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Highlights:
- Opening Prayer
- Call for workshops!
- Sponsor the BPG!
- Big Provincial Gathering 2026
- How to make your [BPG Workshop] intentionally intergenerational
- Retired / Retiring Clergy
- Building an Inclusive Church
- Coaching opportunity
- Prayers for Migration with Dignity
- ECO DioChicago
- Spring Campus Ministry Cohort
- Young Adult / Campus Ministry Student Retreat
- Advent Resources
- Women Clergy Retreat
- Episcopal Podcasts
- Between Memory and Hope
-
Church Tomorrow? Book Launch
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From Slavery to Freedom Book Launch
- Book Corner
- Creation Spirituality
- Immigration Update Calls
- Using Picture Books for Racial Healing
- Disarmory Ministries
- Clergy Contemplative Immersion
- Kairos Center training
- Forma Conference
- Waycross Events
- Links to the Socials
- Networking Conversations
- Affiliated Organizations
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Opening Prayer
The Welcoming Prayer
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
I welcome everything that comes to me in this moment
because I know it is for my healing.
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions,
persons, situations and conditions.
I let go of my desire for security.
I let go of my desire for approval.
I let go of my desire for control.
I let go of my desire to change any
situation, condition,
person, or myself.
I open to the
love and
presence of God
and
the healing action and
grace within.
––– Mary Mrozowski 1925-1993
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This newsletter is CRAMMED full!
Are you seeing everything in this email?
You may need to click on "View Entire Message" at the bottom to see ALL of the details!
January newsletter date: Jan 5, 2026!
| | Featured Articles and Events | | |
Call for BPG Workshops!!!
The Big Provincial Gathering will be full of workshops offered "ministry fair" style. Do you have something to share with others? Are you particularly proud of a project you did or a ministry you support? Start thinking about if you'd like to host a workshop. All information about workshops will be needed by February 1, 2026. See all of the details and fill out the form! Make sure to check out the workshop webinar below!
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Sponsor the Big Provincial Gathering!
This event is for ALL people - and we make it affordable so that anyone might attend. To do this, we rely on sponsorships. Organizations and businesses interested in sharing their information with people across Province V are invited to sponsor this event!
Download the Sponsorship Chart that includes levels and details.
Contact Heather to commit or to ask questions.
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Big Provincial Gathering 2026
July 31 - August 1, 2026
Host: St. Luke's, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Province V will be hosting the fourth Big Provincial Gathering in the summer of 2026. Planning is underway. Basic information is already available about leading workshops, participating in pre-event trainings, sponsorship, and exhibitors. More detailed information will become available as planning for the BPG progresses further. If you're interested in any of this, please contact Heather AND check upcoming newsletters and this website.
Provincial Youth Event
There will be a Provincial Youth Event offered as part of the BPG. There will be some time that youth will have dedicated programming and then time that all are gathered together.
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Church Pension Group:
Diamond Sponsor of the Big Provincial Gathering
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LEADERS: How to make your [BPG Workshop]
intentionally intergenerational (all are welcome!)
Thursday, Dec 4, 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT
The BPG planning team is inviting all workshop leaders to consider how to actively engage both youth and adults in their workshops. If you’re planning on hosting a workshop at the Big Provincial Gathering, you’ll want to attend this Zoom workshop to learn about intergenerationality and how you can intentionally design a gathering that engages a variety of generations. A Provincial Youth Event will happen as part of the BPG, so youth will be involved in all aspects of the event, including workshops.
ALL are invited to this event! If you’re not planning on leading a workshop at the BPG, but want to hear about how to make your events, worship, and meetings more accessible to a variety of ages, come along to hear from Sarah Alred of Roots and Wings!
Sarah Bentley Allred (she/her) serves as Project Director for Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative through Lifelong Learning at Virginia Seminary. Before joining Lifelong Learning, Sarah served as Director of Children and Youth Ministries and then completed the M.Div. program at VTS. She is passionate about children’s spirituality, intergenerational worship, and small churches. She loves local coffee shops, board games, the beach, and exploring new places with her husband, Richard, their daughter, Eleanor, and their dog, Grace. You can contact her at sallred@vts.edu and learn more about the work of Roots & Wings on Building Faith.
This event will be recorded and made available to all who register.
Register here
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New Network: Retired / Retiring Clergy
Date of FIRST meeting:
Jan 13, 2026, 10 am ET / 9 am CT
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84538273268
Convener: Nancy Foster (Great Lakes) and Percy Grant (Ohio)
webpage: https://www.provincev.org/retiredclergy.html
This is a network for retired clergy, a place to find others, who have gone from a very active, creative and central role in the church, to a back pew. Your time is your own, so now what? This gathering provides a knowledgeable group to talk about how to deal with a spiritual life that does not involve preaching. And will help navigate supply asks, traveling on Sunday, and saying no. A place to be with others who have been in leadership in an ever changing church, but are now watching from the sidelines or perhaps not watching at all. This is being offered now because of the many people asking questions about making this transition. A team of coaches - one ordained and one lay - will ask questions and to find creative ways to address the questions and concerns (no wandering into theological quagmires). Join together with other retired or retiring coaches for support and fun.
You may join in this network at any of their meetings without an RSVP. Reminders for each network are sent out a day or two ahead of time. If you'd like to be added to the list for this network, let Heather know.
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Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit
A 6-week Zoom training!
Feb 8, 15, 22, 2026 and Mar 1, 8, 15, 2026
5-6:30 pm ET / 4-5:30 pm CT
The Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to help facilitate a welcoming journey in faith communities working on extending a specific welcome to people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. A team from ReconcilingWorks will lead a course to give you tools to share this resource with your worshiping community.
The toolkit is available as a .pdf. Province V will provide a color-printed copy of the toolkit for each person registered.
Registration is required. Attend as many sessions as you can.
Here is the registration link if the above doesn't work: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ew0-JwsqT7WCt4PknNKjVQ
More details and resources are on the Engaging Gender Complexity page.
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Leadership Coaching Project
Coaching is all about YOUR goals - YOUR plans - YOUR dreams. Working with a coach today will help you create that future about which you dream. Contact a coach today to do today what will result in positive changes tomorrow.
Coaching is a dialogue between a coach and an individual, group, or team to find creative ways to solve challenging problems or improve team performance on key initiatives.
The coach's role is to draw out expertise through inquiry, curiosity, and challenges so that clients can stretch into their best selves.
Lay leaders, deacons, priests, and bishops are all invited to consider coaching. The focus on coaching will always be generated by the coachee; the coach is a partner who listens deeply and asks powerful questions to help the coachee set attainable and timely goals.
Learn More and Book a Coach.
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Prayers for Migration with Dignity
Compline with Episcopal Migration Caucus.
Sunday evenings in December, beginning Dec. 7
9 pm ET / 8 pm CT
One-time registration is required for this series
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Eco DioChicago offers a resource at this Google Doc. This includes liturgical and church-specific resources that might be helpful in your local ministry context.
Province V offers congratulations to Eco DioChicago for receiving a grant! If you are part of the Diocese of Chicago, there are additional resources available to you because of this grant.
Eco DioChicago, the creation care working group of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, has been awarded $134,000 in Grassroots Education funds through Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) to launch a new solar education initiative from Eco DioChicago called Caring Light.
Read full press release
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Spring 2026 Campus Ministry Cohort:
Engaging with IHL's
Purpose: To equip and prepare worshiping communities to engage Institutions of Higher Learning in their local ministry context. IHLs include community colleges, trade schools, professional schools, colleges and universities.
Who: Congregational Leaders (lay and clergy) interested in sharing in Christ's ministry on campus.
What's Included:
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6 Interactive Zoom Gatherings on Tuesday Evenings, (1/27, 2/10, 3/3/, 3/17, 4/7, 4/21, 7:30-9 pm ET / 6:30-8 pm ET ).
- These gatherings will include:
- Best Practices for engaging students on campus and welcoming them into the life of the church.
- Training focused on embodied, contextual approaches to hospitality, evangelism, and discipleship.
- Practical Steps for building trusting relationships with all IHL Stakeholders (students, faculty, staff, & alumni).
- Breakout Rooms for sharing, processing, & celebrating what we are learning along the way.
- Between Gatherings:
- You will be given tools and tasks to accomplish together with your team & report back to the cohort.
- Access to our Cohort Substack to access resources, ask questions, and share ministry experiences.
- 4 Monthly Coaching Sessions with Province V's Campus Ministry Developer (can be utilized in the Spring or Summer 2026).
Cost: FREE to worshiping communities inside Province V! Congregations from outside the province can join for a fee.
Registration Deadline: You can wait until the last minute (January 25), but it would be helpful to reach out to Eric if you are thinking about attending.
Future Cohorts: If you are interested but unable to attend this round, start a conversation with Eric about additional cohorts, events, and networking opportunities.
Have Questions? Want to Register?
Information and Registration
Please email Province V's Campus Ministry Developer, Eric Richey at provincevCMD@gmail.com.
| | Young Adult and Campus Ministry Retreat | | |
Advent Resources
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Christmas Resources - United Thank Offering. Download and print free gratitude-focused, Christmas-themed resources for children and families. Materials include a “letter to Santa” template (in English and Spanish) inviting children to list what they want, need, read, and can share with others; and a gratitude game (available in Spanish by emailing Heather Melton) for families. Find resources here.
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Province V and VI Women Clergy Retreat
May 31–June 3, 2026
Location: St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt, Michigan (near Lansing)
Greetings Women Clergy in Provinces V and VI,
Planning has just gotten underway! Save the date, share the event with others, and watch for more information on this webpage. Registration will open on Feb 1, 2026.
| | A growing list of podcasts provide resources for devotion and contemplation in the Episcopal tradition. Here are a few. | |
Camp Ahead
Exploring the futurology of the summer camp industry. This information can be useful to you as your consider the future of your organization, regardless of industry.
More Info
Prophetic Voices
Hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s interim officer for Indigenous Ministries.
More Info
The Listening Post’ podcast: ‘Walking through grief’
This three-part podcast series from TEC’s Armed Forces and Federal Ministries Office explores challenging realities faced by service members,
More Info
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Good News and Gratitude
A New Podcast from the United Thank Offering
More Info
All Things . . . Episcopal
Diocese of West Missouri
More Info
Faith To Go Podcast
A Weekly, On The Go Resource for Parents and Non-Parents Alike
More Info
SpadeSpoonSoul
With Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows and author Jerusalem Greer
More Info
ChurchNext Podcast
Join Richelle Thompson and Chris Yaw as they dive deeper into the latest offerings from this digital formation ministry.
More Info
The Moonshine Jesus Show
Progressive Christian perspectives on sci-fi movies and shows with an emphasis on theology and politics.
More Info
Sermons that Work
Free sermons, Bible studies, bulletin inserts, and other resources that speak to congregations across the Church.
More Info
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For People
With Bishop Rob Wright
More Info
The TryTank Podcast
More Info
Forward Movement Podcasts
Forward Day by Day; A Morning at the Office; Daily Prayer; An Evening at Prayer; Compline; Scripture Day by Day
More Info
The Priesthood of All Queer Believers
Church of the Redeemer Cincinnati
More Info
Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana
Join Bishop Shannon Duckworth and others to expore questions of spirituality today
More Info
Love Your Neighbor with Sean Rowe
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe discusses how denominations can empower local congregations for works of love and justice.
More Info
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Church Tomorrow? Book Launch with The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
Tuesday December 2, 2025, 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT
Hear Canon Stephanie Spellers on what the “Nones” and “Dones” teach us about the future of the Church.
This program takes place on site at Virginia Theological Seminary.
An online livestream ticket option is available.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
In her new book Church Tomorrow?: What the 'Nones' and 'Dones' Teach Us About the Future of Faith, the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers pairs a bracing examination of generational church decline with interviews exploring the spiritual lives of nonreligious Millennials and Gen Zers.
Where are they encountering the sacred and making community?
What would they tell the churches if we were listening?
Listen up: today's young "Nones" and "Dones" have a prophecy for the church of tomorrow.
Canon Spellers will be in conversation with the Rev. Robert S. Heaney, Ph.D., D.Phil., Professor of Theology and Mission at Virginia Theological Seminary.
Co-sponsored by the VTS Mission Society and Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary
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‘From Slavery to Freedom’ book launch
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 11 am ET / 10 am CT
Register here
Join this special event—on the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery—highlighting the launch of a new theological learning resource published by Forward Movement. “From Slavery to Freedom” tells stories of slavery and freedom from the Caribbean, Kenya, Pakistan, and the U.S.; addresses the past complicity of the Anglican Church and other faith communities; and challenges the church to fight against all forms of modern-day slavery. Speakers include:
- The Rt. Rev. Howard Gregory, retired archbishop of the West Indies and former bishop of Jamaica
- The Rt. Rev. John Holder, retired archbishop of the West Indies and former bishop of Barbados
- The Rev. Katherine Grieb, director of the Center for Anglican Communion Studies, Virginia Theological Seminary
- The Rev. Daniel Karanja, Africa and Asia partnership officer, The Episcopal Church
- The Rev. Stephen Spencer, director of theology and implementation, Anglican Communion Office
- The Rev. Pervaiz Sultan, Church of Pakistan
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Book Corner
An uplifting devotional for those seeking comfort and hope during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.
This inspiring devotional invites Christians to reflect on the wonder of God’s presence in everyday life. With meaningful scripture, heartfelt prayers, and thought-provoking reflection questions, each devotion draws readers closer to the divine and will help them find comfort, hope, and renewed faith during Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.
“This is a great book that will strengthen your faith and enrich your walk with God and each other."—The Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering, Bishop of Lexington, The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
Order from any Episcopal bookstore, Amazon, Cokesbury, or your favorite bookseller.
Paperback | 9781640658233 | List Price: $18.95
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Creation Spirituality and the Celebrating & Healing of Mother Earth & Ourselves
Begins January 14, 2026
The Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin and the Matthew Fox Legacy Project are sponsoring a free, 4-session, online lecture series with Matthew Fox. Presentations are held Wednesdays: January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Registrants will receive a Zoom link prior to the session and a recording link following.
Topics include:
- Creation as an Original Blessing and the Springboard of Awe and Wonder
- Sacred Mother Earth: The Holiness of Creation and Recovering the Cosmic Christ
- The Cosmic Mass, and the Stations of the Cosmic Christ: Reinvigorating Liturgy and Rituals
- Jesus as a Teacher of Democracy and the Renewal of Education and Values through the “10 C’s”
Click here to register.
Matthew Fox is a spiritual theologian, an Episcopal priest and an activist for gender justice and eco-justice. He has written 44 books, including Original Blessing, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, A Spirituality Named Compassion, The Reinvention of Work, The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics and The Pope’s War. He has contributed much to the rediscovery of Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart and Thomas Aquinas as pre-modern mystics and prophets. Fox holds a doctorate in the history and theology of spirituality from the Institut Catholique de Paris. The founder of the University of Creation Spirituality in California, he conducts dozens of workshops each year and is a visiting scholar at the Academy for the Love of Learning.
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NEW INFO:
Immigration Action Toolkit and Update Calls
UPDATED THIS WEEK: Episcopal Church Immigration Action Toolkit for dioceses, churches, and individuals
For those seeking to support immigrant and refugee neighbors, The Episcopal Church offers advocacy tools, ways to help, and links to multiple resources in the Immigration Action Toolkit. Find a new resource under “Know your rights” titled "Five things parents detained by ICE should know.” Toolkit resources are available in Spanish where indicated.
Immigration Action Toolkit
from The Episcopal Church
The Trump Administration has made sweeping policy changes on immigration that are already having an impact on millions of people. Many of these new policies have been—and will be—challenged by the courts, and we anticipate continued shifts. In our ongoing support of migrants, and those living in our communities who face uncertain futures, obtaining and sharing accurate information is critical.
The Episcopal Church website offers a very helpful Immigration Action Toolkit. Everyone is invited to attend weekly Immigration Updates offered on Zoom by Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Office of Government Relations.
Register here.
The above program is hosted by church-wide organizations. If you have questions or would like further information about the Province V Migration Ministry Network, please email one of the co-conveners: Jack Lloyd jack.lloyd@earthlink.net or Silvia Huth silviahuth@yahoo.com or visit the Migration Ministry Network webpage.
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Using Picture Books for Racial Healing
Picture books offer an excellent way to discover, discuss, and share stories about topics that many people did not study in school but that are crucial to the work of repairing, healing, and seeing God in each other. Registration is open for Dismantling Racism training sessions taking place in the coming months. Miriam McKenney leads the trainings, which take place on Zoom.
All sessions in the same month make up a complete course, so you only need to sign up for one month. See the full calendar for the year.
Email the Diocese of Southern Ohio's Missioner for Beloved Community, Miriam McKenney, to learn more.
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Disarmory Ministries:
We Organize and Run Gun Buybacks
Has your church been interested in doing a hands-on project to help your community get rid of unwanted firearms?
Welcome to Disarmory Ministries. We provide a turnkey operation for organizations who want to hold a buyback and disposal event. We can handle training, equipment, insurance, even personnel. We help you reduce the risks associated with unwanted firearms and contribute to the overall safety of communities.
Disarmory personnel have been organizing gun buybacks for 4 years, and have disposed of 900+ guns over the years, taking part in dozens of buybacks
We will work alongside your volunteers, or provide personnel of our own and see that firearms are handled according to ATF disposal guidelines as well as our safety protocols. Together, we can make a difference in our community by removing these dangerous items from circulation. For more information contact us at disarmory@gmail.com, visit our website at disarmory.org - or give us a call at (855) 307-2011.
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Apply for Clergy Contemplative Renewal Immersions
Applications are open for the next cohort of Contemplative Renewal Immersions at Holy Wisdom Monastery near Madison, Wisconsin. This is an opportunity to journey as part of a cohort of pastors from across the country and multiple Christian traditions for two years of contemplative practice and renewal. The journey begins with two immersions at Holy Wisdom Monastery, an ecumenical Benedictine monastery nestled in 130 acres of restored prairie on the north edge of Madison, Wisconsin. The summer immersion will be held June 22-29, 2026, followed by a winter immersion January 21-27, 2027. Small group online reflection circles will meet through the summer of 2028. This program offers early and mid-career clergy the opportunity to nourish their spiritual center by developing life-long practices of contemplative prayer and covenantal relationships with clergy peers. To learn more and apply by January 1, 2026
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Luke 10 Congregation training
Luke 10 Congregations: Equipping Churches to Do Justice is a training program for Christian churches, co-led by the Kairos Center and Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ). This 9-month program equips congregations to understand Christian Nationalism’s relationship to poverty and racism, examine how these are manifesting in their communities, engage in justice work alongside local partners, and reclaim the biblical, theological, and spiritual underpinnings of the gospel call for justice and abundant life for all people.
At this critical moment in history, when Christianity is being distorted and weaponized, churches can – and indeed must – play an important role in rebuilding community connections, meeting urgent needs, confronting and resisting attacks on the poor and marginalized, and casting a vision for the just and inclusive society we are called to build. The Luke 10 Congregations program is designed to support congregations in meeting this moment, while creating a supportive network of congregations who are all seeking to do this work in their respective communities.
The next round of Luke 10 Congregations will begin in September 2026, and applications will be due June 1, 2026.
More information and application
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2026 Forma Annual Conference
Monday, January 26-Thursday, January 29, 2026
St. John's Cathedral, Denver, Colorado
Learn more and register
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Upcoming Waycross Programs!
Rates reduced to increase accessibility & scholarships available.
Advent Retreat
This one-night retreat invites adults to pause and find space for rest, reflection, and renewal during the Advent season - a season of expectation and hope. Together we’ll spend time pausing, reflecting and praying through the practices of Taizé-style worship, soul collage and praying in color. Enjoy the quiet beauty of Waycross in winter as you prepare your heart for the season ahead.
December 5-6, 2025 | $40
Winter Volunteer Weekend
Join us for a weekend at Waycross helping to start new projects as well as with ongoing efforts around our facility! We’ll offer a variety of work for all skill levels. Bring your passion and talent for a fun, active, community filled weekend.
Volunteer Weekends are free and include meals and lodging. Registration is required so that we can make enough food to feed everyone!!
January 9-11, 2026 | Free
Artists, Writers & Readers Retreat
Come spend a weekend at Waycross to work on new or in-progress projects. Bring supplies and set up throughout our campus, spending the days working independently or with others, however is most fruitful for your creative process. In the evenings, there will be space for sharing, collaborating, and asking for feedback.
February 20-22, 2026 | $75
2026 Waycross Camp Registration is Open!
We can’t wait to welcome campers back to Waycross for another summer of friendship & adventure. Registration is now open, visit our website to find your session! Scholarships are available!
https://waycrossccc.org/camp-homescreen
| | Follow Province V on socials! | | |
To get a reminder for any of these events, reply to this email. A special reminder is sent for each network.
ALL are welcome to attend these Zoom conversations. Please share the information with friends, colleagues, and in your parish newsletter. Most network meetings last about 60 minutes. See their webpages or email their contact for more information. For a full list of Networks and Affiliated Organizations, visit the Province V website.
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Archivists
Date of next meeting:
Dec 8, 11 am ET / 10 am CT
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89950734030 (password: 5)
Convener: Brian Wilbert, Ohio
webpage: https://www.provincev.org/archivist.html
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Creation Care
Date of next meeting:
Dec 8, 1 pm ET / 12 noon CT
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82932843412
(password: 5)
Convener: Jeanette Ettin, Eastern Michigan
webpage: https://www.provincev.org/creation.html
As the Advent season approaches, you are cordially invited to participate in a discussion led by Derrick Weston, Director of Theological Education and Formation, Creation Justice Ministries. The session will explore diverse perspectives on our collective message to both ourselves and the wider church community. Key topics will include the central themes within Creation's message, the nature of our witness, and a reflection on what we observe and communicate through our actions.
Mr. Weston’s toolkit for public speaking encompasses a range of subjects, including Theology of Creation, Food Justice, and the theological implications of environmental racism.
Derrick Weston is a writer, filmmaker, podcaster, speaker, and educator whose most recent work has focused on the intersection of food and faith. He is the co-host of the Food and Faith podcast and producer of Spoon, Spade, and Soul, a podcast highlighting food and land-based ministries in the Episcopal church. Additionally, he is the producer of the short film series "A Wilderness Like Eden" highlighting the work of churches engaged in food justice work. After two decades of being a pastor and community organizer, Derrick is a strong believer in the potential of local congregations to enact change in their communities.
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Migration Ministries
Date of next meeting:
Jan 20, 8 pm ET / 7 pm C
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81246380265
(password: 5)
Conveners: Silvia Huth, Michigan and
Jack Lloyd, Chicago
webpage: https://www.provincev.org/migration.html
Episcopal Migration Response Network
Episcopal Migration Ministry hosts an Asylum and Detention Ministry Network that meets virtually on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The Ministry Network’s collaborative work and conversation focus on best practice-sharing in areas of direct service, organizing, advocacy actions, Christian formation and worship resources, and community education to protect asylum, promote humane and dignified alternatives to detention, and to support asylum seekers and those harmed by the immigration detention system. Learn more and register to attend meetings here.
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Young Adult / Campus Ministry
Date of next meeting:
Feb 16, 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88386235160
(password 5)
Contact: Eric Richey, Province V Campus Min
webpage:
https://www.provincev.org/yacm.html
Feb. 6-8, 2026
Young Adult and Campus Ministry Midwinter Retreat
Details and registration
If this is your ministry area, make sure that you're part of the Google Group!
province-v-yacm@googlegroups.com
This is a new group name, so please update in your address book.
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Dismantling Racism
Date of next meeting:
Dec 4, 1 pm ET / 12 noon CT
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83673680882
(password: 5)
webpage:
https://www.provincev.org/dismantlingracism
Be renewed and get connected with other leaders during our Wisdom Circles.
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Innovation Catalysts
webpage
Date of next meeting: contact Heather for details
What's Next for Prov V Innovation Catalysts
The Province V Innovation Catalysts regular monthly zoom gathering was on hiatus this spring and summer with a relaunch this fall 2025. Our initial gatherings were a great opportunity to pair names with faces and share about our ministries, and we now are ready to move toward a more focused style of gathering with our next zoom meeting planned for November 19. Moving forward, each zoom meeting will be facilitated by a different Prov V Innovator on a volunteer basis.When you facilitate, you have two options: present a case study of a struggle or challenge you're facing and ask for input from the group, or teach a concept or practice you have found transformative in your work. We hope to continue our cross-pollination of expertise and experimentation in a more focused way through this model, and we anticipate that a number of potential workshops for the next Big Provincial Gathering will germinate through these gatherings. Please contact Heather at provincevcoordinator@gmail.com if you would be willing to lead a session, and mark your calendars for Sept 17, 2025 for our reconvening this fall!
If you are the contact from your diocese who should be in these conversation, contact Heather Barta for the meeting information.
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Safe Church
webpage
Use this page to get connected to your diocesan contact for Safe Church training and information.
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Retired / Retiring Clergy
Date of next meeting:
Jan 13, 2026, 10 am ET / 9 am CT
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84538273268
Convener: Nancy Foster (Great Lakes) and Percy Grant (Ohio)
webpage:
https://www.provincev.org/retiredclergy.html
This is a network for retired clergy, a place to find others, who have gone from a very active, creative and central role in the church, to a back pew. Your time is your own, so now what? This gathering provides a knowledgeable group to talk about how to deal with a spiritual life that does not involve preaching. And will help navigate supply asks, traveling on Sunday, and saying no. A place to be with others who have been in leadership in an ever changing church, but are now watching from the sidelines or perhaps not watching at all. This is being offered now because of the many people asking questions about making this transition. A team of coaches - one ordained and one lay - will ask questions and to find creative ways to address the questions and concerns (no wandering into theological quagmires). Join together with other retired or retiring coaches for support and fun.
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Youth and Children
Convener: Carmen Piggins, Michigan
webpage:
https://www.provincev.org/youth.html
Join into conversations with others!
ALL Youth and Children Ministers
Events will be happening throughout the year. Check future newsletters for details.
Diocesan Youth Workers
If you are the youth minister for your diocese (or the main contact for youth work in your diocese), you are invited to join this conversation. Contact Carmen Piggins for the dates and details.
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There are a number of organizations affiliated with the Episcopal Church and working across Province V. These groups have a "structure" that is more organized than a network. They have resources and information that are useful in your local ministry contexts.
For a full list of Affiliated Organizations, visit the Province V website.
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Saying "No" to Gender Violence: The Rape of Tamar
Hosted by National Episcopal Church Women
Thursday – December 4, 2025
5–6:30 pm ET / 4-5:30 pm CT
Too often gender violence is condoned or ignored because “it’s in the Bible.” In our current time when there are voices that want to return woman and girls to the state of property and ignore the rights of our trans and non-gendered siblings, it is time to debunk hurtful myths and provide resources so all can have lives free of gender violence.
This session will be facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Gayle Fisher-Stewart, national ECW chaplain. Bring your questions and resources to share on this most important topic.
Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89182390860?pwd=OyFV1s52RAyOf61h9F0OsljFwAWlD2.1
Attendance is limited to the first 100 persons who log into the workshop.
This workshop will be recorded.
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Acting in Hope Prayers and Witness Prayer Meeting
Hosted by National Episcopal Church Women
Acting in Hope: Prayers and witness to a safer world for women and girls, an online prayer gathering on December 10 at 12:00 noon, where we will commemorate both International Human Rights Day and the end of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign.
It will feature speakers from Liberia, India, and Papua New Guinea on the challenges in their region on gender-based violence, the work being done to address it, and the hope they hold for the well-being of women and girls. Read more about the event here.
You may register for the event here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DUdDvAFsT96yTa3w2ZxlUg
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Join us for the very first Christmas at DeKoven! On Sunday, December 7th, our historic lakeside campus will be transformed into a sparkling holiday market filled with music, delicious food, artisan vendors, and seasonal fun for all ages. From a live nativity and gingerbread house competition to festive entertainment and cozy treats, this brand-new tradition is a joyful way to celebrate the season with family, friends, and community. Come be part of the very first chapter of what we hope will become an annual holiday favorite! Learn more about the event here: https://www.dekovencenter.org/christmas-2025
Download our flyer here
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Healthy Congregations offers Workshop Facilitator Training
This training equips participants to facilitate the six Healthy Congregations Workshops in their own communities. Participants will complete fifteen classroom hours that focus on a solid introduction to systems and Bowen Family Systems Theory, and how to utilize this foundation of knowledge in developing strategies for presenting all six workshops. The course will meet on Wednesdays, February 4 – March 18, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern online via Zoom. Learn more on the Healthy Congregations website. Scholarship money is available for first-time participants.
Learn more
Scholarship application
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Charting a Legacy: African Americans in the Episcopal Church, Past and Present
January 10, 2026
St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Chicago
Program on African American History in the Episcopal Church – January 10, 2026
All are invited to attend “Charting a Legacy: African Americans in the Episcopal Church, Past and Present” sponsored by the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church and presented at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 3801 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. St. Thomas has the distinction of being the first Black Episcopal Church in Chicago, with a continuing mission “not to be just a strong Black parish, but a parish that is wholly Christian, reaching out to those in the surrounding community who need to see the manifestation of God’s love through his people.”
The program features multiple speakers with time allowed for questions and discussion.
• The Rev. Dr. Valerie Bailey, Chaplain at Williams College, is leading an effort to build a comprehensive timeline of African American history within the Episcopal Church.
• Member of the Anti-Racism Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.
• Dr. Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski, Princeton University, serves as Research Historian for the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey’s Reparations Commission.
• The Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook, Historiographer of The Episcopal Church, will moderate the program.
The program will take place Saturday, January 10, 2026 starting at 2:30 p.m. with light refreshments. The featured speakers start at 3:00 p.m. and the session ends at 5:00 p.m. with a short prayer service. In-person attendance is encouraged and there is no cost to attend. St. Thomas has ample street parking. The program will be recorded and shared publicly.
To help us prepare, please RSVP to administration@hsec.us.
The Historical Society is an Affiliate Member of the American Historical Association, which will hold its 139th Annual Meeting in Chicago. Dr. Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski will also be presenting at the AHA. If you are interested in attending the AHA session, contact Matthew Payne at mpayne@hsec.us.
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Sixteen Resources for Advent
Advent is right around the corner, beginning this year on Sunday, November 30, just after Thanksgiving. To help you celebrate this sometimes overlooked season, the ECF Vital Practices team has collected sixteen resources from across the Episcopal community, including calendars, prayers, coloring pages, toolkits, and more. We hope you enjoy this upcoming season to pause and reflect on the hopeful miracle that is to come. Explore Advent resources here:
https://www.ecfvp.org/blogs/4152/2025-advent-resources
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Church Periodical Club
Announcing new guidelines for adult written materials including books can be found at Churchperiodical.com click on NBF guidelines.
Maximum grants will be $3000.00. Grants may be submitted between Oct 1, 2025 and Mar 1, 2026 for the 2026 granting session to be held June 2026.
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United Thank Offering
Nov 8, 12 noon ET / 11 am CT
Each month, UTO Staff and Grant Committee members schedule time to meet with potential grant applicants one-on-one. This is a chance to ask any questions you have about the materials or get feedback on your project. Please note: we will let applicants into the zoom meeting one at a time from the waiting room and keep folks updated on when they will get to enter. We’ve selected a variety of dates and times to try and accommodate everyone. If none of the dates work for you, or if you have registered and can no longer attend, please email Heather at hmelton@episcopalchurch.org so she can find a time to meet with you or update your registration/application file.
2026 Grant Materials are now available.
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60th Annual Association of Anglican Musicians Conference!
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Join us in Atlanta (June 7–11, 2026) for the 60th Annual Conference of the Association of Anglican Musicians. Old friends and new will gather for a week of inspiring liturgies, relevant workshops, and beautiful music in buildings with renowned ecclesiastical architecture and world-class organs. www.anglicanmusicians.org/conference
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Episcopal Service Corps Opportunities
If you or a young adult you know are looking for new opportunities for spiritual, personal, and professional growth, consider a service experience with ESC in 2026! Applications are open NOW for Plainsong Farm in Michigan and The Commonage at Procter in Ohio, starting in the coming months. Applications open soon for programs starting in the summer and fall!
Visit iam.ec/escyear to learn more. Take our Discernment Quiz at iam.ec/escquiz to find the right service experience for you.
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Plainsong Farm
Did you know that Episcopal Service Corps (ESC) offers service opportunities outside the academic year calendar? Plainsong Farm in Rockford, Michigan is now accepting applications for fellowships beginning in January 2026. Spend 10 months building community, growing spiritually, and working for justice in the Rogue River watershed of West Michigan. Plainsong fellows grow food for neighbors and food access sites. They host volunteers, care for the land, and walk alongside churches discerning how to steward their land and buildings for the common good. This is a great opportunity for young adults interested in grounding themselves and their communities in hopeful, life-giving rhythms.
Apply to Plainsong Farm today at www.episcopalservicecorps.org/apply.
And spread the word: applications for programs starting in August 2026 open on December 15!
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The Commonage at Procter
A rich connection to place is part of our creational identity: we are embodied beings, and we yearn for roots. - Leonard Hjalmarson, No Home Like Place, A Christian Theology of Place
The Commonage is a new hybrid intentional Episcopal Service Corps program at Procter Center. The aim of establishing The Commonage is to transform the farmhand program from simply an employment opportunity into an Episcopal Service Corps program, thereby giving it greater intentionality and meaning for participants and the wider Procter community, similar to the intentionality of faith and community that our Summer Camp Counselors experience.
The Commonage will be a hybrid intentional community with a shorter residential experience compared to most year-long ESC programs. Our ESC program will offer two tracks for our Farmhands: a long-season track and a short-season track. Long-season corps members will serve from March 1 through October 31, while short-season corps members will serve only for the summer months.
Both tracks include residential intentional community experience with one another and others in the broader Procter Community.
And once the residential experience has concluded, corps members will continue to gather monthly via Zoom and twice more in-person for formation retreats throughout the following year — a schedule that allows college students to participate while completing their academic studies.
Sarah Alphin, an alumna of the Episcopal Service Corps and Farm Manager at Procter Center, will coordinate The Commonage under the leadership of the co-executive directors and with support from an advisory council.
You can read more about the ethos and plans for The Commonage here.
Applications for The Commonage are being accepted now.
For more information email, info@proctercenter.org.
To apply: www.episcopalservicecorps.org/apply.
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In this season of giving...
Your donation will help a deacon in need.
The Fund for the Diaconate provides grants to Episcopal Deacons facing severe financial hardship. Make a life-changing difference to these servant leaders of the church. Grants address long-term needs, emergencies, medical care, and deacon formation.
https://www.fundfordiaconate.org/donating
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Learning Events from Invite Welcome Connect
Invite Welcome Connect Wednesdays Free Webinar Series
Dec. 10: Intro to Invite Welcome Connect with Mary Foster Parmer. Register
Jan. 21: Small Congregations Series: Steps for the Future. Register
Guided by the gospel imperative to “Go and make disciples of all nations,” the ministry of Invite Welcome Connect equips and empowers individuals and congregations to practice evangelism, hospitality, and connectedness.
Through workshops, webinars, coaching, online resources, and On Demand training, Invite Welcome Connect makes it easy for dioceses and congregations to make this ministry their own.
News & Resources from Invite Welcome Connect
| | Province V Executive Board | | |
Do you have questions about Province V? Would you like to be more involved in planning the events that are offered at the provincial level? The Executive Board of the Province meets monthly on fourth Tuesdays at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT via zoom.
Contact your diocesan representative to the Executive Board:
Mr. Rick Stanitis, Northern Michigan, President
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry, Michigan, Vice President
The Rev. Garron Daniels, Springfield, Secretary
Ms. Rebecca Elfring-Roberts, Chicago, Treasurer
Canon Crystal Plummer, Executive Council Representative
The Rev. M.E. Eccles, Executive Council Representative
Dr. Laura Jackson, Chicago
Dr. Elizabeth Jordan, Great Lakes
Ms. Lesley MacKellar, Indianapolis
Mr. Luke Thompson, Michigan
Ms. Betty Bowersox, Missouri
The Rev. Dr. Terri Bays, Northern Indiana
Ms. Katie Chipman-Bergsma, Northern Michigan
The Rev. Rachel Harrison, Ohio
Mr. Edward Lasseigne, Southern Ohio
Ms. Carol McCrary, Springfield
The Rev. Marlene Hogue, Wisconsin
Province V Staff:
Heather Barta, Province V Coordinator
Eric Richey, Campus Ministry Developer
Steve Welch, Communications Director
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