| | View the weekly checklist of important upcoming dates and deadlines for clergy, wardens, and staff. | | |
The Iona School of WNC has been awarded the Locally Grown Leaders Grant by the Iona Collaborative at Seminary of the Southwest, made possible by the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative. Our diocese will receive a grant of $25,000 per year for the next five years, along with site visits and personalized support from the Locally Grown Leaders staff team, to create and implement lay leader certifications in worship and preaching, collaborate with the Disaster Response Team in the creation of a church wide certificate focused on community organization for Disaster Response and Critical Incidents, and implement tools and resources to make Iona WNC more accessible.
The Iona WNC deans, the Rev. Pam Bright, the Rev. Anita Ware, and the Rev. Richard Biega are honored that Iona WNC has been awarded the grant and look forward to working alongside Diocesan Formation leaders, the Canon to Ordinary, and small church leaders, to provide educational opportunities for lay leadership that will increase the vitality and sustainability of smaller congregations.
| | Join us in celebrating the ordination of Earle Ross Haire, Jr. to the transitional diaconate. The Rt. Rev. José McLoughlin will ordain E.R. All are invited to attend and support him as he takes this next step in his ministry. Clergy, please vest in cassock and surplice with a red stole. | June 14 | 11 a.m. | St. John's in the Wilderness, Flat Rock | | |
2025/26 Annual Pledge Campaign Materials are ready to download!
Have you ever had news that was so important - so exciting - that you could not hold it in any longer, you just had to tell someone? What Good News we have to share about the world and the One who made it! The response to the abundance of Creation is one of generosity and sharing; sharing our time, our talent, and our treasure with the world around us.
Our theme for the annual campaign this year focuses on our storytelling, on our exuberant joy, on the excitement we feel when we follow Jesus' call to serve our neighbors and worship God.
Our full campaign materials are ready for download now. As always, we offer our campaign materials in English and Spanish. This year's package includes:
- Seasonal Reflections and Questions - Advent through Eastertide
- Eleven Weekly Reflections focusing on how we share the Good News through our creativity and inspire abundance
- Sample letters from clergy, wardens, and committee members
- Sample thank-you letter
- Logos and artwork for the Tell Out My Soul / Proclama mi alma campaign
- Liturgical resources - Prayers of the People and Offertory blessings
- Pledge cards in Word and .pdf
- Campaign timeline for ideal implementation
Don't forget to register for our September 13 webinar to walk through these materials and review best practices to talk about money and meaning in this challenging year.
| | Disaster Response and Recovery Team | Tip of the Week | | |
WHAT TO EXPECT:
· Self-guided healing stations (e.g., Tree of Lament & Resilience, watercolor reflection, letter writing, burden stones, flower altar)
· Live music and speaker moments - centered on themes of trauma, resilience, and renewal
· Family-friendly offerings - including kid-specific activities and space for caregivers
· Supporters’ Corner to honor those who’ve held space for others
| | May 20 | 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. | 15 Overbrook Place, Asheville, NC 28805 | | Cold Mountain Music Festival | | |
Cold Mountain Music Festival features top-notch musical talent, amazing local food & drink vendors, family-friendly activities, and more! The centerpiece of our nearly 300-acre campus is mile-long Lake Logan surrounded by the Shining Rock Wilderness and Pisgah National Forest.
| | May 31 & June 1 | Lake Logan Conference Center, Canton | | |
Join Youth Council and other 5th Graders from around the diocese. This event is to get 5th graders excited for youth programming and to help them gain tools they will need to take with them to middle school!
COST: $20 (includes lunch)
E-mail Charlotte with questions.
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May 17
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Trinity, Asheville
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Towel Ministry began in the Diocese of Western North Carolina over 40 years ago as a ministry focused on serving our neighbors, being the hands and feet of Jesus in the world and learning leadership through home repair ministry.
We still have availability for both youth AND adult volunteers.
Cost: $400/person
Scholarships are available for Diocese of WNC youth.
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Session One: June 17-22
Session Two: June 24-29
Calvary Episcopal Church, Fletcher
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Grace, Morganton Partners with Student Leader | |
Grace Episcopal Church in Morganton is committed to ending “period poverty” through its Dignity Matters Ministry. Over the past year, the church partnered with Prerana Kulla, a student at the NC School of Science and Mathematics in Morganton, who is passionate about addressing period poverty in our country.
Through her Menstrual Movement Morganton drive, Prerana established donation sites and reached out to companies for support. Thanks to her energy and dedication, donations came in from across the county, state, and country.
In May, Prerana invited friends from NCSSM to help pack Summer Dignity Bags, each containing enough menstrual products to last a young woman through the summer. School counselors will distribute the bags as needed.
Grace is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with these inspiring student leaders and looks forward to partnering with next year’s seniors.
To learn more or get involved, contact Trish Keene at gracemorganton.org.
| | | | To submit an event, please review the submission guidelines and email event details and a photo for consideration to katie@diocesewnc.org. This space is reserved for diocesan, parish, and conference center events. | | Please join us on for a very special concert in the Trinity Music Series: a full performance of Maurice Duruflé's Requiem, given by our Chancel Choir with a chamber orchestra, conducted by our Dir. of Music, Dr. Kevin Seal. Admission is free! | |
May 15 | 7:00 p.m.
Trinity, Asheville
| | | St. James Episcopal Church in Downtown Hendersonville welcomes David Higgs as organist for this inaugural new series of annual recitals featuring nationally known organists. No tickets are required; a candlelight reception will follow in Stillwell Hall. | |
May 15 | 7:00 p.m.
St. James, Hendersonville
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For this hike, we will gather at St. Francis Chapel. We’ll climb Rufus Morgan Trail (moderate ascent). For those interested, we have a communal lunch on Kanuga Patio.
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May 17
8:45 a.m.-12 p.m.
St. Francis Chapel, Kanuga
| | “Empty Bowls,” is a community meal benefiting the Flat Rock Backpack Program. Local ceramic artists will once again fire up their kilns for the eighth year to help hungry children in the greater Flat Rock area. Tickets required. | |
May 18
12 p.m. & 4 p.m.
St. John in the Wilderness, Flat Rock
| | | Speaker Series - Jeff Chu | |
Join us for a conversation with Jeff Chu, Journalist & Editor-at-Large for Travel & Leisure, author of Good Soil.
TOPIC: "Conversations about Nature, Heritage, and Belonging: A reading and Q&A."
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May 20 | 7:00 p.m.
Trinity, Asheville (Tuton Hall)
| | | ECW Spring Fling Fundraiser | |
The Episcopal Church Women chapter of our Diocese raising money to support women in our diocese to achieve their goals in mission & ministry. Read their newsletter for other updates and events.
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May 24
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Morganton Community Center
| | Have a story or event to share? | | Thank you for being a part of our Diocese! | | | | |
