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

At the end of March, Bishop Andrew and Elena Williams hosted Isaiah Forty’s “Becoming Whole New England Conference” at All Saints Church in Amesbury, MA. The Conference which was led by Bishop Alex Cameron and his wife Tamara, offered people from across the diocese a remarkable opportunity to receive Jesus’ healing love, through worship, teaching and prayer ministry. 

Elena Williams, ADNE’s Director of Prayer, writes, “After months of planning and many hours of prayer it was so exciting to have the twenty strong Isaiah Forty ministry team finally arrive in Amesbury for the three day conference. Back in December one of our intercessors had a picture of someone holding a shepherd’s crook, banging it on the ground causing seismic ripples to go out across the land, disrupting former patterns and breaking through old strongholds. The Becoming Whole New England Conference provided a safe and holy space for Jesus to break through strongholds, minister His love to those who are suffering and bring healing to broken and grieving hearts.  

I am so thankful to All Saints Church for the way in which they hosted the team from Isaiah Forty and welcomed over 100 conference guests. At one point we weren’t even sure whether the conference would be able to go ahead as the boiler had stopped working in the fall of last year and the installation of the new heat pump system took longer than originally anticipated. The sanctuary was only ready for use 36 hours before the start of the conference and it took a huge amount of hard work to move the furniture back in and make it conference ready. My heart is filled with gratitude for the intercessors, host families, technical crew, welcome and coffee teams, and members of the All Saints Church cohort who made this conference a success.” 

Amanda McGann, President of Isaiah Forty commented, “As we gathered together in the newly finished sanctuary at All Saints, the joy of the Lord was palpable. We taught, we worshipped, and we prayed and it was so lovely. But the truly deep work was in a room filled with people who had simply came to rest at the feet of the Father. And in that quietness and rest, we received a fresh outpouring of the love of God and it brought new life. As one conference attendee put it, "I believe God lifted some heavy burdens for me allowing me to walk in his joy. What a joy to come to the Father together, and receive His fullness!” 

Virtual Workshop: Getting Ahead of Missional Planning

May 20, 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)

Clergy Pastoral Care

The Clergy Care Team connects about three times a year with our ADNE clergy who are engaged in active ministry. The 30-minute individual phone or zoom calls generally take place in January/February, May/June, and September/October. In January the calls focus on a review and revisions as needed of Rule of Life for the coming year. Other times the team checks in about how clergy are doing spiritually, emotionally, relationally, in their ministry, and any concerns they have. These are completely confidential calls. The overall purpose of the calls is to provide encouragement, support and connection.

The team includes clergy colleagues who are also trained spiritual directors, well-practiced in gentle spiritual listening and guidance: Fr. Bill Blomquist from Andover Community Church in NH, Fr. Len Cowan from Abbey of the Way in Worcester, Mthr. Wendy Dixon from Trinity Northshore in Hamilton, Mthr. Gayle Heaslip from Emmaus Anglican in Falmouth, Mthr. Laura Peckham from Rise in Portland, Deacon Martha Learned, Canon Ross Kimball and Canon Susie Skillen from All Saints Cathedral in Amesbury.

If you are active clergy, a Team member will be contacting you soon to set up the next call with you. Please respond promptly. Then spend a little time thinking and praying about what areas of your life and ministry it would be most beneficial to reflect on with your Clergy Care person. Let the time be a gift of care to yourself!

The Clergy Care Team

CARING FOR THE WIDOWS

The Rev. Laura Peckham is seeking to network with other Anglican widows for mutual support in this stage of their Christian lives and to discern if there is a desire to organize a formal society of widows within the ADNE. Widows with any level of interest (and anyone who would like more information) are encouraged to reach out to Mother Laura via email at MotherLaura67@gmail.com

ADNE Clergy retreat: The Seventh Seed Retreat House, Vermon:

The Seventh Seed retreat house in Vermont was a beautiful venue for the 2025 ADNE Clergy retreat led by Bishop Drew over the weekend of April 25th and 26th. Bishop Drew commented, “As a diocese we enjoy coming together in big numbers for ADNE’s Reawakening Conference in October and the Missional Planning Summit in June. Enfolded into the annual pattern of these larger pilgrimages, we have deliberately sought to introduce smaller and more intimate gatherings for clergy. This was a wonderful time of refreshing that gave everyone a chance to catch up with Jesus and in the overflow of His love, to minister to one another. I have to say, the rain provided something of dramatic background. The silvered rainy sky sealed us in the upper room, and we were soaked in the Spirit.”  

Canon Dan Sylvia was very much a visionary and laborer for this retreat working closely with event coordinator, Kathryn Miller. He commented, “It is always a hopeful thing to look ahead to a retreat built around rest, renewal, and fellowship. The Lord did not disappoint us.   Bishop’s caring words, the multitude of conversations, intimate worship, and fun that we enjoyed this weekend were a deep blessing to all the clergy gathered!”  

Dr. Jean Paul Ilarraza, pastor of One Church in New York, also made the long journey to Vermont to be part of the retreat. He shared, “The 2025 clergy retreat was phenomenal. There was a powerful impartation of peace, as if the Holy Spirit had anointed the grounds before we even arrived! Bishop Drew’s words, the prayers we offered over one another, Bishop Love’s ministry at the Table, and in Divine Healing all came together in such a way that the Spirit saturated us with peace. It felt as if we were with the disciples in the locked room and Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, breathed peace upon us and sent us back out!”  

Making an almost equally long journey from Connecticut, Rev Gabrielle Beam explained, “Everything about the 7th Seed Clergy Retreat was beautiful, serene, and impactful! From beginning to end, the well-balanced rhythm of rest, engagement, and retreat, created the space for God’s voice to gently hammer through to the core of my heart’s cry! Two weeks later, my heart is still warmed by the afterglow of a life-affirming God-encounter of the very best kind! Thank you, Bishop Drew, for your beautiful tender heart that never loses touch with the heartbeat of God…it allows us all to experience the love and mercy of God in the most profound and real ways!!! I am deeply indebted!”  

Reverend Eliud Mwangi (Holy Trinity Auburn) also made the journey into the depths of Vermont. He gave testimony, “It was indeed a refreshing time! The exposition of John 20, which was led by our Bishop, ushered in God’s peace. It was well worth attending despite the long drive to and from my home. The interaction with my fellow clergy made a big difference. Time to share our worries, successes and our leadership testimonies from our parishes. The time to pray for each other was very meaningful as it pointed us all to the love of Christ. The moment we took to share holy communion together brought our time together to a summit. I left revitalized in my spirit and with a renewed and positive mind-set. I eagerly look forward to more of these gatherings with other clergy in the next coming years.”

Time of Refreshing: Bishop Drew’s recent trip minister to the College of Bishops in Kenya with Archbishop Steve Wood.  

Francis Frangipane wrote, “If Satan cannot distract you with worldliness, he will overwhelm you with weariness.” The time shared with our brother Bishops in the Anglican Church of Kenya, was a Spirit filled reminder, for all of us, that Jesus never intended for us to do His will without His presence and His power. Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, the Primate of Kenya, had invited ACNA’s Archbishop, Steve Wood, to lead a time of spiritual refreshment for the Kenyan College of Bishops. Bishop Drew, Bishop Chris Warner and Bishop Mark Edger, with his wife Terri, made up the team. Bishop Drew commented, “As a team, the Spirit led us to teach and minister seamlessly. Each talk and ministry time built upon the next. Just Twenty-four hours into the retreat we could already see the impact the Holy Spirit was having.” 

Archbishop Steve has shared a vision and passion for the ACNA to be envoys of the Lord’s refreshing and renewal. To this end, Bishop Drew observed, “By the end of our time together, it truly was as if we were ministering to a completely different group of people. We witnessed a greater unity in the Spirit that included the Kenyan and US Anglican worlds. I would say, that by the close of our time together, it was the recovery of joy and hope in the power of Gospel that most keenly distinguished the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst.”  

While Bishop Drew was in Kenya, he was able to participate in the commissioning ADNE’s latest water scarcity project at St. Paul’s, Athiriver in the Diocese of Machakos. (See Canon Leah’s full report) Bishop Drew reported, “Because of the Kenyan Bishops’ retreat I did not think I would be able to make two trips to Kenya this year. As it transpired, St. Paul’s was about a twenty-minute car ride from the retreat house. I was able to join the ADNE team (Canon Leah Turner and Rev. Jeff Dorn) who were already serving in the parish.” 

The completed water project is exemplary. The church (led by Rev. Brian) has even managed to build a booth on the perimeter of the church land, so that the local community can get ready access to the fresh water from the street. And with the same water St. Paul’s have irrigated the church school, and used the water to begin work on a children and youth center.  

The solar panels on the top of the tower run a motor that pumps the water into the tower from the bore hole to the tower When the tower is full, the motor stops pumping automatically. The tower is then permanently full, and gravity pumps it throughout the compound into storage containers and faucets. They are also building new toilets! Bishop Drew observed, “The place is thriving with life. This is the embodiment of the faithful servant in the parable of the talents. Rev. Brian and his church at St. Paul’s have taken the Lord’s provision and multiplied it! The water tower is visible from the town and acts as a kind of church tower! A beacon for Jesus’ love in the town. I stand amazed at the goodness of God, and they have been such faithful people. Literally, one the best days of my life!”  

Bishop Drew at the Cathedral church of All Saints celebrating Easter Sunday. He commented, “The risen Jesus met us with power, joy and love. He is risen!”

Shout out to Church of the Apostles in Coventry, RI, for a fabulous Intercessory Prayer Workshop on Saturday led by Elena Williams, Director of Prayer, for ADNE. 

“I was so encouraged by this faithful group of people who clearly have a desire to increase prayer and intercession for their church, their wider community and for the mission of the diocese” comments Elena. “Thank you for the warm welcome, tremendous hospitality and great coffee!”

Bishop Drew attending St. Timothy’s church in Burlington VT. The sanctuary has been recently re-ordered. Bishop Drew commented, “Under Rev. Micah’s shepherding, St. Timothy’s had become a trusted and established worshipping community in this area. It is wonderful to see a number of key ministries, local, national and global that are supported and covered by this strong community.” 

 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.

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