WEEKLY ENEWS

November 15, 2016
Bishops' Message Post-Election

On Wednesday, Bishops Ian and Laura wrote a letter on the Presidential Election to the Episcopal Church in Connecticut,

As followers of Jesus we know that such restoration and reconciliation is possible.  Let us redouble our commitment to God's mission of unity, wholeness, and new life.  Let the love of God working in us overcome the divisions in our lives, in our country, and in our world.

Similarly, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offered the post-election video message (below) last week, and this  statement to all members of The Episcopal Church, yesterday. 
Convention is this weekend!
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.
LAST CHANCE to Register for Convention: Registration closes TONIGHT
All Convention delegates and guests are required to register online using Eventbrite. Parish offices can register a group and make a single payment or individuals may register and pay on their own. 

Celebration of the Spirit: Sunday of Convention*
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT, you can join the wait list here. 

Ministry Network Expo: Sunday afternoon 
Following worship, the Celebration of the Spirit will continue with the Ministry Network Expo, from 1-3:30 p.m. The Ministry Network Expo consists of two parts, taking place simultaneously: the Ministry Network Fair and the Ministry Network Workshops. Get more information here. 

Convention Banquet: Gathering to share stories 
The program during the Convention banquet will be provided by six storytellers, one from each of our Regions in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Each person will be telling a story about a Ministry Network in their Region in which they're active. The Rev. Tuesday Rupp will serve as the evening's host. Register by Wednesday. 
 
Regions, speakers, and their Ministry Networks include:
  • Southeast: Lori Sarkett, Seabury Compañeros de Ecuador
  • Southwest: Jennifer Young, Partnership with the Episcopal Church in Cuba
  • Northeast: Marie Dixon, Carol's Closet
  • Northwest: Candace Conard, Environmental Ministry Network
  • South Central: Samantha Butler, Chapel on the Green
  • North Central: Julia Johnson-Roy, Days for Girls
Download the Convention App today! 
This handy tool is available on all your devices and contains the schedule of convention, resolutions, reports, election nominee bios, and other useful information. We encourage you to download the app before coming to convention so that you are ready to go before you arrive on Saturday, November 19. Details available here. 

Livestreaming 
Convention worship on Sunday will be livestreamed, as will part of Saturday morning - including Bible study and the Bishop's Address. The video will be embedded on that page, so be sure to save it in your bookmarks. Details available here.

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.
Are you ready for Advent? 

Advent I is November 27, can you believe it! Our Diocesan cycle of prayer has been updated. 
Camp Washington invites you and your family to the 2nd Annual Family Advent Event, November 27 from 2 - 6 p.m. Come together to build a family Advent Wreath using Camp Washington Greens, hand dip your own advent candles, decorate cookies, and much more. Cost: $15/person, $50 for a family of 4 or more. Register here by November 18. 

As you prepare for this time of prayer and waiting for our Lord, here are some resources that might of interest: 
Path to Peace, EYE 2017 theme

The 2017 Episcopal Youth Event (EYE17) will focus on the theme Path to Peace. This theme is based on the Gospel reading of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.

Path to Peace as a theme was developed by the EYE17 Mission Planning Team who discerned a call to focus on peacemaking and the ways each member of the Jesus Movement can pursue a path to peace.

Drawing hundreds of youth from throughout the Episcopal Church, EYE17 will be held on July 10-14, 2017 on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK, in partnership with the Diocese of Oklahoma.

Read more about EYE17 theme Path to Peace here. To be involved with EYE17 or to learn how ECCT is participating, please contact Bishop Laura. 
*Ministry Networks Corner*

Ministry Networks' meetings & events have been added to the calendar listing below. Please click the title to find out more information on the meeting or events.

If you would like to add your Ministry Network's meeting or event to the calendar, please fill out this form and select 'Ministry Network' in the category drop down menu. 
Announcements & Reminders

The Mission Finance & Operations office of the ECCT will be closed the week between Christmas & New Year's, returning on January 2. Contributions and donations need to be received in the office no later than December 14 for credit in 2016. Donations for 'Bishop's Fund for Children' should be mailed to Camp Washington or through the ECCT website. The Mission Finance & Operations office seeks recommendations for several volunteers to serve a three year term on the Missionary Society's Revolving Loan Board Committee. The ideal individual would have bank lending and new loan evaluation experience. Please contact the Canon for Finance & Operations, Louis Fuertes.
Free Webcast of the Evangelism Matters conference, Friday and Saturday. The churchwide event is co-sponsored by Forward Movement and the Presiding Bishop's Office, and is hosted by the Diocese of Dallas and Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas, TX where the activities will be held. The conference begins at 9:00 a.m. Friday. Watch it here on Friday. 

Embracing Gender Complexity Conference, December 16 - 17 at Barbara T. Harris Conference Center in Greenfield, NH. Transgender and gender-non-binary people have long been and are increasingly part of congregations throughout Province 1. Many of our communities are exploring ways to better equip themselves to support and to embrace the gifts of this wide ranging community. Learn more and register here. Transgender Day of Remembrance is November 20.

Latino Leaders of New England Conference, December 16-17. Lutherans and Episcopalians United in One Mission at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Inspiring, equipping, and empowering Latino Ministry Leaders for the 21st Century Church! Join leaders from all over New England to explore new opportunities for learning, faith formation and service. Questions? Contact Rev. Santiago Rodriguez.

Annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols at Trinity College, December 4. This event celebrates the beginning of the holiday season for hundreds in the Greater Hartford community. The service will include music of the season offered by the Trinity College Chapel Singers, the oldest continuing student group on campus, and the Trinity College Concert Choir. The night begins at 4:00 p.m. at Trinity College Chapel. More information here. 

Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 SUMMA Camp. SUMMA Student Theological Debate Society, July 18 - 26 at School of Theology at the University of the South. SUMMA is an opportunity for high school students who are curious about building their faith through intellectual channels. Find out more information and apply here. 

Applications accepted for Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) 2017-2018 placements. YASC serves throughout the Anglican Communion, and works alongside partners in administration, agriculture, communication, development, and education. Possible placements for 2017-2018 are Brazil, Costa Rica, England, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Jerusalem, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, and more. For more information contact Grace Flint, Episcopal Church Staff Officer for YASC Programming. Applications Due: January 6.

Seminarians of Color Conference slated for February 8-11. Sponsored by the Episcopal Church Ethnic Ministries Offices, the Conference will be held at the Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center, in Oviedo, FL. Participants will hear from clergy of color as they share wisdom & expertise on theology in context, praxis of ministry, intercultural and ecumenical collaborations, best practices, & theological excellence, as well as new and emergent models in ministry and church development. Register by January 13. Contact Angeline Cabanba.

Register today for the Church Leadership Conference, February 17-19 at Kanuga Conference & Retreat Center in Hendersonville, NC. Discussion will include reasons people find their way to our churches, how to make them feel appreciated and effective courses for personal growth. Workshops will be presented by leaders from Episcopal Church Foundation, Episcopal Relief & Development, Forward Movement, Center for Religion and Environment, Bexley Seabury Seminary, and more. Register by November 17 to save 10%.
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 Music, Trinity, Collinsville
  • Director of Operations, St. Mark's, New Canaan
  • Director of Faith Formation, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange
  • Organist/Director of Music, St. Luke's, New Haven
  • Part-time Facilities Maintenance Manager, Camp Washington
  • Interim Director of Music, St. Mary's, Manchester
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.   
There will be no eNews next week, November 22

However, there will be a summary report from Annual Convention set out to all eNews subscribers. 
Events coming up soon
Events below are coming up in the next two weeks, and this is not an exhausted list.
 
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.
  • November 15, Interim Rector Meeting
  • November 15, Northeast Region Budget Review
  • November 16, Commission on Ministry & COM Training
  • November 17, Fresh Start Meeting
  • November 19-20, Annual Convention & Celebration of the Spirit
  • November 29. PIC Consultants Meeting
  • November 30, Deacons' Council Meeting
  • December 1, Recently Ordained Clergy Meeting
  • December 1, Women Clergy Breakfast & Book study
  • December 3, Leadership Gathering
  • December 4, Trinity College Chapel's Lessons & Carols
  • December 6, North Central Clericus Meeting
  • December 6, Camp Washington Board Meeting
The Commons will close at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23 and will remain closed through the weekend. We hope you enjoy your holiday! 

  • December 4: St. Mark's, Mystic (Bishop Ahrens); Holy Advent, Clinton (Bishop Douglas)
  • December 11: St. Andrew's, Meriden (Bishop Douglas)
  • December 18, St. John's Guilford (Bishop Douglas)
PARISH EVENTS  A complete Parish Events Calendar is available here.
 Please submit Parish events here.
 
Reach out to the specific parish for event updates, specific locations, and further details. Season-specific services will not be listed below, please reference our calendar. 
REGION BUDGET REVIEWS
These events provide an opportunity for attendees to review the proposed 2017 budget in advance of the November Convention. Please RSVP to the EventBrite page via the hyperlink attached to each Region.
2016 REGION CLERICUS MEETINGS (Calendar here)
SAFE CHURCH TRAINING and SAFE CHURCH RECERTIFICATION FOR LAITY
Upcoming Safe Church training sessions for laity are now listed on our website. Link here for basic information about Safe Church training for laity, including the introduction of the hybrid training. 

Hybrid half day: November 15, 6:30 - 9 p.m., St. Mark's, New Britain 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT
PARTICIPATING IN GOD'S MISSION


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