Annual Convention Recap
The 236th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut was an online success; three days participating in World Cafe topics, a full business day, and a worship service. Convention website available here.
For the World Cafe conversations, the groups decided on multiple areas in which to continue the conversation, selected a first meeting time, and a point of contact. A PDF of the full list of continue conversations and try-ons is available online here, or download it here.
World Cafe topic: What can ECCT and its members do to address the issue of wealth inequality?
World Cafe topic: Which of the pandemic changes we have already made will we KEEP and thereby encourage a continuing culture of discovery in parishes?
- Reach New People
- First Meeting: to be determined by Doodle Poll. Contact Rev. Baker for details.
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Contact: The Rev. Margie Baker
- Improving Use and Access to Technology
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First Meeting: November 9, 2020 @ 11:00 am
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Contact: Sheila Traub
- Collaboration
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First Meeting: December 1, 2020 @ 6:30pm
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Contact: Casey Rousseau
- Building Community
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First Meeting: November 12, 2020 @ 6:30pm
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Contact: The Rev. Diana Rogers
World Cafe topic: How can parishes educate themselves about the reality of systemic racism, white supremacy and anti-Black bias, and feel compelled to take action as followers of Jesus?
- Storytelling
- First Meeting: to be determined by Doodle Poll. Contact Rev. Handi for details.
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Contact: The Rev. Matt Handi
- Building Connections Between Communities
- First Meeting: November 14, 2020 @ 10:00 am
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Contact: Dylan Mello
- Practical Action Steps
- First Meeting: December 9, 2020 @6:30pm
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Contact: The Rev. Don Hamer; The Rev. Heidi Thorsen
- Owning Our Sin
- First Meeting: to be determined by Doodle poll. Contact Rev. Montgomery for details.
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Contact: The Rev. Ian Montgomery
Bishop's address, World Cafe reports, Resolutions (all passing, some with amendments - a full list will be published soon), Reports, and Elections.
- Text of Bishop Ian T. Douglas' address text available here (video to come)
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The successful merger of All Saint's Oakville and Christ Church, Watertown to become All Saints With Christ Episcopal Church (Video presentation link here)
- Young Adult Task Force presented a video, available here.
- Elections to:
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Mission Council - Pam Williams, Denise Welsh, the Rev. Amjad John Samuel
- Standing Committee - Gloria Rogers, Letitia Naigles, and the Rev. Thom Furrer
- The slates for Cathedral Chapter, Title IV Disciplinary Board, Camp Washington Board of Directors, and Commission on Ministry & Church Scholarship Society all were approved as well.
Sunday, October 19
Convention Worship service! Over 1,000 people joined in on Sunday morning for a worship service filled with excellent music, a sermon from the Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, prayer from across the regions, a renewal of our baptismal vows, and the act of spiritual communion. Thank you to the Rev. Tuesday Rupp and the Rev. Benjamin Straley, and the whole Convention Worship committee for putting the service together; as well as the various choirs at Christ Church Cathedral for providing excellent music. Watch the service below.
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All Saints Day Special Prayers for ECCT Victims of Covid-19
This All Saints Day, we would like to lift up all who have died in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut due to COVID-19. We invite you to share the names of those from across ECCT, and/or the name of their relatives, who have died due to the virus.
The Cathedral for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and our Cathedral Dean, the Very Rev. Lina Howell, will coordinate this pastoral outreach. Please send the names of those who have died from COVID-19 to our ECCT Cathedral at [email protected]. We will work with Dean Lina and our ECCT Canon for Mission Communications and Media, Jasree Peralta, to offer a video liturgical resource remembering those we love who have died from COVID-19. The video may be used in your parish services on All Saints Day.
Please send the names no later than October 25. Thank you and God bless you.
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Contribute a reflection to the ECCT Blog
How and where have you seen God recently? Where do you find rest or joy in this time of prolonged uncertainty? If you would like to contribute a reflection, poem, short essay, photography, or video to be considered and added to our blog please send an email to [email protected]. For written work, please keep it under 600 words, submitted in a Word Doc, preferred.
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Subscribe to CH@TC and listen to episodes on your favorite platform:
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COVID IMPACT ON PARISHES FINANCIALS
(Q1 & Q2 Assessment)
ECCT is inviting each parish to participate with this online survey. This survey will serve to assist us in adequately assessing and preparing for how best to continue to assist you. Please visit the link below. All it takes is your quarterly statement and approximately 10-15 minutes of your time. Due by Friday, November 6th. We appreciate your participation.
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Recordings from the October 1 Faithful Futures: Transitions; New Models for Part-Time Clergy Leadership
You can find links to the Video and Chat files for the October 1 Faithful Futures here.
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Kelli's Corner - Antiracist work around ECCT and news updates
news & recommendations from ECCT Racial Justice Resource Coordinator Kelli Ray Gibson
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Beverly Daniel Tatum: Why Are All of the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? An analogy on racism
Hosting a book study or film series; inviting a guest speaker or engaging in community action? Please send me an email and share!
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Resources from the Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Network
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Trinity, Torrington will be hosting a conversation about the critically-acclaimed film Black Panther on Monday, October 26 at 7pm via Zoom.
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SAVE THE DATE: November 19, 2020 at 6:00 PM - Cathedral Poetry Night with Dr. Lindsay Rockwell, an hour of poetry, music, and dialogue, and a conversation on racial justice and reconciliation.
Joy Reid and Chris Hayes host a town hall to discuss racial bias in America the day Starbucks closed its doors for sensitivity training after the arrest of two African American men in Philadelphia. Guests include Valarie Jarret, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Sherrilyn Ifill among others. (49 minutes) If you don’t have time to watch it all, watch the first minute – it’s incredibly powerful.
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To learn more about the season and Ministry Network of Racial Healing, Justice, & Reconciliation, visit our website here.
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ECCT Digital Communication Office Hours
Thursdays 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Bring your questions!
Registration is required here.
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MORE COVID-19 RELATED RESOURCES: |
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Deacon's Day - Tonight at 6:30 p.m.
The Deacon's Council of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut is sponsoring a Deacons Day TODAY Tuesday, October 20 from 6:30 -l 8:00 p.m.
This event is for all those who are sensing a call to the diaconate or interested in exploring ministry that centers advocacy and support for the poor, the marginalized, the sick, and the lonely. During this 90-minute online gathering, participants will hear from a variety of deacons serving in contexts around Connecticut as well as from members of the Commission on Ministry and the Province I School for Deacons to explain what formation for the diaconate entails.
This event will take place via Zoom. For more information, contact the Rev. Don Burr at [email protected].
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Save the Date: Upcoming Discussion on Confirmation
Join Bishop Laura for a zoom call on October 29 at 3pm to share your ideas about confirmation in the coming year. Anyone who is leading confirmation classes and has ideas they would like to share, please join us as we create an opportunity for an hour to share resources and explore collaborations. In the meantime, feel free to watch this confirmation video put together by Bishop Laura for the Baptized for Life initiative Of the Episcopal Church.
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Sat, Oct 24, 2020 9:00 AM EST
Finding Your Voice - Reading Scripture, Text, and Leading Worship in Church
Camp Washington - Camp and Retreat Center,
Lakeside/Morris
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Tue, Nov 10, 2020 10:00 AM EST
Retired Clergy and Spouses Fall Zoom Meeting
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Discerning my path: a new course offering
Discerning My Path is a course ECCT is developing in collaboration with other dioceses in Province I and Bexley Seabury Seminary. This course invites participants into a time of deep listening, practice of ancient and modern spiritual disciplines, and offering and receiving insight regarding individual gifts and passions — all within a brave/safe circle of trust. In addition to monthly online meetings in small groups, participants will engage spiritual reading, videos and articles on discernment, spiritual practices, and the ministry of the baptized. Our journey together will be enriched with activities for self-reflection, guided conversations with others, and exploration of our own contexts. Small groups meet monthly online at a time they schedule. Individual reading and reflection takes 2-3 hours per week. If you have been wondering what is next for you in your journey with God, this course is for you.
This opportunity is open to all the baptized in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Scholarships and grants are available. For more information, contact Marcus Halley.
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Parenting in the Wilderness: A Sacred Space for Connection & Fun on the 2nd Thursday of the month | 9:00 am
ECCT invites you into a sacred space of compassion, grace, and fun, hoping to provide some support and fellowship to those of us struggling to make it all work, as we care for children. Gather with clergy and lay facilitators to hold one another up. Join the Zoom conversations here!
Please be sure your name in your Zoom “square” displays your name & your parish affiliation, so that we can safely be in conversation.
Upcoming leaders:
- Rev. Rebekah Hatch | November 12
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Global Mission Engagement: Join the conversation
Join the Companions in Mission Ministry Network as they journey through the Way of Love in Global Mission, a seven week opportunity to network, learn, reflect, and converse with some of the leading voices in Global Mission across The Episcopal Church.
The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, will lead TONIGHT October 20 for the discussion on "Learn."
Questions regarding the series can be directed to the Rev. Amjad Samuel at [email protected].
Please note that there may be issues registering with Airmeet on a phone or tablet. First try on a desktop/laptop.
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Two webinars from the Episcopal Public Policy Network coming up leading up to Election Day, November 3.
- Empowering the Vote: Voices from the Church, Tuesday, October 20th, 3:00 – 4:00pm ET // Empoderando el Voto: Voces de la Iglesia, martes, octubre 20, 3:00 - 4:00pm (hora Nueva York)
- Voting Beyond 2020: You vote Nov. 3, now what? Tuesday, October 27th, 3:00 – 4:00pm ET // Votar más allá del 2020: Vota nov. 3, ¿Ahora qué?, martes, octubre 27, 3:00 - 4:00pm (hora Nueva York)
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Hybrid Church? What is Hybrid Church? Three conversations coming up.
Does technology offer us the possibility to be a church that is participatory and engaged? Join the folks at St. Paul's, Shelton for a three session conversation on Hybrid Church. Speakers include Stephanie Leathe, CEO and Co-founder of Altar Live, and The Rev. Timothy Hodapp, Canon for Mission Collaboration.
The next session is October 25 at 10:30 a.m.: Please register! (Registration is through AirMeet - please note that AirMeet does not work on cellphones or tablets, Google Chrome is the preferred browser). The last conversation will be on: November 1.
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GRANT & SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES |
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Parish and Camp positions:
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Reminder: Parochial Report and Parish Survey past due
or 203‐639‐3501, ext. 107
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Are you a Warden within ECCT? Join this Facebook group to meet with fellow Wardens and share ideas, resources, and support!
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