United Thank Offering Funds Clergy Jail Visiting Project | |
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The Episcopal Church’s United Thank Offering (UTO) has granted $37,500 to the Diocese of Western New York to support the Clergy Jail Visiting Project, a local interfaith effort that plans to send teams of clergy to Erie County, New York’s two jails to monitor conditions and provide spiritual support to people who are incarcerated.
Although the grant was awarded in June, leaders of the program at St. John’s, Grace and St. Mark’s & All Saints, both in Buffalo, have spent the last several months negotiating with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office the terms of their access to the jails, which is permitted by New York’s Section 500-J. On October 2, an agreement was approved.
“Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews tells us to ‘remember those who are in prison, as if you were in prison with them,’ the Rev. Claudia Scheda, priest-in-charge at St. John’s, Grace, said. “Regular visits are designed to safeguard human rights and the dignity of incarcerated persons.”
Read the story.
image, from left: the Rev. Claudia Scheda, priest-in-charge, St. John’s, Grace in Buffalo; Stephen Har of St. John’s, Grace; and John Lipsitz, pro-bono attorney for the Clergy Jail Visiting Project
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Prayers for Peace in the Holy Land | |
LGBTQ+ 101 Virtual Training October 18 | |
2023 Diocesan Conventions: October 20 and 21 | |
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The 2023 Diocesan Conventions of the Dioceses of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania will be held at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie on October 20 and 21.
Find:
- a video of the pre-convention meeting
- resolutions
- nominations
- budgets
- the convention schedule
on the partnership website.
Convention Speakers
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Two inspiring Episcopal Church leaders, the Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining and the Rev. Ramelle McCall, will visit this year's partnership convention to give short reflections, called Theo Talks, on the convention theme of Philippians 4:4-9. Convention participants will have the opportunity to join in table group discussion after each presentation. Learn more.
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Bishop Ian Douglas and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, lead evaluators for the evaluation of the partnership between the dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York, will attend convention to present the proposed evaluation format and gather feedback. Learn more.
New! Jazz Vespers at the Cathedral of St. Paul on October 19
On October 19 at 7 p.m., the Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie will offer a jazz vespers service led by jazz musician Deanna Witkowski. A pianist, vocalist, and composer, Witkowski composes jazz music for churches. A reception will follow the service.
Members of partnership congregations who are traveling to Erie for diocesan convention, which begins the next morning, are warmly invited to attend. Learn more.
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NEW! Bring Hats and Socks to Diocesan Convention | |
This year, diocesan conventiongoers are encouraged to bring adult-sized hats and socks to donate to our community partners in Erie. The Erie Episcopal congregations of St. Mark's, Erie and the Cathedral of St. Paul are collecting the items for the Charter School of Excellence and a cooperative homeless shelter that works with several of our congregations. | |
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Common Ground: The State of Mental Wellness in Western New York
Calvary, Williamsville
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On October 29 at 12 p.m., Calvary, Williamsville, will present "The State of Mental Wellness in Western New York," the eleventh program in its “Common Ground” speaker series.
Former Buffalo Bisons General Manager Michael J. Billoni will moderate a panel discussion about mental wellness in the region. The panel will include Dr. Dori Marshall, chief medical officer of Oishei Children’s Hospital; Mark O’Brien, the Erie County commissioner of Mental Health; and former undefeated heavyweight boxer “Baby" Joe Mesi.
A light lunch will be served and admission is free. Learn more.
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Tour the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center | |
Mercer County Underground Railroad Tour October 21 | |
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On October 21 at 8:30 a.m., VisitMercerCountyPA will hold an Underground Railroad and Fall Foliage Tour. Participants will visit Underground Railroad sites in Mercer County and see fall foliage. The tour will meet at the Mercer County Visitors Center.
Tickets are $40 and may be reserved by calling Peggy Mazyck at 724.971.3544. Learn more.
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Save the Date: Partnership Pilgrimage to Montgomery January 16-20: Registration Deadline November 1 | |
St. David's, West Seneca Celebrates Season of Creation | |
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St. David's, West Seneca celebrated the Season of Creation during September with special liturgy, hymns, and prayers. The Rev. Cathy Ritz designed much of the liturgy.
During the closing "Harvest Service" on October 1, the congregation offered apples and potatoes to be blessed and donated to the West Seneca Community Food Pantry, which sits on the St. David's property.
image: St. David's members following the Harvest Service.
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Pet Blessings
St. Paul's, Lewiston and St. John's, Sharon
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On October 14, St. Paul's, Lewiston will offer pet blessings in Hennepin Park in Lewiston from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All pets should be on a leash or in a carrier.
St. John's, Sharon will offer a Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 15, at 4 p.m. in the State Street parking lot. All God's creatures are invited. Photos of pets will also be blessed.
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Jazz Vespers October 19
Cathedral of St. Paul, Erie
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On October 19 at 7 p.m., the Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie will offer a jazz vespers service led by jazz musician Deanna Witkowski. A pianist, vocalist, and composer, Witkowski composes jazz music for churches. A reception will follow the service.
Members of partnership congregations who are arriving in Erie on October 19 for diocesan convention, which begins the next morning, are warmly invited to attend.
Learn more.
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Election Day Chicken 'N Biscuit Dinner November 7
St. John's, Wilson
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On November 7 at 4 p.m., St. John's, Wilson will hold a chicken and biscuit dinner. Dinner is $14 for adults or $6 for children 12 and under. Dinner is take-out only and includes chicken, biscuits, potatoes, veggies, cranberry gelatin, and dessert.
Reserve a dinner by calling 716.751.6109.
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Howard Thurman: The Mystic as Prophet
Next Session October 18
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2024 United Thank Offering Grants Application Now Open | |
Applications are now open for 2024 United Thank Offering Annual Grants, with a focus on projects that welcome and include “the stranger.” The application deadline is January 19, and the application requires pre-submission endorsement from the bishop's office.
More information—including criteria for applicants, sample budgets and timelines, and helpful hints—as well as the application and other forms, are available online.
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GC81 Official Youth Presence Application Now Open | |
Applications are now open for the Official Youth Presence at the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church, scheduled for June 23 to 28 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Members of the Official Youth Presence, who must be between 16 and 19 years old, have seat and voice on the floor of the House of Deputies and can testify at hearings both before and during General Convention. Up to two youth from each Episcopal Church province will be selected.
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Dismantling Racism Grants Now Available | |
Morning Prayer at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie | |
Make Gifts and Pledges to Congregations Online |
Though congregations are now meeting in person, the bishop's office will continue to maintain an online giving platform that accepts gifts and pledge payments for any congregation. The partnership dioceses will absorb payment processing fees so contributions will go entirely to local mission.
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Anyone can subscribe to the leadership newsletter and the general newsletter, which are published on alternate Wednesdays, with a modified summer schedule.
Please send news about your congregation's ministry, mission and events to [email protected]. To contribute photos, stories, or event announcements to the newsletter, please see our submission guidelines.
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