Wyoming Episcopalians ARE living out the gospel command to feed the hungry and care for the oppressed. Trouble is, most congregations are so physically distant from one another, it’s hard to establish a sense of community, let alone build a network of supportive ministries.

But that’s exactly what Mary Ellen Honsaker, the Jubilee Officer for the Diocese of Wyoming, is intent on doing. Her idea was to invite representatives from Episcopal congregations large and small with active social outreach programs to a weekend-long retreat, “Seeking Jubilation,” at Thomas the Apostle Center, a diocesan-run retreat center in Cody, on the eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park.

"The gathering was meant to put a face on Jubilee Ministry nationally,” Honsaker said. “Churches here are so far apart, and they tend to be fairly independent. So this was a wonderful way to start bringing them all together.”