What difference can a dollar make?
12 year old Hannah takes the gospel story of the talents to a whole new level for Homeless Hospitality Center in New London
Embracing the parable of the talents, Hannah from St. Peter's in Hebron received an envelope at church with a dollar bill in it and put it to work.
The Rev. Ron Kolanowski, St. Peter's priest-in-charge, handed out
envelopes to everyone in the congregation - which held $1, $2, or $5 - and he challenged them to "do something to advance God's mission like the gospel story." Hannah was among those receiving an envelope.
The $1 Hannah received has now generated more than $2900 so far on the Go Fund Me page, including a $1000 donation by the Go Fund Me organization on #GivingTuesday with the comment "
Happy #GivingTuesday! We're honored to celebrate Kid Heroes like you. Thanks for inspiring us and changing the world! -The GoFundMe Team
."
In Ron's words, this is "a wonderful example of what a youth with $1 can accomplish."
Visit Hannah's Go Fund Me Page
to learn more about Hannah and this project, and see just how much of a difference one dollar can make.
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Church Banners are FaithPalming in DC
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Community Interfaith Prayer Vigil on December 14 and a letter from your Bishops: Sandy Hook, five years later
The Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Connecticut commend your attendance at this interfaith prayer vigil at Trinity, Newtown, 36 Main Street, Newtown on Dec. 14, the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre - or your attendance at others being held at other parishes across ECCT.
"This Thursday, December 14, 2017, we pause to remember and recall. We hold in our hearts and in our prayers, the twenty innocent young children and six adult care givers whose lives were taken at Sandy Hook Elementary School. We extend our circle of love and care to the families, friends, and neighbors who lost loved ones five years ago. And we invite all in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut to pause and be silent for a moment on Thursday, December 14, 2017, to pray for the repose of the souls of all who died in Newtown and all who mourn their loss."
Bishops Ian Douglas and Laura Ahrens offer this in
their letter to ECCT available here
.
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Advent resources:
If you know of a great resource, please email
Alli!
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Members of the Anglican Communion’s Safe Church Commission met at the Anglican Communion Office in London last month.
Photo Credit: ACNS
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Anglican commission begins work to develop global safeguarding procedures
An international commission established to make the Churches of the Anglican Communion safe places for children, young people and vulnerable adults has begun its work. The Anglican Communion’s Safe Church Commission was established by the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) at its meeting last year in Lusaka; in one of four resolutions on safeguarding. Robin Hammeal-Urban, Canon for Mission Integrity and Leadership of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) serves as one of the commission's members.
Read full article (Anglican Communion News Service)
here
.
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ECCT is starting a Podcast and we want to hear from YOU!
ECCT is starting a podcast as a place to post sermons, conversations/interviews, and teachings. We have some sermons from young adults to start it, plus Bishop Douglas' annual address from this year, and from the 2016 Episcopal Church Women meeting, a talk from Lindsay Hardin Freeman on women of the Bible and a sermon from Bishop Ahrens. We also have this cool microphone...
Before we head out on this path we'd like to hear from you. Who and what do you want to hear (or not hear)? What could we call it? How often would you like a new episode? Musicians/music composers: we're also looking for an audio intro - no pay, but credit given on the podcast page. Thoughts, advice, etc.? Email
Karin Hamilton
.
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Mark your calendars for the upcoming Ordination to the priesthood:
- December 20: the Rev. Stacey Kohl at St. Mark's, Mystic, 6:30 p.m.
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Job openings may be found
here on the website
. NOTE: Applicants will be able to submit their resume and cover letter to the contact person directly from the ECCT website, if that option is chosen by the person submitting the position for posting.
- Camp Director, Trinity, Southport
- Sexton, Trinity, Southport
- Property Manager, St. Paul's, Fairfield
- Youth Minister, St. James', Farmington
- Music Director, Christ Church, Tashua
For open Clergy positions please click
here
. Clergy positions will no longer be posted in eNews.
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Announcements & Reminders
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The parish/worshiping community survey for the ECCT database is live.
Thanks so much to the following churches that completed their survey since last week's announcement:
St. Mark's, Bridgewater and Trinity, Newtown
!
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Episcopal Evangelism grants available for local & regional efforts,
Application due December 15
Grants are available for up to $2,000 for an individual congregation and up to $8,000 for multi-church, diocesan and regional collaborations. Groups receiving funding are expected to make a significant financial contribution toward the project, as well.
Application, criteria, and additional information is available
here
. For more information, contact Kayla Massey at
kmassey@episcopalchurch.org
or 212.716.6022.
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The Commons: ECCT offices will be closed December 25 - January 2
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This includes the
Mission Finance & Operations office.
Contributions and donations need to be received in the office no later than
December 15
for credit in 2017. Donations for the "Bishops' Fund for Children" should be mailed to
Camp Washington
or made through the
ECCT website
.
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Conversation about Prayer In the Work of Justice with Jane Redmont, December 19
Join other in Province 1 for an online conversation on the place for prayer in racial justice and reconciliation, lament, Sabbath, silence, and how spiritual practices can nourish efforts towards intercultural understanding. Register for the webinar
here
. Questions? Contact
Julie Lytle
.
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Camp Counselors are needed for the 11th annual Dominican Republic mission trip,
June 30 - July 7, 2018
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This summer, a group of high-school students will be chosen to represent ECCT in the
Dominican Republic
for nine days.
Deadline for submission is December 31, 2017. Please submit an application along with an essay detailing experiences working with children, involvement in your parish, and interest in this mission opportunity. For application forms and more information, please contact Alan McCollom at
amc0126@mail.com.
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eFormation Flagship Gathering: January 12-13, 2018 at Virginia Theological Seminary
This
Friday and Saturday gathering
at Virginia Theological Seminary will feature speakers and workshop leaders from all over the church to discuss topics such as: Digital Literacy, Faith Formation in the 21st Century, Money and Media, and more!
Register today!
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Register today for FORMA Conference: Formed For Justice
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Join others from January 24 - 26 at Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, SC for the 2018 FORMA conference. Speakers and workshop presenters include: PB Michael Curry, the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Drake, Heidi Kim and the Rev. Chuck Wydner, and more! Tickets are available
here.
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Two upcoming grant deadlines:
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The Jack Spaeth Care for Creation Grant
The mission of the Jack Spaeth Care for Creation Environmental Grant is to encourage innovation and to empower members of the ECCT to educate, witness, & invite change in our congregations and communities with the goal of embracing a global vision of climate justice and preserving and celebrating God's creation.
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Companions in Mission for Publishing and Communication
The focus of this grant is on all forms of publishing and communications. This could mean development of a web site, purchase of computers, purchase of mobile phones & phone time for remote areas, publication of school books and, publication of hymnals and prayer books in a local language.
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Events below are coming up in the next few weeks:
ECCT OFFERINGS:
The ECCT calendar is located
here
. It allows you to filter events by category and includes a subscribe link at the bottom of the page. Specific details including locations, times, etc. will also be found there.
- December 14, Women Clergy Breakfast & Book Club, St. Andrew's, Meriden
- December 20, the Commons will be closed from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
- December 20, Ordination to the Priesthood: the Rev. Stacey Kolh, St. Mark's, Mystic at 6:30 p.m.
- December 21, Standing Committee Meeting, The Commons
The Commons will be closed December 25 - January 1,
there will be no regular weekly eNews on December 26.
BISHOPS' VISITS:
- December 17, Bishop Ahrens, St. Michael's, Litchfield; Bishop Douglas, St. Saviour's, Old Greenwich
- January 7, Bishop Douglas, St. Peter's, Oxford
- January 14, Bishop Ahrens, St. James', Preston; Bishop Douglas, St. Francis', Stamford
- January 21, Bishop Ahrens, St. Stephen's, Ridgefield
- January 28, Bishop Douglas, St. Andrew's, Madison
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All Parish, Region, and Ministry Network events are posted on
this calendar
.
Below are the upcoming events for the next two weeks. Hosting an event? Please submit
ALL
parish, Region, and Ministry Network events
using this form
, you may select as many categories that apply to your event as needed. Please indicate which region your event is in by selecting the appropriate region category.
Reach out to the specific parish for event updates, specific locations, and further details.
PLEASE check to see if your event is already on the calendar before you submit it.
PARISH EVENTS:
Regular worship services, including season-specific, will not be listed below.
- December 13, Service of Hope and Healing, Trinity, Tariffville
- December 14, Inter-faith Remembrance Service, Trinity, Newtown
- December 15, Blue Christmas Celebration of Hope, Holy Trinity, Enfield
- December 15, After "Thoughts & Prayers": Actions of Peace, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange
- December 16, Lessons and Carols, Trinity, Brooklyn
- December 16, Carols by Candlelight, St. Stephen's, Ridgefield
- December 17, A Cool Yule, St. John's, Waterbury
- December 17, Lessons and Carols, St. Francis, Stamford
- December 17, Lessons and Carols, Christ & Holy Trinity, Westport
- December 17, Lessons and Carols, St. Alban's, Danielson
- December 17, Lessons and Carols, St. Paul's On-the-Green , Norwalk
- December 17, Living Nativity, St. John's, Guilford
- December 17, Blue Christmas, St. Andrew's, Milford
- December 17, Angel Choir Holiday Concert,
- December 22, After "Thoughts & Prayers": Actions for Peace, St. Andrew's, Milford
REGION MEETINGS & EVENTS:
MINISTRY NETWORK MEETINGS & EVENTS:
- December 13, Brotherhood of St. Andrew Meeting, St. John's, Vernon
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