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Approximately every 18 months Bishop Wayne Smith visits all of the parishes and missions of the diocese. He preaches and presides; meets with the vestry, chapter, or bishop's committee; and often visits or teaches during forum or formation time. Many congregations schedule baptisms, confirmations, dedications, or special blessings during his visit.
Visitations are scheduled with the Bishop's assistant Susan Wegner. More detailed information on visitation forms and the customary is available in the Forms Library, under the Governance navigation tab on this website. You can find upcoming visitations on the online calendar, and in our weekly iSeek newsletter.
When the Bishop is visiting, a special collection is taken during the Offertory. The Communications Office assistant Tracy Grigsby sends envelopes and half-page bulletin inserts for this offering.
The Bishop’s Visitation Offering is designated for the mission of the Diocese of Missouri:
Both far off . . . .
Our partners in Lui Diocese are eager to build a Diocesan Conference Center where people
can come from all around the Church in Lui to teach and learn, to be together, and to
collaborate. Half of the offering will go toward supporting this priority of theirs.
And near . . . .
Pockets of dire need and poverty exist within the borders of the Diocese of Missouri,
in urban locales and rural. Half of the offering will go toward seed money for mission
within our own diocese.
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples
of the earth, and sent your blessed Son
to preach peace to those who are far off
and to those who are near:
Grant that people everywhere may seek after you
and find you; bring the nations into your fold;
pour out your Spirit upon all flesh;
and hasten the coming of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-Book of Common Prayer, page 257
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