May 2, 2023 E-News

May 2, 2023

In this edition of ENews:

Diocese wins awards at Episcopal Communicators Conference
FaithX launches in Diocese of Northern California
First Diocese-wide Evangelism Gathering on Zoom tomorrow at 6pm
Episcopal Foundation Opens Applications for Grant Funds

Office of the Bishop

Stewardship for All

The Stewardship Conference has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 10. Registration will go live later this week.

Diocese of Northern California wins awards at Episcopal Communicators Conference

Last week, the Episcopal Communicators met at Camp Allen, Texas, for their annual conference.

A feature of the conference was 2023 Polly Bond Awards for Excellence in Communications. These awards recognize excellence in church communications across 19 different categories for work completed in 2022. Independently judged by well-respected and experienced communications professionals outside of the organization’s membership, the best submissions on each category receive awards.

The Diocese of Northern California received an Award of Excellence in Graphic Design for the Growing Conference brand identity campaign.

We also received an Award of Merit for Social Media posts for the Max the Vax Campaign, and an Honorable Mention for Commentary/Reflection for a pastoral message following our 2022 convention.

Canon to the Ordinary

FaithX launches in Diocese of Northern California!

This past Thursday, representatives from nine churches in our diocese participating in a new project for congregational thriving met for the first time with consultants from FaithX (the national consulting firm running the project). They were joined by peers from churches in four other dioceses across the country (Mississippi, Arizona, Maryland, and Pennsylvania).

The project will partner churches with diocesan consultants as they engage in work with data and community engagement. They will work together with co-participant churches in the diocese, and, best of all, will share their learnings with the whole diocese!

Thanks in advance, and congratulations to our participant cohort:

St. Luke’s | Calistoga
St. George’s | Carmichael
Good Shepherd | Cloverdale
Grace | Fairfield
Christ the King | Quincy
St. Clement’s | Rancho Cordova
St. Peter’s | Red Bluff
St. Paul’s | Sacramento
St. Luke’s | Woodland

Missioner for Church Life

First Diocese-wide Evangelism Gathering on Zoom tomorrow at 6pm

Have some evangelism ideas you’d like to share? Looking for some new resources? Want to hear some evangelism success stories? Please come to our first diocesan-wide Zoom gathering on evangelism. This will be an opportunity to not only share evangelism success stories and learn about evangelism resources from the Episcopal Church, we’ll also spend some time envisioning our future evangelism gatherings.

Wednesday, May 3 at 6pm on Zoom: h t t p s ://u s 06 w e b .z o om .u s /j /85093512190

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the U.S. The theme that the Federal Asian Pacific American Council has selected for 2023 is “Advancing Leaders through Opportunity.” To help Christian communities amplify Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voices in American and church history during May and throughout the year, Building Faith has developed a list of resources. This list includes new and recent books, reading lists, podcasts, documentaries, virtual exhibits, and church resources. You will find these resources, plus some others, on the home page of our diocesan website as well.

Missioner for Disaster Resilience

Seeing Our Diversity and Our Neighbors During Disaster Prep

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We take this time to celebrate a broad group of peoples, cultures, and practices. While diversity is exciting to explore, unfortunately it also allows for people to go underrepresented in planning for, responding to, and recovering from disaster.

One of the true joys of my position on the bishop’s staff is the opportunity to interact with anybody who is in need. If at any time, your community could use customized assistance in individual, congregational, or community disaster planning and response, please feel free to contact me. I have access to resources in many languages and cultural contexts.

The Bishop’s Disaster Fund is in need of donations. We are entering a time when resources are being provided to long-term survivors, but the fire season is also starting. Please donate now, and help us be ready to help you when the need arises, by clicking here.

Thov Vajtswv foom koob hmoov rau peb txhua tus, nyob txhua qhov chaw. (Hmong) – May God bless us all, everywhere.

Peace,

Mark Dibelka | Missioner for Disaster Resilience

Around the Diocese

St. George’s, Carmichael hosts Garden Event

On Sunday April 23, St. George’s had its spring Garden Event after the worship service. Parish members joined with many of the gardeners in the Community Garden to do some spruce up work on the garden. Following the work in the garden, everyone met for lunch in the parish hall. Most of the gardeners are from Ukraine and are Russian speaking. With the help of our parish music director Tess Testeza who did translation, we had a good conversation between parish members and the gardeners.

St. George’s Community Garden is a joint ministry of the parish and the International Rescue Committee and their New Roots Program. This program helps refugees become more settled and rooted in our community through gardening.

– The Rev. Dr. Ray Hess | Priest-in-Charge

Episcopal Foundation of Northern California

$100,000 Foundation Grant Fund – Now Accepting Applications!

The Episcopal Foundation of Northern California has joyfully committed to continue our $100,000 Foundation Grant program available to churches and missions throughout our Diocese in 2023. Grants range from a few thousand dollars to over $10K. Size and number of grants awarded depends on the number of qualified applications.

Click here for application instructions!

Correction

In last week's ENews article on Diana Butler Bass’ podcast with The Rev. Jim Richardson, we mistakenly identified Jim as a former Dean of Trinity Cathedral. Jim served as interim Dean. Also, we identified Diana Butler Bass as the Rev. Butler Bass. She is not ordained. We apologize for any confusion.

ICYMI*

2023 Women’s Retreat: Being Embodied Beings

May 19-21 | Mercy Center, Auburn

NOTE: WE HAVE REACHED FULL CAPACITY FOR FULL-TIME RETREATANTS.

Please contact Susan Hotchkiss if you wish to be put on the waiting list.

Sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health.

$40.00 for Saturday attendance which includes lunch.

Scholarships are available.

Click here to Register

Healing Prayer Bible Study and Fellowship | Order of St. Luke

First Saturday of the Month | 10:00 am on Zoom

We pray, study and learn together. The group is currently studying The Grace Outpouring by Roy Goodwin.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85306478741pwd=SGZYcFFZZnVwRzVmOExJYnJTRGF4QT09

For more information call Elba White at 916 684 4015.

*In Case You Missed it…

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.

Clergy Openings in The Diocese

Trinity Episcopal Church | Folsom seeks a full-time Interim Rector. Trinity Folsom is an open and inclusive parish that cherishes traditional liturgy and classical Anglican music. We are Jesus-centered with fidelity to the Book of Common Prayer while maintaining inclusivity in our ministries. We anticipate this being a roughly 12-month position, ideally beginning late spring 2023.

Click here to read the full description.