Week of November 3rd, 2025

Give glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians, 3:20, 21)

Diocesan Calendar

November 5 - Senior Wardens without Clergy - CANCELLED
November 7 & 10 - Canon for Administration on Vacation
November 11 - Diocesan Office Closed - Veterans Day
November 11 - SWAT Meeting at 7pm
November 15 - Diocesan Council 10am
November 16 - Visitation at St. Mark's, Anaconda
November 18 - Commission on Ministry Meeting
November 20 - Standing Committee Meeting
November 23 - Visitation at Incarnation, Great Falls
November 26 - Canon for Administration on Vacation
November 27 & 28 - Diocesan Office Closed - Thanksgiving
December 1 - Canon for Administration on Vacation
December 3 - Senior Wardens without Clergy
December 7 - Visitation at St. Paul's, Hamilton
December 9 - SWAT Meeting at 7pm
December 14 - Visitation at Holy Spirit, Missoula
December 16 - Commission on Ministry
December 18 - Standing Committee Meeting
December 21 - Visitation at St. Paul's, Fort Benton
December 25 - Office Closed - Christmas
December 26 - Canon for Administration on Vacation
December 29-Jan 2 - Bishop Marty on Vacation
January 1 - Diocesan Office Closed - New Years Day

Church News

St. Paul's, Fort Benton is celebrating a new sign!

St. Andrew's Blessing of the Animals included nine dogs and one pony, one donkey, and one horse. Pictured with the large animals are (L-R) Simon, Lauren, Asha, Lou, Susan, Jocelyn, and Jeanne. The large animals belong to Lou and Lauren, along with their four children. This Sunday made everyone smile!

Save the Dates

The Certificate in Congregational Spiritual Direction, offered in partnership with Seminary of the Southwest, is a first-of-its-kind certificate program designed to prepare leaders for the ministry of spiritual direction for congregations. Rooted in seminary-level formation and accessible through Zoom-based learning, this program brings training to small-church leaders who feel called to cultivate spiritual depth in their communities.

This program is open to lay and ordained leaders in bivocational congregations or diocesan staff who work with small churches. Priority will be given to applicants from Iona Collaborative member dioceses.

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Community Conversations

Church in the Age of Exhaustion: Tools for When You're Tired

October 23, 6:30-7:30 PM CENTRAL TIME on Zoom

When: October 23, 6:30-7:30 PM Central Time

Who: Lay and ordained leaders

Topic: Mapping Our Spiritual Assets

Registration: Opens October 14th

We each have our own unique automatic responses to being overwhelmed or tired. Pushing through. Walking away. Binging Netflix. We each also have collections of spiritual assets available to us. What if we leaned into those? Might we feel more resilient? Connected? Refreshed? October's Community Conversation topic explores the idea of spiritual assets and asks how we might pause when tired and reach for a spiritual tool to help us get through. You will leave with a tool you can bring back to your congregations. It would make a good Sunday morning or weekday Christian formation activity or discussion.

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Episcopalians invited to first Veterans Day Holy Eucharist and Commissioning of Chaplains

Episcopalians are invited to join a first-time churchwide Veterans Day Holy Eucharist service at 7 p.m. ET Nov. 11—via livestream or in person at the Church Center chapel in New York City—to honor those who have served in the military and specially recognize the Episcopal chaplains who support them.

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe will preside, and the Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia, bishop suffragan for the church’s Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, will preach. The service will include a special “commissioning for further service” of chaplains who serve military veterans in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

“For the first time, The Episcopal Church will gather for a churchwide Veterans Day service—a sacred and historic moment of gratitude and witness,” Ritonia said. “This event honors the courage and faithful service of our veterans and uplifts the ministry of Episcopalians who serve them in chaplaincy, care, and community.”

Next year marks the 250th anniversary of military chaplaincy within The Episcopal Church. The Rev. John Hurt, an Episcopal minister, began serving as a chaplain in the Continental army in 1776. Today, more than 100 Episcopal priests serve as chaplains across the Armed Forces, Veterans Administration medical centers, and federal correctional institutions.

The Veterans Day Service will include recorded readings from military veterans and personnel around the world; prayers written by veterans; music from the Washington National Cathedral; and more.

“This service marks a new chapter in our commitment to walk with veterans—not only in remembrance, but in enduring relationship and hope,” Ritonia said. “If you have a veteran in your life, I encourage you to share about this service and invite them to maybe watch it with you.”

The livestream—from the Chapel of Christ the Lord at 815 Second Ave. in New York City—will air on The Episcopal Church’s website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel. Those interested in attending in person can register online here.

Welcome to the Province VI Narrative Project’s Second Survey

In 2024, Province VI embarked on an intentional journey of finding its WHO and WHY – who we are and why we are here. For several years prior we have been quiet and listening. The listening has brought us to the Province VI Narrative Project - a journey to collect stories of life in the Episcopal Church across Province VI. The stories not only give us a picture of who and why we exist as a province, they also help to build connections across our vastness. Our first set of stories came from surveys asking about the importance of the local congregation in the life of individuals. We heard about the sense of belonging, of growing together, of caring for each other and loving each other from a variety of folks in several dioceses.

Stories generated from the responses to the first survey may be found at: https://www.provincevi.org/share-your-story-narrative-project

The second set of survey questions focus on the relationship between a congregation and the wider community in which the congregation lives. As with the previous survey, the process will be to collate the survey responses for use in discerning the Who and Why of Province VI. We will select some surveys to follow up with an interview leading to a story which will be posted on the web site.

You are invited to complete Survey 2 here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L76WJ55

Stories have the potential of opening possibilities…

that strengthen relationships between diocese and ministry partners
that assist dioceses in discerning their gifts
that lead Province VI into a future that is filled with connection and possibility
that build partnerships between congregations and their communities

This is something to celebrate, and you can join us by taking thoughtful moments to respond to the survey at the link above. You are also encouraged to send this invitation to those you know in congregations across your diocese encouraging them to complete the survey.

Questions? Contact: Ellen Bruckner ebruckner7@gmail.com

Camp Marshall Wish List

Please Click on the link below to view Camp Marshall's Wish List on Amazon and to make a purchase for camp. It would be greatly appreciated!

Wish List

The 2024-2027 edition UTO Book Of Prayers is available by downloading it. The downloadable version of the book can be found here:

Pray

UTO 2026 Grant Applications Open!!!

The United Thank Offering Board is delighted to announce the opening of applications for its 2026 annual grants, seeking projects that focus on justice through bridging divides. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. ET Jan. 9 for Anglican Communion partners and 5 p.m. ET Jan. 30 for Episcopal Church applicants.

Applications received by the posted deadlines will go through a review process to ensure all criteria are met before a final submission in February. In addition, draft applications can be emailed to the Rev. Heather Melton for feedback and support starting Aug. 1.

Find application materials and support videos online in English and Spanish. Applicants are invited to register for one-on-one support during open office hours this fall with United Thank Offering staff.

The focus of grants for the 2026-2028 triennium is inspired by sources from the “three-legged stool” of Anglicanism: Scripture, tradition, and reason. In 2026, the grant focus is inspired by a C.S. Lewis quote and Amos 5:24: “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Applications must demonstrate how two disconnected groups will collaborate on a project that works toward meaningful change within a local community.

“Members of the UTO Grants Committee are keenly feeling the ways in which the United States continues to grow increasingly fractured socially, politically, and financially,” writes the Rev. Rowan Larson, vice president for grants for the United Thank Offering. “As we see similar divides deepening in countries across the world, we believe this is a global issue that affects us all. We are hopeful that this year’s grant focus will inspire innovative ministry projects to bridge some of these divides and move communities toward justice for all.”