"I do not believe people are afraid of change; they're afraid of loss."
— Bishop Brown
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IN THIS EDITION: Gettin' Prayed Up sermon video; Children's Chat; Bishop Brown comments on gunmen attack Episcopal cathedral; 75th anniversary of first atomic bomb; Upcoming programs; and more...
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The Episcopal Church in Delaware
Receives Prestigious Polly Bond Award!
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On behalf of Bishop Brown and the Episcopal Church in Delaware, Cynde Bimbi, Director of Communications & Public Relations for the diocese, received a Polly Bond Award of Honorable Mention for a long-form video (in-house produced) at the recent Episcopal Communicators Conference. The awarded video, Growing Delaware, was debuted at the 235th Annual Convention in January, 2019 and advances the bishop’s agenda — Sowing, Tending, and Sharing — taking a closer look at the work and good news in our parishes and in our diocese. More information here.
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Sermon and Children's Chat
from around the diocese
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Gettin' Prayed Up!
by the Rev. Bradley Hinton
An excerpt from the live stream worship service at St. David's, Wilmington
Sunday, August 9
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Children's Chat
(a weekly talk to children)
An excerpt from the live stream
at St. John the Baptist, Milton
Sunday, August 9
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Gunmen attack
Episcopal Cathedral in South Sudan,
killing at least 23
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Comments from Bishop Brown: |
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Amid all the turmoil in our lives and the world right now, you may well have missed the tragic news from South Sudan. As you’ll read below, gunmen stormed an Episcopal cathedral and killed nearly two dozen clergy and worshipers, took children as hostages, and injured many others. While the identity of the assailants is not known, it appears the violence was driven by tribal and political strife. My heart breaks. Such horrors are brutal enough, and are all the more tragic to happen in a sacred space dedicated to hope and light.
As we continue to pray for our nation and our own healing and reconciliation, may we remember that this work is global in scope and impact. What we are doing every day in building toward the peaceable kingdom of God is a matter of life and death.
— Bishop Brown
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At least 23 people were killed and 20 others were wounded when unidentified gunmen stormed a church compound in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s Diocese of Athooch in Jonglei state on July 27. The assailants took six children as hostages, Bishop Moses Anur Ayom told Religion Unplugged.The gunmen attacked Makol Chuei village from two directions, killing the cathedral’s dean and at least 14 women and children who had sought refuge in the church compound, vandalizing the church, destroying their worship instruments and then setting the area ablaze along with the entire village. Read Episcopal News Service article here.
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21-Day Racial Equity Challenge
Led by the United Way of Delaware and YWCA Delaware, the challenge is a state-wide virtual journey into the history of racism here at home in Delaware. The Episcopal Church in Delaware is a partner (a “challenge champion”) in this effort. A personal commitment of time (5-30 minutes a day for three weeks), an internet connection, and openness to learning are all that are required. Read more about the challenge here. Register to participate here.
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Question: Which parish in our diocese held its early services in a stone school house before its first church was constructed?
Clue: The school house, which became a two-room building, is still in use as a museum and heritage center, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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The 75th anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki evokes Horrors |
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., the crew of the Enola Gay, a B-29 bomber dropped the first wartime atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, killing between 90,000 and 146,000 people. Twelve days later, following the dropping of a second bomb on Nagasaki, the Japanese imperial government surrendered, bringing an end to World War II. The August 19, 1945 issue of The Living Church, the first to be published after news of the bomb reached the United States, included reports of severe public criticism by church leaders about the decision to drop the bomb. The issue’s editorial, after first giving thanks for the victory soon expected, included a bracing call to moral reckoning and inter-national cooperation. Read editorial here.
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Looking for a special gift or book? Shop online while supporting a good cause |
The Cathedral Book Store is a non-profit 501(c)(3) operating out of the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, GA. It specializes in books and gifts supporting faith exploration and spiritual growth and development. It also offer home goods and other items that help to celebrate community, family, and friendship. Founded in 1949 by the Episcopal Church Women, it has grown from being a small book store to a vibrant ministry that serves as a resource to explore faith and values through educational programs, speakers, discussion groups, and outreach programs. Now struggling in this time pandemic, the store offers a range of books for all ages, gifts for home and pets, apparel, and seasonal items available online here.
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Curriculum During Quarantine
Via Zoom, Saturday,
August 22,
10am - 12pm
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Saturday October 3, 2020
A Special Zoom Gathering
sponsored by the
Commission on Ministry
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This is a stressful time and the National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI) is an excellent resource for people dealing with various mental health issues.
NAMI Delaware is pleased to announce it will be hosting several virtual support groups during August:
- NAMI Delaware Virtual Family Support Groups for family members and caregivers who have a loved one living with a mental health condition
- NAMI Family and Friends, a free 90-minute program open to family members, friends, neighbors, advocates, and anyone inerested in learning more about mental health conditions, and how to support those impacted by the diagnoses
- NAMI Connections Virtual Peer Recovery Support Groups
Details of all programs and registration here. For any questions, please contact Jenn Ford, Multicultural Engagement Manager, NAMI Delaware, Office Voicemail 302.427.0787 ext. 116 or [email protected]
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Cycle of Prayer in the Episcopal Church in Delaware |
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This week (week of August 9) we hold up in prayer The Episcopal Church in Delaware, The Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown, Bishop; the Rev. Canon Martha G. Kirkpatrick, Canon to the Ordinary; and the Mission Support Team. For 2019-2020 Cycle of Prayer Calendar click here.
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News from the Episcopal Church in Delaware |
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The Episcopal Church in Delaware has joined the state-wide challenge and journey, 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, August 17 - September 6.
Led by the United Way of Delaware and YWCA Delaware, the challenge is a state-wide virtual journey into the history of racism here at home in Delaware. The Episcopal Church in Delaware is a partner (a “challenge champion”) in this effort. A personal commitment of time (5-30 minutes a day for three weeks), an internet connection, and openness to learning are all that are required. Read more about the challenge here. Register to participate here.
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236th Annual Convention — November 20-22, 2020
Nominations: the deadline is Friday, August 21.
As members of the Episcopal Church, we all share in its leadership and oversight, often by serving on parish and diocesan teams and committees. Any active Episcopalian in the Episcopal Church in Delaware may nominate someone to serve on a diocesan-wide body. You may nominate yourself as well. Please prayerfully consider a person you know who might be ready to serve at the diocesan level. If you have questions, feel free to contact John Michael Sophos, Nominations Chairperson, [email protected] or D-L Casson, Secretary of Convention, [email protected].
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Support Camp Arrowhead by buying a special edition shirt!
As you know, the pandemic forced Camp Arrowhead to cancel its spring retreat groups and summer camp. Some of you were personally affected and many more of you shared in our grief. Over the years, many of you have expressed how camp feels like home or that camp is your happy place. Show your support and Arrowhead pride with a special edition acrostic design shirt — C.A.M.P. Camp Arrowhead's My Place. You can choose from six colors and up to 12 sizes at a price of $4.99 for one, $6.98 for two, $8.97 for three, and $9.99 for four or more. These are limited edition and shirt orders will close August 26 and should arrive at your door by September 14. All proceeds go directly towards relieving the impact of Covid-19 on camp’s operating budget. Order your shirt here.
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The Way Home (TWH) is seeking an Episcopal priest to serve as a volunteer board member
TWH is a prison ministry and a non-denominational, non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. The principal criteria are that the board member have an interest in serving the special needs population TWH deals with and whether their experience and skill-set strengthen the program; of particular interest would be folks with financial, business, or administrative experience. Board members do not work directly with clients, rather the Board provides the administrative structure and support that staff need in order to carry out their mission of service. Meetings are held in Georgetown. For more information, please contact the board chairman, Daniel D. Cowell, MD, MLS, DLFAPA, either by phone 302.537.0769 or email [email protected] and see more information about TWH on Facebook here.
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Walking With God — Episcopal Church Women (ECW) 2020 Annual Business Meeting and Worship
Saturday, October 10, 10am-12noon
The ECW of Delaware will hold its 2020 Annual Business Meeting and Worship by Zoom this year because of the pandemic. More information in Proclaim! the August newsletter here.
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Celebrate Sea Sunday! Remembering Seafarers - Our Supply Chain Heroes, September 20, 2020
Almost everything we use in our daily life arrives by ship. And it is seafarers, an invisible society of workers that bring those ships to our shores. As we drive our imported cars, eat fresh fruit, and wear clothing that is manufactured overseas we give little thought as to how these items made it into our stores. At the Seamen's Center of Wilmington we see firsthand the sacrifices these workers make in order to earn a living for their families. This year, more than ever, we have witnessed that dedication as seafarers were not able to set foot on shore for months on end due to COVID-19. We have seen crew after crew unable to go home when their contract ended, again due to the pandemic. Remembering them on Sea Sunday has never been more important. More information.
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Annual Giving is up and running!
We are pleased to be able to offer you resources for your Annual Giving campaigns in 2020 for your 2021 Fiscal Year. These are easily downloadable for your parishes to use and adapt to your needs. For some, using the writeable PDF format may be best, and for others the Microsoft Word format may work. If you decide to use these resources, please know that they are generic and “over-written” so that you can customize them to the needs of your community. Full information on the diocesan website here.
Thank you to all who have supported the diocesan offerings!
Read a message of thanks from Helen King Spence, Chair, Diocesan Stewardship Resource Team, here.
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Province III ECW Virtual Meeting, August 22, 10am-2pm
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News from the Episcopal Church |
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"I Condemned Trump’s Bible Photo-Op And Went Viral. Here’s What That Moment Taught Me"
The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington said: “It seemed to others that I was being brave. It felt more like I was being summoned to stand with others who were being brave.” Read full article here.
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Episcopal Church House of Bishops July 2020: A Word on Protest and Federal Policing
The House of Bishops met virtually July 28-29, 2020. The following statement was adopted on July 29. While the situation on the ground in Portland has changed, the bishops believe it is important to share their statement about protest and policing. More information in English More information in Spanish
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Episcopal Church plants seeds for 10 new ministries
At its June meeting, The Episcopal Church Executive Council approved grants totaling $213,551.00 for new church starts and missional communities. Resolutions A005 and A032 approved by General Convention in 2018 authorized the Task Force on Church Planting and Congregational Redevelopment to solicit and recommend grants for new and continued funding for new worshipping communities and missional enterprise ventures throughout The Episcopal Church. Read full press release in English here, and in Spanish here.
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Third season of The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry podcast continues with guest Ruby Sales
In the latest episode, Bishop Curry talks with legendary leader Ruby Sales about her long and enduring work for civil rights and freedom in the United States. The two discuss how she was introduced to these movements, her search for a calling, and the potential of The Episcopal Church to lead in honest racial justice and reconciliation. To Go on the Way of Love is to cross boundaries, listen deeply, and live like Jesus. To do any of these things, and to have any hope of healing, we need to be able to tell each other the truth and go, as Ruby Sales says, “where it hurts.” Full information here.
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Season of Creation, September 1 – October 4, 2020 Devotions offered by four leaders
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry and the leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have prepared a series of devotions to observe the Season of Creation 2020, September 1–October 4. Read full information here.
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Episcopal Church House of Bishops: sermon from the Presiding Bishop
Read the text of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s July 28 sermon at the House of Bishops, which is meeting virtually July 28-29, 2020. English version here. Spanish version here.
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The Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, met virtually on July 22.
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Looking Ahead: General Convention planning 2021: A letter to Episcopalians from Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings.
"When we wrote to you in early June about the need to consider alternative plans for the 80th General Convention, we hoped that the summer months would bring us more clarity about the course of the pandemic and how we might reasonably plan for 2021 and beyond. But as summer stretches on, infection and death totals in the United States are climbing ever higher, even as the virus has been brought under control in other parts of the world." Read full letter in English here, and in Spanish here.
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The Episcopal Church invites all clergy to ‘Be a Part of the Picture’ as it seeks to Become Beloved Community: Efforts Will Help the Church Better Understand the Diverse Experiences of Clergy
The Episcopal Church and the Church Pension Group (CPG) announced that the Recorder of Ordinations will begin to collect data on race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation from all clergy. The data will be used to assist the Church in understanding how different groups are treated in terms of deployment and compensation, as well as in Episcopal elections. Responding to resolutions passed by the 79th General Convention, CPG updated various technology systems so it could collect the requested demographic information that it did not collect previously. The newly requested data will only be used for analysis and reported in aggregate form. Read full article here.
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Episcopal Evangelism Initiatives: Seek. Name. Celebrate. A Good News Newsletter
Right now, given the political tensions in our country and the continuing demands and limitations of COVID-19, the art of communication – the how, when, where, what, and why of it – is challenging for most, if not all, of us. From choosing the most practical ways to communicate for work and ministry – Email? Text? Snail mail? Phone calls? - to choosing the most honest and loving way to communicate with neighbors or loved ones with whom we have political or social differences, we are all struggling with how to communicate effectively and lovingly. Read newsletter here.
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The presiding Bishop speaks about the soul of America in a BBC radio interview
The Most Rev. Michael Curry was interviewed on the BBC Radio 4 program Sunday, which looks at the ethical and religious issues of the week.Listen to the interview here. BBC R4 The Presiding Bishop's interview begins approx. 33:10.
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News from the Anglican Communion |
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Covid-19 and Domestic Abuse
A major new resource jointly published by the Anglican Consultative Council and the Anglican Alliance. produced by Mandy Marshall, Director for Gender Justice: “Domestic Abuse and COVID-19: How Churches can respond” is now available in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Kiswahili in addition to an updated English version. Further translations are in the pipeline. The resource is available free of charge from the Gender Justice page of the Anglican Communion website – anglicancommunion.org/genderjustice.
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What do Anglicans Believe?
Stephen Spencer, Director for Theological Education, has produced a new study guide as an introduction to Christian doctrine. What do Anglicans Believe? A Study Guide to Christian Doctrine from Anglican and Ecumenical Statements is published today in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. It can be freely copied and distributed (but not for a fee) and downloaded from the Theological Education in the Anglican Communion (TEAC) page of the Anglican Communion website: anglicancommunion.org/teac.The interactive study guide can be used in a range of settings from seminaries to home study groups.
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Lambeth Conference and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Together in Unity Appeal
The Archbishop of Canterbury has taken the decision to further postpone the Lambeth Conference until the British summer of 2022. Later this year details will be given of a four-year program leading up to and extending beyond the Lambeth Conference. This programme will be designed to allow the whole Anglican Communion – priests and laity as well as bishops – engage with the issues that the bishops will consider in their face-to-face meeting in July and August 2022. Last week, when the bishops had been due to be gathered at the University of Kent in Canterbury, Archbishop Justin launched the Together in Unity Appeal; and asked bishops across the Communion to join in a global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Details of the Archbishop’s appeal can be found at archbishopofcanterbury.org/appeal. Many mission agencies throughout the Anglican Communion have launched their own appeals, and many of these are included in a composite article on the Anglican Communion News Service: anglicannews.org.
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