Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will keynote a farewell gala honoring the ministries of Bishop Chip and Mrs. Susan Stokes, Canon Mary Ann Rhoads, and Canon Ann Notte on May 21. Tickets benefitting Episcopal Community Services of New Jersey are available now.
The Farewell Gala will commemorate the planned June retirements of four key figures in the life of our diocese: Bishop Chip Stokes, who has been our chief pastor for close to ten years; Susan Stokes, the bishop’s wife, who has been actively involved in diocesan ministry throughout her husband’s episcopate; Canon Ann Notte, Office and Convention Manager, who has been a critical member of diocesan staff for nearly 25 years; and Canon Mary Ann Rhoads, and who served as Executive Assistant to five Bishops over the past 34 years.
Bishop Stokes chose to have proceeds from the Gala support ECS-NJ, the diocese’s new initiative that focuses on proactively addressing human needs, such as food and shelter, and relentlessly working against both social and racial injustice.
Ticket sales for the Gala will benefit ECS, as will sales of advertisements in the Gala Journal and on screen during the Gala, as well as donations. For those who wish to attend the Gala but can’t afford tickets, a limited amount of financial assistance is available.
For more information, and to purchase tickets and advertisements, visit the Gala Home Page.
