February 16, 2022

Preparing for Lent

March 2 is Ash Wednesday -- the beginning of Lent. The Diocese is planning several ways for you to engage in this holy season, including the following:

• Diocesan Sabbatical Week
• Bishop's Lenten Book Study
• Evangelism with Integrity Video Series
• Lenten Reflections: Temptations and Salvation
• Special Liturgies for Lenten

Learn more about these events on our website. More details will be added as they become available.

If you have a Lenten event or activity you would like to share with the Diocese, please send your information to jgreenbaum@diocesemo.org.

Lent Madness for Deaconess Anne House

Deaconess Anne House, the St. Louis branch of the Episcopal Service Corps, invites you to participate in the (best ever) Lenten devotion of Lent Madness, a March Madness-inspired devotional brought to us by Forward Movement.

Enter into Lent, learn about the Saints, and raise money for DAH!

Learn more and join the fun.

Compline / Complitas with the Diocese of Puerto Rico

Thursday, Feb. 17

6 p.m.

Zoom

Engage in evening prayers with our companion diocese of Puerto Rico on the third Thursday of every month.

Join the Zoom gathering.

Epiphany Reflection:

Epiphany Love

The Rev. Deacon Jerre Birdsong reflects on love, selfishness, and trust in God.

• Read this week's reflection.
• Read past reflections in the Epiphany series.

Get To Know:

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Ferguson

From the inside of their church to their outreach throughout Ferguson, St. Stephen's is all about community. 

Get to know more about St. Stephen's in Ferguson.

See all our Get to Know features.

Episcopal City Mission Annual Meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 22

12:30 - 1:15 p.m.

Zoom

All are invited as the board of Episcopal City Mission gathers to celebrate the many ways God continues to bless our ministry with children in the juvenile justice system in St. Louis.

Learn more.

Episcopal City Mission Sunday

Sunday, Feb. 27

The Diocese of Missouri encourages all our congregations to mark Episcopal City Mission Sunday.

Learn more about this special designation and download prayers and resources.

Couples Workshop

Hosted by St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Carondelet / St. Louis

Event held at Sisters of St. Joseph,

6400 Minnesota Ave, St. Louis

Saturday, March 5

9 a.m. - Noon

Using the teaching of Drs. John and Julie Gottman, the Rev. Rebecca Ragland and her husband Scott will facilitate this workshop for couples to help address conflict and build a sound relationship.

LGBTQIA+ and straight couples are welcome. Space is limited to 8 couples; $25/couple.

Learn more and register.

4th Annual Border and Migration Summit

March 30-31

Registration deadline: March 25

$25 fee

Episcopal Migration Ministries in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas will host a virtual conference for those engaged or interested in migration ministries.

Learn more and register.

Dying, Death, and Bereavement Annual Conference

April 20-23

St. Louis

The Association for Death Education and Counseling, one of the oldest interdisciplinary organizations in the field of thanatology, will hold its 43rd Annual Conference in St. Louis. Full and half-day workshops are also available the following week.

Get more information about the conference.

The Rev. Paul Metzler has been a member of this organization since 1994 and welcomes your interest and questions.

Big Provincial Gathering

April 29-30

South Bend, Indiana

The second Big Provincial Gathering (BPG) includes time with keynote speaker, the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies, along with workshops, table conversations, and more.

Early registration ($50) closes on Feb. 28.

• Learn about the workshops.
• Register.
• Learn more about Province V.

Parishes: Don't miss these upcoming deadlines!

Parochial Reports

Due March 1

The information you provide now will be essential to the church's discernment and planning for mission and ministry in the future!

Find downloadable forms, instructions, and video tutorials on the Episcopal Church / General Convention website.

Lay Ministry Licensing

Due March 1

Every parish is required to submit the names of their lay ministers each year so they can be licensed by the bishop.

Complete and submit the online form.

Church Information Sheets

Due March 1

Tracy Grigsby sent individual forms to each parish, asking you to update your staff and leadership info for the new year. These lists are vital to our diocesan organization.

Please return your updated lists to Tracy.

Communications Strategies

Developing a communications strategy will help you become more efficient, more accountable, and most importantly, will keep you focused on the real mission of your ministry.

Communications Director Janis Greenbaum shares some tips from February's First Friday event for church communicators.

Read the article.

Convocation Leadership

New leadership is now in place for our four new convocations. All four convocations held meetings in the first and second weeks of February to elect lay and clergy leaders.

• Read about the elections.
• Learn more about the new convocations.

Now Hiring:

Trinity Cathedral in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio (Cleveland) is hiring a Director of Children and Youth Ministry (full-time).

Get info on this job and others now available on our website.

If you have news, announcements, or pictures you'd like to share with the diocese, please send your information to Communications Director Janis Greenbaum.