News from the Diocese
Bishop Drew commented, “I stand in awe of what Rev. Gabrielle and her church have done and are doing. In fervent prayer, love and humility they have played a central part in bringing the body of Christ together and in partnership with the city’s government in the activation of Jesus’ greater hope for Bridgeport. In prayer and in service they are bringing renewal. There is still much to be done - but there is undeniably beauty rising from the ashes. You can see it and feel it everywhere you look.
As nearly 300 clergy, leaders, church attendees, teens, children, and various friends of the diocese, gathered in Newburyport for the 2024 Reawakening Conference, Bishop Drew Williams welcomed the attendees by quoting Robert Capon “...one thing we most needed even from the start, and certainly will need from here on out into the New Jerusalem: the ability to take our freedom seriously and act on it, to live not in fear of mistakes but in the knowledge that no mistake can hold a candle to the love that draws us home.”
It was the desire to return to this home-drawing, re-centering love that inspired theme of this year’s conference: Growing in the Gospel.
The ADNE recently celebrated two ordinations in late September and October at All Saints Church. The Rev. Celso Tavares was ordained to the diaconate, and the Rev. Jeff Wojcicki was ordained to the priesthood.
An art response to the sent-ness of Jesus
A rainy prayer walk that saw many meaningful interactions
A harvest festival for the community to make connections with people over games, desserts, and more
Learn how a Regional Reawakening helped Redeemer
Franklin recognize the Ones God brings into our lives.
There is a growing community of young adults at All Saints Church in Amesbury who increasingly believe that they are known and loved by the Triune God and, in turn, are enjoying a taste of the eternal life that the New Testament authors speak of. It is a community of young people who are walking in greater and greater freedom and wholeness and who are sharing this life in Christ with those around them. Over the last three years, the young adult population at All Saints has grown from five people to about thirty people. The Discipleship Cohort at All Saints has been at the center of the cultural transformation of the young adult community at All Saints. It has helped to cultivate a space to receive from God and one another and to walk in greater freedom and maturity.
On Sunday, September 29, Bishop Drew visited St. Luke’s Wayland for a special confirmation service led by the Rev. Christine Nakyeyune. The day will marked by celebrations and thanksgiving with a wonderful banquet and cake. Ven. Micheal Kafeero also attended with Bishop Andrew. At the end of the service Bishop Andrew was interviewed for St. Luke’s YouTube channel!
Ven. Michael Kafeero testifies to how the Lord opened doors for the congregation of St. Paul's and the goodness of a shared service in which they were warmly welcomed by Covenant Church in Arlington, MA. He also describes how St. Paul's hosted Anglican Youth Fellowship from Uganda!
St. Peter’s Winchester celebrated 18 years as a church on Sunday, September 15th
The whole family, every generation joined in worship, thanksgiving to God, and celebration for the last 18 years. Honored guests were Bishop Hannington, Provost Rebecca, and Canon Jonathon - all from Kampala! They were also joined by Ven. Dr. Alex Kasirye-Musoke (the founding Rector) to whom a special tribute was paid. Bishop Andrew was joined by ADNE’s Standing Committee Chairman Josh Vanada for the thanksgiving service and the lavish celebrations that followed.
Every year that we go on mission, the Lord amazes me with how he works and how he surprises us. No matter if we go with a plan or if we go with open hands waiting for the Lord to reveal his plan, the team always comes away in awe of His providence, his mercy, and his perfect timing...
Since the Floodgate Cross started its journey at the end of April in Burlington, VT, it has traveled over 2300 miles on its pilgrimage route across the northeast of America.
Featuring visits to Dandelion Ministries (NY), Church of the Apostles (Coventry, RI), Grace Anglican (Bridgewater, MA), Abbey of the Way (Worcester, MA), St. Pauls (Lawrence, MA), Emmaus Fellowship (Falmouth, MA) & Church of the Redeemer (Franklin, MA)!
Our earliest days and months at Saint Nicholas House were a time of holy imagination. Though we had few relationships in the community, little experience in agriculture, and a fairly run-down property, we could see what this place could become. We imagined a home where children—many children— would come and find joy and delight. Whether they came for worship or catechesis, for an after-school karate class, to work on the farm, or simply to visit the animals, they would experience some taste of God’s peace and presence. We imagined it as a child-scaled working model of the new creation. Fast forward to this summer. We hosted our third annual Farm Camp...
You may recall that - by the grace of God - St. Peter's Anglican Church was able to purchase a building in Winchester, MA last year… but that doesn’t mean worship must remain in the building! Every year, this congregation conducts a service outside the church walls and fills the day with sports activities, from races to various tournaments. The Rev. Amos Kimera, rector of St. Peter’s, explains why this annual event is special...
On Sunday, June 30, Fr. Ross Kimball was out of state, filling in for another ADNE clergy person. At 7:30 a.m., his cell phone rang... there had been a fire in the church during the early morning hours. Although the fire was limited to a closet area in the vestibule of the church and had been quickly extinguished, the fire chief determined that the building could not be occupied. What should we do about the worship service scheduled to begin in two hours and the ordination service scheduled for that afternoon?
Bishop Drew, Canon Leah Turner, and the Rev. Geoff Little will be returning to Uganda in August to join ADNE’s Ugandan Mission partner, Audrey Patra and members from her Love Unveiled team. Bishop Drew and the ADNE team are graciously invited by Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba of Uganda to speak and lead a conference for all the clergy of Kampala Diocese and some from the neighboring diocese.
The Floodgate Cross continued its pilgrimage across the northeast with its arrival at Incarnation Anglican Church in Manchester, NH. It then made its way to the Missional Planning Summit, before heading to our westernmost outposts in an emerging Albany archdeaconry in Western New York. It then traveled South to Bridgeport, CT and The Bridges community and across the sound to Long Island where the Revs. Sean and Kate Norris lead Dandelion Ministries.
The Rev. Jennifer Keifer was ordained to the sacred order of priests on Sunday, June 30 in Amesbury, MA at a sweet and powerful service officiated by Bishop Drew Williams, and attended by the Rev. Canon Tim Clayton, rector of Trinity North Shore (where Rev. Jen serves), the Rev. Martha Learned, and guest of honor, the Rev. Dr. David Currie.
Provincial Assembly gathered clergy and lay delegates from across our North American province and beyond! It was truly a monumental occasion, not only celebrating the life of our Province, but also seeing a transfer of ecclesiastical authority - from the Most Rev. Foley Beach, second archbishop of the ACNA, to the Most Rev. Steve Wood, sitting Bishop of the Carolinas, who is to lead our churches forward on the firm foundation built by his predecessors.
Read about our delegates, who received an award, and learn about Archbishop Steve!
This June saw rectors and leaders from Maine to Delaware, Albany to the Massachusetts Cape - truly the length and breadth of New England - set aside two days to worship, identify God’s vision for their parishes, list some attainable goals and next steps, and encourage one another through discussion and prayer.
ADNE’s East Africa ambassador, Audrey Patra, now brings us exciting news. Earlier this year, Audrey hosted a church meeting with all the Kibugu community leadership and together, they agreed on a plan of action. The dense, rocky terrain makes this a difficult place in which to sink a well (as the ADNE was able to do in 2023 in Kabuwoku, Uganda). Instead, the Kibugu leadership were united in their agreement to install a large-scale water harvesting project that collects and safely stores rainwater from rooftops in the wet season.
When you think of Maine, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? I bet you it’s lobster:) Even though that staple of fine dining from my childhood, Red Lobster, has recently declared bankruptcy due to an unfortunate miscalculation on offering all-you-can-eat shrimp, and we won’t be able to enjoy those ridiculously addictive cheese biscuits anymore…there is hope for all you lobster lovers out there. At our recent Regional Reawakening in Bangor, Maine two weeks ago, our friends at Imago Dei Church threw a lobster feast fit for a king!
The Floodgate Cross continues its pilgrimage across New England, moving from St. Paul’s Waltham throughout the Ugandan Archdeaconry to St. Peter’s Winchester, before arriving at St. Luke’s. Then it journeyed northward to Andover Community Church!
Read about how it has inspired increased prayer and worship among these churches!
On Saturday, June 1st, Bridges of Hope, a collaborative of New Haven area churches organized a city-wide service day in New Haven, CT.
Since 2015, Bridges of Hope’s annual I Heart New Haven Day has served at over 280 community sites, including public schools, public housing complexes, local non-profits, as well as the homes of individuals who could use a helping hand. All Nations Church, led by the Rev. Geoff Little, is a member church of Bridges of Hope, and joined the service efforts. Rev. Geoff also serves as the collaborative’s current president.
People of God were overwhelmed with joy when the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda, His Grace The Most Rev Stephen Samuel Kaziimba visited the Anglican Diocese in New England.
His visit was too short but well planned with The Bishop of New England, the Rt Rev Andrew Williams, his beautiful wife Maama Elena Williams, the Archdeacon of Ugandan Archdeaconry Ven Ezekiel Michael Kafeero, the Archdeaconry clergy Rev Amos Kimera of St Peter's Church Winchester and Rev Christine Nakyeyune of St Luke's Church Wayland.
On Sunday, May 19, Josh Vanada, chair of the ADNE standing committee and leadership coach visited Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity in Auburn, MA. He was invited by the Rev. Eliud Mwangi as part of the church’s quarterly leadership forum. Josh began by offering a brief reflection on leadership as influence, and then opened the floor to the church’s leaders to ask questions. Topics discussed included unifying the leadership team around shared vision, how to disagree well, how to be courageous in leadership, as well as identifying and ministering to leaders who are burned out.
On May 12, the baking team of Holy Trinity Church Auburn, led by Gladys Kadiri, brought together over 30 kids from within and beyond the corner of our community for a fun and bake day! The kids were allowed to bake for fun and then decorate and eat all their goodies.
The Floodgate Cross began its pilgrimage on Saturday, April 27th with a prayer gathering at St. Timothy’s Church in Williston, Vermont, led by Rev. Micah Thompson. Rev Lyn Baker commented, “Mark Denison, a master woodworker has created a stunning cross made of wood from an old table. We marveled at the humble beginnings of this symbol of our faith. That old table is a beautiful reminder that God uses simple, ordinary people to do great and powerful things - like pray for the renewal of the northeast”
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…
Bishop Andrew recently visited Trinity North Shore in South Hamilton, MA, to preach, celebrate the eucharist, and confirm new members.
Bishop Andrew reflected on the visit, saying, "It is always a great joy to be with Canon Tim and the good folk of Trinity North Shore. It was wonderful to see the whole family represented, as folk at every age of life confirmed their faith in Jesus Christ, and their commitment to Jesus' ongoing mission to the North Shore through the worshipping life of Trinity."
In June, Bishop Drew visited All Nations Church as well as the graduation ceremony for students of All Nations Christian Academy, both led by the Rev. Geoff and Blanca Little in New Haven, CT.
At around 7:00 a.m. on the Sunday that Bishop Drew visited All Nations, he received a message from Audrey Patra in Uganda. The next phase of the water harvesting project had been completed in the community in West Uganda! This new phase was made possible by All Nations Church whose financial support provided fresh water to the local elementary school and church in this region.