Welcome Matt Roberts, ECCT's new Intern at the Commons
This week the Commons welcomes Matt Roberts of Ft. Worth, Texas as the new intern for the 2017-2018 program year. Matt received his undergraduate degree from
Abilene Christian University (ACU) in Abilene, Texas. He is currently in the process of finishing his thesis for his M.A. in Theology from ACU, and hopes to finish his M.Div. in the coming years at Yale Divinity School.
Matt is a resident of St. Hilda's House, an intentional community of the
Episcopal Service Corps, an organization which places young adults throughout the Episcopal Church and provides employment and opportunities to serve, promote justice, deepen personal spirituality, discern vocation, and live intentionally in a Christian community. St. Hilda's House is located in downtown New Haven, and seeks to serve the greater New Haven area. The Rev. Carlos de la Torre, the SW Region Missionary, serves as the program director.
Matt's role here at the Commons will include a variety of administrative work, providing an opportunity to learn more about The Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, and the daily operations of a church. He said he is eager to "immerse [himself] in the liturgical and administrative life of the Episcopal Church" here at the Commons. A liturgist and theologian at heart, Matt is interested in learning "what it means to be both Anglican and liturgical today," all while staying true to tradition and God's Mission.
When Matt is not at The Commons or spending time with his housemates at St. Hilda's House, you will find him at the most recent showing of the latest Star Wars movie with a big bowl of popcorn, a Sprite, and a smile on his face.
Matt will be at the Commons Mondays through Thursdays and can be reached at
[email protected].
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New Interfaith Resources and Upcoming Events:
Love Thy Neighbor Dinner, Monday Oct. 12, 6 p.m. Hartford Marriott Downtown
A fundraiser for the Connecticut Council on Interreligious Understanding. Join community leaders from a variety of faith traditions in conversation about what it means to Love Thy Neighbor. For more information and to purchase a ticket, click here. Tickets are $100 per person and must be ordered by Sept 25.
Comic Relief: an interfaith fundraiser for the Immigrant Bail Fund of CT, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
Held at Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Rd., Hamden CT. Tickets are $10 per person, $30 for a family. This evening will feature Rabbi Bob Alper, Rev. Susan Sparks, & Gibran Saleem (a Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim), and raise funds for CT Immigrant Bail Fund. More information on the IBF available here. Contact the Rev. Lisa Hahneman or the Rev. Geoffrey Hahneman if your worshipping community would like to be an ECCT endorsers of this event or help sponsor the event.
Spirit One Conference: How Christians & Muslims Flourish Together in These Times, Oct. 27 - 28
This event will be held at Farmington Valley Muslim Center, Avon on Friday, Oct. 27 and at First Church of Christ Congregational, Farmington on Saturday, Oct. 28. Speakers include Miroslav Volf, Mahan Mirza, local Christian and Muslim leaders, including the Rev. Linda Spiers, rector Trinity, Collinsville. More information here and registration available here.
Discover Islam: a six-DVD documentary series offered by ECLA & TEC
A collaborative effort of The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the ECLA's work with the Islamic Center of North America. A study guide is available for download here. Contact the Rev. Lisa Hahneman to borrow a copy.
New Book Just Released: I
n Search of a Prophet: A Spiritual Journey with Kahil Gibran, by Paul Gordon Chandler
In Search of a Prophet is a journey through the spiritual life of Kahlil Gibran, author of the bestselling book The Prophet. Capturing our imaginations and enriching our spirits, Paul-Gordon Chandler explores this beloved writer and artist, a mystic who sought to build bridges and tear down walls (description from Amazon.com).
Presentation at Christ Church Cathedral: In Search of a Prophet, Kahlil Gibran: An Unparalleled Spiritual Guide for Our Times by above author, Paul-Gordon Chandler Dec. 3
This free and open to the public event will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on Dec 3 at 2 p.m. Author Paul-Gordon Chandler will discuss the spirituality of Kahlil Gibran, the early 20th century Lebanese-American poet, artist, and mystic.
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Social Media Sunday 2017 #SMS17 is THIS SUNDAY!
This Sunday, please keep out your cell phones and digital devices and be the church online!
Social Media Sunday uses the hashtag #SMS17 to connect worshiping communities and others online.
Tweet the sermon, take a selfie with fellow parishioners, or invite people to like your church on Facebook, just get creative and share the Gospel.
Use #SMS17 and #ECCT and you might be featured on one of our accounts!
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Save the Date & Register Today for a Two-Day VISIONS, Inc. Training, Nov. 1-2
Lay and ordained leaders are encouraged to participate in this upcoming two-day VISIONS, Inc. workshop Wednesday, November 1 - Thursday, November 2.
Topics include: dealing with difference, addressing anxiety, how systems cope with change, and how to deal with conflict.
Space is limited.
Registration closes at 11:30 p.m. on October 16, 2017, or when full, whichever comes first. The workshop is at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford.
Clergy can register
here
; lay leaders register
here
.
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1k Churches newsletter: "Crowd Funding Your Loan with the Public Witness Pathway" featuring the Rev. Adam Yates
What is a 1K Church? Criterion Institute defines their 1K Church program as: "1K Churches Bible study and loan program provides a new way for local congregations to advance one of their mission priorities through finance. Based on their study and reflection on God's economy through a five-week Bible study, the congregation makes a small loan to a small business in their community related to their mission concern. In the process, they form a new relationship with a local business owner, participate in the benefits the business offers the community and experience the power of using finance for good."
The Rev. Adam Yates and the community of St. Steven's East Haddam participated in the 1K Churches Public Witness pathway during Lent 2017. "By making the seemingly small decision to use the Kiva [Public Witness] pathway, we ended up creating the opportunity for our people to continue to engage with our mission in their own lives and make impacts that stretch the globe,
" Yates said.
The Criterion team hosts monthly informal calls to bring those interested, those that have participated, or those that are participating all over the country to come together to share insight, ask questions, and support each other on this journey.. The calls are free to join by dialing 641-715-0875 and using the code 324443. The next call is September 21 from 7 - 8 p.m.
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Free Online Course with Ed Bacon and Stanley Hauerwas ending September 25
ChurchNext
offers a new online course titled "The Big Class: Faithful Dissent: Loving Our Way into a Brighter Tomorow," taught by Ed Bacon & Stanley Hauerwas. Join others from around the world for this free class that digs deeper into the Christian vocation of reconciliation - as two renowned theologians explore the topic of dissent. This 45-minute course opened is open through September 25.
This course is free thanks to the generosity of: The Episcopal Church, Forward Movement, Duke Divinity School, FORMA, and ChurchNext. Learn more about the course and take it here.
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Region-Based Discernment Groups begin again this fall
Do you know anyone asking what God might be calling them to do next?
Another round of Region-Based Discernment Groups will begin in the fall. ECCT started the groups, which are open to anyone, in January.
The groups focus on discernment in the broadest sense, drawing on resources from around The Episcopal Church. Those who might be discerning a call to Holy Orders are welcome to participate.
If you know someone who is interested in the ordination process, wondering about making a life or career change, or just feeling called by God, please inform them of these groups.
More information and contact with Molly James, Dean of Formation, available here.
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Positions Open
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.
- Youth Minister, St. James', Farmington
- Music Director, Christ Church, Tashua
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- Director of Music Ministries, St. Mary's, Manchester
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Clergy only:
- Canon for Congregational Life, Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford
- Assistant Rector (half-time), St. John's, Stamford
- Rector, Trinity Church, Tariffville
- Rector, St. Matthew's Church, Wilton
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Election Nominees, Resolutions, and Reports for 2017 Convention Due October 6
Nominations for the two lay and two clergy open positions on the Standing Committee, as well as any and all resolutions and reports to be presented at this year's annual convention are due to Adam Yates by October 6.
Learn more and submit your name for election
here
.
Any resolutions and reports submitted after the October 6 deadline must be submitted on the floor at convention.
The 2017 annual Convention is November 17 - 18 in Greenwich, CT. Read more here.
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Announcements & Reminders
The parish/worshiping community survey for the ECCT database is live.
Click
here
to read the related documents. Thanks so much to the following churches that completed their survey since last week's announcement: St. James', New London, All Saints, Wolcott, and Christ's Church, Easton!
The Rev. Jay Sidebotham will discuss RenewalWorks, A Ministry of Forward Movement, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, September 29, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in New Canaan. This ministry tailored 10 years of research into the key characteristics of flourishing congregations to the Episcopal tradition. Attendees will learn what to expect if they bring RenewalWorks into their churches, and will have a chance to ask questions.
The program is $15 and includes lunch. Registration is required. Click
here
to learn more about RenewalWorks, or
here
to register.
 Liturgy Symposium at
Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, September 30.
The morning plenary session will be offered by the Rev. Dr. Patrick Malloy, noted scholar and liturgist, currently serving at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Workshops will be offered in the afternoon on: Church Music, Customaries, Clergy Training Lay Preachers, Intro to Preaching, and Taize Worship. Lunch will be provided. The event is being hosted by the Commission on Ministry and is open to lay and ordained leaders in ECCT. If the cost of this event is a hardship, scholarship funds are available. Questions? Contact the Dean of Formation, Molly James. More info and registration
here
.
LifelongFaith Associates' 2017 symposium,
"Reimagining Faith Formation with Children and Youth,"
October 5- 7 at Avon Old Farms Hotel in Avon, CT.
T
his symposium will explore the lives of today's youth and their families, and discovering innovative approaches to faith formation for children and youth in the 21st century.
The $325 registration fee includes tuition, five meals, and all course materials; hotel accommodations are not included. Learn more and register
here.
Happening in Connecticut at Camp Washington October 13 - 15.
"What's Happening?," you may ask. Well,
Happening is a spiritual retreat
for high school students. Young people from all over the state help to plan and implement the weekend. This event creates a relaxed, fun, and safe environment where youth can share their faith in a Christian atmosphere. Registration cost is $150. Learn more and register today!
High school students who want to take part in the General Convention Official Youth Presence have until November 1 to apply. Interested students must complete an online application with essay questions and need a non-family member to complete an online essay nomination form.
Contact Bronwyn Clark Skov, Episcopal Church director for Formation, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries, at 646-242-1421 or
[email protected]
with questions. Click
here
for the application.
Registration is open for the
October 15 - 24 session of the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency,
a course on cultural competency for Latino ministry designed for diocesan staff, clergy, lay leaders, and seminarians.
The nine-day course - $2,200 double occupancy, $1,600 single occupancy, or $1,400 for commuters - takes place at The Nicholas Center, St. James Commons at St. James Cathedral, in Chicago. Learn more
here
and register
here
.
United Thank Offering is accepting applications
for up to ten Young Adult Grants and ten Seminarian Grants. The focus for the $2,500 grants is "The Jesus Movement: Evangelism, Reconciliation, and Creation Care." Applications are due to Suzanne DeMerchant by Wednesday, October 25. Learn more about the grants here.
 Church Pension Group to host a series of centennial conversations entitled "Insights & Ideas."
The Inaugural event is October 26 at St. Bartholomew's Church in NYC. Other events include November 3 in Minneapolis, January 24 in Houston, and February 7 in San Francisco. More information about this free event, please see the Church Pension Group website here.
The Annual Deacons Renewal of Vows Service is Sunday, November 5, at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford.
The Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris will be the guest preacher. D
eacons will start the day at 11 a.m., serving and eating lunch with Church Street Eats, the Cathedral's feeding program. The Renewal of Vows service begins at 3 p.m., and is followed by a 4:30 p.m. reception.
RSVP by October 27. Learn more and register
here
.
Upcoming
free Webinars
sponsored by The Episcopal Church Foundation:
- Tonight's Webinar, "Finding Your Missional Voice" runs from 7 to 8 p.m. and is designed for lay leaders, clergy, seminarians, and others. Click here for information and to register.
- A September 26 Webinar, "Preaching About Money," involves a panel of church leaders discussing the challenges of preaching about faithful financial discipleship. Register here. Registration closes at noon on Monday, September 25.
- Interested in more online classes? Church Next, an online forum for Christian learning, offers a plethora of courses for individuals and groups for reasonable rates, please find all courses here.
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Events coming up soon
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.
- Today, Priesthood Mentor gathering, The Commons
- September 20 - 27, House of Bishops, Alaska
- Thursday, Fresh Start meeting, Camp Washington, Lakeside
- September 26, Convention Planning Team, The Commons
- September 27, CT General Convention Deputation meeting, The Commons
- POSTPONED: Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. William Burt, St. John's, North Haven, date TBD
- September 28, Standing Committee, The Commons
- September 28, Faith & Order meeting, The Commons
- September 28, Resolution 4 meeting, The Commons
- September 29, Renewal Works overview, St. Mark's, New Canaan
- September 30, Liturgy Symposium, Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford
BISHOPS' SUNDAY VISITS
- October 8, Bishop Ahrens, Christ Church, Easton
- October 8, Bishop Douglas, St. James', New London
- October 15, Bishop Ahrens, Christ & the Epiphany, East Haven
- October 15, Bishop Douglas, Christ Church, Redding
- October 22, Bishop Ahrens, St. Paul's, Fairfield
- October 22, Bishop Douglas, St. Paul's on the Green, Norwalk
- October 29, Bishop Ahrens, St. Timothy's, Fairfield
- October 29, Bishop Douglas, Trinity, Torrington
All Parish, Region, and Ministry Network events
P
ARISH EVENTS:
A complete calendar of parish events is available here.
Hosting an event?
Please submit parish events
here
.
Reach out to the specific parish for event updates, specific locations, and further details. Regular
worship services including season-specific will not be listed below.
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Today, International Order of St. Luke meeting, St. Philip's, Putnam
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Thursday, Lyra: Russian Vocal Ensemble of St. Petersburg Concert, St. Lukes, Glastonbury
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Saturday, Brotherhood of St. Andrew Convocation, St. John's, Vernon
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Saturday, Drive-In Prayer, Holy Trinity, Enfield
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Saturday, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Bloomfield) 65th Anniversary Celebration
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Saturday, Classic Car Concours & Cruise, Christ Church, Sharon
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Saturday, Penny Lane benefit concert, Trinity Episcopal, Trumbull
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Saturday, 42nd Annual Craft & Harvest Fair, St. George's, Bolton
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Saturday, Little Black Dress Fashion Show & Fundraiser, Grace Church, Windsor
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Saturday-Sunday, 41st Annual Apple Festival, Christ Church Tashua, Trumbull
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Sunday, 5th Annual Miles for a Mission Road Race, St. Francis, Stamford
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Sunday, Christ & The Epiphany's Blessing of the Animals, East Haven
- Sunday, Choral Evensong, St. John's, West Hartford
- Sunday, Harvest Service, St. Monica's, Hartford
- Sunday, Contemplative Healing Service, Holy Trinity, Enfield
- Sunday, Concert: Music of Ludwig Van Beethoven, St. John's, Vernon
- Sunday, 44th Annual Horse Show, St. Peter's, Cheshire
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September 30, Brotherhood of St. Andrew Steak & Chicken Dinner, St. John's, Vernon
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September 30, Schweitzer Organ Competition Winners Recital, St. John's, West Hartford
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September 30, Guided Labyrinth Walk, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange
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September 30, Autumn Harvest Dinner & Auction, St. Mary's, Manchester
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September 30, Indoor-Outdoor Tag Sale, Church of the Holy Spirit, West Haven
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September 30, Annual Pumpkin Fest, St. Peter's, Hebron
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September 30, "Almost 4k" Audubon Walk, St. Timothy's, Fairfield
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September 30, Elisabeth von Trapp Concert, St. Ann's, Old Lyme
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October 1, Songs for All Seasons Concert, Church of the Holy Advent, Clinton
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October 1, Holy Smokin' Barbecue, Church of the Holy Advent, Clinton
UPCOMING SAFE CHURCH TRAININGS:
The fall 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.
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
- October 14, Old St. Andrew's, Bloomfield
- October 21, Christ Church, Ansonia
Option 2 - hybrid program with online training plus shortened live follow-up
- Saturday, St. Paul's, Bantam, 9 - 11:30 a.m.
- October 17, St. Michael's, Naugatuck, 6:30 - 9 p.m.
- October 26, St. James', Farmington, 6:30 - 9 p.m.
- October 28, St. Timothy's, Fairfield 9 - 11:30 a.m.
- November 20, St. John's, Vernon, 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Recertification Training for Lay Persons
For lay ministers who attended a full day of basic safe church training three to five years ago
- September 27, Trinity Church, Tariffville, 6:30 - 9 p.m.
- September 30, Trinity Church, Newtown, 9 - 11:30 a.m.
- October 16, Christ Church, Pomfret, 6:30 - 9 p.m.
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