May 24, 2018
In This Issue
"There is Power In Love": Presiding Bishop Preaches at Royal Wedding
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's sermon on the power of love at the wedding of Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle in Windsor, England, on May 19 has attracted worldwide attention. Watch the video online.


Since he returned to the United States, Curry has made appearances on The View , the Today Show , Good Morning America , and has inspired a skit on Saturday Night Live.
Grace House Youth and Young Adult Mission Trip; Register by June 8
Youth from the 2017 Trip
From June 24-30, volunteers from the Diocese of Bethlehem will travel to Grace House on the Mountain in St. Paul, Virginia, a ministry of the Diocese of Southwest Virginia that serves people who live in the coalfields of Appalachia. Participants will meet new people, assist in repairing homes, gain valuable skills and help people in need. Building projects are matched to the abilities of the group, and no experience is necessary. 

Registration is now open for rising tenth graders through young adults. The cost is $150. Scholarships are available. Register by June 8.
July 5-13:  General Convention in Austin, Texas
Eight deputies will represent the Diocese of Bethlehem at the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church held in Austin, Texas, from July 5 to 13:  Cathy Bailey, Emily Garrity, Sophie Kitch-Peck, Dr. Linda Rogers, the Rev. Scott Allen, the Rev. Megan Dembi, the Rev. Canon Anne Kitch and the Very Rev. Tony Pompa. Learn more about the deputation on the website
 
General Convention is held every three years and is the Episcopal Church's highest temporal authority. At General Convention, deputies and bishops will deliberate and vote on resolutions addressing topics including mission, social justice, congregational and diocesan vitality and liturgical resources. They will also approve the Episcopal Church's budget for the 2019-2021 triennium and elect leaders to many committees and boards that serve the church between conventions. To learn more about General Convention and review resolutions that will come before convention, visit the website of the General Convention Office.

During General Convention, Bishop Sean and deputies from the diocese will post updates on their work on the diocesan website and Facebook page. Beginning July 3, worship and legislative sessions will be streamed online on the General Convention Media Hub.
Eucharistic Visitor Training; June 9
Training for laypeople interested in becoming Eucharistic visitors will be offered Saturday, June 9 from 1-4 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bethlehem. Eucharistic visitors are authorized to take consecrated elements to members of their congregations who are too ill or infirm to attend church. The training is required to be licensed by the bishop for this ministry.

The Rev. Twila Smith, priest at Grace and Mediator in Allentown, will lead the training, which includes exploration of the ministry of Eucharistic visitors, theological reflection and practical details. 

There is no cost to attend, but registration is requested.  
SUMMA Debate Camp Applications Due June 1
 

High school students who will enter grades 9-12 in the fall of 2018 can apply for SUMMA Debate Camp, which will take place July 17-25 at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. 

At the camp, students of all faiths learn skills for debate, public speaking, and theological reflection. No previous debate experience or formal theological study is necessary. At the end of camp, the SUMMA prize and a $1,000 scholarship are awarded to the student who best exemplifies the spirit of SUMMA camp, "speaking the truth in love."
 
The cost to parents is $750, which includes room, all meals and all materials. A limited number of scholarships are available for students with demonstrated financial need.
 
For more information and to apply, visit the website.
St. John's Palmerton Summer Breakfast Bunch Program
Saint John's Episcopal Church in Palmerton will again offer children in the Palmerton School District grades K-12 a free breakfast and reading program on weekday mornings from June 18 to August 31 at Palmerton Park.

Volunteers staff the program from 8:30 to 10 a.m. each day and send children home with free bagged lunches.

Shari Noctor, chair of the Palmerton Children's Summer Breakfast Bunch, said the program was designed to make sure that children receiving reduced-cost or free lunches during the school year have enough to eat during the summer, and to encourage summer reading. Studies indicate that children who don't read over the summer for two years in a row fall back three years in reading comprehension, she said.

The program is supported by grants from the Diocese of Bethlehem, the Palmerton Chamber of Commerce, and Toys for Tots. Eighty percent of the food for the program is provided through the parish's partnership with Second Harvest.

Sixty to 90 children participate in program, which Noctor and other members of the parish established after attending a National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., in 2017.

Noctor hopes that other churches will consider providing a similar program. "This is something that any church can do," she said. "We'd be happy to help."  Noctor can be contacted  via email.
News of the Diocese
Upcoming Events
 
June 9
June 24-30
July 5-13 General Convention
September 15 Ordination and Consecration of the IX Bishop of Bethlehem
October 12-13 147th Convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem with seating of the IX Bishop
 
Visit the website calendar  for a full list of upcoming events in the Diocese of Bethlehem. 

The Diocese of Bethlehem newSpin Blog
newSpin is Bill Lewellis' eclectic sampling of religion-related news and other items of interest. Read the May 17 issue.
People of Bethlehem
The Rev. Kurt Kovalovich and the Rev. Jennifer Scott were ordained by Bishop Sean Rowe to the Sacred Order of Deacons on May 19 at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity.


View more photos of the ordination, courtesy of Millard Cook.
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