In this edition of ENews:
- Bishop Megan visits St. Luke's Calistoga
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Center at St. Matthew's: Forward with Families Campaign Ends soon
- Trinity Cathedral celebrates Pride Month
- Trinity, Sutter Creek - the little church that can… and does
- General Convention update
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Top Left: Bishop Megan, accompanied by Deacon Marcia Hansen, process after services; Deacon Marcia and Bishop Megan with Priest in Charge the Rev. Mac McIlmoyl; Bottom Left: Bishop Megan with the Mission Committee of St. Luke's; Bottom Right: Senior Warden Carolyn Czapleski and Junior Warden Connie Rios Schellenger show Bishop Megan the recently renovated vicarage.
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Bishop Megan visits St. Luke's Calistoga |
On Sunday, June 26, Bishop Megan visited the congregation of St. Luke's in Calistoga. While there, she preached, celebrated the Eucharist, and met with the Mission Committee. Bishop Megan was also invited to tour the vicarage, which recently underwent an extensive renovation.
Click on the link below to watch a video of Bishop Megan's sermon:
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The Center at St. Matthew's |
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Forward with Families Campaign Continues
How To Donate to the Forward With Families Campaign
We invite you to join us in the Center at St. Matthew’s Forward with Families giving campaign in May and June 2022. Thanks to a generous matching gift from the Rev. Mary Claugus, your donations to the Center will be doubled up to the matching gift amount of $25,000.
To donate online, please visit the diocesan website’s online giving portal at:
norcalepiscopal.org/give/ Click on the red “Give” button and select “The Center at St. Matthew’s” from the drop-down menu. You may enter “in honor of” or “in memory of” your loved ones in the “optional memo” field.
To donate by check, please make your check payable to “Episcopal Diocese of Northern California” and write “Center at St. Matthew’s” in the memo line. You may enclose a note in honor or in memory of your loved ones. Please mail your check directly to the Center at:
The Center at St. Matthew’s | 2300 Edison Ave. | Sacramento, CA 95821-1714
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Rainbows and smiles were abundant as Trinity Cathedral celebrated Pride Month with a special Pride Eucharist and dinner afterward. |
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We want to see how you're celebrating Pride month! If you have photos or video please send them to Maria Ramirez at maria@norcalepiscopal.org
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The Office of the Bishop will be closed Monday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. We will reopen Tuesday, July 5.
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Best Skills, Best Churches Announces
2022/2023 Program
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Click here for the schedule and additional information.
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Mission for Disaster Resilience |
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Trinity Sutter Creek – The little church that can – responds to Caldor Fire Survivors
By Mark G. Dibelka | Missioner for Disaster Resilience
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Left: Lis Padula - St. Michael’s | Carmichael with Sparky the Fire Dog; Middle: Catherine Maloney - Faith | Cameron Park, Steve Christensen and Meg Verardi - Trinity | Sutter Creek; Right: Smokey Bear and Disaster Resilience display - all photos taken at the Amador County Smokechaser Fair
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Remember the childhood story of “The Little Engine that Could”?. It encourages us to believe in ourselves even when the outlook is not in our favor.
This childhood story has been the background for one of our scrappy congregations, in one of the more remote parts of our diocese. The story of Trinity Episcopal Church in Sutter Creek starts out rather familiar to many of us: reduced community interest in Christian life, retirements and health problems taking the congregants away, the local economy softening – all leading to a small, lay led congregation.
Fortunately, this resolute band of parishioners decided to take on the challenge of determining what “church” means to them, rather than hang their collective head in defeat.
Trinity Sutter Creek, is making a name for itself in the diocese as “The Disaster Church.” Not because they are a disaster, but because they have focused their congregational mission on disaster resilience. They have turned their vision outwards and begun turning their compassion into action in support of the Caldor Fire survivors as well as participating in events that bring attention to the importance of preparation before disaster strikes.
Their efforts first came to the attention of the bishop’s staff because they have a functioning phone tree that can connect the community in time of need. It is tested on a regular basis (which also allows the members to check on each other and give support during life events – as well as coordinate parties). This model is available for any parish that might want to take the first, small step in building a tighter community that is more disaster resilient.
I was delighted when the vestry of Trinity, Sutter Creek, invited me to be part of their booth at the Amador County Smokechaser Fair (a gathering of community resources to raise wildfire awareness, as well as to build bonds between citizens and first responders). I was able to spend the weekend with them at the fair, promoting the activities of the church in the community, as well as seeking partners to help them build their fledgling Project (Re)Start program.
Smokey Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog stopped by, as did many people from Amador County. It was through this interaction that they received enough money in donations to build two (Re)Start bins.
This small congregation has made disaster resilience their mission. That mission has gathered them at fairgrounds, brought them together over lunch, and made them more visible in the community – because the community known this church cares about them.
I have taken to calling them “The Little Church that Can,” because I see them doing great things. While they have done great things in the past, they are not defined by what has been, instead, they chose to write their future and renew community interest in them.
What’s next for this parish? They have agreed to seek the funding and give their time to build another 12 (or more) Project (Re)Start bins in response to a plea for support from the survivors of the Caldor Fire.
It’s wonderful to see a congregation hard at work, and gratifying to see the love of Christ spread in the world. When you hear them coming, clear the tracks, because they are on a roll!
— Mark Dibelka
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Bishop Megan Joins in Consecration of 14th Bishop of Idaho |
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On Saturday, June 25, The Rt. Rev. Jos Tharakan joined the American Succession as the One Thousand One Hundredth and Forty Sixth bishop. Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry as Chief Consecrator, along with 14 other bishops, including Bishop Megan, consecrated him as the Fourteenth Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Idaho. Congratulations to Bishop Jos, his family and the people of The Diocese of Idaho.
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Committees reject open Communion, endorse revisions addressing antisemitic and racist language |
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The June 27, 2022, meeting of the Prayer Book, Liturgy & Music committees. |
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by Egan Millard | Episcopal News Service
At their meeting on June 27, the Prayer Book, Liturgy & Music committees narrowed down the large number of proposed resolutions before them into a few that will go before the 80th General Convention, July 8-11 in Baltimore, Maryland. The committees consolidated, deferred or rejected some of the more high-interest resolutions, including open Communion and feast days for Bishop Barbara Harris and others, but adopted resolutions addressing liturgical language that could be interpreted as antisemitic or
racist.
The proposed resolution that had attracted perhaps more interest than any other – C028, which would have repealed the canon restricting the Eucharist to those who have been baptized – ultimately died without much debate. Two people testified against the resolution proposed by the Diocese of Northern California, both referencing the sacramental arguments against open Communion that have been raised by theologians over the past month.
“The resolution as I read it is admirably rooted in a theology of hospitality. I worry, however, that the hospitality it offers is a cheap hospitality,” said Tyler Sampson, a lay preacher and theological student from the Diocese of Washington. “Baptism is no dinner ticket to Communion, but entry into the life in Christ.” Bishops and deputies voted to take no action on C028, effectively killing it. Bishops’ and deputies’ committees have distinct rosters and vote separately, but they often meet together for hearings and deliberations on resolutions.
The committees had received 16 resolutions from across the church proposing to honor Harris with a date on the church’s Lesser Feasts and Fasts calendar. Harris, who becamethe first female bishop in the Anglican Communion when she was consecrated bishop suffragan in the Diocese of Massachusetts in 1989, died on March 13, 2020. The calendar’s current guidelines specify that feast days for people of exceptional faith may be added (or deleted) with the concurrence of two consecutive General Conventions, generally after
widespread support for the person’s inclusion over 50 years.
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Please pray for our Delegation |
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General Convention is just over a week away. Our Delegation has been busy for months in preparation. The convention, shortened due to COVID-19 concerns,
runs from July 8 - 11 in Baltimore, Maryland. We ask your prayers for safe travels, for wisdom and discernment, and protection.
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For a Church Convention
Almighty and everlasting Father, who hast given the Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Bless, we beseech thee, with his grace and presence, the bishops and the other clergy and the laity soon to be assembled in thy Name,
that thy Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may fulfill all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, thy Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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CLERGY DEPUTIES
The Rev. Br. Simeon (Lewis) Powell | Clergy Deputy 1 | St. John's, Chico
The Rev. Matt Warren | Clergy Deputy 2 | Christto our delegates the King, Quincy
The Rev. Robin Denney | Clergy Deputy 3 | St. Mary's, Napa
The Rev. Canon Cookie Clark | Clergy Deputy 4 | Epiphany, Vacaville
LAY DEPUTIES
Ms. DonnaJo Woollen | Lay Deputy 1 | Emmanuel, Grass Valley
Ms. CeeCee Coleman | Lay Deputy 2 | St. Matthew's, Sacramento
Mr. Peter Juvé | Lay Deputy 3 | St. Mary's, Napa
Mr. Jay Elmquist | Lay Deputy 4 | Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento
ALTERNATES
The Rev. Jim Richardson | Clergy Alternate 1 | Trinity Cathedral
Canon Charles Mack | Lay Alternate 1 | St. Luke's, Woodland
Mr. John Miller | Lay Alternate 2 | All Saints, Sacramento
Ms. Anne Seed | Lay Alternate 3 | St. Paul's, Benicia
Mr. Jerry Paré | Lay Alternate 4 | Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento
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CLERGY
The Rt. Rev. Megan Traquair | Bishop
The Rev. Canon Julie Wakelee | Canon to the Ordinary
STAFF
Katie Braak | Director of Operations | Office of the Bishop
Michelle Karimi | Executive Staff Support | Office of the Bishop
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From the Episcopal Foundation |
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$100,000
Foundation Grant Fund –
Application Deadline Extended to August 1
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The deadline to submit a Foundation Grant Application is now August 1, 2022. Grants will be awarded in the month of August.
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Luke 10 | July 3, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 10:1 Afterwards the Lord appointed seventy (two) others and sent them out two by two before his face into every town and place where he was about to come.
(translation by J. Nolland, Luke , Word Biblical Commentary, 546).
Concerning the “others” who were sent on ahead of Jesus we know nothing more than what is recorded in this incident. They are not named, and nowhere else do they appear in the New Testament or in early Christianity. Even their number is not clear, since the manuscripts of Luke are divided between seventy and seventy-two. They may indeed be obscure, but they are not unimportant.
Several features in this passage indicate how vital was the mission of the seventy. First of all, the number is significant. There were seventy Gentile nations (Gen 10) Seventy Israelites going into Egypt ((Ex 1:5) seventy elders who accompanied Moses and received a portion of his prophetic spirit. (Ex 24:1, Num 11:25). There were seventy in the Sanhedrin, and seventy translators of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek. Then there is the particular language used about Jesus’ sending of the seventy. In Nolland’s literal translation above.
He sent them out two by two before his face. This language is, of course, taken from the Old Testament (Ex 23:20, Mal 3:1) and found in Luke 7:27 (Mark1:2) as scriptural support for the ministry of John the Baptist. The clear indication is that the ministry of the 70 is equally as vital as that of John the Baptist. But there may be yet more symbolism in this particular expression: before his face.
When the Roman Emperor was to visit a city in the Roman Empire, emissaries would be sent ahead of him to prepare his way. Jesus by sending the seventy before his face (before his appearance) was claiming the Lordship of that place and of the world. This was a veiled but real challenge to empire. If Jesus is Lord, then Caesar is not!
When we feel our own ministry is relatively insignificant, we should remember the ministry of the seventy, and all that it symbolized and achieved. But above all we need to remember and rejoice that our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
– The Rev. Peter Rodgers
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Job Opportunities Around The Diocese |
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The Office of the Bishop is seeking a Missioner for Church Life.
Full Job description and application information is here.
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All Saints, Sacramento, is seeking a ¾ time Interim Rector.
See position description here.
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St. John the Evangelist, Chico, is seeking a full-time Interim Rector.
See 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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St. Paul's | Sacramento is seeking a Music Director.
Read the job announcement here.
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Trinity | Folsom is seeking a Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries (Lay Position).
Read the job announcement here.
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Trinity Cathedral | Sacramento is seeking a Temporary Business Manager.
Read the job announcement 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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