September 1, 2017

Serving the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
3717 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
www.diopa.org          215-627-6434
Articles In This Issue
Quick Links to Diopa Website
Parish Events
Wellness
Safe Church Training

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Our Second Communications Conference for Congregational Development

"Crisis Communications"



Please use the link below to register for our second

Communications Conference for Congregational Development 
to be held on
September 16, 2017
from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at

Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr
230 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Our featured speaker will be Neva Rae Fox, Officer for Public Affairs at the Episcopal Church Center who will offer a special presentation on Crisis Communications.

Other presentations will include resources on Video Production, Website Design, Social Media, and Publications.

We look forward to these offerings that will be an in depth follow-up to presentations made at the first Communications Conference for Congregational Development.

Please register in advance by using the above link!




Jump Start at St. John's Norristown

On August 16, Bishop Gutiérrez joined a Jump Start meeting held at St. John's Norristown to discuss the rebirth of that parish and plans for future development.





Episcopal Relief & Development's Hurricane Harvey Response Update



"If one part of the body suffers, we all suffer with it"
  (1 Cor 12:26)

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ, 

Like you, I have been stunned by the images of the devastation in Texas and Louisiana. Yet what is truly horrifying is that for many communities the worst is still to come as the rains continue to fall and the waters keep on rising. As Christians and as fellow citizens, it is our obligation to care for our neighbors in their time of need. 

Episcopal Relief and Development has created a special fund specifically to help the victims of Harvey. Please use this link to give as generously as you are able to assist those who have lost everything to this disaster.

http://www.episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-harvey-response

For additional information from ERD, including a bulletin insert that you can use on Sunday, please scroll to the bottom of this email.

We will continue to update you on ways in which you can help butin the meantime please pray for the victims and for the first responders who even now put their own lives at risk to assist those in need. 

A Prayer for First Responders

Blessed are you, Lord, God of mercy, who through your Son gave us a marvelous example of charity and the great commandment of love for one another. Send down your blessings on these your servants, who so generously devote themselves to helping others. Grant them courage when they are afraid, wisdom when they must make quick decisions, strength when they are weary, and compassion in all their work. When the alarm sounds and they are called to aid both friend and stranger, let them faithfully serve you in their neighbor. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

- Adapted from the Book of Blessings, #587, by Diana Macalintal

In Christ, 

The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez
XVI Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania


Feature image: People wading through flood waters in Houston.     Link reference  .





Dear Network Colleagues, 

As Hurricane Harvey continues through the US Gulf Coast, Episcopalians are asking how to respond. Episcopal Relief & Development is working closely with our partners in the region to reach the most vulnerable. 

We have created  this bulletin insert so that you can share information and an opportunity for compassionate response with members of your congregation. 

For the most up-to-date information about Episcopal Relief & Development's response to the hurricane, please visit our  Response to Hurricane Harvey web statement page. 

Check out the latest  blog from Rob Radtke as he explains the three R's of a disaster and how you can best help during this time. 

The  Presiding Bishop has also recorded a message regarding Hurricane Harvey. 

Please continue to pray for all those impacted by the hurricane, for first responders who are conducting rescue operations and for church communities who are reaching out to care for their most vulnerable members and neighbors. 

For those wishing to volunteer for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, please direct them to our  Ready to Serve database. 

Contributions to the  Hurricane Harvey Response Fund will help Episcopal Relief & Development support Church and other local partners as they provide critical emergency assistance to those most in need. 

We ask that you distribute this information to all of your Network Representatives, Seminaries, and Diocesan connections. 

Throughout the response to Hurricane Harvey, we are here to help you. Please let us know if we can be of assistance. 

Wishing you peace, 

Chad Brinkman 
Program Officer, Engagement 
Episcopal Relief & Development



Our Brothers and Sisters in Texas and Louisiana Need Our Help


Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on Hurricane Harvey 




  • To donate to the Hurricane Harvey Response Fund to support impacted dioceses  as they meet the needs of their most vulnerable neighbors after this event, check here.
  • Sign up on the Ready to Serve page to register as a possible volunteer in the future. Episcopal Relief & Development staff share these lists with dioceses when they are ready to recruit external volunteers.
  • Bulletin insert for use this Sunday is available here.
  • The latest Episcopal Relief & Development program updates are available on FacebookTwitter (@EpiscopalRelief) and on here on the website.
  • Check the Episcopal Church website for updates and important information.

As our fellow Episcopalians minister to those in need they need our help not just now or in the short term, but for the long haul. Our support of Episcopal Relief & Development is a tangible, practical, effective and reliable way to do that. Keep in your prayers the people in Texas and Louisiana whose lives have been forever changed by Hurricane Harvey.

Together we are the human family of God and our efforts in times like these these truly help bring God's love and ours to our sisters and brothers in great need.

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church



The Basics of Godly Play
Full Day Introduction and Refresher Workshop


 

Saturday, September 9
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
 
St. David's Episcopal Church
763 South Valley Forge Road, Wayne, PA 19087-4794
 
Training session led by Dawn Stewart, Accredited Godly Play Teacher Trainer
 
* Experience a complete Godly Play® session as a learner.
* Examine the structure of Godly Play® and how Godly Play® nurtures a child's spirit.
* Experience and explore storytelling and wondering with each kind of Godly Play® presentation: Sacred Story, Parable, Liturgical Action, Silence
* Observe and identify the roles of Godly Play® Mentors, Storyteller and Door Person
 
This day-long workshop offers an introduction to Godly Play® for those exploring resources for children, for new Godly Play mentors (Storytellers and Door Persons), and a refresher for those already using this method of spiritual formation with  children.
 
      Cost: $50 per person, checks payable to St. David's Church

                 Morning coffee and Lunch provided

      To register call or email Dawn Stewart at dcstewart1@verizon.net or 215-438-9598
                                                    
Experiencing Godly Play® is worth more than a 1000 words about it! 




Invite - Welcome - Connect



Invite*Welcome*Connect and its creator Mary Parmer are coming to the Brandywine Deanery, September 15th-17th, 2017 for "Empowering the Laity." Join in a deanery plenary gathering for clergy and lay leaders involved with evangelism and hospitality. The gathering on Friday, September 15th at St. John's, Concord is a deanery event beginning at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with an informal, meet and greet with Mary where she describes the next day's workshop, and fields any questions regarding the ministry.

On Saturday, September 16th, Mary will be offering her full, one-day workshop on Invite*Welcome*Connect at St. James', Downingtown. Members of the laity from the Diocese are encouraged to attend to learn about all aspects of church hospitality, congregational growth and retention of long-standing members.

The day's events begins at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude by 3:30 p.m. Registration and check-in will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The day will start with introductions at 9:30 a.m. sharp. The cost of the workshop is $20.00 per person, which includes a catered lunch at St. James'. Sponsoring parishes within the deanery will be offered ten (10) complimentary tickets for Saturday's workshop. For questions pertaining to sponsoring the program, please contact St. James' Episcopal Church, Downingtown at (610) 269-1774.

Mary Parmer will conclude her weekend offering in the deanery while preaching Sunday morning, September 17th at Episcopal Church of the Trinity, Coatesville at their 9:30 a.m. Eucharistic service. For more information, please contact St. James' Episcopal Church, (610) 269-1774 office, 
www.stjames.ws .








~ SAVE THE DATE! ~

Friday, October 6, 2017
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez,
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

The Very Rev. Judith A. Sullivan,
Dean, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
&
The Philadelphia Committee of AFEDJ

Invite you to a Benefit Event in Support
of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
             Special  Guest Speaker
ThRevCanoJohn L. Peterson


Supporting the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza

An excellent 4 min. video of the Al Ahli Arab Hospital is linked below. This hospital is in Gaza and an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East. First hand interviews give us an excellent picture of the near insurmountable challenges in the devastated part of the Diocese.


On October 6, Canon John Peterson, who has a long working relationship with the Diocese of Jerusalem and the hospital will speak at a Benefit for the hospital at the Episcopal Diocesan Cathedral on 38 th street adjacent to the Penn Campus. Refreshments will be served from 6-7 with accompanying music by the Arab Music Ensemble and program from 7-9.

The Philadelphia Committee of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem is organizing the event. The invitation above is issued by The Rt. Rev. G.P. Gutiérrez, Dean Judith Sullivan and the Board of AFEDJ.
 

 
Sustaining the Christian Community in the Middle East
with
Supper *  Art Exhibit  *  Music

Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
23 South 38th Street, Philadelphia 19104
 
 C ontact person: the Rev. Judith Beck   judithtb938@gmail.com




Registration Open for October Session of 
 Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency

 

Registration is now open for the October session of the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency, an innovative nine-day intensive course designed for diocesan staff, clergy, lay leaders, and seminarians to learn cultural competency for Latino ministry.

Offered by the Episcopal Church Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries, the course will be held at St. James Commons, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Sunday to Tuesday, October 15 to 24.   The course will be taught by seminary faculty, lay church leaders, and clergy with extensive experience in Latino and intercultural ministry.

"Combining academic learning with hands-on experience, the purpose of this multi-faceted intensive course is to provide cultural competency of the history, culture, socio-demographic, and religious aspects of the Latinos/Hispanics in the United States," noted the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén, Episcopal Church Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries. "Also this course will provide the foundational tools necessary for church leaders to discern and explore the type of Latino/Hispanic ministry that best fits a congregational setting and its context."

The course will be conducted in English. Bilingual faculty will interpret as needed.

Registration is available  here.   Registration includes tuition, hotel accommodations, meals, transportation to and from O'Hare Airport, and transportation during the course.  Registration does not include textbooks.

Registration deadline is September 29.

The October session marks the second offering of the Episcopal Latino Ministry. A future offering will be held at Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, CA on June 10-19, 2018.

Among the goals of the course are:

* Show a familiarity with the general Latino culture and "religiosity" context of Latino worship and sacramental pastoral care.
* Learn to manage and address the worshiping needs of a dual language congregation, or to prepare for a special liturgical event involving English and Spanish speaking attendees.
* Acquire a fundamental competency in learning the general aspects of the pastoral and congregational ministries aimed at the immigrant and first generation, plus the ministry focused especially on the more acculturated and English-language speaking Latinos of the second and third generation.
* Define and interpret the broad historical and demographic profile of the Latino/Hispanic population in the United States through designated readings, course lectures, written reflections, class participation and experiential trips.
* Acquire first-hand knowledge of the church in mission in the borderlands* and identify the political, social, and pastoral issues revolving around immigration from Mexico as well as Central and South America and the Caribbean. (*Borderlands refers to either the US/Mexico border or immigrant entry points in urban centers.)

For more information, contact Guillén at  aguillen@episcopalchurch.org.

Competency Enabled by General Convention 2015 Resolution  AO86:   Create a Network of Partners on Latino/Hispanic Congregational Ministry Development, the course will provide foundational tools for church leaders to gain a deep understanding of ways of welcoming and serving Latino families, and sharing spiritual, sacramental and community life together.




The Diocese of Pennsylvania is 
Now Receiving Contributions from AmazonSmile



Do you use Amazon? If so, then you can support our Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania earn extra income by shopping through AmazonSmile! 

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to our Diocese. Getting started is simple.

1) Go to smile.amazon.com

2) You will be asked to select an organization. 
Please select The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania .  

3) Add smile.amazon.com to your bookmarks so that you always come back to the same site.  

That's it! It may not sound like much but if it were to take all your online shopping and multiply it by everyone in our Diocese it can really add up. Please make sure to spread the word and ask your friends and family to select The Epsicopal Diocese of Pennsylvania as their own AmazonSmile charity as well. Please remember, only purchases made through AmazonSmile will be eligible.

Just go to:  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-1352108 and shop on Amazon's website like you normally would. Make sure to save the link in your favorites for easy access when shopping in the future.  






Discipleship Matters Conference

This conference is being brought to you by  Forward Movement and  RenewalWorks . It is being hosted by
St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh. The  Diocese of Pennsylvania is co-sponsoring the conference and encourages you to register for what promises to be a remarkable experience.


Helping leaders create a culture of discipleship in their congregations and community.

This national conference will explore Christian formation for discipleship, scripture engagement, habits of daily prayer, serving the poor, and sharing the Good News. Built on the model of the very successful Evangelism Matters conference held in Dallas in November 2016, this conference will offer keynote presentations, workshops, and networking time, and will be undergirded with Eucharist and the Daily Office.

The conference will include findings from RenewalWorks, a research-based Forward Movement initiative that has identified key catalysts for spiritual vitality in congregations and for individuals. A focus on discipleship is one of those primary catalysts, based on research from nearly half a million participants across the country.


If you are interested in volunteering, contact Emily Given at 215-233-3970 ext.126 or egiven@stthomaswhitemarsh.org. Greeters, wayfinding assistants, and registration helpers are needed for one day or for the whole conference.


 




Diocese of Pennsylvania T-Shirts


What's there not to love?

Check out DIOPA's
awesome new shirts!


The #diopaLOVE T-shirts were so popular they were all claimed within 48 hours! Another order has been placed and we will be getting more. If you are still interested in a T-shirt, don't worry! Just contact Kristen Kelly at 215-627-6434 or through  kristenk@diopa.org  and she will contact you once they are in!

Kristen is taking orders now. If we don't have the size you want she will order more at a later date.



ECW Grant Requests


Each year the Steering Committee of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Pennsylvania distributes the legacy gifts of our foremothers.  One of the designated categories is Domestic Mission.  These grants remain in the Diocese of Pennsylvania.  An extended statement about this is on the Diocese of Pennsylvania webpage. 
 
Each request must be no more than a single page, be accompanied by a simple budget and signed by the parish priest.
 
* Any specific project/program is considered.
* One thousand two hundred dollars is the maximum grant.
* Assets-Based Community outreach is the primary ministry.
* The intentional inclusion of each deanery by the committee will reflect the diocesan structure.
* No grant money is for food, perishables and travel.
 
Question or conversations: Shirley Smith, Presider - 215-887-9448  granny7sm@gmail.com  or Amy Lancaster, Treasurer - 215-348-9654  grahamlancaster@pil.net
  
Requests received by September 30 will be considered for fall.
  
Requests are to be submitted electronically at  ecw@diopa.org or by USPS c/o ECW: Domestic Grants, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, 3717 Chestnut Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19104.




A Message from Bishop Gutiérrez Regarding the 2018 Diocesan Budget





 CAMINOS: Our Road Together


The Office of the Diocese of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the publication of our new magazine "CAMINOS: Our Road Together".

 
 
While this magazine will be published online, it is also available in a print format for anyone who does not have internet access.  If you know someone in your congregation who cannot receive it electronically, please send us their name and address and we will be sure to send them a hard copy version.
 
In order to have the best viewing experience, once you click on the link below, put your cursor under the image of the magazine cover.  A timeline will appear. Click on the square at the far right of the timeline and the issue can be read full screen.  Once you are viewing it full screen, clicking on the arrows at the far right or left will turn the pages forward or backward.
 

We want to help tell your stories.  If you would like to submit an article for publication, please contact Henry Carnes at  henryc@diopa.org  and he will be glad to assist you.





Summer Bible Challenge

Heard the word?
Staycation  or  Vacation
The Bible Challenge Continues!
 

 
SEND US A PHOTO OF YOUR
SUMMER BIBLE CHALLENGE
 
Camping, Fishing, Rowing, Throwing Strolling, Cooking, Hiking, Biking Flying, Cruising, Playing, Praying Sailing, Swimming, Running, Sunning .
 
Let's see where the challenge goes - Post to the Facebook Group Page or email jdlafrance@diopa.org



Servant Year is On!


"Are you called to serve?"

Our new Servant Year Corps Members have answered this question with an unabashedly faithful  "YES"!   This DioPA ministry is an intentional faith-based community where young adults give of themselves while faithfully discerning where they are being called in their lives.  On August 19th , six members will arrive to begin their year of service among us. As we get closer to August look for Introductions to our members right here.  We are excited for people to get to know them and their many talents and gifts.

Members in this urban missionary like program receive full-time volunteer positions at a partner site, monthly stipends, housing, health insurance, meals and public transportation tokens.  Servant Year is a supportive community that includes regular spiritual direction and formation.  It is perfect for new graduates who want to "give back" before they start their career; want a break in between college and graduate school; or need a little extra time to discern where their life is calling them after plans change or do not materialize as expected.

If you know of a college graduate who sounds like a good fit for this ministry please have them contact servantyear@diopa.org

This program is not limited to Episcopalians.  But for those young adults who grew up in the Episcopal Church,  Servant Year can be the next step in maturing their faith and discerning their call to ministry, whether that is ordained or lay.  Thank you for your help in finding those being called to  Servant Year .  

For more information contact Jan Berry Schroeder at 215-621-8315 or jans@diopa.org , or the Rev. Canon Betsy Ivey, Director of the Offices of Family and Young Adult Ministry at bivey@diopa.org . Please feel free to explore our websites as well: Servant Year Philadelphia and  The Episcopal Service Corps.   

Where are YOU being called to serve?



DIOPA Resource Guide

                     The DIOPA Resource Guide is here!

We have heard your suggestions, compiled them, and we would like to present the DIOPA Resource Guide: a directory of information about the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and how we can best serve you. We encourage you to explore the website at  http://www.dioparesourceguide.com/ .

This website is designed to continue to capture information that is useful and relevant to all members of the Diocese. Please continue to submit your suggestions. Contact J.D. Lafrance at  jdlafrance@diopa.org   or use our online form:  https://diopa.wufoo.com/forms/cant-find-something/ .



DIOPA Deanery Calendar



Our DIOPA Deanery Calendar is fully operational and available to capture and disseminate your event information - diocesan wide! It's the place to post parish events in each deanery and can be found on www.diopa.org at the bottom right of the home page under Calendars. It's a read-only site, with information being posted by an administrator in your deanery. Call your parish office to have your administrator post an event you want to share.



Video Invitation to Join the Bishop's Bible Challenge!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As another part of my promise to better serve you, I am pleased to present another major initiative from the Offices of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. This Bible App will help us all to feel connected, provides a platform for participating in the Bishop's Bible Challenge, and perhaps most importantly is a powerful tool for you to read or hear the Word of God in 1,000 languages. With the Bible App, many now have access to the word of God in their primary language. Reading the Bible together as a diocesan community will have a life changing effect. The importance of Christian people using Holy Scripture as a foundation for daily life is hard to overstate. Who we are as the People of God flows directly from our worship, doctrine, and liturgy, which are all rooted in Scripture. To know the Bible better, is to know ourselves as the People of God better, to know our mission to the world better, and to know our faith better. We are here to help and to serve you, and this mobile app is another important step in showing the kind of innovation and emphasis that is placed on equipping our congregations to build the Kingdom of God.

The Rt. Rev. Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez
XVI Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania


The Bishop's Bible Challenge leads us through the entire bible in a year's time. Not only will you find the daily reading and meditation rewarding, but you will be joining in community with hundreds, possibly thousands, of fellow Episcopalians in our diocese. While this may seem like a daunting undertaking, as the Bible tells us "Fear Not", for there are many ways to connect!
You can download The DIOPA Bible in a Year App from iTunes, Apple App Store, and Google Play. To download the mobile application, go to the "App Store" icon on your iPhones or the "Google Play" icon on your Android Phone and search for "DIOPA" or "DIOPA bible." It is a self-contained way to participate and has everything you need including a link to the registration page, the Bible readings for each day, an online link to the Bible in audible and readable forms and daily reading or listening selections that will help everyone to read the same selections each day.
 
* If you don't want to use the app, register to participate at our online registration site:  https://diopa.wufoo.com/forms/bishops-bible-challenge/
 
* If you do not use a computer or smart phone simply call the Offices of the Diocese at 215-627-6434 to register and receive a Bible Study Packet; or contact your Priest for these materials.

* Join our online Facebook group at < DIOPA Bishop's Bible Challenge>. This is where you can post your own testimonies on the readings. These responses can be written or use your phone or camera to take a picture that reflects your response to the reading. Include a brief description and post with the hash tag #wordon and #diopabbc. Check the group page or the hash tags to see what other participants are saying!

* Information and resources regarding The Bishop's Bible Challenge can be found online:  http://www.diopa.org/bishops-bible-challenge/

The important thing to know is that you are not alone in this and you cannot mess this up! If you miss a day of reading, or a week for that matter, just jump back in to the schedule because there is no wrong way to do this. If you'd rather not read, the Bible App will play the day's selections in a dramatized audio format for you to listen.

So let's come together as a diocesan family and build the Kingdom of God -praying together, worshipping together, studying together - in this the "come and see" diocese. #diopalove #diopacomeandsee #wordon #diopabbc - there are multiple ways to connect!


Online Staff Directory


Visit our new "Staff Directory" page on the diocesan website to see photos, bios, and job descriptions 
of the current staff of the Offices of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.





Download our Diocesan Mobile App "DIOPAConnect"


Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As part of my promise to better serve you, I am pleased to offer a major initiative from the Offices of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. This mobile directory app will help us all to feel connected, provides useful information about parishes, and enables us to have one more important way to stay informed about everything going on in our wonderful Diocese. We are here to help and to serve you, and this mobile app is an important step in showing the kind of innovation and emphasis that is placed on equipping our congregations to build the Kingdom of God.

The Rt. Rev. Daniel G.P.  Gutiérrez
XVI Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

To download the mobile application go to the "App Store" icon on your iPhones 
or the "Google Play" icon on your Android Phone  and 
search for "DIOPA" or "DIOPA mobile directory."

Let us know how DiopaConnect works for you. 
 User feedback helps us to tailor our applications to better meet your needs.