Mission Matters
News from the
Episcopal Diocese 
of Western Massachusetts  

CELEBRANDO LA ABUNDANCIA DE DIÓS 

March 4, 2025

Training for Lay Worship Leaders

Apr 2, 7pm

Online


We are offering a training for any lay leaders who would like to learn more about leading morning prayer or who wish to be added to our list of diocesan-approved morning prayer leaders (which also requires current Safe Church training). You can join the Revs. Harvey Hill and Terry Hurlbut on Zoom on Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m.


Learn more and register

ECM's New Guidance for Churches on Immigration Enforcement

"Episcopal City Mission has worked closely with churches, partner organizations, and legal review to develop guidance for how to handle Immigration Enforcement actions on church property.


Our new guide located on the Episcopal City Mission website includes: Frequently Asked Questions and Sample ICE Protocols and Policies for Episcopal Churches in MA, covering 3 areas:

1. ICE or Homeland Security Presence;

2. Privacy and Information Sharing; and

3. Public and Private Spaces.

We address questions of legal risks around 'harboring' and provide sample signage for use in your building."


Learn more

BCH offers Pre-Confirmation Youth Retreat

Mar 21-23

Greenfield, NH


"For middle and high schoolers:

Come engage in a meaningful weekend of deepening faith and bringing to life the connection we often find in these spaces. Developed in tandem with the confirmation preparation curriculum framework and the scheduling of regional confirmation offerings, this retreat offers a way for youth in the confirmation discernment process to come together and explore, learn, and build community. "


Learn more

Register here

View the flyer

Indigenous People's Justice Network Book Discussion

Next meeting March 19th

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Mar 19, 7pm

Online


The Province 1 Indigenous People's Justice Network's next book discussion will be on March 19, from 7:00-8:30 p.m.


The book to be discussed is Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. Register for the discussion using the link:

Register for 3/19 Book Group 


After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

A Journey to the Holy Land

Sep 29 - Oct 10, 2025

Led by The Very Rev. Jim Munroe & The Rev. Dr. Richard Simpson


Local Guides: Canon Iyad Qumri & Rami Qumri


View the itinerary

Bishop's Visitations

  • 03/05/25 - All Saints, Worcester
  • 03/09/25 - Sts James and Andrew, Greenfield
  • 03/16/25 - St. Francis, Holden
  • 03/30/25 - Christ Trinity, Sheffield
  • 04/06/25 - Good Shepherd, Clinton
  • 04/13/25 - St. Philip's, Easthampton
  • 04/20/25 - Christ Church Cathedral, Springfield
  • 04/27/25 - Christ Church, Fitchburg
  • 05/04/25 - St. John's, Williamstown

From Our Congregations

Open Positions

Province 1

Conversations with Noted Speakers


The Province 1 Christian Formation Network is hosting a series of online monthly

Conversations with Noted Speakers on Zoom. While hosted by the Episcopal churches of New England everyone is welcome to join these sessions.


On the third Thursday of most months’ participants will have the opportunity to hear from people at the forefront of Christian Formation. Each session includes time for questions and conversation as we learn from each other new ways of sharing our faith. Below is the information for our speakers for Winter/Spring 2025. To sign up click the links for each session.


Mar 20, 7pm ET

Becoming Intentionally Intergenerational - Wendy Claire Barrie


May 15, 7pm ET

The Gifts and Possibilities of a Parish [Lending] Library - The Rev. Angela Compton-Nelson


June 19, 7pm ET

Season of Creation as Congregational Development - The Rev. Amy Slaughter


Read program descriptions here

From The Episcopal Church

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Atlanta-area church erases barriers so everyone can worship

ENS_022725_Budde image

Bishop Mariann Budde receives mountain of supportive mail after post-inauguration sermon

Workshops, Conferences, Opportunities

Women and Religious Leadership Symposium

Mar 6-8

Northampton, MA

"Fifty years ago, virtually no women served as the primary religious leaders in congregations, synagogues, mosques, or temples in the US. Today, a handful of denominations have gender parity, and even those who still exclude women leaders have grassroots advocacy groups agitating for change. This symposium gathers fourteen scholars from across the country and reflects on these changes within contemporary Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities.


Our symposium (March 6-8, 2025) asks the following guiding questions. How do we, as scholars of religion, leaders of religious communities, and participants within religious communities, understand the changes we have observed in the last fifty years? How have women as religious leaders redefined religious leadership?"


Learn more and register

ICE Protocols Q&A Session

Mar 6, 12pm ET

Online


From Episcopal City Mission:

"Many people have reached out about the sample ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Protocols & Policies for Churches on our website! Since there have been so many questions about implementation, we’ve decided to host an open Drop-In Question & Answer Session with Hannah Hafter, Lead Organizer at ECM, and Celia McLane, Immigration Attorney and legal reviewer of the sample policies. If you have questions or are interested in further discussion on adopting and carrying out these policies at your church, please join us on zoom from 12-1 pm on Thursday, March 6th.


The drop-in will be bilingual in English and Spanish."


Learn more and register

Stewardship

Project Resource, Spring 2025


Mar 9, Mar 16, Mar 23, Mar 30, Apr 6, 5pm ET

Online


"Project Resource teaches culture and systems change around financial development in the worldwide Episcopal Church. Project Resource provides teaching, focus, and adaptable resources to equip clergy and lay leaders to develop their year-round annual stewardship campaigns and to plan, ask for, and receive major gifts."


Learn more and register

Ministerio Hispano | Latino Ministries

Ministerio Hispano San Pablo en Holyoke

  • Misa Dominical - 5:00pm en persona


La Catedral en Springfield

  • Misa Dominical - 12:15pm en persona
  • Estudio Bíblico - (en persona) Miércoles 6:00pm
  • Sabatina - (Segundo, tercer y cuarto sábado del mes) de 10am a 12pm


Ministerio Hispano San Marcos en Worcester

  • Misa Dominical - 12:00pm en persona
  • Marie’s Mission - (diaper distribution program) first Saturday of every month from 10:00am-12:00pm
  •  Thrift Shop - open the first Saturday of every month from 10:00am-12:00pm
  •  Karate Classes - every Wednesday and Friday from 5:30pm-7:00pm
  •  Prayer group - every Friday at 7pm on WhatsApp 
  •  AA meetings - every Tuesday and Saturday from 7:00pm-8:00pm



Para conectar con las actividades de la Catedral mande un email a ap735@earthlink.net.


Para conectar con las actividades del Ministerio Hispano en Worcester visite el sitio web ministeriohispanoworcester.org o mande un email a jreyes@diocesewma.org.

Mission Matters Publishing Schedule

Upcoming 2025 Mission Matters publish dates:

  • Mar 18th
  • Apr 1st, 15th, and 29th
  • May 13th and 27th
  • Jun 10th and 24th
  • Jul 8th and 22nd

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