|
Ministry in the midst of COVID -
To-go lunches are available every Tuesday outside of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Flint, made by Flint Fresh Food Hub.
Submit a photo of ministry in the midst of the pandemic - kforsyth@eastmich.org.
|
|
- Weekly - Bishop Hougland leads Morning Prayer on Facebook Live each Sunday at 10:30am. Streams will be shared on the Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan Facebook pages.
- Weekly - Compline on Facebook Live each Wednesday and Friday at 8pm. Streams will be shared on the Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan Facebook pages.
- Summer - EDWM Episcopal Youth Camp. Learn more.
- September 19 - Diocesan Confirmation at Emmanuel, Petoskey. Register candidates.
- September 26 - Diocesan Confirmation at St. Paul's, Flint. Register candidates.
- October 30-31 - Save the Date: Joint Diocesan Convention in Lansing, with special guest, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
- November 14 - Diocesan Confirmation in Grand Rapids - location TBD. Register candidates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Failing Dams Cause Devastating Flooding in Midland
Midland and its surrounding areas address needs post-Flood
 Early last week, several privately owned dams in Midland and it's surrounding areas failed or came near to failing, causing devastating flooding in the region - what some are calling a "500 year flood."
As flood waters have receded and basements and homes are being treated, we are learning more about what kind of long-term response will be needed. We understand this: many people have lost some or all of their belongings, some homes will be inhabitable for up to a year or more, and there will be limited relief from insurance companies, because much of the affected area did not qualify for flood coverage.
The Diocese of Eastern Michigan set up a fund to collect donations for the Episcopal response to the flood. Over the course of the last week, we've raised over $7,000 to be administered in conjunction with our two congregations in Midland - Holy Family and St. John's. If you are able, please consider donating to Midland Flooding Relief and please continue to pray for our friends in Midland, for the communities and the people who serve them.
Canon Katie Forsyth serves as our diocesan ERD Disaster Response coordinator. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact her at kforsyth@eastmich.org.
(Photo: Midland under water, Kaytie Boomer, MLive.)
|
|
Pray with Eastern & Western Michigan
We gather for prayer on Facebook Live several times throughout the week to pray and offer thanksgiving.
- Sundays at 10:30 - Morning Prayer with Bishop Hougland
- Mondays and Thursdays at 4pm - Healing Prayer with our Virtual Prayer List.
- Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm - Compline
|
|
|
Good News Gardens Cohort to begin Planting Season
Seeds begin to be planted to grow food for our communities
The seventeen participating congregations in the pilot cohort of the Good News Gardens network received their seedlings this week to kick off their growing season.
While Kent County participating parishes picked up their packs at the farm, others were delivered to regional locations on Tuesday and Wednesday by Katie Forsyth, Canon for Evangelism and Networking, while following distancing and no-contact guidelines. Click here for a photo album including our garden drop-offs.
Additionally, Plainsong Farm Executive Director and Holy Spirit, Belmont Rector, the Rev. Nurya Love Parish, along with Episcopal Church Staff Officer for Evangelism, Jerusalem Greer, joined the Society for the Increase of Ministry to talk Good News Gardens and the growing effort across the church in a webinar on Tuesday. Click here to watch the recording.
The Good News Gardens program is a partnership between the two dioceses and Plainsong Farm, which offers local and national programming around food, faith, and discipleship. Click here to learn more.
|
|
|
Update The Episcopal Asset Map!
The Episcopal Asset Map is many things - a directory, a disaster response platform, and a networking tool. In our two dioceses, we use the program as our "Find a Church" page on the diocesan websites.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, you are reminded to update your congregational page with information about virtual worship, any ongoing response, and your stories of ministry. Your updates feed into the overall map and database used by our dioceses and by the wider Episcopal Church.
Click one of the following links to access our diocesan maps, find your page, and "Update this Place!" - Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. All changes are approved by a map administrator.
|
|
CALLS & TRANSITIONS
The Rev. Dr. Jay Emerson Johnson has accepted a call to serve as Rector of All Saints, Saugatuck, beginning June 1. He comes to Western Michigan from the Diocese of California, where he served as Professor of Theology at the Pacific School of Religion and as Associate Priest of Church of the Good Shepherd, Berkeley.
The Rev. Tyler Richards has accepted a call to serve as Rector of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in De Pere, Wisconsin in the Diocese of Fond du Lac, concluding his ministry with Transfiguration, Indian River on June 28. Tyler also served on Eastern Michigan's board of Trustees and Commission on Ministry.
The Rev. Nancy Steele has announced her retirement. She will conclude her ministry with St. John's, Dryden on May 31.
Willa Williams has resigned from her position as the Diocesan Office Administrator in Western Michigan to concentrate on finishing school as a full-time student. Her last day was May 18th.
|
|
OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
|
|
A Time to Mourn: Remembering Lives Lost to COVID-19
Join in prayer this weekend with Ecumenical and Interfaith Partners
The Episcopal Church encourages Episcopalians to join in prayer this weekend as we remember the lives we've lost due to COVID-19.
WORSHIP -
The National Council of Churches USA (NCC) will hold a public online memorial service on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at 6pm to mourn the more than 300,000 people worldwide who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100,000 of whom were in the United States. The NCC is comprised of 38 member communions ranging from mainline Protestant to historic African American and Orthodox churches.
This service, "A Time to Mourn: An Ecumenical Memorial Service for Lives Lost to COVID19", will be broadcast on YouTube and Facebook Live and will include a sermon offered by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
Click here to learn more and add names to the prayer list.
PRAYER -
On the last weekend in May, The Episcopal Church is joining with interfaith partners in remembering all who have lost their lives to COVID-19. All are invited to offer prayers of grief, of lament, of support, for those who have died, for their loved ones and all who grieve, and for the healing for the human family and our world at this time.
Click here to read and watch the invitation from the Presiding Bishop.
|
|
Faith at Home: Summer 2020
Our friends in the Diocese of Northern Michigan have developed a worship packet for faith and formation at home during this season, including prayers for morning and night time, for gardening, for time along water, and more.
Click here to download. |
|
|
Zoom Network Conversations
Gathering together for learning and conversation
We are planning several Zoom conversations for resource sharing and mutual support in various aspects of ministry during this season. If you have a particular topic of interest, please contact Katie Forsyth, Canon for Evangelism and Networking, at kforsyth@eastmich.org.
The following conversations are currently scheduled:
|
|
NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
|
|
LOAN & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
