Welcome!
You may notice this edition has a different look from previous issues of
The Mountain. Rather than linking to a digital magazine, each story in this edition can be read within this email or on the
diocesan website
.
We'd like your feedback on the design and usability of this newsletter format, and also want to hear from you about stories for future issues and other communications requests and questions. Send emails to
communications@diovermont.org
.
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CARES Act 2020: Information for Congregations
Applications accepted by banks starting April 3
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The “CARES Act,” formally known as the S.3548 “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” offers parishes and institutions in the Episcopal Church in Vermont the opportunity to apply for a low-interest bridge loan if they anticipate financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most or all of these loans may be forgiven—not paid back at all—if institutions meet minimal criteria. Applications will be accepted by banks beginning on April 3, and churches are advised to begin applications quickly.
The loan program is primarily designed to continue salaries for workers who would otherwise be laid off, as well to provide funds for essential utilities, medical insurance premiums, and other expenses. The money may be paid out quickly, and if certain provisions are met by maintaining payroll levels, the loans may be entirely or partially forgiven.
Churches and institutions may borrow up to 2.5 times their average monthly payroll. The principle balance of the loan will be reduced by an amount equal to all expenses for payroll, utilities, and rent or mortgage interest during the eight-week period after the loan is granted. Any remaining principle balance will be amortized over a period of up to ten years. The first loan payment will be deferred for 12 months.
The loan program will be administered through local banks that participate in the Small Business Administration lending program, which includes virtually all banks in Vermont. Applications will be accepted beginning on April 3, and the money available is capped at $377 billion, which is potentially not enough to serve all borrowers. Although terms of the loan program are still being finalized, presumably the funds will be lent on a first-come, first-served basis. Churches are advised to initiate the loan process immediately.
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Online Worship with Bishop Shannon
Holy Week schedule coming later this week
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Bishop Shannon will continue to hold daily prayer services on Zoom this week at 8:00 a.m. for Morning Prayer and 8:00 p.m. for Compline. Join at:
https://zoom.us/j/531110497 (
or dial by phone:
646-876-9923
, code 531110497#).
Daily online worship will continue through Holy Week and Easter. Watch for more information about when and how to join these services online coming via email later this week.
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Online Giving During COVID-19
Give to congregations or diocesan institutions
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Although our buildings are closed, the work of the church goes on. It is therefore important to continue giving to your congregation if your income remains uninterrupted. During the period when our buildings are closed, the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont will process online gifts for all congregations and absorb all payment processing fees. Every single dollar you give online will flow to your congregation. You may also give to the diocese, Rock Point Camp, Rock Point School and Brookhaven Treatment and Learning Center should you choose to do so.
In addition to giving through the diocesan website, you can also make donations via a mobile app or text-to-give.
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The Restoration Project Book Study
Join Bishop Shannon Online in April
In her
Lenten message
, Bishop Shannon issued an invitation to join her in reading “The Restoration Project: A Benedictine Path to Wisdom, Strength, and Love,” by Christopher H. Martin. The book is available in print,
ebook
and
audiobook
formats. Hopkins Bookshop at Trinity Shelburne has ordered several copies. Email
Jenny Ogelby
to order a copy.
“My prayer is that ‘The Restoration Project’ will inspire us to explore new and creative ways to live and articulate our faith every day in our congregations and communities,” Bishop Shannon said. “And for those who are called to go deeper, the book offers a helpful guide for starting and leading congregational discipleship groups. I look forward to reading it together.”
Remaining sessions:
- April 2, 6 p.m.: Bishop Shannon will convene a video conversation about the book, focusing on Chapter 6. Join the conversation using this link: https://zoom.us/j/306048033.
- April 8: Bishop Shannon will post a final reflection about the book on Facebook and host a conversation in the comments.
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Presiding Bishop’s Word to the Church: On Our Theology of Worship
This week, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offered the following word to the Church regarding the theology of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Dear Friends in Christ Jesus,
We find ourselves in the strange position of fasting from physical gathering for worship of almighty God, not out of sloth or disobedience, but in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, for whom the primacy of love for God and neighbor is the way of life. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, refraining from physically gathering together to hear God’s holy word and receiving the sacrament of holy communion is itself an act of love for God and our neighbor.
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Online Worship Guide
A guide for for congregations interested in offering online worship on Zoom or Facebook Live is is now available
on the diocesan website
.
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VOAD Identifies Unmet Needs Related to COVID-19
Salvation Army (Barre, Burlington,
Rutland)
These offices
are in need of water and other single unit drinks. Stores are limiting individual purchases. Call 802-864-6991.
Springfield Family Center Food Bank
The
food bank
needs donations of food. It is seeing three times as many clients as usual. Call 802-885-3646.
Our Place Food Shelf
The
food shelf
in Bellows Falls is closing for a week, but will reopen next week. It is in need of food donations. Call 802-463-2217.
The Vermont Food Bank
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Save the Date: Diocesan Convention
October 30 and 31 in Burlington
Save the date! Diocesan Convention 2020 is planned for October 30-31 at the
Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain
. Watch upcoming issues of The Mountain for more details.
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Tracking "Virtual Attendance" for the Parochial Report
The General Convention office is advising churches to keep track of the metrics for digital worship services during the COVID-19 pandemic for possible inclusion in the 2020 parochial report.
More specific guidance will be forthcoming. In the meantime, the Rev. Canon Dr. Michael Barlowe, executive officer of the General Convention, recommends noting "virtual attendance" using whatever metrics an online platform provides.
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Rock Point Camp Registration Open
Rock Point Camp is now
open for registration
. The camp, now in its 89th year, offers day camp and residential summer programs for ages 5-17. Located on 130 acres on the shores of Lake Champlain, Rock Point Camp offers numerous activities including hiking, swimming and arts and crafts. The camp provides leadership training and volunteer opportunities for older campers. For more information and to register,
please visit the website
.
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Join Partners in Resilience
Episcopal Relief & Development US Disaster Team
The Episcopal Relief & Development US Disaster Team is looking for new people to join Partners in Response and Resilience (Partners). Partners are volunteers who work closely with US program staff and diocesan leaders as they prepare for and recover from disasters.
Disasters have a disproportionate impact on historically-marginalized communities, and
Episcopal Relief & Development centers the experiences of these communities in preparedness and response programming.
Partners play an important role in ensuring that our programming serves the most vulnerable people in disaster-impacted communities.
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Disaster Case Manager Training on April 21-22
The disaster case manager training originally scheduled for March 12-13 has been
rescheduled for April 21-22. The training will begin at 8:00 a.m. each day and will be held at:
Vermont Agency of Human Services
Sally Fox Conference Center
Waterbury State Office Complex
280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT
Watch future issues of the newsletter for registration information.
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MARCH REPORT FROM DIOCESAN COUNCIL
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April 5: St. James, Essex Junction and The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
April 12:
St. Luke's, Fair Haven and a pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and the People of the Land of the Holy One.
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EVENTS CALENDAR AT A GLANCE
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April 2 at 6:00 p.m., The Restoration Project Lenten Book Study (Zoom)
April 8 at 4:00 p.m., Clergy Zoom with Bishop Shannon
April 15 at 4:00 p.m., Clergy Zoom with Bishop Shannon
April 22 at 4:00 p.m., Clergy Zoom with Bishop Shannon
April 29 at 4:00 p.m., Clergy Zoom with Bishop Shannon
May 5 at 6:30 p.m., Being Native American in America, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 273 Vermont Route 15, Jericho.
May 8 at 12:00 p.m., Rock Point Community Eucharist, Chapel of St. Michael & All Angels at Rock Point, Burlington.
May 19 at 6:30 p.m., People of Chinese Descent in America, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 273 Vermont Route 15, Jericho.
June 2 at 6:30 p.m., Where Do We Go from Here? A Conversation with Young People of Color, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 273 Vermont Route 15, Jericho.
June 7 at 7:00 p.m., Taizé Evening Prayer at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 2 Cherry St., Burlington.
June 12 at 12:00 p.m., Rock Point Community Eucharist, Chapel of St. Michael & All Angels at Rock Point, Burlington.
July 10 at 12:00 p.m., Rock Point Community Eucharist, Chapel of St. Michael & All Angels at Rock Point, Burlington.
August 2 at 7:00 p.m., Taizé Evening Prayer at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 2 Cherry St., Burlington.
August 14 at 12:00 p.m., Rock Point Community Eucharist, Chapel of St. Michael & All Angels at Rock Point, Burlington.
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Publication Dates / Submission Guidelines
The Mountain
is distributed every other Wednesday. The next edition will be published on April 15. Please submit content by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13 to
communications@diovermont.org
.
Email Security Reminder
The Episcopal Church in Vermont will never ask you to share your personal information by email or text messaging. As a general rule, do not respond to any email or text message that asks for information such as account numbers, passwords, or any other personal identification information. If you have questions or concerns about the communications you receive from the Episcopal Church in Vermont, please contact
communications@diovermont.org
or call us at (802) 863-3431.
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5 Rock Point Road | Burlington, VT 05408
Tel: (802) 863-3431 | In Vermont (800) 286-3437
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