|
View as Webpage ....................................................................April 2025
From the Office of the Bishop
| | |
Bishop’s Easter Message
We are the Easter People: The Lord is Risen!!
“…The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!...
and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread”
(Luke 24:34,35)
[Excerpt] "The Easter Story always strikes us as a strange and mysterious event in the life of Jesus even for those of us whose faith is rooted and grounded in the resurrection of Jesus. This grand event is celebrated throughout the history of the Church in a spirit of overwhelming joy and happiness. In contrast to the first Easter which was observed with a confused and frenetic response by anxious, frightened and disoriented people trying to make sense of the Good News, “He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:6)"
Read full message here.
Renewal of Vows Our clergy participated in the annual Renewal of Vows on April 8th at Trinity Cathedral. We are grateful to all of our clergy for their hard work and pray that God continues to bless them in their call to ministry.
Bishop’s Lenten Message Read here.
| | | |
Wishing you all a blessed and Happy Easter! Bray House will be closed on Good Friday, April 18th and Easter Monday, April 21st.
| | 157th Diocesan Convention - Post-Event News: Review the 157th Annual Diocesan Convention including the Bishop's Address, election results, video reports, resolutions and more by visiting our Convention webpage. | | Missed Convention, our Reconvened Business Session Three? Or the Pre-Convention Eucharist? All were recorded and are viewable on our website and our YouTube page. | | It's Not too Late to Support Camp Wright! Thank you to all who donated to Camp Wright during convention! We are extending the opportunity to contribute! Please use the QR code or click here to help Camp Wright grow! Let’s work together and support this ministry! | | | | | The 2025 Clergy Conference "The Church's One Foundation" with our keynote speaker, The Rev. Dr. Katherine Grieb, will be at the Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort in Ocean City from April 28th - April 30th, 2025. Visit our website for more info. See you in OC! | | Ordinations & Appointments | | Ordination of Dr. Lynn M. Wiljanen By the Grace of God, The Right Reverend Santosh K. Marray will ordain Dr. Lynn M. Wiljanen to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on Saturday, May 17th at St. Paul's, Marion Station. Due to the small size of the church, attendance is by invitation only. Please send prayers and good wishes to Lynn on her upcoming ordination! Congratulations Lynn! | | | | |
Camp Wright News: Registration for our 95th Anniversary Celebration is officially open! July 26 - 27, 2025 - We hope to see you there!
Join our mailing list to stay up to date with all the plans for a weekend of fun, nostalgia, and Camp Wright spirit.
| | |
Transition Web Page
The Diocese of Easton has entered a Season of Leadership Transition. The Standing Committee has developed a webpage to keep our members up-to-date on the process. Stay up to date here.
| | |
Shred Day 2025 was a huge success!! Parishes and parishioners dropped off tons of bags and boxes full of old documents for our annual shred day! Aris McGowans from "Shred Instead" picked up all materials and he was so helpful!! Thank you!
| |
Anti-Racism Training Opportunities General Convention resolution 2000-B-49 requires anti-racism training for lay and ordained leadership of The Episcopal Church and stipulates “that each diocese select and authorize appropriate programs that will be used at the diocesan and parochial levels.” The Diocese of Easton approved several methods for completing this training in their Resolution #4 to Convention in 2024. There are several upcoming online opportunities that we wanted to draw your attention to (Scholarships are available from the Diocese of Easton based on financial need):
| | |
The 2025 Clergy & Spouse Conference, "The Church's One Foundation", Ocean City. April 28, 29 & 30, 2025.
For other Clergy-specific Save the Dates, click here.
| | |
DIAKONOS
Greek, noun: servant, minister, a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to them by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use.
| | |
This month's Diaconal ministry spotlight provided by our Archdeacon, The Ven. Laura Harbaugh, is entitled "Food Outreach to Worcester County Elementary Schools".
Click here for full article.
| | Bishop’s Institute News: Stay tuned this summer for upcoming fall trainings for Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, and Worship Leader Trainings. Join the network of those serving across the Diocese! Learn about these Ministries here.. | | |
Retreat House Happenings:
To receive the Retreat House newsletter and other email offerings, sign up here. View their calendar for programs and special events. For more information, call (410) 364-7069 or contact Francie Thayer.
| | Latino & Hispanic Ministry: Is your parish hosting Latino & Hispanic Ministry events? If so, please remember to send information to Mark Hansen our Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries for the Diocese of Easton. | | HAPPENINGS AROUND THE DIOCESE | | Trinity Cathedral & Christ Church Easton are partnering for Lenten Services Trinity Cathedral and Christ Church, Easton, along with its clergy and Sr. Wardens have spent the past months building relationships and a shared Lenten worship program for their congregations. Accordingly, the membership of the Cathedral announces it will close its doors on Good Friday and join Christ Church members in their worship space. The combined clergy will lead Good Friday services along with guided group walks of the fourteen Stations of the Cross located on the grounds of the Cathedral. Learn more here —all are welcome! | | Trellis Ministries offers on site and online Stations of the Cross 14 shrines designed during COVID by Fr. Charlie Barton of Trellis Ministries will be on the grounds of Trinity Cathedral for Lent 2025. But anyone, anywhere, can participate via the website. Hear 14 members of the Cathedral, Christ Church Easton and Trellis Ministries share their own experiences of sacred encounter. Scripture becomes a light in the darkness when we see a connection in our lives. Please share the site, and password, on your own social media pages so that others who are seeking might have their own spiritual encounter. Go to the website here, (the password is Stations). | | St. Phillip's, Quantico 2025 Guest Lecture Series beginning in April. Meetings are on the second Monday of the month (except for Dec.) at 1 PM and are provided as a free community outreach program, Apr.-Dec. Please register at ewallingford2004@yahoo.com. or call 410-742-1837. Click here for full list of dates and details. | | |
Church of the Holy Trinity, Oxford - Oxford Day Holy Trinity Plant Sale
Spring is here……. please plan on buying your flowers and garden plants at the
Holy Trinity Plant Sale on Oxford Day, Saturday, April 26, 2025, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
All proceeds go to support Local Missions!
| St. Paul’s Parish, Centreville Presents Stefan Scaggiari Chopin, Liszt, and All That Jazz - April 27, 2025 at 4:00pm. Freewill offering will be collected. |
Christ Church, Easton is looking for a full-time parish secretary - Working alongside the Rector’s Secretary, the successful candidate will be intricately involved in all facets of parish life. Expertise with Microsoft Office required. Resumes may be sent to Chris Rigaux, Parish Manager, at manager@christchurcheaston.org.
| | |
"Angels in Gangland" a play, written by The Rev. Robert Smith Angels in Gangland is about a murdered gangster(Lou) who can't get into heaven unless he returns to gangland to haunt and convince his killer (Carlo) to do as he should have done, namely, quit the mob, flip, and join the Witness Protection Program. Although it's a gangster story, it is a tale of hope and redemption told with humor. Picture "Goodfellas" meets "It's a Wonderful Life." "I have often thought, I never knew the best sermon I'd ever write would be a gangster story." Rev. Bob Smith Learn more here.
| | |
ENEWS Events & Article Submission Deadlines
If you have something to submit for our upcoming Enews please send them to Beth Devenny before these dates:
May Enews - Deadline May 5th
June Enews - June 2nd
ALL articles and photos received after the deadline will not be published, but will be reserved for upcoming issues.
| | |
Pastoral Concerns
We pray for continued healing and comfort for the following people and their families: for Peggy Beers. Nancy Dick. Janice Flood. Gordon Fronk. Doug Girardeau. Babs Glancey. Archbishop Drexel Gomez, Former Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies and Bishop Diocesan of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. The Rev. Jim Kamihachi. The Rev. Jack Mason. Virginia Mosley. The Rev. Claire Nevin-Field. The Rev. Canon Charlie Osberger. Pamela Quarstein. The Rev. Joe Rushton. The Rev. Peggy Samuels. Tom Shuster. Don Sutherland. Goldey Vansant.
We continue to pray for those affected by the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Click here for printable prayers.
Submit prayer requests to: beth@dioceseofeaston.org.
Names are listed only with permission and will remain on our list for four weeks unless otherwise requested.
| |  | |
Diocesan Prayer Calendar
Today we pray for you
Easter Sunday
April 20th
We pray for the Rev. Deacon Les Roberts, and his spouse, Jennifer; for their Wardens, Vestry and People of St. Paul’s, Trappe. We give thanks for the new ministry of Deacon Les.
Second Sunday of Easter
April 27th
We give thanks for the Rev. Canon Dr. Dan Dunlap, and his spouse, Donna; for their Wardens, Vestry and People of Old Trinity, Church Creek.
We give thanks for the gathering of our Clergy & Spouse Retreat in Ocean City this week. May it be a time of reflection and respite.
Third Sunday of Easter
May 4th
We pray for the Rev. Suz Southern, her spouse, Dave; their Wardens, Vestry and People of St. Paul’s, Berlin.
We pray for our Provincial Deputies: the Tom Shuster, Eddie Vance. and Rev. Mark Delcuze the Prov. III Coordinator, Dr. Pamela Cochran.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 11th
We give thanks for the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Sichangi, his spouse, Jane; for their Wardens, Vestry and People of St. Stephen’s, Earleville
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 18th
We give thanks for all who serve on diocesan committees and ministries supporting Christ’s mission in the world. For the Lay persons of our parishes and missions in the Diocese of Easton.
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 25th
We remember those in the armed forces that have sacrificed their lives, who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines.
For additional weeks, please visit our website or contact Lynn Anstatt.
| | | Apply now for Episcopal Church 2025-26 educational scholarships - DEADLINE EXTENDED to April 18 for educational scholarships. Learn more here. | | |
Episcopal Church Immigration Updates 1-1:30 p.m. ET April 8 (and every Tuesday)
Join Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Office of Government Relations every Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET for 30-minute updates on U.S. immigration policy and how Episcopal churches and communities are responding. Spanish interpretation is available. Register here.
| | |
Faithful Witness Wednesday vigils Wednesdays in April, 12 p.m. ET
Join with Sojourners and the Washington Interfaith Staff Community for Faithful Witness Wednesday vigils at the U.S. Capitol and streaming online. These multi faith vigils will call on Congress to exercise greater moral courage in upholding its Article 1 powers and preventing executive overreach. The Episcopal Church is a cosponsor of this event series. Learn more and register.
| | |
Immigration Action Toolkit
Many leaders in our Diocese and around the Church are asking question about how best to help our migrant neighbors in uncertain times. The Episcopal Church has a long history of education and support in these matters and has a plethora of resources in their Immigration Action Toolkit. "In its ongoing support of migrants, and those living in our communities who face uncertain futures, obtaining and sharing accurate information is critical."
| | |
Forma Monthly Cohort: Larger Church Contexts
This member cohort meets monthly, generally on the first Wednesday of the month. Link available in The Forma Space in VTS Plus
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Those who work in larger churches and/or as a full-time Christian formation professional.
Forma Monthly Cohort: Intergenerational Ministry
This member cohort meets monthly, generally on the second Wednesday of the month.
Link available in The Forma Space in VTS Plus
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Those curious about or already engaged in ministry with all ages.
| | |
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.
| | |
Gratitude: Lenten Resources, Kits for Spring/Summer, Free VBS Program
If your congregation is in the midst of planning your semester formation programs, UTO is here to help. Find out about all of our free formation resources. Read more
| | ‘40 Days of Welcome and Gratitude’: Lenten resources - United Thank Offering and Episcopal Migration Ministries are offering a multifaceted program this Lent to help people of all ages consider ways they both experience and provide welcome. Learn more here. | | |
Thank you for your continued support
of the mission and ministries of our Diocese.
| | | | |
