diversity Awareness Commission is also happy to help co-host or run a course for your church or community. Please email Joanne Fisher if you would like more information about this offering or if you would like to learn more about our partnership with the Difference movement.
Archbishop of Canterbury launches film series exploring how Christians can be peacemakers We are really excited to share with you 'Faith in a Conflicted World': a new mini-film series from Archbishop Justin Welby, hot off the press!

These five films explore our calling as followers of Jesus to cross divides and build relationship, and how the three habits at the heart of Difference - Be Curious, Be Present and Reimagine - can help us do just that. Learn more here. Watch here.
Formation Deep Dive

All About General Convention 2022 (It's Coming to Province 3!)
with Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies
May 24th, 12pm-1pm on Zoom
Hear about volunteer opportunities at next Summer's General Convention in Baltimore as well as getting an overview of how it all works.

Final Excerpts from Bishop’s 153rd Annual Convention Address
The Post COVID-19 Diocese of Easton

Readers’ Note: You may read the entire address on our website.

As is patently obvious, the virus has severely impacted all of our in-person ministries. However, our diocesan leaders have been actively planning and projecting toward a post COVID-19 Church. This Diocesan Convention is a major component to that mindset. I would not want anyone to think that our diocesan leaders were not busy and active during the time of this pandemic. Nothing could be further from the truth! We, as a diocesan family, have been conscientiously and deliberately discerning and incarnating new and evolving approaches of being church - always on the frontline of God’s mission and ministry.

The (10) Questions for a Viable Vibrant Post COVID 19 Church
With the evidence of efficacious vaccines on the market and anticipation for life returning to a new ‘normal’, albeit under a somewhat different dispensation, I now pose to the diocese ten (10) questions that I am directing each parish to reflect and ponder for a post COVID 19 church. The post COVID church is likely to be a renewed church and signs of this renewal have been emerging throughout life in the diocese during this pandemic. Again, we welcome the creativity, sensibility, new creation, fortitude and never-die attitude of the diocesan family through this pandemic. Here are the ten (10) questions:

Questions to Reflect Upon
  1. What does this pandemic have to say to us about the future of your parish and the other parishes in your Convocation?
  2. How is this pandemic shaping and reshaping our relationships with each other?
  3. What kind of community do we want to become?
  4. What have been crucial and noteworthy learnings about ourselves these past 12 months of physical distancing with limited or no experience of Eucharist? 
  5. Do we want this pandemic to be over so that we can return to business as usual?
  6. Are the compassionate acts such as maintaining regular contact with parishioners, especially our home care family members, just a temporary reality?
  7. What do we want more of?
  8. How do we maintain the community that we are establishing during this period as/or when we transition back to physical contact with one another?
  9. How do we plan to transition? Both in-person and hybrid worship?
  10. Do we want something? - Resuscitation or Resurrection (Clergy were given the text of the presentation on the difference between these two description of church).

Parishes are authorized to develop further questions that may be germane to their context. The Rt. Rev. Mark D. W. Edington (Bishop Suffragan of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe) has recently edited and published a book entitled We Shall Be Changed: Questions for the Post-Pandemic Church. Contributors are several Episcopal Bishops and their assessment on the post- pandemic church. I have invited Bishop Edington to be guest speaker and conference leader at our clergy conference, May 10-11, 2021. While still working out many of the details, I am anticipating being able to invite the wardens of congregations without clergy leadership as well as lay members of strategic diocesan leadership teams such as the Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Diversity Awareness Commission and Commission on Ministry to this gathering. My beloved family, our post COVID diocese will be calling on every leader to be prepared and well informed about the future design of this church going forward. Furthermore, in terms of the 2021 Statistical Report, I am directing parishes to log both their in-person and virtual attendance, taking caution to carefully indicate those numbers separately. 

Conclusion
Finally, the year 2020 was by all standards unprecedented in its difficulties and challenges, and we anticipate 2021 to be somewhat similar, and 2022 will likewise be faced with the residual effects within Christ’s body. Clergy and lay have risen exceptionally well to the occasions that demanded so much with so few resources and learnings; we are writing the script as it is being played out before our very eyes. As expected, we have all made mistakes in the process, but by God’s grace and love, by our individual and corporate acts of contrition, and by our Christian fortitude and forgiveness one to the other, this community of faith is gradually recovering from the trauma of loss in varying ways. Each of us must give thanks for the others in our lives, seen and unseen, and for bringing out the very best of humanity in each other.
 
To emphasize the optimism that I have for our life together, I am pleased to announce to this 153rd Annual Diocesan Convention that I am declaring the years 2021 and 2022, to be “YEARS OF CONGREGATIONAL RESILIENCE.” We will intentionally focus on devoting our energies toward congregational sustainability – care of the baptized members and the wider community in God’s mission field in each of the villages, towns, and cities where we embody ministry.
 
I wish to sincerely thank all councils, committees, boards, commissions, and task forces for giving so much of your precious time, talents, and stewardship of presence to lead this diocese in this difficult season. Of note, Diocesan Council did some exceptional work this past year. I owe a debt of gratitude to the staff at the Office of the Bishop for continuing to faithfully serve our diocesan family all through the heightened uncertainty around the pandemic. Similarly, I humbly extend my sincere heart-felt appreciation to all our clergy and lay leaders who have led their congregations this past year. Your quiet and steady leadership should serve as an inspiration for us all. And I thank my wife Lynn for holding me together in these tough times. She is my source of encouragement, stability and love; a shoulder to cry on at times when the pain of caring for this church becomes weighty. Most of all, I am grateful to my Lord, Savior and brother Jesus, for never giving up on me and forever being a very present help in all times and seasons. I am confident that together we will get through this pandemic and by God’s grace emerge a far better people of God.

My beloved in Christ, the inner life of Christ is a communion of persons. As such, the existential question I put before you this day is:

HOW SHALL WE FAITHFULLY AND PRAYERFULLY MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AS ONE DIOCESAN FAMILY?

Let us pray:

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)
Faithful Fridays with Bishop San
 
Bishop San will continue to create and post a devotional video every Friday. The videos will be available via the Bishop’s Blog on the Diocesan website as well as on our Facebook page. Be sure to bookmark these links and tune in every Friday for inspiration and spiritual reflection.
DIOCESAN TRAIL 2 TRUTH PILGRIMAGE
Saturday, October 9th - Sunday, October 10th, 2021

SAVE THE DATE!

The diocese is partnering with Province 3 on their second Trail2Truth Pilgrimage exploring the topic of God's call on us to love and listen across racial divides. The weekend, designed for high school students, will include a Zoom worship with other dioceses across the mid-atlantic, a visit to the Harriet Tubman Museum and a camp out at the Hillsboro Retreat Center. Keep an eye out for more to come! Or you may also email Joanne Fisher to make sure your name is added to the interest list (or to join the planning team).
What are the Vaccines?

Pfizer Vaccine has been authorized for emergency use. Two doses, delivered three weeks apart. 95% effective at preventing serious illness. Injection-site pain, fatigue, headaches, chills.

Moderna Vaccine has been authorized for emergency use. Two doses, delivered four weeks apart. 94.1% effective at preventing serious illness. Injection-site pain, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, headaches, chills.

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine has been authorized for emergency use. One dose. 85% effective at preventing severe illness. Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain.
NEW Covid 19 Guidance for Maryland Schools

Here is the newest edition of COVID-19 Guidance for Maryland Schools, a joint effort by the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Department of Health. Specifically, this document provides updated guidance on:

  • Physical distancing
  • COVID-19 testing
  • Quarantine of close contacts
  • In-person learning and vaccination

Updated sections are helpfully color-coded for your reference.
Prayers of the People

Please continue to keep in your prayers those infected with Coronavirus, those who have died as a result of the virus, and medical personnel and first responders.

Please continue to include over the next several Sundays prayers for healing, reconciliation and unity among all God's beloved people in our nation and particularly for those involved in government work.

Let us pray:
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered together under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one God and Creator of us all; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever.
– For Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815

Oh God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your son. Look now with compassion on the entire human family; and particularly this part of the family, in the United States, and those in our nation’s capital; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
– For the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815

We ask God to heal us, to show us the way to healing, to show us the way to be one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
CAMP WRIGHT CORNER
Camp Wright recently held a yard sale and raised over $1600!! It was a great day!!
We are currently hiring a registrar, this is a 7 month part time position. Email Julia, director@campwright.com for more information.

We are still seeking nurses for summer camp! Camp nurses can be RNs, Nurse Practitioners, MDs, EMTs. They handle daily medication administration, blisters, bruises and provide care to our staff and campers. Nurses work one session or multiple sessions and we have a couple of nurse opportunities still available for this summer. Camp Wright pays nurses a daily stipend or exchanges camp tuition in exchange for services. Email Julia, director@campwright.com for more information. 

Summer staff applications are open on our website: 

As always, feel free to reach out to our camp director, Julia Connelly, if you have any questions or need any additional information.

More information about summer camp 2021 is available on our website.


All paperwork and payment is due by June 1st 
Camp Wright is working to be a Covid-safe place for fun, growth, and learning this summer. Up-to-date information about our Covid protocols and infection control plan can be found here. Please save this link as this page will be updated frequently.
Happenings Around The Diocese
St. Paul's Trappe hosts 2nd Annual Spring Cleaning and Grow It/Eat It Outreach Event. St. Paul’s, Trappe is serving 30 families in need in a two-part outreach event that took place on April 24th, and will again this Saturday, May 1 from 9 to 11am at the Rev. Gordon Morrison Parish Hall behind our church. We partner with our local school, the town office, and our community Facebook page to reach families in need. Each family will receive a bag of 10 kinds of cleaning supplies (Thank you St. Paul’s volunteers who did all the shopping and bagging!), a box of grape tomatoes (donated by a parishioner and Teddy Bear Fresh!), a recipe featuring a delicious and healthy meal they can make with their tomatoes, several kinds of vegetable seeds (Thank you, Talbot County Master Gardener Program and Seed Library!) with planting instructions in English and Spanish, and a beautiful live vegetable plant to help get the garden started (Thank you, Eastern Shore Nurseries!). 
 
This effort ,and others planned for this year, grew from a grant received last year from the Diocesan Fund for Church Initiatives. The granting program funds innovative projects that help bring new life and energy to congregations and the communities they serve. This opportunity helped St. Paul’s get started with a formalized plan to serve our community. Thanks to lessons learned and relationships built in our first year – we better understand the needs of our community and can do all we can to be a resource in God’s name and connect resources with need.
Trinity Cathedral, Easton Where are you in your journey? Priest to offer “Introduction to the Spiritual Journey” Sundays at 9 a.m. EASTON— The Rev. Sandra Casey-Martus, Assistant Dean of Trinity Cathedral, is bringing her passion project to the Cathedral and to anyone who is interested in learning about Christ Centered Prayer and its profound benefits. Sandy will offer an 8-week Introduction to the Spiritual Journey on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. in Miller Hall on the Trinity Cathedral campus. Everyone is welcome, no matter where they are in their own journeys. Jesus invites all to follow him and find rest for their souls. This course will show you how to say “Yes!” to this invitation. The class will explore the goals of Christian living and the way we humans tend to lose our way despite our best intentions. Casey-Martus asks, “What may we reasonably expect to realize in daily life as a result of a more intimate union with the risen Lord? As Jesus says, ‘Come and see!’” For more information, you can visit the cathedral’s website at www.trinitycathedraleaston.com, email trinitycathedraleaston@gmail.com or call the parish office at 410-822-1931.
Carmelite Sisters Donate Prie-Dieu to 9/11 Museum
Episcopal Carmel of St. Teresa, Rising Sun
Excerpted from an Article first appearing in the Cicil Whig, April 7, 2021)

Emotions were flowing Sunday at the Episcopal Carmel of St. Teresa as the prie-dieu, which belonged to Father Mychal Judge, was donated to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. Read More! Click here.
POST YOUR EVENT!
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.
RETREAT HOUSE HAPPENINGS


Walking for Peace and Healing
World Labyrinth Day
Saturday, May 1st



The Retreat House honors World Labyrinth Day on May 1st as we join in this world-wide moving meditation for peace and wholeness. After a year of great challenge, this ancient walking practice offers a place set aside to settle into the simple rhythm of walking, to reflect, look within, or pray. Slowing down helps to empty the mind, relax the body, open the heart, and refresh the spirit.

The intention of this world event “is to bring people from all over the planet together, to raise awareness, and promote healing, wholeness, and peace during an especially needed time in our pandemic weary world.” If you are not near a labyrinth, and would like to engage in a walking meditation right where you are, we offer this walking meditation practice. If you are looking for a labyrinth closer to home or work, check out the World-wide Labyrinth Locator. Or, come to Hillsboro and enjoy the peace and beauty of the Retreat House labyrinth.

The labyrinth is an ancient, archetypal path used for walking meditation by millions of people across many cultures and faiths. Our labyrinth is patterned after the design used in the Chartres Cathedral in France.

The Spirituality of Gardening
Wisdom Circle
with Mary Anne La Torre

"There is no separation between the garden
and the gardener."
Ark Redwood, The Art of Mindful Gardening

Thursdays, May 13 - 27
1:00 - 2:00 pm

In-person - May 13 / Via Zoom - May 20 and 27

Time in the garden can become a healing and nourishing experience, a place for us to find presence and peace. In this wisdom circle, we will learn how to slow down the mind and body to find that quiet calm, being with the garden in a gentle and intentional way.

All are welcome - gardening skills not required!

~ explore meditative practices designed to help us experience the earth and the energy of the plants

~ notice how setting this intention brings a more aware state and peace to both us and the plants in our midst

~ reflect with others upon some of the life lessons we can learn from gardening

We will begin this wisdom circle on the grounds of the Retreat House in Hillsboro and continue practicing our techniques throughout the weeks to come in our home garden and environment. Our second and third sessions will be from home via Zoom.


Creative Spirit with Heather Hall

Retreat Day, Saturday, May 15
9:30am - 3:00pm

Our souls speak many languages: words, sights, sounds, textures, rhythms and movement, to name just a few. While writers, composers, artists and performers may speak these languages more eloquently, we all have a Creative Spirit. Learn to access your Creative Spirit and discover the message God is sharing with you!

Let’s release expectations, play and be curious for a day. This retreat is a safe space to come together as we embrace the Creative Spirit within each of us. During this retreat, we will explore: storytelling, visual arts, lyrics & poetry, music & voice, and the body in motion. No experience needed! 

Creative Spirit will take place inside the Retreat House and on the beautiful grounds (weather depending), following Covid safe practices. Please bring your own lunch and your mask. Tea, coffee and water provided. A suggested donation of $40 will be gratefully accepted; however, please don’t let finances keep you from attending. Please register online below or by email by Wednesday, May 12th: info@retreathousehillsboro.org


AA meetings are in-person and via Zoom.  
Fridays: 7:30 pm, AA Big Book - in St. Paul's Church
Saturdays: 7:00 pm, AA Women's Candlelight - in the Retreat House
Sundays: 5:30 pm, AA Step - in St. Paul's Church
Click here to attend AA meetings through Zoom.

All are welcome at The Retreat House to take quiet walks among the beautiful old trees, to visit historic St. Paul's Cemetery, or enjoy a labyrinth meditation.

To learn more about a Hermitage Overnight, contact us at info@retreathousehillsboro.org
or call (410) 364-7069.
The suggested donation is $75/night, but please don’t let finances get in the way!
We invite you to take some time for yourself!

We have returned to in-person meetings and continuing with Zoom. Thank you for observing safety protocols while you are here, by wearing masks and maintaining social distance. Please stay safe and be well!

The Retreat House has several trained spiritual directors who are available to help. Learn more in our Spiritual Guidance brochure.

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

We pray for the repose of the soul of the following people and for comfort for their families:

Zack Harbaugh, son of Pastor Greg Harbaugh, St. Peters, Salisbury.

We pray for continued healing and comfort for the following people and their families: for Tom Mendenhall, recovering from a stroke, The Rev. Paula E. Clark bishop-elect of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Bishop Parsley, The Rev. Kevin Cross, The Rev. Dr. Lisa Webb, The Rev. Pete Stanton, The Rev. Bryan Glancey, Larry Samuels, Art Leiby, Becky Richardson, Weasie Kamihachi, Jody Farley, The Rev. Ron Knapp, Jefferson Moak, Susan Carrow, Bonnie Kendall. The Rev. George Merrill. Logan Harbaugh

We pray for the many lives that have been affected by the Coronavirus. For those who have died; for the family members that mourn their loss. For those who continue to heal and for the skilled
caregivers that continue to fight this disease – we pray for you.

Submit prayer requests to: joanne@dioceseofeaston.org. Names are listed for four weeks unless otherwise specified. 
Diocesan Prayer Calendar

Fifth Sunday of Easter
(May 2nd)
We give thanks for the witness of God’s people at Christ Church, St. Michaels, and for their Rector, the Rev. Steve Mosher, and his spouse, Kirsten.

Sixth Sunday of Easter
(May 9th)
We give thanks for the witness to Christ’s love for children through the ministry of Camp Wright, Stevensville, and for its Director, Julia Connelly Zahn; Asst. Director, Kaitlin Horvath and Day Camp Director, Cara Fehrenbacher, and their families.

Seventh Sunday of Easter
(May 16th)
We give thanks for the witness of God’s people at Christ Church, Easton, for their Rector, the Rev. Bill Ortt, and his spouse, Susan.

For additional weeks, please visit our website.
Communication from the
Office of the Presiding Bishop
For People Podcast Welcomes Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
For People Continues its 50th Episode Celebration With Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
This 2-part special release premiered on April 9, 2021, to mark a For People milestone of 50 episodes celebrating “Faith for Real Life.”
In part 2 of this episode, Bishop Wright and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry continue their conversation, sharing how love is the most durable element in this world and how other-centeredness is the antidote for self-centeredness.
They openly discuss the Church’s response to multiple pandemics and the challenges they faced. Presiding Bishop shares a personal reflection on COVID-19 and the lessons learned from isolation.
Listen to this week’s episode – Listen Now
If you missed part 1, listen to the episode here – an engaging conversation about Easter and what it means to follow Jesus.
Episcopal Church Executive Council: Opening remarks from the Presiding Bishop Relief and revival; truth, racial healing, and transformation
"Let me offer some words that reflect on a hymn that you all know that I stumbled on accidentally in one of my morning devotions. I was getting bored, and I started thumbing through the hymnal and I stumbled on to this hymn and there was a part of me that said boy, that’s a perfect hymn for a pandemic. It’s one you know, Where cross the crowded ways of life..." Read here.
Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching the Beloved Community is now live in your favorite podcasting app!  
In this episode of Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community, we speak with Episcopalians committed to the Beloved Community about the texts for Easter Day.
The texts covered in this episode are John 20:1-18 and Mark 16:1-8. Our guests this week are: Jennifer Irving, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Director of Grants at the Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota; the Rev. Shug Goodlow, from the Diocese of Missouri, a transitional deacon at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Ladue, Missouri; and the Rev. Dr. Gavin Shumate, a bivocational priest, serving St. John’s Episcopal Church in Toledo, Oregon, and physician at Integrity Women’s Health & Wellness, LLC, in Newport, Oregon.
Prophetic Voices is a podcast series hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, Episcopal Church staff officer for Racial Reconciliation. Join Brokenleg and invited guests for this six-episode series as they share prophetic voices and explore the readings for Ash Wednesday and each day of Holy Week and Easter through the lens of social justice. Learn more about this podcast and listen to past episodes here. For more information on Becoming Beloved Community Read more here
Beyond the Diocese
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland - Covid Victims Memorial Ribbon Project
Your Diocesan Christian Formation Council and the Cathedral of the Incarnation invite you to participate in a COVID-19 Remembrance Installation. It is our wish to mark and honor the lives lost in Maryland during the ongoing pandemic. The project will consist of a ribbon hanging installation outside at our cathedral. We invite you to participate in this diocesan-wide, state-wide remembrance. Ribbon hanging will begin on Pentecost, May 23rd. Read more here.
The Pain and Prayer Project seeks participants We know that people use many techniques to cope with chronic pain, including praying to God or a higher power. We are trying to better understand what kinds of prayer are most helpful. If you are interested in participating, you can go directly to the screening website. This project is a collaboration between the Episcopal Church in Delaware and academic pain experts. Funded in part by the 2020 United Thank Offering Grant. Read more here.
Washington National Cathedral adds stone carving of Elie Wiesel to Human Rights Porch Washington National Cathedral on April 28 announced that the cathedral has added a stone carving of Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel to its Human Rights Porch, honoring Wiesel’s legacy as a lifelong human rights defender dedicated to combating indifference and intolerance. A survivor of Auschwitz and Buchenwald camps, Wiesel told his story to millions through his autobiographical novel “Night,” bringing the horrors of the Holocaust into stark focus for the world. The carving was done in place by the cathedral’s stonemasons and has been conceived with the involvement of the Wiesel family. Read more here.
Pentecost Season Opens with Way of Love Revival Weekend
‘One in the Spirit’ features churchwide virtual worship and concert
  • The Episcopal Church greets Pentecost with One in the Spirit, a Way of Love Revival Weekend designed to fan the flames of hope, celebrate difference, honor creation, foster beloved community, and send people toward Jesus’s Way of Love. The weekend of events includes the following:Saturday, May 22, 6-7:30 p.m.: Concert for the Human Family and “From Many, One” Community Conversations 
  • Sunday, May 23, 4-5:30 p.m.: Churchwide Pentecost Revival Worship from Philadelphia, Navajoland, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.
Open House for Young Adults Considering a Service Year
Discerning a service year?
Join ESC program directors and Corps members for an online Open House, May 4 at 8 pm Eastern/7 pm Central/6 pm Mountain/5 pm Pacific.
During the hour you’ll have a chance to talk to ESC alumni and current Corps members, find out what it’s like to serve through ESC, and ask any questions you may have. Read more here.
Episcopalians share transformative experiences with Sacred Ground racial justice curriculum
Thousands of Episcopalians gathered on Zoom to celebrate two years of the church’s Sacred Ground curriculum, a 10-part discussion series for small groups that traces the history of systemic racism in America, from its roots to its present realities.
“Gathering on Sacred Ground” was the first churchwide Sacred Ground event, hosted by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and members of his staff. It featured testimony from people who have participated in the series, as well as prayers, music and remarks from Curry. Noting the timeliness of Sacred Ground in the context of the past year’s reckoning on racial injustice in America, Curry thanked everyone who developed and implemented the series for being part of a momentous movement. Watch and read more here.
The Episcopal Church’s Tell Me Something Good web series Episode 2 available now - Watch here
Tell Me Something Good highlights positive stories from around the church through conversations with a variety of guests.
The Rev. Isaac Everett talks about the Charles River Episcopal Co-Housing Endeavor (CRECHE) Community in Boston, which creates and supports a network of mixed-income, intergenerational, co-housing communities in partnership with The Episcopal Church. This episode digs into what it means to equip all the baptized and to root our faith in home practices. It also highlights how following Jesus’ lead by asking “what do you need?” can revolutionize the Eucharistic experience.
New episodes of Tell Me Something Good will be released every two weeks and will be available for viewing, along with Season 1, on The Episcopal Church website here, on Facebook here, and on Instagram TV @theepiscopalchurch. Read more here.
The Episcopal Church launches Concerts for the Human Family
Nashville artist Kory Caudill partners with diverse team on transformative, timely project Concerts for the Human Family, a new artistic collaboration led by The Episcopal Church and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry that explores “the powerful intersection between art, justice and faith,” will launch May 22 with a free digital broadcast filmed at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral.
The inaugural concert, which pairs pianist, composer and musical director Kory Caudill of Nashville, Tenn., and Baltimore-based hip-hop artist Wordsmith, will provide an uplifting journey through the human experience of love, grief, loss and hope – a musical commentary on social reckoning in the United States and a pandemic that has touched every corner of the world. The concert was filmed with special care to follow all safety guidelines outlined by the CDC. Read more here.
A Year in the Life,’ Episode 1: Black Lives Matter
A Year in the Life, filmed throughout the pandemic using COVID-safe protocols, explores how Episcopal schools, ministries, and congregations have adapted to the challenges of the year – from food insecurity to calls for racial justice to worship through restrictions – and more. In this first episode, we visit Trinity Episcopal Church in Ambler, Pa. Read more here.
Episcopal Youth Event/Evento de Jóvenes Episcopales Research Project
We invite you to help us explore the story and legacy of EYE/EJE as we begin to research and understand more deeply what these events mean to The Episcopal Church. The Office of Youth Ministries for The Episcopal Church has contracted with Ministry Architects to conduct a professional and objective evaluation of the almost 40-year-old international triennial Episcopal Youth Event and the more recently added Evento de Jóvenes Episcopales. Since EYE2020 was cancelled due to pandemic, we sought to take advantage of the pause and engage in a research project while we have the capacity to give it the attention it deserves. Now is the time, and we humbly request your help. Read more here.