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NORTHEAST REGION MISSIVE
August 2021
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If you would like to have me visit your parish to preach or simply to join in worship, please sign up for a Sunday HERE.
If you would like to schedule a private "office hour" time with me, please sign up HERE.
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Region Missionary Musings: |
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Dear siblings in Christ,
I hope this newsletter finds you with some vacation plans in place and/or basking in the wonderful afterglow of a well deserved vacation! I have recently been reminded that even the apostles took time to rest; they may still be many things on our to-do lists, but please consider this some friendly encouragement to take a rest. The Fall will be a busy time for all of us.
As the calendar moves from July into August, I've been finding myself thinking about how I interact with God. There is church, of course, and it's a joy to be able to visit parishes across ECCT. I also recently found the "Pray as you Go" app, which has daily meditations which are lovely and fairly brief. Most importantly, though, I'm working on reshaping and reimaging daily interactions with God. I've been asking myself what it would look like if my To-Do List looked like: 1. wake up, 2. eat breakfast, 3. follow Jesus. How would my day be different if everything I did was in the spirit of following Jesus. The disciples certainly lived extraordinary lives, having direct relationships with Jesus, but they also had lives full of really ordinary things like going to the market or taking care of a sick relative.
I've been wondering how my attitude towards my daily tasks might change if I can allow myself to imagine that these ordinary things are also the work of following Jesus. I'm going to try-on this practice in August. Perhaps you'd like to try it with me?
Photo by Rachel Thomas, SE Region Missionary
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STAY CONNECTED WITH NE REGION |
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You can reach Maggie Breen, NC & NE Region Missionary, the following ways:
US Mail: The Episcopal Church in Connecticut, The Commons, 290 Pratt Street, Box 52, Meriden, Ct 06450
PHONE: 203-639-3501 x154 (o) 860-214-0085 (c)
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QUICK! Are you interested in a Town Hall meeting about hybrid services for small congregations?
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Meet Your NE RLT Team: Jan Bellinger |
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I am a parishioner at St John's Episcopal Church in Warehouse point. I was baptized there so it is my only Church. I have fond memories of being there as a child. It was a safe and fun place to be. I followed in my parents footsteps of being actively involved. I have had many roles including Church school teacher, choir member, vestry member and Senior warden. I am now on the vestry again.
I live in Enfield, CT with my 11 year old dog Bentley. He is a Maltese mix and very funny.
I enjoy gardening, reading and taking Bentley for walks!
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The Northeast Region Leadership Team Wants YOU
Are you curious about what is happening around the NE Region? Would you like to join a team of people who work together to create opportunities around the Region? Are you a little bit curious about what the Region Leadership Team is? Good News! All this and more can be found out – the NE Region Leadership Team is hosting an OPEN MEETING on 21 September at 7pm (zoom) and you are invited to join us. See how a meeting is run, meet some of the team, and ask some questions. You do not have attend the open meeting to be a part of the RLT.
A little background information: The NE Region Leadership Team was originally started in 2017 when The Episcopal Church in Connecticut formed 6 Regions. Since then, we’ve brought together more than 15 people from across the Region to collaborate, celebrate, plan, and pray together. We listen for what is happening and what could be happening around the Region. We support each other and dwell in sacred stories together. We currently meet monthly, on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, for 90 minutes via zoom. If you would like more information, please contact Maggie at mbreen@episcopalct.org
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Upcoming NE Region Events: |
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Contact Maggie if you want/need the zoom links!
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ECCT Offerings & Opporutnities: |
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Safe Church Training Information available HERE
ECCT COVID-19 Resources HERE
More detailed calendar information HERE
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The following sections of The Commons Companion have been recently updated for accuracy and completeness:
· Stewardship
· Revolving Loan Fund
· Covid-19 Resources
· Safe Church Policies and Resources
· Compensation Components
· Good Standing
Please refer to The Commons Companion for best practices, finance and human resources, clergy compensation, administration, and much more. This is a living document that will be updated periodically to keep information and links as current as possible.
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We Are Communities of Theological Imagination: |
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The Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) is pleased to make available funds to catalyze our Regions’ engagement by joining in God’s mission of restoration and reconciliation in new and exciting ways. These funds — designated for distribution over the next five or six years — are intended for exciting, innovative, new or expanding ministries that engage and energize parishes, Ministry Networks, and community partners within our Regions.
This is a real opportunity for Episcopalians, with our allies and partners, to dream big and imagine together: How might we, within our Region’s communities, join Jesus more deeply in God’s work to change the world?
· WHO: Parishes, Worshipping Communities, Ministry Networks within and across our Regions
· WHAT: The Region Entrepreneurial Fund offers Seed Grants (up to $10k) and Impact Grants (up to $25k)
· WHEN: NOW! APPLICATIONS DUE BY OCTOBER 18, 2021
· WHY: To “try on” our ideas and move them into reality without the overwhelming burden of funding
If you missed our launch Q&R of the Region Entrepreneurial Fund, watch a video recording of the gathering here.
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Supported by Word & Sacrament: |
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Featured Parish: St. George's, Bolton
Betty Caruso, one of the Wardens of St. George's, sent me an email in July stating that they had their first hybrid worship service! They had 15 people attend in person and sent me this picture showing 12 people on zoom! How wonderful!! If you have questions about how St. George's is accomplishing their hybrid services, please contact Betty.
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ECCT Annual Convention News: |
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Tue, Sep 28, 2021 6:00 PM EST
2022 Budget of Convention Finance Review
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Thu, Oct 14, 2021 10:00 AM EST
2022 Budget of Convention Finance Review
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Call to 237th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut
Dear Companions in Christ, You are invited to the 237th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut on Friday, October 22nd and Saturday, October 23rd at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. As of right now, we are planning an in-person convention for delegates, clergy, and visitors with livestreaming available for participants who would like to watch the proceedings. Read the full Call to Convention and click the link below to register!
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Fri, Oct 22, 2021 1:30 PM EST
Annual Convention 2021
Connecticut Convention Center,
Hartford
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Ministry Network Corner: Events/Opportunities |
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Int'l Missions in the Time of COVID: What We Have Learned - 14 September 2021, 7p
Moderated by Rebecca Stearns of St. Paul's, Windham Center!
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The Connecticut Historical Soceity Museum & Library is offering a photographic exhibit called "Freedom Journey 1965: Photographs of the Selma to Montgomery March by Stepen Somerstein" from 1 June through August. More information can be found HERE.
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East Hartford will be having a CT Food Bank/Foodshare Summer Drive-Thru - Every TUESDAY, 8:30a-12p, June - August, at the Old Showcase Cineman on Silver Lane.
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ECCT Reparations Task Force |
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Did you know? July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Month. The campaign was created to bring attention to the unique experiences of underrepresented people as it relates to mental health. Mental Health touches so many aspects of a person’s life, from the ability to experience joy, to have meaningful relationships, to hold a job, and just simply to survive. On May 29, 2020, the CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), released a statement that pointed out the correlation between the constant stress of racism and mental health. This information is taken from Envision2bWell Inc.
Issues of mental health have long been ignored, particularly for BIPOC (Black Indigenous and other People of Color). What are your thoughts about this? Answer here
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