This year, in an effort to be more inclusive of faiths where weekly worship takes place on days other than Sunday, we are asking faith communities to offer  prayers all during weekend services anytime the weekend of November 4-6th and ring their bells (if they have bells) on November 6 at 6p.m.  Bells are to ring one time for each Connecticut child in need of a permanent home.  This year the number is 28.

In the past three years this event has grown to include over 160 faith communities throughout the state in many different guises.  Some faith communities have held candlelight vigils during the bell ringing while others held prayer vigils including guest speakers and music.  Many have simply rung their bells at 6 p.m., some by children who were already adopted or entire adoptive families.  Any part or combination of prayer and bell-ringing on behalf of the children is truly appreciated.

Why should you support this effort?  Too many foster children  wait far too long for permanent families.  In fact, nationally, there are over 107,000 children in the foster care system awaiting a family. Some of these children will never be adopted and will “age out”.  Of those who age out, approximately 50 percent of them eventually experience homelessness or become incarcerated. Most will never finish high school and many of the girls will end up becoming single mothers, repeating the cycle of poverty, abuse and addiction that brought them into care.  Last year in CT, approximately 450 youth aged out.

Read Justin’s* story. Justin is the pseudonym for the youth who inspired this event.

Was your faith community a part of Bells of Hope 2011 but not listed below?  Please contact Deb Kelleher at fam_coordinator@yahoo.com and include the name of the Faith Community and the address and we will be happy to add you to the list!

Contact us for more information: 203.706.0101

2011 Participating Faith Communities

Christ Episcopal Church, Ansonia
Holy Rosary Church, Ansonia
First Congregational Church of Barkhamsted
St Michael’s R.C. Church, Beacon Falls
Berlin Congregational Church, Berlin
First Congregational Church of Branford, UCC, Branford
Shoreline Community Church, Branford
St. Mary Church, Branford
Christian Community Church of Bridgeport
First Baptist Church, Bridgeport
Messiah Baptist Church, Bridgeport
Bristol Baptist Church, Bristol
Christian Fellowship Center, Bristol
The First Congregational Church UCC, Bristol
North Canaan Congregational Church, Canaan
St. Joseph Church, Canaan
Cheshire Lutheran Church, Cheshire
Church of the Epiphany, Cheshire
Cornerstone Church, Cheshire
First Congregational Church of Cheshire*
Temple Beth David, Cheshire
St. Bridget Church, Cheshire
United Methodist Church of Clinton
Colebrook Congregational Church, Colebrook
Collinsville Congregational Church, Collinsville
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cornwall
St. Bridget Church, Cornwall Bridge
Church of St. Peter, Danbury
Danbury Lighthouse Ministries, Danbury
First Congregational Church of Danbury, UCC, Danbury
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Danbury
St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, Danbury
Western Connecticut State University, Newman Center, Danbury
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Danielson
First Church of Christ, Congregational, East Haddam
St Patrick’s R.C. Church, East Hampton*
Holy Family Church, Enfield
Church of Christ, Farmington
St. James Episcopal Church, Farmington
First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury
South Congregational Church, Granby
Spring Glen Church, UCC, Hamden
House of Restoration Church, Hartford
Phillips Metropolitan CME Church, Hartford
Riverfront Family Church, Hartford
Harwinton Congregational Church, Harwinton
Gilhead Congregational Church, Hebron
Faith Center Church, Meriden
First Assembly of God, Meriden
New Life Community Church, Meriden
St. George’s Episcopal Church, Middlebury
St. Agnes Church, Milford
Mystic Congregational Church, Mystic
United Methodist Church, Naugatuck
Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, New Britain
Calvary Christian Center, New Britain
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, New Britain
St. Mary’s Ukranian Church, New Britain
Church of The Rock, New Haven* (Service Saturday)
Dixwell Avenue United Church of Christ, New Haven
Temple Emanuel of Greater New Haven
St. Francis Xavier Church, New Milford
First Congregational Church, New Milford
Newtown Congregational Church, Newtown
Christ Lutheran Church, Niantic
Niantic Community Church, Niantic
St. John’s Episcopal Church, North Haven     
St. Joseph’s Church, Norwalk
First Congregational Church of Old Lyme
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Plainfield
St. Anthony R.C. Church, Prospect
Rocky Hill Congregational Church, Rocky Hill
St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Rocky Hill
Roxbury Congregational Church, Roxbury
St. Bernard Church, Sharon
Sacred Heart Church, Southbury
The United Church of Christ, Southbury
First Baptist Church of Southington
Bethel AME Church, Stamford
St. Bridget Church, Stamford
St. Mary’s Church, Stamford
United Congregational Church of Westerly, Stonington
Terryville Congregational Church, UCC, Terryville
Covenant of Joy, Thomaston
Center Congregational Church, Torrington
First United Methodist Church, Torrington
Sacred Heart Church, Torrington
St. Francis of Assisi Church, Torrington
St. Mary R.C. Church, Torrington
St. Peter R.C. Church, Torrington
Calvary Church, Trumbull
Door of Hope, Wallingford
Yalesville United Methodist Church, Wallingford
First Congregational Church, Waterbury
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Waterbury
St. Leo the Great, Waterbury
Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Waterbury
United Muslim Mosque, Waterbury
First Congregational Church of Watertown
Saugatuck Congregational Church, Westport
First Church of Christ, Wethersfield
United Covenant Church, Wilton
Wilton Congregational Church, Wilton
Winchester Center Congregational Church, Winchester Center
First Church in Windsor
First Church of Christ, Woodbridge   
Woodbury United Methodist Church, Woodbury
First Congregational Church of Woodstock

In addition to the listing above, Bells of Hope would like to acknowledge the faith communities that participated but are not mentioned by name.  Due to Storm Alfred, communication has been challenging. Every prayer offered for a child in foster care is a powerful expression of your love and support. Thank you all for the blessings of your caring communities.

Anyone wishing to purchase a copy of the book, click here.

To visit the Shut Up website, click here.

For more information regarding our support group or to receive email updates and reminders for the support group, please call Deb Kelleher at 203.706.0101 or email deb.kelleher@fosteradoptivemission.org.