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Ministry in Eastern and Western Michigan:
St. Andrew’s-by-the-Lake, Harrisville provides support for the local school to have a therapy dog, Cona, who came to visit the church in May with owners Jessica and Jesse Smith; Emmanuel, Petoskey celebrates the 60th anniversary of the ordinations of the Rev. James Hemstead and the Rev. William Nicholson with a special evensong on June 12th; The Rev. Harold Schneider poses for a photo celebrating the baptisms of William P., Hunter M., Jaxson M., Paisley M., and Konnor H. at St. John’s, Otter Lake on May 22nd.
To contribute a photo of the life and work of the church from your local congregation, please send your submission to kforsyth@eastmich.org.
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- Now-October - Youth camping and adult programs at Camp Chickagami. Info.
- Tonight - Celebration of New Ministry between the Rev. Radha Kaminski and the Central Michigan Episcopal Covenant (Big Rapids and Cadillac) at 6pm at St. Andrew's, Big Rapids. Reception to follow.
- June 25 - Holy Hikes Great Lakes at the Lumberman's Monument Trail in Oscoda, 1pm. RSVP.
- June 25 - Saturday Volunteer Day at Plainsong Farm from 9:30-11:30am, with optional tour to follow. RSVP.
- June 28 - Save the date! Evening Zoom Teach-in on Gun Violence Advocacy with End Gun Violence Michigan and Bishops United Against Gun Violence. Time TBD.
- June 29-30 - Traveling Day Camp at St. Dunstan's, Davison with Camp Chickagami. 10-2pm each day for kids entering 1-6th grades. Tiered pricing. Register.
- July 7-13 - Progressive Mission Trip for high schoolers through Michigan and Ohio. Registration deadline passed.
- July 23 - Holy Hikes Great Lakes at the Bowman Lake Loop in Baldwin, 1pm. RSVP.
- July 28 - Post-General Convention Zoom with the Deputations, 7-8:30pm. RSVP.
- July 30 - Post-General Convention Zoom with the Deputations, 10-11:30am. RSVP.
- August 1-2 - Traveling Day Camp at Emmanuel, Petoskey with Camp Chickagami. 10-2pm for kids entering 1-6th grades. Tiered pricing. Register.
- August 3-4 - Traveling Day Camp at St. Mark's, Grand Rapids with Camp Chickagami. 10-2pm each day for kids entering 1-8th grades. Tiered pricing. Register.
- August 5 - Traveling Day Camp at St. Timothy's, Richland with Camp Chickagami. 10-2pm each day for kids entering 1-6th grades. Tiered pricing. Register.
- August 6 - Holy Hikes Great Lakes at the Wolf Creek Trail in Mio at 1pm. RSVP.
- August 7-13 - Western Michigan's Episcopal Youth Camp at Camp Newaygo (3-12 grades). Info.
- August 26-28 - Naucratius Family Camp at Camp Chickagami. Info and register.
- Sept.3-5 - Annual Young Adult Retreat at Camp Chickagami. Info and register.
- Sept.17 - Holy Hikes Great Lakes at the Fern Lake Loop in Long Lake, 1pm. RSVP.
- Sept. 23-25 - Fiber Arts Retreat for adults at Camp Chickagami facilitated by the Rev. Radha Kaminski and the Rev. Jodi Baron. Info and register.
- October 1 - Holy Hikes Great Lakes at the Blue Water Riverwalk in Port Huron at 1pm. RSVP.
- October 16 - Diocesan Confirmation service at St. James, Cheboygan at 4pm. Register candidates.
- October 28-29 - Save the date! Joint Diocesan Convention in Lansing.
- November 4-6 - Save the date! Middle school CHARGE event.
- November 20 - Diocesan Confirmation service at St. Andrew's, Big Rapids at 4pm. Register candidates.
- Weekly, Wednesdays - Diocesan Youth Group via Zoom from 6:30-8:30pm for middle and high schoolers. Click here to join the meeting.
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FEATURED DIOCESAN EVENT:
Holy Hike Great Lakes comes to Oscoda!
Holy Hikes Great Lakes, a bi-diocesan initiative, will gather once again this summer, this time in Oscoda! Join us at 1pm at the Lumberman's Monument to hike and pray together alongside God's creation. Click here to RSVP.
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The Davidson Index - St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church to hold “Pride Sunday” service on June 12
"St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Grand Blanc is celebrating Pride Month with its second annual Pride Sunday worship service to welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community..."
Petoskey News Review - Emmanuel Episcopal Church to celebrate 60th ordination anniversary for two members
"The reverend James Breese Hempstead and the reverend Dr. William Nicholson at [Emmanuel, Petoskey],... will be celebrating their 60th ordination anniversary".
Traverse City Record Eagle - Food pantries brace for SNAP deadline as clientele increases with inflation
"... the Grace Episcopal Church food pantry in Traverse City served meals to 60 more people between April and May... Reverend Jim Perra said the food pantry has seen more people coming in the past few weeks".
Episcopal News Service - Former Eastern Michigan Bishop Edwin Leidel Jr. dies at 83
"The Rt. Rev. Edwin Leidel Jr., first bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Michigan, died on June 5 of cancer at age 83".
MLive - Crossover Outreach breaks ground in Flint...
"The nonprofit [Crossover Downtown Outreach Ministries]…broke ground on a new building to continue its work...Major funders [of the project] include the Whiting Foundation,...and the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan".
Big Rapids Pioneer - St. Andrew’s in Big Rapids hosts celebration of Covenant ministry
"The Covenant is the combining of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Big Rapids and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Cadillac in a shared ministry...this occasion will formally install the Rev. Radha Kaminski as Rector..."
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The Joint Deputations Prepare for General Convention
The 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church gathers in July
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 The elected leaders of our diocesan deputations to the upcoming 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church are preparing to travel to Baltimore next month to take up the work of churchwide governance. This year's convention is shorter and smaller than previous years due to the ongoing pandemic, taking place over only four days, July 8-11.
The deputations of Eastern and Western Michigan have been meeting and conversing together for several months, getting to know one another, orienting first-timers to the charge, and reviewing important legislation on the horizon. One of the actions they've taken was to submit a resolution and memorial to the General Convention, asking for review and changes to the Title IV process as our dioceses experienced the suspension of our former bishop. Click here to read a message to our dioceses from the submitting deputies.
 They hosted two Pre-General Convention Meetings for our dioceses earlier this month. Click here to access the annotated agenda with links to external sites for further reading. To watch the Zoom recording, visit the deputation's pages on our diocesan websites: Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.
Special editions of The Feast Online will be released throughout the deputations' time at General Convention, including reminders for prayer, news from our deputies, and some tracking of legislation holding diocesan interest. All subscribers to the diocesan newsletter will receive these special editions. Our diocesan social media will also be actively reporting on the General Convention - EM Facebook, EM Instagram, EM Twitter, WM Facebook, WM Instagram, WM Twitter.
For a sharable "What is General Convention?" graphic on Facebook - visit Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.
The General Convention takes place on a triennial cycle. While this year's convention is a year behind due to COVID delay, the next GC will take place on schedule, in 2024. Elections for our diocesan deputations to the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky will take place at our joint convention in October. Nomination forms will be available in July.
Photos: Deputies Ellen McVey (St. John's, Midland) and Dr. Elizabeth Jordan (St. Paul's, Flint) smile for a photo while attending a recent confirmation service in Flint; Deputy Bill Fleener, Jr. gives an overview of the churchwide budget process during the June 11th pre-GC meeting.
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 PREPARING FOR GC80:
Presiding Bishop calls Episcopalians to "A Season of Prayer for Revival"
The Most Rev. Michael Curry invites the whole Church to mark the season after Pentecost with 30 days of prayer leading up to and encompassing the 80th General Convention in Baltimore, now through July 11th. Click here to learn more, including how to sign up to receive daily prompts and bulletin inserts.
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TRANSITIONS
The Rev. Allan Feltner has announced his retirement as priest-in-charge serving St. Bartholomew's, Mio. His final Sunday is June 26th.
GOVERNANCE
The Rev. Brian Chace (Retired, West Branch) resigned as President of the Eastern Michigan Standing Committee in order to be available to accept an appointment as Diocesan Treasurer. The Diocesan Council made that appointment during their meeting on June 18th.
The Standing Committee of Eastern Michigan reset their officers accordingly, during their meeting on June 13th:
- Barb Ilkka (St. John's, Saginaw; formerly VP) is President
- The Rev. Don Davidson (St. Paul's, Flint; formerly Secretary) is Vice-President
- Jelecia Ford (St. Paul's, Flint) is Secretary
For health reasons, Dave Croal (St. Mark's, Coldwater) resigned his position on the Western Michigan Standing Committee, with ~1.5 years remaining in the vacant term.
OPEN LAY POSITIONS
St. Luke's, Kalamazoo seeks a half-time Children/Youth Formation Minister. View the posting.
OPEN CLERGY POSITIONS
St. John's, Midland seeks a full-time rector. View the profile.
Grace, Port Huron seeks a full-time rector. View the profile.
St. Luke's, Kalamazoo and St. Mark's, Paw Paw seeks a "55 and Better" Minister and Priest-in-Charge. View the profile.
St. James, Albion seeks a quarter-time priest. View the profile.
Transfiguration, Indian River seeks a full or part-time rector. View the profile.
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OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
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United Thank Offering's Great EpisGOpal Race
Virtual race and fundraiser open for registration
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 The Great EpisGOpal Race returns this fall for the third year in partnership between the United Thank Offering and Episcopal Migration Ministries. This fundraiser offers multiple ways to participate and raise funds to support special ministries and missions funded by the UTO's Ingathering and EMM's Neighbor to Neighbor initiatives.
Registration is now open online for the virtual race, scheduled for Sept. 3-11. Participants register for $15, choose their preferred mode of "racing" (run, bike, swim, hike, paddle board, martial arts, etc.), distance, and more. From here, participants can fundraise for UTO, EMM, or both and can even pull a team together.
Click here to learn more about the Great EpisGOpal Race and to sign up.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Teach-in on Advocacy to End Gun Violence
Bishops United Against Gun Violence and End Gun Violence Michigan will host a 45-minute Zoom call next Tuesday evening (June 28th, time TBD) to discuss the Senate's new bi-partisan anti-gun violence bill and resolutions headed to The Episcopal Church's General Convention next month. While details are still being finalized, speakers are expected to include Episcopal bishops whose dioceses have been specifically impacted by violence and legislators working on this issue within our state and country. All Episcopalians churchwide are invited to attend. A formal invitation is expected Friday.
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Each week, we pray for one another during the Prayers of the People each Sunday. Over the next two weeks in our bi-diocesan cycle of prayer, we will pray for the following communities:
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St. John's, Otter Lake
Learn more about St. John's on their website.
Photo: St. John's parishioners partake in a raffle-style Basket Bash fundraiser.
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Sudanese Grace, Grand Rapids
Learn more about Sudanese Grace, a community founded by former Lost Boys & Girls of Sudan on their website.
Photo: Deacon Abraham organizes donated clerical garb to send to Africa.
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Grace, Port Huron
Learn more about Grace on their website.
Photo: Young members of Grace Church sing the anthem during the youth-led service.
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St. James, Beaver Island
Learn more about St. James, a seasonal chapel on an island in Lake Michigan, on their Facebook page.
Photo: St. James' volunteers paint the exterior of the building.
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CONGREGATIONAL CALENDAR
- June 23-25 - Rummage Sale at St. John's, Mount Pleasant.
- June 24-25 - Rummage Sale at St. Jude's, Fenton, Friday from 9-4pm and Saturday from 9-3pm.
- June 25 - Brian Alan will lead a sound immersion session at Epiphany, South Haven, integrating sacred instruments to faciliate relaxation, peace, and well-being. Suggested donation, $15 (cash only). Optional: yoga mat, blanket, and/or pillow.
- June 26 - 10am Pride worship service at the Waterfront Stadium in Grand Haven with St. John's, Grand Haven.
- June 26 - Taizé service at St. Luke's, Kalamazoo at 4pm.
- June 29 - St. Paul's, Harsens Island will celebrate their 100 year anniversary with several activities: 4pm Renewal prayers, organ dedication, and seed planting; 5:30pm picnic at Brown's Field; 6:30pm concert with the St. Clair Community Big Band.
- July 6 - Spaghetti Dinner at St. Paul's, Muskegon from 5:30-7pm. Freewill donation.
- July 6 - Red Cross Blood Drive at Grace, Grand Rapids. Appointments from 1-5:45pm. Register.
- July 12-14 - VBS with Grace, Traverse City
- July 25-29 - "Follow that Star!" Vacation Bible School at Grace, Port Huron, 6-8pm each day.
- August 1-4 - "Muddy Church" VBS at St. John's, Midland from 6:30-8pm each day. All ages, those 4 and under need to be accompanied by an adult.
- August 2-4 - Food Truck Party VBS with Trinity, Lexington and two area Catholic parishes. 12:45-3pm each day.
- August 3 - Spaghetti Dinner at St. Paul's, Muskegon from 5:30-7pm. Freewill donation.
- August 26-27 - "Second Best" Rummage Sale at Holy Spirit, Belmont. 9-4pm on Friday, 9-Noon Saturday.
- September 21-Oct 1 - Tour of England's Great Cathedrals with Emmanuel, Petoskey. Info.
- November 11-12 - Holiday Bazaar and Craft Show at St. Jude's, Fenton.
- Weekly Events -
- Gentle Yoga at St. Andrew's, Grand Rapids on Mondays from 6-7pm, led by Jeff Brown. Suggested donation, $5-10.
- Community Yoga several days a week at Epiphany, South Haven. Learn more.
- Artsy Church at St. Gregory's, Muskegon on 2nd and 4th Mondays at 5:30pm. Call 231-780-2955 for more info.
- Yoga Class at St. Timothy's, Richland on Mondays from 6-7:30pm.
- Yoga at Trinity, West Branch on Tuesdays at 10am.
- Outdoor Tai Chi at St. John's, Midland at 5:30 on Wednesdays, now until Sept. 28th. $5/person.
- Meditation at St. John's, Midland at 7pm on Thursdays, now until Sept. 1.
- Zumba at St. John's, Grand Haven on Saturdays at 6pm.
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FEATURED CONGREGATIONAL EVENT:
St. Paul's, Harsens Island Anniversary Celebrations
 St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Harsens Island will celebrate their 100th anniversary on June 29th with a special celebration, connecting to their musical gifts and values.
At 4pm, gather at the church for renewal prayers, an organ dedication, and seed planting. At 5:30pm a picnic will be offered at Brown's Field. And, finally, at 6:30pm, the St. Clair Community Big Band will offer a celebration concert.
All are invited to join St. Paul's for this special occasion. Click here to visit their website.
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NEWS FROM THE WIDER EPISCOPAL CHURCH
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LOAN & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
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