AUGUST CLERGY NEWSLETTER
A Meditation After a Summer Trip Back Home
by Sandra Cosman

I remember visiting them in my youth, magnificent churches with the vaulted ceilings, the stone pillars reaching upward seemingly almost high enough to touch the heavens, and the long aisles that would deliver me to the altar and perhaps the very throne of God. Later, I would read how the architects and builders of these monuments had hoped to give us a foretaste of the grace and grandeur of heaven itself.

The Sunday worship space that I remember from my youth was vastly different but it warmed me no less. I would sit Sunday by Sunday in what I learned was as an upturned boat complete with a keel running from stem to stern. The walls were constructed of mortared cement blocks painted blue like the water in stark contrast to the dark wood of the roof. I would count the rows of wood that made up the plank on frame construction and be reminded that the Church was a lifeboat for people like me. We would ride out the storms of our world huddled together in a boat Jesus himself made for us to carry us safely to the heavenly shores.

I'm learning how deeply this image lives within me as I struggle with others in the work of visioning a new image of Church. I can't help but think that much of my time is spent bailing a fragile boat, plugging leaks, and mopping up messes. I wonder what message our tired old buildings give to those who come to worship on Sunday mornings.

Perhaps the builders of these upturned ships were not building lifeboats, but arks? Arks built to carry us through the storm searching for a place to land and to disembark? Maybe instead of being run aground like a poorly captained ocean liner, we are finally making landfall in a recreated world that we hardly recognize, and there is only an olive branch to remind us of what was, to call us to keep the peace, and to point us to what is to come.

The little piece of biblical literalist that lives within me can't imagine what that first pitiful ark must have been like after forty days and nights on the windswept waters packed to the gills with everything and every being needed to sustain life. I don't want to think about the devastation and destruction they found amid the sprouting new life. Perhaps it was not coincidence that they were moved to look upward to God's sign - the bow - in the sky above them.

Outside my window, folks are lining up in a neat line that wraps around the church buildings. Men and women, grandmothers and sons, workers and old folks are waiting for the arrival of food that will carry them through the weeks ahead. Down the street, just out of view, parents and children are lining up to receive backpacks filled with back to school supplies. Across the town green young people are walking right past the church in search of Pokemon Go! success. Miles down the street elderly parents and grandparents line the walls of a nursing home hoping for someone to walk past.
 
It is time for us to get off the boat.    

Sandra Cosman is Secretary of the Diocese and Priest-in-Charge at St. John's: The Episcopal Church in Pine Meadow, CT. She has served as a member of the Leadership Gatherings, TREC-CT, Standing Committee, Transition and PiC Consultant, Title IV Conciliator, ConnECA CoConvenor and Provincial Synod Delegate, and is a discerner with the Society of the Companions of the Holy Crossis. She is also James-Paul's mother.
#EpiscopaliansVote
Sign the Episcopal Voter Pledge Today
"If we who are Christians participate in the political process and in the public discourse as we are called to do - the New Testament tells us that we are to participate in the life of the polis, in the life of our society - the principle on which Christians must vote is the principle, Does this look like love of neighbor?" - Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, March 2016 
Episcopalians can live out our call to care for our neighbors as ourselves by engaging in the public square. This November 8, our nation will head to the polls to decide a number of important elections, and there are many opportunities for Episcopalians to engage in this electoral process. Official Episcopal policy recognizes voting and political participation as acts of Christian stewardship, calling upon congregations to engage in conversation on public policy issues, to develop voter registration and issue education campaigns, and to advocate for protection of voting rights.  
 
Bishop Curry released a message to the Episcopal Church encouraging all to "Go and vote.  Vote your conscience.  Your conscience informed by what it means to love your neighbor.  To participate in the process of seeking the common good.  To participate in the process of making this a better world.  However you vote, go and vote.  And do that as a follower of Jesus." 
 
The Episcopal Church is invting all members to sign a pledge today stating that they will show up at the polls and vote, for "the Episcopal Church considers voting an act of Christian stewardship." #EpiscopaliansVote 
 
Find more information on the Episcopal Church's website here. 
Host a Concert in Conjunction with the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, September 25
Supported by Bishops United Against Gun Violence

On Sunday, September 25, places and communities of worship are encouraged to hold music events to remember the victims of America's gun violence epidemic in a nation-wide Concert Across America to End Gun Violence. 

This countrywide series of live music events of various sizes and types will be in conjunction with Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence and the Bishops United Against Gun Violence (of which Bishop Ian and Bishop Laura are members). Parishes and worship communities are encouraged to be involved in various ways. Communities can integrate a peace-themed choral performance into an already-planned service, hold a special performance by a choir, musician, or music group, or organize a "unity" concert with secular and faith-based community organizations and/or with other houses of worship. Others may also gathering to watch a livestream of other concerts.

For a list of contributing cities and states, or ways to be involved globally with this event please visit the Concert Across America's website . 

More information and resources are available here. Please register your music event on their website as well. Please also email a notice of your concert to bishopsunitedtec@gmail.com. Follow the movement on Social Media with the hashtags: #ConcertAcrossAmerica and #EndGunViolence   
Upcoming Events:

Reminder to Submit Financial Audits for Parishes, due September 1
"Larger parishes," as defined to mean over $500,000 in total revenues annually, are required to submit financial audits or financial reviews annually. The audits/reviews for 2015 financial should be received at the Commons by September 1. More information can be found on ECCT's website here. Please contact Karolyn Nicolaides for a list of firms that perform audits and financial reviews.

Priesthood Mentor Gathering, September 15

Please join others at the Commons for the fall Priesthood Mentors' Gathering and Book Discussion. The book being discussed will be
Liquid Leadership by Brad Szollose. Lunch will be provided. Please make a selection when registering. Thank you! Event Registration is here.

Transitional Ministries Conference, September 19 - 22

The Transition Ministries Conference is a regional meeting of diocesan transition ministers 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. 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 found on their webpage. Please also take the time to update your OTM Portfolio, which can be done online. The deadline for submitting your material is Monday, September 12. Please contact Lee Ann Tolzmann with any questions about the TMC or the process. 

Joining God in the Neighborhood Workshop, September 24

Join other 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. See here for more information and an invitation from the Rev. Tim Hodapp, Canon for Mission Collaboration. Please register here.

Clergy Professional Development & Safe Church Recertification, October 1

Attendance at Safe Church Recertification Training for Clergy is required for all clergy canonically resident or licensed in The Episcopal Church in CT (ECCT). This interactive and engaging full day program addresses the following topics: Boundaries for excellence in ministry, ECCT guidelines for ordained ministry, Legal requirements for mandated reporting of suspected abuse, Update on Title IV disciplinary process. This will be held at St. John's, Washington from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.. Registration here. 

Clergy Day! October 11

Fall 2016 Clergy Day will be Tuesday, October 11 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., at t. Mark's Church, New Britain. Please register here. 

Preaching Symposium with the Rev. David Bartlett, November 5

The Bishops and Commission on Ministry invite any lay or ordained person to attend a Preaching Symposium at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford on Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 9am to 3pm. The Rev. David Bartlett, professor emeritus at Yale Divinity School, will be the plenary speaker for the morning and workshops will be offered in the afternoon. Lunch will be provided.  If you have any questions about the day, please contact the Dean of Formation, Molly James. The cost to attend is $20 and scholarship funds are available. Please register via Eventbrite here.
Important Dates on the Calendar:
  • Recently Ordained Clergy Meeting, September 6, 8 a.m. -2 p.m., The Commons
  • Fresh Start Meeting, September 15, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Commons
  • Priesthood Mentor Gathering, September 15, 12 - 2 p.m., The Commons
  • Priest in Charge Meeting, September 29, 10 - 11:30 a.m., The Commons
  • Clergy Recertification, October 1, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., St. John's, Washington
  • Clergy Day, October 11, 12 - 2 p.m., St. Mark's Church, New Britain  
  • Clergy Recertification, October 20, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Christ Church, Greenwich
Formation Corner

Important Dates
  
For postulants & candidates:
Conversation with COM and Standing Committee: January 14, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
 
For those in discernment groups:
Materials were due August 15 (Discernment Group report & Rector's Response)
 
Resource Pages
 
 
If you have any questions about the ordination process or know someone who might be called to Holy Orders, please contact Molly James, Dean of Formation.
Transitions Update

The Rev. Rowena Kemp has accepted a call as Priest in Charge at Grace Church, Hartford. She will end her ministry at Trinity on the Green, New Haven in September and begin at Grace on October 1.
 
The Rev. Shariya Molegoda, of Jefferson City, Missouri, has accepted a call as rector of St. Andrew's Church, Madison. Shariya's ministry in Connecticut will begin November 1.
 
The Rev. Link Hullar, most recently from Texas, is now Missional Priest at Church of our Savior, Plainville.
 
The Rev. Cynthia Knapp's ministry as Interim Rector at St. Peter's Church, Milford will end on September 18. Cynthia has accepted a call in Macon, Georgia.
 
The Rev. Lois Keen's ministry as Priest-in-Charge at Trinity Church, Wethersfield will end on August 28.
 
We are currently receiving names for a ¾ time rector (with rectory) for St. John's Church, North Haven. We expect St. Peter's, Milford to be posted for receiving names on September 1.
 
Parishes in Transition
 
All Saints, Oakville....................................................................Negotiating with PIC
Christ Church, Bethany...............................................................................Pending
Christ the Healer, Stamford.........................................................................Pending
Christ and the Holy Trinity, Westport.......................................................Seeking PIC
Epiphany Church, Durham...........................................................Using Supply Priests
Grace Church, Stafford Springs................................................................Negotiating
Old St. Andrew's, Bloomfield.............................................Interim in place: Alex Dyer
St. James, New London....................................................Interim in place: Bob Miner
St. John's, North Haven...................................................................Receiving Names
St. Luke's, New Haven..........................................................Seeking Priest in Charge
St. Luke's, South Glastonbury.......................................................Seeking PT Interim
St. Mark's, Storrs...........................................................Negotiating with 2nd Interim
St. Mary's, Manchester....................................................Interim in place: Lynne Grifo
St. Martin's, Hartford.............................................................Seeking Missional Priest
St. Matthew's, Wilton.......................................................................Seeking Interim
St. Paul's, Fairfield..........................................................Interim in place: Amy Welin
St. Paul's, Riverside.............................................................................Interviewing
St. Paul's & St. James, New Haven...........................................................Negotiating
St. Peter's, Milford.........................................................Negotiating with 2nd Interim
St. Peter's, South Windsor..............................................Interim in place: Shaw Mudge
St. Timothy's, Fairfield..........................................................................Interviewing
Trinity Church, Brooklyn.........................................................................Negotiating
Trinity Church, Portland..........................................................................Negotiating
Trinity Church, Seymour....................................................Interim in place: Steve Ling
Trinity Church, Trumbull................................................Interim in place: Paul Carling
Trinity Church, Wethersfield.........................................................................Pending

 
Please contact Lee Ann Tolzmann (latolzmann@episcopalct.org) with any questions.

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