SOUTHEAST REGION
Checking In March 13, 2021
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Scenes from a Confirmation during times of COVID: Bishop Ahrens visited St. Andrew's, Madison on February 28 and Confirmed 15 parishioners.
Save the Date of March 28, at 6:00 p.m., when the Bishops will be hosting a Zoom call on Confirmations going forward. Also, if anyone is interested in a collaborative Confirmation program in the SE Region, please let Rachel Thomas know.
Turning to Bless -
Blessing to Turn:
This Monday evening at 7:00 p.m.
This last year has brought us face to face with mortality, injustice, limits -- what else? As Christians we believe in a God who makes all things new; who brings life out of death and whose Spirit prompts us to join God's work of repairing brokenness.
And at the same time, we are perhaps prone to being stuck in past ways, and have trouble discerning - or trusting - those new small voices.
The Rev. Rachel Thomas, SE Region Missionary for the Episcopal Church in CT, invites you to this time to name, lament, and offer expressions of mourning, for wherever we have each experienced brokenness this last year: to receive God's blessing in those places. And then to TURN: to name the new urgings we are experiencing, as we seek to carry forth God's blessing in a new way in the days to come.
Living as Disciples and Apostles: Seeking Housing for all
Great news from the Middlesex Habitat for Community: Home Dedication in Westbrook this Sunday!

You are invited to come via zoom for Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau Virtual Event, March 17, 2021 At 7PM. Sponsored by Church of the Good Shepherd, Hartford; Holy Trinity, Enfield; and Grace Church, Stafford Springs. Zoom meeting id 879 6497 6839. Passcode 971039
Please join us, our speakers our neighbors who have been or are currently homeless
A Community of Theological Imagination:
Stories expand our horizons
ECCT Stories: Meet: The Newly Ordained
 
Meet the newly ordained in ECCT! These six faithful followers of Christ were ordained to the priesthood in January and February 2021. We’ve invited them to share a little bit about themselves including where they’re currently serving and their hopes and dreams for their ministry. Read the full blog post here.
Young Adult Task Force: We Want to Hear from You!
 
The Young Adult Task Force is currently doing research on young adult ministry in order to learn how we can best engage and support young adults within the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. One of the main ways we are doing this work is by listening to the voices of young adults and the ministries that serve them. We're thrilled to be doing this work and to invite you to share your thoughts, experiences, challenges, and dreams for the future. Whether you are a young adult, the parent of a young adult, or a parish or ministry working with young adults, we want to hear from you. Please reach out to Heather Burtman for more information or to set up a conversation. In addition, we have a survey geared specifically to young adults called "Young Adult Experiences With Church." We're looking for survey responses both from within and outside of our diocese, so please feel free to share widely. Thank you so much for partnering with us in this work. We're excited for the future!  
For a connection with a Community of Theological Imagination, check out this offering from St. Francis House in New London.

CLARIFICATION OF THOUGHT 
Winter - Spring 2021 Back to Basics:
What Do We Stand For?
 A series on the 10 Principles of St. Francis House
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the gross inequalities of our health, housing, educational and economic structures. The elections last November and attack on the election confirmation process at the Capitol on January 6 have revealed the political struggle taking place around the world and its American form. As we emerge into 2021, it seems wise to look at what our own foundational principles are and how we might be called “to create a new society within the shell of the old.” The old “normal” may indeed be part of the “nightmare” from which we are being called to awake before we find ourselves back in it.
March 12 Introduction: Origins of the Principles of St. Francis House:       
The Sermon on the Mount, Leviticus 25 and Luke 4:16-21     
Anne Scheibner, Norm Faramelli and  Verleah Kosloske
March 26: Right Relationship & Community                        
Ellen Adams and Ron Steed
April 9: Local economy & Work  
Sharms Gregor and Alicia McAvay  
April 23: Respect for all beings & Respect for all religions                         
Carolyn Patierno and Glennys Ulschak
May 7: Non-violence & Non-possession                                   
Joanne Sheehan and Rick Gaumer
May 21: Truth & Fearlessness                       
Jane Bernoudy and  David Gonzalez Rice
         
Each session will start at 6:45 pm with orientation/check in. 
The topic for the evening: 7-8:30 pm
Questions each presenter will answer as part of their presentation and then participants who can respond either verbally or in the chat: 
1) Where do you feel you have used these two principles in your life as a person of faith?   
2) How have these principles influenced your work for justice?
We will provide brief bios of our presenters the week of the scheduled session. Please print this out for your refrigerator and/or share it with your friends who might be interested. Thank you!
Zoom Information for the CofT series: Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 824 5278 4521
Passcode: Spring2021
Dial by your location
     +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)    
Growing as Disciples and Apostles
Saturday March 27, 2021 9 AM EST
Lenten Quiet Day at Camp Washington
 
Join us for a time of reflection and renewal in the midst of your Lenten journey. Our time together will be held outside in the chapel (weather permitting) while observing all physical distance guidelines. The day will consist of four sections: Each presenter will offer a reflection/meditation followed by an activity such as journaling, discussion, walking, and other hands-on activities. You are welcome to bring a bag lunch to enjoy after the program. There is no charge for this program however registration is required.
Disciples and Apostles Becoming Beloved Community
Telling the Truth, Proclaiming the Dream,
the way, Repairing the Breach



Gov. Ned Lamont is holding a bill signing ceremony for the CROWN Act which aims to end hair discrimination often experienced by Black women for their natural and protective hairstyles.


The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell of St. Monica's, Hartford, speaks about the need for Clean Slate Legislation and naming Racism as a public health issue in this post from an action led by the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance.

If you would like to receive weekly updates of articles and postings offered from the ECCT Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Network, you may subscribe by sending an email to this address:  ecctrhjr@gmail.com
Telling the truth
about our history

If you missed this presentation, you can still catch in on ECCT's YouTube Channel (click on link below)
Being Disciples and Apostles: Caring for Creation
Paying attention to Creation: what does God reveal?
This is from Bishop Ahrens: "If I read the post right on Facebook, my friend Bishop Linda Nicholls asked these questions of all of us...I find them helpful and curious."
 
 
Point north from where you are right now.
Describe the soil around your home.
Name five native edible plants in your area and identify when they are in season.
Name five species of animal that live in your area, are they native?
Name five trees in your area.
Name five resident and migratory birds in your area.
What primary geological event or process influenced the landform where you live?
On what First Nations land do you live?
What is the most common land use in your area?
Which spring flower is the first to bloom?
How long is the growing season where you live?
From which directions do storms usually come in your area
What kinds of rocks and minerals are found in your area?
What is the largest wild region in your area?
Where does your water come from?
Where does your garbage go?


What do you think? Do you know the answers to each question for your particular place? We'd love to hear from you! Send a picture and what you know. We'll form our own SE Region map.
Connected to the wider body of Christ:
resources for faithful living as communities of faith







Announcing "The Commons Companion" Resource for Parish Leaders
Now available on ECCT's website
 ECCT Finance and Operations Team worked ardently over the last several months re-designing and expanding the former "Treasurers Newsletter." The newly designed resource "The Commons Companion" will serve to facilitate parish leaders in the following areas including; best practices, finance and human resources, clergy compensation, administration, and much more. 
Safe Church Training Winter 2021
 
All ECCT Safe Church Training (SCT) includes an online course followed by a 3-hour live session on Zoom. This training is grounded in our call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being. It offers an opportunity to increase and enhance our ability to live out our Baptismal Covenant within our communities of faith and in the world beyond.
9th Annual Spring Training and Gathering
 
Gather with Episcopalians from across Connecticut for learning, prayer and fellowship. All are welcome-from people in the pews and vestry members to parish leaders and staff.
 
This year Spring Training will take place during the two weeks immediately following Easter when a variety of engaging workshops will be offered via Zoom. Each workshop is 90-minutes long and most are offered on two different days and times. The closing plenary session will take place on Saturday, April 17, from 9-11 a.m. and is entitled "Parish Life After COVID: Psychological and theological reflections as we gather in new ways." Learn more about the various workshops on ECCT's Spring Training and Gathering page.
Fed by Word and Sacraments:
Here's a list of webpages for the parishes of the SE Region
so that you can find current worship information
For Zoom connections and passwords, please check each parish's web site, listed below. Because things change!
Parish Websites for the SE Region

Calvary Church, Stonington: http://www.calvarychurchstonington.org
St. Mark's, Mystic: https://stmarksmystic.org
St. James', New London: http://www.stjamesnl.org
St. David's, Gales Ferry: http://www.saintdavidsgf.org
Christ Church, Norwich: http://www.cecnorwichct.org
St. John's, Niantic: https://www.stjohnsniantic.org
St. Ann's, Old Lyme: https://www.saintannsoldlyme.org
St. Stephen's, East Haddam: https://www.ststeves.org
St. John's, Essex: https://stjohnsessex.org
Grace, Old Saybrook: https://www.graceoldsaybrook.org
Holy Advent, Clinton: http://www.holyadventclinton.org
St.Andrew's, Madison: https://standrewsmadison.org