FEBRUARY 2020
 NORTH CENTRAL REGION
Monthly Snapshot


NC Region Potlucks

Is the Holy Spirit doing something exciting in your parish or community? Would you like some enthusiastic support? Curious about others are doing nearby? By widening the circle you may find the Spirit is moving others in the area in the same direction. With connection, we can find more strength for shared ministries in our communities. Come, eat, pray, share, connect and be inspired by others!

Join your Region Leadership Team members
for a community potluck dinner at
one of our three host parishes from 6 to 8 PM.

02/06 Faithful Futures: Resourcing Our Regions & Ministry Networks: All Region Leadership Team Members, Ministry Network Conveners & Members Join your Bishops, Canons, & Region Missionaries for an in-depth discussion of how we might use our common resources to help you and your ministries engage God’s mission more deeply. DON’T MISS OUT: we’re talking $$$ among our other shared assets! We will gather from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at The Commons (290 Pratt St., Meriden, 3rd Floor).
REGISTER TODAY & SPREAD THE WORD!  
02/16 Movements in Faith: An inclusive music and faith-based program created especially for those with special needs and their families , though all are welcome and encouraged to attend. This program does not require the practice of any specific religion; all one needs is a positive attitude and an open mind. Each service we will engage in a “get to know you” game/activity, then sing songs, play (simple) instruments, read scripture, and say prayers. The hope of this program is to give an opportunity to meet new friends and worship in a comfortable, safe environment and, of course, to have fun and grow community. Attending each program meeting is not required, so come when you feel called to do so. We will meet the third Sunday of every month at St. James Parish, 3–4 pm, in our parish hall. If you are interested in being a part of Movements in Faith or want to know more, please email me at booksister811@gmail.com  or call 860-558-6283. There are a variety of instruments to be played, none of which is very loud, but if sensory issues are a challenge for your family member, we recommend bringing a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Chairs will be provided, but feel free to bring bean bags or anything you feel more comfortable sitting in.
January & February | Ordinations to the Priesthood in ECCT:
02/04 -- John Kennedy , 7:00 PM at The Chapel at Kent School, Kent
02/18 -- Darryl Burke , 7:00 PM at Trinity, Wethersfield
.............. & more to be announced ..........................................
03/07 Mission Conference 2020: Equipping Saints for God’s Mission: Hosted by The Companions for Mission Ministry Network this conference is designed to equip, encourage and inspire us for participating in God’s Mission. The keynote speaker is The Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr., Senior Pastor First Corinthian Baptist Church, Harlem, NYC. Pastor Mike has an amazing record of church revitalization and missional engagement with the community. Come and learn what we can do to reach our communities with the life-changing power of the Gospel. The conference is at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Riverside CT from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Registration is $10. This event is open to all lay and clergy leaders interested in God's mission as well as members of your community – click here to register .  
03/15 Interfaith Tour of Faith Communities hosted by St. John’s, West Hartford.  Joel Lohr, president of Hartford Seminary, published an op-ed in the January 12 Hartford Courant calling on readers—and Christians especially—to recognize the scourge of anti-Semitism, and to acknowledge our role in both perpetuating it (historically and currently) and combatting it. He concluded with this call to action: “If as a Christian you have not been to a synagogue, or met your local rabbi, or you have no Jewish friends, consider this an invitation.” To that end, mark your calendars for a special interfaith tour of several local faith communities on Sunday, March 15, organized by Dr. Lohr and the Rev. Susan Pinkerton, along with Rabbi Michael Pincus and Aida Mansoor. We’ll gather at St. John’s after the 10:30 service for a light lunch, then have a tour of the church, walk to Congregation Beth Israel for a tour of the synagogue, and then carpool to the Berlin Mosque. The tour should end between 2:30 and 3 p.m. For more information email Susan Pinkerton at Susan@sjparish.net .
04/18 ECCT'S SPRING TRAINING at Berlin High School (139 Patterson Way, Berlin). Join hundreds of other Episcopalians in CT for a day of fellowship, learning, prayer and fun. All are welcome: people in the pews to vestry members to parish leaders & staff!! Some workshop categories include: christian formation; social justice and advocacy; communications; spiritual practices; leadership; stewardship; parish operations; worship; racial healing, justice and reconciliation. Registration opens later this month: EpiscopalCT.org/Spring-Training.
05/02 SAVE THE DATE -- NORTH CENTRAL REGION CONVOCATION: Your region leadership team is working hard to put together an opportunity for all of us to gather for our annual spring convocation on May 2, 2020 . Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information including time and location. In the meantime, we encourage you to attend one of three NC Region Potlucks being offer around the region. We are excited for the opportunity to gather again, and we hope you are too!
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE REGION LEADERSHIP TEAM? Is God nudging your shoulder and prompting you to become more involved with the work of the Region? Would you like to share your ministry with the Region and seek collaboration? Consider visiting one of our monthly team meetings.  This spring we meet the  FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month (3/4, 4/1, 5/6, 6/3, 7/1) . Please contact our convener, Trish Leonard, prior to attending a meeting to confirm location and agenda. Trish can be reached at  gmakhc@cox.net
Safe Church Training Opportunities in NC Region
Anyone planning to attend a training session must REGISTER ONLINE. REGISTRATION CLOSES 7 days prior to each training or when a session is full, whichever comes first, to allow time for the host parish and trainers to prepare accordingly. Click below for more information and to register: https://www.episcopalct.org/ECCTCalendar/safe-church-trainings-all/
The intent of the Monthly Snapshot is to raise awareness of region gatherings, ministry network events, opportunities for parish collaboration, and invitations to participate in God's mission together! Each Snapshot looks two months ahead. For your announcement to be included in the next Snapshot be sure to contact our Region Missionary, Erin Flinn, by the last week of the month at eflinn@episcopalct.org .