Faith formation resources available on our Christian formation page found here.

Charlie Barebo accepting the UTO grant for Kajo Keji from Cathy Bailey at Diocesan Convention. UTO gave over $47,000 to the New Hope Campaign for building classrooms in Gaderu.
photo by Kat Lehman
New Hope Campaign tops $4 million
With the addition of two substantial gifts, our New Hope Campaign has crested the $4 million mark. Please see the newsletter article below to see how Good Shepherd, Scranton is using their New Hope funds. Charlie Barebo and Howard Stringfellow recently returned from Kajo Keji and have some terrific pictures from their visit. Check back here soon to see some of the progess in the Sudan.

12 Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji
The World Mission Committee is again sponsoring the 12 Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji. Instead of giving Aunt Mildred a sweater she doesn't want, why not give a gift in her honor to those really in need? Items range in price from $5 for a net ball to $250 for a scholarship. Deadline is December 15th. You can download the form in .pdf here.

Good Shepherd, Scranton brings New Hope to Northeast PA
The most recent edition of Good Shepherd, Scranton's newsletter focuses on their New Hope project. Check out this awesome project to provide emergency homeless shelter in the heart of Scranton. Their newsletter can be downloaded here.

Diocesan Convention Highlights
Look for more to come! In the meantime.... Find Bishop Paul's address to convention here. Check out photos by Barbara Loeffler here and Kat Lehman here. Find a note from Mark Laubach about the Missa Luba from the Eucharist on Saturday morning here. Check out the resolutions approved here.

Presiding Bishop's visit to our diocese
The Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori will be visiting the Diocese of Bethlehem over November 9th through mid-day on the 12th. Evensong services will be held at 6:00 P.M. at Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Monday, November 9th; at St. Luke's, Lebanon on Tuesday, November 10th; and at St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, November 11th. Receptions will follow the services and will also be an open forum with the Presiding Bishop. A preliminary schedule can be found here. The news relase can be read here.

Remembering Loved Ones
by Bishop Paul V. Marshall
From the dazzling white of the All Saints liturgy and its boisterous celebration of all that God has done through the faithful who have gone before us, a celebration of the great heroes of the faith, we move to the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, to the black of the requiem, where we remember that they have indeed gone from us and joined the great procession of lives returning to their source. Two days are hardly enough –– we need most of November, before Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas –– to dwell deeply in the one basic Christian truth: in Christ we are tied to God and each other in a way that the circumstances of time and space cannot defeat. We need more than two days, for that great truth has to be broken down into its component mysteries. Read more here.

Call for funds for Youth Scholarships
In the current economic situation, the youth of the diocese are depending more on scholarship funds to attend events than in the past. This has left our scholarship funds depleated, drastically. In an effort to raise funds to ensure that no one is turned away from Youth Events in the future the Youth Council has decided to try some fundraising, just in time for the Christmas shopping season. Check out the Pampered Chef fund raiser here.

Talbot Hall information for 2010
The new 2010 Talbot Hall information is now available. For a full description and application forms see the Talbot Hall page here.

Lay license renewal
Lay Licenses for Worship Leaders, Eucharistic Ministers, Preachers, and Eucharistic Visitors are due no later than November 21st. Please see the Church Administration Page for more information and forms.

UTO Grant Information
The applications for UTO Grants for 2010 are due in the Bishop's office by December 31, 2009. The application form and guidelines are available from Canon Teter. Please contact her if you are interested in submitting a grant.

In The Episcopal Church and beyond
Surprise Vatican plan would welcome Anglicans unhappy with gay, female clergy
Recent Morning Call article in response to Vatican's recent statement regarding new establishment of parallel Anglican/Catholic church. Check it out here. You can read Canon Gerns' take on it on his blog here.

Pope announces special provisions to accept former Anglicans in Roman Catholic Church
By Episcopal News Service. Check it out here.

Six Episcopal bishops portray church's 'broad center' in meeting with Williams
Check out the article here.

Episcopal Church Center new structure: project-based, goal-oriented
Check it out here.

Resources for H1N1 preparedness
The Episcopal Church Center has published a number of links for parishes and dioceses to better prepare for this year's flu season. Check out the various links here.

In Allentown
Identity and Diversity at Grace Montessori
Libby House, Grace Montessori School director, has written a piece on how Grace Montessori School in Allentown embraces and celebrates diversity and promotes tolerance and inclusion. "This year 39 percent of our students identify themselves as Non-Hispanic Whites; 31 percent Asians; 18 percent Hispanic Whites; 10 percent Black; and 2 percent Pacific Islanders. They are Jewish, Christian, Hare Krishna, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist. They speak Arabic, Spanish, Tamil, Kutchi, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Korean, Mandarin, and Gujarati. Our faculty and administration are similarly diverse in cultural ethnicity and religion." Read more here.

In Pottsville
Caring Caps go to cancer patients across four counties
During one recent week, more than 700 crocheted and knitted caps were distributed to the American Cancer Society, cancer clinics and hospices across Schuylkill, Carbon, Northumberland and Berks counties. Check out the short article and photo here.

In Palmerton
Father Abraham's Ghandhian Peace Work in India
On Saturday November 14 (1-3pm at St. John's Palmerton, 362 Lafayette Street) Fr. Abraham Valiath will share stories of his involvement in Gandhian Peace Work in India. Based on nonviolent resistance to oppression and injustice, Gandhi's style is epitomized by the term, satyagraha, Sanskrit for "truth and firmness." His work inspired many who came after him and demonstrated that people gathered together in peaceful nonviolence can affect positive change in the world. This talk is sponsored by the Diocesan Peace Commission.

In Athens
Saturday evening service in Athens
[From the Trinity Athens office] Trinity Athens is adding an additional worship service, beginning Saturday, November 7, at 5:00 pm. It is Trinity’s hope that the addition of this new service will allow more of our community members to join us in worship. If you are just starting your faith journey, or if you are searching for a church home, our hearts and doors are open to you; all are welcome. For further information on Trinity Episcopal Church you may visit our website or call the church at 570-888-5715.

Upcoming events
Nov. 5: Clergy Bible Study 1, Nativity, Bethlehem 2:00 P.M.
Nov. 6: Crafter’s Corner Store, St. Paul’s Montrose 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Food available for purchase.
Nov. 8: The Requiem, Op. 9 of Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986) Sung by the combined choirs of Nativity Cathedral, Bethlehem and St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre. Directed by Canon Russell Jackson, accompanied by Canon Mark Laubach (organ). 4 p.m. at Cathedral Church of the Nativity. Performed in concert as part of the Cathedral’s concert series. For more information, contact Russell Jackson, 610-865-0727.
Nov. 9-12: Visit of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to the Diocese of Bethlehem (Schedule to be published separately)
Nov. 12: Clergy Day, Good Shepherd, Scranton
Nov. 12: Kristallnacht Remembrance Service, Christ, Reading 6:30 P.M.
Nov. 12: Out in the Silence, Stroudsburg High School 7:00 P.M. The cost of admission is $2.00 per person and the proceeds will benefit the Stroudsburg Area School District Gay-Straight Alliance and the Lehigh Valley Rainbow Youth College Scholarship Fund. Please RSVP by November 4 to sgriswol@sburg.org.
Nov. 13-15: Fall Youth Retreat, Kirby House, Mountaintop.
Nov. 14:  Bazaar, St. Paul’s, Montrose. Table cost is $15.00. Food, crafts and flea market. More details to come.
Nov. 15: Bishop Jack, St. Peter’s, Hazleton
Nov. 15: Bishop Paul, St. James’ and St. George’s, Jermyn
Nov. 15: Rev. Edward K. Erb in Concert, Trinity, Pottsville, 4:00 P.M.
Nov. 15: Choral Evensong, Trinity, Bethlehem, 4:00 P.M. The choir will sing music of Josef Haydn, a Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by George Dyson, a wonderful Victorian English composer, and Psalm 65, set to Anglican Chant by John Turle. The Rev. Canon Cliff Carr will officiate and Dr. Timothy Smith will be at the organ. A dessert potluck follows. All are cordially invited.
Nov. 17: Clergy Bible Study 8, Christ, Towanda 4:00 P.M.
Nov. 17: Archdeacon Visit, St. George’s, Hellertown 6:00 P.M.
Nov. 19-21: Inviting Silence Retreat, St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem. Cost is $190.00. For more information email Mo. Laura Howell, laura@trinitybeth.org.
Nov. 19: Clergy Bible Study 2, St. Stephen’s, Whitehall 2:00 P.M.
Nov. 19: Diocesan Council, Grace, Kingston, 6:30 P.M.
Nov. 20: Incorporated Trustees, Nativity, Bethlehem 10:00 A.M.
Nov. 20: Liturgy and Music Commission, Diocesan House 12:45 P.M.
Nov. 24: Clergy Bible Study 3, St. Alban’s, Sinking Springs 2:00 P.M.
Nov. 24: Archdeacon Visit, St. Andrew’s, Allentown 6:00 P.M.
Nov. 26-27: Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holidays
Nov. 29: Advent Lessons and Carols, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem 5:00 P.M. Performed by the Cathedral Choir. For more information, contact Russell Jackson, 610-865-0727.

For the full Diocesan Calendar, download the latest one from the news blog here.

November 1 and November 8
St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre and Cathedral of the Nativity, Bethlehem team up for All Souls' Day service
[From Mark Laubach]
What: the Requiem, Op. 9 of Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
Sung by the combined choirs of Nativity Cathedral, Bethlehem and St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre. Directed by Canon Russell Jackson, accompanied by Canon Mark Laubach (organ).

When: Sunday, November 1st at 5 p.m. at St. Stephen’s, Wilkes-Barre
Sung in the liturgical context of a Solemn Requiem Mass for All Souls’ Day (transferred from Nov. 2)
Bishop Paul V. Marshall, celebrant

Performed in Concert on Sunday, November 8th at 4 p.m. at Nativity, Bethlehem
Part of the Concert Series at the Cathedral

Duruflé’s evocative Requiem is widely regarded as one of the most sublime choral works composed in the 20th century. It is largely based upon the melodies of the original plainchant Requiem mass. In addition to the choral sections, there are solos for mezzo-soprano and baritone. Duruflé scored the work in three different settings – for full orchestra, reduced orchestra with organ, and organ alone. These performances will be performed with organ alone, augmented by a violoncello solo in the exquisite Pie Jesu sung by the mezzo-soprano soloist.

November 6
Couillard Memorial Lectures at Moravian Theological Seminary
"Economics of Rebirth" given by Shane Claiborne November 6 (Friday) 9:30am–2:30pm
Can the world afford the American dream... or does God have another dream in mind? We will explore what the Gospel has to say to the fragile world that we have created, and look at some models of community that can help us to find healing for both ourselves and the world in which we live. For more information and to register, click here.

Shane Claiborne is a founding member of The Simple Way, a "New Monastic" movement in Philadelphia, and author of The Irresistible Revolution and Jesus for President.

Nov. 13-16
Fall Retreat for Youth, grades 9-12
Kirby House. Doors open at 6 pm and a Family Eucharist will be held on Sunday at 12 noon.A chance to spend time in fellowship, worship and discussion about God and the world we live in in the 21st century. Teens will be engaged in spiritual and social activities orchestrated by youth for youth and with youth. Youth are eligible to attend even if they have "happened" previously. Registration is now open on the Diocesan website; space is limited. This event costs $100.00 per participant. If you have any questions, please contact Diocesan Youth Missioner Kimberly Rowles at 610-751-3931 or krowles@diobeth.org.

November 19-21
Inviting silence
[From Peter Pearson and Laura Howell]
Come away for a time of quiet listening and a time for your spirit to seek God's Spirit in the spaces between the noise, the activities, the plans, and the stuff of your life. For a few days we will gather together simply to invite silence into our lives. Call it an experiment, call it a retreat, call it whatever you like, but come and share this time with other seekers who will journey together into the silences where God may be found.

When: November 19-21, 2009
Where: St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem
Leaders: Fr. Peter Pearson, CoS and Mo. Laura Howell
Cost: $190. Residential retreat strongly suggested, but we can make arrangements for commuters if necessary.

For more information, contact Mo. Laura: laura@trinitybeth.org, 610-867-4741 X304.

Safeguarding God's children - See Church Administration