|
Our Mission:
Join us in following Jesus Christ with bold acts of justice, peace, and love.
Our Vision:
A world transformed, where all creation knows God’s life-changing love.
| | | |
Learn how to share your faith story
Bishop Hughes invites us to practice talking about our faith - not as a program to grow the church, but as a way to share God’s love with people who long to know that God cares for them. (Time: 5:59| Read the transcript.)
| | National Hispanic Heritage Month | | |
From September 15 to October 15, the Diocese of Newark joins in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the histories, cultures, and contributions of people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram as we share stories exploring the intersection of Episcopal and Hispanic/Latino traditions.
Copies of the social media posts are also being shared on the diocesan website - read them here.
| |
151st Diocesan Convention
Saturday, November 15 • Calvary Church, Summit
| | |
The Value of Service:
The Rev. Bill Cruse on Diocesan Council
The Rev. Bill Cruse, Priest-in-Charge at St John's, Ramsey and co-convener of the Anti-Racism Commission, reflects on his six-year tenure on Diocesan Council, sharing how his service has deepened his understanding of himself, the diocese, and the value of his gifts in ministry. He encourages others to stand for election to a diocesan governing body, commission, or board, emphasizing the benefits of connection and growth both personally and for the diocese, and highlighting the importance of new leadership and talents in continuing the diocese's mission. (Time: 2:39 | Read the transcript.)
Note to church leaders: The Nominations Committee of the 151st Annual Diocesan Convention seeks assistance in identifying nominees for membership of various diocesan boards, committees and councils. Please share this video as well as the Convention Election handouts with your congregations.
| | |
Diocesan 2026 Budget presentation
A recording of the Zoom presentation, plus downloadable PDFs of the handouts discussed, are available here.
| | |
Deadline to submit announcements for Convention slideshow
A feature of Diocesan Convention is the slideshow of announcements from congregations and associated organizations that runs during breaks and before and after sessions. To have your announcement included, submit your PowerPoint slide (or the images and text we should use to create one) no later than 5 PM on Friday, Nov. 7. Click here for guidelines and submission link.
| |
First Third of Life Events & News
Children & Families Ministry • Youth Ministry • Young Adult & College Ministry
| | |
Final day to apply for the Episcopal Connections Liddell Award for Young Adult Service
Each fall, Episcopalians aged 18 to 30 are invited to apply or be nominated for the Liddell Award for Young Adult Service, honoring Jane and Donald Macy Liddell Jr.’s support of Episcopal Connections. This award recognizes outstanding volunteer ministry in Episcopal Dioceses of New York, New Jersey, Newark, Long Island, and Connecticut. The awardee receives a stipend, currently set at $3,000.
Application or nominations due by TODAY, Oct. 8. Find out more.
| | | |
Learning in Faith (pilot program)
SUN, OCT 19 | 1:30 PM | St. Elizabeth’s, Ridgewood
Learning in Faith is a new monthly gathering for parents and guardians walking through the middle school years. Learn more and register online.
| | |
Fall Retreat for Sunday School Staff
SAT, OCT 25 | 9 AM | Grace, Nutley
Come in your comfy fall clothes and enjoy a morning of prayer, laughter and reflection – complete with warm drinks, seasonal treats, and simple ways to recharge for the year ahead. Learn more and register online.
| | | | |
Celebration of New Ministry:
The Rev. Chris Streeter
SAT, OCT 18 | 10 AM
Christ Church, Newton
Find out more.
| | | |
Breaking Bread with the Bishop:
Harriet Tubman Region
TUE, OCT 21 | 6 PM
Community of St. John Baptist, Mendham
An opportunity for leaders and other in the Harriet Tubman Regional Ministry Network to gather with the Bishop. Find out more.
| | |
Anti-Racism Dialogues Fall 2025
Three consecutive Saturdays | 9 AM - 12:30 PM
SAT, OCT 25 | St. Stephen’s, Millburn
SAT, NOV 1 & 8 | Zoom
This training is required for all clergy and those elected or appointed to diocesan offices. A participant must attend all three sessions in order to meet the requirements of completing anti-racism training. Find out more and register online by 5 PM Wednesday, Oct. 15.
| | |
School for Ministry: Worship Leader Training Fall 2025
WED, NOV 19 | 7-9 PM | Zoom
SAT, DEC 6 | 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM | In-person (location TBD)
| | |
This training will enable someone to plan and lead public worship. Training focuses on Morning Prayer and Ante-Communion (the Liturgy of the Word).
Wardens or Clergy must register participants for this training by 5 PM Monday, November 10. Find out more.
| |
|
2025 Clergy Conference
MON, OCT 13 - WED, OCT 15
A gathering of Active and Retired Clergy in the Diocese of Newark for education, conversation, and rest! Find out more.
| | |
Zoom meetings
Parish Communicators
MON, OCT 13 | 6:30-8 PM | Zoom
Everyone in the diocese responsible for parish communications is welcome to participate. Pre-registration is required.
| | |
Wardens & Treasurers with the Bishop
THU, OCT 16 | 7-8:30 PM | Zoom
This gathering will focus on handling conflict and addressing the tension in the world as church leaders. Our speaker is the Rev. Canon Melanie Lemburg, who has received Conflict Mediation Training and Certification from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center and is part of a three-person team that teaches Conflict Transformation skills to clergy across the Episcopal Church.
| | |
Churchland Stewardship:
Faith and Creation in Action
with Brian Sellers-Petersen
SAT, OCT 18 | 9 AM - 12 PM
Christ Church, Short Hills
How can churches use their outdoor spaces—lawns, gardens, courtyards, even burial grounds—to honor God’s creation? This workshop will explore practical ways to care for the earth through gardens, beehives, regenerative landscaping, native species, and more.
Admission is free, but RSVP is required.
| | | Campfire at Messiah, Chester with St. Mary’s, Sparta visiting. | | |
Introducing a series on parish collaboration
For the last two years, Church of the Messiah, Chester and St. Mary’s, Sparta have been in a collaboration exploring Team Ministry: one priest and one deacon serving both parishes, assisted by lay pastoral leaders, worship leaders, and preachers.
In this series of articles, participants will share their experiences of how the collaboration began and how it is progressing.
We begin the series with two articles:
| | |
Parish collaboration:
An introduction
By The Rev. Canon Margo Peckham Clark, Canon for Congregational Life
The advent of the 1979 prayerbook brought into focus the truth that ministry is not solely the work of the ordained: all baptized people are ministers of the gospel. In the 45+ years since then the demographics of many communities have changed, as has the size and makeup of the available pool of clergy. Similarly, the range of expertise that is needed for effective ministry and to simply keep a congregation functioning has broadened. The church has changed and needs to continue to adapt and change as the world changes. Read more.
| |  | |
Parish collaboration:
A warden’s experience
By Debbie Burnet, Warden at Messiah, Chester
When we were first approached with the idea of a collaboration in June 2023 we were over a year without a priest, with no candidates and an insufficient budget to support a full-time priest. To say that I was excited about the collaboration idea and the prospect of having a priest would be putting it mildly. Read more.
| | | |
A Special Giving Opportunity for Parishioners 70½ and Older
By Cynthia McChesney
Fall is Annual Pledge Campaign season, and it’s also a perfect time to remind your parishioners age 70½ and older about a simple, meaningful way to support their church: the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Read more.
| | |
Be prepared: Disaster readiness for seniors & caregivers
By Julie Crawford
Disasters can strike with little warning – whether it’s a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood, fire, or winter storm. For seniors and their families, being prepared can make all the difference in staying safe and connected during an emergency. Read more.
| | |
Just One Week Left!
Apply Now for the Invite Welcome Connect Grant Initiative
Application deadline is OCT 15. Find out more and apply NOW!
Learn about ALL the diocesan grant and loan opportunities on the Funding page.
| | |
"Another Pair of Eyes" Project for Parish Communicators
In this project, parish communicators are assisted in finding partners from among their counterparts at other churches, for the purpose of performing mutual reviews of one another’s communications efforts and offering suggestions and ideas. Learn more.
| | |
Arrival October 1:
The Rev. Canon Robert Picken
Priest-in-Charge at
St. Peter's, Morristown
| | | |
Arrival October 10:
The Rev. Chris Veillon
Associate Rector at
Calvary, Summit
| | |
Ordained October 4:
The Rev. Katie Hoyer
to the Priesthood
Katie was ordained by Bishop Hughes on behalf of Bishop Whitworth of the Diocese of Massachusetts, where Katie is canonically resident, in a service at St. Luke's, Phillipsburg, where she is serving as a Ministry Intern. View the photo gallery.
| | | News from the Wider Church | | |
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe congratulates new Archbishop of Canterbury
I am very pleased at the news that Bishop Sarah Mullally, who has served as bishop of London since 2018, has been named the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. She will be the first woman to hold the role, which was established more than 1,400 years ago. Read more.
Portrait of Bishop Sarah Mullally by Roger Harris.
| |
| What's your approach to Halloween costumes? | | | | | |
The VOICE Online is published every other Wednesday
Next issue: WED, OCT 22
Submission deadline: FRI, OCT 17, 10 AM
| | Follow the Episcopal Diocese of Newark at: | | | | |
