|
In this edition of ENews:
- Bishop Megan Visits St. Francis of the Redwoods in Willits
- Presiding Bishop Curry and Archbishop Naoum of Jerusalem host webinar to discuss the conflict in the Holy Land
- West Coast Collaborative Accepting Applications for English Language Lay Preaching Cohort
- Church of the Incarnation, Santa Rosa to Celebrate 150th Anniversary
- St. Andrew's Antelope to hold Concluding Service Sunday, December 3
| |
Bishop Megan St. Francis of the Redwoods, Willits | |
Last Sunday, Bishop Megan travelled to Willits to worship with the congregation at St. Francis of the Redwoods. While there, she preached, celebrated Eucharist, and received a new member into the Episcopal Church. Bishop Megan also Commissioned the Ministry Support Team for the congregation.
She was assisted in worship by Mike A'Dair (acolyte), the Rev. Bob Scott and the Rev. Donnalee Hart (deacons), and the Rev. Betsy Bruneau (priest).
Following worship and a reception. Bishop Megan met with the Board of Episcopal Community Services for a planning meeting.
| |
|
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Anglican Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem discuss conflict in the Holy Land. | |
|
This morning, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Anglican Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem met in a zoom webinar to discuss the situation the Holy Land.
Moderated by The Rev. Paul Feheley, Middle East Partnership Officer for The Episcopal Church, the hour-long conversation centered on Bp Curry asking questions on the current status of the church in the Holy Land.
The news from the Holy Land is disturbing, and shocking. Yet Archbishop Hosam is hopeful and committed to bringing the Good News of Christ to a deeply troubled land. We highly recommend that all watch the video. Not only is it an unblinking view of the situation, but a call to action for all.
At the time of this publication, a link to a recording of the webinar had not been released. As soon as we receive it, we will post it on our diocesan webpage and social media sites.
| |
2023 Diocesan Convention Videos Now Available | |
We're still reviewing the survey responses from Convention, and plan to have those in an upcoming edition of the ENews. In the meantime, we've got lots of video highlights from the convention. Check them out on the convention webpage, available here: https://www.norcalepiscopal.org/site/diocesan-convention-2023/ | |
|
Applications now open for English language
Lay Preaching Cohort
| |
|
The Episcopal Dioceses of El Camino Real, Northern California and San Diego are accepting applications for the 2024 English language cohort to prepare individuals to apply for a Preaching license (the Spanish language cohort will begin recruiting in January). We are seeking adult learners of all ages and educational backgrounds who are actively involved in ministry in their congregations and demonstrate gifts in lay leadership. Participants must be members of a congregation within one of our three partner dioceses.
Who is this for? Lay members of our congregations with gifts for preaching and leadership in ministry.
What will we study? Biblical exegesis and preaching theory and practice.
Where will we meet? On Zoom
When will we meet? Once each month on the 4th Thursday from 5 - 9 p.m.
We are currently accepting applications through December 1, 2023.
To apply, visit the West Coast Collaborative’s website at https://www.wccollaborative.org/
Questions? Contact the dean:
The Rev. Sr. Kathy Lawler sfmdean@norcalepiscopal.org
| |
|
St. Andrew's Antelope to hold Concluding Service
Sunday, December 3.
With deep appreciation for decades of faithful service to the people of Antelope, we share that the congregation of St. Andrew's, Antelope has decided to suspend worship. A fire in 2021 heavily damaged their sanctuary beyond repair, and Sunday worship has been held at Bethel Lutheran Church in Sacramento for some time now.
A festive evensong and reception were held on July 30, 2023 to mark the retirement of their vicar, the Rev. Peter Rodgers.
Though this will be the final Sunday worship service for the mission congregation, plans are underway to keep the name and ministry of the church alive through a grant program to benefit feeding programs serving those on the margins. (Stay tuned!)
The Rev. Cn. Julie Wakelee will preach and preside.
Date/time: Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 10 am.
Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, 1200 Alamos Avenue, Sacramento
| |
|
Church of Our Saviour Placerville presents Holiday Concert and Dinner
Ring in the holiday season with the music of Millington Strings and enjoy a gift of music and dinner from the Church of Our Saviour to the El Dorado County community. Bring your family and friends for a joy-filled, free, afternoon of music performed by Steve and Anne Millington who have been entertaining audiences with their repertoire of sounds from Bach to Bono for many years. It is our pleasure to welcome you on Sundday, November 26, 2023, at 4:00 p.m., at the Church of Our Saviour, 2979 Coloma Street, Placerville.
The talented musicians of Millington Strings who are returning to perform in the beautiful and acoustically perfect Church of Our Saviour, will start your holiday season off with the sounds of beautiful music. Dinner will follow immediately after the concert. No reservations required. Questions may be directed to oursaviouroffice@gmail.com.
| |
|
Join Church of the Incarnation, Santa Rosa for their 150th Anniversary Celebration – November 30, 6:30 pm
Please join us for a special service to celebrate 150 years of worship and community outreach at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation on Thursday, November 30th, at 6:30 pm. Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Megan Traquair, will preside and our rector, the Rev. Stephen Shaver, will preach. All are invited to wear red, the color of our celebration. Clergy are invited to vest and take part in the procession (red stoles, or for interfaith clergy, the vestments of your own tradition are welcome). Child care is available.
After the liturgy, please join us for a festive reception with pictorial displays of our history, commemorative gifts and a wonderful array of appetizers and drinks.
Please let us know if you will attend by using the link below. Your RSVP helps us get an accurate attendance estimate so we can plan for the best possible celebration.
We look forward to seeing you on November 30th as we continue the work and fellowship of those who have gone before us.
RSVP for Incarnation's 150th Anniversary Service
|  |
|
|
FREE ADVENT STUDY GUIDES – Living Compass' Living Well Through Advent 2023. Offered to you by the Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health.
To order, email Susan Wahlstrom, Coordinator at wahlstrom@volcano.net
Include number of copies, & for what congregation. Please include private street address as delivery to churches isn't possible.
| |
|
Registration is now open for the Thirty-sixth Annual Diocesan Choir Festival at Trinity Cathedral
The festival is being held on Saturday, January 27, and all choral singers are invited to participate. Our guest conductor is Mr Nigel Groome, Director of Music at St Matthew's/Westminster, London, England.
For complete information including the repertoire to be sung, the schedule for the day, and the online registration link can be found here:
https://sierracanon.wordpress.com/2023/11/08/the-thirty-sixth-annual-diocesan-choir-festival-saturday-january-27-2024/
| |
|
Mr. Nigel Groome – Director of Music
at St. Matthew's/Westminster, London, England.
| |
Episcopal Foundation of Northern California | |
Programs and ministries in our diocese need YOUR support! | |
|
|
Below are just a few featured dreams from the 2023 Bishop's Book of Dreams:
Community Garden | St. George's, Carmichael (Goal: $6,000)
The community garden at St. George's Episcopal Church has served the community for well over 15 years. In recent years, to continue the mission of the garden and welcome refugees in the community, St. George partnered with the International Rescue Committee New Roots program to help manage and maintain the garden as a space for refugees to grow food and establish new roots. The garden currently serves 11 gardeners and their families, many of whom have been gardening at the site for several years. Funds from the appeal will help towards the cost of a new storage shed, installing a drip line irrigation system, and planting more fruit trees. Read more...
Community Meals | Epiphany, Vacaville (Goal: $5,000)
For nearly 20 years, Epiphany has helped provide meals for the hungry and the unhoused, feeding several hundred meals per week in the greater Vacaville area. The program has been a positive and transformative force in the community, and has helped take over 60 unhoused individuals off the street. Through this work, Epiphany supports Christ's work of reconciliation, equality, justice, mercy, and peace, while upholding the principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Funds from the appeal will help towards the cost of replacing old kitchen shelving, and expanding their storage capability. Read more...
Will you support these dreams?
Giving in honor or remembrance of someone you love this holiday season can make for a heartfelt and generous gift. You can download a gift card in English or Spanish to share with them.
| |
Commission for Intercultural Ministries | |
Racial Justice Audit Executive Summary and Report now Available | |
|
The Commission for Intercultural Ministries thanks everyone who participated in this year‘s survey of diocesan leaders and our thanks to the Mission Institute (MI) for conducting the audit. Findings and recommendations are listed in the Executive Summary with details covered in the full report at the links below. This report is not a destination but rather a continued journey on the path toward Beloved Community. Next year MI will conduct the second year of the audit at parish level and issue a final report.
Please contact Lynn Zender, zenderlynn@gmail.com, or Jo Ann Williams, bjwilli@surewest.net, Racial Justice Audit Co-chairs, for questions or comments about the audit report.
| |
Missioner for Disaster Resilience | |
Learning from the Episcopal Church of the Philippines | |
Missioner for Disaster Resilience, Mark Dibelka, stands with a banner signed by all participants in the training in the Philippines. | |
|
For the past week, I have been hosted by the Episcopal Church of the Philippines and learning about the unique programs they use to help churches develop their communities, as well as care for those who have been impacted by disaster. Since my arrival, the Philippines has experienced five earthquakes of magnitude 4.4 or higher, and a destructive magnitude 6.7 earthquake caused death and damage in the far south of the nation. Thankfully, we have been safe.
Attending this training are Anglican Church development and disaster personnel from Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and the USA. We began in the classroom at the National Church Headquarters in Manila, and have toured sites in Isabela, Mountain Province, and Kalinga.
The most valuable piece of information I’ve received, so far, is that when the Episcopal Church of the Philippines used disaster resilience as their starting point, within ten years they ceased being dependent upon other members of the Anglican Communion for financial subsidies, and their membership, nationwide, has more than doubled.
I’m headed over to Trinity Cathedral, Tabuk, Kalinga (the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Luzon), so I’m logging out now, but look for more next week. Click here to see more photos from Mark's Trip.
Peace,
Mark
| |
Missioner for Church Life | |
|
Our next evangelism gathering will be Wednesday, November 29 at 5pm. Each month, we gather on Zoom to discuss evangelism resources, share evangelism success stories, and address evangelism challenges. This month, we talk about evangelism opportunities during Advent and Christmas. The Zoom link to attend is here.
Also, be sure to check out the Evangelism Resources on our diocesan website, where you’ll also be able to find recordings of past monthly gatherings. https://www.norcalepiscopal.org/site/evangelism-resources/
“If I have achieved anything in my life, it is because
I have not been embarrassed to talk about God.” Dorothy Day
| |
|
We’re excited to announce that we will have a diocesan-wide New Camino training on February 16 & 17, 2024 at St. John’s, Chico. The Rev. Antony Guillen, the Episcopal Church’s Missioner for Latino/Hispanic ministries will be here to help us explore opportunities for Latino/Hispanic ministry in our diocese.
This training is suitable for individuals as well as church teams.
Please go to: https://form.jotform.com/232965467198170 to indicate your interest in attending and to receive updates regarding lodging and expenses.
| |
|
Before you know it, Advent will be here, so be sure to check out these Advent resources from the Episcopal Church.
This Advent and Christmas, The Episcopal Church offers the following resources to help you and your congregation share signs of God’s love through the coming of Jesus Christ—the “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).
- Digital and printable resources to promote your Advent and Christmas events on social media, websites, or around town
- Customizable promotional video for your Episcopal congregation
- Advent curriculum, calendar, bulletin inserts: “Journeying the Way of Love”
- Advent curriculum: “Preparing to Become Beloved Community”
- “Sermons That Work”
- “Lesson Plans That Work”
- “Prophetic Voices” podcast series
- “d365” devotions
- Advent wreath-making video and blessing
- Printable letter to Santa and Christmas card
- “Las Posadas” churchwide Christmas pageant
- Episcopal Relief & Development Advent toolkit
- AdventWord inspirational online calendar
- And more
| |
|
Mark Your Calendars
This Advent, join Canon Julie and Missioner Mack as we read and pray with the poetry of Maya Angelou.
Thursdays – 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
November 30 - December 21
On Zoom
Register now: https://form.jotform.com/223255198020147
| |
|
Clergy Openings in The Diocese | |
Job Opportunities in The Diocese | |
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral | Sacramento is seeking a new Director of Cathedral Choristers (Children’s choir). Read the Job Announcement Here. | |
The ENews is published weekly on Tuesdays.
| |
|
|
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
www.norcalepiscopal.org
| | | | |
