February 15, 2022 | Week of 6 Epiphany
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In this edition of ENews:
- Bishop Visits Holy Trinity, Willows
- More Resources for celebrating Black History Month
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Save the Dates – Growing: Faith, Food, Community and WordFest!
- Building a Church Preparedness Team
- and much more!
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Bishop Megan visits Holy Trinity, Willows |
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On Sunday, February 13, Bishop Megan traveled to Holy Trinity Church in Willows for her first official visit. The Bishop was assisted by the Rev. Dan Boeger, Deacon.
In addition to preaching and celebrating the Eucharist, the Bishop confirmed Banks Cole as a member of the Church, and celebrated the 100th birthday of parishioner Marge Weems.
Congratulations, and thank you for your hospitality and faithful ministry.
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Top left: The sanctuary at Holy Trinity, Willows
Bottom Left: Deacon Dan Boeger, Marge Weems and Bishop Megan. Prayers for Marge's 100th birthday!
Right: Bishop Megan with Banks Cole and his family.
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Subscribe to Racial Reconciliation
February is Black History Month, but the Church’s work to repair the breach caused by racism goes on year-round. Why not add these Episcopal newsletters to your inbox so you can stay informed and engaged too?
The Brave Space News - Dr. Catherine Meeks
From the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing
Racial Reconciliation Ministry
From The Episcopal Church
Becoming Beloved Community
From the Commission for Intercultural Ministries
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2022 Clergy Conference
May 10 - 12 | Trinity Cathedral
Worship, Fellowship, and Learning
Registration is Now Open
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Growing: Faith, Food, Community
Saturday, April 2, 2022
9:30 am - 3:00pm
St. Martin's Church, Davis
Mark your calendar for a one-day gathering to explore and celebrate the use of church grounds for growing food whether through community gardens, soup kitchens, beekeeping, and more.
Full Details and registration available next week.
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Does your church have a garden?
We want to include your church in our inventory gardens in the diocese! We'd love to hear about it (and see photos). Please contact Maria Ramirez at maria@norcalepiscopal.org
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WordFest!
Saturday, April 23 | 9am - 2:30pm
On Zoom
WordFest! is a day of study, learning and reflection to encourage and empower Lay Leaders in our parishes (Lay Preachers, Lay Readers, Bible study leaders, etc.) to gain a better understanding of the lectionary readings and the connection between them.
WordFest! is comprised of two sessions, entirely on Zoom.
Details on registration will be coming soon.
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Annual Communication Survey Closes Soon |
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The Annual Survey of Diocese Communications is now available online.
Findings from the survey help the Office of the Bishop to better understand your needs, and how we can improve communications across the diocese. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts.
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Building a Church Preparedness Team
Mark G. Dibelka
Missioner for Disaster Resilience
Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
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No matter where we are, there is always the potential for the unexpected. It is simple routine that lulls us into not being ready when the bad thing happens.
When we think of disaster, we like to think big, but remember a heart attack during worship can be a bigger disaster for a congregation than an earthquake in the middle of the week. Now is the time to start building a preparedness team in your congregation. To start this process, consider the following:
- Think through what disasters and emergencies are most likely to affect your church. For instance, it’s more likely that a fire will occur than a zombie apocalypse!
- Having several different voices in the room is helpful during the planning stage. Members with special needs may have a unique perspective to offer the group.
- Having strong support from congregational leadership is important in obtaining support from the rest of the congregation. The Rector or Senior Warden can be very helpful in framing the disaster preparedness as ministry (which it truly is).
Please, take this time, when you think it may be “quiet” to look at your church and how it ministers to its members and the community when bad things are happening. Help your congregation to be that light to the world that the darkness cannot overcome.
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General Convention committees to welcome public to first-ever online legislative hearings
BY DAVID PAULSEN
Posted Feb 4, 2022
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[Episcopal News Service] some of their hearings online for the first time, beginning Feb. 17.The pandemic prompted dramatic changes in how The Episcopal Church will conduct its 80th General Convention – starting with its schedule. After a one-year delay, bishops and deputies will meet in person July 7-14 in Baltimore, Maryland, but there’s no need to wait until July in Baltimore to offer input on resolutions. Committees are holding
Some committees already have met on Zoom to organize themselves and to begin reviewing any resolutions already submitted. Episcopalians and other interested members of the public can sign up to observe those online meetings, and registration is now open to testify at online hearings, through a process set up by the General Convention Office.
“I believe the good work we are seeing now, and the extra hours our deputies and bishops are spending before we gather in Baltimore, will greatly enhance our ability to discuss issues important to the church’s mission and ministry,” the Rev. Michael Barlowe, the General Convention secretary, told Episcopal News Service by email.
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St. James Music Press Launches Music Ministry Renewal Grant |
SJMP will award a grant to a church starting or revitalizing a music program. Elements awarded in the grant include -
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Complimentary 1-Year Membership to St. James Music Press
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$1000 - To support ministry needs
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Quarterly program consultations with SJMP colleagues meant to help recipients maximize their SJMP membership, discuss program challenges, and celebrate/build upon program successes.
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The Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Diocese of California, will be on a zoom call Thursday, February 17 7:00-8:30 pm to talk about his book Brothers in the Beloved Community: The Friendship of Thich Nhat Hanh and Martin Luther King, Jr.
You do not have to be part of the group that has been reading the book to attend.
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Dispelling the Darkness
Region 7 Epiphany Conference
February 18–19, 2022
Epiphany is perfect season for refreshment before Lent begins. We invite you to join us as The Rev. Sarah Bronos presents the message of Dispelling the Darkness. There will be breakout rooms for discussion and prayer, and we will enjoy worship led by The Rev. Dr. Bob Johnson from Ascension Church in Orlando, Florida.
There is no fee for the conference, and donations are welcomed.
You can register clicking here.
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February 20, 2022 | Seventh Sunday after Epiphany | Luke 6:27-38
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.
Here is a hard saying of Jesus. It is hard not because we do not understand it, but because we understand it only too well. N.T. Wright says this saying is “all about a glorious, uproarious, absurd generosity.”
It is true that some near equivalents may be found in the teaching of Plato or in the book of Leviticus 19:18, but nothing quite reaches to Jesus’ radical kingdom teaching to love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you. His logic is that this is what God is like (Luke 6:35-36) and this is how he treated us when we were “enemies” (Romans 5:10).
I remember when I was the Rector of St. John’s, New Haven, Connecticut, a distinguished Yale English professor in my congregation told me that when he was first beginning his career in the 1930’s, many of his contemporaries were being drawn away from their Christian roots into different movements like Humanism or Marxism, etc. He commented to me that he too felt the tug. But this radical teaching of Jesus to love your enemies was one of the things that kept him faithful in his Christian belief. “This was something truly different.” He said.
This unique and transformative teaching of Jesus, which he both taught and lived (Luke 23:34), has that appeal in our day, and in any age.
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The latest conversation on 1 Peter is now posted on the Center for Bible Study website. It features The Rev. Peter Rodgers in conversation with Professor Brian Lucas, who taught courses in New Testament and C.S. Lewis for a number of years at William Jessup University in Rocklin, and is a Lay Preacher at St. Andrew's, Antelope.
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Episcopal Relief & Development is offering the 2022 Lenten Meditations material either online or by a downloadable PDF format.
Here is a link to the pdf file:
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Living Well Through Lent 2022
Free Lenten Resource for your Congregation. Provided through the Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health.
To order, contact:
Susan Wahlstrom, Coordinator
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Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health |
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NEW! Healing and Health Ministries Mini-Grants
The Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health received funds from Episcopal Health Ministries for use in our Diocese. Episcopal Community Services matched those funds. In partnership we are offering Mini-Grants in the amount of $100-$500 and can be applied for throughout 2022.
These grants can be utilized for:
- Health resources for congregations or for workshops and forums
- Trainings, for example: Stephen Ministry, Parish Nurse training, Living Compass
- To attend conferences
- Honoraria for Speakers on Health &/or Healing
- Special Projects
Click here for the Mini Grant Application form.
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Commission for Intercultural Ministries |
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Sacramento Resettlement Agencies Welcoming Several Hundred Afghan Refugees in February
The five Sacramento based resettlement agencies are operating in high gear as they continue to resettle Afghan families in Sacramento, and at the same time, welcome several hundred new arrivals to the city in February. World Relief, one of our resettlement partners, has put out an urgent call for dining room tables and chairs, couches, and small dressers and end tables. Email World Relief at sacramentogik@wr.org for the details about donating furniture.
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St. Mary's Napa to Start Afghan Sponsor Circle |
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St. Mary’s | Napa along with friends at the American Muslim Society of Napa, and support of community members are working together to start a Sponsor Circle to support the resettlement of a family of refugees from Afghanistan in our community.
What is a Sponsor Circle?
Sponsor Circles are a new program where community members around the US assist the refugee resettlement agencies to help raise money and provide logistical support to a family. Given the influx of thousands of Afghan families and limited staff resources, many thousands of families are still waiting on military bases for permanent placement in communities. Learn more about Sponsor Circles at this website: https://www.sponsorcircles.org/
How can you help?
We need to raise $2,275 per person in the family we support. You can make a tax deductible gift to our Afghan Refugee Support fund by using the Donate Now button here. Make sure to choose “Afghan Refugee Support” from the drop down menu of funds.
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Job Opportunities around the Diocese |
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The Office of the Bishop is seeking a Missioner for Evangelism, Discipleship, & Congregational Vitality.
Do you have a heart for the Gospel and Christian formation? Want to equip congregations of all sizes to be thriving worship communities? Apply to join our staff team! Successful applicant may be ordained or lay.
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Grace Church | St. Helena is seeking an Interim Priest in Charge Under Special Circumstances (Sabbatical). Read more here.
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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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All Saints | Sacramento is looking for a part-time Office/Administrative Assistant. Read the job posting here.
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St. Michael’s | Carmichael is seeking an Assistant Rector. Read the job announcement here.
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St. Patrick's | Kenwood is seeking an Organist/Pianist. Click here for more information.
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St. Paul's | Sacramento is seeking a Music Director.
Read the job announcement here.
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St. Paul’s | Benicia is seeking a Contemporary Music Leader
For more information, click here.
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The Prayer Residency at The Bishop’s Ranch has openings in 2023! Be a part of the worldwide circle of prayer and live at the beautiful Ranch. Residents lead daily morning and evening prayer at the Ranch in exchange for room and board. They typically serve for a month and lead brief contemplative prayer services in the chapel preceded by a half hour of silent meditation. This is a great opportunity for a retired person or someone on sabbatical or with a writing or research project. Lay people and clergy are invited to learn more and if interested, please submit an application. https://www.bishopsranch.org/job-openings/prayer-resident-program/
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Diocesan Commissions | Committees | Ministries |
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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
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