CONNECTICUT DISTRICT NEWS

Transcription

1 CONNECTICUT DISTRICT NEWS MAY 2017 The Connecticut District Office of the United Methodist Church 20 Broadfield Road, Hamden, CT Resident Bishop: Thomas J. Bickerton Editor: Dorothy Chamberlain Superintendent: Reverend Kenneth Kieffer Volume 34, Issue 5 ctdistrict@nyac-umc.com Web: Dear District, POSTCARD FROM THE E DGE of Methodism I feel like I was misled by our Bishop. He billed this 10-day trip to England as a Wesleyan Heritage Journey celebrating our denomination s rich history; unearthing our deep Methodist roots, beginning at the birth home of the founder and father of the Methodist family, John Wesley. Hence the postmark on this postcard - Epworth, England. Epworth, as you know, is the boyhood home of John and Charles and 17 other children given by God to Samuel and Susanna Wesley several hundred years ago. Today s itinerary includes a tour of the rectory where that legion of children was born and raised. But this is not the original structure. That was destroyed by fire (arson?) back in 1708, when John was just 5 years old. You may recall that the boy, amid the chaos and confusion of the formidable flames, was forgotten by the family and had to be rescued by some quick-thinking villagers who used their heads (and shoulders) to save the panicky lad. A brand plucked from the burning, is how John would remember it. Just down the serpentine street from that old house is St. Andrew, the church where the Reverend Samuel Wesley served for nearly 40 years until his death in The highlight of this stop just might be the old pastor s churchyard tomb, on which his son, John, preached when the intractable church refused him access to the pulpit indoors. Our Bishop reenacts this defiant act, to the disapproval of the present-day caretaker and the delight of the ordinands and others on our trip. But our exuberance is short-lived, because our next and final stop in Epworth is the Wesley Memorial Chapel. Don t get me wrong, reader, it s a beautiful and well-maintained building (circa 1889) inside and out. Like typical tourists, our cameras are focused on the gorgeous window memorializing John and Charles Wesley, as well the relocated baptistery where those now-famous brothers and their 17 sibs were baptized. But then we meet Reverend Angie - the newly appointed pastor to the Wesley Memorial Chapel. During a Q & A with our group, the fortysomething year-old pastor discloses that she works in what we in the colonies would call a cooperative parish. Now, while you may recognize the name, you will not recognize the numbers. At least, I didn t. According to the energetic and enthusiastic pastor, she is part of a quartet of UM clergy who are responsible for nearly 2 dozen churches!

2 POSTCARD FROM THE EDGE of Methodism continued Yup, you read correctly. She and just 3 of her colleagues in Christ have been appointed to serve a 23- point charge! But that s not even the worst part - that will come in September, when one of those overworked and underpaid pastors will be cut from the team because of budget constraints! I think that s when I realized that I had been duped. This was NOT a tour of our past. This was a glimpse into our future. If present trends continue, 23-point charges will soon be coming to the States. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not next week, or next month or even next year. But they re coming, boys and girls, to a district near you. Unless Reverend Angie, before we board the bus bound for the blitzkrieged Cathedral in Coventry, goes on to explain that she and the more forward-thinking folks in her flocks have gotten very creative in coming up with ideas on how to make disciples for Jesus Christ (Google Messy Church and Fresh Expressions). Notice I didn t say, how to keep all those buildings open. I said how to make disciples for Jesus Christ. And there s a difference. During the bus ride to Coventry, a city bombed to within a couple of bricks of oblivion by the Nazis because of her tremendous manufacturing capacity, I kept thinking of Angie s 23 churches and my 73 churches their amazing past and their precarious future and wondering what John Wesley would do. WWJWD? Well, according to our Bishop, who knows a heckuva lot more about Wesley than I do, the father of our Methodist family would (and DID!) re-tool the factory. When prevented from preaching in the pulpits of the Church of England, Mr. Wesley thought outside the box and preached outside the building. He took to the streets, he showed up at the mines, he railed against the slave trade, and he combatted child labor. In short, he proclaimed the Good News to the least, the last, and the lost. The good news for us in the U.S. is that our mission field has never been more populated. More Americans are un-churched than ever before. And we ve got tens of thousands of disciple-making factories (UMCs) from sea to shining sea. But, by definition, the un-churched are NOT in our churches. So like Wesley before us, we ve got to take to the streets, show up at the mines, rail against racism and all forms of bigotry, combat the social ills of our time, etc. I guess what I m asking is this: if he was appointed to your church, WWJWD?

3 STRATFORD UMC, 2600 Main Street, Stratford, CT WATERBURY UMC, 250 Country Club Rd., Waterbury, CT Clergy will have several opportunities to spend time with Bishop Bickerton during the course of the day. Laity and Clergy are invited to join the Bishop for dinner that evening. Reservations will be required. The Laity will also have some time for conversation after dinner. Bishop s Schedule 10:00 a.m :30 a.m. Stratford UMC Q & A with Bishop (Clergy) 4:30 p.m. -- 6:00 p.m. Waterbury UMC Q & A with Bishop (Clergy) 6:00 p.m. -- 7:15 p.m. Waterbury UMC Dinner with Bishop (Laity & Clergy - Reservations required) 7:30 p.m. -- 9:00 p.m. Waterbury UMC Q & A with Bishop (Laity) To make your reservation: Call the District Or Attn: ctdistrict@nyac-mc.com

4 Connecticut District Basic Lay Servant Ministry Course 2017 Name: Cell Phone: Three Saturdays: May 6, May 13, May 20 Fellowship 9-9:30 am. Classes begin promptly at 9:30 am, ending by 2:30 pm. Huntington UMC 338 Walnut Tree Hill Road Shelton, CT Cost $15 Street Address: City / State / Zip: Church: Home Phone: District: I desire to make the commitment to serve, with required study, as a Local Lay Servant in the United Methodist Church. I have read Paragraphs in The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012 concerning the office of Lay Servant Ministries, and realize that there are a variety of ways in which I may serve. Under the guidance of my pastor, I desire to explore my faith journey in the United Methodist Church by attending the Basic Lay Servant Ministry Course. I realize that I must be present at all sessions in order to receive a certification of completion of this course. I have obtained the required recommendations as indicated below. Signature of Applicant Date Signature of Pastor Date Signature of Admin. Council Chairperson 1. Please print legibly. 2. Obtain the required signatures. 3. Make $15 check payable to CT District. 4. Mail check and registration form to Dorothy Chamberlain CT District Office 20 Broadfield Road Hamden, CT IMPORTANT: 1. Please bring your own lunch. Coffee/tea will be provided. 2. Purchase your book: Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course Participants Book at Cokesbury # $7.48+tax+S&H, or Amazon.com. 3. Read Chapters 1 & 2 prior to the 1 st class. Complete any homework assignments. For questions, please contact Mary Brevigleiri CLM, CT Director Lay Servant Ministries at mbrevigleiri@perrytechnology.com Registration Due by May 4, 2017 Date

5 Join the Metropolitan District of the New York Conference FREE activities for body, mind & spirit! Sat., May 6 2-4:30 pm New Rochelle UMC 1200 North Ave. New Rochelle, N Y Union Brothers Singers Move 2 Empower Fitness Healthy Snack Creations with Chef John Nutrition Workshop Children s Games & Activities Yoga Session Ground-breaking for Community Garden Prayer & Meditation Room Health Screening And MORE!!!! Contact Co-ordinator Wendy Vencuss with questions. AbundantHealth@nyac-umc.com

6 Volunteer In Mission (VIM) Trip to Nicaragua Over the past few years, a number of us have been blessed to be part of a mission team to Nicaragua. Once again this year, the New York Annual Conference is organizing a VIM trip to Nicaragua to work with Acción Médica Cristiana, a mission agency that is supported in part by the United Methodist Church. The dates of the trip are August 4-13, Last summer our VIM team helped lay the foundation for a bridge that will enable the AMC Model Farm Community of Nueva Jerusalén to safely cross their river. This year our project with AMC will again be in the Matagalpa region, and the Matagalpa Field staff are considering different projects, but will not know until the time gets closer, as they depend on the community needs at the time. Our goal is to raise $4000 towards whatever project they determine is most necessary and helpful. Requirements for the trip are: 1. Passport, which much not expire within six months of our trip. (Some websites say 3 months, some say 6. To be safe, have 6 months remaining.) 2. Volunteer In Mission Training Course (in the past three years). Immunizations and malaria prophylactic medication are not required, but team members should always visit a travel clinic and visit the State Department website ( for recommendations about travel to Nicaragua. First timers and people of all ages, high school (with parental consent) and up, are welcome to join us! No prior experience is necessary, nor is the ability to speak Spanish, but the conditions can be hot and physically demanding so be sure you are cleared medically and up for the challenge. These things ARE necessary: willingness to try new things, flexibility, working hard and following instructions (even if we think we know better!), getting dirty and hot, making new friends, laughing a lot, worshiping and praising God in many ways, learning about Nicaragua and the missions that are taking place, and sharing faith and life in a different culture and country. The approximate cost for the trip is $2100. This covers international airfare and travel fees, and all in-country costs for meals, lodging, transportation, translation/guides, orientation and tourist activities, trip set-up prior to arrival, and personal insurance from the Volunteers in Mission. Because the airfare is a guesstimate, the total amount is subject to change. In addition, team members are asked to fundraise for a contribution towards the project which will be determined by the number of trip participants and the fundraising underway. The budget may be a challenge for some of you to meet. Experience has shown us that there are many ways to raise support and that many people are willing to help if given the opportunity! Fundraising ideas include: asking local church mission groups and United Methodist Women for support, selling shares for trip with a promise to do a presentation upon return (or some other form of thanks), car wash/bake sale/pancake breakfast/spaghetti dinner, other local church sponsored fundraising events, go fund me or other online fundraisers, bottle drive, letters to friends and family. What suggestions do YOU have? What we have found on previous trips is that we are blessed beyond our imaginations by the experience and the welcome of the Nicaraguan people. We go to learn about Nicaraguan history and culture, and share in their faith and life. We go to work beside them -not to do for them but with them. It can be hot, humid and challenging, but also an opportunity that will change your life. For more information or for an application, please contact: Daryl Fitzgibbons, darylfitz@yahoo.com, Application deadline is May 10

7 Disaster Response Ministry Retreat and Work Week-end(s) Camp Olmstead, Thursday, May 11 through Saturday, May 13,2017 Calling all ERTs, Long Term Recovery volunteers, DESC-trained personnel join us for a retreat and work weekend at Camp Olmstead, Thursday, May 11 through Saturday, May 13. During the day we will put our disaster response skills to work, assisting with work projects, and during the evening spend time in fellowship and disaster response-related discussions and workshops. The camp will be hosting us so there is no cost to volunteers. In preparation, we are looking for several persons with construction/building backgrounds to visit the camp and begin to put together a scope of work for each project. Please contact Tom Vencuss (tvencuss@nyac.com) or if you are interested. Rev. Tom Vencuss Coordinator Disaster Recovery Ministries New York Annual Conference

8 Connecticut District Mission Project Days for Girls International is a grassroots non-profit creating a more dignified, humane and sustainable world for girls through advocacy, reproductive health awareness, education and sustainable feminine hygiene, because no girl should go without. The poverty cycle can be broken when girls stay in school, which is a huge challenge in some countries. Not having sanitary supplies means Days without school and isolation. Days for Girls gives Days back to girls, Days that can change their lives. The CT District is joining the New York Annual Conference this year to support the Days for Girls program. For $20, one Kit will provide sustainable feminine hygiene for one girl for 3 years! Please give as you are able! Please make checks payable to the CT District and mail to: CT District Office, Attention: Dorothy, 20 Broadfield Road, Hamden, CT Please note on lower left corner of the check: Days for Girls

9 RAISE THE ROOF A Connecticut District Mission Project In Partnership The South Congo Conference Send donations to: The CT District Office Attention: Dorothy 20 Broadfield Road Hamden, CT Make checks payable to: CT District Please note on lower left corner of the check: Raise the Roof Project $20,000 Goal: The newly proposed and designed orphanage for 80 children will consist of 5 buildings: 4 dormitories (a dorm for young boys, a dorm for young girls, a dorm for older boys and one for older girls) and a large central building for babies, staff and administration. The roofing for these dorms will be tin. Each building will need 80 sheets of tin: cost to install each sheet of tin (including purchasing of the tin, nails and labor) will be approximately $50. Each contribution of $50 will entitle the giver to a CT District foam brick. Each contribution of $50 will move us closer to housing 80 orphans. Each contribution of $50 will help us build God s Kingdom. Orphanage Request 30 separate times the Bible tells us to care for orphans, including this well known passage: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. John Wesley, in a letter to George Whitefield, said that caring for orphans is the highest form of charity on earth (1770). Caring for orphans and vulnerable children is in our DNA as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of the Methodist Movement. Bishop Kainda Katembo has reached out to the Rev. Wayne Lavender, pastor of Faith UMC in North Haven and director of the Foundation 4 Orphans, requesting the construction of a new orphanage for 80 children in the city of Lubumbashi, DRC. The new orphanage will be constructed on a piece of land owned by the UMC and less than 200 yards from the UMC supported schools, local church and health care facilities. The South Congo Conference of the UMC will cover operational costs for the new orphanage. The project will be overseen by the Rev. Kanyimb Mbaz, an ordained member of the South Congo Conference appointed to this UMC compound as chaplain to the school and church. Total cost of the orphanage will be $200,000.

10 DISTRICT MISSION UPDATE The District Council on Ministries chose to mission projects for this year, Days for Girls and Raise the Roof. Although the response from our churches has been terrific so far, let s double those figures listed below. DAYS FOR GIRLS: We have received enough donations to be able to purchase 362 kits. RAISE THE ROOF: We have received enough donations to purchase 126 sheets of tin for the roofs. We received the following from Rev. Craig Fitzsimmons from the United Methodist Church of Clinton: At our District Superintendent's final regular Church Conference on Super Bowl Sunday, the members of the UMC of Clinton decided in honor of Ken's eight years of leadership and ministry to the Connecticut District to put forth a challenge to all the other churches in the District. In order to completely fund the Raise the Roof project, Clinton UMC will match all the funds raised up to a total of $10,000. We know we can do this! ARE YE ABLE? 11

11 Camping Opportunities at New York Conference Camps WOODSMOKE YOUTH CAMP at KINGSWOOD CAMPSITE Hathaway Pond Road, Hancock, NY A one-of-a-kind sleep-away camping program for youth entering grades 5-12 that develops outdoor skills, environmental stewardship, volunteerism, community, and thoughtful spirituality. A true camping adventure! July 16-22, 2017 Have a blast at Woodsmoke! Camp in the woods, learn about campfire building and cooking over the fire, hike, swim and boat in Hathaway Pond, do crafts, play games, make homemade ice cream, sing and tell stories around the campfire while making s mores. Learn about the local forest and pond ecosystems. Make new friends. Be trained on how to use various tools as you work with your fellow campers on service projects and leave with a good feeling of having done something special for someone else. The Woodsmoke experience is an opportunity to step back from technology and disconnect to reconnect. Woodsmoke - the ultimate youth camp! We ll see you there! FAMILY CAMPING: Kingswood Campsite is available all summer for family camping. Check out our unique equipped sites: All you need to bring is your bedding, clothes, and food. We supply the rest! Campsites are spacious and far apart. Opportunities to join in daily programming for individuals and families campfire cooking instruction, nature talks, hikes, arts and crafts, campfire activities, making hand-cranked ice cream, heyrides, swimming, free boating. Or just relax and do nothing! Very family-friendly campsite. Operated by a vibrant volunteer community. Contact Holly or kwadministrator@nyac.com. SUMMER CAMPS at QUINIPET on Shelter Island Our overnight camp provides all the fun of a traditional Christian summer camp in our amazing beachfront setting. In addition to the program focus of each camp, every week includes camper favorites. Campers swim, play soccer and basketball, go to arts and crafts, and master our low ropes course. Campers live and play together in their special program groups, and are housed by gender in roomy cabins with bunk beds, electricity, and bathrooms. Each evening, it s time for all camp fun, like Capture the Flag and making s mores around the campfire. At the end of each day, it s time for Vespers and Cabin Chats, special times to slow down, connect, and reflect. Day Camp has all the spirit and tradition of our overnight camp, complete with waterfront, sports, and arts activities. Activities are age appropriate and hands on, and are conducted in small groups with campers the same age. Every day includes structured activities ranging from art, nature exploration, cooking, and noncompetitive sports. By popular request, we re now offering Red Cross swim lessons in addition to daily recreational swims. 12

12 Summer Positions at New York Conference Camps New York Conference Camping and Retreat Ministry camps are hiring for Summer 2017! Spend your summer making lifelong memories at Quinipet and Kingswood. What could be better than a summer spent enjoying God s creation and creating impactful experiences for others in an inclusive, caring, and creative environment? Check out our open positions and apply today! Lifeguard at Kingswood Campsite. Read about the position here: Family Camp Program Director at Kingswood Campsite. Read about the position here: revised.pdf Woodsmoke Youth Camp counselors: Quinipet Camp & Retreat Center is hiring for Summer 2017! Available positions include Sailing Director, Waterfront Director, Counselors (sailing, waterfront, and general), Camp Nurse, and more. Learn about all our summer positions and how to apply herehttp:// ********* Mission u a mission education event for u! will take place July at the Stamford Hilton. This year s studies will be: Living as a Covenant Community Mission Conferences of the United Methodist Church in the United States Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action Class for adults, youth, children. Youth class will volunteer on Saturday at New Covenant House of Hospitality food bank and soup kitchen. Details and registration at: 13

13 MOUNTAINS OF HOPE FOR HAITI Rev. Tom Vencuss Coordinator Disaster Recovery Ministries New York Annual Conference A combined team from Mary Taylor UMC in CT and Hyde Park UMC in New York recently went on a mission trip for Mountains of Hope for Haiti and the people of the greater Furcy community. Below are highlights of that trip. Dental Clinic -- Our dentist, Dr Tina Gage, saw over 60 patients some several times. Few had ever seen a dentist before. The highlight for her was one person who, after an extraction, returned the following day to tell her that this was the first time in a long time that he had been able to chew without pain. Our funds allowed us to purchase instruments, to begin our own inventory, which will be used for future clinics and available to other NYAC dental mission clinics. The daily clinic schedule was organized by the local pastors and two local nurses, and an interpreter, assisted the dentist. It is our plan to schedule another clinic in the fall with additional dentists and hygienists. First Aid and CPR -- members of 4 local communities took part in a one-day first aid and CPR class. Dental hygiene over 150 persons attended a dental hygiene presentation. Toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste were distributed. Community meal a community meal was shared with over 250 persons one afternoon. Work project -- the team and local workers completed a basketball play area at the local elementary school Zumba instructors -- two Zumba instructors led the community in dance and exercise following church Days for Girls 90 Days for Girls kits were distributed as part of an afternoon meeting between team nurses and local women and girls. 14

14 Keynote Speaker Rev.F. Douglas Powe,Jr.,PhD Time: 9AM - 3 PM Location: Doral Arrowwood 975 Anderson Hill Rond Rye Brook NY TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY: What does it look like? Register by May 5.n ac.com Cost:$50 Includes lunch, snacks, and the book Holy Habits by Andrew Roberts llte Future is l\ ow:!11i&&ional Praclicufor :usi Ccnlu.ry Congregation& How can congrcgat.ion.s th_rive in an e\'cr changjng culture? \Vhy are we struggling to c:onnoct with those in our community? Are these tbe type of questions you are Rsking? Come and explore how to de,-elop a mlssional mindset tht addresses these questions ond others. The doy will include!corning c:oncrete mission I proctices t h t \\ill hclj> your c:ongrega tion to be better equipped for ministry in the 21st cen tury. Po,.clagy and lnity - brutg u teu:m! Sponsored by the NYAC Office of Congregational Development Please clireet questions to Carol Merante t(i!m 8 aple@qy' rom or Rev.David A. Gilmore dsilmore@qyiui gun and Revitalization 15

15 Understanding Islam Aida Mansoor will present an Introduction to Islam on Sunday, May 21, :00 5:00 p.m. Trumbull Congregational Church 3115 Reservoir Avenue Trumbull, CT Aida Mansoor is committed to building bridges of understanding among the world s religions. She is part of the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut, a community chaplain in the Greater Hartford Area and serves as a board member of the CT Council for Interreligious Understanding. Her recognitions include the Human Relations Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice. Aida Mansoor holds a BS in Biochemistry and Physiology from Kings College London (1990), an MS in Community Health from California College (2003), a Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary (2012), and an MA in Islamic Studies and Christian Muslim Relations from Hartford Seminary (2016) This program will cover the history and spirituality of the Islamic Faith, Muslim beliefs and practices, & experiences of American Muslims today. Fo r m o r e de t a i l s, p l e a s e c o n t a c t : Rev. Timothy Hare at tim.hare@trumbullcc.org/ Rev. Caroly Gibson at cgibsonumc@peoplepc.com/

16 Please keep in your prayers: The family of Gwendolyn Gwen White, who died on March 27, 2017 in Concord, MA at the age of 92. She is survived by her husband, C. Dale White (former Bishop of the New York Conference), six children, seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. The family of Reverend George E. Harris who died on April 8, 2017 in Weston, Florida. He was 79. He is survived by his wife, Linda, two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In the CT District, George served at Derby UMC and Bloomfield UMC. The family of Marion Thorn who died on April 7, 2017 in Shelton, CT at the age of 90. She was predeceased by her husband, Reverend Ralph Thorn. She is survived by her sons, Jeff and Paul, and two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. In the CT District Marion and Ralph served in Hartford and Westville. The family of Ruth Amrein has extended an invitation for folks to attend the Memorial Service being held for Ruth at Wethersfield UMC, 159 Prospect St., Wethersfield, on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Ruth died at the age of 102 on February 16, 2017 which was within 5 days for her 103 rd birthday. She was the widow of Rev. Arthur Amrein. Rev. Amrein and Ruth served as Methodist missionaries in India for 6 years and in the CT District served at Plainville, Wethersfield, Simsbury and Milford. ******** All retirees are invited to meet on May 18, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. for LUNCH at Denny's, 631 Queen St. (Route 10) in Southington, just off I-84, exit 32. We meet on the third Thursday of each month for LUNCH at 11:30 a.m. Plan to come to next month s gathering on June 15, Kindly contact Ralph Roy at Ralphlroy@aol.com or call Please come prepared to share information on any illness, bereavement or other circumstances that should engage the group s attention. 17

17 PATHWAYS & POSSIBILITIES: THE JOURNEY OF DISCIPLE MAKING JUNE 7 10 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY REGISTER BY MAY ******** CONNECTICUT DISTRICT IS ON FACEBOOK! CHECK US OUT AT: nyacconnecticut district DEADLINE FOR THE JUNE DISTRICT NEWS IS May 20,