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March 4, 2021   |    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:  
Dorothy Shinault of St. Paul's, Bad Axe imposes ashes for her granddaughter at home on on Ash Wednesday. 

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.

UPCOMING EVENTS
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. 
     
SPECIAL EVENTS
  • Began on Feb. 10 - Embracing Evangelism six-part online series. 7pm each Wednesday.
  • Began on February 28 - The Northern Region of the Western Michigan is offering confirmation classes. Please email Anne Hallmark to connect, ahallmark@edwm.org.
  • March: Affinity Group Conversations. Click here to learn more and register. (Registration will close soon!)
  • Beginning late Spring: Good News Gardens 2021 Cohort. Stay tuned!
  • May 1 - Province V Synod with guest speaker, the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings. Register.
  • August 7 - The Order of Naucratius will host the 2021 Nacratius Charity Big Lake Tournament in Holland. Click here for more info. 

FEATURED EVENT: Affinity Conversations


All are invited to join a small group for an "Affinity Conversation" - an opportunity to process together the last year of life and ministry in the church, especially in light of our bishop's suspension. These groups will meet at least once over Zoom in March  - some groups have already started scheduling specific dates and registration will soon close as facilitators and dates are solidified. Click here to read the original invite and to register. 
EASTMICH CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE PAGE
EDWM CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE PAGE

IN THE MEDIA
The Lakeshore West Michigan - Creating vaccine equity in Ottawa County
"Immigrant populations may not receive the same information about the vaccine as those whose first language is English. Reliable printed and broadcast news is not as accessible to them, says Reyna Masko of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Grand Haven, which has a robust Latino outreach...'"

NEWS & UPDATES

Bishop Skip Welcomed as Assisting Bishop

With transition protocols complete, Bishop Skip fully enters role
Following their original announcement last month, the Standing Committees have announced that the Rt. Rev. Gladstone (Skip) Adams has formally transitioned into the Assisting Bishop role, following the successful completion of a thorough appointment process. 
Pray with Eastern & Western Michigan

On a weekly basis, leaders from across the dioceses gather on Facebook Live to pray and offer thanksgiving during this time of physical separation. During this current phase, we are gathering twice per week:
 
  • Thursdays at Noon - Healing Prayer, led by members of our diocesan staffs using our Virtual Prayer List.
  • Fridays at 8pm - Compline, led by parish and diocesan leaders.
       Eastern Michigan   |   Western Michigan

Episcopal Church Releases Toolkit for COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution

Helping congregations facilitate and promote vaccine distribution
The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations recently released a COVID-19 Vaccination Toolkit for individuals, congregations, and ministries to facilitate and promote COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The toolkit promotes the ongoing work that parishes and dioceses have already been doing, shares best practices, and offers ideas for ways that communities can help US-based Episcopalians to facilitate vaccination, overcome vaccine hesitancy, and find information from state and local officials. Churches and church leaders can serve as an important and trusted bridge between public health officials and communities. 

Click here to access the toolkit and watch the video from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

TRANSITIONS
GOVERNANCE

The Rev. Deacon Anna Leigh Kubbe has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Standing Committee of Eastern Michigan. The seat had previously been held by the Rev. Dr. Lydia Agnew Speller. 
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

COVID & Congregations: What Lies Ahead in 2021?

A Webinar hosted by FaithX

Faith X will host a webinar on March 17th at 1pm focused on the church's approach to COVID-19, especially after a year of built understanding, new vaccinations, new variants, and approaching again in-person worship. What should we be planning for our congregations in the days, weeks, and months ahead?

The webinar, cohosted by Mary Frances, Steve Matthews, and Ken Howard of FaithX, will include an up-to-date review from a public health expert on a variety of important topics, including:

  • What we know about Covid-19 today.

  • How COVID-19 vaccinations and variants are likely to impact our plans for the future.

  • What we can do to create and maintain safe environments for worship, ministry, and staff.

Rates begin at $19.95 for individuals and vary for groups and various resources. Click here to learn more and register.

Preaching Hope in a Time of Climate Crisis

2Hosted by Pathways for Baptismal Living at Bexley-Seabury


Climate change is called the moral challenge of our time, yet many preachers avoid discussing it. Looking ahead to Easter and Pentecost, Margaret Bullitt-Jonas and Stephanie Johnson will facilitate learning and conversations on the spiritual/moral imperative to preach about climate change, the obstacles to climate preaching, and some theological and homiletic resources.

Resources will be available online for asynchronous interaction. Synchronous classes will include a mix of presentations, small group conversation, and whole group discussion.

Each session will include preparatory material to help us share a lively web conversation. These web conversations will be on Wednesdays for 90 minute session from 7:00-8:30 pm ET.
  • March 3, 2021 SESSION 1: Exploring the terrain
  • March 10, 2021 SESSION 2: Risking your heart
  • March 17, 2021 SESSION 3: Finding your prophetic voice

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

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 © 2021 The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan, All rights reserved.


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