ECCT Weekly eNews
May 30, 2018
ECCT welcomes Derrick as Controller at The Commons

The staff here at The Commons is pleased to welcome Derrick Da Silva as the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's new Controller. Before accepting this role, Derrick worked in the financial department at Hartford Healthcare in Newington. He holds a Bachelors in Accounting, and is currently working on his MBA in Finance and Accounting.

As the Controller, Derrick will oversee that "all financials are up to date, reconciled, and presentable for any audits and internal uses."

This is a return to The Commons; Derrick worked on a financial and budget project for ECCT preparing all accounts for an audit in 2014. Derrick comments, "it is great to be here again and be a part of God's mission."

Derrick is a native of Guyana, the only English-speaking country on the continent of South America! He lives in Newington and practices Tai Chi every morning, and recited the mantra, "God's love does not exempt us from trials but leads us through them." He has two sons and two grandsons.
The Commons also welcomes Evette Stevens, who will serve as our temporary Assistant Controller from Creative Financial Staffing, for the next 3 months. 
Pastoral Conversation with Episcopalian Members of the NRA, June 16 at Christ Church Cathedral
Bishops Ian T. Douglas and Laura J. Ahrens of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut invite Episcopalian members of the National Rifle Association and other Episcopalian owners of firearms in Connecticut to a pastoral conversation about how best to address the epidemic of gun violence in the United States.

June 16 at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford at 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Information on the flyer here .
St. Mark’s, New Canaan Young Adult Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, May 2019

The Rev. Justin Crisp and Jewelle Bickel of St. Mark’s Church, New Canaan and local Israeli guide Canon Iyad Qumri will lead a young adult pilgrimage to the Holy Land May 17-31, 2019. The trip is open to all young adults and their youth leaders. The trip will include visits to places like Bethlehem, the sea of Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes, and Golgotha. In addition to these holy sites, the group will also visit and worship alongside our Christian brothers and sisters in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, and they will learn about the challenges of day-to-day life in this complex part of the world through interfaith conversations with young adult Jews and Muslims. They will spend a day in service with an agency supported by the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem . There will also be time to relax and enjoy the rugged beauty of the land, and to grow in faith and friendship with their fellow pilgrims.

If you are interested in learning more about this young adult pilgrimage, please contact Cyra Borsy , Director of Youth Ministry at St. Mark’s, New Canaan. A copy of the itinerary can be downloaded on the St. Mark’s website . Please let Cyra know if you are interested by June 17. A non-refundable $500 deposit is due by September 1. 
LGBTQ+ Pride Eucharist, June 10 at St. Paul's, Fairfield, Southwest Region

Come and rejoice in the fabulous diversity in which God has made all people! On the day after  Fairfield County's Pride in the Park 2018 , gather with those of every sexual orientation and gender identity to celebrate God loves and commit to working for justice in the world.

This service, now in its fifth year at St. Paul's on the Green in Norwalk , is presented in 2018 as a collaboration between several Episcopal parishes in Fairfield County (ECCT Southwest Region). The Rev. Marcella Gillis, Assistant Rector of  Christ & Holy Trinity, Westport, will preach, and the Rev. Curtis Farr, Rector of  St Paul's, Fairfield , will preside at the Eucharist.

More information on their website or on the Facebook event here .
Convention Corner:

Annual Convention: Something New
Something new is coming to Annual Convention this year, and we want you to be a part of it! Learn about why we’re making these changes in this first video in a series, and be sure to check out our website for the latest information about this year’s Convention.

Register for Convention
Registration is now open for the 2018 Annual Convention, on October 26 & 27 at the Mystic Marriott in Groton, CT! Register before June 15 to get the early bird discount rate of $65. Learn more about this year’s Convention and register today ! More information in the Call to Convention available here .

Submit your delegates' names
Submit the names of your elected delegates and alternates using the ECCT parish survey ( link here , or email Matt Handi for more information). The Call to Convention was mailed earlier this month. ALL and updates and information after that will be online and sent by email. 

Annual Convention Banquet: Trivia Night
 It's a battle of wits and useless knowledge at Convention on Friday night! Over dinner, compete with your team for unique prizes by answering trivia questions from church history to popular culture--from the arcane to the downright silly. Get together your friends from around the church and register today.
What's happening in the Regions:
(links and the top item listed on each Region's web page, if any)

Northwest Region ( webpage , Facebook page )
  • Check the Facebook page for details!
North Central Region ( webpage , Facebook page / group , enewsletter sign-up )
  • Click here to view the North Central Region Event Calendar
Northeast Region ( webpage , Facebook page / group )
Southwest Region ( webpage , Facebook page )
South Central Region ( webpage , Facebook page , blog )
  •  Hiking with the Rachels, dates available here.
Southeast Region ( webpage , Facebook page )
  • June 17,12:30, 66 Union St., New London Mass Incarceration: A Faithful Response
Positions Open
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 .
ECCT is hiring: Diocesan Archivist
Meg Smith is retiring as ECCT's Archivist. ECCT has begun the search for a full-time Archivist, Records Manager, and Special Collections Librarian . This position is the official custodian and manager of diocesan records and is responsible for the direction and implementation of the Archives and Records Management Program of ECCT. 
Announcements & Reminders
Please continue to fill out the parish/worshiping community survey for the ECCT database - and be sure to update it with 2018 delegates to Annual Convention!!

A survey was launched in July 2017 to provide robust data on parishes, along with policies and procedures to make some of that data available for direct collaboration among parishes and worshiping communities. Thanks so much to the following churches that completed their survey since the last announcement: Christ & The Epiphany, East Haven; St. Peter's, Monroe; Church of the Holy Trinity, Middletown; St. Peter's, Milford.

Episode 10 is now LIVE! A sermon from Bishop Laura J. Ahrens and a keynote from the Rev. Becca Stevens

Check it out: Coffee Hour at The Commons , or on iTunes , Google Play , and Stitcher !

If you have any ideas for show topics or know of an interesting individual/ministry happening in ECCT, send us an email .
Hurricane season officially begins June 1

The recent tornadoes in CT and the start of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season  are both good reminders to be prepared. ECCT's Disaster Response Ministry Network, headed by Mike Corey, commends www.ready.gov for setting up your family plan and they also encourage all parishes to have an emergency plan. Check out the preparedness planning resources from Episcopal Relief and Development's US Disaster Program on this page . Or contact Mike at mpcorey@gmail.com . 
ECCT's Deputies to GC79 Open House, June 6

Join the ECCT Deputation to General Convention on Wednesday, June 6 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at The Commons for an open conversation about General Convention. Ask questions, share thoughts, and learn about the deputies and what they bring to General Convention as representation of ECCT. Feedback regarding the #MeToo discussion within the Episcopal Church is welcomed.

Share your thoughts with the deputation, offer up questions and conversation topics by emailing ecctdeputation@gmail.com .
Save the Date: June 24 -- EfM Graduation

The 2018 Education for Ministry Graduation ceremony is scheduled Sunday June 24 at 2:30 p.m., hosted by St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 4670 Congress Street, Fairfield, CT. This year’s graduates are from EfM groups meeting at Church of the Epiphany, Durham, St. Timothy’s, Fairfield, and St. James’s West Hartford. Contact Ron Ward for more information.
Young Adult Service, Formation, & Community in CT

Saint Hilda’s House is a ten-month (begins August) residential young adult discernment program devoted to spiritual formation & urban ministry while living in community. The unique setting, in New Haven, gives residents access to a diverse range of educational, service, and spiritual resources. Questions? Contact the Rev. Carlos de la Torre .
Events coming up soon:
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.

  • May 31, Transition Consultants Meeting, The Commons
  • May 31, Priesthood Mentors Gathering, The Commons
  • May 31, Finance Committee Meeting, The Commons
  • June 1 - 3, Deacon Formation Retreat, Episcopal Camp and Conference Center of Rhode Island
  • June 2, Nurture Your Spirit: Deacon Retreat, Camp Washington
  • June 5, Retired Clergy Steering Committee Gathering, The Commons
  • June 6, General Convention Deputation Public Meeting, The Commons
  • June 7, Clergy Day, St. Mark's, New Britain
  • June 7, Faithful Futures: Ministry Networks, The Commons
  • June 9, Leadership Gathering, The Commons
  • June 9, Southwest Region Confirmation, St. Luke's, Darien
  • June 12, Convention Planning, The Commons

BISHOPS' VISITS:

  • June 3: Bishop Ahrens, Trinity, Tariffville; Bishop Douglas, Christ & Holy Trinity, Westport
  • June 10: Bishop Ahrens, St. James' Danbury; Bishop Douglas, Christ Church, Greenwich
  • June 17, Bishop Douglas, Grace/St. Peter's, Hamden
  • June 24, Bishop Ahrens, Emmanuel, Weston
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 , you may select as many categories that apply to your event as needed. Please indicate which region your event is in by selecting the appropriate region category.   Reach out to the specific parish for event updates, specific locations, and further details.

PLEASE check to see if your event is already on the calendar before you submit it.

PARISH EVENTS:
Regular worship services, including season-specific, will not be listed below.   

  • May 31, Bible Study: What You Worship As Unknown, I Now Proclaim to You: The Power to Meet People Where They Are, Trinity, Wethersfield
  • June 1, Tag sale, St. Peter's, Hebron
  • June 2 and 3, Free Concert: Lean on Me, Trinity, Tariffville
  • June 3, Pipes Alive! Concert, St. John's, West Hartford
  • June 4 - 8, Yale Youth Ministry Initiative Summer Symposium, Yale Divinity School, New Haven
  • June 4, Financial Peace University, St. Mark's, Mystic
  • June 5, First Tuesday, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange
  • June 9, Bach to Broadway, St. James', Danbury
  • June 10, LGBTQ+ Pride Eucharist, St. Paul's, Norwalk

REGION MEETINGS & EVENTS:
  • June 16, Stewardship Workshop - St. Mark's, Storrs
MINISTRY NETWORK MEETINGS & EVENTS:

SAFE CHURCH TRAINING:
The spring 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 re-certification, 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. Questions? Contact Deb Kenney .

Recertification Training for Lay Persons
For lay ministers who attended a full day of basic safe church training three to five years ago