Lost … and Found

Here we are in the season of Lent.

Some years ago, when working as the Diocesan youth coordinator, I kept a bowl of M and M’s in the office. A bright cheerful treat for anyone coming in. Needless to say, fair amounts were consumed by yours truly. Hospitality is an important ministry to and for me. When emerging from Advent and Christmas, transitioning into Lent with the ever present question, “What am I going to give up?” I was Lost in the wilderness. I was not healthy nor taking care of myself.

In the midst of ministry, overload and on the brink of ‘burn out’, it struck me that it wasn’t about giving something up, rather about living fully into Christ. Rather than giving something up, what if we were to consider taking something on, something like self care, taking care of one’s self in order to be fully present for whatever comes next? The M and M’s are not the only option for hospitality, being healthy, able to listen and fully present is the greatest hospitality there is. It is easy to get lost in the wilderness. It is in finding our way, being willing to grasp God’s hand and walk with God that we find our way through the wilderness.

What does this hand look like? It can look like our neighbor, our sisters, friends and others in shared ministry who are there to say, hey let me help you, you do not need to make this journey alone. I, we are here with you, to be fully present, listen, help find answers, and walk with you on this journey. It is with this in mind that your Provincial ECW has set up resources to help navigate through this changing ministry, to provide technological resource to ease some of the burden and to be here for you.

Do you feel lost? Unsure where to go next? Please let us walk with you on your journey, in your ministries and together we will prevail over the temptations, the fear and the helplessness that can overcome us. Let us make this journey together.

In Christ’s Name…

Evita M. Krislock
Province VIII President
Episcopal Church Women

I am the new UTO Board Member from Province VIII, having just completed the first year of my three-year term. I was also on the Grants subcommittee of UTO, which is responsible for designing the call for proposals and checking the grant applications for completeness, analyzing their budgets, and judging whether or not they meet the stated criteria. I am also the UTO Diocesan Coordinator for the Diocese of Los Angeles, and the parish UTO Coordinator for Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Irvine, CA. Thus I welcome questions about all aspects of UTO and am very happy to help anyone in Province VIII. Simply email me at tsmecker@cox.net.

UTO grants in 2025 will have the theme of tackling water problems, for example, providing safe and reliable drinking water, building bathing and washing facilities in underserved communities, promoting water conservation and education, etc. The board recently selected the grants to be awarded, and they will be announced in June once approved by the Executive Council. The total amount to be awarded will be $1.08 million.

UTO grants in 2026 will have a focus that moves two different groups beyond dialogue across lines of difference into action that is undertaken together. UTO seeks to fund projects focused on justice and bridging divides. Applications must demonstrate how two formerly disconnected groups will come together to work on a project that produces meaningful change within a local community. The success of these projects may not solely be measured on the expected or hoped for outcomes, but also on the learning and growth that happens as a part of the collective work.

To apply for a UTO grant, see https://unitedthankoffering.com/apply for all the important information and contact your UTO diocesan coordinator to get their help and advice early in the process. Remember that each diocesan bishop can recommend only one UTO grant proposal each year, and a signed bishop’s approval form is a mandatory part of the grant application.
Thus your proposal idea may have to compete at the diocesan level before submission to UTO. Again, contact your diocese early to learn about their specific internal process and to get advice that might greatly improve your chance of success.

In 2024, UTO collected $1.08 million to award as grants, an increase of 8.0% compared to 2023. In 2024, UTO donations from dioceses in Prov VIII totaled $65,027, a decrease of 6.0% compared to 2023. Note that as a Province, we are midrange in giving with Provinces II, III and IV giving more than us, and the other Provinces giving less. Below is a chart showing UTO
donations from Prov VIII dioceses over the last 10 years. Notice that donations are slowly coming back to pre-covid19 levels, but have not quite fully recovered yet. Also following is a map showing the dioceses that increased their contributions from 2023 to 2024 colored in blue, and a table showing the amounts donated by Prov VIII dioceses in 2024 and the change (in percent) from 2023. We want to especially thank and congratulate the Dioceses of Spokane, Los Angeles and Olympia for giving the largest amounts, and the Dioceses of California, San Joaquin, Hawaii and Northern California for more than doubling their 2023 donations! Please keep up the excellent work because every penny of your donations quickly goes out to Episcopalians and Anglicans in the USA and the wider world to make much-needed improvements in their communities! We anticipate that this coming year we will see even more requests from overseas dioceses due to the cessation of funding from USAID.

 

Submitted by: UTO Board Member from Prov VIII – Tammy Smecker-Hane (tsmecker@cox.net)