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In this edition of ENews:
- Diocesan Book Study Continues TODAY at 6:00 pm
- Holy Trinity, Nevada City to mark 150 Years
- Trinity Cathedral to host workshops on Civic Engagement
- Apply for a Congregational Development Grant!
- Diocesan Convention is This Weekend!
- Weekday Sacred Ground Group forming at Trinity Cathedral
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Diocesan Book Study TODAY at 6:00 pm
Join Missioner Mack in a diocesan-wide discussion of Dr. Catherine Meeks’ The Night is Long, but Light Comes in the Morning: Meditations for Racial Healing
Tuesdays at 6:00 pm
September 26 – November 14
Zoom link
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Holy Trinity, Nevada City to celebrate 150 Years | |
Top: The historic Holy Trinity Church in Nevada City Bottom: The Rev. Brad Helmuth, Rector of Holy Trinity, leads a band of parishioners in the annual Constitution Day Parade | |
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In preparation of their 150th anniversary, members of Holy Trinity Church in Nevada City participated in the city’s annual Constitution Day Parade. Holy Trinity will host an open house on November 4th from 10:00 am-4:30 pm. Festivities will include tours of the church with docents in period clothing, a Native American flute concert, an organ demonstration, a choir performance and a concert with around a dozen trombones. Refreshments will also be served.
On Sunday, November 5th, Bishop Megan will be the celebrant at the 9:30 am service. A brunch will be served following the service.
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Trinity Cathedral to Host Workshops on
Civic Engagement
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On Thursday, November 16, Trinity Cathedral welcomes Alan Yarborough, Church Relations Officer for the Episcopal Church, who will lead two timely workshops on Civic Engagement. | |
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FOR CLERGY:
Church and Politics, Oh My!
Supporting Church Leaders Navigating the Public Square
Churches serve public roles for their communities from outreach ministries to disaster response, to convening for worship and loving relationship. Churches also play a public role in politics. In a time of heightened partisanship, what does healthy and effective political engagement look like? How can we better serve members of our own congregations and the broader community around us? In this session with The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations, we will explore public engagement from the standpoint of the church’s role in building relationships and working with government officials to tackle critical issues and in building the church’s capacity for holding spaces where conversations on such topics can take place.
12:00pm – 2:00pm
In-person at or on Zoom Registration: https://bit.ly/499LNZf5
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Apply for a Congregational Development Grant! | |
Does your church have a small project that needs a boost?
Congregational Development Grants are for anything that helps strengthen your ministry.
These small grants (generally up to $2000) may be used for things often not funded by other diocesan resources, including building repairs or improvements and personnel.
Priorities echo those of our Board of Trustees:
- Congregational Vitality
- Creation Care
- Formation/Discipleship
- Racial Reconciliation
- Youth & Young Adults
Other areas (community organizing, feeding programs, etc.) may also be funded.
An example of grants made last year include funding for a neighborhood outreach summer program, flooring for a kitchen where food is prepared for the community, support for summer youth service program, and increasing the reach of online services through hiring a local young adult to run tech for worship.
Total grant pool is $13,000. Number of grants awarded depends upon number of qualified applications received.
Application deadline: Thursday, November 15, 2023
Grants will be announced by November 22, 2023
To apply:
Send an email to Canon Julie Wakelee at Julie@norcalepiscopal.org
Please include:
- A short paragraph explaining the need and how it will strengthen your congregation.
- A stated agreement that you will provide a short report on how the funds were used, along with photographs of the completed project, due by September 1, 2024. You will also agree to this information being shared in diocesan communications.
Churches that received CDG funds in prior years must submit their reports and photos before requesting new grants.
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Convention is this weekend! | |
Not Registered? It's not too late! Avoid the hassle of registering at the door. Register today. | |
Episcopal Foundation of Northern California | |
Partners in Ministries of Health | |
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FREE! Advent Study from Living Compass
Offered to you by the Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health.
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To order, contact:
Susan Wahlstrom, Coordinator
Email: wahlstrom@volcano.net
Please include number of copies, & for what congregation.
Please include private street address as no delivery is possible to churches.
We’ll take it from there!
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Commission for Intercultural Ministries | |
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Weekday Sacred Ground Circle at Trinity Cathedral
Sacred Ground is a program developed by The Episcopal Church exploring in depth the issues of racial justice in the church and in our world. The course is eye-opening and inspirational for how we live out our faith.
Especially designed for those who prefer meeting in the daytime, this Sacred Ground circle will meet weekly (with breaks during the holidays) on Wednesday afternoons from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, beginning Nov. 8 at Trinity Cathedral or on Zoom, depending on each participant’s preference.
The course will be led by the Rev. Jim Richardson, priest associate; the Rev. Tina Campbell, retired deacon; and Ms. Susan Hotchkiss, retired director of adult formation at Trinity Cathedral.
Each week features videos viewed before each meeting and appropriate readings. Conversation and the sharing of our own stories is encouraged in our group.
This course also fulfills the Diocesan racial healing requirement.
For more information about Sacred Ground, go here: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground/invitation/
Contact the Rev. Jim Richardson: jrichardson@trinitycathedral.org with questions or to register.
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Missioner for Church Life | |
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First, thank you to everyone who attended last week’s evangelism gathering on Zoom. At our meeting, we talked about an online Advent/Christmas evangelism training with the Rev. Ken Kroohs.
Rev. Kroohs reminds us that “Most churches have visitors on Christmas Eve—and then never see them again!” In two, free 90-minute sessions online, the Rev. Ken Kroohs teaches proven steps to both have even more guests and have some of them return to worship regularly with you. Sessions are on Tuesdays—November 7 and 14—offered twice each day.
To learn more and register, go to https://nclutheran.org/event/connecting-with-new-people-series/2023-11-07/1/
Also, we discussed a brief YouTube video from magician Penn Jillette which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6md638smQd8&t=242s&ab_channel=beinzee
In the video, Penn Jillette shares a story about receiving a gift of a Bible. Even though this famed magician is an atheist, his reflection on receiving this gift gives us some insight on how to “do evangelism” in a loving, invitational way. Check it out! Many thanks to the Rev. Cliff Haggenjos for passing this along.
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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.
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Spirituality of Fundraising
by Henri Nouwen
Most of our congregations have already begun their fall giving campaigns, but it is not to late check out this easy-to-read and inspirational resource from Henri Nouwen. It might help you look at your stewardship efforts less as drudgery. “Fundraising is, first and foremost, a ministry,” Henri Nouwen writes. “It’s a way of announcing our vision and inviting other people into our mission.” Nouwen encourages us to see fundraising as spiritual work and approach it confidently. “Fundraising is precisely the opposite of begging,” he points out. A Spirituality of Fundraising is brief and can easily be read in one sitting, so if you would like to receive a copy to share with your stewardship team, contact the Missioner for Church Life, the Rev. Mack Olson at Mack@norcalepiscopal.org
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Missioner for Disaster Resilience | |
Work of Diocese featured in the October Newsletter for Episcopal Relief & Development. | |
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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
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Mark Your Calendars
This Advent, join Canon Julie and Missioner Mack as we read and pray with the poetry of Maya Angelou.
Thursdays from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
November 30 - December 21
On Zoom
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Applications now open for English language
Lay Preaching Cohort
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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
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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.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
www.norcalepiscopal.org
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