DECEMBER CLERGY ENEWSLETTER
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Responding to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
by: Peter Stebinger
In this season of Advent, when we think of the Holy Family and all of the needs of the world, I find myself reflecting on need and family, especially as it relates to my experience of working in Puerto Rico as part of the federal disaster response.
On September 20 of this year, hurricane Maria crossed the island of Puerto Rico bringing unprecedented devastation with her 150 mile per hour winds. When my team of medical professionals arrived in Puerto Rico seven weeks after the storm the level of devastation we saw was extreme. The entire time I was in Puerto Rico I was not once on a street that did not have multiple broken phone poles, down wires, and other damage to the infrastructure. And the farther up into the interior we got, the more damage to the infrastructure we saw.
The beauty of the mountains with their steep slopes, is something the people we worked with love most about living in the mountains. And yet it is that very steepness that caused the torrents of water, mudslides, and landslides that washed away homes, took off roofs, and destroyed much of the infrastructure. In my role as chaplain I had a number of conversations about this basic conflict, the beauty of the place they live and its very vulnerability to devastation because of that same terrain which makes it so beautiful.
And yet, over and over, I heard people giving thanks to God that they and their families were intact and could recover. That Spirit will stay with me for a very long time. I believe it will take more than a year to make repairs in Puerto Rico.
In Puerto Rico it is customary for families to care for their elders at home. One of our responsibilities while we were there was to transfer a number of frail individuals who have been in a shelter in one location to the shelter we were setting up in a suburb of San Juan. In that setting we more than tripled the number of patients being cared for in one day, after the shelter the residents had been in before was closed due to toxic mold growth. Some of the patients we received were frail elders who could not walk nor speak. The care which these home-bound elders had been given by their families was extraordinary.
Elders in this situation are extremely vulnerable to having their skin breakdown, developing sores and infections. The patients we were given have been cared perfectly by their family members. Their skin was in extraordinarily good condition, far better than I had seen in many places in Connecticut in my pastoral ministry. As our wound care specialist said to the team, “we have been given a precious gift by the families of these people and they will not deteriorate under our care. Any questions?” We were honored that the families of these folks would let us care for them. And every single day, families came to our shelter and brought frail ones home as soon as one member the extended family got a generator and therefore electric power again.
If only all of us could care for our elders as well as these families did.
The people of Puerto Rico will need our support for a long time to come and I hope you will give generously as you can to that effort. I will always remember the beauty of the island and what the Puerto Rican community taught every member of my team about the love of family and the care of family. We were honored when these families allowed us to care for their frail ones. When we are offered the opportunity to help someone in need, it is a gift from God. It was hard for all of us to be away from our families on Thanksgiving and yet I thank God for this opportunity to serve and be taught and blessed.
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The Rev. Peter Stebinger is the Missional Priest at St. Paul’s in Bantam. He has been a fire department chaplain for over 30 years and been responding to disasters to provide spiritual care for the past 15.
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Assisting Hurricane Maria Evacuees in Connecticut
Resources gathered by Mike Corey
In the aftermath of hurricane Maria, which made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, many individuals and families have taken refuge on the mainland. Some evacuees have support systems already in place with family members, however many do not and need housing, employment, integration into school districts, and the basic needs. Connecticut is one of the states that has opened its doors to the citizens of Puerto Rico.
Volunteers Stepping Up:
Volunteers from a wide range of organizations and entities have stepped up and provided assistance to those arriving, with much of the work being taken on by American Red Cross, United Way 211, Catholic Charities, CT Rises and The Salvation Army along with community organizations in Waterbury, Hartford, Bridgeport, New Britain, and New Haven. Currently resource centers are open in Hartford, Waterbury, New Britain, Bridgeport, and New Haven to assist evacuees.
Unmet Needs:
There are several ways to help right now.
- New Haven – Junta for Progressive Action is managing a resource center at 169 Grand Ave. They currently need donations of scarves, gloves, hats and coats (adult and child sizes). They also need Spanish speaking volunteers to assist in the morning hours with FEMA applications and case management needs for families. For more information on how to donate or volunteer contact Paola Serrecchia paola.serrecchia@juntainc.org
- Hartford – The Hartford resource center is being managed by CREC at 15 Van Dyke Ave. and needs volunteers to assist with distributing food and clothing, sorting clothing donations, restocking shelves and preparing the center for service, and stacking food donations. Specific dates and times can be found at http://signup.com/go/bdkHsDt or call CREC at 860-240-6668
- United Way 211 – Is looking for about 3- 4 Spanish speaking volunteers to help serve individuals and families displaced from Puerto Rico. We are looking for volunteers that meet the below requirements. 211 would provide the necessary training. Volunteers would report to our office which is located on the Silas Deane Highway in Rocky Hill, CT. For more information contact Mike Corey, mpcorey@gmail.com
Volunteer Requirements:
- Desire to serve
- Spanish speaker
- Excellent phone voice
- Patience
- Bachelors or Associates Degree
- Ability to quickly learn our computer and phone technology
- Ability to serve at least 2 - 4 hour shifts per week.
For more information on volunteer and donation opportunities for arriving evacuees please contact CT VOAD chair Mike Corey,
mpcorey@gmail.com
, 860-518-4124
Open Resource Centers
- Bridgeport: 350 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Hartford: 15 Van Dyke Ave Hartford (Capitol Region Education Council—CREC), Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- New Britain: Currently, schools are operating as resource centers for enrollees and families. CCSU and Ana Grace Center working to open separate center.
- New Haven: Currently, support efforts are being managed out of the Junta For Progressive Action offices, located at 169 Grand Avenue, New Haven. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. They are closed Friday through Sunday.
- Waterbury: 236 Grand St. 1 floor, Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Parochial & Non-Parochial Reports are due March 1!
Filing begins January 2.
Parochial Reports:
Online filing of 2017 Parochial Reports to the national church will begin January 2, 2018. Guidelines will be available here:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/parochial-report
.
Log onto
http://pr.dfms.org/
to complete the report online. A card with UEID and 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.
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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 4, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
- January 16, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
- January 29, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
- February 6, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
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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
.
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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
.
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ADVENT 2017
resources:
#AdventWord:
this online social media campaign from the Society of St. John the Evangelist will continue again through Advent. Check ECCT's
Facebook
,
Twitter
,
and
Instagram
to see the word of the day.
- Collect for Advent IV: Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Members of the Anglican Communion’s Safe Church Commission met at the Anglican Communion Office in London last month.
Photo Credit: ACNS
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Anglican commission begins work to develop global safeguarding procedures
An international commission established to make the Churches of the Anglican Communion safe places for children, young people and vulnerable adults has begun its work. The Anglican Communion’s Safe Church Commission was established by the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) at its meeting last year in Lusaka; in one of four resolutions on safeguarding. Robin Hammeal-Urban, Canon for Mission Integrity and Leadership of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut serves as one of the commission's members. Read full article (Anglican Communion News Service)
here
.
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Forma Annual Conference: Formed for Justice, Jan 24-26
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The annual FORMA annual conference will be held on January 24-26 at Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, SC.
Watch Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's invitation to the conference
here
.
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Don't stress out, but here's a Lenten resource
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
.
But first, let's get through Advent and Christmas time and into the new year!
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Reminder to all currently licensed clergy in ECCT
From ECCT's "Policies Concerning Licensing of Clergy:"
- "Licenses are issued for one year and are valid through December 31 of the year of issue. The License to Officiate must be renewed annually by written request to the Bishop in November or December. Responsibility for initiating the renewal lies with the licensed person."
- A reminder to prepare and submit your request to renew your license via letter or email to Bishop Douglas in November. Your license will expire on December 31 and we all know how busy December can be! If you have any questions please contact Amber Page Gehr, Administrator for Transitions & Clergy Support at apagegehr@episcopalct.org
This only pertains to clergy that are licensed to officiate in ECCT, it does not affect anyone who is currently canonically resident in ECCT.
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Have a very Merry Christmas!
The Commons will be closed December 25 - January 1
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Upcoming
:
- Jan. 4: Recently Ordained Clergy meeting 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., The Commons
- Jan. 11: Priest-in-Charge Gathering 1:30 - 3:00 p.m., The Commons ; General Convention Deputation Meeting 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., The Commons
- Jan. 15 -- THE COMMONS WILL BE CLOSED
- Jan. 18: Fresh Start Meeting 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., The Commons
- Jan. 25: Interim Rector Gathering 1:30 - 3:00 p.m., The Commons
- Jan. 31: Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Sandra Cosman 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., St. John's, Pine Meadow
- 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. 8: General Convention Deputation Meeting 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., The Commons
- 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
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
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We expect to be posting full-time rector openings for Trinity, Seymour and St. Paul’s, Woodbury, along with a ¾ time rector opening for Christ Church, Stratford very soon.
Clergy in Transition
The Rev. Charlie Hamill, Diocese of Pittsburgh, has been called as Rector of Grace Church, Old Saybrook. He will begin his ministry on January 15, 2018.
The Rev. Bob Stocksdale has begun a new ministry as Conditional Priest in Charge of the Church of the Epiphany, Durham.
The Rev. Tracy Johnson-Russell is now Rector of St. Monica’s Church, Hartford, after having served as their Provisional Priest in Charge.
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
Grace Church, Broad Brook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Grace Church, Yantic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
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 Bristol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
St. John’s, East Windsor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Half-time PIC
St. John’s, New Haven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
St. Luke’s, South Glastonbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preparing for Interviews
St. Martin’s, Hartford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
St. Matthew’s, Wilton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
St. Paul’s, Woodbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Lois Keen
St. Saviour’s, Old Greenwich. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
Trinity Church, Milton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
Trinity Church, Seymour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Steve Ling
Trinity Church, Tariffville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
Trinity Church, Trumbull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
Trinity Church, Wethersfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Missional PIC
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