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Pilgrimage Update: Connect, Communicate, Collaborate
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| | The pilgrimage design team |
After months of meetings and discussions involving more than 170 people from 46 parishes, the themes of the Diocese of Bethlehem's pilgrimage have come into focus.
"The three resonating hopes that people expressed over and over again were to connect, communicate and collaborate," said the Very Rev. Tony Pompa, dean of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity.
"The three Cs," as Pompa and the diocese's pilgrimage design group have taken to calling them, will help to shape diocesan convention when it meets on October 7-8 at the Doubletree Hilton near Christ Church, Reading. The theme for the convention is "Salt and Light," based on Jesus's admonition to his disciples in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. The pilgrimage design team, led by Pompa and the Rev. Charles Cesaretti, and the convention planning team, which includes the two pilgrimage leaders and a dozen others, met on July 9 to discuss how the information gathered to this point in the pilgrimage can inform the diocese's annual meeting and help to shape the diocese's future.
"I've been impressed by the breadth of consensus within the diocese regarding certain hopes and values," said Bishop Sean Rowe. "Time and again the people of the diocese spoke about the importance of broadening and deepening their relationships with one another."
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ERD Supports SUDRA's Response to Unrest in South Sudan
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Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the emergency response of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan & Sudan through its humanitarian arm, SUDRA (the Sudanese Development and Relief Agency). SUDRA is providing for the immediate needs of approximately 220 households taking refuge on Cathedral grounds after fighting erupted in the South Sudanese capital of Juba on July 7.
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Diocese of Central PA Leadership Day: "Reimagining Faith Formation"
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| | Keynote speaker the Rev. Marsha Roscoe |
Diocese of Bethlehem clergy and lay leaders are invited to attend a Diocese of Central Pennsylvania leadership development day. Taking place on Saturday, August 13 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Lancaster, PA, the program will include a keynote address from the Rev. Marsha Roscoe, director for resource ministries, Lower Susquehanna Synod of the ELCA as well as workshops for all ages and stages of formation. The teacher appreciation lunch will celebrate teachers serving in our parishes. Read more and register.
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Royal School of Music Returns to St. Stephen's, Wilkes-Barre
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 Since 1995 St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral and King's College in Wilkes-Barre have hosted the King's College Summer Choir Training Course, sponsored by the Royal School of Church Music in America (RSCMA). From Monday, July 18, through Sunday, July 24, a choir of over 150 singers of all ages from throughout the United States will sing sacred music. Participants will be taught, conducted, and accompanied by a large staff of American church musicians, including St. Stephen's organist and choirmaster, Canon Mark Laubach. Course liturgies will feature the daily offices of Choral Evensong and Compline and will culminate in a Choral Eucharist at 10:30 am and Choral Evensong at 3:00 pm on Sunday, July 27. Read more.
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Pilgrimage Blogger: the Rev. Twila Smith
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The Rev. Twila Smith from Grace & Mediator, Allentown, continues our season after Pentecost on the Pilgrimage Blog. "How can we stand firm in the wake of death and destruction?" writes Smith in her first post. "How can we, small in numbers, bring forth enough hope for these bitter times? We need ... What is it we need to be your Church amid such strife?" Read more on the Pilgrimage Blog.
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Pilgrimage Resources for Congregations
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 The Diocese of Bethlehem's pilgrimage began on January 6. In his video pilgrimage message, Bishop Sean says, "The Diocese of Bethlehem has been bold in conceiving its future ... This planning process is deeply rooted in both what is personal to us, and what is good for our entire diocese and our entire region."
Staying Connected to the Pilgrimage
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Diocesan Convention is October 7-8 in Reading
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This year's convention will be hosted by the southern region of the diocese and will include a convention Holy Eucharist at Christ Church, Reading. The convention will be the culmination of the diocesan pilgrimage that began at the 144th Convention in 2015. Find the draft schedule on the website.
Online registration will open on August 1 and close on September 15. Learn more about registration and group rate room reservations at the DoubleTree, which are available now.
Call for Resolutions
Call for Nominations
The Diocesan Convention will consider a number of changes to the canons that could alter the governance structure and the offices to which persons will be elected. We will have, therefore, two parallel nomination processes; one process to meet the current canonical requirements and one process in anticipation of the amended canons. This dual process means that we will follow our canons as they are now written and, at the same time, will allow us to be flexible and respond to the will of the convention.
The proposed canonical changes will be discussed in detail at the pre-convention hearings and voted on by the convention on Friday, October 7. Elections for diocesan bodies will be held on Saturday, October 8. Nominations must be received by July 15.
Leaders are welcome to submit nominations for positions defined in the current canons and the positions anticipated in the proposed canonical changes.
2015 Convention Journal
The journal of the 144th convention is now available and can be downloaded as a PDF or MS Word Document.
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Pre-Convention Hearings
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Delegates to diocesan convention and other interested members of the diocese can attend one of three pre-convention hearings in September to review resolutions submitted to convention. Bishop Sean will be present at all of the pre-convention hearings to discuss proposed canonical and constitutional changes.
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Summer Learning Opportunities
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The Diocese of Central Pennsylvania invites participation in short, module-style courses with the Stevenson School for Ministry (SSFM). Courses are a hybrid of face-to-face and online learning, providing flexibility while allowing church leadership to work together in community. Upcoming courses include "The Dynamics of Small Church" (July 30 - September 3) and "Introduction to Adult Learning in the Church Community" (July 25 - September 3). Read more and register.
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Diocesan youth set out on summer pilgrimage, mission trips:
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The Diocesan Youth Mission Trip group preparing to head for Grace House on the Mountain in SW Virginia.
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| | St. Gabriel's, Douglassville 2016 Youth Pilgrimage group preparing to leave for Ireland |
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Cathedral Church of the Nativity's J2A group heading off on Pilgrimage to Maine
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The Diocese of Bethlehem newSpin Blog
newSpin is Bill Lewellis' eclectic sampling of religion news from around the Episcopal Church and beyond. Read the July 7 issue.
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Calendar
Friday, October 7 - Saturday, October 8
Sunday, October 16 - Tuesday, October 18, St. Francis Retreat Center
Friday, November 11 - Sunday, November 13, Kirby Episcopal House
Thursday, February 23, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
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333 Wyandotte Street,
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Copyright � 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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