Remembering Bishop Harris
June 12, 1930-March 13, 2020
As the, first anniversary of the death of the Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris, the first female bishop consecrated in the Anglican Communion, approaches, the Diocese of Massachusetts has extended an invitation to include grateful recollection of Bishop Harris in your own devotional life this year, both individual and communal. Many remember her outstanding preaching witness at our diocesan convention in 2019. Resources, including prayers and and videos, available from Diocese of Massachusetts.
A fun fact: 32-years ago, on February 11, 1989, when Bishop Harris was consecrated in Massachusetts, both Bishop Ian and Bishop Laura were present. Neither yet ordained and both very aware of the privilege of being a part of an incredibly powerful moment in the life of God’s Mission!
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ECCT Stories: Meet: The Newly Ordained
Meet the newly ordained in ECCT! These six faithful followers of Christ were ordained to the priesthood in January and February 2021. We’ve invited them to share a little bit about themselves including where they’re currently serving and their hopes and dreams for their ministry. Read the full blog post here.
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If you would like to contribute a story, reflection, poem, art, etc. to the ECCT Stories blog, please send an email to [email protected] to be considered. Please keep it to under 600 words (in a Word Doc preferred) and any photos/images you'd like included.
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Faithful Futures: Discovering & Documenting our Historic Complicity in Racism
Video available on ECCT's YouTube Channel
A recording of the recent Faithful Futures: Discovering & Documenting our Historic Complicity in Racism is available on ECCT's YouTube channel.
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Young Adult Task Force: We Want to Hear from You!
The Young Adult Task Force is currently doing research on young adult ministry in order to learn how we can best engage and support young adults within the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. One of the main ways we are doing this work is by listening to the voices of young adults and the ministries that serve them. We're thrilled to be doing this work and to invite you to share your thoughts, experiences, challenges, and dreams for the future. Whether you are a young adult, the parent of a young adult, or a parish or ministry working with young adults, we want to hear from you. Please reach out to Heather Burtman for more information or to set up a conversation. In addition, we have a survey geared specifically to young adults called "Young Adult Experiences With Church. " We're looking for survey responses both from within and outside of our diocese, so please feel free to share widely. Thank you so much for partnering with us in this work. We're excited for the future!
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Regions and Region Missionaries through June 2021
Recognizing that three Regions are currently without a Region Missionary, for the next four months the three active Region Missionaries will be assisting the Bishops and Canons in various ministries in contiguous regions that currently are without Region Missionaries. They will not be serving as Region Missionaries in the contiguous regions, per se, but rather will assist the Bishops and Canons in various areas. For example, the Region Missionaries will reach out to parishes in both their home regions and contiguous regions to inquire about items related to parish good standing status and offer the ECCT Finance and Operations Department as a source of support and assistance. They will also be meeting with the Region Leadership Teams monthly to offer support to the RLT’s on-going ministries in their regions.
Rachel Thomas will be assisting in the South Central Region in addition to her work in the Southeast, Maggie Breen will assist in the North Central Region in addition to her work in the Northeast, and Dylan Mello will assist in the Southwest Region in addition to his regular ministry in the Northwest.
Next steps for the Region Missionaries will be explored in mid-2021. Please hold the Region Missionaries in your prayers as their ministries evolve in this interim time.
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ECCT is Hiring an Administrator for Licensing and Training
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2020 Parochial Report and ECCT's RHJ&R Addendum
PAST DUE! Please complete your report ASAP.
The 2020 Parochial Report was due on March 1, if you have not yet completed your report, please do so as soon as possible. It is available on the General Convention website, including instructions in English, Spanish, and French. ECCT's RHJ&R Addendum was also due March 1 and can be completed online. All parochial reports, including the ECCT RHJ&R Addendum, must be submitted online-hard copy submission is not required.
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Special Statement from the Standing Committee
At its November 19 meeting, the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut strongly recommends that all parishes in the diocese abide by the guidelines of the Connecticut Department of Health such that any parish listed in a red zone refrain from holding indoor or in-person services.
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Saturday March 27, 2021 9 AM EST
Lenten Quiet Day at Camp Washington
Join us for a time of reflection and renewal in the midst of your Lenten journey. Our time together will be held outside in the chapel (weather permitting) while observing all physical distance guidelines. The day will consist of four sections: Each presenter will offer a reflection/meditation followed by an activity such as journaling, discussion, walking, and other hands-on activities. You are welcome to bring a bag lunch to enjoy after the program. There is no charge for this program however registration is required.
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Tuesday, April 6 through Saturday, April 17
9th Annual Spring Training and Gathering
Gather with Episcopalians from across Connecticut for learning, prayer and fellowship. All are welcome-from people in the pews and vestry members to parish leaders and staff.
This year Spring Training will take place during the two weeks immediately following Easter when a variety of engaging workshops will be offered via Zoom. Each workshop is 90-minutes long and most are offered on two different days and times. The closing plenary session will take place on Saturday, April 17, from 9-11 a.m. and is entitled "Parish Life After COVID: Psychological and theological reflections as we gather in new ways." Learn more about the various workshops on ECCT's Spring Training and Gathering page.
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Safe Church Training Spring 2021
New dates available!
All ECCT Safe Church Training (SCT) includes an online course followed by a 3-hour live session on Zoom. This training is grounded in our call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being. It offers an opportunity to increase and enhance our ability to live out our Baptismal Covenant within our communities of faith and in the world beyond.
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Episcopal Toolkit for COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution
Available in Spanish and English
The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations has developed a COVID-19 Vaccination toolkit for individuals, congregations and ministries to facilitate and promote COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the United States. This toolkit promotes the ongoing work that parishes and dioceses have already been doing, shares best practices, and offers ideas for ways that communities can help U.S.- based Episcopalians to facilitate vaccination, overcome vaccine hesitancy, and find information from state and local officials. Churches and church leaders (lay and ordained) can serve as an important trusted bridge between public health officials and communities.
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Episcopal Church Young Adult Service Corps
Application Deadline for 2021-2022 Extended
Applications for 2021-2022 placements with the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC), the international missionary program of The Episcopal Church, will now be accepted through Friday, April 9, 2021. YASC offers Episcopalians ages 21-30 the opportunity to follow the Way of Love into deeper relationship with God and the global Anglican Church while spending a year living and working with communities around the world. Learn more about the process, including how YASC is adapting to COVID-19 and apply online.
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My Way of Love: A Personal Guide for Your Spiritual Journey
Personalized suggestions for spiritual growth
The Episcopal Church, in partnership with RenewalWorks, a ministry of Forward Movement, is offering My Way of Love, a free, eight-week email series that provides personalized suggestions for spiritual growth based on the seven practices of the Way of Love.
Introduced at the online FORMA gathering in January, My Way of Love is produced by experts in The Episcopal Church on spiritual formation, the Way of Love, and spiritual growth. Each email in the series includes ideas on how to pray, engage with scripture, and practice the Way of Love regularly. Learn more and begin your journey online.
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“From Many, One” Webinars to Fuel Practice of Conversations Across Difference
Web practice sessions begin March 12, 2021
A set of upcoming webinars promises to prepare Episcopalians to effectively listen, honor difference, and help to heal families, congregations, communities, and nations.
“From Many, One: Conversations Across Difference” will host three webinars introducing individuals and ministries to what Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls “the spiritual practice of love in action” – one-to-one listening and sharing across the differences that separate us. The webinars will cover basics like invitation and attentive listening, as well as the theology, tools, gifts, and challenges related to this critical spiritual practice. Learn more and register.
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Resources from the Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Network |
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The RHJ&R Ministry Network held their quarterly gathering on Saturday, February 27. The gathering included a presentation from ECCT archivist, Greg Farr, who led an orientation session on the historical research mandated by our ECCT Annual Convention (Resolution #7). This was followed by a conversation with the Rev. Peter Walsh, the Rev. Justin Crisp, and Lisa Melland from St. Marks, New Canaan, who shared what they’ve learned on their journey of self-discovery. A recording of the meeting is available on YouTube.
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Recommended events, articles, and videos
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Black Religion in America
A Webinar Series beginning March 18
Trinity College’s Department of Religious Studies and the Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life are sponsoring a free Webinar series, "Black Religion in America," beginning March 18 at 5 p.m. Each session will feature a presentation from scholar and last about an hour. The first session will feature Professor Biko Mandela Gray from Syracuse University as he discusses “On Evil: Toni Morrison, Theodicy, and the Problem of Evil in the United States” Registration is free, and required to receive the Zoom link. Register online.
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From The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations, learn more and register online
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Congress Weekly EPPN Network Call, Thursdays from 1-1:30 p.m. via Zoom. Join the Office of Government Relations (OGR) for 30-minute, weekly conversations about the policies and legislation we are advocating with Congress and the Administration. Every Thursday from 1:00-1:30pm ET, OGR staff will provide an overview of the political environment and legislative outlook, tips for advocacy, and time for questions from you.
From Church Pension Group, learn more and register online
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Dementia Caregivers - A Peculiar Kind of Grief, Thurs. March 25 at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Losing the relationship with a loved one is ambiguous and complicated. This webinar will cover the concepts of chronic sorrow, anticipatory grief, and ambiguous loss as well as some ways to be with our grief.
From The CEEP Network, learn more and register online
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The Gospel in the Wilderness: Tips for Pandemic Preaching, Thurs., March 18 from 3-4 p.m. via Zoom. It's a challenging time to proclaim the Word, and yet the Gospel has never seemed more relevant or hearts so open to receive it. Join four of the Anglican world's most gifted preachers for a conversation about what they have learned about the ministry of preaching during the pandemic.
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Proclaiming the Word from the Lay Ministry Perspective, Tues., March 23 from 3-4 p.m. via Zoom. Each order of ministry brings a unique perspective to the pulpit: bishop, priest, deacon and lay preacher. Invaluable in thinly resourced dioceses, the lay preacher can also add a powerful community-based dimension to the Sunday message in stronger parishes, to extend the range and relevance of the Sunday message.
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Proclaiming the Word from the Lay Ministry Perspective, Tues., March 23 from 3-4 p.m. via Zoom. Each order of ministry brings a unique perspective to the pulpit: bishop, priest, deacon and lay preacher. Invaluable in thinly resourced dioceses, the lay preacher can also add a powerful community-based dimension to the Sunday message in stronger parishes, to extend the range and relevance of the Sunday message.
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COVID-19 RELATED RESOURCES: |
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GRANT & SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES |
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The Jack Spaeth Care for Creation Environmental Grant
Applications now open!
Applications for the Jack Spaeth Care for Creation Environmental Grant are now open and available. The mission of the Jack Spaeth Care for Creation Environmental Grant is to encourage innovation and to empower members of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut to educate, witness, and invite change in our congregations and communities with the goal of embracing a global vision of climate justice and preserving and celebrating God's creation.
Grant applications are due by April 3, 2021. Grants will be announced April 22, 2021. Please contact the Rev. Virginia Army for more information.
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The Sustainability Development Fund Grant
Applications now open!
Grant applications are due by May 1, 2021. Grants will be announced July 1, 2021. Please contact the Rev. Tom Furrer for more information.
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Grants from The Episcopal Church
Application deadlines vary
New Episcopal Community Grants, deadline March 15, 2021: The Episcopal Church’s New Episcopal Communities grants are intended to support operating/program expenses such as salary and benefits, insurance, rent, educational materials, and other operating needs, and are open to any New Episcopal Community with a sponsoring Episcopal diocese. The Episcopal Church’s Task Force on Church Planting and Congregational Redevelopment announced that its sixth set of grants are now available for Episcopal dioceses and mission developers who are envisioning, planning, or growing new worshipping communities and missional enterprises throughout the church. Four categories of grants are now available including Discernment, Seed, Growth, and Harvest grants.
Creation Care Grants, deadline extended to April 16, 2021: Recognizing that much has changed in our world this past year and that much work needs to be done, in this grant round the Task Force seeks to support long-term ministries that focus on addressing the inequitable and systemic impacts of environmental racism and support regional and local collaborative ecojustice projects.
Becoming Beloved Community Grants, deadline April 12, 2021: The Presiding Officers’ Advisory Group on Beloved Community Implementation is pleased to announce the availability of grants to catalyze the church’s work of racial healing, reconciliation and justice. Allocated by the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, the intent for this funding is to build capacity and increase Episcopal engagement in four primary fields: telling the truth about our churches and race, proclaiming the dream of Beloved Community, practicing Jesus’ way of healing and reconciliation, and repairing the breach in institutions and society.
Educational scholarships for the 2021-2022 academic year, deadline April 11, 2021: The scholarships are derived from annual income of designated trust funds established by generous donors through bequests to The Episcopal Church. The listing of trust funds and scholarships found here includes information related to the intended use of scholarship funds. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read each trust and identify in the application those trust funds that best fit their own profile. A scholarship applicant must be an Episcopalian and must have the endorsement of his or her bishop.
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