In this edition of ENews:

• Diocese holds Vestry Training Conference at Grace, St. Helena
• Bishop Megan and Canon Julie Visit St. Patrick's Kenwood
• Link to Holy Week and Easter Resources
• Deadline to register for Pathways EYE event is Tomorrow
• Commission on the Environment has resources for Earth Day

Around the Diocese

50 Vestry members from around the diocese attend weekend Leadership Conference at Grace, St. Helena

Top: Bishop Megan leads a workshop on Pastoral and Spiritual Leadership

Middle: Canon Julie Wakelee leads a workshop on Effective Meetings and Communications

Bottom: Diocesan Treasure John Nykamp leads a workshop on HR Basics, Legal, and Financial Matters

On Saturday, March 25, fifty vestry and mission committee members from around the diocese gathered at Grace Church in St. Helena for a Congregational Leadership Conference: Vestry Essentials. It was the second such conference - the first was on March 4 on Zoom, which was attended by 80 people.

After opening worship and a welcome by Bishop Megan, attendees went to their choice of four workshops: What Every Vestry/Mission Committee Member Should Know, Pastoral and Spiritual Leadership, HR basics, Legal and Financial Matters, and Effective meetings and Communications.

Thank you to the folks at Grace, St. Helena for their hospitality.

“What a great day at Grace Episcopal church on Saturday. You could just tell people were so happy to sit (safely) around a table and have personal interactions with each other. For me, as a member of the Board of Trustees, it was fun to welcome vestry members from the Wingfield Deanery and from deaneries around the Diocese. It is always impressive to watch and hear Bishop Megan, Canon Julie and the staff from the Office of the Bishop live and in action!” 

– Anne Seed

Board of Trustees

Wingfield Deanery representative 

There will be three more Congregational Leadership Conferences this year:

WordFest | Saturday, May 6

Zoom Only

Registration opens soon!

Stewardship for All | Saturday, June 3

Zoom Only

Disaster Readiness Expo | Saturday, August 16

In Person Only

Bishop Megan and Canon Julie Visit St. Patrick's Kenwood

Left: Bishop Megan, Acolyte Dakota Borgfeldt, Canon Julie Wakeleee, and Priest in Charge, the Very Rev. Ed Howell. Dakota will be part of the delegation of youth from our diocese attending the Episcopal Youth Event in Baltimore this July. Right: Bishop Megan and Canon Julie were welcomed to a lovely coffee hour following worship.

Parishioners, Vestry, and the Very Rev. Ed Howell welcomed the Rt. Rev. Megan Traquair and The Rev. Julie Wakelee, Canon to the Ordinary, to St. Patrick’s, Kenwood on March 26th, on a lovely spring day.

Bishop Megan celebrated the Eucharist with the parish family and joined in fellowship. During the service Bishop Megan graciously acknowledged the St. Patrick’s community and the priests in charge, the Rev. Canon Mary Goshert and the Very Rev. Ed Howell. Bishop Megan then announced that Canon Mary, for health reasons, would no longer be able to serve St. Patrick’s and that Fr. Ed would be the priest in charge.

In addition, Bishop Megan praised Canon Julie as her major support and sustainer and expressed the joy it was to work with her for the benefit of the diocese.

After the service there was a festive coffee hour gathering where everyone enjoyed a bountiful assortment of tasty offerings, music and fellowship.

Bishop Megan and Canon Julie concluded their visit by meeting with the vestry and signing the official Letter of Agreement that Fr. Ed would be the Priest in Charge for at least a year and assuring the vestry they would continue to offer their guidance and support. 

A blessed day!

Office of the Bishop

Holy Week and Easter Resources

Click here for a list of Resources for Holy Week and a guide to services throughout the diocese.

Missioner for Church Life

EYE Registration Closes Tomorrow!

The deadline to apply for the 2023 Episcopal Youth Event has been extended to Wednesday, March 29. If you know any youth ages 15-19, and who are enrolled in high school for the 2022-2023 school year, encourage them to apply here. Adults 21 and over who are interested in serving as chaperones are also encouraged to apply. 

Trinity Cathedral

2023 Women’s Retreat: Being Embodied Beings

May 19-21 | Mercy Center, Auburn

The 2023 Women’s Retreat will be Friday, May 19 – Sunday, May 21 at Mercy Center Auburn. This event is sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Sacramento in partnership with the Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health. We are very pleased to have Marilyn McEntyre, noted author, poet and Episcopalian, as our facilitator this year. 

In this retreat, Marilyn will guide us in “being embodied beings.” We will explore “what the body is, what the body does…what the body knows” and how, as the body of Christ, we can find “healing, wholeness and holiness.” In addition, there will be outside exercise activities, crafts, worship, and time for solitude in a beautiful setting.

Cost: $225.00 for lodging and meals for the weekend which will include Sunday lunch this year. $40.00 for Saturday attendance which includes lunch.

Scholarships are available.

Contact: Susan Hotchkiss

Click here to Register



Episcopal Community Services

ECS Announces beginning of 2023-2024 Annual Grant Cycle

Episcopal congregations throughout the Diocese of Northern California can apply for a number of grants, including:

• The Ministry Development Fund (1 year)
• The Warren Dunning Memorial Social Justice Grant (3 years)
• The Barry L. Beisner Multi-Year Grant (up to 5 years)
• The Bishop Jerry and Jane Lamb Grant (youth/young adults)
• The Healing and Health Ministries Mini-Grants
• The Rev. David & Catherine Cavanaugh Memorial Grant (1 year, with option for 2 renewals)

Information about each of these grant opportunities can be found on the ECS website, www.norcalecs.org.

Request for Proposals (RFPs) are due to the Grants Chair by May 1, 2023.  The Request for Proposals document can also be found on the ECS website.



Commission for the Environment

Get Ready for Earth Day: Resources Spotlight from the Commission on the Environment

By the Rev. Dr. Pamela Dolan

One of the primary goals of our Commission is to seek out and provide to you, the people and congregations of the Diocese, the best resources we can find in the areas of creation care, environmental justice, and related topics. 

Even as we’re about to enter the great journey of Holy Week, some of us are looking ahead to April 22, Earth Day. We hope you saw last week’s article about the April 19 viewing of the film The Ant and The Grasshopper. What follows are more resources for your Green Team, worship planners, Sunday school teachers, or other caring individuals to do even more to make Earth Day a meaningful event.

Why celebrate Earth Day?

Evangelism: There is a widely-held belief that Christians don’t care about science or the environment. You can show your community that your church is different. We do care!

Formation: Our faith is the number one reason we care for God’s creation. Helping people of all ages within your church make the link between loving God, loving neighbor, and loving our planet is simply good Christian formation.

Hope: One of the foundations of the Christian faith is hope. Most of what people hear about the environment is depressing and even frightening. The Church has a different story to tell—one of reliance on God, faith in the future, and a shift toward working together on common goals.

Click here for Resources to help you have a great Earth Day.

Kick Off your Earth Day 2023 Celebration

The Church of the Incarnation and the Commission for the Environment are excited to invite you to a screening of the documentary film The Ants & the Grasshopper on Wednesday evening, April 19. 

The film will be screened in-person at The Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa, and simultaneously broadcast over Zoom. We hope you'll watch with us!

Please RSVP for the in-person event to bob.wohlsen@gmail.com

Here is the Zoom information to participate online:

The Ants and the Grasshopper Screening

Apr 19, 2023 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81516563752?pwd=WTQ3WW91QzFGRUUvRWc1TlZqOUNrUT09

Meeting ID: 815 1656 3752

Passcode: 719100

Or dial in:    +1 669 444 9171 US

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kb9EcQkofY

Read More

Watch trailer



Commission for Intercultural Ministries

I Will, With God's Help: Journey Toward Racial Healing and Justice Workshop

This one-day in-person workshop was specially developed for the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California by the Commission for Intercultural Ministries. Renew your Baptismal Covenant as we learn about forms of historic and contemporary racism and how to engage in ministry with sensitivity and respect for all.

Please note that due to the nature of the program, attendance is limited to 30 participants.

Saturday, April 29 | 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

St. Luke's | Auburn

Register: https://forms.gle/YCgcdyRvdHWJfLBB8

Registration fee of $15 (cash or check) on day of workshop.

Contact Diane Williamson for questions. dianewilliamson864@gmail.com

Job Opportunities in The Diocese

Saint Luke’s | Auburn is seeking a part-time Parish Mission Coordinator to assist the Clergy, Vestry and parishioners in the mission and management of the church. Read the Position Description Here.

Grace Church | Fairfield is seeking a part-time bilingual Children's Outreach Worker to assist the Rector in planning and implementing outreach activities for children in the community. Read the position description here. 

Trinity Cathedral | Sacramento is seeking a full-time Formation Associate. Responsibilities include: Chair the Formation Ministry and Family Ministry Teams; lead formation ministries at Trinity Cathedral in alignment with our strategic plan and mission statement; Make formation opportunities available to the wider diocese. Read the Position Description Here.

Clergy Openings in The Diocese

We have a brand-new new page on our website, listing pending clergy openings in the diocese: https://www.norcalepiscopal.org/site/open-positions/

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