Abraham's Tent 2012: Homeless Outreach Opportunity!

Abraham's Tent 2012

Volunteer to eat with and hang out with the homeless!

March 28th @ United Church on the Green

1. MANDATORY Volunteer Training (and Potluck): Wed. 2/29, 6pm @ UCG
2. Sign-up to Volunteer on Wed. 3/28 to prepare dinner, host evening activities, or stay overnight. (Or, on other days that week, if 3/28 doesn't work for you. Sign-up online or email Brendan.)

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Hopefully, most of you have either received Brendan's email through the ECV Community List or heard the announcement last Sunday, but ECV is volunteering again for Abraham's Tent in March! (A quick summary of Abraham's Tent can be found below)

Interested in helping out? Here are the basic things you need to know:

1. Training: There is a mandatory volunteer training with Columbus House staff on Wednesday, February 29th at 6:00pm at United Church. This is especially crucial if you are on the dinner team! If you've signed up already or are thinking about volunteering, please bring a simple dish to share, get trained,  and meet the neighbors with whom we'll be partnering.

2. Volunteer Opportunities on Wednesday, March 28th:

• Prepare dinner and eat together with the guests and volunteers (from 4 - 7pm)
• Organize evening activities (from 6-9pm) - Ideas can include: "movie night", "game night", "jam session" (if the guests are interested) - we can be creative with this!
• Stay overnight at the church (from about 8pm - 6am)
• Provide Breakfast the next morning (can drop off on the evening of 3/28)

Interested in volunteering, but can't make it on 3/28? You can volunteer for another time slot - Sign up on the online sign-up sheet, OR Contact Brendan if you're interested or have other questions about this.

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Abraham's Tent is a collaborative effort between Columbus House (New Haven's largest homeless shelter) and local faith communities, who take turns hosting for a week a select group of 12 men who would otherwise be in the shelter, for the purpose of both freeing up space in the shelters, and helping each of the men in the group move out of homelessness and into transitional housing. We will again be partnering with United Church on the Green, Shalom UCC, Metropolitan Community Church, and the Yale Divinity School to host the group at United during the week of 3/26 - 4/1.

ECV Christmas Giving Opportunity - for CCA (with NHV)!

ECV Christmas Giving Opportunity - 3 ways to help out!

1. Give $$ to purchase Gifts for kids at CCA's Steppingstone Transitional Housing Program! ($25 = 1 kid's gift) - collecting donations on Sundays (12/4 & 12/11)
2. Buy Gifts for the kids! - wrapped gifts collected on Sun. 12/18
3. Volunteer and Meet the Families at Steppingstone Christmas Reception! - Tuesday, 12/20 from 5:30 - 7:30pm at 660 Winchester Ave. (need 4 - 5 volunteers)

I'm so excited to share with all of you a wonderful opportunity to share some Christmas love to local children in New Haven this holiday season! 

We'll be partnering with the New Haven Vineyard Church (located in West Haven, the church we planted out of) to provide presents for the kids in Christian Community Action's Stepping Stone Transitional Housing Program!

The idea is this - ECV will be buying Christmas gifts for 15 children (in 9 families - half of the families who live in the housing units), ages ranging from 6 months - 17 years, who currently live in Steppingstone's Transitional Housing units. The parents of these families are working hard to find jobs and more permanent housing to provide for their families, and often don't have money left over to buy presents for their kids. So, we have a list of kids (and their wishlists!) who we will purchase and wrap the gifts for, which we will then give anonymously to their parents, who will then give the presents to their kids - it imparts a sense of dignity for the parents to do it this way.

So, how can you help out? There are 3 ways (you can do one, more or all of the below)!

1. Give Money: We will be collecting donations during our NEXT TWO Sunday Gatherings (12/4 & 12/11) - We hope to spend $25 per kid, so you can choose to "sponsor" part of a gift or more! If you can't make it on a Sunday, then feel free to email Hannah to arrange sending your donations to her (checks payable to ECV, write "CCA Christmas" in memo).
   
2. Buy/Wrap Gifts: If you LOVE shopping (and/or wrapping gifts), we are looking for people who will buy the actual gifts for the kids! We will provide you the name, age, gender, and wishlist of kid(s) that you want to buy gifts for and we will be collecting wrapped gifts on Sunday, 12/18. You can shop alone or with friends/kids/your homegroup! Email Hannah if you are interested in doing this.
3. Volunteer and Meet the families at Steppingstone Christmas Reception! - On Tuesday, 12/20, from 5:30 - 7:30pm at 660 Winchester Ave., we will be co-hosting a Christmas reception at the Steppingstone building to meet the families who've received our gifts! We'll provide punch and cookies, etc. We need about 4 or 5 people from ECV to represent us at the reception, so if you are interested in attending/helping out with this (this is a great opportunity to meet the people we've bought the gifts for), then let Hannah know.

If you are interested in helping out in any way or have any questions about this, just email Hannah.
Hope you can help out and share the love this Holiday Season!

ECV Harvest Party! (THIS Sunday, 10/30)

ECV Harvest Party!
Sunday, 10/30
6:15pm (shortly after Worship Gathering)
Bradley Room (downstairs in United Church - corner of Temple and Elm Streets)

After our Worship Gathering on Sunday, please stay and join us for some Fall Festivities together - There will be Pizza, Yummy Treats and Prizes, Games (and possibly even a Costume Contest!)

The Harvest Party will include fun for the kids, even for the "kids at heart" - People of all ages are invited to join in!

Also, if some of you are wiling to help out with overseeing games, setting up/cleaning up, OR even taking pictures (it'd be nice to grab some costumed family portraits!), please let Hannah know.

Hope you can join us (with or without costumes)!

This Week at ECV: 10/11 - 10/18

This Week at ECV: 10/11 - 10/18

• Life with a Living God Conference: 10/14-10/15 – Register today!
• ECV Youth Ministry Intern: George Black! - Also, join the Youth Ministry Team!
• Join Elm City Voices - Practices on Sundays from 2-3pm at United Church
• Support Famine Relief in East Africa: Purchase "Serenity" by Tina Colon Williams (at www.tinacolon.com)

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The Scoop:

Life with a Living God Conference:
a Practical Workshop on Hearing from God and Praying for Healing

Friday, 10/14: 7:30pm-9:30pm
Saturday, 10/15: 2pm-5:30pm, dinner (provided), 7:30-9:30
@ United Church on the Green (corner of Elm St. and Temple St., New Haven)

Take the plunge! Come and see what God has in store for you and our community through this conference. Register today! (It also helps us plan some of the logistics when we know who’s coming.)

What if God is real? What if God is at work in the world? What if God wants to work through us? Whether you've been following Jesus for years or are just beginning to explore life with God, this conference will be an opportunity to explore what life could look like in God's presence.

Speakers
Jamie and Michelle Wilson, Coast Vineyard (San Diego)
Robin Morrison, Basileia Community (Hollywood)

Cost
$20/person
undergraduate discount: $10/person
please don't let cost keep you from coming; feel free to pay what you can.

Saturday dinner and childcare will be provided.

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Introducing... our ECV Youth Ministry Intern - George Black!

This past Sunday, we were so excited to welcome George Black as our new ECV Youth Ministry Intern! Many of you probably know George either from hearing his awesome voice singing in Elm City Voices or on the worship team, or from his leadership in WyldLife Club (the Jr. High group that is part of Young Life New Haven, an ECV Partner) or even in his work with LEAP, a local youth development non-profit.

This year, George will be working with a team to start planning events and activities that will reach the youth (ages 11- 17yrs) in New Haven! He is currently looking for folks who are interested in dreaming and planning with him to build a youth ministry in ECV!

If you are at all interested in working with youth, please contact George for more info.

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Elm City Voices
Rehearsals on Sundays starting on 9/18
2:00 - 3:00 pm@ United Church (downstairs in the Bradley Room)

As you all heard on Sunday, the Elm City Voices are singing, having fun and praising Jesus!

All Singers are welcome to join ECV's fabulous Choir (singing Gospel music, etc.) - Rehearsals are on Sundays at 2pm! If you love music and want to find a way to connect with people at ECV, this is a great opportunity to do that. Also, if you have musical friends from the New Haven community, invite them to sing with us!

All rehearsals will be held downstairs in the Bradley Room at the United Church on the Green. If you have any questions feel free to email Shyla.

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 Support Famine Relief in East Africa: Purchase "Serenity" by Tina Colon Williams (at www.tinacolon.com)

As many of you have probably heard, the horn of Eastern Africa-- specifically the nation of Somalia-- is currently suffering from a devastating famine. According to NBC, 11 million (other sources say up to 13 million) people in the Horn of Africa need food assistance.

As we heard during Announcement on Sunday - In response, Tina and Juliet have decided to release a new studio recording of "Sincerity," written by Tina and produced by Juliet, and give all proceeds to responsible and proven organizations working against the famine in Eastern Africa.

For more info (and to purchase the song), visit: www.tinacolon.com

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What's on Deck?

• 10/23: ECV A/V Club - 2pm at United Church
• 10/30: ECV Harvest Party! - 6pm (after worship gathering) at United Church

This Week at ECV: 10/4 - 10/9

This Week at ECV: 10/4 - 10/9

• Life with a Living God Conference: 10/14-10/15 – Register today!
• King's Keep + ECV: Sat. 10/8 from 12:30-2:30pm @ 79 Kensington St.
• Sunday Homegroup is Starting! - Sun. 10/9 at 10:00am at 6 Woodland Dr. (Woodbridge)

*****
The Scoop:

Life with a Living God Conference:
a Practical Workshop on Hearing from God and Praying for Healing

Friday, 10/14: 7:30pm-9:30pm
Saturday, 10/15: 2pm-5:30pm, dinner (provided), 7:30-9:30
@ United Church on the Green (corner of Elm St. and Temple St., New Haven)

Take the plunge! Come and see what God has in store for you and our community through this conference. Register today! (It also helps us plan some of the logistics when we know who’s coming.)

What if God is real? What if God is at work in the world? What if God wants to work through us? Whether you've been following Jesus for years or are just beginning to explore life with God, this conference will be an opportunity to explore what life could look like in God's presence.

Speakers
Jamie and Michelle Wilson, Coast Vineyard (San Diego)
Robin Morrison, Basileia Community (Hollywood)

Cost
$20/person
undergraduate discount: $10/person
please don't let cost keep you from coming; feel free to pay what you can.

Saturday dinner and childcare will be provided.

***

King's Keep + ECV
Saturday, October 8th
12:30-2:30pm
@ 79 Kensington St.

This Saturday (10/8), we will be assisting the volunteers at King's Keep - a ministry to children and families in New Haven, particularly in the Dwight-Kensington neighborhood.

We will be joining those living at 79 Kensington Street (including some fellow ECVers!), in playing games with the children, leading them in Worship and a short bible lesson, and also praying for the parents who come with the kids. (Plus, we have lunch with the kids!)

It looks like it is going to be a sunny, lovely fall day on Saturday, so join us as we serve and bless the families in the Dwight neighborhood! If you are particularly interested in either setting up, planning the games or helping out with worship, please contact Hannah

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Sunday Homegroup is Starting!
Sundays (starting 10/9) at 10:00am
6 Woodland Drive,Woodbridge, CT 

As we heard in the announcement last Sunday, our newest homegroup (which will be on Sunday mornings!) will be starting this Sunday (10/9). They will be studying the book of Hebrews (written to the first followers of Jesus), particularly examining the themes of perseverance, finding encouragement and assurance to press on in our faith by following the great examples of biblical faith, most of all, Jesus.

The Sunday Homegroup is led by Steve and Tamara Fitzgerald and Pat and Bill Croasmun. For more info, contact: Jen Hartley

If you haven't had a chance to go to a homegroup yet, we hope you can make it to this one OR one of our other homegroups throughout the week - Click Here for more info on ECV Homegroups!

THIS SATURDAY (9/17) - Party in the Park!

Party in the Park!
Saturday, September 17th
10:00 am - 1:00pm 
Edgewood Park 
(Corner of Edgewood Ave. and Ella Grasso Blvd.)
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Join us and invite your friends to come to Party in the Park!

There will be food, friendly folks, arts & crafts for the kids...

...and we're bringing back the BOUNCY CASTLE!

This family-friendly event will give our ECV community an opportunity to welcome and engage with our friends and neighbors from the greater New Haven community.

We are also looking for a few people who are willing to volunteer to staff the food table or help supervise an activity with the kids (we can work in shifts if necessary). Let Hannah know if you're interested in helping out!

This Week: Twice the Summer Fun!

Just wanted to remind you about TWO exciting events happening in the next TWO days!

TODAY (Thurs. July 28th): Ice-Cream Off @ The Kennedy Home (290 Fountain St)--7.30pm
This event has now become an annual tradition, complete with voting and prizes. Bring your own home-made ice cream (or brought-home ice cream if that's more your speed) to compete in this night of laughter, cheer, and extra-delicious ice-cream consumption. Think you can beat the Champion strawberry gelato from last year? Come on over and find out!

TOMORROW (Friday 7/29): Arts in the Park @ Edgewood Park--4pm
This will be the culmination of the Picnics in the Park series, and it promises to be an extra wonderful afternoon of family friendly fun! We'll provide some picnic fixings, but feel free to bring other things to share. So bring your friends, bring your artistic selves, and join us for Arts in the Park!

We are also looking for a few people who are willing to volunteer to staff the food table or help supervise an activity with the kids (we can work in shifts if necessary). Let Hannah know if you're interested in helping out!

Give Generously! - ECV Helps Fund & Wish List

• Give to folks in need within the ECV community via the ECV Helps Fund and Wish List
• Have a need or know someone that does? Email helps@elmcityvineyard.org

At ECV, we are committed to helping each other in our church community. In fact, we created the ECV Helps Team and ECV Helps Wish List in order to provide some structure for discernment and the disbursement of funds and materials that will assist those among us with pressing needs. This past fiscal year (since last July), we have given over $2000 and fulfilled most of our material requests on the ECV Helps Wish List so far! Thanks so those of you who have given so generously to those with material needs in our community!

We just wanted to let you know that there are now TWO specific ways to give through ECV Helps to those with pressing needs!

1. ECV Helps Fund: The Helps Fund allows us to provide financial assistance to those with specific, urgent needs - In the past, we have been able to assist with medical bills, utility payments, phone payments, etc. The ECV Helps Team has a discernment subgroup that allows us to provide funds (based on what is available) in a timely manner to those who need it.

In order for us to continue to give generously to those of us with monetary needs, please prayerfully consider giving to the ECV Helps Fund in addition to your regular giving. If you would like to give, just write "ECV Helps" on the memo line of your check and put it in the Cans of Love on a Sunday OR write "ECV Helps" in the Comments section if you're giving online.

2. ECV Helps Wish List: The Helps Wish List is for specific material needs within our community (e.g. a bike for transportation to work, a suit for a job interview, toiletries or baby supplies that food stamps can't cover, etc.). We collect these material requests and then on a bi-monthly basis (as needed), we email the church with the Wish List requests and make sure to arrange for items to be picked up and delivered to those who have requested them. Please be on the lookout for items on the Helps Wishlist that you might be able to donate!

Just so you know: The Wish List differs from a request on the Community List in that all Wish List requests are anonymous and the items on the Wish List are for pressing needs only.

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If you, or someone in ECV that you know, would like to request assistance from the Church in either of these ways, please email helps@elmcityvineyard.org, and we will make sure to prayerfully discern and address your request in a timely manner.

Healing Prayer on the Green - 5/28

Healing Prayer on the Green
THIS Saturday, 5/28
11:00am - 12:30pm
Meet front of United Church (Corner of Elm and Temple Streets)

As we've been exploring in our Sunday Gatherings the idea of taking courage in following Jesus, one immediate way we can practice this to use what we're learning and experiencing on Sundays and in homegroups and take it to the streets!

On Saturday morning at a corner of the New Haven Green, we will be setting up a "Healing Prayer and Free Lemonade Stand", and we invite you to come, help pass out lemonade and pray for those who want healing/prayer in our city!

For me personally, this is a great step of courage to bring the healing power of the Holy Spirit outside the walls of our church and I hope that we can start seeing God's power at work together in New Haven!

We are hoping this might become a more regular event, so if you want more info about this, feel free to contact me (Hannah) directly.

Hope to see you there!

ECV Senior Night Celebration on 5/20!

Friday, May 20th | 7pm
United Church on the Green (corner of Elm and Temple Streets)
Bradley Room (in the basement)

Hey ECV!

Come join us as we congratulate and bless the undergraduate seniors in our midst, who have truly become a part of our community. We want to support, encourage, and send them out well into life after college.

There will be a time of sharing, reflection, and prayer. Food will also be provided.

Hope to see you there!

Baptism THIS Saturday (10/16) at Lighthouse Point

Baptism of Alyssa Stovall and Sandra Giramahoro
THIS Saturday (10/16), 3:00 - 4:30pm
@Lighthouse Point Pavilion

Need a ride? Could you give rides? Let us know and we'll make sure everyone can be there!

Come celebrate! We are very excited to be baptizing Alyssa and Sandra on Saturday and we would love to have you come support them as they take this important next step in following Jesus and into our community! (If you're interested in getting baptized, there is still time to jump in; email Matt to find out more…)

Immediately following, there will be a reception with light refreshments and you are welcome to stick around and play on the beach!

Here are the details again:
THIS Saturday (10/16), 3:00 - 4:30pm
@Lighthouse Point Pavilion

Directions:
I-95 North to exit 50, Woodward Avenue
At second stoplight, turn right on Townsend Avenue
Turn right on Lighthouse Road

Need a ride? Could you give rides? Let us know and we'll make sure everyone can be there!

Spiritual Gifts Discovery Workshop: THIS Thursday (7/22)

Spiritual Gifts Discovery Workshop
THIS Thursday (7/22)
7:30pm
47 Dyer Street

As you may already know, for the past few Sundays, we've been in the middle of a teaching series on Spiritual Gifts - looking at what they are (both generally and specifically), and what these gifts look like in the context of following Jesus in our ECV community.

On Thursday evening, we want to give you a chance to discover your own spiritual gifts and how they link to your own passions, interests, and talents in your own lives! Josh Williams and Matt Croasmun will be leading a very practical session on discovering your spiritual gifts and looking at how your particular gifts and personalities come together for greater benefit to you and to our community as a whole! It'll be practical and fun. You should come.

Hope to see you there!

ECV Summer Games, August 2

All ages! Bring sunscreen, water bottle, and something to drink or a side for the BBQ!

Questions? Want to help with this shindig? We need help with judges, time keepers, game coordinators, and cheerleaders!
Email Kathy at kathym@elmcityvineyard.org.