May 16, 2019
Area Confirmations

On Saturday May 4, 2019, Christ Church, Boonville hosted diocesan Area Confirmations. Churches presenting candidates: Calvary Episcopal Church, Sedalia; Christ Church Episcopal, Boonville; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Kansas City.

Presiding Bishop invites The Episcopal Church to the 2019 Annual Appeal

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is inviting The Episcopal Church and its supporters to participate in the Annual Appeal, now in its second year, saying “The Annual Appeal of The Episcopal Church is one of the many ways that we as Episcopalians help to bless this world.” The goal of The Episcopal Church 2019 Annual Appeal is to invite every Church member to participate directly in churchwide mission and ministry by making a financial gift.

Committee recommends taking “next faithful step” toward full communion between Episcopal Church and United Methodist Church

During their recent meeting at First United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas, the members of The Episcopal Church – United Methodist Dialogue Committee agreed to send a resolution for full communion to be considered by the Council of Bishops and for possible consideration by the 2020 General Conference of The United Methodist Church.
 
“We acknowledge that the decisions of the 2019 Special Session of the United Methodist General Conference have deepened divisions within The UMC and introduced sharp and as yet unanswered questions about the prospects for full communion between our churches,” the members said in a statement released on May 2.

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What's Happening May-June
Seeing the Face of God in Each Other - Registration Now Open!

Registration for the two upcoming Diversity and Reconciliation Commission's workshops Seeing the Face of God in Each Other are now available online.

The purpose of this workshop is to assist dioceses in organizing to eliminate the sin of racism. There are three essential steps to be followed when a diocese makes this commitment to focus on the sin of racism/other isms and its elimination from the church, the community, and world in which we live. First, there needs to be an organized and functioning anti-racism committee; secondly, the support of the diocesan bishop; and thirdly, a comprehensive plan for proceeding with this ministry.

This workshop does satisfy the canonical requirements for Clergy, Deacons, Vestry Members, Parish Staff and other parishioners and those who are in process for ordination. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Click on the link below for more information on the specific dates and locations.
Youth
May 24
Regional Youth South - End of the School Year Celebration! - Christ Church, Springfield - 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
June 2 - 7
Camp WEMO - YMCA Camp, Ash Grove - Sunday, 3:00 p.m. to Friday, 3:30 p.m.
Church
May 18
Companions on the Journey - Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery in Our Midst - Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City - 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Diocesan
May 18
Leadership Boot Camp - Diocesan Center, Kansas City, 10:00 a.m.
May 18
Area Confirmation - St. James Church, Springfield, 2:00 p.m.
May 18
Ordination to the Priesthood - Christ Church, Springfield, 5:00 p.m.
June 1
Area Confirmation - St. Mary's Church, Kansas City, 2:00 p.m.
June 15
Leadership Boot Camp - Diocesan Center, Kansas City, 10:00 a.m.
Meetings & Deadlines
May 21
Standing Committee Meeting - St. Peter and All Saints Church, Kansas City, 10:00 a.m.
June 7
COM - Lay Licensed Ministry Sub-Committee Meeting - Diocesan Center, Kansas City, 1:30 p.m.
June 8
Diocesan Council Meeting - Church of the Good Shepherd, Kansas City, 10:00 a.m.
June 12
Diversity and Reconciliation Commission Meeting - St. Augustine's Church, Kansas City, 6:00 p.m.
June 14
Commission On Ministry Meeting - Diocesan Center, Kansas City/St. John's Church, Springfield 10:30 a.m.
June 15
Central Deanery Council Meeting - Calvary Church, Sedalia, 10:00 a.m.
June 15
Northwest-Metro Deanery Council Meeting - St. Paul's Church, Maryville, 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
What's happening with the youth this summer?

  • South Youth End of the School Year Celebration! is May 24 at Christ Church, Springfield
  • Camp WEMO 2019 is June 2-7 at Camp Wakonda
  • Happening #79 is June 28-29 at Christ Church, Springfield
  • MissionPalooza 2019 is July 22-28 at St. Paul's Church, Kansas City
We Want Your News & Event Details
eSpirit  Deadline & Next Publication Date

Next issue: June 6, 2019. Copy Deadline: June 3, 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
Upcoming  
May 18
Area Confirmations - St. James Church, Springfield, 2:00 p.m.
May 18
Ordination to the Priesthood - Christ Church, Springfield, 5:00 p.m.
May 25
Central Deanery Clericus - Christ Church, Boonville, 10:30 a.m.
June 1
Area Confirmations - St. Mary's Church, Kansas City, 2:00 p.m.
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.

Human Trafficking Forum

May 18, 2019. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, Missouri.
Inserts from Episcopal Relief & Development

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.

In Case You Missed It
Grants Available for New Churches and Missional Ventures

The Episcopal Church’s Task Force on Church Planting and Congregational Redevelopment has announced that its first set of grants for New Episcopal Communities are now available for Episcopal dioceses and mission developers who are envisioning, planning, or growing new worshipping communities and missional enterprises throughout the church. The grants are part of a $2,500,000 initiative funded by the General Convention in 2018.

Sacred Ground Race Dialogue Series Offers Informational Webinars

Individuals or groups interested in learning more about Sacred Ground: a film-based dialogue series on race and faith are invited to an introductory webinar hosted by Katrina Browne, Sacred Ground curriculum developer, and producer/director of the acclaimed documentary Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, and the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, canon to the Presiding Bishop for evangelism, reconciliation, and creation care .

Holy Week & Easter Pictures

The diocesan Facebook page is a great place to see what's going on in our churches. Currently there are lots of posts sharing Holy Week preparations, services, and the celebrations of Easter Sunday. We've also added a couple of Photo Albums to our Flickr account (links below). Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on what's happening across the diocese, and don't forget to tag your church's posts with #dwmo so that we can see and share what you are doing.
May - Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month and Older Americans Month

The roots of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month can be traced back to 1976, when Jeanie Jew, president of the Organization of Chinese American Women, contacted government officials in response to the lack of Asian Pacific representation in the U.S. bicentennial celebrations that same year .

Upcoming Conference — Project Resource

Upcoming Conference in Asheville, North Carolina - June 25-27, 2019. The conference will train parish stewardship teams, from dioceses such as ours where the bishop has previously attended a Project Resource session, in planning and developing year-round stewardship ministries which include: annual giving campaigns, major gift asks, and planned giving initiatives.
 
Parishes/Participants are responsible for their own tuition fees ($600 per person), travel expenses, hotel rooms, and any meals not included in the conference tuition. When booking your rooms at the Crown Plaza Resort, be sure to ask for a room in the Project Resource block. We have arranged for a special rate of $137 per night. You must book by May 25, 2019 to receive the special rate.

Spread The Word