MARCH 2020
 NORTH CENTRAL REGION
Monthly Snapshot

NC Region Potlucks

Is the Holy Spirit doing something exciting in your parish or community? Would you like some enthusiastic support? Curious about others are doing nearby? By widening the circle you may find the Spirit is moving others in the area in the same direction. With connection, we can find more strength for shared ministries in our communities. Come, eat, pray, share, connect and be inspired by others!

Join your Region Leadership Team members
for a community potluck dinner at
one of our three host parishes from 6 to 8 PM.

03/07 Mission Conference 2020: Equipping Saints for God’s Mission: Hosted by The Companions for Mission Ministry Network this conference is designed to equip, encourage and inspire us for participating in God’s Mission. The keynote speaker is The Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr., Senior Pastor First Corinthian Baptist Church, Harlem, NYC. Pastor Mike has an amazing record of church revitalization and missional engagement with the community. Come and learn what we can do to reach our communities with the life-changing power of the Gospel. The conference is at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Riverside CT from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Registration is $10. This event is open to all lay and clergy leaders interested in God's mission as well as members of your community – click here to register .  
03/14 Quiet Day | Seeking and Finding God in Daily Life: A quiet day of meditation, guided spiritual practices and group reflections led by Bishop Gordon Scruton. Bring a bag lunch; beverages provided. Free will offering. Register by March 11 by calling 860-529-3875 and leaving your name, church affiliation and phone number. Or register online at our event . We will gather from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 300 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT.
03/15 Interfaith Tour of Faith Communities hosted by St. John’s, West Hartford.  Joel Lohr, president of Hartford Seminary, published an op-ed in the January 12 Hartford Courant calling on readers—and Christians especially—to recognize the scourge of anti-Semitism, and to acknowledge our role in both perpetuating it (historically and currently) and combatting it. He concluded with this call to action: “If as a Christian you have not been to a synagogue, or met your local rabbi, or you have no Jewish friends, consider this an invitation.” To that end, mark your calendars for a special interfaith tour of several local faith communities on Sunday, March 15, organized by Dr. Lohr and the Rev. Susan Pinkerton, along with Rabbi Michael Pincus and Aida Mansoor. We’ll gather at St. John’s after the 10:30 service for a light lunch, then have a tour of the church, walk to Congregation Beth Israel for a tour of the synagogue, and then carpool to the Berlin Mosque. The tour should end between 2:30 and 3 p.m. For more information email Susan Pinkerton at Susan@sjparish.net .
03/21 Benefit Concert for Africa Education Partners.  Africa Education Partnership (AEP) is hosting a Spring Benefit Concert with the Tapestry Singers of Connecticut on Saturday, March 21 between 4 - 6 pm at First Baptist Church, 240 Hillstown Road, Manchester, Connecticut. Africa Education Partnership exists to build beneficial partnerships in the area of education with communities in the USA and in Africa. Their aim, and that of their partners, is to provide the highest quality education for students, regardless of gender, ethnic origin or religious affiliation. AEP is supported by multiple NC Region Parishes.
03/22 Dance & Dialogue with Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet at 3 PM.  Ekklasia Contemporary Ballet, along with Church of Holy Trinity and the ECCT Arts Ministry Network , invite you to explore the topic of mental health through dance and discussion at Church of the Holy Trinity, 381 Main St., Middletown, CT. Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet is a professional dance company comprised of artist-theologians whose goal is to create spaces where art and faith can flourish. Ekklesia's diverse repertory utilizes a full spectrum of emotional and physical vocabulary while addressing issues such as poverty, inequality, and human suffering.  For more information about Ekklaisa click here . Suggested donation is $10.
Ordinations to the Priesthood:
03/25 Mary Barnett -- 7:00 PM at Church of the Holy Trinity, Middletown
04/08 Tenebrae: Mourning the Loss of God's Creation: In Holy Week, Trinity Church (120 Sigourney Street) Hartford, will offer a service mourning the loss of species by human hands in the modern era. This adaptation of Tenebrae will recognize the suffering and loss of these extinct species in the light of Christ’s Passion. Readers will share poetry by Wendell Berry, a contemporary farmer-poet, proclaiming humanity’s deadly treatment of nature and its effects on the human spirit. Those gathered will also proclaim the hope we have in God as Creator and Redeemer to bring healing to our distressed Earth and all her creatures. The service will take place at 7 p.m.
04/18 ECCT'S SPRING TRAINING at Berlin High School (139 Patterson Way, Berlin). Join hundreds of other Episcopalians in CT for a day of fellowship, learning, prayer and fun. All are welcome: people in the pews to vestry members to parish leaders & staff!! Some workshop categories include: christian formation; social justice and advocacy; communications; spiritual practices; leadership; stewardship; parish operations; worship; racial healing, justice and reconciliation. Register here: EpiscopalCT.org/Spring-Training.
A Message from Our Bishops regarding the Coronavirus -- Dear Companions in Christ, A Holy Lent to you. As you are likely already well aware, federal health officials have warned that it is anticipated that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) will probably spread into the United States. While there are not any confirmed cases in Connecticut, it has been recommended that churches, businesses, schools, and hospitals take necessary precautions. There are basic steps each of our communities within the Episcopal Church in Connecticut can follow to minimize risk for our parishes and people, and the ministries to which they contribute or by which they are served...  Read the full message here.
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 spring we meet the  FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month (4/1, 5/6, 6/3, 7/1) . Please contact our convener, Trish Leonard, prior to attending a meeting to confirm location and agenda. Trish can be reached at  gmakhc@cox.net
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: https://www.episcopalct.org/ECCTCalendar/safe-church-trainings-all/
What's Happening in Your Community?
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

You can also let folks across ECCT know about your upcoming events by adding them to the ECCT Calender. Here is a quick how-to put together by Erendira, our SW Region Missionary. Check out how simple it is!