Weekly Check-In 04/16/2020
Letter from your Region Missionary
Dear friends in Christ,

Blessed Easter-tide to you. As I was preparing this week's newsletter, I kept thinking -- here we are, but where is here? In our liturgical season this is when we would normally turn from fasting to feasting, from lament to celebration, and I hope that you are finding small ways to do just that. At the same time, I acknowledge in my own personal and communal life it feels a little hard to leave Lent behind this year. I'm not ready to turn the page, my heart still wants to lament the state of the world, my body still yearns to be still, and my mind keeps drifting back to the words of the psalmists. How, O Lord, are we to sing your song in in this strange and foreign land?

A few years ago I came across Padraig O Tuama's book In the Shelter: Finding Welcome in the Here and Now. In his book O Tuama makes a practice of naming every feeling, idea, place and situation that bubbles up as he writes. He names them and he greets them with the word hello. I find the following mediation by O Tuama to be particularly helpful this week:
The Rev. Erin Flinn
 NC Region Missionary eflinn@episcopalct.org
Mobile: 860-966-3742
It has taken years to continue to live into the truth that if I believe we are from God and for God, then we are from Goodness and for Goodness. To greet sorrow today does not mean that sorrow will be there tomorrow. Happiness comes to, and grief, and tiredness, disappointment, surprise and energy. Chaos and fulfillment will be named as well as delight and despair. This is the truth of being here, wherever here is today. It may not be permanent but it is here. I will probably leave here, and I will probably return. To deny here is harrow the heart. Hello to here (p. 29).
Hello to here. Hello to Easter. Hello to spring and joy. Hello to sadness, confusion and uncertainty. Hello to suffering, you are still here too. Hello to tears. Hello to alleluias! Hello to hope that never left. Hello to death. Hello to life. Hello, hello, hello.
Resources from the North Central Region
NC Region Clergy are invited to a virtual coffee hour on Tuesday, April 21 @ 3 PM. This is an informal space for clergy colleagues from across our Region to connect with each other, pray and converse. For Zoom info please email me, Erin Flinn, at eflinn@episcopalct.org.
An Interactive, Musical Collaboration between Cuatro Puntos Ensemble (Artists-in-Residence at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford) & Ameen Mokdad (Iraqi composer and musician). Monday, April 20 @ 2 PM, broadcast from Baghdad, Iraq. For more information visit the Facebook Event Page.
NC Region Warden's Zoom Gathering. Tuesday, April 28 @ 5:30 PM - This is an opportunity for Wardens to gather on Zoom for an informal conversation to ask questions, reflect, and share ideas. We are all in this together! For Zoom info visit our Region web page: www.episcopalct.org/northcentral
Ministry with People who lack Housing and Food Security in the NC Region -  Join us for a zoom meeting on Monday, April 20th at 7:00 PM with Deacon Bonnie Matthews and leaders from around the NC Region to share and discuss Food Pantry Ministries, Soup Kitchens, Feeding Programs and sheltering needs in our area. For the Zoom Meeting ID - email Bonnie at bmatthews228@comcast.net.
Looking for a place to try online worship? For an ongoing list of ECCT Parishes hosting Livestream service click here and look for "Parish Livestream Services" in the menu bar on the left. Don't see your community? Send an email to ecctcommunications@episcopalct.org
Blue question marks
Learning the Tips & Tricks of Online worship can be overwhelming. Here are some great, short how-to videos offered by Sarah Stonesifer Boylan, Digital Missioner for Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary. VTS is also offering online office hours and lots more resources to help with all things digital ministry, and more!
Holy Week in ECCT
Did you miss some of the Holy Week offerings? Click here to watch.
Resources from ECCT
Self-Care: Here are some resources for you and your family to care for yourselves through this uncertain time. Some resources include: links to free virtual museum tours, yoga and other movement practices, online AA meetings, Facebook baking group, breathing exercises, online singing, worship at home, and more. Click here.
COVID-19 Financial Resources:  Resources from ECCT regarding parish financial relief, as well as resources from the Church Pension Group (CPG), various Government resources like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and information on the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, are available on the ECCT webpage.
ZOOM Call for Clergy & Wardens with the Bishops Every Wednesday at 8:30 AM. Clergy and wardens are welcome to join a conversation with our Bishops to discuss resources during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Zoom info on ECCT Home Page. Can't make morning meetings? Recordings are available on the ECCT webpage.
See all updates, event statuses, and resources involving ECCT and the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) virus here:

 https://www.episcopalct.org/covid-19-coronavirus-updates/ This page will be continually updated as new information becomes available.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119 v. 105
Communications for the North Central Region
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