Mission Matters
News from the
Episcopal Diocese 
of Western Massachusetts  

CELEBRANDO LA ABUNDANCIA DE DIÓS 

November 21, 2023

December 2023 Mission Matters Publishing Schedule

View the 2024 Mission Matters Publishing Schedule here.

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Advent Retreat with Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas

Dec 16, 9:30am

Online


Guided by the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, we will enjoy a morning of listening, prayer, and conversation as we open ourselves to the presence of Divine Love. Our time together will include presentations, guided meditation, and gathering in small groups. If you like, bring a candle and wear something comfortable for an optional walk outdoors. All are welcome to join our fourth annual Advent retreat.


This year’s Advent retreat takes its name from the opening line of a 15th-century hymn attributed to Thomas á Kempis.


Register here


Parish Admins and Secretaries:

Making Connections

Dec 4, 11am

Online


Please join us via Zoom on Monday, December 4th at 11:00 a.m. for an informal, friendly gathering of our parish administrators and secretaries.


New to your job? Welcome--we'd love to meet you! Whether you are brand new or have been in your position for a long time--you are welcome. We'd love to hear from you and help you connect with others in the diocese!


Please email Karen Warren for the Zoom link: kwarren@diocesewma.org


Register here

Daughters of the King

discernment and intro session

"These past years, we found that Zoom meetings can be personal and effective. Being physically together is a gift we have come to truly appreciate but it is not always possible. Using Zoom enabled us to bring together women living in three states and begin a new chapter last September. We would like to stretch this process to include women around our diocese.


We plan to begin a new discernment, via Zoom, in January. We are sure you have questions and so we will be offering an 'Intro to the DOK' at the beginning of January and a new Study will begin before the end of the month. We invite you to check out our national website: www.doknational.org


Please pray about this opportunity and contact me for further information: marianab@earthlink.net.


Mariana Bauman

President, WMA Diocesan Assembly

The Order of the Daughters of the King®"

Upcoming Safe Church trainings

Nov 28 & 30, 5:30pm - 8pm

Clergy, Staff, & Lay Leaders - Full day in two parts


Dec 10, 2pm - 5pm

Volunteers


Jan 16 & 18, 2024, 5:30pm - 8pm

Clergy, Staff, & Lay Leaders - Full day in two parts


Jan 31, 2024, 5pm - 8pm

Volunteers


Feb 10, 2024, 9am - 2pm

Clergy, Staff, & Lay Leaders


Mar 5, 2024, 5pm - 8pm

Volunteers


Mar 21, 2024, 5pm - 8pm

Volunteers

Bishop's Visitations

  • 12/03/2023 - Atonement, Westfield
  • 12/10/2023 - Trinity Church, Milford
  • 12/17/2023 - All Saints, North Adams
  • 01/07/2024 - Christ the King-Epiphany, Wilbraham
  • 01/14/2024 - St. Stephen's, Westborough
  • 01/21/2024 - St. Luke's, Worcester
  • 01/28/2024 - Southwick Community
  • 02/04/2024 - St. Andrew's, Longmeadow
  • 02/11/2024 - St. Mark's, East Longmeadow
  • 02/18/2024 - St. David's, Agawam
  • 02/25/2024 - St. Helena's, Lenox
  • 03/10/2024 - Christ Church, Fitchburg

From Our Congregations

WMA & MA Together

The Bridging the Gap Series

Nov 21, Dec 5, & Dec 19, 6:30pm

Online


Episcopal City Mission invites you to this fall’s Bridging the Gap Zoom education and formation series, which will be action oriented and focus on the practical nuts and bolts of doing work on reparations, solidarity economy and state-level policy.


The focus of ECM's first series was on understanding the roots of the racial wealth gap and the existing work in the community around these issues.


BTG#2 began on Nov. 7, with a practical in-depth look at local impact investing focused on closing the wealth gap. Videos will be made available for missed sessions. BTG#2 will run every other Tuesday for four sessions: Nov. 7, Nov. 21, Dec. 5, and Dec. 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.


Register at https://tinyurl.com/ECM-BTG2.

Book Discussion

Jan 10, 7pm

Online


Our next Province I Indigenous Peoples’ Justice Network book discussion is on January 10, 2024 from 7-8:30 p.m. The book is Our Beloved Kin: A New History of King Philip’s War, by Lisa Brooks.


Read about Professor Brooks here, and about the book here.


https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkf--urz8pEtHRE2D_H45ALd0bzrkfYOnH

The Indigenous Peoples' Justice Network meets on the second Wednesday of the month at noon. Contact Martha Gardner for meeting access.

The Creation Care Justice Network in Massachusetts is a group of Episcopalians from across our state who are committed to faith-based environmental justice and climate action. They draw upon the strong environmental messages from our bishops and The Episcopal Church as well as our diocesan mission to protect creation and seek ways to work collaboratively to address the climate crisis in a just and equitable way. 


To attend the next meeting, email creationjusticeepisma@gmail.com to confirm and to get the Zoom link.


Learn more

Here's what's happening in the Poor People's Campaign: October newsletter

Join the MAPPC Email List. If you do not already receive invitations, news, and updates from our Massachusetts PPC chapter, please sign up here: MAPPC Sign Up. The campaign is in a season of action around the election - voter and candidate education, registering folks to vote, and encouraging voter participation. Hope you can join in events! 


Catch up with the latest news!

Province 1

Conversations with Noted Speakers

"The Province 1 Christian Formation Network is hosting a series of online monthly Conversations with Noted Speakers on Zoom. While hosted by the Episcopal churches of New England everyone is welcome to join these sessions. 


On the third Thursday of most months’ participants will have the opportunity to hear from people at the forefront of Christian Formation. Each session includes time for questions and conversation as we learn from each other new ways of sharing our faith. Below is the information for our 3rd year of speakers."


Dec. 21, 2023, 7pm ET

How to Welcome and Embrace Neurodiversity - Veronica Sydlowski


Jan. 18, 2024, 7pm ET 

OutOfTheBox: Playing with stories to bring wellbeing - Kathryn Lord and Lacy Finn Borgo


Feb. 15, 2024, 7pm ET  

Helping Hands Across Ages: Intergenerational Service Projects as a Monthly Ministry Model - Melinda Corey


Mar. 21, 2024, 7pm ET

Rhythms of Grace at St John's Episcopal Church Chico, CA – Teri Todd


Apr. 18, 2024, 7pm ET

Welcoming Trans and Gender Non-conforming folks in our churches - Rev. Kit Wang


May 16, 2024, 7pm ET

Re-invigorating Acolyte Ministries through Gamification, Storytelling, and Community Building - Kelsey Aebi


Jun. 20, 2024, 7pm ET

Using Children's Literature in Children's Ministry - Elizabeth Christie


Learn more

From The Episcopal Church

Presiding bishop joins Christian leaders in letter to Biden, calling for ceasefire in Gaza

IMG_5023-768x1024 image

Matching grant challenge to support ministries of Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

Workshops & Resources

2024 Forma Annual Conference: A Way in the Wilderness

2024-Forma-Conference-2160-x-1080-px-700x350 image

Jan 22-25, 2024

Online and in-person


"Forma, a ministry of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary, is the professional network for Christian formation leaders in the Episcopal Church and beyond. Our conference offers an intentional time of networking, learning, and inspiration. 


All conference participants will have access to conference recordings. Recordings will include the didactic teaching portion of each plenary and workshop (about 30 minutes each). Discussion, Q&A, and activities will not be recorded.


Learn more and register

Ministerio Hispano | Latino Ministries

Para conectar con las actividades de la Catedral mande un email a cccspfld@gmail.com.


Para conectar con las actividades del Ministerio Hispano en Worcester visite el sitio web ministeriohispanoworcester.org o mande un email a jreyes@diocesewma.org.




Misa Dominical

Ministerio Hispano en Worcester:

  • 12:00pm en la Iglesia de San Marcos en persona


Ministerio Hispano en Holyoke:

  • 5:00pm en la Iglesia San Pablo


La Catedral:

  • 12:15pm en persona


Durante la semana

Ministerio Hispano en Worcester: 

  • Estudio Bíblico todos los martes a las 6:30pm por Zoom
  • Grupo de Oración todos los viernes a las 6:30pm por WhatsApp


La Catedral: 

  • Estudio Bíblico (en persona) Miércoles 6:00pm
  • Sabatina (Segundo, tercer y cuarto sábado del mes) de 10am a 12pm

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