A Letter from Our Bishop

February 23, 2026

Beloved of God,   

As I travel around the diocese worshiping and meeting with members of our diocesan community, I continue to hear questions from people about how to respond faithfully to this time of mendacity, state-sanctioned violence, and the erosion of democracy in our country.  

The Gospel calls Christians to follow the example of Jesus, who taught us to love each other, to choose peace over violence, to welcome the stranger, and to confront injustice directly. Jesus also calls us to protect those who suffer, who are vulnerable, and who are afraid. As a diocese, we answer this Christian call by living into our shared values, especially those of courage, justice, and welcome.

In this season of growing uncertainty and fear, those values call us to action. We are a diverse diocese, so what that action looks like will be different for each of us. 

From my location as your bishop, I feel called to act in deep solidarity with those who are facing profound threat and risk to their livelihoods, well-being, and safety – especially those within our diocesan family. Many of you may feel similarly called. 



Others of you are living with deep fear as part of your daily lives, facing these challenges head-on, and inspiring us all with your courage. Notably, there are many in our diocesan community for whom such fear is not new, because injustice and discrimination have been with us for a long, long time. 

However you are facing this moment, you are a part of a beloved and loving Episcopal community, and you have a unique God-given light to shine. I invite and encourage each of you to discern how you might be called to share that light... 

Continue to read Bishop Julia's full statement here..

A Note from Sarah



Bearing witness by going to church

Dear friends,

I hope you will take time to read Bishop Whitworth’s letter (above), which addresses how we might respond as people of faith to the brutality and disregard for civil rights that are tearing the fabric of our country. She offers a four-fold framework – Provide, Public Witness, Protect, Pray – along with resources for action.

In the section called Pray, she writes, “Gathering as the assembly of God to proclaim the Word and share Holy Communion is in itself an act of resistance against forces that would divide and dehumanize.” As we navigate these perilous times, it is good be reminded that every time we go to church, we bear witness to our just and loving God, who calls us at our baptism to “persevere in resisting evil…and respect the dignity of every human being.”

May you know God’s peace today.

~Sarah

priest@gracechurchsalem.org

Lenten Learning

Journeying with the Mystics

offered by Cliff

Meets in person at Grace for five Thursdays starting February 26th

Each session begins at 7:00 p.m. and concludes by 8:00 p.m.

Every meeting includes an 8-minute presentation of a mystic followed by discussion. The course’s purpose is not to make you an expert on the mystics presented, but to utilize these mystics to enhance each participant’s capacity for their own spirituality, to awaken wonder and enchantment in daily life.

Mystics to be presented may include John of Dalyatha (called John the Sheikh by Arab Christians); the Muslim mystic Ibn ‘Arabi; Cynthia Bourgeault; Henri Nouwen; Catherine of Siena; John O’Donohue; the Celtic saint Non of Wales; and the spiritual motherhood of Catherine de Hueck Doherty. Participants can suggest mystics and even, if desired, offer a presentation.

Episcopal 101

offered by Sarah

This class serves as an introduction to the Episcopal Church for those who are new to it, or as a refresher for those who have been in the church for a while. It also prepares adults for baptism, confirmation, or reception into the Episcopal Church. We’ll meet via Zoom on four Tuesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on one Sunday after church, according to the schedule below:

• Tuesday, February 24th: The Nicene Creed
• Tuesday, March 3rd: How the Episcopal Church is Governed
• Tuesday, March 10th : The Book of Common Prayer
• Tuesday, March 17th: The Eucharist
• Sunday, March 22nd: A Guided Tour of the Church (in person, offered after both services)

Please let Sarah know in advance if you’d like to participate so I can send you the Zoom link. And please let me know, too, if you want to take the class in order to prepare for baptism, confirmation, or reception.

Pray

Prayer is our conversation with God, spoken and unspoken; to pray is to place ourselves in God’s presence. Some ways to pray:

• Attend church each Sunday in Lent.
• Attend an Ash Wednesday service and as many of the Holy Week services as you can.
• Say grace before meals.
• Pray one of the Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families from the prayer book (these are shortened forms of the Daily Office; you can find them at missionstclare.com).
• Set aside 5-10 minutes each day to sit quietly in God’s presence.

Fast

To fast is to refrain from something for a time so that we clear space for a greater awareness of God. The absence of something can help us return our focus to God. Some ways to fast:

• Refrain from – or reduce your consumption of – meat, sugar, or caffeine, etc. Then, at Easter, make a donation to The Salem Pantry or another local hunger-relief organization.
• Fast from noise; schedule some time for silence each day, preferably at the same time so it’s part of your routine.
• Do a “digital fast” – schedule time in which you do not use your digital devices. You might commit to a digital fast each evening, or for a day or two each week, etc.

Read

Spiritual reading can help recenter us and return our attention to our spiritual life. It also gives us something to reflect on throughout the day. Here are some suggestions:

• Read one of the gospels all the way through, a chapter each day. You might try reading Matthew’s gospel, since our Sunday gospel readings this year are mostly taken from Matthew.
• Read one or two psalms each day.
• Do some spiritual reading (e.g., a book of Lenten devotions; Forward Day by Day; a book on prayer or the spiritual life).
• Go to episcopalrelief.org/lent and sign up to receive a daily Lenten email from Episcopal Relief & Development, focused on the holy habits of prayer, worship, and engagement with Scripture.
• Reading can include taking a class – consider attending one of the classes offered at Grace during Lent: “Journeying with the Mystics” and “Episcopal 101,” as well as the monthly forum offered by our antiracism team on March 15th.

Serve

Thomas Merton wrote, “Action is the stream, and contemplation is the spring.” Our life of prayer and worship flows naturally into service to others. Here are some ways to consider serving:

• Spend some time reflecting on your gifts and skills, and who might need them.
• If you’re seeking ways to volunteer, consider a local organization that helps people in need, such as Lifebridge, The Salem Pantry, etc.
• Make a donation to our diocese’s Immigrant Legal Emergency Fund.
• Explore Episcopal City Mission’s Emergent Action Network to find resources for immigration and racial justice.

Knitting News

Red Hats: Some Episcopalians are knitting or crocheting red hats in opposition to the aggressive

actions of federal agents in Minnesota. For more information, click on this link: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/02/06/episcopalians-among-knitters-crocheters-making-melt-the-ice-red-hats/.  

Also, here is a link to the pattern.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/melt-the-ice-hat.  

If you are interested in your own red hat and don’t know how to knit, join the knitting group on Tuesday evenings (7 - 8:30 PM).  Among other forms of knitting, we teach loom knitting which can be learned in a single evening or two. If you let us know in advance, we will be sure to have the necessary supplies.  

 If you are eager for a red hat but can’t come on Tuesday evenings, there are some extra hats in the back of the church. There is no charge, but we ask that you consider a donation to the Diocese’s Immigrant Legal Emergency Fund. https://www.diomass.org/give-now. If there are no hats left, speak to a member of the Knitting Group.  

~ Peggy Carter

Catherine Craker, a parishioner at St. James’ Cathedral in South Bend, Indiana, displays a red hat she made, to which she added a white rose, a German symbol of Nazi resistance, along with a skein of red yarn and a second hat she has started to knit. Photo: Catherine Craker

Antiracism Team

Forum on March 15th

The Antiracism Team will offer its next forum on Sunday, March 15 after the 10:00 a.m. service, toward the end of coffee hour.

This Sunday

Parish Prayer List

Please keep the following in your prayers:

Robert Borden, Linda Abbene, Deven Manthorne, Chuck Manck, Margarette Connor, Barbara Dwyer, Lilyann, John Gilbo, Vance Gilbert, Reny Sparapani, Laurel, Gary Young, Amy, Paul, Heather and Prescott, Ariana, Sheridan, Javy, Faith Aroko and Family, Jesse Hurst and Family, Maureen Joyce, Arthur, Deb Young, Cindy Rhodes, Ron, Allison Mascolo, Melissa Glassman, Max Joyce, Marc Britt, those battling cancer, Mel, Corey MacNeil, Dianne, Jenny, Loretta and Kris, Priscilla Lemons, Deb Papps, Derek Fuller and Family, for the peaceful repose of the soul of Smadar and all victims of war the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and their ministries; the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem, the Salem Public Schools and for an end to racism, war, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, gun violence and oppression. In thanksgiving, we pray for the ministry of The Reverend Debbie Phillips and her husband, Eric Wagner, this community of faith, for God’s grace and forgiveness, for those with the courage to stand up to tyranny, for creation, for the diversity of people, and for all the blessings of this life.



If you have additions or deletions to the prayer list, please email prayerlist@gracechurchsalem.org by Tuesday at noon for publication in that week's e-news. 

The Parish Prayer List is read aloud each Wednesday at Morning Prayer.