The Northwest Region and Trinity, New Haven awarded Episcopal Church Evangelism Grants
The Episcopal Church Executive Council
, at its January meeting, approved the recipients of 15 Evangelism Grants, totaling $37,450,
including two in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut
. The new Episcopal Evangelism Grants Program is designed to fund local and regional evangelism efforts in the Episcopal Church. Read more about the grants
here
.
Congratulations to Trinity on the Green, New Haven and the Northwest Region for receiving grants!
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Trinity on the Green, New Haven, CT
In response to the growing opioid crisis, Trinity on the Green in New Haven, CT has taken the opportunity of its urban context to bring Jesus’ message of hope to people struggling with addiction and consequent isolation. Through its weekly gathering, sharing of life stories and common meal, participants in its Spiritual Fellowship Group are offered a chance to speak, be heard, pray and worship. $2,000.
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Northwest Region
Twelve lay people, from four different parishes, will be gathering to be trained as preachers. The group will gather for four sessions, two hours each, to be trained by a facilitator who has experience in training lay preachers. The goal of this initiative is to equip laity with tools and an ongoing social support system so they may go forth and proclaim the word of God in the pulpits of their parish and beyond. $2,000.
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New Laundry Love ministry in Norwalk
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Last Wednesday, four parishes in the Southwest Region (St. Paul’s, Norwalk, Christ Church, Norwalk, St. Luke’s, Darien, and St. Mark’s, New Canaan), with the help of 2 agencies (Open Doors and Triangle Community Center), opened a new
Laundry Love
ministry at Giant Laundry in Norwalk.
Nancy Meany from
St. Mark's, New Canaan
reflects: "In spite of bad weather for our launch day, we got off to a promising start; learning to work as a team and most importantly setting an inclusive and loving tone for our Laundry Love guests." Folks in Norwalk will gather on the first Wednesday of the month from 3:00 - 9:00 p.m. to serve.
There is another Laundry Love location in Bristol, CT that serves Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Learn more about the locations & how to get involved
here
.
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Good Book Club Corner:
The readings so far have been:
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The upcoming readings for the week are:
Resources including discussion questions, daily meditations, and videos are available
here
. Join the discussion on social media throughout #ECCT by commenting on our daily and weekly (Saturday afternoon) posts. Be sure to follow ECCT on Facebook (
link here
) and Twitter (
link here
) to participate!
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Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, a Day of Prayer drawing attention to sexual harassment and assault within the church
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Register today for the February 20 Province 1 Webinar on Anglican/Episcopal Church's relationship with Native and Indigenous people
Join the Rt. Rev.
Carol Gallagher, the first American Indian (Cherokee) female bishop in the Episcopal Church and first Indigenous female bishop in Anglican Communion, as she shares her personal experience and the churchwide perspective on the relationship between the Anglican/Episcopal church and native folks. Maine's Bishop Steve Lane and Heidi Shott, Canon for Advocacy, will talk about the long-standing work of the Diocese of Maine Committee on Indian Relations throughout Maine.
This web conference is part of a monthly series hosted by Province I's Cultural Competency and Multicultural Awareness Task Force. The series is designed to raise awareness, provide resources, and offer hopeful approaches for talking across difference and celebrating diversity.
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Upcoming Celebrations of New Ministry and Ordinations:
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Celebration of New Ministries:
- TONIGHT February 13: the Rev. Brian Blayer, St. Mark's, Storrs at 6:30 p.m.
Ordination to the Priesthood:
- February 20: the Rev. Carrie Combs, Trinity, Newtown at 7:00 p.m.
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What's happening in the Regions:
- Check the Facebook page for details!
- February 24 - 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. North Central Region Convocation, details will be posted soon.
- February 24 - 2018 Southwest Region Winter Convocation - Saint Paul's, Fairfield | Click here to register
- February Convocation: February 17. Bishops Ian & Laura will be present for a mutual conversation about Resolution 9 (previously Resolution 4), prayer, and fellowship. Church of the Holy Spirit, West Haven
- February 21 - SE Region Clericus at St. Mark's Mystic, noon - 2:00 p.m. Brown bag lunch. Conversation with Monroe Dickinson about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
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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.
- Minister of Music, Church of the Holy Trinity, Middletown
- Nursery Caregiver, St. John's, Stamford
- Sexton, Trinity, Southport
- Youth Minister, St. James', Farmington
- Music Director, Christ Church, Tashua
For open Clergy positions please click
here
.
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Announcements & Reminders
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Please continue to fill out the parish/worshiping community survey for the ECCT database
A survey was launched in July 2017 to provide robust data on parishes, along with policies and procedures to make some of that data available for direct collaboration among parishes and worshiping communities.
Thanks so much to the following churches that completed their survey since the last announcement:
Church of the Epiphany, Durham and Christ Church, Ansonia
!
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Parochial Reports due March 1!
ECCT parish vestry members, admins, and clergy may
find the report here
, each parish must log in with the UEID and PIN that has been mailed to the parish office.
- NEW SESSION: Feb 26 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
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Bishop's Book Study, today at Camp Washington, 11 a.m.
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Join Bishop Laura Ahrens for an adventure in prayer and deepening spirituality. All will meet at Camp Washington at 11:00 a.m. February 13 for an hour long book discussion. The conversation will continue over lunch (optional, from 12:30-1:15 p.m.). Open to everyone,
please register here
! January & February’s book will be
HELP THANKS WOW by Anne Lamott
.
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2018 Women Clergy Retreat, Feb 15 - 16 at Camp Washington
All women clergy are invited to attend the 2018 retreat "Come to Feast on food, fellowship, and fun!" at Camp Washingon, February 15 - 16.
Join Bishop Laura Ahrens and other women clergy colleagues for this 24-hour Lenten retreat planned to nurture & celebrate all ministries, all while eating some tasty food in good company!
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WANTED! Clergy Summer Chaplains & Summer Camp opportunities for Camp Washington
Join Bishop Laura Ahrens and Bart Geissinger at Camp Washington on Thursday, February 15 at 9:30 a.m. for an information session. Breakfast will be served. This is an opportunity for you to learn what being a summer camp chaplain is all about. Come explore the possibilities.
RSVP here
.
2018 Summer Camp Employment opportunities & applications are
now available here.
Opportunities include: Assistant Director, Head Counselor, multiple program staff positions, cabin counselors, and more!
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United Thank Offering 2018 Grants available, applications due February 16
Grant applications are available now, and are
due February 16, 2018.
Forms and more details found
here
. Please submit applications and questions to
Suzanne DeMerchant
.
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Scholarship funds for Clergy/ECCT staff children due February 16
ECCT has scholarship funds available for students who are children of clergy or employees of ECCT parishes/institutions and who will be attending college or graduate school in the Fall 2018. Application
here
, recommendation form
here
.
If you have any questions, contact
Molly James
, Dean of Formation.
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Companions in Mission annual March Event: March 4
Join the Companions in Mission Ministry Network on March 4 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at St. John's, West Hartford for GO! The day will begin with Dwelling in the Word, followed by three TED-format-inspired talks, concluding with an o
pportunity to network and attend two sessions on equipping for mission.
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Register for Evangelism Matters Conference
Don’t miss the registration for the next
Evangelism Matters
, an Episcopal Evangelism Conference on March 15 - 17 in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, for anyone excited to learn about sharing and growing loving, liberating, life-giving relationships with God.
Registration is available in English
here
. Para registrarse en español, haga clic
aquí
.
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Happening, a spiritual weekend for teens,
March 16-18
Happening is a renewal weekend for teenagers in grades 10 – 12, a weekend full of fun, games, sharing, surprises, and a time of spiritual renewal & empowerment. Teens worship, play, sing, & talk about God’s place in their lives.
Please contact
George Roberts
if you have questions or are interested in registering. The cost for the weekend is $150 and you can register
here
.
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Equipping and Empowering God's Women: A Way Forward
Conference, March 24
Join the Women's Ministry Network for a conference celebrating International Women's Day, March 24 at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. The program begins at 9:00 a.m. and will go until 1:30 p.m. What's to be expected: panelist speakers, conversations, workshops, Eucharist, and lunch. Rev. Winnie Varghese, the Priest for Justice and Reconciliation at Trinity Wall Street will preach - All are welcome.
More information here
, registration now open
here
.
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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.
- February 13, Resolution 4-9 Work Group, The Commons
- February 13, Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Brian Blayer, St. Mark's, Storrs
- February 15, Chaplaincy Interest Meeting, Camp Washington
- February 15-16, Women Clergy Retreat, Camp Washington
- February 17, South Central Convocation, Church of the Holy Spirit, West Haven
- February 19, THE COMMONS IS CLOSED
- February 20, Ordination to the Priesthood: the Rev. Carrie Combs, Trinity, Newtown
- February 21, Commission on Ministry, The Commons
- February 22, Fresh Start, The Commons
- February 22, Resolution 4-9 Work Group, The Commons
- February 22, Standing Committee, The Commons
- February 24, North Central Region Convocation, The Commons
- February 24, Southwest Region Convocation, St. Paul's, Fairfield
- February 26, Parochial Reports 101, The Commons
- February 27, Convention Planning, The Commons
BISHOPS' VISITS:
- February 18, Bishops Ahrens, St. Paul's, Woodbury; Bishop Douglas, St. Peter's, South Windsor
- February 25, Bishop Ahrens, St. Mark's, Bridgeport
- March 11, Bishop Ahrens, St. Jame's, Danbury; Bishop Douglas, Church of the Epiphany, Southbury
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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.
- February 13, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Trinity, Portland
- February 13, Shrove Tuesday Pancakes, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange
- February 14, Ashes to Go, Trinity, Portland
- February 14, Ashes on the Go, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange
- February 16, Faith on Fire presents Samuel Logan, Christ Church, Greenwich
- February 18, All are welcome healing service, St. Philip, Putnam
- February 19, Bible Study & Potluck Supper, Holy Trinity, Enfield
- February 20, Recharge your faith, Trinity, Wethersfield
- February 21, Blues in Lent, St. Mark's, New Canaan
- February 24, Lenten Quiet Morning, St. Ann's, Old Lyme
- February 25, Polyphony Concert, St. Francis, Stamford
- February 25, Choral Evensong, St. John's, West Hartford
- February 25, Dinner & a Movie, Dirt!, St. John's, Vernon
- February 25, Healing Service, Holy Trinity, Enfield
- February 27, Recharge your faith, Lenten invitation, Trinity, Wethersfield
- February 28, Blues in Lent, St. Mark's, New Canaan
REGION MEETINGS & EVENTS:
- February 17, South Central Region Convocation: Church and the Holy Spirit, West Haven
- February 21, Southeast Region: Clericus, St. Mark's, Mystic
- February 24, North Central Region Convocation, The Commons
- February 24, Southwest Region Convocation, St. Paul's, Fairfield
- March 31, North Central and South Central Region Confirmations
MINISTRY NETWORK MEETINGS & EVENTS:
- February 14, Brotherhood of St. Andrew meeting, St. John's, Vernon
- February 19, Faith Behind Bars & Beyond: Lenten Series, online: Breathing Under Water
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SAFE CHURCH TRAINING:
The spring safe church schedule for laity is online
here
. If you serve in a parish, you want to make sure your lay leaders attend safe church training or recertification, if required or recommended for them based on their position. You must register online; registration closes seven days before the session, or when it is full. Sessions with fewer than 10 people registered may be cancelled. Questions? Contact
Deb Kenney
.
Comprehensive (Basic) Safe Church Training
For ordained and lay ministers who have not yet attended a training in Connecticut
- Option 1 - full day, includes lunch
- April 14: St. Michael's, Litchfield - Register here
- Option 2 - hybrid program with online training plus shortened live follow-up
- March 3, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.: St. David's, Gales Ferry - Register Here
- March 8, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.: Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford - Register Here
- March 20, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.: Christ Church, Pomfret - Register Here
- March 24, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.: St. John's, West Hartford - Register Here
- April 26, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.: Christ Church, Easton - Register Here
- April 28, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.: St. Peter's, Hebron - Register Here
- May 22, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.: St. Mary's, Manchester - Register Here
Recertification Training for Lay Persons
For lay ministers who attended a full day of basic safe church training three to five years ago
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