Welcome! We'd like your feedback on the design and usability of this newsletter format, and also want to hear from you about stories for future issues and other communications requests and questions. Send emails to communications@diovermont.org.
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Join the Social Justice Bible Challenge During Lent |
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Bishop Shannon invites members of the Diocese of Vermont to join her in reading the 40-day Social Justice Bible Challenge throughout the season of Lent. The book provides a reading from scripture, a reflection, discussion questions and prayer for each day.
Paperback copies are available from Forward Movement, and the Kindle version is available from Amazon. Discounts are available for orders of 10 or more copies.
The group will begin reading on Ash Wednesday (February 17) and end on Palm Sunday (March 28). Bishop Shannon will host weekly hour-long Zoom discussions on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.:
- February 24 at 7:00 p.m.
- March 3 at 7:00 p.m.
- March 10 at 7:00 p.m.
- March 17 at 7:00 p.m.
- March 24 at 7:00 p.m.
During last month's Anti-Racism Action discussion of “A Scriptural, Ecclesiastical, and Historical View of Slavery” (1864) by John Henry Hopkins, the first bishop of Vermont, the group agreed one action they will take is to immerse themselves in the Bible.
"It was clear to us that not only was that text evil and wrong, it was also based in white supremacy," says Bishop Shannon. "It was painful to spend six weeks learning about this shameful part of our diocesan history. We will certainly find a truer understanding of God's intention for us by going to the source. After all, Jesus rooted his own ministry in the words of scripture."
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Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine
Appointments open to those age 75 and older
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As of January 25, people who are 75 years and older and live, work, or access primary care in Vermont are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Go to healthvermont.gov/myvaccine to schedule an appointment.
People who are 70 years and older will be the next group eligible, followed by those age 65 and older. After those groups have been vaccinated, Vermonters with specific chronic conditions will follow.
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Rock Point Camp 2021 Cancellation Notice |
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Rock Point Commons, in consultation with our Board and Bishop, has made the difficult decision to cancel its 2021 camp season.
"We know that this will come as a disappointment to our campers, alumnae, and Rock Point family, and share in your sadness over this news. We have not made this decision lightly and want to be transparent with our community regarding the reasoning," reads a letter from the Rock Point Commons Team.
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Planning for Ash Wednesday |
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Congregations wishing to offer the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday may use the prayer on page 265 in the Book of Common Prayer to bless the ashes. Those wishing to receive ashes can pick them up and self-impose during the online Ash Wednesday service. There is to be no in-person imposition of ashes (including “Ashes to Go” or similar methods). Small plastic bags or paper envelopes are widely available commercially and should be used for this purpose.
Please note, the imposition of ashes is an optional part of the liturgy, and it is not required.
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Physically Distant Communion the First Sunday of Lent |
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Congregations will be offering physically distant communion on the First Sunday of Lent (February 21) using the same plan that was in use for the First Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve and Day.
Participating congregations are listed alphabetically below by name of city or town. Because the consecrated elements must be consumed during an online service, please join one of these communities if your own congregation has not provided a link to its Zoom or streaming service:
Good Shepherd, Barre
Join by phone by dialing (929) 205-6099 and using meeting ID 217210411 and password 480431. When asked for your user ID, simply press pound: #.
If you wish to participate, please email goodshep@sover.net or call the parish office at (802) 476-3929 before February 15 for a communion kit.
St. Peter's, Bennington
St. Peter's will offer distanced communion for the first Sunday of Lent. For more information contact Sr. Warden Collins Sennett via email or at (802) 442-2911.
Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington
The service will be on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. February 21. The service bulletin and Zoom link are available on the cathedral website. You can also join by calling in through 646-558-8656, meeting ID 848 0522 8551, passcode 1973.
Communion will be available for pick-up on February 18, 19 and 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Other arrangements for pick-up or delivery can be made emailing the dean or calling (802) 860-0480.
St. Andrew's, Colchester
Please sign up via email or phone call. There will be a pickup location in our church parking lot. If someone needs it delivered, we will make arrangement for a contact free drop off. To sign up and for more information please contact Susyn Dees via email or at (802) 578-5422.
St. James, Essex Junction
The service will be on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. February 21. The Zoom link is the regular Sunday worship link, provided below and also on the St. James website along with the worship bulletin. Email Diane Muckstadt, parish administrator, for a communion kit. Times for pick-up of communion kits from the St. James parking lot will be announced.
St. Luke's Fair Haven and St. Paul's Wells
The service will be at 10:00 a.m. on February 21 via Zoom with St. Paul's, Wells For more information please email the Rev. Bill Davidson.
St. Stephen's, Middlebury
The service will take place at 10 a.m. Pre-consecrated wafers will be made available for those who plan to attend Sunday worship on Zoom. Please RSVP via email no later than February 18 indicating the number of hosts needed, whether they should be wheat or gluten-free, and if you need to have hosts delivered or will pick them up in advance at church. The reserved hosts will be available for pick-up at the church from Monday, February 15 until Thursday, February 18 in the narthex from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. A few packets of Ash Wednesday ashes will also be available on Monday and Tuesday on the narthex table for those who did not receive them in the mail.
Christ Church, Montpelier
Pickup will take place in the courtyard on State Street on Sunday, Feb. 14 from 12:30pm-1:00pm; Wednesday, Feb. 17th from 12:30pm-1:00pm; and Friday, Feb. 19th from 12:30pm-1:00pm. If someone needs communion delivered, we will make arrangement for a contact free drop off. To request delivery, please contact Jody Pettersen via email or at (802) 522-6171.
St. Mary's, Northfield
St. Mary's will be participating in the February 21 celebration. For more information please email the Rev. M.P. Schneider.
Trinity, Shelburne
Grace Church, Sheldon
The consecrated elements are being made available for pickup or by mail to those who would like to participate. Contact the Rev. Janet Brown to receive a kit containing the sacraments in advance of the service. For assistance with Zoom and/or to receive a service leaflet, contact Beth Crane via email or at (802) 326-4603 (home tel).
All Saints, South Burlington
The service will be on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. on February 21. Email Margaret MacLean or call (802) 655-0170 to register.
Holy Trinity, Swanton
The service will be at 9:00 a.m. on February 21 via Zoom. Pre-consecrated communion kits may be picked up at the bell tower of Holy Trinity, 38 Grand Avenue, Swanton VT, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., February 11 and 12, and the 16-19. If unable to get your kit, please contact the church office, for delivery at 802-868-7185 and speak with Kiley Boutah. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88639355575.
St. Mary's in the Mountains, Wilmington
The service will be on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. on February 21. Those who wish to participate can pick of the pre-sanctified communion kits on any Thursday (10:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m.) preceding the service. Contact the Rev. Canon Nicholas T. Porter and visit the St. Mary's website for more information. Church Tel: (802) 464-9341. Cell: (203) 572-3652.
St. Paul's, Wells and St. Luke's Fair Haven
The service will be at 10:00 a.m. on February 21 via Zoom. St. Luke’s, Fair Haven has indicated that they will be joining us. For more information please contact the Rev. Davidson.
St. James, Woodstock
St. James will be participating in the February 21 celebration. For more information please email the Rev. Amy Spagna or check the church website.
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St. Thomas & Grace Brandon Supports Local Food Shelf |
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On January 23, St. Thomas & Grace Church in Brandon held a drive-in collection of cash and food for the Brandon Food Shelf. The parish collected a car full of food items and over $1,300 in cash donations to purchase gift cards that can be used to buy perishable items. |
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St. Peters, Bennington Hosts Vigil |
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On February 1, St. Peter's Bennington hosted a vigil, walk and blessing of the river walkway and the Waloomsac River in memory of Emily Hamann, a young woman who was recently murdered in the area.
The Rev. Angela Emerson reports that St. Peters is talking with community leaders about hosting a series of community forums on mental heath, substance abuse, and public safety issues as well as participating in work that will help heal the neighborhood.
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Anam Cara Sojourners Celtic Lenten Morning Prayer
Online during Lent
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Anam Cara Sojourners, together with St. James Church, Essex Junction, and Trinity Church, Shelburne, will offer morning prayer Monday through Saturday during Lent beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Ash Wednesday, February 17.
The format will be similar to the group's Advent prayers, and will include meditations from Celtic Lent: 40 days of devotions to Easter by David Cole. The book is not required as daily meditations will be read at each service, but it can be ordered from Amazon in paperback or on Kindle.
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Lenten Soup and Soul with Mission Farm |
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Mission Farm Hosts Gardening and Land Management as Spiritual Care Workshops |
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Join Mission Farm for two opportunities to learn about gardening and land management as spiritual care.
February 25, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m
Gardening and Land Management as Spiritual Care
An online introduction to key concepts and practices for engaging in a holistic, spiritually-based approach to land management. The cost for this program is $20. Register online.
March 20, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Gardening and Land Management as Spiritual Practice - Practicum
A morning learning spiritual practices for land management and working in harmony with the energies present in your garden and landscape. The cost for this program is $50. Register online.
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The Partner's Path: For Spouses of Episcopal Clergy
Monthly conversations on Mondays at 8:00 p.m.
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Spouses of Episcopal clergy are invited to participate in Conversations on The Partner's Path, an online community that offers connection, spiritual support, and discernment opportunities. Each month, Cathy Tyndall Boyd welcomes guests for an hour of conversation about the challenges and gifts of being a clergy person's partner.
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Small Business Administration Reopens PPP Loans |
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The Small Business Administration has reopened the Paycheck Protection Program, which offers small businesses, including churches, loans that can be forgiven if used for eligible expenses, including payroll, mortgage interest, utilities, and worker protection costs related to COVID-19. The loans are available both to churches that did not receive a loan last year (identified in program regulations as "first draw" borrowers) and to those that did receive a loan (identified as "second draw" borrowers).
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Scheduling Parish Annual Meetings |
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If clergy or parish leaders have questions about when and how to host parish annual meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic, please email Tom Little, diocesan chancellor.
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Beware of Whaling Scams
Check email addresses carefully
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Some of you may have recently received emails purporting to be from Bishop Shannon and sent from a Gmail address that included her name. These emails asked for the recipient to purchase gift cards. Bishop Shannon will never write an email asking you to do that.
This is a form of cyber attack know as "whaling." Please know that any communications from Bishop Shannon will come only from her diocesan email address, which is: bishopshannon@diovermont.org or from communications@diovermont.org. The fraudulent accounts from which the whaling emails were sent have been reported to Google and are being investigated.
If you receive another fake email like this one, please do not respond. Instead, send an email to communications@diovermont.org to let us know as soon as possible so we can report it.
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Diocesan Worship Continues Online This Sunday
Join the Green Mountain Online Abbey
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Online Sunday worship continues on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Watch the Rev. Canon Auburn Watersong's sermon from Sunday, January 24:
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A Year of Living Generously Continues
A TENS Program Designed for Members of the Diocese of Vermont
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TENS Executive Director Davey Gerhard, describes the program as "a series to talk about how we increase our capacity to engage our neighbors in the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. "I invite you to a yearlong conversation about mission, ministry and mutual learning," he said in a video address to diocesan convention.
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Vermont Pride Theatre Online Event |
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Vermont Pride Theater at Chandler Center for the Arts will present a benefit reading of David Valdes’ timely play "Raggedy And" on February 6 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a live talkback. The play will also be available on demand during the following week. The event will benefit GLAAD's transgender projects.
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Engaging the Enneagram March 5-7 |
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From March 5-7, the Rock Point Wisdom Community in collaboration with Jeanine Siler Jones will host an online "Engaging the Enneagram as Wisdom Practice" retreat.
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Save the Date: Evangelism Conference September 24-26
"I Will Walk with You" at St. Mary's in the Mountains, Wilmington
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"I Will Walk with You: Learning and Practicing Episcopal Evangelism" will take place September 24-26 at St. Mary's in the Mountains in Wilmington and online. The conference will include worship, exploring the power of music, engaging in one-on-one training, and discussing strategies for sharing God’s mission in rural New England.
The conference is supported by the Episcopal Church Office of Evangelism, the Diocese of Vermont and the Green Mountain Witness Evangelism Team. Those interested in participating or serving as trainers, organizers or in other leadership roles can email smmvtepiscopal@gmail.com for more information.
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Online Giving During COVID-19
Give to congregations or diocesan institutions
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While our buildings are closed, the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont will process online gifts for all congregations and absorb all payment processing fees. Fourteen congregations around the diocese have already benefited from this new online system, which now includes the ability to set up recurring donations. It also accepts donations for the diocese, Rock Point Camp, Rock Point School and Brookhaven Treatment and Learning Center.
In addition to giving through the diocesan website, you can also make donations via a mobile app or text-to-give.
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Suspending Gatherings for Worship |
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In a November 13 letter to the diocese, Bishop Shannon suspended gatherings for worship. She writes:
The COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying across our diocese, forcing us to observe new restrictions on our life together. Today Governor Phil Scott banned indoor and outdoor gatherings—public or private—by members of more than one household. Accordingly, I am suspending indoor and outdoor gatherings for worship in our diocesan churches or on their properties beginning on Monday, November 16, and lasting until the governor’s order is lifted.
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Resources From The Episcopal Network for Stewardship |
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The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) has worked with social networking experts and pastors across the church to develop tools that will help congregations.
To access these resources on the TENS website, enter the username 1PETER and password FOUR:10.
TENS resources for 2021 stewardship campaigns
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February 7: Christ Church, Bethel; the Rev. Shelie Richardson
February 14: St. Thomas & Grace Church, Brandon; the Rev. Rachel Field
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EVENTS CALENDAR AT A GLANCE |
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February 3 at 5:00 p.m.: Rock Point Intentional Community Wisdom Practice Circles (Zoom)
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The Mountain is published every other Wednesday. Please send submission to communications@diovermont.org by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before publication.
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5 Rock Point Road | Burlington, VT 05408
Tel: (802) 863-3431 | In Vermont (800) 286-3437
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