August 11, 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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#diopalove

 

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.  




Communications for Congregational Development


- SAVE THE DATE - 

Join us at the 

2nd Communications for Congregational Development Conference

September 16, 2017

8:30 am - 1:00 pm

Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr

230 Pennswood Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010


 

In cooperation with The Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania is pleased to host a communications conference for congregational development. Persons who may be particularly interested in this educational offering would be clergy, parish administrators, and lay leaders with responsibilities for communication in their parish but all are welcome.

Featured speakers and workshop leaders will be from 
The Episcopal Church Center and the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

Don't miss the wealth of information and resources 
that will be provided by these 
national communications specialists!



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 is Friday night, September 15th at St. John's, Concord beginning at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for an informal, meet and greet with Mary.

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 are encouraged to attend to learn about all aspects of church hospitality, congregational growth and retention of long-standing members. The day's event begins at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude by 3:30 p.m. 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 .


UBE Sunday
September 3, 2017


UBE Sunday - September 3, 2017
Honoring our Saint: The Reverend Alexander Crummell



 
On Sunday September 3, we celebrate the life and legacy of our notable saint, The Reverend Alexander Crummell. We also designate this day as UBE Sunday to commemorate the racial justice ministry of this organization which was an outgrowth of the Rev. Crummell's advocacy. We invite you to use in your bulletin on Sunday, September 4 or on any other Sunday that you are reflecting on racial reconciliation these liturgical resources that we are offering.
 
Collect:  Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servant Alexander Crummell, whom you called to preach the Gospel to those who were far off and to those who were near. We thank you for his faithfulness though gravely oppressed by racism. We also thank you for empowering his courageous and prophetic witness for racial justice; and against spiritual wickedness in high places within the Church and the world. Raise up, O Lord, in this and every land, evangelists and heralds of your kingdom. May the Union of Black Episcopalians and the larger Church proclaim justice and all the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
 
Psalm and Lessons:
 
Psalms: 19: 7 -11
 
Lessons: Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 2: 7-11, 17-18; James 1:2-5; Mark 4:1-10, 13-20
 
The Reverend Alexander Crummell's Biography

Born March 3, 1819 in New York City, Alexander Crummell struggled against racism all his life. As a young man he was driven out of an academy in New Hampshire, dismissed as a candidate for Holy Orders in New York and rejected for admittance to General Seminary. Ordained in 1844 as a priest in the Diocese of Massachusetts, he left for England after being excluded from participating in diocesan convention.

After receiving a degree from Cambridge he went to Liberia as a missionary. A model Christian republic seemed possible in Liberia. He traveled extensively in the United States urging blacks to immigrate to Liberia and support the work of the Church there. On returning to Liberia he worked to establish a national Episcopal Church. Political opposition and a lack of funding finally forced him to return to the United States.

He concentrated his efforts on establishing a strong urban presence of independent black congregations that would be centers of worship, education and social service. When southern bishops proposed that a separate missionary district be created for black congregations, Crummell created a national convocation to fight the proposal. The Union of Black Episcopalians is an outgrowth of that organization.

His faith in God, his preseverance in spite of repeated discouragement, his perception that the Church transcended the racism and limited vision of its rulers, and his unfailing belief in the goodness and greatness of black people are the legacy of the Afro-American pioneer. 




T. James Fernley III Grants

Awards granted by the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
to the 2017 T. James Fernley, III Scholars
 
T. James Fernley, III (1947-1974) was a seminarian at what is now known as Episcopal Divinity School ("EDS").  Following the untimely death of Jim Fernley on June 7, 1974, his family and friends established a memorial fund for seminarian students. Generous contributions allowed the fund to expand its scope of scholarships for this fund that was previously administered by a Board of Trustees which included among them the Rector of St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh.

The Board of Trustees transferred the management of the funds of the T. James Fernley, III Memorial Fund ("Fernley Fund") to The Church Foundation in 2005 and arranged for the scholarships to be administered by the Aid to Theological Students Funds Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Since that transfer as of June 30, 2005, the fund balance has grown from $227,868.96 to $448817.44 as of June 30, 2017.

The 2017 Fernley Scholars are:

Paul E. Reese
 
 
Originally from South Korea and raised in Central Pennsylvania, Paul E. Reese is thrilled to be a recipient of the T. James Fernley, III Award. Paul is a rising middler seminarian and Postulant, sponsored by the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral. While at the Cathedral, Paul served as a chorister and liturgical team leader, enjoying the mentorship of the clergy under the direction of Dean Judith A. Sullivan and music director Dr. Thomas Lloyd. At Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, Paul serves as a liturgical music consultant to both the Episcopal and ecumenical chapel leadership and sings with the Yale Schola Cantorum. 

Paul's research interests include the intersectionality of popular culture and religion, and his vocational interests include urban poverty and community development as models of evangelism in the Episcopal Church. Upcoming work includes research on the creation of temporary public sacred space during the 2015 World Meeting of Families and an internship on the Presiding Bishop's staff with The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, Canon for Evangelism, Reconciliation, and Creation Care. He and his wife Lena live in New Haven, Connecticut, with their sea of succulent plants. 

Michael Whitnah
 
 
 
Michael Whitnah is currently a seminarian in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, studying full time at Virginia Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Joanna, celebrated the birth of their first child, Charles, earlier this year. Prior to living at VTS (in Alexandria, Virginia), Michael and Joanna lived in Paoli, Pennsylvania.Michael worked with the Church of the Good Samaritan in full time ministry with college students, while Joanna worked at a CSA vegetable farm in Newtown Square. 

While in Paoli, Michael began the discernment process with Good Samaritan and the Diocese, and his sense of call to ordained ministry continues to be strengthened. Looking forward, they are discerning how Michael's calling in the Church, Joanna's agricultural vocation, and their shared commitment to experiential, transformative ministry might come together in creative ways. Michael will be writing an honors thesis during his final year at VTS, in which he begins to develop a theology of creation care that explores how an understanding of priesthood can inform how humans interact with the rest of creation. They are looking forward to their final year in Alexandria, and then on to the next chapter of their life and ministry together.
 
Best wishes are extended to the 2017 Fernley Scholars Paul and Michael 
by The Church Foundation and the family of
T. James Fernley, III




Veterans Mental Health Training 


August 26, 2017
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
11-19 South 38th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Coffee and breakfast will be provided.

As the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania continues its movement to address the mental health needs of veterans and be a spiritual safe space in the community, we are hosting a Veterans Mental Health First Aid Training on August 26, 2017. The training will be led by a veteran from the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health. It will provide us with knowledge and tools to support veterans and their families who may need or seek help.

The training aims to:
  • Break down the stigmas associated with mental illness
  • Reach out to those who suffer in silence and are reluctant to seek help
  • Let veterans know that support is available in their community
  • Provide community resource information
  • Make mental healthcare and treatment accessible to thousands in need

This training is free to all. Please register online at this link:



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 [email protected] or 215-438-9598
                                                    
Experiencing Godly Play® is worth more than a 1000 words about it! 










~ 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   [email protected]




Discipleship Matters Conference



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.


Brought to you by Forward Movement and RenewalWorks
Hosted by St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh
Sponsored by the Diocese of Pennsylvania


 




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  [email protected]  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  [email protected]  or Amy Lancaster, Treasurer - 215-348-9654  [email protected]
  
Requests received by September 30 will be considered for fall.
  
Requests are to be submitted electronically at  [email protected] 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





Diocesan Ordination Summer 2017





 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  [email protected]  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 [email protected]



Diocesan Communications Conference for Congregational Development

Social Media, Video Production and Website Design Videos



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 [email protected]

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 [email protected] , or the Rev. Canon Betsy Ivey, Director of the Offices of Family and Young Adult Ministry at [email protected] . 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  [email protected]   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.