South Central
Region
Enews
April 22, 2023
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"Gnarly Old Apple"
Artist: Roxanne Steed,
St. James, New London
12 x 12 Watercolor
Used with permission
Earth Day, and all days,
we give thanks for trees
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Why I care for Creation and Trees:
Gabe LePage
St. John's, New Haven
As Christians, we believe that God created the heavens and the earth and that all created things are a word spoken from the mouth of God. God sustains all that is, and all things from slugs to sunsets are wonderfully and beautifully made. Have you looked closely at a tree lately? Trees are as strange and wild a creation as any, with hidden roots holding a trunk and arms of branches flung into the air. All things have their place in creation, and I believe that trees are a particular grace of God. By planting a tree in the right time and right place, people can share and cultivate these particular graces.
My interest in trees first took physical shape when I volunteered with A Rocha Kenya, a Christian conservation organization on the coast of Kenya. The gardener Frances tended a native tree nursery and taught me how to plant them alongside the driveway to their research center on the coast of Kenya. More recently, I have worked with the Urban Resources Initiative planting street trees in New Haven, CT with teams of local high school students and people returning to society from prison. Residents request and care for these trees that also serve as a means of education and employment for graduate students, high school students, and ex-offenders. The organization may not be explicitly Christian, but they are cultivating a particular means of grace. As I see more trees in the city reduce flooding, increase groundwater recharge, provide insect and bird habitat, and reduce energy bills, as well as provide jobs for populations that are often overlooked, I can hear God's words in a very physical way, and I give thanks.
Gabe LePage is a joint degree student in Yale School of the Environment and Yale Divinity School, and parishioner in St. John's, New Haven.
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Thank You Bishops
The Rev. Ellen Adams
Bishops in Connecticut put in many hours. They wear many hats and need to maintain a great many relationships for the diocese to function. The Creation Care Network decided we wanted to show our appreciation. We wanted to say thank you on behalf of ECCT for their commitment to God and to the people of CT and beyond. Since all three had been at Lambeth Conference where the Communion Forest was introduced and all three have a commitment to creation care, we decided to plant trees in their honor.
An oak tree and two flowering trees will be planted at Camp Washington, one for The Rt. Rev. Ian Douglas, our retired diocesan bishop and one each for our bishops, The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Mello and The Rt. Rev. Laura Ahrens.
See the flyer for details. We hope to see you at Camp Washington on May 6, 2023 at 2:30 PM to help us plant the trees and honor our bishops. A reception will follow. It will be handicapped accessible.
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Anglican Communion launches new Communion Forest Movement
"To plant is to hope, to protect is to love and to restore is to heal."
Margaret Sipple, Trinity, Branford
ECCT Creation Care Ministry Network
With these words, those gathered for last summer’s Lambeth Conference, launched a new initiative called the Communion Forest, inviting all of us who belong to the Anglican Communion to find ways to participate.
At the service of dedication, Archbishop Justin Welby said, “I encourage you to join in this exciting initiative in your way, whether by protecting a precious environment, restoring a degraded one or planting something new. All these activities are spiritual acts too, for to plant is to hope, to protect is to love and to restore is to heal – to share in God’s reconciling work in all creation”.
As part of the service, the first official tree of the new movement was planted in the garden of Lambeth Palace, and those attending were invited to bless the tree by pouring a cup of soil on its roots. Earlier in the day, Bishops had shared with one another the environmental challenges affecting their own communities and written them on paper leaves added during the ceremony to “trees of life” provided for the service.
Most of us probably think of ourselves as being members of our Parish Church and perhaps of our Diocese, but it is also a wonderful reminder that we are part of an enormous Communion of Anglican/Episcopal Christians that is spread far and wide around the globe. And our Anglican Branch of the Vine is growing! While in 1970, there were only 47 million of us, today there are 85 million people in the Anglican Communion! This growth and these breath-taking numbers are important for us American Episcopalians to remember as we struggle to remain faithful to our roots and commit ourselves to provide hope and love and healing for the incredible gift of God’s Creation.
On April 27, there will be a worldwide online gathering to hear stories about how our new Communion Forest Initiative is taking root in the Provinces of Kenya, Malawi, the Anglican Church of Central Africa, the Dioceses of Washington and California, and the Diocese of Cork Cloyne and Ross in Ireland. You can register here.
You can also find a digital Communion Forest brochure on the Diocesan Creation Care Network page of the ECCT website. See the Resources section on the right side of the page, and select “Articles and more.”
The Diocesan Creation Care Network encourages every Parish in our Diocese to discover how they can participate and share their stories as members of the new Communion Forest
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In this course, priest, author, and environmental activist Stephanie Johnson will guide participants through four 1-hour-long sessions exploring the Christian call to creation care. We'll discuss environmental challenges that face us in our time, ways to advocate for creation effectively, and how to recognize our connection with God through our experience of the created world.
The class will meet in four Zoom sessions on Wednesday nights at 8 p..m. E.T. on April 26, May 3, May 10, and May 17. Participants in this course will also receive a 25% discount code to purchase The Creation Care Bible Challenge. (The book is not required for the class.) The cost is $35. Registration is open now. Sign up here! http://ow.ly/LWbL50NFfaZ
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Report from Mission Council |
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The last Mission Council meeting was held at The Commons in Meriden on March 25, 2023. It was a packed house in the Connecticut River Room with both Bishops, Canons and Mission Council members alike. Despite a robust agenda, we managed to complete our work and leave shortly after noon.
Financial reports, parish and property updates as well as new initiatives being considered were discussed.
A representative from AON regarding the possibility of erecting 5g towers on our church properties joined us to answer questions and concerns that have been raised across our regions. The positive aspects were discussed as well. In particular, the potential income to churches from having a 5g structure on their property. My understanding is that churches located in the urban downtown areas may be considered first as acceptable sites. AON will be offering a session at ECCT Spring Training, ‘Aon Technology; Raising Your Roof with Revenue. The Spring Training link is here: 2023 Spring Training & Gathering - Online | Eventbrite
Another important topic discussed was the ECCT Property Grant Program. There is $49k available for parishes to apply for, which could pay up to 50% of their expenses, not to exceed $8,000. While all the funds have been committed for the current round of funding, you can apply for the next round after June 1. Please check out the ECCT website for all the details: Property Improvement Grant | Episcopal Church in Connecticut (episcopalct.org)
An important note for clergy and administrators who fill out the (dreaded) annual parochial (parish) report: it was necessary to fill out a ‘Creation Care Energy Audit this year. This came out of a Resolution at the 2021 Annual Convention. Again, please refer to the ECCT website for all the details about this and other required surveys.
Respectfully submitted,
Karolyn Nicolaides
St John’s, North Guilford
SC Region Member
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In thanksgiving for new life during Easter |
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Join us for a conversaiton to share our hopes, fears and resources to confront climate crisis and its impacts as they show up in our own community. Dinner proceeds will go towards helping Amistad House, and the work they are doing to reimagine the distribution of resources everyday.
During dinner, we will guide a variety of activities and conversations to reflect on what faith and envronmental groups have to share in caring for our common places.
Do you have material, flyers or resources you would like to share? Bring them!
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Thank you to all of you who are participating in the partnership with St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in New Haven to collect items for Kyiv and Lviv during the Season of Easter.
We are also invited to worship with them, and to participate in one of their packing days, where all the goods that are collected are prepared for shipping.
Worship:
Sunday -- 9:00 English (no choir), 10:30 Ukrainian (Choir). We also have divine liturgy on Saturday mornings at 9:00 (Ukrainian and English with choir).
Packing:
Tuesdays, 5pm-7pm: 4/25
Thursdays, 5pm-7pm: 4/27
Saturday, packing and loading of 25 ft. trailer. 8am, April 29
Please contact Rachel Thomas if you have been doing this, so we can map our collecting them from parishes! Thank you!
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Upcoming Events and Resources |
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EfM Open House
“Who do you say that I am?” As Jesus asked of his disciples 2000 years ago, so God asks each of us today. What does God mean to us, and what do we believe about God? What does God ask of us?
Education for Ministry (EfM) is a program for adults who want to develop their faith by addressing those questions. In EfM we explore our personal beliefs and doubts, and our understanding of God and ourselves in our world through readings and above all through thoughtful group discussion and shared life experiences.
EFM was developed by Sewanee, an Episcopal Seminary at the University of the South. While geared to Christianity, EFM welcomes other faiths, and ecumenical seminar groups can be rich experiences. Students sign up one year at a time for the four year program. By the end of the program you will have received a basic theological education in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, church history and liturgy, theology and ethics. Some more information is available at the EFM website.
Tuition is $325/year, which covers administrative costs and participants buy their own books.
Education for Ministry at Church of the Epiphany, Durham meets on line Monday OR Thursday nights from 7-9PM ET. Call or email Karen Otte at 860-349-3631 or karen.otte@me.com for more information.
Our EFM Open House will be Thursday April 27, 7-9 EDT. We plan to watch a short film together and then discuss, to give people a feeling for how the group goes. We’ll start with a little time on listening and respect for differences, some sharing of what sparked our interest in EFM, what we hope to get out of it.
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Trinity on the Green New Haven will present an Art Exhibit, Of Many One, exploring immigrant experiences in celebration of the diverse people that came together to create our great nation.
Artists in different genres are invited to submit work(s) for consideration no later than May 1st, 2023. The exhibit will open Saturday, May 20th with an opening reception featuring performances by Ekklesia Ballet, Cuatro Puntos Ensemble, and the noted Iraqi composer Ameen Modad. Artists are encouraged to attend the opening.
The Exhibit will be on display at Trinity on the Green for two weeks from May 20th to June 4th and artists can offer works for sale. Details of the sales process available upon request. For more information please contact Bill Pagano: paganob944@gmail.com
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Swords to Plowshares
coming to
Zion, North Branford
The Book of Isaiah contains the following passage: "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
On Sunday, April 23rd, retired CT bishop, the Rt. Rev. Jim Curry will come to Zion to preach at our 9:15 a.m. worship service and will bring his forge. After coffee hour, Bishop Curry will make garden tools and other items from gun parts in the parking lot. All are welcome
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Next steps in Advocacy
Thursday, May 11th from
7 - 8:30 pm over Zoom
Now is a critical time and a great opportunity for parishes to engage in the important work of legislative advocacy. Learn how 50 congregations in Greater Hartford are working together for justice on multiple issues. Cori Mackey, the lead organizer for the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance, and Rev. AJ Johnson, GHIAA organizer and senior pastor of Urban Hope Refuge Church will join us for an engaging session on how parishes can engage in the work of justice. We will examine faith based organizing and look at issues that need advocacy right now in Connecticut – issues such as affordable housing, healthcare, gun violence prevention, environmental racism, and education. This will be a session that shows us how to engage in justice work as a parish and will have specific, actionable issues if you also are ready to dig into the work now!
We are still working on an Eventbrite for the event; but wanted to get this in front of you, at the earliest, so that you can hold the date and time. Many of us have asked about “what we can do here in Connecticut” around issues of justice, and this webinar will provide a way forward.
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Photos from Holy Week and Easter |
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Bishop Mello celebrated and preached on Maundy Thursday at the Chapel on the Green worship and foot clinic.
Below, Bishop Ahrens celebrated and preached at the Great Vigil of Easter with Confirmands from the Episcopal Church at Yale, St. Peter's, Milford, St. John's, North Haven, and Trinity College, Hartford.
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As a tree in the forest becomes tall reaching for the light,
May we grow above the shadows of sin, fear and doubt.
As it gives shelter and shade to its friends of fur and feather,
So may we help those brothers and sisters that are smaller and weaker than ourselves.
The tree sends down roots deep into the soil that it may be nourished by Mother Earth.
May we be as firmly grounded by the love of Christ and sustained by his grace.
If a tree falls and decays, it provides nourishment for new plants and gives its place in the sun for others.
Our Lord and Savior died to make new life and a new place for us.
When a tree in the forest is cut down, its wood is used for shelter and fuel.
Jesus taught that only when life is surrendered, when love is poured out, can we build His Kingdom and reflect the warmth of His spirit. Amen.
(Milton Vahey, sited in God's Good Earth, Anne & Jeffery Rowthorn, p.76)
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You may reach Rachel Thomas at rthomas@episcopalct.org or
US Mail: The Episcopal Church in Connecticut, The Commons, 290 Pratt Street, Box 52, Meriden, Ct 06450
PHONE: 203-639-3501 x153 or Mobile: 860-316-8184
You may reach The Rev. Bevan Stanley, Chaplain for Retired Clergy, at:
Mobile phone: 860-491-5024
Email: ebevanstanley@gmail.com
Address: 7 Alden Avenue
New Haven, CT 06515
Deadline for the next South Central Region enews is March 27, 2023
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