In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, welcome to the website of the Diocese of New Jersey, the Episcopal Church in the lower two-thirds of the State of New Jersey.

Will you help your brothers and sisters in the Diocese of New Jersey who have been affected by Sandy? To donate securely online, click here.

Worship Returns to St. Elisabeth's	Events, workshops & more!	We have a Bishop-elect!
St. Elisabeth's Chapel-By-the-Sea in  Ortley Beach has been a part of the Diocese of New Jersey since the late 19th century.  Originally a summer chapel, it has been holding services year round for the least seven years. While their small chapel was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, the congregation has strived to remain a "beacon of hope" according to its senior warden, Dennis Bellars. On May 26, 2013, seventy-four people filled their newly rebuilt Fellowship Hall in a standing-room only Eucharist - the first of any sort since the storm. The Rev. Charles Sakin, a supply priest beloved by the congregation who has served at St. Elisabeth for over 22 summers, celebrated the emotion filled Eucharist. St. Elisabeth's member Mark Case, who served as chair of the committee to rebuild, spent part of every day at the site making sure that the work was being done in a timely fashion and to his satisfaction. Other members of the congregation also volunteered their time and energy to help prepare Fellowship Hall for holding services this summer. The success of Chase and the other volunteers was surely felt by all those in attendance. While the congregation is now working towards rebuilding the church, St. Elisabeth's is back open for worship.	Although summer is often a time to slow down, there are still plenty of opportunities in the Diocese. Youth Summer Mission Trip Saturday, August 25th-August 30th For: Youth (grades 9-12) Cost: $300 (includes housing at Ocean Grove Retreat Center) Join our with youth from our diocese and the Diocese of Long Island to learn about the challenges facing local residents and community agencies by working to help home owners, pack food, or support general cleanup efforts. The application deadline to register is August 19. Please contact The Rev. Canon Debi Clarke (877-394-5281 x36). • MDG Grant Deadline Extended to June 30th The Grant Program encourages local parishes and other Episcopal organizations to support the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Up to $500 per project is available to match funds raised by an applicant who decides which partner organization to support.  For more information and application. •"Keeping the Poor with Us" Saturday, July 20th 10am-3pm St. Matthew's, Pennington Suggested donation: $20 includes materials. This workshop will provide resources and training to assist in making  conversations about poverty meaningful and inspire us to action.	The Reverend Canon William (“Chip”) Hallock Stokes, age 56, rector of St. Paul’s Church in Delray Beach, Florida, was elected on the fifth ballot as twelfth bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey on May 4, 2013 at the special convention at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton. Under the canons of the Episcopal Church, a majority of bishops and diocesan standing committees must consent to the bishop-elect’s ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving notice of the election. The ordination and consecration is scheduled for November 2 at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton. The Rev. Canon William 'Chip' Hallock Stokes View bishop-elect Stoke's self-introduction video on YouTube. For a statement by Canon Stokes when he heard the results of the election click here. For Media Coverage about the Bishop's election, click here.
Superstorm Sandy	Essential to Justice: Affordable Food	Ministry with Older Adults
For updates and the latest information, see the dedicated Sandy information page. For help related to Sandy, questions about donations, or any disaster -related question within the Diocese of New Jersey, contact Keith Adams at kadams@newjersey.anglican.org or 609 394-8521 X 35. To find volunteer opportunities for Sandy relief and recovery with the Episcopal Church go to relief.episcopalny.org For a look at what happened in the Diocese of New Jersey in the week following the storm, see our PDF publication — 'After Sandy' — that portrays some of the devastation, resilience, and hope in the Diocese of New Jersey. You can also print out a June insert from ERD for bulletins. Click here for a Google map that shows the location of all the diocesan resource centers found around the diocese. Click on a location that you're interested in and the contact information will appear. Or download a text list of the resource centers and contact information. No offer of help is too small!	Food scarcity is a bigger problem than ever as human population numbers continue to swell, putting additional stress on already fragile food production and distribution systems. And it’s not just happening in faraway places: A recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the number of U.S. homes “lacking food security” rose from 4.7 million to 6.7 million in just the last five years. Scheer, R.  ‎ How can we help? Learn to take an empty space and cultivate it into an area that can produce fresh organic produce, stretch food budgets while teaching habits of healthier food consumption to our families, parishioners and food pantry guest. Saturday, June 22, 2013 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM Trinity Cathedral –Trenton No cost to attend. Open to ALL. Register by contacting Sarah Paige.   Leaders: Clara Gregory, Diocesan Jubilee Officer, Master Gardner Jim Simon, Urban Agriculture Program Manager for Isles, Inc., and Master Gardener Canon Terry Cooper. This hands-on workshop will illustrate elements of successful faith-based gardening while providing us with the knowledge to teach others a sustainable skill. We will learn how to: Evaluate a potential site; Learn about soil testing; Discuss in-ground vs. container or raised bed gardening; Learn the steps to construct a raised bed; Develop a seasonal planting plan; and, Take a tour of a community garden in Trenton. Founded in 1981, Isles, Inc. is a Trenton, NJ based community development and environmental organization with a mission to foster self-reliant families and healthy, sustainable communities.	New Comittee Explores Ministry  Older Adults More than one in three Episcopalians is over the age of 65, and another 41% of Episcopalians are between the ages of 45 to 64. That means three of every four members of the Episcopal Church are age 45 or older. In terms of economic stressors alone (retirement age, technology gaps, social services, Social Security, and Medicare), the impact of this demographic group on local congregations is profound.” The Committeee on Ministry to Older Adults has set out to answer these questions: • How do we recognize, honor, and utilize the experience, wisdom, and gifts of "older" adults? • How do we develop ministries that integrate and weave multiple generations together spiritually? • How do we cultivate Christ’s message of hope and service for older adults, families, and their caregivers? • How do we examine, explore, and create innovative and contemporary liturgical, spiritual, and service ministries by, with, and for all generations in the Body of Christ?” Join us on for an Evensong on September 28, 2013 at 3:00 pm in Trinity Cathedral to honor nominees submitted by congregations for exemplary work done during their years of service. For more information about the committee and the work they are doing, contact either of the co-chairs The Rev. Jane Brady or The Rev. Jayne Oasin.