In this edition: Triduum and Easter services; Outreach from St. Luke's and St. Thomas's; Holy Week Gospel for children; IWC ideas; Presiding Bishop's Easter video; Fun Fact; Did You Know?; Check it Out!; and news from the diocese, Episcopal Church, and Anglican Church.
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Reminder to all churches in the Episcopal Church in Delaware:
Remember to add your Triduum and Easter services to your website.
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St. Luke's, Seaford
a small church finding ways to reach their community
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From the beginning of the pandemic, St. Luke's sought ways to best serve the community while church services were suspended. This small, lay-led parish continues to do exciting things with technology in response to pandemic challenges and with limited funds. Not only have they upgraded the Wi-Fi in the church and parish hall, but they have also set up an overflow screen in the parish hall to safely accommodate more worshippers. This is in addition to livestream services. It is a great example, not only of ingenuity and a can-do spirit, of tech upgrades that the people of St. Luke's will benefit from for years to come. If you are in need of tech-upgrades, remember that the Barnabas Fund is providing technology grants of $2500 to every parish that completes and sends an application.
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Who is
My Neighbor?
Powerful outreach from
St. Thomas' Parish, Newark
[first printed in the
Spring issue of the
Delaware Communion Magazine]
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A Way to Offer the Gospel to Children
during Holy Week
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The Rev. Jacqueline Clark, an associate rector
at the Episcopal Parish of St. John the
Evangelist in Higham, Maine, tells the
story of Holy Week and Easter for children.
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Taking a look outside
of our diocese ...
Here is an engaging and creative video to offer children during Holy Week and Easter.
The presentation of the events of Holy Week is adapted from the "Prayer Walk of the Passion" developed by Gretchen Wolff Pritchard and described in her book, Offering the Gospel to Children.
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Some regathering ideas from the
Invite Welcome Connect Support Team
As your parish begins to regather in person, (following the appropriate plans and guidelines approved by our diocese), how are you going to mark this important milestone? The Invite Welcome Connect Support Team has put a number of suggestions together to help you celebrate and welcome your community home! To mark the occasion, there is a list of suggestions for welcome home goodie bags, sources for goodie bag supplies, hymn suggestions, and prayers to mark the occasion! Don’t forget those who have been attending virtually and may not be able to regather yet. Send them a goodie bag too! Perhaps, make a few special visitor bags for folks who may have found you in the virtual world and decided to join you in person! It’s not too early to start planning for a celebration event for your parish at a time when the pandemic restrictions are lifted. Visit the Invite Welcome Connect webpage for welcome home ideas.
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Fun Fact
Question: What was the Bishop's Band?
Clue: The band once camped for three days at Prince George's Chapel, Dagsboro.
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On this date in 1870
Thomas Mundy Peterson
became the first African American to vote in a US election
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On March 31, 1870, one day after the ratification of the 15th Amendment, which allowed him the right to vote, Thomas Peterson became the first African American to cast a ballot in a U.S. election under the provisions of the 15th Amendment. The citizens of Perth Amboy, NJ. were voting to settle a disagreement over whether to revise the town charter or abandon it in favor of a township form of government. He is shown wearing a medal attached to the left side of his vest. The medal was presented to Peterson in 1884 by the residents of Perth Amboy, NJ in recognition of his status as the first African American voter in the United States under the provisions of the Fifteenth Amendment. More information
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From the 17th century,
Jeremy Taylor teaches contentedness in
hard circumstances
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Jeremy Taylor's life (1613-67) was anything but easy. He remained an Anglican and Royalist throughout the English Civil War, Protectorate, and Restoration. He served as a chaplain to Archbishop William Laud and King Charles I, both of whom were executed. He was imprisoned, exiled in Wales, and buried his first wife and several sons. After the Restoration he was bishop in Ireland. His literary legacy includes Holy Living and Holy Dying in which, motivated by his many sorrows, he discoursed on contentedness. Along with other resources, the work features eight “Instruments or Exercises to procure Contentedness” in the belief that chance or circumstance cannot overcome someone who is content. Read The Living Church article here
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Cycle of Prayer in the Episcopal Church in Delaware |
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This week (week of March 28), in our diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we hold up in prayer the Church of St. John the Baptist, Milton, the Rev. Thomas White, rector. For the 2020-2021 diocesan Cycle of Prayer click here.
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Positions open in our parishes |
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Trinity Parish, Wilmington, is seeking an organist/choir director
Seeking a faithful, gifted, and experienced full-time organist and choir director to build on the solid tradition of musical and liturgical excellence that is our legacy of more than 300 years. We highly value the ministry of music in the worship life of our parish and in the community we serve. We have traditionally offered a rich variety of music that spans the breadth of the Anglican tradition and draws on other musical traditions as well. We worship in two languages (English and Spanish) and in two locations (Trinity Church and Old Swedes Church). Our ideal candidate will enrich our life in faith by developing the musical gifts of our parishioners, and helping us share the power and beauty of music with the greater Wilmington community. Read full job description here.
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St. Thomas's Parish, Newark, is seeking a part-time sexton
The sexton maintains all interior spaces of the parish’s buildings and is responsible for monitoring appliances and systems, performing periodic inspections, making repairs as appropriate, and notifying the property committee when the services of outside contractors are needed. The sexton reports to the rector and collaborates with the parish’s property committee, but must be able to work with minimal supervision. S/he must also be flexible in scheduling maintenance activities around the parish and outside events, as well as in periods of heavier use of the parish’s buildings (eg. Christmas and Holy Week/Easter). Read the full position description here. Interested applicants, please contact the rector, the Rev. Dr. Howell J. Sasser here.
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News in our parishes and community |
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The Old Swedes Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $15,000 grant from the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund.
These funds will support the newest project, Facilitating Change with Collaborative Neighborhood Placemakers. This grant will launch Old Swedes Historic Site’s expansion of programming to be more inclusive of its neighbors on Wilmington’s East Side and beyond. Old Swedes is committed to establishing a center for lifelong learners grounded in its origins dating back to 1638. Old Swedes aspires to make the historic site a place to find commonality in stories from the past and to inspire greater engagement in the community. More information
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St. Thomas' s Parish, Newark partnering with the Blood Bank of DelMarVa
You can help address a critical need, Wednesday, April 7, 1-6pm
Normally, the Blood Bank hosts many remote blood drives at office buildings and schools. Because of Covid, most of these events have been cancelled and blood levels are at a critical low. In March, St. Thomas's hosted a blood drive. The turn-out was amazing, thanks to everyone who shared this event with friends and families. Most donors were UD students, and some ECM students volunteered. Many people came to the building for the first time, and several had visited before for the women's march, or interfaith events. Over 50 pints of blood were collected which can save over 150 lives! Your help is requested at the next event. Call 888-8-BLOOD-8 to register. More information
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Bishop Brown forms Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission
On May 25, 2020, the world witnessed the murder of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement. This brutal event reawakened many to the ongoing reality of racism within individuals and systems. In response to that tragedy, Bishop Brown created a think tank of laity and clergy. Their charge was to develop a sustainable structure that the Episcopal Church in Delaware (ECD) will use to address systemic racial injustice in our church and the larger society. The think tank based its work on Becoming Beloved Community, and returned to Bishop Brown with two strong recommendations: first, form a Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission (RJRC) to carry out this work; second, hire a missioner for racial justice and reconciliation, who will act as a liaison between the ECD and RJRC, and work alongside it to accomplish its goals. Read full statement here.
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Camp Arrowhead Parish Day, Saturday, April 24
You are invited to tour the beautiful property, meet the fantastic staff, learn about retreat possibilities, view plans for the new Ashford Center, and have some great fun! More information here. Registration information coming soon.
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News from the Episcopal Church |
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry:
Easter 2021 Message
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Launching on April 12, we at Evangelism Matters are inviting you to turn off the Zoom screen and tune in for an audioconference featuring podcast-style talks on the opportunities and challenges of evangelism today. This free audioconference was designed to intentionally flip the conference format inside-out and offer an innovative approach to sharing, learning, and growing the ministry of evangelism among Episcopalians. “We know people are suffering from ‘Zoom fatigue,’” said Lydia Bucklin, canon to the ordinary for Discipleship & Vitality in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan and member of the Evangelism Matters design team. “It’s great to give people the option to physically move while listening: walking the dog, doing the laundry, driving their car. They can learn, interact, and reflect when and where it’s best.” For more information and registration read latest edition of Episcopal Evangelism Newsletter here
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Is the Biden Administration Turning a Page on Humanitarian Protection for Immigrants?
Register now for webinar, Thursday, April 8, 4-5pm
Join Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations for a webinar to learn more about the current state of humanitarian protection and ways the Episcopal Church can engage on these issues. More information
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Virtual Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course, August 9-13, 2021
Registration is now open for the next session of the Virtual Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course (VELMC), an innovative five-day intensive course designed for diocesan staff, clergy, lay leaders, and seminarians to gain practical knowledge and cultural competency for Latino/Hispanic ministry. More information
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The Episcopal Church focuses on Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Prevention
Since the onset of the pandemic, the CDC reports an increase in symptoms of anxiety disorder and suicide. If you are in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, help is available: 800-273-8255. Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish. This National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. (Note: the national 988 hotline is not anticipated to be completed until July 2022). You can also text, 741741 or click here for immediate confidential support. More information
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Applications accepted for the Julia Chester Emery 2021-2022 internship
In 2015, the United Thank Offering (UTO) Board launched the Julia Chester Emery internship program for young adults in honor of the countless women who served as UTO missionaries. The 2021-2022 internship will be a collaborative effort between the Episcopal Church’s Reconciliation, Justice, and Creation Care team (RJCC) and the Johnson Service Corp House (JSC), a part of Episcopal Service Corps, located in Chapel Hill or Durham, North Carolina. More information
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Crying to God: Preaching Good Friday. Prophetic Voices is a podcast series hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, Episcopal Church staff officer for Racial Reconciliation.
- In this episode, we speak with Episcopalians committed to the Beloved Community about the texts for the Easter Vigil. The texts covered in this episode are Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 and Mark 16:1-8. Guests this week are: the Rev. Phil Hooper, SMMS, curate at Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne in the Diocese of Northern Indiana.
- Argie Manolis works in the community development field at a small college. She is also a foster and adoptive parent and a spiritual director.
- David O'Hara is Chair of the Religion Department at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he also directs programs in Philosophy, Environmental Studies, and Sustainability.
Join Brokenleg and invited guests for this six-episode series as they share prophetic voices and explore the readings for Ash Wednesday and each day of Holy Week and Easter through the lens of social justice. Learn more about this podcast and listen to past episodes here.
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Upcoming April Deadlines!
Young Adult Service Corps, application deadline for 2021-2022 extended to April 9
More information in English and Spanish here.
Episcopal Church scholarship for the 2021-2022 academic year, application deadline April 11
More information in English and Spanish here.
Becoming Beloved Community grants available for local/regional efforts, applications due April 12
More information in English and Spanish here.
Care of Creation Grants now available, application deadline extended to April 16
More information in English and Spanish here.
Project Resource Offers Spring Stewardship Training, Sundays, April 18 to May 23, 5 - 6:30pm
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News from the Anglican Communion |
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Read Archbishop Justin Welby's Easter letter to partners and churches around the world.
"Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.” (Luke 20:38)
"This past year has, undoubtedly, been one of the strangest we have ever known. The Covid-19
pandemic transformed the way we live around the world. It has been a year of much loss, grief and suffering for many all over the globe, made worse by our inability to comfort one another in the usual ways. We have been confronted with our mortality and our fragility as human beings, but also with our interdependence and interconnectedness. In His life and death on the Cross, Jesus enters into the pain, uncertainty and confusion that are a part of human life. He lives amongst the...." read full letter here
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Archbishop Justin Welby's reflection on the anniversary of Covid
"A year ago we went into lockdown. We measure the losses since in deaths. We measure them also in so many other ways. Lost days at school. Lost contacts with friends and families. Lost opportunities to hug, to touch, to say hello, to say farewell. The losses in the economy that affect our lives and futures. The losses of sport and other great occasions, of festivals and mass gatherings in the arts and music. The loss of choices. Covid has touched everything and" ... read full reflection here
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Episcopal delegates to UN conference push for women’s rights as COVID-19 intensifies challenges
As the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, or UNCSW, comes to an end, the Episcopal and Anglican delegates to the mostly virtual conference are bringing back a message to the church: The work of gender justice is even more important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact on women. For the last two weeks, delegates have attended online meetings, learning about the challenges faced by women and girls around the world, and advocating for policies that align with the church’s mission. The top goals include increasing women’s access to decision-making positions, prioritizing issues impacting marginalized women, expanding education for women and girls, and eradicating gender-based violence. Read Episcopal News Service article here
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Statement by the Archbishop of Canterbury regarding comments by the Primate of Nigeria which referred to 'the deadly "virus" of homosexuality'.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, issued a statement on Friday, March 5, in response to statements by the Archbishop of Nigeria, His Grace Archbishop Henry C. Ndukuba. The statement was based on the full text of 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution I.10. The Archbishop’s statement can be read here.
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