DISPATCHES
- June 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.
PRIORITY: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Two Weeks Remaining until the Missional Planning Summit!
Please be in prayer for the leaders of our churches as they prepare to gather June 13-14 in 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.
As rectors & teams prepare, here are some reflection questions to consider ahead of time.
Here is the revised 12-month Missional Planning Worksheet. (You'll get the poster at the summit.) Some of it may not make sense yet, but focusing on the above reflection questions will put you in a good place to begin filling it out during the summit.
If we’re still waiting on your registration, please sign up ASAP.
INITIATIVE: FLOODGATE PILGRIMAGE
Read out our recent update on the Floodgate Pilgrimage!
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PRIORITY: THE REAWAKENING OF NEW ENGLAND
Reawakening Conference 2024
“Growing in the Gospel”
October 18-19, 2024
Hope Community Church, Newburyport, MA
Featuring…
The Rev. Ethan Magness as plenary speaker,
Dave Edwards returning again as our esteemed worship leader.
Leaders from New England & beyond leading workshops on various topics.
NEW SCHEDULE & Registration options!
While clergy are required to attend the entire Reawakening Conference, some lay people have struggled to attend Friday when the workshops and main plenary sessions are offered. This year we are excited to announce a revised schedule for the conference!
Friday Morning (check-in on Friday opens at 10:00 am)
Friday will kick off with an Opening Eucharist, an optional bagged lunch, a session with the Rev. Ethan Magness, and one workshop slot.
Friday Evening (5:00-9:00 pm)
Join us in the evening for a banquet with the Reawakening Art Show (5:00-7:00 pm), followed by an evening worship service and celebration of the Floodgate Pilgrimage.
Saturday (Saturday’s program begins at 9:00 am and ends at 4:00 pm)
Saturday will feature times of worship and prayer, two workshop slots, two plenary sessions, and closing worship to send us out. Come ready to take it all in!
Pricing
Registration and pricing will reflect these options:
1) Attending the whole two-day conference | $169 standard ($149 early registration) – this is the required option for ADNE clergy
2) Attending Friday dinner through Saturday | $139 standard ($119 early registration)
3) Attending Saturday only | $119 standard ($99 early registration)
Meals included in registration: Friday dinner & Saturday lunch. An optional bagged lunch on Friday is available as a registration add-on for $15. Alternatively, Friday attendees may bring their own lunch or find lunch off-site during the 90-minute break.
Program for preschool & Elementary Age kids
We are excited to offer a new program for ages 2-6 (preschool) and 6-12 (elementary) that engages them through different activity stations, games, and meaningful time together.
The cost for this program is $20/day per child. (This cost includes the same meal coverage adult attendees receive.)
* Nursery: we are unable to staff a nursery for infants and children younger than preschool age, however parents can visit Hope Community Church’s nursery if they need a special place to retreat to. In addition, a cry room is available off the sanctuary during worship and plenary sessions.
Teens
We are inviting teens to once again come and help serve at the conference! Areas of service can include: worship, serving with the liturgy, welcoming/helping with check-in, helping with setup, etc. We may offer a teen-specific workshop or session.
The cost for teens is just $20/day. (This cost includes the same meal coverage adult attendees receive.)
Workshop List
A Simple Spirituality of the Way of Jesus – The Rev. Cn. Tim Clayton, Rector of Trinity North Shore
What is it to Worship God in the Beauty of Creation? – Dave Edwards, Worship Leader & Musician
All the Things They Didn’t Tell You When You Were Asked on to Vestry – The Rev. Cn. Ross Kimball & Josh Vanada, ADNE Diocesan Team
Healing Hidden Wounds* – Amanda McGann, President and CEO of Isaiah 40 Counseling Foundation
Growing in the Faith of the Gospel – The Rev. Len Cowan, Abbot at The Abbey of the Way
Living the ‘It Is Finished Life’ in a ‘Just Do It’ World – Danny Ovalle, Pastor of First Church of Christ Bradford
Growth in Season – The Rev. Micah Thompson, Rector of St. Timothy Anglican Church
Family Devotions* – The Rev. Cn. Craig Vickerman, Canon for Youth and Family
Raising Up New Leaders: a vision for curacy in the church*– The Rev. Karen Stevenson, Trinity School for Ministry
(titles marked with asterisk subject to change, but are on topic for the workshop content)
Registration Launches Mid-June!
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!
PRIORITY: GLOBAL MISSION
Water Projects Underway, Medical Supplies pledged, our global mission continues!
– The Rev. Canon Leah Turner
As we move into the season of ordinary time, I am reminded that nothing about God’s faithfulness is ordinary. In October at our last re-awakening conference, we presented the possibility of several projects in which we could partner with churches and dioceses in East Africa. Last month we celebrated the beginning of the water harvesting project in Muhabura Diocese of Western Uganda. Those funds have been received and the project has started. We should be receiving an update from Audrey soon on the status of that project. Apostles in Coventry, led by Fr Ben Giuffrida has pledged to donate funds to the Potters Village hospital in the same diocese, as well as Grace Anglican in Bridgewater. Between the two churches, enough medical supplies for an entire year will be purchased for the care of the children that are brought there.
The Water Boring project at ACK St Paul’s Athriver in Kenya has raised half of the funds needed thanks to Redeemer Norwood and Fr Jeff and Fr Alan. The grant for matching funds has been submitted to ARDF, and we are eagerly awaiting an answer. God’s faithfulness has been matched by yours. Thank you all for the love the Lord has placed in your hearts for mission and the mission projects. It is a testament to all that he is doing in our lives and in our Diocese.
We will be planning a missions call on Thursday June 20th at 8 am for those who can join. A zoom link will be sent the week of the meeting.
God bless you all.
Cn Leah
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.
Giving to Global Mission Initiatives
If you our your church wants to send in gifts, they can be sent via check to the ADNE office or you can use this online giving form (takes transaction fee)
SPIRITUAL FORMATION & CLERGY CARE
Spiritual Direction
- The Rev. Cn. Ross Kimball
Imagine having a cup of coffee with a good friend and Jesus, or maybe even sitting around a fireplace in a comfortable chair, drinking your favorite beverage, with that same friend and Jesus. What would you talk about? What questions would you have? Are there areas in your life where you particularly covet his wisdom, advice, clarity? Good news – you can! I know this because I have been with Jesus in that way. It just took me a few years to discover how to find it.
As a new Christian in my mid-20’s, I had no significant church background and no idea what the Christian life looked like. I just knew God was BIG and that the world and life had real meaning because of Him. A young Episcopal graciously set out to “disciple” me – mostly through Christian books he sent me, as he lived pretty far away in another state. I read my Bible and those books hungrily. Together they provided a great foundation for understanding the basics of Christian faith and morality and the importance of church attendance, evangelism, and daily prayer. Some even gave tips on how to pray.
I discovered a few short years into my new life that information alone was not enough to help me navigate the myriad challenges, disappointments, uncertainties, and bumps and bruises – small and extra large - of everyday life. There were feelings to sort through, insecurities to face, relationships to foster and sort through, not least an authentic relationship with God the Father. There were my doubts, my “dry” spells, my vocation, the structure of my prayer life, my place/ministry in the church, my theological questions, and much more. I couldn’t see a totally safe place to do that work.
Of course, God continued to work good in my life, sustaining my spiritual life, providing me with good churches, good friends, and fulfilling ministry in the church – even ordained ministry. But I still had a nagging sense that there was more, and then a few years ago, I found a spiritual director!
We meet every 4-6 weeks and explore together where God may be speaking to me, leading me, encouraging me, loving me, gifting me, and so much more. I trust my director with everything, because I know his sole motivation is to help me see God’s presence in my life more and more clearly. I have shared with him my joys, my hopes, my doubts, my question of how I can know when I’m hearing the voice of God, and my cynicism about many things. I express my feelings, including anger, and my language hasn’t always been fragrant. I’ve shared my failures. He never judges me, corrects my theology, or tells me what I should do, and he NEVER gives unsolicited advice. If he “directs” me, it’s toward what he sees God doing or it’s to direct me to how I can see that more clearly.
I’m always disappointed when our time is up for the day, because it's so good to be in his presence and explore all this issues. It is like I have been in a conversation with him and Jesus – oh, wait I HAVE been in a conversation with him and Jesus! I have been in the presence of the Lord! Wow! I can process what we’ve discussed over the ride home or over the next few days, weeks, or even years. I have been blessed.
Do I wish I had found a spiritual director 35 years ago (or even earlier)? Absolutely! Why didn’t that happen earlier? I don’t know. What I do know is that I am thrilled that I finally found one. Spiritual direction has changed not only my “spiritual” life, but every aspect of my life. How are you doing? Would you like someone to meet with you and Jesus? Like to give it a try? You can view a list of New England-based Spiritual Directors here. You can also learn more about it here: Spiritual Direction FAQ
Peace
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May God the Holy Spirit make us steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and constant in love.
