January 11, 2024

Help, Healing, & Hope

In January 2024, you are invited to support a project that helps relieve the overwhelming burden of medical debt in our country (learn more). St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (Lebanon) has partnered with Hope Episcopal Church (Manheim) in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania to raise funds to purchase and then forgive medical debt. For every $1 raised, approximate $100 can be forgiven. In 2023, for example. St. Luke’s and Hope forgave $1.6 million in medical debt by raising only $16,000.

We are expanding the reach of this effort by inviting parishes and members from each diocese to consider financially supporting this project. You can learn more and donate on St. Luke’s website: click here. 

The Racial Justice & Reconciliation Task Force has created a collection of resources highlighting the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. The task force hopes these resources are helpful to you and your congregations as you finalize your worship and fellowship plans for this weekend.

You can find these resources on the diocesan website: click here. 

The Racial Justice & Reconciliation Task Force will host a celebration of Absalom Jones and Black History Month Celebration on February 24, 2024, at St. Stephen's Pro-cathedral (Wilkes-Barre).

Join us for a day of reflection, formation, and fellowship with keynote speaker the Rev. Ryan Hawthorne, Associate Rector at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, Houston, TX.

This event consists of check-in at 9:30 a.m., keynote address, discussion, lunch, and a concluding worship service.

Registration is needed for your participation: click here.

Clergy in the Diocese of Bethlehem are invited to the 2024 Lenten Clergy Day on February 7, 2024. This is an online meeting beginning at 10:30 a.m. and concluding approximately 2:00 p.m.

Zoom registration is needed for participation. To register: click here.

Notices of 2024 Assessment and Acceptance have been mailed to all parishes. The 2024 Assessment and Acceptance amounts were approved by the most recent Diocesan Convention: click here.

Please complete the 2024 Acceptance form and return it to Cynthia Bakos ([email protected]) by January 31, 2024.

All Clergy (including retirees) who are Canonically Resident in the Diocese of Bethlehem and are not included on a Parish Parochial report must submit a yearly report for Bishop Kevin by March 1, 2024.

The report for 2023 is available online: click here. If you are unable to access the online form, please contact Paula Lapinski ([email protected] or (610) 691-5655 x222).

The 2023 Parochial Report filing is now open and is due online March 1, 2024.

Downloadable forms and instructions are now available on The Episcopal Church's website: click here.

There you will also find a video tutorial and detailed instructions. A reminder that reports are filed online (https://reports.dfms.org) using your previous login information from last year (email address and unique password).

If you need help accessing the filing website, please contact Paula Lapinski ([email protected]).

As parishes finalize their 2024 budgets, please remember to include the clergy housing/rectory line item with an accompanying resolution. The resolution is an IRS requirement and provides a reduced federal income tax liability for your clergyperson.

In Pennsylvania, a cash housing allowance is subject to state income tax but the value of a rectory is not. Neither the cash housing allowance nor the value of a rectory is subject to local income tax.

Learn more on the Church Pension Group website: click here.

(From the Public Affairs Office of The Episcopal Church - January 9, 2024)

Today Presiding Bishop Michael Curry was moved from the intensive care unit of the hospital to a regular room, where he will continue his recovery from a Jan. 6 surgery to treat the reoccurrence of the subdural hematoma. Further updates will be provided as they become available.

Please hold Bishop Curry, his family, and his whole medical team in your prayers.

Read all health updates.

This year, Forma is taking inspiration from Isaiah 43:19: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (ESV). Forma leaders are working with Learning Forte to design and pilot an entirely new model of Forma Conference. Our goal with this “radically hybrid” model is to offer church leaders accessible, high quality professional development without sacrificing the ability to connect with colleagues in meaningful ways.

The 2024 Annual Forma Conference will take place January 22-25, 2024. To learn more: click here.

Province III is hosting its youth event (PYE24) open to grades 6 - 12, on April 5 - 7, 2024, at the Caroline Furnace Camp and Retreat Center in Fort Valley, VA. Please "Save the Date" and look for registration details later this month.

Additionally, high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are invited to join the PYE24 Leadership Team and help plan and lead PYE24. There will be a Leadership Team planning retreat on February 24 - 25, 2024, at the Caroline Furnace Camp and Retreat Center in Fort Valley, VA. More information and an application for the PYE24 Leadership Team can be found online: click here.

Jan 27, 2024............Ordination at Trinity Church (Easton)

Feb 7, 2024..............Lenten Clergy Day (Online)

Feb 24, 2024............Absalom Jones & Black History Month Celebration -

St.Stephens (Wilkes-Barre)

Mar 21, 2024............Chrism Mass - Nativity (Bethlehem)

May 4, 2024.............Gather 24 - PNC Field, Scranton

May 20-22, 2024......Clergy Conference with Diocese of Central PA, Danville

Jun 23-28, 2024......General Convention - Louisville, KY

Oct 18-19, 2024.......Diocesan Convention with Diocese of Central PA, State College

Nov 11-13, 2024......Clergy Conference, St. Francis Retreat Center