March 4, 2025 | Special Lenten Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah newsletter! As we enter the season of Lent, we prepare our hearts for a time of reflection, prayer, and renewal. Shrove Tuesday gatherings across the diocese bring us together before we begin the contemplative journey of Lent on Ash Wednesday, marked by the Imposition of Ashes and the call to repentance. In addition, we look forward to Winter Retreat at Camp Tuttle and the "Awakening our Hearts to Spring" Intergenerational event. May this season deepen our faith and draw us closer to God.

Stay informed and connected by following our newsletter and social media updates. To send services, community events, or important updates, please email David Skorut by clicking here.

Shrove Tuesday Tonight—Ash Wednesday Follows, Beginning the Lenten Calendar

Photos Showcase Early Shrove Tuesday Events; More Congregations to Celebrate Tuesday

Tonight we gather joyfully for Shrove Tuesday celebrations, marking the eve of the contemplative season of Lent. Some congregations celebrated Shrove Tuesday events earlier in the weekend, but tonight many of our congregations are hosting pancake suppers, Mardi Gras-themed festivities, and gatherings of community and reflection. Whether you’re sharing a meal with your parish family or simply taking a moment to pause before Lent begins, this evening is a time to embrace joy, gratitude, and togetherness.

Shrove Tuesday has long been a tradition of preparation—a time to feast before fasting. Historically it was a day to use up rich ingredients before the season of reflection and simplicity. Today, it remains a wonderful way to come together before we enter into Lent’s call for spiritual renewal.

Tomorrow Ash Wednesday ushers us into Lent, a season of prayer, fasting, and self-examination. Churches throughout the diocese will offer Ash Wednesday services, with the Imposition of Ashes serving as a powerful reminder of our mortality and need for God’s grace. Some communities are also providing Ashes-to-Go, meeting people where they are—in coffee shops, parks, and city centers—offering the sacred sign of the cross to all who seek it.

We invite you to begin this holy season with intention. Whether attending a full service or receiving ashes on your way to work, this is a moment to pause and reflect. To find a Shrove Tuesday gathering tonight or an Ash Wednesday service near you, visit our Lent Calendar for full schedules:

May this season be one of renewal, grace, and a deepening of faith.

Click above to see the most current Shrove Tuesday events and Ash Wednesday service times by congregation. Email communications@episcopal-ut.org with any changes.

Diocesan Convention: October 17th & 18th at the Episcopal Retreat & Conference Center

Set for Hybrid Schedule, Engaging Workshops, Community-Building Exercises

Diocesan Convention 2025: October 17-18 at St. Mark’s & ERCC

The Episcopal Diocese of Utah is thrilled to announce dates for our 2025 Diocesan Convention, taking place October 17-18, 2025, at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark & Episcopal Retreat & Conference Center in Salt Lake City. This year’s Diocesan Convention theme is “Abundant in Spirit,” bringing together clergy, lay delegates, and community members for worship, learning, and renewal.

This year’s convention will feature both virtual and in-person sessions to ensure accessibility and active participation:

• Friday, October 17 – Virtual Business Session (5:30 p.m., via Zoom) where clergy and lay delegates will handle governance matters, voting, and diocesan reports.

• Saturday, October 18 – In-Person Gathering at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark & the ERCC, featuring workshops, worship, and community connection. The Bishop’s Address and Installation of New Officers will take place during the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist, followed by a Closing Plenary Session at 3:45 p.m.

A pre-convention meeting will be held on Zoom on Saturday, September 27th, 10:00 a.m. – noon to introduce key resolutions, familiarize delegates with electronic voting, and provide important updates.

Nominations will also soon open for Diocesan leadership positions, including seats on the Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Disciplinary Board, Finance Committee, and Treasurer. Anyone considering a nomination must attend both the Pre-Convention Meeting and the full Diocesan Convention, including virtual and in-person sessions.

Key Deadlines

• July 19, 2025 – Bishop appoints convention committees
• August 18, 2025 – Resolutions due
• September 5, 2025 – Convention registration deadline
• September 12, 2025 – Delegation Certification Forms due
• September 27, 2025 – Pre-Convention Meeting via Zoom
• October 7, 2025 – Last day for late resolution submissions
• October 12, 2025 – Nomination deadline

A keynote speaker will be announced soon—stay tuned for updates. Mark your calendars and join us as we embrace being “Abundant in Spirit!”

Camp Tuttle Winter Retreat Next Month!

Register Now for a Weekend of Fun in the Snow in Big Cottonwood Canyon

The Episcopal Diocese of Utah invites youth in grades 5–12 to join us for the annual Camp Tuttle Winter Retreat, a weekend of outdoor adventure, spiritual reflection, and meaningful community. Set against the backdrop of Big Cottonwood Canyon, this retreat is an opportunity to unplug, unwind, and connect with God through the beauty of creation.

March 15-16, 2025

Camp Tuttle, Big Cottonwood Canyon

Campers will enjoy a variety of winter activities and games in the snow.

Spots are filling quickly, so we encourage you to register soon.

For additional information, please contact ivanzanten@episcopal-ut.org.

Koinonia Intergenerational Ministry Events in March

Intergenerational Ministry Springtime Event Awakens Hearts to Spring

March 21–22 | Episcopal Retreat and Conference Center

As the seasons shift, take time to reconnect—with yourself, with others, and with the rhythms of nature.

Join us for a heartwarming overnight retreat filled with friendship, reflection, and renewal. Experience the transformative power of drumming, deepen your spiritual connection, and walk the labyrinth with intention. Whether you come with friends, family, or on your own, this intergenerational gathering offers a unique opportunity to build meaningful connections and embrace the cycles of growth in our lives.

Friday, March 21, 5:00 PM – Saturday, March 22, 4:00 PM

Tiered pricing available ($25–$75) | Optional Hospitality Rooms: $55 (1–2 people)

Financial assistance is available—just reach out.

Meet Our Facilitators:

Barbara Novak – Chaplain Manager for Senior Living with ECS Utah and an ordained minister with Centers for Spiritual Living, offering spiritual and emotional support for people in all stages of life.

Nicole Merges – Ordained minister, certified life coach, and Intuitive Energy Healer passionate about nature, connection, and personal growth.

Laura Orcutt – Veriditas-trained Labyrinth Facilitator who guides others in using the labyrinth for prayer, meditation, movement, and reflection.

Why Attend?

Reconnect with Nature & Self – Explore the wisdom of the plant life cycle as a metaphor for personal growth.

Engage in Transformative Practices – Participate in movement, creative expression, and sacred rituals.

Build Meaningful Connections – Share this journey with other adults from multi generations in a welcoming and supportive space.

Leave Renewed & Inspired – Gain clarity, intention, and a deeper sense of purpose for the season ahead.

Don't miss this special opportunity to pause, reflect, and embrace the spirit of renewal. We look forward to sharing this journey with you!

Register today at camptuttle.org under the Events tab. Or reach out to Karen Gleeson, Koinonia Coordinator at kgleeson@episcopal-ut.org or Christine Jenkin at cjenkin@episcopal-ut.org

Meet Province VIII Rep. Ginny Guzman-Walsh Before the Intergenerational Retreat

You're invited to meet Ginny Guzman-Walsh, the Province VIII Representative on the National Episcopal Church Women (NECW) board, Friday, March 21, 4 to 5 pm at the Episcopal Conference Center of Utah before the Intergenerational Retreat.

Ginny would love to get to know us as she shares the many new events and advocacy plans that NECW is bringing to life to provide nourishment and value to our ministries and communities. She chairs NECW's Virtual Event Series which recently hosted a gratitude retreat, and will share about the upcoming leadership workshops, and planned social issue presentations on human trafficking, prison ministry and creation care. 

She is passionate about the NECWs advocacy on the issues of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and will share what she learns from her attendance at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York the week prior to her visit. 

From the Diocese of Nevada, Ginny brings a richness in vitality and warmth to her work and wants to know what's important to us. We hope you'll take the time to welcome her to our diocese.

Lay Preacher Training Program Offered to Improve Confidence and Grow Skills

Increase Connection when Preaching through Six-Part, Twelve-Month Course

The Lay Preacher Training Curriculum from the Episcopal Preaching Foundation offers a comprehensive program tailored to equip laypeople with the skills and confidence to preach effectively. Created by Virginia Wiles, Professor Emerita of New Testament, the curriculum underwent a two-year field test supported by Trinity Wall Street in six dioceses across the U.S., refining it into a year-long program. Designed to be adaptable, it uses Google Classroom for accessibility and can be implemented in-person, remotely, or in hybrid formats. The curriculum emphasizes the growing leadership role of lay preachers in the church, focusing on both theological foundations and practical skills, with a commitment to shaping authentic and impactful Gospel messengers.

Structured across six series over twelve months, the program progresses from foundational principles to advanced preaching techniques. Early sessions focus on personal authenticity, sermon theology, and discerning a call to preach. Midway, participants delve into sermon construction, integrating biblical texts, and addressing diverse contexts and feedback. The latter half emphasizes advanced preaching techniques, the art of sermon delivery, and celebrating individual progress. A distinctive feature is its studio-style learning approach, which prioritizes hands-on practice and feedback over traditional lectures, fostering growth through doing.

Rooted in the philosophy that preaching is a practiced art, not an academic subject, the curriculum employs achievement-based outcomes and interactive learning tasks. Each unit includes stages of anchoring new knowledge in personal experience, applying it through practice, and integrating it into ministry. Key elements like freewriting encourage authentic expression, while structured timelines build time management skills essential for sermon preparation. With an emphasis on collaboration and personal growth, the program invites participants to embrace their unique voices as preachers, transforming their call into a dynamic and creative ministry.

The Rev. Connie Gordon and Gidge Sundquist are our trainers and the program is set to start in February. For more information, please contact The Rev. Dani Lee at the email address below. 

Anyone who is interested should send a letter of intent to The Rev. Dani at dlee@episcopal-ut.org.

Godly Play Initiative Set to Begin

A Montessori-Inspired Approach to Spiritual Formation

Dear Clergy and Church Leaders,

We invite you to encourage members of your congregation or ministry teams to participate in an upcoming Godly Play Training this May. This training offers a transformative opportunity for those involved in children’s ministry, Christian formation, or faith-based education.

Godly Play is a Montessori-inspired approach to nurturing children’s spiritual lives through storytelling, wonder, and play. It provides a deeply theological and developmentally appropriate way for children to encounter God, engage with Scripture, and grow in faith. Those who attend will gain the skills and confidence to lead Godly Play sessions and create sacred spaces where children can experience God’s presence in meaningful ways.

This training is ideal for Sunday School teachers, lay leaders, and anyone who feels called to minister to children through storytelling and sacred play. By recommending individuals from your congregation, you are investing in a ministry that fosters lifelong faith formation.

The training will take place in early May with venue details to come, with a schedule designed to provide both practical instruction and spiritual renewal. Space is limited, so we encourage early registration.

For more details, including registration information, fees, and deadlines, please contact The Rev. Dani Lee at dlee@episcopal-ut.org. 

Thank you for your leadership in raising up those called to nurture the spiritual lives of children. We hope you will prayerfully consider who might benefit from this training and encourage their participation.

Grace and peace,

Dani+

SAVE THE DATE

Click here for the full Diocese of Utah calendar.

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