Week of September 22nd, 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 22 - New Delegate Orientation @ 6:30pm
September 23 - Rosh Hashanah
September 24- October 15 - Archdeacon in New York
September 26-28 - Last Chance PowWow (Togendowagan sponsor)
September 28 - Bishop Visitation to All Saints', Big Sky
October 1 - Clergy Google Meet
October 1 - Senior Wardens without Clergy
October 3-5 - Diocesan Convention, Christ Church, Kalispell and Red Lion

2025 Diocesan Convention

Notice of Convention

The Diocesan Convention will be in Kalispell this year on October 3-5.

Please click here to register for convention by September 1st!

The block of rooms at the Red Lion (convention hotel) are full. For more information on other hotels and places to eat during convention, please click here!

Diocesan positions to be elected:

Standing Committee (3 year term) - 1 laity and 1 clergy

Diocesan Council (3 year term) - 2 laity and 2 clergy

Disciplinary Board - 1 laity

2027 General Convention Deputies: 4 laity and 4 clergy

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.

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

Tonight!!

New Delegate Orientation - Monday, September 22nd @ 6:30pm - Please email admin@diomontana.com to confirm that you would like to attend)

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."

Save the Dates

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

September 25, 6:30-7:30 PM CENTRAL TIME on Zoom

September's Topic: Join us for a Community Conversation about energy levels in church, and to explore self-compassion as one tool that can help us navigate the fatigue of this time.

Who should attend? Leaders in small churches (any and all orders), diocesan staff or canons, and anyone interested in helping small churches thrive.

What are Community Conversations like? We hope these monthly conversations will be spiritual nourishment for weary leaders. We begin with a spiritual reflection, hear a very short presentation (this time on self-compassion), and then everyone will go to breakout rooms to have conversations with people from churches all over the country. Our team of spiritual directors will facilitate the breakout room conversations.

What is the intended outcome? We hope you will leave the Community Conversations a bit more hopeful and with a feeling of deeper connection to other small churches around the country. You might get an idea or two. Or you might hear how another church is facing a situation similar to yours.

Can I invite others to this conversation? Yes! Please feel free to spread the word in your church, your diocese, or even to people in other denominations. Forward this email, and invite others to join our mailing list.

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.”