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Northwest Region
Check In-
December 19
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Dear Friends,
We are coming to the end of the year, and Christmas is now within sight. This will be the last newsletter of 2020, and I look forward to all that is to come as a Region! On reflection of this year, I think about all the initial expectations I had for this work. It was soon scrapped in many ways due to COVID-19, but what arose was such a wonderful process of connecting with many new people and exploring how we could continue as the Jesus' hands and feet in the world, just in a different way! Our NW Region has taken on food insecurity head on! Between all our programs, we have been able to provide about 2,000 meals to families. New groups are coming together to tackle racism. We are leaning into new spiritual practices. There is so much more as well! Thank you for all you do in serving this NW Region of Connecticut.
This newsletter below has information about an upcoming Region workshop as well as a new recording project! Beth Steinberg, of Trinity Torrington, records the lectionary, and we post on our Region website. There are new forms of Christmas practice this year as well! Please let me know if you are moved to try a new project, collaboration, or wondering as well!
I pray that you all will be able to rest in the light during this Christmas season, and find joys in whatever ways we can.
In Peace,
Dylan
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Newsletter Index
-Forgiveness Workshop-
-NW Region Lectionary Recordings-
-Reflections on Make a Meal, Make a Difference-
-Advent Reflection Series-
-Christmas Events-
-ECCT Lessons and Carols-
-Podcast Coming Soon-
-NW Region Feeding Resources and Ministries-
-Weekly Region Programming-
-Companions in Mission Opportunity-
-Community Garden Ministry Network-
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Forgiveness Workshop for NW Region
Saturday January 9
9:00-12:00PM
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January Forgiveness Workshop
Are you living with unspoken hurts? How deeply are they buried? How do they affect your relationships, both past and present? From whom do you seek forgiveness? And who is seeking forgiveness from you?
Join us on January 9th from from 9-12 noon
to explore these possibilities in a
Forgiveness Workshop
facilitated by Dan Gates, LMFT.
Forgiveness Workshops are an opportunity to explore questions such as these in a safe, supportive environment. Under the guidance of our skilled facilitator, participants can unburden themselves of past and present hurts and bring harmony to themselves.
The benefits of forgiveness include:
· gaining insight and understanding into our wounds of abandonment, shame, or betrayal
· helps to heal our unresolved trauma
This workshop is offered by free-will donation, and is open to all!
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NW Region Lectionary Readings |
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The Northwest Region is grateful to have recordings of our lectionary. Beth Steinberg, of Trinity Torrington, has shared her voice with our Region. All of our Advent and Christmas readings can be found on the NW Region webpage located HERE.
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Reflections on "Make a Meal, Make a Difference"
Written by Pam Szen-St. Paul's Brookfield
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Pam Szen provides a reflection about the Make a Meal, Make a Difference program. This NW Region initiative has spread through collaboration of St. Paul's-Brookfield, St. Mark's-Bridgewater, and St. John's-Washington. If interested in participating, please email dmello@episcopalct.org
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In early June of 2020, St. Paul’s Church was approached by our Missionary, Dylan Mello, to embark on a new Ministry in our Northwest Region to provide healthy meals for at risk individuals in our region. Working alongside Connecticut State Social workers, several individuals were identified.
In very short form, St. Paul’s Church, Brookfield, CT answered the call to provide for three at-risk individuals identified by the Social Workers. Soon after we learned of this need, a dedicated core of St. Paul’s parishioners began to make meals, freeze them and deliver to our church every other Wednesday in conjunction with our bi-weekly food collection that we started in April 2020 to also support local food pantries that support at-risk families. The number of identified clients increased as a result of the Covid pandemic and the need has been great.
St. Paul’s parishioners have been faithful in dropping off trunks full of food staples to support our local Food Pantries as well as delivering the home cooked meals to support our Make a Meal ~ Make a Difference Ministry. As of December 16th, St. Paul’s will have delivered almost 600 meals.
The response to this Ministry has been tremendous and, since St. Paul’s launch of the Make a Meal ~ Make a Difference Ministry in June – several churches in our region have either supported our MMMD program or launched their own Ministry to provide meals for individuals and families in our communities.
We continue to be amazed at how this ministry has grown. Thank you to to all of you who have answered the call by either making meals, buying frozen meals, baking cookies or donating other items for distribution. We continue to encourage anyone interested to consider getting involved in the Make a Meal ~ Make a Difference as food insecurity is an ongoing issue, and this is just one way we can fulfill our Christian call to love one another and build up our brothers and sisters.
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St. Mark's Bridgewater will be holding a Wednesday reflection series, open to our Region, during Advent. The Facebook Page for the final Advent event is located HERE!
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ST PAULS, WOODBURY, DRIVE-BY CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
DECEMBER 24TH in WOODBURY, CT
OPEN FROM 2:00-4:00 PM
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St. Paul’s Church in Woodbury is hosting their first-ever drive-by Christmas Pageant on Thursday, December 24th fro 2:00 to 4:00pm in Woodbury. Participants may start at any time during the open hours for a safe, socially-distant experience of the traditional Nativity story as told through four different vignettes.
Karen Nash, lay coordinator of pageant, says, “Each vignette is accompanied by a brief historical synopsis that addresses questions such as ‘who actually was Caesar Augustus?’ and ‘what was the trip to Bethlehem like?’” The Rev. Tuesday Rupp, rector, adds that the parish wanted to continue to tradition of the annual pageant in a way that is safe for the current pandemic, without losing any of the joy or wonder of the story. “I’m excited about this new way to tell our sacred story, and deeply grateful to [Nash] and all the families who are willing to share their creativity in trying on new things.”
There is no designated departure time, and no cost to participate. Guests are able to set their own schedule. The entire route will take approximately 30 minutes, and can be completed at any time between the hours of 2:00 and 4:00. Information about the event and the church can be found at stpaulswoodbury.org or by calling (203) 263-3541.
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ECCT-wide Virtual Lessons and Carols from our Cathedral
Sunday, Dec. 27, premiering at 10 a.m.
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On Sunday, December 27, ECCT will be offering a virtual worship service, A Festival of Christmas Lessons and Carols. The service, featuring lectors, lay participants, clergy, and musicians from across ECCT will be pre-recorded at our Cathedral, Christ Church in Hartford, and will premiere on ECCT's YouTube Channel at 10 a.m. Mark your calendars and join us on YouTube for this very special service.
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Feeding Ministries and Resources in the NW Region |
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"Farm to Family Food Box" Program - An invitation from the Food Ministry Network
As the COVID-19 pandemic grows worse, food insecurity continues to increase across the nation and in Connecticut. The USDA has partnered with farmers, ranchers, specialty crop producers, food processors and distributors, and non-profit organizations to ensure that all Americans have access to the fresh and wholesome food they need at this time. Food previously destined for restaurants and bulk purchasers has been re-directed to create family-sized boxes which are being made available to local non-profits for distribution. Food Pantries with refrigerated storage can have access to a number of boxes for distribution.
If your parish or food pantry is interested in participating please contact Cyrena Thibodeau, liaison for the Dept. of Agriculture, for more information. Please note, the program is time sensitive and boxes go quickly!
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We are pleased to announce the launch of a new food ministry, Feeding Families NW.
Did you know that there are over 1,000 children with food-insecurity in Waterbury alone? With the current economic crisis, many working families struggle to keep food on the table. That's where we come in.
Please consider joining this collaborative effort among Camp Washington, Woodbury Area Community, and the Northwest Region.
Deliveries continue every Tuesday and Friday through at least November.
For more information on this program, or how to donate with time or money, please contact Rev. Tuesday Rupp (rector@stpaulswoodbury.org) or Dylan Mello (dmello@episcopalct.org)
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A group of concerned residents have launched the Feed Your Neighbor NWCT with the mission of supporting local non-profit organizations, dedicated to feeding families and individuals facing food insecurity during the pandemic. The volunteers – Denise Butwill (St. Michael's Litchfield), George Noujaim and Greg Brisco – will communicate with the organizations and provide the food most needed, most often fresh and perishable food items, dependent on donations from the community.
For more information, please see the link here:
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Weekly Region Programming |
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Pastoring and Prophecy: A Lens For Bible Study In Difficult Times
Every Tuesday at 4PM
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We will ponder passages of the Bible which assist us in navigating tough times. Early on in the pandemics, one of our Bishops said we are called to pastor and to prophesy! Those vocations become even more poignant during dual viruses: actual and social. While social justice is at the heart of our work, so is compassion and mercy, the pastoral part. We will pray as we hold the tensions and await the inspiration of the Spirit. Each week’s passage will be sent out ahead of time but spontaneity is welcome! Any edition of the Bible is also welcome. Led by Rev. Dr. Martha Tucker, this Bible Study is open to all!
Contact Dylan Mello at dmello@episcopalct.org to register for the E-Mail list for the weekly passages.
Password: episcopal
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Companions in Mission for Publishing & Communication (CMPC) Offering Technology Upgrade Grants |
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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has compelled us to explore new ways to share Christ’s love virtually. At the same time, many of our parishes and worshipping communities are ill-equipped for such a transition. In order to help facilitate this new way of being, CMPC has designated the remainder of its 2020 grants and all of its 2021 grants to help fund improvements to the technological infrastructure of parishes or worshipping communities across ECCT. Grants of up to $2000 are available and can be used for new equipment purchases or upgrades to current equipment.
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Register now for the Community Garden Ministry Network: Catch up and Start up |
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How has your garden been growing amidst a pandemic and a drought? We know the need for your produce has likely greatly increased; and we know you've been working hard to keep your garden fruitful. Join other gardeners throughout the Episcopal Church in Connecticut on January 16, 2021, from 10 am - noon over Zoom, for a chance to share stories (what worked, what didn't?) about this year, as well as any words of wisdom for those who might be looking to start up a garden next year.
You're invited to send (by December 28, 2020) 3 photos from your garden this year to Letty Naigles (lnaigles@yahoo.com). She will combine them into a slide show (shared with all afterwards) to use as a way to catch up.
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I invite you to share this newsletter and encourage those in your parish to sign up. The link below allows direct sign up to the NW Region Newsletter among other ECCT offerings. Please pass this along if you feel called.
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Please send any ideas or additions for the newsletter to Dylan Mello. Email address:
dmello@episcopalct.org
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STAY CONNECTED WITH NW REGION |
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