February 8, 2022 | Week of 5 Epiphany
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In this edition of ENews:
- Bishop Visits St. Brigid's in Rio Vista
- More Resources for celebrating Black History Month
- Save the Date – Growing: Faith, Food, Community
- Save the Date – WordFest!
- Music Ministry Grant Opportunity
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Bishop Megan visits St. Brigid's in Rio Vista |
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On Sunday, February 6, Bishop Megan traveled to St. Brigid's in Rio Vista for her first official visit. The Bishop was assisted by the Rev. Sandy Hannold, Deacon, and The Very Rev. Perry Polk, Dean of Wingfield Deanery.
Following the worship service, the Bishop met and shared lunch with the vestry and parishioners. Thank you for your hospitality and fellowship!
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Top left: Bishop Megan with Deacon Sandy Hannold
Top right: Bishop Megan and Perry Polk, Dean of Wingfield Deanery
Bottom: Bishop Megan, Senior Warden Karin Zilla, and parishioners gather for lunch
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Amplifying Black Voices
Do your services intentionally include diverse voices?
As we enter the second week of Black History Month, one of the most powerful gifts is to amplify the voices of minorities. Here are a few ideas:
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Lift Every Voice and Sing II (LEVAS II) is an Episcopal hymnal designed to lift up African-American voices of praise. #41 is a great pick for your Easter service!
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The Diocese of Atlanta recently introduced an alternative Episcopal worship gathering called Imagine Church. Click here to see how they amplify Black voices and experience in their winter service.
- Finally, Faith (Cameron Park) is planning a Sacred Ground Sunday for their celebration of Pentecost. Their work with racial reconciliation offers some important insights as we receive the Spirit and as we hear the sound of diverse voices as a sign of the Spirit's presence.
Perhaps your congregation could plan something similar? Let us know how you’re planning to include and amplify diverse voices in your gatherings!
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The Rev. Grace Flint, Assistant Rector at St. John the Evangelist, Chico, has accepted a call to serve as priest-in-charge of St. Francis Episcopal Church in North Bellmore, New York. Her last service at St. John's will be Ash Wednesday.
Please join us in wishing Rev. Grace a fond farewell and Godspeed in her new position!
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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
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.
Details and registration available soon.
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WordFest!
Saturday, April 23
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.
Morning session: Discovery
We will be joined by two scholars who will help us with our exploration:
Dr. Lindy Williams of Fuller Theological Seminary (an expert on Ezekiel) and The Rev. Daniel London, Rector of Christ Church, Eureka (an expert on the Gospel of John). They will be helping us to see how our own close reading of the passages, and their relationship to each other, can help us to a deepened appreciation of the grand story of the Bible, the story of God and his people.
Afternoon session: Delivery
Trinity Cathedral Vergers will share effective strategies to build confidence in preparing for and reading the scriptures in both live and online settings.
Details on registration will be coming soon.
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Have you completed the Annual Communication Survey yet? |
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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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Rebuilding Dreams
Mark G. Dibelka
Missioner for Disaster Resilience
Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
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When the disaster is past and the recovery has commenced, the Diocese of Northern California stays to help.
As far too many of us have learned, disasters aren’t over when the emergency response vehicles leave. Case in point, The Diocese and St. John's, Chico, have been deeply engaged with assisting the communities that were devastated by the Camp Fire in 2018.
Recently, the Diocese was asked to help a family rebuild their “forever home” in Magalia that was lost in the conflagration.
Before the fire, this couple enjoyed a debt-free, semi-retirement in a modest two-bedroom 1,300 square foot home. The Camp Fire destroyed everything they owned, including the small business they operated from their home.
While volunteer construction has been promised to rebuild their home, the funds needed for materials, permits, fees, etc. seemed insurmountable.
Humbly, this couple approached the Camp Fire Collaborative Unmet Needs Roundtable and asked for assistance on their journey to recovery. The Diocese, in partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development, and St. John’s, Chico, joined with other generous funders at the roundtable and helped to fund the entire cost of rebuilding the dreams of these survivors.
All members of the Episcopal Church can reflect on the loving relief that has been given as we work together to be the hands and feet of Christ in Northern California.
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It's Phishing Season Again! |
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The scammers are at it again. Just a reminder that Bishop Megan will never email you with a mysterious request for support or money. Check the email address "The Bishop" is sending from. If you are unsure, please contact communications@norcalepiscopal.org. Do Not Reply to Bogus emails.
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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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Invite Welcome Connect
Goes Digital!
Wednesday, February 9
12:00pm - 1:30pm
The gathering will focus on two topics:
How do we Welcome and Connect those who are on our congregation's Digital Front Porch, those whose initial contacts are online and invisible?
How do we Re-Connect with parishioners who are no longer as active as they were in their pre-pandemic faith communities?
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To register and learn more, visit the Invite Welcome Connect website.
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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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The Book of Forgiving – Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Reverend Mpho Tutu
Begins Tuesday, February 15 9:45 am – 10: 45am
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Chair of The Elders, and Chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, along with his daughter, the Reverend Mpho Tutu, offer a manual on the art of forgiveness—helping us to realize that we are all capable of healing and transformation.
Contact Susan Hotchkiss
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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 13, Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 6:17-26
The Beatitudes in Matthew (5:1-11) are better known than the form found in our passage in Luke. The similarities and differences require careful study. Luke’s version, which includes a set of woes as well as a set of blessings, has clear roots in Old Testament teaching. It is not surprising that the Psalm appointed for today is Psalm 1, which is one of the sources of the “two ways” tradition in Jewish and Christian teaching (The way that leads to life, and the way that leads to death).
On the differences between the versions in Matthew and Luke, we notice that Matthew 5 reads “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” whereas Luke has simply. “Blessed are you who are poor.” Both have the promise of the kingdom. The word used for “poor” in Greek has an interesting history. In classical Greek, this word was used to designate a destitute person. When it was used in the Greek Old Testament, it translates several Hebrew words for ‘poor”. It designated not simply a person who had nothing, but someone who, having nothing, looks to God for everything. One example is Psalm 34:6 “This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble.” And we recall the importance of the preaching of the good news to the poor (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18 – see the exploration for January 23).
That is the sense of the word as we find it in both Matthew 5 and Luke 6. It is at once deeply theological, and deeply practical, and it points to a life rooted and grounded in the Lord.
– The Rev. Peter Rodgers
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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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Sponsor Circles Forming to meet the Urgent needs of our Afghan Allies
The Afghan Resettlement Team is very grateful to announce that three parishes in the Diocese are exploring and moving forward toward the formation of Sponsor Circles to welcome and resettle Afghan families in their communities. The Team is facilitating the development of these Circles. More Sponsor Circles are needed to enable the refugees remaining in the military Safe Havens to finally settle into their new community and restart their lives. Our Team urges you to consider organizing a Circle in your church or community.
For more information about Sponsor Circles read here or contact:
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New Sacred Ground Circle Begins March 3 |
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A new Sacred Ground Circle open to anyone in the Diocese begins March 3, 2022. The circle will meet weekly via Zoom from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays (except during Holy Week).
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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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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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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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