Welcoming All into God's Peace Together
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The Second Sunday of Easter
No Service at Grace
See Below for Worship Opportunity and for Link for Grace Virtual Zoom Coffee Hour
at 10:30 a.m.
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Grace Episcopal Church
5958 Main Street, Trumbull CT 06611
Office Phone
203-268-2809
email:
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The Grace Church Prayerline
Grace Church is happy to pray for you. You can submit your prayer request on line by clicking the button below or mail it to our church office at
Grace Church, 5958 Main Street, Trumbull CT 06611
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Greetings!
John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
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Second Sunday of Easter
The Collect:
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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Sermons and Reflections
This is a sermon on "Showing Up, Easter 2 (B) ." It is written by The Rev. James Liggett and is published in "Sermons that Work," on the website of the Episcopal Church in the United States. The Gospel reading for this Sunday is above and the other readings for the week may be found by clicking on the "Readings" blue button above.
Showing Up, Easter 2 (B) – April 11, 2021
Alleluia, Christ is Risen.
The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia.
The Second Sunday of Easter is very dependable. (Not just with attendance.) This is Thomas’ Sunday, and every year the Gospel tells the story of Jesus’ special appearance among the Apostles to greet Thomas. There’s much to appreciate about Thomas – and much we can learn from him.
The first thing to learn is about the disciples and faith, the second is about doubt in general. Let’s start with Thomas’ unfortunate adjective. He’s always called “doubting”, as if the other disciples had more faith than he did, and that made Thomas a bit of a problem. But it didn’t work that way. The problem really wasn’t with Thomas; it was with the others.
Remember what happened. For one reason or another, Thomas was not with the others on Easter morning; (the Bible doesn’t say why, but perhaps he had company that weekend) so Thomas didn’t share their experience of the risen Lord. That meant they had something he didn’t have, and instead of their experience, what Thomas had was their word about what they had seen—and that wasn’t enough. You see, Thomas never doubted Jesus; he doubted the other Apostles. The problem was not really Thomas—the problem was the credibility of the others. They had seen the risen Jesus; they had been given his peace and his spirit; they had been sent by him to continue his work in the world. We heard all of that in the first part of the Gospel.
It was now up to these witnesses to share the good news. That’s what they were sent to do. And, bless their hearts, their witness to the Resurrection was not even compelling enough to convince Thomas; and Thomas wanted to believe – he was ready to believe.
It’s the same way now. The temptation is to say that the problem is out there, with all of those unbelievers like Thomas—if they would only shape up and believe better, (preferably to the point of becoming Episcopalians), then things would improve immeasurably. It’s easier to do that, to complain about them, than it is to pay careful attention to the less-than-persuasive words and lives of today’s disciples—of those who are called to be witnesses to Jesus. It feels better to call Thomas “doubting” than to call the disciples—or ourselves—“unconvincing”.
But Thomas is here to make us uncomfortable, not smug. Remember, faith almost always comes to people through the faith of others, through the life and ministry of the Church.
Virtually everyone “out there” is like Thomas. Virtually everyone “out there” – and that includes our children and grandchildren – depends upon people who already believe to point them toward faith. Virtually everyone “out there” – and that includes our children and grandchildren – depends upon us.
The other disciples told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” But they were scared; they were hiding behind locked doors; they were only talking to each other. Just a week earlier, Jesus had stood among them—but you couldn’t tell it from them. They sure didn’t act like something wonderful had happened at Easter. So, Thomas didn’t believe them, even though he wanted to. That’s the way it was, and all too often, that’s the way it still is. Thomas was not the problem. Today’s doubting Thomases are not the problem. The problem is the authenticity, the power, and the persuasiveness of the Church. That’s the bad news.
But there is good news here as well—Good News for Thomas, for the disciples, and so for us, the Church. For Christ is risen, and he comes to us. Risen, he comes to the Church—even when the Church continues to huddle in fear behind locked doors.
And he brings to completion the work that a weak and sinful collection of disciples cannot do alone. Work that we cannot do alone. The good news is that Jesus continues to be with us, that he continues to be for us, and that he continues to speak to us and to his world his words of forgiveness and of peace.
This doesn’t mean we are off the hook. It doesn’t mean we have no responsibilities and no vocation to service. It doesn’t mean that Jesus will do it all for us, and we can take it easy. But it does mean that we are able to continue–warts and all—in hope and in confidence. It does mean both that we are not alone, and that we do not need to be afraid. Sometimes we fail, as the disciples failed with Thomas. But we don’t stop, and we don’t give up, and we are free to do our best, even if it’s risky. While there is always room for improvement, there is never cause for despair. We continue to struggle forward together, and Jesus continues to be found among us.
The heart of the story of doubting Thomas is not about doubt (Thomas’ or anyone else’s), it’s about the call of the Church to witness to the Resurrection. And the biggest piece of good news is not that Thomas comes to faith; the biggest bit of good news is that the Risen Lord still comes to his Church. That good news is for us. We are called to be witnesses to the Resurrection, and our Lord is with us.
At the same time, we can’t let Thomas slip by us without saying something about doubt, real personal, bone-deep doubt as to the truth or value of parts (or all) of this whole religious enterprise. First of all, doubt is always part of the life of faith.
There is never authentic faith without doubt; that’s something we all know about. And doubt is not at all a bad thing; it’s a necessary thing. Doubt happens—often in times of crisis and tragedy, sometimes just all by its own self. Faith matures with ups and downs, not in a straight line.
Anyway, let’s consider one tiny thing about doubt, ours and his, that we can learn from Thomas’ story. Did you notice that Jesus did not come to Thomas while Thomas was on the way to work, or walking the dog, or playing a round of golf, or just thinking things over? Jesus came to Thomas when Thomas was with the disciples, when he was within the fellowship of believers. Thomas was smart; he didn’t believe the disciples, but he did stay with them. He knew that if his doubt were ever to be met, it would be met there—not somewhere else.
That’s usually the way it is with us. Our doubts are usually met as we stay within the community of faith, as we hang in there doing the sorts of things we would be doing if we weren’t bothered (or overwhelmed) with doubt. It was a good thing, and not a hypocritical thing, for Thomas to stay with the others even when he didn’t believe a single word they said. So it is for us. There’s a very real connection between hanging around this place, and living this life, and the gift of meeting the Lord. That connection isn’t simple, and it isn’t exact, and it isn’t at all predictable, but we can depend on it. He will come to us, through whatever doors we lock, through whatever barriers we build.
Sometimes, as it must have been with Thomas, what turns out to be the greatest moment of faith doesn’t feel like faith at all; it feels like doubt. Sometimes what turns out to be the greatest moment of faith feels like just hanging on and just showing up; it feels like waiting and going through the motions. But that’s alright; that’s the way it works. That was what Thomas needed to do, and that was all Thomas needed to do.
Jesus did the rest. It still works like that.
Alleluia, Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia.
The Rev. James Liggett is the retired Rector of St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church in Midland, Texas. He is a native of Kansas and a graduate of the University of Houston and the Episcopal Divinity School. He has served parishes in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma and has been a contributor to Sermons That Work since the 1980’s.
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Transition and Worship Update
Worship Info for this Sunday in RED Below
The Grace Vestry had virtual meetings with Bishop Laura Ahrens, for the purpose of discussing the future of Grace Church. Bishop Ahrens advised the Vestry that due to the our financial situation, Grace is not considered able to search for a new priest. We need to consider other options. This decision was made by our Diocese in part because the larger percentage of our operating income comes from users of our facilities and not from parishioner contributions. It must be stressed that Grace parishioners are very generous and consistent in their pledging and contributions; there are just not enough of us to provide a larger percentage of operating income. Although our finances have been in the black for several months, this is in large part due to the fact that we were not paying a priest for many months.
The options presented to the Vestry were:
Explore joining with another parish in the area, most likely selling the Grace property, and transferring proceeds from assets (amount available for transfer to be determined by our Diocese) to the other parish and merge into the other parish. This option is not limited to Trumbull churches; parishes in surrounding towns are also an option. Of course, this is entirely dependent upon another church's willingness to work with Grace to accomplish this. The hope with this option is that the joining of two churches will bring new opportunities for worship and new resources for community service. It is expected that the assets of Grace are highly valued and Grace will be able to provide significant financial assets to a partner church. This option requires a commitment by most of our parishioners to agree to go to the partner church as a group. If this option is selected, Grace is responsible for arranging the sale of the Grace property and assets and handling the closing of the facilities.
The other option is that Grace close and our parishioners then choose to go to whatever church they wish to attend. Some of us could very well go the to same church but there is no requirement for that. In this case, our Diocese arranges the sale and closing of Grace and all Grace assets from the sale are transferred to our Diocese.
Our senior warden, Fiona asks that we all give this some thought and explore area churches. Churches that have Zoom services or virtual services linked on Facebook welcome participation by guests. Some area churches are also without priests and are also in transition. Keep in mind that you may also view past services at various neighboring parishes on-line, usually on the parish's Facebook page. Fiona asked that we virtually visit with St. Peter's Monroe, Trinity Nichols, Christ Church Trumbull in Tashua, St. Timothy's, Fairfield and Christ Church, Easton and we have done so.
During the most recent virtual meeting with Bishop Ahrens, the Grace Vestry was advised that the next steps in the process are survey and appraisal of all the Grace property. If you are able to assist with the survey and recording of items in the many rooms and areas of the Grace property, please speak with Fiona.
In the meantime, we continue to investigate and consider our options; the most likely and preferred (by Grace parishioners) option is merging with another parish in the area. During conversations with the various parishes, the idea of merger was enthusiastically entertained by the neighboring parishes. Grace has options to consider and, if merger is chosen and agreed to, the time frame will most likely be in 2022. This will be further discussed at the Grace Annual Meeting this spring, date to be advised.
We at Grace are very happy that The Reverend Louise Kalemkerian has joined us as interim priest-in-charge. She will be leading in-person worship services and was our priest on Palm Sunday and Easter Services at Grace.
The next upcoming in-person worship services is scheduled for April 18th and Grace will then have services either in the church or outside 2 times per month with The Rev. Louise presiding. Grace Service time is now 11:00 a.m. On other Sundays, Grace will join neighboring churches via Facebook or ZOOM or have morning prayer via ZOOM, to be advised in advance.
From Fiona:
Sunday April 11th, Grace will be visiting the service at Trinity Episcopal Church in Nichols. The service is at 9:00 a.m. and is a virtual service and can be accessed via the Trinity Church Facebook tab on their website (trinitynichols.org). We will meet for Grace Church Coffee hour following the service at 10:30 at the zoom link listed below. Our next service at Grace Church will be April 18th, at 11:00 a.m., and it will be either outside or inside depending upon the weather.
Here is the link for April 11th, 10:30 coffee hour:
Topic: Grace Church Coffee Hour
Time: Apr 11, 2021 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 844 9413 6761
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,84494136761# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,84494136761# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
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+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 844 9413 6761
Peace be with you all,
Fiona Varker
Senior Warden
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Grace Welcomes The Rev. Louise Kalemkerian, Interim Priest-in-Charge
Rev. Kalemkerian was with Grace a few years ago as our Interim Priest and we all remember those months as a wonderful time in our parish. We are delighted and joyful to welcome her back and so grateful that she and our Diocese have decided that she will walk the path of transition with Grace.
Please keep Rev. Kalemkerian and Grace in your prayers.
Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our bishops, and other clergy, especially Rev. Louise, and upon the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Page 817, The Book of Common Prayer
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Worship in Church!
It was a lovely Easter Sunday Service - It was Mother Louise's second Sunday at Grace this past Sunday and Grace held an in-person, socially-distanced service in the church. The service was available for viewing live on ZOOM. Very special thanks to Lisa and Jeff for getting ZOOM in the Grace Church building all set up and their work on Palm Sunday and Easter to share the services. They did a wonderful job. Thank you to Mother Louise and all who put in the hard work to safely set up the church and for their preparation and presentation of the service. Whether attended in-person or via ZOOM, they were wonderful worship services.
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To Parishioners and Friends of Grace
Stewardship in 2021
Please mail your pledges and contributions to Grace Church, 5958 Main Street, Trumbull, CT 06611. Non-pledge contributions are gratefully accepted and you may also request envelopes if you want to send a periodic contribution but not pledge.
If you prefer to pay via PayPal, the link is on the Grace Website. Additional donations to Grace may also be made via the Grace Website or by check.
Your pledges and contributions are being processed, recorded and deposited and are much appreciated. The bills still roll in and Grace needs to stay current with our salaries and services!
Thank you.
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Grace is the Cereal Church
Cereal and other food items are needed for the Bridgeport Food Pantries. If you want to bring milk for donation, please look for the no refrigeration required, shelf stable milk in the supermarket juice/beverage aisle or the coffee aisle. Either shelf stable almond milk or dairy milk is appreciated.
During the current period of some in-person worship and "Church in Deployment" (Sundays with no worship services at Grace), please continue to drop off your contributions and they will be delivered to the Food Pantries. Thank you!
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The Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., is the seat of the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. Photo: Episcopal News Service
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Connecticut Bishop Ian T. Douglas announces plan to retire
Posted 23 hours ago
[Episcopal Church in Connecticut] The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas has announced plans to retire in the fall of 2022 and called for the election of the 16th bishop diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. The Standing Committee of the diocese gave its consent to both announcements.
Elected in October 2009, Douglas was ordained bishop in April 2010. He has led the diocese in numerous developments, particularly on moving toward a primary focus and commitment to God’s mission of restoration and reconciliation. Other developments include the expansion of a robust and diverse diocesan staff, advanced diocese-wide commitments to antiracism and multiculturalism, dedication to gun violence prevention, care for creation and reimagining the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, resulting in significant changes in the structures and operations of the diocese in order to better participate in the mission of God.
See article and link at bottom of page under "The Episcopal Church in Connecticut" for full announcement from Bishop Douglas and the link to his video.
Baltimore church to auction historic silver to help create $300,000 scholarship fund
By David Paulsen
Posted Apr 7, 2021
[Episcopal News Service] St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, founded in 1692, is the oldest church in Baltimore, Maryland. It owns an offering plate that is itself more valuable than any offering the congregation might collect on a typical Sunday. Made of silver and encrusted with gems, the offering plate bears an inscription dating it to “Easter 1876.” A similar inscription is found on another historic item, one of the church’s silver chalices, which features clusters of diamonds.
Neither item is in regular use. Both have been stored in a safe for the past decade, the Rev. Mark Stanley told Episcopal News Service. “You’d almost need an armed guard to bring them out and use them. They’re too valuable,” he said.
Too valuable to use on Sunday – but possibly just valuable enough to help the congregation endow an educational scholarship. Church leaders are working with an auction house to sell 15 silver items at St. Paul’s, including communion sets and a baptismal font bowl. The proceeds are estimated to reach $75,000. The gem-encrusted plate and chalice alone could be worth up to $60,000 at auction.
To read the rest of the article, click the blue ENS button below.
Episcopal Church joins US government’s effort to encourage vaccinations
By Egan Millard
Posted Apr 5, 2021
[Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Church has joined the United States government’s new program to encourage Americans to get COVID-19 vaccines and build confidence in their safety and efficacy. The church is one of over 275 founding members of the Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 Community Corps – a nationwide network of trusted voices that will help get the word out to their communities.
Recognizing that people are most likely to follow the advice of a person or organization that they already have a trusting relationship with, the corps has enlisted a wide variety of partners, including dozens of religious groups. Along with The Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Washington and Washington National Cathedral are members in their own right.
On March 31, Washington Bishop Mariann Budde met with Vice President Kamala Harris to talk about the program.
To read the rest of the article, click the blue ENS button below.
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Local News
From the Trumbull Patch
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CT Coronavirus Positivity Rate In Flux As Experts Speculate Why
The daily coronavirus positivity rate in Connecticut, which spiked to 5 percent on Monday, dropped to 3.84 percent on Tuesday.
Posted Wed, Apr 7, 2021 at 4:27 pm ET|Updated Wed, Apr 7, 2021 at 4:52 pm ET
CONNECTICUT — An epidemiology researcher at Yale who warned against relaxing business capacity restrictions last month says his predictions are vindicated by the most recent coronavirus infection trends.
Nathan Grubaugh, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health, speculated on Twitter that there was a correlation between the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and the rollback of restrictions on Connecticut restaurants.
Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said linking the infection spike to the lifting of restrictions ignores contract tracing data from neighboring states.
To read the rest of the article, click the blue button below.
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4th Coronavirus Wave Unlikely, But Vaccines Important: Expert
Former FDA head Dr. Scott Gottlieb said Connecticut could have benefited from less social activity in March, but better days are ahead.
Posted Tue, Apr 6, 2021 at 7:54 am ET|Updated Tue, Apr 6, 2021 at 9:54 am ET
CONNECTICUT — A full-blown fourth coronavirus wave in Connecticut and the country in general is unlikely, according to former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb.
"I don't think we're going to have a fourth wave of infection that's going to sweep the national nationally," Gottlieb said during Gov. Ned Lamont's Monday news conference "I think that what we're at risk for is some regionalized epidemics or outbreaks like you've seen in Michigan."
Some states like Michigan and Massachusetts are seeing growing cases among youths age 10 to 19, Gottlieb said. That's likely because of schools reopening and children getting together with their friends largely for the first time in a while.
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FOR INFORMATION ON COVID-19 VACCINES, CLICK THE BLUE BUTTONS BELOW
COVID-19 Vaccine in Connecticut:
Get the latest information on availability, eligibility, and access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccine access is only for those who live or work in Connecticut
NOW SCHEDULING
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To help expedite the process of scheduling an appointment, eligible Connecticut residents can do so online or through the state's telephone hotline. Once the first appointment is made, a follow-up appointment will be made at the vaccination site to receive the second shot to complete the process.
Those who are eligible can sign up for an appointment using the state’s Vaccine AdministrationManagement System (VAMS) or through Connecticut’s hotline at 877-918-2224 or by calling 211.
One can make an appointment online by visiting:
For a list of additional pharmacies offering the vaccine, both chain and local independent pharmacies, click the blue button below.
People with questions about the vaccination process can call the Trumbull Senior Center at 203-452-5199.
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Local News From the Trumbull/Monroe/Easton/Redding Daily Voice
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COVID-19: Rise In US Cases Clustered In These Five States
Zak Failla
04/07/2021 6:30 p.m.
Nearly half of the nation’s new COVID-19 cases are concentrated in just five states - including several on the East Coast - according to new data from John Hopkins University. The report found that New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida accounted for 44 percent of the total new COVID-19 infections confirmed between Monday, March 29, and Sunday, April 4, with most linked to the highly contagious B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the United Kingdom.
In total, those five states, represent approximately 197,500 of the 452,000 reported across the country, however, the five are home to just 22 percent of the US population.
A breakdown of the states reporting the most newly confirmed COVID-19 infections between March 29 and April 4:
New York: 52,922;
Michigan: 47,036;
Florida: 37,927;
Pennsylvania: 29,847;
New Jersey: 29,753.
The US has averaged more than 64,760 new coronavirus cases a day over the last week -- slightly lower than week prior, but still approximately 18 percent higher than two weeks ago, and 12 percent higher than four weeks ago, according to Johns Hopkins.
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To read the rest of the Daily Voice Article, click the blue button below.
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COVID-19: Amid Fears Of New Wave, Fauci Weighs In As Battle Between Vaccine, Variants Heats Up
04/06/2021 3:00 p.m.
While millions of Americans have expressed concerns about another new wave of COVID-19 infections, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said that he believes those fears may be overblown.
Fauci said that as long as the country continues its mass vaccination efforts and ramping up the vaccine program, America will be able to avoid another “explosion” of COVID-19 cases in what would be the fourth major wave of new infections. The doctor cautioned that there could still be a new rise in cases, but if the vaccination process continues accelerating as it has been, up to nearly 30 million weekly, the number of virus-related deaths should continue to decline.
“As long as we keep vaccinating people efficiently and effectively, I don't think that's gonna happen,” Fauci said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Tuesday, April 6. “That doesn't mean that we're not going to still see an increase in cases." According to Fauci, whether or not there is a slight uptick in cases or if it “explodes into a real surge,” will depend on Americans’ behaviors, actions, and attitudes as more economies and businesses begin opening back up. “I think that the vaccine is gonna prevent that from happening," he said.
Fauci's appearance on MSNBC on Tuesday, April 6 came on the same day the White House announced that President Joe Biden’s administration has moved the target for all American adults to be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by April 19, two weeks ahead of schedule for his previously stated goal. More than 56 million people in the U.S. have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, though some regions have seen the number of cases rising, including in the Northeast.
“It's kind of like a race between the potential for a surge and our ability to vaccinate as many people as we possibly can,” he previously said. "And hopefully, if you want to make this a metaphorical race, the vaccine is going to win this one.
To read the rest of the Daily Voice Article, click the blue button below.
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AA Meetings at Grace
Updated Information for Spring 2021, click blue button below
AA groups have resumed meetings at Grace. Instead of meeting in the Lewis Hall Meeting Room for now, groups are meeting in the larger Undercroft Parish Hall. For now this space allows for socially distanced meetings. The space was cleaned and AA will provide cleaning going forward. One restroom will be used by AA and the other will be closed during meetings. For details on available meetings, and restarting meeting, please go to grace-eye-opener.org
or click the button.
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We've joined the Confidant Health platform to expand access to critical services
Hi there,
We held a special session announcing that C.A.R.E.S. has aligned with a new, innovative company called Confidant Health.
The Confidant Health founders recognized the need for a shift in the way substance use and mental health care is delivered. Their unique approach combines clinical best practices that are shown to support individuals entering recovery and those that help families heal. Confidant’s proprietary app-based care delivery system is accessible where and when people need it.
Aligning C.A.R.E.S. with Confidant Health has allowed us to enhance and expand our services to best meet the needs of all of our participants and their families. We will now offer the Confidant Cares Family & Friend Support Group virtually on Monday nights at C.A.R.E.S. usual time, while also making Confidant’s array of service options immediately available to our members that need information, education, coaching, clinical treatment, and continued recovery support for mental health and substance use disorders.
If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Thank you for your ongoing support of C.A.R.E.S. and I hope you join us in our new, improved format as we continue to grow and provide education, resources and hope for the individuals, families, and communities we serve.
With warmest regards,
Donna
C.A.R.E.S.
VIRTUAL HOPE & SUPPORT GROUP
MONDAYS
7:00 - 9:00 PM
* All meetings are free of charge
Please contact us using the info below for assistance of any kind.
855-406-0246
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Caroline House Spring Outdoor Brunch
Caroline House Mission:
To enable women and children to reach the fullness of their potential
through education in English language and life skills
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To make a contribution to the CCGB Virtual Food Drive, click the blue button below.
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St. Pauly's Clothing shed at
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
is open!
The clothing donation shed at Grace Episcopal Church, 5958 Main Street, Trumbull, CT, is open to the public.
If you are not familiar with the clothing donation shed, it’s designed to give community members a uniquely clean, convenient, and well-cared-for option to donate their used clothing to. St. Pauly Textile Inc., the company that has provided the shed, partners with businesses and various organizations to distribute donated items both here in the U.S. and worldwide, where they are ultimately re-worn by people who need them. Grace Church funding for donated clothing, and additionally has the option to use donations to serve community needs.
With over 1,300 clothing drop-off sheds in place, St. Pauly Textile Inc. collects over 90,000 pounds of clothing every day and estimates that this clothing ends up in 44 different countries (including the U.S.) yearly. In 2019, the company was able to help keep over 20 million articles of clothing out of landfills, which clothed an estimated 2.5 million people worldwide. The company was founded in 1996 and is an A+ rated member of the Better Business Bureau.
Accepted items: clothing, shoes, belts, purses, blankets, sheets, curtains, pillowcases, and stuffed animals. NO FURNITURE OF ANY SIZE. NO TOYS. NO CARRIAGES. NO CAR SEATS. NO CRIBS. NO APPLIANCES. NO GLASS ITEMS. DONATION MUST FIT INTO THE SLOT IN THE FRONT OF THE SHED. DO NOT LEAVE ANY ITEMS OUTSIDE THE SHED.
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A word from the brothers of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist
Intimacy
The risen Lord says to the two women, “Don’t be afraid, go and tell my brothers…” My adelphoi. He’s never called them brothers before. After the resurrection a new relationship of intimacy has been made possible. Because of Jesus’ victory over sin and death, through the cross and resurrection, you and I are not just his followers, or his disciples, or even his friends. More than that, we are now his brothers and sisters. We’re of one flesh! And that is quite stunning good news.
-Br. Geoffrey Tristram, Society of Saint John the Evangelist
For more information on the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, please visit their web site at: http://ssje.org/ or click the button below.
SSJE is a monastic community of The Episcopal Church & The Anglican Church of Canada
Brother, Give Us A Word is a daily devotion
The Society of Saint John the Evangelist is an independent, 501(c) (3) non-profit tax exempt U.S. corporation.
© 2015 The Society of Saint John the Evangelist, All Rights Reserved
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The Episcopal Church in Connecticut
Participating in God's Mission
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A Letter From Bishop Douglas
April 7, 2021
Wednesday of Easter Week
Dear Companions in Christ:
Alleluia, Christ is risen! May the joy and peace of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you this Easter and forever more.
I want to begin this letter by giving thanks. I thank God for you the good people of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, for your faithfulness, for your love of Jesus, and for your bold sense of adventure and willingness to “try things on” for the sake of the Gospel. As we begin to emerge from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, I trust that God’s providence and grace will continue to sustain us and make us the church God needs to serve God’s mission now and into the future. For you, and for God’s love and guidance, I am eternally grateful.
I write today to inform you that I plan to retire in the fall of 2022 in the 13th year of service as your bishop. More specifically, God willing and the Church consenting, the 16th Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut will be ordained on October 8, 2022, at which point I will resign.
My reasons for retiring are twofold. First, by the fall of 2022 it will be time for you to have a new bishop with fresh ideas and vision to lead you forward in the 21st century and who has other gifts and perspectives than I have. Second, while I have loved every minute of being your Bishop Diocesan, the work of a bishop is an arduous and nonstop vocation. I look forward to retiring with energy and in good health both to serve God’s mission in new ways and also to spend time with Kristin, our children, daughter-in-law and grandchild.
Over the next month the Standing Committee, Mission Council, and leadership of our Regions will work together to establish a Bishop Transition Committee as called for in Canon XVI of the canons of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. The Bishop Transition Committee will be responsible for overseeing the transition process, including discerning nominees for the election of the next Bishop Diocesan. To that end, according to Canon III.11.2 of The Episcopal Church and with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee, I now call for a special meeting of the Convention of the Diocese to elect the I6th Bishop Diocesan on May 21, 2022. I will continue to function actively as your Bishop Diocesan and remain the Ecclesiastical Authority of the diocese until the consecration of the next Bishop Diocesan in October 2022.
Serving as your bishop has been the greatest blessing and honor of my ordained ministry. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we have embraced the challenges and opportunities of this new missional age. I am excited about the work before us, and I very much look forward to our next year and a half together in service to God’s mission of restoration and reconciliation.
“Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:20,21
In the love of Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Ph.D.
Bishop Diocesan
To view the video from Bishop Douglas, click the blue button below.
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A notice from the Standing Committee
of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut
April 7, 2021
To the Bishops, Clergy, and People of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut:
Today, the Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Ph.D. announced his intention to retire as Bishop Diocesan effective October 2022. In consultation with the bishops, the Standing Committee issues this notice to announce the anticipated vacancy in the office of Bishop Diocesan.
We have begun the steps required by the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut; (Canon XVI: Section 1-8), for the Bishop Transition Process. As part of that process, we call for the formation of a Bishop Transition Committee (“BTC”), which will be responsible for the nomination of candidates for XVI Bishop Diocesan, the consecration of the new bishop, and the transition process generally.
“The BTC shall consist of twenty-four members who are adult communicants in good standing, or members of the clergy in good standing canonically resident in our Diocese, selected as follows:
A) Twelve members selected by the Regions, with each Region selecting one lay person who is a member of a Parish or Worshipping Community in the Region, and one clergy person living or working in the Region;
B) Twelve members selected by the Mission Council from a pool of twenty-four lay or clergy persons nominated by the Standing Committee, giving priority to members of the Diocesan Ministry Networks; the resulting group of 12 shall include at least four lay persons and at least four clergy persons.”
(Canon XVI:2)
We request persons interested in being nominated by the Standing Committee to serve on the BTC to submit their names, parish or worshiping community affiliation, contact information (daytime phone, email, and mailing address), and a statement (no more than one paragraph) outlining the assets they would bring to the Bishop Transition Process. Please submit this information to the Secretary of the Standing Committee, Nancy Staniewicz at [email protected] no later than April 19, 2021 at 12 pm.
The Standing Committee will review the submissions and will nominate 24 candidates to the Mission Council by April 22, 2021, giving priority to members of the Diocesan Ministry Networks as required by Canon XVI, Section 2(B). The Mission Council will then select 12 members of the BTC from the Standing Committee’s pool of twenty-four nominees by April 26, 2021 and submit them to the Secretary of the Diocese, The Rev. Sandra Cosman. The Regions will also submit the names of the members of the BTC that each Region has selected to the Secretary of the Diocese by April 26, 2021.
The Bishop Transition Committee for the Election of the XVI Bishop Diocesan will be announced to the diocese by April 27, 2021 and the first meeting will be convened by the President of the Standing Committee, The Rev. Rowena Kemp, on May 6, 2021.
The Standing Committee has also consulted with and advised Bishop Ian on the electing Convention for the XVI Bishop Diocesan, and have consented to holding that convention on May 21, 2022.
We thank Bishop Ian for his faithful and innovative service to our diocese, and we ask that you pray for the leaders who will be raised up in the process.
Faithfully,
The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut
The Rev. Rowena Kemp, President Nancy Staniewicz, Secretary
The Rev. Peggy Hodgkins Pam Williams
The Rev. Amjad Samuel Denise Welsh
The Rev. Mark Byers Kevin Fenner
The Rev. Darryl Burke A. Bates Lyons
The Rev. Geoff Hahneman Thom Hagerth
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Camp Washington - Life changing events for adults and children
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Welcome back home to Camp Washington!
Summer Camp 2021 will be a “different” kind of summer for us all- and- we are getting pretty good at being flexible.
As we continue to live with COVID-19, we also learn more as we try-on new things and listen to the science and guidance of experts.
The safety and well-being of our campers and staff is the #1 priority as we design plans and programs for this summer. We have shortened the number of sessions available, and have reduced our registration capacity, allowing us to create more space in the cabins and common areas. Campers will travel in cabin pods with established protocols for each pod.
We are following the guidance of the American Camp Association (ACA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Episcopal Camps & Conference Centers (ECCC), and the State of CT to determine the layers of protection Camp Washington will need to implement this to insure the safest summer possible. Some activities will look and feel different, some will be new, and some may simply not be possible this summer. However, we believe that creating a summer camp experience for our families is perhaps more important this summer than ever before.
In the coming months, we will share our new guidelines with you once you have registered, and will ask you to take an active role with your camper in understanding your responsibilities in making this summer successful. Many rules, policies and protocols will be different- one thing will not change: the opportunity for your camper to come home to Camp Washington to have fun, reconnect with friends, staff, and our creator in the beauty of this amazing campus.
We are here to answer your questions, and look forward to welcoming you back home this summer to Camp Washington!
Summer Camp 2021 Schedule
MINI Camp, ages 5-10 : July 7-9, 2021 : $295
MINI Day Camp, ages 5-10 : July 7-9, 2021 : $150
Children's Camp 1, ages 7-12 : July 11-16, 2021 : $595
Children's Camp 2 (2 week), ages 7-12 : July 25 - August 6, 2021 : $1,350
Teen Camp 1, ages 12-16 : July 18-23, 2021 : $595
Teen Camp 2 (2 week), ages 12-16 : July 25 - August 6, 2021 : $1,350
Summer Camp 2021 Employment Opportunities at Camp Washington
As we re-gather as a community this summer at Camp Washington, we are looking to build a team of energetic, fun, creative, spirit-filled people who are excited to welcome our campers back home to Camp! Join us for the best summer job you will ever have: long days, warm nights, memories to last a lifetime.
We are looking for: Program Directors in Arts & Crafts, Sports, Performing Arts, Wilderness and Waterfront, as well as Cabin Staff and more. Check out all the opportunities online.
People of all races, colors, beliefs, genders, national origins, experiences, and abilities are encouraged to apply.
For Information on Camp Washington, See ECCT website for details or www.campwashington.org.
Camp Washington
(860) 567- 9623
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