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Hello <<First Name>>,
In the midst of a culture of fear and division, we are about to enter into Lent: a season of reflection and waiting - a taking stock of how our relationship with God impacts the love we share with others. Our message, our evangelism, is strengthened when we take seriously our duties to the study of scripture and life of prayer.
As we enter into Lent, you are invited to take on the practice of praying Compline, both individually and with the wider community, using Facebook Live.
Starting Ash Wednesday, and concluding Good Friday, our diocesan Facebook pages (Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan) will host an online Compline Service each Wednesday and Friday at 8pm. Each service will be facilitated by a leader from either diocese using readings and meditations from the Way of Love lenten calendar. To join, simply visit either page and join the service. Share your prayers and "amens!" using the comments of the video.
Bishop Hougland will kick off our online gatherings at 8pm on Ash Wednesday.
And please pray on your own throughout the week, using Compline or whatever service or meditation brings you comfort. I encourage you to use the Way of Love lenten calendar to track your readings and reflections along the way.
Peace,
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Katie Forsyth
Canon for Evangelism & Networking
The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern & Western Michigan
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- February 7-9 - The Gathering - a youth event for high schoolers in Kalamazoo hosted by the ELCA. Learn more and register.
- February 14 - Celebration and Building Consecration at Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids at 6pm. View the invite.
- February 22 - Southern Leadership Day Workshops in Kalamazoo. Register.
- February 28-March 1 - The Provincial Youth Leadership Event at Bellwether Farm in Ohio. Apply.
- March 1 - Parochial Reports are due.
- March 7 - Central Leadership Day Workshops in Lansing. Register.
- March 20-22 - CHARGE - a youth event for middle schoolers in Traverse City hosted by the ELCA. Learn more and register.
- March 24 - Ordination of Wendy Brown and Thomas Manney to the Priesthood at St. Paul's, Flint at 6pm. View the invite.
- March 28 - Northern Leadership Day Workshops. Register.
- April 11 - Save the Date: Diocesan Confirmation at Grace, Holland.
- May 2020 - Journeys of Paul Pilgrimage to Greece. Learn more and register.
- Summer - Camp Chickagami youth camp and adult retreats. Learn more and Register.
- Summer - EDWM Episcopal Youth Camp. Learn more.
- June 20-27 - DREAM Mission Project in the Dominican Republic. Apply.
- July 7-11 - Episcopal Youth Event in Washington, DC. Learn more and apply.
- September 19 - Save the Date: Diocesan Confirmation at Emmanuel, Petoskey.
- September 26 - Save the Date: Diocesan Confirmation at St. Paul's, Flint.
- October 30-31 - Save the Date: Joint Diocesan Convention in Lansing, with special guest, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
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Spring 2020 - Leadership Days
Kalamazoo, Lansing, Gaylord
Register Now!
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June 20-27 - Mission in the DR
Mosoví, Dominican Republic
Apply Now!
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Midland Daily News - Local historian to give talk on African American family
"To celebrate the contributions of African Americans to our communities, Midland archivist/historian Tawny Ryan Nelb will share the story of the Aaron and Caroline Highgate family [at St. John's, Midland]."
Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Dear Emery
"On Jan. 10, the rector of my church [Transfiguration, Indian River] and his wife were blessed with the birth of a beautiful baby girl. To me, Becca, Ben and the rest of our congregation, we were blessed with the birth of a beautiful baby girl. This letter is to her."
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ChurchLands Program Kicks Off at Plainsong Farm
The grant-funded initiative gathers leaders from across the Church
 Last week, 21 Episcopalians from 12 states descended upon Plainsong Farm to spend several days digging into how church-owned land might be optimized for God's mission, especially in addressing the work of conservation, climate, racial justice, and food insecurity.
The pilot cohort, through a grant funded by the Episcopal Church's Roanridge Trust, will gather online and in-person to learn together, experiment, and share resources. The program is hosted by Plainsong Farm & Ministry with the Rev. Darriel Harris of Johns Hopkins University and the Rev. Nurya Love Parish of Plainsong Farm as co-founders. Emma Lietz Bilecky, outgoing National Initiatives Coordinator at Plainsong and new fellow at the Farminary at Princeton Seminary, also helped to coordinate and facilitate the event.
To finish out the week, Pastor Harris spoke to a packed room of Episcopalians and community members to share his experience of working at the intersection of race, food, and faith in his home congregation and ministry, Newborn Community of Faith and Strength to Love II Farm, in Baltimore. The special event was hosted by the John M. Burgess Wellness Center at St. Philip's, Grand Rapids.
Click here to learn more about the ChurchLands program and how to join the waitlist for the next iteration.
(Photo: The ChurchLands Pilot Cohort gathers at Plainsong Farm; Pastor Darriel Harris speaks at St. Philip's, Grand Rapids)
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Diocese of Michigan to Consecrate New Bishop
Bonnie Perry to become eleventh bishop of the EDOMI
 The Mitten will gain another bishop this weekend as our neighboring Episcopal Diocese of Michigan (headquartered in Detroit) consecrates their eleventh diocesan bishop, the Rev. Bonnie Perry.
Bishop-Elect Perry, who succeeds the now-retired Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs, is the first woman and first openly gay bishop diocesan to serve any of the four dioceses in Michigan. She comes to our state from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, where she served for many years as Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Chicago.
There are four dioceses in the State of Michigan - Michigan (Bishop-Elect Bonnie Perry), Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan (Bishop Whayne M. Hougland, Jr.), and Northern Michigan (Bishop Rayford Ray).
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TRANSITIONS & CALLS
- The Rev. Christian Baron and the Rev. Jodi Baron will serve as Co-Rectors of Holy Trinity, Manistee, while continuing to serve as Co-Rectors of St. Philip's Beulah.
- The Rev. Don Davidson completed his last Sunday at St. Christopher's, Grand Blanc. He has accepted the position of Interim Rector at Christ Church in Warwick, NY.
- The Rev. David Vickers announced his retirement. His last Sunday with Holy Family, Blue Water will be Easter Day.
OPEN POSITIONS
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OPPORTUNITIES &
RESOURCES
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Fierce Conversations Training
Four Day Workshop at the St. Nicholas Center in Chicago
 Fierce Conversations Training teaches attendees how to have vital conversations that interrogate reality, provoke learning, resolve tough challenges, and enrich relationships.
The Nicholas Center in the Diocese of Chicago will host a Fierce Conversations training, June 7-10. The cost to attend is $800, which includes all meals, single room accommodations, training, and materials. Scholarships are available and space is limited. Click here to register.
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NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
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LOAN & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
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FEATURED PARISH EVENT:
Night Prayer
Did last week leave you spent and tired? Will this week be busy and burdensome?
St. John's, Midland will host Night Prayer - a time to rest and reflect, and be calm and centered, on February 9th at 9pm.
The service will be based off of the St. Mark's, Seattle compline service and features choral singers from Central Michigan University.
Childcare is provided.
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CONGREGATIONAL CALENDAR
- February 8 - Turkey Dinner at St. John's, Otter Lake from 5-6:30pm. Free will offering will benefit local food distribution program.
- February 9 - Robert Schumann is featured in the Going Behind the Notes: Exploring the Great Piano Composers series at St. John's, Midland at 2pm.
- February 9 - Underground Game Night at St. John's, Midland from 5-7pm.
- February 9 - Feast of Absalom Jones at St. Paul's, Flint with guest preacher Dr. Lawrence Reynolds, Flint pediatrician and activist. Lunch to follow.
- February 14 - Valentines Day Dinner at St. Mark's, Newaygo with seatings at 5:30 and 7:15pm. $20/person. Make a reservation by emailing stmarksnewaygo@gmail.com.
- February 15 - Pre-Lenten Quiet Day at St. Paul's, St. Joseph from 9:30-3:30pm. $10/person.
- February 23 - Northern MI Mom's Demand Action (connected with St. Philip's, Beulah) Movie Screening at The Garden Theater in Frankfort at 2pm. RSVP.
- February 23 - Scout Sunday Celebration at St. John's, Midland at 10am followed by informational reception.
- February 25 - St. Paul's, Muskegon's monthly Feeding the Soul of the City Concert is at 12:15pm, featuring the Grand Valley Faculty Brass Quintet.
- February 25 - Shrove Tuesday Dinners
- March 17 - St. Patrick's Corned Beef Dinner from 4-7pm at Grace, Port Huron. $8.50/full plate or $4/half plate. RSVP to 810-985-9539.
- March 22 - Chopin is featured in the Going Behind the Notes: Exploring the Great Piano Composers series at St. John's, Midland at 2pm.
- March 24 - St. Paul's, Muskegon's monthly Feeding the Soul of the City Concert is at 12:15pm, featuring the Grand Rapids Guitar Quartet.
- March 28 - Spring Fling at St. John's, Otter Lake from 10-3pm including lunch in the formal tea room and items for sale.
- April 14 - St. Paul's, Muskegon's monthly Feeding the Soul of the City Concert is at 12:15pm, featuring violinist, Gregory Maytan.
- April 26 - Franz Liszt is featured in the Going Behind the Notes: Exploring the Great Piano Composers series at St. John's, Midland at 2pm.
- May 1 - Claude Debussy is featured in the Going Behind the Notes: Exploring the Great Piano Composers series at St. John's, Midland at 2pm.
- May 26 - St. Paul's, Muskegon's monthly Feeding the Soul of the City Concert is at 12:15pm, featuring woodwind quintet, Quintessence.
- June 9 - St. Paul's, Muskegon's monthly Feeding the Soul of the City Concert is at 12:15pm, featuring mezzo soprano, Denise Newell, and pianist, Caron Farmer.
- 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.
- Monthly - St. John's, Midland hosts potluck Dinner Church from 6-8pm, including Eucharist and themed activities.
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