ECCT WEEKLY ENEWSLETTER
February 12, 2019
A visit with Maggie Breen and her sheep in NE Connecticut
Click on the video to the left, and come for a visit with Karin to Northeast Connecticut to meet Maggie Breen, NE Region Missionary, and her three sheep. Learn about them, see their barn, check out the yarn they provide, hear some life lessons Maggie has learned from them.
From the blog: Meet Frankie Williams:
Too Blessed to be Stressed
By ECCT Digital Storyteller Alli Huggins

When asked if she could have a life motto, Frankie Williams quickly answered, “I am ‘too blessed to be stressed.’” Frankie will turn 94 on March 11, and she has seen change – in the world, in the church, in her town, and in her parish. 

I had the pleasure of sitting in “her pew” with her at St. Mark’s to hear about her life. 

Frankie and her family joined St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Bridgeport, a parish and community of color, in 1954. Two years later she was confirmed. Frankie moved her family to Bridgeport from Stratford in the 1970s and has lived in the same house – just three blocks away from St. Mark’s – since.

Recent letters: Links to include or forward

ECCT and its Bishops have recently sent several important letters to enews subscribers. Here's an overview and links. Find all these and more on the online enews archive page here . Parishes are always welcome to use those links in their own newsletters or social media, or copy/paste text into bulletins or other documents for sharing.
"Joining Jesus" initiative update

The ECCT initiative, Joining Jesus , in which  parishes have the opportunity to pair raising financial resources with deepening spiritual practices, has been underway since January 2, 2019. The initiative is  described in more detail here , and includes a link to  this backgrounder document  mailed to all ECCT parishes.
  • CCS Assistant Vice President Tiffany Reed will meet with more than 65 parishes to discuss fundraising at the local level, and has met with 45 parishes thus far. Up to six parishes will conduct fundraising initiatives this spring, with the possibility for additional participation this fall and into 2020.
  • Canon for Mission Collaboration the Rev. Tim Hodapp organized an event for Feb. 23 to share info on a one-year parish project inviting a team of clergy and lay leaders into a deeper exploration of the spiritual practices; more than 20 parishes are sending teams. A follow-up gathering for the growing waitlist of parishes who weren’t able to make the 80-person cut is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Commons. (Contact Gigi Leackfeldt if you wish to be on this list.) Twelve parishes will participate in the formal one-year experiment.
  • Bishops and several canons are currently considering people to serve on an Advisory Council for the Joining Jesus initiative. 
  • Bishop Douglas is connecting with potential individual supporters of the identified ECCT/Region initiatives (as described in the backgrounder).
  • Advisory Council members, along with the list of parishes participating in the Joining Jesus initiative, will be announced once finalized.
Annual Spring Training & Gathering (for laity and clergy) April 27 in Berlin CT - Registration is now OPEN!

The 7th Annual Spring Training & Gathering will be held Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Berlin High School, 39 Patterson Way, Berlin, CT. This is a change in location from that previously announced, and from prior years.

Join Episcopalians from across the Episcopal Church in Connecticut for a day of fellowship, learning, prayer and fun. All are welcome - people in the pews to vestry members to parish leaders and staff.

Workshop Categories: Christian Formation; Communication; Connecting & Collaborating; Essential Parish Operations; Leadership; Pastoral Care; Season of Racial Healing, Justice & Reconciliation (new in 2019); Social Justice & Advocacy; Spiritual Practices (new in 2019); Stewardship; Worship.

Every workshop category contains at least one new workshop this year. Additionally, three workshops will be offered with Spanish translation, one during each workshop session. They are Collaboration: What's all this "Joining Jesus" really about?, Seasons of Grace, Seasons of Hope, and Latino Music Jam.

For information on all of the workshops being offered at this year's event click on Spring Training & Gathering 2019 Workshop Booklet here. REGISTER HERE. Click here for a flyer or a or here for a bulletin insert . Info and resources also on this web page.
Day of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation 2/10

February 10 was the Day of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation on which parishes were asked by vote of ECCT's 2018 Convention to hold a conversation about the sin of racism. A related Ministry Network provided resources. ECCT Facebook posts asked parishes what they planned to do, and later, what they did; a number posted replies. Check it out, and add yours.
ECCT PODCAST
Listen to the episode and others at Coffee Hour at The Commons , or on iTunes , Google Play , and Stitcher !

Know of an interesting individual or unique ministry in ECCT? Maybe something going on at your parish, or someone there? Let us know!!
New Episode (#35) , Feb. 8, 2019: "Talking about Absalom Jones and the Union of Black Episcopalians," with the Hon. Steven Mullins. Steven reflects on UBE's past and hints at directions for its future, and we learn about the upcoming celebration of the life of the Rev. Absalom Jones, first Black priest in The Episcopal Church.
ECCT IN THE NEWS
Email Karin if your parish or worshiping community has been featured in the news!
EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, & REMINDERS
ECCT Women's Ministry Network Events - Save the Dates

FOR WOMEN CLERGY:
  • Women’s Clergy Retreat at Camp Washington in Lakeside, March 7-8, will focus on Women and Leadership. The Very Rev. Judith Sullivan, Dean of the Philadelphia Episcopal Church, will lead these conversations. REGISTER HERE NOW.

FOR LAY AND CLERGY WHO IDENTIFY AS WOMEN:
  • An "Afternoon with Valerie Tutson," nationally renowned storyteller, on Sunday, March 31, 2-6 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford.
  • A "Dinner Mini-Retreat" on Thursday, April 11, from 6 - 8 p.m. at The Commons in Meriden. Take a little time away from your hectic lives to talk about your faith and connect with other women throughout ECCT.

NOTE: Related event for women: Camp Washington is sponsoring a "Deep Winter Women's (Yoga) Retreat" March 1-2, at Camp Washington. More info and registration here .
Upcoming Clergy Events

  • Clergy Day: Feb. 12 (today) at St. Peter's, Hebron. $5 Registration. Lunch reservations closed last week. Check to be sure event is not cancelled due to weather.
  • Clericus: April 4, No. Central & So Central, at St. Paul's, Wallingford, 11 a.m. REGISTER HERE
  • Clericus: June 4, Northeast & Southeast, at St. Peter's, Hebron, 10 a.m. REGISTER HERE
  • Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day: Choose any of the three offered:
  1. Thursday, April 11, St. Mark's New Canaan; REGISTER HERE
  2. Tuesday, May14, St. Peter's-Trinity, Thomaston; REGISTER HERE
  3. Saturday, June 15, St. John's, Vernon; REGISTER HERE
Way of Love and other Lenten Resources

The Episcopal Church released Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent and Easter , a list of resources from partnering organizations and churches. Three specific resources include Adult Forums, Quiet Days, and Test Kitchen. Other resources include: Lent Madness, Sermons that Work for Lent, Ashes to Go, and more!

ECCT has chosen to promote  The Way of Love resources as its primary recommendation for Lent and Easter this year.
Annual "Faith Behind Bars and Beyond" Forum (prison ministry): March 30

The 10th Prison Forum, presented by the ECCT Ministry Network Faith Behind Bars and Beyond, will be held Saturday, March 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 45 Church Street, Hartford.

PRESENTERS: Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, CSJ, executive director of Hour Children , an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of intergenerational incarceration, will be the keynote speaker. The afternoon speaker will be Lawrence Bartley, communications associate at The Marshall Project , a nonpartisan nonprofit news agency that "seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system."
ADDITIONALLY: In addition to speakers, and a video shown during Lawrence Bartley's forum, there will be a panel discussion with returning citizens and their families and a Q & A following each panel discussion.
REGISTRATION: Register online here. The $10 fee includes your lunch, and beverages and snacks offered throughout the day.
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: Can provide brochures and similar.
WEBSITE WITH FULL DETAILS AND CONTACT : Link here .
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CAMP WASHINGTON?
Upcoming events at Camp Washington:





ECCT CALENDAR
Events below are coming up in the next few weeks
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.

  • February 12: Clergy Day, Hebron (check to be sure not cancelled due to weather)
  • February 13: COM Meeting; Finance Cttee Mtg., The Commons
  • February 18: The Commons is closed
  • February 20: Faith & Order Committee Mtg.,The Commons
  • February 21: New Call; Standing Committee, The Commons
  • February 23: Spiritual Practices for a New Missional Age, The Commons (registration now full)

Bishops' Visitation Schedule:

  • February 17: Bishop Ahrens: All Saints, Meriden; Bishop Douglas: St. Andrew, Northford
  • February 24: Bishop Ahrens: St. Stephen's, East Haddam

Ministry Network Events (see more on this calendar )
  • February 13: Brotherhood of St. Andrew Meeting at St. John's, Vernon
  • February 16: Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconcilation Ministry Network gathering, 9-3 at Christ Church Cathedral, registration link here
In an effort to reduce the size of our eNewsletters, please visit this calendar for all Parish and Region events, To add an upcoming event, please fill out this form .
Safe Church Training - Spring schedule starts in March
All Safe Church Trainings (Comprehensive Basic, and Lay Recertification) can be found on our website. Use this link to the ECCT online calendar. Use the list on the side to filter by "Safe Church Trainings," and look through each month. Entries include the details, and a link to register.
OPEN POSITIONS
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. 


For open Clergy positions please click here .