All over our region, congregations are embracing new ways of working on behalf of the Gospel. If you have a story to tell about work your community is doing, please email us.
On March 22, Bishop Sean led worship online with the Very Rev. Melinda Hall of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie and Craig Dressler of St. Mark’s, Erie. Watch the service on YouTube.
Earlier today in a video conversation with clergy of the partnership, Bishop Sean announced that the suspension of in-person worship will extend at least through Holy Week and Easter. His decision follows Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s March 17 request that in-person public worship, including Holy Week and Easter services, be suspended. Bishop Sean is working with…
On March 12, Bishop Sean wrote to the partnership dioceses that, due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 epidemic, he is suspending in-person worship for the next three weeks. “My only concerns are the safety of the people of our dioceses and the welfare of the communities in which we live and work,” he writes. “As…
March 12, 2020 Dear People of God: Today, I write with regret to tell you that I am suspending Sunday worship effectively Sunday, March 15. The COVID-19 epidemic is spreading so quickly that I cannot in good conscience permit gatherings that could easily hasten the spread of the disease and contribute to the collapse of…
During this time as we respond to the spread of COVID-19, parishes may wish to provide live streams of their services so that those who must stay home feel included. Some churches may at some point not be able to gather in person at all, and may want to offer online worship only. Below are…
updated March 18: Bishop Sean has announced that the suspension of in-person worship will extend through Holy Week and Easter. Read more. *********** updated March 13: Bishop Sean has suspended in-person worship, meetings and gatherings until further notice. Read his letter. *********** updated March 11: Dear People of God: As I am sure you know,…
In late February, more than 75 people from around the region gathered at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown for a workshop on implicit bias led by Dr. Ursuline Bankhead, a licensed psychologist and member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Buffalo, as part of the partnership’s efforts to combat racism and work toward racial justice…
Dear People of God: In a prayer of confession often used in our church, we promise to “repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf.” Understanding sin in this way—as both a personal and collective failing—seems particularly apt this Lent as we continue to…
In February, a new advisory group will begin the next phase of developing a mission strategy for the partnership dioceses. The group, which will be chaired by Craig Dressler of St. Mark’s, Erie, and Twila Smith of St. Simon’s, Buffalo, was appointed by the councils of both dioceses. “I am grateful to the people of…
