Presiding Bishop's reflections on the Anglican Communion Primates meeting
The primates of the
Anglican Communion
gathered October 2-6 at Canterbury Cathedral, England. Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church Michael Curry wrote a letter reflecting on the week.
"
This wasn’t just a meeting," he wrote. "This was not just a gathering. This was, as a friend of mine often says, a holy convocation. We gathered in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and we did our work together in agreement and disagreement, following and in his spirit."
Bishop Curry also addressed how the primates reacted to the news of the Las Vegas shooting:
"
In the midst of this time, the shootings in Las Vegas happened and I must tell you that my fellow primates gathered around and prayed. They gathered around me and gathered around you. We prayed and wrote a statement, and longed for the day when we in our country will not see deaths by guns."
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Sandy Hook Memorial at St. John’s Church, Sandy Hook moving to Bristol
The “Rock of Angels” stone monument at the former St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook will be moved to a new location in Bristol, Conn., this Wednesday, October 18. The granite monument, now on a hill overlooking the Sandy Hook Elementary School, memorializes the 20 children and 6 staff who
died at the school in December 2012
.
The move was prompted by
St. John’s decision in 2016 to close
, which meant that its buildings and land would be available for sale. The future of the monument, along with its care, needed to be determined in that process. Efforts by former members and church officials to have the monument maintained where it is now or elsewhere in Sandy Hook or Newtown weren’t successful.
The monument will go to diocesan property in Bristol, amidst 23 acres of woodland and trails that surround
Shepard Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center
.
The Center provides services for children, youth, adults, and veterans. In its new home the monument will be easily accessible via a short walk from roadway parking.
Full m
edia releas
e here.
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Learn about the proposed Budget of Convention
Register now to attend an info session.
An overview of the budget process and proposed budget of convention will be presented by Louis Fuertes, Canon for Mission Operations & Finance, with either Bishop Laura or Ian present to facilitate discussion and answer questions. These meetings are for Episcopalians in Connecticut wishing to discuss our common fiscal life, and raise questions, general and specific, before we come to Convention and vote on the budget.
A light dinner will be served. In order for us to plan appropriately, please register through the Eventbrite link below. Sessions are offered in each Region, however, you can attend the one that’s most convenient for you.
- October 25: (Northwest Region) 6 – 8 p.m. Trinity, Torrington: Register.
- November 1: (North Central Region) 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Trinity, Hartford: Register.
- November 8: (Northeast Region) 6 – 8 p.m. St Mark’s, Storrs: Register.
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Important Reminder for all ECCT Parishes
Parishes are canonically required* to submit annual audits or financial reviews of their financial records, which were due on September 1 following the year being audited/reviewed.
This means audits/financial reviews of 2016 financial results were due seven weeks ago.
At this time we have received approximately 40% audit or financial review compliance, we really need support from ECCT parishes to comply with this reporting requirement.
These financial statements are useful tools for ECCT but they also provide your church leadership with suggestions for improving the accuracy of parish reporting and for reducing the risk of financial losses.
Parishes with total revenues (Line D on your Parochial Report) exceeding $500,000 are required to have an audit performed by a certified public accountant; those with total revenues below $500,000 can submit a financial review from an independent public accountant.
Please remember that we must receive your 2016 parish audit/financial for your parish to be reported in "good standing."
Please contact Karolyn Nicolaides (
knicolaides@episcopalct.org
) if you would like to receive a list of certified or independent public accountants used by other ECCT parishes. You may review all parish financial reporting requirements on our website
here
.
* See Canon IV 2D - "Business Methods in Church Affairs"
Link to the October Parish Administration & Finance eNews
here
.
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Please continue to donate to ER&D; potential volunteers can sign up now
Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) is partnering with the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California to provide emergency support for those impacted by deadly wildfires in California. The assistance includes food and other critical supplies, housing and the storage of belongings. ERD continues to respond to Hurricanes Maria, Irma, and Harvey through local dioceses (Texas, West Texas, Georgia, Florida, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico), and to earthquakes in Mexico through local church partners. (
Read more here.)
Episcopal Relief and Development recognizes the three distinct, though somewhat overlapping, phases of a disaster: Rescue; Relief; and Recovery, and focuses its efforts on relief and long-term recovery; they also encourage and offer resources for disaster preparedness. The most important things you can do are to pray, continue financial donations, and if you want to volunteer, wait until the impacted area is ready to receive and manage volunteers. You can
sign up here
to be notified. Please don't send collected goods unless you are specifically asked to do so. ERD has a four-star rating from
Charity Navigator
, is a
Better Business Bureau
seal holder, meets all of
InterAction's
member standards, and has earned the
GuideStar
Exchange Seal.
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Church Pension Group to host a series of centennial conversations, "Insights & Ideas"
Register now (free) to attend the inaugural event taking place 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)
Agenda in NYC:
- 10 a.m. Opening prayer and welcoming remarks
- Expert Panel One: The Demographics of a Changing Church.
- Topics include: Demographic trends among clergy and lay employees; deployment and compensation; benefit trends in the Church; and, how these insights impact our decision-making process.
- Lunch provided by CPG
- Expert Panel Two: Investing for Positive Impact.
- Topics include: CPG's commitment to investing for positive impact; achieving competitive investment returns while also providing important social needs; and, various approaches to investing, including how several mainline denominations are investing for impact.
- 2:30 p.m. Centennial Cake and Coffee.
More information about this free event including panelists, and links for registration, are
here.
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Convention Corner
The 233rd Annual Convention is November 17 - 18 in Greenwich, CT. Read more
here
.
Regular Registration open until November 14
Book a room at the Hyatt Regency
A discounted room rate has been negotiated for those attending the annual convention. Please reserve your room by October 27. Information
here
.
Youth Delegation
We invite parishes to identify youth, aged 13-17, to send to Convention, where they will be able to observe and participate in the activities of Convention (they will have voice, but no vote). The cost for a youth delegate is $30 and registration will close by November 14, 2017. More information about this new opportunity will follow.
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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
- Part-Time Pianist, Grace Episcopal Church, Broad Brook
- Part-Time Parish Office Assistant, St. Paul's on the Green, Norwalk
- Director of Music Ministries, St. Mary's, Manchester
- Organist/Director of Music, St. John's, North Haven
Clergy only:
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Announcements & Reminders
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The parish/worshiping community survey for the ECCT database is live.
Thanks so much to the following churches that completed their survey since last week's announcement: St. Paul's, Bantam!
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Episcopal Church Foundation Book Club!
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North Central Region hosts "A Night with the Saints," costume party at Christ Church Cathedral
Join the North Central Region on Saturday, October 28 from 6 - 9 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral for a night of fun, karaoke, and treats! Refreshments and light treats will be provided. Families and friends from all regions are invited!
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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
.
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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.
- October 17, Priest-in-charge Gathering, The Commons
- October 17, Donation & Bequests Board Meeting, The Commons
- October 19, Fresh Start, The Commons
- October 19, Convention Planning Team, The Commons
- October 19, Faith and Order, The Commons
- October 19, Standing Committee Meeting, The Commons
- October 20-21, Discernment Retreat, Incarnation Center
- October 21, Deacons Workshop, The Commons
- October 24, Retired Clergy, Spouses, & Partners Luncheon, St. Andrew the Apostle, Rocky Hill
- October 24, Interim Rector Gathering, The Commons
- October 24, Commission on Ministry, The Commons
- October 25, Region Budget Review: NW Region, Trinity, Torrington
- October 26, Property Committee meeting, The Commons
- October 31, Convention Planning Team meeting, The Commons
BISHOPS' SUNDAY VISITS:
- October 22: Bishop Ahrens, St. Paul's, Fairfield; Bishop Douglas, St. Paul's on the Green, Norwalk
- October 29: Bishop Ahrens, St. Timothy's, Fairfield; Bishop Douglas, Trinity, Torrington
- November 5: Bishop Douglas will celebrate the 275th anniversary of St. John's, Stamford
- November 12, Bishop Ahrens, Grace, Hartford; Bishop Douglas, St. Mary's, Manchester
- November 19, Bishop Douglas will celebrate the 125th anniversary of St. Paul's, Southington
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All Parish, Region, and Ministry Network events are posted on
this calendar
.
PARISH 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.
- October 17, Free Movie Screening, Christ and The Epiphany, East Haven
- October 18, "Listening in a Time of Chaos and Stress" forum, Trinity, Southport
- October 20, Halloween Boulevard Cabaret, St. Paul's on the Green, Norwalk
- October 21, Guided Labyrinth Walk, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange
- October 21, Women's Retreat "Everybody has a story," St. John's, West Hartford
- October 21, Traces of the Trade: A voyage of realization & reconciliation, St. Ann's, Old Lyme
- October 21, Oktoberfest Community Dinner, St. Peter's, Hebron
- October 21, Hunchback of Notre Dame w/ Organ music, St. Luke's, Glastonbury
- October 22, Lecture: Music of the Beatles, St. John's, West Hartford
- October 22, Sounds Good Concert, St. Francis, Stamford
- October 22, Hewitt & DeConti Jazz Duo Concert, St. John's, Vernon
- October 22, New England Chamber Choir Concert, Christ Church, Middle Haddam
- October 22, Celtic Vespers, St. Mary's, Manchester
- October 22, Dog Show & Pet Tricks, Christ Church, Sharon
- October 24, Free Movie Screening, Christ and the Epiphany, East Haven
- October 27, Pipescreams!, St. John's, West Hartford
- October 27, Concert: Eric Anderson, Church of Our Savior, Plainville
- October 28, Fall Festival, Grace Church, Newington
- October 28, Harry Potter's "Diagon Alley," St. John's, North Guilford
- October 28, "Phantom of the Opera," Christ & Holy Trinity, Westport
- October 28, Trunk or Treat Halloween Party, St. John's, Vernon
- October 29, Glastonbury's Got Talent Show Audition, St. Luke's, Glastonbury
- October 29, 500th Anniversary Festival & Hymns, St. James', Glastonbury
- October 29, Recital: Schoenstien & Co. Opus 170, Grace Church, Hartford
- October 29, Choral Evensong, St. John's, West Hartford
REGION MEETINGS & EVENTS:
- October 21: SW Region: Convocation
- October 28: NC Region: A Night with the Saints, Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford
MINISTRY NETWORK MEETINGS & EVENTS:
- October 20, The Church & Community Development presentation, St. Francis House, New London
- November 3, Urban Ministry & the signs of the times, St. James, New London
- November 14, Hospital Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Network, The Commons, Meriden
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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 21, Christ Church, Ansonia
- Option 2 - hybrid program with online training plus shortened live follow-up
- 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.
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