Your regular eNews editor Joshua Bruner has returned from his Berkeley Divinity School class pilgrimage to Rome and Canterbury and will resume here with the April 5 issue.
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How to make a Paschal Candle -- By the Youth Group at St. Stephen's, East Haddam
(No, these are NOT cut carrots!)
On March 13, St. Stephen's Youth Group undertook a special project to make the church's Paschal Candle for Easter Sunday. See how it turned out!
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Adult ed/formation for spring and summer
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A Catechism of Creation
For Earth Day -- April 22 this year - and other forums and classes
A groundbreaking new video curriculum from Forward Movement invites you to explore science and faith through the lens of leading ordained scientists in The Episcopal Church.
The curriculum provides four weeks of free downloadable lesson plans, discussion questions, and links to corresponding videos for each class. For Sunday School and for adult formation.
Explore the Bible's basic doctrine of creation, the modern scientific worldview, perspectives on the Big Bang and evolution, and the biblical roots for environmental care.
Featured clergy-scientists include the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, former Presiding Bishop and oceanographer; the Rt. Rev. Nicholas Knisely, the Bishop of Rhode Island and physicist; the Rev. Lucas Mix, evolutionary biologist; the Rev. Alistair So, microbiologist; and the Rev. Stephanie Johnson, environmentalist. Videographers were from St. Pauls', Fairfield.
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"This is a thoughtful, engaging invitation into a deeper understanding of all God's Creation."
-- the Rev. Stephanie Johnson, Associate Rector of St. Paul's, Fairfield; Convener of the New England Regional Ministries Network; former Energy Stewardship Missioner for Province One. (More bio is here.) On a personal note, Stephanie has added, " This is a project I've been working on for a long time and is near and dear to my heart."In addition to Stephanie's endorsement, the curriculum is enthusiastically endorsed by the current ECCT Environmental Ministry Network. Free. Download here.
Spring webinars from Episcopal Church Foundation
You can register now for any of the spring webinars (in April and May) to be offered by the Episcopal Church Foundation. Most are held at 7 p.m. English language topics include leading change, planned giving, strategic visioning and planning, spending rules and investment allocations, congregational conflict, clergy transition process, and storytelling as evangelism.
There's one Spanish language webinar this spring: Primoeros pasos para liderar cambios.
Link here for details and to register.
Check out their full annual calendar of webinars and workshops here. Webinars are free.
Summer with ChurchNext?
Is it too early to start plans for Christian formation over the summer? Pick a day, gather weekly for dinner and discussion, choose a related action to complete by the next session, and end with Compline. Or, use ChurchNext for regularly scheduled classes. ChurchNext has video courses for individuals and groups; subscription fees vary by size and start at $29/month for up to 10 members. Here are some to consider: Introducing Islam; Introducing Benedictine Spirituality; Everyday Spiritual Practices; A Simpler Path to a Deeper Spiritual Life; and, Holy Habits for Children. Or pick up the call from our new Presiding Bishop and The Episcopal Church to address racial justice and work through the series that includes: Racism & Racial Justice, Reparation & Racial Justice, Spirituality & Racial Justice, Theology & Racial Justice, and Whiteness & Racial Justice. More topics online.
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Report of the Feb. 27 Leadership Gathering and Executive Council Meeting
Overview of the topic considered jointly in the morning (considering the missional landscape of ECCT). Reports to and decisions by the Executive Council/Board of the Missionary Society at their meeting in the afternoon. Link here to read. Reported by Canon Karin Hamilton.
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ECCT developing database: What are your Qs?
Parish surveys to be online, expanded
The Episcopal Church in Connecticut has a limited database and wants to expand it as a way to support your collaboration. Parishes will complete a secure, web-based survey with information about the parish, its lay leaders, groups, ministries, and assets available in case of a disaster.
A subgroup of your ECCT staff at The Commons is working on ways to share the data as well as policies to protect privacy.
What do you want to know about each other? Some staff at The Commons suggested we add, "Do you have a cemetery?" to the list; another suggested adding "Head Usher" as a key lay leader.
If you have recommendations, or questions, contact Karin Hamilton by April 16, khamilton@episcopalct.org.
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Upcoming Appreciative Inquiry classes in CT
May 16-20 at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center: Appreciative Leadership for Transformation (qualifies as Interim Training)
May 21 at St. John's, Salisbury: Mutual Ministry Valuation (for doing Mutual Ministry Reviews)
Click here for more information and to register
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Easter message from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
 "This world does not need another fairy tale," Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry said in his Easter 2016 Message.
"This week's story of crucifixion and resurrection is not a fairy tale." English version here.
Video: Click image, right.
"Este no es un cuento de hadas." Here in Spanish.
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Positions Open
- St. John's, West Hartford has an openiing for a part-time financial administrator.
- St. Peter's, Cheshire is seeking a part-time communications coordinator, and a part time parish office administrator.
- St. Stephen's, Ridgefield is seeking a full time associate rector for youth and family ministry.
- St. Andrew's, Milford (Devon) is seeking a part-time associate for parish communications.
- St. Mark's, New Canaan is seeking a part-time director of children's ministries, and a full-time associate for digital and family ministry.
- St. Ann's, Old Lyme is seeking a half-time organist and choir director.
- Saint Luke's, Darien, is seeking a full- or part-time associate rector.
To submit a job opening to be included here, please fill out this form. Jobs will be reviewed and then posted in the weekly enews and posted on the website.
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Region Convocations 
Locations and details are TBD by the T3 transition team (TREC-CT 3.0) working with people within each region, and will be included here when set. Info will also be mailed to parishes, and emailed. The next meeting of the transition team, meeting with people from each Region willing to help plan Convocations, is March 30. Details of the NE Region Convocation (and possibly, others) are expected then. A Region map is here.
Region Convocation Date
Northeast April 22-23
South Central May 6-7
Southwest May 13-14
Southeast May 20-21
North Central June 10-11
Northwest June 24-25
The date for a Convocation for Ministry Networks has not been confirmed.
Think you'd like to swap Regions? The Mission Council will develop a process. Remember, however, that being in one Region doesn't mean breaking partnerships across Regions. Parish collaboration and Ministry Networks can be both within and across Regions.
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Coming up soon
REGIONAL & DIOCESAN OFFERINGS, MARCH
The ECCT calendar is located here. It allows you to filter events by category and includes a subscribe link at the bottom of the page. Events at The Commons in Meriden unless otherwise noted.
- March 29, Province I Bishops & Canons
- March 30, Deacons' Council (at Trinity, Hartford)
- March 30, T3 Transition Team
- March 31, ROC Gathering
- March 31, Standing Committee meeting
- April 2, Spring Training & Gathering, Lincoln Middle School, Meriden
- April 5, Interim Rectors Meeting
- April 5, Convention Planning Meeting
- April 5, Camp Washington Board Meeting
- April 6-8, Living in the Green Training
- April 7, Spanish Language Ministries Meeting
- April 7, Young Retired Clergy Gatheriing
BISHOPS' SCHEDULE, MARCH
- April 3, Bishop Douglas, Christ the Healer, Stamford
- April 3, Bishop Ahrens, All Saints', East Hartford
- April 7, Bishop Ahrens, Kent School Confirmations
complete list of events is available on the website, for your consideration.
Please review event details on this calendar, or the individual parish/worshiping community, for more specific locations and times. Please reach out to the specific parish for event updates and further details.
March 30, Midday Music, St. Paul's, Norwalk
April 3, Organ concert, Ben Gessner, St. Johns, West Hartford
April 3, Ensemble Companio, chamber Choir, St. Matthew's, Wilton
April 3, Concert by Zoe Vandermeer, St. Michael's, Litchfield
April 9, Syren Modern Dance, St. John's, West Hartford
2016 SPRING CLERICUS MEETINGS
Clergy are invited to attend whichever of these meetings that best fits their schedule and location. Each line provides a link to the respective Eventbrite page. From there, you can find more details and register for the event. Each event is scheduled from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., and you are invited to bring your own lunch.
SAFE CHURCH RECERTIFICATION FOR CLERGY IN 2016 (Link here)
SAFE CHURCH TRAINING FOR LAITY
- Apr. 16, 2016, 9 a.m., Trinity, Collinsville
- Apr. 30, 2016, 9 a.m., St. Peter's, Cheshire
- May 7, 2016, 9 a.m., St. John's, Vernon
- May 14, 2016, 9 a.m, St. Paul's, Brookfield
- June 4, 2016, 9 a.m., Christ Church, East Norwalk
- June 25, 2016, 9 a.m , St. John's, Niantic
Safe Church Recertification - for Laity
- April 9, 2016, 9 a.m. St. Mark's, New Canaan
- April 12, 2016, 6:30 p.m., Trinity, Tariffville
- May 21, 2016, 9 a.m., St. Paul's, Shelton
REGIONAL CONFIRMATIONS
- Tuesday, May 3 Bishops and Confirmands Dinner at The Commons Register here
- Thursday May 5, at St. John's Vernon at 7pm (Bishop Ahrens)
- Saturday, May 7, at St. Luke's, Darien at 10am (Bishop Douglas) (currently participating St. Luke's 40C; Christ Church Redding)
- Saturday, May 14, at Christ Church, Greenwich at 10am (Bishop Ahrens) (currently participating Christ Church Greenwich; St. Paul's Norwalk 12C)
- Saturday, June 4, 2016 at St. John's, Essex at 10am (Retired Bishop Folts of West Texas) (currently participating: St. John's Essex; Christ Church Guilford 9C)
- Saturday, June 11, 2016 at St. Michael's, Litchfield at 10am (Bishop Ahrens)
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