Upcoming Diocesan Offerings
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September 16
Way of St. Paul Kick-off
Holy Trinity
South River
September 16
Holy Innocents,
Beach Haven
Trinity Cathedral
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Upcoming DoCC Discussions |
Days of Discernment at Trinity Cathedral
Register now!
Laity Sep 9 10am-3 pm
Charettes
Sept 13 6-9 pm
St. Matthew's, Pennington
Sept 18
6-9 pm
St. Mark's, Plainfield
Sept 19
6-9 pm
St. Mark & All Saints, Galloway
Sept 20
6-9 pm
Grace, Haddonfield
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Upcoming Congregational Events
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St. Bartholomew's
Cherry Hill
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via St. Mary's
Stone Harbor
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Riverview Pavilion
Belmar
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Community of St. John the Baptist
Mendham
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Holy Trinity
Collingswood
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Grace - St. Paul
Mercerville
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List Your Congregation's Events Here!
Adding your events to our calendar is quick and simple; events go live within three business days.
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SEEKING LEVAS II St. Thomas', Glassboro is looking to buy used copies of LEVAS II.
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Several frontals and superfrontals, chalices, patens, cruets, pascal candles, and a variety of stoles, chasubles, and other vestments are on offer in Diocesan House. For more information contact Assistant Archivist
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Global Goals
Matching Grants
your fall programming, remember that a Diocesan Matching Grant can double the amount you fund raise for international projects (up to $750)! Applications are reviewed as they are received; the final deadline for this cycle is November 1, 2017. For more information and an application,
please click
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Dear People of the Diocese of New Jersey,
Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute.
Speak out, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy
Proverbs 31:8-9
Images and stories of the incredible devastation of Hurricane Harvey have dominated the news cycle for nearly a week. No doubt this will, understandably, continue to be the case. Harvey has delivered massive damage and destruction on the United States' fourth largest city and its surrounding areas. The effects of this will impact that area, and the entire nation, for many years. Our prayers and financial support of relief efforts through
Episcopal Relief and Development and other agencies is vitally important. I encourage everyone to be generous on both counts.
At the same time, we must recognize and remember that people in our own communities in the State of New Jersey live with crises and devastation every day. More than a million people in New Jersey live in poverty, more than 350,000 of them are children. Homeless, hunger, unemployment and the grind of poverty are part of their daily experience.
The Reverend Kathy Murray is leaving
St. Mark's, Keansburg after four years to become rector at
Beckford Parish - Emmanuel and St. Andrew's Parishes, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. I am excited for Kathy who has been prayerful in discerning this call. I wish her the very best. Beckford Parish is getting a wonderful priest.
Beckford Parish's gain, however, is the Diocese of New Jersey's, and St. Mark's, Keansburg's loss. Like many of our congregations, St. Mark's is struggling. Currently, about 15 persons make up their regular congregation on Sunday morning. They have "plate and pledge" income of under $25,000. They are not alone; we have several congregations who are struggling at similar levels.
But St. Mark's also hosts a community outreach ministry that is vitally needed in Keansburg. St. Mark's Center for Community Renewal serves 80 to 100 meals every day; almost 3,500 meals monthly. 4,000 individuals are served yearly by the St. Mark's Food Pantry. A nurse from the Visiting Nurse Association is on site weekly to answer health questions and provide screenings. A licensed social worker is onsite regularly.
St. Mark's Center for Community Renewal existed before the area was hit by Superstorm Sandy. Poverty and all that accompanies it was endemic. That monster storm only exacerbated the challenges. Grants from Episcopal Relief and Development were instrumental in meeting critical needs in that community.
Today people of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds come to St. Mark's for help. The ministry even built a children's play area in the main parish hall where meals are served. While Keansburg is experiencing a revival, there is still a significant pocket of poverty there with all poverty entails. Mother Kathy informed me that Keansburg had 14 overdose deaths in 2016. Middletown Township, with 6.6 times the population, also had 14.
I believe maintaining the church's presence in Keansburg is essential. The Center has been able to write grants that have helped sustain the ministry financially. As we begin to determine how we will address the future of the church in that area, it is clear to me that we need a priest who is either a social worker, or who has a social worker's heart who can serve the needs of the existing congregation, but who also understands that St. Mark's Center for Community Renewal is the primary ministry in that place.
For now, on Sunday mornings, St. Mark's will have the services of their stalwart deacon, Rosemarie Broderick and Supply Clergy. The leadership assure me that the ministry of the Center can be sustained because they have the help of a young mother named Theresa, a former Assistant Manager at a MacDonald's restaurant who has already been overseeing a lot of the ministry of the Center. There is also a core of volunteers and support from other churches - Episcopal and others - who keep the operation going.
I'm thankful for the willingness of these few to take on so much. Diocesan staff and I are going to work diligently to find someone to take the helm at St. Mark's, Keansburg. It's one many real challenges we face. What does it mean to be a diocese in today's church? It means that St. Mark's, Keansburg's ministry is a ministry we all share together.
This Labor Day, let us remember
those who are out of work and those who are the working poor and give thanks for all who labor for the common good.
Almighty God, who has so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP, 261
Blessings and Peace,
The Right Reverend William H. (Chip) Stokes, D.D. XII Bishop of New Jersey
Bishop's Schedule for the Week of 9/3:
Tuesday, September 5 12:00 noon State House Annex, Trenton - Interfaith Prayer Vigil in
response to the events in Charlottesville
7:00 p.m. St. James' Church, Bradley Beach
Joint Town Hall Meeting w/St. Michael the Archangel
Church, Wall
Thursday, September 7 10:00 a.m. Constable Grant Task Force meeting
12:00 noon Meeting with Interim Rectors/Priests-in-Charge
7:00 p.m. Campus Ministry Foundation meeting
Friday, September 8 6:45 p.m. St. James' Church, Bradley Beach - Lead prayers at
Visitation for the Rev. Kenneth A. Gluckow
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The Anti-Racism Commission is presenting an Interfaith Prayer Vigil on September 5 at 12:00 p.m on the steps of the State House in Trenton, in response to the events in Charlottesville,VA. We look forward to seeing you there.
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Good News stories and more!
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Battle For Justice Campaign
Our Mission Is to Raise Awareness about Hunger and Do Something About It!
Battle Against Hunger Bike Tour
September 8-10, 2017
We continue to celebrate a significant milestone with our exciting partnership between the Battle Against Hunger (BAH) Tour and the Diocese of New Jersey Jubilee Office. Join us as the cyclist ride in to Washington Crossing Park (PA side) on 9/10 at 5:30pm!
Soles for the Harvest 5K, 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk
November 4, 2017
Veterans Park - Hamilton, NJ
In 2016, Soles for the Harvest 5K Run/Walk became a Diocesan Jubilee Event. Last year we raised $10,979.08.
Your congregation does NOT need to be a Jubilee site to participate.
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A Retreat for Women of the Diocese
Holy Innocents, Beach Haven
Enjoy a day by the beach with other women of the diocese while discovering new ways to enrich your prayer life. Experienced retreat leader Canon Connie White will lead the journey through journaling, contemplation, walking a labyrinth, and using Anglican prayer beads. Those who have previously experienced White's retreats will find new additions and fresh perspectives.
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