Deacons

[The Star-Ledger] Cuts to the U.S. food stamp program will mean 1.9 billion fewer meals for hungry Americans in 2014. That’s more than half the number of meals the country’s food banks already are expected to serve. If House Republicans succeed in cutting $40 billion more from the program over the next decade, another 1.5 billion meals will be wiped out.

The Rev. Diane Riley, a Deacon in the Diocese of Newark, is quoted in this article.

[NJToday] Those who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, will see a decrease in their assistance come Nov. 1. The reduction in benefits comes because a 2009 law temporarily increasing SNAP benefits during the recession has run out. The cut comes right before the holiday season and those involved in food banks and food pantries in New Jersey believe it will be devastating for those in the state who need the help.

[Passaic Valley Today] Their reasons for walking were varied: they opposed violence at home, violence abroad, and supported a greater need for unity in the community.

The group of 50 area residents walked down Main Street Friday evening holding up peace signs and listening to residents tooting their horns in support of the cause.

The Rev. Diane Riley, a deacon in the Diocese of Newark, is quoted in this article.

[The Star-Ledger] After the passage by the House of Representatives last week of a farm bill that does not include funding for the federal food stamp program, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) visited the state's largest food bank this morning to highlight his support for the program, which he cast in stark and unambiguous moral terms.

The Rev. Diane Riley, a deacon in the Diocese of Newark, is quoted in this article.

[NJ Spotlight] As Congress debates the best way to pass a federal farm bill, advocates for New Jersey’s food-aid recipients are concerned that efforts to slash funding for nutrition programs could overburden family budgets at a time when the state’s economy remains fragile and its unemployment rate remains above the national average.

In August 2011, flooding from Hurricane Irene put downtown Millburn in the national news – and badly damaged both St. Stephen’s Church and its freshly renovated rectory. On September 9, 2012, St. Stephen’s congregation joined with Bishop Mark Beckwith and Millburn Mayor Sandra Haimoff to celebrate the completion of a year of flood repairs by dedicating the restored rectory, which will be used to house parish offices and various ministries, including The Tinning Center for Diaconal Ministries.

Mental illness impacts the lives of at least one in four adults and one in 10 children — or 60 million Americans. People impacted by mental illness are all around us, including sitting in the pews of our churches. New research findings have shown that people with serious mental illness can live lives of recovery when supported by their families and loved ones. In order for families to support their loved ones with mental illness, they in turn need the support of their friends and communities, including the church.

Building Bridges to Hope Ministry aims to: