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Online Edition - Thursday, November 19, 2015
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The Bishop's Blog: Signs of God's Grace
Reflections on Paris and Thanksgiving
Posted by the Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith on November 19, 2015
For the 129 people who died in Paris on Friday night, it was the end of the world. For so many of us who witnessed footage of the carnage and chaos in the wake of coordinated brutal attacks, it felt like the end of the world. As we close on the end of the liturgical year, which is November 22, the stories from scripture point to the end of the world. That's what the writers of both the Hebrew scriptures and the gospels expected.
The end of the world didn't happen then - and it won't happen now, provided we stand and witness to the gift and passion of the Abrahamic faiths - Christianity, Judaism and Islam. In the best of Christianity, discipleship is following the radical love of Jesus Christ. In Judaism, hope is focused on God and the potential of God's people to contribute to tikkun olam, the repair of the world. And in Islam, jihad in its pure form is the struggle to serve the purposes of God on earth. It is seeking and striving toward good. Read more.
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 Thanksgiving "Blessings to Go"
Next Tuesday, November 24, in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, Bishop Beckwith will be offering Thanksgiving blessings at Penn Station in Newark from approximately 7:30 to 8:30 AM. Congregations are invited to join him by offering blessings in your own communities.
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Cathedral invites congregations & choirs to join in
Memorials to the Lost
Sunday, December 13
3 PM at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral, Newark
All who are concerned about the epidemic of gun violence in our country are invited to join with the Cathedral of Trinity and St. Philip's in Memorials to the Lost. This publicly visible statement, planned to coincide with the national Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend, will take the form of T-shirts bearing the names of community members lost to gun violence, hung along the Cathedral's iron fence on Broad Street, and will culminate in a Service of Lessons and Carols in which traditional Advent lessons will combine with contemporary readings on the impact of violence.
Bryan Miller, the originator of Memorials to the Lost, will be the featured speaker, and will be joined by local officials in law enforcement and corrections in solidarity with the message of heightened awareness.
Congregations are invited to submit the name(s) of those who have died by gun violence for the T-shirt display, and singers of all ages are invited to participate with Cathedral Choir. Find out more.
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Church News
"I wanted to live": Holocaust survivor shares her story at St. Peter's, Clifton
 Abbreviated from a longer blog post by Christian Paolino.
My friends at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Clifton, N.J. chose the 77th anniversary of Kristallnacht - "the night of broken glass" [November 9, 1938] - to observe their annual remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust by inviting Helen Paktor, who survived that experience, to speak to us. Read more.
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Church News
Tails of Hope: Trinity, Allendale discerns ministry to local veterans and their service dogs
By the Rev. Michael Allen
 On Sunday, November 8, Trinity Church in Allendale (Northern Bergen County) celebrated the culmination of a two-year journey searching for what God was doing in our neighborhoods. In 2013, the parish's Outreach Ministry began a journey of joining God in the health and care of those who were currently serving and had served in this country's armed services. Read more.
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From The Episcopal Church
Webinars on the Syrian refugee situation
To help understand the current situation with Syrian refugees, The Episcopal Church will present two live webinars, today, November 19 (2-3 PM Eastern) and Monday, November 23 (8-9 PM Eastern), exploring the current situation and how Episcopalians can be involved in this ministry of welcome. Pre-registration is required. Find out more.
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"Geeks for God" Blog
Writing for a diocesan audiencePosted by Nina Nicholson on November 19, 2015
 Anyone who writes articles for church publications or local media understands the difference between writing for an internal audience (your congregation) and an external one (your community). But have you thought about the issues when writing for another type of audience - your fellow churches in the Diocese of Newark?
Previously, I've blogged about the basics of writing a feature article and how that differs from writing a news story, as well as issues to consider when writing for the web. Today I'll talk about how to write about your church's ministries for diocesan publication in a way that will capture your fellow churches' attention - and leap to the head of the publication queue. Read more.
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"Senior Moments" Column
What makes individual health coverage affordable under the Affordable Care Act?
By Scott Bennett
 We are now in the Open Enrollment period for individual health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (AKA "ACA" or "Obamacare"). But let's be honest: many of the individual health plans offered under the ACA do not seem particularly affordable. However, this is not the entire story. Part of the affordability of health plans comes in the form of several ways in which the government helps out with the cost of health coverage. Such help is income-based and designed to assist people whose income is considered to be low to moderate. Read more. |
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Advent begins November 29
Advent email meditations returning - sign up now!
The daily Advent email meditations that have been so meaningful to folks in the past will return on the First Sunday of Advent, November 29. To subscribe, go to dioceseofnewark.org/meditations.
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Christians invited to celebrate Advent with a camera phone
[Anglican Communion News Service] Anglicans worldwide and all Christians are being invited to observe Advent in a fun and prayerful way through a global online Advent Calendar called AdventWord. AdventWord invites Christians to sign up to receive a daily meditation and respond by posting a picture on Instagram and other social media. The pictures combine to create the Advent Calendar in real time. Find out more.
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Upcoming events at
Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center
Wednesday Away - December 2, 9 AM - 3 PM
A one day retreat, Advent Attention, led by Rev. Laurie Matarazzo.
Shepherd's Gathering - December 3-6 Youth Directors, pastors, priests, Sunday school teachers, and other church leaders who work with young people are invited to come to Cross Roads for a weekend of renewal.
Young Adult Retreat - January 1-3 Start your year off the right way With fellowship, singing, prayer, games, great food and friends at this weekend retreat for young adults 18-30(ish).
Framily Retreat - January 22-24 Framily = Friends + Family! You're invited to Cross Roads for their First Annual Framily Weekend to experience camp, grow in faith, and connect with Christ in a new way.
Find out more at crossroadsretreat.com.
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News from
Episcopal House
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Thanksgiving closing
In observance of Thanksgiving, Episcopal House will close at 12 noon on Wednesday, November 25 and reopen Monday, November 30. The diocesan staff sends their warmest wishes to you and yours for a happy holiday weekend and a blessed beginning of Advent.
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Spring 2016 Confirmation youth registrations due TOMORROW
Jane Jubilee, Administrative Assistant for Diocesan Services reminds you that registration forms for youth 18 and under to be confirmed in April 2016 must be submitted no later than tomorrow, Friday, November 20. Youth must be in 8th grade or higher to be eligible for Confirmation. Find out more, including registration forms.
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 Congregational Pledges for 2016 due Tuesday, Dec. 1
Each church will be sent a form asking for them to submit an estimate of their 2016 Normal Operating Income (NOI), their percentage pledge for 2016, and the resulting dollar pledge amount. Since the pledge cards are to be approved and signed by the Vestry, plans should be made to review the pledge in November. Questions? Contact Paul Shackford, diocesan CFO, at 973-430-9983 or pshackford@dioceseofnewark.org.
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 Friday, Dec. 4 is deadline for next issue of The VOICE Online
The next issue of The VOICE Online will be published Thursday, December 10. Use the Send Us Your News form to submit items to Nina Nicholson, Director of Communications & Technology, for consideration.
There will be no e-newsletters published Thanksgiving week (November 23-27). The next issue of Leadership News will be published Tuesday, December 1.
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Fourth BCEF Call of 2015: St. David's, Kinnelon
The Bishop's Church Emergency Fund (BCEF) provides financial support for church buildings in the diocese needing repairs and renovation, usually with a special focus on emergency and unforeseen needs. Through the BCEF, you can support the critical needs identified by the Bishop. The fourth BCEF call of 2015 is for new doors and windows for the rectory at St. David's Church in Kinnelon. Find out more.
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Upcoming Ordinations
Ordination to the Vocational Diaconate: John Van Dine
Saturday, December 12, 10 AM at St. John's, Dover
Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate: Richard Hogue and Young Yoon
Saturday, December 19, 10 AM at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral, Newark
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Convention Registration/Certification forms due Wednesday, Dec. 2
Convention Registration/Certification forms have been mailed to churches; signed forms must be returned to Randy Johnson, Administrator for Diocesan Ministries, by Wednesday, December 2. Find out more.
Exhibit space reservations also due Wednesday, Dec. 2. Find out more. |
Convention nominations due Friday, Dec. 4 at 12 noon
Michael Francaviglia, Assistant Secretary of Convention, reminds you that elections will be held for a variety of diocesan offices through a self-nominating process. If you haven't served in the past, perhaps this is the time to consider doing so. Find out more.
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Youth invited to participate in Convention
Kaileen Alston, Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, invites youth in grades 10-12 who want to participate in Convention to register and submit payment by Tuesday, January 12, 2016. Youth Deputies age 14-19 selected by their districts must also register. Find out more.
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Video Announcements at Convention
It's not too early to start thinking about submitting announcements to be featured in the "slide show" at Convention to Jan Paxton at jpaxton46@gmail.com. Include the words "Convention announcement" in the subject line and attach your text and any image(s). Please do NOT send PDFs or PPTs. Jan will create the announcement in the appropriate format for projection on the big screens.
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