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Bishop Sans 2019 Christmas Message
God’s Divine Love Permeates
for a Broken World
“They shall name Him Emmanuel” which means, “God is with us” (St. Matthew 1: 23)
"Christmas is the solemn gathering of the faithful to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus and the world’s Messiah or Anointed One. As we commemorate his birthday, I feel compelled to remind the diocesan family that God became human like us so that we might become God. The Lord of the angels became one of us so that we could eat the bread of angels. What a stunningly beautiful and awesome way to sum up the Christmas message.
The center of attraction is the manger, the child Jesus, by coming among us offers God’s healing and love to our broken and hostile world. As I reminded our family some years ago, believing and receiving him means putting him first, far ahead of the fading glory and shifting hopes offered by this world. Also, Jesus offers humanity a personal way of knowing, loving and relating to God our Father in heaven, and our fellow neighbors." Continue reading the Bishop's Christmas message here.
St. Mary Anne’s Episcopal Church, North East requests the pleasure of your company as we celebrate the 50th Ordination Anniversary of our Rector Emeritus The Rev. Dr. Samuel H. Hartman on Sunday, December 29th.
Celebration of Holy Eucharist
9:00 am Combined Service
The Celebrant and Preacher will be Father Sam. A Brunch Reception will follow in the Parish Center. Visiting clergy are encouraged to process in alb and white stole. All clergy are asked to RSVP to the church office (410-287-5522)
Bishop’s Institute Launch will be marked by a Eucharist and reception on January 4th at 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Hebron. The Eucharist will include the installation of the Canon Theologian, the Rev. Dr. Daniel Dunlap (Rector of Old Trinity, Church Creek), the commissioning of the Advisory Board, and the commissioning of the Bishop’s Committee for the Institute. All are welcome to attend this landmark event.
Bishop San will be leading a Luncheon Lenten Series on Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s “No Future Without Forgiveness: A Lost Discipline in the 21st Century Church”. The series will be done at venues across our three convocations.
Dates are: March 4th; March 18th; March 25th and April 1st at 11:00 am. Soup and salad to follow. Stay tuned for more information on venues in the convocations.
Children's Home Foundation Annual Appeal The Children’s Home Foundation is a non-profit arm of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton that grants scholarships to high school graduates and adults in need of financial assistance to attend vocational and technical schools in pursuit of careers in the workforce. It also provides grants to allow children to experience the benefits of summer camp. Since its inception in 1959 the foundation has awarded scholarships in excess of
$5 million dollars. We hope you will consider donating to this worthy cause and also that you might help us become aware of potential recipients. To learn more we invite you to visit our website at: www.childrenshomefoundation.org.
Diocesan Fund for Church Initiatives Grant Program Small Grants Available in 2020 for Parishes. Applications are now being accepted for the Diocese of Easton’s Church Initiatives Grant Program. Money is available exclusively to parishes and mission churches in the Diocese of Easton to undertake innovative programs and projects. The Grant Program is funded by investment returns from the Diocese’s St. Stephens Endowment Fund, a fund created with proceeds from the sale of St. Stephen's Church, East New Market several years ago. This is the eighth year of the program’s existence. Last year one grant was awarded to Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Chester parish to bring the “Undoing Racism” workshop to Kent County as part of an interfaith and diverse community effort. In previous years grants were made to many other parishes within the Diocese. Read more here. Click here for the 2020 Diocesan Fund for Church Initiatives Grant Program Guidelines
United Thank Offering 2020 Annual Grants Application deadline is March 6, 2020. Potential applicants for the 2020 United Thank Offering (UTO) Annual Grants are invited to participate in an informational webinar offered by the UTO board on January 14, 2020 at noon and 8:00 pm Eastern. These grants are awarded for projects in The Episcopal Church and throughout the Anglican Communion, each year with a different focus. For 2020, the focus is Bless: Share faith, practice generosity and compassion, and proclaim the Good News of God in Christ with hope and humility. More info here.
Members of the Diocese can purchase Bishop San's new book, "The Spiritual Order of a Messy Church", at the Diocesan office for a donation of $20 per copy. Retail price is $16.95, however we are charging $20 with the immediate proceeds from the book going toward Bahamas relief. Please contact the Diocese office at 410-822-1919 to request your copy.
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Around the Diocese
Notable Dates
January 4th - Bishop's Institute Launch Join us for a special Eucharist and celebration of the launch of the Bishop's Institute. St. Paul's Church, Hebron at 11:00 am
January 10th-12th - Ocean City Youth Rally Join thousands of 6th - 12th graders from around the region at this year's youth rally "Inseparable" (Romans 8.38-39).
Northern Convocation Meeting
February 10th at Shrewsbury, Kennedyville
Middle Convocation Meeting
February 11th at Christ Church, Cambridge
Southern Convocation Meeting
February 13th at Holy Spirit, Ocean City
All meetings are from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
March 7th - Annual Diocesan Convention, Christ Church Stevensville (rain date March 14th)
HOLIDAY OUTREACH,
HAPPENINGS & EVENTS
Church of the Holy Spirit, Ocean City, St. Paul’s by-the-Sea, Ocean City and St. Paul’s Berlin The Ocean Cluster will be collecting laundry detergent and items such as paper plates and cups (like the red Solo cups), paper napkins and towels, and toilet paper for residents of Hope4Recovery House during Advent. These have been identified as items the residents most need. You can bring them to any church and they will get them to Hope4Recovery. If you would like to do more, bedding is always welcome, as many residents arrive with nothing. Linen to fit single beds and towels are often needed. Items should be new. Hope4Recivery House is a halfway house for men in recovery from addiction. The Ocean Cluster is working with residents to help ease their transition back into normal life.
Emmanuel Church, Chester Parish Advent Meditation Series, Dec 1st- 25th Debra Donnelly-Barton is offering an Advent Meditation series beginning December 1st. She writes, "Each Advent we are invited to welcome Hope again even though many things may seem hopeless. We are invited to welcome Peace again in the midst of chaos. We are invited to welcome Love again when much appears unlovable. This Advent our meditations will focus on Hope, Peace and Love. Our guides will be the characters of Advent; Elizabeth and Mary, John and Jesus, Hosts of Angels and surprised shepherds. We begin December 1st and end December 25th. I hope you will join me." To register, go to https://www.csdonline.org/workshops. The fee is $30 for the 25 days of meditations.
The Church of the Holy Trinity, Oxford, Holiday Jazz Concert "A Redd Christmas" with Chuck & Robert Redd performing with vibes & piano, on Sunday, December 22nd at 3:00 pm. For more info call 410-226-5134.
The Trinity Youth Group has been busy performing acts of service for our community. On a cold Saturday in November, the group worked to clean up the grounds of the Talbot Interfaith Shelter and brought new beauty. A project that should have taken the good part of a day was completed in just a couple of hours due to the number of youth who joined in and all their hard work.
St. Peter's, Salisbury , Help St. Peter's Savor the meaning of Advent with a relaxing organ concert with Taylor Harvey on Saturday, December 21st, at 4 pm. Admission is free. Their appearance is sponsored by the St. Cecilia's Guild. Call 410-742-5118 or visit stpeterscurch.net.
St. Paul's By-the-Sea, Ocean City - N.O.E.L. (Nothing Other than Eating and Loving) The Noel Community is busy preparing for our 22nd annual community Christmas dinner. With your support, we will provide a hot meal at St. Paul's by-the-Sea on 3rd Street and Baltimore Avenue from 11:00 to 2:00 on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th to those in need of food or companionship.
Read more here.
Allegro Academy, Easton invites you to join them for the following events:
December 31 - Allegra! at First Night Talbot, Avalon Theatre Click here for more info.
Christ Church, Easton Ladies from the Christ Church Youth Group gathered the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to prepare a meal for a family in our community. Each year these young ladies gather and partner with the Talbot Interfaith Coalition of Hunger to provide a meal for those who would otherwise go without on Thanksgiving. The kitchen at Christ Church was filled with love, laughter and lots of good smells on Wednesday morning as our young people served as the hands & feet of Jesus in our community.
The Boychoir of the Chesapeake, aka Christ Church Boychoir, begins January 14th and is open to boys in grades 2 through 8 who live in the Mid-Shore area. Applications for the semester beginning in January are now being taken. Boys who are enrolled in the choir have the opportunity to sing in a variety of spaces including public as well as liturgical venues. In addition to learning a varied musical repertoire, students receive vocal instruction as well as music theory while earning special medals for their achievements. For a full schedule of events, please contact weslockfaw@christchurcheaston.org or call 410-822-2677. Rehearsals are held each Monday from 5 pm to 6:15 pm in the choir room.
Christ Church Easton is seeking a Parish Manager to oversee and administer the day-to-day management and operations of the church in support of its missions and ministries. This is a full time management position. Best candidates for the job will have education and/or experience in the areas of communication, business administration and technology. We are seeking someone who is detail oriented, well organized, a comprehensive thinker, personable, energetic and an effective communicator. For additional information (a link to the document and the website as well). Resumes and letters of interest should be sent to Fr. Bill Ortt at fatherbill@christchurcheaston.org
Christ Church Easton is seeking a Parish Secretary to work part-time, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Candidates must demonstrate current experience with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Microsoft Publisher, offer strong interpersonal and organizational skills, be attentive to detail, and function well in a fast-paced environment. Positions are open now. Email resume and cover letter to fatherbill@christchurcheaston.org
Christ Church Easton is seeking an experienced part time bookkeeper 10-15 hours a week, on site. Pay bills, manage payroll, maintain records, assist with deposits, some fund accounting, account reconciliations and preparation of finance reports. Email resume and cover letter to fatherbill@christchurcheaston.org
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Beyond the Diocese
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Christmas Message 2019
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it,” Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry said in his Christmas Message 2019.
The video of the Presiding Bishop’s message is here.
"In the first chapter of John's Gospel, sometimes referred to as the prologue to the Gospel, sometimes spoken of as the whole Gospel in miniature the Gospel writer says this. As he reflects on the coming of God into the world in the person of Jesus. As he reflects on Christmas. He says, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it." Read the text of his message here.
An Invitation from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry "I write to invite you to support our Episcopal Church’s Annual Appeal. This Church-wide Appeal is one tangible way to support our ministry of and witness to the Way of Love that Jesus taught in our time and in the wider world. Let me show you what I mean." Read the annual appeal here.
A tribute gift to The Episcopal Church can be a thoughtful way to remember loved ones at the holidays. Gifts can be made in honor or in memory of family or friends, and can be directed to any one of our Church-wide initiatives including The Episcopal Church Fund, Episcopal Migration Ministries, Absalom Jones Fund, and more To make your tribute gift, visit episcopalchurch.org/give
Traveling the Way of Love, Episode 7: Learn, the final installment of the first season of the Way of Love video series from The Episcopal Church Office of Communication is available on The Episcopal Church website and on The Episcopal Church Facebook page.
‘Living the Way of Love in Community’ features small group facilitation guide and curriculum. A year after the introduction by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of the Way of Love, Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life, The Episcopal Church continues to offer new resources for congregations interested in following the Way of Love as a way of life. New this fall are the FAQ’s for Small Group Ministry video, a social media infographic, as well as a postcard-sized infographic. These resources are available here. The nine-session Living the Way of Love in Community curriculum is designed for small groups organized for the purpose of exploring The Way of Love. Group members study and experience each of seven practices: turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. Read more here.
Living Well Through Advent 2019 Practicing Peace With All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind - A Living Compass Seasonal Resource - Designed for use as an individual reflection or for group study, this guide provides a foundation for seeking a deeper experience of Advent, an experience that will help prepare us for the true meaning of Christmas. Available in both print and electronic editions.
New Digital Invitation Kits for Advent available New and updated Advent resources for congregations, dioceses, and communities of faith are now available: Way of Love Digital Invitation Kit, updated Journeying the Way of Love Advent calendar and curriculum, AdventWord 2019, Sermons That Work compilation of Advent and Christmas selections, Advent reflections from Episcopal Migration Ministries, and bulletin inserts. All are available here. Also offered again this year are digital Christmas Eve services. Click here for more info.
EYE20 venue change, theme, registration details released The venue for the 2020 Episcopal Youth Event (EYE20) has been changed to the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). The location remains within the Diocese of Washington and the dates, July 7th-11th, 2020, are unchanged. The theme for EYE20 is “Unite! ¡Unámonos!” Read more here.
Episcopal Church Young Adult Service Corps Applications are now available for 2020-2021 placements with the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC), the international missionary program of The Episcopal Church. YASC offers Episcopalians ages 21-30 the opportunity to follow the Way of Love into deeper relationship with God and the global Anglican Church while spending a year living and working with communities around the world. Read more here.
Rooted In Jesus: January 21-24, 2020 Atlanta, GA:
It’s time for the Episcopal Church to come together as disciples of Jesus and take a bold new step into the next decade. Spend four days together, talking about discipleship, leadership, evangelism, formation, preaching, and much more—so we can go out and be the Body of Christ. Registration is open for the Evangelism Matters pre-conference on January 21, 2020, part of the Rooted in Jesus Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, January 21-24, 2020. This pre-conference is an opportunity for those who identify as Evangelists to dive deeper into this apostolic ministry and connect with people who share a mutual deep commitment to Episcopal Evangelism. Read more here.
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POST YOUR EVENT!
Send an email with a short description plus links or attachments to Joanne. Churches are also encouraged to add joanne@dioceseofeaston.org to their local enews as she will occasionally pull events from those sources.
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