Episcopal Church Women

Summary

VTDigger – Montpelier, VT – Q&A: Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown on racism and grief – When Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown spoke out against President Donald Trump’s photo opt…

Fauquier News – Warrenton, VA – Faces of Fauquier: Sunday school leader misses kids – “I want the kids to learn the stories and traditions of our faith and explore how those lessons can relate to their everyday lives…”

Greenfield Recorder – Greenfield, MA – Faith Matters: Let’s expand our vocabulary – It is time for us to join in the celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride. Now more than ever before, it is essential that we stand together and recognize the genuine worth of each and every human being.

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VTDigger

Montpelier, VT

Q&A: Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown on racism and grief

When Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown spoke out against President Donald Trump’s photo op at an Episcopal parish last week, she said, it wasn’t because she was holding her tongue about the events leading up to it.

The week of news about black Americans being harassed or killed — starting with a birder in New York being falsely accused of threats, and continuing with the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police — was “like a sucker punch,” MacVean-Brown said in an interview, “just thing after thing after thing.” […]

Fauquier News

Warrenton, VA

Faces of Fauquier: Sunday school leader misses kids

More than three months ago, the Hume-area church suspended Sunday school and worship services because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Leeds Episcopal Church Director of Children’s Ministries Rhonda Stribling eagerly awaits the day when things return to something like normal.

“I miss seeing the kids,” said Mrs. Stribling, 56. “I miss getting together and catching up on what happened the week before.” But the former elementary school teacher stays as busy as ever. […]

Greenfield Recorder

Greenfield, MA

Faith Matters: Let’s expand our vocabulary

It is time for us to join in the celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride. Now more than ever before, it is essential that we stand together and recognize the genuine worth of each and every human being.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed the detrimental effects of systemic racism and the growing gap between the haves and haves-nots in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the wider culture may choose to tolerate the principle of valuing some lives more than others, people of faith are called to stand up and challenge those dangerous cultural assumptions. […]

View Past Women in Action News Blasts

Summary

SFGATE – San Francisco, CA – Episcopal priest describes being gassed and overrun by police at Washington church – It was 3 a.m. Tuesday before the Rev. Virginia Gerbasi was finally able to fall asleep.

Barre Montpelier Times Argus – Barre, VT – MacVean-Brown: Reaffirming our renunciation of evil – Shannon MacVean-Brown is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. This was a letter…

The Independent – NY, NY – East Hampton Protestors Demand ‘Stop The Hatred’ – Reverend Leandra Lambert, the curate of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Hampton, said on the sunny afternoon “it is a beautiful day to be alive.”

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What is Heavy Turns to Spirit

SFGATE

San Francisco, CA

Episcopal priest describes being gassed and overrun by police at Washington church

It was 3 a.m. Tuesday before the Rev. Virginia Gerbasi was finally able to fall asleep. Every time she started to drift off, she began thinking again of the church and the protesters and the volley of flash bombs and pellets and gas that sent them all running for cover. But what kept her awake was the anger she felt and the disbelief about what happened.

Gerbasi went on Monday to St. John’s Episcopal Church, near Lafayette Square across from the White House, to pass out water and snacks to demonstrators who had gathered to protest the death of George Floyd. She was there, she wrote later on her Facebook page, to help make the patio of the church “a place of respite and peace.” A little after 6 p.m., it became anything but. […]

Barre Montpelier Times Argus

Barre, VT

MacVean-Brown: Reaffirming our renunciation of evil

Yesterday, members of our diocese prayed and fasted as we joined people of many faiths to mourn the deaths of over 100,000 people from COVID-19. We also grieved the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Tony McDade and countless others whose lives were taken because they were black. We lamented the grip of white supremacy that has allowed them no justice. We lamented and mourned morning, noon and night. We prayed and read our sacred texts, a balm in this troubled time. […]

The Independent

NY, NY

East Hampton Protestors Demand ‘Stop The Hatred’

Reverend Leandra Lambert, the curate of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Hampton, said on the sunny afternoon “it is a beautiful day to be alive.”

“And everyone deserves the right to be alive,” she said. “Time’s up, and we have work to do.” […]

View Past Women in Action News Blasts

Summary

The Westfield News – Westfield, MA – Despite closed doors, church clothes the poor – Cleaning out your closet? Spring cleaning?

Muskogee Phoenix – Muskogee, OK – Churches feed the hungry – Cherie Walker could relax for a little while now. As workers loaded boxes of fresh produce and dairy products…

Prince William Living – Dale City, VA – Boxes of Basics is Growing with New Location in Old Town Manassas – Boxes of Basics has been serving Prince William County youth since September 2018. The non-profit, created by Haymarket resident Sarah Tyndall, provides seasonal wardrobes to local children in need. In less than two years this organization has provided clothing to 400 local children in need.

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Episcopal News Service

New York, NY

Episcopal Church Women Launch New Website

The National Episcopal Church Women launched a new website. Their old site, originally started in 2006, went through a three month rebuild. They have included upgrades that allow members to share their personal and local news as well as unique articles, poems, and prayers. […]

The Westfield News

Westfield, MA

Despite closed doors, church clothes the poor

Cleaning out your closet? Spring cleaning?

The Episcopal Church of the Atonement, located at 36 Court St., has extended an invitation to the public, seeking clothing donations.
“Americans discard clothes at an enormous rate,” Episcopal Church of the Atonement Rev. Nancy Webb Stroud said. “People need these clothes all around the world…Instead of going into a landfill, these (items) are going to people who need clothes.”

Episcopal Church of the Atonement is currently accepting clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, blankets, sheets, drapes, linens, pillowcases and stuffed animals. Donors are asked to place their donated item or items into a tied plastic bag and put it into the clothing shed opening in the parking lot off of Pleasant Street. A box on the shed contains receipts for tax deductions. […]

Muskogee Phoenix

Muskogee, OK

Churches feed the hungry

Cherie Walker could relax for a little while now.

As workers loaded boxes of fresh produce and dairy products in the trunk of the Muskogee woman’s car, she felt relieved. Walker was among the residents who were helped at three Muskogee churches on Tuesday.

“This is just a huge blessing,” she said. “I actually need to get some food. I was going to the grocery store, but this actually helps out. I have four kids. This helps quite a bit.”

Walker drove through the parking lots used by Grace Episcopal Church and Antioch Missionary Baptist Church at Sixth Street and Broadway. A third church, Divine Love Christian Fellowship Church, 500 N. F St., was also handing out food and milk to those residents who needed it, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. […]

Prince William Living

Dale City, VA

Boxes of Basics is Growing with New Location in Old Town Manassas

Boxes of Basics has been serving Prince William County youth since September 2018. The non-profit, created by Haymarket resident Sarah Tyndall, provides seasonal wardrobes to local children in need. In less than two years this organization has provided clothing to 400 local children in need. […]

Summary

Tribune-Star – Terre Haute, IN – Food, blessings, compassion all fit through a window – Manna from Seven refines its Friday distributions to those in need…

The Berkshire Eagle – Pittsfield, MA – Berkshire church leaders pump brakes on plans for reopening – Several Berkshire clergy say they are in no rush…

First Coast ABC News – St. Augustine, FL – Historical Society collects your COVID-19 stories for future generations – What will future generations look back and know about this pandemic? It depends on what we leave for them. The St. Augustine Historical Society is collecting your COVID-19 stories for historical purposes.

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Tribune-Star

Terre Haute, IN

Food, blessings, compassion all fit through a window

Manna from Seven refines its Friday distributions to those in need

Compassion for those in line outside the church flowed through the windows — literally and figuratively — of St. Stephen’s during the food distribution on Friday.

The six windows lining the alleyway behind the church were recently installed to open wide enough to allow food organized inside on tables to be passed through to recipients. Everyone wears a face mask, and those without a mask are given one before they can approach a window.

The weekend food ministry Manna From Seven — founded by seven people who had volunteered at area soup kitchens — fills the gap created by the closing of soup kitchens on Saturday and Sunday. […]

The Berkshire Eagle

Pittsfield, MA

Berkshire church leaders pump brakes on plans for reopening

Several Berkshire clergy say they are in no rush to welcome back congregants for in-person religious services under the state’s road map to a new normal.

However, the local Catholic faithful could return to their weekend Masses as soon as this weekend.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced Monday that churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship can reopen, provided they adhere to 21 conditions outlined in the administration’s master plan for reopening the commonwealth. […]

First Coast ABC News

St. Augustine, FL

Historical Society collects your COVID-19 stories for future generations

*video*

What will future generations look back and know about this pandemic?

It depends on what we leave for them. The St. Augustine Historical Society is collecting your COVID-19 stories for historical purposes.

It’s an online survey, with space to write out your experiences. You can also share photos, art, and videos. They will be compiled and kept in the historical society’s archives for researchers and the public. […]

Summary

Richmond Times-Dispatch – Richmond, VA – WATCH NOW: Soup, bread and conversation; UGK+Soup: Community First Project now feeding thousands in Richmond and beyond – Her voice cracking with emotion, Madeline Peace repeated the same word several times in a matter of minutes: “grateful.”

Courier News – Russellville, AR – Neighbors Table revamps to serve community – Started around nine years ago by All Saint’s Episcopal Church members who shared common goals to feed the community.

ABC News – Tampa Bay, FL – St. Pete church hands out ‘church-to-go’ bags for members to hold church at home – We’ve seen the online and drive-in church services, but one local church wanted something a little more personable for each of its members.

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Richmond Times-Dispatch

Richmond, VA

WATCH NOW: Soup, bread and conversation; UGK+Soup: Community First Project now feeding thousands in Richmond and beyond

Her voice cracking with emotion, Madeline Peace repeated the same word several times in a matter of minutes: “grateful.”

The Richmond resident stood in the doorway of her near West End apartment on Friday, where at her feet sat a brown paper bag filled with homemade turkey barley soup, freshly baked bread and bags of exotic teas. […]

Courier News

Russellville, AR

Neighbors Table revamps to serve community

Neighbors Table was started around nine years ago by All Saint’s Episcopal Church members who shared common goals to feed the community. The meals, cooked by volunteers, are given each Saturday. Instead of a drop off or pickup options, the idea was to share a meal in a safe space. It’s a free lunch, with no questions asked.

Once the coronavirus hit, Neighbors Table had to revamp completely. No more gatherings. Fewer volunteers.

“How do you take something that you’ve done for around eight years, every Saturday, and figure out how to do the same thing in a completely new way?” Catherine Crews, a founding volunteer asked. “That’s what we’re facing. Plus, we have to do it all within the required safety standards.” […]

ABC News

Tampa Bay, FL

St. Pete church hands out ‘church-to-go’ bags for members to hold church at home

We’ve seen the online and drive-in church services, but one local church wanted something a little more personable for each of its members.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in St. Petersburg has been putting bags together that include their weekly sermons, then handing them out to members so they can hold their own church services at home. They call it “church-to-go!”

“Just drive through, hold down the window side and hand them the bag, and the plus side of that is we have a nanosecond to say ‘hey, you’re still alive, it’s great to see ya,’” said Gigi Conner, priest in charge at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. […]

Summary

AL.com – Birmingham, AL- Hospital chaplains struggle to connect in a time of COVID-19 – The hospital chaplain asked a nurse if she could stand in the hallway and pray for a COVID-19 patient.

Lynn Fitzgibbon, Province VI – Covid-19 – St. Martha’s in Papillion are sewing masks and Nebraska members are Zoom meetings

ABC Action News Tampa, FL – St. Pete church hands out ‘church-to-go’ bags for members to hold church at home – We’ve seen the online and drive-in church services, but one local church wanted something a little more personable for each of its members.

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AL.com

Hospital chaplains struggle to connect in a time of COVID-19

Birmingham, AL

The hospital chaplain asked a nurse if she could stand in the hallway and pray for a COVID-19 patient.

The nurse told the chaplain she would like to pray along. They walked up to the glass wall together, with the patient visible on the other side, stretched out their hands and prayed. Several other nurses stopped in the hallway and bowed their heads. […]

Lynn Fitzgibbon, Province VI – Covid-19

St. Martha’s in Papillion are sewing masks and Nebraska members are Zoom meetings

A team of people from our church, St. Martha’s in Papillion, NE are making masks for whoever needs them. Whoever includes a nursing home in the area. They are continuing to do this, delivering them to those who need them.

From Women’s Ministries in the Diocese of Nebraska: As with everyone across the nation, our plans for gatherings have changed and we are exploring different ways of keeping in touch. One thing we have done is to sponsor a Zoom meeting for anyone who would like to join to discuss various topics. Our first one was on April 3. We offered two sessions, one afternoon and one evening, taking into account the two time zones in our diocese. Our topic was “Missing Holy Week” where we talked about how it felt to be alone, without our church families, in this most special week of the Christian year. We are planning more sessions in the weeks to come. […]

ABC Action News

Tampa, FL

St. Pete church hands out ‘church-to-go’ bags for members to hold church at home

We’ve seen the online and drive-in church services, but one local church wanted something a little more personable for each of its members.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in St. Petersburg has been putting bags together that include their weekly sermons, then handing them out to members so they can hold their own church services at home. They call it “church-to-go!”

“Just drive through, hold down the window side and hand them the bag, and the plus side of that is we have a nanosecond to say ‘hey, you’re still alive, it’s great to see ya,’” said Gigi Conner, priest in charge at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. […]

Tapintoit.net

Montclair, NJ

Matching Funds Will Go to Support Toni’s Kitchen as They Feed More Than 12,000 Meals a Week

Montclair Township donated $20,000 to Toni’s Kitchen and will match up to an additional $20,000 in donations towards the local food ministry’s continued efforts providing meals to those in need during the COVID-19 shutdown. The amount has now been raised to $80,000, with the collaboration of three foundations.

Donations made directly to Toni’s Kitchen by May 31, 2020 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $80,000 and used to strengthen the availability of food in the local community. Toni’s Kitchen is a food ministry of St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, NJ.

Since the closure of schools and businesses due to the pandemic, there have been major disruptions throughout the community. Seniors are isolating, restaurant workers are unemployed, and families are suddenly without income. Toni’s Kitchen has responded by redesigning its work to meet rapidly growing food needs. To put the increased demand for food into perspective, in 2019 Toni’s Kitchen provided an average of 4,300 meals a week. Since March 2020, the number has grown to more than 12,000 meals each week.  […]

Summary

Peninsula Daily News – Just Soup provides curbside service – Just Soup is the name, but there is more to it.

WGNO/ABC – Local church program provides laptops and ipads to kids in need – At Anna’s Place, no kid gets left behind.

Rocketminer.com – Helping those who help others – Director Kathy Siler told those at the Zoom meeting that the Food Bank of Sweetwater County had hosted a drive-through distribution the day before in Rock Springs…

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Peninsula Daily News

Just Soup provides curbside service

Townsend, WA

Just Soup is the name, but there is more to it. Come lunchtime in Uptown Port Townsend, there’s bread, fruit and a snack for later. It’s all packed with care alongside a cup of hot soup for anyone who’d like some, “no questions asked,” said Elizabeth Bindschadler. She’s a coordinator of Just Soup days — Tuesdays and Fridays, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — in and around the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church parish hall at Franklin and Polk streets. […]

WGNO/ABC

Local church program provides laptops and ipads to kids in need

New Orleans, LA

In the Treme at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church they minister to the community through Anna’s Place, where one of their missions is to help kids.

When the schools closed and quarantine took over, Brianna Carr and Fr. William Terry at Anna’s Place made sure all 40 kids enrolled in the program got laptops or ipads to continue their learning while in quarantine.

“We realized that a lot of our kids don’t have access to computers. They come from homes that are living in poverty, many of their parents don’t even use laptops. Every laptop we gave out we gave to each of our kids. We received donations of ipads from the congregation of St. Anna’s,” Carr said. […]

Rocketminer.com

Helping those who help others

Rock Springs, WY

The heads of five Sweetwater County agencies held up their red envelopes for all to see during a Zoom meeting Friday. They were excited that the check inside from the Episcopal Church would provide additional help as each organization strives to help the community during a difficult time.

The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming is donating $1 million from its foundation to the churches in Wyoming to help residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. […]