WEEKLY ENEWS

April 11 , 2017

An Easter Message from the Bishops
of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut

Practice Resurrection 

In his poem: "Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front" the poet Wendell Berry invites the reader to "practice resurrection." Practicing resurrection is about living boldly the new life Jesus wills for us in the joy of Easter as we proclaim, "Alleluia. Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia." Berry's line reminds us that new life, resurrection, is not only about embracing the joy of God who forgives our sins, it's about calling us to live a new way as well -- the way of Christ's healing love.

Healing and new life is Christ's gift to us as we practice resurrection. It's the call of discipleship: wrapping ourselves in God's love as we come to the risen Jesus. It is the call of apostleship: living the good news of the resurrection -- with our families, our friends, our colleagues, and our communities. Practicing resurrection, we invite others to know God's abiding love and healing peace, manifest through our words and actions. We practice sharing the love, forgiveness and healing love that God offers to us.

Practice presupposes that sometimes we will hit the wrong notes or miss the goal. Practice also means that we continue to try, continue to build a habit. Practice is hard work; it involves missteps, many coaches, and teammates trying, succeeding, and missing as well. Practicing resurrection invites all of us to work together for a common goal: the sharing of Christ's healing love.

The landscape for this practice of sharing Christ's healing love is the complicated and challenging world around us -- a landscape filled with division, political tensions, and fear. In this country, members of the LGBTQ community, persons of color, and refugees and immigrants, in particular, fear for their safety and security. Many around the world share this fear as we live into a time of global unrest. The ongoing war in Syria, and bombings of Christian churches in Egypt, remind us of the power of hate, and the terror and fear that violence enacts on all of us. Practicing resurrection means seeking to be voices of Christ's healing love in places of brokenness, and death. Practicing resurrection means seeking to be voices of safety and rest for people whose fears for today paralyze any imagination for tomorrow.

Practicing resurrection, sharing Christ's healing love, is hard work. In the anxiety of the cry of the cross and the ache of the stone in front of the tomb, we are called to name and join with others to practice something different -- a new way of being. Practicing in our words and actions the hope of new life and the joy of the resurrection. The Good News is that with God all things are possible. We must stay connected to God! Practicing resurrection means staying connected to Jesus, connected to the one who offers resurrection. With that power, we embrace and reveal the amazing and life-changing resurrection in a world longing to know that joy-filled, hope-filled, grace-filled truth of Christ's healing love for all.

"Alleluia. Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia."

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The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Bishop Diocesan
The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan 

Holy Week and the Good Friday Offering 

As we reflect on the mystery of Christ's Passion and Resurrection, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offers a message on the promise and liberation of the Kingdom of God. Watch the Presiding Bishop's Easter Message here. 

Holy Week is a time for looking toward Jerusalem as we celebrate our sacred history's unfolding there, and it is the perfect time to support the vital ministries taking place in the Holy Land today. Please consider giving to the Good Friday Offering, which goes to support the work of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, which includes ministries such as pastoral care, healthcare, education, and peacemaking. Click here to learn more about and d onate to the Good Friday Offering.  
Faith Behind Bars & Beyond (FBBB) Forum 

The FBBB Ministry Network will hold their ninth annual conference on Saturday, April 22 at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford. This year's theme is: "Prisons as Asylums: The Mentally Ill and Incarceration." 

The conference will address the challenges facing incarcerated individuals who struggle with mental illness. It will feature a panel of formally incarcerated men and women and will emphasize how faith communities can participate in the healing process.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Craig Burns, Chief of Psychiatric Services for the Connecticut Department of Correction. 

This conference promises to be an invaluable resource to anyone passionate about mental health advocacy, decarceration, or simply the gospel call to care for those who are imprisoned. Register here.  

Around God's Table: A Liturgical Festival

Around God's Table, happening May 6-7, is a weekend of worship and workshops centered on the sacred art of liturgy designed to bring all lay youth and adult worship leaders (acolytes, vergers, chalice bearers, lectors, ushers, greeters, altar guilds, choirs and more) together for fellowship, mutual learning, and sharing of best practices. 

Workshops Saturday at Camp Washington  to explore subjects such as worship planning, music, and the use of incense. Overnight option for youth at Camp. Adults and youth then all participate in worship at the Cathedral on Sunday.

Around God's Table is a collaboration of Christ Church Cathedral and Camp Washington. More information including registration and workshop descriptions  here. 
Holy Land Connections 2017
Photo and reflection from Tom Verde.
Click to view larger image or PDF

In accordance with Diocesan Convention  Resolution #5 - Our Holy Land , ECCT is offering Holy Land Connections, a compilation of  Lenten materials about the peoples, promise, and history of the Holy Land. 

Resources for Holy Week: 
  • Video reflection from Nadia Abu Ata of Jerusalem Peacebuilders (transcript available in PDF and Word) 
  • Reflection from Tom Verde, Pilgrim 
  • Prayers of the People for Holy Saturday (PDF and Word) 
  • Prayers of the People for Easter Day (PDF and Word)
A list of all the Holy Land Connection Lenten resources provided is  on this page. 
Resources for Discernment
 
At our recent Spring Training, there was a lot of interest in a workshop led by members of the COM on discernment and connecting our passions and faith with our daily lives. Given that interest, others might be interested to know of some discernment resources available on our website.
 
The handout from the workshop and a facilitator guide on finding passions and living into baptismal ministry can be found here. 
 
Additionally, a general resource sheet for discernment is available here. 
 
As of January 2017, ECCT is offering Region Based Discernment Groups that are open to anyone who is asking what God might be calling them to next. 
 
If you are wondering about making a life change or a career change or just feeling called by God, this is a process for you!  The groups will focus on discernment in the broadest sense drawing on resources from around The Episcopal Church, and those who might be discerning a call to Holy Orders are welcome to participate. Groups are currently running, and will likely begin anew in the fall. If you are interested in learning more about the Region Based Discernment Groups please click here. Contact Molly James, Dean of Formation, with any questions. 
Positions Open

To submit a job opening to be included here, please  fill out this form. Jobs will be reviewed and then posted in the weekly eNews and posted on the website.   
Announcements & Reminders

Nominations are now being accepted for Episcopal Church positions, committees, and boards that will be elected during the Next General Convention. More information here. 

Bishop's Fund for Children Luncheon, April 11, Camp Washington.  F ellowship, great food and dialog about the future of the Bishop's Fund for Children  on Tuesday, April 11   from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  at Camp Washington.   For more information, please contact Suzy Burke.

Leadership Lunch and Lecture with Ray Suarez, April 24, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Please join the students and faculty of Berkeley Divinity School for a visit from veteran journalist Ray Suarez on Monday, April 24. Ray will speak on his recent book, The Holy Vote (2007), with time for discussion and questions following his presentation. For details and to receive an invitation, please contact Kira Wishart.
 
Mockingbird Conference 2017,  April 27-29, NYC.  A unique fusion of theology, pop-culture, humor, and story-telling, all centered on the subject of grace. Mockingbird is holding its 10th anniversary conference at the parish of Calvary-St. George's in Manhattan, NYC.  Mockingbird  is "a ministry that seeks to connect the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life in fresh and down-to-earth ways."  For details and to register, visit  the website . 

Annual Meeting of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) in Connecticut, May 4.  The ECW in Connecticut will hold their 136th annual meeting at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, Connecticut. The Rev. Kim Jackson of All Saint's Episcopal Church, Atlanta, will speak. Lunch will be provided. Please reserve your place by Monday, April 17 , by mailing a check of $20 payable to ECW of CT to Patricia Chappell, 31 Parkview Road, Wallingford, CT, 06492. Print copies of the invitation, and RSVP form, were mailed to every parish.

Around God's Table, May 6-7.  A weekend of worship and workshops centered on the sacred art of liturgy designed to bring all lay youth and adult worship leaders together for fellowship, mutual learning, and sharing of best practices.  Around God's Table is a collaboration of Christ Church Cathedral and Camp Washington. Find more information, including registration and workshop descriptions, at  campwashington.org . 

Luce-Hartford Conference on Christian-Muslim Relations, May 22, Hartford Seminary. "The war in Syria and general unrest in the Middle East and North Africa has created a humanitarian crisis for millions of forced migrants. Crucial questions are being asked about what this means for Europe and the United States. The 2017 Luce-Hartford conference will provide an opportunity for religious leaders and others to engage as communities of 'moral deliberation,' to reflect and offer up practical opportunities for engagement in the public sphere based upon their own spiritual, scriptural and theological resources." For more information, click here. 

The River of Life: Connecticut River Pilgrimage, 
May 31 - July 9. 
This is a 40-day trip on the Connecticut River. Churches in this region have partnered with  Kairos Earth, as well as local, statewide, and regional organizations along the Connecticut River, to organize the first-ever pilgrimage along the length of the river.  The pilgrimage is open to anyone. Learn more  here . 

When Dancing Turns to Mourning: Worshiping God in the Face of Violence, June 13-15, Yale Institute of Sacred Music. This is an ecumenical conference for pastors and lay leaders hosted by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music Congregations Project. More information available here. 
 
Upcoming grant deadlines: 
Due April 10: Young Adult and Campus Ministry grant applications: info 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.
  • April 11, Renewal of Ordination Vows
  • April 13, Women's Clergy Breakfast
  • April 14, Good Friday, The Commons is closed 
  • April 15, North Central, South Central, & Southeast/South Central Region Confirmations
  • April 18, Donations & Bequests Board Meeting
  • April 18, Resolution 4 Work Session
  • April 19, Commission on Ministry
  • April 20, Missional Priest Meeting
  • April 20, Standing Committee 
  • April 25, PIC meeting 
  • April 27, CT River Planning Group
  • April 27, Property Committee meeting 
  • April 27, Confirmation Dinner with Bishops
  • April 28-29, Postulants and Candidates Retreat with Bishops
  • April 28, South Central Region Convocation 
  • April 29, Southeast Region Convocation 
  • April 29, Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day
BISHOPS' SUNDAY VISITS

April 23, St. George's, Bolton (Douglas)
April 30, Christ Church, Ansonia (Ahrens); Christ Church, Norwich (Douglas)

PARISH EVENTS: A complete Parish Events Calendar 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. Season-specific regular worship services will not be listed below.
  • April 14, Good Friday Day Camp, St. John's, North Haven 
  • April 22, Spring Concert, Emmanuel, Killingworth
  • April 30, 3 p.m., Community Gardens Ministry Network Meeting, Grace Church, Old Saybrook
  • May 18, 10 a.m., Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Network Gathering, Manchester Memorial Hospital. More info, including registration,  here . 
UPCOMING SAFE CHURCH TRAININGS:

Hybrid Basic Comprehensive: 
  • April 26, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., St. John's, Essex (register here)
  • April 26, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity, Westport (register here)
  • April 29, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m., St. Peter's, Milford (register here)
  • May 2, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., Trinity, Brooklyn (register here)
  • May 13, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m., Trinity, Newtown (register here)
Full day: 
  • April 22, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., St. Monica's, Hartford (register here)
  • June 10, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Christ Church, Ansonia (register here)

EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT
PARTICIPATING IN GOD'S MISSION


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