A message from your

Region Missionary:

Dear friends,

I write you this letter with both a heavy heart and with excitement and peace. There is no easy way to say this—last week I sent in my letter of resignation to Bishop Ian, and my last day as your Region Missionary will be August 14 ^th. My partner and I will be headed to San Diego to be close to my parents and to begin to put down roots in the place where we hope to grow our family down the road. Walking alongside the 37 communities in this Region has been such a joy. Watching your resiliency and commitment to growth, however difficult, gives me hope for the future of ECCT and the Southwest Region in particular. I leave knowing that if we can all keep trusting the nudging of the Spirit towards transformation and newness of life we will collectively be brought to liberation.

My next vocational step is still getting clear, but I hope to turn myself back towards cultivating relationships with and spaces for young people, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ folks, to support and companion them on their spiritual journeys. I ask for your prayers for continued discernment and trust as I make a new way for myself in a revolutionary time.

Before I leave my position as SW Region Missionary, I hope you’ll join me and the Region Leadership Team at the Census Forum later this week (July 23 ^rd, more information below) where we’ll be hearing from Yvette Rose, Census Bureau Partner Specialist, about the ways the Census is an avenue for justice work. As we more and more recognize the need to center racial justice work in our faith communities I think it’s important to find the ways we can partner with secular agencies and organizations who have been leading in the work so that we can support the good work already being done in our local communities. Join us for what is sure to be an informative hour!

I’ll wrap up by saying that you’ll be hearing from me a couple more times before I leave, so this isn’t goodbye just yet!

Peace and blessings,

Erendira

IMPORTANT DATES

July 29th, 5:30pm -- SW Wardens' Meeting, Zoom

August 6th, 4:30pm -- SW RLT Meeting, Zoom

August 12th, 5:30pm -- SW Wardens' Meeting, Zoom

Region Leadership Team hosting Census Forum -- July 23, 5pm

SW Region Convocation SAVE THE DATE -- September 17, 7-9pm

Region News

Join Yvette Rose (Partner Specialist with the Census Bureau), our Region Missionary, and the Southwest Region Leadership Team for a one hour conversation on exploring the importance of the Census and the implications for justice work in our Region.

Watch the video below for more information on "What is the 2020 Census?"

ECCT SW Region YouTube Channel

Christ Church, Trumbull

St. Francis, Stamford

Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation Request Form:

Racial Reconciliation and Justice Resources:

Please join South Central Region Missionary George Black and Secretary of Convention Adam Yates for a conversation about where we see God working in our Diocese, and where we want to see the move of The Spirit. This is a conversation specifically for Black, Indigenous and People of Color in the Diocese of Connecticut to voice their hopes and concerns, and to share those hopes and concerns by submitting questions to this year's Convention.

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to George or Adam at  [email protected]  and  [email protected] .

Fri, Jul 24, 2020 9:30 AM EST

Bishop's Book Discussion at Camp Washington - ONLINE

Register Here

Next month's Bishop's book discussion led by Bishop Suffragan Laura J. Ahrens will be on How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. Info on the book

can be found here .

Join Bishop Ian and Bishop Laura for upcoming Zoom conversations:

Father,

you have filled your people with the Spirit

who rested first on your Son

and united us in your Church;

open the channels for your Spirit

that we may freely work together,

and your kingdom and your rule increase;

for the glory of your holy name.

Amen.

Due to new calls and self care calendar adjustments, we’re still looking for a few folks to join the team. Do you believe collaborative efforts among parishes and common ministry networks will continue to build the Region? If you do, p lease consider being part of the Southwest Region Leadership Team.

To learn more about what it means to be part of the team or if you would like to join, please contact Erendira [email protected]