December 7, 2022
Partnership Day of Prayer
People from across the partnership dioceses gathered today at locations across the region for an Advent Day of Prayer. In addition, Canon Vanessa Butler led online prayer on the Partnership in Prayer Facebook page throughout the day.

Participants in the Day of Prayer were invited to share photos and reflections on social media using the hashtag #PartnershipPrayerDay.
St. James in Titusville, Christ Church in Oil City, St James in Batavia, and Memorial Church of Our Father in Foxburg gather for the Advent Day of Prayer. See more photos from across the Partnership on Facebook.
Apply for the Benedictine Sisters of of Erie Internship
Open to women ages 22-25
In 2023, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie will offer a new residential internship program for women ages 22-35 interested in seeking meaningful work immersed in a community committed to peace and justice. 

Three to six-month internships are available in a variety of areas, including care for the earth, monastic spirituality, social outreach, and development/communications. Interns will receive room and board at the monastery, and monthly stipends. Interested candidates should email [email protected].

St. Luke's, Jamestown to Host Empty Bowls Fundraiser
December 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Rev. Luke Fodor of St. Luke's, Jamestown spoke with The Post-Journal about the upcoming Empty Bowls Project, a fundraising event during which local potters exchange one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls for contributions of $20, $30 or $40. Proceeds will support the Jamestown Public Market and Mobile Market and local food pantries through Feed More Western New York. The event will take place at St. Luke's this Saturday, December 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s an opportunity to draw our awareness to those that are hungry in this season where we’re thinking about the reason for the season and remembering that there are folks who have various needs,” Fodor said. “I think in a season when we are giving gifts, sometimes we forget that our awareness is a gift.”

National Day of Racial Healing Event on January 17
"The Sum of Us" discussion will take place online
The Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable will host an online National Day of Racial Healing event on January 17 from 7 to 8 p.m. Heather McGhee, best-selling author of The Sum of Us will speak about the devastating true cost of racism -- not just for people of color, but for everyone.
 
The event is free, but registration is required. 
Login details will be shared with those who register.

Episcopal Service Corps Seeking Applicants
Virtual open houses to take place early 2023
Episcopal Service Corps (ESC) invites young leaders ages 21 to 32 interested in a transformative outreach and discernment experience to apply online for the 2023-24 program year. 

Potential applicants are encouraged to take ESC’s online discernment quiz. Those interested can also register online to attend a virtual open house on the following days:

  • Thursday, January 5 at 9 p.m. Eastern
  • Wednesday, January 11 at 8 p.m. Eastern
  • Sunday, February 26 at 5 p.m. Eastern
  • Thursday, March 2 at 8 p.m. Eastern

In August, ESC alum Sophie Kitch-Peck spoke to Marcus Maltby, a member of St. Paul's Cathedral in Buffalo, currently serving in the Beloved in the Desert ESC program in Tucson, Arizona. Watch the conversation on YouTube.

Events
Organ Concert and Celebration of Ministry December 10
St. James, Titusville
On Saturday, December 10 at 2 p.m., St. James, Titusville will hold a free organ concert and reception to celebrate the ministry of the Rev. Canon Martha Ishman, who will retire in January. Logan Hamilton will be the featured organist with performances from Helyn Dahle, church organist, and the St. James Episcopal Church Choir.
Upcoming Retreat at St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo
Naming the Holy: Spiritual Travels in the Light of Christmas & Epiphany
December 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo
  • This retreat meets us in that turning point from one calendar year to the next, as Christmas unfolds into Epiphany. Come and see your own spiritual journeys, illumined through the Holy Name of Jesus. Light lunch provided. RSVP via email.
Clergy News
Ordination Anniversaries
Best wishes to the following clergy who are celebrating ordination anniversaries in the next two weeks:

The Rev. David P. Noves, December 9
The Rev. Diana L. Leiker, December 10
The Rev. Susan L. Firestine, December 10
The Rev. Michael S. Szymanski, December 11
The Rev. Timothy D. Dyer, December 11
The Rev. Russell A. Newbert, December 12
The Rev. Thomas J. Mitchell, December 12
The Rev. Judith M. Breny, December 13
The Rev. Charles Whitmore, December 16
The Rev. William Henry Harris, December 16
The Rev. Alison J. Martin, December 17
The Rev. Carol E. Carlson, December 17
The Rev. Jack M. Wolter, December 18
The Rev. Kathleen R. Ziegenhine, December 18
The Rev. Blane F. Van Pletzen-Rands, December 18
The Rev. R. Stephen Shuart, December 19
The Rev. John P. Downey, December 20
The Rev. Terry W. Bull, December 20
The Rev. Mark R. Juchter, December 20
The Rev. John K. Wise, December 20

Special congratulations to those celebrating significant ordination anniversaries:

  • The Rev. Mark S. Elliston, celebrating 5 years of ordination on December 16
  • The Rev. Matthew R. Scott, celebrating 15 years of ordination on December 17
  • The Rev. Richard Eberfeld, celebrating 45 years of ordination on December 18
  • The Rev. Barbara J. Price, celebrating 25 years of ordination on December 20
Reminders
2023 United Thank Offering Grants Available
The application for 2023 United Thank Offering grants is now open. The grant focus for 2023 includes support for ministries that focus on the worldwide incarceration crisis, including preventative programs and intervention; prisoner support outreach; prison reform work; and post-prison re-entry. Proposals are due by March 10.

Masking Recommendation
The CDC guidance on masking continues to be that vaccinated people should wear a mask indoors in areas of substantial or high COVID transmission and that unvaccinated people over age 2 should wear a mask indoors at all times.

Make sure to keep an eye on your county so you know what your risk is. Find Centers for Disease Control county-level data.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your congregation’s continuing COVID response, please talk with Canon Twila Smith or Canon Vanessa Butler. Thank you for your continued faithfulness to our congregations throughout this long pandemic.
Partnership in Prayer on Facebook Live
The bishop's staff invites people across the partnership dioceses to join them online Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon for virtual prayer on the Partnership in Prayer Facebook page.
Join the Union of Black Episcopalians
The Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) is an Episcopal organization supporting Black institutions and Black leadership in the U.S. and throughout the world. The diocesan partnership has a local chapter dedicated to providing programming for the region with a focus on spiritual development, education and anti-racism advocacy.

Become a member of the local chapter with an annual commitment of $25. A contribution will go far to help UBE in its work. Congregations can also become members for a suggested donation of $100. Congregational members can borrow the documentary, John Lewis Get In The Way for small groups to screen and discuss.

Make Gifts and Pledges to Congregations Online
Though congregations are now meeting in person, the bishop's office will continue to maintain an online giving platform that accepts gifts and pledge payments for any congregation. The partnership dioceses will absorb payment processing fees so contributions will go entirely to local mission.

Publication Schedule
Anyone can subscribe to the leadership newsletter and the general newsletter, which are published on alternate Wednesdays.

The general newsletter contains stories, congregational event listings, and other news of general interest. The leadership news focuses on governance and administrative updates and reminders, leadership events and clergy news. Updates are also available on the partnership Facebook page and the partnership website.

Please send news about your congregation's ministry, mission and events to [email protected]. To contribute photos, stories, or event announcements to the newsletter, please see our submission guidelines.