ECF Vital Practices

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
--Psalm 51:11

The journey to finding a spiritual home is a deeply personal one. For many, The Episcopal Church has become that place of refuge, growth, and community. In our latest blog, Jacob Sierra explores findings from the latest Episcopal Pulse survey that asked how people found The Episcopal Church. Read more here: https://bit.ly/46sGxyI

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“ Porque, del mismo modo, el Hijo del hombre
no vino para que le sirvan, sino para servir y para dar su vida en rescate por una multitud.”
--Mateo 20:28

Our Ministry Tip this week is to consider “safe parking” as a ministry, from a blog by the Rev. Anna Olson. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4c2YTYf

“...just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life a ransom for many.”

--Matthew 20:28

Our Ministry Tip this week comes from a Vital Practices blog written by the Rev. Sandy Webb on the ancient practice of gleaning. Read how this pertains to your church and community: https://bit.ly/3YmWLYt

To receive ECF news, events and features and to subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, click here: https://bit.ly/2Xkqsf4

In our latest blog, the Rev. Ken Howard makes some suggestions for those congregations that would like to attract young families. Read them here: https://bit.ly/4d3HAat

Ese hombre es como un árbol
plantado a la orilla de un río,
que da su fruto a su tiempo
y jamás se marchitan sus hojas.
¡Todo lo que hace, le sale bien!

--Salmos 1:3

Our ministry tip this week is to consider using church land to help the homeless. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3LlKM5w

They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season,
with leaves that do not wither;
everything they do shall prosper.
--Psalm 1:3

“We have got to figure out how to be a diocese in a different way. And the first step is telling the truth about that.” –The Rt. Rev. Michael Hunn. Earlier this year, Episcopal Bishops joined ECF to share their experiences and honest thoughts on the challenges facing their congregations, and our denomination as a whole. How can dioceses remain vibrant and vital in the face of shifting societal and congregational trends? Click here to hear their thoughts! https://bit.ly/4aNYpog

The July issue of the ECF newsletter is here! Read about an exciting new grant for Vital Practices, the expansion of our online endowment management resource center, view a short video celebrating ECF’s 75 years and more: https://bit.ly/3Wi041E

También han oído que se dijo: “Ama a tu prójimo y odia a tu enemigo.” Pero yo les digo: Amen a sus enemigos, y oren por quienes los persiguen.
--Mateo 5:43-44

Continuing our month's focus on mission, this week's Ministry Tip is to share your God-given gifts fully. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4eTXl5C

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
--Matthew 5:43-44

Earlier this year, Episcopal Bishops joined ECF to share their experiences and honest thoughts on the challenges facing their congregations, and our denomination as a whole. How can dioceses remain vibrant and vital in the face of shifting societal and congregational trends? Click here to hear their thoughts! https://bit.ly/4aNYpog

Summer has arrived and it's an ideal time to focus on endowment and financial management tasks. To help you make the most of the summer, we’ve created a Summer Checklist for Your Church’s Endowment Management. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4cIiAFE

Yo espero al Señor
más que los centinelas a la mañana.
--Salmos 130:6

This month, ECF's Ministry Tips will focus on mission. Our first tip comes from a blog by the Rev. Alan Bentrup, read it here: https://bit.ly/3zyDaK9

My soul waits for the Lord,
more than watchmen for the morning
--Psalm 130:5

In our latest blog, the Rev. Greg Syler proposes that “we need a broader understanding of various types of churches, and permission to adjust and adapt church types as communities invariably shift.” He explains that the Diocese of Lincoln in England did a deep dive in 2021 and came up with four different types of churches. Read more about their study here: https://bit.ly/3KJLkSq

The Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe has been elected the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church at General Convention. ECF congratulates Bishop Rowe and prays for him and his family in this new undertaking.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024 - The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, bishop of the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York, was elected and confirmed the 28th presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church on June 26 for a nine-year term beginning Nov. 1. Read the release here: https://mailchi.mp/episcopalchurch/the-rt-rev-sean-rowe-elected-28th-presiding-bishop-of-the-episcopal-church-in-english-spanish-french?e=[UNIQID]

Photo credit: Randall Gornowich -
Bishop Sean Rowe walks with bishop colleagues to Christ Church Cathedral, Louisville, KY for the election of the 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church on the morning of June 26, 2024.

ECF announces receipt of a leadership grant from Trinity Church in New York City for its Vital Practices Digital Faith Initiative. This grant will enable ECF to enhance its current web-based resource – ECF Vital Practices – https://bit.ly/3R1IZ9Q ­– by creating a more robust transformative digital platform that builds practical leadership skills and connects faith leaders to innovative, spiritually-grounded ministry resources. For more information, click here: https://bit.ly/3W04IAU

“El que los recibe a ustedes,
me recibe a mí;
y el que me recibe a mí,
recibe al que me envió.”
--Mateo 10:40

Our last ministry tip this month on the topic of outreach is from a blog by the Rev. Lisa G. Fischbeck. It suggests that we "make 'love of neighbor' visible". Read the full tip here: https://bit.ly/3xmOh8C