IN THIS EDITION
: Bishop Brown's COVID-19 Response #14 -
Safely, Boldly, and with Love for One Another
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Congratulations Graduates!
A brief message from
Bishop Brown,
featuring graduates who are connected to parishes
in our diocese.
click on image >
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After 100,000 COVID-19 Deaths in U.S., Interfaith Leaders, Mayors Call for Day of Mourning and Lament
As we mark the death of 100,000 people in the U.S. from COVID-19, an unprecedented group of 100+ national faith leaders — from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions representing major denominations, national faith-based organizations, local congregations, and millions of people of faith across the country — call for a National Day of Mourning and Lament. Together, they look to federal, state, and local elected officials to observe Monday, June 1 as
National Day of Mourning and Lament
, a day marked by moments of silence, lowering of flags, interfaith vigils, ringing of bells, and civic memorials.
“I encourage Episcopalians to join with other people of faith this weekend to grieve and honor those who have died from COVID-19,” said Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. “Let this tragic moment not pass without us honoring the many among us who have lost their lives or lost their loved ones and commending them and ourselves to God’s love and peace.” Read full information
here
.
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St. John the Baptist, Milton,
has a new website
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Checkout this new
website
at St. John the Baptist! Up-to-date content, current service information, attractive photos, easy to navigate. Inviting, welcoming, and connecting. Great job St. John's!
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Congratulations to the
Rev. Thomas White
as he observes his
50th Anniversary to the Priesthood
on Monday, May 31.
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Fr. Tom is the Rector at St. John the Baptist, Milton
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A new book about
John the Baptist
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While the Christian tradition has subordinated John the Baptist to Jesus of Nazareth, John himself would likely have disagreed with that ranking.
In
John the Baptist in History and Theology
, Joel Marcus (professor of New Testament and Christian origins at Duke Divinity School) makes a powerful case that John saw himself, not Jesus, as the proclaimer and initiator of the kingdom of God and his own ministry as the center of God's saving action in history.
Marcus contends that biblical and extrabiblical evidence reveals a continuing competition between the two men that early Christians sought to muffle. Like Jesus, John was an apocalyptic prophet, who looked forward to the imminent end of the world and the establishment of God's rule on earth.
Originally a member of the Dead Sea Sect, an apocalyptic community within Judaism, John broke with the group over his growing conviction that he himself was Elijah, the end-time prophet who would inaugurate God's kingdom on earth. Read more about the book
here
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Question:
Do you know who this young man is?
Clue:
He's a priest in the Episcopal Church in Delaware
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Bishop Brown's COVID-19 Update
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News from the Episcopal Church in Delaware
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In this time of pandemic, our churches and parishioners are finding new and creative ways to serve their communities. Please let us know the ministries, e.g. feeding, clothing, social justice, etc., you are involved with or providing at this time. We would like to share with others. Please include any images you might have.
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With sadness Camp Arrowhead has announced that the 2020 summer camping season has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
This decision was incredibly difficult to make and was arrived at through weeks of consultation with the Episcopal Camps and Conference Center, the American Camping Association, health care workers with ties to Camp Arrowhead, state guidelines, Bishop Brown, and the mission support staff....and prayer! Many factors played into this outcome, but in evaluating how the camp could run under restricted conditions, either the program or safety were compromised, and Camp Arrowhead was not willing to jeopardize either.
In a heartening response
, several Camp Arrowhead supporters have made donations to the camp's COVID Relief Fund. For a letter from the Executive Director, click
here
. For an explanatory video, refund response form, FAQs, and donation options, visit the
Camp Arrowhead website.
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In this time of Pandemic, Beware Cyber Criminals!
The FBI is aware that cyber criminals look to take advantage of generous religious groups by masquerading as someone 'in need' and tricking members into sending them money. Please contact the FBI (410-265-8080) if you know of anyone who recently has fallen victim to fraud schemes such as this. Additional details about these scams, how we can protect ourselves, and how to report suspicious activity can be found in FBI Public Service Announcement Alert Number I-032020-PSA
here
.
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Cycle of Prayer in the Episcopal Church in Delaware
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News from the Episcopal Church
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The Most. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry gave a homily at
A Time to Mourn: An Ecumenical Memorial Service
om Memorial Day.
The very moving service can be seen
here.
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Will you proclaim the Good News of God in Christ?
Embracing Evangelism video series and resources now available
In the Baptismal Covenant, Episcopalians promise to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.
Embracing Evangelism
,
a new six-part evangelism video course, is a resource to help Episcopalians grow in their own relationship with Christ and to help others do so as well.
More information
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Third season of The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry
Podcast continues May 26 with guest
Jeff Chu
Season 3 of The Episcopal Church’s
podcast
The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry, is now available. These weekly conversations, featuring Bishop Curry, podcast host Sandy Milien, and a variety of guests, center on ways to live a life committed to living the way of God’s unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial and redemptive love. Season 3 changes include longer conversations between Bishop Curry and his guests: faith leaders, authors, and thinkers who are committed to following the Way of Jesus in the world today. Framed by the
Way of Love
– those seven practices of turning, learning, praying, worshipping, blessing, going, and resting – listeners will hear stories and lessons about how they can grow closer to God in daily life.
More information
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Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action
In the month of June, join the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Migration Ministries for
Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action
, a series of webinars to learn and advocate with and on behalf of immigrants, DACA recipients, refugees, and asylum seekers. New-comers contribute greatly to U.S. communities, enriching our common life, strengthening the U.S. economy, and bringing joy as they join and reunite with families and friends. And yet, immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees face a wide array of challenges, including federal policies and legislation that are outdated and do not address the realities of immigrants in America today. As the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement, we are called to advocate with and for our siblings seeking safety and a better life in the United States
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Full webinar and other information
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Celebrating Graduation resources available from The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church Faith Formation Department’s Office of Youth Ministry and Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministries have been collaborating with youth ministers, campus chaplains, and young adult ministers around the church to curate resources, ideas, and liturgies to help celebrate those who are graduating from high school and college.
Celebrating Graduation resources
include prayers and blessings, service videos and virtual choirs, worship bulletins and scripture, as well as a collection of resources and ideas for celebrating 2020 graduates during this pandemic
.
More information and Presiding Bishop's video message.
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Ecumenical coalition offers webinar and resources as Pentecost approaches during COVID-19 pandemic
Three major ecumenical groups in the United States,
Christian Churches Together
(CCT),
Churches Uniting in Christ
(CUIC), and the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
(NCC), are coming together to invite their member communions and organizations to join in unity this May for training and support. As followers of Christ prepare for Pentecost, these organizations are offering voices of hope and reconciliation by creating two webinars and an ecumenical resource sheet for all churches and Christians in the U.S. to engage.
May 28, 1:30pm ET webinar
-
“Pentecost Voices: Reclaiming Hope in the New Normal”
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Deadline approaches for Episcopal Church’s 2020-2021 academic year scholarships. Applications due May 29, 2020
The deadline approaches for educational scholarships from The Episcopal Church for the 2020-2021 academic year. A scholarship applicant must be an Episcopalian and must have the endorsement of his/her bishop. The scholarships are derived from annual income of designated trust funds established by generous donors through bequests to The Episcopal Church. The scholarships assist:
- Students enrolled in theological education and training.
- Children of missionaries, bishops and clergy.
- Students of various racial and ethnic minorities, and other groups covering a wide range of eligibility. More information
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News from the Anglican Communion
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Major new resource equips churches to tackle COVID-19-related Domestic Abuse
A major new resource by the Anglican Alliance and Anglican Consultative Council will equip churches to recognize and take action to prevent domestic abuse. The resource,
Domestic Abuse and COVID-19: How Churches can respond
, says that lockdown measures and restrictions on movement can “have an impact on the prevalence and severity of domestic abuse and gender based violence”, and adds that “the increased fear, tension and lack of money can worsen a toxic environment where abuse can thrive unchallenged.”
It goes on to say that “the Church is well placed within communities to be a light and refuge in times of need and can reach into communities where governments cannot. Our Christian call is to love one another as Christ loved us and not to turn away from our own flesh and blood.”
Full report here
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Review begins into post COVID-19 priorities of the Anglican Communion Office
The review was proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon. “The Church around the world now faces a whole host of new challenges and mission priorities than it could have envisaged just a few short months ago”, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said. “A ‘new normal’ is emerging. It is too early to say what that ‘new normal’ will look like, but it is clear that the assumptions and priorities of the past are not the assumptions and priorities for the future. The work and ministry of our member churches is being changed. We need to change too, in order to help them in that work and ministry.
One thing won’t change is the priority of all of us to be God’s Church in God’s World; but the world has changed and this review will help us to discern how we be God’s Church in these changing times.” Read full press release
here
.
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Anglican Communion video-based services
This Sunday's Anglican Communion video-based service (31 May) will be the last in our weekly series. The services were established as many churches and provinces were subject to civic lock downs to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This Sunday's service will be themed around Thy Kingdom Come. It will be led by the Archbishop of York; the Preacher will be the Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop John McDowell. It will be available online from 7 pm GMT on Saturday 30 May at
anglicancommunion.org/worship
. Until then, that link will take you to last Sunday's service, a themed special service for Anglican Communion Sunday.
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Submissions:
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Cynde Bimbi
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