North Central Region
Monthly Newsletter
|
|
A Prayer For Our Work Together: |
|
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 11 Collect, BCP online)
|
|
Greetings companions in Christ,
I hope this newsletter finds you well! I spent two Sundays last month with congregations in the NC Region - Trinity, Tariffville and St. Monica's, Hartford; it was a joy and a delight to meet the folks who worship in these two communities, to make new friends and connections, and to hear the stories of how they came to be where they are. One of the joys of being a Region Missionary is listening and carrying your stories.
Speaking of stories, I would love to feature a parish or two in each Newsletter. This month we will learn about a purse ministry at Trinity in Wethersfield. Would you like to share a story of your parish with the Region? You can email me at mbreen@episcopalct.org and I will get it in the Newsletter!
Also, be on the look out for special announcements about upcoming events and save-the-dates. In particular, the NC Region Leadership Team will be looking for new members (particularly from those parishes that have not be represented on the team before) and this year the NC Region needs to select their two (one lay and more ordained) Mission Council members. More on that in a separate email! I think we are gearing up for a very busy Fall. I'm here as a resource to you, so please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
photo by Maggie Breen
|
|
Announcement: If you need any assistance with making sure that your parish is in compliance with Safe Church Model Policies, please reach out to me - I'm always available to help with anything that you need!
|
|
Happenings Around the Region: |
|
 |
17 July, 10 AM - Virtual Concert:
Wings: A Global Flight- Video Premiere & Community Discussion featuring 8 social music programs from around the globe; Permanent programs that build community through music education operate in tough circumstances all around the world. From the Music Moves Hartford Street Choir in the soup kitchens of Connecticut to the Light Orchestra on the streets of Mosul, Iraq, music is making meaningful change in lives around the world. Take a global flight with us as we visit eight social music programs in eight countries. Meet these change makers and witness the premiere of Wings, a collaborative music video that these eight groups have created together. Wings is co-directed by Ameen Mokdad (music director and founder of Mosul’s Light Orchestra) and Kevin Bishop (music director and co-founder of the Music Moves Hartford Street Choir in Hartford).
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this event will be streamed in high quality from the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. Upon reserving your ticket you will receive a link by email that will take you to our digital concert hall.
|
|
|
|
Movements in Faith - New Date
Movements in Faith was developed last year but had to go on hiatus because of COVID-19. Movements is a worshipful time intended to serve people with special needs and their families, playing simple but fun and worshipful music, playing a game to open, hearing a reading from scripture, and all can join in with special instruments that anyone can use! All are welcome and invited, no matter where you are on your spiritual journey, no matter your need, no matter your tradition. We will have our service outside on the front lawn of St. James Parish, 3 Mountain Road, in Farmington, CT, on the 4th Sunday of every month at 2pm. Many families with a member who has special needs have felt unwelcome in church settings in the past. Again, all are welcome. Bring your own lawn chairs, if you would like but chairs will be available for all.
|
|
|
|
Faith & the City
We launched a new Cathedral initiative called Faith & the City. This will be a series of monthly virtual conversations, hosted by Dean Howell, exploring our Faith in the Public Square. Check out episode # 1 commemorating Memorial Day with the Rt. Rev. Carl Walter Wright, Bishop Suffragan for the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries and the Rev. James Cooke, Chaplain at the VA Connecticut Health Care System.
|
|
|
Saturday, JULY 10th, 2020 from 11AM – 1PM Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Network Quarterly Gathering
Please join us for a time of prayer and sharing about how we're working together in our fight against systemic racism, white supremacy, and anti-Black bias. Click HERE to register.
|
|
|
LOOKING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE RESOURCES?
• Every week new resources are being shared in the ECCT Weekly eNewsletter
• JOIN the Racial Healing Justice and Reconciliation Ministry Network Here.
• To receive valuable resources from RHJR in your inbox, send an email to ecctrhjr@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
In case you couldn't attend our 15 June Cherish & Celebrate on the Connecticut River Evening Prayer service, below is the recording! |
|
Have you met ALICE from the United Way? ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed and gathers data across CT of people and families that earn above what is considered povetry level but are considered low-income workers. It's a comprehensive report and I would encourage you to take a look at the 2020 report; it can help us understand the stories of our communities better.
|
|
ECCT Reparations Task Force
Did you know? The United Nations “describes five formal categories of reparations: restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition.” You can find their full definition here. These formal categories have guided numerous nations in addressing past crimes against humanity. The United Nations has weighed in on the United States’ need to address chattel slavery and its aftermath for its Black citizens. Read more at United Nations News.
Which of the Five Formal Categories of Reparations feels most accessible? Answer Here.
|
|
Meet Your NC Region Leadership Team: Katy Forline, Jonathan Lynch, & Deacon CJ Puskarz |
|
Katy Wakeman Forline has been with the NCRL for a few years now. She grew up in Durham and later came back to raise her 2 children with the support of that beloved community, including The Church of the Epiphany. Katy internalized early on a belief in total common ministry and the wisdom of allowing for the Holy Spirit to empower the baptized with leadership. During the many years that Epiphany was part of the Middlesex Area Cluster Ministry she saw first hand how small parishes can do remarkable things with the gifts and talents of their local members and how sharing ideas, energy and resources between parishes can help support and build on the movements of the Holy Spirit among us through our ministries. This idea of connecting networks of ministries and providing support is what the region teams are all about. Katy has served as Senior Warden, Convention Delegate, Sunday School Coordinator, Vestry Member, Discernment Chair, Search Committee Chair, Cluster Representative, and Cluster Ministry Team Representative over the years. She is a graduate of Education for Ministry and DOCC programs. She has been a Licensed Massage Therapist for over 30 years, is a life long dancer and movement educator and currently passionate about bringing body centered awareness and the joy and release of moving into ministry and social justice work. |
|
Home Town: Hartland, CT since 1981
Church Affiliation: St. Alban’s Church Simsbury
Positions held: Senior Warden, Vestry, LEM
Occupation: Retired after 45 years with Pratt & Whitney
Last assignment: Writing Jet Engine Proposals and providing financial analysis of the proposals.
Ministries:
Making daily deliveries of bread, pastries, fruit, and vegetables to homeless shelters in Hartford.
Serving meals at Church Street Eats once a month.
|
|
Hi! I am Deacon CJ Puskarz. I was ordained a deacon on 12/13/03. I am currently serving at Grace Newington. I have been on this wonderful team for one year.
Before I retired from the secular world, I spent many years helping those in need through the Social Security Administration.
I am also a current member of the Newington Interfaith Clergy Association. I enjoy encouraging others in the parish to use their God given gifts and talents especially when it comes to helping others in our community or the world. I have been a part of the Cursillo community since Coed Weekend #2.
|
|
The North Central Region Leadership Team Wants YOU
Are you curious about what is happening around the NC 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 NC Region Leadership Team is hosting an OPEN MEETING on 11 August at 6pm and you are invited to join us. See how a meeting is run, meet some of the team, and ask some questions.
A little background information: The NC 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 28 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 2nd Wednesday of the month, for 90 minutes via zoom. If you would like more information, please contact Maggie at mbreen@episcopalct.org
|
|
Opportunities to Learn & Grow: |
|
Region Entrepreneurial Fund:
Please join with folks from across ECCT to learn about the new Region Entrepreneurial Fund and how you can apply for grants to get projects going!
The time is now here. Generously resourced from the individual donors and eight parishes of the 2019-2020 Joining Jesus initiative comes the much anticipated launch of the Region Entrepreneurial Fund. Mark your calendars and join us to learn more about this exciting opportunity coming next month to ECCT. Questions? Contact the Rev. Canon for Mission Collaboration Tim Hodapp.
|
|
Region Resource Reminders: |
|
|
-
AVAILABLE NOW: Many thanks to Melien Lavoie of the NC Region Leadership Team, who created THIS LOVELY GOOGLE DOCUMENT to capture all the great things that are happening across the NC Region. Please complete it if you have an event you want to share.
-
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.
|
|
|
|
A Story from the NC Region: Trinity, Wethersfield |
|
Several years ago my mother sent me an email asking, “Do you have an extra purse you don’t need or use? Fill it with toiletries, food and personal items and give it to a homeless woman.” I presented this at church where everyone was enthusiastic about the project. People started donating purses and things to fill them with.
The Purse Ministry was created to help homeless women (and men) moving out of a shelter into their own apartment. It is my understanding that agencies provide people who are leaving with a laundry basket filled with cleaning items. Filled purses include items such as Bumble Bee ready-to-eat food with silverware, jerky, snacks, and juices. Larger purses are filled for a parent who has a child. Those items may be a coloring book and crayons, storybooks, a small puzzle and toys, and notepads and pens. My mother reminded me to put a penny in each purse for good luck!
To date, filled purses have been distributed to South Park Inn, YWCA, Niantic Women’s Prison, Prudence Crandall, St. Vincent DePaul, and Salvation Army. My hope is to revisit these same agencies as they empower women to be self sufficient. And to pursue other agencies who we might be able to help, such as ImmaCare in Hartford.
Now that things have opened up after COVID, most of the food and some toiletries had to be trashed. I am confident that purses will still be filled and distributed once again.
Sue Krupenevich-Rafala
Trinity Parish, Wethersfield
|
|
|
ECCT Resource for COVID-19 are continually being updated, including:
• Messages from our Bishops • Financial Resources • Self-Care Resources • Digital Communications Resources • Worship Opportunities • And More...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Racial Justice Audit of Episcopal Leadership Report Released
[From Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Church publicly released a report on April 19 that assesses the racial makeup and perceptions of a broad sampling of the church’s leadership and summarizes how race influences internal church culture. The release of the 72-page report, nearly three years in the making, also sheds light on nine dominant patterns of racism that were identified during interviews with dozens of church leaders. Read the full article.
|
|
|
Communications for the North Central Region |
|
|
|
* 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.
* Like and follow the NC Region Facebook Page. This is where the Leadership Team will post news of upcoming Region events, gatherings, conversations, resources, etc.
|
|
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Get in touch with your NC Region Leadership Team here or email Maggie Breen, NE Region Missionary & NC Region helper at mbreen@episcopalct.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
