JANUARY CLERGY ENEWSLETTER
January 25, 2018
Got Gratitude?
by: Kate Kelderman

Winter in the boarding school world can be challenging. The newness of a fresh school year has worn off. The weather is cold, and the days are dark and grey. The wide-open fields and trails of the fall campus have shrunk to the small and crowded indoor space; Christmas break is over and spring break is just too far away. The community struggles to stay motivated and focused. Left to their own devices the students tend to whine their way through the winter, complaining about: the food, the excessive homework assignments, the boredom, another snowstorm, the lack of snow… you name it they can complain about it.

Now from a scriptural perspective, complaining makes sense, right? Some of the most accessible psalms are psalms of complaint. On more than one occasion Psalm 88 has fit my state of being, “God, you’re my last chance of the day. I spend the night on my knees before you. I’ve had my fill of trouble; I’m camped on the edge of hell. I’m written off as a lost cause, one more statistic, a hopeless case.” (Translation by Eugene Peterson). Faithful complaint to God is valuable in forging an honest relationship. So, airing of our grievances is good, but it can’t end there. There has to be more, we need something else to keep us moving forward.

I believe gratitude is necessary ingredient on our pilgrim way. It might seem counter-intuitive to speak of gratitude when things are so challenging, but that’s when it is needed most. Gratitude when times are good is like icing on the cake, but gratitude when times are hard is like manna for a starving soul. In the midst of real struggle and heartache, gratitude is transformative, and absolutely essential for our journey. Life will always include hardship, so avoiding it isn’t the answer, instead, we need to learn to move forward in the face of difficulty. Or as a friend of mine used to say, “Life isn’t about avoiding the storm; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Gratitude helps us dance in the rain.

There are countless ways to practice gratitude in community. At Kent School we share reflections, we write “gratitude flags,” hang them in the chapel, and then watch our collective gratitude grow. Perhaps your parish hall has a blank wall waiting to give birth to a post-it note display of gratitude..? Gratitude is contagious. It is life- and love-affirming. Furthermore, it is a necessary component of our life with God. So, every day is a good day to ask, “Got gratitude?”
Here is a portion of a poem by Pablo Neruda shared by the AP Spanish Class.
It is entitled Oda a las gracias  (An Ode to Gratitude)
Está entendido, no
lo llenas todo,
palabra gracias,
pero
donde aparece
tu pétalo pequeño
se esconden los puñales del orgullo,
y aparece un centavo de sonrisa.
We know, thanks,
that you don’t fill every space-
you’re only a word-
but
where your little petal
appears
the daggers of pride take cover,
and there’s a penny’s worth of smile.
Kate is the Chaplain at Kent School in Kent, CT. In addition to being in charge of the chapel program, she teaches Chemistry and coaches field hockey. Her previous calls include teaching high school science in VA, and serving in parishes in MN, PA and FL. She and her husband have been married for 27 years and they have two grown sons.

Here are two links Kate recommends checking out: gratefulness.org and Expanding Gratitude .
Ash Wednesday as a Day of Prayer
On Monday, the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the President of the House of Deputies, the Rev. Gay Jennings sent a letter to the whole Episcopal Church drawing attention to sexual harassment and assault within the church. They offered a critical look at the passage of Tamar's rape in 2 Samuel 13:1-22, accompanied bytwo resources.

The letter ended with an invitation to a Day of Prayer on Ash Wednesday, February 14, meditating on "the ways we in the church have failed to stand with women and other victims of abuse and harassment and to consider, as part of our Lenten disciplines, how we can redouble our work to be communities of safety that stand against the spiritual and physical violence of sexual exploitation and abuse."
Clergy Day: February 6 at St. Mark's, New Canaan. Please register today!
February 6 is the next ECCT Clergy Day! Join your colleagues from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at St. Mark's, New Canaan for a day focusing on Embracing the New Missional Age: Practices and Possibilities for ECCT Parishes."

For reference, please see Bishop Douglas' TED talk on the New Missional Age from the 2017 ECCT Convention, link here .

Please register on the Eventbrite page . Registration is $5, with lunch it is $10.
Trinity Institute, "Values in Action," February 2 - 3 in NYC; partner sites throughout Connecticut
This conference features leading activists, theologians, authors, and experts on how to integrate core values into strategic and effective action, including:
If you can't make it into the city for the event, there are partner sites throughout Connecticut:
Bridgeport: St. John's, Contact:  Kurt Huber  or  Carlos de la Torre
Litchfield : St. Michael's, Contact  Eliza Marth
New London : St. Francis House, Contact  Deacon Ellen Adams
Stamford : St. John's, Contact  Carol Henderson
Vernon : St. John's, Contact:  Virginia Army  or  David Clarke
Wallingford : St. Paul's, Contact:  Robert Page  or  Dee Anne Dodd
Upcoming Celebrations of New Ministry and Ordinations:
Celebration of New Ministries:
  • February 6: the Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell, St. Monica's, Hartford at 6 p.m.
  • February 6: the Rev. Anne Fraley, St. Peter's, South Windsor at 6:30 p.m.
  • February 13: the Rev. Brian Blayer, St. Mark's, Storrs at 6:30 p.m.
Ordination to the Diaconate:
  • February 10, Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford at 10 a.m.: Jessie Karpf, Edwin "Ned" Lewis, Brett Figlewski (transitional)
Ordination to the Priesthood:
  • February 20: the Rev. Carrie Combs, Trinity, Newtown at 6:30 p.m.
Feel free to download the above images from this webpage .
Clergy Women Retreat, February 15-16 at Camp Washington

Come to Feast on food, fellowship, and fun! Bishop Laura and the Clergy Women's Network invite all clergywomen of ECCT to a 24-hour Lenten retreat planned to nurture and celebrate our ministries. Please register for the Women's Clergy Retreat to be held at Camp Washington, February 15-16, 2018.

Please register today for the retreat on Eventbrite .
Good Book Club: Reading the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles throughout Lent and Easter
This Lent, ECCT will be participating with The Episcopal Church in the Lenten Good Book Club , a church-wide program led by Forward Movement to read the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles during the liturgical season of Lent and Easter.
 
 This program will begin the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, (Sunday, February 11, 2018) and it will finish on Pentecost Sunday (May 20, 2018).

You may find information on the Good Book Club, including daily readings here , in Spanish here . Follow the Good Book Club on Facebook here .
Watch the invitation to join the Good Book Club from the Presiding Bishop above.
Parochial & Non-Parochial Reports are due March 1!

Parochial Reports: Guidelines will be available here . Log onto http://pr.dfms.org/ to complete the report. A card with UEID & PIN will be mailed to your church. It is the joint duty of the rector, or other member of the clergy in charge, and the lay leadership to prepare and file the Parochial Report. (Canon I.6.1) Reports should be completed by March 1, 2018.  Please mail a copy of the signature page to Karolyn Nicolaides , ECCT, 290 Pratt Street, Meriden, CT 06450 once submitted electronically. 
Join the Financial Office for one of four upcoming informational sessions to learn all about Parochial Reports, how to fill them out properly, and why they are important to the financial life of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.

  • January 29, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
  • February 5, 10:00 - 11:30 am
  • February 6, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Please RSVP to one of the above sessions via this Eventbrite page .
Non-Parochial Reports: The canonically required report from non-parochial clergy (not serving in a parish) to the bishop diocesan must be completed by March 1, 2018. It is to be completed by each deacon, priest, and bishop (both active and retired) who are not captured on a parochial report. You can find the online report here, if you need to print this report, please contact Alison Hollo . 
Lay Licensing Applications are Due January 31

Parishes are on a three year rotation for renewal of lay licensing. In future eNews, we will publish a list of parishes with upcoming renewals. Each parish is responsible for applying for lay licensing at the appropriate time. Please use this online form (to be signed by the priest-in-charge or senior warden, in absence of a priest) to apply for Eucharist Ministers, Worship Leaders and Eucharistic Visitors licenses before January 31, 2018: Form available here .

There is also Eucharist Visitors Training material in both English and Spanish on our website in the file repository under Liturgical Resources here .
2018 Clergy Conference, May 14 - 16
Please save the date for the 2018 Clergy Conference

The theme of the conference is "Christian Leadership Challenging White Supremacy." It will be held May 14 - 16 at the Hilton Mystic,  20 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355 .

The Very Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Dean of Episcopal Divinity School at Union and author of Standing Your Ground: Black Bodies & the Justice of God will be the keynote speaker.

Registration details to come.
Clergy Events
Upcoming :
  • Jan. 25: Interim Rector Gathering 1:30 - 3:00 p.m., The Commons
  • Feb. 1: Recently Ordained Clergy 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., The Commons
  • Feb. 6: Clergy Day, St. Mark's, New Canaan
  • Feb. 6: Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., St. Monica's, Hartford ; Celebration of New Minsitry for the Rev. Anne Fraley 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., St. Peter's, South Windsor
  • Feb. 13: Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Brian Blayer 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., St. Mark's, Storrs
  • Feb. 15-16: Women's Clergy Retreat, "Come to Feast on Food, Fellowship, and Fun," Camp Washington
  • Feb. 17: South Central Region Convocation
  • Feb. 19: The Commons is closed
  • Feb. 20: Ordination of Carrie Combs, Trinity, Newtown at 7:00 p.m.
  • Feb. 21: Commission on Ministry, The Commons
  • Feb. 22: Fresh Start Meeting, The Commons and Standing Committee Meeting, The Commons
  • Feb. 24: North Central Region Convocation
  • Feb. 27: Confirmands and Bishops Dinner, The Commons
  • Mar. 1: Recently Ordained Clergy, The Commons

Save the Date:
  • Mar. 9-11: Deacon Formation Retreat, Episcopal Camp & Conference Center or Rhode Island
  • Mar. 27: Renewal of Ordination Vows & Blessing of the Holy Oils
  • April 7: Spring Training & Gathering
  • May 14-16: Clergy Conference
Clergy in Transition
Please help spread the word : Trinity, Seymour and St. Paul’s, Woodbury are currently receiving names for full-time rector positions. A ¾ time rector opening for Christ Church, Stratford will be posted very soon.

Clergy in Transition

The ministry of the Rev. Enrique Irizarry as Provisional Priest in Charge at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Hartford will end on Sunday March 4. He has been called to his home diocese of Puerto Rico.

The Rev. Link Huller is now Missional Priest in Charge of St. John’s, Bristol. He continues in his ministry as MPIC of Church of Our Saviour, Plainville, as well.

Parishes in Transition

Christ Church, East Norwalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Christ Church, Greenwich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in Place: John Branson
Christ Church, Sharon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Christ Church, Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in Place: Scott Lee
Good Shepherd, Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Interim PIC
Grace Church, Broad Brook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Grace Church, Yantic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Holy Advent, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking 2yr PPIC
Holy Trinity, Middletown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Dana Campbell
Middlesex Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Jim Bradley
St. David’s, Gale’s Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Mark Santucci
St. Gabriel’s, East Berlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
St. James Poquetanuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Discerning
St. John’s, East Windsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Half-time PPIC
St. John’s, New Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
St. Luke’s, South Glastonbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
St. Martin’s, Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
St. Matthew’s, Wilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
St. Paul’s, Woodbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Receiving Names
St. Saviour’s, Old Greenwich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Negotiating LOA
Trinity Church, Milton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Trinity Church, Seymour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Receiving Names
Trinity Church, Tariffville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
Trinity Church, Trumbull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
Trinity Church, Wethersfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC

From Lee Ann Tolzmann, Canon for Mission Leadership
The Transition Ministries Conference is a regional meeting of diocesan transition ministers from about 40 dioceses, mostly in the northeastern quadrant of the US (from Missouri east and North Carolina north), specifically to share information about congregations that are searching for clergy and clergy who are looking for new congregations. Diocesan transition ministers present summaries of congregational profiles and pertinent information about potential clergy candidates in search of the best match between talent and need.

The conference occurs twice a year, and the next meeting is March 5-9. If you are exploring another call, or are in the early stages of the discernment process, this is a chance for you to test that out.

The first step is to fill out the TMC Confidential Information form at transitionministryconference.org . Please also take the time to update your OTM Portfolio, which can be done online. The deadline for submitting your material is Monday, February 26.

Knowing that the decision to explore new ministry possibilities is a sensitive one, please rest assured that the names shared at the TMC are kept in strictest confidence; only I will know who has asked to be presented. There is a high trust level between TMC transitions ministers, and we honor the delicate nature of this sort of discernment.

The Transition Ministries Conference also maintains a website listing of congregations in search of new leadership at transitionministryconference.org . This is in addition to the information you can find at www.otmportfolio.org . 

Please contact me ( [email protected] ) with any questions about the TMC or the process. I look forward to working with you.
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