The last couple of weeks have been quite scary to say the least. 

Image taken from NOAA website

Over 100 wildfires burn in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. 

Hurricane Harvey devastated the greater Houston, TX area, displacing thousands of families and animals.

 

Hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Katia have wrecked havoc in the Caribbean and throughout Florida, including nearly wiping out the island of Barbuda . Affected areas are concerned about storm surges, intense flooding, and tornadoes. 

Southern Mexico witnessed an 8.2 magnitude earthquake on Friday, killing at least 61 individuals and destroying thousands of homes ( source). 

All of these natural phenomenons can be paralyzing to those not directly affected. Prayers, unfortunately, seem like they are just not enough to ease the pain. And packing up a truck filled with clothes and other supplies isn't the answer either, and often overwhelming and not useful. Therefore some find themselves helpless yet hopeful in times like these, stuck and uncertain of how to help, yet eager to do something. 

Here is a list of things that you can do to help: 

• Continue to pray; pray for specific people you know affected or pray for various communities displaces. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offers this prayer in regards to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. 
• Consider making a financial donation to Episcopal Relief & Development, and find a local organization in the affected areas to donate money (for example the SPCA of Texas, Best Friends Animal Society, or a local chapter of the American Red Cross). 
• Sign up as a potential volunteer Ready To Serve with the Episcopal Relief & Development. 
• Prepare your community and yourself by familiarizing yourself with the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's Disaster Response Plan, and consider becoming involved with ECCT's Disaster Response team. September is in fact Disaster Prepared Month.
• Educate yourself on what is going on; what disasters are happening, where, and how the government is assisting those in need. Here is an active map reporting fires and and another for other natural disasters. 
• Take a deep breath. 

Last week, the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies released this statement standing with the DREAMers. Curry and Jennings wrote, " We believe that these young people are children of God and deserve a chance to live full lives, free from fear of deportation to countries that they may have never known and whose languages they may not speak. As people of faith, our obligation is first to the most vulnerable, especially to children. In this moment, we are called by God to protect Dreamers from being punished for something they had no agency in doing." 

Get ready to pick up your digital devices and be the church online for Social Media Sunday (#SMS17), September 24.

 

This event started in 2013 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Tariffville as a way for parishioners to use devices to share their life of faith with the digital world. By using the hashtag (formerly known as the 'pound' sign) #SMS17 connect with worshiping communities and others online, and share what your church is doing! 

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.

For resources to help your parish or worshiping community prepare, or to get involved, please  join this Facebook group. Or,  check out  this helpful webinar ,  from Carolyn Clement, Jonathan Elliott, and Sarah Stonesifer.  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 part of the centennial celebration of Camp Washington , Lakeside, Friday, September 15 - Sunday, September 17.

Joy Anderson, a member of St. Stephen's, East Haddam, will lead "TOOLKIT for Gender Lens Investing" in New York City on Thursday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Anderson is president and founder of the Criterion Institute think tank. The institute uses finance as a tool for social change, with a focus on gender and church work.

 

According to the Criterion Institute's website, gender lens investors "can begin to assess the impact - positive, negative, or none at all - that potential investments have on women and girls." The institute expects workshop participants to come away with a better understanding of the systems of finance and strategies for leveraging them as a tool for social change.

Register here for the workshop; $305.97 cost includes lunch. Read more about gender lens investing here.

"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.

This is the second year Happening is happening in Connecticut. Camp Washington will host the event, beginning  Friday, October 13 at 6:00 pm and concluding on Sunday, October 15 at 5:30 pm after a closing Eucharist.

Youth, young adults, and clergy gather for Happening

To learn more about what Happening is and how it came to ECCT, read this article from the Diocese of Rhode Island. Registration cost is $150. Read more and register today! 

	Christ Church Cathedral

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.