Welcoming All into God's Peace Together
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The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
NO Worship Service at Grace this
Sunday, July 25th
Worship Opportunity Details Below
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Grace Episcopal Church
5958 Main Street, Trumbull CT 06611
Office Phone
203-268-2809
email:
office@gracetrumbull.org or click button
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The Rev. Louise Kalemkerian,
Priest-in-Charge at Grace
Contact Rev. Louise via the Grace Office
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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!
Gospel:
John 6:1-21
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.
When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’
Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’
Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’
So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified.
But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.
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Collect for The Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; 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
The following sermon is the sermon for this coming Sunday, July 25th, The Ninth Sunday After Pentecost. It is written by The Rev. Charles Hoffacker and is published in "Sermons that Work," on the website of the Episcopal Church in the United States. The readings for this Sunday may be found by clicking on the "Readings" blue button above.
Takers or Givers, Pentecost 9 (B) – July 25, 2021
We see it from time to time. Someone performs brave deeds, enjoys great advantages, reaches a lofty position of prominence. Defeat seems impossible. Then comes stumbling, falling headlong, breaking in pieces on the rocks due to the wrong choices. The rest of the story plays out the consequences of this disaster. Not only one person, but many others also are defeated; a nation is left limping.
We see it from time to time, this fall from tremendous heights.
Consider David. What has the Lord given him? Victory over Goliath, protection against Saul, a royal daughter in marriage. The kingdom of Israel, the kingdom of Judah, Jerusalem to be his capital. David rescues allies, defeats enemies, prevails in one battle after another, brings God’s ark home to Jerusalem with abundant rejoicing.
But then one spring day, with the army out in the field risking their lives, David rises from a long nap at his comfortable palace and everything starts to unravel.
He catches sight of a very beautiful woman over at the house next door and ends up sleeping with her. Although a capital crime under the law, this adultery represents no threat to the king. Only a few loyal servants know about the incident; they are discreet. Case closed.
Many weeks pass, and David receives a message from the woman, whose name is Bathsheba. “I am with child,” is what she tells him. She’s pregnant. David is the father. The woman’s husband, a soldier from a prominent family, has been out in the field so long, there’s no way the child is his.
Here, David moves from crime to cover up. He calls Uriah, the woman’s husband, back from the battlefield. If he spends a night with her, he and everyone else will assume that the baby is his.
But the plot does not work. Uriah is too much the loyal soldier. He does not sleep with his wife Bathsheba, believing that to do so would betray his buddies out in the trenches. Instead, he stays with David’s guard detail. David even gets Uriah drunk, but still the loyal soldier denies himself the pleasures of home.
Frustrated, David takes the cover up to the point of calculated murder. He sends Uriah back to the front with a sealed message to his commander Joab. This message results in Uriah dying in battle, betrayed by his commander and his king.
David is one of the most prominent figures in the entire Bible. He appears as a man of great virtues and great vices. In the story of Bathsheba and Uriah, what stands out above all is David as a taker. He takes and takes again, to the great detriment of many people.
He takes their marriage from Bathsheba and Uriah. He takes Uriah’s life. He takes something from Joab as well, by making him his accomplice in a murder. The taking from people does not stop here, but continues on for generations, as the Bathsheba incident eventually splits the nation, harming subsequent generations and people David never sees.
So today we hear of adultery and cover up and the betrayal to death of an innocent man. David hurtles from grace; he appears as a taker and nothing more.
We also hear a story of a hungry crowd out in the country. Jesus feeds them all with an abundance of fish, an abundance of bread. His partner in showing concern is a boy willing to give up his lunch for others. This boy and Jesus are a pair of givers. Everybody’s fed, with a startling supply of leftovers for later. There’s no crime and no cover up here, but a conspiracy to give, rather than take, launched by a pair of generous people. And it works. Nobody crashes.
These two stories are as obvious as billboards. Each one of us, on many occasions, faces a choice. We can be takers or we can be givers. Like David, we can enter into crime and cover up. Like Jesus and that anonymous boy, we can give to people who otherwise would suffer.
David’s story is ancient, but it is also contemporary. We see it played out, often among the prominent in our society. Some in our time are takers.
The story of five thousand fed is ancient, but it also is contemporary. This story is played out repeatedly, although sometimes it remains a secret. Our contemporaries include givers.
To be givers or takers: we always have the choice. But as humans, we become creatures of habit. We fall into patterns we may not even recognize.
So here’s something that may help us in our decision between taking, taking and giving, giving.
Today’s gospel includes echoes of the Exodus account that we need to recognize, for they tell us—in case we need a reminder—where the living God is to be found between those who take or those who give.
This gospel includes two stories. First, Jesus feeds the five thousand, showing compassion to the hungry and building on the generosity of a boy who gave up his lunch. Second, Jesus walks on water to the disciples’ boat and immediately the boat reaches land, despite the strong wind that is blowing.
The story about passing safely across the storm-tossed lake recalls Israel’s passage through the Red Sea.
The story about feeding the hungry crowd recalls the manna that fed the Israelites as they journeyed to the Promised Land.
The connection between the Exodus account and these two stories about Jesus indicates that what happened with the five thousand and what happened with the disciples on the lake are not isolated incidents. Instead, they point to a pattern about how God works. Old Testament or New, ancient times or now, God is not a taker, but a giver. God guides us and feeds us. And guess what? God looks for us to focus in our behavior not on taking, but on giving.
In our time, we have at hand abundant examples, some in high places, of the taking and taking that devastated David, his family, and his people, with disastrous results through subsequent generations.
We also have abundant examples of the sort of giving and giving by which lives are sustained and enhanced. You have seen these kindnesses. You have participated in them.
This giving is the way of life that God blesses. This is the spiritual practice to which we are called.
And guess what? Jesus is still generous with bread. Once it was nourishment for a day. Now, it is nourishment for eternal life, available here in the Eucharist.
As Christians we know that God gives. We know that Christ gives. And we recognize as well that we also can be givers. We can even summon back the takers from the way of death and offer to them the gift of life that God ardently intends for everyone.
The Rev. Charles Hoffacker lives in Greenbelt, Maryland with his wife Helena Mirtova. He is the author of A Matter of Life and Death: Preaching at Funerals from Cowley Publications. Many of his sermons appear on sermonwriter.com.
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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 was further discussed at the Grace Annual Meeting on June 27, 2021.
From Fiona:
Hi all,
Hope you are enjoying the week. Attached is the schedule for this Sunday and next Sunday church visits. This Sunday is at Christ Church Easton. The service is 9:00 a.m. and will be outside weather permitting and so bring a chair or blanket. It is also available on zoom through their website. The info is also below for your convenience. See you there. Peace -Fiona
Sunday, 7/25, 9:00AM at Christ Church:
A Holy Communion Service
Please bring your mask, chair (and/or blankets) and download the program bulletin HERE
CHURCH VISITATION SCHEDULE: JULY – AUGUST 1, 2021
July 25th: Christ Church, Easton
Sunday Service Time: 9:00 (summer)
59 Church Rd., Easton, at intersection of Route 59
Reverend Ally Brundige
Aug. 1st: Christ Church, Tashua
Sunday Service Time: 9:00
5170 Madison Ave, Trumbull
Reverend Jane Jeuland
Website: christchurchtrumbull.org
Indoors and on Zoom and Facebook
The schedule for the rest August will be issued next week.
Copies will be placed in the Narthex of Grace and posted on the Grace website and in the GLOW. An email will also be sent to the parish with the schedule document attached.
Service at Grace will resume on September 5th at 11:00.
Car pooling or if you prefer to follow someone to the church arrangements are available, Please contact Mother Louise or Fiona Varker either by phone or e:mail.
Looking forward to worship with you in our sister churches.
Please remember to send your pledges to the Grace Church office. You can drop it in the office mail slot any time, mail it, or use pay pal. While we may not be attending service the work of supporting Grace church continues. We need to keep our staff (Mother Louise; Parish Administrator, and Sexton) paid and the building operating for the many AA groups and the daycare school, for scheduled memorial services, and for us to return. Thank you for your faithfulness.
God Bless
Peace be with you all,
Fiona Varker
Senior Warden
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Christ Church Easton Invites Grace Parishioners and Friends to
Summer Events at Christ Episcopal Church, Easton
Concerts on the Hill - Sundays at 6:00 p.m. through August 8th
(Mondays are the rain date)
Movie on the Hill: - July 30th at 8:00 p.m.
Cohosted screening with Easton Public Library.
Movie: Hidden Figures
Christ Church Easton,
59 Church Rd., Easton
(at intersection of Route 59)
203-268-3569
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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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Q&A: Westina Matthews, on authoring ‘This Band of Sisterhood: Black Women Bishops on Race, Faith, and the Church’
By Pat McCaughan Posted Jul 20, 2021
Matthews, an adjunct professor at the General Theological Seminary’s Center for Christian Spirituality, wrote in an August 1984 New York Times op-ed article, of her own sense of loneliness as, “the first, the only or one of the few” Blacks, a feeling she began having as early as age 4 when she was enrolled in a newly desegregated school.
Membership in this “exclusive club” continued throughout a 40-year career in leadership positions as an educator, researcher, grant-maker, public servant and author. Committed to education, particularly for women and people of color, she holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in the field—and was the first woman and first person of color to be elected a trustee of the Merrill Lynch Foundation, where she grew the company’s annual charitable giving from $5 million to $35 million.
To read the rest of this article and other ENS news, click on the blue button below.
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Local News From Area Towns - The Patch
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Stop & Shop, Walmart, 7-Eleven Muffins Part Of Listeria Recall
The company's voluntary recall affects several popular Connecticut stores, according to the FDA.
Posted Thu, Jul 22, 2021 at 12:03 pm ET|Updated Thu, Jul 22, 2021 at 1:00 pm ET
CONNECTICUT — Several types of mini muffins are being recalled at popular stores like Stop & Shop, Walmart and 7-Eleven after the supplier and federal authorities alerted the chains about potential traces of listeria monocytogenes in the products.
The recall affects select Stop & Shop stores not only in Connecticut, but in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York (excluding New York City), officials for the chain said in a news release.
The affected products are:
- Store Brand Muffin Mini Blueberry Streusel, 12pk / 12oz, UPC 2 0 0 1 6 0 5 5 0 with Product Lot Code GBF1C
- Store Brand G&G Mini Corn Muffins, 12pk / 12 oz, UPC 2 0 0 1 6 0 5 3 0 with Product Lot Code GBM1C
Customers who purchased the impacted products should not consume them, store officials said.
They should be discarded or brought to a nearby store, Stop & Shop officials said. Customers can also call the Stop & Shop Customer Service Center at 800-767-7772 for a full refund, officials said.
To read the rest of the article, click the blue button below
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Which CT Coronavirus Orders Will Remain In Effect This Fall?
Gov. Ned Lamont promised he would only extend a few of his emergency executive orders into September. Which ones made the cut?
Posted Tue, Jul 20, 2021 at 1:52 pm ET|Updated Thu, Jul 22, 2021 at 9:42 am ET
CONNECTICUT — When the state legislature voted to extend Gov. Ned Lamont's emergency powers, the governor made it clear that the majority of his executive orders would still expire on July 20.
The governor issued a new executive order Monday which specifies which of the old orders would be allowed to sunset this week, and which would remain in place until Sept. 30
Here are the handful of orders and provisions that have legs through the start of the fall:
The Commissioner of Social Services can continue to distribute federal Coronavirus Relief Fund monies to other health care institutions or providers to cover necessary expenditures incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the extension of Executive Order No. 7EEE, Section 1.
Also extended to the end of September, Executive Order No. 9, Section 1, authorizes state agencies to issue "binding guidance, rules, or orders for operation" to schools or child care settings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These may include rules related to the required use of masks or face-coverings in school buildings and child care settings.
To read the rest of the article, click the blue button below.
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Local News From the Trumbull/Monroe/Easton/Redding Daily Voice
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COVID-19: US Extends Mexico, Canada Border Restrictions As Delta Cases Surge Among Unvaccinated
Restrictions on non-essential travel to neighboring Canada and Mexico have been extended as the nation and world continue to combat the recent rise in new cases largely tied to the now-dominant Delta COVID-19 variant in unvaccinated Americans.
The Biden administration announced that it will be extending non-essential travel to neighboring countries through at least Saturday, Aug. 21 as health officials look to prevent further spread of the virus.
Since the pandemic began in March last year, the US has been limiting travel at both borders, extending them on a monthly basis.
The announcement of the latest 30-day extension by the Department of Homeland Security comes days after Canada announced it will begin allowing fully vaccinated US citizens back in as of Monday, Aug. 9.
To read the Daily Voice, 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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C.A.R.E.S and Confident Health
The C.A.R.E.S. Group Joins Forces with Confidant Health
The C.A.R.E.S. Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education, support, resources, and hope for families, friends, and anyone with a loved one affected by mental health and substance use disorders.
To expand our reach and increase access to resources needed by the individuals and communities we serve, C.A.R.E.S. has aligned with Confidant Health, a virtual clinic specializing in substance use and mental health.
Mondays from 7pm-9pm EST.
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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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SUMMER SERIES IS BACK
Raising the BAR -Becoming Anti-Racist
All are invited to participate – Every other Thursday evening in July & August via Zoom from 7:30 to 8:45 pm
You are welcome to attend any or all of the 5 part series.
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Check out the reviews for Tisby’s book here
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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
Brother, Give Us A Word
Disciple
A disciple is more than simply a follower. A disciple is more than simply a student. A disciple is someone who is in training to become something, and the posture of a disciple is to sit at the feet of the teacher.
-Br. James Koester, 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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July 19, 2021
Evolution of The Reimagining of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut
(TREC-CT) Continues with Position Changes This Fall
Beginning this fall, the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) will formally transition to three, full time Region Missionaries supporting our six Regions and Ministry Networks in new and exciting ways. The Rev. Canon Tim Hodapp will also be transitioning to Canon for Mission Advancement & Coaching, in lieu of his former position of Canon for Mission Collaboration and in light of the retirement of Canon for Mission Leadership, the Rev. Lee Ann Tolzmann.
As growth and collaboration continues to flourish in our Regions, the Region Missionaries have shifted their responsibilities to become more aligned with ECCT programs and offerings across the parishes and worshiping communities in the two respective regions they will each serve. The positions are as follows:
· Maggie Breen, Northeast and North Central Region Missionary
· Dylan Mello, Northwest and Southwest Region Missionary
· Rachel Thomas, Southeast and South-Central Region Missionary
A Region Missionary will have five primary areas of engagement, namely to support the development of leaders (privileging lay leadership) and diocesan initiatives ; oversee, enhance, and expand Ministry Networks; advance efforts to dismantle racism, white supremacy, and anti-Black bias; coach parishes as they engage with the Joining Jesus in a New Missional Age (JJMA) Spiritual Practices; and promote and assist in the development of a 21st century Church, utilizing new financial resources raised through the JJMA fundraising initiative.
Working closely with the conveners of the Region Leadership Teams (RLTs), they will support the RLTs in their efforts to raise up collaborative opportunities in the Regions. The Region Missionaries will also work closely with the leadership of Ministry Networks, assisting in the convening and the communication about the work of the networks.
As the Rev. Canon Tim Hodapp concludes his work in helping develop the initial stages of the TREC-CT vision, he will transition as Canon for Mission Advancement & Coaching to overseeing support groups, including but not limited to: various gatherings of Priests-in-Charge, and parishes entering into clergy transition. He will also engage both clergy and lay leaders as learning communities to more deeply understand and practice ways of “traveling lightly together and following Jesus into the neighborhood” Luke 10, while continuing to provide oversight for the Region Entrepreneurial Fund and New Christian Communities.
“I continue to be inspired by the ministry and witness of our Region Missionaries,” said the Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan. “Maggie, Rachel, and Dylan use their many gifts to empower people from all over the diocese to dream and collaborate. This new job description will enhance all of our connectivity and will also strengthen the individual regions in a variety of ways. This feels like a logical next step in our faithful participation in God’s mission.”
“I so appreciate the way the leadership of our Regions and our Region Missionaries continue to adapt and trust in the Holy Spirit leading as we take our next steps together in reimagining the Episcopal Church in Connecticut,” said the Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Ph.D., Bishop Diocesan. “It is an exciting time for the church in this new missional age, and joining Jesus we will find new life and possibility in these changes.”
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Fifth Sundays Across ECCT:
August 29, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.
Join us online or in person at St. Monica's, Hartford!
In collaboration with Christ Church Cathedral, our Bishops invite you to participate in the upcoming Fifth Sundays Across ECCT at St. Monica's, Hartford! Learn more and make plans to attend either online or in person on Sunday, August 29 at 10:30 a.m.
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237th Annual Convention of the
Episcopal Church in Connecticut
Friday, October 22—Saturday, October 23
Dear Companions in Christ,
You are invited to the 237th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut on Friday, October 22nd and Saturday, October 23rd at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. As of right now, we are planning an in-person convention for delegates, clergy, and visitors with livestreaming available for participants who would like to watch the proceedings. After the disruption and dispersion of the past year and a half, your convention planning team is working diligently to create a convention that is safe and allows for meaningful connection between members of the Body of Christ in Connecticut.
While it is not possible to know specifically how the pandemic will affect us in October, we are currently planning to meet in-person. We will be following local, state, and venue specific guidelines, which may include participants being masked and distanced. As always, our guiding principle is to protect the vulnerable among us. For planning purposes, we are inviting registrants to self-disclose their vaccination status. This question is optional but intended to help those who are unable to be vaccinated make informed choices about their attendance.
We will be livestreaming the business sessions and worship from the Convention Center; the World Café sessions and all voting will happen in-person.
This year’s convention will take place over a Friday afternoon and a full day on Saturday, with registration beginning at 1:30 pm on Friday, October 22. Business sessions will be spread among Friday and Saturday, with World Café conversations and a service of Holy Eucharist on Saturday. We will finish by 4:30 pm on Saturday. There is an optional Friday evening Gala at our Cathedral to celebrate the opening of the redeveloped worship space, nave, and chancel. The Cathedral Gala will feature art, music, and dinner. It will be a wonderful time both to reconnect with one another and celebrate our cathedral’s new space. Registration is available as an add-on to the main Convention ticket.
We will continue to use our Convention website, ECCTconvention.org, to host information about our time together. The link for registration can be found there, along with a detailed schedule, announcements, reports, resolutions, vendors, and other news. Keep your eyes open for future communications through the ECCT eNews.
All Convention attendees must register online using the Eventbrite link on the Convention website. Parish offices can register a group and make a single payment or individuals can register and pay on their own. At registration, attendees will be presented with their choice of lunch options for Saturday: North Atlantic Salmon [GF], Center Cut Pork Loin [GF], or the Food Allergy Option. Meals marked GF are gluten-free. The Food Allergy option is also appropriate for those who are vegetarian/vegan.
Costs associated with registration are as follows:
- $75 Early Registration – ends July 31
- $90 Regular Registration – ends October 21
- $125 Walk-in Registration – during Convention
- $30 Young Adult Registration (21 and under) – ends October 19
- $40 Additional Friday Night Program – ends October 19
We have negotiated a discounted room rate with the Marriott Hartford Downtown (adjacent to the Convention Center) for this year’s Convention at $139/night. Hotel Reservations must be done independently and are not included in your Convention registration. You are encouraged to reserve a room by Tuesday, September 21st to ensure a space. You may register online on our Convention website or by calling 860-249-8000 and mentioning that you are with the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.
Resolutions and Reports
The deadline for submitting resolutions and written reports to Convention is Friday, September 10th, which is six weeks before the start of Convention per the canons of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Written reports are required.
Due to our commitment to translating written materials for Convention into Spanish, please note that all reports must be received by Friday, September 10th and must be no longer than 1,000 words in length. Convention will pay for the translation of the 1,000-word report. If your group’s report needs additional length, it may be submitted as a supplemental addendum to your report. You and your group will be billed the cost of translation of the addendum. Any group that submits a report after the September 10 deadline will be billed the full cost of a rush-translation. The cost of translating additional material or rush jobs will vary, but will start around $.10/word.
As has become our custom, there will be a World Café discussion and discernment session on Saturday at this year’s Convention. Any Episcopalian in Connecticut may submit a single question for consideration at one of the three World Café breakouts. Questions can be submitted electronically from now until Monday, August 9th using a form on the Convention website. Those who submit questions must be available to meet for a workshop on Saturday, August 14th to fine tune the questions to be considered at our Convention this year.
Parish Delegates to Convention
All parishes must report the names and contact information for their elected lay delegates and alternates to the Secretary of Convention either through the ECCT Parish Survey or directly to the Secretary at ccombs@episcopalct.org. This is necessary so that Delegates and Alternates can receive timely information and updates pertinent to their participation. If you have previously completed the survey, and you have double-checked that the information you reported for your Delegates and Alternates is still accurate, then no further action is needed. If you need assistance accessing or completing the Parish Survey, please contact Matt Handi at The Commons for help (203-639-3501 x107, mhandi@episcopalct.org).
We will elect members of the Standing Committee and Mission Council at this year’s Convention. If you are interested in standing for election to the Standing Committee, a nominee biographical form is on our Convention website. Nominees to Mission Council are made by our bishops per the ECCT canons. If you are interested in being nominated to serve on Mission Council as a member of one of ECCT’s ministry networks, please reach out to our bishops or the Secretary of the Diocese, the Rev. Sandra Cosman at scosman@episcopalct.org. Nominations for elected positions must be received by Friday, September 10th, 2021.
I look forward to our work together in October and beyond.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Carrie Combs
Secretary of Convention
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Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF) Peacebuilding Online Project
First Sunday of the month beginning August 1
EPF will host a series of online 1-hr presentations the first Sunday of each month starting in August on different aspects of and approaches to peacebuilding, both with others and within ourselves. We will meet via Eventbrite/Zoom at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Hear inspiring voices. Learn. Discover resources for going deeper. Read more.
Explore all the options through January 2022 online.
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ECCT Stories Blog
If you would like to contribute a story, reflection, poem, art, etc. to the ECCT Stories blog, please send an email to storytelling@episcopalct.org to be considered. Please keep it to under 600 words (in a Word Doc preferred) and any photos/images you'd like included.
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Camp Washington - Life changing events for adults and children
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Camp Washington Summer Camp opens on July 7!
Are you registered yet?
Summer Camp '21 might look and feel a bit “different” than summers past and we are confident we can offer the fun, sun, friendship, and memory filled summer that has made Camp Washington famous! There are a few spots still available, reserve your spot today.
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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
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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