Newsletter, December 28

On behalf of Interfaith Hospitality Network of Essex County (IHN), I would like to thank you for your donations of $25 gift cards to our IHN families.  We will provide the gift cards to parents in our network — both those in the shelter and those who have moved into their own homes — so they can buy food and other goods for their family members. What a difference this makes in helping parents provide for their children during a time that can often be financially stressful!

At IHN, besides helping families with emergency shelter, we also work with them after they move to their own homes so they can become truly self-sufficient. Services such as financial workshops, healthy cooking classes, afterschool tutoring, and skills training all contribute to the ability of a family to move out of poverty and into economic independence.

Again, thank you for your generosity and best wishes for a joyous holiday season.

With gratitude.

The Annual Diocesan Convention is slated for Friday January 27 and Saturday the 28th of January at the Hilton Hotel in Parsippany.  St Stephen’s will be represented by your elected delegates, Sarah Jeter and Oyin Owolabi, and your two clergy, for the business sessions of Diocesan policy, positions and budgets. The Bishop and Chair of Convention have also extended an open invitation to anyone who would like to attend the listening and conversation sessions. These have been well received to date,  and given people new hope and vision.  If this is of interest to you please let me know and I will give you details.