Download The VOICE Digest printable PDF with highlights from this issue.

What if we lowered our sense of importance and expectation about all the things that need to be done before Christmas, and instead of expecting things to go perfectly or to get the perfect thing or give the perfect thing, what if instead our focus was on the way we could be the gift this Christmas? (Time: 3:56.)

Have you seen the Bishop’s Advent letter? We hope you’ll consider a gift in support of this year’s Alleluia Fund.

“Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss thy kingdom’s goals.”

Dear Companions on the Journey,

When Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote the words to that grand old hymn “God of grace and God of glory” in 1930 the world was reeling. Widespread hardship had followed the collapse of the stock market the year before. Banks were failing. Unemployment was swiftly rising. Uncounted numbers of people were homeless. The Great Plains suffered from over-farming and drought. The Dust Bowl days would soon begin. Read more.

The parishes of St. Paul's, Montvale, Grace, Westwood and Holy Trinity, Hillsdale partnered with the Montvale and Ridgewood communities and George Washington Middle School in Ridgewood to collect and wrap more than 1400 Christmas gifts for children in Paterson. Pictured here is the gift wrapping event held all day last Saturday, Dec. 11 at St. Paul's – it took all day to wrap that many gifts! The gifts are going to St. Paul's CDC in Paterson to be distributed to the children of the families that utilize the food pantry and their other services.

Shortly after the publication of Six Constance Region churches prepare to host Afghan refugees in the Dec. 1 issue of The VOICE Online, a refugee family moved into the empty rectory prepared for them by St. Peter's, Mountain Lakes; St. Mary's, Sparta; Church of the Saviour, Denville; St. John's, Boonton; St. David's, Kinnelon; and Christ Church, Pompton Lakes.

Don MacGowan, outreach chair at St. Peter’s, Mountain Lakes, reports, "Things are going well with our Afghan family. They are thrilled, happy, overwhelmed, and grateful all at the same time. The four little kids (6, 4, 2, 1) are ecstatic with all the toys that were donated. It's a good thing and really fun to witness."

He adds that the Church World Service needs additional housing throughout the state for other refugee families. "They like that we had an honest-to-goodness house to offer for an extended period of time," he said. "Others are offering hotel rooms and Airbnb places for limited periods of time, which aren't good solutions."

MacGowan emphasizes that Church World Service plays an important role in the whole process. "We couldn't do it without their guidance, and they are very good at what they do."

If anyone would like to learn more about their experience, MacGowan is happy to answers questions. He can be reached at dmacgowan@verizon.net.

God willing, and the people of God consenting, Bishop Hughes will ordain to the Sacred Order of Priests:

Your prayers and online presence are requested. Due to COVID risk and for the safety of the participants, please join us for this joyous occasion via YouTube. Find out more.

A presentation of the preliminary diocesan budget for 2022 was given by diocesan CFO Sam Reckford on Dec. 8. A video of that presentation is at right. (Time: 22:31.)

The budget is a work in progress and is expected to be finalized in January 2022. A second budget presentation will be given via Zoom at 7 PM on Jan. 11.

An email will be sent Monday, January 10 to recipients of The VOICE Online with sign-in instructions for this Zoom meeting.

Bishop Carlye Hughes invites you to join a conversation with other members of the diocese, to reflect and consider what we, our churches, and our communities have learned and experienced during the first 22 months of pandemic.

Scheduled for 90 minutes, this Zoom conversation is open to all members of the diocese.

An email will be sent Monday, January 10 to recipients of The VOICE Online with sign-in instructions for this Zoom meeting. Find out more.

What are we to do as people of faith about climate change? Are there steps we can take that make any difference? How do we become proactive in our care of creation?

Our study this year will focus on our role as people created to live in and care for the land as God’s stewards. Through reading, film, Holy Scripture, and regular reflection on a patch of earth, we will intentionally explore our identity and relationship with the land and examine our duty to the land, climate, and other people.

Find out more and register online. Registration deadline: 5 PM Friday, Jan. 14. Zoom links for this online study group will be sent to registrants in January.

An email will be sent Monday, January 17 to all Church Wardens and Treasurers with sign-in instructions for this Zoom meeting.

Congratulations to the two newest Deacons in the Diocese of Newark: The Rev. Deacon George Dredden and the Rev. Deacon Danielle Baker, ordained Saturday, Dec. 4 at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral in Newark.

The Bishop’s Church Emergency Fund (BCEF) provides financial support for church buildings in the diocese needing repairs and renovation, usually with a special focus on emergency and unforeseen needs. Through the BCEF, you can support the critical needs identified by the Bishop.

The fourth BCEF call of 2021 is for Hurricane Ida recovery at St. Stephens, Millburn. Read more.

Applications for the Cross Roads Summer Staff 2022 are LIVE! Cross Roads is hiring awesome young adults who would be a great fit for any of their open positions next summer. Employment runs from mid-June through August 2022.

From now through January 15, 2022, you can purchase limited-edition items for the Cross Roads fan in your life. The shop includes long-sleeve or short-sleeve T-shirts and sweatshirts in a variety of sizes and colors. A portion of each sale supports the Cross Roads Annual Fund. Click here to visit the shop.

Young adults (ages 18-30ish) are invited to pause and renew your mental, physical, and spiritual health as we begin a new year. This retreat is open to all young adults who are looking for a weekend away at camp. More details on the weekend retreat, including Covid protocols, available on the Cross Roads website at: crossroadsretreat.com/young-adult-retreat. Register today!

Cross Roads is now be offering the Wednesdays Away day retreat on two dates each month. The first Wednesday of the month will be an in-person retreat at Cross Roads, from 10 AM to 3 PM. On the second Wednesday of the month, they will host the same great retreat but on Zoom, from 10 AM - 12 noon. Find all the details and register for an upcoming retreat at crossroadsretreat.com/wednesdays-away.

The Bold Transformational Faith (BTF) Program invites your congregation to check out our BTF Sunday School and Faith Formation programming, beginning with their FREE four-week ADVENT-ure program. It offers a unique lectionary-based Sunday School curriculum, children’s messages, weekly podcasts, weekly family newsletters, and virtual Sunday School with youth and leaders from around the country. Explore all the offerings at mybtf.org.

Nominations are being accepted for the General Convention Official Youth Presence for General Convention in Baltimore next summer. Please forward this information to high school youth families who you think will be interested in an in-depth experience of General Convention. The youth delegates will be chosen from applications throughout the Episcopal Church, by Province.

Nominations are being received until December 23. Youth need to be between 16-19 years old next summer and will need an adult to fill out a nomination form. Find out more, including application & nomination forms.

The VOICE Online is currently published every other Wednesday