A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDING BISHOP
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's 2021 Easter Message
When I get to heaven — and I know it may sound presumptuous for me to say it, but I live by grace and believe in amazing grace — when I get to heaven, I certainly want to see the Lord. But I want to see dear members of family and friends, those who have gone on before, the many people I want to sit down and have some conversation with. Of all the biblical people, aside from the Lord himself, when I get to heaven, I want to meet Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene, who was one of the people, one of the women, who followed the way and teachings of Jesus and who probably provided much of the funding for his movement. Mary Magdalene, who with some of the other women and only one of the male disciples, stood with his mother, Mary, at the cross as he died. Mary Magdalene, who, even after he died, on that Easter morning, got up with some of the other women early in the morning, before the day had begun, in the dark, got up to perform the rituals of love to anoint the body of Jesus in his grave.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Bishops of African Descent issued open letter against racism and anti-Asian violence
Episcopal Bishops of African Descent has issued an open letter for Holy Week speaking out against racism and anti-Asian violence. Episcopal Bishops of African Descent is a caucus within The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops attentive to issues of race and justice and the voice of people of color in the church. It has grown to become a multiracial group comprising members who are Black, Native Indigenous and of Asian descent. In addition to advocacy for full inclusion of people of color in the church, Episcopal Bishops of African Descent provides fellowship and mutual support to one another in the House of Bishops.
DIOCESAN
Internships at Bellwether Farm
Bellwether Farm is currently seeking a Sustainable Farm intern and a Culinary intern. Full job descriptions and more information are available on the Bellwether Farm website. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to William Powel, Canon to the Ordinary, Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, at wpowel@dohio.org.
Quality Training for Your 2021 Stewardship Team
The Congregations and Christian Formation office is partnering with TENS to provide a series of four webinars offering stewardship training for your parish. The 90-minute webinars will be held on the first Tuesday of each month from May through August beginning at 6:30 pm. There is no cost. More details and registration information are available. 
Carlotta East Scholarship
Applications are now being accepted for the Carlotta East Scholarship. This scholarship fund was established in 1945 to assist Episcopal women who need aid to complete their education, upgrade skills before returning to the workforce, or complete religious training. Interest and dividends, in addition to other donations, are used for the scholarships each year. The usual grant for scholarship aid is approximately $1,000 per applicant. Exceptions in amounts granted may be made by the Carlotta East Scholarship Committee. Applications may be obtained from Susan Quill, the Carlotta East Scholarship Committee Chair, via email or online at the Diocese of Ohio ECW webpage. Written references will be required from your rector and from two other persons who are familiar with your need and qualifications. If your parish has no rector currently, the reference should come from the senior warden. The deadline for receipt of applications and references is March 31. 
Stations of the Cross: Pandemic Hope
Bellwether Farm will be offering a self-guided Holy Week experience featuring the artwork of Mary Button. Stations of the Cross: Pandemic Hope lifts up images and stories of hope, resiliency, and relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals and households/families are invited to sign up for a time slot to pray through the Stations of the Cross, which will be spread throughout Bellwether Farm as part of a 2-mile hike. For those not able to physically visit Bellwether Farm, a virtual version of these stations will be available. The available dates are Thursday, April 1 through Saturday, April 3. Tickets are available every half hour for two hour intervals. Only one ticket is needed for an individual or household/family. A virtual Stations of the Cross is available as well.
Holy Week Pilgrimage to Belize
Join our partners in mission in Belize for Holy Week worship on Facebook. Facebook Live services will be offered throughout the week including:  Sunday Holy Eucharist at 10:00 a.m., Morning Prayer at 8:00 a.m., Evening Prayer at 7:30 p.m., and Compline at 11:00 p.m. Special Holy Week offerings will include:  Seasonal Hymn Favourites Monday and Tuesday at 9:00 p.m., Maundy Thursday Liturgy at 11:00 a.m., Good Friday liturgy at 2:00 p.m., and Saturday Service of Light at 8:00 p.m.  To participate, go to the Anglican Diocese of Belize on Facebook. The full Holy Week Schedule is available. 
Diocese of Ohio Youth Mental Health Conversations
Mental health challenges are real, and seem extra hard this year. Join the Revs. Greg and Anna for a two-part series of conversations around mental health, self care, and support on April 8 and April 15 at 7:00 p.m. The first discussion will focus on suicide prevention, and the second on mental health in the LGBTQ+ community. Youth in grades 6-12 are welcome to join for one or both. The zoom link is available at bit.ly/dohioyouth. Questions can be directed to the Rev. Anna Sutterisch, Canon for Christian Formation, at asutterisch@dohio.org.
Seeding Saturdays at Bellwether Farm
It's spring again and time to start our veggie seeds at Bellwether Farm. Each year we plant thousands of seeds that grow into the veggies we all love to eat and we need your help to get them started. Sign up to volunteer for a 1.5 hour planting slot. Seeding dates are Saturday, April 10 and Saturday, April 17. Only 1 slot is required for an individual, household, or pod.
Feeding Your Soul for the Journey
Feeding Your Soul for the Journey: Care for the World will be held on Sunday, April 18 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. There is no cost for this event. For more information, questions, or to register, please email Betty Kondrich at bkondrich@dohio.org. The zoom link will be sent the Friday before.
The Global Episcopal Mission Network Conference
The Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN) Conference will be held via Zoom on April 22-24 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. every day. The conference will focus on climate change and ecological degradation constitute the major planetary crisis of our time. More information is available on the conference webpage. Registration is now open. Please let the Rev. Margaret D’Anieri, Canon for Mission, that you have registered. There is no fee for the conference, but attendees are encouraged to make a donation as they are able. If you are not already a member of GEMN, we hope you will become a member when you register for the conference. There will also be opportunity to contribute to ecological justice projects in various parts of the world.  
Bellwether Farm Fishing Derby and Fish Fry
Join us at Bellwether Farm for a Fishing Derby and Fish Fry on April 24. Bring your own fishing gear and barbless hooks for a day of catch and release fishing fun featuring prizes. Enjoy a fish fry of Swai and a farm-to-table salad. Please note this event is outdoors, weather dependent, and subject to being rescheduled. Tickets are required and are $5.
Anti-Racism Trainings
Anti-Racism training is required for all individuals in elected and appointed Diocesan positions, and it is also open to all members of the Diocese. 

The Commission for Racial Justice will offer this two-day training on the following date:
  • April 24 and 25 - Zoom video conference (Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. both days)

The cost of the training materials is covered by the Diocese of Ohio. You must commit to attending the full sessions and to doing the off-line work. Registration is required. For additional information please email the Rev. Margaret D’Anieri at mdanieri@dohio.org.
Parochial Assessment Forms
The 2021 Parochial Assessment forms are available on the diocesan website. The 2021 Estimate of Monthly Support, the 2021 Monthly Assessment form, and the 2021 January Assessment form are available under the parish resources tab.
ChurchNext
www.ChurchNext.tv is a high-quality online spiritual formation resource for parishes and individuals. Subscriber parishes can take courses together on a variety of topics including scripture, liturgy, and many other areas of personal and spiritual growth. Courses are taught by experts, many from The Episcopal Church, and allow members to learn what they want, when they want, and at their own pace. Participants can learn anywhere there is an Internet connection on a PC, laptop, or tablet. Your parish will develop its own “school” which will allow members to take courses by themselves, in small groups, or even as a congregation. 

The Diocese of Ohio will pay for a one-year subscription for any parish willing to give ChurchNext a meaningful try-out. If you are interested, please email the Rev. Brad Purdom. 
Diocesan Audit Team Request Available
Self-Guided Nature Hikes at Bellwether Farm
Self-guided nature hike guides (centered on The Way of Love) are available at Bellwether Farm for individuals or families to explore the wonder of God’s creation through Bellwether’s forests and along the river. Call 440.839.0088 to reserve a time to hike. 
PPP Loan Forgiveness - First Draw Loans
PPP loans which were applied for in 2020 under the CARES Act are now termed, “First Draw PPP Loans.” The Consolidated Appropriations Act, enacted on December 27, 2020, provides for a simplified forgiveness application for loans of $150,000 or less. If your parish deferred applying for forgiveness waiting for guidance, this expedited process may be beneficial to you. The application and instructions are available. (Note: The application has been updated).

The maturity dates of First Draw PPP Loans are two years for loans approved before June 5, and five years for loans approved on or after that date.  Forgiveness must be applied for before the maturity date.  

However, payments due on the loan are only deferred for 10 months beyond the end of the covered period. The covered period began the date the loan amount was received, and ends no later than 24 weeks later. Example: The diocese received its PPP loan on April 21, 2020. The initial 8-week covered period ended June 16, 2020, but was extended to October 5, the end of the 24-week covered period. Because the diocese did not use the entire loan amount during the first 8 weeks, we chose the 24-week covered period to receive full forgiveness. For loans approved on or after June 5, 2020, the covered period is 24-months. Our first payment would have been due on August 5, 2021, eight months after the end of our 24-week covered period. No payments are due, since we applied for and received full forgiveness in November 2020.  

We encourage all parishes to apply for forgiveness before any payments would be due on the loan. The process has taken far less time than allowed under the loan provisions. The diocese received its approval of forgiveness 1 month after applying, and some parishes have received it in 2 weeks. Please keep these time frames in mind when planning and applying for loan forgiveness.
PPP Second Draw Loans
Parishes that received a PPP Loan in 2020 may be eligible to apply for a second PPP loan which is referred to as a “Second Draw PPP Loan.” The relevant eligibility criteria are:
  1. received a First Draw PPP loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses; 
  2. and can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2020 vs. 2019.  

The filing window opened on January 11, but not all lenders may be accepting applications yet. The deadline to apply is March 31.

The terms of the loan are generally the same, but allowable costs have been expanded to include worker protection expenditures, covered supplier costs, and covered operations expenditures.  

The notice, instructions, and application are available.
PPP Loan Forgiveness
The AICPA has developed two tools to help with the application for PPP Loan forgiveness. The first is an Excel spreadsheet that walks through all the calculations required to prepare the application request. The second tool will actually determine which of the forgiveness forms is needed and prepare a signature ready application form based on the data entered.  
PARISH
Adult Education Classes
In order to offer stimulating, thought-provoking, and spiritual adult education to its members and the diocese, Trinity Cathedral has compiled several educational series on its YouTube channel. Enjoy series ranging from Bible study to end-of-life preparation. Also learn about the spirituality of the enneagram and watch forum interviews with theologians, community leaders, historians and more. You can find these series below “worship services” and “sermons” on Trinity’s YouTube channel. Please contact Scott Blanchard, at sblanchard@trinitycleveland.org for questions or more information.
Lenten Anti-Racism Book Conversation
The Summit Mission Area is hosting an anti-racism book conversation via Zoom on April 10. The conversation will focus on the five books listed on the flyer, but participants are also welcome to join if they have not read any of the books.
Donations for Your Neighbors Cloak at St. Luke's
St. Luke’s, Cleveland is seeking various items of clothing to help with Your Neighbors Cloak. Please label all donations by gender, size, and it would be helpful to know if the item(s) is for an adult, teen or child. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they can currently only accept certain items: winter hats, gloves, jackets in all sizes and genders, sweatshirts or hoodies, thermal underwear, gently used shoes, boots, and sneakers, and blankets and throws or wraps. They are also in need of underwear and socks for all ages and in all sizes. Used underwear and socks will not be accepted. To coordinate a time to drop off donations, or to chat with a Your Neighbor's Cloak representative, please email clothing.stluke.cleveland@gmail.com.