February 4, 2020
Third Annual Blessing of Journalists
Christ Church Cathedral
Springfield, MA
February 25, 2020
12:00pm

The Blessing of Journalists is planned, in part, as a commemoration of  Frederick   Douglass , abolitionist and publisher of  The North Star . The Episcopal Church remembers Douglass on February 20.

Douglas was a prophetic witness to the sinfulness of slavery and spoke this truth to a nation in need of repentance and reform. As an enduring symbol of the power journalists possess to move the heart of the nation toward the common good, the award recipient will be given a framed page from the paper founded by Douglass.

Small Church Summit 3
Register now!
All Saints' Episcopal Church South Hadley, MA
February 29, 2020
9:00am - 3:00pm

In our third Small Church Summit, we will continue the conversation: what are the challenges? 

At our last summit, you asked for more ideas about things that have worked. On February 29, we will explore what it means to be a vibrant church in a time of change, and we will hear from parishes that have made the journey in partnership with fellow Episcopalians and Lutherans. We will also look at some way out of the box things – by way of sparking some imagination.

Come for conversation, inspiration, and support.

Episcopal Youth Event 2020
Does your parish have high school students?
Get registered for Episcopal Youth Event now!

The diocesan delegation for this year’s  Episcopal Youth Event   is beginning to take registrations. All current high school students are eligible. 

Episcopal Youth Event happens every three years, bringing youth from across the Episcopal Church together for worship and a variety of interesting speakers and workshops. This year’s event will be held at the University of Maryland, College Park and will center around the theme “unite! ¡unámonos!” We will travel to EYE on July 7 th  and return July 11 th  . More information can be found on EYE’s website.

Registration and housing together are  $400/person . In addition, there will be transportation costs. Our travel arrangements will depend on the number of participating teen.  Our diocese will cover 1/3 of the cost of the overall cost for each participant.  We hope that each parish might be able to cover a third of their participants’ costs as well, in order that each family might only pay a third of the trip’s costs. 

If you have a high school student who would like to attend, please fill out the following registration form and return it to  the Rev. Megan McDermott , priest associate at Grace Church, Amherst via email:  mmcdermott@gracechurchamherst.org .

Please also be in touch with Megan if you have any other questions or would like more information. 

New from The Episcopal Church
Updated Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs now available
"[The manual] identifies requirements and seeks to provide helpful advice on sound, practical internal controls, accounting guidelines and business practices.” Barnes believes that it is a tool that will support the efforts of administrators and vestries as they perform their responsibilities of financial oversight and stewardship."

Online Tool: Mapping Demographics and Parochial Report Data
"Beginning in January 2020, congregational and diocesan leaders in The Episcopal Church will have access to a new online resource for understanding history and visioning the future with the data collected through the Parochial Report. The General Convention Office has contracted with Datastory Consulting to create a web-based, interactive tool to map data."

Creation Care
Resources for Earth Day Sunday 2020
Every year,   Creation Justice Ministries   offers Christian education materials to equip faith communities to protect, restore, and more rightly share God's creation. The resource is written to be useful year-round. Their 2020 theme is " The Fierce Urgency of Now ,” a reference to a quote from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King in his final sermon at Riverside Church: 

“ We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”  

You can request (free) Episcopal materials from Creation Justice Ministries   here . 
Get the Creation Care Network newsletter in your inbox every 1st of the month
Read this month's newsletter
Missioner for Creation Care
Social Justice Commission
The Rev. Dr. William Barber to
speak at Greenfield
Wednesday, February 5
Join the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival in Greenfield, Massachusetts for the 11th stop of the We Must Do M.O.R.E. national tour as we Mobilize, Organize, Register and Educate.

The tour stop in Massachusetts will culminate with a Mass Meeting on Wednesday, February 5th. The Mass Meeting will begin at 7:00 pm at Second Congregational Church in Greenfield, MA (across from town commons).

Beloved Community Commission
Just Mercy
"Just Mercy is a 2019 American legal drama film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. [...] It tells the true story of Walter McMillian, who, with the help of young defense attorney Bryan Stevenson, appeals his murder conviction. The film is based on the memoir of the same name, written by Stevenson." [ x ]


Here are some resources to deepen your understanding:
Meet the Episcopal Church's
Racial Reconciliation Team!
Together We Thrive
Save the Dates
February 21, 2020

If you would like to apply, please visit:   http://www.togetherwethrivegrant.org/coaching
March 14, 2020
8:00 AM to 3:45 PM

Super Saturday is a collaborative effort of the Southern New England Conference, UCC, with presenters and attendees from different states and denominations.
A full day of workshops, forums, networking, worship and marketplace.
April 19-24, 2020


Coaching4Clergy’s Professional Coach Training program is for pastors, church leaders, and ministry staff who want to develop ministry excellence and effectiveness.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 8:00 AM

Details Coming Soon!
Keep an eye on the calendar here.



Rev. Heather Ramsey Mabrouk, Program Coordinator
Resources & Workshops
The Way of Love: Next Steps
with Jerusalem Greer

March 5-7, 2020
Barbara C. Harris Center

"Jerusalem Greer, Episcopal Church Staff officer for Evangelism, introduced The Way of Love to provincial faith formation leaders last year. She's coming back to share new resources that dig deeper with individuals, small groups, and congregation.

We'll explore what it means to live the Way of Love past one program or program year. We'll also learn what we can do to help our people live the Way of Love fully - as individuals, in small groups, and as a congregation - at any age or season of life, as well as why it matter for their lives."

Oasis 2020: Young Adult and Campus Ministry Conference

June 23-26, 2020
Tucson, AZ

This annual conference, hosted by the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministries (YACM), is an opportunity for Episcopal leaders in ministry with young adults on and off college campuses to meet and connect with one another and to be nourished and nurtured in their ministry.

Conference participants - both leaders who are new to this work as well as those who have longstanding roots in this ministry - will hear from speakers, focus on intentional conversations, build relationships, and learn from one another.


News from our Congregations
& Ministry Partners
Positions Open
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