Bishops Corner

Bishop's Weekly Message

Jan. 14—Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters

Today, as a nation, and as a world community, we continue to be challenged by the forces of discrimination, hatred, greed, lust for power, anger, and violence which plagued the world when Thich Naht Hahn and Martin Luther King, Jr. struck up their friendship. As our Presiding Bishop observed in his Message to the Nation on January 6, “there are forces intentionally seeking and working to divide us. Left unchecked, unaddressed, and unhealed, this can lead to the decline and deconstruction of our nation and make it impossible for us to strive to be ‘one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’”

January 14, 2022

Other Recent Messages

Bishop's Weekly Message

Jan. 7—Bishop Curry’s Address to the Nation

On Thursday, our Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Michael Curry, offered an Address to the Nation in Washington, D.C., calling us to remember our deepest commitment to democratic principles and to the love and light of Christ.

January 8, 2022

Bishop's Weekly Message

Dec. 17—”Fear Not”

As people of faith, we have a rock solid resource for bravery—our belief and faith in Jesus Christ. “Fear not!” the angel said to the shepherds abiding in the field. “I bring you news of great joy which shall be to all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find the child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

December 17, 2021

Bishop's Weekly Message

Dec. 10—The Coming Anew of Christ

Advent is the Church’s holy season of waiting and expectation. We wait for the coming anew of Christ into our world and into our lives. Paradoxically, we also believe, or should believe, Christ is with us now and always. Consider Jesus’ final words to his disciples at the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). What do we make of this paradox?

December 11, 2021

Bishop's Weekly Sermon

Bishop’s Christmas Message 2021

Christmas came into my mother’s dull room in a New York City nursing home last week. It is my prayer that the newborn Christ comes just as surely, and with that same heavenly light and joy that shines, that always shines, in darkness, wherever and whenever that darkness exists.

December 23, 2021

Other Recent Sermons

Episcopal Community Services of the Diocese of New Jersey Sunday

ECS is already making a meaningful and positive impact across the diocese through its education and advocacy work and through the grants it is making to address vital human needs in this part of God’s dominion. The convergence of ECS Sunday with the Second Sunday of Advent is appropriate and powerful.

November 23, 2021

Stewardship Sunday & the Rich Young Man

Gracious and generous God, giver of all we have and hold as stewards; grant the people of this church a deep and abiding awareness that all that we have-our health, our incomes, our jobs, our talents – are gifts received from your hand. Send your Holy Spirit to help us as we swim against the rising tides of materialism and greed in our culture. Send your Holy Spirit to teach us that we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give! Send your Holy Spirit to remind us that when we give generously and joyfully, we grow in grace and our spiritual lives are transformed as our stewardship becomes a witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. We pray with grateful, thankful hearts, in the name of Jesus, the Christ…AMEN!

October 6, 2021

If You Want to See God, Look at Jesus

Diocese of New Jersey – Online Sermon 19 Pentecost – Proper 22 – Year B – October 3, 2021 Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16 Preacher: The Right Reverend William H. Stokes, Bishop of New Jersey In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

October 3, 2021