February 21, 2019
New Director of Spiritual Health at St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City

The Rev. Marshall Scott, BCC, retired from Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City at the end of January. Marshall provided spiritual wellness services at Saint Luke’s for the past 25 years. St. Luke's are pleased to announce that the Rev. Susan Roberts, MDiv, BCC, will join Saint Luke’s Hospital as Director of Spiritual Health, effective Monday, March 4. The Rev. Roberts brings to Saint Luke’s substantial experience in spiritual health, including program development and leadership, staff support, trauma/critical care, palliative care, grief and bereavement support, and worship leadership. She has most recently served as senior chaplain with University of Utah Health Care, where she has led and grown thriving spiritual care services.
Rural Churches Can Thrive Beyond Numbers

Small churches learn to evaluate their growth by impact rather than attendance . 

Church of the Resurrection, Blue Springs Starts New Sunday Evening Service

Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Blue Springs is offering an evening service at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. Worship will consist of liturgy of the Word with music and Eucharist following Enriching Our Worship settings. Candle light, icons, occasional incense and a casual setting are highlights of this new service . 

Applications Open for Roanridge Trust Grants

Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Roanridge Trust Grant Awards. Dioceses, congregations and Episcopal-related organizations and institutions are invited to apply. Offered annually, Roanridge Trust Grants support creative models of leadership development, training, and ministries in small towns and rural communities across The Episcopal Church. Awards generally range from $5,000 to $20,000 and are given to help equip leaders who serve as catalysts for civil and social well-being in rural municipalities where the community is uniquely interwoven with the vitality of the local church .

Episcopal Cursillo Ministry News

Want to know what's going on in the Episcopal Cursillo Ministry? Follow the link for their February newsletter .

World Mission Sunday (March 3)

On World Mission Sunday, Episcopalians are invited to focus on the global impact of the Baptismal Covenant’s call to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305). It is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the many ways in which The Episcopal Church participates in God’s mission around the world .

Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday (March 10)

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, invites all Episcopalians to join together in observance of Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday on March 10, 2019.
 
“As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus this Lent, we know that living out God’s love for the world is our ultimate goal,” said Presiding Bishop Curry. “I invite all congregations to devote a Sunday in Lent to reflect on the life-giving work of Episcopal Relief & Development.

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What's Happening February-March
We will be featuring three speakers with direct experience of human trafficking, abuse, and sex trafficking. They will present the tragic impact these crimes have on the victims, their families and the community at large. There will be discussion on what we can do to help eradicate human trafficking and abuse.

Ultreya

Heartland Episcopal Cursillo is holding an Ultreya Saturday March 9, 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas The Apostle, Overland Park, Kansas City, Kansas. All welcome.
Youth
February 22-24
Senior High Retreat - Christ Church, Springfield, 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.
March 17
Regional Youth South Wear Green on the Green Mini-Golf, Springfield, 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
March 17
Regional Youth North Acolyte Field Day - St. Paul's Church, Kansas City, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Diocesan
March 9
Bishop's Day - Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
March 16
Leadership Boot Camp - Diocesan Center, Kansas City, 10:00 a.m.
March 23
Bishop's Day - Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
March 24
Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate - Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, 2:00 p.m.
March 29-31
Daughters of the King - Province VII Spring Assembly Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Little Rock, Arkansas
March 29-31
Hispanic Ministries, Lenten Spiritual Retreat. March 29: 6:00 p.m. - 9 p.m. March 30: 9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. March 31: 10:15 a.m.
March 30
Stop Human Trafficking & Abuse - Three expert speakers will be discussing slavery, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking. St. Andrew's Church, Kansas City, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Meetings & Deadlines
March 12
Southern Deanery Clericus - St. James Church, Springfield, 10:00 a.m.
March 16
Central Deanery Council Meeting - St. Anne's Church, Lee's Summit, 10:00 a.m.
March 16
Northwest-Metro Deanery Council Meeting - Church of the Good Shepherd, Kansas City, 10:00 a.m.
March 19
Standing Committee Meeting - St. Peter and All Saints Church, Kansas City, 10:00 a.m.
If you need additional information on a Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Deanery Council, or other Commission, Committee or Ministry  meeting , please see the diocesan calendar on our website.

Youth News
WEMO Youth, Regional News

Read about the upcoming events being held by the WEMO Youth.

EYE20 Planning Team: Application period open for youth interested in serving

Applications for youth interested in serving on the Planning Team for the 2020 Episcopal Youth Event (EYE20) are now being accepted. To be eligible for the Planning Team, youth applicants must be currently enrolled in grades 9 – 11 and be a communicant in good standing in an Episcopal Church congregation. In addition, all applicants must be available to travel unaccompanied to attend meetings.

We Want Your News & Event Details
eSpirit  Deadline & Next Publication Date

Next issue: March 7, 2019. Copy Deadline: March 4, 2019.
June 2019  Spirit  Deadline

The deadline for articles and pictures to be included in the June 2019 Spirit is May 20, 2019.

Clergy, Administrators, and Church Leaders
Lent Madness Article for Church Bulletins

Lent Madness are offering two more free things for church newsletter and Sunday bulletin creators: A free Lent Madness 2019 article and free bulletin inserts! (See Bulletin Inserts below for link).


The Episcopal Church - Lenten Resources

Here's another curated set of Lenten resources, this time from The Episcopal Church.

Special Issue of the Association of Episcopal Deacons Magazine

The latest issue of Diakoneo contains news of creating a new ministry, being transformed through interactions and of coming events - all valuable for strengthening deacons in their work.

Bishop's Days - Reminder

This year's Bishop's Days will be held on March 9 & 23. All vestry members - old and new, clergy, and other church leaders are requested to attend these important annual briefing sessions.

More information on the day's programming and registration can be found here.
Upcoming  
February 22-23
New Clergy Transitional Program - Trinity Meadows Retreat Center, Dunnegan MO, 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
March 1
Church rosters are due.
Clerical licenses expire.
EM/EV licenses expire.
March 1
UTO grant application deadline.
March 9
Bishop's Day - North - Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, 10:00 a.m.
March 23
Bishop's Day - South - Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, 10:00 a.m.
April 8-9
Diocesan Clericus- SAVE THE DATE - Savior Pastoral Center, Kansas City, KS - Registration information coming soon!
Bulletin Inserts - 
Bulletin & church newsletter inserts for you to consider and include.
Inserts from The Episcopal Church

These weekly bulletin inserts provide information about the history, music, liturgy, mission and ministry of The Episcopal Church, and may be of help to churches with limited time and resources to prepare weekly bulletins.

Inserts from Episcopal Relief & Development

Inserts from Lent Madness

In Case You Missed It
Christian Formation Lenten Resources

Planning ahead for Lent? There are lots of Lenten resources for homes and churches available on the Christian Formation pages of the diocesan website.
NourishKC, In Urgent Need of Funding, Opens Go Fund Me Page

NourishKC is in jeopardy of ceasing operations. Because of this, the Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to transfer most of the programs to valued community partners. The Board of Directors feels strongly that the Kansas City Community Kitchen remains the core of NourishKC, and ongoing efforts will be focused around sustaining the day-to-day operations of this legacy program.

2019 United Thank Offering Grant Applications Open

Applications are now accepted for the 2018 United Thank Offering grants. The focus for the 2019 United Thank Offering grants is  Go: Crossing boundaries created by race, culture, and economics to create communities that listen deeply and learn to live like Jesus . Deadline March 1, 2019.
Spread The Word