Fifty years ago, on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was murdered with a high-powered rifle. The gun was purchased under a false name at a Birmingham, Alabama gun shop by a petty criminal who was known for his racist rants, and who had been stalking Dr. King for weeks.

Dr. King was no stranger to violence. And for a short while, he had some relationship with guns. After his Montgomery, Alabama home was firebombed in February 1956, Dr. King applied for a gun permit, which was denied by the sheriff's office. He eventually secured a gun, but after his pilgrimage to India in 1959, he renounced guns and embraced non-violence as a way of life and as a strategy for the Civil Rights movement. Read more.

Today, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, a man who spoke to the conscience of a nation through his words of nonviolence. At a time in our history when - like now - our society was deeply polarized, Martin nevertheless urged us to love those with whom we disagree: read more.

Following a series of meetings and listening events in 2017, a small group of youth leaders and clergy worked with staff from Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center to redesign the diocese's Confirmation Retreats, which took place in February and March. Read more, and see the photo gallery.

This is an amazing opportunity for our youth to observe leadership from across The Episcopal Church in action!

Youth who have completed grades 9-12, and young adults under 21, are invited to observe the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas.

A deposit of $200 by Monday, April 16 will secure a spot and initiate the registration process. (Deposits may be closed earlier if the cap of 14 participants is reached before April 16.) Find out more.

On Saturday, March 24, 2018, hundreds of members of the Diocese of Newark "prayed with their feet" by participating in the March for Our Lives in Washington, DC as well as local "sibling" marches in New Jersey and Manhattan. This is a roundup of participant photos and links to media coverage. Read more, and see the photo gallery.

Calvary, Summit:
Summit Jews, Episcopalians find common ground at interfaith seder

St. Paul's, Incarnation and Grace Van Vorst, Jersey City:
Stations of the Cross ceremony stops at 14 scenes of Jersey City violence
With photo gallery

For the season of Lent this year the Outreach Committee at St. George's, Maplewood organized and promoted a new project, which provided parish members with a concrete way to reflect upon and practice God's love in this world, and nourished their souls as they nourished their neighbors. Read more.

Palm Sunday is a favorite of so many, perhaps because it is so very different from other Sunday worship services. It begins with a festive procession - everyone is singing, walking outside, strips of palm waving in the air - lots of palm strips in fact. Each Palm Sunday, millions of palms strips are waved in Christian communities all over the world, and it is killing the rainforests and robbing those who harvest them of fair wages. Read more, and see the photo gallery.

Local mission trips have become a very important part of the lives of many of us here at Church of the Messiah in Chester. We love to "Go Local!"

At our Diocesan Convention in January I gave a presentation on local mission trips, and it was suggested that I provide information for others in the diocese who are considering a local mission trip. Read more.

The candidates for the XI Bishop of Newark have been invited to participate in a "Walkabout" tour of our diocese. Walkabouts are intended to provide both candidates and diocesan members with opportunities to meet and get to know each other, and to allow the candidates to address concerns and questions from both laity and clergy.


A total of five Walkabouts are planned for May 4, 5 & 6, 2018 (see schedule below). To facilitate interaction with all, one is for clergy only, one is for lay only, and three are open to both lay and clergy. You are asked to RSVP online by 5 PM on Wednesday, May 2.

The locations for the Walkabouts were selected based on their geographical location, meeting facilities, accessibility, and proximity to public transit and parking.

Friday, May 4 at Church of the Savior, Denville
9 AM - 12:30 PM for Clergy only
1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy

Saturday, May 5 at Calvary Church, Summit
9 AM - 12:30 PM for Lay only
1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy

Sunday, May 6 at St. Paul's Church, Englewood
1:30 - 5 PM for both Lay & Clergy

There are three opportunities to attend at different locations around the diocese. The registration deadline is 5 days before the desired workshop. Find out more and register online.

In partnership with the Clergy Leadership Institute, we are pleased to offer Appreciative Interim Ministry Training with the Rev. Dr. Rob Voyle, a week-long intensive.

This conference, hosted by the Commission on Ministry, will provide an overview of the discernment process. Those expected to attend are the people discerning their next steps in ministry (called Aspirants), their rectors and all members of their Discernment Committees. Individuals who want to attend by themselves for information and exploration are also invited. Registration deadline: Friday, April 13. Find out more.

Applications to Ward J. Herbert Fund Cycle 2
MON, APR 16 - 12 NOON

The VOICE Online
WED, APR 11 for Apr. 18 issue

Christine Mary & John Shelby Spong Lecture Series: The Rev. Fred Plumer

SAT, APR 28, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
@ EPIPHANY & CHRIST CHURCH, ORANGE

See the Community Calendar for many other public events hosted by our congregations and associated organizations, and find out how to submit your own events.

A perspective on headlining issues through a multi-faith lens, hosted by Bishop Mark Beckwithand his interfaith colleagues Imam W. Deen Shareef and Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz on NJTV. This episode, Education and the Teaching of Morality, premieres Wednesday, April 25 at 8 PM. Find out more.

The Gertrude Butts Fund, which provides collegiate or vocational scholarship assistance to youth in need in the Diocese of Newark, is accepting applications for the 2018-2019 academic year.  The application deadline is May 4, 2018. Find out more.

• The Rev. Dr. John DeWitt Stonesifer, Interim Rector, Christ Church, Short Hills
  APR 16

Applications are now being accepted for educational scholarships from the Episcopal Church for the 2018-2019 academic year. Find out more.