| |
From the Bishop...
Siblings in Christ’s Service
The recent invasion of Venezuela and the arrest of the President and his wife have created the usual variety of responses. Some folks are heartened by American military prowess. Some folks, of varying political stripes, are experiencing great distress. Many recall the bad old days of the Vietnam War and worry about the lack of consultation with Congress and the prospect of a prolonged military stalemate.
The Episcopal Church and Pope Leo have both responded to this event. You can read those responses HERE and HERE. I invite you to read those statements.
Our task, regardless of our own opinions, is to minister to all those in our pews. We need, first, to offer prayer for all involved and ask God to help us find wisdom and peace. And we need to remember the least: the victims of “collateral” damage, the immigrants recently returned to Venezuela or caught between here and there, the ordinary folks who are trying to survive as their nation wrestles with a new and unexpected chapter.
As the events of the world swirl around us, we in the church are called to the ancient works of mercy that have belonged to us since Isaiah and, then, Jesus spoke of them: feed the hungry, heal the sick, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the prisoner, proclaim Good News, seek peace and reconcile all to God in the name of Christ. These are the signs that the light of Christ has come into the world. Our work precedes and supersedes any political agenda, however much anyone might claim otherwise. The love of God and of neighbor compels us to this work.
I stand with all of you as you navigate the political divides of our day and faithfully preach the Gospel. God is faithful and is with us.
Christ’s peace be with you,
+Steve
| | | |
| |
Diocesan Staff Update
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to announce that, in consultation with the Standing Committee, I’ve made some modest changes in job descriptions and job titles for the Diocesan Staff. I’ve done this in an effort to modulate the work load of our loyal staff without the necessity of calling new staff – a responsibility I believe belongs to the next Bishop Diocesan.
Beginning January 1, 2026, the Rev. Cathy Dempsey-Sims will be Canon to the Ordinary. Cathy already has many of these responsibilities, which include pastoral care of the clergy, working with parishes, assisting with Title IV matters, and speaking on my behalf when I cannot be present. She has ably supported me in my journey here. To make this change liveable, I am shifting the responsibilities of Transition Officer to the Rev. Bonnie Morris, who will serve part time. Bonnie already has experience assisting with Transition Ministry, and I believe will serve ably in this position. (We have a lot of work ahead in calling clergy, a subject I’ll address in the next newsletter.)
Maria Manocchio continues to serve skillfully as the Director of Finance. I have asked the Rev. Jason Miller, who serves as Chair of the Finance Committee of Council, to serve as an Assistant Treasurer, to provide Maria with weekly oversight and consultation. Currently all our financial matters are in Maria’s capable hands, but there is no regular independent review of the finances. Assuming that the Council confirms Jason’s appointment (through the next Convention), Jason and Maria will be able to comply with the best practices of The Episcopal Church.
I have asked Shawn Slother to serve as my Executive Assistant and Missioner for Administration & Communication. Shawn will be responsible for working with my schedule and travel and in preparing for meetings with the various committees of the Diocese. He will also continue his work in administration & communications, including the weekly newsletter, which has received a significant upgrade in recent weeks. We will be working with the Council Communications Committee to consider ways of expanding communications for the Diocese. To make this change liveable we will be outsourcing the work of hospitality at the Diocesan Ministry Center.
No other staff changes are contemplated. Wendy Schumacher continues as Missioner for Youth and Children, the Rev. James Clement as Intake Officer, Susan Witt as Archivist, the Rev. Diana Leiker as Archdeacon, Cheryl Fisher, Esq., as Chancellor, and Wendy Palmer as Treasurer. All of them are doing admirable work.
It is my hope that these changes will both benefit the diocese and provide some relief for our staff. The temptation, of course, is to make larger staff changes, but given the short time before a new bishop is present, this seems to me unwise, both for any new hire and for the new bishop. Please feel free to offer any comments or suggestions you may have. And don’t hesitate to be in touch with our staff, if you have any need.
Blessings,
+Steve
| | | |
| |
Clergy Death
The Rev. John Russell died on December 28, 2025 following an extended illness. He was at home, under the care of Hospice.
The funeral will be on January 24 at 1pm at St. Philip’s Church, Buffalo. The service will be followed by a light reception. Bishop Lane will preside. Clergy are invited to process (White vestments) along with the Bishop. Please arrive by 12:30pm.
For those who may not know John, he was ordained a priest in 1959, and moved to the Diocese of WNY in 1967. He served many congregations in WNY, including Calvary, Williamsville; St. Martin’s, Grand Island; St. John’s-Grace, Buffalo; St. David’s, West Seneca; St. Aiden’s, Alden; St. Jude’s, Buffalo; St. Philip’s, Buffalo; and St. Patrick’s, Cheektowaga.
John also was very active in Social Work. Among other things, he started Friends of the Night People.
Please keep his wife, Deb, in your prayers.
Condolences may be sent to:
Debra Russell
768 Potomac Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209
May his soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. AMEN
| | | |
| |
Family Bowling
Strike up some fun with us at the Lanes on March 15 from 2-4pm at the Broadway Sports Center.
$10 per Bowler or $40 per Family, Includes:
- 2 Hours of Bowling
- Show Rental
- Pizza & Soda
RSVP to Wendy Schumacher
716-830-5443
| | | |
| |
Project Resource
The next Project Resource Stewardship Conference, hosted by The College for Bishops, will begin February 22! Project Resource equips parish stewardship teams with strategic training and flexible resources to design and execute annual stewardship campaigns which can be replicated and adapted in future years. Project Resource is dedicated to fostering cultural and systemic advancements around stewardship as a ministry in the Episcopal Church.
Project Resource Spring 2026 Training is a way for congregations to engage in the work of stewardship in new and fruitful ways.
The course fee is $450 for a team of three members, with an additional cost of $125 per extra team member.
For further details and registration, please visit: PROJECT RESOURCE
| | | |
| |
Save a Seat for the New Bishop
Let's show the new bishop we are keeping a seat open for them!
Please send in a picture of the cathedra or bishops chair (or a celebrant’s chair) from your church to include in our Bishop Search.
We are excited to show off all of our unique spaces across Western New York.
Send your pictures to The Rev. Nick Evancho.
| | | |
| |
2026 Supply Clergy Rates
Please note that after more than a decade of no increase, the 2026 clergy supply rate is now $200 (one service). The mileage reimbursement, set by the IRS, has risen 2.5 cents to 72.5 cents per mile, effective January 1.
The complete updated rates are on the Diocesan Website: Supply Clergy Page
| | | |
| |
2026 Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
The updated Diocesan Cycle of Prayer is now available on the Diocesan Website.
Click HERE to view/download
| | | |
| |
2026 Congregation & Delegate Information Form
Once you have held your Annual Meeting, please remember to submit your Congregation & Delegate Form so that we can update your church records and contact information.
The form is due by March 1, 2026.
| | | |
| |
Small Congregations Webinar Series:
A Free Webinar Series on Evangelism, Hospitality, and Belonging for Smaller Congregations.
When you're struggling to get everything done in a smaller congregation with fewer resources and fewer people, adding something new can seem overwhelming. That's where the genius of Invite Welcome Connect comes in.
Unlike those turnkey, one-size-fits-all "church growth programs" out there, Invite Welcome Connect is not a program. It's a ministry that is infinitely adaptable to congregations where they are right now, with the resources and the people available to them today.
January 21 at 2pm - Small Congregations Series: Steps for the Future
Presenters: Mary MacGregor & Jenni Faires (Diocese of Southwestern Virginia)
Inviting persons to our churches is a significant act of evangelism for Episcopalians and is critical for our future. Invite Welcome Connect thoroughly looks at what we need to consider when we are about this task and has tools and processes you can utilize as part of this effort. MORE INFO
REGISTER HERE
| | | |
Note: The Missioner for Youth and Children, Wendy Schumacher and Canon Cathy are aware that the name of this event has upset some people. Please read the accompanying article to see what these gatherings mean to the young adults in our midst and let’s work together to understand that this is not an alcohol focused event…after all, as the math teacher Wendy notes: pint is a unit of measurement... | |
Growing in Faith, One Conversation at a Time
Our first EpiscoPints gathering was a wonderful success and highlighted something the Church has been needing for a long time: intentional space for young adults to ask questions, build community, and grow in faith without pressure or judgment.
At our gathering, ten people attended, seven of whom were under the age of forty. Many do not regularly attend worship. That alone speaks volumes. EpiscoPints creates a welcoming, low-pressure environment where people can show up as they are, wherever they are on their faith journey.
I am a cradle Episcopalian. I grew up in Sunday School, learned the Bible stories, memorized the prayers, and followed the rhythms of the liturgical year. Yet even after all of that, I realized how many questions I still had. EpiscoPints gave me permission to ask not just what we do in the Episcopal Church, but why we do it...READ MORE
| | | |
| |
FREE LED Signs
We have two LED signs from St. Mary's, Salamanca that we'd like to repurpose. They are free to your church on a first come, first served basis.
The signs are 53"x16" and may be used as a single or double-sided sign, allowing for up to 2 lines of type or a scrolling message feature.
These signs are programmed using a remote control (operating manuals included) and are being offered on an "as is" basis.
Contact Shawn Slother for details and to arrange pick-up at the Ministry Center.
| | | |
| |
Episcopal News Service
Stay informed on everything in the wider Church by visiting and/or subscribing to the Episcopal News Service (ENS).
ENS WEBSITE
| | | |
| |
Applications Open for 2026-2027 Episcopal Service Year for Young Adults
As The Episcopal Church continues to expand its mission service opportunities for young leaders, applications are open for those ages 21-35 interested in a transformative outreach experience during 2026-2027. The priority deadline for U.S. based placements is January 16.
READ MORE
| | | |
| |
Clergy Ordination Anniversary
The Rev. Don Huber: January 8th
The Rev. Robin Kozlowski: January 8th
The Rev. Diane Cox: January 8th
The Rev. Shannon Collis: January 10th
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.
The January 24 YUM Event will be held at St. Patrick's, Cheektowaga from 11am-3pm.
For details and to participate, please contact:
Wendy Schumacher
Missioner for Youth & Children
EMAIL or 716-830-5443
| | | |
| |
YUM Snow Tubing Event
Youth United in Ministry (YUM) is planning a tubing event over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend. We will be leaving from Diocesan Ministry Center at 1 pm on January 18 to go tubing at Holiday Valley from 2-4 pm (returning by 5 pm.)
This is an opportunity to get to know youth from around the Diocese of WNY. For young people who have attended Diocesan Sleep Away Camp in the past, this is a chance to reconnect with friends from the summer!
The total cost of tubing is $35 per person. However, partial and full scholarships are available upon request; all students are welcome, regardless of ability to pay.
This event is open to all youth in grades 5 and up. Friends are welcome! Please RSVP to Wendy Schumacher by January 11 so she can arrange rides for the carpool.
| | | |
| |
Calvary, Williamsville
What makes your church unique in the region and the diocese?
Calvary Church is a lively place where people seek to make the love of God tangible through spirituality, community, and outreach. Jesus’ central message of compassion, justice, and respect for all people provides a foundation for all that Calvary undertakes. We are called to reach across all divides and to challenge one another and the institutional church to live out Christ’s message. Our Common Ground lecture series was started in 2016 to invite speakers and panels to foster understanding about topics where parishioners and the public may share common interests. Past topics include...READ MORE
| | | |
Pictured here is the Priest-in-Charge of the GRI, Barbara Price, cheering on the Grinch, played by lifelong St. Paul’s member, Beckett Swanson. | |
Soup, Bread, Grinch!
On a cold Advent evening, the folks of St. Paul’s, Stafford - along with friends from the Genesee Regional Initiative (GRI) - gathered to share warm bowls of tomato soup and delicious herbed bread from a local bakery, enjoying one another’s company while offering a free meal to their neighbors. In partnership with the Betterment Committee of Stafford and the Red Osier Restaurant, the evening was a joyful expression of hospitality and community.
Guests were delighted by a surprise visit from the one, the only Grinch—who came not to steal gifts, but to share Grinch cut-out cookies with everyone.
| | | |
Photo by Tom Rivers: Julie Carasone, warming center coordinator for Oak Orchard Health, is shown this morning inside Christ Episcopal Church in Albion, where five people stayed last night. | |
Albion Warming Center
By Tom Rivers, Editor (Orleans Hub)
The warming center at Christ Episcopal Church welcomed five people last night, another bitter cold day.
Three of those people are unhoused without a place to stay and two others lost their electricity from the powerful winds yesterday and wanted a warm place for the night.
The Clarendon fire station also opened as a warming center, but no one chose to stay there overnight, said Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director.
Oak Orchard Health is now in its third season of running the warming center at Christ Church, 26 S. Main St., Albion...READ MORE
| | | |
| |
Thank you, Fr. Andy Newbert
It was the end of an era last week at St. Paul’s, Angola where Fr. Andy Newbert concluded his active ministry.
Andy has served many congregations in WNY, including St. Simon’s, Buffalo; Ascension, Buffalo; and most recently, St. Paul’s in Angola. A native of Maine, Fr. Andy came to WNY after serving several parishes in Ohio. Andy can be reached at:
1 Gates Circle
Apt 210
Buffalo, NY 14209
Blessings, Andy!
| | | |
| |
Hearts of Hope Support Group
St. Paul's, Harris Hill - We will be meeting January 10 at 10am in the church’s Library/Office.
Now with the holidays ended, the days can be long, lonely and gray. January often leaves people living with various losses feeling the holiday letdown as a heavy burden. If you are experiencing this please join us as we share our concerns and feelings and discuss the grieving processes. To guide our discussion we often share a brief reading from Jerry Sittser’s book “A Grace Disguised.” Extra copies are on hand in our library for sharing. Please consider joining us to share and lighten a burden.
| | | |
| |
Community Blood Drive
Good Shepherd, Buffalo - Help your community by donating blood on January 12 from 3-7pm.
All Donors will receive exclusive Bills socks!
| | | |
| |
Grief & Loss Support Group
St. Philip's, Buffalo - Healing Hearts will meet on January 13 at 6pm with Deacon Lillian Davis-Wilson.
Everyone experiencing any type of loss and need the support of a caring and compassionate group is welcome.
Come and join us, we are here for you!
| | | |
| |
Chili Tasting & Basket Raffle
St. Peter’s, Eggertsville - Invites you to their Chili Tasting/Sale and Basket Raffle on February 1 from Noon-2pm. All proceeds to benefit St Peters Capital Campaign!
(Park in the lot on Callodine Ave and enter through the side door)
$10 Admission Fee:
- Allows you to sample all chili presentations
- Tickets to vote for your favorites
- Bread and refreshments provided
Basket Raffle:
- $10 per sleeve of 8 tickets/ $20 for 3 sleeves
- You need not be present to win
Take Out :
$10 for a quart jar OR $5 for a pint jar
| | | |
| |
The Psychology of Christian Nationalism
Save the Date
St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo - How do we overcome polarization in American society? How do we advocate for justice when one side won't listen to the other and cycles of outrage escalate? How do we talk with each other when people of different perspectives are seen as evil, immoral, or anti-American? Dr. Pamela Cooper-White has written a book entitled "The Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People Are Drawn In and How to Talk Across the Divide”. To read more about her, see her bio here: www.linkedin.com/in/pamelacooperwhite
Dr. Cooper-White will address this topic at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on April 18, 2026. She will also preach at St. Paul’s Cathedral on April 19, 2026.
More details will be available soon.
| | | | | | |
