There is a lot happening in the Diocese and the wider church this month! Learn more about them in our Episcopal eNews for April 2021.
Episcopal eNews for April 2021
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Pastoral Plan Update for In-Person Worship (March 2021)
28 March 2021
Dear Sisters, Brothers, Siblings,
Grace and peace be with you in Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One!
After several conversations with Dr. Greg Poland, a vaccinologist and infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, and in consultation with our missioners, I have decided to amend our Pastoral Plan for In-person Worship. These accommodations were shared with Clergy and Lay Leaders during our ZOOM Call on Wednesday, 24 March. A Summary Notes document from Dr. Poland was also shared with the Clergy and Lay Leaders.
I would like to identify the protocols that remain in place for all in-person worship:
Any person not feeling well, experiencing symptoms including fever, coughing, sneezing, is asked to remain at home, consider getting a COVID 19 test and if necessary, call your health care provider.
Continue physical distancing of 6 feet.
Well ventilated space.
25% of full capacity
Appropriate masks worn properly.
Having hand sanitizer available.
Continued contact tracing.
For those faith communities that have chosen to offer in-person worship, it is important to underscore that a hybrid experience of in-person and virtual worship should continue to be offered so that everyone connected to your faith community may join in worship.
Another adaptation that has been made is the opportunity for 4 to 8 people in a choir to sing in-person physically distanced and properly masked, in the setting of 25 % of full capacity in a well-ventilated space. Those gathered for in-person worship, observing the protocols above, can sing softly while properly masked. You are also encouraged to continue to check the State of Indiana Coronavirus Dashboard on a weekly basis.
An updated checklist can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact me or one of our missioners. We stand ready to continue to support you in any way we can.
Lastly, I give thanks to God for all those who have given of themselves, in so many ways, during this pandemic. I also encourage you to get vaccinated and if you have questions or concerns, discuss them with your health care provider. COVID 19 fatigue is real, even with the availability of the COVID 19 vaccines, we must remain diligent in attending to these safety protocols.
Be assured of my prayer and support. Please thank your clergy and lay leaders for their good work on your behalf.
This comes with a brother’s love…
Doug
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks
VIII Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana
Resources:
Download the Revised COVID-19 Regathering Checklist (Rev. 3/28/21)
Questions to consider when planning to safely regather in-person (Rev. 3/28/21)
Listen to the recording of the Clergy/Lay Leader Zoom call from March 24, 2021
Summary notes from Bishop Doug’s conversation with Dr. Greg Poland
Composting 101 Workshop with Master Gardener Jo Cimoch
The EDNIN Creation Care Commission and the Cathedral of Saint James are excited to welcome Master Gardener Jo Cimoch to give a Zoom workshop on composting on May 2, at 1:30 pm (EDT). Jo has been composting for years and will be a tremendous asset to those looking to learn how to make better use of what some of us may have thought to be 'waste' over the past decades. Join us to learn how your table scraps can be both a valuable addition to your garden and a great way to reduce waste and pollution.
Two composting kits will be given away during this Zoom workshop!
Registration is required. Sign up here.
Questions? Email Steven Slaubaugh
Indiana Bishops Oppose Elimination of Gun Licenses
On March 9, Bishop Doug Sparks and Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows sent the following letter to Governor Eric Holcomb urging the opposition of House Bill 1369. A copy of the letter was sent to all members of the Indiana Senate.
Dear Governor Holcomb:
The Indiana House recently passed House Bill 1369, which would eliminate the need for citizens of our state to obtain a license in order to carry a handgun. This is an ill-considered piece of legislation that will make our state a more dangerous place to live, and we urge you and the members of the Indiana Senate to oppose it.
Evidence from across our country confirms that states with stricter gun laws experience fewer gun deaths. Yet the House is proposing to get rid of a law that helps to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them, even as gun violence in our state is on the rise.
Indiana’s rate of gun deaths increased 30 percent from 2010 to 2019, compared to a 17 percent increase nationwide, according to data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of gun suicides increased 19 percent during that same period, compared to a 13 percent increase nationwide, and the rate of gun homicides increased by an alarming 57 percent compared to a 26 percent increase nationwide.
These are alarming statistics, but they don’t tell the whole story. This escalating violence takes a particular toll on our most vulnerable communities. Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children and teens in our state. It wreaks vastly disproportionate devastation on communities of color, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it poses a singular danger to domestic violence victims who may not be able to flee their gun-owning abusers, and to people struggling with mental health issues.
If passed, House Bill 1369 would also intensify the danger faced by law enforcement officers across our state. And that, no doubt, is why it is strongly opposed by the Indiana State Police.
We Hoosiers are hardy people, and we do not expect our elected officials to solve all of our problems for us. But we should be able to rely on the state legislature not to make our state more violent and not to place its people at greater risk.
We are participants in Bishops United Against Gun Violence, a network of more than 100 Episcopal bishops working to curtail the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. We acknowledge the importance of Second Amendment rights, but we object when those rights are understood so broadly that vulnerable people are put at risk. The current handgun licensing law does not present an undue burden on gun ownership, and our state will be safer if we keep it on the books.
We strongly urge you to oppose this legislation.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows
Bishop of Indianapolis
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks
Bishop of Northern Indiana
Cc: Members of the Indiana State Senate
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks Bishop of Northern Indiana
Episcopal eNews for March 2021
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Click the link to view the Episcopal eNewsletter for March 2021.
Town Hall for Parents of Episcopal Youth Campers - March 27
in Youth Camp
Saturday, March 27, 2 p.m. (EST)
Parents of all current 2nd-8th graders!! We are excited to announce that plans for the 2021 EDNIN Kids Summer Camp are well on their way. As with most events this year, things will be slightly different, but we are doing everything we can to make sure we have a safe, successful, IN PERSON camp experience for your kids. In order to better communicate with those thinking of sending their kids to camp this summer, the camp directors will be holding a Town Hall to answer any questions that you have and let you know about some of the changes your kids might see at camp this year. To register for this Zoom meeting, click HERE. You will be able to submit your questions when you register for the meeting. Before you register, please review the Covid protocols we have already established for this summer's camp. You can find them HERE. We are looking forward to another great summer camp and can't wait to see everyone!
2021 Episcopal Youth Camp Staff Application
in Youth Camp
Dear Camp Staff Applicant,
We’d love to know if you’re interested in being on staff for this wonderful week! Once again this year we are using an electronic application. Please note that you will need to fill out the application in one sitting as there is not a way to save it and return, but it is short, so you should be OK. If you’d prefer to print and mail the application, please feel free to simply go to the application site and print and fill it out by hand. Please complete the staff application by April 1, 2021. We plan to be in touch with everyone by April 15 to let you know whether we can use your gifts at camp this year – and with luck, be able to give you an idea of where you may be working. As you consider your ability to take part in this wonderful ministry, here are some important dates to consider.
June 13-19: Please plan on clearing your schedule for the full week of camp. While emergencies can arise in anyone’s schedule, please start out planning on being there for the whole week – it is best for our campers and our camp community.
May 23: First mandatory pre-camp staff meeting via zoom starting at 2 p.m. EST
June 6: Second mandatory pre-camp staff meeting via zoom starting at 2 p.m. EST
June 13: New Staff Orientation 9:30 a.m. EST, All Staff Eucharist 11 a.m. EST
For staff applicants that have children planning to attend camp, you will be asked to pay a discounted fee of $150.00 per child. If this cost is prohibitive to you, we ask you to start by asking your parish for assistance. However, please do not hesitate to contact us as well.
Camper registration will be online and will be available at ednin.org/episcopal-youth-camp. Campers from previous years will receive postcards directing them to register online. Parishes will be asked to include the camp dates and info in the weekly announcements and bulletins. As our active camp supporters, please check with your rector to make sure that the information is available in your parish. Sharing your camp experiences with others can also encourage new campers to attend! Thank you all for prayerfully considering being a part of this amazing time for our youth.
If you have any questions or need more information, please email us at episcopalcamp@ednin.org or call Cindy at (260) 348-7061, Megan at (260) 515-1888, or Jodi & Daniel at (574) 226-6347.
In Christ,
Cindy, Daniel, Jodi & Megan
Camp Directors
Spring is arriving and with it a new year of Good News Gardens ministry
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Curry describes Good News Gardens as “A way of planting seeds for a new heaven and a new earth,” in this video invitation to join with others in this transformational agrarian ministry that feeds body, mind, and spirit. Good News Gardens is a church-wide movement of individuals, congregations, schools, colleges, seminaries, monasteries, camps and conference centers involved in a variety of food and creation care ministries – gardening, farming, beekeeping, composting, gleaning, feeding, and food justice advocacy. Collectively good news gardeners share their abundance, their prayers, and the Way of Love in their communities and beyond.
“Our call as the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement is to follow Jesus Christ and his way of love, growing in faith and action, in order that we can bear witness to his way of love in and for the world,” said Jerusalem Greer, Episcopal Church staff officer for evangelism, “And we believe that one place we can bear witness to this love is through our relationship with the land. We believe that when we commit to planting more (be it beehives or herb gardens), praying more (with our words and our deeds), and proclaiming more (through our stories and our bounty) in order to share the loving, liberating, and life-giving Good News of God’s love with all people, we will find ourselves, our church, and our world transformed. Good News Gardens offers individuals, congregations, and dioceses a way to join in this transformation work intentionally.”
The benefits of joining Good News Gardens include a monthly newsletter, community support via the Agrarian Ministries of the Episcopal Church Facebook Group, and invitations to monthly gatherings and digital workshops, including “How to Host a Community Garden Training.” Available on demand, this introductory community garden workshop is hosted by Derrick Weston, manager of the Rockrose Community Farm, Baltimore, Maryland and co-host of the Food and Faith Podcast and Pat Munts, small-farm and acreage coordinator for Washington State University (WSU) Spokane County Extension and the Spokane Conservation District, Spokane, Washington.
Joining Greer in this ministry is Brian Sellers-Petersen who has joined the evangelism and creation care team as the Good News Gardens consultant and is shepherding a large portion of the community engagement. Sellers-Petersen, author of Harvesting Abundance: Local Initiatives of Food and Faith, also currently serves as agrarian missioner for the Diocese of Olympia in Washington state and senior advisor to the Society for the Increase of the Ministry based in New York. He is also a member of the General Convention Task Force on Creation Care and Environmental Racism. Most of Sellers-Petersen’s career has been with international relief and development organizations including 18 years with Episcopal Relief & Development. He lives in Roslyn, Washington in the Diocese of Spokane and is a member of the Church of the Resurrection.
“Brian Sellers Peterson has done more to teach me about our call as stewards of land, environment, and nature than any single person I have known,” said the Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, “He has the knowledge, but more than that, the passion for this connection. Through that passion and skill, he has helped transform our culture here in Olympia, with gardens, bees, connection, and advocacy. We need a lot of good news right now, and Good News Gardens is just that, with some amazing practical implications for our Church and our world.”
To join Good News Gardens, view last season’s workshops, or to find out more information, visit: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/good-news-gardens/.
Questions about the program? Email Good News Gardens or call Greer at 212-716-6219.
-Information from press release sent by The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs
Episcopal Church Toolkit for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations has put together a toolkit for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This toolkit is designed as a compilation of ideas and educational resources to help your local Episcopal Church work with the government to help end this pandemic. Churches and church leaders (lay and ordained) can serve as important trusted bridges between public health officials and congregations.
The following information is provided:
Background
10 Actions to Help Everyone Get Vaccinated
Government COVID-19 and Vaccine Rollout Plan
Vaccine Hesitancy
Additional Resources
Sample Message to Your Congregation or Ministry
State-by-state COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Information
Absalom Jones 2021
The Feast of Absalom Jones
In the video below, Bishop Doug Sparks remembers the life, witness, and ministry of Absalom Jones, the first Black priest in The Episcopal Church. You can read more about Absalom Jones in the 2018 edition of Lesser Feasts and Fasts.
Service of Morning Prayer to Commemorate the Feast of Absalom Jones
Saturday, February 13, 2021
11/10 a.m. (EST/CST)
Christ Church Cathedral (Indianapolis) will host the annual Service of Morning Prayer to commemorate the Feast of Absalom Jones. The service will be broadcast on the YouTube-Live Channel ,the Cathedral Facebook page and website. Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows will preside, and Bishop Deon Johnson of the Diocese of Missouri will preach.
The Episcopal Church’s annual Feast of Absalom Jones commemorates a man who was born into slavery in 1746 in Delaware and worked for eight years to buy his wife’s freedom so that their children would be free. His master refused to allow him to purchase his own freedom, but in 1784 granted him a manumission. A gifted lay preacher, Jones led the founding of the Free African Society, a mutual aid benevolent organization in Philadelphia that became the first black Episcopal church in the United States. He was also a lay leader at a white-led church in Philadelphia until the church’s leaders forced segregation during worship. He was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1804.
Episcopal eNews for February 2021
in Enews
Letter from Bishop Doug - COVID 19 Vaccine
in COVID-19
Dear Sisters, Brothers, Siblings,
Grace and peace be with you in Jesus, the Light for all people!
I am writing to encourage every person in our diocese who is able to receive the COVID 19 Vaccine...to consider getting vaccinated. I'm confident in the research that developed the vaccines and grateful to God for the scientists along with the thousands of people who offered themselves for the clinical trials these last many months...so that we, members of the human family in this nation and throughout the world, could receive a life-saving vaccine. I know there may be some who may be concerned about taking the vaccine. If you are, I encourage you to talk with your healthcare provider, share your concerns so that they can be addressed by medical professionals you trust. I often invoke the Anglican principle...All may, None must and Some should...in addressing questions and important decisions in our common life. I am encouraging you to consider this principle at this crucial time in our common life as well. Glory to God whose power working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus, forever and ever. Amen! This comes with a brother's love.
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks
VIII Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana
Episcopal Public Policy Network Action Alert: Support Statehood for D.C.
in EPPN
The United States, an international beacon of freedom and democracy, is the only democracy in the world that does not allow voting representation for its capital city in the national legislature. In a representative democracy, we see our Christian values of respecting the dignity of every human being reflected. One way we can honor the dignity of all is to grant equal rights, including the right to vote.
The District of Columbia, our nation’s capital, is home to more than 700,000 residents, a population greater than Vermont and Wyoming. According to data from the Census Bureau, nearly half the population of the District of Columbia is Black or African American followed by non-Hispanic White (37.5%), Hispanic or Latino (11.3%), and Asian (4.5%), making the district one of only a handful of majority-minority jurisdictions in America. D.C. residents have fought and died in every war since the founding of the republic, and more than 26,000 veterans reside in the federal district today.
The Episcopal Church’s 77th General Convention expressed support for the rights of D.C. residents in the strongest terms. The Episcopal Church views D.C. representation as a matter of justice. The U.S. government taxes D.C. residents without providing them with voting representation in Congress. Statehood is the only way this injustice can be remedied.
That is why The Episcopal Church strongly supports H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, sponsored by D.C.’s Congresswoman, the Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton. H.R. 51 would admit D.C. to the union as the 51st state, while carving out the immediate area around the White House, the National Mall, and the Capitol complex as “the Capital” to preserve the most immediately relevant areas of D.C. for federal government purposes.
By passing H.R. 51 Congress can right a longstanding constitutional wrong, address a lingering racial injustice (given D.C.’s majority-minority demographics), and further our founding mandate to build a more perfect union. We urge you to contact your representative and senators and urge them to support H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act.
In Case You Missed It
Statement on President Biden’s Day One Actions
Upcoming Events
Democracy and Faith Under Siege: Responding to Christian Nationalism w/ Presiding Bishop Curry
Wed., Jan. 27, 4:30pm EST - Register here
Congress Weekly: EPPN Network Call
Thurs., Jan. 28, 1:00-1:30pm EST - Register here
Bishops Urge People to Stay Away from Inauguration Protests
January 13, 2021
Dear People of God:
Earlier this week, the FBI warned that armed protests are being planned for Washington D.C. and all 50 state capitals sometime between Saturday, January 16, and the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20. As your bishops, we write today imploring you to stay away from these protests and any counter-protests that might occur.
In these perilous times, when public demonstrations carry significant risk of both violence and exposure to COVID-19, we believe that God calls us to exercise both our Christian witness and our civic responsibility in ways that promote peace and safety. Between now and Inauguration Day, we can best follow our vocation to be peacemakers by staying away from places where harm could come to God’s people.
Staying home does not, however, mean staying silent. We hope that all people of goodwill will join us in raising our voices to support our country’s democracy, letting our elected officials know that we are praying for them, particularly in the aftermath of last week’s siege of the U.S. Capitol. Whether you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an independent, please let your elected officials know that you cherish our representative democracy and our pursuit of a more perfect union, and that you expect that those who are found responsible for last week’s violence to be held accountable. The Episcopal Church has a robust witness in Washington D.C., and the Episcopal Public Policy Network provides all of us with opportunities to advocate for peace, justice and the dignity of every human being. You can join the network online.
Most of all, in the coming days, we ask you to pray. This collect from the Book of Common Prayer holds particular meaning as we seek to face the days ahead with courage, wisdom, and grace:
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana
The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
The Rt. Rev. Matt Gunter
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac
The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
The Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
The Rt. Rev. Shannon MacVean-Brown
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Vermont
The Rt. Rev. Kevin D. Nichols
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
The Rt. Rev. William D. Persell
Assisting Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
The Rt. Rev. Ken Price
Bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio
The Rt. Rev. Rayford Ray
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe
Bishop, Episcopal Dioceses of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania
The Rt. Rev. Arthur B. Williams, Jr.
Assisting Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
Presiding Bishop Curry’s Word to the Church: Who shall we be?
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has issued the following Word to the Church.
A transcript of the statement follows:
And now in the name of our loving, liberating, and life-giving God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
In another time of national crisis, another time of danger for our nation, in 1865 on March the fourth, Abraham Lincoln concluded his second inaugural address with these words:
With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.
Lincoln knew in that moment, in the moment of a national crisis, a moment of great danger, that such a moment was a moment of decision, when a nation, when a people must decide who shall we be? What kind of nation, what kind of people shall we be? A hundred years later, Martin Luther King faced the same reality. Who shall we be? The civil rights movement was waning. The great victories that had been won had been won. And yet now questions of poverty and economic despair and disparities raised an awesome specter on the nation. We were at war.
We were at war in another country, but there was war on our streets. The nation was deeply divided. Cities burned. There were riots. Riots at national conventions of political parties. The future of the nation was in question, and it was at that time that Dr. King realized that in moments of danger, a decision must be made. And he titled his last book, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community. I believe as he believed, as Abraham Lincoln believed, as I believe you believe, that we must choose community. Chaos is not an option. Community is our only hope.
The truth is Dr. King spoke often of all that he did and labored for was for the purpose of realizing as much of the Beloved Community of God as it is possible on this earth. He spoke of Beloved Community, the Bible, the New Testament, Jesus spoke of the kingdom or the reign of God. Jesus taught us to pray, and to work, and to labor for that Beloved Community, that reign of God's love in our time and in our world, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth just as it is in heaven. Those are our marching orders from Jesus himself.
I am a follower of Jesus of Nazareth because I believe that his way of love and his way of life is the way of life for us all. I believe that unselfish, sacrificial love, love that seeks the good and the welfare and the well-being of others, as well as the self, that this is the way that can lead us and guide us to do what is just, to do what is right, to do what is merciful. It is the way that can lead us beyond the chaos to community.
Now, I know full well that this may to some sound naive, to others, idealistic, and I understand that. And yet, I want to submit that the way of love that leads to beloved community is the only way of hope for humanity. Consider the alternative. The alternative is chaos, not community. The alternative is the abyss of anarchy, of chaos, of hatred, of bigotry, of violence, and that alternative is unthinkable. We have seen nightmarish visions of that alternative. We saw it in Charlottesville just a few years ago when neo-Nazis marched through the streets of an American city, chanting, "Jews will not replace us." That alternative is unthinkable. We saw it in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where a public safety officer knelt with his knee on the neck of another human being. A child of God, just like he was, and snuffed out the breath of life that God gave him. The alternative is unthinkable.
And we have seen it this past Wednesday, when a monument to democracy, the Capitol of the United States of America was desecrated and violated with violence by vandals. Lives were lost. A nation was wounded. Democracy itself was threatened. My brothers and sisters, this way of love that Jesus taught us when he said, "Love the Lord your God, and your neighbor as yourself." This way of love that Moses taught even before Jesus. This way of unselfish, sacrificial love, it is the way to redeem a nation, to save a world. It is the way of hope for us all. But do not make the mistake of thinking that I speak of a sentimental and emotional love.
Jesus spoke of love most consistently the closer he got to the cross. This way of love is the way of sacrifice, the way of unselfishness, the way of selflessness, that seeks the good of the other as well as the self. And that is the way of the cross, which is the way of life. And if you don't believe me, ask another apostle of love. Not Dr. King, not Abraham Lincoln, ask Archbishop Tutu. Ask one who has given his life for the cause of God's love in the way of Jesus. Ask him; ask Nelson Mandela in your mind. Ask them what love looks like. They knew that the way of love was the only way that could guide South Africa from what could have become a bloody nightmare and civil war to the way that could build a nation.
And it was not sentimental. Remember truth and reconciliation. They had to face painful truths. They had to do what was just and what was merciful. They had to do what the prophet Micah said, that the motivation and the guide was love. Archbishop Tutu said this:
Love, forgiving, and being reconciled to our enemies or our loved ones is not about pretending that things are other than they are. It is not about patting one another on the back or turning a blind eye to the wrong. True reconciliation exposes the awfulness of the abuse, the hurt, the truth. It could even sometimes make things worse for a while. It is a risky undertaking but in the end it is worthwhile, because in the end only an honest confrontation with reality can bring forth real healing. Superficial reconciliation only brings superficial healing.
This is the way of love that can heal our hurts, that can heal our land, that can help us to become one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. So, I would ask you to do two things. I'm asking you to make a commitment, a renewed commitment, to live the way of love as Jesus has taught us and to do it by making a commitment to go out and bless somebody. Bless somebody you disagree with. Bless somebody you agree with. But to go out and bless somebody by helping somebody along the way. Go out and bless somebody by listening to their story and their life. To go out and be an instrument of God's peace, an agent of God's love.
And then I would ask you to pray. Pray for this nation but pray with some specificity. Pray that we may have the wisdom and the courage to love.
God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy pow’r.
Crown thine ancient church’s story,
bring her bud to glorious flow’r.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour
- Harry Emerson Fosdick, God of Grace and God of Glory
With malice toward none, with charity toward all. With firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right. Let us strive to finish the work, the work that we are in. To bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan. To do all which may achieve and cherish, a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
God love you. God bless you. And may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.
A Reflection on Events at our Nation's Capital
In the video below, Bishop Doug shares a short reflection on the events today at the United States Capital.
Presiding Bishop Curry - Call to Prayer for the Nation 1/6/21
Today is January the 6th, 2021. It is the Feast of the Epiphany. And on this particular day at this particular moment, even as our nation’s capital is being endangered and assaulted, we pray that the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that God, in his Way of Love, might prevail in all of our hearts.
The events at our Capitol today are deeply disturbing. We believe the actions of armed protesters represent a coup attempt. We are a democracy, with long-standing institutional norms that must be honored, foremost among them, following the processes laid out in the Constitution and Federal statute to facilitate the peaceful and orderly transition of power.
Today’s protesters pushed through police barricades and forced their way into Congressional chambers, and the Capitol building are now threatened, and threatening the safety of lawmakers, their staff, and others who work in the Capitol complex. This threatens the integrity of our democracy. The national security of our nation, the continuity of government, and the lives and safety of our legislators, their staffs, law enforcement, and all who work in the Capitol.
I therefore ask you now to join me in prayer for our nation, praying first from the prayers that accompany Morning Prayer:
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
Govern and uphold us now and always.
Day by day we bless you;
We praise your name forever.
Lord, keep us from sin today;
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy;
For we put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope;
And we shall never hope in vain.
- Morning Prayer II, Book of Common Prayer, p. 98
Let us pray:
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered together under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one God and Creator of us all; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever.
- For Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815
Oh God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your son. Look now with compassion on the entire human family; and particularly this part of the family, in the United States, and those in our nation’s capital; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- For the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815
On this day and at this moment, we pray for our nation. We ask God to heal us, to show us the way to healing, to show us the way to be one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.
And now, may the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The blessing of God Almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be on you and on this nation and on the entire human family and all of creation this moment and forevermore.
Amen.
Episcopal eNews for January 2021
in Enews
OGR Priorities for the New Congress and Administration
in EPPN
On Sunday, members of the 117th Congress were sworn in. This new Congress is the most diverse in U.S history in terms of race and ethnicity, including having a record number of Blackand Indigenous women in Congress. There are more women in Congress than at any other time in history, as well as record numbers of the LGBTQ community.
Members of Congress have their work cut out for them in the coming months. While Congress passed the appropriations and stimulus bill at the end of the year (which the President thankfully signed), many of the benefits in the stimulus bill expire in March. Congress will need to address a dizzying array of domestic concerns and international crises. And members across the political spectrum will want to take action on the promises they campaigned on, ranging from addressing racial injustice and enacting police reform to ending corruption and bringing back jobs.
A new Congress and new Administration presents The Episcopal Church with the opportunity to highlight our values and to speak up for the way we think our country should be governed. The first 100 days of the presidency do matter (see an article from FiveThirtyEight here and the work of political scientist Casey Byrne Knudsen Dominguez here), and the new Administration has an ambitious agenda. We are hopeful that our government will be able to rise to the challenge and enact meaningful legislation that helps all Americans. We will continue to engage on areas where the Church has spoken, including:
Creation Care: The Episcopal Church supports policies that protect the natural resources that sustain all life on Earth. In recognition that loving God and our neighbor includes caring for God’s creation and the environment where our neighbor lives, OGR advocates for policies that protect the natural world and that promote a healthy, clean, and safe environment for all. Our advocacy includes greenhouse gas emission reduction, a just transition away from fossil fuel energy, and safeguards to protect clean water and clean air.
Racial Reconciliation: OGR challenges long-established policies that perpetuate systemic racism and injustice and strives to change legislation that continues to harm Black and Indigenous communities and other communities of color. The Episcopal Church aims to bring a perspective of transformation to public policy to heal communities that have been the most marginalized and discriminated against.
Ending Poverty: OGR advocates for policies that will eliminate poverty and help people live with dignity, both in the U.S. and internationally. OGR advocates for federal programs that provide development assistance and humanitarian relief, including education and healthcare initiatives, as well as support for social safety net programs, care for veterans, and other U.S.-focused anti-poverty initiatives.
Immigration and Refugees: We advocate for comprehensive immigration reform through policies that respect the dignity and worth of every human being. OGR works to protect the human rights and safety of refugees by supporting the refugee resettlement work of Episcopal Migration Ministries and advocating for robust refugee resettlement policies.
Human Rights and Peacebuilding: The Church supports legislation and policies that protect human rights and prevent atrocities, promote gender justice, and build peace. OGR partners with non-U.S. Episcopal dioceses and provinces throughout the Anglican Communion to work towards justice.
We will also push for an ambitious response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including accelerating vaccination for the most vulnerable and helping to encourage the general public to take the vaccine following guidance from public health experts. We thank you for your commitment to public policy advocacy and look forward to our partnership in the year ahead!
With best wishes in this Christmastide and New Year,
The Office of Government Relations (OGR)
-shared from https://episcopalchurch.org/posts/ogr/ogr-priorities-new-congress-and-administration
A Financial Update from the Diocesan Council
Watch the video below as Bishop Doug provides an update from Diocesan Council regarding Diocesan Assessment Relief for January 2021 and 2021 cost of living increases for clergy.
Honduras Hurricane Relief Update
The Diocese of Northern Indiana has sent off to the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras, as of last Monday, December, $9750! Thanks to all who have contributed and we are still accepting money for this special need. Here are the words of Bishop Allen, sent December 16:
Dear Bp. Sparks and John,
Greetings and peace to you both and the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Northern Indiana.
First of all, allow me to express my gratitude and appreciation for assisting us during this time of great need after the devastation of repeat hurricanes ETA and IOTA, SPECIALLY IN THE SULA VALLEY.
We are still providing clothing, food, mattresses and biosecurity and cleaning materials thanks to your support and that ER-D and other friends. We are making a difference and supporting the families who after a month have not seen or heard from the government. Therefore, churches and NGO's have taken responsibility and are doing the best we can. This weekend we will gather enough relief to take to 65 families northwest of San Pedro Sula.
The international community are beginning to come to our rescue; we are in this for a long time.
As of yesterday I spoke to Randy Smith [John’s note: he is head of the Honduras Development Network—through which our funds arrive in Honduras for the relief effort] for a report on how much contribution we have received so far. We need to repair our Retreat and Convention Center and a few homes AFFECTED BY THE STORMS.
Once again, on behalf of the clergy and laity of the diocese, MUCHAS GRACIAS POR SU AYUDA.
[John again: you can send your contribution to the Diocese of Northern Indiana, 117 North LaFayette Blvd, South Bend, IN 46601. Mark your check for Honduran Relief. Thanks!]
Submitted by: The Rev. John Schramm on behalf of Compañeros en Cristo