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

Bishop Drew, Josh Vanada, and I met up this week to tour the new Reawakening venue at Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA. With all of the amazing space there is more than enough room to grow, and the central location offers even more convenience for all of our ADNE churches and ministries. Our hope, prayer, and goal is for Reawakening to be the indispensable annual gathering of gospel fellowship for all of the members of our diocese…and for our friends and neighbors as well. Just like the grace of Jesus Christ that is the heart of all the ADNE is and does, this conference is for you! For your encouragement and celebration of all God is doing in your midst. Mark your calendars and tell your friends and neighbors…and come experience the power of God’s promise for you this year!

By His Grace,

Sean+

Registration will open in June!

October 17-18, 2025

Grace Chapel

59 Worthen Rd

Lexington, MA 02421

ADNE Spring Teen Retreat! – Rev. Kate Norris

Teen students and their leaders are invited to join us for a retreat at Pilgrim Pines Camp and Retreat Center (Swanzey, NH)! 

6th - 12th grade students who want to have a blast in nature and experience the love of Jesus - join us!   Music, art, games, outdoor adventures, general ridiculousness, and talks are all ways you will experience the grace of Jesus Christ where you need him most.

Small groups will be based on the group you came with and grade (and divided by gender for cabins). 

Every 8 students must have an adult youth leader with them or a parent.

$150/person

• Friday, May 16, 20257:00 PM - Sunday, May 18, 2025 10:30 AM

Pilgrim Pines Camp and Retreat Center

220 West Shore Road Swanzey, NH, 03446

Don’t hesitate to reach out to Revs. Kate or Sean Norris with any questions!

kate.norris@adne.org | sean.norris@adne.org

Why do kids want to go to the Spring Teen Retreat?

“A fun way to hang out with friends.” - R.N. 7th grade 

“You get to spend time with friends and it’s just fun!” – E.D. 7th grade

“It would be a good time for me to bond with my son and for him to have a positive experience with other teens who love God.” - C.H. Adult volunteer

“We are so excited to see new and old friends at the teen spring retreat. The team and I have loads of fun in store, a great new venue, ways to connect with God, and some surprises! Hope to see you there!” - The Rev. Kate Norris

The Breath of God 

John 20:19-23 

Canon Susie Skillen 

Turmoil seems to be the state of the world these days. Wars, falling stock markets, job uncertainties, economic uncertainties. Fear and distress can creep into our hearts. As we approach the celebrations of Easter, can the Lord’s resurrection speak into our anxieties to give us hope and joy? 

On the evening of the resurrection Jesus’ disciples, still reeling from the events of the previous days, locked themselves into the upper room, clinging together in grief and fear. They were terrified. Suddenly Jesus stood in their midst! Into their fear he spoke words of comfort. “Peace be with you!” After showing the disciples his wounds to reassure them that it truly was him, he repeated, “Peace be with you!” Then he breathed upon them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”   

Later when the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples it was like tongues of flame, but in this moment with Jesus, the Spirit came gently as a breath. As Jesus breathed upon them, they, in turn, breathed the Holy Spirit into their own beings. We’re reminded of that first moment of the creation when the Creator breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life, and Adam became a living being (Gen. 2:7). Jesus’ breath imparts to the disciples new life in the Holy Spirit. It is a new creation that will transform them and the way they look at the world. No longer fearful, they will become bold proclaimers of the good news of Jesus. 

Twelfth century abbess Hildegaard of Bingen called herself “a feather on the breath of God.” She understood that all that she was and did was guided and carried by the movement of the Holy Spirit, the breath or the ru’ah of God. We too are invited to receive this breath of the Holy Spirit, to take it in deeply until it fills our whole being. God’s breath renews and recreates our souls replacing fear and anxiety with the love, peace and forgiveness of Jesus.  

Breathe in the peace of the Holy Spirit, and let that same breath of God flow out to those around you. 

Suggested Prayer practice: Begin with a deep cleansing, breath. Gently allow your body to relax, to rest in God’s presence. Slow the rhythm of your breathing. Imagine Jesus’ presence with you as a warm breath that surrounds you. As you inhale take into your body the breath of his Holy Spirit as he speaks the words, “Peace be with you.” As you exhale release any fears or doubts that are within you. Continue until your prayer is ended. Give thanks and end with the Lord’s Prayer. 

Virtual Workshop: Getting Ahead of Missional Planning

May 7, 7-8pm With Josh Vanada (virtual)

In the next few weeks, all of our churches will be receiving information about the Missional Planning Summit in June. We are excited to see you there, and to see how this has grown beyond the ADNE! It always seems to be the groups that are most engaged that find the most benefit from the strategic planning process. We also know that most of our churches have key leaders that cannot be present for the summit event.

This workshop will feature advice from Josh Vanada to help get the valuable input from key leaders around vision, so that the teams at the summit will be working on implementation, rather than vision - and set the stage for an effective ministry year. Attendees who attend this workshop will be better prepared and have a fuller understanding of the changes to the event this year.

Feel free to share with any of your other clergy or lay leaders as well. 

Contact Fr. Micah Thompson with any questions (Micah.thompson@adne.org)

Join the preaching group!

Please join us on Tuesdays at noon to discuss the lectionary readings for the upcoming Sunday.  You are welcome to invite others, for example lay leaders and pastor friends who would benefit.

SAME ZOOM LINK EACH WEEK:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89633694558?pwd=FNjhzzEM7kSWenpNwurs84ft5eCcvP.1

Each week, we look at the pastoral problem and relate it to ourselves and our church and culture.  We identify the word of conviction and how that leads us to the grace of Jesus Christ finished at the cross.  Thus we pull out how every passage leads us to Christ and the power of His cross and resurrection.  We finish with how we might give Christ's promises to our people from these particular Scriptures.  The fellowship is very rich. We'd love to have you!

Contact the Rev. Kate Norris with any questions: Kate@dandelionministries.org

Stories of Leadership

Does your church or mission have someone doing great work for the gospel?

Do you have someone is the diocese that has grown tremendously in their calling and gifting?

We’d love to appreciate them and let their story encourage all of us, spurred on toward love and good deeds!

Contact Micah (Micah.thompson@adne.org) with someone you’d love to see highlighted (with permission and contact information), and we’ll set up a quick interview.

ADNE Clergy Retreat 

Come away for a refreshing time of rest, renewal, and deepened fellowship at 7th Seed Retreat Center in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont!

After the joy-filled busyness of Easter, join Bishop Drew and your fellow clergy from across the Anglican Diocese in New England. This special weekend will provide intentional spaces for devotion, journaling, encouragement, testimonies, heartfelt worship, meaningful conversations, delicious meals, and opportunities to deepen relationships with fellow clergy. Breathe in the crisp Vermont mountain air and enjoy Jesus’ presence in a time of retreat designed to help you find rest and strength in the bonds of His fellowship.

This retreat is not mandatory, but you are warmly invited. We look forward to being together! 

Currently, we have a couple of rooms left, with the option of sharing rooms that have multiple beds. We would love to have as many clergy join as as we can fit in! Please reach out to Kathryn (kathryn.miller@adne.org) for lodging details, and register below.

It has been amazing to see what God has done in terms of Global Mission. After returning from Guatemala, members of the ADNE mission team reunited at the wedding of Audrey Patra in Philadelphia. As we celebrated together we discussed possible mission trips in the future. We discovered through our conversation that a couple of ADNE churches our situated in areas that are beginning outreach to Guatemalans in their area. We are also blessed with leadership in Geoff and Blanca Little who have a heart for Latin and South American Mission. It became clear that God was once again leaving a trail of breadcrumbs to lead us in our next steps. We will be working together to discern and plan a mission trip in Guatemala. 

In May, Rev Jeff Dorn and Cn Leah will be returning to AthiRiver to celebrate the completion of the largest well project completed by ARDF and the ADNE. Bishop Andrew will also be able to join us for a day to commission the opening of the well. Pictures and stories will be forthcoming in the May edition!

God is leading us step be step. It is exciting to see what he will unfold next. How will your church follow the breadcrumbs God is leaving?

Bishop Drew visiting One Church in NY. He commented, “One Church’s pastor, JP Llarraza together with his family, came to our Reawakening conference last year and were inspired. JP has beautifully enfolded the 2019 Prayer book liturgy into his church’s Sunday worship and it is incredibly powerful. To hear them pray the Creed is breathtaking. It is like every word is minted new by the Holy Spirit, in their hearts and on their lips. I was deeply moved.” Bishop Drew photographed with the church leadership after the service.

The Diocese of New England was very blessed to have a further visit from His Grace The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kazimba Mugalu - Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. Meeting Bishop Drew and Elena at their home, they warmly welcomed the Archbishop along with The Rt Rev  Fredrick Jackson Baalwa, the newly consecrated Asst Bp of Kampala Diocese together with The Rt Rev Enos Kitto Kagodo - Bp of Mukono Diocese and The Rt Rev Wilson Kisekka - Bp of Luweero Diocese. The Archbishop thanked Bishop Drew for his love and shepherding of the Ugandan Diaspora in New England. The Archbishop’s visit was attended by Ven. Ezekiel Michael Kafeero - Ugandan Archdeacon in the Anglican Diocese in New England & Vicar St Paul's Anglican Church, Arlington, MA and Rev Amos Kimera - Vicar St Peter's Anglican Church of Uganda, Winchester, MA. Of Bishop Drew, Ven. Micheal wrote, “Thank you so much Bp Andrew and Mamma Elena for your hospitality, generosity and spirituality. We are proud of you.”

Bishop Drew visiting New Hope Anglican Church in CT. He commented, “This may be a modest church in terms of size but Rev. Joe is leading a church with a strong and tender heart - centered upon Jesus and His saving and life transforming work through the power of the Gospel. They refreshed my heart. It was a joy to be with them.” 

Bishop Drew visiting Rev. Christian Heubner at Brownsville Church Vermont. As well as their own building, the old stone church has been entrusted to Rev. Christian’s care. 

And perhaps the most rustic church conveniences in New England! 

Bonus shoutout!

Hats off to the Isaiah team and everyone at All Saints for making space for the Holy Spirit and allowing so many people the opportunity to meet with Jesus and receive His healing love. At all Saints a special shout out to the Intercessors, hosts, technical crew, welcome and Cohort team (who fed and cared for the twenty strong Isaiah 40 team).  

 Thank you for supporting the ministries and priorities of the Anglican Diocese of New England.  

The Anglican Diocese in New England wants to be on mission together: every parishioner, every member of the clergy, and every church. As a family of churches reaching across the breadth of New England, God is calling us to serve in the reawakening of the Northeast.

We can do so much more in God when we work together.

As of January 22 2025, our online giving is now through the platform Aplos. The portal will look different, but is legitimate and secure.

To access your previous giving account through the Realm portal, click here. We ask that all recurring gifts set up in Realm be transferred to Aplos by March.
Please contact treasurer@adne.org if you need assistance. Thank you!