Week of September 29th, 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

September 24- October 15 - Archdeacon in New York
October 1 - Clergy Google Meet
October 1 - Senior Wardens without Clergy
October 3-5 - Diocesan Convention, Christ Church, Kalispell and Red Lion
October 6 - Diocesan Office Closed
October 6 - 10th - Bishop Marty on Vacation
October 11 - School of Deacons
October 12 - Visitation at St. John's, Emigrant & St. Andrew's, Livingston
October 14 - SWAT Meeting at 7pm
October 16 - Standing Committee Meeting
October 19 - Visitation at St. James', Lewistown
October 20 - 24th - Canon for Administration on Vacation
October 21 - Commission on Ministry Meeting
October 23 - Foundation Board Meeting
November 1 - School of Deacons
November 2 - Visitation at St. Andrew's, Philipsburg
November 5 - Senior Wardens without Clergy
November 7 & 10 - Canon for Administration on Vacation
November 11 - Diocesan Office Closed - Veterans Day
November 11 - SWAT Meeting at 7pm
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 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

2025 Diocesan Convention

Notice of Convention

The Diocesan Convention starts this Friday October 3!

Electronic Voting - We are trying Election Runner this year for electronic voting. When It is time to vote, I will launch the vote and you will receive a ballot in your email. You will just simply vote and click submit. Please be sure to bring your phone or Ipad. For those who do not have an electronic device, you can log into your email using my computer or phone.

Please be sure to check the convention page on the Diocesan website as information is being added often. https://diomontana.com/news-events

Fall Youth Event to be held during the Diocesan Convention

Please click the link below to register your youth (s).

Youth Event Detailed Registration Form

FLAGS/Banners - The planning team of Kalispell requests that you bring your parish banner to convention. They are planning a procession of all the banners on Friday night.

Outreach opportunity during Convention

"Caring for the needs of youth in Montana is an important ministry for

Christ Church. We are seeking to make donations to the Heart Locker, a

program with the Kalispell schools that provides for children and teens.

Some supplies that are much needed: all sizes and styles of adult

underwear, men's and women's, socks and bras as well. They also need

varies hygiene products such as deodorant, dry shampoo, and baby wipes.

Pads and tampons in all sizes are a great need.

For every item you add to the basket you can take a raffle ticket.

During the Camp Marshall report we will draw a winner for some Camp

swag. Some of the 2025 Grace Campers were able to attend camp because of

connections with the Heart Locker. Thank you for all the work you do to

make children and youth feel loved, safe, and welcome at Camp and in

Episcopal church."

Church News

On Sunday morning, September 21, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, First Congregational United Church of Christ and Big Timber Lutheran Church gathered at the Sweet Grass County Fairgrounds to offer a community-wide pet blessing service (in honor of St. Francis day, October 4 ) followed by a hearty breakfast! St. Mark's hosted this quarterly offering of Breakfast Church. More than 80 people attended; many beloved pets received a blessing and their loving owners a St. Francis Pet Blessing medallion to remember this most special occasion in their lives of being together. Deacon, Roxy Klingensmith

Save the Dates

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 Newsletter

Read August Newsletter

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.”