Slowing down has meant that I want to make sure, to the best extent I can, that what I do put my energy into matters, and is in some way essential. “What is essential” is the question that rang out for me from the following podcast, Tell me Something Good, with Jerusalem Greer and Marcus Halley and their guest, Zack Nyein.

Zack described the thought behind Imagine Church, a ministry of the parish of All Saints, Atlanta. “What is essential?” they asked. What is essential? For worship? For faith? For life as a Christian?

he came down to earth and gave us himself. Sigrid Undset

In mid-December, the Mystic Conversations on Race group, convened by StART (the St. Mark's Mystic Anti-Racism Team), will have it's fourth meeting. They will be discussing Complicity and the powerfully moving film Traces of the Trade. In addition, this month, the group has been invited to dwell on their own complicity in the societal sins of racism and white supremacy by collecting and carrying around stones that symbolize how they or their historical families benefit/ed from the transatlantic slave trade and all its emanations. In addition to the discussions, the group is putting together an Action Tracker for several areas of public life that will help participants choose how best they can advocate anti-racist positions throughout our local and national society. The group is made up of members of St. Mark's, as well as members of the wider Mystic community, and is put on in partnership with the Mystic-Noank Library.

 A group of us from St James Preston have been coming together to learn and reflect about racism and our role in combating it. My goal at the start of this work was to become an ally. And to be an ally, I first needed to step out of my comfortable world as a white woman, to hear and understand what the experience is for people of color. Reading White Fragility by Robin DeAngelo was a sobering lesson in learning about racism: as a practice that is not restricted to bad people and as white people how we are complicit in maintaining these racist systems in our society. 

We just finished Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram Kendi. He shows how and why some of our leading pro-slavery and pro-civil rights thinkers have challenged or helped cement racist ideas in America. One of the most provoking ideas: Kendi disputes the common misconception that racism stems from ignorance. He contends racist policies develop from self-interest and only when it is in the economic and political interest of the white people in power will racist policies change. He goes on to assert using education as persuasion has not and will not make the difference. I agree and believe, if we can be open to deeply listening to the suffering of people of color, these racist policies would change. God is calling us to heal the hurt and injustices inflicted on our brothers and sisters of color. It is my work to do, to understand what that pain is and accept my role in changing these racist systems. 

At St. Ann’s, Old Lyme

Back in May, when George Floyd’s wrongful death at the hands of police shocked the world, our country, our community, and our church was yet again called upon to take action against institutionalized racism and police brutality. I decided to contact our Reverend, Shariya Molegoda, and she agreed that an Anti-racism Social Justice Book Group would benefit the congregation greatly. I remember during her sermon how moved I was by a call for compassion, soul-searching, and the question, “What does our belonging to Jesus entail?” I was so relieved to find that other members from our church had a shared interest in coming together and discussing these topics, so we formed a group to meet weekly, at first with about fifteen of us. I did some pre-reading, starting with Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi and then moving on to The Autobiography of Malcolm X. With these, I built some knowledge of history and the politics of institutionalized racism.

Then we began our group by reading So You Want to Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo, which was a perfect blend of witty and real-life scenarios, which our group of mostly white suburbanites needed to hear. The daily struggles of being Black in America are not a part of our daily lives, and we learned together and shared stories of our own experiences to deepen our awareness of ways that racism can take many forms. The next book we read, How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi, broadened our minds on issues of racial inequity (sometimes with startling statistics), and taught us all a great deal about combating racism. We felt called to the internal searching that must be done by all people, of all colors and creeds. Most recently, we read Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison. Morrison took us through the scriptural process towards racial reconciliation from the beginning: Starting with a posture of humility, through the power of truth and an invitation to empathize, and finally confession and forgiveness. I would highly recommend this book to any church looking to become bridge builders within and beyond their congregations.

The opportunities to reflect, discuss, learn and grow together have been affirming and have anchored us to one another and to a shared sense of purpose in the mission of St. Andrew’s church as “a community inspired by Christ to love our neighbors, act justly and walk humbly with God.”

Sacred Ground is a film and reading based 10-week course put together by the Episcopal Church to explore different dimensions race and faith and the call to become beloved community. Participants will be expected to watch approximately 90 minutes of film before each class as well as read approximately 35 pages before each class. Materials will be provided to you in advance. We would also ask that you commit to attend each session. Sessions will be facilitated by Kelli Ray Gibson, ECCT’s Racial Justice Resource Coordinator, and the Rev. Rachel Thomas. If you’re interested, please contact Rachel – we are still working out the meeting schedule. You may find out more about the Sacred Ground series here: https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground

I regularly use specific phrases in my breath prayers. On the inhale, I’ll call out to the Lord: Breathe on me. On the exhale, I send out the breath into the world with hope: Breath of God. On the inspiration, I’ll seek to reconcile myself with God: Create in me a clean heart. On the exhale, cast out the old and: Renew a right spirit within me.

·  “Let it be to me… According to your Word” (Luke 1:38, NKJV).

The joy of owning sheep is also experienced in the pleasure of working with yarn, in much the same way that tender moments with God keep me mindful of the here and now. I think my sheep really like it when I visit them, and happy sheep make better wool (or is that cows and milk?) I think God really likes it when I visit God, too. The sheep, and my knitting, remind me of that.

A recent video with NE Region Missionary, Maggie Breen as featured in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut online newsletter.

Readers of The Bridge are probably familiar with The Prayer Shawl Ministry. However, I was not. Growing up in Central New Jersey, all of my friends were either Catholic or Jewish. So when the church lady told me she was knitting a prayer shawl, I pictured the tasseled blue and white shawl traditionally worn by men when reciting Hebrew prayers. (Explained succinctly by Tevye in the opening song of Fiddler on the Roof.)

As it happened, the knitting church ladies took me in hand and patiently nurtured my rudimentary knitting skills. I learned about the other type of Prayer Shawl, which is lovingly handknit while the knitter prays for the shawl’s recipient. I started to knit simple patterns with repeating stitches. I found that knitting grounded me. It kept my mind from darting all over the place. It helped me to sit still. It helped me to listen.

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.

Applications are now being accepted with grants awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. Learn more and apply online.

ECCT is a sponsoring diocese for the 2021 Forma Conference, which will be held virtually January 26-28, 2021. This year’s theme is Embodying Spiritual Practices and will include workshops, plenary sessions, and worship opportunities. View the schedule, meet the Wisdom Leaders, and register on the Forma21 website.

In addition, as a sponsoring diocese, ECCT has received 40 free registrations available to formation leaders. To apply for a free registration code, please fill out this form. When registering on the Forma21 Conference site with the code you receive, please note ECCT’s conference liaison is Marcus Halley (mhalley@episcopalct.org).

The New London Homeless Hospitality Center houses hundreds of people experiencing homelessness throughout New London County. Most of them have nothing to take into the home. We are looking for people willing to put together a "cleaning supply kit" for people moving into new homes. A kit would include these items: Mop, Broom, Paper towels, Toilet paper, Dish soap, Disinfectant cleaner (Lysol, Fantastic, or other multipurpose cleaner), Glass cleaner, Bathroom cleaner, Sponges, & Floor cleaner. Please contact Deacon Ron at 860-326-9576 if you’re willing to help. Thank you.

The Reverend Diana Rogers 

Website: http://www.holyadventclinton.org/