News from Province V

March 2024

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Highlights:

• Opening Prayer
• Big Provincial Gathering 2024 - check all of the details
• Province V Synod Details
• Philadelphia 11 - online event
• Lunch and Learn with Traci Smith
• Eclipse events in the province - Waycross and Bellwether
• Using Picture Books for Racial Healing
• Creation Care Summit
• Volunteer for General Convention
• Festival Thursdays
• Healing in the Heartland
• Creation Care Event - September 2024
• Forum for Theological Exploration
• Grants
• Book Corner
• TryTank Zoom meetings
• Networking Conversations
• Affiliated Organizations
• Upcoming Events and Webinars
• Lenten Resources

Featured Events

The Philadelphia Eleven 

Online Streaming Event

The documentary, The Philadelphia Eleven, will be available to stream online on March 8 at 8:00 p.m. The film will be available at kinema.com. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will benefit the film’s distribution. After the showing, there will be a live panel featuring the Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward, the Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera, the Rev. Nancy Wittig, and Margo Guernsey. The panel will be moderated by Katie Sherrod. If you would like to host a showing, either online or in person, please visit the Philadelphia Eleven website. A short form is available to fill out, as well as additional information on cost, upcoming screenings, and some FAQs.

Lunch and Learn with Traci Smith

Faith at Home: Tools and Tips for Equipping Faith Formation at Home

April 10, 11:45-1:00pm ET/ 10:45am-noon CT

Traci Smith is the author of the Faithful Families Series and pastor. Traci’s passion is helping families find times for connection and spiritual nourishment amid the hustle and bustle of daily life.

This free workshop is open to parents, youth ministers and volunteers, clergy, or anyone interested in incorporating easy, engaging faith practices into their ministry.

Register here.

Solar Eclipse at Camp

"Path of Totality" Festival

Viewing the total eclipse

Bellwether Farm, Wakeman, OH

April 6-8, 2024

• Registration, FAQs, and a draft schedule
• A downloadable pdf for a Bible study we created to theologically prepare for the eclipse, including liturgical resources for Easter 1. 
• the Episcopal discount (33%) is PSALM19

Waycross Camp & Conference Center, Morgantown, IN

April 7-9, 2024

• Book a room
• Solar themed programming and activities
• Eclipse glasses & t-shirts included
• Shuttle to/from Indianapolis airport

Using Picture Books for Racial Healing

Picture books offer an excellent way to discover, discuss, and share stories about topics that many people did not study in school but that are crucial to the work of repairing, healing, and seeing God in each other. Registration is open for Dismantling Racism training sessions taking place in the coming months. Miriam McKenney leads the trainings, which take place on Zoom. 

A training course occurs during one month, so you only need to sign up for one.

• March (12, 19, 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.). Sign up here.
• April (10, 17, 24 from 1 to 3 p.m.) Sign up here.
• May (15, 22, 29 from to 8 p.m.). Sign up here. 
• June (4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 from 12 to 1 p.m.). Sign up here.
• August (14, 21, 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.). Sign up here.

Email the Diocese of Southern Ohio's Director of Dismantling Racism Miriam McKenney to learn more.

Creation Care Summit III

The Creation Care Task Force provides leadership to the Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan on issues related to the care, protection, and remediation of God's creation. One of the group’s key goals is to make environmental stewardship and climate care a significant element of every parish’s life and mission. 

We invite you to spend part of your Saturday morning with the task force, March 2nd from 10-11:30am ET, for our third online Creation Care Summit. Our panel of four leaders from our dioceses will talk with us about actions individuals can take to live more sustainably and decrease your personal impact on the environment. The panel's insights will help inspire and give information to jumpstart your own stewardship of creation, starting at home. 

Register for the meeting here.

Volunteer for General Convention

The Episcopal Church is looking for volunteers to help with the 81st General Convention from June 23 to 28 in Louisville, Kentucky. If you would like to volunteer, please fill out the online form.

More information 

Join us for 'Festival Thursdays' on Zoom

Join us for monthly 'Festival Thursdays' on Zoom. Register here for all events.

The good conversations that began during summer's "It's All About Love" festival in Baltimore continue with monthly workshops featuring festival presenters and Q&A. Workshops are the second Thursday of each month at 3 p.m. ET. View past 'Festival Thursday' conversations at this link.

Healing in the Heartland

The Diocese of Missouri invites everyone to come together to share stories, worship, and make connections to help bridge the divides in our society. This one-day inspirational event will take place at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Creve Coeur, on March 16, from 10am - 4pm.

This event will be available for online attendance with registration. See event details. Registration for individual viewing here and group viewing here.

The Rev. Naomi Tutu: Speaker, advocate, educator

The Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas: Interim Dean of the Episcopal School of Divinity

The Rev. Jack Danforth: Episcopal Priest & Former U.S. Senator

The Rev. Traci Blackmon: Theologian, author, activist

Save the date:

Creation Care Conference

Spiritual Resilience in Days of Trouble

September 12-15, 2024

Nazareth, KY

• Registration opens June 1
• Schedule outline and retreat leader biographies are published here

Forum for

Theological Exploration

We invite you to nominate up to three (3) young adult leaders to apply to participate in FTE's 2024 DISCERN to be held, May 30 - June 2 at the Chapel on Sycamore in Decatur, GA. This retreat is intended for young adults (ages 18-30) from the US or Canada who are discerning how they can make a difference in the world through Christian communities. Nominations are due by March 11. Nominees must submit their applications by March 15, 2024 for consideration

Grants

Check out the list of grant opportunities.

- Church Periodical Club - Deadline for Adult Books is Mar 1

- Becoming Beloved Community - grant form - deadline, Mar 1

- Creation Care - deadline Mar 22

- Historical Society of the Episcopal Church - deadline, May 1

- St. James Music Press - Music Ministry Renewal Grant - deadline June 30

Book Corner

An Antidote to the spiritual devastations of the climate crisis.

Green Gospel opens a window into the developing realm of ecotheology, defining foundational principles and outlining how these tenets can be lived out through worship and individual practice. To help readers connect with these concepts, author John Gatta draws on illustrative examples from literary works, art, and liturgical texts. Written for both parish reading groups and individual study, this introductory text unites the theological framework of the green movement with the spiritual practice.

Order from any Episcopal bookstore, Amazon, Bookshop, or churchpublishing.org.

Paperback | 9781640656703 | List Price: $21.95

TryTank Regional Innovation Hub

Zoom Meetings

St. Barnabas, Bay Village is hosting TryTank Regional Innovation Hub Zoom meetings quarterly on May 13, August 19, and November 11. All events will be held at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT. This is an opportunity for those who are curious about innovation, participated in last year's Innovation Day, or are actively experimenting with new ideas. In every meeting, an innovation method that can be used in experiments will be shared, there will be an opportunity to share what is or is not working, and there will be a Q&A for anyone interested in applying for TryTank funds for an experiment. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact Hally Marsh or the Rev. Alex Martin.

Networks

Province V's work in the world is to "Connect. Network. Support." Networks exist for people to gather around areas of interest and share resources with each other. Sometimes networks host webinars to share information and sometimes they develop new resources to support leaders in their local contexts. 

ALL are welcome to attend these Zoom conversations. Please share the information with friends, colleagues, and in your parish newsletter. Most network meetings last about 60 minutes. See their webpages or email their contact for more information. For a full list of Networks and other Affiliated Organizations, visit the Province V website.

Archivists

Date of next meeting: 

Mar 11, 11 am ET / 10 am CT

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89950734030 (password: 5)

Convener: Brian Wilbert, Ohio

webpage: https://www.provincev.org/archivist.html

Dismantling Racism

Date of next meeting:

Mar 7, 1 pm ET / 12 noon CT

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215961535 (password: 5)

Convener: Margaret D'Anieri, Ohio

webpage:

https://www.provincev.org/dismantlingracism.html

Our upcoming meeting is March 7 at 1 p.m. It seems an apt point in time to look at the network from a life-cycle perspective, and then spend some time in Lenten prayer and reflection. 

Intergenerational / All-Ages Worship

Date of next meeting: 

Apr 17, 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84822677076 (password: 5)

Convener: Miranda Hassett, Milwaukee

webpage: https://www.provincev.org/worship.html

"Starting from where you are"

Lay-Led Congregations

Date of next meeting: 

Mar 23, 11 am ET / 10 am CT

Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83416490879 (password: 5)

Convener: Jim Mogensen, Michigan

webpage:

https://www.provincev.org/layledcongregations.html

Upcoming gatherings:

See you on Zoom: Mar 23.

See you in person at the BPG

Youth

Conveners: Carmen Piggins, Michigan

Erin Wolf, Milwaukee/Wisconsin

webpage:

https://www.provincev.org/youth.html

Mark your calendar!

Virtual Event with Traci Smith

Wednesday, April 10, 11:45 am - 1:00pm ET / 10:45 am - 12 noon CT

Registration is required.

Young Adult / Campus Ministry

Date of next meeting: 

May 21, 1:00 pm ET / 12:00 noon CT

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88386235160

(password 5)

Convener: Matthew Lukens, Michigan

webpage:

https://www.provincev.org/yacm.html

If this is your ministry area, make sure that you're part of the Google Group!

[email protected]

This is a new group name, so please update in your address book.

Creation Care

Date of next meeting:

March 11, 1 pm ET / 12 noon CT

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82932843412

(password: 5)

Convener: Jeanette Ettin, Eastern Michigan

webpage: https://www.provincev.org/creation.html

Upcoming Zoom gatherings: 3/11, 4/15 (note special date), 5/13

4/8 will be a full eclipse going through Province 5! No network gathering on this day. Catch up with each other on 4/15.

March Creation Care Monthly Gathering: Faith and the Total Eclipse

A total solar eclipse is a rare event, something to appreciate and enjoy! At our March monthly gathering, we will be talking about spiritual and theological musings of the total eclipse that will take place April 8, 2024. We will take the opportunity to discuss how this rare celestial event can help us make connections to our faith and creation, just as the psalmist declared in Psalm 19: The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the sky proclaims its builder's craft.

Guiding our conversation will be content from the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio publication, ECLIPSE 2024: A STUDY OF ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS IN THE BIBLE AND OUR LIVES.

Come join us to wonder, marvel, and discuss.

Love God, Love God's World

Love God, Love God’s World is a nine-session, film-based curriculum, ideal for Episcopalians anywhere on the journey with creation care and environmental ministry—from newcomers looking to take their first step to seasoned leaders seeking a transformative small-group experience.

Migration Ministries

Date of next meeting:

Mar 19, 8 pm ET / 7 pm C

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81246380265

(password: 5)

Conveners: Silvia Huth, Michigan and 

Jack Lloyd, Chicago

webpage: https://www.provincev.org/migration.html

Episcopalians Respond to the Asylum Emergency in Chicago

Zoom in and learn how the Diocese of Chicago and its congregations are responding to the unprecedented number of newcomers arriving in Province V’s largest city. There is much to do, and there are opportunities for people across the province to get involved.

As a sanctuary city, Chicago has long been a magnet for migrants due to its large immigrant population and economic opportunities. But in August of 2022, the governor of Texas began sending busloads of migrants to the city on a regular basis, and this has overwhelmed Chicago’s ability to welcome newcomers. In total, Texas has now bused more than 30,000 migrants to Chicago.

Working with other faith groups and secular community organizations, Episcopalians have been active in many ways to help meet the emergency, providing temporary housing, food, clothing, and legal assistance to help the new Chicagoans get on their feet and become self-sufficient. Join us to learn about these efforts and how you can help.

The webinar will be presented by the Rev. Canon Sandra Castillo, chair of the Chicago Diocese’s Sanctuary Task Force, and Jack Lloyd, a Task Force member and co-coordinator of the Province V Migration Ministry Network.

Episcopal Asylum & Detention Ministry Network

Episcopal Migration Ministry hosts an Asylum and Detention Ministry Network that meets virtually on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The Ministry Network’s collaborative work and conversation focus on best practice-sharing in areas of direct service, organizing, advocacy actions, Christian formation and worship resources, and community education to protect asylum, promote humane and dignified alternatives to detention, and to support asylum seekers and those harmed by the immigration detention system. Learn more and register to attend meetings here.

Affiliated Organizations

There are a number of organizations affiliated with the Episcopal Church and working across Province V. These groups have a "structure" that is more organized than a network. They have resources and information that are useful in your local ministry contexts.

For a full list of Affiliated Organizations, visit the Province V website.

Church Periodical Club: Important Announcements

ADULT GRANTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE ONCE PER YEAR: Adult grant application (NBF, National Books Fund) can be found on our website. We funded multiple types of written word resources from Bibles, choir music to cookbooks ESOL workbooks etc. to meet the needs of Episcopal sponsored outreach and in reach. Applications are due March 1, 2024, and granting will be done June 8 2024.  Information and applications found here.

Children and youth grants are done all year round. Please consider applying for one of these grants. From books for baby pantries to youth camps, detentions centers and the list goes on. These are called MOP (Miles of Pennies) and information and applications can be found on our website. 

Quilt raffle returns start Jan 2, 2024 through Feb 14, 2024 -  Details here.

NOTE: Maryfran is able to sign your application if you do not have a Diocesan Contact.  Also standing committees may sign when there is a bishop vacancy.

Please Contact: Maryfran Crist, Province V CPC Representative

[email protected],  815-257-7012

United Thank Offering

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click here

Province V Assembly of The Order of the Daughters of the King, Inc.

Save the Date! The Order of the Daughters of the King, Inc., Province V is holding a Virtual Spring Assembly on Saturday April 13. The Rev’d Lynn Carter-Edmands, National DOK Chaplain, is our keynote speaker. More information on our website: www.dokprov5.org

Prov V DOKs who are going to Triennial can apply for scholarship help - information and forms are available on our website: www.dokprov5.org

For more information, email dokprov5@gmail.com.

Sermon Roundtable

Do you want to enrich your preaching by including laity in collaborative exegesis and supportive sermon feedback?  If so, then consider trying Sermon Roundtable, a new program developed by the Episcopal Preaching Foundation. This 12-week program is now available at no charge to you or your parishioners, thanks to a grant from the Compelling Preaching Initiative of the Lilly Endowment. For more information, please visit www.preachingfoundation.org.

Sign up for the ECW weekly blast here

Upcoming Events and Webinars

• Lombard Mennonite Peace Center - many opportunities
• Education for Ministry - a great course for all people
• Church Next - a wide variety of courses
• Bexley-Seabury Seminary Federation - several upcoming webinars, affinity groups, and courses
• Virginia Theological Seminary - several upcoming webinars
• My Work to Do - a purposeful space for white people to come and learn, listen, reflect and build capacity and stamina to have conversations about race and racism
• Festival of Homiletics - May 13-16, 2024
• YACM Event - June 2-8, Philadelphia
• General Convention - June 23-28, 2024

St. Gregory's Abbey will be hosting its annual vocation program during the month of July, 2024. Participants get a glimpse of monastic life as they follow the abbey schedule and work, socialize, and pray with the monks. Classes on monastic life are given and individual conferences are offered. The program is geared toward people who have an interest in monastic life and are wondering if they are called to that life. The program is open to men 18-50 years old (the upper age limit is an approximation and can be negotiated). Applications will be accepted starting January 1, 2024. For more information, go to the monastery website saintgregorysthreerivers.org or the vocation program page saintgregorysthreerivers.org/about/july-program/.

African Descent Ministries

2024 International Black Clergy Conference

April 8-11 - Baltimore, Maryland



This triennial conference welcomes Episcopal bishops, priests, and deacons, as well as participants from the Anglican Church of Canada, and Anglicans and Episcopalians from the Province of the West Indies and throughout the United Kingdom.

• Location: Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Camden Yards.
• Days will begin and end with prayers, reflection, and music from the Afro-Anglican tradition.
• Plenaries will include presentations from affinity groups across the diaspora and programming developed by the Office of African Descent Ministries.

Lent Resources

Episcopal Church Lent resources 

A full list of resources

Lent Resources For Individuals and Families

curated by Lifelong Learning staff Sarah Allred and Jodi Belcher 

Bless the Lent We Actually Have: 40 Days to Reflect, Pray, and Bless Our Imperfect Lives.  Free guides available for individuals, groups, and churches from Kate Bowler. 

New and Recent Lent Resources for 2023 A diverse list of devotionals, calendars, curricula, and activities from Building Faith.

Lent in a Bag: An Activity for Church or Home A popular Lenten formation tradition for families from Building Faith.

From Forward Movement: Will You? A Lenten Study of Baptismal Promises

God Is Still with Us. Illustrated Ministry's Lent resource for families with children.

2024 Lenten Book Club: Thanks A Thousand: A Gratitude Journey

Register here.

UTO is offering a 5-session book club on Thanks A Thousand: A Gratitude Journey by A.J. Jacobs. The book follows Jacobs as he decides to try and thank everyone who contributes to daily cup of coffee. This is a perfect book to explore during Lent because it can encourage us to think more deeply about the everyday items we use without really thinking about the effort that goes into creating them. We’ll explore this book together and see what we can learn about gratitude as a tool for being more present in the midst of our daily routines. While reading the text prior to the meeting will enhance your experience, it is not required. Bonus, there is a TED talk with A.J. Jacobs you can watch if you don’t have time to read each week. You’re also welcome to attend all 5 sessions or just the ones when you’re available or where a topic interests you. See the newsletter for the full schedule.

‘Prophetic Voices’ podcast: ‘Preaching Ash Wednesday’

This episode features a discussion of the lectionary for Ash Wednesday, with guests the Rev. Greg Kimura, vice dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco; and Sandra Montes, dean of chapel at Union Theological Seminary. “Prophetic Voices” is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, Episcopal Church staff officer for racial reconciliation.

Episcopal Relief and Development

You’re invited to subscribe to Episcopal Relief & Development Lenten Meditations! Visit our website to sign up for daily meditation emails, written by Miguel Escobar, on living an authentic life as followers of Christ. 

UTO: 2024 Lenten Materials Now Available

Our theme for our 2024 Lenten materials is “40 Days of Grateful Presence” and they are a call to giving thanks for the many things in our lives we take for granted. Our hope is that during the 40 days of Lent we can all use gratitude to help us be more present in our daily lives. Find out more about the resources available for Lent here.

Life Transformed - The Way of Love in Lent

The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into his life, self-giving, and death; then, we rise in hope to life transformed. This Lent, communities are invited to walk with Jesus in his Way of Love and into the experience of transformed life. Together, we will reflect anew on the loving actions of God as recounted in the Easter Vigil readings. Together, we will walk through the depths of salvation history into the fullness of redemption.

Curricula for a 7-session adult forum and a one-day retreat. More information here.

Province V Executive Board

Do you have questions about Province V? Would you like to be more involved in planning the events that are offered at the provincial level? The Executive Board of the Province meets monthly on fourth Tuesdays at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT via zoom.

Contact your diocesan representative to the Executive Board:

The Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter, Fond du Lac and Eau Claire, President

Mr. Rick Stanitis, Northern Michigan, Vice President

Ms. Adrienne Dillon, Missouri, Secretary

Ms. Rebecca Elfring-Roberts, Chicago, Treasurer

Ms. Louisa McKellaston, Executive Council Representative

The Rev. M.E. Eccles, Executive Council Representative

Ms. Laura Jackson, Chicago

Dr. Elizabeth Jordan, Eastern Michigan

The Rev. Marlene Hogue, Eau Claire

Ms. Lesley MacKellar, Indianapolis

Dr. Edie Wakevainen, Michigan

The Rev. Matthew Buterbaugh, Milwaukee

Ms. Betty Bowersox, Missouri

The Rev. Dr. Terri Bays, Northern Indiana

Mr. Rick Stanitis, Northern Michigan

The Rev. Rachel Harrison, Ohio

Mr. Edward Lasseigne, Southern Ohio

Ms. Jan Goossens, Springfield

Heather Barta, Province V Coordinator

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