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Mission Matters
News from the
Episcopal Diocese
of Western Massachusetts
CELEBRANDO LA ABUNDANCIA DE DIÓS
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Pastoral word from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on shooting at St. Stephen’s |
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"Dear friends in Christ:
By now you are aware that last night a shooter entered St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, killing two children of God and injuring a third.
Even as I write, I am on the way to the commemoration of the nine who were martyred in 2015 at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The plague of gun violence in the United States affects us all, and now it has affected a congregation in The Episcopal Church.
We join together in prayer with Bishop Glenda Curry, Bishop Brian Prior, the clergy and people of St. Stephen’s, and the whole Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. I want to encourage us as a church to offer special prayers this Sunday for those affected by the shooting at St. Stephen’s—and for all victims of gun violence.
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A Pastoral Word from the Bishop:
The Shooting at St. Stephen’s in Alabama
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"We are all distressed and deeply saddened by the shooting at St Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama which took three precious lives and wounded another. When you heard this I’m sure, like me, you stopped what you were doing and offered fervent prayers to the Living God. We can only imagine the anguish these families and St. Stephen’s is feeling. As St. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians, if one member of the body suffers, we all suffer together (1 Corinthians 12:26).
But these prayers that arise from our souls are offered in a context. Unlike political leaders that offer “thoughts and prayers” and then do nothing about gun violence, the Episcopal Church is committed to stopping the carnage. We are committed to keep on praying and we are committed to action. And we have been for a long time."
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"Swords to Plowshares" coming to
Springfield June 25th
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June 25, 10am
Springfield, MA
Transforming Guns into Garden Tools
A demonstration and hands-on participation at forge and anvil creating gardening tools and jewelry from guns voluntarily turned in.
Saturday June 25, 10am-2pm
Gardner Memorial AME Zion Church
368 Bay St,
Springfield, MA
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Episcopal Church part of successful shareholder vote pressing Ruger to study its guns’ lethality |
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Education for Ministry (EFM) is a program to develop reflective practitioners of Jesus Christ. EfM offers the faithful and the curious an opportunity to encounter the breadth and depth of the Christian tradition and bring it into conversation with their experiences in the world. Seminar participants study, worship and engage in theological reflection together in a weekly seminar format over 36 weeks.
EfM Seminars are facilitated by mentors who are trained in the process of leading the seminar and facilitating theological reflections. Karen Byers (Diocese of Western Massachusetts) and Steve Isham (Diocese of Vermont) co-mentor this seminar on Zoom. Both are experienced mentors and are trainers in the program. If you are interested, please email them: kdbyers@comcast.net or stevenisham@charter.net.
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Trinity, Lenox hosts monthly service for
Victims of Gun Violence
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From The Episcopal Church |
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Rethinking Silence: A Tool for the Body, the Mind, and Sustaining Recovery |
June 30, 12pm ET
Online
Hosted by The Center of Addiction & Faith. "We live in a world of noise and constant movement, but nearly all the world’s religions and wisdom traditions teach about the value and importance of silence. Join Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz, authors of “Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise,” as they invite us to rethink our definition of silence – not just the absence of noise, but as a presence that can bring us energy, clarity and deeper connection. You’ll learn more about the science of why silence is essential for our bodies and minds, and practical approaches to cultivating silence in your life. We will discuss how silence can be key to promoting and sustaining recovery in all its forms."
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Registration open for next sessions of Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency course |
August 13-20
Sewanee, TN
At the end of the course, participants should be able to:
- Describe the socio-demographic, cultural, and religious characteristics of Latinos/as in the United States, including generational distinctions.
- Discuss the religious history of Latinos/as and theological issues related to Latino/Hispanic ministry.
- Recognize the worshiping needs of dual-language congregations and prepare for multicultural liturgical celebrations.
- Demonstrate familiarity with the general aspects of ministries aimed at immigrant and first-generation Latinos/as, as well as ministries focused on the more acculturated and English-language-speaking Latinos/as of the second and third generation.
- Articulate the complex issues related to Latino immigration, including its political, socio-demographic, and pastoral implications.
Registration deadline is July 15.
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Ministerio Hispano
Latino Ministries
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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
La Catedral:
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 for WhatsApp
La Catedral:
- Estudio Bíblico (En persona) Miércoles 6:00pm
- Sabatina (Segundo, tercer y cuarto sábado del mes) de 10am a 12pm
St. Paul's, Holyoke:
- Saturday, Holy Eucharist, The Rev. Joel Martinez, @ 6pm
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