The 2023-2024 Diocesan Cycle of Prayer is available for congregations to use in their weekly intercessions. Each congregation is prayed for during the week which includes their Feast of Title.
Morning Prayer is offered in the chapel at Diocesan House on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 AM. You are welcome to attend Morning Prayer — mindful that the office is closed on holidays and some days specific to the Diocesan House.
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The following projects have all been aided by grants from the Congregational Development Commission.
Contact: The Rev. Maryalice Sullivan, Vicar (revmas90@gmail.com)
CDC Grant award: $8,300
Goal: To make more use of church basement as the church expands its outreach offerings
As St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s seeks to use their parish house as a Center of Hope, they continue to look forward to future community needs. Currently, they have the Food Pantry which serves about 60 families/week. They also served as a COVID testing and vaccination site and have a pop-up thrift store. Other outreach needs being addressed include:
The mold has been remediated from our basement and it does smell oh so much better. The grant we received from the Diocese covered all but four hundred dollars of the total cost. The next step is to get the gutters fixed to redirect the water away from the building. We will also have to have the parts of the basement wall repair where the water has been leaking in, probably for years, and we need a sump pump to make sure this does not happen in the future. When this work is done we can begin to think about what we want our basement to look like and how do we accomplish that. They were able to save the sub floor which should save some money as we move forward.
Contact: Rev. Jo-ann Drake or Ted Platt, office@stpaulspawtucket.org, 401-728-4300
Goals: “The season of Easter, which lasts 50 days, is the time the Church gives continuous thanks for God’s unfailing love and mercy,” said The Rev. Greta Getlein, Vicar of St. Paul’s. “As part of our celebrations:
This festival is an opportunity for St. Paul’s to do all of the above in partnership with this city.”
The 2018 Festival of the Resurrection took place from Sunday, April 22, through Sunday, April 29, as an opportunity for Rhode Islanders to continue joyously celebrating Easter long after the traditional festive worship services on Easter Day. Each day of the festival featured a special event, starting with “Bach, Buxtehude and Beyond,” an organ recital at 3 p.m. on April 22. Events include and evening of dance and music with “Dynamite Rhythm”, a presentation by Creative Outreach About Addiction Support Together, a conversation “Art of Befriending Seniors”, a Tai Chi workshop on spiritual fitness followed by a Mass for Healing, and a solo dramatic performance of the Gospel of Mark. The festival concluded with “For God Has Done Marvelous Things,” an artistic tapestry of poetry, dance, readings, prayer, choir and organ around the great hymns of Easter.
Impact: From Rev Greta Getlein (July 2021): “I would say it was a short-term success in that it got lots of members of the parish involved welcoming strangers in.”
Contact: Rev. Julie Hanavan revjulhan@gmail.com
Amount funded by CDC: $1,300
Amount funded by All Saints’: $1,775
Goals: Expand upon an annual concert hosted by All Saints (sacred Russian Orthodox music) to include an exhibition of Russian Icons from the Museum of Russian Icons traveling collections.
Invite the public to spend an afternoon at All Saints’ to experience beautiful sacred music from Russia, meet a Russian a capella group, view Russian Orthodox and Ethiopian Christian icons dating to 1580, and learn about the creation, meaning, and roles of icons in personal/family prayer and liturgy.
Further the vision statement of All Saints’ as “a visible and known beacon that engages people in their spiritual journeys and nurtures their mind and souls.”
Description: More than 100 persons attended the event on September 14, 2019, many of whom had never been inside All Saints’. Ms. Garrity-Arquitt, from the Museum, was present throughout the exhibition period to answer individual questions; she also answered many thoughtful questions from the audience at the conclusion of her presentation. Her presentation was complemented by sacred Russian Orthodox music presented by LYRA, with accompanying commentary by its leader, Mr. Sergey Tupitsyn. The group, composed of four professional musicians from St. Petersburg, also sang entertaining Russian folk songs. Attendees enjoyed a delicious reception of savories and desserts prepared by the All Saints’ Arts Ministry.
The Icons and Song program was a unique combination of sacred art and music, and culture that appealed to a wide range of visitors. Many attendees had never been to All Saints’ before and commented on the beauty of the sacred space as well as the music and icons. The program did indeed engage spiritual journeys, and nurtured mind and soul.
Contact: Jill Shurtleff, jshurtl@gmail.com
(currently not occurring due to COVID, but will resume when it is safe to do so.)
Goal(s): To develop an inviting, inclusive worship service for families with special abilities children, to share this ministry with other churches interested in starting a similar service, and assist those congregations in setting up similar services.
Open Hands, Open Hearts is a worship service for families with special needs in a judgment-free gathering place. The service includes music and movement, prayers, a lesson, and an opportunity for Eucharist and/or a blessing. Our Open Hands, Open Hearts worship space contains a quiet area for those who need a safe zone or a break. It also features comfortable alternative seating, including “wiggle seats,” bean bag chairs, and floor mats.
Contact: The Rev. Jennifer Zogg, Rector (revjen@epiphanyep.org)
CDC Grant award: $2,000
Goal of Project: To deepen our spiritual formation as a congregation by engaging in an all-parish study on basic Christianity and discipleship called the Pilgrim course from Church Publishing, and to strengthen our spiritual foundation in order to engage better in outreach, stewardship, etc., and build new leaders in the parish for future ministries.
The congregation was gathered in one united study (Sunday mornings at 9:15am in small and large group formats) for inter-generational learning (youth ages 9-13+ were included) Next, we would like to provide a course for new members, those desiring adult baptism/confirmation/reception, and those who have been long-time members to deepen and renew their faith
Contact: The Reverend Beth Sherman, vicarbethstaugustines@gmail.com
Amount funded by CDC: $1000
The Quiet day in Advent provided 15 or so people (both lay and clergy) with a reflective and meditative experience during one of the most chaotic and busiest seasons of the church year, Advent. Participants found the quiet day healing and energizing, allowing them to slow down and “be present.” The day began at 8:30 am and end at about 2 pm. During the “Quiet day,” there was a good deal of scheduled and unscheduled time. The scheduled time began with three (3) periods of reflection led by the Reverend Beth Sherman. After the planned “reflection time, participants were allowed to journal during an unscheduled time. A good indication of success is the desire and hope held by participants that future “quiet days” would be supported by the diocese as a whole.
How do we lead when we don’t know where we’re going?
How do you lead an organization stuck between an ending and a new beginning—when the old way of doing things no longer works but a way forward is not yet clear? The Rev. Susan Beaumont calls such in-between times liminal seasons—threshold times when the continuity of tradition disintegrates and uncertainty about the future fuels doubt and chaos. In a liminal season it simply is not helpful to pretend we understand what needs to happen next. But leaders can still lead.
Join us for a workshop to explore the ways that leaders can navigate these difficult times. Tuesday, January 12 and Thursday, January 14, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, via Zoom. Register at Eventbrite.
You should prepare for this workshop by reading Susan’s book: “How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going”. This can be ordered directly from the publisher. ORDER. Use promo code RLFANDF30 to get 30% off list price. Or, you may order on Amazon. The ebook may also be purchased from Google Play. (There is scholarship money available to help defray the cost of the book, for those in need. Please speak to your clergy for details.)
Even if you cannot attend due to scheduling conflicts, you are encouraged to register. The event will be recorded, and that recording made available to registrants only.
The Rev. Susan Beaumont is a consultant, coach, author and spiritual director. Before establishing her own practice, Susan worked for nine years as a Senior Consultant with the Alban Institute. Susan has also served on the faculty of two business schools, teaching graduate level courses in leadership, management and organizational behavior. She has corporate experience in human resource management and organizational development. She currently teaches at Wesley Theological Seminary. susanbeaumont.com
SPECIAL CONVENTION IN LIEU OF THE
2020 ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE
DIOCESE OF RHODE ISLAND
Our Special Convention was convened on November 7, 2020, beginning at 9:00 AM via Zoom video conference. You may see a recording of the meeting and view documents on this page.
Paraphrasing from a webinar: Online is not the backdoor to worship anymore. It is the front door for many newcomers, and a sidedoor for the faithful (those homebound, and those away from home). This pandemic forced us into online worship that many of us were not prepared for or enthusiastic about but, having made it over the initial hurdle we now find ourselves equipped with new tools for spreading the Word. Let’s make use of these tools to the best of our abilities.
If you have questions, or answers about online ministry, we have formed a user group. Email our Director of Communications, Kristin Knudson-Groh, to join. kristin@episcopalri.org
We had a great forum led by Jeremy Tackett, Digital Evangelist for the Episcopal Church. You may watch a recording of the evening here. His slide deck is here. He gave us a good deal of hands-on information about equipment and things to consider.
Below are some resources for instruction, for equipment, for software, for platforms. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and not necessarily meant to endorse any particular products or services. And please remember, whatever works best for your community is enough! Be true to yourself and your priorities; you do not have to do everything, or buy all the toys.
Suggestions for what equipment and software you might need for starting to record or livestream your services:
Recommendations from the field:
What other tools can I use for videos or livestreams?
Music Licensing
One License: If you would like use music in any of your streaming services, you must have a streaming license. One License is the most comprehensive source for titles found in the 1982 Hymnal, and they have an arrangement with Church Publishing Incorporated. If you would like assistance with your streaming license, please contact Mary Ann Mello. The Congregational Development Commission is making grants available to help defray the cost of this additional license. Apply here.
Public Domain: There are a number of hymns in the public domain that can be used during your live-stream with no license. Please check the list of public domain hymns here http://www.hymnsuntogod.org/Hymns-PD/ZZ-CompletePDHymnList.html before moving forward with individual songs.
Another information source – https://caffeinated-church.squarespace.com/streaming-content-licenses
Additional considerations:
Internet signal. Do you have the bandwith or signal strength that you need, or will need? We’ve all been figuring out that what’s worked fine in the office may be lousy in the chancel. Rambling buildings and stone walls are not helping the signal from your router. It may be time to investigate wifi extenders, or to contact your provider about an upgrade.
Who is doing this? You should expand the number of people involved in your online ministry. Who can run the camera? Who can be the Zoom usher? Who is editing the recordings, who is producing the feeds?
Welcome. How do you reach out to your digital audience to include them into your community?
We’re all trying to sort this out. Below are some resources that other dioceses have put together. Not all of the information may fit us here, but there are helpful elements.
https://ecww.org/live-streaming-resources-for-churches/ Diocese of Western Washington
https://episcopalcolorado.org/connected-in-common/ Diocese of Colorado
https://www.churchofengland.org/digital-labs/labs-learning-blog/labs-learning-blogs Church of England
https://www.churchofengland.org/How-to-set-up-to-film-a-video-on-your-phone
Congregational Renewal Resources
Tuesdays at 2 (EST) conversations are offered to support lay and ordained leaders as they reengage their communities and connect with resources to help get them moving. Through conversation with other leaders, they can hear the voice of the Spirit, gain courage and resources to try new things and learn values and practices that propel them forward. The Tuesdays at 2 (EST) conversations will help them discern next steps – one of which might eventually be joining a Coached Small Group or the church-wide Practicing Community. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/888550363
Organized by The Rev. Thomas Brackett, Manager for Church Planting and Mission Development,
Presiding Bishop’s Staff, The Episcopal Church
From a recent conversation: Microstrategy
UPDATED – Journeying by Stages is our guidance for re-opening our church buildings. In this plan you will find our suggestions and recommendations for the gradual return to in-person worship, a checklist for preparation of the buildings and re-thinking elements of the services, and a covenant describing how we should approach these times with care and consideration for one another.
The checklist is also available as a spreadsheet.
The Church Pension Group provides an Employee Assistance Program to clergy and other church employees. Can it be of help to you? Click here to see a list of ways the EAP has helped others.
Our Covid-19 Reopening plan, Journeying by Stages. Updated 3-19-21
May 26, 2020 – A joint statement from RI Faith Leaders on Reopening
April 9, Maundy Thursday – A message from Rhode Island’s Faith Leaders
March 16, 2020 – A message from our Bishop.
The Bishop has directed congregations to suspend in-person public worship. March 14, 2020
Messages from the Presiding Bishop: March 10, March 12, March 17
Guidance from the Church of England.
Worship online – our parishes, and resources
Prayers compiled
Help with the new age of online ministry from VTS
Hebert Palomino, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at the School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University, is releasing a series of videos in Spanish on caring for people in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you serve in a ministry context with Spanish-speaking persons, Dr. Palomino encourages you to make use of these videos and share them with others. Here are links for the first three videos; he plans to release one or more additional videos each week.
Definiendo la crisis
Que esperar en medio de una crisis
Cómo manejar las Cómo manejar las emociones descompensadoras
New – We have detailed information regarding sewing face masks, and helping the homeless, here.
The stress of this pandemic has many effects. This page lists resources for dealing with mental health, addiction, and domestic violence.
Mail sermons or meditations to people who are not online. Send handwritten notes and cards. Is art part of your home-school program? Ask if you may send those masterpieces to nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Use the back pages to write notes to family and friends.
Create a phone tree and call each other to check in.
Deliver meals or food as needed. If you have to go out, call elders you know, call your neighbors, and ask what they need. Help others to stay in.
Establish prayer partners and pray for each other over the phone. Commit to keep praying.
Check in with the local food pantry, ask how you can help.
Ask everyone you interact with how you can pray for them and how you can help them.
Ask yourself – how do I keep doing these things when the emergency is past?
Do you sew? Hospitals are looking for help making masks.
Many of our congregations host AA meetings, and many of us have friends and family dealing with addiction. Make sure they know that there are resources online.
Please continue to support your church by sending in your offering. Make the jump to online giving, or set up an automatic transfer schedule from your bank. There are bills that still need to be paid.
New – Hymns made available by Church Publishing for Fall 2020. Food for thought, an article from The American Organist about streaming.
New – Journeying by Stages, guidance for re-opening.
New – A compilation of suggestions and resources to assist you in your continuing online presence.
The latest guidance from the state regarding re-opening considerations.
Covid-19 Reopening plan template.
Guidance for Funeral Homes from RI Department of Health.
Looking for music to stream? More information about copyright and use of music for streaming is here, and here.
HR issues, addressed by our consultant. Returning, or not, from unemployment.
Ministry in a Time of Pandemic
Caring for Church Buildings. Advice from the CofE. Not all of the information is applicable here, but there are some good suggestions.
End of life pastoral care guidelines, from the Bishop.
If you are looking for information regarding putting your congregation’s service online, start here. There are additional resources here, and here. Regarding the use of music online: OneLicense.
This is a link to a survey that you might adapt for finding out what are the most pressing needs of your parish community.
Having issues with using Zoom? There is a great tutorial here.
This is a summary of a webinar sponsored by Episcopal Relief and Development, addressing the stress of isolation and quarantine. Lists some helpful resources and includes a link to a recording of the webinar.
Regarding congregational financial concerns.
We have put together some advice regarding planning for emergency situations. This page will be updated as situations warrant.
Lifespan has released temporary, guidance regarding hospital visits during this time. https://www.lifespan.org/news/visitation-restricted-lifespan-hospitals
When Jesus tells the parable of the unproductive fig tree, it is told as a conversation between a man, perhaps the landowner, and the gardener, the one who tends the land. The man observes that the fig tree has not born fruit for the last three years, and, worrying about the nutrients, land, and time the tree is consuming, he orders it to be cut down and destroyed.