Convention: A Time for Everything
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 The 144th Diocesan Convention will take place at the Ramada Conference Center, State College - June 13 & 14, 2014
Convention hosts: Northern Tier and West Branch, The Rev. Janis Yskamp, Mrs. Joan Berresford, The Rev. Lauri Kerr and Mrs. Cindy McNeil, Conveners.
THRIVE is ALIVE at Convention 2014!
Join us Friday evening from 6-9 p.m. for a variety of educational sessions, starting with a presentation by Assisting Bishop Robert Gepert. (More info will be available in upcoming Digests AND at your upcoming convocation meeting.) These education sessions will replace the hearings and discussions. Information on resolutions, nominations, and the diocesan budget will be presented during the spring Convocation meetings.
We welcome The Rt. Rev. Robert Gepert as Assisting Bishop. Learn more about him.
Saturday, June 14 - Business session
Convention Registration Is Now Open
Register online here.
Diocesan Finance Information
Download the following finance documents:
Diocesan Annual Reports
Review the annual reports here.
Annual Meeting Information for Parishes
Please note: Changes to vestry leadership and election of convention delegates’ information need to be on file in the diocesan office. Please use these forms to submit updated information.
Nominations for Diocesan Committees and Delegates to General Convention
The nominees for diocesan committees and delegates to General Convention 2015 are now listed on the website.
Convention Resolutions
This year, there are two resolutions for convention. View them here and here.
Add to the Convention Photo Gallery!
We will feature a photo gallery during Convention of special events and ministries that have occurred during the past year. Did your parish do something really cool? Did you start a new ministry, or reach out to your community in a special way? Share that with the rest of the diocese - send one picture (hard copy), along with a short paragraph describing the event or ministry, to:
Linda Arguedas
Canon for Communications
Diocese of Central Pennsylvania
P.O. Box 11937
Harrisburg, PA 17108
Deadline: May 23, 2014
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Spring Convocation Meetings
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Important: Please read this letter from Assisting Bishop Robert Gepert.
Clergy and elected delegates to convention are strongly encouraged to attend the upcoming Convocation meetings for briefings on:
- Resolutions
- Nominations to diocesan committees and General Convention 2015
- Diocesan budget
Spring convocation dates are as follows:
Northern Tier & West Branch - April 28, 6 p.m., St. James, Mansfield
Altoona - May 1, dinner 6 p.m., meeting 7 p.m., St. Mark's, Lewistown
Lancaster - May 7, meeting with light refreshments 7 p.m., St. Thomas, Lancaster
Susquehanna - May 8, dinner 6 p.m., meeting 7 p.m., Christ Church, Berwick
Harrisburg - May 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., St. John's, Carlisle
Southern - May 15, 6 p.m., Church of the Transfiguration, Blue Summit
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Celebration of Ministry: Bishop Nathan Baxter and Mary Ellen Baxter
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Saturday, May 3, 11 a.m.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Harrisburg
On May 3, 2014, there will be a very special Celebration of Ministry to honor Bishop Nathan Baxter and Mary Ellen Baxter. The service will be held at The Cathedral Church of St. Stephen’s, Harrisburg. Read more here.
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Creation Corner
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Now available on the diocesan website: a series on our connection to God's creation, on the threats posed by environmental degradation and climate change, and on the ways our diocese is responding. Please contribute by commenting, suggesting topics, and telling us what your church is doing.
Read the first article in the series: "What Is the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania?"
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2014 Commonwealth Interfaith Service: Prayers for Peace & Justice
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Numerous sponsoring organizations invite you to the Commonwealth Interfaith Service: Prayers for Justice and Peace, May 5, 2014. The service will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 310 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg. Please join your friends and raise a collective voice for a more just and peaceful world. The service will be followed by a reception hosted by Pine Street Presbyterian Church.
For more information, contact Rev. Sandra Strauss at (717) 545-4761, visit the website or our Facebook page.
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Province III Small Church Conference
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May 12-15
Shrine Mont Conference Center
Orkney Springs, Va.
Envisioning a Bright Future: Empowering the Small Church
The Small Church Conference is a bi-annual conference hosted by the Province 3 Small Church committee, and will be held May 12 – 15, 2014, again at Shrine Mont, Orkney Springs, Virginia. The theme for 2014 is, “Envisioning A Bright Future: Empowering the Small Church.” Dent Davidson will once again be our keynote speaker, and he will be joined by Phyllis Tickle. As Phyllis is in the process of retiring from accepting speaking engagements, this will be one of the last opportunities to spend time with her at Shrine Mont!
Other presenters are Dr. Barbara Anne Fisher, Sister Cassandra Grace, and the Rev. Kathy Gray. For a full description of the presentations, please refer to the conference brochure. The information on how to register is on the registration form.
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Hope & Connection: A Suicide Awareness and Prevention Presentation Workshop
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May 6-7
Church of the Apostles
1850 Marietta Ave.
Lancaster, Pa.
Register now for Hope and Connection: A Suicide Awareness and Prevention Presentation and Workshop to help make our communities places where people can share their pain and suffering and get help. The presentation and workshop will provide an opportunity to 1) take an honest and open look at a very common human situation and 2) develop practical prevention activities that can be incorporated into daily ministry. Download the flyer for details.
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WE Are the Diocese...
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Read about new and exciting things that make us proud to be the Episcopal Church in Central Pennsylvania.
Two churches in Lewisburg recently collaborated in a "Valuation Fair" to raise money for a common cause. Read more here.
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Dates to Remember
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- Apr. 28 - Northern Tier & West Branch Convocation Meeting
- May 1 - Altoona Spring Convocation Meeting
- May 3 - Celebration of Ministry for Bishop and Mary Ellen Baxter
- May 7 - Lancaster Spring Convocation Meeting
- May 8 - Susquehanna Spring Convocation Meeting
- May 10 - Harrisburg Spring Convocation Meeting
- May 15 - Southern Spring Convocation Meeting
- May 31 - Ordination of Deacons, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Harrisburg
- June 13-14 - Diocesan Convention
- June 23 - Bishop's Cup Golf Tournament, Tanglewood Golf Course, Southern Lancaster
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Remember in Your Prayers
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Please pray for The Rev. Susan Claytor, rector, All Saints, Hershey, who is in Hershey Medical Center's ICU. (No visitors, please.)
The complete diocesan prayer list is available on the website.
As the diocese continues in this season of discernment and transition, we ask that you pray with us:
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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