Week of September 1st, 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 2 - Final version of diocesan convention resolutions posted
September 3 - Clergy Google Meet
September 3 - Senior Wardens without Clergy
September 6 - Wedding of James Gartner and Sarah Ljunggren
September 7 - Bishop Visitation to Emmanuel, Miles City/ Ascension, Forsyth
September 9 - Senior Wardens & Treasurers (SWAT) Google Meet
September 11 - Dept of Finance Google Meet
September 12/13 - School for Deacons
September 14 - Bishop Visitation to St. Patrick's, Bigfork
September 16 - Commission on Ministry Google Meet
September 18 - Standing Committee Google Meet
September 18 - Province VI Zoom
September 20 - Ordination of New Montana ELCA Bishop, Billings
September 21 - Bishop Visitation to St. Stephen's, Billings
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 verify that Jill Sallin has your delegates' names and contact information.

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

Save the Dates

Resolutions- There will be a meeting via google meet on September 11th at 6:30 if you would like to learn more about the 3 resolutions that will be presented at convention and voted on. Please let email admin@diomontana.com to confirm that you would like to attend.

Budget Briefing - September 16th @ 6:30 via Google Meet (Please let email admin@diomontana.com to confirm that you would like to attend)

New Delegate Orientation - TBD

Interested in learning about Sacred Ground

and the work of racial reconciliation?

Join special event online with Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe

Sept. 2, 1-2:30 p.m. ET

Episcopalians and all interfaith partners are invited to join a fall program year launch event for Sacred Ground, the church’s 11-part film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Sacred Ground circles have grown exponentially in dioceses across the country since the program began in 2019.

Join on Zoom for a virtual conversation with Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe about the spiritual dimension of Sacred Ground. Hear what makes the program compelling and why the series continues to challenge participants to do the deep work of racial healing, reconciliation, and justice—in their own lives, within their ministries, and in society.

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

Caring for Camp

Alumni Edition

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

Project Resource for Parishes - Fall 2025

Project Resource equips stewardship teams with strategic training and flexible resources to design and execute annual stewardship campaigns which can be replicated and adapted in future years. Project Resource is dedicated to fostering cultural and systemic advancements around stewardship as a ministry in the Episcopal Church.

5 Consecutive Sundays: September 7 through October 5, Online via Zoom

2:00 to 4:00 pm PT / 3:00 to 5:00 pm MT / 4:00 to 6:00 pm CT / 5:00 to 7:00 pm ET

Project Resource:

Helps church teams of clergy and lay leaders utilize effective resources to revolutionize all areas of stewardship and unravel internal money narratives while addressing societal shifts, organizational change, and leadership challenges.

Guides teams through the training curriculum, session by session, taking into account their unique cultural and geographical context.

Enables participants to conclude the conference with a customized working plan and measurable goals, designed specifically for their individual congregation.

Church teams will complete the course with:

A comprehensive stewardship calendar for year-round planning

A detailed roadmap for launching their annual campaigns

Practical training on crafting personalized invitations

Insight into generational and individual donor motivations

The course fee is $450 for a team of three members, with an additional cost of $125 per extra team member.

For further details and registration, please visit https://project-resource.org/fall2025.

Diocesan UTO Coordinator Volunteer Needed

The Diocesan UTO Coordinator will assist individuals and parishes that are interested in applying for UTO grants, will assist parishes that would like to hold a UTO Ingathering, will publicize the work of UTO in our Diocesan newsletter and will attend our Diocesan conventions to publicize the work of The United Thank Offering ministry. Full training will be provided. This is a volunteer job. For more information, please contact Vicki Van Rensselaer at terracecoast@aol.com.

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.”