News & Upcoming Events
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September 6: Confession, Repentance & Commitment to End Racism Sunday

A letter calling on Episcopal congregations to participate in "Confession, Repentance, and Commitment to End Racism Sunday" on Sunday, September 6, 2015 was issued by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings.

Nine members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, were murdered by a white racist during their weekly bible study on June 17, 2015. Following this event, the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church stood in solidarity with them by passing resolution A302.

From the letter: 

"Now our sisters and brothers in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church have asked us to make that solidarity visible by participating in "Confession, Repentance, and Commitment to End Racism Sunday" on Sunday, September 6. We ask all Episcopal congregations to join this ecumenical effort with prayer and action."

Read the entire letter here, which includes collects from the Book of Common Prayer that may be appropriate for use.

See also  Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: The Antiracism Training Manual of the Episcopal Church (PDF). Pages recommended by the Rev. Sue York, anti-racism coordinator of the EDWM include the following:  pages 47,52 and 54. The could be useful for a liturgy in which healing racism is the focus.
The EDWM offices in Kalamazoo will be closed Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. 

Interested in improving church communications? Click here for Ten Tips for Better Church Announcements.


Join Friends of the Groom Theater Company on Saturday, September 19th at Christ Episcopal Church, Charlevoix

Join Friends of the Groom Theater Company on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.  at Christ Episcopal Church, Charlevoix (click here for map).
 
Friends of the Groom is an inter-denominational theater group from the greater Cincinnati area.  Founded in 1980, they are dedicated to staging the Christian faith in an entertaining but challenging format.

Three actors will present a day-long workshop for all ages. Those who come will be invited to participate in a variety of drama and storytelling activities, including five ways to perform a story in church and using drama in worship and education.  The workshop will also include techniques for bringing scripture alive in worship and practical information about resources for Christian theater and storytelling.
 
There is no fee and lunch will be provided. 
For reservations, call (231) 547-6322. 

Childhood Obesity Awareness is September's National Health Observance 

One in 3 children in the United States is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.

Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.  Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.
 
The good news is that childhood obesity can often be prevented. In honor of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, the Health Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan encourages your family to make healthy changes together.

Click here to go to our Health Ministry page for tips on how to make healthy changes as a family.

Click here to learn why childhood and adult obesity is a health problem. 
Pig Roast and Square Dance, September 12th
 
Church of the Holy Cross, Kentwood - Two Churches - is hosting a pig roast and square dance on Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 5-7 p.m. at the church. ( Click here for map).

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12 and free for children ages 5 and under. Tickets are available at  the door.

Food items will include pork, rolls, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and applesauce, with cookies for dessert and lemonade, ice tea and water to drink.

This event will benefit two important ministries of Two Churches, The Diaper Depot and English as a Second Language (ESL) program. 

The Diaper Depot serves approximately 350 babies and toddlers each month, and is run entirely on donations.

The ESL program is a 9-month academic program for people who want to improve their English language skills. Their p rogram is unique in that it focuses on older adults who can be socially isolated due to the language barrier.

Call Two Churches if you have questions: (616) 949-7034 or e-mail Kim Hoop at hoopkimberly@gmail.com.

Pine Ridge Mission Trip Presentation at St. Martin of Tours, Kalamazoo

EDWM Domestic Mission Ministry is happy to announce that St. Martin of Tours in Kalamzoo will be hosting a presentation about Pine Ridge Mission Trips.  Click here for a map.

It will be held on October 7th, from 6:30 - 8 p.m.  Presenters will show the "Creation" video and a power-point slide show from this past summer's trip to the reservation and give personal experiences.

EDWM Domestic Mission Ministry will also have information concerning next year's scheduled trips to Pine Ridge Reservation.   Refreshments of fry bread and wojapi will be served - so please RSVP (so they may have a head count) and questions may be emailed to Tami Varricchio-Drehle:   countontami@gmail.com.


The Revs. Jodi and Christian Baron invite you to participate in a charity salmon tournament Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Macatawa Lake Public Access in Holland, MI ( click here for map).

This is the first year for the event and the hope is that  500 pounds of salmon can be donated to a local feeding program run through Western Theological Seminary and Community Action House. The proceeds from the tournament will go to help provide for that ministry.

The Order of Naucratius is a new group in several Episcopal dioceses. The Society takes its name from a little-known saint. Naucratius was a brother to Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa. Unlike his brothers who were religious heavyweights, Naucratius chose to live his life in the woods. He supported an elderly community nearby through his pastimes of fishing and hunting. Unfortunately, Naucratius died while on one of these expeditions.

Click here for the registration form.

For more information, e-mail the Rev, Christian Baron at 
christianjohnbaron@gmail.com.

More information is available on Facebook. 
Music Events in the Diocese
 
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Battle Creek, will resume its Music for the Soul program with its monthly Evensong with the St. Thomas Choral Scholars on Sunday, September 6, 2015 at 5 p.m. ( Click here for map). Music featured will be  Introit: Let the love of God consume me - Stephens,  Responses: Richard Ayleward,  Psalm 103: Anglican chant - Ivor Atkins,  Canticles: Short Service - Thomas Weelkes,  Anthem: Evening Hymn - Dudley Buck,  Hymn 31 (Hymnal 1982) - Dunedinj.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Muskegon will feature folk musician John Mock, who specializes in Celtic, New England, and maritime music, Tuesday, September 22 , from  12:15 to 12:45 p.m.  at the church (click here for map)

This is the first of the 2015-16 Feeding the Soul of the City series.  A few minutes of prayer will be held at  noon  before the concert.  Lunches will be available for a small price starting at  11:30 a.m.   The concert is free and open to the public.  For more information, please call  (231) 722-2112 . 


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