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July 23, 2020   |    View this email in your browser
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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE DIOCESES OF EASTERN & WESTERN MICHIGAN
Ministry in the midst of COVID  -  
Bishop Bonnie Perry (Michigan) ordains the Rev. Thomas Manney to the priesthood in a service that included universal use of masks and distancing while following the canons required to make a priest. 
Submit a photo of ministry in the midst of the pandemic - kforsyth@eastmich.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Weekly - Prayer and worship on the Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan Facebook pages. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot. 
  • July 24 & 26 - Pattern Days at Plainsong Farm, appointments available 9:30-6:30pm. 
  • September 26 - Diocesan Confirmation at Emmanuel, Petoskey. *This is a date change. New information will be sent soon.* Register candidates.
  • September 26 - Diocesan Confirmation at St. Paul's, Flint. Register candidates.
  • October 31  -  Save the Date: Joint Diocesan Convention.
  • November 14 - Diocesan Confirmation in Grand Rapids - location TBD. Register candidates.
EASTMICH CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE PAGE
EDWM CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE PAGE

IN THE NEWS

Sentinel Standard - Family Promise slated to reopen in September
"Members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Coldwater have been instrumental in bringing back Family Promise to help meet the local problem of homelessness. Those gathered at Thursday’s meeting were primarily from St. Mark’s supporting Huffman who has been contacting all the local churches to reopen the Branch County service..."

NEWS & UPDATES

Nine are Ordained in Eastern & Western Michigan in Special Services Following COVID Precautions

Celebrating nine new priests and deacons in the dioceses

Over the last two weekends, five people were ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons and four to the Sacred Order of Priests over the course of six services and with the help of two neighboring bishops. 

On Saturday, July 11th, in a service at St. Luke's, Kalamazoo, the Rt. Rev. Douglas Sparks, Bishop of Northern Indiana, ordained Micheal Hueschen, Elizabeth Kinsey, and Wendy Pearson, all graduates of the Academy for Vocational Leadership - the tai-diocesan collaborative program for local formation that utilizes curriculum from the Seminary of the Southwest. Click here to view a photo album from the event. 

The next day, at a service held at Grace, Holland, Bishop Sparks ordained Radha Kaminski, graduate of the Seminary of the Southwest, and Eileen Stoffan, graduate of Bexley-Seabury. Click here to view a photo album from the event. 

The following weekend, in a series of four individual ordinations, the Rt. Rev. Bonnie Perry, Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan, ordained four new priests: Wendy Brown, Thomas Manney, Harold Schneider, and Paul Brunell, all graduates of the Academy for Vocational Leadership. Click here to view a photo album from the event. 

In light of the pandemic and following the current Phase II guidelines from the four dioceses of Michigan, each service included meticulous preparation, including strict cleaning, distancing, use of masks, availability of sanitizer, and limited capacity. To include participants who couldn't attend in person, each service was live-streamed on their respective diocesan Facebook page. 

Please join us in celebrating the newly ordained and in prayer for their continued ministry. 

(Photo: Bishop Sparks ordains the Rev. Radha Kaminski to the diaconate.)

Featured Good News Garden - 

St. Augustine's, Benton Harbor

St. Augustine's, Benton Harbor has been in the community garden business for ten years and signed on this year to join the cohort of Good News Gardens in Eastern and Western Michigan. 

All produce grown in their 700 square feet of raised beds are distributed via their biweekly food pantry. Kids from the church also sell some of the produce to parish members to raise funds for their Tiny House Project (read about this project in the latest issue of our diocesan magazine).

Sarah Woodcocks serves as garden coordinator. She reflects on their experience of joining the Good News Gardens network, "We're not on our own anymore out here! We're part of a group and it's nice having the support - knowing that there's help out there. We're also more intentional, praying before every work session."

Photo: Blessing the Garden with pantry volunteers in May, the Good News Garden 

Pray with Eastern & Western Michigan

We gather for prayer on Facebook Live to pray and offer thanksgiving. In Phase II of Re-Entry, each service will be offered once per week.
  • Sundays at 10:30 - Morning Prayer
  • Thursdays at 4pm - Healing Prayer with our Virtual Prayer List
  • Fridays at 8pm - Compline 

TRANSITIONS

CALLS

The Rev. Wendy Brown has accepted a call to serve as Priest-in-Charge of St. John’s, Charlotte. Her ministry with the congregation has already begun. 

The Rev. Paul Brunell has accepted a call to serve as Priest-in-Charge of Christ Church, Owosso. His ministry with the congregation has already begun. 

The Rev. Peter Homeyer has accepted a call to serve as Rector of Christ Church, Dayton in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. His ministry with Holy Trinity, Wyoming will conclude on August 16.

The Rev. Thomas Manney has accepted a call to serve as Priest-in-Charge of St. Paul’s, Bad Axe and St. John’s, Dryden. His ministry with the congregations has already begun.

The Rev. Harold Schneider has accepted a call to join the ministry team as Priest with St. John’s, Otter Lake. His ministry with the congregation has already begun. 

OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES

Exploring Your Spiritual Journey (EYSJ) Online

Hosted by The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan


Exploring Your Spiritual Journey (EYSJ) provides intentional time to slow down and listen to what God is calling you to do in the midst of every-day living.

For the 2020-2021 Season, the program is going all online. Watch a short video about EYSJ here. Anyone can apply – particularly lay people – who seek to understand God’s work in their life. If you feel there is more to life than day-to-day living, then EYSJ may help you discern how God is calling you to live.

Click here for more information and to apply by August 7, 2020.  For more info, contact Vicki Hesse at vhesse@edomi.org.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

LOAN & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

PARISH EVENTS

FEATURED PARISH EVENTS:

Pray and Learn Online with
Eastern & Western Michigan


Congregations across the two dioceses are offering opportunities for worship and formation online on a weekly basis.

An on-going list of these opportunities is available here. Please join any of the listed offerings. Add any missing opportunities being offered by your home parish. 

CONGREGATIONAL CALENDAR

  • July 29 - Interfaith Action of SW Michigan hosts the online event, Migration Series Session 2: A Theme in the Holy Writings and Histories of Multiple Faith Traditions at 6pm. More info. 
  • August 15 - The Order of Naucratius hosts the 2020 Big Lake Charity Fishing Tournament in Holland. $50/boat.
  • October 14-17 - Icon Retreat with Peter Pearson at St. John's, Mt. Pleasant. Call 989-773-7448 to register.
  • Weekly - Free Spanish language classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at San Juan/St. John's, Grand Haven from 6-7pm for people at all fluency levels. Email to RSVP.

The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan

www.eastmich.org

877-752-6020

 


The Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan

www.edwm.org

616-319-2006


 
Copyright © 2020 The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan, All rights reserved.


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