In This Edition
Upcoming Diocesan Offerings

June 23

Christ Church
Riverton 

July 8
Global Goals Task Force Retreat
St. John
Little Silver 

July 10-14
Episcopal Youth Event
University of Central Oklahoma  

July 23-27
Choir Camp
Cape May 
Upcoming Congregational Events
St. Thomas'
Red Bank

List Your Congregation's Events Here!
 
Adding your events to our calendar is quick and simple; events go live within three business days.

Classifieds
St. Mark's Basking Ridge is in search of
copies of LEVAS II for the summer - other to borrow or buy. Contact
Organist needed! St. Peter's, Perth Amboy is seeking an organist.
Organist needed! St. Peter's, Perth Amboy is seeking an organist.
Parish Administrator Needed!
 St. Stephen's, Mullica Hill is seeking a Part-Time Parish Administrator. 
Several frontals and superfrontals, processional crosses, chalices, patens, cruets, pascal candles, and a variety of stoles, chasubles, and other vestments are
on offer in Diocesan House. For more information contact Assistant Archivist
.
Have a compelling story to share? Click here to e-mail us and let us know! 
June 23, 2017
From the Bishop

Dear People of the Diocese of New Jersey, 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  Psalm 34:14

Last Sunday afternoon, Susan and I were at Grace Episcopal Church, Pemberton for two wonderful events. The first was an organ recital by their gifted organist, Michael Ryan, a student at Westminster Choir College. Grace Church owns a historic Holtkamp Organ that is in need of repair. The recital was a fundraiser. Michael talked about the challenges facing the organ and also showed it off beautifully playing music of Bach and Vierne.

Following the recital, a crowd gathered behind Grace Church to bless and dedicate a Peace Pole.  The Peace Pole was given in memory of long-time Grace Church member and educator Dorothy Green.  It is part of the Peace Pole Project.

According to the Peace Pole Project's website: 
A Peace Pole is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message and prayer May Peace Prevail on Earth on each of its sides, usually in different languages. There are tens of thousands of Peace Poles in 180 countries all over the world dedicated as monuments to peace. They serve as constant reminders for us to visualize and pray for world peace. 

The Grace Church Peace Pole was built in a lovely garden area in the rear of the church.  The words May Peace Prevail on Earth appear on Grace's Peace Pole in English, Arabic, Hebrew, Gaelic-Irish, Spanish, Braille, Japanese, Latin, and German.

We blessed and dedicated this Peace Poll during a week in which the outrage of a targeted political shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalice and four others, including two heroic law enforcement officers occurred in Alexandria, Virginia; a police officer in St. Paul, Minnesota was acquitted in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile, a black male whose death must be numbered among too many others that are both unjust and unnecessary. I couldn't help feeling that our world needs these Peace Poles - places to go to be quiet, reflective and to pray for peace. 

As we dedicated the Peace Pole, I thought of Coventry Cathedral in England, a beautiful, medieval cathedral which was destroyed by German incendiary bombs during World War II.  Following the war, as a new, modern cathedral was built, the ruins of the old cathedral were left as a reminder of the horrors of war and of the capacity human beings have to hurt and destroy one another.  It is a place of pilgrimage.  An   Altar of Reconciliation sits in the ruins of the medieval cathedral.  Behind the altar, the words, Father Forgive are etched in the wall. Prayers for peace are said each day at noon. 


I hope that the Peace Pole at Grace Episcopal Church, Pemberton becomes a place of pilgrimage for people in our diocese and across the state. What a witness it would be if people from around the diocese, and perhaps even beyond, found their way to Grace Church to look for the Peace Pole, to stop, reflect and pray the words, May Peace Prevail On Earth. I invite you to go, visit the Peace Pole. Pray for peace. 
 
Blessings and peace to you and yours,

The Right Reverend William H. (Chip) Stokes, D.D.
XII Bishop of New Jersey

Good News stories and more!
Several clergy from around the diocese met with Congressman Leonard Lance (R-NJ 7th) to discuss a host of issues.
Global Goals Task Force Retreat
St. John's, Little Silver

Everyone interested in working together to end poverty and achieve the other Global Goals for Sustainable Development is invited to attend the Global Goals Task Force retreat.

The time together will include fellowship, contemplation, and planning the next steps in our work together, especially relating to our anti-human trafficking work.  Please RSVP to   globalgoalstf@gmail.com.

You Have a Partner in Ecuador

Think of how spiritually and culturally enriching it could be for your parish to have a companion parish in Ecuador. Several churches in this fascinating South American country have expressed interest in forming an ongoing relationship with a parish in the Diocese of New Jersey to share ideas, prayers, visits, holiday greetings and just get acquainted. Such a relationship could be a highly rewarding experience for your parish's youth program and for your overall congregation.

The Companion Diocese Committee would like to introduce you to your potential partner in Ecuador this summer.  
For more information contact
the Rev. Mark Van Sant (732-222-4563) or
Paul Murphy (609-799-5252). 

The Diocese of New Jersey
(609) 394-5281
808 West State St, Trenton, NJ 08618