JUNE CLERGY eNEWSLETTER
June 20, 2019
Aging Gracefully
By Mary Gates
 
When I was a teenager, I remember my father casually saying, “old age is a privilege denied to many.” He died at age 58. I think of his comment often, as I am about to turn 65. As the priest in charge of a small and aging congregation I spend a lot of time with the aging (that is all of us, by the way). I sometimes wonder why some people seem to enter old age more gracefully than others - why some people live in denial that they have aged and others seem to relax into each new stage and see it as a development rather than a diminishment.

It seems to me the only way to ease into the aging process, and the unexpected turns it is likely to take, is to practice along the way. By practicing I mean learning to be more attentive to how we live our lives now. I just attended the clergy safe church training where we were reminded of how overly busy most of us are. I know when I am overly busy I am not really present in my life. How often do we say, “I just have to get through (fill in the blank) and then I can relax.” At the clergy training I spoke with a number of newly retired clergy who told me they are trying to learn to “be” -- not easy as they have always been major “doers.” Why should this surprise us?

It sounds almost ridiculous to suggest that we have to practice being, but we are often so wedded to doing as a way to stave off anxiety, and prove our own worthiness, that we are divorced from our inner lives. Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner called this inner life “the always present reality of God within us.” To practice being simply means learning to rest there, in our interior self. Sounds simple, right? But not easy, especially for doers. Sitting down, being still and silent, and resting in God does not come naturally to us. As soon as we stop, insistent inner voices remind us of all that has to be done. Not listening to those voices makes us anxious. In time, with practice, the voices begin to calm, the mind clears, anxiety and reactivity diminish and we learn to rest.

Growing up Roman Catholic I often heard the nuns quote a phrase of one saint or another. I remember one attributed to St Augustine: “Pray as though everything depended on God and work as though everything depended on you.” I wish he had added a third clause, something like “and rest in knowing that God is with you and delights in you.”

If we don’t learn to rest in God now, while we are still active, then when we are no longer able to DO we will find ourselves not knowing how to BE -- not knowing who we are. Resting in God, which could be a definition of meditation, takes practice. It's a practice worth starting now.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The Rev. Mary Gates is the priest in charge of the Chapel of All Saints, Cornwall and a psychotherapist in private practice with her husband, Dan. She has also practiced and taught contemplative practices in the Christian and Buddhist traditions for over thirty years.

"Priesthood Models Task Force" members approved; "Open Communion Task Force" starts with definitions

At the June 8, 2019 meeting of the Mission Council, members received follow-up information from two of the four "Convention Conversations" held last October.
  • The "Priesthood Models Task Force" members were approved and include the Rev. Whitney Altopp; the Rev. Michael Carroll, the Rev. Lucy LaRocca, the Rev. Nik Combs; Lynne Ide, and another senior warden still discerning.
  • The “Open Communion” Task Force, a subset of the Liturgy Commission, has been working on clarifying language and its mandate since learning that “Open Communion” is often confused with communion for the unbaptized and they believe Convention wanted to address the latter.
Last call: Clergy conference survey

Organizers of the 2019 Clergy Conference, May 20-22 in Westbrook, want to hear back from participants. Thanks to those who have already replied. Last call for responses before they close it. Link here to a survey/evaluation .
Convention plans announced

Hopefully you will have received both a print letter and an eNewsletter with this year's Call to Convention. It has details about the Annual Convention this year, to be held Saturday/Sunday October 26-27 at the Convention Center in Hartford. Early bird pricing ends June 30. Hotel reservations are separate. The Cathedral is holding its Centennial Evensong and Reception on Saturday after Convention business ends. Parishes are encouraged to send teams to the ECCT-wide worship on Sunday, and resources to help organize lay-led Morning Prayer are available. Youth are invited to be part of a special delegation. Registration for each event is separate.

All Convention documents are ONLINE ONLY. Be sure you are subscribed to the Convention eNewsletters from Secretary of Convention the Rev. Adam Yates, which includes updates, announcements, and links.

Cannot attend? Write a letter or an email to the Bishop requesting permission to be absent. CC any email to Senior Administrator Alison Hollo at ahollo@episcopalct.org . June 13 Convention
June book study to discuss Rachel Held Evans' book on church

The next Bishop's Book Study, Friday June 28 from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. will discuss Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church , a memoir by Rachel Held Evans, published in 2015. The discussion is led by Bishop Laura J. Ahrens at Camp Washington . There's an optional lunch that follows and a $10 registration fee. Register here or call 860-567-9623. Open to both clergy and laity.

"A memoir about making do and taking risks, about the messiness of community and the power of grace, Searching for Sunday is about overcoming cynicism to find hope and, somewhere in between, Church."
Clergy Events
The ECCT calendar is here.
Note: The Commons will be closed July 4.

Upcoming ECCT events for lay and ordained:
  • June 19-23 Extended Holy Land Pilgrimage
  • June 28, Bishop's Book Study
  • June 29, Jack Spaeth Memorial Service
  • June 29, Ordination of Deacons, Christ Church Cathedral
  • July 13, Pilgrimage: Brooklyn CT and Providence RI

Upcoming ECCT events for ordained (& in process):
  • Sept. 6-8, Deacon Formation Retreat
  • Sept. 7, Mandatory Professional Development Day & Safe Church recertification - for those who could not attend any of the three dates this past spring, you need to register for, and attend, the makeup session on Sept. 7 in West Hartford. Link here for FAQs about who needs to attend; link here to register.
  • Sept. 24, Retired Clergy, Spouses, and Partners Gathering

Save the date: Women's Clergy Retreat, Feb. 27-28, 2020, Camp Washington
Clergy in Transition
Clergy in Transition

Please contact Lee Ann Tolzmann if you have any leads on candidates for FT IPIC at Trinity, Hartford, FT PPIC with rectory at Christ Church, Pomfret, 3/4-FT Rector at St. David’s, Gales Ferry or our 3/4 time Dean of Formation position (must have STM or doctorate).

The Rev. Jenn Pilat, Diocese of Upper South Carolina, has been appointed Chaplain at Seabury Lifecare community, effective July 1, 2019.

The Rev. Gillian Barr, Diocese of Rhode Island, has accepted a call as Rector of Calvary Church, Stonington, effective August 1, 2019.

Parishes in Transition

All Saints Wolcott.........................................................................................Seeking MPIC
Christ Church, Norwich....................................................................................Negotiating
Christ Church, Pomfret...............................................................................Seeking FT PPIC
Christ Church, Redding....................................................................................Negotiating
Good Shepherd, Shelton.................................................................................Seeking MPIC
Grace Church, Newington.................................................................................Negotiating
Grace Church, Stafford Springs...........................................................................Negotiating
Holy Spirit, West Haven..................................................................................Seeking CPIC
Holy Trinity, Middletown.....................................................................Seeking half-time PPIC
Middlesex Cluster................................................................................................Pending
San Lucas/San Pablo, Bridgeport.....................................................Seeking Spanish spking MPIC
St. Andrew’s, Devon......................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. Andrew’s, Stamford..................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. David’s, Gale’s Ferry.............................................................Names being received by CML
St. Gabriel’s, East Berlin.................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. James’, Danbury...................................................................IPIC in place: Lisa Hahneman
St. James’, Winsted......................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. John’s, Essex...........................................................................................Seeking IPIC
St. John’s, Salisbury......................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. John’s, Washington.........................................................................................Pending
St. Luke’s, Darien.......................................................................IPIC in place: Ellen Tillotson
St. Luke’s, New Haven.....................................................................................Negotiating
St. Mark’s, Bridgewater..................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. Martin’s, Hartford....................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. Paul’s, Norwalk....................................................................................Seeking FT PPIC
St. Paul’s, Plainfield......................................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. Paul’s, Southington...............................................................................Seeking HT PPIC
St. Paul’s, Windham Center.............................................................................Seeking MPIC
St. Peter’s/Trinity, Thomaston............................................................................Negotiating
St. Stephen’s, Bloomfield......................................................................................Pending
Trinity, Collinsville...................................................................................Seeking 3/4 PPIC
Trinity, Hartford............................................................................................Seeking IPIC
Trinity/St. Michael’s Fairfield.................................................................................Pending
Useful Links