WEEKLY ENEWS

August 22, 2017

Letter: 2018 General Convention staying in Austin

In a letter to church members Wednesday, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, wrote they now have no plans to ask the Executive Council to move the 2018 General Convention from Austin, Texas.
 
The letter came a day after the Texas legislature adjourned its special session without passing a "bathroom bill" that would have allowed discrimination against transgender people. 

In letters to Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus this year, Curry and Jennings expressed support for his opposition to the bill, and reminded him The Episcopal Church moved its General Convention from Austin in 1955 because of racial segregation.
 
Read the letter here.

Standing up to racially motivated violence is not 
new calling for members of The Episcopal Church     

In the wake of the recent violence in Charlottesville, Va., it is timely to remember 26-year-old Episcopal seminarian Jonathan Daniels, who was murdered in Hayneville, Ala., 52 years ago this past Sunday as he fought for civil rights.
 
"Something had happened to me in Selma, which meant I had to come back," Daniels, who was from Keene, N.H., wrote. "I could not stand by in benevolent dispassion any longer without compromising everything I know and love and value. The imperative was too clear, the stakes too high, my own identity was called too nakedly into question ... I had been blinded by what I saw here (and elsewhere), and the road to Damascus led, for me, back here."
 
Daniels, who is credited with saving the life of 17-year-old civil rights activist Ruby Sales, died from a shotgun blast fired by a special county deputy. He is a recognized saint of The Episcopal Church.
 
Sales later attended the Episcopal Theological School (now Episcopal Divinity School), from which Daniels graduated, and started The SpiritHouse Project, a non-profit in Georgia working toward racial and social justice.
 
Read more about Daniels here and about Sales here and here.    
ECF reports resources, ideas for smaller churches

Small and rural churches serve the same needs in their communities and for their members as larger churches, but do so with fewer resources - including part-time clergy and staff without the time or technical skills to handle all the work.
 
Over the summer, the Episcopal Church Foundation's Vital Practices ministry listened to concerns and ideas from the leaders of churches averaging fewer than 60 worshipers. ECF published its findings in the July/August 2017 issue of the Vestry Papers. 

Click here to read about resources and support for small churches, a successful capital campaign for a small church, sustainability in the "scrappy church," Facebook for small churches, and much more.
Avoid travel: Learn with a Webinar!

Can't travel to events? The Episcopal Church Foundation sponsors free Webinars on many different topics, including funding and missions. Check out the schedule here , and below are details on some upcoming Webinars.
 
A September 19 Webinar, "Finding Your Missional Voice," uses information from the 2017 National Gathering to discuss ways congregations can start to think about engaging locally.

The Rev. Alan Bentrup, co-founder of Missional Voices and a curate at St. Mary's in Cypress, Texas, is presenting the Webinar, which runs from 7 to 8 p.m. and is designed for lay leaders, clergy, seminarians, and others. Click here  for information and to register. Registration closes at noon of the day before the Webinar.
 
Do you have trouble talking about money with your congregation? In a free Webinar, "Preaching About Money," a panel of church leaders will discuss the challenges of preaching about faithful financial discipleship.

Scott Gunn, the executive director of Forward Movement, is the facilitator for the Tuesday, September 26, webinar, which runs from 7 to 8 p.m.  Register here . Registration closes at noon on Monday, September 25.
Golf tournament to raise money for local fuel banks

St. John's Episcopal Church in North Haven is looking for golfers and sponsors for its 15th Annual Golf Tournament. The tournament is Thursday, October 5, at Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Middlefield.
 
The tournament, again dedicated to the memory of Ron Maynard, raises money for the church and local fuel banks. Last year, the church donated $50,000 to fuel banks in North Haven, Hamden, Wallingford, and North Branford.
 
Sponsor deadline is September 15. Player registration is $140 before September 1 and $150 after; the "non-golfing social" registration is $55 and due by September 15. The post-golf social event includes a full buffet, awards, and a raffle. Call Gayle Maynard at 203-239-0156 for information.
How to start a church garden,  September 13, 
St. Mark's, New Canaan 

Food plays a big part in all our lives, and donating food to the needy is a ministry many churches embrace. Some are now growing fresh food to supplement the packaged goods available in food pantries.

St. Mark's Church in New Canaan started its Gospel Garden in 2010.  In 2016, they provided nearly 2,000 pounds of organic fresh fruit and vegetables to the New Canaan Food Pantry.

This year, they will expand their donations to include Person-to-Pe rson in Darien and The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County in Stamford. 

Their garden was featured in Harvesting Abundance: Local Initiatives of Food and Faith by Brian Sellers-Petersen, which was published in May.

St. Mark's is hosting a garden party and book signing with Sellers-Petersen on Wednesday, September 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. 

Attendees can find out about starting their own church gardens, tour the Gospel Garden, and meet Sellers-Petersen. Visit stmarksnewcanaan.org for information.
Represent The Episcopal Church at the 62nd Session 
of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

Women and men ages 15 and up are welcome to apply to represent The Episcopal Church/Anglican Communion at the 62nd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women from March 12-23, 2018. The application deadline is Friday, September 15.
 
The Episcopal Church will select up to 20 church delegates and a provisional delegate who can speak to the UNSCW 2018 Priority Theme, "Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls."
 
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will choose the delegates, who must be willing to take part in advocacy at the UNSCW and, among other requirements, be able to report back about it to their local community. Delegates are responsible for their own expenses.
 
Read more here and apply here.
Church names Michie as new staff officer

The Episcopal Church on Wednesday named the Rev. Michael Michie as staff officer for church planting infrastructure, a new, full-time position on the presiding bishop's staff.
 
Michie, from the Diocese of Dallas, will work as part of the Church Planting and Mission Development Department to help establish and build new ministries.

He planted St. Andrew's in McKinney, Texas, in 2005 and served as its founding rector. Today, the congregation has 650 members and multiple community-based ministries, including a food truck.
Social Media Sunday 2017 (#SMS17) is coming soon!

Get ready to pick up your digital devices for Social Media Sunday (#SMS17), September 24.
 
This event started in 2013 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Tariffville as a way for pa rishoners to use devices to share their life of faith with the digital world. 
 
It has since grown to include Christians and people of faith everywhere. 

Join this Facebook group  for resources to help your parish community prepare. 

And if you don't believe your church needs to be online, check out this blog by David Hansen, a pastor with a Lutheran church in Texas.

Be the church online!
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.
 
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 let them know about the groups. 
 
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.
 
Click  here for more information, or to contact Molly James, the Dean of Formation, or one of the group leaders.

Reminder: Audits/financial reviews of 2016 parish financial reports  and processes are due September 1

General Church and ECCT canons require the reviews. Timely completion and submission is a prerequisite for parishes going through clergy transition and, beginning this year, is a requirement for recognition of parishes that are in good standing.
 
Please contact Karolyn Nicolaides ( knicolaides@episcopalct.org , 203-639-3501, ext. 134) if you would like to receive a list of accountants/accounting firms that have performed audits or financial reviews for other ECCT parishes. 
 
Please note:  Parishes with total revenues exceeding $500,000 annually are required to have full audits performed by a Certified Public Accountant. Parishes with total revenues less than $500,000 can have a review of agreed upon procedures performed by an Independent Public Accountant.
RenewalWorks program overview Sept. 29 in New Canaan

Amid all the noise and clutter of daily life, RenewalWorks offers parishes a process to refocus on spiritual growth and identify ways that God is calling them to grow.
 
Clergy and lay leaders are invited to hear the Rev. Jay Sidebotham of RenewalWorks discuss the program, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, September 29, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in New Canaan. This ministry of Forward Movement 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.
General Convention Official Youth Presence 
applications due by November 1

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; the committee will contact the nominator by email.
 
The Episcopal Church will select no more than two students from each of the nine provinces to participate, and will cover travel, lodging, and meal expenses. Selected students will have a seat and a voice in the House of Deputies.
 
Contact Bronwyn Clark Skov, Episcopal Church director for Formation, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries, at 646-242-1421 or bskov@episcopalchurch.org with questions. Click here for the application.
Now Accepting Election Nominees for 2017 Convention

We're seeking nominations for positions on the Standing Committee, to be elected at this year's annual convention. 

We need two lay persons and two clergy persons to serve 3-year terms, to do the important work of our Standing Committee in the life of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Nominations are due by October 6. Learn more and submit your name for election here

The Rev. Dr. Malloy
Liturgy Symposium  at 
C hrist Church Cathedral

Save the date of Saturday, September 30 for a Liturgy Symposium at Christ Church Cathedral. 

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 on a variety of subjects will be offered. More info and registration  here

Bishop Stephen Cottrell
"Come and See" Revival begins Sunday!

Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday night in Ridgefield and conversation on evangelism Tuesday 
at the Cathedral  in Hartford

Bishop Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, Church of England, will be the featured speaker for a three-night   "Come and See" revival at St. Stephen's, Ridgefield. 

He will also give a presentation at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford on Tuesday from 12:30 - 3 p.m. 

The Hartford event is called, "Sharing Our Faith: Evangelism for a Post-Christendom World." Tickets are $15 and include a light lunch of sandwiches or salad, plus fruit or pasta salad on the side, and bottled water. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.
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.  
Clergy only:
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. David's Church, Gales Ferry; St. James's Church, West Hartford; Christ Church, Ansonia; St. Peter's Church, South Windsor; Christ Church, Greenwich; St. James' Church, Danbury; Christ Church, Bethany; St. Andrew's Church, Madison; and St. Mark's Church, Mystic.
 
Bishop Laura J. Ahrens will host an open meeting Thursday from 3-5 p.m at
The Commons in Meriden to talk about Education for Ministry (EfM) theological
 study for  laity. The meet ing is for those already familiar with EfM who want to share  joys, challenges,  a nd opportunities in ECCT as well as for those who want to learn more about  being a participant, a mentor, or setting up an EfM group.  More info  here .
 
The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is hosting a "Healthy Congregations" workshop in Milton, MA, Friday and Saturday, intended to help the church stay focused on its unique mission and purpose.  The registration fee of $109 includes the training manual, lunch, and refreshments. There are discounts for parish teams. Learn more  here .
 
Registration is open for the 2nd Annual Youth Festival (grades 8-12) at Camp Washington in M orris on September 9-10.  Camp starts Saturday morning at 10 a.m., continues with food trucks, music, and more Saturday evening and finishes Sunday with brunch and a 1 p.m. pickup.  Registration is $25. Scholarships are available but space is limited, so register  here
 today.
 
The Sisters of Saint Helena  are welcoming women wondering about monastic life  in the Episcopal Church to a two-day "Come-and-See" retreat at the Convent of Saint Helena in North Augusta, SC, September 1-3. Meet other women exploring monastic life, ask questions and experience the sisters' life of prayer and community. Open to single women between 25 and 50. Contact them at 803-426-1616 or vocations@osh.org. Learn more at www.osh.org

Save the dates of September 15-17 for the centennial celebration of Camp Washington
Camp Washington Logo
Guest arrival and opening reception at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 15, followed by dinner. Main event Saturday Sept. 16, full day of Camp activities. Lunch at noon; Holy Eucharist at 2 p.m. followed by celebratory dinner; 7 p.m. evening camp and campfire. Sunday Sept. 17 Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. followed by brunch and cookies. Register here. 
  
The Rev. Alexia Salvatierra will lead a faith-rooted organizing workshop on September 1 5 and 16 at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in N ew Hampshire. Space is limited to 40 people. Cost is $75, which includes the program, materials, three meals and refreshments, and double-occupancy lodging, or $50 without the lodging. Register here.
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, Resolution 4 meeting, The Commons
  • Today, Faith & Order meeting, The Commons 
  • Thursday, EFM Strategic Planning meeting, The Commons
  • Thursday, Standing Committee meeting, The Commons
  • August 29, Conversation on Evangelism, Christ Church Cathedral,  Hartford
  • August 31, Finance Committee meeting, The Commons 
  • September 4, The Commons is closed for Labor Day
  • September 5, Clergy Day, Camp Washington, Lakeside
  • September 7, Recently Ordained Clergy meeting, The Commons
  • September 7, Faithful Futures, The Commons
  • September 9, Leadership Gathering, The Commons
  • September 12, Convention Planning Team, The Commons
  • September 12, Resolution 4 meeting, The Commons
  • September 13, Faith & Order meeting, The Commons
  • September 14, Missional Priest Gathering, The Commons
  • September 14, Women Clergy Breakfast & Book Study, St. Andrew's, Meriden
  • September 15 - 16, Living Local: Joining God, The Commons
  • September 15 - 17, Deacon Formation Retreat, Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford
  • September 15 - 17, Camp Washington Centennial Celebration, Lakeside
  • September 19, Priesthood Mentor gathering, The Commons
  • September 20 - 27, House of Bishops, Alaska
  • September 21, Fresh Start meeting, Camp Washington, Lakeside
  • September 26, Convention Planning Team, The Commons
  • September 27, CT General Convention Deputation meeting, The Commons
  • September 28, Celebration of New Ministry/the Rev. William Burt, St. John's, North Haven
  • 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
  • September 10, Bishop Ahrens, Christ Church, Roxbury
  • September 10, Bishop Douglas, Trinity/St. Michael's, Fairfield
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.

  • Sunday, Trinity Music Series, Vital Connections Through Music, Trinity, Portland
  • Sunday - Tuesday, Three-night "Come and See" Revival  at St. Stephen's, Ridgefield
  • September 9, Christ & The Epiphany's Harvest Fair, East Haven 
  • September 19, International Order of St. Luke meeting, St. Philip's, Putnam
  • September 23, Brotherhood of St. Andrew Convocation, St. John's, Vernon
  • September 23, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Bloomfield) 65th Anniversary Celebration
  • September 24, 5th Annual Miles for a Mission Road Race, St. Francis, Stamford
  • September 24, Christ & The Epiphany's Blessing of the Animals, East Haven
  • September 30, Brotherhood of St. Andrew Steak & Chicken Dinner, St. John's, Vernon
  •  None scheduled to date
Ministry Network meetings and events are on this calendar. Please submit all Ministry Network ("MN") Events via this form.
 
 
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
  • September 6, St. Mark's, Mystic, 6:30 - 9 p.m.
  • September 9, St. Paul's, Darien, 9 - 11:30 a.m.
  • September 16, Church of the Holy Spirit, West Haven, 9 - 11:30 a.m.
  • September 23, 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.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT
PARTICIPATING IN GOD'S MISSION


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