George Mercer Jr. Memorial School of Theology
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  • Episcopal Church Law Course
    • LUNCH AND LEARN CANON LAW
    • Start Here: Episcopal Church Law Course
    • Session 1 - Law and Church
    • Session 2 - General Convention
    • Session 3 - Executive Council
    • Session 4 - Diocesan Ministry
    • Session 5 - Parish Ministry
    • Session 6 - Marriage
    • Session 7 - Parish Administration
    • Session 8 - Worship and Liturgy
    • Session 9 - Lay and Ordained Ministries
    • Session 10 - Title IV Overview
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          ANTICIPATION AND ADVENTUS

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Lunch and Learn Series continues...
Join us as we consider

ADVENT
with The Rev. Michael F. Delaney
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Advent is a season of anticipation, waiting, and often finding light in the darkness. Each liturgical year (Cycles A, B & C) focuses on one of the synoptic gospels. On the first Sunday in Advent 2025, we open the gospel of Matthew. Our Lunch & Learn conversation will explore the Christian story through the eyes, ears, and voice of Matthew.
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Join The Reverend Michael F. Delaney, Vicar, St. James of Jerusalem. Long Beach,  at mid-day on the following three Thursdays in Advent: December 4th, 11th, and 18th from 12:00 Noon -- 1:00 p.m. via ZOOM
Register Here!

Given the focus in our diocesan life on preparing for the election of a new bishop, we are offering a series of three courses on bishops in the Anglican tradition.  

The first course (October) will take the long view, starting with the English Reformation and continuing to the present.  The second course in the series (January) will narrow its focus to three bishops in the Episcopal Church.  The third will come closer and consider three recent Long Island bishops who illustrate different models of episcopacy.  

Our November series will consider the Dead Sea Scrolls an amalgam of ancient biblical and apocryphal texts discovered in the mid-twentieth century.  In December, as we begin a new church year in the season of Advent, we’ll open the Gospel of Matthew.


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In the Late Roman Empire, the visit of the Emperor to a city required preparation and celebration.  The Latin word used to describe this event and the festivities associated with it was “adventus” – arrival.  As the Church Year became formalized, the church adopted this term as a reference to the time of preparation before the feast of the Incarnation; in English, “advent.”  The Season of Advent implies anticipation, waiting, preparing.
 
At Mercer, things begin to slow down a bit around Thanksgiving.  But with no break between the first and second academic semesters, we move quickly into Epiphanytide following Christmas.  Online Lunch & Learn continues into the new year with a variety of new offerings.  The list of topics and dates through June 206 is elsewhere on this page.

Continue to monitor the website for further developments.  Change is in the air in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island!

Self-Study Course in Episcopal Church Law
Polity and Canon Law Update
​
As we revise the Episcopal Church Law course to incorporate changes in our polity and canon law made at the Episcopal Church’s General Conventions in 2022 and 2024, we offer video recordings of our October 2024  lunchtime sessions covering the most significant of these changes. 

To access the videos, follow this dropdown sequence:  EPISCOPAL CHURCH LAW COURSE => LUNCH AND LEARN CANON LAW.
 
No registration or password is required.
More information about our School for Ministry program, please click here and reach out to
​Director of Academic Programs - Canon Ted Gerbracht 
[email protected]. ​

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As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Education for Ministry, join us for an enlightening in-person workshop and gathering on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 11:00am to 2:30pm.
More INfo on EFM

Considering Ordained Ministry?

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Mercer Library Hours


Tuesday and Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Saturday by Appt Only

Contact [email protected]

Spring 2026 Catalog
Registration Opens soon

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The Very Rev. Dr. Michael Sniffen, Ph.D.
Dean
[email protected]
Diane Muscarella
Director of Operations
[email protected]
Canon Ted Gerbracht, Ph.D.
​
Director of Academic Programs
​School for Ministry

[email protected]
Laura Nelson, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Academic Programs
​
lnelson@dioceseli.org
Aissa Hillebrand
Assistant Director of Operations
[email protected]
Jane Herbst
Librarian
[email protected]
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The George Mercer, Jr. Memorial School of Theology
Episcopal Diocese of Long Island
65 Fourth Street, Garden City, NY 11530 • 516 248-4800 Ext 140
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  • About Mercer
    • Who We Are
    • Contact Us
  • Programs & Events
    • Parish Leader Workshops
    • Special Events & Lectures
    • Education for Ministry
  • Safe Church
    • Diocesan Policies & Information
  • School for Ministry
    • Overview
    • Ordination Track Only Courses
    • Book List Fall 2025
    • Courses of Study
    • Academic Policies & Procedures
    • Instructors
    • Resources >
      • START HERE
  • Episcopal Church Law Course
    • LUNCH AND LEARN CANON LAW
    • Start Here: Episcopal Church Law Course
    • Session 1 - Law and Church
    • Session 2 - General Convention
    • Session 3 - Executive Council
    • Session 4 - Diocesan Ministry
    • Session 5 - Parish Ministry
    • Session 6 - Marriage
    • Session 7 - Parish Administration
    • Session 8 - Worship and Liturgy
    • Session 9 - Lay and Ordained Ministries
    • Session 10 - Title IV Overview
  • Lunch and Learn Series
  • Mercer Library
    • Library Use
    • Reading for Learning
  • Resources
    • Commission on Ministry