In this edition of ENews:
- Trustees, Standing Committee adopt Covenant for Respect and Trust
- Good Shepherd, Cloverdale recognized by Episcopal Community Services
- Day of Discernment Scheduled - Registration now Open
- Bishop Megan helps consecrate new bishop of Nevada
- Register for Growing Conference and WordFest
|
|
Covenant for Respect and Trust
Report from the Diocesan Board of Trustees and Standing Committee
For the past two years, the bishop and our diocesan governing boards have engaged in a candid conversation about how we work together. We’ve taken a hard and honest look at deep-seated and long-standing conflicts in our diocese. At the heart of our conversations is a recognition that we cannot move forward in our mission until we strengthen trust with one another.
We have not done this work alone, but with the assistance of retired Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves, of the Diocese of El Camino Real. Bishop Mary and Leta Parks, of the Standing Committee, conducted an extensive listening process a year ago to hear the stories of those who have felt wounded in our diocese, especially those who worked in the Office of the Bishop. Their report prompted us to seek a path forward for healing, reconciliation, and health in our diocese.
We also recognized that our governing bodies needed to build trust among ourselves and across the lines of our respective boards and the diocese at large.
In January, members of the Board of Trustees and Standing Committee; the regional deans; Bishop Megan Traquair, Canon to the Ordinary Julie Wakelee, Treasurer John Nykamp and Chancellor Barbara Jewell, met for two days in Chico (with some participating by Zoom). With 33 participants, this was the largest joint gathering with the officers and governing boards on a multi-day retreat in anyone’s memory.
During our retreat, we drafted a “covenant” pledging how we will work together. Since then, the covenant has been adopted by the Board of Trustees and the Standing Committee. We encourage vestries, mission committees and other entities in our diocese to join us in this covenant:
With God’s help, we will act with integrity in our relationships with congregations, governing boards, the Office of the Bishop and throughout the diocese – and respect the dignity of every human being.
With God’s help, we will build trust, respecting the limits of authority and boundaries, and when we fall short, seek reconciliation with those we harm.
With God’s help, seeking to be faithful to our baptismal covenant, we acknowledge our common brokenness and our desire to be a resurrection people. We assume positive intent and shared leadership. We agree to: listen and communicate, be clear about our roles, act with courage and humility for the good of the diocese, holding ourselves and work lightly.
With God’s help, we will actively create and maintain safe channels for the sharing of concerns. We will promptly acknowledge and respond to those concerns, fostering an environment of healthy and productive communication.
We recognize that this covenant is a work in progress and will evolve as we live into it. We hope these words shape the structure for the vital work we share in the governance of our diocese. We invite your support, your partnership, and your prayers.
|
|
|
|
Left: Paul Mallatt presents the award to Deacon Bob Scott.
Above: The 2021 Bishop Megan Traquair Transformer Award.
|
|
Church of the Good Shepherd, Cloverdale honored for their community outreach |
|
On Sunday, March 6, ECS Board member Paul Mallatt presented the Bishop Megan Traquair Transformer Award to Church of the Good Shepherd, Cloverdale.
First awarded in 2021, the award honor congregations that are working to transform their communities for Christ. This award is given to a congregation that, despite its size, is able to be visible in their community.
Good Shepherd’s major focus for outreach is volunteering with the local food bank, where parishioners donate their time several times a year. Deacon Bob Scott has been involved with Ezequiel “Zeek” Guzman, who started La Familia Sana, a nonprofit that is actively gathering farm workers for vaccines and other essential services. Good Shepherd continues to support Wallace House, a shelter begun by the congregation that is now an independent non-profit.
The church recently formed a joint team with the United Church of Cloverdale (aka, the Ivy church) to raise funds to assist refugee families in resettling in the United States. The fundraiser will take place during the first six months of 2022 and the funds provided to World Relief in Sacramento.
Congratulations to Good Shepherd, and Thank You to Episcopal Community Service of Northern California.
|
|
St. James, Lincoln hosts fundraisers for Ukraine Relief effort |
St. James Lincoln , Lincoln, had a special coffee hour on Sunday -- baked goods from a local bakery run by a Ukrainian family. With the funds raised (and with those from their Shrove Tuesday pancake supper) they are sending a nice check to Episcopal Relief and Development's Ukraine fund. |
|
|
Save the Date
Day of Discernment
Saturday, May 7
Are you interested in becoming a priest, deacon or a professed member of a holy order?
|
|
https://form.jotform.com/220465127986160 |
|
Are you Ready for a Disaster?
Is your Congregation Ready for a Disaster?
|
|
During Lent, the Bishop’s Mission for Disaster Resilience is offering free ZOOM workshops for individuals and congregations to learn how to develop a disaster plan that works for your needs.
Workshops for Individuals
This interactive workshop will help you assemble a “GO” bag, prioritize valuables, and have an evacuation plan in place. Participants will receive checklists of important items to have on hand when a disaster strikes.
-
Thursday, March 10 | 3:30 pm – 5 pm | Register here
-
Wednesday, March 16 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Register here
|
|
Workshops for Congregations
This workshop is designed for clergy and church leaders to review and update (or create) a disaster plan for your church.
-
Saturday, March 26 | 10:30 am – noon | Register here
-
Thursday, March 31 | 3:30 pm – 5 pm | Register here
-
Wednesday, April 6 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Register here
|
|
On Saturday, March 5, Bishop Megan participated in the consecration and Installation of the Rt. Rev. Elizabeth Bonforte Gardner as the 11th Bishop of Nevada.
She is the second woman to serve as bishop in Nevada, following in the footsteps of Katharine Jefferts Schori, who went on to serve as the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church from 2006 to 2015.
|
Top: Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is joined by other bishops in consecrating Bishop Gardner.
Middle: Bishop Gardner and her Family.
Bottom: Bishop Megan with Rt. Rev. Kim Lucas, Bishop of Colorado, and Rt. Rev. Lucinda Ashby, Bishop of El Camino Real.
|
|
|
Episcopal Relief and Development is deeply engaged in addressing the humanitarian needs of Ukraine. Bishop Megan has directed a significant donation from the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund for this humanitarian crisis. Give by clicking on this link: Episcopal Relief and Development.
|
|
|
Holy Joy, Holy Rest
A Women’s Retreat Sponsored by Trinity Cathedral
May 20-22, 2022
Mercy Center | Auburn
All women in the diocese are welcome
|
|
This retreat will provide opportunities to rest, reflect, re-energize and re-connect through prayer, art, music, movement, writing, solitude, community, worship and lots of fun. Individual spiritual direction will be available. Trinity Cathedral Vicar, the Rev. Megan Anderson Gartin will be with us throughout the retreat.
Cost for two nights/4 meals: $175.00
Cost for Saturday only with lunch: $35.00
Scholarships are available.
RSVP by April 4, 2022
Register with debit/credit card HERE.
You can also send checks to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, CA 95816 - please mark them as Women’s Retreat reservation.
We have reserved the entire retreat center for that weekend and hope you will join us. All participants will be required to show proof of vaccination and booster.
|
|
March 13 | The Second Sunday in Lent
Luke 13:31-35
A key to understanding this passage is to note what it says about time. It seems that both the Pharisees and Herod had their own timing with regard to Jesus. But Jesus was not thinking in terms of human calculation, but in accordance with God’s time.
Jesus’ repeated today and tomorrow and on the third day clearly shows that he was obedient to God’s timing, and that would lead to the cross and resurrection. He was committed to following God’s timing, and not to respond to immediate threats or the agendas of others.And the indication that Jesus is discerning and following God’s timing comes through even more strongly when he says, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” This prediction, echoing the words of Psalm 118:26, was fulfilled in part at the time when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the event we celebrate on Palm Sunday.
But it is not limited to that time. It must also refer to a time when all in Jerusalem, who have so far resisted Jesus’ attempt to gather them, and who will resist again (when he is rejected and crucified) finally come to recognize him as God’s Messiah. That will be the time when the Messiah returns to put everything right. For us who follow Jesus we have in these verses the challenge to seek and trust God’s timing.
– The Rev. Peter Rodgers
|
|
Commission for Intercultural Ministries |
|
On Saturday, March 5, Commission members Miriam Casey and Bob Wohlsen participated in a peace protest in support of peace in Ukraine.
This event, held in Santa Rosa, was one of many around Northern California that were attended by Episcopalians.
|
|
|
Advocacy Training for Episcopalians
Join this two-part advocacy training to learn the basics of advocacy and then how to craft an approach that also acknowledges the need for self-care and maintaining energy for long-term, effective engagement.
Tuesday, March 29 | 10:00 am – 11:30 am PST | On ZOOM
Tuesday, April 19 | 10:00 am – 11:30 am PST | On ZOOM
|
|
Afghan and Ukraine Resettlement News
Click on the link below to find out about the latest work being done to help our new neighbors from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
|
|
The Poor People's Campaign
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is uniting people across California to challenge the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation and the nation’s distorted morality of religious nationalism.
They are planning a series of events to draw attention to the urgent needs of poor people in our country and to encourage Congress to pass legislation that will address these urgent needs. We are all invited to participate in these events.
|
|
Episcopal Community Services
of Northern California (ECS)
|
|
ANNUAL 2022-2023 GRANT CYCLE BEGINS
ECS is pleased to announce that the 2022-2023 Annual Grant Cycle has begun!
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 & Jane Lamb Grant (youth/young adults)
- The Healing and Health Ministries Mini-Grants
Information about each of these grant opportunities can be found on the ECS website, www.norcalecs.org.
Letters of Interest for these grants are recommended, but are not mandatory. Information about Letters of Interest are also found on the ECS website. Letters of Interest are due to Betty Harrison-Smith, Grants Chair, by March 15th. (bettyharrisonsmith@gmail.com).
The actual request for funding (Request for Proposal) is due to the Grants Chair by May 1st. The Request for Proposal document can also be found on the ECS website.
|
|
Job Opportunities around the Diocese |
|
St. Clement’s | Rancho Cordova is seeking a 3/4 time Priest-in-Charge.
See the position description here.
|
|
All Saints | Sacramento is looking for a part-time Office/Administrative Assistant. Read the job posting here.
|
|
St. Patrick's | Kenwood is seeking an Organist/Pianist. Click here for more information.
|
|
St. Paul's | Sacramento is seeking a Music Director.
Read the job announcement here.
|
|
Summer Camp 2022 Registration NOW OPEN
|
|
Diocesan Commissions | Committees | Ministries |
|
The ENews is published weekly on Tuesdays.
|
|
|
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
