One-minute read. On Wednesday, July 29, the Executive Committee of the Diocesan Council met to discuss this year’s 131st Annual Convention of The Diocese of West Missouri. At the meeting, it was agreed to call a short Special Convention of the Diocese on Saturday, October 3, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City. The Special Convention will pave the way for an online Annual Convention on Saturday, November 7.
Today is the 5th and final day of MissionPalooza @Home. Thank you to all that have taken time out of your week to participate. Remember the smallest acts can have the biggest impact. I hope you have had fun this week collecting items or making stuff for donations. Our theme for today is a new one for MissionPalooza, Civic Engagement. We have three focuses for today, knowing your officials, writing about a cause you believe in, and registering to vote(if you are of age).
Today marks day 4 of MissionPalooza @Home! For the last few years, volunteers of MissionPalooza have been serving teens in the Kansas City area through Synergy. Synergy is the only homeless and runaway teen shelter in western Missouri. While Volunteering at Synergy we have helped to prepare rooms for new arrivals, served in their thrift store, and helped to renew their landscaping. Today MissionPalooza @Home will continue to help teens through clothing and toiletry drives.
MissionPalooza @Home is at the midway point. Today is day 3 and the outreach focus for today is aiding local food pantries. One of the highlights of MissionPalooza Week is our pantry day at St. Paul’s KCMO. Youth and adult volunteers look forward to this day every year. Youth enjoy being able to interact with those they are serving, which often differs from other worksites during the week. MissionPalooza volunteers help to prepare, cook, and serve at a community cookout and assist in the pantry handing out food and essential items to those in need.
Today MissionPalooza @Home is focusing their outreach efforts on eldercare, serving those that live in nursing homes and are homebound. In the past volunteers at MissionPalooza have visited nursing homes in the Kansas City area. While there, volunteers spend time with the residents playing games, crafting, serving food, and visiting through conversations. Since COVID-19 has made it difficult for family and friends to visit their loved ones living in nursing homes, the MissionPalooza Design Team has found a way we can be able to engage with the residents through homemade cards.
Every year at MissionPalooza we take a small group of teens and adults to volunteer at various pet shelters in the Kansas City area. Last year we spent time at both Unleashed Pet Rescue and Midwest Animal Resq. While at these shelters we spend time cleaning cages, engaging with the animals through playing and walks, and one of the biggest projects, helping with the laundry. Pet shelters go through an enormous amount of washing. We also take time to bake dog treats and make blankets. The dog treats are super easy to make, and most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry.
July 20-24, is MissionPalooza @Home! As the video states, everyone is encouraged to participate as you can. Bishop Marty and Josh Trader have challenged the entire diocese to participate; challenge your friends and neighbors too. Even though we can’t be together in-person for MissionPalooza this year, the design team has been hard at work to help you bring MissionPalooza to your home. Even the smallest acts can have some of the biggest impacts on those around you.
One-minute read. With the increasing likelihood of an online diocesan Annual Convention this year, thought has turned to the legal preparations required to enable online voting.
One-minute read. Pat Rudy, the United Thank Offering coordinator for the diocese for more than twenty years has decided to retire. Changes to how contributions and grant requests are handled have been made and The Episcopal Church Women is looking for a replacement for Pat. Interested?
Even in the midst of a pandemic where we are physical distancing, life can be busy. There is Zoom call after Zoom call, chores, maybe a job, friendships, family, and so many other things that keep you busy throughout your day. This weekend is designed to help you to slow down your life and listen to God.
Five-minute read. Photographs from the Ordination of Melissa Roberts George to the Sacred Order of Priests at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Two-minute read. Read on for an update on WEMO Youth summer events. Happening will be postponed and Camp WEMO will now be an at home experience.
Two-minute read. While many churches across the nation are reporting declining attendance, Lebanon’s historic Trinity Episcopal Church in Lebanon is showing an increase in membership.
one-minute read. Following a meeting held on June 10, 2020, West Missouri’s Diversity and Reconciliation Commission issued a statement, which is reproduced here.
One-minute read. Church bells will be ringing throughout Missouri at noon on Pentecost, May 31, 2020, to commemorate lives lost to COVID-19 and in thanksgiving for all essential workers putting themselves on the line for the sake of all during the pandemic.
Four-minute read. If you are recording or livestreaming music for use in your services, you need to read this article on music licensing. Please note if you are making hymns and music available online in pdf or any other format you’ll need a license for that too.
70-minute video. Did you miss the online Easter Vigil at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral? You can watch a recording of it here.
One-minute read. The Episcopal Churches of West Missouri rely on generous donors to support their missions and ministries. Stewardship can be deeply spiritual, rooted in a desire to reorient our lives towards God, but it also has a practical side. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, includes several provisions that may affect charitable giving this year.
One-minute read. We are sharing our prayers and services online from our churches chapels, offices, studies, and living rooms. There’s morning, noonday and evening prayers, Sunday worship, daily and weekly reflections. There are lots of options to choose from.
One-minute read. A new weekly Episcopal radio talk show is launching online and on KICK – 92.3 FM at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, March 1.
