January 16, 2024

In this edition of ENews:

• Bishop Megan and Canon Julie Learning in London
• A Case for Love only in Selected Theaters on January 23
• Highlights from the latest Board of Trustees Meeting
• Living Compass 2024 Lenten Meditation Booklets are ready to order!

Around the Diocese

Bishop Megan and Canon Julie travel to London for Continuing Education

Bishop Megan and Canon Julie Learn from London

Bishop Megan Traquair and Canon Julie are in London, England for an intensive 10-day study of mission and evangelism in the Diocese of London.

Sponsored by Bexley-Seabury Seminary, the Learning from London program is designed for Bishops and Canons to the Ordinary from the Episcopal Church in the US to learn about the growth of the Anglican church.

Since 1990, the Diocese of London in the Church of England has grown by 70%. This has come about through a combination of dynamic local parish programs, strategic planning for planting and renewing churches, and an inspiring vision set forth by the diocese. All of this has occurred in the midst of one of the world's most diverse, vibrant, cosmopolitan, multi-faith and secularized urban centers. 

We can't wait to hear all the great things Bishop Megan and Canon Julie learned on their trip to London!

The film A Case for Love is scheduled for release on January 23, only in selected theaters

A Case for Love is a heartfelt yet personally challenging movie inspired by the teachings and writings of Bishop Michael Curry, most well-known for his passionate sermon about “The Power of Love” at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 

This documentary examines whether or not love–specifically unselfish love–is the solution to the extreme societal and political divide facing the U.S. 

In the documentary, the film team travels across the U.S. interviewing everyday people from various walks of life and ethnicities, striving to live their lives selflessly. Stories include racial justice, military, foster care, sexual trafficking, love and loss and others as well-known figures including Pete Buttigieg, Al Roker, Sam Waterston, Becca Stevens, Russell Moore, John Danforth, John Clyburn, Kelly Brown Douglas and Jon Meacham weigh in on the issue. Ultimately, Bishop Michael Curry puts what we’ve seen into context.

The viewer is challenged to make their own verdict. Come watch and decide for yourself. 

Click the link to see if the film is in your city! https://acaseforlovemovie.com/theaters/

Office of the Bishop

The Fearless Faith Revival is just over four months away! Here are Revival resources we want you to know about:

Revival Participation Survey is still open through January 31! We'd like as many people as possible to take this brief survey to help us in planning the Revival. Survey Link: https://form.jotform.com/233206969933163



Revival Website: https://www.fearlessfaith2024.org/. In addition to the latest information, you'll find:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Revival Survey
• Flyers, Posters

Share a video testimony with the Revival Worship Planning Team

As we prepare for our April Revival, the Worship Planning team would like to hear where we are seeing loved planted and hope harvested in our Diocese!

We are asking for short (2-3 minute) videos of how you have experienced God’s love and grace in daily life, in the church, or in serving others. We will review all the testimonies we receive for use at the Revival event or in other diocesan events and communications. Emails have gone out to the congregations with more details. Thank you! 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us: revtammy@saintpetersredbluff.org or daniel.london@gmail.com

Save the Date:

Vestry Essentials

Saturday, March 16 | On Zoom

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Board of Trustees

Highlights from the latest Board of Trustees Meeting

This is a short synopsis of what happened at the most recent Board of Trustees meeting. While this is not a full report of our meeting, it does share some of the highlights of our work.

The Board of Trustees kicked off 2024 with a meeting in early January. We welcomed the Rev. Geri Cunningham (from St. Francis in Fortuna) to the Board. Each year the Bishop can appoint one member to the Board and Geri+ will serve in that role.

The Board heard a report on the Racial Justice Audit from Miriam Casey, Lynn Zender and Joann Williams from the Commission of Intercultural Ministries (CIM). After a lengthy discussion about what we learned from the first year’s survey, and plans for implementation of the second year of the audit, the Board created a subgroup to work with CIM to engage and encourage congregational participation and make recommendations to the full Board about the implementation of what we learn from the audit.

The Board also discussed the West Coast Collaborative Episcopal School for Ministry (a combined training program with the Dioceses of El Camino Real, Northern California and San Diego).  We are delighted that the program is in its second year offering training for Deacons and Lay Preachers in both English and Spanish.

The Board also passed a budget for the upcoming Fearless Faith Revival. We hope that you will join us at the Revival in April and invite everyone to check out the website for more details: www.Fearlessfaith2024.org. 

-Margie Harrison-Smith, Vice President



Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health

Living Compass 2024 Lenten Meditation Booklets

are ready to order!

Upcoming Events around the Diocese

Special Annual Event for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 | St. John's Lutheran Church, Sacramento

You are invited to attend a Special Annual Event on Tuesday, January 23 during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Sponsored by the North State Ecumenical Conference (NSEC), which was established in 1968 and is comprised of Christian faiths in the Greater Sacramento Area. The event will consist of the following key segments:

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Panel Discussion - Several Christian faith leaders will address the topic of: How does our faith impact public policy?

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm | Dinner –There is a charge for dinner – RSVP is required.

7:00 pm– 8:00 pm | Worship Prayer Service

Read more

Mostly Third Sunday Concert |

 St. Paul's, Healdsburg

Eric Choate, San Francisco Conservatory of Music professor of choral and organ music, is the guest artist Sunday, January 21, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church's "Mostly Third Sunday" concert, which begins at 5 p.m. Admission is free, while donations to the church's building fund are gratefully accepted.

Choate's program includes 

• Bach's Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 659
• Pièce d'Orgue, BWV 572
• Byron Adams's Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen
• And much more!

Read More

For more information,

call (707) 433-2107 or visit the church website, www.stpauls-healdsburg.org.

San Francisco Conservatory of Music professor of choral and organ music Eric Choate conducts in Ypres, Belgium. Choate performs a free concert of pipe-organ classics on Sunday, Jan. 21, in Healdsburg.

Photo Credit: Bill Hocker

Thirty-sixth Annual Diocesan Choir Festival | Trinity Cathedral

Saturday, January 27 | Open to all choral singers

Our guest conductor is Mr. Nigel Groome,

Director of Music at St. Matthew's/Westminster, London, England

Register

The Compass String Quartet Presents Valentine Concerts

Multi-instrumentalist and longtime North State Symphony violinist Cherie Gans welcomes her sister, well-known violinist/ fiddler and former North State resident, Jana Jae, home! Jana Jae Greif was instrumental in the formation and ongoing early success of the Redding string program, later earning widespread recognition for her work on tv series Hee Haw and Nashville Now, as well as international touring with Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, the Oak Ridge Boys and many other famed artists. Jana and Cherie have teamed with Sherry Hanson of Fortuna and Barbara Johnston of Scappoose to create the Compass Quartet which has been together for four years. Coming from the four points of the compass, they still manage to have a great time perfecting the classical quartet repertoire. 

Read more and view the program.

Friday, February 9 | Pilgrim Congregational Church, Redding | 7:30 pm

Saturday, February 10 | St. John's Episcopal Church, Chico | 7:00 pm

Sunday, February 11 | St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Red Bluff | 3:00 pm

Free event, Donations Accepted!

Trinity Cathedral’s Sobriety Support Ministry Offers Spirituality and the Twelve Steps Zoom Book Group

February 22 - May 23 | Trinity Cathedral | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Kenny Pierce and the Rev. Anne Dryden McKeever of Trinity Cathedral’s Sobriety Support Ministry will facilitate a thirteen-week discussion group of Richard Rohr’s book, Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps, meeting Thursday evenings via Zoom, 7-8:30 pm, from February 22 through May 23, except for March 28, Maundy Thursday.

Participants will receive free copies of both the Rohr book and its Companion Journal courtesy of our Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health.

This group is open to everyone in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California. We welcome people who are sober, sober-curious, and/or supporting the sobriety journey of a loved one. Previous experience in a 12-Step group is not necessary.

Those who participated in this discussion group last year are welcome to join again.

To register for the group and to receive your free books and the Zoom link, please email your postal address to the Rev. Anne Dryden McKeever at amckeever@wavecable.com.

Episcopal Foundation of Northern California

English/Spanish

Programs and ministries in our diocese need YOUR support!

Book of Dreams Featured on FOX40's "Faith Matters"

Featured Dreams from the 2023 Bishop's Book of Dreams:



Project (RE)Start Disaster Bins | St. John's, Chico (Goal: $4,000)

St. John's, want to help their community by purchasing Project (Re)Start disaster bins and supplies for those displaced by disasters. These disaster bins would be filled with necessary items to be utilized by survivors of both natural and human-caused events that displace individuals and families from their homes. These items would be collected and dispersed to local assistance centers for those who have been able to secure a safe place to begin building resiliency through the act of having items available to normalize their current situation, as well as to help offset the cost of their displacement. Read more...

Rooftop Repairs | St. Francis, Fallen Leaf Lake | (Goal: $45,000)

St. Francis of the Mountains is a summer chapel for the residents and guests of the community of Fallen Leaf Lake, South Lake Tahoe, and people who are in the area enjoying the natural beauty of the Sierras. In providing a safe and dry place to worship the Lord, the roof will facilitate the Good News being preached in South Lake Tahoe. Appeal funds would pay for the replacement of the deteriorating wood shake roof with a more durable and fire safe manufactured shingle, which will look like a wood shake. Thereby maintaining the historical charm of the building while preserving its function. Read more...

Will you support these dreams?

Giving in honor of, or remembrance of someone you love this holiday season can make for a heartfelt and generous gift. You can download a gift card in English or Spanish to share with them.

Commission on the Environment

Energy Efficiency Assessments – Round 4 Coming up!

Have you noticed the cost of your utilities is going up dramatically in 2024 at your church and home? Did you read that 2023 was officially the hottest year ever?

What can we do? 

Improve your energy efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint, at home and at your church.

The Commission on the Environment is here to help you do this with a detailed thorough energy efficiency assessment of your church campus. 26 campuses in our diocese were assessed in 2023. Round 4 of the assessments is being scheduled now and will take place in February.  Kick off your Green Teamwork this year by contacting me and learning how you can participate in this next round of assessments. Begin to become more energy efficient this year and save money on your utilities.

Please contact me for more information and to schedule your assessment.

Bob Wohlsen - bob.wohlsen@gmail.com

Project Coordinator

Commission on the Environment

Episcopal Diocese of Northern California



Commission for Intercultural Ministries

Election Activator Program seeks participants

Are you an "Episcopalian who loves justice and who feels a particular call to public policy advocacy and election engagement?" If so, then the Office of Government Relations Election Activator program is for you. Click here for information and to register for this opportunity. The first call for this year's cohort is this week.

As you know, there is so much at stake in this year's elections. The Episcopal church has long stood for voting rights and secure elections. Your work as an Election Activator is an excellent way for you to do your part to achieve these goals and keep our democracy working.

Please circulate this information among your church colleagues and friends. I'm here to answer any questions about the program. Please let me know if you or someone you know signs up to be an Activator so the CIM Advocacy Team can help you get the word out.

Bob Wohlsen - bob.wohlsen@gmail.com

Advocacy Team Chair

Commission for Intercultural Ministries

Episcopal Diocese of Northern California

Refugee Resettlement Opportunities

Thousands of Refugees from war torn countries will be arriving in Sacramento this year. Are you someone who feels called to welcome these strangers and help them to begin a new life here in your community? If so, this life changing opportunity is for you. 

In the past two years, several hundred Refugees have been assisted by parishioners and community members in our diocese just like you. The Refugee Resettlement team will guide you in the process to organize your team and connect you with one of our official resettlement partners, or an existing resettlement team that is going to be welcoming a new family this year.

Please contact me to learn about this ministry and see if it’s for you.

Bob Wohlsen - bob.wohlsen@gmail.com

Refugee Resettlement Team Chair

Commission for Intercultural Ministries

Episcopal Diocese of Northern California

The Racial Justice Audit Webinar 

Thursday, February 1 at 5:00 pm held via Zoom

All are encouraged to attend.

The Racial Justice Audit fulfills the requirements of the 2023 Diocesan Convention Resolution R3-2021

We will be discussing the results of the Year 1 audit, and how we will be moving forward into Year 2.

Please join us.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82093026521?pwd=RDFZcjNTS0k1QnB1WlhFaUFHekcrZz09



Clergy Openings in The Diocese

St. Luke's |Woodland is seeking a Full-time Interim Rector.

View Job Description here.

Job Opportunities in The Diocese

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral | Sacramento is seeking a new Director of Cathedral Choristers (Children’s choir). Read the Job Announcement Here.

For job descriptions or questions, please contact transitions@norcalepiscopal.org or call Cn. Julie at 916.442.6918 x 214



The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California

Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ

www.norcalepiscopal.org