Photos (top L, clockwise): Bishop's visitation with Church of the Savior, Orange City; Faith in Action: Cassocks at the Capitol; Rev. Jay Elmquist's ordination to the priesthood, Trinity Cathedral, Davenport; Staff celebrates with Rev. John & Jan Doherty, on his retirement. | |
New Hire Announcement
Join us in welcoming the Rev. Lizzie Gillman to her new role as Interim Beloved Community Missioner! Lizzie is a long-time relationship builder, advocate, and justice seeker, and she brings those tremendous gifts into this ministry. She has been and will continue serving at St. Andrew's in Des Moines, and we look forward to building beloved community together.
To read the full announcement click here.
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Additional Transitions:
- The Rev. Larry Snyder is stepping down from being Priest in Charge at St. John's, Keokuk at the end of February.
- The Rev. Kathy Halverson-Rigatuso is stepping down from St. John's, Glenwood at the end of February.
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Weekly Video Reflections
Join Bishop Monnot for weekly video reflections on passages from Bishop Owensby's book "A Full-Hearted Life: Following Jesus in this Secular Age." Videos will post on our diocesan YouTube and Facebook pages on Thursdays in Lent.
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Y'all Means All Cohort
Join this support community to explore how your congregation can welcome and embrace LGBTQ+ people and families. Ideal for lay and clergy church leaders who want guidance on expanding the welcome to many different aspects of ministry. Hosted by Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Learn more HERE.
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Welcome & Gratitude
United Thank Offering and Episcopal Migration Ministries are excited to partner together this Lent to provide a multi-faceted program to help people of all ages consider ways we experience and provide welcome that we are grateful for. Daily texts, a book group, prayers, calendar, coloring pages, and more. Learn more HERE.
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities | | |
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If you weren’t part of a team last year, are you interested in forming one this year? You'll receive free trainings, customized resources, a supportive community of others in this ministry, and more. Let us know! Contact Amy amellies@iowaepiscopal.org or Traci tpetty@iowaepiscopal.org | |
Join this 8 week online, asynchronous course from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, taught by Professor: Fr. Kevin Goodrich OP. This course will help you grow as a preacher, learn from other preachers, and be encouraged in developing and refining your own preaching process and style. | | |
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Grounded in The Episcopal Church's commitment to dismantling racism as essential to our formation as Christians, this ONLINE training is open to all persons who would like to deepen their understanding of racism, prejudice, and privilege. Required of all lay and ordained leaders in The Episcopal Church. | |
Come explore what’s possible at this free webinar on February 25th. It will be a hopeful, practical conversation with Dave Male, Director of Evangelism and Discipleship for the Church of England (and one of the world's leading educators in cultivating creative forms of church!). | | |
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New Beginnings is an opportunity for young people to "retreat" from their ever hectic world to consider some of the important relationships in their lives--with themselves, friends, families, and God through skits, videos, activities and worship. Scholarships available, and learn more at the link. | |
EPIC is looking for a new logo. If you are a past or present camper and have an idea for a new logo to adorn our t-shirts, please submit your design by March 1, 2025. You can find more information and fill out the form on our website. | | |
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The Episcopal Church's Canonical Deadline for Congregations to file their 2024 Parochial Report is March 1st, 2025. The filing website will close at midnight - you will not be able to submit a report after this time. Some big changes have been made, so keep an eye on your email & their website for videos & more info. | |
Join Trinity Davenport's Episco-PRIDE Team in-person on March 8th to learn about LGBTQ+ awareness and allyship through terminology, activities, and discussion. All levels of background are welcome and encouraged to participate. RSVP to meggan@qctrinity.org | | |
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Congregations are invited to observe Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday on the first Sunday in Lent or another convenient Sunday. This Sunday is about deepening relationships and creating points of connection for a more resilient world. Learn more and explore resources. | |
Stewardship is a ministry essential for the spiritual health of individuals and communities. Project Resource equips stewardship teams with strategic training and flexible resources to design and execute annual stewardship campaigns that can be replicated and adapted in future years. Download a flyer HERE. | | |
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Gather at the Capitol with Bishop Monnot, our diocesan lobbyists, & fellow Episcopalians to learn about public policy ministry and advocate with our legislators. Whether it’s your first time at the Capitol or you’d consider yourself a “regular,” all are welcome to join! We'll also be with our Lutheran siblings and One Iowa. | |
Join the Behavioral Health Ministry Team for their monthly third Tuesday Lunch & Learn, featuring the Rev. Elizabeth Ashman Riley - an Episcopal priest serving in the Diocese of Olympia, and author of "Rage Prayers." | | |
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Join Iowa Interfaith Power & Light's annual Called To Climate Action Conference on Saturday, March 29, 9AM – 3 PM at Grinnell College. After, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Grinnell will host a reception from 3:30-5PM for Rev. Mullen (The Episcopal Church's Director of Reconciliation, Justice & Creation Care). | |
Come and explore the question of how Jesus calls us to seek justice for and stand with the poor and marginalized. This retreat will be led by Oblates of The Benedictine Way and is at St. Timothy's in West Des Moines. It's free to attend & lunch is included. RSVP by March 27. | | |
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This is the largest LGBTQ youth conference in the nation, is hosted by Iowa Safe Schools, and features celebrity guest speakers from all walks of life. We'll have a table at the conference and a delegation: youth 6th - 12th grade please join us! | |
Make your plans to join us in Grinnell for this year's Summer Ministry School & Retreat June 20-22. During the weekend, 8 hours are set aside for “track time” to get in‐depth study in one track topic of your choice - see the SMSR section below for more info, and keep an eye on the website, registration will open soon! | | |
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Ready to inspire your congregation to care for creation and act on climate change…but feel you need to learn a lot more yourself first? Interfaith Power & Light's new 1-year program helps clergy and their congregations to become leaders in environmental stewardship. | |
EPIC 2025 has big news! We are changing locations to Lakeside Lutheran Camp in Spirit Lake. Dates are June 16-20. Registration will be up soon, keep an eye on our webpage. | | |
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Faith in Action, our diocesan advocacy & public policy ministry, strives to strengthen and deepen discipleship by maintaining a spiritual voice and forum for Christians to speak out about the problems Iowans face. | |
Why Engage?
"Legislation/public policy is how we distribute access to things like medical care, clean water and air, food, education, justice, and so on. Like it or not, legislative entities have significant control over how things are distributed, and what/how we are willing to pay for these collectively. The voice of the church needs to be present for these conversations, representing as best and as faithfully as we can what we think Jesus would have us do."
- Rev. Wendy Abrahamson, diocesan lobbyist
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Cassocks at the Capitol
Tuesdays at Noon: meet in the basement of the statehouse, and you can grab lunch there if you wish. Everyone is welcome, and the wearing of cassocks is encouraged. Keep an eye on the Faith in Action Facebook page for updates.
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Featured in the News
"Opinion: The anti-Christian rhetoric of Trump’s Christian America," by the Rev. Wendy Abrahamson. Read HERE.
"Iowa GOP lawmakers again eye public school course on Bible: Religious leaders raise concerns of promoting Christian nationalism," featuring the Rev. Lizzie Gillman. Read HERE.
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The Legislative Session Moves Fast - How Can I Keep Up?
Join the Faith in Action Facebook page - you can see bills we're paying particular attention to, calls to action, and other related events to the topics we follow.
Sign Up for Email Updates:
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa weekly updates -they follow many of the issues we do, organize the update by topic, and include ways to take action. Sign up HERE.
One Iowa Action tracks LGBTQIA+ bills in the statehouse, send out action alerts, and offer other education and advocacy resources. Sign up HERE.
Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice follows immigration-related bills and they send out key updates and action steps weekly. Sign up HERE.
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Summer Ministry School & Retreat | | | |
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June 20-22
Join us at Grinnell College for a weekend of worship, learning, and relaxation. During the
weekend, 8 hours are set aside for “track time” to get in‐depth study in one track topic of your choice, or choose to do a solo retreat. Catch up with friends and make new ones as we worship, learn, and eat together.
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TRACK 1: Strengthening Your Congregation from Within -- Bishop Betsey Monnot
TRACK 2: That We All May Be One -- Rev. Kyle Carswell
TRACK 3: Sew Liturgical Vestments -- Terry Allen-Burns
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TRACK 4: Lord, Open Our Lips: The Daily Office -- Rev. Tom Early
TRACK 5: Dwelling in the Word for the Eldering Journey -- Revs. Kris Leaman & Mary Jane Oakland
TRACK 6: Backdoor Deacons -- Rev. Judith Crossett
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TRACK 7: Lament to Reconciliation -- Rev. Abigail Livingood
TRACK 8: On Holy Ground -- Helen Keefe
TRACK 9: Solo retreat
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The Chaplains to the Retired serve to be a helpful connection to the local parish and pastors, the bishop and the diocese, and the larger church and Church Pension Group (CPG) resources. They do not take the place of the local parish/priest relationship, but do offer assistance with matters concerning benefits and pension through CPG, including to surviving spouses who are eligible for benefits but do not know of or are unable to engage. Grant funds will be used for program support, attendance at conferences, expenses for supplies, visitations to retired individuals/groups, and more. | | | |
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The home school hub will offer home-schooled students the opportunity to experience socialization, sports, music, and study time in a structured, safe, mentally and physically healthy environment. St. Luke’s will supervise and coordinate activities and activity locations throughout the community that parents can choose for their child/ren to take advantage of, as needed, to supplement their child’s homeschool education and experience (which will also include some activity options at St. Luke’s, like music therapy, chapel, and/or choir). It is not a drop-in center - parents register - and the hub is not responsible for the actual education of the students. Grant funds will be used for wifi, needed equipment, food, and other expenses. | | | |
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As Episcopal priest Fr Patrick Cheng has said: “Because of the ways in which many LGBT people have been taught to hate ourselves from an early age, pride is an important act of spiritual healing and witness that allows us to develop a healthy sense of ourselves, our communities, and those who we love.” St. Andrew's has a history of inclusion, and their Pride kit is one of the most visible and established tools used year-round, to bring God’s love for all into their community. Grant funds will be used to expand the Pride kit, which will include bulk purchasing of small goods like stickers, postcards, button-making supplies, as well as t-shirts for the St. Andrew’s community and booth display materials such as banners, tablecloths, etc. | | | |
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Proclaiming the gospel is our primary call as disciples, and this project will improve the way people are able to worship and participate in formation, including their daycare/preschool. Trinity plans to improve the audio and visual equipment so that they can hear better at in person worship, and improve the sound and video for streamed worship services. Grant funds will go to purchase two new microphones, a new laptop to run the software, a permanently mounted camera, a permanently mounted projector and a retractable screen. The funds will also cover the installation costs for the camera, projector, and screen. | | | |
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Funds Available
The Behavioral Health Ministry Team has limited funds to assist with co-payments for mental health related appointments (up to $50 per appointment). Funds are open to EVERYONE with ties to the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
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ENews Submissions:
Content is due the 2nd Thursday of the month and submission information can be found here. This eNewsletter comes out monthly on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
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