ECCT WEEKLY ENEWSLETTER
August 7, 2019
ECCT Bishops Repudiate Christian Nationalism, Systemic Racism, in Wake of Gun Violence

Bishops Ian Douglas and Laura Ahrens join with colleagues in Bishops United Against Gun Violence (BUAGV) in decrying the recent gun violence in El Paso and Dayton; and commend the BUAGV statement to the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.

Bishops United Against Gun Violence is a network of close to 100 Episcopal bishops dedicated to ending gun violence in our nation through education, advocacy, pastoral care, and public witness and liturgy. 

Both Bishop Douglas and Ahrens are founding participants in BUAGV, and Bishop Douglas serves as one of the network’s Co-Conveners.

BISHOPS UNITED REPUDIATES CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM, SYSTEMIC RACISM
White supremacy and gun violence coming to define our era,
say Episcopal Church bishops

AUGUST 6, 2019—Since last weekend, three young white men—all American citizens, all in legal possession of assault rifles—have murdered more than 30 people in cold blood. Most of the precious children of God who are dead and injured are people of color.

When gun violence makes headlines, politicians supported by the National Rifle Association are quick to call white shooters “mentally ill,” while characterizing black and brown shooters as “criminals” and insisting that guns are not the problem. They choose to remain loyal to the gun lobby and its campaign contributions while denying the incontrovertible evidence that more guns mean more deaths.

Common sense measures like universal background checks, assault weapons bans, handgun purchaser licensing, and restrictions on gun ownership by domestic abusers point the way toward sane gun policy that is well within any sensible interpretation of the Second Amendment. They are necessary and long overdue, but they are not sufficient.

Bishops United updates their Litany in the Wake of a Mass Shooting
Click on the image for a video of Bishop Ian T. Douglas reading the Bishops United Against Gun Violence (BUAGV) updated Litany in the Wake of a Mass Shooting . Bishop Douglas read the litany on Facebook Live on Sunday. Other liturgical resources can be found at Bishops United page here.
From the bl og:
Stories from the past: 45th anniversary of women's ordination
By ECCT Digital Storyteller Alli Gannett - Posted July 29, 2019

Today is the 45th anniversary of the first ordination of a woman to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, and the 40th anniversary of the first woman ordained in ECCT – The Reverend Joan Horwitt. To celebrate and reflect upon the past 45 years, I met with our Archivist, Greg, to see if he had any fun and interesting finds around women’s ordination. I not only acquired a new online folder of scanned images of newspaper clippings and whole booklets from the 1970s arguing for and against women’s ordination, but Greg and I dove deep into one theological question: symbolism associated with the clergy person. 

So, for this blog post, I wanted to highlight that conversation – don’t worry, I will include images of those newspaper clippings as well. I must note that there were many, many theological debates and conversations happening around women’s ordination (just look at those newspaper clippings), and this is just one. Nay, this is a fragment of one. But, Greg and I really found ourselves engaged in this question the most, so we decided to explore it more.

From the bl og:
Church on the Beach
By ECCT Digital Storyteller Alli Gannett - posted August 5, 2019

A couple weeks ago I worshiped God on a beach in Fairfield. It was an interesting and spirit-filled experience, to blur the lines between sacred and public with 40 other people on the sandy shore of the Long Island Sound. 

The Rev. Curtis Farr is the rector of  St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fairfield  and he invited me to check out Church on the Beach this summer. St. Paul’s holds Church on the Beachevery Sunday in July and August at 8:30 a.m. at Jennings Beach, Fairfield. 

“We have always made efforts to be visible in our local community . . . and Jennings Beach is located near the parish and right between the marina and beach club.” Curtis said. “A lot of morning walkers and swimmers see this community gathered with joy in prayer and song, and sometimes they join in on our worship.” 

ECCT's Digital Storyteller Alli Gannett 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 & other) Grants

Mission Development Fund
This fund supports new mission initiatives. A ll funds for 2019 have been expended. The next cycle for grant applications has a deadline of March 15, 2020.

Jack Spaeth Care for Creation
These grants support efforts to embrace a global vision of climate justice and preserving and celebrating God's creation. Deadlines are Jan. 31 and August 15. More info here .

Companions in Mission for Publication & Communication (CMPC)
These grants support communication and publication strategies as a part of your mission effort. Deadlines for these grants are Feb. 1 and Aug. 1. More info here.

Sustainability Development Grants
These grants support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (which replaced the Millennial Development Goals) and promote sustained mission relationships with parishes, dioceses and institutions beyond the Episcopal Church.  More info here.

Mission Travel Grants
The Companions in Mission Ministry Network oversees grants to assist members of Connecticut parishes in mission-related travel to explore or advance mission partnerships. More info here.

Property Improvement Grants
These grants are available for parishes who demonstrate financial need for renovation or construction of projects that provide for existing needs in parishes in good standing in the diocese. The grant will reimburse parishes for up to 50% of their payments for renovation or construction projects, with no award exceeding $8,000. Application with more info here.

See this page for additional ECCT grants for retired clergy; grants for continuing education (lay or ordained); scholarships for students who are children of clergy of employees of ECCT parishes/institutions; and info on The Episcopal Church's United Thank Offering grants.

Province I: Sowing Seed Grants
Grants of $500-$2000 are available for collaborative efforts involving people from two or more dioceses in Province One (New England dioceses). Funds are disbursed on a rolling basis until funds are depleted. More info on their website.
 
The Episcopal Church: Evangelism grants available for local and regional efforts
Episcopal institutions can apply for the next round of the Episcopal Evangelism Grants Program, designed to fund local and regional evangelism efforts in the Episcopal Church. The application deadline is October 1. The grant program awards up to $2,000 for an individual congregation and up to $8,000 for multi-church, diocesan and regional collaborations. More info here (also links to info in Spanish and French)
Pilgrimage November 16-17, 2019: Museum of African American History and Culture

The Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Network's pilgrimage planning team has acquired tickets to the Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The timed, group tickets are for two days, Saturday, November 16 and Sunday, November 17. Travel will be by motor coach, with tentative plans for a very early start in Hartford November 16 with one stop in the Stamford/Greenwich area en route. Attendees will be responsible for making their own reservations at a nearby hotel, discounted rates will be available.

Group size is limited. Details about registration, travel, hotel discount code, meals, and cost are being determined and will be on this page when available. Future enewsletters will include a link until the trip is full.
"Traces of the Trade" set as third and final in summer film series exploring race and racism: Aug. 13; @ St. Paul's, Wallingford
The North Central and South Central Regions have been working together to offer a series of three films, with facilitated conversation to follow, as a way to explore race and racism. The series is open to those in other Regions, as well.



The series takes place July 30, August 6, and August 13 from 5:30 - 9 p.m. at St. Paul's, Wallingford and materials are from this year's Trinity Institute, "Scene and Unseen" Facing Race Through Film."

Films includes: Do the Right Thing; Blindspotting, and Traces of the Trade.
UBE Conference celebrates diaspora, women bishops

[Episcopal News Service, July 23, 2019, by Pat McCaughan]
The 51st annual business meeting of the Union of Black Episcopalians opened July 22 in Los Angeles with spirited worship celebrating the African diaspora’s rich musical and cultural heritage, and with standing ovations and sustained applause for three African American women recently elected diocesan bishops.


Presiding Bishop's sermon to youth at UBE conference: "We must help America find its soul"

[Episcopal News Service, July 25, 2019, by Pat McCaughan] A Union of Black Episcopalians youth worship service became a call to action July 24 when Presiding Bishop Michael Curry took the pulpit at All Saints Church in Pasadena, California. Youth read lessons and prayers during the service.
Curry urged the UBE leaders, youth, several hundred local worshippers and visiting conference-goers to consider, “between now and next year, leading a massive voter registration and education drive and a get-out-the-vote campaign.”

August 25: Ring church bells for one minute at 3 p.m.
Commemorating 400 years of African American history and culture: An invitation to participate in Healing Day bell ringing
[Episcopal News Service, Aug. 6, 2019] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia Bishop James B. Magness invite Episcopal churches to take part in a national action to remember and honor the first enslaved Africans who landed in English North America in 1619 by tolling their bells for one minute on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 3:00 pm ET.

Watch Presiding Bishop Curry’s video message here or click on image .

“The National Park Service is commissioning, and asking, churches and people from around this country to commemorate and remember that landing and the bringing of those first enslaved Africans to this country by ringing bells. And if possible, by tolling the bells of churches and to do so on August 25 at 3:00 in the afternoon,” said Curry. “I’m inviting us as The Episcopal Church to join in this commemoration as part of our continued work of racial healing and reconciliation. At 3:00 pm we can join together with people of other Christian faiths and people of all faiths to remember those who came as enslaved, who came to a country that one day would proclaim liberty. And so we remember them and pray for a new future for us all.”

Hiking Holy Borders

Join Region Missionary the Rev. Rachel Thomas (SE) and Maggie Breen (NE) this summer for some hikes. Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., dates listed below. Email Maggie or Rachel to let them know you're coming and for any info specific to that day's event. Full details: online calendar; sort by month and by "Sports & Outdoor Events"

ONLY TWO MORE HIKES IN THIS SERIES!

August 13: Utley Hill Trail, Columbia;
  • August 20: Airline Trail, Lebanon 
Interfaith Service Day set for Aug. 8 in New Haven; public welcome

Jerusalem Peacebuilders , Christ Church, New Haven, and other faith communities in Connecticut have organized an interfaith service day for Thursday, August 8, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It starts on the New Haven Green and depending on the project, may include bus travel.

Projects include a beach walk and clean up with Save the Sound; Habitat for Humanity house construction; sandwich-making for the homeless; painting apartments for those most in need; Peace Mural painting on the Green for posting on I-95; and other projects. Join visiting Jewish, Christian, and Muslim youth who are studying peace and who have traveled from Israel and Palestine to meet, share, and learn one another's faith traditions and common ministry of healing.

Details and registration at: IWagePeace.org . Individuals and groups invited; families welcome! RSPV to be sure there are enough buses and pizza. Email Bruce@IWagePeace.org or call him at 203-710-5675 with questions or suggestions. Downloadable flyer at their website .
ECCT PODCAST # 56
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 #56 , published July 26, Alli talks with the Rev. Marcella Gillis about mission trips and mission work. 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 PODCAST #57
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 #57 , published Aug. 2, Alli talks with three deacons who each share their personal and vocational stories. Photo, from left: the Revs. Felix Rivera, Pat Jackson, and Bonnie Matthews. 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
The Shoreline Times published an article about the beach-side service for children with special needs set for Aug. 11 in Guilford. Christ Church in Guilford hosts Rhythms of Grace services on the second Sunday of each month, usually at the church. The Aug. 11 service will be at Jacobs Beach in Guilford.

Christ Church, Greenwich received advance publicity for their July 28 guest preacher, Bishop Griselda of the Episcopal Church in Cuba, in the CT Post.

Email Karin if your parish or worshiping community has been featured in non-ECCT media/news!
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CAMP WASHINGTON?
What do great spiritual leaders say about forgiveness?

Second Sunday: August 11, 4:30 p.m.
Explore this topic through provocative conversation. Led by the Rev. Curtis Farr of St. Paul's, Fairfield. Program, worship, shared meal. $10 donation. RSVP: 860-567-9623.
Fourth annual Youth Festival, September 7-8, for grades 8-12. Registration is open! Click here for flyer.
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
Plan into October! *Saturday, Oct. 26, Centennial Evensong and Reception
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 scheduled for the next few weeks

COMBINED CALENDAR FOR THE SUMMER:
Meetings & events for: ECCT-wide groups; Ministry Networks (MN); Regions; Clergy

ECCT calendar details here : Region and MN calendar details here
  • Aug. 13, Hiking Holy Borders, Utley Hill Trail, Columbia (NE & SE Regions, open to all)
  • Aug. 13, Sacred Healing Film Series, "Traces of the Trade," Wallingford (NC & SC Regions, open to all)
  • Aug. 20, Hiking Holy Borders, Airline Trail, Lebanon (NE & SE Regions, open to all)
  • Aug. 27, Convention Planning Team Mtg, The Commons
  • Aug. 29, Finance Committee Mtg, The Commons
  • Aug. 29, "Let my people go" Ministry Network Mtg at The Commons
  • Sept. 2, The Commons is closed
  • Sept. 5, Joining Jesus Advisory Council
  • Sept. 6, Men's Breakfast, NE Region
  • Sept. 6-8, Deacon Formation Retreat
  • Sept. 11-12, NE Region Leadership Retreat

Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day (MCPD)
  • The three regular sessions of MCPD are done. If you were not able to attend, you must now register for and attend the one make-up session that will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7 at St. John's, West Hartford. Online registration is here.
  • 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 scheduled for 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 events, see above).
Be sure to list your events in your Region eNewsletters to reach your local audiences.
Aug. 7, Healing Service, Newtown (first Wednesdays of every month, starts 8/7)
Aug. 14, Worship in the Wild, Part I: Old Saybrook
Aug 17, Pulled pork dinner, Hebron
Aug. 21, Worship in the Wild, Part 2, Hadlyme
Aug. 24, Bluegrass Festival, Guilford
Aug. 29, Community Bicentennial Pot Luck Dinner, Sharon
Sept. 7, Tag Sale & Craft Fair, Glastonbury
Sept. 7, Classic Car Concours and Cruise
Sept. 15, Making Sense of the Bible, Sundays at 4 p.m. for six weeks; Enfield
Connect to your Region webpages for info, newsletters, events, social media, and more! ( What's my Region? )
Signup for newsletters on this page , check the box for your Region.
Submit your local events to the Region Missionary for your local Region newsletter.
Click on an image below for that Region's ECCT page
Safe Church Training
Safe Church training is offered as full-day, in person sessions or as a hybrid of in-person and online sessions, September through June.

Once all the training locations and trainers are set, the website pages that list the trainings will be updated and links included in eNews.

Important note for clergy only:
ALL clergy must attend one Mandatory Clergy Professional Development Day in 2019. See 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:

Parish and Camp pos itions:

Clergy non-parochial OR lay professional:

Other :

For open Clergy positions in parishes please click here .