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Online Edition - Thursday, February 18, 2016
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The Bishop's Blog: Signs of God's Grace
Making space during LentPosted by the Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith on February 18, 2016
For me, Lent is about making space for God's presence and blessing to emerge. This is not easy, primarily because we live at a time and in a place in which we feel pressure to fill things in rather than to open them up. Lenten intentions often end up being a series of practices that are designed to demonstrate loyalty and devotion to the living Christ, but instead become enterprises that crowd out the soul. Read more.
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Black lives do matterBy the Rev. Canon Gregory A. Jacobs
Excerpted from Canon Jacobs' remarks at the NAMASTE anti-racism dialogues in September 2015.
Some of you may remember back to a couple of years ago, when President Barack Obama delivered what was considered then to be a pretty remarkable speech at a commencement address at Morehouse College.
It was a speech that focused on the responsibilities of the young black men who were about to seek their fortunes in the world as graduates of one of the leading black educational institutions in this country. The young men were exhorted to take personal responsibility for their lives and to resist blaming this country's racism for the obstacles that they may encounter in the future.
The President intoned, "There is no longer any room for excuses... nobody is going to give you anything that you have not earned... Nobody cares how tough your upbringing was. Nobody cares if you suffered some discrimination."
It was very similar to the lessons that I learned first-hand growing up - lessons that were relentlessly reinforced by my parents.
But there is another life lesson that out of necessity has been repeated over and over again by black parents for generations, and disturbingly that lesson was not communicated to those impressionable young men who were about to seek their fame and fortune in the world. What was missing from the President's address was a warning. A warning of just how dangerous it is to be a black man in America today. Read more.
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Discounted early-bird registration for second Confirmation Retreat ends TODAY
Discounted early-bird registration ends TODAY for the second Confirmation retreat on March 18-19, and on March 3 for the third and final retreat on April 1-2 at Cross Roads. Meanwhile, general (and final) registration for the first Confirmation Retreat on March 4-5 ends next week on February 25. Don't miss out - register now! Find out more.
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Sunday, February 21, 3 PM
Public celebration of the Feast of Absalom Jones
At Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral, Newark
The Diocese of Newark Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians will celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first person of African descent ordained a deacon and priest in the Episcopal Church. Find out more.
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Friday, March 11 - Sunday, March 13
Middle School Retreat: Registration now open!
At Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center
Registration is now open for our 2016 Middle School Retreat for youth in grades 6-8. This year's theme is Acceptance of Diversity. We'll explore ways young people can appreciate their differences and celebrate that we're all beautiful images of God's love. We'll also play games, enjoy time making new friends and eat great food during this fun-filled weekend! Find out more.
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Thursday, April 7 - Saturday, April 9
"Undoing Racism" Workshop Retreat
Hosted by the Diocese of New Jersey
Workshops hosted by the Dioceses of NJ and NY fulfill our diocesan requirements for anti-racism training. This 2-1/2 day residential retreat hosted by the Diocese of New Jersey runs from 6 PM on Thursday, April 7 to 4 PM on Saturday, April 9. Find out more.
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April 23, May 21 & June 4
Cross Roads' Open Houses
Come and visit Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center during one of their upcoming Open Houses. Learn all about their summer and year-round opportunities. Take a tour of their facilities, hear stories about summer camp, ask questions and finish with a delicious lunch in the Dining Hall. Register online at crossroadsretreat.com/summer-programs/open-house.
You can also stay connected with Cross Roads by joining their mailing list. With newsletters going out multiple times a year, you can stay up to date on everything happening at Cross Roads! Subscribe now at crossroadsretreat.com/newsletters.
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Video & Photos: Ashes to Go 2016
 Bishop Beckwith, Canon Jacobs and at least 27 congregations offered Ashes to Go in train stations and other public locations on Ash Wednesday.
The Rev. Margaret Otterburn of Church of the Messiah in Chester (right) was interviewed by FiOS1 News for a report, Community churches offer 'Ashes to Go' for Ash Wednesday, broadcast before 9 AM on Ash Wednesday, alerting watchers that "Clergy will be stationed in public places to accommodate busy faithful." Watch the video.
A number of congregations shared photos from their Ashes to Go, which are posted in the gallery here, along with photos of Bishop Beckwith and Canon Jacobs.
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Christ Church in Harrison revived by caring, giving to others
[Jersey Journal] If a prospective pastor were looking at a church's attendance of six people for Sunday services, they might pass on that assignment. Not Deacon Erik Soldwedel.
Nearly four years ago, he saw "the potential to do more" at Christ Church. He also saw Harrison becoming "the Hoboken of western Hudson County." So he accepted Bishop Mark Beckwith's assignment as the "cleric-in-charge" of the church that got its start in 1854 and eventually became a mission of Trinity Church in Newark. Today it is once again a mission church of the diocese and Sunday attendance hovers around 30 with enough children to reinstitute a Sunday school. Read more.
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Miguelina Howell to be installed as first Latina Dean
This evening the Very Rev. Miguelina Howell, formerly of the Diocese of Newark, will make history when she is installed as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, CT, the first Latina Dean of a United States cathedral. The announcement of her installation by the Episcopal Church in Connecticut states, "Dean Howell is the changing face of a changing cathedral in a changing city."
Born and raised in the Dominican Republic where she was ordained a priest in 2002, Howell served in the Diocese of Newark from 2009 to 2013, first as assistant at St. Paul', Paterson, then as rector of Epiphany, Orange. She went on to serve as Vicar of the Cathedral in Hartford, and was elected its Dean last November.
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"Geeks for God" Blog: Evangelism in the Electronic Era
Tweak your e-newsletters so they look good on mobile devicesPosted by Nina Nicholson on February 18, 2016
I use Constant Contact to publish diocesan e-newsletters, and lately when I log in it shows me warning messages regarding my e-newsletters' potential readability on mobile devices. "65% of emails are read on mobile devices." "75% of recipients will delete an email if it's hard to read on a mobile device." This is always followed by a link to a (paid) service to provide a custom template specialized mobile devices. Is this really necessary?
While I do agree that effective online content should be readable on mobile devices, I don't agree that it's necessary to pay extra to achieve this. If you follow these simple steps - which would apply in all e-newsletter utilities, not just Constant Contact - you can convert your e-newsletter to be mobile-friendly for free. Read more.
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Churches can still apply for these diocesan grants
The deadline has passed for the June funding cycle of the Ward J. Herbert Fund (it will have two additional funding cycles later this year). However, congregations can still apply for these two diocesan grants, both of which have only one funding cycle in 2016:
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Senior Moments
Hunger among seniors - the secret shame
By the Rev. Deacon Diane Riley
 Do you want to know a secret? The secret shame of many seniors is that too many of them do not have enough money to buy food.
Over the last few years, as my own age has advanced, I have become more and more aware of the truth of this statement. As Director of Advocacy for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the largest food bank in New Jersey, I am all too aware of the statistics. 19% of our almost 900,000 clients, that is people who get a free meal or a bag of groceries from our many pantries, are over age 60. But it wasn't until I worked with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) that I began to understand just how many more seniors are out there and the shame that keeps them from getting help. Read more. |
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Diocesan scholarships now receiving applications
 Diocesan scholarships for the academic year 2016-2017 are now accepting applications from young members of our congregations seeking higher education.
The UBE Scholarship and Mary Rankin Scholarship are both open to all young people who are active members of one of our congregations. The Gertrude Butts Scholarship offers assistance specifically to diocesan youth in need, while the George E. Rath Scholarship is for children of canonically resident clergy.
Visit dioceseofnewark.org/funding/scholarships to read the description of each scholarship fund for requirements, application deadlines and contact information.
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Names for 2016 ECW Book of Remembrance due March 31
The Episcopal Church Women of the Dicoese of Newark invite you to support the Mary Rankin Scholarship Fund and honor the women who have gone before us by inscribing a name in the Book of Remembrance, with a contribution of $10 per name. All baptized women of the Episcopal Church are eligible to be remembered in this way. Find out more.
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Volunteers still needed for Lenten email meditations
 The popular Lenten email meditations are underway and will continue to be published through and including Holy Saturday, March 26. Volunteers are still needed to write (or paint, draw or photograph) meditations. To sign up to produce a meditation, please email meditations@dionewark.org. You can read the meditations published thus far, or subscribe to receive the meditations via email, at dioceseofnewark.org/meditations.
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Diocese receives Roanridge Trust Award grant to support Going Local process
 The Diocese of Newark has been awarded a 2016 Roanridge Trust Award grant to help support Going Local. The Trust received 26 different applications from across the Church, with requests for funding far exceeding available resources. Sixteen dioceses were awarded grants, including Newark whose grant application for Going Local has been funded in the amount of $15,000.
Going Local is an innovative initiative that invites clergy and congregations to learn new ways to go about Jesus' work. Read more.
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Episcopal House Staff Opening:
Hispanic/Latino Missioner
This part-time position (25 hours/week) is responsible for advocacy and for oversight of Hispanic/Latino ministry in the Diocese of Newark. Applications must be received by March 15. Find out more.
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News from
Episcopal House
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Submit your media coverage to The VOICE Online
The next issue of The VOICE Online will be published on Thursday, March 3. If you have a link to media coverage about your church, please submit it for consideration to Nina Nicholson no later than Friday, February 26.
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2015 Parochial Reports due March 1
Online filing for 2015 Parochial Reports began January 4; the deadline is Tuesday, March 1. The workbooks for assistance in filing the report are available online. "Churches that complete the Reports in January and February find that the reports are much easier to complete than when they wait longer," said Paul Shackford, diocesan CFO. Find out more.
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Clergy ministry transitions
The Rev. Canon Gregory A. Jacobs, Canon to the Ordinary, announces the following;
- St. Luke's, Haworth - half-time priest-in-charge
- St. Mary's, Sparta - full-time rector
- St. Peter's, Morristown - full-time priest associate
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