FEBRUARY CLERGY NEWSLETTER

February 19, 2016
Supper & Spirit in Stamford
 
by Carlos de la Torre

"The first time I walked into that space, I pictured Saint Andrew's as a place to feed and nourish not only its members but all of God's people. With the Stamford Supper Club, we will do just that."

Last November, I met with representatives from the Ferguson Library, the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut, the League of Women Voters Stamford, and a local storytelling series, Unlocked. Over coffee and pastries, we brainstormed what more could be done to foster a more conscious and united Stamford, something that would be open to all, and at the same time lift up the voices of young adults in the area.
 
After a few more meetings (and cups of coffee), a group of us launched the Stamford Supper Club: a community conversation and dinner series based in downtown Stamford. The goal? To engage our local community in fruitful dialogue that begins around the dinner table and continues once the meal ends.
 
Once each month we gather on a Wednesday evening to prep a three-course meal together. Once we're done in the kitchen, we transition into our dining hall where a special guest speaks on a topic important around the world and in our backyard. After a quick five-minute presentation, our special guest suggests a few guiding questions to spur conversation in smaller breakout groups around the dinner table. After an hour or so, we wrap up the dinner and conversation and end the night with a group clean-up.

We kicked off the series on January 27th with a conversation focused on misconceptions about Muslims, led by a representative from a local Islamic center. Over 40 people showed up to the first event, from young activists and clergy to UCONN students and local politicians. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees and intend to build on their suggestions to make the series even better in the future. We have five more dinners between now and June, on topics ranging from gender identity to immigration.
 
We have been fortunate to build support
 from community members and various parishes in the area. Saint Luke's in Darien has offered to donate funds to this initiative. The clergy of Saint Barnabas in Greenwich and Christ the Healer in Stamford participated in the launch of the Stamford Supper Club. Last but not least, Saint Andrew's has generously allowed us to use the church's kitchen and parish hall as the site of the Stamford Supper Club. Given the central location of Saint Andrew's in downtown Stamford, this is a perfect location for us to meet. The first time I walked into that space, I pictured Saint Andrew's as a place to feed and nourish not only its members but all of God's people. With the Stamford Supper Club, we will do just that.
 
For more information on the Stamford Supper Club, check out our website: http://www.stamfordsupperclub.com/. And for more information on the life and work of a missional curate, check out my newly launched website: http://www.themissionalcure.com/ 

The Rev. Carlos de la Torre is a Missional Curate connecting with young adults in Stamford.

Intimacy With Christ: Re-Calling Your Calling
 
You are invited to join your clergy colleagues in a quiet morning and lunch.  We will begin at 10:00 am with a guided meditation, focused intimacy with the Lord, recalling our call, healing and re-affirming our call today. After a quick break we will gather in a circle to pray together using biblical passages and sharing, finishing with the Eucharist. This process will hopefully lead to holy rejuvenation and a more holy communion with your clergy sisters and brothers. After lunch we will be on our way. Led by the Rev. Peter Walsh, St. Mark's, New Canaan.
RSVP to ConnECA with your $10 luncheon (or supper) reservation!

Tuesday, March 8th, 2016
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
St. Mark's, New Canaan CT
111 Oenoke Ridge New Canaan, CT 06840
203-966-4515
Bishops and Confirmands Dinner

Bishop Laura and Bishop Ian invite individuals preparing for confirmation to join them for dinner and conversation on what it means to be disciples and apostles participating in God's mission.
 
The bishops will be hosting confirmation dinners around the Episcopal Church in Connecticut in March and May. The next dinner is scheduled March 8 at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Southport. This conversation is open to teenagers and adults preparing for confirmation in the Episcopal Church in 2016 as well as confirmation classes and interested inquirers. Confirmation class leaders and/or clergy are encouraged to join your classes for this conversation about our participation in God's mission.  Please sign up on the eventbrite below.  

Contact Alison Hollo with any questions, [email protected]

Dates and locations for the dinners are:
 
March 8, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
Trinity Church, Southport (651 Pequot Avenue, Southport) 
 
May 3, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. 
The Commons (290 Pratt Street, Meriden) 
Register for May Dinner Here
Clergy Online Book Club

Interested in a book group, but not able to make in person meetings? Desirous of some fellowship with clergy colleagues on a more flexible schedule? Dean of Formation, Molly James, is seeking to reconfigure an online clergy book group and to see what kind of interest there is. Possibilities include meeting via video conference or doing an asynchronous "conversation" via a Facebook group. If you think you might be interested in participating in a virtual book group with colleagues across ECCT, please fill out the very brief survey. 
 
Transitions Ministry Corner

New Calls

The Rev. Keri Aubert is now Priest-in-Charge at St. Thomas', New Haven.
The Rev. Rebekah Bokros Hatch is now half-time Rector of St. Alban's, Simsbury.
The Rev. Jay Cooke is now half-time Associate Priest at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford.
The Rev. Betty Long is now Missional Priest at Epiphany Church, Durham.
The Rev. Amy Welin is now Interim Rector at St. Paul's, Fairfield.
The Rev. Lynne Grifo is now Interim Rector at St. Mary's, Manchester.
The Rev. Canon Bob Miner is now Interim Rector at St. James', New London.
The Rev. Kathleen Berkowe is now Priest-in-Charge at St. Mark's, New Britain.
The Rev. Valerie Miller is now Interim Chaplain at Armsmear, Hartford.
 
Retirements

The Rev. Ellen Kennedy's ministry at Trinity Church, Trumbull, ended on January 31, 2016.
The Rev. Tom White's ministry at St. Peter's Church, South Windsor, ended on January 31, 2016.
 
Parishes in Transition

Christ Church, New Haven..................Interviewing (Ann Broomell, Interim)
Grace Church, Broad Brook...........................Missional Priest identified
Grace Church, Hartford..........................................Using Supply Priests
Old St. Andrew's, Bloomfield...........................Interim in place: Alex Dyer
St. Andrew's, Madison..........................Interim in place: Jenny Matheson
St. James, New London.................................Interim in place: Bob Miner
St. John's, North Haven....................Interim in place: Louise Kalemkarian
St. John's, Waterbury............................................Using Supply Priests
St. Mary's, Manchester................................Interim in place: Lynne Grifo
St. Martin's, Hartford........................................Seeking Missional Priest
St. Paul's, Darien...........................Interviewing (Chuck Hoffman, Interim)
St. Paul's, Fairfield.......................................Interim in place: Amy Welin
St. Paul's, Riverside.....................................Interim in place: Alon White
St. Paul's & St. James, New Haven.........................Using Supply Priests
St. Peter's, South Windsor............................................Seeking Interim
St. Timothy's, Fairfield...............................Interim in place: Max Maxwell
Trinity Church, Seymour...............................................Seeking Interim
Trinity Church, Trumbull.................................Seeking Interim (half-time)
 
 
A Message from Lee Ann Tolzmann, Canon for Mission Leadership

The Transition Ministries Conference (TMC) is a regional meeting of diocesan transition ministers from about 40 dioceses, mostly in the northeastern quadrant of the US, specifically to share information about congregations that are searching for clergy and clergy who are looking for new congregations. Diocesan transition ministers present summaries of congregational profiles and pertinent information about potential clergy candidates in search of the best match between talent and need.
 
The conference occurs twice a year, and the next meeting is March 7-11.  If you are exploring another call, or are in the early stages of the discernment process, this is a chance for you to test that out.
 
The first step is to fill out the TMC Confidential Information form at transitionministryconference.org. Please also take the time to update your OTM Portfolio, which can be done online. The deadline for submitting your material is Monday, February 29.
Knowing that the decision to explore new ministry possibilities is a sensitive one, please rest assured that the names shared at the TMC are kept in strictest confidence; only I will know who has asked to be presented. There is a high trust level between TMC transitions ministers, and we honor the delicate nature of this sort of discernment.
 
The Transition Ministries Conference also maintains a website listing of congregations in search of new leadership at transitionministryconference.org. This is in addition to the information you can find at www.otmportfolio.org
 
Please contact me ([email protected]) with any questions about the TMC or the process. I look forward to working with you.


EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT
PARTICIPATING IN GOD'S MISSION


290 Pratt Street ı Box 52 ı Meriden, CT 06450 ı 203-639-3501  
 

The Episcopal Church in Connecticut | The Commons | 290 Pratt Street | Meriden | CT | 06450