Weekly News & Updates

December 10, 2025

Diocesan News

From the Bishop: Video Reflections for Advent, Week 3

Bishop Steve is offering a four part series of short videos for Advent. As they are published, each of them will be posted to the Diocesan Website and may be viewed HERE.

To view the third video in the series... CLICK HERE

Diocese Launches Revitalized Property Committee

The Diocese has launched a newly revitalized Diocesan Property Committee, which held its first meeting on December 2, 2025. This committee has been formed to help the diocese and its congregations faithfully steward the many sacred buildings entrusted to our care—spaces that hold our history, shape our present ministry, and offer tremendous potential for future mission.

The committee is chaired by The Rev. Luke Fodor, President of the Standing Committee and Rector of St. Luke’s, Jamestown. He is joined by a diverse and deeply experienced team...READ MORE

Retired Gathering

On December 4, 2025, Bishop Lane, together with the Diocesan Chaplains to the Retired Clergy (Earle King, Pat Guinn, And Terry & Candi Bull), Clergy Spouses, and Surviving Spouses, gathered with the Retired Clergy at St. Mark’s, Orchard Park for worship and a luncheon.

Bishop Lane celebrated the Eucharist before lunch and spoke to the group during the meal. The delicious luncheon was provided by the good people of St. Mark’s. Fr. Jack Marshall, who will be retiring as Rector of St. Mark’s, assisted in the worship.

Thank you again to the People of St. Mark’s and Fr. Jack for your hospitality!

Search Committee Update

The whole team gathered at the Diocesan Center on December 6 from 10am-1pm to continue our work in the search for our next Bishop. In this first stage of the process, we had a really positive response to all of our data gathering opportunities. Lots of good discussions were had at our listening sessions, both in-person throughout the Diocese and on Zoom. Committee members had very meaningful 1:1 discussions with various stakeholders. And extremely valuable data was gained from all the participants in our Holy Cow survey. At our combined meeting, we went through all the data collected and concentrated on what themes we heard. We focused on answering that in three specific areas – Strengths, Struggles and What we Need in a Bishop. From these themes, we have a better understanding of how we need to frame the content written for our Diocesan Profile.

Think of the profile as our “job ad”. What story do we need to tell to attract the right candidate that is passionate and ready to embark on our journey together. There is good pastoral work that needs to be done for all the parishes of our diocese and we talked about how best to present that message. We heard loud and clearly that the people of our region need a bishop who is ready to help us move forward and deploy our strength as a united entity. We also realized how much GREAT WORK is already being done by our individual parishes. We floated (pun intended...) a couple of themes that really seem to speak to who we are: one being how connective water is to our area (abundance/rejuvenation), another being how much emphasis is put on serving our communities (come to our table). From that came the idea of puzzle pieces or a mosaic; how each of us are parts of the whole picture. We are a resilient group who loves the underdog (the BILLS WILL WIN a Superbowl) and cares deeply for our neighbor. We value humor, traditions and learning. It’s exciting to think that our next bishop is out there right now.

The next month is pretty busy for our committee; advent season is upon us, but we are also targeted to have the first draft of our profile done by January 5th. To that end we are pleased to share that we hired Juliana Conidi to be our graphic designer on the profile. Check out here work at www.julianaconidi.com. It is the teams goal to go “public” with the profile in early February and then start receiving candidate interest thereafter.

Lisa Yaggie

Chair, Search Committee

Diocesan Ministry Center Availability

A reminder to all that the Diocesan Ministry Center (DMC) is available to all parishes and diocesan groups for meetings, retreats, programs, etc.

All that's necessary is filling out an Event Form and giving the staff ten days' notice to make arrangements. The DMC is intended to be used by the whole diocese for ministry.

If you have questions, please be in touch with Shawn Slother.

Episcopal News Service

Stay informed on everything in the wider Church by visiting and/or subscribing to the Episcopal News Service (ENS).

ENS WEBSITE

Clergy Ordination Anniversary

The Rev. Diana Leiker: December 10th

The Rev. Andy Newbert: December 12th

The Rev. Thomas Mitchell: December 12th

The Rev. Judy Breny: December 13th

The Rev. Charles Whitmore: December 16th

We give you thanks, almighty and gracious

God, that you have blessed us with their

ministry, and we pray that they may continue

to exemplify in word and deed the Gospel of

your Son. Amen

Youth & Children Ministry

YUM Schedule

Join Wendy Schumacher for Youth United in Ministry (YUM) for these upcoming events.

For details and to participate, please contact:

Wendy Schumacher

Missioner for Youth & Children

EMAIL or 716-830-5443

Church Profile

St. John's, Youngstown

What are the most vibrant ministries or strengths of your parish today?

There are 19 ministries listed on our Welcome brochure. Of those, the strongest year-round ministry is support of the local Care and Share Food Pantry. St. John's is the biggest contributor and in addition to supplying food goods, we participate in hands on work at the Pantry and have members who serve on the Board. That said, we are probably most well known for our annual Strawberry Festival. This year we served over 500 people free strawberry shortcake. Free-will donations each year go to varying local causes and organizations. This year, we supported Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight and the Friends of Youngstown...READ MORE

Congregational Events

The Joy Project

St. Mark's, LeRoy - The Joy Project, a free exhibit inspired by the former Sibley’s Department Store in downtown Rochester, brings old-time Christmas to life at the Exhibit Hall at St. Mark’s on Saturdays from 10-4pm and Sundays from 12-4pm now thru December 21. An extensive Christmas village and train display, “department store windows” with animatronics, hand-painted murals of Christmases of yesteryear by local artist Lorie Longhany, and a one-of-a-kind diorama of the 1937 radio show "The Cinnamon Bear" are included.

A Christmas Shop and refreshments for sale round out this exhibit, now it its second year. (The exhibit is down a flight of stairs.) For info, CLICK HERE

Mini-Holiday Bazaar

St. Mark's & All Saints, Buffalo - Join us on December 13 from 10am-2pm to purchase antique, new, and previously loved jewelry, handcraft items, books, giftware, Christmas decorations, gift wrapping and more.

Lunch & dessert will be sold. Admission is FREE and children accompanied by an adult will receive a $1 off coupon.

Her Christmas Carol

Not Every Scrooge is Male

St. Mark's, LeRoy - Her Christmas Carol, a live radio drama will be performed December 13 at 3pm & 7pm by the Bloomfield Rotary Players. This production is based on the original Dickens story but with a twist—not every Scrooge is male! The program is presented by the Rotary Club of LeRoy and The Joy Project, with proceeds benefiting both organizations.

Tickets are $12 each and may be purchased at Tompkins Community Bank, Copart, St. Mark’s office or online HERE.

Christmas Cookie Sale

Trinity, Hamburg - Our 15th Annual Cookie Sale will take place on December 14 from 8:30-11am.

All proceeds will be donated to Trinity's Food Pantry.

Mix and match all your favorite cookies!

Lessons & Carols

Calvary, Williamsville - Join us in the glorious annual tradition of the Festival of Lessons and Carols on December 14 at 7pm. This year’s program, featuring choir, soloists, brass and organ under the direction of Roland E. Martin, will offer joyful music old and new. Celebrate Christ’s coming in word and song!

A free will offering will support Great Music at Calvary.

Advent Study – A Child is Born:

A Beginner's Guide to Nativity Stories by Amy-Jill Levine

St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo - In preparation for the celebration of the coming of the Christ child, this Advent,

St. Paul's Cathedral will explore the fascinating connections between ancient birth stories and the Nativity of Jesus in this captivating four-week Advent study.

This most recent book by renowned Biblical scholar, Amy-Jill Levine journeys through the births of Isaac and Ishmael, Samson, and Samuel revealing how they foreshadow and enrich the timeless Christmas story in the final chapter. Dr. Levine brings her expert knowledge of Scripture and careful consideration of the Christian story to show readers how Scripture's earlier birth stories anticipate the story of Jesus’s birth and how the birth resonates and gives new meaning to those earlier stories.

The book is available on Kindle or in paperback from your favorite bookseller. Sessions will be held on the Cathedral Zoom site on December 15 & 22 at 7pm. All are welcome to attend.

Cathedral Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 716 855 0900

Password: 4cathedral

By Phone: 929-205-6099

Access code: 716 855 0900

Password: 535 007 8352

Please contact Dean Rebecca Barnes for more information.

Stations of the Nativity

St. Simon's, Buffalo - Walk with us through the journey of Christ's birth on December 16 & 23 at 6pm.

Come hear the Christmas story of the babe in the manger!

Community Soup Night with

THE GRINCH

St. Paul’s, Stafford - All are invited to join us on December 17 at 5:30pm for a Community Soup Night with a special appearance by the GRINCH!

Cathedral Holiday Services

St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo - We are an inclusive community where all are warmly welcomed!

December 21 at 5pm

Longest Night/Blue Christmas

A service especially for those that have experienced loss or find the holidays difficult

December 24 - Christmas Eve

4pm: Festival of Lessons & Carols

11pm: "Christ-Mass" Festival Eucharist

December 25 at 10:15am

Christmas Day Eucharist

January 1 at 10:15am

New Year's Day/Feast of the Holy Name Eucharist

January 6 at 6pm

Feast of the Holy Epiphany Eucharist

Longest Night Service

St. Paul's, Harris Hill - As the season of Advent draws us toward Christmas, we also recognize that this time of year can be difficult for many. The holidays often carry memories of loss, loneliness, or struggle. The Longest Night service offers a sacred space to acknowledge those realities while holding onto the promise of Christ’s light.

This quiet, contemplative service will be held on December 21 at 7pm at St. Paul's. Through scripture, prayer, music, and candlelight, we will gather to honor both the darkness and the hope that shines within it. It is a time to bring our grief, our questions, and our longing before God, trusting that Jesus meets us in every season of life.

Whether you are carrying burdens yourself or simply wish to stand in solidarity with others, you are warmly invited to attend. Together we will remember that even in the longest night, the light of Christ is never overcome.