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In this edition of ENews:
- Virtual Advent Calendar is now live
- Bishop Visits St. Michaels and All Angels, Fort Bragg
- Christ Church, Eureka builds (Re)Start Bins for Advent Project
- Tips to keep your Christmas Tree safe
- Tips to reduce your carbon footprint this holiday season
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From the Office of the Bishop | |
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2022 Diocesan Advent Calendar is now live!
Each day, you'll be able to view a message for the day, featuring clergy and guests from around the diocese, plus a few surprises.
Visit the calendar here: norcalepiscopal.org.
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Clergy and Church Leaders:
With Christmas just a few weeks away, we want to remind you to make sure your Christmas Service Schedule is updated on your church voicemail, social media, and website.
Please send a copy of your service schedule to: communications@norcalepiscopal.org
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Missioner for Church Life | |
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Bishop Makes Official Visit to St. Michael and
All Angels in Fort Bragg
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Above: Bishop Megan with clergy and members of St. Michael's and All Angels
Bottom Left: Bishop Megan with Randy Knutson, priest-in-charge, and The Rev. Tansy Chapman, assisting priest.
Bottom Right: A view of the beautiful sanctuary of St. Michael and All Angels
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On Sunday, December 4 – Advent 2 – Bishop Megan travelled to Fort Bragg to worship, preach, and visit with the clergy and members of St. Michael and All Angels Church. The bishop was assisted by the Rev. Laurie Warren, deacon from St. John's Petaluma. | |
Christ Church, Eureka takes on building (Re)Start Bins for Advent Project | |
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Left: A full board of (Re)Start Shopping Stickies at the beginning of the campaign.
Right: After just one week, shopping lists are almost all gone and two bins are already filled!
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From Steve Preston, Senior Warden –
Here are some photos of our Project (Re)Start Bathroom Bins display for our Advent Project. Our team member Nellie Thompson pulled the display together and we had it up the Sunday before Advent 1 (Nov. 20). The shopping stickies were an idea borrowed from Mother Geri at St. Francis in Fortuna.
After the official start on Nov. 27, all but about 16 stickies (out of 90) had been taken, and two of the empty bins were already filling up! We’re planning to begin collecting for five Bedroom Bins after these.
Separately, we are also collecting pajamas for children, tweens, and teens for the Betty Chinn Homeless Foundation and blessing fleece blankets for the Foster Children Resource Center this coming Sunday.
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St. Alban's, Arcata Plants 50 Redwood Seedlings | |
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On Saturday, November 26, a team from St. Alban's planted 50 redwood seedlings at Essex Ranch - owned by Senior Warden Rick Timmons. Parishioners purchased the seedlings in the spring to raise funds for their Creation Care committee's landscape project to reduce their carbon footprint and create a welcoming environment at the church. A total of $1,250 was raised!
St. Alban's planting team:
Dan Scofield, Sr. Warden Rick Timmons, Karen Eckersley, Mary Bockover, the Rev. Nancy Streufert, Jan Ramsey
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Missioner for Disaster Resilience | |
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Don’t Invite Trouble for the holidays –
Christmas Tree Safety Tips (courtesy of CalFire)
If you are using a natural tree in your holiday decorating, please remember the following:
- Keep the cut end of the tree trunk in water (floral preservative powder added to the water is fine)
- The tree may take a gallon of water per day
- Never let the water drop below the cut surface of the trunk
- Move the tree at least 3 feet away from heat sources (monitors, fireplaces, wood stoves, space heaters, etc.)
- Use only UL approved electrical decorations
- If you notice the tree dropping needles, consider removing or replacing it – even if Christmas hasn’t happened yet
- A dry tree is an extreme fire hazard, and the beauty isn’t worth the threat to your home
This is the time of year when a house fire is most likely to happen. Be smart about your celebration and keep making good memories this Christmas season.
Peace,
Mark
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Now is the time to support the many ministries in the The Bishop's Partnership Appeal Book of Dreams!
Click Here to give.
Making a difference has never been so easy!
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Click here to download this image. | |
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Thursday Night at the Cathedral
Advent Formation
Join us for an evening service in the cathedral at 6:00 pm. Then eat together in the Assembly Area. (Bring bag dinner) At 7:00 pm hear a brief talk about Advent and then join in on a discussion.
December 1 | The Rev. Kathy Hopner speaks on Hope
December 8 | The Rev. Jim Richardson speaks on Peace
December 15 | The Very Rev. Matthew Woodward speaks on Joy
December 22 | Sister Kelly Dunlap speaks on Love
A beautiful way to prepare for the birth of the Christ child.
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Commission for Intercultural Ministries | |
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'Tis the season to reduce your carbon footprint
As we anticipate Christmas and the joyful arrival of Jesus’ birth, it is a festive time filled with preparations for celebration with family and friends. This is also a time that can mean a heavy carbon burden for our environment caused by the increase in garbage including plastics that usually end up in greenhouse-gas-emitting landfills or waste incinerators that produce carbon emissions.
Here are a few tips to help us lessen that impact:
- Make homemade gifts
- Buy gifts locally
- Consolidate trips to the mall
- Use recycled or reusable wrapping paper
- Consolidate shipments into as few as possible to cut down on delivery trips
- Gift things that are needed
- Gift an experience
- Donate to a charity in their name
During this very special season let’s accept the invitation to do what we can to be more friendly to our precious creation.
In gratitude,
The Commission on the Environment
Information source:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/03/us/green-holiday-gift-giving-climate
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Opportunities for Advocacy – Action Needed
Congress is back in session and poised to consider, and even pass, significant legislation that that the Episcopal Church has advocated for this year. In this final month of the current session, it’s imperative that we advocate for these issues that directly affect our efforts to build the Beloved Community in Northern California.
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The Key issues include:
Select the issues that interest you and Click on them. You will be taken to the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations Action Alert. There you can easily write to your legislators and advocate for this vital legislation.
For more information contact Bob Wohlsen, Advocacy Team member, bob.wohlsen@gmail.com
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Upcoming Events around the Diocese | |
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Compass Quartet Concert
Sunday, December 18 | 3:00 pm
Red Bluff | St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
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Job Opportunities Around The Diocese | |
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St. Clement's | Rancho Cordova is seeking a 3/4 time Priest-in-Charge.
See the position description here.
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St. Paul's | Sacramento is seeking a Music Director.
Read the job announcement here.
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Diocesan Commissions | Committees | Ministries | |
The ENews is published weekly on Tuesdays.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
www.norcalepiscopal.org
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