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NORTHEAST REGION ENEWSLETTER
March 2020
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Upcoming Formation Opportunities Near You
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Join the NE Region for a Crafting As Spiritual Practice Day on
Saturday, March 14, at Faith Lutheran Church in East Hartford. We will gather in the morning for a time of deep reflection on Scripture and we will have the opportunity to create a meaningful craft that can help us have a deeper experience in Lent.
Space is limited to 40 people.
Please register
HERE so that we have enough supplies for everyone and click
HERE for more information about what you can expect from the day.
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Several parishes across the NE Region have come together to create a Lenten Quiet Day, which will be hosted at St. James, Glastonbury, on
Saturday, March 28 from 9am to 1pm with lunch included.
Please register
HERE and join with folks from across the NE Region to participate in quiet reflections during Lent.
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Lenten Series: Soup, Supper & Spritiual Practices
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Join folks from St. Mark's, Storrs & St. John's, Vernon, for a Lenten Series.
Soup and Bread Supper, with evening prayer & spiritual practices - Wedesdays, 6:30-8PM
March 4 - St Mark's, making Prayer Beads
March 11 - St .John's, Fasting
March 18 - St. Mark's, Sabbath Time
March 25 - St. John's, Using Technology as a Spiritual Tool
April 1 - St. Mark's, Meditational Walking/Labyrinth
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The NE Region will be hosting another Lay Preaching Class, running on
Thursday evenings beginning April 23 through May 28.
If you are interested in joining this class, please talk to your priest or wardens (if you have no priest) to set up a time to preach once the class is over. Questions, or ready to sign up, please contact Maggie at
mbreen@episcopalct.org
or 203-639-3501 x154
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From Maggie, your Region Missionary
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Greetings Saints! As we flip our calendars to March, we are settling into the liturgical season of Lent. This is my favorite time of year - it could be the minor tonality of the hymns we sing in church; it could be the lengthing days and stronger rays of sunshine; it could be living into a time set aside as "fasting" in this world that is too greedy, too busy, and sometimes just too much.
For many years I treated Lent as a time of year to make myself miserable (and maybe the people around me, too) by giving up my favorite things (sweets, coffee, etc) but lately I've come to realize, for me, this isn't what God is calling me to do. To fast, certainly, but only to do so in a way that brings awareness and spaciousness around something that is God-centered. So this year I am fasting from reading fiction. Reading fiction is one of my favorite ways to disconnect - I read a lot! And so, in removing this for a short while, I am opening up some room for God to move in and settle.
While I will fast from fiction, I will also feast on Scripture - specifically on the book of Isaiah. I am choosing to read Isaiah during Lent because I have long found comfort in this Prophet, as well as alignment of purpose. Isaiah is pretty much "my jam" and I am looking forward to gaining more insight and understanding.
Utlimately, I hope that you do something that is meaningful to you during Lent. Give up something, or don't. Take on something, or don't. There is no "one single way" of participating in Lent. And in whatever way you experience Lent, I pray that it is a time of learning, spaciousness, and deep love for you. You are beloved by God, all day, every day - rest in that assurance, and be well.
Photo by Bishop Laura Ahrens and shared with Maggie Breen via Facebook
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Ways To Practice Environmental Stewardship During Lent
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Plastic Fast for Lent
Looking for a way to try-on reducing plastic in your life? Join with people across The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion for a Plastic Fast during Lent 2020. Maggie Breen, your NE Region Missionary, updated the
Green Anglicans' 2019 calendar to work in 2020, which can be found
HERE.
Feel free to share with everyone you know!
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Tracking Your Carbon Footprint
Another way you can try-on being kinder to the enviornment during Lent, is to join with The Episcopal Church and their Carbon Tracker initative.
Be sure to include your parish so that we can have a way of tracking our use in individual parishes and across CT and TEC.
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Join with folks across ECCT in an effort to help save our planet by reducing the amount of single-use plastic. Since plastic bags are out in CT, you can create these reusable fabric totes using fabric you have stashed away or even old t-shirts and jeans that you can't wear anymore!
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Icon of the Month: The Annunication in Illuminated Manuscript
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Long before I wrote icons, I wrote illuminated manuscripts. Alas, my full-time job got in the way, and I had to put the pens away for awhile. I have written several now that I’m retired. I decided to do one for March. But we won’t miss our monthly icon. Most illuminated manuscripts include a miniature picture — that is, an icon.
One of the most important feasts in March is the Annunciation. Therefore, a miniature icon of the Annunciation will be the the main focus of this month’s offering. First some background. The
Protoevangelium of James (ca. 145 AD)
is an apocryphal writing, considered useful by the church, but not divinely inspired. It describes the infancy of both Mary and Jesus. We will concentrate on Mary.
In a manner reminiscent of Hannah and Samuel (1 Sam 1-2), at the age of three, Mary’s parents left her at the temple to serve the Lord. This she did with great love. However, she could not remain in the temple past the age of twelve for fear of “defiling the sanctuary”. Once girls reached puberty they were expected to get married, but Mary insisted that she had promised God she would remain a virgin. An angel told the chief priest to “gather the widowers of the people…and the one whom God points out with a sign, she shall be his wife”. Joseph, an old man with children from his first wife, was chosen. He promised to respect her vow of chastity and took her to his home.
While Joseph was out building houses, Mary, was reading the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and was contemplating the prophecy:
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a son! (Isaiah 7:14). Suddenly Gabriel appeared in all of his angelic brightness and saluted her saying, “Hail, thou who art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus…
” The Virgin did not immediately accept the Angel’s message. In her humility, she did not think she was deserving of such words and they actually troubled her. She did not disbelieve the words, she just could not see how they would be fulfilled, for they spoke of something which was beyond nature. Then Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”. The angel answered her. Then Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” and the salvation of mankind began.
The icon of the Feast shows the Archangel with his feet spread apart as if he is running to share the good news with Mary. In his left hand is a staff, the symbol of a messenger. His right hand is extended toward Mary as he delivers the message and announces the blessing bestowed upon her by God.
The Virgin is shown sitting on an elevated seat, indicating that as the Mother of God she is “greater in honour than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word,” as (also) stated in the Greek and English text of the manuscript. Her right hand is raised to indicate her surprise at the message she is hearing. Often she is shown holding a scroll in her left hand. Her head is bowed, showing her consent and obedience. The three stars on her garments indicate that she was a Virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ
The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Theotokos is depicted by a ray of light issuing from a small sphere at the top of the icon, which symbolises heaven.
Article and illuminated manuscript by David Clarke, St. Johns, Vernon
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Almighty God. whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for the First Sunday of Lent, Book of Common Prayer
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Feasting With Mary: The Annunication
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There’s a fun moment when you contemplate the Feast of the Annunciation, the Feast Day when we remember the day when the Angel Gabriel came to Mary, a virgin betrothed to Joseph in an out of the way small town called Nazareth. This Feast is on March 25
th
. Exactly 9 months later is December 25
th
. This Feast is an incredibly literal, physical, remembrance of Mary’s pregnancy.
‘Greetings, favoured one!’ said the angel when he arrived. ‘May the Lord be with you!’ She was disturbed at this, and wondered what such a greeting might mean. (Luke 1: 28-29
)
It’s a little disturbing to be thinking Christmas here in March, in Lent. Wrong time, wrong season. We’re anticipating Easter. We feel like we just finally got all the Christmas decorations put away. And yet, surprise, here’s this Feast that is a big enough deal, a Feast of our Lord, that it trumps our Lenten fasting, and for me, anyway, it helps me empathize with Mary. She, after all, didn’t ask for any of this – and she still say yes to God.
Maybe I’m being influenced by my seasonal depression I get each March, but for me, this season is a wearisome slog. When the Feast of the Annunciation comes, it jolts me with the reminder that God comes, not when I’m well-rested and ready, but whenever God’s plan calls of me. I want to say yes too.
For my feast inspiration, I borrow from my Catholic siblings in Christ – there are some beautiful words from the Epistle of the Mass on Assumption Day (a feast that is not on our Episcopal calendar), which call her "exalted like a cedar in Libanus, a cypress tree on Mt. Sion, a palm in Cades, a rose plant in Jericho; a fair olive tree by the water, a sweet smell like cinnamon and aromatic balm, a sweet odor like the best myrrh."
What, then, could be more appropriate than spicy cookies, with their fragrance lingering through the house as they bake?
This Spice Cookies recipe is from
Cooking for Christ
, by Florence Berger
INGREDIENTS
·
1/4 cup melted butter
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1/2 cup warm molasses
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1/4 cup brown sugar
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1-7/8 cups flour
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1/3 teaspoon soda
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1/3 teaspoon salt
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1/3 teaspoon ginger
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1/3 teaspoon cloves
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1/3 teaspoon cinnamon
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1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
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1/8 teaspoon allspice
DIRECTIONS
Mix butter, molasses and sugar. Add sifted dry ingredients. Chill until hard (preferably overnight). Roll very thin. Bake in a moderate oven (375°) for six minutes. Cookies may be iced.
Erika Hagan is a member of St. Stephens, Ridgefield. She share her musings and liturgical meal planning on Eating Liturgically (
www.eatingliturgically.com
, @eatingliturgically).
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Looking For Directions? Maybe You Seek A Spiritual Director!
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What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual Direction
is a term used for centuries to describe a relationship between someone (the
directee
) who wants a safe place in which to describe and ponder personal religious/spiritual experience, in the presence of another (the
director
) who is trained to listen, and gently probe with comments or questions to help the directee clarify and explore more deeply the spiritual implications of what they are saying. The spiritual director does not ‘direct’ in the sense of telling the directee what to do, nor does the director teach in any traditional sense. And spiritual direction is not an apprenticeship where the directee attempts to emulate or imitate the director.
Rather, the director listens to and with the directee for the voice and activity of God in the material the directee presents, and in the experience of the session itself.
There are no ‘requirements’ as to current or past religious affiliation, religious education, etc. The only expectation of a directee is that he/she desires to enter more deeply into the life of the spirit through prayer. Far from confining the directee to narrow dogmatic definitions of how to pray, the purpose of spiritual direction is always to try to help the directee discover in their communication with God, a new kind of freedom,
grounded in the Spirit of Truth.
As you can also tell from this description, spiritual direction is not an academic exercise, and it is NOT psychotherapy, though, of course, one's mood, background, and life events are never disconnected from the spiritual life, and therefore enter into the conversation.
Unlike pastoral counseling or other therapy, spiritual direction is not outcome oriented, and an individual may journey with one or a series of directors over many years.
However, it is not rare for a directee to be receiving
counseling
in addition to spiritual direction.
In seeking a spiritual director, the organization,
Spiritual Directors International
recommends that you look for someone who has been trained in a reputable program (There is no universal certification or licensing of spiritual directors), someone who receives spiritual direction themselves, and someone who participates regularly in some sort of ‘supervision’ so they are not working in isolation and are accountable to other spiritual directors in continuing collaborative learning, and reflection on their ministry. Beyond this, the director needs to be someone you grow to trust.
A directee typically meets with the director for an hour every month or so, and it may take a few sessions for the directee to decide if spiritual direction (or a particular director) is helpful. There is customarily a fee, which is sometimes set, and sometimes left to the discretion of the directee.
If interested, please contact Wendy Lyons of Holy Trinity, Enfield, at wenvirly@aol.com
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Please save the date: Saturday, May 2, 2020 - the NE Region Convocation will be held at St. Mark's Chapel, Storrs. Details coming soon...
You don't want to miss this great opportunity!
Food + Fellowship + Jesus + Engaging in important work and conversation = a great time
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Where in the Region is Maggie?
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Looking for your NE Region Missionary? Here is a list of scheduled visitations for the next few months! See you soon!
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March 2020:
03/02 - Choral Evensong "In Praise of Women", St. Mark's, Storrs, 7PM
03/03 - The Way of the Cross, St. Mary's, Manchester, 7PM
03/04 - Lenten Soup & Bread program, All Saints, East Hartford "The Church and Discrimination", 6PM
03/05
- NE Region Leadership Team Meeting, St. John's, Vernon, 6PM
03/06 - Balance Class, St. Peter's, Hebron, 9AM, $5
03/06 - Lenten Prayer Breakfast, All Saints, East Hartford - lay lead worship and breakfast - 8AM
03/07
- Companions In Mission Conference, St. Paul's, Riverside, 8:30am, $10 -
register here
03/07 - Lenten Quiet Day, Holy Trinity, Enfield, 9AM-1PM -
more info here
03/10 - The Way of the Cross, St. Mary's, Manchester, 7PM
03/11 - Evening Prayer, St. Mark's, Storrs, 7PM
03/13 - Balance Class, St. Peter's, Hebron, 9AM, $5
03/13 - Lenten Prayer Breakfast, All Saints, East Hartford - lay lead worship and breakfast - 8AM
03/14
- NE Region Crafting As Spiritual Practice Day, Faith Lutheran Church, East Hartford -
register here
03/14 - Polish Community Dinner to benefit
AHM, St. Peter's, Hebron, 4:30PM
03/14 - Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, All Saints, East Hartford, seats at 5 & 6:30PM, $12/$4 adults/children under 12
03/14 - Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, St. George's, Bolton, 6PM - $12 for adults, $5 for children 13-17, free for children 12 and under
03/15 - Celtic Vespers at St. James, Glastonbury, 7PM
03/17- The Way of the Cross, St. Mary's, Manchester, 7PM
03/18 - The Last Green Valley: Stew & Story - dinner and adventure at The Inn at Woodstock Hill, 6PM -
register here
03/18 - Lenten Soup & Bread program, All Saints, East Hartford "Care for the Poor", 6PM
03/20 - Balance Class, St. Peter's, Hebron, 9AM, $5
03/20 - Lenten Prayer Breakfast, All Saints, East Hartford - lay lead worship and breakfast - 8AM
03/21
- Leadership Gathering, The Commons, 8:30AM
03/21
- Maplefest! with AHM/St. Peter's, Hebron Nature Day - 25 Pendleton Drive, Hebron, 9AM
03/21 - Corn Beef & Cabbage Dinner, St. John's, Vernon
03/21 - Africa Education Partnership Benefit Concert with the Tapesty Singers of CT, First Baptist Church, Manchester, 4PM
03/22
- Healing Service, Trinity, Brooklyn, 2PM
03/24
- Evening With Our Bishops: Confirmads Dinner, The Commons, 6PM -
click to register
03/24 - The Way of the Cross, St. Mary's, Manchester, 7PM
03/25 - The Feast of the Annunication - eat some spice cookies! :)
03/25
- Evening Prayer, St. Mark's, Storrs, 7PM
03/27 - Balance Class, St. Peter's, Hebron, 9AM, $5
03/27 - Lenten Prayer Breakfast, All Saints, East Hartford - lay lead worship and breakfast - 8AM
03/27-03/29 - 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Episcopal Church at Yale -
click for more info
03/28
- NE Region Lenten Quiet Day, St. James, Glastonbury -
register here
03/28 - Contemproary Worship & Annual Pasta Dinner at Holy Trinity, Enfield, 5PM, dinner is $5/person and capped at $20 for families
03/29 - Community Sedar Meal hosted by United Brethren Synagogue and area churches - St. Peter's, Hebron, 4:30PM - call for reservations 860-228-3244
April 2020:
04/01 - Lenten Soup & Bread program, All Saints, East Hartford "The Church and Protection of Rights", 6PM
04/02 - Faithful Futures: Unconscious Bias, The Commons, 6PM
04/03 - Balance Class, St. Peter's, Hebron, 9AM, $5
04/03- Lenten Prayer Breakfast, All Saints, East Hartford - lay lead worship and breakfast - 8AM
04/07 - The Way of the Cross, St. Mary's, Manchester, 7PM
04/08 - Evening Prayer, St. Mark's, Storrs, 7PM
04/10 - Balance Class, St. Peter's, Hebron, 9AM, $5
04/11 - Easter Bake Sale, All Saints, East Hartford, 9AM-1PM
04/17 - Balance Class, St. Peter's, Hebron, 9AM, $5
04/22 - Evening Prayer, St. Mark's, Storrs, 7PM
04/24 - Balance Class, St. Peter's, Hebron, 9AM, $5
04/25 - Racial Healing, Justice & Reconcilition Ministry Network meeting, Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, 9am
04/25 - Comprehensive Full Day Basic Safe Church Training, Grace Church, Windsor -
click for more info
04/26 - Healing Service, Trinity, Brooklyn, 2PM
04/28 - Evening with the Bishops: Individuals thinking about ordination to the Diaconate, and their clergy, The Commons, 6PM
May 2020:
05/02 - NE Region Convocation, St. Mark's, Storrs, 9AM-2PM
05/07 - QPR training for suicide prevention, St. Peter's, Hebron, 10AM -
more info here
05/07
- Faithful Futures: Grant-writing & ECCT Grants, The Commons, 6PM
05/17
- Comprehensie Hybrid Safe Church Training, Trinity, Brooklyn -
more info here
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STAY CONNECTED WITH NE REGION
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You can reach Maggie Breen, NE Region Missionary, the following ways:
MAIL:
Maggie Breen, NE Region Missionary, St. John's Episcopal Church, 523 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT 06066
PHONE:
203-639-3501 x154
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From Occupare Faenum Farm:
Did you know that wool is a renewable resource, fire and water resistant, and comes in a million colors and levels of softness? If you want to do something great for the enviornment and for your body, help support local sheep farmers: buy yarn to create something for yourself, or buy premade items and enjoy for years and years. And, in case you are wondering - sheep must be shorn in order to maintain their health. A good shearer can take a fleece off a sheep in just a few minutes with no harm done. And the sheep are much releaved not to have their heavy winter coats on in the Summer!
Photo by: Maggie Breen
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