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News from the Episcopal
Diocese
of Western Massachusetts
CELEBRANDO LA ABUNDANCIA DE DIÓS
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Ministry in a Time of Change:
Parish Leadership Day
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Registration is open for Parish Leadership Day 2016. Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this formation day for lay and clergy leaders. For more information, a description of workshops and registration, click the button below.
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The holy season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10, and continues to the festive day of Easter on March 27. Resources for Lent 2016 from the Episcopal Church
include a wide array of prayers, reflections, links, videos, social media, bulletin inserts, and more for all ages to participate in and experience a spirit-filled Lenten season. TEC resources for LENT
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Lenten Reflections on the readings for the Daily Office, written by lay and clergy people from across our diocese...
...beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 10.
Please
contact Robin Carlo, Missioner for Spiritual Formation, if you have questions.
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Ministry Development Initiatives Grants
(formerly CDI grants)
With a new year comes a new grant program for ministry development! The MDI grants program replaces the Congregational Development Investment grants program that was offered for many years. The ‘CDI’ team took a long look at the CDI grant program and revamped it from the ground up. The intent of this new program is to inspire out-of-the-box thinking. Big thinking encouraged! Grants are structured from $2000 to $10,000. The
March 1st APPLICATION DEADLINE will be here before you know it
. Begin your thought processes now, asking the question:
Who in our community are we currently not serving, and how can we change that?
For full details, criteria and application please visit the
grants opportunities page
of our website.
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Retired Clergy Luncheon
for clergy, spouses, and surviving spouses
Bishop Fisher invites all our retired clergy, their spouses, and surviving spouses to choose from one of two upcoming luncheons planned in your honor.
One gathering will be on Tuesday, May 10 in Sturbridge. If that is not convenient for you, we will have a second lunch on Tuesday, September 27 in Pittsfield. Details for the Pittsfield lunch will be sent along later in the year but you may save the date if that one is best for you.
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All are welcome to this "Loving the Questions" event!
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All Saints' Episcopal Church, South Hadley
The life we most deeply desire is ready to unfold. When we release our ego driven needs for power, prestige and possessions we find the freedom to ask:
- What do I care about most?
- What am I really good at?
- Who are my people?
- What spiritual practices dispose me to hear God’s call?
- Where do I find the courage to take the next step?
More information here.
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What's happening for WMA Youth...
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March 11-13, the Diocese of Western MA will be hosting a joint youth retreat with the Diocese of NH at Barbara Harris Camp. The retreat is open to all youth currently in grades 6-12 and their youth group leaders. Come join us as we talk about our faith journey, make new friends, and have fun in beautiful Greenfield New Hampshire! Any questions, please contact Youth Missioner Hilary Bogert-Winkler.
Registrations and fee are due March 1 and can be found here.
Additional information (including cost and scholarship info) can be found here.
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Join us this summer from July 24-30 as we travel to the City of Brotherly Love (aka Philadelphia) to work with the Episcopal Mission Center and engage in mission work throughout the city! We'll get a chance to serve, worship, and play with other Episcopal youth as we seek to serve Christ in one another and in the city.
The mission trip is open to all youth currently in grades 7-12, and costs $600/person (the youth is expected to contribute 1/3, the parish 1/3, and the diocese 1/3). Scholarship assistance is also available. Registrations will be sent out in the coming weeks, and will be due by March 31.
Additional information can be found here.
If you have any questions or want to put your name on the list, please get in touch with Hilary. We hope you'll join us!
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"Resolve To Do Three Stewardship Practices This Year"
Bruce Rockwell, Bishop's Assistant for Stewardship, recommends this article for your stewardship team.
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Parochial Reports, please...
Need help? Contact Carol LaPlante.
The Canonical due date for filing your report with the diocese is March 1, 2016. Our expectation is that you file your Parochial Report on line following the provided instructions unless you are incapable due to limited technology. Please remember, after you file your Parochial Report on line, we still request that you send a hard copy or PDF to Diocesan House. NOTE: When you file your Parochial Report on line, please make sure that you check the "Mark Report Complete" box at the bottom of the form. Otherwise your report will not be submitted!
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Recent Addition to Diocesan Archives
Fellowship of the Way of the Cross
Thank you to the Reverends Len Cowan, Eliot Moss, Mike DeVine, and the Rt. Rev. Gordon Scruton for the recent acquisition of historical records of the Fellowship of the Way of the Cross (FVC). Special thanks to Bishop Scruton and Mike DeVine for time spent organizing and inventorying the materials. Two boxes of records have been archived—these containing membership lists from the FVC’s inception in 1882, meeting minutes, correspondence, constitution, newsletters, and information on annual retreats. The Fellowship was originally proposed to the Merrimac (MA) Clericus by the Rev. Charles Rand, rector of Trinity Church in Haverhill, MA, as a means through which to deepen the spiritual life of the clergy. Today FVC’s members reside not only in New England but as far as Florida, Wisconsin, North Caroline and Virginia. Members of the Fellowship live by a Rule of Life that is based on the Rule of St. Benedict. The Rev. Michael DeVine is the current Superior of the Fellowship. For more information on the Fellowship please visit their website.
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Major construction on I 91 near downtown Springfield. Please check the
MassDOT site for best entry points if you're coming in.
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Here’s how it works:
Beginning Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, participants will receive a daily email with the day's suggested carbon-reducing activity.
Make this your congregation’s Lenten activity:
Organize an opportunity within your congregation for members to meet each week during Lent to discuss their own experience with this fast, AND specifically to discuss the weekly themes which also invite participants to engage in suggested actions.
If you’re a pastor – SIGN UP…
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Springfield Author to give workshop
at Christ Church Cathedral
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Mercy in the City is a story of one woman's journey into the meaning of Christian love in action. Kerry Weber is a graduate of Cathedral High School in Springfield. She
will spend the day at our cathedral talking about the integration of mercy into the everyday life. The subtitle of the text says it all:
"
How to Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Visit the Imprisoned, and Keep Your Day Job."
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Saturday
February 13
10:00 - 2:00
Christ Church Cathedral
FREE -- FREE -- FREE
Event Flyer
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Opportunities for Enrichment, Education,
and Advocacy
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Worcester's Annual Ecumenical Prayer
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Following Jesus into Your Neighborhood: Serving All God's Children
Why: To help congregations begin or advance their journeys into partnership with a public school; form a community of support; and share resources of experience, tools, and materials.
Who: All who serve – or wish to serve – children by strengthening public education in their communities.
When: 5:00 PM Friday, Feb 19 - 3:00 PM Saturday, Feb 20
Where: Barbara C Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield NH
Friday Keynote:
Bishop Rob Hirschfeld, Diocese of New Hampshire
Workshops:
- Preparing your Church for Partnership
- Sharing Stories of Partnership Success
- Church Partnership from the School’s Perspective
- One Partnership’s Journey
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"The Courage to Grow Old"
Church of the Atonement, Westfield
February 24 & March 16
1:00 - 2:30
New day, new time, new place! Join us as we discuss Barbara Crafton's wise and witty words in her latest book, The Courage to Grow Old. From managing medicine and memories, to downsizing and discovering, Barbara brings insight, experience and a touch of humor to the subject of aging gracefully. Copies of the book are available to buy or borrow by contacting Robin Carlo or in print and e-book format from Amazon.
A follow-up session, "Remembering Your Story" will be held on March 16 at the same time and place . This session will focus on ways to preserve and share your memories and legacy with those you love.
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Addiction and Spirituality Workshops
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For Clergy, Pastoral Leaders
The Massachusetts Council of Churches is working with Rev. Janice Ford, RN, to bring workshops for clergy and pastoral leaders on addressing addiction and recovery in their congregations and communities to all fourteen counties in Massachusetts.
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Monthly at St. Andrew's...read more about it below.
Celtic Prayer
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Centering Prayer, Practically Speaking: How To Get Started and Stay Started
Four 90 min sessions led by
Armand Proulx.
When: Sunday evenings, 6:00-7:30 pm.
Jan 17, 24, 31 and
Feb 28
Program Information
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Into the Soul of Lent:
Dive Deep and Open the Door
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Christ the King and Epiphany, Wilbraham
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Christ the King-Epiphany is an exciting Lutheran-Episcopal community in Wilbraham. The position is 20 hours per week, with some flexibility in establishing a regular schedule. The Parish Administrator works closely with the pastor and lay parish leaders. The position offers a great breadth of experiences and opportunities, from coordinating a staff of five, working with parishioners, and helping tell the story of CTK-Epiphany through its publications and correspondence.
Interested persons should apply directly to Pastor Nathaniel Anderson.
Download the full job description here.
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All Saints', South Hadley
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All Saints’ Episcopal Church, a vibrant and busy parish in South Hadley, is seeking a Parish Administrator to begin in the new year. The position is
20 hours per week, worked Tuesday through Friday, with some flexibility in establishing a regular schedule. The ideal candidate will be professional, organized, comfortable in a religious setting, and able to work independently. The position includes providing administrative assistance to the Rector and the Treasurer (including basic bookkeeping), running a busy parish office, coordinating with a staff team of six people, and overseeing building use (including ongoing leases and space rentals). Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Internet is essential, as is ability to learn Gmail, MailChimp, and Google Calendars. Familiarity with the Eucharistic liturgy and liturgical calendar is a plus. Interested persons should apply directly to the Rector, the Rev. Tanya Wallace, by sending a resume and letter of interest
via email.
Read the job description here.
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FEBRUARY
- 17 Trustees @ St. Andrew, Longmeadow
- 11 Missioner Meeting Day, Diocesan House
MARCH
- 1 Deadline for MDI Grants
- 5 Parish Leadership Day, AIC, Springfield
- 22 Renewal of Vows/Blessing of the Oils
- 31 2:00 - 5pm Diocesan Council/Standing Committee
APRIL
- 15 MDI Grant Committee mtg, 3-5 at Diocesan House
MAY
- 2-4 Clergy Conference
- 10 Retired Clergy Luncheon w/ Bishop Fisher @ Oliver Wright, Sturbridge
- 11 Trustees Annual Meeting @ Yankee Pedlar, Holyoke
- 19 2-5 pm Diocesan Council/Standing Committee
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
- 27 Retired Clergy Luncheon w/ Bishop Fisher @ Zucchini's, Pittsfield
- 29 2:00 - 5 pm Diocesan Council/Standing Committee
OCTOBER
- 4 Fall Clergy Day
- 28 - 29 Diocesan Convention
NOVEMBER
- 19 9 am - 3 pm Diocesan Council/Standing Committee
DECEMBER
--2017--
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
- 9 Winter Clergy Day
- 11 9 am - 3 pm Diocesan Council/Standing Committee
MARCH
APRIL
- 11 Renewal of Vows
- 29 9 am - 3 pm Diocesan Council/Standing Committee
MAY
- 1-3 Clergy Conference
- 22 Wardens' Dinner
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Communications Office | Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts | 413.737.4786 |
Email |
Website
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