May 21, 2024

In this edition of ENews:

Revival Survey Closes Friday
Day of Discernment Postponed – to be rescheduled
General Convention News – Bishops, deputies differ on outcome of proposed resolution requiring baptism before receiving Communion
Phase II Racial Justice Audit Survey Closes Saturday, June 1

Around the Diocese

Diocesan Clergy Gather for Annual Conference

Active and retired clergy from around the diocese gathered last week at Bishop Ranch for a time of learning, fellowship and retreat. The theme of the Conference was Fearless Formation, and features keynote speaker Lisa Kimball from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Canon Julie Visits St. Francis, Fortuna for Pentecost

Canon to the Ordinary Julie Wakelee (assisted by Deacon Cindy Woods) met with clergy and parishioners for a mutual ministry review on Saturday and was honored to preach at their Pentecost Sunday service.

Left to right: visiting deacon Rev. Nan Slavin, Canon Julie Wakelee, the Rev Geri Cunningham, Priest-In-Charge

St. Peter's Red Bluff Celebrates Pentecost…

and a birthday!

Last Sunday, the clergy and parishioners of St. Peter's Red Bluff Celebrated Pentecost and the 132nd Anniversary of their founding. Congratulations!

More images from the Fearless Faith Revival

While hundreds assembled at St. John's Church in Roseville for the Fearless Faith Revival, dozens more gathered in a day of events, at Christ Church, Eureka. Activities included live painting, hymn sing, Labyrinth walks and a livestream of the Revival worship service. Clickk on the button below to See a video of highlights of the day.

Watch the video

We want to hear from You! Survey Closes Friday, May 24 at 5:00 pm

If you attended the Fearless Faith Revival and haven't yet completed the attendee survey, please click on the link below and share your experience.

Take the Revival Survey

Office of the Bishop

Day of Discernment

Postponed

Rescheduled Date TBA

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? New date to be announced soon.

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

General Convention

Bishops, deputies differ on outcome of proposed resolution requiring baptism before receiving Communion

During their May 15 meeting, bishops and deputies on the Prayer Book, Liturgy & Music committees deliberate on how they want to proceed on a proposed resolution regarding the canonical requirement of baptism before receiving Communion. Photo: Zoom screenshot

Melodie Woerman | Episcopal News Service

In a May 15 meeting, bishops and deputies on the Prayer Book, Liturgy & Music committees split in their actions taken on a proposed resolution about the canonical requirement that a person be baptized before receiving Holy Communion. Deputies wanted to recommend adopting the resolution with amendments, while the bishops wanted to take no action on it.

Resolution D002 calls on the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to review several aspects of Canon I.17.7, including whether the requirement for baptism before receiving Communion even belongs in the church Canons. The committees heard testimony on this resolution during its April 10 meeting.

Deputies’ committee member the Rev. Ruth Meyers, chair of the Prayer Book subcommittee, offered proposed amendments that would have asked the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to explore the practical implications of the Canon and to develop general pastoral invitations to baptism and Communion as possible additions to the Book of Common Prayer. The resolution retained the call for the standing commission to explore the question of whether the requirement of baptism before Communion belongs in the Canons or elsewhere.

The National Church

Episcopal Church unveils new Pride shield in celebration of LGBTQ+ inclusion

The design retains the upper-left blue corner of The Episcopal Church’s shield logo and incorporates elements of the traditional Pride flag as well as the Progress Pride flag and Philadelphia Pride flag. In their use of black, brown, pink, and light-blue diagonal lines, the latter two flags represent intersectional progress in acknowledging people who are often overlooked by the mainstream LGBTQ+ movement: communities of color; the transgender community; and the many thousands harmed by anti-LGBTQ+ policy—from those who lost their lives in the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and ‘90s, to those still disproportionately impacted today.

“As a longtime ally of LGBTQ+ people, I was so excited to work on this Pride shield for The Episcopal Church,” said Melissa Walker, senior graphic designer. “I hope many more people feel seen and included by this new graphic as we enter Pride month.”

En Espanol

Commission for Intercultural Ministries

The Phase II Racial Justice Audit Survey is Closes Saturday, June 1

We are extremely grateful to those who have completed the Phase II Racial Justice Audit survey. If you have completed it, thank you very much. If you have not, the deadline is Saturday, June 1st, at midnight Pacific Time. It takes 20-30 minutes to complete and submit. As Bishop Megan states in her cover letter to the survey, “The survey is not terribly lengthy, and your response will be instrumental in gaining a better understanding of our life together – both its strengths and its weaknesses.” Clergy of local churches, vestry and mission committee members, and selected parishioners of churches in the diocese were invited to take the survey by the Mission Institute.

At the end of this summer, the Mission Institute will provide a report by deanery of audit results.

Thank you for making time for this request in the midst of your busy lives. For specific questions about the survey, please reach out directly to the Mission Institute who provided contact information in the survey. For general questions about the survey process, please contact the Racial Justice Audit Co-Chairs, Lynn Zender, zenderlynn@gmail.com, or Jo Ann Williams, bjwilli@surewest.net.

May God bless and keep you, be gracious to you and give you and all of us peace.

The Mission Institute in collaboration with the Commission for Intercultural Ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California

I Will With God's Help: Journey Toward Racial Healing and Justice Workshop – Registration Now Open

This workshop is rooted in our baptismal identity and the promises we make in baptism. It focuses on how we can more fully live into our promise to be loving toward our neighbors, to address racism in our communities and build the Beloved Community. During the workshop we follow the path of the Becoming Beloved Community labyrinth.

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 9:30 am – 4:30 pm:

JUNE 8 | Zoom

JUNE 22 | St. Peter’s, Red Bluff

SEPTEMBER 14 | Trinity Cathedral

OCTOBER 19 | St. Paul’s, Healdsburg

Click here to register.

For more information, contact Jo Ann Williams (bjwilli@surewest.net)

Board of Trustees

Highlights from the latest Board of Trustees Meeting

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 May Board of Trustees meeting, we were delighted to learn that two congregations in our Diocese received grants from The Episcopal Church (TEC). St John’s in Roseville received an Impact Grant for Beloved Community. Grace Church in St. Helena received a grant from the Roanridge Trust Grants to expand their Good News Garden. Congratulations to both churches for their TEC grant awards!

Bishop Megan told the Board that our Diocese has amazing deacons who support both the life of the diocese as a whole and individual congregations. Bishop Megan stated she would love to have a deacon in every congregation in the Diocese and our partnership with the Dioceses of El Camino and San Diego is training new deacons. If you are interested in learning more about our West Coast Collaborative, contact Kathy Lawler at sfmdean@norcalepiscopal.org.

The Diocese of Northern California is participating in another collaborative opportunity: the Title IV Compact. The group has representatives from multiple dioceses who address ecclesiastical discipline in the dioceses as the need arises. Bishop Megan announced that she appointed the Rev. Nancy Streufert and Leta Parks to this group.

Finally, the keynote speaker for the 2024 Diocesan Convention was announced: Michael Moynagh will be joining us from England. Mr. Moynagh has done a lot of work on community-oriented ministries that involve careful listening and ways to nurture leaders. Bishop Megan recommended we read his book Being Church, Doing Life: Creating Gospel Communities Where Life Happens. Join us on November 9 on zoom for our 2024 Convention.

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!

Upcoming Events around the Diocese

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.