February 20, 2025

As we begin the work of reunification through our Transition Leadership Committee (TLC) and the Working Groups populated by members of both dioceses, we present the idea of “Sibling Parishes” to bring the experience of transition directly to our parishes.

Each parish in the Diocese of Bethlehem and the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania will be invited to be matched with a parish in the neighboring diocese for purposes of building relationship, learning about diocesan culture and customs, and increasing fellowship as we come together as One Body.

We are collecting names of congregations who are interested in participating. Please RSVP by Friday, March 14, to express interest. Matches will be sent to churches in early April. For questions from the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, contact Nichol Free. For questions from the Diocese of Bethlehem, contact Sandy Milien. 

Here are some ideas on getting started. We’d love any screen shots or photographs to add to our diocesan reunification website as this project unfolds! Send us additional ideas for projects! Please email Drew Dorgan with your photographs.

With excitement and hope for our future, 

The Rt. Revs. Kevin Nichols and Audrey Scanlan

The Transition Leadership Committee 

Each week, we will share a video from Bishop Nichols, Bishop Scanlan, or ministry leaders in the Dioceses of Bethlehem and Central Pennsylvania. This week, Bishops Nichols joins us from the banks of the Saucon Creek, calling us to connect with creation and center ourselves on Jesus.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

1900 Pennsylvania Ave., Allentown PA

Date:  March 15th and March 22nd

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Both sessions are required.

Are you a new vestry member or someone that is in need of the required Safe Church trainings from Praesidium Academy? Two in person classes are currently being offered. Registration is now open.

• Nativity Cathedral (Bethlehem) March 1 at 10:00 AM - Click here to register.
• St. Mark's (Moscow) March 15th at 10:00 AM - Click here to register.
• Christ Church (Stroudsburg) March 29 at 10:00 AM - Click here to register.
• Prince of Peace (Dallas) May 31 at 10:00 AM - Click here to register.

If your parish would like to schedule a training in 2025, please send an email to Tim Wagner at tim@diobeth.org for more details.

This webinar will explore the legal rights of churches, what it means to provide sanctuary, and how faith communities can support undocumented families while staying within the law. We will discuss what to do if immigration enforcement shows up during a service, how to navigate legal definitions of harboring, and what practical steps church members can take when a family in crisis seeks help.

As immigration enforcement intensifies, faith communities must be informed, prepared, and ready to act. This conversation will provide space to address concerns, share resources, and ensure that churches remain places of refuge and justice. Register here: https://www.eds.edu/programs/when-ice-comes-to-church

Due to the sensitive nature of this conversation, this event will not be recorded. You must be present live in order to attend.

Episcopal Church offers free Lent resources

Find new and updated Lent resources for individuals, small groups, and congregations. Check back for updates as more material becomes available, and review each listing for available languages.

• “Holy Week Explainer” videos, 3 to 5 minutes each, covering Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Great Vigil of Easter, and Easter Day
• “Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent”—videos, adult forum curriculum, calendar, publicity, and quiet-day curriculum
• “Preparing to Become the Beloved Community”—Lent curriculum to help engage in racial reconciliation and reflect on Jesus’ coming among us
• Bulletin inserts for “Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent” with practices for each week
• Sermons That Work for Holy Week and Easter
• Five-session book club on “The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You”
• “40 Days of Welcome and Gratitude” program and resources from United Thank Offering and Episcopal Migration Ministries
• “Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community” podcast series
• Lesson Plans That Work
• D365 devotions written by students and those who work with and care for them
• “Living the Way of Love: A 40-Day Devotional” from Church Publishing
• Lent Madness from Forward Movement
• Episcopal Relief & Development Lenten Meditations

Hymns and Music of Lent: 

This six-session class is an interdisciplinary, high-energy romp through the history of Lenten liturgy, music and spirituality to reveal the humanity behind the hymns.

Classes include:

• Origins of Lent in Scripture, Liturgy & Sacred Music
• Memento Mori: The Lenten Spirituality of John Donne in Music and Poetry Lent Operas: Oratorios & Handel’s Messiah
• Lent Bangers in Hymnal 1982
• “Sing my tongue the glorious battle”: The Story of Venantius Fortunatus
• Psalm Sunday: The Life and Times of Psalm 118

Register here! For questions contact ssfm@diocesecpa.org. 

St. Brigid's Episcopal Church (Nazareth), is seeking an organist.

Please contact Rev. John Marcantonio at rector@stbrigidsnaz.org for more information.

St. George's Episcopal Church (Hellertown) and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Allentown) are seeking a full time Priest-in-Charge (shared 50/50). Both vestries are engaged and hardworking, excited to craft a position that works well for all parties. Profiles can be viewed here: click here. Please send a letter of interest, a current resume or CV, and a current OTM profile to The Rev. Canon Melinda (melinda@diobeth.org) and include “Hellertown-Allentown” in the subject line.