Curry: 'We need a Jesus movement today'

From Easton-

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, who gained international attention when he preached at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, delivered a sermon March 3 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina.

Curry is the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church.

Sunday’s service brought about 1,000 attendees from around the entire Episcopal Diocese of Easton, which is composed of more than 40 Episcopal faith communities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

The service was in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the diocese. The Episcopal Diocese of Easton was formed in 1868, shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War.

More here-

https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/qa/community/church/curry-we-need-a-jesus-movement-today/article_54115c11-823c-550a-824e-85bf2b2374b1.html

Bishop who spoke at Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's wedding coming to Maryland

From Easton-

The American bishop who received worldwide attention after speaking at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding is coming to the Eastern Shore. 

Rev. Michael B. Curry will present with the Episcopal Diocese of Easton on Sunday, March 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge. Curry will help wrap up the diocese's year-long commemoration and celebration of the 150th Anniversary of its founding, according to a news release. 

"We consider ourselves truly blessed to have him with us for this great celebration and hallmark moment in the life of our diocese," the diocese stated in a news release. 

More here-

https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2019/02/28/bishop-who-spoke-prince-harry-meghan-markles-wedding-coming-md/2904397002/

Bishop of royal wedding fame to visit Shore

From Easton-

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, who gained international attention and fame when he preached at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, will be present with the Episcopal Diocese of Easton at noon Sunday, March 3, at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge.

Attendees are asked to wear their red, white, yellow or blue anniversary shirts to the service.
The Episcopal Diocese of Easton refers collectively to the over 40 Episcopal faith communities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Curry will be with the diocese as it wraps up its year-long commemoration and celebration of the 150th anniversary of its founding. The Episcopal Diocese of Easton was founded in 1868, shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War.

Curry is scheduled to preach and to celebrate the closing Eucharist with about 1,000 people from around the entire diocese.

More here-

https://www.stardem.com/life/bishop-of-royal-wedding-fame-to-visit-shore/article_7148505a-4d89-5475-af38-fac64e05132e.html

Diocese of Easton commemorates Founders’ Day

From Easton-

As part of the diocese’s yearlong anniversary observances, the Bishop of Easton, the Right Rev. Dr. Santosh Marray led a “Diocesan Founders’ Day” tribute on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the grave of Bishop Henry C. Lay, first bishop (1869-1885) and second bishop, William Forbes Adams (1869-1920), in Easton’s Springhill Cemetery and at Trinity Easton Cathedral on Goldsborough Street.

The Episcopal Diocese of Easton turns 150 this year. The diocese was carved out of the Diocese of Maryland as a free-standing diocese in November 1868. Christian presence and witness were introduced to the state of Maryland in 1631 with the founding of the first Anglican/Episcopal congregation, Christ Church, Kent Island.

Lay (1823-1885) began his episcopacy as the Episcopal Missionary Bishop for the Southwest in 1859, an area that encompassed Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.

More here-

https://www.stardem.com/life/diocese-of-easton-commemorates-founders-day/article_c7d227ae-6176-5336-84f8-d7abb9521fa1.html

Marray welcomed to the Episcopal Diocese of Easton

From Easton-

The Episcopal Diocese of Easton will formally welcome its 11th bishop, the Rt. Rev. Santosh K. Marray, at a service of recognition and investiture at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College, Wye Mills. The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, will be the celebrant.

The Rt. Rev. Santosh K. Marray, 58, most recently served as the assistant bishop of the Diocese of Alabama. He was the bishop assisting of the Diocese of East Carolina from 2009 to 2012. From 2005 to 2008, he was the bishop of Seychelles, province of the Indian Ocean, and led the diocese through re-imagination, change and clergy and laity empowerment. When the diocese returned to sustainability, he returned to his family in the US.

More here-

http://www.stardem.com/life/article_c913cfea-ab77-5d26-a717-6a69efa9e703.html

Assistant bishop for Alabama has a new job

From Alabama-

The assistant bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama will be moving to become the bishop of Easton, Maryland.

The Rt. Rev. Santosh K. Marray was elected the 11th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton on June 11.

Marray was elected on the third ballot from among four nominees.  He received 69 of 88 votes cast in the lay order and 31 of 51 votes cast in the clergy order.  The election took place at Trinity Cathedral in Easton.

"Lin and I give thanks to Almighty God and the laity and clergy of the Diocese of Easton for this remarkable call to serve and to dream God's dream with the faithful people in the Easton shores of Maryland," said Marray following his election.  "We thank God for ministry in Alabama and the love and care our brothers and sisters have shown us during our ministry here."

More here-

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/06/assistant_bishop_for_alabama_h.html

A 'fresh new start' for St. Paul's by-the-sea

From Delmarva-

St. Paul's by-the-sea Episcopal Church is one step closer to becoming whole again.

The Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission recently approved the church's construction plans, town Communications Manager Jessica Waters confirmed this week. The approval was for a 3,000-square-foot addition.

This reconstruction is a chance to move forward after a deep, gruesome scar in St. Paul's by-the-sea's past.

November 2013 brought tragedy to the church on North Baltimore Avenue in Ocean City.

More here-

http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2016/02/24/fresh-start-st-pauls-sea/80802076/

Ocean City church endures year of hurt and healing

From Easton-

Brenda Dingwall still hurts.

A year ago, a man doused himself in gasoline, lit himself on fire and walked into her Episcopal church, St. Paul’s by-the-Sea, in Ocean City, Maryland.

Brenda’s husband and the church’s leader, the Rev. David Dingwall, ran into the building toward screams of people trapped in the food pantry by the man, who was engulfed in flames. Rev. Dingwall opened a door to free the people, but was overcome by smoke and died later that night.

More here-

http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2014/11/23/ocean-city-church-endures-year-hurt-healing/19466447/

Hebron church members vow to move forward, post fire

From Easton-

As fire ripped through St. Paul's Episcopal Church off Route 50 in Hebron, Ron Knapp sat against a nearby tree.

Knapp, the pastor of the church, tried to make sense of the 240-year-old church burning Tuesday, while sitting there. Then he saw his wife.

"My wife appeared with my pectoral cross, this wooden one, with this silver corpus that I had been given the day I was ordained 45 years ago," he said to his congregation Sunday, holding up the cross. "She told me that a firefighter had emerged from the remains with cross dangling from his hands. And I had been looking for this cross for weeks.

More here-

http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2014/07/27/stpauls-fire-recovery/13244717/

When history becomes ashes

From Easton-

The crispy, hard, black ashes crunched against the blade of his shovel as Chuck Hughes dug deep into the remains of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Spring Hill near Hebron. He came to investigate, on behalf of an insurance company, the cause of the fire that, in less than two hours, turned the wooden building into smoke and charcoal.

In 120 minutes, a church built in 1773 was gone.

"Just think," Chuck said to me, "this church was here before there was our United States."

When I met Chuck at the site, I noticed it was less than 24 hours since Old Spring Hill, as it was also called, was standing. In just 24 hours a beautiful church was gone. The morning before, fire trucks, emergency personnel, bystanders and backed up traffic on a closed portion of the highway. Oddly, it was just Chuck and I standing in the ashes, alone, talking.

More here-

http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/maryland/2014/07/25/brice-stump-hebron/13155219/

Fire Ruins Historical Hebron Church

From Maryland-

Authorities are investigating a Tuesday fire that destroyed the historical St. Paul's Episcopal Church at the corner of Memory Gardens Lane and Route 50 in Hebron.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office said the fire was reported by a passerby to 9-1-1 shortly after 11 a.m.  Father Ryan Glancey is an episcopal priest at another church in the diocese and is the one who made the 9-1-1 call.

"Just black smoke coming through the windows at the top.  And then the flames came out of the roof about 20 feet and then all the windows downstairs started to break and the sides fell in," Glancey said.

More here-

http://www.wboc.com/story/26081608/fire-ruins-historical-hebron-church

Call to Special Convention

From Easton-

Last Thursday evening on May 8, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Easton presented its candidate for the position of Bishop Provisional for our diocese. The Diocesan Council unanimously approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Henry Nutt Parsley, Jr., resigned diocesan Bishop of Alabama, as the Bishop Provisional of the Diocese of Easton. The election of Bishop Parsley will be held on Wednesday evening, July 16 at 6:30 pm in Trinity Cathedral, Easton.

More here-

http://dioceseofeaston.org/call-to-special-convention/

Episcopal churches from Taunton, Mansfield, Easton unite; first combined service set for June 15

From Easton-

Three Bristol County Episcopal churches are merging into one, and will celebrate their first service together as the Bristol Trinity Episcopal Church on June 15.

The new congregation will be moving to space leased from the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 143 Lincoln St., in North Easton.

The three churches, St. John’s of Taunton, St. John the Evangelist of Mansfield and St. Mark’s of North Easton, have been in a “cluster” relationship since the early 1990s, sharing a priest and often gathering together f
or services during the summer months. With small congregations and aging buildings, the churches of the Bristol Cluster voted in September 2013 to begin the merger process. The churches have been worshipping together since October of this year, rotating between the three church buildings for weekly services and other activities. Average Sunday attendance for the combined congregation is around 70.

More here-

http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20140526/NEWS/140527129/11195/LIFESTYLE

St. Paul's to demolish fire-ravaged rectory

From Maryland-

The leadership of St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church has decided to demolish its historic rectory destroyed by arson in November, the church announced in its latest newsletter.

“This was not an easy process,” wrote the Rev. Dr. Mark Cyr in the church’s April 1 newsletter, “but the vestry realized that there are more possibilities available to us to exercise our ministries if we are not constrained with the present building.”

Cyr said church leaders met March 23 to discuss the future of St. Paul’s in the wake of a November fire that took the life of pastor the Rev. David Dingwall. The sanctuary has since been shuttered for cleanup and renovations. Parishioners have been holding Sunday services at the adjacent DeWees Hall, the church’s community center.

More here-

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20140401/NEWS35/304010019/St-Paul-s-to-demolish-fire-ravaged-rectory?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CDW

Bishop Shand to retire after more than 11 years leading the Diocese of Easton

From Easton-

The Rt. Rev. James J. Shand has announced that he will retire as the tenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton after more than 11 years in that position.

Shand, 67, informed the clergy of the diocese, the Diocesan Council, and the Diocesan Standing Committee, that he will resign as of July 1, 2014. He has been bishop of Easton since Jan. 25, 2003.

Normally when a bishop retires, a search is conducted for a permanent successor. But in this case, Shand is suggesting the election of a provisional bishop to serve in an interim capacity for an as-yet undetermined period of time.

“It is my belief, and the belief of the Standing Committee, that the Diocese of Easton would benefit from a period of discernment, questioning, and self-study before moving into the lengthy process of a search,” he said in a letter announcing his retirement.

More here-

http://www.cecildaily.com/news/local_news/article_1a2b0422-2b39-5312-b1c3-156bfd6bd565.html

Evidence indicates man intended to commit suicide in fatal fire

From ENS-

Ocean City, Maryland, investigators say they believe a local man bought gasoline, poured it on himself and set himself on fire before he ran into St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church Nov. 26, begging for help.

The man, John Raymond Sterner, 56, died on the scene and the church’s rector, the Rev. David Dingwall, died from smoke inhalation in the ensuing fire in the church’s old rectory building.

A female victim, whose name is not being released, was injured while attempting to leave the building during the fire, investigators said. She was treated by paramedics at the scene and ultimately transported to John’s Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where she is still being treated. Ocean City investigators said her current condition is unknown.

The fire began when Sterner, with his clothes on fire, entered the church’s Shepherd’s Crook ministry offices, located in the 1923 rectory building that is part of the church’s property. Shepherd’s Crook provides food and clothing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings and on Nov. 26 volunteers were preparing for the pre-Thanksgiving food distribution.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/12/05/evidence-indicates-man-intended-to-commit-suicide-in-fatal-fire/

Man poured gas on self before deadly Ocean City church fire

From Easton- (with video)


Ocean City fire investigators believe that the man who entered a church on fire, igniting a blaze that killed its pastor, had poured gasoline on himself as part of a suicide plot.

The fire marshal's office said Tuesday that John Raymond Sterner covered himself in fuel and set himself on fire just before he burst into St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church as volunteers were opening a Thanksgiving food bank Nov. 26.

Sterner died in the blaze, which quickly spread and was responsible for the death of the Rev. David A. Dingwall, whom firefighters found unconscious on the second floor. Dingwall died of smoke inhalation after being treated at Atlantic General Hospital in nearby Berlin.

Read more:

 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-ocean-city-church-fire-20131203,0,7384939.story#ixzz2mVcDZaHs

St. Paul's service honors pastor who died in blaze

From Maryland-

Gathering before a makeshift altar Sunday morning, parishioners of St. Paul’s By The Sea worshiped together for the first time since a fire took the life of their pastor and damaged their church.

Tears, smiles and hugs mingled at the hour-long service officiated by the Right Rev. James J. Shand, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton. About 150 congregants attended the service held in the Town Council chambers at City Hall across the street from St. Paul’s.

Many wore orange or pinned orange ribbons to their chests in a tribute to the Rev. David Dingwall, who died in Tuesday’s fire. Orange was his favorite color, Shand said.

More here-

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20131202/NEWS/312010075/St-Paul-s-service-honors-pastor-who-died-blaze

Pastor, client killed in Md. church food bank fire

From USA Today (with video)

The pastor of St. Paul's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church died of injuries suffered early Tuesday after a man set himself ablaze in the building's basement.

Witnesses said the fire started when a man set himself on fire and entered the food bank housed in the Ocean City church's basement. That man also died, and a woman suffered life-threatening injuries.

STORY: Man reportedly lit himself, causes blaze at food bank

The Rev. David A. Dingwall died at Atlantic General Hospital, according to the Rev. Canon Heather Cook of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton, Md.

The man who reportedly started the fire, a client of the food pantry, has not been identified by authorities. His body was at the scene late Tuesday, being reviewed by a medical examiner, city spokeswoman Jessica Waters said.

More here-

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/27/maryland-church-food-bank-fire/3764617/

2 Killed In Fire at St. Paul's By-The-Sea Episcopal Church

From Easton (with video)

A second person has died following a fire at St. Paul's By-The-Sea Episcopal Church this morning in Ocean City.

The Rev. David Dingwall died as a result of his injuries Tuesday afternoon, according to the Rev. Canon Heather Cook of the Episcopal Diocese in Easton.

The name of another person who died inside the church on Tuesday morning and the name of a third person who incurred life-threatening injuries have not been released.

The remaining victim is at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, according to Ocean City spokeswoman Jessica Waters.

More here-

http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/307499/1/2-Killed-In-Fire-at-St-Pauls-By-The-Sea-Episcopal-Church