DISPATCHES
- April edition -
News & Updates from the Diocese
DISPATCHES is our monthly update that seeks to keep you advised of news, developments, and resources that support our shared priorities and initiatives across the diocese.
Our priorities are: Youth & Family Ministry, Leadership Development & Clergy Care, Global Mission, and the Reawakening of New England as well as the 2024 Floodgate Pilgrimage Initiative.
INITIATIVE: FLOODGATE PILGRIMAGE
The Floodgate Pilgrimage cross Sets Out!
– Mrs. Elena Williams
Over the course of the spring and summer, across the northeast of America, our churches will be coming together in a 6-month prayer pilgrimage that will culminate at the 2024 Reawakening Conference. Elena Williams, Director of Prayer, comments, “I fervently believe that the Lord is inviting every church across the Anglican Diocese in New England to be a part of the Floodgate Pilgrimage; that we would come together in the unity of Christ to pray for the reawakening of the northeast.”
The Floodgate Cross begins its journey this weekend at St. Timothy’s in Burlington, VT, where it was made by Mark Denison, one of St. Timothy’s congregants. As the Cross passes from church to church the invitation is to plan a time of prayer for your church, your community, and the reawakening of the northeast of America as the Holy Spirit leads. This could be anything from a small group of intercessors gathering in someone’s house to pray for an hour one evening or a weekend-long prayer event that offers teaching, times of personal prayer,and church-wide intercession.
Please join us as we pray that the Lord would open the floodgates of heaven and pour out His Holy Spirit in each of the churches where the Floodgate Cross arrives.
April
April 27th: St. Timothy’s, Burlington, VT (Rector: Rev. Micah Thompson)
April 28th-May 3rd: Holy Trinity, Auburn, MA (Rector: Rev. Eliud Mwangi)
May
May 3rd-6th: St. Veronica’s, Bear, DE (Rector: Cn. Paul Githinji)
May 12th-18th: St. Paul’s Waltham, MA (Rector: Ven. Michael Kafeero)
May 19th-25th: St. Peter’s, Winchester, MA (Rector: Rev. Amos Kimera)
May 26th-31st: St. Luke’s, Waltham, MA (Rector: Rev. Christine Nakyeyune)
We are currently working on the pilgrimage route for June and July. If you would like to reserve a date for the Floodgate Pilgrimage Cross to come to your church or would like to intercede for the Pilgrimage, please email Elena Williams elena.williams@adne.org or Leah Maina: floodgateprayer@adne.org
The route the Cross will take from April 27-May 31.
PRIORITY: THE REAWAKENING OF NEW ENGLAND
Reawakening Conference 2024
“Growing in the Gospel”
October 18-19, 2024 | Newburyport, MA
• Plenary sessions on both Friday and Saturday
• Sung worship led by NYC worship pastor/coach Dave Edwards with musicians from across our diocese
• Valuable equipping workshops on various topics
• Celebration of Holy Eucharist
• Opportunity to connect with other leaders across New England
• Track for TEENS available
• More features announced soon…
THe REv. Ethan Magness, Plenary Speaker
Ethan is the founding rector of Grace Anglican Church in Grove City, PA. Ethan is married to Monique, and they have three daughters - Cora, Ella, and Avelina. Grace Church began in 2006 a few weeks before Ethan was ordained, and has developed into a multi-staff parish within the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh with about 275 residents and 275 undergraduate students from local colleges. Grace has also planted another church in the neighboring town of Franklin, PA. The center of Ethan's ministry and Grace Church's emphasis is the Gospel of Jesus's absolution. In his spare time, Ethan likes to paint, draw, write poetry, cook Indian food, and watch The Office.
The Rev. Kate Norris said, “Ethan is easily one of the best preachers I have ever heard. He has been a backbone in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh successfully planting his church and planting new churches out his plant. Showing that when you give the gospel first all this life comes from it.”
You can check out some of Ethan’s sermons at Grace’s website: https://graceanglicanonline.com/
Registration Launches in Early June!
New Preaching Group Launched for ADNE Preachers!
- The Rev. Kate Norris
The Rev. Canon Tim Clayton preaching at Trinity North Shore’s summer service.
Bishop Drew asked Sean and me to start a preaching-prep group and we were delighted because we love, love, love sharing the Gospel. We know you’ve got sermons to prepare… let’s grow in the Gospel together!
In this group, we will spend (no longer than) an hour where we will look at all the lectionary readings (please read them ahead of time). No other prep needed, but I will invite you to share helpful commentaries, articles, etc in the chat if you have them.
Our hope is for the ADNE, and our individual ministries, to preach the cross of Christ with power to set people free in their gifts, heal their wounds, and deepen forgiveness in their lives. The Gospel always bears fruit!
Join us every Tuesday Noon - 1:00 pm on zoom (you're welcome to bring lunch!)
We will work through the lectionary readings for each Sunday https://wordtoworship.com/lectionary/acna. Each week we will…
pull out the pastoral problem
pull out the convicting word
pull out the Gospel promise based on what Christ has done
end on a word of hope for you and your people
“I can see on Sundays the good impact of the preaching group. A surprise is how much more authority I sense in bringing the Word to people.” - the Rev. Gayle Heaslip“ I am finding that the preaching group has an exponential multiplication effect on my weekly preaching preparation. One hour spent talking about the Scriptures with knowledgeable colleagues and pooling our insights has been more valuable than spending two or three times as long studying on my own. Plus, as an otherwise fairly isolated member of the diocese, it’s so encouraging to connect with the group on a regular basis. I haven’t had a group like this since seminary 20 years ago.” - the Rev. Steve Hoskins
Pictured above: just some of our many preachers around the ADNE…
online artists’ Collective brings together artists from around the ADNE
Rev. Kate Norris has also begun a monthly online artists’ collective. The collective is a gathering of artists of a variety of disciplines (music, poetry, photography, sculpture, painting, etc.) from around the diocese, who are working on various projects to display and share at the Reawakening Conference in October.
The theme of the conference art show this year is "Out of Season" taken from 2 Timothy 4:1-5 where Paul charges Timothy (and all his readers) to be ready to preach the word in season and out of season. When one considers how short a harvest season is for any particular crop we spend most of our time working out of season. Kate has invited artists to share works that are inspired by how God has met them out of season.
If anyone is interested in the collective they can contact Kate: kate@dandelionministries.org
Praying for the Regional Reawakening in bangor (may 17-19)
As the ADNE invests in bringing Regional Reawakenings to more and more churches and communities around the region, our diocese as a “family of churches on mission” has an opportunity to lean in as a family to support these local missional initiatives in prayer before they happen.
In light of that vision, please be in prayer for our next Regional Reawakening May 17-19 in Bangor, Maine with the community of Imago Dei Anglican Church. Following the general format for these weekends, we will have an in-reach Friday evening to bless the Imago Dei congregation, then we will assist them in an outreach on Saturday, and finally, we will worship together on Sunday morning celebrating all the Lord has done.
We have been planning with Rev. Steve Hoskins and his team and - Lord willing - it will prove to be a blessed and fruitful time for them and their community. Thank you for your prayers! We will let you know all the Lord did in next month’s Dispatches, so stay tuned!
SPIRITUAL FORMATION & CLERGY CARE
The Benefits of offering church retreats
- The Rev. Cn. Susie Skillen, Canon for Spiritual Formation
The location of a recent parish retreat.
“Jesus said to them, `Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while'” (Mark 6:31).
Jesus knew how important it was to make time for his disciples to have rest, refreshment and fellowship in the midst of busy and demanding lives. The same is true for us. We need time to slow down, have peaceful quiet, and enjoy simply being filled up spiritually in company with our church family. Jesus brought his disciples away to a quiet place for a retreat. Why not us too?
Recently I had the privilege of leading several parish retreats for either a parish council or for the whole church. The topic for each retreat was discerned by prayer and conversation with the church leadership. The length of the retreats varied from several hours held at the church or a parishioner’s home, to an overnight at a retreat center. While the groups included people of all ages, many participants were in their 20s and 30s. This impressed upon me the openness and desire of even busy younger adults to get away on retreat.
There are many benefits to a church offering a retreat to parish leadership or to the parish as a whole. Here are a few that I became aware of.
The participants learn and grow by practicing spiritual disciplines such as praying the daily office together, meditating on scripture through guided lectio divina, times for silence, solitude, spiritual reflection, journaling, and quiet walking in nature.
Small group times allow for comfortable sharing about their lives, their deeper struggles and what they are receiving from God in prayer. Intergenerational sharing enriches everyone. The result is that deeper connections and trust are built among the participants, a blessing for the life of the church community.
These churches had established a rhythm of an annual retreat, either for the leadership or for the parish as a whole. One church holds an annual overnight Lenten retreat. Another uses the day-long annual winter retreat to help discern the congregation’s spiritual focus for the coming year. This pattern helps to build expectation and purpose into the annual event. The congregation looks forward to the retreat as a spiritual boost for individuals and for the parish.
Do you feel a nudge from God to consider offering a retreat for your parish? There are experienced retreat leaders from the Clergy Pastoral Care Team who would be happy to help plan and lead a retreat for your parish. Contact Canon Susie Skillen for more information: susan.skillen@adne.org
PRIORITY: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Register Now for the Missional Planning Summit!
Register in the next THREE WEEKS and save $30 off your registration cost!
Thursday/Friday, June 13-14 | Amesbury, MA
This annual summit is mandatory for rectors of ADNE churches along with those core clergy or lay leaders involved in each church's 12-month missional plan. These have been such a powerful time of Spirit-led vision, collaboration, mutual support, and prayer.
Register before May 16 and save $30 off the $129 standard registration fee!
Upcoming Rector’s Huddle - May 8
This is a reminder to all ADNE rectors that the quarterly Rector’s Online Huddle will be from 7:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday, May 8.
Here’s the tentative Agenda:
• Opening Prayer: Bishop Drew
• ADNE Initiative & Event Updates: Floodgate Pilgrimage, Reawakening, Missional Planning Summit, Preaching Group (<10 min)
• Recent Rector Survey Results (10 min)
• Main Topic: Growing in Mission & Evangelism* (15 min)
• Main Topic Q&A Conversation (20 min)
• Closing Prayer
* Now would be a great time to begin preparing thoughts and questions on this topic with your leadership teams. Where are you struggling with this? What questions do you have? What’s working well for you that could be encouraging to others?
An email to rectors with this agenda & link to the meeting will be forthcoming. The third Rector’s Huddle is scheduled for the evening of Sept. 11th.
Identifying and Calling Gifts
In 1 Corinthians, Paul introduces the analogy of the body to reinforce the concept of the diversity of gifts for the edification of the entire body. As each part performs its specific function, the whole body is better for it. The same is true in the body of Christ. Each of us has a unique gift set that, when we offer it, makes all of us better and brings glory to God.
– What are your gifts?
– What areas are you serving that are significantly outside of your gifting and would be better done by someone who has gifts in that area?
– Leaders: what gifts do you see in others that you are identifying and inviting them to share?
PRIORITY: ADNE YOUTH & FAMILY
Kids Summer Camp
As families start to make plans for the summer, we encourage you to look into and share information about China Lake Camp (China, Maine) with families at your church! Kids Camp is July 14-19, 2024 and is open to ages 8-12.
You are invited to join us this summer for kids camp in China, Maine! This camp will include camp games, sports, crafts, and waterfront activities for ages 8-12. Rev. Canon Craig Vickerman will be the main speaker for the week and we would love to have families from around the diocese join in on the fun!
Article on Our Recent Middle School Retreat!
PRIORITY: GLOBAL MISSION
ADNE undertaking various clean water Projects in 2024!
– The Rev. Canon Leah Turner
In most of the Western world, we take clean water for granted. We turn on a tap, and water safe to drink, cook with, and wash with comes out. While with some part of me I have known that others do not have that privilege, it did not strike me how precious water was until I traveled to Kakuma in 2018 and saw this arid land with one strip of green. All of a sudden, the scripture verses that talk of streams of living water struck me with a new intensity. From that moment, God changed my heart and gave me a renewed passion to bring water to places who knew scarcity and Jesus to hearts and souls that were thirsty.
This last year the ADNE has joined Bishop Andrew and myself with this same passion and is raising funds and awareness for water scarcity projects in East Africa. To date, we have raised funds for water harvesting in western Uganda and a well boring project in Athriver Kenya. The water harvesting project will launch this week and Bishop Andrew will visit the site this August. Thank you to all churches and individuals who have made this possible.
We are also partnering with ARDF to fund the well in Athriver Kenya. This is a longer term project and a team will be visiting the site in February 2025 led by Cn Leah. The lives that will be touched by access to water are untold, and the hearts that will change are known to God. Thank you especially to Redeemer in Norwood for leading the way.
We already have seed money for another well project in Machakos Diocese, and Audrey is beginning research into Rwanda as well.
With God, nothing is impossible. And with your help streams of living water are beginning to flow across the land. With humble thanks,
Leah+
Canon for Global Mission
From Bishop Andrew: Here is the Ugandan village where we are undertaking the water harvesting project - collecting water in the rainy season from the rooftops. In the second photo I am standing with Rev. Nicholas who cares for a congregation of over 1000 people in this rural village a in a tin church - the walls are held up by scaffolding supports inside the church building .
Featured Around the Diocese
In Case You Missed This Good News…
Featured
In Other News…
Christ the Redeemer’s Imago Stage Company announces auditions for Fiddler on the Roof.
Rehearsals begin Sept. 3 (Saturdays and Tuesday evenings)
Production week: Nov. 11-14
Performances: Nov 15 and 22 at 7:30, Nov 16, 17, 22, and 23 at 3:00.
The role of Tevye has been cast, but all other roles are open. Some roles will be double cast. Please be prepared to sing something that demonstrates your vocal range. An accompanist will be provided. You will be given a scene or two to read, and asked to learn some choreography.
AUDITIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Saturday, May 18 from 9:00 am - noon
Tuesday, May 21 from 6:30 - 9:00.
Please submit an audition form on our website: http://imagostage.org/auditions/
We are located at Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church, 188 Elliott St., Danvers. Enter through the side doors off the parking lot.
New Job Listing
Rector, All Saints Anglican Church (Amesbury, MA)
Find out more about the open position and All Saints Parish here.
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May God the Holy Spirit make us steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and constant in love.
How do you internalize the truth that God loves you in Jesus? This was our mission on the ADNE Middle School 2024 Retreat: to help middle schoolers and their leaders internalize and believe that they are deeply loved by Jesus. We wanted them to come away with saving faith, which only the Spirit can give, that they are a beloved son and daughter of God. We wanted them to know the forgiving love of Jesus, that finds us at our most helpless, worst state, and brings us into his family, his love, and his healing. How do you come to believe that?
This is how the Lord did it on this retreat…