e-Pistle

LOVING + LIBERATING + LIFE-GIVING

Monthly News & Updates

July 2024

2025 Diocesan Budget Conversation

Please join Bishop Jos and Treasurer Barbara Rudin to share your suggestions or thoughts before they prepare the 2025 Diocesan Budget. We begin the process internally by reviewing the diocese's current year-to-date profit and loss and the last three or four years' profit and loss. Attached is a copy of the 2024 budget with the additional information for your perusal. Please take a few moments to review the attached spreadsheet before our meeting times. 2024 Budget Attachment.


You are welcome to attend either July 9 or 11 @ 7 pm, as the meeting agenda will be the same. Click here  for the Zoom Room 2


https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85404100277

22nd Emmaus Walk: I will with God's help!

22nd Emmaus Talk!

We are heading towards a very stressful few months. Elections to public offices are here. There is much anxiety around, and many are worried about the nation's state in the coming years. Regardless of the party they are affiliated with, each person has their reason for such fear. I can not discount any of the fears as unfounded.

But I urge you not to sit around during this election season. Exercise your fundamental duty and right as a citizen and vote for the candidates who meet your hopes and dreams. Please keep a few things in mind as you vote.

  1. Choose a person with moral integrity and inner goodness.
  2. Choose a person who holds all people with dignity and respect.
  3. Choose a person who wants to serve and not to be served.

Yes, this will take discernment, prayer, and fasting. Please do so. Because we, as a nation, are at the crossroads of political integrity and personality cults. Almost every personality cult ended up in the dump except that of Jesus, which survived the test of time because His reason for being who He was had to do with serving others without reserve or personal gain. No one since has or will rise to that stature ever again! So choose wisely!

Please vote on November 5th. Please do not ignore the election and wait for the result. Ultimately, God is in control, but God expects us to play our part in ushering in God’s kingdom.


Your brother in Christ

+Jos

The Rt. Rev. Jos Tharakan

Deanery ROSE Grant Applications are Open!

ROSE Grant: Imagine new ministries that will help the Renewal of Parish Life, Outreach to the larger community, Spiritual Formation of the members of the church or community, and Evangelization to make your church more visible. That is what ROSE stands for. If you would like ideas as to what kind of ministries could fall into these four categories, please let us know, and we will give you a list of programs and ministries that might fit into these four categories. The deadline for the 2024 Grant Request is the 30th of September.


2023 Grant recipients, please submit a report of how you used the funds from 2023 grants with a short, less than 300-word article, photos, videos, or whatever else you may have to your missioner by the 15th of August 2024.


2024 ROSE Grant applications are due by September 15th.


Eastern ROSE Grant Request

The Very Rev. Lea Colvill

Eastern Deanery


Central ROSE Grant Request

The Very Rev. Jonah Kendall

Central Deanery


Western ROSE Grant Request

The Very Rev. Sean Wall

Western Deanery


South West ROSE Grant Request

The Very Rev. Dennis Reid

South West Deanery

Monthly Prayer

God of love and grace, help us to recognize that we are all given enough grace to deal with any situation we face on a daily basis. Sometimes people and situations become a thorn in our side, just like that it was for Paul. You promised that your grace was sufficient for Paul to live faithfully. Give us the same grace and love for all people we encounter in this volatile season of elections. Amen.

Presiding Bishop Elect Sean Rowe

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe, together with the planning committees for his transition and installation, announced today that they will forego the traditional installation service in Washington National Cathedral in favor of a smaller, simpler ceremony in the chapel at the church’s New York headquarters.

This service will be livestreamed...

Read More

Ember Days 2024

Special Days of Prayer


September 18, 20, 21

December 18, 20, 21

-------

Compline: 9 pm / Every night on Facebook / Youtube Live

Visit our Website

Submit News & Forms



If the bishop is scheduled to visit your parish, the clergy or senior warden must submit the Bishop's Visitation form, the first on the list here, no later than Monday before his visit to your church. It's also on the website under resources


Deacons Speaking: Deacon Scott Ellsworth!

Schedules, Meetings, Events & Calendar

Bishop's Calendar

  • July 7: St. James & Faith Lutheran in Mountain Home
  • July 14: Holy Nativity, Meridian Visitation
  • August 4: Redeemer, Salmon Visitation

Upcoming Meetings & Events

  • July 9 & 11: Budget Conversation on Zoom
  • July 10: RMLT on Zoom
  • July 13: Ordination of Mary Van Donsel to the Diaconate
  • July 16: Finance Committee Meeting
  • July 20: SC & DC in person at Ascension, Twin Falls
  • July 20: COM on Zoom
  • July 25: Paradise Point Committee Meeting on Zoom
  • July 25: South West Deanery Picnic at Kristin Armstrong Park
  • August 1: RMLT Meeting on Zoom

Paradise Point Announcements

Registration is Open: Spots are filling up fast at camp! Several Leadership Development Camps are already full, Youth/Teen Camps are 33-75% full, and the King Building is booked for most family and adult camps! Sign up soon to reserve your spots. Scholarships are available.


Camp Amazon Wishlist

Parish Events, Retreats and More

The Way of the Spirit

A Pilgrimage to the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Paradise Point

Paradise Point | McCall


Save the date! Our pilgrimage to Paradise Point is September 13th to 15th. Join pilgrims from all across the Diocese of Idaho for "The Way of the Spirit," a new and affordable way to experience Paradise Point like never before.


We're excited to offer rotational workshops, spiritual exercises, and worship opportunities that celebrate how the Holy Spirit moves in our lives. Pilgrims will also be provided with a special resource journal with devotions and practices that will help make the summer months a fruitful time in preparation for making a pilgrimage. Come for hiking, fellowship, prayer, and rest in the beauty of our beloved Paradise Point! Registration is open.

Icon Class

Boise | Cost: $500


Fr. Matthew Garrett is teaching an icon class October 7 - 11, 2024 in Boise, ID. The icon will be of St. John the Theologian. The cost is $500, with a deposit of $250 due Sept 10. Please contact us for more information.

What is General Convention

Daily Blog from The Very Rev. Dennis Reid


Dear friends,


The deputation from the Diocese of Idaho heads to Louisville, Kentucky, this week for the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church! Each day, I will write updates from the House of Deputies and highlight members of the deputation. I'll get to some of the interesting topics of this year's General Convention in a bit—but first, what is General Convention?! Please read this daily note from The Very Rev. Dennis Reid, Missioner of SouthWest Deanery.


Vacation Bible School

All Saints | Boise


When Heroes in the field call in, Super Meer & our team of heroes will spring into action and explore the ultimate Hero Handbook -the Bible- to discover how all Heroes can follow the examples set by a cast of supporting Bible Heroes, who work together to bring peace, build each other up, and share the great story of God’s love for us where they are and with the whole world. Join us July 22 - 26 from 9 - 12:30! Register at churchoffice@allsaintsboise.org!

35th Annual Boise PrideFest

Fri.-Sun., September 13-15, 2024


Boise Pride “brings together members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, their friends and family, allies and supporters in celebration of the unique spirit and culture of the LGBTQ+ community.” For over a decade, the Episcopal Church has been represented at Boise PrideFest. We have a booth offering free nail-painting in rainbow colors for festival go-ers and sharing information on LGBTQ+ inclusion in community and liturgy in the Episcopal Church. We also march in the parade through downtown Boise, carrying banners proclaiming “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You” as well as our parish and diocesan banners.


PrideFest will be held September 13-15 across the street from the State Capitol building in Boise at Cecil D. Andrus Park (formerly Capitol Park). There are several ways you and your parish can be involved.


  • Volunteer to staff our booth: (You only have to paint nails if you feel so inclined. It’s really about talking to people and spreading Christ’s love, inclusion, and belonging.)
  • Represent your parish by marching in the Parade on Sunday, Sept 15: Bring your parish banner, if possible. Youth and adults are welcome.


More information on how to volunteer will be coming in future ePistles. Please email dioceseofidahopride@gmail.com with questions.


Picture caption, if you choose to use it:

Episcopalians marching in Boise Pride Parade

Scam E-mails and Text Messages


Unfortunately, scammers are at work emailing and texting folks across the diocese.


PLEASE NOTE: Anyone of our Clergy, office personnel, or camp staff, would and will not ever ask you to purchase gift cards or make any financial transactions on their behalf. If you receive such a request, please delete it and know that it was a scam.


DO NOT RESPOND to these emails or text messages that begin by asking you for a favor. Especially, if they ask you to only respond by email or text and not by phone, as that is how the scammers start the conversation. They conclude messages by asking for gift cards for cancer patients, foster children, immigrants etc.


Read more using the links below:


Federal Trade Commission: How to Avoid a Scam.

State of Idaho Department of Finance : Identifying Scams.

Blue Plate Banquet

St. Michael's Cathedral | Boise

Trinity Episcopal Church | Pocatello


Registration is open! Seats are limited and we will offer an early bird discount of $10 off if you are registered and paid one month before the event! Last year we loved experiencing the Bishop's cooking and the variety of foods from his homeland. We hope to see you at one of these exciting events! Register for Pocatello or Boise by clicking the city. Trouble registering? Call the Diocesan office! Renee will be glad to help.

St. Luke's Soup Lunch

St. Luke's | Weiser


St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Weiser, Idaho, has been providing a weekly soup lunch free of charge for several years during the winter. It starts at the beginning of the year and goes until the middle of March, which usually coincides with the end of lent. The parishioners provide the ingredients and labor. It is open to everyone in the community and funded by donations. Since COVID, we have provided both eat in and take out options. Often we have people who eat in the church and pick up soup for others that need it and take it to them. This year, St. Luke's provided over 1000 meals for the community and will be able to pass on some funds to other charities serving Weiser as well.

Facebook  X  Instagram