ARC News Letters

The Association of Religious Communities

Dear Friends of ARC,

I'm delighted to invite you to ARC's 2013 "Keep the Faith" Reception, where we will honor the faithful work of Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Newtown. All are welcome!

Thank you for your support,

Joe Walkovich, President, ARC Board

5th Annual "Keep the Faith"

ARC honors Msg. Robert Weiss

May 16, 2013

Tarrywhile Mansion, Danbury ~ 5pm to 7pm

Msgr. Robert Weiss -- went quickly to the horrific scene on Dec 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary. He also conducted the funerals for eight of the children who lost their lives. He has been a face of compassion to victims' famlies, to congregants, to the interfaith community and, through the media ~ to the entire world.

Tickets are $30 ~ Click the button to purchase or donate

Proceeds to benefit ARC's summer program -- for children

~ Interfaith Peace Camp! ~

2013 = Year 10!!!

Greater Danbury Unites in Violence Prevention

Registration:

click this website link >> ARCFORPEACE.ORG

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Place: United Jewish Center (directions below)

Event organized by The Association of Religious Communities and is free of charge thanks to Sponsorship from The Jewish Federation.

Key Noters:

Dr. Saul Cornell ~ Violence & Gun Control

Dr. WIlliam Glass ~ Safety in Public Schools

Dr. Shane Murphy ~ Violence & Videos & Entertainment

Break Out Groups:

1. Preventing Violence & State Initiatives -- Bob Godfrey, a Deputy Speaker of the CT House of Representatives,

2. Free Gun Lock Program -- Rudy Marconi, First Selectman, Ridgefield

3. Making Schools Safe -- Dr. William Glass, Assistant Superintendant, Danbury Public Schools

4. Young Adult Ideas to Prevent Violence -- Rev. Wisdom Sakya, Middle Way Meditation Center and ARC Board member

5. Violence & Entertainment-- Dr. Shane Murphy, Western CT State University

Directions to United Jewish Center (141 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury)

From South of Danbury -- Rt 7 to I-84 East to Exit 4. Left at 1st light onto Lake Ave. Bear right under Railroad Trestle. At next traffic light, Lake Ave become West Street. Proceed on West Street to 2nd Traffic Light & turn right onto Deer Hill Ave (First Congregational Church on right at that corner). The Synagogue is the 4th building on left.

From Danbury & North -- I-84 to Exit 5 and turn right onto Main Street. Go thru 5 lights and turn right at 6th light onto West STreet. Turn left at next light (2 blocks) onto Deer Hill Ave. Synagogue is the 4th buildin g on left.

Please fwd this invitation to others who want

to prevent violence!

If you need a different email format to forward,

please contact Rev. Leopold at ARC ~ 203-792-9452 ext 102

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Greater Danbury Unites In

"Violence Prevention"

February 25, 2013

A Community Dialogue with Action Groups

for Education & Advocacy

Organized by The Association of Religious Communities

Thanks to sponsorship from the Jewish Federation

there's no charge for this event!

Registration Deadline = FEB 19

Click ARC's website

to register now:

ARCFORPEACE.ORG

Please allow ample time for parking

to arrive

On Time !!

Parking lot

is behind

United Jewish Center

Overflow parking is next door at

Christian Science Church

& at

Danbury City Hall

You are invited to spread the word around the Greater Danbury Area




Forward this to



any group or



person interested



in



preventing



violence! ...



Educators
Parents
Civic Groups
Religious Groups
High School & College Groups
Women's Groups
Men's Groups
Etc!

Dear Friend of ARC,

We invite you! and other individuals and groups from the Greater Danbury region who want to unite in Violence Prevention. Per below, event includes Keynoters & 6 break out groups. Event is open to Adults & Young Adults(of high school or college age). Space limited to 175.

Date Mon, February 25

Time 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Place United Jewish Center (directions below).

Click ARC's website link to

register now!

ARCFORPEACE.ORG

On behalf of ARC's Violence Prevention Task Force,

Joseph Walkovich Rev. P.J. Leopold

ARC BoardPresident Executive Director

Key Note Speakers & Topics

Saul Cornell ~ Violence & Gun Control

Dr. William Glass ~ Safety in Public Schools

TBD ~ Violence & Entertainment

The 6 Break Out Advocacy Groups

1. Preventing Violence & State Initiatives

2. Making Schools Safe -- Dr. William Glass,

Assistant Superintendant, Danbury Public Schools

3. Free Gun Lock Program -- Rudy Marconi,

First Selectman, Ridgefield

4. Entertainment

5. Young Adult Ideas to Prevent Violence

Ven. Wisdom Sakya,

Middle Way Meditation Center and ARC Board Member

6. Legislative Advocacy

Directions to the United Jewish Center (UJC)

From South of Danbury

Rt. 7 to I-84 East to Exit 4. Left at first light onto Lake Ave. Go under railroad trestle bearing right. At traffic light, Lake Ave becomes West Street. Proceed on West Street to 2nd traffic light (First Congregational Church on corner) and turn right onto Deer Hill Ave. The Synagogue is the 4th building on the left.

From Danbury & North of Danbury --

I-84 to Exit 5 and turn right onto Main Street. Go thru 5 lights. Turn right at 6th light onto West Steet. Turn left at next light (2 blocks) onto Deer Hill Ave. Synagogue is the 4th building on left.

ARC's Mission

"To facilitate interfaith cooperation

and other partnerships to alleviate the

causes of violence, suffering, and hate

while advancing peace, justice,

and human dignity."

O N E N I G H T ?

Dear Friends of ARC,

One Night ?

Do you have one night -- between January & April 15th? Please consider volunteering at the Homeless Overflow Shelter in Danbury located at the First Congregational Church (corner Deer Hill Ave & West Street). Volunteers particularly needed for week of Jan 14- 20th. Volunteer Orientations held as needed on Wed or Thurs @ 8:30pm at the First Congregational Church. Next orientation is January 3rd. To volunteer! or for more info! pls call Kathy Bardes 203-470-8825

Your one night of volunteering allows a warm bed

for people who're homeless, instead of a night out in the cold.

Thank You!

The Association of Religious Communities

ARC's Spiritual Care Intervention

Clergy Meeting Invitation

Thurs, Dec 20 ~ 3pm ~ 2 Crosby Street, Danbury

Dear Cleric Friends,

~ Purposes of the meeting ~

Brief review of "Do's & Donts" -- followed by Q&A
Hearing from Deacon Roland & Mary who lost a son in a disaster
Review some connections -- that are in place
Clergy Sign Ups -- for religious organizations to act upon request from Newtown family representatives(spiritual care, food, holiday gifts for surviving siblings)

FYI: clergy, just show up if you can/no need to RSVP.

Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold, Executive Director Joe Walkovich, ARC Board President

ARCFORPEAC.ORG

PS ~ the meeting is geared to Clergy but we welcome licensed professional counselors who'd like to sign up to provide non-denominational counseling services free of charge

Crisis and Clergy Counseling

Dear friends of ARC,

Per the shooting at the school in Sandy Hook, Newtown, I'm writing to let you know what I've been told by an authority:

A Crisis Intervention Team is in place -- per the school system.

The school system does not have a Clergy Counseling Team in place at this time -- but I will be alerted if there is anything they want/need clergy to do & I will immediately pass that alert on to all clergy known to ARC and to everyone on this email list.

Sandy Hook is cordoned off at this time and I was asked to mention "the pandomonium will be worsened if people try to break through the barriers."

As a proactive measure, ARC is interested to know who would be qualified and available to be on a Clergy Counseling Team -- tonight and following -- in case ARC is asked for such resources.

Please send an email to me if you are clergy and want to know how you can help if/when necessary.

PJL@ARCFORPEACE.ORG

Thank you for all the prayers on this tragedy,

P.J.

Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold

ARC Annual Meeting! 11:30 - 1:30, 2 Crosby St, Danbury - Dec 10th !

Our Annual Meeting is Mon -- Dec 10, 2012 -- All Welcome!

Pls RSVP Yes only by Wed, Dec 5 Catered lunch -no cost! but limited space

RSVP Executive Director, Rev. Leopold

PJL@ARCFORPEACE.ORG & pls put "Annual Mtg" in Subject

On behalf of the ARC Board, thank you!,

Rev. Angelo S. Arrando

President, Association of Religious Communities

Wishing YOU! a
Very Happy Thanksgiving!

from

The Association of

Religious Communities

Announcing 2 Wonderful Ways to Give Thanks!

Interfaith Thanksgiving

Prayer Service -- All Welcome!

November 19 (next Monday!) 7:00 - 8:00pm

St. James Episcopal Church of Danbury

(25 West Street)

In place of a sermon, there will be an

uplifting video for your reflection

Please bring cans of tuna fish

or other canned food ~ for the needy

*Clergy & Religious Leaders, reminder to come 15 minutes early to line up for procession!

Stop & Shop -- on Newtown Rd

"Food for Friends!"

We're very excited the Stop & Shop on Newtown Road selected ARC for a 2nd time to be the recipient of their annual "Food for Friends" drive.

The drive only lasts until Nov 30, 2012

Here's how it works ... at checkout, customers may

make a financial donation of any amount to

Food for Friends, and all donations will

support ~ ARC's food programs.

Clergy & Religious Leaders,

please encourage your

members & congregants!

ARCFORPEACE.ORG

ARC'S MISSION

"To alleviate the causes of violence, suffering, and hate

while advancing peace, justice, and human dignity."

ARC Event

The Association of Religious Communities (ARC)

Dear Patrons:

If you haven't already, please take an Ad to support

ARC's 4th Annual Breakfast for

"A Peaceable Home"

~ proceeds to benefit ARC's

Domestic Violence Prevention Program

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ad Levels

$ 125 Full Page

$ 75 Half Page

$ 60 Business Card

Send Camera Ready to ARC ~ Attn Jo Gabriele

FAX 203-792-9452

or Email your Ad to Jo, at proassist@arcforpeace.org

Special Offer :)

Ads received by 10/20 will be in the

breakfast Program Book & will also be acknowledged

on the ARC website ~ for 12 months!

Our website receives 600 to 700 "unique" visitors

every month!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

FYI ~ ARC's Domestic Violence Prevention Program serves people from throughout Fairfield County.

Strongest need now comes from men and women living in:

Bethel

Brookfield

Danbury

New Fairfield

New Milford

Newtown

Redding

Ridgefield

Sherman

Local support is urgently needed to

help families live together ...

in peaceable homes!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thank you! ~

Peace be with you,

The ARC Board of Directors

Event Committee

"A Peaceable Home"

November 2, 2012

Amber Room, 7:30am to 9:00 am

With great thanks for helping ARC's programs

You're invited to break bread together at a

Summer Cookout !

Monday, August 13

5:00 to 7:00, dinner at 5:30 pm

at my house, 309 Limestone Road, Ridgefield

(12 minutes from ARC, directions below)

Kindly RSVP by July 31

203-792-9450 ext 102 or PJL@ARCFORPEACE.ORG

Hope to see you!

One love,

P.J.

Directions from Danbury area

84 to Rt 7 (Exit 3 on left). Go down Rt 7 & turn right at 4th light (onto Rt. 35)
Go up Rt 35 & turn right at 1st light (onto Limestone Rd). Stay on the main Limestone Road with the "yellow lines down the middle of the road." House is 1.2 miles down Limestone Rd, yellow cape --on left. #309 is on -- the mailbox!

PARKING

ACROSS THE STREET ALONG "RITA ROAD"

Summer Fun!

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Enrollment now open
for ARC's 9th Annual ...

Interfaith Peace Camp !!!

Mon to Fri

July 9 to 13, 2012

9:00am to 3:00pm * * * for children ages 9 to 12

For your Registration Form, click here >>> Registration Form

Monday, July 9

Campers meet at Tarrywile Park & Mansion (70 Southern Blvd, Danbury) to explore

"What Peace Means to

Native American Traditions"

Tuesday, July 10

Campers meet at St. James Episcopal Church (25 West Street, Danbury) to discover

"What Peace Means to

Buddhist Traditions"

Wednesday, July 11

Campers meet at the Baitul Mukarram Masjid of Greater Danbury (339 Main Street) to explore

"What Peace Means in the

Islamic Tradition"

Thursday, July 12

Campers meet at Congregation B'nai Israel (193 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury)

to learn

"What Peace Means

to Judaism"

Friday, July 13

Campers meet at the Unitarian/ Universalist Congregation of Danbury

(24 Clapboard Ridge Rd) to find out

"What Peace Means to the

Unitarian/Universalist Church"

After discovering peace is a central principle in all major faiths, the week concludes with campers leading a "Community Peace Project" ~ making sandwiches & snacks for Guests at the

Dorothy Day House

Space is Limited

to 25 Campers

Registrations

are on the basis of

"first come ...

first served"

(so don't dawdle!)

Fee for Week $65

to help cover:

Daily Lunches,

Snacks & Bev,

Supplies for Crafts,

stipends for 2 Adult

Co-Directors & 5 High School/College Peer Leaders

Scholarship is available thanks to

special gifts to the

Steve Stephanou Memorial Fund

and to the

Bill McWilliams Memorial Fund

Please click the red x or PayPal button

if you can make

a donation to

Interfaith Peace Camp

Your gift is 100% tax deductible. No gift is

too great! or too small!

On behalf of the

ARC Board of Directors,

thank you

for opening this e-news.

We look forward to receiving your Registrations.

All are welcome!

P.J.

Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold

Executive Director

PJL@ARCFORPEACE.ORG

News from ARC

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Click here to go to our website www.arcforpeace.org

February 2012

Dear Friends of ARC,

Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold, Executive Director

We're thrilled the Winter Warmth Drive was a great success. Within 3 weeks, we received 100s of new winter socks, hats, gloves, and 60 gently used coats. The estimated total value of all donations is $3,248.

A great many people in need were kept warm! On behalf of the ARC Board, a world

of thanks for the quick & generous response from

the interfaith community!

A new opportunity to make a positive difference is now headed this way as the CT Mission of Mercy is coming to Danbury (their 1st time) on March 23 & 24. Over 600 dentists have agreed to donate their time & talent to help people in need. The dentists need individuals, families, & Youth Groups or Adult Groups from religious organizations to serve as Volunteers. We hope you sign up to help make this unique community project successful with the ... 600 dentists!

One love,

P.J.

CT Mission of Mercy

Date:

March 23 & March 24

Place:

The O'Neill Center at

Western Connecticut State University

West Side Campus,

43 Lake Ave. Ext., in Danbury

To Volunteer

for the CT Mission of Mercy

Click here! ...

ctmom.org

In This Issue

Mission of Mercy - Volunteer

Featured Article

WHAT IS

THE CONNECTICUT MISSION OF MERCY??

The Connecticut Mission of Mercy is affectionately referred to as "CTMOM."

The 2 day clinic provides free dental care to the under-served and uninsured in Connecticut - people that would otherwise go without dental care.

Oral health is inseparable from general health and can affect a person's self-esteem, compromise their ability to work, attend school and lead a normal life.

For this reason the Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach (CDFO) in collaboration with the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) embarked upon the state's first Mission of Mercy project in April 2008 in Tolland, CT.

Each year, the project is held in a different location throughout the state.

If you have questions about Volunteering, please contact ourARC Angel Volunteer from the UJC:

CT Mission of Mercy is a project of the

Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach

in collaboration with the Connecticut State Dental Association and

is proudly supported by the Association of Religious Communities

All About Winter Warmth

January 2012!

From The Association of Religious Communities'

Board President

"Robbie"(a nickname) recently came to ARC for help with heating oil and other basic necessities.

Robbie is 82 years old and medical bills have completely depleted his savings.

Can you imagine

being sick,

without heat,

and in your 80s?

I'm glad ARC runs a community safety net program for people like Robbie. It allowed us to pay for his oil, groceries, and a gas card to get to doctor appointments.

I'm also glad ARC Angel Volunteers want to help us do more.

For seniors like "Robbie" or men with low-income jobs working outside in the cold, your new winter socks, gloves and hats in the Care Kits will:

Warm their body

and will also

warm their spirit.

God bless,

Rev. Angelo S. Arrando

Contacts

Our Website

arcforpeace.org

Phone

203-792-9450

Programs, Staff Names

and Phone Extensions

Housing Advocacy

Nikki Singer ext 103

Domestic Violence Prevention

Pamela Pena, ext 105

Emergency Aid Network

Rev. Leopold, ext 102

Immigration

Rev. Leopold, ext 102

Forum on Faith

Rev. Leopold, ext 102

ARC Angel Volunteers

Jo Gabriele, ext 100

"Comida" Food Pantry Donations

Jo Gabriele, ext 100

* * * * * * * * * *

Happy New Year!

"Assumptions

are the window

of the soul.

Scrub them off once in a while, or the light won't come through."

~ Alan Alda

Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold

Executive Director

Dear Patron,

Over the next 10 cold weeks, ARC

will serve about 115 people a week

and about 30 a week will be men

who are of many ages and truly

scraping to make ends meet.

"ARC Angels" (volunteers) are

donating time and would like to

give each man a "Care Kit" with

3 warm items: 1) winter socks,

2) winter gloves, and 3) a knit cap.

For hygiene and dignity, all items ~ must be new ~ but purchasing these items is beyond the reach of our budget. So, we're centralizing a community drive . Please join us, by providing new:

men's winter socks
men's winter gloves
men's knit caps

ARC Angel Volunteers will need 300 of each item (at 30 Care Kits a week for 10 weeks). So, items are needed from individuals like you!! and from groups!! wherever you may have influence, like a:

Religious Organization Knitting Group

Local Store Book Club

Large Company College Group

Extended Family School Project

Every warm item will make a difference to someone in need. The cold weather is here, so please hurry!

In peace,
P.J.

Q & A:

Where oh where

can I get Men's Winter Socks,

Men's Gloves, and Knit Caps ?

Lots of places!

Amazon.com

Costco or BJ's

Kohl's

Target

Xpect Discounts

Or your favorite locally owned store

Q&A:

Where do I Drop or Mail items

for the Men's Care Kits?

Drop your new Socks, Gloves, & Knit Hats at

ARC

Mon to Fri

10am to 1:00 pm

If you'd like to schedule a different time, please call

Rachel at ARC: 203-792-9450.

Or mail a box to ARC!

Attn: ARC Angels

325 Main Street

Danbury, CT 06810

Every warm item will

make a difference

to someone in need

Thank you!

FYI: Men's Care Kit Acknowledgments

   Individuals and groups donating warm winter
   items will receive a tax-deductible letter
   at the end of the next fiscal quarter, and will also be acknowledged on the ARC website ~ arcforpeace.org~

under the Tab for

"Thank You."