|
|
NORTHEAST REGION MISSIVE
July 2021
|
|
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)
|
|
Announcement: If you haven't picked up Holy Oils yet, or are in need of them, please reach out and you will be connected with the office of St. John's, Vernon, to make arrangements to pick up your Holy Oils.
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!
|
|
Region Missionary Musings: |
|
Hello dear siblings in Christ,
I've been thinking about the passage of time lately, and the way that our society has created tools to make things go faster, work harder, or be more efficient. It makes me wonder if we, as people, spend all our time trying to make things faster are we missing valuable life lessons, friendship, and opportunities while we give away our time in the pursuit of efficiency?
For some of us COVID lockdown provided a new way to think about time, a new way to interact with the hours of our day when our routine has been uprooted. Some of us found that we had "all the time in the world" to engage in projects that we've been putting off, while others of us felt even more compressed by adding Zoom everything on top of our already busy schedules.
For a little while now I've been experiencing a pocket of time which is moving very slowly and quietly. I think this is more of an attitude shift than a change in responsibilities. I *feel* like there is time to watch the hummingbirds at the feeder, time to pull out a neglected knitting project, and time to try and capture birds with my watercolours. My to-do list is quieter (still just as many tasks, of course, but they only whisper at me instead of shouting), and my spirit is calmer.
This is one of the dreams I think God has for us. That we find these pockets of time where we can soak up the beauty of Creation and remember that our souls need these little respites. Our responsibilities and tasks will still be there, I don't imagine that God is asking me to ignore my obligations! And yet, every day I am presented with a moment or two to step back and open my heart in a new way. I would encourage you to find pockets of Sabbath rest each and every day. Give your spirit a chance to be soothed by Creation. You may find that you feel recharged afterward.
Photo by Maggie Breen
|
|
STAY CONNECTED WITH NE REGION |
|
|
You can reach Maggie Breen, NE Region Missionary, the following ways:
PHONE: 203-639-3501 x154
|
|
Meet Your NE RLT Team: Donovan Reinwald, Bob Bagioni, and Rev. Peter Bushnell |
|
Hi, everyone! I'm Donovan Reinwald. I grew up in Alabama, but have lived in Connecticut for the past six years. I enjoy the cooler summers, and still think snow is fun (give me six more years and I'll probably be on the same page as everyone else). I really enjoy living in Northeast Connecticut, especially this past year - I am grateful we live in such a beautiful state, with so much to do outdoors! I have been a member of St. Paul's Windham for five years. Outside of church, I am a Reference and Instruction Librarian at Middlesex Community College in Middletown. |
|
Robert (Bob) Bagioni is a member of St Georges in Bolton. He is retired after 46 years of teaching chemistry on both the high school and college level. Bob has attended St Georges for the past 10 years after 30 + years at Grace in Newington. Bob is a member of the Vestry and is the chair of the safety committee. He also serves on the building and grounds committee, and is the coordinator of the Mobile Foodshare ministry. Bob is also a lay worship leader and a Eucharistic minister. He is completing his third year as a member of the leadership team. |
|
The Rev. Peter Bushnell
Episcopal Priest since 1975
Missional Priest in Charge at Grace Church, Stafford Springs since June 2019
Board President, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS), 2000 – 2019
Board Chair, Enfield People for People (Enfield Safe Harbor Warming Center) 2016 –
Love to travel with our RV camper
|
|
Upcoming NE Region Events: |
|
Contact Maggie if you want/need the zoom links!
|
|
ECCT Offerings & Opporutnities: |
|
Safe Church Training Information available HERE
ECCT COVID-19 Resources HERE
More detailed calendar information HERE
|
|
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.
|
|
Becoming Disciples & Apostles: |
|
|
|
Region Confirmaton: 11 September |
If you have confirmands in your congregations, please let Maggie know! ECCT is planning for a NE Region Confirmation on 11 September, 2021, at St. James', Glastonbury.
|
|
We Are Communities of Theological Imagination: |
|
New Initiative from Our Cathedral, "Faith & the City"
A monthly series of virtual conversations exploring our Faith in the Public Square.
We are called to live fully into our baptismal covenant, embracing and sharing our faith in the context in which God has placed us. Our Cathedral is located at the heart of the city, in Hartford, Conn., with a mandate to be a catalyst and a connector in God’s mission. Led by Dean Lina Howell, the conversations will explore the work of some of our ministry partners as well as address larger pictures topics that will enrich us beyond our wildest imagination.
As we commemorate Memorial Day, it so fitting to start the series with a conversation with two wonderful servants of God who will share about their Faith in the context in which they are called, 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. Watch online.
|
|
Spiritual Practice of the Month: Trying On |
|
When a parish decides to try something on, that means they are committing for a period of time to experiment. It could be something like having only one service during the Summer months, or (as we have all been doing late) it could be hosting zoom coffee hours or Facebook live worship during the pandemic. Sometimes there are particular outcomes that parishes want to see, and sometimes we enter into a try-on with an openness to see what we can see. Below are two parishes trying-on a diaper ministry for their communities!
St. Mary's, Manchester is joining with a local organization for:
Gentle Love Diaper Pantry Outreach
Gentle Love Diaper Panty is a youth-led nonprofit organization that was started in June of 2020 by a group of Manchester High School students to address a wrongfully overlooked injustice- unequal access to diapers. The mission of Gentle Love Diaper Pantry is to showcase the heart of the community by connecting families who face economic barriers with diapers.
To read more about the pantry's great work CLICK HERE
St. Mark's, Storrs has created their own:
Diaper Need is Real! Join the Diaper Derby!
Size 5 &6 diapers and pull up are needed!
One in three American families has difficulty meeting their monthly diaper needs. We are beginning a diaper ministry to help meet this need. We are looking for donations of any size and quantity of infant and toddler diapers and baby wipes. Donations can be dropped off in the bin by the back door of the church. In addition, monetary donations will be welcome via check to the church (with Diaper Ministry in the memo line) or online using the MyWell site Special Donation option (specifying Diaper Ministry). And thanks!
|
|
ECCT has been promoting 5 Spiritual Practices. They are:
Listening
Discerning
Trying On
Reflecting
Deciding
Each month, the NE Region Missive will feature one practice and provide a way for you to incorporate that into your Christian practices.
|
|
Supported by Word & Sacrament: |
|
While we are still being careful because of COVID-19, consider this an opportunity to explore other worshiping communities across ECCT! You can access a list of available online services HERE.
|
|
Featured Parish: St. Peter's, South Windsor
The community of St. Peter's, South Windsor, has been holding in-person outdoor services and virtual services. They have created a covenant of behavior and have been updating their website regularly! I would encourage you to check it out HERE.
|
|
Connected to the Wider Body of Christ: |
|
In Case You Missed It:
In case you were unable to join us at the last Faithful Futures were we talked about hybrid church, I would encourage you to watch it HERE. There is a lot of really good information!
|
|
Unlocking Grace & Hope: A Weekend of Episcopal Evangelism
September 24-26, 2021 at St. Mary's in the Mountains
As we emerge from the global pandemic, how will we offer God’s grace and hope to our neighbors? How will we extend the Gospels’ invitation to “come and see?” Join us for a weekend of inspiration as we bring together some of the Episcopal Church’s most innovative and inspiring leaders in evangelism, including ECCT's own Marcus Halley, Paul Carling, and Matt Lindemann. Come celebrate how we can extend God’s grace and hope through music. Learn more and register.
|
|
Calling All Crafters!
St. George's, Bolton WANTS YOU!
St. George’s Episcopal Church is inviting crafters to rent a booth at the church’s 45th Annual Craft and Harvest Fair. The event will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the church lawn at 1150 Boston Turnpike, Route 44, Bolton, CT. Registration deadline is September 1. For further information, please email bkalina333@gmail.com or call 860.643.9203.
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
In case you couldn't attend our 15 June Cherish & Celebrate on the Connecticut River Evening Prayer service, below is the recording! |
|
Ministry Network Corner: Events/Opportunities |
|
 |
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Many, many thanks to Mr. Peter Harting of Grace, Stafford Springs, for gathering and creating a list of Food Resources in the NE Region. Check it out here!
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
