Photos: Bishop's Visitations with (A & C) St. Thomas', Sioux City English and Dinka congregations; (D) St. Paul's, Grinnell. (B) Clergy Conference 2026. | |
Dear Siblings in Christ,
On Mother’s Day, I planted a garden. I don’t have very much space to plant in, and I don’t have very much time to tend a garden, so I didn’t plant very much. A few tomatoes, some basil, a few flowers.
Just a few plants, but planting that garden has made me feel hopeful.
Planting a garden is, I think, an inherently hopeful thing. I hadn’t really thought about it until I was sitting and relaxing on Mother’s Day, enjoying the view of my little garden and the little plants. I noticed that I felt different than I had felt before planting the garden—not just that I was tired (and a little sore!), but hopeful and looking forward to what this garden might become.
We are in a time when hope seems thin on the ground...
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Bishop Upcoming Visitations
May 24: St. Paul's Cathedral, Des Moines
May 31: St. Martin's, Perry
June 7: St. Paul's, Durant
June 21: St. Anne's, Ankeny
June 28: Grace, Cedar Rapids
see calendar for full schedule
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ICYMI:
- Canon to the Ordinary Health Announcement (4/8/26): read here
- Canon for Administration: job posting here
- Bishop Monnot on "Talk of Iowa" on Iowa Public Radio: listen here
| | Upcoming Events & Opportunities | | | |  | Episco-PRIDE teams around the diocese are getting ready to share God's love at Pride events this June - join them and let people know that God loves them! | | 4th-12th Graders: Experience engaging activities, inspiring worship, hands-on projects, building community and trying new things with youth from around the diocese at EPIC Summer Camp, June 15-19. | | | | | | | Join the Behavioral Health Ministry Team as we welcome CEO & cofounder of JOPPA - a Des Moines-based nonprofit that helps homeless people survive, find housing and rebuild their lives - for June's Lunch & Learn. | | Pride events take place throughout the state, and not just in June. Check out these other events through October that our Episco-PRIDE teams will be at, and stop by! | | | | | | | Save the date for the rest of this year's lunch and learns, featuring the Rev. Bob Kem, with various discussions related to Frontotemporal Dementia and caregiving. Sponsored by our Behavioral Health Ministry Team. | | 2026 Calendar Highlights: | | |
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May 25: Diocesan Office Closed - Memorial Day Holiday
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June 15-19: EPIC Youth Summer Camp at Lutheran Lakeside Camp, Spirit Lake; for 4th-12th graders, more info here.
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June 16: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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June 19: Diocesan Office Closed - Juneteenth Holiday
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July 3: Diocesan Office Closed - July 4th Holiday
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July 8-10: Provincial Youth Gathering - CANCELLED
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July 21: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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August 18: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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August 22: Convocations Meeting on Zoom
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August 29: Episco-PALS Event in Sioux City
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August 31: Canonical Deadline to Certify Convention Delegates
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September 1: Church Audits Due
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September 1-3: Clergy Retreat (Dubuque, IA)
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September 7: Diocesan Office Closed - Labor Day Holiday
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September 15: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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September 23-26: Episcopal Creation Care Gathering 2026 in Ohio; More here.
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September 26: Dismantling Racism online training, more here
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October 1 & 3: Pre-Convention Hearings on Zoom
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October 20: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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October 23-25: Diocesan Convention
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October 26-27: Diocesan Office Closed - post-Convention
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November 14: Dismantling Racism online training, more here
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November 17: Behavioral Mental Health Team Lunch & Learn. More here.
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November 26-27: Diocesan Office Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday
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December 24: Diocesan Office Closes at Noon through January 3
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Queer & Christian
Saturday, July 11, 1 - 3 pm
at Christ Church: 220 40th St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Join this panel discussion at Christ, Cedar Rapids where we will share different views on the meeting point of queer & Christian identities.
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Metro Area VBS
August 2–6, 5:30 to 8:00 pm
at St. Timothy's: 1020 24th St., West Des Moines, IA 50266
St. Andrew’s (Des Moines) and St. Timothy’s (West Des Moines) are excited to partner once again to host Vacation Bible School this summer, and we would be delighted to welcome children and volunteers from congregations in the Des Moines metro area! Join us for a joyful week of faith, friendship, and fun across our wider church community.
Families and volunteers can sign up here.
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June 15-19
at Lutheran Lakeside Camp, Spirit Lake
for 4th-12th graders
This years theme, Good & Holy Troublemakers, will focus on saints we don’t always talk much about. Campers will learn more about Mary the Mother of Jesus, Thomas Cranmer, Samuel Seabury, Barbara Brown Harris, St. Hildegard of Bingham, St. Francis of Assisi, Joan of Arc, Pauli Murray, Absalom Jones & Desmond Tutu.
Experience engaging activities, inspiring worship, hands-on projects, building community and trying new things with youth from around the diocese. Campers will also get to swim, sail, float, zip line, rock climb, eat s’mores and make new friends.
Registration:
- $430 per camper
- (scholarships are always available - request here)
- Closes June 1, 2026 OR once we hit our maximum number of campers
| | GILEAD Grants Announcement | | | |
The grants awarded in 2025 used the remainder of funds available, so 2025 marked the last GILEAD grant cycle. Although the GILEAD grant initiative has come to a close, the ministry of this initiative continues to live on in the people and communities these funds supported. Check out the Summer issue of Iowa Connections magazine for more about the grants awarded last year and the impact of GILEAD grants over the last six years.
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Laundry Love
with Grace, Cedar Rapids
Laundry Love is a national non-profit organization that partners with local groups and laundromats to help those in need with the cost of laundry. This ministry responds to a human need, as having clean clothes is more than just being clean, it’s a way to restore human dignity. We also try to provide some friendly conversation and an environment of acceptance. We have been holding Laundry Love once a month and have seen the number of people continue to grow and hope to strengthen and expand this ministry. Grant funds will be used to pay for individuals to wash and dry their clothes, and to purchase dryer sheets (the laundry soap is provided by Earth Breeze who has partnered with the national Laundry Love program).
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Technology Improvement Project
at St. Anne's, Ankeny
We plan to upgrade our sound and video technology, along with revamping our website, to directly advance our mission of “Growing in Christ’s Love and sharing it with all” and improve the worship experience for both in-person and online worshippers. By making our website more user-friendly and our worship services more accessible to those who cannot attend in person, whether due to distance, mobility, or other barriers, we are extending Christ’s welcome beyond our physical walls. Grant funds will be used to purchase video and sound equipment, and develop a modern, accessible, and engaging website.
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Now Available
This FREE, three session, video-based course is designed to give basic teaching and space for discussion around the sacraments. It is intended for congregations or small groups to use during three weekly gatherings, either in Sunday morning formation, a weekday small group, or an online session. Signs and Grace invites participants to engage more deeply with scripture and the liturgy of The Episcopal Church to explore the richness of baptism, Eucharist, and the sacramental rites of the church. More here.
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*NEW SECTION* Job Openings
(around the diocese + with partner organizations)
- Canon for Administration FT, Diocesan Staff (learn more)
- Community Organizer FT, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa (learn more)
- Director of Communications and Engagement PT, Bishop Kemper School for Ministry (learn more)
- Priest in Charge PT, positions open (and receiving names) in Iowa Falls, Mason City, Newton, Ottumwa (learn more)
If your Iowa congregation has a job opening you'd like posted here, let us know.
| | Have something to share? Submission information can be found here and is due the 2nd Thursday of the month; this enews letter comes out monthly on the 3rd Thursday of the month. | | |
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