January 25, 2022 | Week of 3 Epiphany
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In this edition of ENews:
- Diocese Governance Leaders Gather for Retreat
- Trinity Cathedral Hosts 34th Annual Diocesan Choir Festival
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Invite Welcome Connect Goes Digital
- Healing and Health Ministries Mini-Grants Available
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Book of Dreams campaign closing soon
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Diocese Governance Leaders Gather for Retreat |
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On January 21 and 22, the Diocese Board of Trustees, the Standing Committee, and Regional Deans gathered at St. John’s in Chico for an annual retreat. Attendees, both in person and virtually, participated in discussions and visioning exercises facilitated by the Rt. Rev. Mary Gray Reeves, former Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real. |
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Trinity Cathedral hosts 34th Diocese Choir Festival and Evensong |
On Saturday, January 22nd, the Cathedral Choir, under the direction of David Link, Canon Precentor & Director of Music, hosted singers from around the Diocese to join their voices for the thirty-fourth Diocesan Choir Festival.
The guest conductor was Dr. Maxine Thévenot, Canon Precentor & Director of Music at the Cathedral of St John in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
After a full day of rehearsal, the choirs presented a traditional Evensong Service. Click here for a link to a video of the service.
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Bishop’s Mission for Disaster Resilience partners with St. Paul’s, Healdsburg to upgrade kitchen |
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St. Paul’s Church has a long tradition of ministry within and to the communities surrounding Healdsburg by caring for those who are short on everyday needs. The congregation hosts a thriving shower ministry, where those who are unhoused can clean and refresh themselves in a safe environment. During the pandemic, the shower ministry has continued, but with necessary safety protocols to allow for social distancing and upgraded cleaning and sanitization between guests.
The pandemic has also caused many local food resources in the community to disappear. Those in need of showers are also in need of food. Unfortunately, the kitchen at St. Paul’s is aging and inadequate to meet the needs of the parish. The need for an upgrade is urgent. Read More.
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Invite Welcome Connect Goes Digital!
Wednesday, February 9
12:00pm - 1:30pm
Registration is now open for the
Invite Welcome Connect Digital Gathering 2022.
The online 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?
The panelists, made up of both clergy and lay leaders, will discuss creative solutions and ways to address to these questions in your congregation.
To register and learn more, visit the Invite Welcome Connect website.
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Thursday Nights at the Cathedral
January 20 – February 24
7:00–8:30 pm
Brothers in the Beloved Community: The Friendship of Thich Nhat Hanh and Martin Luther King Jr.
by Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Diocese of California
“The never-before-told story of the friendship between Martin Luther King Jr. and Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnamese Buddhist monk) — icons who changed each other and the world…The two men bonded over a shared vision of the Beloved Community… a vision describe by John Lewis as ‘a nation and world society at peace with itself.’ It was a concept each knew of because of their membership within the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an international peace organization, and that Martin Luther King Jr. had be popularizing through his work for some time. Thich Nhat Hanh…took the lineage of the Beloved Community from King and carried it on after his death.”
Facilitator: Susan Hotchkiss
for the Zoom link
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SAVE THE DATES
Holy Joy, Holy Rest
Women’s Retreat sponsored by Trinity Cathedral
May 20-22, 2022
Mercy Center Auburn
More details to follow!!
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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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News from the Office of the Bishop |
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Bishop Megan visits
St. John's, Chico
Bishop Megan made her first official visit to St. John the Evangelist in Chico on Sunday, January 23. Assisted by the Rev. Cal Cornils, deacon at St. James of Jerusalem in Yuba City, the bishop confirmed seven persons, reaffirmed two, and affirmed the service of four parishioners as volunteer chaplains at the local hospital.
The bishop also recognized the 36th anniversary of Rector Richard Yale's ordination to the priesthood. Rev. Yale and his wife Linda were presented gifts by the parish for their service.
Following the service the parish hosted an outdoor reception, after which Bishop Megan met with the clergy and vestry of St. John’s.
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January 30, Epiphany 4
Luke 4:21-30
And all spoke well of him…They got up and drove him out of the town…4:22 and 4:29.
The reaction of the crowd in the synagogue at Nazareth to Jesus' sermon is striking and instructive. One moment they spoke well of him, and the next they drove him out and wanted to throw him off the hill. Why the change?
It is helpful to consider how the Jews of Jesus’ time interpreted Isaiah 61, the text he read and claimed to fulfill. One of the documents found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, dating from the time of Jesus (11QMelchizedek) also quotes the opening of Isaiah 61, and the way it is used by members of that community was to affirm that God was going to bless his people and bring judgment and outsiders and enemies.
But we see Jesus, by bringing together the two stories from the Old Testament, the healing miracles of Elijah and Elisha, spoke a radically different message. Both of these miracles (the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian) were performed for outsiders and not for Israelites. The welcome and blessing of strangers and outsiders was a striking feature of Jesus ministry.
Archbishop William Temple said that the church was an organization founded for the benefit of the outsider. In today’s church we need to be following the example of Jesus. We must welcome, care for and pray for those who are outsiders, marginalized, and even enemies.
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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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Free Lenten Resources Available
Living Well Through Lent 2022
Lenten Resource available without cost for your Congregation. Provided through the Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health.
To order, sent your address and number of copies needed and we’ll take it from there.
Susan Wahlstrom, Coordinator
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Commission for Intercultural Ministries |
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Welcoming the Stranger
We encourage everyone to watch and share this video, released in early January. Featuring Bishop Megan Traquair and Trinity Cathedral Dean Matthew Woodward, you will hear about amazing efforts already underway in our diocese. You will be introduced to two courageous Afghan women, who with the help of many kind Americans are already finding their way in a new country.
We hope that by getting to know these two, and hearing about ways your congregation can help Afghan families arriving in Northern California, you will be even more motivated to take action. There are lots of things to be done—both small and large.
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Afghan Resettlement Update
Please join this effort by doing your part to welcome Afghan refugees. Details on ways to do this are here.
The Afghan Resettlement Team
A Ministry of the Commission for Intercultural Ministries
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Zakia Osman serves herself kofta, Afghani meatballs cooked in a tomato sauce, during dinner with her family in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, January 10, 2022.(Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat) |
Sonoma County community groups step in to help Afghan refugees
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New Sacred Ground Circle Begins February 3 |
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A new Sacred Ground Circle open to anyone in the Diocese will begin on February 3, 2022. The group will meet weekly on Thursdays, from 1-3 pm.
Sacred Ground is a film and readings based dialogue series on racism, grounded in faith. The experience helps you to be more knowledgeable about the history of racism in our communities and how, as people of faith, we are called to bring God's transformative love into our presence in the community.
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Bishop's 2021 Partnership Appeal Closes January 31 |
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As of today, the Bishop's Partnership Appeal Book of Dreams has raised $24,995.00 for ministries around the diocese. These ministries still need your support for their dreams to be realized. Please consider joining those in our diocese who have given so generously. The campaign ends Jan 31, 2022.
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Click here to view the book and learn more about how to donate to these projects.
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Click here to view a spreadsheet with the amounts received by project to date.
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Job Opportunities around the Diocese |
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NEW!
The Office of the Bishop is seeking a Missioner for Evangelism, Discipleship, & Congregational Vitality.
See the position description 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/Associate Priest. 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 Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
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