Our dioceses are on a journey to discover how collaborating can help us transform our congregations and communities through the power of Jesus Christ. In our churches, everyone is welcome, without exception.
Welcome! God is calling us into a new reality here on the southeastern shores of Lake Erie. We hope you will join us in answering this call as we reach out to people who do not know the transformational power of Jesus Christ, people who have been pushed to the margins, and people who feel like they aren’t worthy to step into one of our big stone churches. The road to transformation may be rocky at times, but we hope you will walk it with us.
In 2018, our dioceses pledged themselves to an unprecedented collaboration because we believe that God was calling us to embrace new ways of working on behalf of the Gospel here along the southeastern shores of Lake Erie. We are 90 congregations, spread across 20 counties, but we are one church, united by faith and dedicated to serving our communities and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Here in this part of the country that many have forgotten, we believe that we have the potential to lead the church into a new season of growth.
It isn’t always easy to find our way to God. The disciples we encounter on the road to Emmaus were heading in the wrong direction! They didn’t even recognize Jesus, whom they had followed for years—until he broke bread with them. Our church finder was created to make your search a little easier. Use it to locate congregations, ministry centers and church-related organizations across the region. You don’t have to be a member to attend our services, get involved in our work, or find solace and sustenance through our ministries.
The Rev. Twila Smith and the Rev. Jason Shank have joined Bishop Sean’s staff in new part-time positions that will provide congregations with resources, tools and capacity to participate in the partnership’s mission strategy and form vital partnerships in their communities. “As we continue responding to the ministry and financial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,…
On November 6, the evening before we gather for our joint diocesan conventions, the Commission to Dismantle Racism and Discrimination will host an online Service of Reconciliation. This service, an introduction to the ongoing work that our congregations and dioceses will be doing together, is meant to bless and inspire our shared ministry of racial justice and healing….
Join us on Tuesdays in October from 5-6:30 p.m. on Zoom for our pre-convention workshops. Use this link to join, and password lakeerie. To join by phone, dial 646-876-9923 and use code 96821787415#. October 6: Taking Risks for the Sake of the Gospel with Bishop Sean Join Bishop Sean to learn about adaptive change, a…
Sunday online diocesan worship services are now led from the Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie and St. Paul’s Cathedral in Buffalo on alternating Sundays. There are three ways to participate in online worship:
Zoom (video or phone): Join Bishop Sean and people from across our diocesan partnership on Zoom at 10 a.m. on Sundays to watch the service and pray together for the petitions of the community gathered on Zoom. Use this link: https://zoom.us/j/127336938?pwd=cm8zUWh0Y2loTjYyKy91YURsTVBCQT0 to join. If you are asked for a password, use lakeerie. To join by phone instead of video, dial 646-876-9923 and use code 127336938#.
Facebook: Watch the service on Facebook on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. or any time afterward.
YouTube: Watch the service on YouTube on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. or any time afterward.
The services include music from each of the cathedral choirs and will be based on the Liturgy of the Word from Rite II Holy Eucharist. Resident cathedral clergy and others from across the diocese and partnership will preach.
Panel discussion on Local Mission Partnerships led by the Rev. Colleen O’Connor of the Genesee Deanery and the Rev. Canon Ruth Woodliff-Stanley of the bishop’s staff
Building partnerships between faith communities provides congregations the opportunity to do more: more ministry, more programming, more community involvement. But how does a faith community build meaningful partnerships? This panel discussion will give examples of a variety of partnerships with participants will share their stories and discuss the opportunities and challenges of forming partnerships.
Participants will include: Sara Nesbitt, St. Mark’s, Erie; Ed Palatella, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Erie; the Rev. Twila Smith, St. Simon’s, Buffalo; the Rev. Kim Rossi, St. Stephen’s and Bethany Lutheran Church, Olean; Jim Isaac, St. Mark’s, LeRoy; and Amy Swanson, St. Paul’s, Stafford.
Join the workshop using this Zoom link and password lakeerie. To join by phone, dial 646-876-9923 and use code 96821787415#.
On October 29 at 1:30 p.m., clergy and delegates to convention will have the opportunity to practice on the Zoom meeting platform and voting software that we will use for diocesan convention. Please plan to join one of these practice sessions using the computer and device that you will use on November 7 during our online diocesan convention.
Join the sessions via Zoom. If you are asked for a password, use lakeerie. To join by phone instead of video, dial 646-876-9923 and use code 944 9505 2246# and password lakeerie.
