ECCT WEEKLY ENEWSLETTER January 8, 2019

Bishops Announce Season of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation On Thursday, the Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas and the Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens released a letter to the Episcopal Church in Connecticut announcing the two-year Season of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation . Below is an excerpt from the letter. "Our recent Convention’s action was comprehensive and called for specific actions and we commend  the 2018 resolution  to you in its entirety. To begin with, the resolution launched a  Season of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation  in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut to last a minimum of two years. The goals of the Season are to:  Introduce foundational concepts, language, and tools to help encourage and enable congregations to begin opening hearts and minds; Acknowledge the reality of white supremacy and bias against people of color; Awaken Episcopalians in Connecticut to the need for concerted action to address the ongoing injustice of the racial divide. We recognize this is work many of us have already engaged in various ways for a long time. We also recognize that while the resolution invites us into this work for a minimum of two years, we will be committed to this work for the rest of our lives." Continue reading the letter here .

By affirmative vote at Annual Convention, ECCT also committed to asking all parishes to dedicate the second Sunday in February to begin a conversation about the sin of racism. Some resources are here now. Additional resources, including a litany, will be sent later in January. ECCT also committed to hiring a 10-hour a week staff position to assist with resources. The position description is currently being written, and a link will be included here, among other places, when that's completed.

Applications Accepted for Coordinator, Indigenous Theological Education (The Episcopal Church) The Episcopal Church is accepting applications for the position of Coordinator, Indigenous Theological Education, a member of the Office of Indigenous Ministries, which is part of the Evangelism Team of the Department of Mission.   The Indigenous Theological Education Coordinator will work collaboratively with the Missioner for Indigenous Ministries, the Indigenous Ministries Advisory Council (IMAC), and with Indigenous congregations and dioceses serving Indigenous constituents throughout The Episcopal Church, within the United States and other areas of the world. Application Deadline: January 24. Full press release including more information and application requirements available here .

ECCT PODCAST

New Episode: Karin talks with the Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bart Geissinger, and Ben Thompson all about Caring for Creation at Camp Washington. 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!!

ECCT IN THE NEWS

Homeless who died in 2018 remembered in New London (St. James, New London), The Day, December 21 Christmas Eve marks return of St. John’s bell in New Milford (St. John, New Milford), News Times, December 23 New Haven church honors lives of homeless people who died in 2018 (Trinity, New Haven), New Haven Register, December 28 Noteworthy in North County: Little things go a long way at St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Free Pantry (St. John, Pine Meadow), Republican-American Email Alli or Karin if your parish or worshiping community has been featured in the news!

EVENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, & REMINDERS

Weekly FB-live prayer with Bishops United Against Gun Violence Episcopalians Against Gun Violence Facebook page will host live weekly five-minute prayer services hosted by Bishops United Against Gun Violence. The first three services will be led by: January 11: Bishop Ian Douglas, ECCT January 18: Bishop Douglas Fisher, Diocese of Western Mass. January 25: Bishop Gretchen Rehberg, Diocese of Spokane

YASC Applications due Friday, January 11! The application deadline for YASC - Young Adult Service Corps placements, open to young adults ages 21 - 30, is due on Friday, January 11. Find more information, links to blogs and videos from current YASC members, and the application here .

Second Sunday at Camp Washington, January 13 The new theme for Second Sundays during the season of Epiphany is Awakening . The Rev. Brett Figlewski, Missional Curate of Trinity, Milton, and St. Paul's, Bantam, will lead a conversation on January 13 about cultivating our theological imagination. Call Camp Washington to register: 860-567-9623 or visit campwashington.org .

Bishops Book Discussion at Camp Washington, January 15 Join Bishop Laura J. Ahrens at 11:00 a.m., lunch to follow, on January 15 for a book discussion on the book  Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin . More information is available on Camp Washington's website here . Please register, a $10 donation is appreciated to cover the cost of lunch.

Central American Bishops Appeal for Anglican Communion Solidarity Over Migrant Caravan; letter now available in English An Anglican Communion News Service article on Nov. 2, 2018 stated that "Bishops from three Anglican Provinces have called for 'solidarity' from the Anglican Communion as a caravan of migrants makes its way through the region from El Salvador to the United States." Link to article . Retired ECCT priest the Rev. Christopher Webber arranged to have the letter translated to English and has published it at his website.

Four Parochial Reports 101 information meetings now scheduled; Reports due March 1 Join Canon Louis Fuertes and other ECCT office of finance staff members for Parochial Reports 101, and have all your parochial report questions a nswered! Space is limited, no more than 2 people per parish. Please click here to register. January 22 , 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.  January 25 , 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. January 29 , 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. January 31 , 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. The 2018 Parochial Reports are due on or before March 1, 2019 . Vestry approval is required before Parochial Reports can be submitted, please plan accordingly.

Serving God’s Mission with the Poor & Marginalized: Convention Follow-up Meeting on Jan. 26   Join the Rev. Jessie Karpf and the Rev. Ron Steed, ECCT deacons, for the first gathering on January 26 at The Commons in Meriden. Please RSVP for planning purposes, and review the report to Convention from this workshop.

Todavía queda tiempo para inscribirse para las próximas sesiones de Aptitud para el Ministerio Latino Episcopal Todavía queda tiempo para inscribirse para las dos sesiones de Aptitud para el Ministerio Latino Episcopal, un curso intensivo e innovador de ocho días diseñado para que el personal diocesano, los líderes laicos y los seminaristas aprendan sobre las aptitudes y competencias culturales para ministrar a la comunidad latina. En la web , i n English here . Del 19 al 26 de enero, en el Seminario Teológico de Virginia en Alexandria. Del 12 al 19 de agosto, en el Escuela de Teología de la Universidad del Sur en Sewanee, Tennessee.

Trinity Institute: Scene & Unseen: Facing Race Through Film, February 8 - 9, 2019

Upcoming Trinity Institute will feature two films ( Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee & Blindspotting by Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casals. This will be an in-person-only event in NYC that will be recorded. Panel includes: t he Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Dr. Greg Garrett, and Dr. Catherine Meeks.    (Editor's note: Copyright laws require that churches/Regions need a license to show films, even when offered for education or formation and free to participants; companies such as CCLI offer licenses.)

United Thank Offering (UTO) Grant Applications Due to ECCT Feb 15 The focus for the 2019 United Thank Offering grants is  Go: Crossing boundaries created by race, culture, and economics to create communities that listen deeply and learn to live like Jesus.  More information is available   here . Detailed guidelines for applying for the grants are  here . Please submit all applications to Chrissy Shingler by February 15 for Bishop's approval and endorsement. Online ZOOM webinar with UTO Grant Committee: January 15 & February 13 at noon and 8:00 p.m.

Spend your summer working at Camp Washington! Camp Washington is accepting applications for a seasonal Summer Camp Program Director. A full job description is available on their website CampWashington.org . Other upcoming opportunities include Special Program Coordinator and 2019 Camp Counselor. Listen to the latest podcast episode to hear about all the Creation Care initiatives happening at Camp!

Adult Faith Formation Leaders Gathering, March 14 - 16, Register by Feb 4. Registration now open for the next gathering of Adult Faith Formation Leaders will be March 14 - 16 at Barbara Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, NH. The focus of this gathering will be The Way of Love , led by co-creator and leader of the Way of Love movement, Jerusalem Greer. Registration deadline is February 4, more information and link to register available here . Note: ECCT has chosen to promote The Way of Love resources as its primary recommendation for Lent and Easter this year. Although ECCT bishops and canons support and will promote multiple options, each year they decide on one to promote as a primary recommendation. An overview is here; the details are still in the works.

Revive! A new small-group discipleship program for lay leaders from Forward Movement Forward Movement released a new program seeking to inspire and reinvigorate lay leaders of the church. Created by the Rev. Canon Dawn Davis,  Revive  is a small-group discipleship program that celebrates the dedicated service of lay leaders and helps them grow into deeper relationship with God. The full  Revive  program costs $299, but an introductory price of $100 runs through the end of March; see website for details .

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. January 8: Title IV Annual Training and Dinner, The Commons January 10: Interim Priest-in-Charge Gathering, The Commons January 11: Deacons' Epiphany Party, The Commons January 12: Gathering of Postulants & Candidates, The Commons January 15: Bishop's Book Discussion, Camp Washington January 15: Donations and Bequests Board Meeting, The Commons January 15: Archives Committee, The Commons January 16: COM Meeting, The Commons January 17: New Call Meeting, The Commons January 17: Standing Committee, The Commons January 18-19: ROC Gathering, Camp Washington January 19: Region Leadership Team Workshop, The Commons January 21: The Commons is Closed January 22: Provisional Priest-in-Charge Gathering, The Commons January 22: Northeast & Southeast Region Clericus Gathering, St. James, Preston January 22: Parochial Reports 101, The Commons Bishops' Visitation Schedule: January 13: Bishop Ahrens: Christ Church, Watertown; Bishop Douglas: St. Luke/St. Paul, Bridgeport January 20: Bishop Ahrens: St. John's, Washington; Bishop Douglas: St. John's, North Haven January 27: Bishop Ahrens: St. John's, East Windsor; Bishop Douglas: Epiphany, Durham February 3: Bishop Ahrens: St. Andrew's, Stamford; Bishop Douglas: St. Paul's, Wallingford

All Parish, Region, and Ministry Network events are posted on  this calendar . Below are the upcoming events for the next two weeks. Hosting an event? Please submit ALL parish, Region, and Ministry Network events  using this form. Please indicate which region your event is in by selecting the appropriate region category.   Contact specific parish for updates, locations, and details. PLEASE check to see if your event is already on the calendar before you submit it. Parish: Regular worship services, including season-specific, will not be listed below.    January 8: Faith-Family-Fun, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange January 9: Red Door of Grace Food Pantry Opening, Grace, Windsor January 12: Screening of the film "Risen," St. James', Farmington January 13: New World Trio, St. John's, West Hartford January 21: Bible Study: "A Majority of One," Holy Trinity, Enfield Region: January 22: NE & SE Region: Clericus Gathering (register here), St. James, Preston Ministry Network: January 10: Environmental and Climate Ministry Network Gathering, St. Stephen's, East Haddam

Safe Church Training: * DATES FOR 2019 ARE BEING SCHEDULED * All Safe Church Trainings (Comprehensive Basic, and Lay Recertification) can be found on our website. Please find & register for trainings on our website .

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.  Summer Camp Program Director, Camp Washington Organist/Choir Director, St. Peter's, South Windsor For open Clergy positions please click here .

STAY CONNECTED

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌