June 11, 2024 E-News

June 11, 2024

In this edition of ENews:

Bishop Megan visits with United Methodist Church at Conference
St. John's Roseville Hosts Summer Kickoff Community Festival
More than 60 parishioners attend virtual Racial Healing and Justice Workshop
Jana Branson Installed as Rector at All Saints, Sacramento
Board of Trustees Meeting Highlights

Office of the Bishop

Bishop Megan visits with United Methodist Church at Conference

Left to Right, Bishop Jeff Johnson, Evangelical Lutheran Church of the United States, Bishop Minerva Carcano of the United Methodist Church, Bishop Megan

Bishop Megan brought greetings from our diocese to the Annual Conference of the UMC California-Nevada at their Annual Conference, held last Saturday at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Welcome to our newest team member!

Monday, June 3, Flora Haghighat joined the Office of the Bishop staff. Flora will be assisting Canon to the Ordinary Julie Wakelee.

Day of Discernment is this Saturday

Interested in being a priest, deacon or a member of a religious order? Want to know more about what it’s really like, or family and time commitments?

This is the first step if you are interested in being in the Ordination process. A sponsoring clergy person or Senior Warden must join you.

Registration is free, but requested: https://form.jotform.com/241085487611155

Around the Diocese

St. John's Hosts Summer Kickoff Community Festival

On Saturday, June 8th St. John's-Roseville held a free Summer Kickoff Community Festival. Approximately 800 neighbors attended. The festival featured a variety of bounce houses, all sorts of vendors (including the EDNC Diocesan Disaster Relief booth), food trucks, and exhibits from the Army, Air Force, US Space Force, Roseville PD SWAT team, Roseville PD and CalFire. There even was a dunk tank in which St. John's Rector,

Fr. Cliff Haggenjos, Roseville Mayor Bruce Houdesheldt, and Placer County Supervisor Bonnie Gore were all given a bath! The event was entirely free, an offering of love from St. John's to the community. It was so well received plans are already underway for next year's event.

Jana Branson Installed as Rector at All Saints, Sacramento

On Saturday, June 8, the Rev. Jana M. Branson was installed by Bishop Megan as the new Rector of All Saints, Sacramento.

The Very Rev. Brian Rebholtz, Rector of St. Luke's, Auburn was the preacher.

The service was followed by a beautiful reception. Congratulations,

Rev. Jana!

More than 60 parishioners attend virtual Racial Healing and Justice Workshop

Last Saturday, more than 60 parishioners from 17 different churches, representing all seven of our deaneries, gathered for the day-long I Will With God’s Help Journey Toward Racial Healing and Justice Virtual Workshop.

Three groups met at their churches and Zoomed in, others connected from home.

Miriam Casey, the Rev. Canon Kathy Hopner, and Bob Wohlsen were the faculty for the day. The workshop began with worship, then moved to learning about the racism experienced by Indigenous peoples, African Americans, Latinos, and Asian American/Pacific Islanders. The day continued with a section on Whiteness and MicroAggressions, and concluded with a section entitled, Striving for Justice, that focuses on how we, as individuals and as congregations, can live more fully into our Baptismal vows, to be engaged with our communities as healers.

The workshop ends with worship.

Saturday’s event was the largest ever hosted for the workshop. Initial feedback from the participants has been very positive. In-person workshops are now available for registration - see below. Another virtual workshop will be scheduled for the fall.

Submitted by Bob Wohlsen, bob.wohlsen@gmail.com

Missioner for Disaster Resilience

Disaster Resilience Team supports Summer Kickoff at St. John's Roseville

In disaster planning, the key to being ready is practice, practice, practice.

The Disaster Resilience team spent Saturday, June 8, practicing in one of the most fun ways possible! We were asked to support the Invite, Welcome, Connect ministry of St. John’s, Roseville, for their inaugural “Summer Kickoff” festival by providing safety, first aid, and some logistics. When we carry out these services in a low stress situation, the team is better able to coordinate with partner agencies and provide relief to survivors of disaster when the stakes are high.

A large crowd of community members, and volunteers enjoyed sunshine, camaraderie, food, meeting First Responders from both Roseville and Placer County, and members from our nation’s military.

While we may have had fun this weekend, we don’t always work where there’s a celebration. We need many hands to make light work of disaster recovery and we’d like you to volunteer with us so that we can all answer the call to care – and have fun at the festivals – together.

If your congregation has an event where it could use some help with safety and communications, please contact me. For more information, call (530) 859-3267 or email mark@norcalepiscopal.org

Peace,

Mark

Missioner for Church Life

CELEBRATE PRIDE this June!

If you and your congregation participate in any Pride events, be sure to use the hashtag #EDNCPride in your social media posts!

Check out the Pride resources on our diocesan website

https://www.norcalepiscopal.org/site/pride-month-resources/

Among the resources available on our website include the The Rainbow Initiative , which is the Episcopal Migration Ministries’ response to General Convention 2022 Resolution DO45 “On Supporting LGBTIQ+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers”, which directed the Episcopal Church to promote support for people who have fled their countries because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and/or sex characteristics. The Resolution also directs Episcopal Migration Ministries to focus attention on people subject to such persecution, and to offer information on how they could be better supported.

You’ll also find resources from the Safe Zone Project, the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF Vital Practices),as well as links to other Episcopal Church

resources, including a brief history about LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church.

PATHWAYS POSTPONED to 2025

For various reasons, we’re not able to have a summer 2024 Pathways Youth Pilgrimage. We were able to have a great youth gathering at Trinity Cathedral as part of our Fearless Faith Revival, so my hope is that we will have a similar type of gathering this Fall. If you’re interested in helping plan our 2025 pilgrimage, please email me at: Mack@norcalepiscopal.org

We’re excited to announce that we will have a diocesan-wide New Camino training on September 27 & 28, 2024 at St. John’s, Chico. The Rev. Anthony Guillen, the Episcopal Church’s Missioner for Latino/Hispanic ministries will be here to help us explore opportunities for Latino/Hispanic ministry in our diocese. This training is suitable for individuals as well as church teams.

Please go to: https://form.jotform.com/232965467198170 to indicate your interest in attending and to receive updates regarding lodging and expenses.

If you would like to know more about what Juneteenth is and what it celebrates, this article by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. gives an in-depth answer to the question: What is Juneteenth?

Also, be sure to check out this website: https://www.juneteenth.com/

And read this from the Episcopal Church: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/racialreconciliation/juneteenth-and-the-call-to-remember/

Suggested Videos:

This Washington Post Interview with Naomi Mitchell Carrier, author of Go Down, Old Hannah and CEO of the Texas Center for African American Living History, speaks of the closeness of history as she tells her great-grandmother’s story.

This video from Vox helps make the connection between the history of slavery, emancipation, and the racism within our systems that led to the death of George Floyd and others.

If you’re looking for something longer, possibly to jumpstart a discussion group, this lecture from Dr. Shenette Garrett-Scott traces the history of Juneteenth from it’s inception in the freedmen colonies to the present community events.

A liturgy developed by the Diocese of California can be found HERE.

A prayer service, from Mercy Education, can be found HERE.

Diocesan Board of Trustees

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.

At the June Board of Trustees meeting, we discussed many of the missional efforts around the Diocese. The work of the Belfry exceeded expectations with their work at both UC Davis and Sacramento City College. Led by Chaplain Rev. Dr. Portia Hopkins, the program continues to connect with local college students in meaningful and energetic ways.

The board was excited to hear that the Episcopal Community Services (ECS) Board awarded $25,160 to the following parish projects in the Diocese:

$5,000 to the Hearts & Hands Preschool at St. Luke’s, Calistoga
$1,160 to St. Alban’s, Arcata for the Camp Living Waters Ecology and Astronomy Education project
$5,000 for St. Patrick’s Kenwood to help sponsor a “Becoming Beloved Community School” partnership with Vivo Youth Orchestras to fund a summer camp for underserved students.
$3,000 to All Saints’ Redding to help a refugee family through the Welcome Corps Program
$5,000 to Incarnation, Santa Rosa to develop a half-acre parcel on church property into a community garden.
$3,000 to St. George’s, Carmichael to update the water system in their community garden
$1,000 to St Peter’s, Red Bluff to provide and maintain a bilingual Free Little Lending Library in a predominately Latino neighborhood so that all generations could strengthen both their Spanish and English skills.

Canon Julie reported that the FaithX VIP program (Vitality Improvement Project) is now in its second year. Each of the participating congregations has studied their neighborhood, completed a congregational vitality assessment (CVA) and is just about finished with their first 90-day micro-strategy (where congregations are encouraged to try something new, even if they fail). The Board heard a report from Rev. Karen Freeman about the upcoming neighborhood event at Grace Church in Fairfield as part of their 90-day micro-strategy.

Bishop Megan reported to the Board that she is in the process of repopulating the Constitution and Canon Convention committee. Bishop Megan reported that lay members Alli Waltz and Carlos Martinez had agreed to join the committee, but she was still looking for two clergy members to serve on the team.

Canon Julie also announced that the Office of the Bishop has hired Flora Haghighat. Flora will serve as the assistant to the Canon to the Ordinary. Flora can be reached at flora@norcalepiscopal.org.

Margie Harrison-Smith, Vice President

Commission for Intercultural Ministries

This workshop meets the requirement for licensing for Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, and unlicensed lay leaders (such as vestry members and ministry leads) in the Diocese. Other lay licensed ministries need to take Sacred Ground to meet Diocesan licensing requirements.

All Classes are on Saturdays from 9:30am – 4:30 pm

Saturday, June 22 | St. Peter’s, Red Bluff

Registration deadline: June 15

For questions, contact Jo Ann Williams, bjwilli@surewest.net

Saturday, September 14 | Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento

Registration deadline: September 7

For questions, contact Diane Williamson, dianewilliamson864@gmail.com

Saturday, October 19 | St. Paul’s, Healdsburg

Registration deadline: October 12

For questions, contact Miriam Casey, edncbbc@gmail.com

Episcopal Foundation of Northern California

Now Accepting Applications!

Apply for grant funds today!

The Episcopal Foundation of Northern California has joyfully committed to continue their Foundation Grant Program available to churches and missions throughout our Diocese in 2024. Supporting the Diocesan mission of making disciples, raising up saints, and transforming communities for Christ, the Foundation will endeavor to enhance ministry and outreach in the Diocese in the following four categories: Creation Care, Evangelism, Racial Reconciliation, and Community Outreach.

Apply for a Grant today!

Here's a link to helpful grant-writing resources

https://www.norcalepiscopal.org/resources-for-grant-writing/

Upcoming Events around the Diocese

Film Screening - The Philadelphia Eleven

July 13th, 2 – 4 pm, Trinity Cathedral

2620 Capitol Ave, Sacramento

Donations on a sliding scale of $5 - $10 are welcome - no one will be turned away for lack of funds

In an act of civil disobedience, a group of women and their supporters organize their ordination to become Episcopal priests in 1974. The Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia welcomes them, but change is no small task. The women are harassed, threatened and banned from stepping on church property. In this feature-length documentary film, we meet the women who succeed in building a movement that transforms an age-old institution, and challenges the very essence of patriarchy within Christendom.

Following the screening, there will be a reception in the Lexis Gallery, featuring an exhibit comprised of some 20 art pieces by seven women artists, all of whom attend Trinity Cathedral. To help us plan the reception, please register!

It's not too late to register for Summer Camp at St. Dorothy's Rest. No matter your age or stage in life, there's an offering for every individual. Visit www.stdorothysrest.org/camp to learn more about our sessions or click the button above. All sessions are OPEN and we are pleased to offer tiered pricing, payment plan options, and Camperships.

Questions? We're here to help! Contact us at camp@stdorothysrest.org.

We cannot wait to welcome you to St. Dorothy's Rest!

Camp Living Waters

Sunday, July 21 - Friday, July 26 | Cookson Ranch

Camp Living Waters is set for Sunday, July 21 through Friday, July 26 at Cookson Ranch in Redwood Valley. The Camp is open to youth ages 9- 15 and youth ages 16-17 serve as counselors. Join us this year for a week of Real Super Heroes, full of madcap cape adventures, identifying our God-given super powers and discovering the real superheroes all around us.