ECCT WEEKLY ENEWSLETTER
April 2, 2019
Pledge to Care for Creation as part of living as the Jesus Movement

[Media Release, The Episcopal Church, March 29, 2019]

Episcopalians and friends concerned about all of God’s creation are joining Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in pledging to take action to protect and renew God’s world and all who call it home. The goal is to gather at least 1,000 pledges with concrete, personal commitments by Earth Day, April 22.
 
Building from the Episcopal Vision for Care of Creation statement developed by the Presiding Bishop’s Office and the Advisory Council on Stewardship of Creation for the 79th General Convention, this  pledge , and the accompanying  Reflection Guide , is a tangible and practical way to show love for God’s world.
 
As Bishop Curry noted, “Many of us are ready to pledge and help to care for God’s creation. Like the Bible said, God so loved the world that he gave his only son. That means the real world: all of us and all of it. And this is one way we can participate in helping to care for God’s creation. This is dear and near to my heart and the heart of God.”

Read full media release ...

From the blog : Growing Organic Community in North Guilford
 by ECCT Digital Storyteller Alli Huggins
Last Thursday, I joined the Rev. Rachel Field, the South Central Region Missionary, for a visit to the Dudley Community Garden while she and her partner picked up a rototiller from the farm. The community garden occupies just a sliver of the ten-acre  Dudley Farm  in North Guilford. Along with the garden, an 1845 family home turned museum, the Munder Barn (rentable for events), and multiple farm animals make up the rest of the property. The property is overseen by the Dudley Foundation, a nonprofit established in the 1990s in cooperation with the North Guilford Volunteer Fire Company and a network of volunteers — one of whom is Judy Stone. 

Judy (in photo), a member of both St. John’s, North Guilford and Christ Church, New Haven, has overseen the community garden since 2005, however she has been a gardener there since 1997. Between 2009-2011, with the help from a community grant, Judy, her husband, and members of the community built a tool shed at the garden, installed a new watering system, added a fence around the whole garden, and expanded the parking area. 


ECCT's Digital Storyteller Alli Huggins is using a 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
Confirmation schedule change for May 11

The scheduled May 11 Southeast Region confirmation has been cancelled; instead, there will be another Southwest Region confirmation on May 11. It will be at St. Mark's, New Canaan at 10 a.m. with Bishop Laura J. Ahrens. Link here to most recent confirmation schedule.

Confirmands & Bishops Dinner planned for Tuesday, April 30
The Bishops invite all who are preparing for Confirmation to meet with them and to talk about God's mission and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in the 21st century. The gathering begins at The Commons in Meriden at 5:30 p.m. and concludes by 7:30 p.m. RSVPs required for planning, register here . Questions? Contact Bonni McKenney by email or phone: 203-639-3501 ext. 116.
Come to the "River of Life" - Three-day options available; register now!

The Southeast and South Central Regions of ECCT in partnership with Kairos Earth are bringing back a  Connecticut River Pilgrimage  this spring. It's shorter - just Connecticut. Pilgrims are invited to move deeply into prayer, contemplation, and movement by canoe or kayak as a community together from May 24-31.   There are two three-day options. Guides will again be Mark and Lisa Kutolowski, guides for the 2017 River Pilgrimage . The pilgrimage is open to applications from all faith backgrounds or none at all.

"Beating Guns" tour to visit New Haven Sunday April 7 to turn weapons into farm tools

"Beating Guns" is a 35-city tour featuring a 90-minute event including music, art, and stories of people impacted by gun violence culminating with an invitation for the audience to take a hammer and transform a gun into a garden tool. The tour will be in New Haven from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday April 7 at the United Church on the Green in New Haven. Tickets (free) and more info here.
Monthly bulletin insert for April now available

The Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation (RHJR) Ministry Network   is organizing a series of monthly bulletin inserts to support parish participation in ECCT's    Season of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation.  These 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 related web pages. This month's reflection is by the Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell, rector of St. Monica's, Hartford; President of ECCT's Standing Committee, member of ECCT's Clergy of Color group; and member of the RHJR Ministry Network.
Don't miss it! Annual Spring Training & Gathering (for laity and clergy) April 27 in Berlin CT - Registration is open
It's a day in the spring to gather with lay and ordained Episcopalians in CT for training (aka workshops) in various parish ministries as well as workshops that can help deepen your personal spiritual life.
259 people have already registered!

Video above is sampling of workshops from 2018 Spring Training.
Basics:
Saturday, April 27, 2019
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Berlin High School, 139 Patterson Way, Berlin, CT

Registration fee:
Early registration has ended; regular registration is now $25/person and ends 4/14. After that, online registration closes and it's $35/pp at the door, space allowing.

Details :
Workshop details in booklet here.

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!!
Episode #41 : "The Gift of Multiplicity of Expression." Conversation with Bishop Carol Gallagher, who was visiting CT as keynoter for the conference, " Fully Native, Fully Christian: Converging Rivers and Indigenous Canons" at YDS. Learn about her path to the episcopate, her current work, and her engagement with indigenous communities.
ECCT IN THE NEWS
The Middletown Press ran an article, with photos, about the hand-made ABC Wall Charts, made by a group of retired women from the Church of the Holy Trinity in Middletown, that had just been given to the city's 20 kindergartens. Church members have been making the charts for 50 years and sell them all over the world. Read more here.

Email Karin if your parish or worshiping community has been featured in non-ECCT media/news!
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CAMP WASHINGTON?
Upcoming events at Camp Washington:
  • April 4-7, Rest & Renewal weekend (info & register here)
  • April 5-8, Icon writing workshop (info & register here)
  • April 12, Bishop Laura Ahren's Book Study, Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner's Guide to Holy Week, by Amy-Jill Levine
  • April 14, Second Sunday w/the Rev. David McIntosh: short program; worship; shared meal
  • May 3-5, Annual Middle School Weekend; Narnia! (info & register here)
  • May 5, Open House for summer camp programs (3 p.m.)
  • June 12, Second Sunday with Bishop Laura Ahrens: short program; worship; shared meal
  • June 21-23, Writing workshop with Davyne Verstandig


Sign up the kids for 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).
Camp Washington is the official Camp and Conference Center of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) and a resource for Christian development and spiritual formation for followers of Jesus. Camp Washington is located on 300 acres in northwestern Connecticut and organizes and/or hosts retreats, conferences, and events throughout the year and offers a full summer camp program. It is a place of “acceptance, joy, and renewal for all God’s people.”
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL?
Upcoming events at Christ Church Cathedral
* Specially designated Centennial year events

  • *April 11 (Thu., 7 pm): Cuatro Puntos Concert: Sounds of Persia with Iranian santur master Dariush Saghafi and composer Reza Vali (tickets here)
  • April 16 (Holy Tuesday) Annual Clergy Renewal of Vows (register here)
  • April 20 (Holy Saturday) Region Confirmations - Easter Vigil (contact Alison Hollo for info)
  • May 4, Women Clergy event hosted by the Bishops
  • *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 is the gathering place for the entire Episcopal Church in Connecticut and the seat of its bishops. It is “Connecticut’s Cathedral” as all Episcopalians in CT are members of the Cathedral. From our Cathedral we are called and empowered to participate in God’s mission in our local neighborhoods. In this its centennial year, our Cathedral is opening its doors in new ways to neighbors near and far.
ECCT CALENDARS
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.

ECCT meetings and events calendar:

  • April 2, Joining Jesus Advisory Council
  • April 4: Provisional Priest-in-charge Gathering; Faithful Futures: Transitions
  • April 8 (and 15) Education for Ministry open house at Epiphany, Durham
  • April 9: Mutual Ministry Review Training
  • April 10: COM meeting
  • April 11: Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day (first of three dates in 2019)
  • April 12: Joining Jesus Clergy gathering; Joining Jesus coaches' gathering
  • April 13: Joining Jesus teams and coaches gathering
  • April 16: Clergy Renewal of Vows at Christ Church Cathedral
  • April 16: D&B Board Mtg.
  • April 19: The Commons is closed
  • April 13: ROC gathering; Faith & Order Cttee mtg.
  • April 25: Standing Cttee mtg
  • April 27: 7th Annual Spring Training & Gathering, Berlin
  • April 30: Bishops and Confirmations Dinner (info/register)

Bishops' Schedule:

  • April 14: Bishop Ahrens, St. Alban's, Danielson; Bishop Douglas, All Saints', East Hartford
  • April 20, Confirmation: Bishop Douglas, 7:30 pm at Christ Church Cathedral; Bishop Ahrens, 7:30 pm Episcopal Church at Yale
  • April 28: Bishop Ahrens, Grace, Windsor; Bishop Douglas, Iglesia Betania, Stamford

Ministry Network meetings (see more on this calendar )

  • April 2, Eco-theology: guest speakers; sponsored by Omega Group, Grace & St. Peter's, and SC Region (7 pm Grace & St. Peter's Hamden)
  • April 10, Brotherhood of St. Andrew mtg
  • April 8 and 15, Education for Ministry (EfM) Open Houses, 6:30-9 p.m.

Upcoming clergy events (see next category also)

  • April 16, Renewal of Vows, Christ Church Cathedral, reflections by Bishop Stephen Lane, Bishop of Maine, Retired. Register here
  • May 4, Women Clergy event hosted by the Bishops at the Cathedral
  • May 9, Retired clergy, spouses & partners event Info/register here
  • May 20-22, Clergy Conference, Westbrook Info/register here
  • May 23 Clericus: No. Central & So Central, at St. Peter's Cheshire; 11 a.m. Register here
  • June 4 Clericus: Northeast & Southeast, at St. Peter's, Hebron, 10 a.m. Register here

ALL ECCT CLERGY: Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day (MCPD) - choose ONE
PARISH & REGION EVENTS
Events below are coming up in the next few weeks
Please visit this calendar for details on these parish and Region events not listed in the Camp, Cathedral, Ministry Network, or ECCT events above. To add an event, please fill out this form .

Listed here for April 2 - 28. Vienna Choir Boys; Youth Ministry Institute lunch; Evensong; Green forum on plastic pollution; Men's Breakfast (NE); Stations of the Cross (some followed by supper and Bible study); National Scrapbook Day event; Concert: The New Consort; Chanticleer concert; organ concert; field trip to Lyman Allyn Art Museum; Bible Study; EfM Open House (2); Persian music concert; NE Leadership mtg; Lenten retreat w/Martin Laird; Enneagram workshop/retreat; Soup Soiree; Danbury concert chorus; Good Friday services; NC Region Leadership Mtg; concert: 50s to now; Tag sale; chamber music; healing service; choral evensong; Four Seasons spring concert

Selected event featured this week: April 11 concert offered by Christ Church Cathedral as part of its Centennial offerings to ECCT: Sounds of Persia: Traditional Music from Iran for santur and strings, Thursday, April 11, 7 - 8:30 pm at Christ Church Cathedral."C uatro Puntos String Quartet will be joined by Persian santur master Dr. Dariush Saghafi and Iranian-American composer Reza Vali. Get lost in a soundscape foreign from Western musical traditions as Dr. Saghafi performs a traditional improvised solo on santur, then hear two traditions merge as the Cuatro Puntos String Quartet and Dr. Saghafi perform Dr. Vali's compositions." Register:  https://christchurchcathedralsoundsofpersia.eventbrite.com
Sign up for Region Newsletters

All Region Missionaries will soon start to use an ECCT staff common account in Constant Contact for regular newsletters, so you can sign up right now to receive your Region's newsletter when it launches. (Most have already launched. They are fabulous!!)

The Region Missionaries will do their best to ensure that current subscribers are carried over to the new system but just to be sure (and in case you weren't on that subscriber list), you can subscribe now. Click on "Update Profile" at the footer of this enewsletter or go here and update your newsletter preferences to add more newsletters (or make other changes). You can change your subscription at any time.
Safe Church Training - Spring schedule started 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 - WE'RE HIRING!
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. 

ECCT staff positions:

  • Region Missionaries (three) to serve the Northwest Region, Southwest Region, and South Central Region - one Region Missionary per Region. The needs and priorities of the Regions and the particular talents and skillsets of the candidates will take precedence when matching candidates and Regions. Link here for more.
  • Canon for Mission Communication & Media -Link here for more
  • Dean of Formation - Link here for more

Interviews are underway for the position of Racial Justice Resource Coordinator.

Canon for Mission Finance & Operations Louis Fuertes has announced his intention to retire in 2019. The position will be posted soon with the intention of hiring by July 1 with a guided transition to kick off budgeting season.

Parish and Camp pos itions:


For open Clergy positions please click here .