Weekly Check-In 05/29/2020
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North Central Region
Weekly Check-In
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Letter from your Region Missionary
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This week I took a long walk in the middle of the day. My walk began with a phone call, and then a podcast, and then deep silence. As I walked on, I began to acknowledge that I was in a neighborhood that I did not know, and did not know me; yet, people either paid no mind to my presence, or smiled and waved me on. This is white privilege, I thought. I walked on further and I thought of Ahmaud Arbery a black man who was out for a jog when two white men shot and killed him. I breathed in the summer-like air, and I thought of George Floyd another black man crying out that he could not breathe. I looked at the birds, the bright red cardinals were putting on a show, and I thought of Christian Cooper, a black man who was out enjoying the birds in NYC Central Park when a white woman feigned distress, putting him in real danger. I walked on, and I thought about Covid-19 and the ways we know that people of color are suffering the effects of this virus at higher rates than white people. The disparities are not new, but they are being revealed in new ways. I walked on, and I thought about how broken our systems are and how destructive the sin of white supremacy and racism is. This is not what God wants for God’s people. I walked on and my footsteps became a litany and a prayer for justice.
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The Rev. Erin Flinn
NC Region Missionary
Mobile: 860-966-3742
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This week, I ask you to join me in prayer to ask God how each of us might engage in the work of racial healing, justice and reconciliation. Then I invite you to reach out and connect with resources to make that work possible. Don't know where to start?
Start here
. More resources are below.
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A statement from the Bishops of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut
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“We must not let the realities of COVID-19 distract us from speaking out against, and working to dismantle, the forces of racism and white supremacy that continue to infect our lives and our nation. It is that very inaction and silence that feed into the legacy of white supremacy. Silence is complicity and we must not participate in the forces of evil that divide us.”
Read the full statement here.
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Racial Healing, Justice & Reconciliation
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Racial Healing, Justice & Reconciliation Resources: If you are looking for resources to engage in this necessary work of confronting and dismantling racism, check out the
RHJ&R webpage.
These educational resources were curated in order to recognize the reality of white supremacy and bias against people of color and awaken Episcopalians in Connecticut to the need for concerted action to address the ongoing injustice of the racial divide.
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June 5-7 is National Wear Orange Weekend.
WEAR ORANGE is a gun violence prevention movement of Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, that honors and remembers the victims and survivors of gun violence. WEAR ORANGE is also supported by
Bishop's United Against Gun Violence. For more info on what it means to wear orange
click here. Looking to incorporate wear orange in Sunday worship?
Here are some ideas.
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Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) offers great resources for understanding the 2020 Census and why it matters to us as Christians and what we can do to ensure an accurate count. The Episcopal Church is an official partner of the U.S. Census. The Church’s goal is to use our presence in thousands of communities to help ensure that everyone is counted.
For EPPN Census resources & and a video from Bishop Curry click here.
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GHIAA - Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance. In October 2019, 1500+ people from 35 multi-faith congregations and allied institutions gathered to launch the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance
to build a diverse organization of lay leaders and clergy from across bounds of race, class, gender identity, religion and geography to build relational power to address social justice issues in local communities and beyond. GHIAA's current action campaigns are in the areas of Education; Gun Violence; Healthcare; Housing; and Criminal Justice Reform. For more info visit
http://cljct.org/ghiaa
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North Central Region Resources
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OPEN MEETING, JUNE 3 @ 6-8 PM
We
connect as a group and
convene monthly to explore
catalyst opportunities to help
build capability within our Region.
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REUNION ABIERTA, 3 de JUNIO, de 6-8PM Somos un grupo
unido que se
reúne todos
los meses para explorar oportunidades
catalizadoras para ayudarnos a
crear y desarrollar connexiones dentro de nuestra región.
Por favor regístrese para asistir a la reunión de Zoom
bit.ly/OpenMeetNCRT
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Engaging in Community Assistance
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Fill the Truck with non-perishable food items on 6/6 and 6/7 @ Trinity, Tariffville. People in our community have lost their jobs and sources of income and are in need of food. Many are just barely above the threshold for qualifying for assistance, and because of this - they fall through the cracks. We can fill those cracks and help meet the needs of our neighbors!
Our donations will be given to the Simsbury Food Pantry for distribution. Social distancing and safe practices will be followed during the collection. Suggested food needs include: snacks for kids, pasta, pasta sauce, canned meats, canned meals (soups, stews, ravioli, etc), macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, etc.
More info here
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Toilet Paper & Paper Towel Collection, Thursdays in June. Every June, St. James's in West Hartford, collects toilet paper and paper towels. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, toilet paper and paper towels have become valuable items, and agencies are especially in need. Your contribution of rolls of toilet paper and paper towels will be distributed to
individuals who come to the soup kitch
ens, food pantries, and to Hartford area shelters. We will collect items Every Thursday through the end of June between 10am-12pm. Please place you donations at the CLOISTER ENTRANCE to the church.
More info here.
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Trinity College Office of Spiritual & Religious Life is collaborating to provide meals for 20 families, twice a week, for 20 weeks. All meals are professionally prepared by dining staff at Trinity and delivered to families by community volunteers, in partnership with local social services.
Parishes and individuals in our region are invited to sponsor a meal for a family. 1 family meal = $18 (4-5 people)
$180 = 1 family, 1x/week, 10 weeks
$360 = 1 family, 1x/week, 20 weeks
$720 = 1 family, 2x/week, 20 weeks
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Adopt/Furnish an Apartment.
The
Coalition on Housing + Homelessness
is working hard to move families and individuals from temporary shelters and hotels into permanent housing. 35+ units are being prepared in
Middletown,
Meriden and
Wallingford for June. In the past churches have "adopted" a housing unit and gotten it completely ready for a family to move in. If your parish is in the area and you would like to adopt an
apartment, or learn more, reach out to Ann Faust at
ann@growstrongct.org
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For info about moving people from shelters to apartments during a pandemic
click here
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Call to Prayer, June 1
- Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has joined other faith leaders in calling for a national day of mourning and lament on June 1 as the United States exceeds 100,000 documented deaths from COVID-19, and he invites Episcopalians to commemorate the victims during worship services this weekend.
To hear Bishop Curry's address, click here.
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Open EfM Meeting, Monday nights 6/1 and 6/15 @ 6 PM:
The Education for Ministry group at Church of the Epiphany, Durham has openings for the September 2020 class. We invite anyone who is interested or curious about EfM to attend one of our Zoom sessions . People should call or email Victor Friedrich, our Zoombie, for the meeting ID and password, at 347-366-5048 or
victor.friedrich@mac.com.
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CORRECTION:
Ministry with People who lack Housing & Food Security
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Monday, June 1
at 7 PM
join Deacon Bonnie Matthews and leaders from around the NC Region to share and discuss Food Pantry Ministries, Soup Kitchens, Feeding Programs and Sheltering needs in our area. For Zoom info - email Bonnie at
bmatthews228@comcast.net.
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Wardens Zoom Gathering - Tues.
June 2
at 5:30 PM. Church wardens are being faced with even more challenges during the pandemic and the ongoing phases of future opening. How is God calling us to be leaders to our parishes? How are we responding to the ECCT and Center for Disease Control requirements? Let us gather as wardens to discuss and support each other in these times.
More info.
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Good News Garden Movement. As the realities and repercussions of COVID-19 continue to unfold, one area we know will continue to be affected is our food supply... Our presenters believe that one thing that love could do right now is call a community of people with the ability to plant gardens of all sizes and kinds together – from small pots of herbs to hundreds of acres of corn – in order to share the love of Christ through word and action, food and labor.
More info here.
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Youth & Music Opportunities
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New Each Week
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The Rev. Margie Baker, is making videos for Children’s Chapel. You can find them on
YouTube each Sunday
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Virtual Kids for Christ program for young children, Sundays at 9 AM. For Zoom link and coloring pages email Priscilla Hooper
education@stjameswh.org.
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Our Cathedral's Ensemble-in-Residence, Cuatro Puntos, is hosting
Cross- Atlantic Quarantine Sessions,
Every Monday through June 29 on
Facebook. Or
Register via zoom to interact with the artists.
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Pop-up concerts to benefit local charities
offered by St. John's, West Hartford.
Every Wednesday at Noon. Info at
Music at the Red Door and on
Facebook.
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Region Resource Reminders
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- Looking for a place to try online worship? For an ongoing list of ECCT Parishes hosting livestream services click here
- 2-1-1 is a one-stop connection to the local services folks in your community may need, from utility assistance, food, housing, child care, after school programs, elder care, crisis intervention and much more. For more info click here.
- 3-1-1 It is similar to 2-1-1 but region specific to the city of Hartford. More info here. If you need a ride to get tested for Covid-19 and you live in Hartford, you can call 3-1-1 for a free ride to your testing appt. For ride info in English & Spanish.
- Foodshare - (Serving Hartford & Tolland Counties) visit www.foodshare.org/coronavirus to learn more about locations or to donate. People who are in need of food can text FOODSHARE to 85511 to identify locations where food is being distributed near them.
- CT Food Bank - (Serving Middlesex County and 5 others) visit ctfoodbank.org to learn more about locations or to donate.
- NC Region Clergy are invited to a virtual coffee hour Every Tuesday @ 3 PM. For Zoom info please email me, Erin Flinn, at eflinn@episcopalct.org.
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Christ Church Cathedral Renovations on Coffee Hour at the Commons: In this episode, Jasree chats with Architect Duo Dickinson and the Very Rev. Miguelina Howell, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford about the ongoing renovations to our cathedral. Duo shares the design, challenges, and timelines of the renovation. Dean Howell shares what she hopes for the community in the new space.
Listen to this episode here.
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Faithful Futures: Virtual Worship and Gatherings in the Time of Covid-19, June 4, 6:00 pm Online. As we continue to connect digitally and look towards phasing into dual online and in-person gatherings, join ECCT's Office of Communications and innovative individuals across ECCT for an in-depth panel discussion and follow up Q&A. Have questions? Email them to ecctcommunications@episcopalct.org.
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Digital Communications Office Hours! Thursdays, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Join Canon for Mission Communications and Media Jasree Peralta and Digital Media Coordinator Alli Gannett for online office hours via Zoom. Bring your specific questions regarding all things communications and media. Registration is required, no limit on sessions.
Please register here.
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The ECCT Young Adult Task Force has good news! At our last meeting we decided on one clear and simple course of action: focus our energies on creating a video, to be presented at Convention, that gives voice to the stories, perspectives, and ideas of young adult Episcopalians in Connecticut.
If you are a young adult Episcopalian in CT, we invite you to share your story! Contact Erendira Jimenez
ejimenez@episcopalct.org or John Kennedy
johnmkennedy3@gmail.com.
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ECCT Resource for COVID-19 are continually being updated, including:
- Messages from our Bishops
- Event updates
- Financial Resources
- Self-Care Resources
- Digital Communications Resources
- Worship Opportunities
- And More...
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Communications for the North Central Region
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Join the
NC Region Facebook Group
, a community bulletin board for the region. This is your place to share parish/community events, photos, videos and more.
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Like and follow the
NC Region Facebook Page
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If you want to know what your Region Missionary is up to, follow her
Facebook Page
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