Shirley Bolden, Secretary We are Episcopal Church Women of all ages, ethnic origins and socioeconomic backgrounds who hold a variety of views. However, the common denominator of our members is love of God and the wish to do His work. Centered in congregations, the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) empowers women to do Christ’s ministry in the world. Our vision for all women of the Episcopal Church is that we become a vibrant blend of all ages, coming together as a peacemaking, healing part of the Church. We aspire to be a God spark-shining and sharing the love of Christ. Episcopal Church Women – Diocese of West Missouri Continuing Education Scholarship Fund For the year 2021-2022 five applicants received funding for continued education: Krista Heuett, Postulant for Holy Orders, Seminary of the Southwest Katherine Mansfield, Postulant for Priesthood, The University of the South, Sewanee, TN JoAnn (Jody) Carroll, postulant for the Priesthood, Bishop Kemper School of Ministry Barbara Wegener, candidate for the Diaconate, Bishop Kemper School of Ministry Brittany Sparrow-Savage—candidate to Diaconate/Priesthood, Bishop Kemper School of Ministry . Church Periodical Club  (Sponsored by National ECW) www.churchperiodical.com The National Books Fund is the older of the two funds within the Church Periodical Club. NBF has limited itself primarily to books and related materials for adults since the advent of the Miles of Pennies Fund. Grant requests come from schools, libraries, individuals, agencies, and parishes throughout the Anglican Communion. Funds to cover the requests are donated by individuals, parishes, dioceses, and provinces. Receipts from ingathering’s conducted in parishes on CPC Sundays are designated for NBF as are returns from an NBF endowment fund. Friends of CPC are encouraged to contribute regularly to the fund or to sponsor specific requests for books. How does the fund work? The NATIONAL BOOKS FUND (NBF) holds all money donated specifically for the purchase of books. The money is donated by individuals, parishes, dioceses, and provinces. It is the one corporate effort of CPC, and all CPC organizations are urged to make regular contributions or to sponsor specific grant requests. There is a National Books Endowment Fund whose income is fed into the NBF. What can be covered? Grants are made for books, magazines, audio and video materials and computer software. The specific materials are determined and purchased by the recipients. Materials may be religious or secular but must be used within the mission of the Church. One of the seminarian from our Diocese, Ryan Zavacky received $200.00 from the Church Periodical Funds. What cannot be covered? NBF Grants are not given for equipment, (such as projectors, computers, or shelves) operating expenses, (such as postage and stationery) or for the production of material (such as translations or printing).  National Books Fund Guidelines  NBF Application Form United Thank Offering:  (Sponsored by National ECW) April 25, 2022 Office of Public Affairs More than $1 million in United Thank Offering grants—designated for 22 projects related to creation care within The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion—was approved by the church’s Executive Council during its April meeting. The funds came from the United Thank Offering’s 2021 Ingathering, where monies collected in UTO “blue boxes” at Episcopal churches throughout the year are gathered as thank offerings. This year’s focus for grant applications was “Care of Creation: Turning love into action by caring for God’s creation to protect the most vulnerable—who will bear the largest burden of pollution and climate change—through justice, advocacy, environmental reparations, or the development of fundamental materials.” The UTO Board received about $1.8 million in requests from 42 applications. It was able to fund eight projects within The Episcopal Church and four projects from dioceses that receive block grants from General Convention; eight projects within the Anglican Communion; and two historical grants. Please use this link https://www.episcopalchurch.org/united-thank-offering. We are happy to help you get started. Thank you to everyone who, through their personal spiritual discipline of gratitude, contributed to the 2022 Ingathering. The Diocese of West Missouri contributed $2,997.51 to the UTO in 2022. Please make all future checks out to the Diocese of West Missouri and in the Memo area on the check please put UTO.  You may mail the checks to the Diocesan Office to the Attention of Elaine Gilligan. We continue to support the Province VII and National Episcopal Church Women with annual donations. To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.