AUGUST CLERGY ENEWSLETTER
AUGUST 23, 2018
Ordinary Time
by: Shariya Molegoda
In recent years I’ve discovered a special love for this long season we call Ordinary Time. The altered pace in our schedules invites us (or at least me) to engage in intentional recreation and to be more readily available for God’s re-creative action. It becomes something of an extended sabbath during which I hear an invitation to re-visit priorities and to re-order affections. It permits a prayerful re-calibration of my moral compass.

And, to do this, I find it particularly helpful to spend a part of Ordinary Time in places, and among people, I have loved since my beginning. To that end, I make what I have grown to regard as an annual pilgrimage to parts of Sri Lanka that constitute the context of my earliest formation.

A few years ago, during a sabbatical, I was able to do this rather more expansively – traveling widely and leisurely so that I could linger in the chapel of the tropical outdoors, pray and play by the sea, and retrace the steps of my ancestors. But in most years, my journey is more circumscribed. Time with family, and worship at St. Michael and All Angels - where I was baptized as an infant - are essentials, while other activities occur in arbitrary rotation: excursions with friends whom I’ve known since kindergarten; visits with the Sisters of St. Margaret in Colombo; tours of sites where ancient Nestorian and Mar Thoma Christians left their mark; and prayer in the chapel of the school I attended from nursery through grade 12.

Paradoxically, this immersion in the familial and the familiar equips me with the ability to venture into new terrain. It aids me in my navigation of settings where I am inevitably an outlier – whether I am an outlier because I function in a social environment where I am visibly "other," or because of my propensity for a somewhat solitary lifestyle. 

Re-connecting with early influences roots me deeply and rekindles a keen appreciation for the loveliness of the variety authored by God. It fosters daring – so that I can attempt (to use the language of W. H. Auden’s Christmas Oratorio) to “Follow Him through the Land of Unlikeness” and lean into the promise that such following will bestow opportunities to “see rare beasts and have unique adventures.” 

One of the deepest delights of such annual immersion is being surrounded by the cadence of speech and prayer which beckons me to re-tune my own voice and heart. Such an exercise lets me claim my own authentic particularity, engage in a robust celebration of it, and then nudges me to transcend it as occasions and encounters so invite. It calls me to develop a keen ear receptive to a variety of "patois" while continuing to rejoice in a peculiar and particular island lilt.

During Ordinary Time I find myself praying for myself, and those around me, that we will avail ourselves of the plenteous opportunities a life in Jesus Christ provides to be open to the Spirit and to have the courage to become malleable once more to the caressing and re-creating touch of God. 
Shariya Molegoda serves as Rector at St. Andrews in Madison. She was born and raised in Sri Lanka. She is an ecologist by training and inclination. She was ordained a priest in 1997. And as you might gather if you read the musings above, she has no small tendency to ramble!
Transitional Ministries Conference, September 24 - 27

The  Transition Ministries Conference is a regional meeting of diocesan transition ministers from about 40 dioceses, mostly in the northeastern quadrant of the US (from Missouri east and North Carolina north), specifically to share information about congregations that are searching for clergy and clergy who are looking for new congregations. The conference occurs twice a year, and the next meeting is September 24 - 27. If you are exploring another call, or are in the early stages of the discernment process, this is an excellent opportunity.

The first step is to fill out the TMC Confidential Information form  here . Please also take the time to update your OTM Portfolio, which can be done online. The deadline for submitting your material is Monday, September 17 .

Knowing that the decision to explore new ministry possibilities is a sensitive one, please rest assured that the names shared at the TMC are kept in strictest confidence; only the Rev. Lee Ann Tolzmann, Canon for Mission Leadership, will know who has asked to be presented. There is a high trust level between TMC transitions ministers, and all honor the delicate nature of this sort of discernment.

The Transition Ministries Conference also maintains a website listing of congregations in search of new leadership at  here . This is in addition to the information you can find at  www.otmportfolio.org . 

Please contact Lee Ann Tolzmann with any questions about the TMC or the process.
Get your Tickets Now for Clergy Retreat, October 9 - 11

Why wait? Purchase your tickets for the 2018 Clergy Retreat now and check one thing off your to-do list.

The theme for this year's Clergy Retreat is Once Upon a Time. It is an invitation into that tender space of telling personal stories, of listening to one another, and of looking at personal faith through the lens of scripture in order to hear new insight and reclaim our foundation.With author and clergywoman the Rev. Rachel G. Hackenberg, all will reflect on God's story within their personal stories, in five sessions: Story as Truth; Story as Location; Story as Metaphor; Story as Prophecy; Story as Re-Creation.

More information and tickets can be found here . And while you're at it, why not nudge one of your colleagues to sign up now too! Because productivity is nice.
Bishop's Book Study & Discussion, September 18 at Camp Washington:

Join Bishop Laura Ahrens to discuss Waking Up White by Debbie Irving , Chapters 1 - 5. Discussion begins at 11:00 a.m. and is open to everyone, no cost to attend, however a $10 donation is encouraged to cover the cost of lunch. Please register at campwashington.org or call 890-567-9623.
Faithful Futures - Stewardship, September 6

Registration now open for Faithful Futures:“Successful Annual Stewardship Appeals” on September 6. There is remarkable disparity in the contribution patterns among ECCT parishes, even among parishes serving communities with similar income and demographic profiles. These differences exist on many dimensions including:
  • The percentage of parishioners who make pledges of annual support
  • The average amounts pledged
  • The percentage of the amounts pledged that are actually contributed
  • The total contributions made by all pledging and non-pledging parishioners

Canon Louis Fuertes, armed with a cornucopia of information from freshly harvested Parochial Reports, will share information that can give you context about how your parish compares to others and the factors that statistically explain the variation in contribution levels across ECCT parishes.

The bulk of the meeting will be devoted to panel discussions led by representatives of a variety of ECCT parishes that have had successful stewardship results. ‘Tis the season to plan for annual giving appeals, and just about every ECCT parish is now or soon will be planning its approach. Register today , please, no more than three participants attend from a single parish.

Save the date: the next Faithful Futures meeting will be October 4, focused on Budget Planning.
Click the image above to see the three events on the ECCT calendar to find out more information.
Convention Corner!
Call to Convention
The Rev. Adam Yates, Secretary of Convention, mailed out a paper and electronic version of this year's Call to Convention . It includes information regarding changes to this year's convention, resolution guidelines, how to submit a question to convention, and more.

Annual Convention: Something New
 Something new is coming to Annual Convention this year, and we want you to be a part of it! Learn about why we’re making these changes in this first video in a series .
Register for Convention
Registration is now open for the 2018 Annual Convention , on October 26 & 27 at the Mystic Marriott in Groton, CT!

Annual Convention Banquet: Trivia Night
It's a battle of wits and useless knowledge at Convention on Friday night! Over dinner, compete with your team for unique prizes by answering trivia questions from church history to popular culture--from the arcane to the downright silly. Get together your friends from around the church and register today .
Clergy Events
Upcoming :
  • August: time to wrap up vacation plans and hit that snooze button one more time.
  • September 3: THE COMMONS IS CLOSED
  • September 6: Faithful Futures: Stewardship
  • September 8: Leadership Gathering
  • September 14 - 16: Deacon Formation Retreat, Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford
  • September 15: South Central Region Convocation
  • September 15: Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Curtis Farr, St. Paul's, Fairfield
  • September 18: Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Deborah Meister, St. Luke's, Glastonbury
  • September 23: St. John's, Bridgeport's 270th Anniversary
  • September 27: Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Sandra Cosman, St. John's, Pine Meadow

Save the Date:
  • October 9: Fall Clergy Retreat, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, West Hartford
  • October 16: Northwest & Southwest Region Clericus Gathering
  • October 26-27: Annual Convention, Mystic
  • November 27: North Central & South Central Region Clericus Gathering
  • January 22: Northeast & Southeast Region Clericus Gathering
Clergy in Transition
Please help spread the word about the following:

  • St. David’s, Gales Ferry continues to seek a full-time rector.
  • Christ Church, Stratford has re-opened their process, and is now accepting applications for a ¾ time rector.

Clergy in Transition 

The Rev. David Sellery has accepted a call as Canon for Congregational Mission for the Diocese of North Carolina, beginning October 1. David’s ministry as Provisional Priest in Charge at St. John’s in Salisbury will end in mid-September.

The Rev. Kim Litsey has accepted two appointments, one as Missional Priest in Charge for Grace Church, Yantic and the other as Provisional Priest in Charge for St. James’ Church, Poquetanuck, beginning September 10. Kim will be leaving her current position as Missional Priest in Charge at St. Paul’s and St. James’ in New Haven.

Parishes in Transition

Calvary Church, Stonington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Ajung Sojwal
Christ Church, East Norwalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Christ Church, Greenwich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interviewing
Christ Church, Middle Haddam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking CPIC
Christ Church, Redding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Alon White
Christ Church, Sharon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Christ Church, Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Receiving Names ¾ time rector
Christ Church, Tashua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Epiphany, Durham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Good Shepherd, Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transition Team at work
Good Shepherd, Orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Grace Church, Newington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Grace Church, Stafford Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
Holy Advent, Clinton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Negotiating
Holy Spirit, West Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking CPIC
Holy Trinity, Enfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking half-time PPIC
Holy Trinity, Middletown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In process
Middlesex Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim PIC in place: Jim Bradley
St. Andrew’s Stamford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. David’s, Gale’s Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Receiving Names FT Rector
St. Gabriel’s, East Berlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. James’ Danbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking Interim PIC
St. John’s, New Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. John’s, Salisbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
St. John’s, Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
St. Luke’s New Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking PT PIC
St. Martin’s, Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
St. Paul’s, Bantam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In process
St. Paul’s and St. James’, New Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
St. Peter’s/Trinity, Thomaston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pending
Trinity Church, Milton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In process
Trinity Church, Wethersfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seeking MPIC
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