ECCT WEEKLY ENEWSLETTER
February 26, 2019
TEC office of Govt Rel. DC
Episcopal bishops to meet with lawmakers on background check bills as gun deaths mount
[Episcopal News Service] There are several reasons a group of Episcopal bishops is preparing to descend on the nation’s capital next week, but the motivation to travel is rooted in one democratic principle.

“In our legislative process, showing up really does matter,” Connecticut Bishop Ian Douglas, one of the co-conveners of  Bishops United Against Gun Violence , said in an interview with Episcopal News Service about the bishops’ upcoming Capitol Hill visits.

During a month when the nation marked one year since the high school massacre in Parkland, Florida, and when five new victims were mourned after a mass shooting at a workplace in Aurora, Illinois, Douglas and his fellow bishops will gather Feb. 27 on Capitol Hill to represent a “culture of life in the face of a culture of death.” Eight bishops, working with the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations, are scheduled to spend the day meeting with lawmakers and their staffs to advocate for legislation toughening regulations on background checks for gun purchasers.

Bishops United to hold brief online prayer service in DC; join Friday March 1 at noon

A brief prayer service will be livestreamed on Facebook at noon (EST) on Friday, March 1, part of a Bishops United's series of services held every Friday during Epiphany and hosted by bishops around the country. Check the Episcopalians Against Gun Violence Facebook page to watch, and for other events and news.

The service will be held in the chapel of the building where the Office of Government Relations (OGR) has its offices. (Photo of OGR building by David Paulsen/ENS)

ECCT's Bishop Ian T. Douglas, Bishop Laura J. Ahrens, and Bishop James E. Curry, retired, are all part of Bishops United Against Gun Violence. Bishops Douglas and Curry will be in D.C. next week. The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations is arranging for the Capitol Hill visits of eight Episcopal bishops on Feb. 27.
From the blog: Following God's Footsteps of Mercy
Posted by ECCT Digital Storyteller Alli Huggins
Written by Carly Trask-Kuchta, originally posted in the  September issue  of the Southeast Region Monthly Newsletter “The Bridge. ”
I’ve lived a privileged life of callings. In middle school, I learned what it meant to be a counselor, and being a young woman raised in the church, I took this as a sign and began voraciously and zealously pursuing a higher education in psychology, starting with a Christian college. A mentor of mine pointed me toward Houghton College, and after my first campus visit, I fell in love, and once my Houghton acceptance letter came in the mail my mind was set; God wanted me at Houghton, and I was going. 

I was ready to leave home. I was ready to see the world (the world being upstate New York Amish-country, but, hey, this is wildly different than southeastern Connecticut!). I had big ideas, and an advocacy-heart, and I was ready to change the world (remember when I said I wanted to see the world, and then I was ready to change it? welcome, naïveté). My first year in college threw me. All of a sudden I was required to think for myself; it wasn’t until I reached higher education, with all its reflection papers and theological discourse, that I was thrust into a world of opinions and theory. I was losing myself and finding myself: in God, in my relationships with others, and in my classes. Rapidly, God was becoming more real, and not just in a romanticized way of callings and martyrdom, but in a way that challenged, pushed, and shaped me into a woman of Christ.

Fast-forward to me being led to Fuller Theological Seminary to pursue my doctorate in psychology. 

ECCT's Digital Storyteller Alli Huggins is using our new blog site, episcopalct.blog , to share her stories and those from others. ECCT podcast episodes are linked, as well. You can search archives and submit story leads. Contact her at storytelling@episcopalct.org
Monthly bulletin inserts offered to support Season of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation

The Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Network is organizing a series of monthly bulletin inserts to support parish participation in ECCT's  Season of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation . They'll include a quote, guest reflection, update on resources, and reminder of the Season, with contact info. These are also posted on the " Communication Resources " section of the Season of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation web pages. 
EYE 2020 - Invite youth to consider leadership on design team

True, few if any youth are reading the ECCT weekly enews, but you may know of one in your household or parish who might be interested in serving on the design team for the next huge EYE (Episcopal Youth Event) in 2020. So send them the link and your encouragement. Youth applicants must be currently enrolled in grades 9-11; be a communicant in good standing in an Episcopal Church congregation, and able to travel unaccompanied on the scheduled meeting dates. More: English , Spanish .

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 (#37), Feb. 22, 2019: A conversation with the Revs. Nik and Carrie Combs, a young married clergy couple. She's FT curate at Trinity, Newtown; he's PT priest-in-charge at Trinity, Torrington and PT at a bike shop. We talk about how they met, but mostly about their vocations and some work/life intersections.
ECCT IN THE NEWS
The Rev. Tom Furrer and Kateri Medical Services were featured in the Hartford Courant. Courant staffer Kathleen McWilliams wrote about Tom, now at Trinity, Wethersfield, on his longstanding mission partnership with Kateri Medical Services in Nigeria. The article Includes a promotional video about Kateri and notes on the parish's ongoing engagement with mission projects. Link here.

The "Sunday Soul Service" at Trinity, Seymour was noted in the Woodbridgtownnews online. Three churches collaborate to offer a community meal followed by worship with a contemporary praise band.

Two churches had music events listed in local media: St. James's, West Hartford on their new classical concert series, in the West Hartford News and Christ Church, Bethany on their winter concert with a local bluesman, in the New Haven Register.

Email Karin if your parish or worshiping community has been featured in non-ECCT media/news!
EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, & REMINDERS
Annual Spring Training & Gathering (for laity and clergy) April 27 in Berlin CT - Registration is open

The 7th Annual Spring Training & Gathering is a day for laity especially, and clergy, filled with workshops that help you in your parish ministry or deepen your personal spiritual life. A print mailing was sent to parishes on February 8 and a special edition eNewsletter was published Jan. 21.
This year's event will be held Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Berlin High School, 139 Patterson Way, Berlin, CT. Workshop details in booklet here.
ECCT Women's Ministry Network Events

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

Way of Love and other Lenten Resources available in English & Spanish

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! Spanish and English resources available. Click the image on right.
Annual "Faith Behind Bars and Beyond" Forum (prison ministry) to be held 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:

  • March 1-2, "Deep Winter Women's Retreat"
  • March 6-7, ECCT Women Clergy Retreat
  • March 8-10, "Happening" (teens) weekend
  • March 10, "Second Sunday,"with the Rev. Jack Gilpin
  • March 29, Bishop's Book Study, with Bishop Laura Ahrens discussing The Cloister by James Carroll
  • April 5-8, Icon writing workshop, with Kara Nelson
  • May 5, Open House for summer camp programs


Summer Camp programs include: Mini-camp (ages 5-10); Children's Camp (ages 7-12); Teen Camp (ages 12-16); Wilderness Adventure Camp (ages 7-12 and 12-16); and Service Leadership Camp (ages 13-16). Registration is open. More info and links here .
Camp Washington is the official year-round retreat center and summer camp of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) that serves as a resource for formation for all of ECCT. It is a "place of acceptance, joy, and renewal for all God's people." Located on 300 acres in the Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut, Camp Washington both organizes and hosts weekend and day-long retreats and events throughout the year for individuals, parishes, and other groups of all ages, and offers a full summer camp program.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL?
Dean Kelly Brown Douglas will be at Christ Church Cathedral on May 11. Details and register here .
Upcoming events at Christ Church Cathedral

  • March 23 (Sat. 7 pm): Cuatro Puntos Concert: The Curve, with Iraqi musician/composer Ameen Mokdad
  • March 30 (Sat. 8:30 am. - 2 pm) Faith Beyond Bars & Beyond Prison Ministry Network's annual forum
  • April 11 (Thu., 7 pm): Cuatro Puntos Concert: Sounds of Persia with Iranian santur master Dariush Saghafi and composer Reza Vali
  • April 16 (Holy Tuesday) Annual Clergy Renewal of Vows
  • April 20 (Holy Saturday) Region Confirmations - Easter Vigil
  • May 5 (Sun. 10 am) Mariachi Eucharist
  • May 11 (Sat., 9 am-2 pm) Dean Kelly Brown Douglas, "What it means to be a Church in 'Make America Great Again' Times" (details and register here)
  • May 19, 50th Anniversary celebration for couples married 50 years or more
Christ Church Cathedral  serves the entire Episcopal Church in Connecticut community for the good of the whole, and is the seat of the bishops. It is "our cathedral." Our Cathedral hosts four congregations in one worshiping community. It's not a parish, as its role is unique in the diocese (see 2015 task force report & resolution ). In this its centennial year , Cathedral leaders and Centennial Committee members wish to remind all Episcopalians in CT that by virtue of their membership in a parish, they are members of our Cathedral. All are welcome at any time, and in particular, invited to these events .
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.

  • March 7-8: Women Clergy Retreat at Camp Washington
  • March 7; Joining Jesus Advisory Council Mtg; Faithful Futures: Collaboration, both at The Commons
  • March 9: Leadership Gathering, The Commons
  • March 13: Spiritual Practices for a New Missional Age, The Commons
  • March 15, ROC gathering, The Commons
  • March 15-17, Deacon Formation Retreat, Rhode Island
  • March 19, Missional PIC Gathering, The Commons
  • March 20, COM meeting, The Commons
  • March 21, New Call meeting, The Commons

Bishops' Visitation Schedule:

  • March 3: Bishop Ahrens - St. Paul's, Riverside; Bishop Douglas - St. Paul's, Plainfield
  • March 12-15, House of Bishops Meeting
  • March 24: Bishop Ahrens - Calvary, Stonington; Bishop Douglas, Trinity New Haven

Ministry Network Events (ECCT-wide) (see more on this calendar )
  • Feb. 28, Disaster Response Ministry Network Mtg. (2 pm, The Commons)
  • March 13, Brotherhood of St. Andrew's Mtg. (7 pm, St. John's, Vernon)
  • March 7-8, Women's Ministry Network, Clergy Women's Retreat (Camp Washington)
  • March 17, Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Network event: Caribbean Mass w/Steel Drum Band (10 am, St. Luke's New Haven)
  • March 30, Faith Behind Bars & Beyond Ministry Network, Prison Ministry Forum (open to the public) (8:30 am -2 pm, Christ Church Cathedral)
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.

Important note for clergy only:

ALL clergy must attend one Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day in 2019. These include Safe Church Recertification. Date options (link on them to register): Thu., April 11 in New Canaan; Tue., May 14 in Thomaston; and Sat. June 15 in Vernon.

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 .