Two celebrations

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

We as a Diocese are entering a season of change and we start this time out with two celebrations. We are saying “Godspeed” to both Bishop Paul Marshall and to Bishop Jack Croneberger. Bishop Paul will enter retirement on January 1, 2014 and Bishop Jack retired (again) as our Assistant Bishop on August 1, 2013. We are grateful to both men for their leadership and pastoral care to our diocese. We will be holding two events to honor and thank them for their ministries.

On behalf of the Standing Committee, I am inviting you to take part in two important celebrations.

The first will be at the Convention banquet on Friday, October 4 at Iacocca Hall at Lehigh University, where we will honor and remember the ministry of Bishop Jack. Convention registration is on-line at diobeth.org. (Click on "Diocesan Events" on the right side of the page.)

The second will be on the Third Sunday in Advent, December 15, 2013, as we give thanks to God for the Episcopacy of Paul Marshall at a Holy Eucharist to be held at St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre at 3 pm followed by a reception.

We are inviting members of the Diocese to attend both of these events.

The Diocesan Community will present each bishop with a gift in appreciation for their work among us. We know that many of you will want to share generously in the gifts that we will present to each bishop at their respective event.

Please send them to Diocesan House, c/o Archdeacon Howard Stringfellow, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015. You may also contribute on-line at diobeth.org. (Click on "Make a Gift" at the bottom of the page.)

I look forward to your presence at these two events and thank you in advance for your generosity for both gifts.  We give thanks to God for the many blessings we have received through the ministry of these two fine bishops.

Please hold both Bishop Paul and Bishop Jack in your prayers, and also pray for the Diocese of Bethlehem as we celebrate their ministry amongst us.

Faithfully yours,

The Rev. Canon Andrew T. Gerns
Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton, PA
President, Standing Committee of the Diocese of Bethlehem