|
Ministry in the Midst of COVID:
The Rev. Dan Scheid (St. Paul's, Flint) receives a COVID vaccine as part of a partnership between Concerned Pastors for Social Action and the Genesee County Health Department as part of an effort to demonstrate trust and encourage all to receive their vaccinations as soon as they are able.
To contribute a photo of life and work of the church in the midst of COVID-19, please send your submission to kforsyth@eastmich.org.
|
|
WEEKLY
- Mondays - Break Time, Game Time for middle and high schoolers and the adults that minister with them from 7-8pm. Join the Zoom.
- Wednesdays - Bi-diocesan youth group for middle and high schoolers and the adults that minister with them from 6:30-8:30pm including formation, reflection, games, and Compline. Join the Zoom.
- Thursdays - Noon Service of Prayer and Healing on the Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan Facebook pages led by diocesan staff members.
- Fridays - 8pm Compline on the Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan Facebook pages led by leaders across the dioceses.
EVENTS
- Beginning on Feb. 10 - Embracing Evangelism six-part online series. 7pm each Wednesday. Click here to register.
- February 10 - Parish Finance and Administration 101 Workshop will be offered as part of the 2021 Leadership Series at 10am. Click here to register.
- February 13 - Parish Finance and Administration 101 Workshop will be offered as part of the 2021 Leadership Series at 10am. Click here to register.
- February, March, and April: Affinity Group Conversations. Click here to learn more and register.
- Late Spring and Summer: Good News Gardens 2021 Cohort. Stay tuned!
- August 7 - The Order of Naucratius will host the 2021 Nacratius Charity Big Lake Tournament in Holland. Click here for more info.
|
|
|
|
|
|
9&10 News - Women's March TC Cancels Annual March, Replaces with Donation Drive
"She says they reached out to the Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City... (Rector) James Perra, says he’s blown away by the amount of community participation."
Holland Sentinel - Holland honors change makers with Social Justice Awards
"The Human Relations Commission recognized... Out on the Lakeshore board chair the Rev. Jennifer Adams (Grace, Holland) ...as the recipients of the government and community relations category for their work toward the city’s council’s passage of a non-discrimination ordinance in August.
|
|
Welcome, Bishop Adams!
Bishop Skip Adams called to serve as Consultant, later Assisting Bishop
|
|
 The joint Standing Committees announced on Monday that, with the help of a bi-diocesan interview team, they have called the Rt. Rev. Gladstone (Skip) Adams to serve as consultant, and later Assisting Bishop, for the two dioceses, effective immediately.
Bishop Adams will serve first as a consultant to the Standing Committees, pending completion of an extensive background check. Once that is completed, he will transition to the Assisting Bishop role, which will include greater interaction with the dioceses at-large. The conclusion of his time with us is not yet known - this will be influenced by the decision making around Bishop Hougland's suspension later this Spring and early Summer.
The role of "Assisting Bishop" is one employed in many dioceses for many reasons. In all circumstances, an Assisting Bishop serves at the pleasure of the Ecclesiastical Authority and conducts duties as assigned. While the role is common church-wide, it did not yet exist within our diocesan canons and required a vote of the diocesan convention, which took place during our joint online convention last fall.
Read the announcement for more about Bishop Skip and the distinction between "consultant" and "Assisting Bishop".
Photo: Bishop Skip celebrates the Eucharist during a special farewell service for the Diocese of Central New York in 2016. |
|
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.
- Thursdays at Noon - Healing Prayer with our Virtual Prayer List
- Fridays at 8pm - Compline
|
|
|
All Saints, Saugatuck Commemorates Black History Month with a focus on HBCUs
Raising funds for student scholarships while learning about our history
|
|
 All Saints Episcopal Church in Saugatuck have committed to recognizing Black History Month in a special way this year - by educating and raising funds for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Each day, on their Facebook page, the church will post a profile of an historically significant alum of an HBCU with a call-to-action raising funds to support scholarships provided through The HBCU Foundation. Their goal is to raise $5,000 by March 1.
In their introductory post, the church says, "As Episcopalians, our Baptismal Covenant reminds us to strive for justice among all people and to respect the dignity of every human being; such striving and respect are deeply intertwined in multiple and complex ways with the history of Black Americans. Here at All Saints' in Saugatuck, for these and other reasons, we are setting aside time this month to learn about Black American history and also to commit anew to building a society of racial justice."
Photo: Activist and writer Ida B. Wells, the first alumna to be featured in All Saints', Saugatuck's Black History Month initiative. |
|
A Special Prayer for Black History Month
God of all humanity,
You call us to bring about healing and wholeness for the whole world,
For women and men of all races and cultures and creeds.
Help us to respond to a world that is groaning under the weight of injustice and broken relationships.
Remind us that differences are a gift,
And interdependence a strength from the same creative God.
Strengthen us to resist the forces that encourage polarization and competition rather than understanding and cooperation.
Teach us forgiveness. O God.
Bring us reconciliation.
Give us hope for the future.
We pray in Jesus’ love. Amen.
(Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Anti-racism Training Manual of the Episcopal Church, 2011)
|
|
|
TRANSITIONS
The Rev. David Pike announced plans to retire, concluding his ministry with St. David's, Lansing, effective May 31, 2021.
|
|
OPEN POSITIONS
St. James, Albion seeks a quarter-time priest. View the profile.
Transfiguration, Indian River seeks a full-time Rector. View the profile.
Epiphany, South Haven seeks a full-time Rector. View the profile.
|
|
OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
|
|
Sharing Stories of Baptismal Living with Byron Rushing
Pathways for Baptismal Living at Bexley Seabury Seminary
Politician. Public Historian. Community Organizer. Christian. These are some of the titles former Massachusetts State Rep. Byron Rushing can claim. They also highlight some of the stories that we will hear as we explore how he has integrated his faith and work throughout his life.
Join us Sunday, February 14 at 6:30 pm ET, for this free, live,web-based conversation. Program hosts Julie Lytle and Melissa Rau will facilitate our story sharing with Byron and online participants. We will highlight the connections Byron makes between his faith and his work in the hope that we each will be inspired to see how the Baptismal Covenant's invitation to "proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ" can be lived.
Provided by Pathways for Baptismal Living at Bexley Seabury, Sharing Stories of Baptismal Living is designed to offer inspiration and support to all who seek to live lives reflective of their baptismal promises.
Click here to register.
|
|
Lombard Mennonite Center Winter Workshops
Trainings for lay and clergy around conflict resolution
The Lombard Mennonite Center will offer several of their most popular workshops this winter, inluding:
- Conflict Transformation Skills (Feb. 13)
- Healthy Congregations (Feb. 18)
- Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders (March 1-5)
- Leadership and Anxiety in the Church (March 10)
Beneficial for clergy and laypersons alike, these training events help participants deal more effectively with unresolved conflict that threatens the fellowship and mission of their church. A significant discount is available for groups of four or more (excluding the 5-day Mediation Skills Training Institute).
Click here for more information and to register. You may also contact the office of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center at Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org or 630-627-0507.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
CONGREGATIONAL CALENDAR
- March 22 - Versiti Blood Drive at Trinity, Three Rivers.
- Weekly - Book study on The Prince of Darkness: Radical Evil and the Power of Good in History by Jeffrey Burton Russell with St. John's, Grand Haven. Click here for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
