Diocesan Digest

Thanksgiving - Remember the Episcopal Home

Consider the needs of the residents at the Episcopal Home this Thanksgiving. On this joyous holiday and throughout the year, they will be surrounded with compassionate people that strive to keep them comfortable, secure, and happy. Read more about how you can help.

WE Are the Diocese

Read about new and exciting things that make us proud to be the Episcopal Church in Central Pennsylvania.
 

Episcopal Church Women Celebrate History

“Celebrating Women of the Church”, the 111th Annual Episcopal Church Women Gathering Diocese of Central Pennsylvania Province III was held Nov. 7, 2015 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Sunbury. Diocesan ECW members celebrated the Women of the Episcopal Church at their Annual Gathering. Their special guest was The Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan, to whom they presented a stole.

Collected during the event were nonperishable food items for the Food Bank of St. Matthew’s church.

Sweat Equity Opportunities - Just in Time for Winter

Calling all Youth Groups, Young Adult Groups and any church who has a bunch of people who like doing good deeds!!

St. Stephen's Center for Ministry, Mount Carmel

Job #1: Prep walls and paint downstairs meeting hall room for overflow Saturday Supper Guests and for a new ministry launch.

Job # 2: Paint 3-4 Apartment rooms in the apartment over the Ministry Center - rent from the apartment is needed to continue ministries downstairs.

Holy Trinity, Shamokin

Paint the Parish Hall in preparation for new ministry launch.

Please contact the Rev. Sarah L Weedon at sarahlweedon13@gmail.com or 610-316-3582 to volunteer your group.

Parish Annual Meeting Information for Diocese

Parish annual meetings are held November through April. During these meetings parish vestry members and lay delegates to the annual convention are elected.

In order for the diocesan office to best communicate with the lay persons elected, we ask that these forms be completed online using the links below. The information will be sent to Linda Arguedas at the Diocesan office.

• Annual Meeting and Vestry Data Form
• Form for Certification of Lay Delegates to Convention

Video Resource: Completing Your Parochial Report Online

Need help completing the parochial report online?  This video is now available and is an excellent tool for anyone responsible for completing the parish parochial report.

Diocesan News and Updates

• Diocesan Operating Grants Now Available (Deadline - Dec. 1)
• Parish Fair Share Information: 2016 Fair Share Calculations and 2016 Fair Share Acceptance Form

Bishop Scanlan's Visitation Schedule

As we approach the end of 2015, below are some reminders regarding Bishop Scanlan’s visitation schedule for 2016-2017.

View the 2016-2017 Visitation Schedule.

View Bishop Scanlan’s Visitation Customary.

Convocational Visits

During 2016, Bishop Scanlan is planning on an extended three day visitation in each of our Convocations. The dates for these visits are:

January 8-10 - Susquehanna

April 15-17 – Northern Tier

May 6-8 – West Branch

June 17-19 – Southern

July 8-10 – Lancaster

July 22-24 – Harrisburg

Oct. 21-23 – Altoona

Review Bishop Scanlan’s customary for the Convocation Three Day Visits.

Regional Confirmations

Bishop Scanlan will be offering several dates throughout the year for regional confirmations. If your parish is not on her visitation schedule for this year and you have people who are ready to be confirmed, you may take advantage of the following dates:

Saturday, March 26, 2016, Easter Vigil at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Harrisburg

Saturday, June 11, 2016 at All Saints, Williamsport

Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 at St. Mary’s, Waynesboro

If you have any questions about Bishop Scanlan’s schedule, please contact her secretary, Carolyn Joy Patterson at cpatterson@diocesecpa.org or 888-236-5959 ext. 101.

Homeopathic Remedy for Flu Prevention

Read the latest health and wellness news from health and wellness coach The Rev. Rowena Gibbons.

Save the Date

• Choral Evensong, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Harrisburg, Nov. 20, 7 p.m.
• The Seven Cities of Revelation in Turkey & The Greek Island Patmos Tour, June 3-12, 2016
• 2016 Diocesan Convention, Oct. 14-15, 2016

Remember in Your Prayers

The complete diocesan prayer list is available on the website.