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Contact
Episcopal House | 31 Mulberry Street
Newark NJ 07102
973-430-9900
Staff Directory
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| Office Space Available |  |
The 2nd and 3rd floors of Episcopal House are available for rent to another nonprofit organization. See the real estate broker flyer. Questions? Please contact broker directly. |
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The Voice - Online Edition
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
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Greetings!
Pentecost is this Sunday, and while that is the liturgical conclusion of the Alleluia season, donations to the Alleluia Fund will continue to be gratefully accepted. Read the Bishop's Alleluia message and the feature on two international Alleluia Grant recipients, and consider how you can say "Alleluia" in a tangible way. You'll also want to check out our congregations' summer children's programs as well as the numerous opportunities offered by the diocese for celebration and education, below. |
  An Alleluia Season Message
From Bishop Beckwith
Easter is the liturgical season set aside for the purpose of celebrating new life in the risen Christ. For centuries, "Alleluia" has been the verbal response to this extraordinary gift. The Easter season ends on Pentecost Sunday, June 12; but the "Alleluias" continue, because new life continues to be offered. The challenge to us is to receive this new life - however it comes to us; as we receive it in the Eucharist, as we gather with the people we love - and in the transfiguring beauty of creation which takes our breath away at this time of the year.
As we are challenged to receive this new life, we are also expected to share it. When we give from what we have, we become co-creators with the Divine Creator.
The Alleluia Fund is an opportunity to express our alleluias in a tangible way. The Alleluia Fund is designed around the fundamentals of Christian stewardship: people's need to give as opposed to an institution's need to receive. The Alleluia Fund gives individuals and families across the diocese the opportunity to give into a large pool of funds - and therefore make a significant and collective impact and witness in areas of human need. Last year the diocese raised over $100,000. This year we hope to do the same. All of the monies go to outreach - and where it goes is determined by a diocesan committee that reviews grant applications from ministries in the diocese - or international ministries connected to the diocese or the wider church. The international portion of the Alleluia Fund will go to Nets for Life, a remarkable initiative sponsored by Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) in which $12 buys not only a malaria-preventing net, but also a community education component that has made the ERD's ministry in this area the international model for malaria prevention.
You can contribute online by going to the Alleluia web page and clicking the yellow "Donate" button on the right, or by mailing a check payable to the Diocese of Newark with "Alleluia Fund" in the memo line to: The Alleluia Fund, c/o Diocese of Newark, 31 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Say "Alleluia" in a tangible way.
In the spirit of alleluia,
This message is also available as a downloadable bulletin insert and on the Bishop's blog.
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Photo Album
Beth Rauen Sciaino's Ordination To The Transitional Diaconate
The newest deacon in the Diocese of Newark, the Rev. Beth Rauen Sciaino (right) with (right to left) the Rev. Vicki McGrath, preacher at the ordination service; the Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith; and Diana Wilcox, Bishop's Chaplain. See the online photo album. |
Engaging the World
What A Great Idea! An Outdoor Prayer Box
St. Agnes', Little Falls has a prayer box located outside their front doors near the sidewalk, so people walking by can take and/or leave a prayer. The sign on the prayer box reads: "Take A Prayer Card And If You Wish Leave A Prayer In The Book & We Will Read It During Our Prayers On Sunday."
Archdeacon Deborah Drake says, "Not everyone is ready to walk through the doors of the church, so we offer them another way to join in our prayers."
Does your congregation have a great idea you'd like to share with the diocese? Submit it for possible inclusion in the Voice Online.
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Empowering People Summer Programs For Children In Our Diocese
There are a number of opportunities in our diocese for children to attend summer programs, lasting one week or longer and with themes ranging from traditional vacation Bible schools to intensive music programs. See the listing.
If you would like to add your congregation's program, please email the info (in the same format used in this listing) to Nina Nicholson.
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Job Opening
Director Of Fund Development
The Diocese of Newark is seeking to hire a Director of Fund Development. This position is a revisioning of the previously advertised Stewardship Officer position. Find out more.
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The 2011 David P. Hegg II
Lifetime Achievement Awards
At the 15th annual
Senior Ministries Evensong
Sunday June 12, 2011
3 p.m. Reception
4 p.m. Evensong
St. Peter's Church, Morristown
70 Maple Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
The Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith, Preacher
Questions? Contact Randy Johnson, 973-430-9906
Download flyer
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NEWARK ACTS Interns' Farewell Evensong 
The Diocese will celebrate our NEWARK ACTS Interns with an Evensong at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral on Tuesday, June 14 at 7 p.m. Bishop Mark Beckwith will officiate, and the Rev. Erik Soldwedel, Director of NEWARK ACTS, will preach.
The interns' year of service will end on July 15, so before everyone leaves the area for summer respites we will gather in recognition of their presence in our diocese this past year.
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Empowering PeopleKaren Armstrong Lecture & Reception
 Renowned scholar, writer, and commentator Karen Armstrong will speak at St. Peter's, Morristown on Thursday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m., at the inaugural event in the John Shelby Spong Lectureship Series, co-sponsored with the Diocese of Newark.
A festive reception will follow the lecture in St. Peter's parish hall.
Find out more or register online.
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Empowering People
What Is Your Passion?
The Committee on Laity, a committee within the Commission on Ministry, is putting together a booklet entitled Celebrating Life as Ministry: Bearing Witness to celebrate and uplift the variety of ministries in which lay people of all ages are involved every day: at home, school or in church; while playing, working, or enjoying retirement.
You are invited to write a meditation that reflects how you serve Christ by serving others, by reflecting, in 200 words or less, on what it is that you feel most deeply as you touch the lives of others. You may wish to include a brief passage from the Bible or inspirational reading. Your creativity can also take the form of an original poem or a prayer that reveals some aspect of your ministry.
Please e-mail all meditations to Mary Barrett by Wednesday, June 27. Be sure to state your full name and your congregation. Please also include your phone number and e-mail, though these two items will be kept confidential.
Questions? Please contact Mary Barrett, Chair, Committee on Laity. |
Empowering PeopleFor Parish Administrators & Secretaries
 A listserv has been established, and a workshop is planned on Wednesday, July 27 for parish administrators and secretaries to share questions, answers and support. Find out more.
For All Lay Employees
Our diocese is co-sponsoring with the Church Pension Fund a one-day Lay Employees Planning for Tomorrow Conference on Friday, June 17 at the Hilton Hotel in Parsippany. Find out more.
Anti-Racism Dialogues
The next Anti-Racism Dialogues will be June 24-25. Find out more.
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Equipping CongregationsReinvigorate Your Youth Ministry
Are you looking for ways to reinvigorate your youth ministry? Would you like to connect with young adults in your community? Then Kaileen Alston, Diocesan Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, would love to come meet with interested people from your congregation this summer. Please contact her at kalston@dioceseofnewark.org or (973) 430-9991 to schedule a meeting.
Benefits Workshop For Wardens
& Treasurers
The 2009 General Convention adopted two resolutions, effective January 1, 2013, which will have a significant effect on lay employee pension benefits, and medical benefits for both clergy and lay employees. To help wardens and treasurers implement these changes in their congregations, a free workshop has been scheduled on Saturday, June 11. Find out more.
Although there is no charge for the workshop, it is still important that we know who and how many to expect. To register, please contact Giorvanna Larathe, 973-430-9900.
Province II Stewardship Workshop
Congregations are invited to send a delegation to the Province II Stewardship Workshop, Money and the Church: Managing First Fruits, on Saturday, June 25, conveniently being held at 24 Rector Street in Newark. Find out more or register online.
Coming Soon: Congregational Vitality Fund
The Congregational Vitality Fund is a way the diocese can partner with churches to support them in trying new ministries that will revitalize their congregations. Application forms will be available by June 15. Find out more.
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Get Your Congregation Featured
In The September Voice
Is your congregation empowering people or engaging the world in an exciting way? Submit an article idea or a press release about it using the Voice Submissions Form, and we'll consider featuring your congregation's work in the September Voice.
Submission deadlines are:
Friday, July 1 for ideas for articles or columns. Friday, July 15 for press releases, photos and ads.
Please send ad inquiries to nnicholson@dioceseofnewark.org. (Questions? See Voice Ad Rates & Sample Layouts.)
The September Voice will be delivered to churches for distribution, and available online, shortly after Labor Day.
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Marge Christie To Be Honored By National Council Of Churches
Marge Christie is one of three women mentors to be honored by the National Council of Churches at its NYC Area "Circle of Names" gathering taking place on June 14.
The Circles of Names campaign seeks to build a foundation towards long-term sustainability of women's ministries and gender justice in the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC, the 37 member communions of the NCC, and its ecumenical partners.
Find out more.
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Cross Roads Camp Dedicates
The New Christ Center
Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center invites you to the Dedication of the Christ Center & Installation of the Summer Camp Staff 
Please join them as they celebrate completion of the new high-comfort retreat center and welcome staff for a faith-filled summer of service. Friday, June 24 2011 5 p.m. Welcome & Tours 6 p.m. Dedication and Installation Service 7 p.m. Dinner Kindly RSVP by June 17 to 908-832-7264
or officemanager@crossroadsretreat.com For directions visit: www.crossroadsretreat.com/directions Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center 29 Pleasant Grove Road Port Murray, NJ 07865 |
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The Katowa Center (right) in the Anglican Diocese of Lusaka in Zambia, and the Kakaasi Christian Sewing Project in Uganda in East Africa, are over a thousand miles apart geographically but share two things in common: similar missions of educating and supporting girls and women, and those missions being supported by 2010 Alleluia Grants.