DioBeth newSpin

Grace Montessori School

Established in 1992 with seven children of food pantry clients as an outreach of Grace Episcopal Church, Allentown, Grace Montessori School is a not-for-profit, urban school and childcare center, licensed by the Department of Public Welfare and registered as a private, non-public school with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In keeping with its historic roots as a social ministry of the church to help provide quality early childhood education for the children of poor families in downtown Allentown, Grace Montessori School continues to provide scholarship assistance, based solely upon financial need, to approximately 30 percent of its student body. This commitment allows children of families who cannot afford to provide a private school education the means to do so and helps broaden the diversity of the student body to include more socio-economic, racial, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity than most Montessori programs which, while typically culturally and religiously diverse, are predominantly middle and upper middle class economically.

The school’s new state-of-the-art facility in what had been the administrative offices of Hess’s Department Store on the ground level of the store’s parking garage was dedicated in December of 2004. In partnership with the Allentown Parking Authority, the church had secured state and local funding to construct this purpose-built school for its early childhood program. Continued growth and the addition, in 2006, of an early elementary program, required additional expansion.

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Download the Oct. 2008 newsletter of Grace Montessori School

Download GraceMontessori.Oct2008a.pdf

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newSpin 081027

The October 27 issue of the newSpin newsletter is available here.

Eucharist in Spanish

[From Canon Andy Gerns] Could you please post the flyer that may be downloaded below in public places in and around your church? Mother Laura and I will take turns celebrating the Holy Eucharist in Spanish every Sunday at Trinity, Easton at 1 p.m. We would welcome anyone who would like a turn at celebrating for this group to take part. Please call, 610/253-0792, or e-mail me if you are interested. We want this to be a ministry of all the churches in the Lehigh Valley.

Download eucharist_in_spanish.pdf

Prescription discount card for Lehigh County residents

Lehigh County recently announced a new prescription discount card available to residents of Lehigh County who do not have insurance. The card is free. Users can realize 20% + savings on the cost of their prescriptions. Download an English and Spanish version of a poster below.

Download prescription_discount_card.English.pdf

Download prescription_discount_card.Spanish.pdf

 

Thanksgiving Community Meal in Palmerton

You're invited. St. John's Palmerton. Thursday, Nov. 27, noon to 2:00. Download a poster with more info below.

Download thanksgiving_meal_in_palmerton.pdf

Loving more than one neighbor at a time

By Bishop Paul V. Marshall
November 2008

[This is Bishop Paul Marshall's November 2008 column for secular newspapers throughout our 14 counties. It is published by The Morning Call, Allentown, on the first Saturday of every month. It usually appears also in ten additional papers. The combined circulation of papers that publish the column regularly is more than 400,000. More than 130 columns have been published over the past 12 years. If your paper does not publish the column and you would consider bringing it to the attention of the editor, please email Bill Lewellis.]

As baseball fans turn their attention to politics, I have no reason not to join them.

It is a no-brainer that religious people have an obligation to love their neighbor. What may not be so obvious is that when we talk about how to love more than one neighbor at a time, we are engaging the world of the political. Not the partisan, but the political.

Political choices are urgent. At no time since the civil rights era are there such important choices in front of us, I believe, and some of them are not popular.

At Mediator Allentown.Choral Evensong on All Saints Sunday afternoon

The Allentown Church of the Mediator choir will sing Evensong on All Saints Sunday afternoon, November 2 at 4:00. The music in the service will include Carl Schalk’s setting of the text from the book of Revelation "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord," John Barnard’s Preces, Responses and The Lord’s Prayer, and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Charles Villiers Stanford.

In Scranton.St. Luke’s maintains a legacy of commitment to the community

By Cheryl A. Kashuba
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Times-Tribune, Scranton

On Easter day in 1905, worshippers entered St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and saw, for the first time, a new design by none other than Louis Comfort Tiffany. The centerpiece was a new altar of white marble, backed by a stained-glass window depicting the ascension of Christ.

Mr. Tiffany’s design enhanced the interior of the English Gothic structure that was the work of another master: architect Richard Upjohn of New York City, the architect of Trinity Church on Wall Street.

Impressive though the structure is, St. Luke’s has always been far more than a building. This church grew up with the city in an era when the Social Gospel Movement fervently urged all Christians to live Christ’s teachings.

At St. Mark's/St. John's, Jim Thorpe, Volunteers 'outreach' to their community

Story and photos by Victor Izzo, tneditor@tnonline.com
Published with permission of The Times News, Lehighton

How does a hearty meal of baked ziti, salad, rolls, beverages and dessert sound for supper? How about the fact that this meal, which is "generous" in more ways than one, is also free? Well that was the case this past Sunday Sept. 28, 2008] thanks to the hard work, generosity and fellowship of dedicated volunteers of the Episcopal parish of St. Mark's and St. John's on Race Street in Jim Thorpe.

The free community supper is just one of the many "free community outreach programs" provided to the community by the church and it's parishioners. The parish has been doing this since 1998.

Some of the hard-working dedicated volunteers who make the free community supper and other community "outreach" programs possible are, front, left to right: Deb Fry, Gloria Remmel, Cheryl Horvath, and Judy Smith; rear, Karen Gasker, Judy Lennon, Tom Lager, and John Horvath. [Photo by Victor Izzo/Times News]

Dr. David O'Neill, DO gives a blood pressure reading to Mildred Snisky in conjunction with the free community supper, which was held last Sunday at St. Mark's and St. John's Episcopal Church on Race Street in Jim Thorpe. [Photo by Victor Izzo/Times News]

Resolutions passed at Diocesan Convention

The Diocesan Community Budget
Delegates unanimously adopted a 2009 Mission and Ministry Budget of $1,737,220 for the diocesan community (an increase of slightly less than $50,000 over the 2008 budget) and resolved that the assessment rate applied to line A, Normal Operating Income (NOI), of the 2007 Parochial Report be 12%.
Funds enabling this budget come primarily from the people and parishes of the diocese, a blend of assessments (12%) and acceptances (3%), both at rates identical to the current rate, represent the financial commitment of congregations to the mission and ministry of the diocesan community and to ministry beyond the diocese and around the world.

Clergy Salary Schedule
Delegates unanimously adopted a clergy salary schedule for 2009 that includes a 4% cost of living increase over the 2008 schedule. The cost of living increase applies also to lay employees. Also adopted unanimously was a clergy supply compensation schedule ($125 for one Sunday or Saturday service, $150 for two Sunday services, $75 for a mid-week service), including that supply clergy be reimbursed for travel at the current IRS rate.

Elected at Diocesan Convention

At Diocesan Convention, delegates elected the following people to diocesan offices, commissions, and committees.

Secretary: The Rev. Canon George Loeffler, Chaplain to the Bishop, diocesan deacon
Treasurer: W. Richard Guyer, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
Assistant Treasurer: R. Bruce Reiner, Trinity Church, Bethlehem
Chancellor: Ty Welles, Esq., St. Peter’s Church, Tunkhannock
Registrar: Ely Valentin, Diocesan Staff

Twelve Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true friends sent to me twelve basket balls-a-bouncing, eleven plastic chairs, ten ropes for jumping, nine balls for kicking, eight sturdy tables, seven machines-a-sewing, six hens-a-laying, five yards of fabric … four bicycles, three wind-up radios, two water jugs and a solar lantern, in the dark to see.

Download the page below to see the Christmas gifts you can buy for Kajo Keji.

Download 081108.pdf

Bishop Paul will be visiting the people in Kajo Keji, Sudan during the 12 Days of Christmas. We hope to provide him with samples of our gifts as well as a long list of items to be delivered as soon as they can be purchased and transported to our beloved brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Kajo Keji. Bishop Marshall and Bishop Poggo thank you for your generosity and wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

Cycles of Prayer.November

In the Diocese of Bethlehem
www.diobeth.org
Nov. 2: St. Mary’s Church, Reading, The Rev. Nancy M. Packard, rector, www.stmarysec.org
Nov. 9: Holy Cross Church, Wilkes-Barre, The Rev. Daniel G. Jones, rector
Nov. 16: The Youth Ministry of the Diocese of Bethlehem, The Rev. Demery Bader-Saye, missioner for youth, www.lifeistasty.org
Nov. 23: St. Anne’s Church, Trexlertown, Canon Michael Piovane, rector, www.stannesepiscopal.org
Nov. 30: St. Luke’s Church, Lebanon, The Rev. Terrence Wible, rector, www.stlukeslebanon.com

Anglicans Around the World
www.anglicancommunion.org
Nov. 2: The clergy and people of Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba
Nov. 9: The clergy and people of Bermuda (Extra-Provincial to Canterbury)
Nov. 16: The clergy and people of The Lusitanian Church (Portugal)
Nov. 23: The clergy and people of The Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain
Nov. 30: The clergy and people of The Falkland Islands (Extra-Provincial to Canterbury)

The Diocese of Kajo Keji
Nov. 2: Ku’dupi Parish, The Rev. Moses Logiron
Nov. 9: Kudaji Parish, The Rev. Gordon Nyori
Nov. 16: Leikor Parish, The Rev. Enoka Pitia
Nov. 23: Limi Parish, The Rev. Peter Mala
Nov. 30: Lire Parish, The Rev. Franco Mogga, The Rev. Angelo Taban

Diocesan Life.November

The November issue of Diocesan Life is available for download below. The paper will not begin to arrive in snail mail boxes until the end of October.

Download 081101-8.large.pdf

Download 081101-8.small.pdf

Page 1: Color photos from Diocesan Convention.

Page 2-3: Bishop Paul's address to Diocesan Convention. (Continued on page 6)

Page 4-5: Story by Bill Lewellis on Diocesan Convention.

Page 6: Canon Anne Kitch's "In-Formation in Bethlehem" column.

Page 7: Calendar and Cycles of Prayer

Page 8: Twelve Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji

Diocesan Convention 2008

Worship, Elections, Resolutions, Reports, Addresses, Fellowship and a Political Question
Diocesan Convention 2008
By Bill Lewellis

Though it’s “a no-brainer that Christians have an obligation to love their neighbor,” said Diocese of Bethlehem Bishop Paul Marshall, “when we talk about how to love more than one neighbor at a time, we are engaging the world of the political, not the partisan, but the political.”

Speaking to some 400 clergy, lay delegates and visitors from Episcopal congregations in eastern and northeastern Pennsylvania attending the Diocese’s annual family gathering, he said he believed that “at no time since the civil rights era are there such important choices in front of American Christians, and some of them are not popular.”

“Unlike some religious leaders,” he said, “I do not believe that it is the job of your bishop to tell you how to vote.” Nevertheless, “very serious choices lie before us in the next month.

How to love more than one neighbor at a time is a political question

Address to Diocesan Convention 2008, Christ Church, Reading, October 10, 2008
Bishop Paul Marshall, Diocese of Bethlehem

Sisters and Brothers,
It is a privilege again to sit with you as we celebrate our life together and take counsel for our next year’s ministry in Northeast Pennsylvania. I am grateful to be able to do so with Bishop Jack at my side. He has become both a valued colleague and trusted friend in the last year.

I express your gratitude and my own to the people and rector of Christ Church in Reading. When Father Francis invited me to have the convention here, I was deeply touched. The labors of David Feick, Bruce Bengston, and many behind the scenes have been a real gift to all of us. If you have looked at the worship program, you know that each liturgy contains many first-rate musical offerings. I hope that you will savor them all with gratitude and joy. We are all grateful for the hospitality shown us in the parish hall.

I come to you profoundly moved by what you have accomplished in our New Hope campaign—you have taught me much about the joy and virtue of sacrificial giving. In that regard, I am going to interrupt myself to ask Mr. Charlie Barebo to give you the update on New Hope. Nobody deserves more than Charlie does to have the opportunity to share this good news.

[New Hope Campaign chair Charlie Barebo announced that 1,010 families have made pledges amounting to $3,755,000. Of this amount, some $1,900,000 has been collected and $400,000 disbursed.]

The failed 'god' of The Market

By Andrew Gerns

[This column appeared in The Morning Call, October 11, 2008. Canon Andrew T. Gerns is rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton, and chair of the Evangelism Commission of the Diocese of Bethlehem.]

The best question not answered during the whole second town-hall-style presidential debate was when one woman asked ''Is it right to treat medical care as a commodity?''

The very idea is, of course, heresy. This person questioned the basic tenets of The Market!

According to the Theology of the Market, the answer to the question is ''Why stop at health care? Everything is a commodity!''

Theologian Harvey Cox once analyzed the language of the business pages and he found a kind of belief-system at work. He said, ''Since the earliest stages of human history there have been bazaars, rialtos, and trading posts -- all markets.

''But The Market was never God, because there were other centers of value and meaning, other 'gods.' The Market operated within a plethora of other institutions that restrained it.''

Illness, Dying, Death and Bereavement

A four-part workshop on Illness, Dying, Death and Bereavement will be presented on Thursdays, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., at St. Mary's Church, Wind Gap (340 N. Lehigh Avenue) beginning October 23. The workshop is sponored by St. Mary's Wind Gap and St. Joseph's Pen Argyl. Download more info below in either a word or pdf file.

Download workshop.Illness, death, dying.doc

Download Workshop.pdf

David G. Evans

David G. Evans, 66, spouse of the Rev. Dolores Evans, died Monday, September 29, at his Frackville home. The funeral liturgy will take place at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 4, at Christ Episcopal Church, 140 W. Frack Street, Frackville. Friends may call from 8:00 a.m. until the time of the Saturday service Saturday. Find the obituary here.

Faith and Fate

By Bishop Paul V. Marshall
October 2008

[This is Bishop Paul Marshall's October 2008 column for secular newspapers throughout our 14 counties. It is published by The Morning Call, Allentown, on the first Saturday of every month. It usually appears also in ten additional papers. The combined circulation of papers that publish the column regularly is more than 400,000. More than 130 columns have been published over the past 12 years. If your paper does not publish the column and you would consider bringing it to the attention of the editor, please email Bill Lewellis.]

Britain’s Chief Rabbi spent an evening with 700 of us bishops of the Anglican Communion this summer. It was profoundly meaningful that such a thing should happen at all –– the event itself was a gift.

Beyond the humbling and reconciling nature of the event was the wisdom and grace of the remarks of Sir Jonathan Sacks. Everyone left enriched.

Keenly aware that I write this during the High Holy Days, I would like to reflect on two of his observations that speak directly to interfaith relations.