Trinity Wall Street is funding up to five proposals for $25,000 for new sites to develop young adult residential service programs sponsored by Episcopal congregations, dioceses, or affiliated organizations. Find out more on the Trinity website.

Education for Ministry (EFM) is that added level of learning about our Baptismal Vows that over four years of study and group discussion dives deeply into the Bible, church history and theology. The Rev. Dr. George Martin is a co-mentor for two groups. One will meet at St. Stephen’s in Edina starting at 6:30pm on Mondays, and the other will meet on Saturday mornings somewhere in Minneapolis. If you’re interested in either group or have questions send email to geoinmn@frontiernet.net or call 651-216-2329. There is a charge of $340 for the excellent materials and connection to EFM through the Seminary of the South. NOW is the time to call and register.

CareForTheTroops is a not-for-profit interfaith effort designed to address the spiritual and psychological needs of military families while working with congregations to make them more welcoming and understanding of the issues these families face. Visit the website to find out more.

Receiving a $1000 grant from the Sheltering Arms Foundation allowed Holy Apostles Episcopal Church to further deepen their relationship and support of Community School of Excellence (CSE), a Hmong charter school on the east side of St. Paul. Holy Apostles, a majority Hmong congregation, decided it would use the grant money to provide a small stipend to parishioners who would give of their time to the school. John (not his real name), a 19 year old Hmong parishioner, has become a steady presence in a classroom of 5th graders, helping in whatever ways the teacher needs him. Being fluent in Hmong and English, John is able to assist the children so that real learning can take place. And not only has he helped these children, but his life has been changed as well. "This has been an eye opening experience," says John. "Before working at CSE, I thought I wanted to be a dental hygienist. Now I think I might want to become a teacher."

A note from Bishop Jelinek, "As 16,000 Minnesota Army National Guard members are being deployed to Iraq until February 2010, I want to urge all of us to be particularly mindful of them, pray for their safety, and attend to their families in our midst. The Episcopal Center maintains a prayer list of those members of your congregations now serving. Send us their names and we will post the prayer list on our prayer blog. No matter what our views about how we got into this war and occupation, our soldiers did not cause it, are serving our country honorably, and deserve our prayers."

June 24: Ordinations to the transitional diaconate for the Hastings Total Ministry will be Wednesday, June 24 at 7 pm at St. Luke's Hastings. Bishop Jelinek will preside.

June 27: Barb Fairbanks and Dana Emery will be Ordained on Saturday, June 27 at the Department of Indian Work (DIW) Convocation at St. John's, Onigum. Bishop Jelinek will preside.

July 23: Ordinations to the transitional diaconate, St. Mark's Cathedral, Minneapolis. Bishop Jelinek will preside.

On February 19, several new members of the Spirit of the Lakes Ministry Team were ordained, including Joe Piette, priest, Annie Henninger, priest, and Lizette Barber, catechist. As reported by the Rev. Pat Gillespie, "one bishop, one deacon, eight priests, seven lay people one team one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all .."