2015 and Beyond
The 40th Convention of the Diocese of Idaho is being challenged to "be transformed by the renewal of your minds" (Rom 12:2) to imagine the future God intends so clearly, that together as the body of Christ, we can step boldly forward with confidence and determination into 2015 and beyond.
This year at diocesan convention congregations were asked to dream of the future. Delegations from EVERY congregation gave a brief report on the awesome work and transformational life of their congregation as it is in the year 2015. Below are the AWESOME dreams reported by our congregations and some other diocesan groups. For this information in a Word Document, click here.
Latino Committee
Diversity training in every parish
20 parishes with bilingual prayer books
15 congregations have Latino outreach in their communities
10 congregations in joint Latino ministry with other churches
8 congregations have occasional bilingual services
4 congregations have regular services in Spanish
8 clergy minister in Spanish
100 Hispanic families attend Episcopal services
Annual intergenerational Spanish Immersion @ Paradise Point going well
Ascension, Twin Falls
Establishment of Ascension Day Celebration and Hot Air Balloon Festival
$100,000 earned going to Ascension mission work & ERD
After school program - adult volunteers helping neighborhood children
Wonderlich Senior Day Care moved to larger facilities. Serves 100 clients and their caregivers.
Commitment to full inclusion of Latino friends and neighbors and bilingual life and worship
Establishment of outreach relationships by hosting delegations from Nepal and Africa
Diocesan Staff
Greater use of internet for communication
Due to increase in membership & stewardship assessments lowered to 10%
New full time youth minister
Prompt clergy response and on time Parochial Reports
Redeemer, Salmon
J 2 A youth from the community is very large
Children's and adult choir
Outreach ministries
Shut-ins
Community Support
Centering Prayer Retreats
Renovated Parish Hall
St. David's, Caldwell
Growth!
Expanded nave
Youth Pastor with Bible study weekly
Choir - we all know the words!
New kitchen
Bumper stickers
Labyrinth/Helipad
Pews bolted to the floor
Stained glass repaired
Spiritual foundation
All Saints, Boise
Vibrant ministry beacon to new people
Trained Altar Guild
Children's choir
Adult Choir - instrumental music
Great Communication
Office Remodel - well appointed
Friendship Clinic $10K/yr for Pharmacy for patients
Episcopal Assisted Living Center
Good Shepherd, Fort Hall
Constant dialogue with diocese
New remodeled parish hall and sanctuary
Ft. Hall community accepts us as a place of gleeful worship
Volunteer Soup Kitchen to feed after school youth
Ecumenical Music outreach by phenomenal music director
New pipe organ from St. James', Burley
Annual pledges pay for full time priest and operating expenses
Thinking about building a new church building
Grace Church, Glenns Ferry
Handicapped Ramp - handicapped and elderly came to church
They brought their grandchildren
Who brought their friends
Which resurrected the church school program
Which brought new energy, new music and new outreach
St. Mary's, Emmett
Growth through expanded youth
Young people design Rockin' Jazz Service
Older members mentor youth
New young, full time seminary trained priest
New Deacon & secretary
Bus service, new pipe organ
Expanding to adjacent lots
Two story school
Drug & alcohol prevention
Adult Education
St. James, Payette
Participation increase of 100%
Vibrant component of our community
English & Spanish services each Sunday
15 parish nurses in the community serving many congregations and Treasure Valley
Emmanuel, Hailey
Thrift store monies go to mission
Addition has been remodeled due to increased membership
New kitchen! 500 people served at annual pancake supper
Community Center in new addition
House next door purchased and used for intergenerational activities including ESL classes, social events, bell choir, etc.
Paradise Point
Center of the diocese
Leadership development
Environmental leder
Full time director
Open year round
New rustic cabins
Expanded ropes course
State-wide Sr. High leadership camp
St. Matthew's, Rupert
Called to loving the people
Each one a minister
Sunday School growth
Youth program
Encourage and raise up new Deacons & Priests
Choir
Respond to the needs of Minidoka & Cassia counties
Have fun!
St. John's, American Falls
Establishment of ‘Adopt a Retired Priest' program
Celebrate feast days on a regular basis
Partnership with library - parish grounds are used for after school activities and other community programs
Full time nursery for single moms
Church shines brightly due to renovations and handicap access
St. Luke's, Weiser
Red doors always open - beautiful and welcoming
New members eager to help
Teenagers as waiters for dinner theaters with music
Organist awakens the ‘pipes'
Welcome homeless, hungry, forgotten
Money raised for battered women
Grace Church, Nampa
Grace Cathedral!
Legendary hospitality
Free, creative, living worship
Spanish liturgy
700 members
Community
12-step programs
15% to outreach
Education
Christian formation for children
Transitional housing project
Mentoring
Language classes
St. Cecelia's school in Afghanistan
St. Thomas, Ketchum
Hosting Abrahamic Interfaith Conference, bringing together Christians, Muslims & Jews
Ribbon has been cut on new facility across the street to be:
Creek side Episcopal School by day
St. Thomas College for adult ed by night
St. Thomas Contemplative Outreach Center established
Thomas Keating leads 30 day retreat
St. Andrew's, McCall
An Ode
Vision abundant, ever growing
New kitchen
Homeless Shelter
Youth leader
Come, camp, picnic, ski, STAY!
Trinity, Gooding
Membership of 40-50
Full time minister
2/3 of congregation with children
Choir that can sing
Social fellowship for the community
St. Stephen's, Boise
Community center used for youth and senior programs
Community art gallery & studio
Variety of liturgical and musical styles
Known as inviting, welcoming and embracing
Due to over-crowding, major expansion is underway
Holy Nativity, Meridian
To be a ‘safe haven for families in need'
By reaching out
Touching hearts
Changing lives
Homeless shelter
Social Services Center provides
Meals
Clinic
Transitional housing
Pre-school for latch-key care
Trinity, Pocatello
Outreach
Medical clinic in New Orleans
Goats for 3rd world countries
Music at services
Singing workshops
Youth choir
Prayer shawl ministry/knitting ministry
Fireplace small meeting room
Growing congregation
New ovens/dishwasher
Campus Bible study group
St. Michael's, Boise
5 services each Sunday
Campus Ministry at BSU
Sense of ‘community
Episcopal Community Services
Retirement center
Soup Kitchen
‘Baby Steps' and therapeutic pre-school
Support of Music and Arts
‘Cathedral Under the Stars'
Jazz Vespers
St. Luke's, Idaho Falls
Women's Shelter
Expanded narthex and bath rooms
New landscaping
New bell
Godly Play
Three worship services
New sound system
Youth Pastor
New building!
St. Paul's, Blackfoot
New facility
Increased numbers of volunteers
Full-time Priest
Increased Sunday School attendance
Outreach
Coat drive
Toys for Tots
Bible study - E(at) S(tudy) P(lay)
St. Francis, Alta
Preserving what God gave us
Stewardship of the environment
Became a ‘green church'
Sanctuary for abandoned animals
Renewable resource education
Recycling program
Memorial garden/community garden
Retreat center - Christian rock band, chorus, pipe organ
Full-time clergy living in a ‘green' house
To become a ‘haven for inclusiveness'
Holy Trinity, Buhl
More priests and deacons thru the discernment process
Boys & Girls Clubs relationship
Full pews with more younger people
Successful Sunday School
Pastoral Care - feeding and clothing the poor
Increase music program
St. James, Mountain Home
Increased attendance
New church building
4 services each week
Increase ways of serving
Community
Air Base
Christ Church, Shoshone
Increase in membership
Joint relationship with Lutherans
2 Deacons
Social relationships bring the community together
Mardi gras
Passover
Dutch oven dinners
Harvest dinner & raffle
Advent community service
Great communication from the diocese
St. Philip's, Challis
St. Philip's Episcopal School
First graduating class in 2015!
Year round Choral Rendezvous
Church bursting with people
Epiphany, Arco
Save Harbor
Lighthouse that brings peace and comfort to all
Center grounded in the spirit
