 Special Guest Writer
The Very Rev. Dr. Caroline Carson
Dean, Atlantic Convocation, Diocese of NJ
Rector, Holy Innocents' Beach Haven
Dear Clergy and Laity of the Diocese of New Jersey,
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I know many are concerned about the Covid-19 crisis in India. Indeed, the world has been watching. I thought I'd share something I'm doing to respond that might be of interest. If anyone has any questions or would like to review and join the effort, feel free to contact me.
I’m an international board member of The Rambo Committee, which supports the Christian Hospital Mungeli (CHM) in the rural and poorest state of Chhattisgarh, known as “The Rice Bowl.” I did some mission work with the hospital and the English grade school there for many months in 2014 and 2015 and have stayed in touch.
 What am I doing? It began as simply boosting their social media posts and establishing an online presence for them. I run their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and help with website (not much lately though!) It has morphed into spreading hope, raising money for needed vaccines, and holding Zoom meetings with the new doctors and staff of the hospital. Though a world apart, we work together to raise awareness in the tribal villages surrounding CHM and have generated plans to hold vaccine fairs, similar to how our Diocese of New Jersey has tried to ensure everyone can have access to a vaccine if they choose to have it. Nationally, there has been conflicting information about the efficacy of vaccines and this has done harm, confusing the people. I also learned that while many vaccines are free, those are given from the government to state hospitals and not to rural, mission hospitals. So, we have been working with churches connected to Global Ministries to raise awareness and funding for the COVAX and Remdesivir vaccines.
CHM’s success in fighting Covid has also been due to the availability of Remdesivir, a very expensive treatment. The cost is $60 USD for a single treatment; the average Covid patient requires about 6 treatments at $366 USD. Most patients do not have the ability to pay leaving the hospital to cover this very expensive but crucial drug. CHM has been given government approval to administer the Rapid Antigen test at a cost to the hospital of approximately $4 USD per test. While a Covid vaccine is free, the cost to take it to the most rural areas is not.
If you would like to donate to help Christian Hospital Mungeli fight Covid, you may do so knowing 100% of your tax exempt donation to the Rambo Committee will go to providing immediate financial support to CHM.
Critical supplies of oxygen also run out in many places across India. CHM can treat many Covid patients a day in their ICU, due in part to having the only oxygen generator in the region, funded by a USAID / ASHA award to Rambo Committee, Inc. A new doctor on staff, Dr. Sapan Kumar, is a Pulmonologist and has been a crucial lifesaver there.
So, the little bit that I can do is just that, but oftentimes, I find that those little “drops-in-a-bucket” end up creating a wave of difference in many lives. It’s also a nice thing to simply be connected to a place that is dear to my heart and see the new beginnings forming there out of love for people. Certainly, there are other and larger organizations, but this is what I do.
A Story from Dr. Sapan
The Face of Covid in Rural India
 This is the story of Mr. Uttam, who is a father of five and was admitted in Christian Hospital Mungeli. He was referred to us with a saturation of 34% on 7 lit/min Oxygen. Mr. Uttam was started on non-invasive ventilation on which he was managed for more than two weeks. Non-invasive ventilation was discontinued once he improved, but after two days, his breathlessness increased. Non-invasive ventilation couldn't be restarted since it has already been used on a sick patient. By the grace of God, after a day we received our first set of BIPAP (a kind of small ventilator). There was a delay in transportation of the machines due to the lockdown and the tropical cyclone but we finally received them just on time for Mr. Uttam. He was soon started on the machine with which he felt much relief. Currently he is improving on BIPAP. We wish him a speedy recovery. The new BIPAP machines are an important part of treatment of moderate and severe Covid patients and we wish to help many more like Mr. Uttam with the machine.
We also want to thank all those who have constantly kept us in their prayers without which we wouldn't have been able to do the good deeds.
Regards
Dr. Priyamvada and Dr. Sapan
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The Bishop's Schedule Highlights
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Saturday, June 5
10:00 am
ECW Annual Meeting and
UTO Ingathering
via Zoom
4:00 pm
Ordination to the Priesthood
José Maria Cantos Delgado
Sunday, June 6
9:30 am
Visitation
Trinity "Old Swedes" Church, Swedesboro
1:00 pm
ECS Congregational Briefing
Zoom meeting
3:00 pm
ECS Deacons Briefing
Zoom meeting
Monday, June 7
1:00 pm
Presiding Bishop/ERD Check-In
Zoom meeting
Tuesday, June 8
9:00 am
Executive Staff Coordination
Zoom meeting
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Tuesday, June 8 (cont.)
11:00 am
Interims and Transition Consultants
Zoom meeting
6:00 pm
Parish Initial Transitions
Zoom meeting
7:00 pm
Parish Vestry
Zoom meeting
Thursday, June 10
10:00 am
Bishop to Bishop call
11:00 am
Clergy Town Hall
Zoom meeting
2:00 pm
Zoom meeting
7:00 pm
Lay Leaders Town Hall
Zoom meeting
Friday, June 11
1:00 pm
CCS-DNJ Capital Campaign
Operational Zoom meeting
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The Ordination of José Maria Cantos Delgado
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By the Grace of God and with the People consenting,
the Right Reverend William Hallock Stokes, D.D.,
Twelfth Bishop of New Jersey
will ordain
José Maria Cantos Delgado
to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
Saturday, the Fifth of June
in the year of our Lord 2021
At 4 o’clock in the afternoon
Christ Episcopal Church
415 Washington St., Toms River, NJ 08753
Your online presence is requested
Facebook
YouTube
(In-person seating is first-come, first-served)
Clergy Color: White
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Anti-Racism Training Coming June 18
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The diocese's commitment to the principles of anti-racism have led us to create an acclaimed training program, offered online several times a year.
The next installment of our Anti-Racism Training—required for all clergy and lay leadership in the diocese—is coming in June and July.
Lecture and discussion topics include “What is Race?” “Systemic Racism and White Privilege,” “Internalized Racism,” “The Role of the Church,” “Settler Colonialism,” “Racism in Immigration and Naturalization Legislation,” and “The Prison Industrial Complex.”
Training consists of five two-hour live interactive discussions via Zoom on consecutive Friday evenings and a follow-up debrief session a month later. After each session, participants will be presented with recorded lectures and print, video, and audio lessons via an online training platform.
Next Training ($100 fee)
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Formation Town Hall June 5
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 [Re]Fresh Formation: Planning for a New Season
Saturday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m.
Register Now
Wondering what faith formation will look like as we regather in the fall? The last year and a half have brought many changes to how we program formation opportunities in our parishes across the diocese. How have things changed? What has worked in your parish? What challenges are you still facing? The Lifelong Christian Formation Committee (LCFC) of the Diocese of New Jersey invites you to come, share, and learn at our next Town Hall [Re]Fresh Formation: Planning for a New Season on Saturday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m. on Zoom.
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Make Juneteenth a Day of Action for Social Justice
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 "Juneteenth," which falls every year on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Specifically, it is the anniversary of the 1865 announcement by Union Army General Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas.
This year, the diocese will recognize Juneteenth as a day of action, focused on the exploration of reparations for the sins of slavery and racism.
At 9 a.m., Episcopal Community Services NJ will host a discussion with Ryan Haygood, President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. Haygood will discuss NJ S322/A711, bills to create a reparations task force in the state.
After this, all members of the diocese are encouraged to meet in Newark, to march together from the Lincoln Memorial (50 West Market Street) to a rally at Newark City Hall (920 Broad Street). Bishop Stokes and other speakers will urge the passage of the bill before the State Legislature as a first step toward racial reconciliation and healing.
Take part in advancing racial justices, join us on June 19!
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Join the ECW Annual Meeting Tomorrow
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 Episcopal Church Women Annual Meeting
& United Thank Offering Ingathering
June 5 at 10 a.m.
Register Now
We will acknowledge our Student Service Award Recipients for 2021, and we also will remember our necrology, remembering and praying for all Episcopal Church Women who went home to the Lord this past year.
The Annual Meeting business will be covered, including our budget for the year and officer nominations.
For the United Thank Offering Ingathering, parish representatives will be called upon to state their parish and, if known, the amount collected for UTO since last year. The contributions can be mailed to the Diocese, made payable to Diocesan ECW, and note on the memo line that it is a UTO contribution. Please contact Donna to if you have any questions. |
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 News
In Brief
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 Episcopal Servant Ministries Seminars
Are you feeling drawn toward something new in service to God’s people? The upcoming Episcopal Servant Ministries seminar will allow you to explore how the Spirit may be moving you!
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 Learning & Breakthroughs Survey for Churches
Eventually, the pandemic will end. When it does, the Diocese wants to remember the best lessons and share them with all our churches. Bishop Stokes has called the Learnings and Breakthroughs Task Force to do this work, and now they're asking for your help. Each congregation in the Diocese is asked to complete an online questionnaire developed by the task force.
- PDF, fillable on the computer (use Acrobat's "Fill and Sign" command) or printable
- Online questionnaire. Note that you can save progress by clicking the "Next" button on the bottom of the screen and return later to finish it. but only from the same computer.
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 Campus Ministries Invitation to Community
Campus Ministries at universities across the state and the nation provide community in an Episcopal setting for college students. See this invitation from the Rev. Scott Russell, Episcopal Chaplain at Rutgers University, and let us know where you're attending school in the Fall.
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Happening Around the Diocese
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To receive emails about events around the Diocese, please update your preferences to subscribe to the Announcements List. You can update your preferences here.
Click here for a list of weekly online gathering opportunities.
Find online worship opportunities
June 6
June 8
June 9
June 10
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We have one purpose: to form people as disciples of Jesus Christ so they can flourish as human beings, alleviate the world’s suffering, and participate in God’s mission of reconciliation.
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Trinity Asbury Park is hiring for the following part-time positions:
St. George's in Maplewood is seeking a minister of music, 20-30 hours/weekly. The pipe organ is 
