UPDATES FOR CLERGY
Mid-JULY 2016
In This Issue

Here is a mid-summer update on some of the programs and events coming up in early fall, so that you can begin to promote them in your congregations now.  

We are in the middle of evaluating the communications methods used in the diocese. There's still time to talk back to us about how we communicate with you! 

Thanks to those of you who have completed the communication survey distributed earlier this month. We especially need a wider response from clergy actively serving parishes.  Hearing from all of you gives us more useful information. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by July 30--click here. Thank you very much! 

Also, if you would like to be included in one of the in-person focus group meetings on communications, please contact Dave Seifert in the next few days by emailing here, as the invitation list is being finalized now. 

Small Church Summit

Join with other small (and growing!) churches 
to share joys, ideas, successes, and challenges.

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, September 17
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
111 West Shore Road, Warwick

More information to follow, but leaders and clergy of small churches 
 can put this date on their calendars
and in their publicity now. 

Diocesan Convention Information

Diocesan Convention to be held November 4-5
Diocesan Convention 2016 will be held on Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5, at St Luke's, East Greenwich. Clergy and delegates should watch for an email in late July with all the information you will need to be able to submit resolutions and nominate people for any one of many opportunities for service on diocesan commissions or as deputies to the 2018 General Convention.

Pre-convention presentations to occur in October
There will be two pre-Convention meetings to discuss proposed resolutions and the 2017 Diocesan Budget. They will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Emmanuel Church, Cumberland, and Thursday, Oct. 6, at St. Matthew's Church, Jamestown, both at 7 p.m. 

Please Announce . . . .

YES!
Help people discover their God-given purpose

Do you have lay people in your parish who are ready to devote some significant energy to figuring out how God is calling them to use their gifts and talents, and to what purpose? Suggest they sign up for the YES! program. This six-week program to help lay people grow in their sense of purpose and calling begins Sept. 21. Registration is now open. Click here for more information and registration.

Final call for contributions to the Station Fire Memorial Park

Thanks to all who have contributed to the Station Fire Memorial Park fund. If you have collected donations and/or wish to make a church contribution, send a check to the diocese by July 31 with the note: Station Fire Memorial. We will send in one check with a list of the names of our churches making a donation. Each contributing church will be memorialized by a brick on the Commemorative Walkway. 

Clergy Moves

Welcome Jack Lynch to San Jorge / St. George's Central Falls

The Rev.  Jack Lynch has been appointed as the Hispanic Missioner serving at San Jorge, Central Falls. Formerly a parish priest in the diocese of Southern Virginia and professor at a seminary in Honduras, Jack will be helping us build on our Episcopal/Lutheran lay ministry program to develop a training program for Latino/a deacons and priests. He, his wife Cecelia, and their daughter will be joining us in mid-August. He can be reached at [email protected] . Bienvenido a la familia Lynch!  

Rachel Field appointed Assistant Rector at St. Mary's Portsmouth

W e welcome the Rev. Rachel Field to the diocese. Rachel is a recent graduate of Yale Divinity School, was ordained deacon on June 4th in the Diocese of Easton and joined St. Mary's staff in mid-June. [email protected]

Newly-ordained deacons assigned to parishes

Our newest vocational deacons have been assigned to parishes. They will begin their ministries at various points during the summer:
  • The Rev. Ed Dean will be at St. David's on-the-Hill, Cranston
  • The Rev. Grace Swinski will be at St. Thomas, Greenville
  • The Rev. Jim Kelliher will be at All Saints Memorial, Providence

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