A WEEKLY eNEWSLETTER AND OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN DELAWARE |
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | January 20 |
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On January 20, 2025, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday will mark the 30th anniversary as a National Day of Service. This day was established to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Service Events in Delaware A presentation from the Department of Defense Education Activity |
from the Episcopal Church Lectionary Calendar Martin Luther King, Jr., Pastor and Martyr, 1968 The Collect: (Rite II) Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may strive to secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Click here to see full lectionary for this day. |
2025 is the 60th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March that was led by Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) on March 7, 1965, to stop voter suppression. In 2024, the diocesan Racial Justice & Reconciliation Commission sponsored a powerful pilgrimage to Selma and Montgomery. Watch the video, Journey to Justice, here, and view the accompanying booklet, Pilgrimage, here, to follow their impactful journey. |
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Please Help! Episcopal Relief & Development is actively supporting diocesan leaders in communities impacted by the Southern California wildfires and working with them to identify the needs of the people in their communities that have been severely affected. This is an active disaster. All are reminded not to send goods or to make plans to travel to the area to volunteer until the community is ready. Instead, consider making a contribution to the Wildfire Response Fund to support people in impacted communities now and in the long-term. Please pray for the people being affected by the multiple wildfires in California. Visit the Wildfire Prayer page. |
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Diocesan Governance Gathering Focuses on Mission and Fellowship On Saturday, January 11th, newly elected leaders from our governance bodies gathered online for an orientation session with Bishop Brown, Canon Brad Hinton, and Chief Operating Officer, Teri Quinn Gray. The three-hour meeting is an annual event designed to help newly minted leaders understand the unique role each governance group plays in the life of the Episcopal Church in Delaware and to consider the ways in which God’s call to ministry might be fulfilled individually and collectively. A resource booklet chock-full of information on ECD’s mission priorities, governance groups and their members, the role of the chancellor, and overview information on finances of the diocese was provided to each participant. Several people expressed gratitude for gaining a more wholistic understanding of ministry at the diocesan level. We give thanks to God for inspiring these people to paths of servant leadership and pray God’s continued blessings on our shared ministries. |
Top row, l to r: (council) The Rev. Thomas Becker, the Rev. Patrick Burke, Bel Gwiazkowski, Cecilia Hobbs, Celeste Landon. Bottom row, l to r: (council) Jocelyn Quick, (disciplinary board) the Rev. Dr. Jack Anderson, Beth Maurer, (standing committee) the Rev. Ted Olson, Rich Boyd, (trustee) Charles Donovan. |
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Interested in being licensed as Worship Leader or Lay Preacher? The spring term for The Stevenson School for Ministry kicks off on January 21, 2025! Explore the classes being offered this term on the diocesan Stevenson School webpage here. New students can register online here or directly on the webpage. Want to know more about the required courses for Lay Worship Leader or Lay Preacher licensing? Check out the details on the webpage. For questions, contact The Rev. Canon Marianne Ell at mell@delaware.church. |
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The Rev. Patrick Burke,rector of the Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew & Matthew, delivered the invocation for the Wilmington City Council 109th Session Inauguration Swearing-in on January 7, 2025 at the Chase Center in Wilmington. |
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Parish Book Studies open to everyone We Survived the End of the World St. Peter’s, Smyrna - Sundays, 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m., began January 12 and will continue for seven weeks. For more information, contact the Rev. Donna Jean Kiessling, smyrnarector@gmail.com.
St. Peter’s, Lewes - Begins in February, meeting weekly for seven weeks. For more information, contact the Rev. Carol Flett, revflett@gmail.com.
If the Epiphany Season wasn’t ideal for your parish to hold this study, the Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission (RJRC) invites parishes to participate in the book study at a time that works best for them in 2025. We believe it’s a compelling and a worthwhile read. Bishop Brown has chosen Charleston’s book for his annual online study, which began Wednesday, January 14 and will continue for seven weeks. RJRC thanks Bishop Brown for leading this important conversation! |
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Religious Life Sunday January 26, 2025 The General Convention of The Episcopal Church approved resolution 2022-B004, “Foundation of Religious Life Sunday,” to be held each year on the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany. This observance focuses efforts to tell all Episcopalians and Anglicans about monastic and Christian Communities and what is offered in the church. Several members of the Episcopal Church in Delaware are members of Anamchara Fellowship (image above), an inclusive community founded in the tradition of the Episcopal Church, with a Celtic spirit. Click here to read more about Religious Life Sunday. |
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