NOVEMBER 2019
INVITATION TO SERVE OUR REGION TOGETHER
Many of our parishes serve the homeless and disenfranchised in Hartford and Middletown. For the past two years, through a collaborative effort across the Region, we have helped support the Boot Party in Hartford with personal care items, socks, gloves, and volunteers. This year there is a second opportunity support a similar event in Middletown. Lending our Regional support to both Hartford and Middletown allows us to serve the fullness of our Region. We hope you will join us in our efforts as individuals and parishes.
Help support the Footwear With Care's
2019 BOOT PARTY | DEC 7, 2019
By providing 25 personal care kits.
Your parish's contribution will help 
the North Central Region serve 500 people
Items can be dropped off at Our Cathedral in Hartford
& St. Alban's, Simsbury and Trinity, Portland.
Items MUST be received by December 5th .
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR 20-30 VOLUNTEERS
For Dec. 7th from 9 am - 11 am, 11 am - 1pm, or 9 am - 1 pm. No experience necessary. Everyone wishing to help will be trained. To sign up to participate/contribute items
Help support Streetfire Ministry's
2019 CHRISTMAS PARTY | DEC 21, 2019
By providing hand knit/crocheted hats
Trinity, Portland's knitting group was well on track to complete 150 hats and scarves for the Christmas Party. A few weeks ago the weather turned cold and members of the homeless community were in need of hats. Living in the spirit of abundance Trinity gave away most of their hats, and are busily knitting to make up the difference so everyone who needs a hat at the Party gets one.
LET'S HELP THEM MAKE THEIR GOAL OF 150 HATS!!
Contact Marjorie Barrett at 860-342-2417
11/13 SACRED HEALING: CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION -- Come join the NC and SC regions as we continue the conversation from this summer's film series on racial healing and justice. We will spend some time dwelling in God's word, followed by a powerful video from scholar and academic Catherine Meeks of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Reconciliation where she "borrowed a quote from Jesus in the Gospel according to John to candidly discuss the current state of race in the United States and to propose a bold way forward." Finally, we will discern together through conversation what God is saying to us as individuals and as a whole.
10/23 - 11/20 WEDNESDAYS " History & Heritage" of the American Episcopal Church at St. John's, Bristol. 5 sessions, an hour-and-a-half each, at either 10:00 A.M. or 6:30 P.M, pick the time that works best for you and join the conversation.
11/02 Hike & Holy Communion at Tory's Den: A ll are welcome to join us in a hike (about a mile or so each way) up to the rocks known as Tory's Den - during the American Revolution, Tories fled Patriot raiders by hiding in the rocks at Tories Den. We will have a brief time to reflect on the "middle way" and what it means to be an Anglican/ Episcopalian in times of divided politics . We will then share Holy Communion among the these rocks - should be a good morning for reflection and fellowship. For more information contact the Rev. Link Hullar at linkhullar@gmail.com
11/17 Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors at Trinity, Wethersfield at 1pm. Who are our Muslim neighbors? What do they believe? How do extremist actions worldwide affect them? Hear Connecticut Muslims share their stories, and respond to questions. American Muslims don’t have all the answers, but our guests will respond out of their own experiences, raising issues that concern them as well as us. Together, in conversation, we can promote a more peaceful world for everyone. ALL ARE WELCOME, come for an afternoon of interfaith bridge-building - & bring a friend! This is collaborative project of: CT Council for Interreligious Understanding (CCIU), the Muslim Coalition of CT, and Hartford Seminary. Additional info: interfaith@ccfiu.org or Warren Blessing 860-742-3253. RSVPs to TrinityWeth150@gmail.com .
11/07 ECCT's Annual gathering of Ministry Networks. Join us for our annual gathering of Ministry Networks, to celebrate and share stories about how we’ve joined Jesus in our neighborhoods in the work of God’s reign. Come with an artifact that represents your Ministry Network, which will be placed on the altar as a symbol of who you are as a multi-parish collaborative. We’ll share light desserts and each Ministry Network will have the opportunity to highlight your story in 2019 — from the joys and blessings to the opportunities and growing edges. All members of your Ministry Network are welcome. Pre-registration is required. Click here to register .
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 fall we meet the FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month (11/6 and 12/4) at 6 PM at Trinity, Wethersfield (300 Main St, Wethersfield, CT 06109). Please contact our convener, Trish Leonard, prior to attending a meeting. Trish can be reached at gmakhc@cox.net
Season of Racial Healing, Justice & Reconciliation
11/01 - 11/03 -- Creating Brave Space: Dismantling Racism, A Teen Youth Retreat. Through storytelling, learning, listening and sharing, teen youth are invited to explore what it means to be children of God, celebrating diversity, recognizing and owning racism- its history and relevance in our lives.  We will explore our baptismal covenant to respect the dignity of every human being and discuss ways that we can bring about change in our lives and community. Join us for this important weekend of discussion, friendship, and all the things we love about Camp. Collaboration with the Absolum Jones Center for Racial Healing & Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. Retreat Cost: $175. For morn information click here.
11/16 - 11/17 -- Pilgrimage to Museum of African American History & Culture, in D.C. --  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 to leave Hartford at 7 a.m. November 16 and make 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. For details about registration, travel, hotel discount code, meals, and cost here .

Opportunity in the SC Region: Undoing Racism Workshops - New Haven:   The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond   has been offering workshops for the dismantling of racism in the United States since its founding in 1980. They are "a national and international collective anti-racist, multicultural community organizers and educators dedicated to building an effective movement for social transformation."
                              
This year there will be a series of opportunities through the  Elm City Undoing Racism Organizing Collective   , which is a collaborator with the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, to participate in these three day workshops. All community leaders are invited to participate (if you're reading this you are a community leader!). Workshops will be offered on:  November 8-10 . These workshops provide one opportunity to lean into the two year focus of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation...and there are many others being offered across ECCT! Please contact The Rev. Kyle Pedersen ( kyle.pedersen@yale.edu )   with questions about the workshops through Elm City UROC and check out their  website   for more information and for an application.  
Grant Opportunities
2020 Roanridge Trust grants available for leadership development in small towns and rural communities . Offered annually, Roanridge Trust Grants are used for the "training of town and country ministry and rural Christian workers” of The Episcopal Church. They support creative models of leadership development and training of the laity and clergy in small towns and rural communities across The Episcopal Church. Awards generally range from $5,000 to $20,000. Great for collaborative/region projects! Application deadline is December 13, 2019. For more info click here .
United Thank Offering 2020 Annual Grants: The United Thank Offering (UTO) board of directors is pleased to announce the availability of their 2020 United Thank Offering Annual Grants. These grants are awarded for projects in The Episcopal Church and throughout the Anglican Communion, each year with a different focus. For 2020, the focus is Bless: Share faith, practice generosity and compassion, and proclaim the Good News of God in Christ with hope and humility.  The application process opened September 6, 2019; application information and forms are available here.
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:

Comprehensive Basic Hybrid Safe Church Training


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 .