ECCT WEEKLY ENEWSLETTER
June 11, 2019
New and continuing Region Missionaries
Northeast: Maggie Breen
North Central: Erin Flinn
Northwest: Dylan Mello
Southwest: Erendira Jimenez
South Central: George Black
Southeast: The Rev. Rachel Thomas
The Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) hired six missionaries following the completion of its multi-year process of reimagining the governance and structure of the diocese (work known as TREC-CT ), providing one Region Missionary for each of the six newly designated Regions . Their job was to help the parishes and worshiping communities in each to: "Catalyze, Convene, Connect, and Expand Capabilities." The initial Region Missionaries signed two-year contracts and as the two-year mark approached, three decided the time was right to pursue other avenues. The position description was tweaked and ECCT went through its hiring process; the new contract starts in late June.
From the blog: Joining Jesus in the New Missional Age, Part One
by ECCT Digital Storyteller Alli Huggins

(Note from the editor: Even though ECCT's Digital Storyteller is on her honeymoon (she got married June 8!!) she still posted for the blog! She has promised to go offline now, so that she and her husband Tim Gannett can enjoy their planned trip. For the next two weeks we'll have others reporting from ECCT's Holy Land Pilgrimage taking place June 9-19.-- Karin Hamilton)

Last month multiple parishes within ECCT started to Join Jesus in their neighborhoods and communities by adopting five spiritual practices and re-dedicating themselves to see what God is up to in their surrounding neighborhood — to literally go outside of the walls of their parish and walk with neighborhoods. 

These practices help to shape the folks participating and the congregation towards becoming further knit into the fabric of community. The parishes are part of ECCT’s “Joining Jesus” initiative and are following a six-module process developed by ECCT with The Missional Network. A related component of the “Joining Jesus” initiative involves raising financial resources. Three churches are taking part in both components.

I will be following along with two parishes in their journey of Joining Jesus: St. John’s, Vernon and St. Monica’s, Hartford. Both parishes have a group of about 10 folks dedicated to embracing these practices, and plan to meet monthly. St. Monica’s is also part of the raising financial resources component of the ECCT initiative, but I’m going to keep my focus on their spiritual journey for this blog.

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
ECCT Pilgrims arrive in the Holy Land

The ECCT Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, June 9-19/23, has begun! Bishop Douglas and members of the Holy Landers Ministry Network are doing an Instagram takeover. These also post to our Facebook page . Your prayers welcome.

"Buy me a gift card for $300?" ... Just say NO!

If you receive a request by email from a member of the church staff or other leadership asking for a gift card for $300 -- or an emergency fund transfer because they're overseas and had a crisis -- or even for help getting out of jail free ... STOP FIRST! And ask, does this make any sense? Would our priest ask me for a gift card like this? Or to transfer funds for an overseas crisis when you know they're at home in Connecticut? There are lots of scams going around and an ECCT congregation recently got hit with them. Please use your common sense. Add more anti-spam software if possible. If needed, CALL the person who supposedly sent you the email, they have probably been hacked. ECCT staffers have received these (from ourselves, supposedly!) including a few that start with, "God bless you." And no, neither of our bishops will email you for an iTunes gift card!
Updates on the Season of Racial Justice, Healing, and Reconciliation

Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Network (RHJRMN) member Suzanna Roman reports that several bills recently passed by CT's legislature have the potential to combat racism. These include bills to increase the number of minority hires at schools ( SB 1022 ) and to increase fairness and transparency in the criminal justice system ( SB 0880, and one that will require schools to include a course in Black and Latino studies starting in 2021 ( HB 7082 ). Here's her link to the Hartford Courant article on it .

RHJRMN member the Rev. Diana Rogers has learned that the RJ Julia Bookstore in Madison is hosting Colson Whitehead, author of "The Underground Railroad," and now "The Nickel Boys" on July 19 at the First Congregational Church in Madison. The event is ticketed. $35 buys admission plus a pre-signed copy of "The Nickel Boys."   Details here.
Confronting the Slave Trade in our Back Yard: Pilgrimage July 13
The Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Network is organizing pilgrimages as opportunities for Episcopalians in ECCT to participate in the Season of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation.

Saturday July 13, Brooklyn CT and Providence RI.
Meet up at Trinity Church, Brooklyn at 9 a.m. and take a short bus trip to Old Trinity Church, Brooklyn, built by enslaved persons; then re-board the bus to Providence RI by bus for a two-hour walking tour of the city with the Center for Reconciliation to learn more about the international slave trade. $65/person, lunch is NOT included; please bring your own. Online registration will be here later this week. Click here for PDF of flyer.

A second pilgrimage is being planned for this November, a Saturday/Sunday to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Details to follow.
USE THE LOGO!
Region Leadership Teams, Region Missionaries, Parishes, Worshiping communities, other Ministry Networks: If this logo/image for the Season of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation would be helpful as you market and promote your related events, please feel free to do so. Find the image on this page , use a right-click on it, and then "save-as" to a location on your laptop or mobile device. If you need a different version (black and white, vector format, .tiff, etc.), contact the Canon for Mission Communications & Media, currently khamilton@episcopalct.org
"Faith in Action: The Intersection Between Faith and Social Change" -- Yewande Austin to speak Sat. June 22 at Christ Church Cathedral

Girls Friendly Society USA, CT, and W. Mass; the Episcopal Church Women of Province I, CT, RI, & WMass, and Christ Church Cathedral are hosting this day-long event to all those who identify as women. Free, but reserved seating only; online registration here or click on flyer. The speaker is an international humanitarian and honorary U.S. Cultural Ambassador.

From the promo: "Women have the power to change the world, but our potential to solve many of the issues that fuel injustice are often under-mined by doubt about where to start and how to activate change that can foster a beloved community. Through global analysis, personal development exercises and practical application, this interactive workshop will show participants how to put their faith in action to pre-vent, confront and solve present day socio-economic challenges. Through this transformational process of personal and social exploration, we can foster a world-wide Beloved Community where all people may experience dignity and an abun-dant life to see themselves and others as be-loved children of God." Link here for flyer (PDF)
Jack Spaeth memorial service set for June 29;
Choirs invited to participate; Clergy invited to vest

The Memorial Service and celebration of the life of Jack Spaeth, former Canon for Stewardship and Administration at the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford. Clergy are asked to vest in cassock and surplice with white stole.
Click here to read the letter sent earlier by the bishops.

All ECCT Choirs are invited to participate in the Memorial Service for Jack.  A rehearsal will be hosted at our Cathedral on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 7 p.m. Please contact our Cathedral‘s Director of Music, Marianne Vogel, at  directorofmusic@cccathedral.org  to register your participation no later than June 20. Marianne will be collaborating with Michael Fazio, Director of Music at Holy Trinity in Middletown, who will serve as organist for this service.  
ECCT PODCAST
Listen to episodes 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!!

In Episode #49 , published June 7, Alli and Karin talk with Ana Arellano and Pat Cage of the Friends of the Episcopal Church of Cuba to learn about the organization and about the ministry going on in Cuba. Link here.

Here's a list of archive guests by date with name/s and topic in case you want to check out past episodes.
ECCT IN THE NEWS
A woman named Jennifer Dulos, from New Canaan, went missing and St. Mark's held a vigil. Their rector the Rev. Peter Walsh was quoted in this article distributed through CNN Wire. St. Stephen's, Ridgefield began to explore the possibility of whether to sell one of their buildings, or even if they wanted to sell it, and townspeople reacted on a Facebook page. The story was written and published by the Ridgefield Press and quotes their rector, the Rev. Whitney Altopp.
Email Karin if your parish or worshiping community has been featured in non-ECCT media/news!
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CAMP WASHINGTON?
Sign up the kids for summer camp!

Mini-camp (overnight and day, 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).


Programs at Camp Washington:
  • June 21-23, Writing workshop w/Davyne Verstandig (info/register here)
  • June 28, Bishop's Book Study with Bishop Laura Ahrens, Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church, by Rachel Held Evans. 11 -12:30 a.m. discussion followed by lunch, $10, register here or call 860-567-9623.
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

  • June 9 Church Street Eats (CSE) Anniversary; International Day & Unveiling of Church Street Heroes Portrait, noon -2 p.m.
  • June 21 Church Street Eats Paint Night, 6 p.m.
  • June 22 Yewande Austin "Faith in Action" 8-3:30), co-host
  • June 29 Jack Spaeth Memorial Service (10:30 a.m.) and Ordination of Deacons, 3 p.m. (ECCT events hosted at CCC)
  • June 30 Stained Glass Window Sunday - Tours at 9, 11:30, 1:30


Plan ahead! Upcoming Centennial offerings to ECCT:
*Sunday July 21, Jazz Mass at 10:30 a.m., Joint service with Hartford communities;
*Sunday September 15, Hip Hop Mass, 3 p.m., especially for the youth of ECCT
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 (see other calendars below for bishops; Ministry Networks; Regions; and Clergy
  • June 9-19 Holy Land Pilgrimage
  • June 25: Convention Planning Team
  • June 30, EfM Graduation at Epiphany, Durham

Bishops' Schedule:
Visitations:
  • June 23, Bishop Douglas, St. John's, Pine Meadow
Confirmations:
  • June 8, Bishop TBD, SW Region, Ridgefield

Ministry Network meetings (see more on this calendar )

Region events
  • June 22: NW Region Convocation
  • June 25, NC Region Leadership Team Mtg
  • June 29: SW Region Convocation

Ordinations and Celebrations of New Ministry .
  • June 29, Ordinations to the Diaconate, Christ Church Cathedral, 3 p.m.

Upcoming clergy events (and those in ordination process)

  • June 15, Mandatory Clergy Professional Development/Safe Church Recertification
  • June 15, Gathering of nominees, postulants, and candidates

Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day (MCPD)
  • The first session was April 11; the second was May 14; the final "regular" session will be Saturday, June 15, St. John's, Vernon. If it is full you can ask to be on the waiting list (call Deb Kenney to ask questions about that. See the FAQs if you have general questions about MCPD.)
  • If you cannot attend either of these, or you must cancel a session for which you already registered, you must register for and attend the one make-up session on Sat., Sept. 7 at St. John's, West Hartford. Registration opens after the June session.
  • Clergy who fail to attend MCPD in 2019 will not be "clergy in good standing."
  • See FAQs here. (what's required, who's required to participate, and more)
PARISH EVENTS
Events below are coming up in the next few weeks
Please visit this calendar for details on these parish events not listed above. To add an event, please fill out this form .

List of parish events Link here for full info. (Ministry Network and Region Leadership, see above). Be sure to list your events in your Region eNewsletters to reach your local audiences.

June 16, Evensong, Norwalk
June 22, Drive-in Prayer, Enfield
June 22, Italian Dinner, Hebron
June 22, Faith in Action, Yewande Austin
June 22, CPR Training, South Windsor
June 22, Baroque Concert, Hartford
June 23, Healing Service, Brooklyn
June 26, Outdoor Pops Concert, Hartford
June 30, Healing Service, Enfield
July 6, Book & Bake Sale, Manchester
Sign up for Region Newsletters

All Region Missionaries can now use a common Constant Contact account for ECCT staff to create and publish regular newsletters. Here are links to the most recent issues. Be sure to sign up for these by updating your subscriptions at the bottom of any enewsletter or from a link on this page . Get your local news & events!

Safe Church Training - Spring schedule started in March - FINAL DATES

  • All Safe Church Trainings (Comprehensive Basic and Lay Recertification) can be found on this website page. On that you will find:
  • Lay recertification trainings are listed at the bottom of that page. There are two types:
  • Option 1 for comprehensive training, full day in-person sessions. These have concluded for spring 2019.
  • Choose Option 2 for a hybrid: online training w/shorter in-person sessions (direct link here). The final dates for the in-person component is June 15 (Lime Rock).

If you have an upcoming summer program or Vacation Bible School and you need basic safe church training, plan ahead and take training in advance.

Important note for clergy only:
ALL clergy must attend one Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day in 2019. See clergy section in Calendar of Events, above.

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:

  • Canon for Mission Communications & Media - reviewing applications
  • Dean of Formation - Link here for more
  • Canon for Mission Finance & Operations - interviewing

Parish and Camp pos itions:


Clergy non-parochial:

For open Clergy positions in parishes please click here .