NORTHEAST REGION MISSIVE

Weekly Check-In:
21 May 2020
Announcements!!!
  • Your weekly missive is coming to you on a new day this week, because your NE Region Missionary is taking a stay-cation from 22 May thru 1 June. Missives will begin again on 6 June.

  • There will be NO NE Region Noon Day Prayer on 23 May or 30 May due to the NE Region Missionary being away

  • There will be NO clergy check in or parish liaison check in the week of 24 May
A Word of Encouragment from your NE Region Missionary
Hello dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It's hard to believe that the end of May seems right upon our doorsteps. Everywhere I look I see signs of a New England Summer coming - people are walking or using the bike trails, the line at Home Depot is bonkers, gardens are being put in all over the place. I'll be taking the next week off to enjoy some time away from technology; I'll go get some serious Vitamin D and play in my garden, cuddle my sheep, and practice my ukulele.

In May the NE Region Leadership Team usually holds our annual Convocation. Because of COVID-19, our Convocation will happen in October and will likely not look like anything we've done before. Unlike this picture, we may not be able to gather with our prayer books and our construction paper chains. Our time together may look more like a zoom call: we may see each other in our "Hollywood Squares" as Rev. Steve Ling, of Holy Trinity, Enfield calls it, or our "Brady Bunch" view as we are fond of saying at staff meetings. And yet, we will still see each other, and that is a beautiful thing.

Our hope is to offer content around racial justice and how we can be involved, as individuals and as congregations. Some work is better done individually, where we can process our thoughts and feelings internally and in a space that is comfortable for us. Some things are better to do with other people. Some things will require courage and fortitude, and some might only require a visit to your local (online) bookstore.

Below are some resources that you should consider. While I am on vacation this week, I plan on watching the Netflix show "Dear White People" and to begin reading The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter. The show is mentioned in the article 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice (mentioned below) and the book was mentioned in the CEEP webinar (also mentioned below). I would invite you to watch, read, or engage with these resources in the next few weeks. In what ways might God be calling us to engage in the work of justice in our communities, especially during this time. We may not be able to gather in person, but we are not limited in what we can do to support efforts of equality in our communities.

Photo by Bishop Laura Ahrens, taken from the NE Region FB Page
Social Isolation: Staying Connected & Having Fun
This is the space of possibility! A space where we have time to explore what we are curious about. A space where we can figure out how to find joy when we must be apart.

So..........here are some tools, tricks, and tips for bringing a little sunshine into your lives. All while keeping 6 feet away from each other. ;)

  1. If you are interested in creating a hospitable area that supports our pollinators (bees, moths, birds, etc), here is a great website that will give you all kinds of tips and tricks, plus tell you what plants are the best to use!
  2. I've been really into birds lately, and I love hearing hummingbirds buzz by me! Here is a great article with some facts about hummingbirds, and pictures of nests! Have you ever seen a hummingbird nest?!?
  3. So...I played French horn all through college and the Rondo from Mozart's 4th Horn Concerto is my favorite piece for horn my Mozart. And I never played it as well as this woman did, and I certainly never did it with a hula hoop! Check it out.
  4. You need to check out Taimane Gardner, a Hawaiian virtuoso ukulele player or Jake Shimabukuro, also a Hawaiian virtuoso ukulele player. Because wow. Just wow.
News From Around ECCT
If you are looking to get involved with Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation but aren't sure where to start, below are a few good resources for you to check out:


  • If you want to know what resources ECCT's Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Ministry Networks offers, please visit their website!

  • The below two videos are recordings of webinars that are well worth your time, especially if you want to know more about how COVID-19 is affection People of Color.
Covid-19, Health Disparities, and Systematic Racism: A Call to Action a webinar that was organized by Kelli Ray Gibson, ECCT's Racial Justice Resource Coordinator. I would encourage you to watch it HERE.
The Consortium for Endowed Episcopal Parishes put this webinar together to address Race, Inequity, and Covid-19. While inequity isn't a new thing, COVID-19 is shining a light on how divided we still are. You can watch the YouTube video HERE.
The ECCT Young Adult Task Force has good news! At our meeting last week, we decided on  one  clear and simple course of action:  focus our energies on creating a video, to be presented at Convention, that gives voice to the stories, perspectives, and ideas of young adult Episcopalians in Connecticut . 

If you are a young adult Episcopalian in CT,  we invite you to share your story!  Contact Erendira Jimenez ( [email protected] ) or John Kennedy [email protected] if you would like to participate. 
ICYMI: ECCT staff Canons Robin Hammeal-Urban and Lee Ann Tolzmann put together and hosted a wonderful zoom call for "Effective Leadership in times of Anxiety and Panic". You can access copies of the materials they shared HERE. While the call was not recorded, I would encourage you to view these if you weren't able to attend. And even if you did attend, a little refresher never hurt anyone!

Photo by  Tonik  on  Unsplash
Resources & Important Information:
  • Governor Lamont issued a press release stating FREE infared thermometers for houses of worship. CLICK HERE to read the release and apply for yours!


  • If you are looking for resources to egnage in work around Racial Healing, Justice & Reconciliation but can't find what you need, consider THIS FORM to help ECCT curate resources that fit your needs!

  • NE Region Satruday Noon Day Prayer via Zoom - you can CLICK HERE to join via the web OR you can use this number to call in: 1 646 558 8656 (a NY number, so not toll-free) and use meeting ID 492 284 976 THIS IS CANCELLED ON 23 MAY AND 30 MAY

  • Are you signed up for the ECCT eNews? CLICK HERE to get it delivered to your inbox!
Save The Date: Upcoming Events
Food Insecurity in the NE Region
Rev. Jane Hale, of Trinity Church in Brooklyn and Maggie Breen, your NE Region Missionary, are hosting a conversation around food insecurity in the NE Region. If you are interested, please plan to join us on Tuesday, 9 June, at 7pm. Zoom details to follow.

Photo by  John Cameron  on  Unsplash
Town Hall Meeting in the NE Region
Bishop Ian Douglas & Bishop Laura Ahrens, together with the NE Region Leadership Team and the ECCT Region Missionaries, invite you to a conversation on Thursday, 4 June, at 2PM.

What are we learning?
What is God saying?

This is an invitation to all in the Northeast Region to a Zoom "Town Hall" with our Bishops. Use THIS LINK to join the meeting.

Photo by  chuttersnap  on  Unsplash
NE Region Wardens Gathering
If you are a warden in the NE Region, I would encourage you to join with me and your fellow wardens for a once a month zoom call. This is a space for fellowship and sharing. Our next call is on Tuesday, 2 June, at 7pm . Email Maggie for the zoom details.

Photo by  Kelly Sikkema  on  Unsplash
Lay Preaching Class 2020
The NE Region will be hosting another Lay Preaching Class, running on Thursday evenings beginning September 24 thru October 29. Participation in this class is contingent on getting consent from your priest/warden. Questions, or ready to sign up, please contact Maggie at [email protected] or 203-639-3501 x154
You can reach Maggie Breen, NE Region Missionary, the following ways:
PHONE: 203-639-3501 x154