Episcopal eNews from Northern Indiana | |
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What to Expect When Your Electing: 2022 Edition
Office of Government Relations
The 2022 midterm elections are well underway. As the American people prepare to elect a new Congress, and a wide array of other officeholders at the state and local level, we want to review what to expect in the coming days and weeks, and to share some key information about how U.S. elections are structured and administered. We hope this piece will help clarify processes and help to manage expectations for these elections.
Topics include:
- What happens when the polls close?
- What if the election is disputed?
- Voter fraud is difficult to pull off.
In the post-election period, it will be essential for trusted civil society and faith organizations like The Episcopal Church to respond with wisdom and patience. As The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations, we will find trusted sources to keep you updated on what is occurring; please check back regularly for updates. We pray that our Church can always be a voice for peace and justice. We pray for a free and fair election, and we pray that all Americans accept the result of the election. We should also call upon both major political parties to do the same and encourage politicians in both parties to speak out in support of our electoral process as well. For the 2022 midterms, The Episcopal Church has partnered with 866-OUR-VOTE to help raise awareness about their voter protection information and hotline. Please let people in your community know about their resources to help people respond if they are confronted with difficulties or lack of clarity casting their vote.
Read the full article here.
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Election Day Prayers
Date: November 8
Time: 8 p.m.-midnight (EST)
Join evening Election Day Prayers online Nov. 8 As polls begin to close on Nov. 8 for the U.S. midterm elections, all are invited to join an Election Day Prayers gathering online hosted by The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations. Tune in from 8 p.m. to midnight EST via The Episcopal Public Policy Network Facebook page or The Episcopal Church Facebook page. Viewers do not need a Facebook profile to participate.
Throughout the event, special guests from around the church will offer 10-15 minutes of reflection and prayer. Participants are encouraged to engage in prayerful conversation in the comments. Scheduled guests include Presiding Bishop Michael Curry; House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris; the Rev. Charles Graves IV, missioner for Houston Canterbury; the Rev. Donna Gleaves, an Episcopal Public Policy Network ambassador; and Willis H.A. Moore, an Episcopal Election Activator.
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AdventWord
Forward Movement has announced the 2022 reflection words for AdventWord, a global online advent calendar and community of disciples. For nearly a decade AdventWord has inspired followers of Jesus who wish to add an accessible prayer practice to their daily routine during this holy season.
Daily meditations and images—inspired by a prompt word selected from the daily lectionary readings—will be released at adventword.org, beginning Sunday, November 27.
Participants can sign up to receive this daily message, in English and Spanish, by email or by following AdventWord on social media. These will also be shared on our diocesan social media pages.
Many followers join the creativity each year by sharing their own personal reflections across social media using #AdventWord. Participants respond with photos, written responses, crafts, drawings, poems, found art, and other creative expressions inspired by the day’s selected word.
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My Way of Love is a personal guide for the spiritual journey, providing coaching to help individuals grow along the seven practices for Jesus-centered life: turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. It begins with a brief online survey which assesses where you are in your spiritual life. We call it the Spiritual Life Inventory.
Once your responses have been processed, we’ll email a helpful explanation of our findings, along with some tips for improving your spiritual journey. You’ll also be given a chance to sign up for an eight-week series of emails that will offer some suggestions, coaching for how you can grow spiritually, and ways you can go deeper in love of God and neighbor.
Looking to learn more about My Way of Love? Check out the video below from Leading Forward, featuring the Rev. Canon Scott Gunn and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. You can also see their presentation at the 2021 FORMA conference, in which Jerusalem Greer and Jay Sidebotham discuss this important offering.
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Children/Youth/Young Adult Formation | |
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Jr./Sr. High Fall Youth Retreat Recap
Last weekend, many of our junior and senior high school students attended Fall Youth Retreat at the Wawasee Episcopal Center. The youth were happy to help with stacking wood and moving brush on Saturday morning. In the afternoon they had a Holy Hike around the grounds to search for colors in nature to match paint swatches. They were so creative! It was truly a time for faith, fellowship, friendship and fun. We always love worshipping at All Saints as well!
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Save the Date: Jr/Sr. High Winter Retreat
Date: January 13-15, 2023
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Becoming Beloved Community Commission | |
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Learning from Prophets Among Us: Two Films about Episcopal Justice Pioneers
Prophets Among Us: Conversations with Justice Pioneers
Conversation between Rodman and the Rev. Hershey Mallette Stephens, priest and activist. Focus on lessons for today’s justice leaders – 19 minutes
Canon Ed Rodman
Documentary-style film capturing the full picture of Rodman’s life and ministry – 35 minutes
These two films explore the life and wisdom of Canon Ed Rodman, one of the most important Episcopal freedom-fighters alive today. From his teen years as a civil rights activist featured on the cover of Life magazine, to his tenure as a board member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), to his role as a founder of the Union of Black Episcopalians and as primary author of the church’s anti-racism training, Rodman has shaped the church’s journey toward justice and beloved community for more than half a century.
Learn more and watch the two films here.
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Advent Podcast: Prophetic Voices
Tune into "Prophetic Voices" this Advent for profound dialogues about race, faith, justice, and God's dream. You'll hear ancient texts interpreted in new ways, find fodder for preaching and teaching, and make present day connections to the prophetic voices of the Bible.
Subscribe to Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community on your favorite podcasting app.
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God Outside: Northern Indiana
Date: Saturday, November 12
Time: 10/9 a.m. (EST/CST)
Where: Potato Creek State Park (North Liberty)
RSVP Here
Holy Hikes: Northern Indiana is now God Outside: Northern Indiana. Join us for our next monthly hike, a gratitude walk!
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Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: An Antiracism Training for the Ordained and those in process for Ordination
Date: November 18, 3 p.m. (EST) - November 19, 5 p.m. (EST)
Where: Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center
This workshop provides the “basic training” in antiracism that is required for all persons seeking ordination in the Episcopal Church and that is recommended as a refresher for those ordained persons whose last antiracism training was several years ago. In addition to introducing basic concepts, this workshop offers participants the opportunity to reflect on the roles clergy might play in addressing the sin of racism from their positions within the church. It may also be appropriate for lay persons in positions where they are called upon to exercise pastoral care. If you have questions or concerns about whether this workshop is a good fit for you, please contact Missioner Terri Bays.
Cost: $25 per participant. The remaining cost is being covered by the Commission on Ministry and the Becoming Beloved Community Commission.
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Advent Clergy Retreat: Waiting in Joyful Hope
Date: December 12, 3 p.m. (EST) - December 14, 1:30 p.m. (EST)
Where: Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center
Join us for our Advent Clergy Retreat! Bishop Doug Sparks will lead our retreat with the theme of "Waiting in Joyful Hope." Check-in begins on Monday at 3 p.m.; wrap up after Eucharist/Lunch Wednesday. RSVP by Friday, November 18.
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Happening Around the Diocese | |
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Fr Tom Live: Afternoon Concert and Sing Along
Date: November 6
Time: 2 p.m. (EST)
Where: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Mishawaka
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Office of Government Relations | |
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Action Alerts
The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations (OGR) identifies opportunities for Episcopalians to participate in our democracy. Click this link to find an action alert that you are passionate about and send a message to your members of Congress. Below are new action alerts since our last newsletter.
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Gender and Sexuality General Convention Resolution Roundup
Date: November 10
Time: 7-8 p.m. (EST)
Where: Zoom
Inviting all people to join us for conversation about General Convention resolutions that focus on gender and sexuality. LGBTQ+ Caucus members Charles Graves IV and Jon Rania will share how and why the Caucus started and the good work it did during the 80th General Convention.
Our Presenters:
Mr. Jon Rania (he/him), General Convention Deputy from The Diocese of Delaware, Co-Founder and member of the Planning and Design team of the LGBTQ+ Caucus.
The Rev. Charles Graves IV, (he/him) Diocese of Texas
Executive Council Member & LGBTQ+ Caucus co-founder
Registration is required.
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Missouri church commissions stained glass showing Jesus, other biblical figures as people of color | Episcopal News Service] A Missouri church whose stained glass windows reflect disputed racial representations of historical Christianity and don't reflect the current makeup of the parish is commissioning a new set of windows depicting Jesus and other biblical figures as people of color. | | | |
Indianapolis congregation leaves ACNA to affiliate with Episcopal diocese | Episcopal News Service] A congregation in Indianapolis, Indiana, that began as a church plant of the Anglican Church in North America, or ACNA, announced this week that it is leaving ACNA to join The Episcopal Church, citing several differences with ACNA's approach to the faith. | | | |
News From Around The Episcopal Church | |
White Christian nationalism is not Christianity, presiding bishop says during panel discussion | Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, in an Oct. 26 seminar at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., reiterated The Episcopal Church's position that white Christian nationalism is a gross perversion of Christianity, and that Christians must refute such ideologies. | | | |
Diocese of Pennsylvania's 'Digital Disciples' build on mission to help parishes engage with technology | Episcopal News Service] A Diocese of Pennsylvania program that helped congregations ramp up their use of technology early in the pandemic now has transitioned into a new phase focused on expanding and fine-tuning their technological capacity. The diocese started the Digital Disciples program in July 2020 to help churches that were still struggling with the transition to online worship. | | | |
Episcopalians donate, volunteer, travel to support communities hit hard by hurricanes | Episcopal News Service] Dioceses and congregations across The Episcopal Church have been active in recent weeks raising money to support those impacted by hurricanes in Florida and the Caribbean. Two congregations in the Diocese of Michigan have gone the extra mile - and then some. The Rev. Tom Ferguson, a curate at St. | | | |
Tennessee bishops urge voters to back constitutional change outlawing slavery without exception | Tennessee bishops urge voters to back constitutional change outlawing slavery without exception [Episcopal News Service] The bishops of the three Episcopal dioceses in Tennessee are calling on Episcopalians to vote Nov. 8 in favor of a state constitutional amendment that would unequivocally outlaw slavery, with no exception made for criminal punishment. | | | |
Celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day gains momentum across Episcopal Church | Episcopal News Service] Episcopal dioceses and congregations are preparing services and celebrations marking Indigenous Peoples' Day as part of the nationwide movement away from honoring the Italian explorer whose federal holiday, Columbus Day, is the second Monday in October. This will be the first Indigenous Peoples' Day since The Episcopal Church registered its support for the movement. | | | |
Episcopal priest's 4-day 'Jeopardy!' streak yields $78K - and some subtle evangelism | Episcopal News Service] Answer: This Episcopal priest is now a four-day "Jeopardy!" champion, with winnings of $78,098. Question: Who is the Rev. David Sibley? Sibley, the rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, Washington, ended his streak on Sept. 30. | | | |
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Please email any events, articles, or notifications you desire to be
included in the next monthly enewsletter to Canon Christopher Hillak,
Missioner for Communications and Operations, by November 25. Thank you!
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The Episcopal Diocese
of Northern Indiana
117 N. Lafayette Blvd.
South Bend, IN 46601
(574) 233-6489
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