BI-DIOCESAN GRADUATION PARTY

Celebrating our High School and College Graduates

Our high school and college graduates and those who love them are invited to join our bi-diocesan community to celebrate the closing of a chapter!!

Please join us on Saturday, May 20th from 3-6pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Midland for food and fellowship, celebrating our scholars as they embark on new journeys. A benediction will be offered by our bi-diocesan Regional Youth Missioners at 5pm.

All are invited to attend and celebrate our friends. The graduates being honored are asked to RSVP.

Click here for a downloadable social media graphic.
Click here for a downloadable flyer.

Questions about this event? Please contact either the Rev. Radha Kaminski at rkaminski@edwm.org or Beckett Leclaire at bleclaire@eastmich.org, two of our regional youth missioners.

DATE & LOCATION

May 20, 2023
3-6pm

St. John’s Episcopal Church
405 N. Saginaw Road
Midland, MI, 48640
sjec-midland.org

RSVP

So that we can properly honor our graduates, they are asked to RSVP. General attendees to do not need to register.

FAREWELL OPEN HOUSE FOR CANON VALERIE AMBROSE

Tuesday, May 23rd from 4-6pm

As announced at last fall’s diocesan convention, the Rev. Canon Valerie Ambrose is entering her well-deserved retirement at the end of May. I hope you will join me and our staff in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, May 23rd to bid farewell.

Canon Val has served the Diocese of Western Michigan for many years and in many ways including numerous interim roles and in our diocesan governance, including as President of the Standing Committee. She was integral to our dioceses’ regional restructuring in 2017; a process that eventually led to her call as Canon Missioner for our Central Region where she has served faithfully for the last five years. Whether convening our dismantling racism team or helping bring about better transparency and best practices within our diocesan finances and personnel practices, Val brought remarkable attention to detail, institutional knowledge, and great pastoral care to every piece of her ministry.

If you are unable to attend the Open House but would still like to offer your thanks and congratulations, notes may be mailed to: The Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan, 1815 Hall St SE, Suite 200, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.

As we prepare to say goodbye to our departing colleague, we are excited for Val and Cathy as she takes on her most challenging practice yet: that of rest! Again, please join me in celebrating her ministry with us on May 23rd in Grand Rapids and in offering our deepest prayers for this new season.

Peace,


The Rt. Rev. Prince G. Singh
Bishop Provisional
The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan

DATE & LOCATION

Tuesday, May 23rd
4-6pm

The Diocesan Offices
at Grace Episcopal Church
1815 Hall St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
gracechurchgr.org

RSVP

So that we can plan for food, please RSVP by May 19th.

 

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING SPRING ASSEMBLY

Saturday, April 22nd from 10-3pm

Daughters of the King throughout Eastern and Western Michigan are invited to a joint gathering across the dioceses. This is spring semi-annual gathering for our members and all those interested in the Order of the Daughters of the King.

The Order of the Daughters of the King is an order for women in The Episcopal Church and beyond our denomination. Its mission is to extend Christ’s Kingdom through prayer, service, and evangelism. Click here to learn more.

This event will also be livestreamed. On the RSVP form, attendees are asked to indicate whether they will attend online or in-person. The livestream link will be sent in a confirmation email.

We have sent this invitation to all DOK members in Eastern and Western Michigan for whom we have email addresses listed. Please pass this invitation along to your fellow members to ensure all who ought to receive this, does. This message was also sent to parish leadership, including clergy, senior wardens, and listed parish admins.

Questions about this event? Please contact Western Michigan DOK President Jeannine Totzke at jtotzke1@berriencounty.org or at 269-921-1127.

DATE & LOCATION

Saturday, April 22nd
10am-3pm

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
1025 3 Mile Rd NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
standrewsgr.org

RSVP

There is no cost to attend the Spring Assembly. A free will offering will be taken during our event to support our ministry.

Lunch will be provided.

Please RSVP by April 18th.

Celebration of Ministry – Eileen Stoffan and St. Paul’s, Muskegon

The Wardens, Vestry, and People of

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Muskegon

With our Bishop,
The Rt. Rev. Prince G. Singh

request your prayers and presence
as we renew and celebrate our ministry with

The Rev. Eileen Stoffan

on the Thirtieth day of March
in the Year of our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-three,
at five thirty in the evening

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
1006 3rd Street
Muskegon, Michigan 49440

Reception to follow.
Clergy: surplice, cassock, red stole

Children and Youth Worker Online Resource Shares

Seasonal Opportunities to Connect Across Parishes

Those who work with children and youth — staff and volunteer, lay and clergy — are invited to participate in seasonal resource shares with others across our two dioceses.

This is an opportunity to meet and learn from other youth and children ministers. Come share the amazing things you’re working on and resources that you’ve found. Bring questions to collaborate on with colleagues. Please join us for this opportunity to gather useful tools and resources to utilize with your young people according to the natural rhythms of the church program season.

These online Zoom meetings take place on Thursday mornings from 10am-Noon. Please RSVP using the links below.

Questions? Contact McKenzie Knill, Director of Children, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries at mknill@eastmich.org or mknill@edwm.org.

DATES & RSVP

EASTER & PENTECOST
Thursday, March 9th, 10-Noon

Click here to RSVP.

SUMMER & VBS
Thursday, May 11th, 10-Noon

Click here to RSVP.

BACK TO SCHOOL & FALL PROGRAMMING
Thursday, July 20th, 10-Noon

Click here to RSVP.

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS
Thursday, September 21, 10-Noon

Click here to RSVP.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH’S CONCERT FOR THE HUMAN FAMILY

Award Winning Concert Tour Comes to Michigan!

The Concert for the Human Family is an inspiring collaboration between musicians and church leaders who believe in the power of music and storytelling to foster Beloved Community.

Experience genre-crossing original music that bridges jazz, hip-hop, rock and bluegrass, performed by a multi-cultural, award-winning team of recording artists, led by GRAMMY-nominated pianist and composer Kory Caudill and Wordsmith, a Baltimore-based songwriter, performer and recording artist. Guided by their music and friendship, they invite concertgoers into an exploration of Beloved Community and the power of racial reconciliation through relationship.

The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan are thrilled to host two stops on the nationwide Spring Tour: in Grand Rapids on April 21st and in Flint on April 22nd. This is a destination experience — see below for tickets!!

With questions, please contact Katie Forsyth, Canon for Evangelism and Networking, at kforsyth@eastmich.org or kforsyth@edwm.org.

TICKETS

Tickets are on sale now! Tickets are $18 per person with our local discount codes and additional savings are available for students and group registrations. This event is open to all, regardless of denomination or faith background — please share!

FRIDAY, APRIL 21st at 7:30pm
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Grand Rapids

Discount Code: STMARKS


SAT., APRIL 22nd at 7:30pm
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church,
Flint

Discount Code: STPAULS


SAFE CHURCH, SAFE COMMUNITIES TRAININGS

Three Sessions to be Offered via Zoom

The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan seek to safeguard all of God’s children. We commit to creating safe environments, especially for our children, youth, and vulnerable adults, from sexual, physical, and personal abuse or exploitation. All people exercising ministry in the Episcopal Church are required to participate in Safe Church training, including vestry members, children and youth staff and volunteers, Eucharistic Visitors, diocesan elected leaders, and more. The training and our diocesan policies for Safe Church are intended to provide leaders with the tools and insights to take an active role in keeping our communities safe. They give our communities a vocabulary for discussing the issues of sexual misconduct and harassment to assist in and teach all of us healthy boundaries and loving ways to interact with the children and other adults in our midst. This furthers the crucial mission of transforming all of our churches into truly safe spaces for God’s beloved family. These three two-hour training sessions are offered for those who wish to participate in the Safe Church, Safe Communities training in a community setting (on Zoom) rather than through the online, self-directed platform. This is not a “train-the-trainer” opportunity. Please see below for specific dates and times. With questions, please contact McKenzie Knill, Director of Children, Youth, and Young Adult Formation, at mknill@eastmich.org or mknill@edwm.org, or at 810-434-5982.

RSVP

This training session will be offered three times. Please join us for the date and time that work best for your availability. Click the buttons to RSVP to receive your Zoom link.

Saturday, February 4th
9:30-11:30am

Wednesday, February 15th
1:30-3:30pm

Thursday, March 16th 6:30-8:30pm

LGBTQ+ Inclusion Training for Congregations

February 11, 2023 from Noon-4pm in Lansing

In the first century, Jesus inspired a movement – a community of people whose lives were centered on Jesus Christ and committed to living the way of God’s unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial, and redemptive love. As Episcopalians, we believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan have legacies of inclusion, though not always perfect, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being. In our church, all people have access to every level of belonging and leadership, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

We believe that God loves all – no exceptions. And, because of this, we believe we have a role in sharing that unconditional love with the world, especially in this time in which our siblings are barraged by a marked increase in harassment, discrimination, and violence.

Join our Office of Evangelism, in partnership with Great Lakes Bay Pride, for an afternoon training for congregational leaders intended to build knowledge about this large and underrepresented demographic, to learn steps to make your congregation’s culture and physical plant more safe for our LGBTQ+ siblings, and opportunities to connect in new ways for church growth and the sharing of the Good News. Participants will walk away with increased language, knowledge, and practical tools to implement in their congregation and local community.

There are LGBTQ+ identifying people in every community — this training is applicable to your congregation regardless of your size, age demographics, location, or local politics.

This training is open to all participants and may be of particular interest to clergy, vestry members, communications and evangelism staff and volunteers, welcome teams, and more.

With questions, please contact Canon for Evangelism and Networking Katie Forsyth at kforsyth@eastmich.org.

MEET OUR TRAINERS

In addition to leaders from our diocesan staff and congregations, we will welcome two trainers from Great Lakes Bay Pride to share their expertise in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with our congregations.

Scott Ellis (he/him)
Scott is the Executive Director of Great Lakes Bay Pride, a role he stepped into in 2019 (fun fact, the former ED is Chris Lauckner, member of St. John’s, Midland!).

Under Scott’s leadership and with the board of the organization, Great Lakes Bay Pride has become the predominant leader and resource for LGBTQ inclusion throughout Mid-Michigan, up through northeast Michigan and through the Thumb. Their work includes organization for Pride Month festivities, trans support groups, education, social gatherings, advocacy, and more.

A native of Atlanta, Michigan, Scott now lives in Bay City.

Lee Ann Keller (she/her)
Lee Ann serves as President of the Board for Great Lakes Bay Pride. She is also President and CEO of Omni Tech International, a Midland-based business that provides consulting services around several areas, including strategic planning and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training for nonprofits and businesses.

She and her wife, Tamara, live in Sanford.

LOCATION

St. David’s Episcopal Church
1519 Elmwood Road
Lansing, MI 48917

stdavidslansing.org

REGISTRATION

This event takes place on Saturday, February 11th from Noon-4pm. We will begin with lunch.

The cost for this training has been subsidized by the Office of Evangelism for the dioceses. We will offer this pricing structure for participants to self-select:
Individuals – $15/person
Groups of three or more from a congregation – $10/person
If this cost is prohibitive, please contact Canon Katie Forsyth at kforsyth@eastmich.org to request assistance.

The deadline to register is February 5th.

SO, YOU WANT TO START A CHILDREN OR YOUTH FORMATION PROGRAM?

January 19th and 26th on Zoom

Join our diocesan formation staff for an online gathering focused on resource sharing, visioning, and discussion aimed at equipping leaders to build (or rebuild!) their congregation’s formation programs for young people.

Whether you’re someone already working with young people in your congregation or you have dreams of growing and building in this area, you are invited to join us on Zoom to vision and imagine a children or youth program for your congregation. All are welcome.

With questions, please contact McKenzie Knill, Director of Children, Youth, and Young Adult Formation, at mknill@eastmich.org or mknill@edwm.org, or at 810-434-5982.

RSVP

This session will be offered twice, please join us for the date and time that work best for your availability. Click the buttons to RSVP to receive your Zoom link.

Thursday, January 19th

10-11:30am

 

Thursday, January 26th

6-7:30pm