Registration for both conferences are now open!
October 17-19, 2016 (Monday - Wednesday)
This conference is for clergy and lay leaders who are focused on building cultures of discipleship in congregations. Speakers at the conference include: Scott Gunn, Brenda Husson, David Gortner, Peter Lane, Wes Smedley, Clarence Langdon, Mariann Edgar Budde, Joey Rick, Jay Sidebotham, Brain Sellers Petersen, Chris Yaw, and more. This event is s ponsored by Forward Movement and RenewalWorks.
Discussions and presentations include the following topics: Leading for Discipleship, Discipleship and Scriptural Engagement, The Leader's Heart, Communicating Discipleship, Discipleship and the Diocese, Building Cultures of Discipleship, and more!
Cost: (Includes conference fee, meals & lodging* at the Claggett Center)
- Single (private room): $450 ($500 after August 15)
- Double (shared room): $400 ($450 after August 15)
- Commuter (*lodging not inlcuded): $250 ($300 after August 15)
Learn more & register here.
November 18-19, 2016 (Friday - Saturday)
This conferences is designed for individuals seeking a place to share, learn, and grow the Church's capacity and passion for evangelism, through inspiring presentations, valuable workshops and resources, and shared experiences in a community setting. This event is hosted by the Diocese of Dallas, and c o-sponsored by Forward Movement and the Presiding Bishop's Office.
The two-day conference will equip and empower evangelists with tools for communicating the Good News of Jesus in the Episcopal tradition. More information at the bottom of the page here.
Cost: (Includes lunch and dinner on Friday. Excludes lodging; see below for hotel information)
- Conference fee: $100 ($125 after August 31)
- Seminarians, Church Planters, and Full-time Missionaries conference fee: $75
* The bishops and canons of ECCT would like to identify and support one or possibly two lay people to attend the full Evangelism Matters conference in Dallas, Texas. (Note that the second day of the conference is the day of the Annual Convention). Expectations of the attendee(s) include use of social media to share images and ideas both during and after the conference, and work with Karin Hamilton or Alli Huggins in ECCT's office of Mission Communication & Media, on ways to share what you've learned with ECCT, post-conference.
If the Spirit moves and you believe you're called to explore this opportunity as ECCT's "delegate," email your name, contact info, and how this conference inspires you to
khamilton@episcopalct.org, no later than September 15, 2016.
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The Choristers of Calvary Church Performing in the UK!
On Thursday, July 21, the Choristers at Calvary, Stonington left for an amazing journey to sing in several cathedrals and castles of England and Scotland. Founded in 2011, the choral program at Calvary is based on a curriculum entitlied "Voice for Life" from the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).
The choristers sing a variety of music from some of the greatest composers of sacred music, such as Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Howells. The chorister program at Calvary also offers a musical education which includes music theory, music history, and vocal training, in addition to liturgical and historical studies of the Episcopal and Anglican traditions. You can listen to their music here or watch a video of their recent performance at Christ Church, New Haven.
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The choir with the Choirmaster/Organist Joseph Ripka.
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"The Choir of Calvary Church Episcopal" earned a prestigious "Residency Tour," which includes residing and performing at both St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh and Lichfield Cathedral in England. Among their many performances, the group will also explore various tourist locations in Scotland and England. To follow this exciting adventure in sacred music, join the Facebook group 'Calvary Choir UK Tour 2016.' The group also has a tour blog that will be updated occasionally throughout their travels. |
| Calvary Choir is off to Scotland and England!
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To see more details about the choir school, listen to their performance, and take a closer look at the tour schedule, go to the webpage at www.calvarychoirschool.org.
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Cuba Conference & Networking Event: September 17
Connect with the thriving Cuban Episcopal Church!
Join others on Saturday, September 17 at Saint Luke's Parish, Darien from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for an enriching discussion and networking event focused on the Episcopal Church in Cuba.
The day will include keynote presentations, workshops on traveling to Cuba, youth ministry opportunities, and asset-based strategies for community development. This conference is recommended for individuals, parishes and nonprofits that want to engage with our Cuban neighbors in serving the community and spreading the Gospel with the opportunity to form a regional network of people and organizations supporting the national Church's Task Force on Cuba.
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Convention Corner:
The Episcopal Church in Connecticut's 232nd Annual Convention will be Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20, 2016 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT.
Elected Positions Open at Convention
We will be electing a number of positions at this year's Annual Convention, including the deputation to General Convention, Provincial Synod Reps, and members of Standing Committee.
If you are interested in being nominated for one of these positions, please visit the Elections page (link corrected) on the Convention section of the ECCT website for more information and a simple, electronic nomination form.
Register for the Convention's Celebration of the Spirit
On the Sunday of Annual Convention this year, we will be having a Celebration of the Spirit that will include a massive gathered Eucharist with a sermon by the Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, and followed by a Ministry Network Expo and several engaging workshops.
The Celebration of the Spirit is free and open to all Episcopalians in Connecticut, and because space is limited, all attendees must register here* in advance. Learn more about the Celebration of the Spirit and register today. Even better, invite a few people from your congregation so that you can carpool and explore this exciting event together!
If you have any questions, please contact Adam Yates, Secretary of Convention.
*If you have already registered for Convention then you do not need to register again for the Celebration of the Spirit.
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Register for Summer Camp!
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| | Children's Camp from Camp Washington's Facebook |
Spots are filling up for 2016 summer camp! To register for one of the sessions below, head over to Camp Washington's website. While you're there, sign up for their newsletters, simply enter your email address in a signup box in the lower section of their home page.
Mark your calendars for Camp Washington's Youth Festival happening September 10-11! Register here.
Spots still available in:
Children's Camp, Ages 7-12: August 14-19
Teen Camp, Ages 12-16: July 31-August 5, August 7-12
Service Leadership Camp, Ages 13-16: August 14-19
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Announcements & Reminders
LGBTQ: Bible & Church Workshop Join the Rev'ds Sara Ofner-Seals from Park Congregational Church, Norwich and Hugh James from Christ Episcopal Church, on July 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Christ Church, Norwich for a study workshop and open discussion on LGBTQ references in the Bible, and the Church's place in the LGBTQ debate in society. Admission is free, however donations would be greatly appreciated to cover food costs. Please RSVP to the Christ Episcopal Church Office at (860)-887-4249 or email Hugh at hughjames1784@att.net.
Women Clergy Breakfast with Bishop Ahrens at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 8, at St. Andrew's Church in Meriden. The group will be discussing the next two chapters of the Anglican Theological Review (ATR) focusing on the prayer of Anglican women. Specifically, all will discuss "From Dis-Bodied Discipleship to Embodied Relationality: Experiential Formation in the Life of Prayer" and "Will You Pray?" Please join even if you do not read the ATR. Time for community gathering and fellowship is a gift to everyone in her faithful journey, as time with female colleagues can be a restorative gift to one's prayer life. Please RSVP here, and click here for a link to the guide for study and discussion.
Register for the Sept 24 Workshop:
Joining God in the Neighborhood
Join clergy and lay leaders from across the Episcopal Church in Connecticut for a discussion about how to discover what God's up to in our neighborhoods. Then, following an early lunch, all will head out together and try on what we've just learned, listening for what God is telling us in some of West Hartford's nearby neighborhoods. Please see here for an invitation from the Rev. Tim Hodapp, Canon for Mission Collaboration. Please click here for more information and registration.
The Jack Spaeth Care for Creation Environmental Grant now accepting applications through Monday, August 15. The mission of the Jack Spaeth Care for Creation Environmental Grant is to encourage innovation and to empower members of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut to educate, witness and invite change in our congregations and communities with the goal of embracing a global vision of climate justice and preserving and celebrating God's creation. Click here to read more and submit an application.
St. Paul's Brookfield and Fr. Joseph Shepley Leading Two Pilgrimages to Holy Land New Year's Break, 2016 - 2017. The first trip, the "Best of Israel," leaving on December 26 will be primarily for "first timers" where we will walk in the footsteps of Jesus, visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. The second trip, "In-Depth Israel plus Petra," leaves on January 2nd and will overlap the first trip on the travel days. It will be of interest to the "return visitors" to Israel, spending more time in Jerusalem, visiting additional areas in Israel, and including a special swing through Jordan. You can combine both trips. Please see full detailed program here or here for more information, prices, and registration.
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Ministry Networks Corner
New Liturgy, Music, and the Arts Ministry Network to host meeting today!
An emerging ECCT Ministry Network dedicated to those interested in Liturgy, Music, and the Arts will host a gathering in fellowship and engage in a discussion at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, Tuesday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m. Please register here for the meeting. Please see the formal invitation here.
Next Community Gardens Ministry Network Meeting October 23
With the leadership of the Rev. Virginia Army, the group will meet from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at St. Mark's Church, New Canaan. The purpose of the meeting is to see the garden space, and to share stories and experiences regarding the season's gardens, the drought conditions, working with community partners, gaining support from the parishes, harvesting, future planning, etc. Please register for the Community Gardens here.
To announce your Ministry Network gathering, sponsored event, or resource, email Alli Huggins at ahuggins@episcopalct.org.
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Positions Open
Job openings may be found here on the website
NOTE: Applicants will be able to submit their resume and cover letter to the contact person directly from the ECCT website, if that option is chosen by the person submitting the position for posting.
- Director of Faith Formation for Children and Youth, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange
- Interim Director of Music Ministries, Trinity Church, Hartford
- Music Director, Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford
- Director of Children's Ministries, Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport
- Interim Director of Music for Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown
- Church School Director, St. Michael's, Litchfield
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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REGIONAL & DIOCESAN OFFERINGS
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. Specific details including locations, times, etc. will also be found there.
- July 28, Standing Committee Meeting
- July 29, Retired Steering Committee Meeting
- July 29, Celebration of Women's Ordination to the Priesthood in the Episcopal Church
- August 2, Camp Washington Board Meeting
- August 4, Spanish Language Ministries Meeting
- August 9, Convention Planning Meeting
- August 11, ECCT Regional Leadership Team Gathering
See Ministry Network Corner, above, for known MN meetings and sponsored events
- September 11: St. Paul's on the Green, Norwalk (Bishop Ahrens)
- September 25: Zion, North Branford (Bishop Ahrens)
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.
- August 7, Four Seasons Plus Summer Concert, Emmanuel Church, Killingworth
- August 8 - 12, St. Michael's Litchfield Summer Camp
SAFE CHURCH RECERTIFICATION FOR CLERGY IN 2016 (Link here)
Mandatory for clergy. The final two times it will be offered are in October.
SAFE CHURCH TRAINING and SAFE CHURCH RECERTIFICATION FOR LAITY
Safe Church training sessions for laity ended June 25 and will resume in the fall. They will be included online and in the eNews when locations and dates are confirmed and online registration is set up. Link here for basic information about Safe Church training for laity.
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