August 16, 2023

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From Canon Wright

Summer is winding down, but the need for sabbath continues

Summer is winding to a close, before long. While we know that technically the season continues until the fall equinox, around September 21, summer feels like it ends at the end of August – or perhaps through Labor Day weekend. How has your Summer of Sabbath been? Have you had an opportunity to unplug, to reset, to step into the margins of your schedule a bit? Even if it’s just a day or a portion of a day – even a stolen brief hour or cluster of minutes – it makes a difference. I hope that you have had some time for rest, for refreshment, for reconnection. Read more.

What is YOUR Summer Sabbath? Share your photos and story and we may post it on diocesan social media.

Summer of Sabbath: Suggested reading

Bishop Hughes has recommended three books for your summer reading – simple, easy reads that can help you think about your spiritual life. Find out more.

Diocesan Events

Webinar series offered in partnership with TENS

Register today for these upcoming live Zoom webinars brought to you in partnership with TENS: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship. Featuring TENS’ Executive Director Davey Gerhardt, each webinar will include a 60 minute learning presentation followed by at least 30 minutes of discussion. Don’t miss out on these live webinars and get a head start on your fall pledge campaign!

Each webinar is free, BUT YOU MUST REGISTER! Click on the webinar title to find out more and register online.

Creating a Culture of Generosity

THU, AUG 24, 7 PM

Generosity and Gratitude are learned practices which need to be cultivated and nurtured. Learn best practices to deepen your stewardship theology and help your members connect their money with their meaning.

Promoting Goals in Ministry Context

THU, SEP 7, 7 PM

Learn to move beyond your line-item budget spreadsheet to tell the story of how your congregation seeks and serves your neighbors through mission. Your budget should be a reflection of your values and help your members understand that every dollar goes to ministry.

Watch recordings of the first three TENS webinars

JUN 22: Recruiting and Training a Stewardship Team

JUN 29: Breaking Through the Pledge Plateau

JUL 13: Making the Case! Designing for Impact

Questions? Reach out to Cynthia McChesney Missioner for Stewardship and Legacy Giving at cmcchesney@dioceseofnewark.org.

Bishop's Staff Vacation Week & Labor Day - Episcopal House closed

MON, AUG 28 - MON, SEP 4

All members of the Bishop's staff are using their vacation time to take off the week before Labor Day. They will be back in the office Tuesday, Sept. 5.

The next issue of The VOICE Online will be Wednesday, Sept. 6. The deadline for submissions will be 10 AM Friday, Aug. 25.

Active Clergy In-person Meeting

WED, SEP 13 | 1-3 PM | Episcopal House

Instead of the regular Clergy Zoom meeting with the Bishop, the September meeting will be in-person with a catered lunch on the second floor of Episcopal House.

Find out more and register online by 5 PM on SEP 1.

Mark your calendars for these October events

Leadership Essentials for Vestries, Wardens & Treasurers

THU, OCT 12 | 7-8:30 PM | Zoom

Fall Diocesan Learning Event

SAT, OCT 21 | 9 AM - 12 PM

Diocese of Newark Youth Rally

SAT, OCT 21 | 2:30-6:30 PM | St. Stephen's, Millburn

Diocesan Announcements

Volunteers needed to help with diocesan archives

Are you interested in volunteering some time from your own home to assist the Diocese of Newark in maintaining our historical archives?

As we prepare to move to our new headquarters, John King is organizing and digitizing archival materials. This includes The Newark Churchman, the predecessor to The VOICE and The VOICE Online, with over 400 issues published from 1905 - 1977. We are attempting to create an online library of The Newark Churchman that will be accessible to the entire diocese.

We need individuals who are interested in reviewing the issues online and cataloguing the churches, committees and individuals mentioned in the articles. This will help us create an index of articles so we can locate information when the need arises.

We are also missing a few issues of The Newark Churchman and asking any individuals or churches who have copies to let us know.

Find out more.

Does your church have a food ministry or thrift shop?

We're updating the Church Directory to include not only churches' food ministries but also church-run thrift shops. If you don't see your church's food ministry or thrift shop in the list below, please email a link to its website or social media page so it can be added.

St. John's, Dover – Table of Hope Food Pantry

St. Peter's, Essex Fells – The Op Shop Thrift Shop

St. Clement's, Hawthorne – Martha's Pantry

St. Agnes', Little Falls – Food Pantry

All Saints', Millington – Twelve Baskets Food Pantry

St. Luke's, Montclair – Toni's Kitchen; Toni's Closet

St. Peter's, Mount Arlington – Food Pantry

Grace, Newark – Food Pantry

St. Andrew's, Newark – Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry

Holy Communion, Norwood – Food Pantry

Epiphany & Christ Church, Orange – Jubilee Center Community Outreach, Inc.

St. Paul's, Paterson – Family "Souper" Café

St. Luke's, Phillipsburg – Luke's Pantry

Christ Church, Teaneck – Faith, Hope and Love Food Pantry

Holy Spirit, Verona – Food Pantry; Heavenly Finds Thrift Shop

Holy Trinity, West Orange – Food Pantry

Community events

Augustine of Hippo RMN Picnic

SUN, AUG 27 | 3 PM | St. Mark's, Teaneck

Fish and Chips Take-Out Dinner

SUN, SEP 17 | 4-6 PM | St. Clement's, Hawthorne

Combined Evensong

SAT, SEP 30 | 7 PM | At St. Paul's, Chatham, with Grace, Madison

A Town-Wide Celebration of Pets

SUN, OCT 1 | 1-4 PM | Holy Spirit, Verona

Want to submit your church's public events to the Community Calendar? See the User Guide.

Now hiring

Minister of Music Ministry (part-time)

St. Michael's, Wayne

Parish Administrator (part-time)

Atonement, Tenafly

Send submissions for the Job Listings page via email.

Cross Roads is the ecumenical camp and retreat center of our diocese and the NJ Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Mark your calendars for this fall

Rally for Cross Roads

SAT, OCT 7

Women's Retreat

FRI, OCT 20 - SUN, OCT 22

Rest in Peace, Rise in Glory: Bishop Clarence Coleridge

We ask your prayers for the repose of the Rt. Rev. Clarence Coleridge, Bishop of Connecticut from 1993 to 1999, who died April 10 at age 92. He was ordained in the Diocese of Newark as a deacon (1961) and a priest (1962), although his service was elsewhere in The Episcopal Church. Read his full obituary.

The VOICE Online is published every other Wednesday (with a few seasonal exceptions)

Next issue: WED, SEP 6

Submission deadline: FRI, AUG 25, 10 AM

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