We at Calvary honor our baptismal covenant to “respect the dignity of every human being.” We celebrate the wonderful diversity of the human family, and strive to include a place for everyone at God’s table. Whether you’re young or old, rich or poor; married, partnered, or single; housed or homeless; gay, straight, trans, or questioning; native, documented, or undocumented…whoever you are (and just as you are), there is a place for you here.

Adult Forum at 9:30 AM in the

Fireside Room

Drop in and share your insights, thoughts and questions.


Illumination, fellowship & fresh brewed coffee!

In our Parish Community we pray for Cindy Hershberger, John Morris, Eric Martin, Marv Peterson, Al Reetz, Shirley Mooers, and Isabella Salido. We pray for all those who recently passed away. We pray also for Katie Knapp who is beginning a journey of discernment.

In our Deanery we pray for our deanery partner church, All Saints’ Carmel. 

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer we pray for St. Barnabas in Arroyo Grande.



In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for The Scottish Episcopal Church.

FLOWER AND CANDLE DEDICATIONS

If you would like a way to honor your loved ones or to mark a special occasion, consider a dedication for altar flowers or the sanctuary candle. A donation of $30 will dedicate the altar flowers, and a donation of $10 will dedicate the sanctuary candle and the votive candles.

To make a dedication please use the "Flowers" envelope available in the narthex and in the pew racks, indicating whether your donation is for the flowers or the candle, and include the specific date you'd like your dedication to appear in the Sunday bulletin.

CALVARY CARES

At Calvary, we believe in the power of prayer and the strength of community. You are invited to submit the names of family members

and loved ones (with their permission) for inclusion on our Prayer List by emailing office@calvarysantacruz.org.

If you or someone in your family is in need of pastoral or parish care, please reach out to Rev. B Simon Dinglasan, Jr. at 831-205-3503

or via email at rector@calvarysantacruz.org.

We are here for you.

SAVE ON TAXES WHILE SUPPORTING CALVARY

If you have a traditional IRA, the IRS requires you to begin taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) at age 73. These withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and can sometimes push you into a higher tax bracket.

There’s a simple way to turn this requirement into a benefit for both you and the church.

Through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), you can direct your RMD to a qualified nonprofit like Calvary Episcopal Church. When done correctly, this donation is excluded from your taxable income, which may help lower your overall tax burden.

Here’s how it can help:

• Reduce your taxable income by donating directly from your IRA

• Potentially stay in a lower tax bracket

• Give up to $108,000 per year (or $216,000 for couples)

• Support the mission and ministry of Calvary

Important: The funds must be transferred directly from your IRA to the church in order to qualify. Be sure to consult your financial advisor to arrange the proper transfer.

Several Calvary parishioners are already using this approach and have found it to be a meaningful and tax-wise way to give.

It’s a practical way to support the church while making the most of your required distributions.

FOOD ASSISTANCE DONATION DRIVE

Calvary Church is responding to the Bishop’s Call to Action: Food Assistance in the Diocese. The food you have donated is going to the Food Pantry at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Scott’s Valley. They express their sincere appreciation each time the donations are delivered and send their gratitude to all!

Please bring your donations of shelf-stable foods to church on Sunday mornings. Please ensure the donated items have not expired or been damaged. Canned items that are “easy open” with pull-top lids are helpful for those who may not have access to a can opener.

Specific items most needed by Food Banks include:

Canned fish, Canned vegetables, Canned stew, Canned fruit, Canned soup, Canned beans, Pasta, Rice, Peanut Butter. Packaged healthy snacks are also needed.

The bins are in the Narthex as you enter the church, and the Parish Hall.

Thank you for your generosity!

Weekly Midweek Eucharist

LECTIO DIVINA

Join us for Lectio Divina on WEDNESDAYS at 9:00 AM, either in person at the church or via Zoom (link below). All are welcome to participate in this time of prayerful reflection and scripture.

Note that Lectio Divina is not a traditional bible study but rather a devotional practice of deepening our connection with the Gospel text for the following Sunday through contemplative reading and sharing.

FROM THE RECTOR'S LAPTOP

When I first started to come out publicly in my college days (1988-1992) a big part of that process was attending Pride celebrations every summer back home in New York City. The ability to make a public declaration of this truth of my identity was part of my journey of accepting and loving the fullness of my humanity. I felt I had found a place where I belong. I had found and claimed my tribe. I had come home to myself. I didn’t have to shoulder the burden of fear and secrecy any longer – at least not in specifically “queer” spaces.

As I got older I found that Pride celebrations seemed to carry less and less personal emotional import. I had done my inner work and no longer felt I needed to make such public declarations. And most Pride celebrations seemed to become increasingly an excuse for another drunken party on the streets, tinged by overt commercialism as more and more corporations started to sponsor Pride events as part of a marketing plan to lure increasing numbers of LGBTQIA+ customers.

I happily “retired” from marching in Pride parades, and chose to mark the occasion in a more subdued and personal way – often just gathering with friends, or perhaps volunteering with an organization by staffing a booth at Pride festivals. Then in 2007 I picked up stakes and relocated across the country to San Francisco to join the Society of Saint Francis, moving into San Damiano Friary on Dolores Street just a few blocks from Castro Street. I used to joke that I had always wanted to live in San Francisco but never imagined it would be as a celibate friar…

Walking through the Castro in the traditional brown habit of Franciscans with a white cincture and a large habit rosary, I drew my share of attention – even in San Francisco. As publicly religious people we were often the object of others’ projections of their feelings about the Church. Sometimes folks would mock us. Sometimes folks would feel emboldened to talk with us about their personal struggles, looking for comfort or understanding. Some just wanted to share a pivotal story about their faith journey. We learned to take none of these spontaneous interactions personally because to the general public we represented “the Church” or even sometimes God.

From that place of privilege I was most grateful for the times when I would be the focus of someone’s anger over the Church’s treatment of LGBTQIA+ people. As I wrestled with integrating my own sexuality and spirituality as a religious “professional,” it was a gift to witness the chasm that has grown between communities of faith and the queer community. And I have felt called ever since to step into that chasm as a way to acknowledge publicly the complicity of the Church in the oppression of queer folk through its abusive theologies.

It is not a stretch to say that bad theology kills people. We can’t ever truly make up for centuries of spiritual abuse, but we can recommit ourselves to charting a new way forward that seeks to welcome those that others would exclude as we continue to live into our baptismal promises to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”

Pride still matters. That’s why I started joining with the Diocese in marching in the Pride Parade in San Francisco as a friar. And that’s why today I make the effort to march in Pride celebrations whenever I can, as a public religious witness of God’s presence in, and love for the LGBTQIA+ community. And I hope you will join our Calvary contingent on Pride Sunday, whether marching alongside us, staffing our Festival booth, or supporting us in prayer on June 7^th.

And I leave you with these lines from “A Blessing for Being Human” by Kate Bowler:

Blessed are we,

recognizing that it is our limits as well as our gifts

that can shape the natural contours of what is possible,

that guide us to what is ours to do.

Blessed are we when it is not our greatness that speaks, but our littleness.

For it is our vulnerability that is the truest thing about us,

the place where mutual connection is possible,

where competition ends and community begins.

And oh how blessed are we in our fragility and dependence and brokenness,

knowing that You, O God, hold all things together.

There is no cure for being human…but for each other, we are all good medicine.

Amen, and Happy Pride Month!

Peace and all good,

Simon+

GRATITUDE PICNIC

The Stewardship Committee along with the Parish Life Committee invite you to a picnic to celebrate Founder’s Day, and to share our Gratitude for your generous response to the 2026 Pledge Drive. The latest update is a total of $156,224.00 from 45 pledges. We are very grateful for your commitment to Calvary!

Join us for a picnic on Sunday, June 28, following the 10:30 Service,

in the Calvary Church Courtyard.

And come to worship in period costumes!



FIRST FRIDAY AT CALVARY

We plan to debut our Parish Hall as a venue on the First Friday Art Walks in downtown beginning on Friday, June 5th from 5:00 - 8:00 PM.

The Parish Hall now participates in downtown Santa Cruz’s First Friday Art Walks. If you are an artist and would like to be considered for future exhibits, contact Juli Robbins through the office with the number of pieces you would like to show. Space is limited.

CALVARY BOOK CLUB

Love a good book and great conversation?

Join our diverse group of readers as we explore stories that broaden our understanding of people and cultures—both real and imagined.

We meet on the 3rd Friday of each month, and always welcome new readers.

June 19, 3:00, the Fireside room at the south end of Parish Hall. My Invented Country: A Memoir by Isabel Allende is heartfelt and charming.

Recommended by Liberty Lana, who knows the author personally, this is her favorite of all her books. It is not a long book and can be read alongside Turtle Island.

SUMMER BOOK STUDY

Join us this June to read and discuss the book Reading the Bible on Turtle Island.

"Comprehensive and visionary, Reading the Bible on Turtle Island reimagines Christian faith in view of Indigenous experiences and identity."—Foreword Reviews, November/December 2025

In Reading the Bible on Turtle Island, Indigenous scholars Chris Hoklotubbe and Danny Zacharias explore what it means to read the Bible from the lens of Indigenous peoples in North America. Exploring the intersection of Scripture, Cultural Traditions, Hearts and Minds, and Creation, they affirm Creator's presence with Indigenous people since the beginning. By recovering these rich histories, this book offers a fresh reading of Scripture that celebrates the assets, blessings, and insights of Indigenous interpretation.



We’ll meet for the four Wednesdays in June at 6:00 pm via Zoom (linked below), and cover the first two chapters at the first session.

The book is available widely.

If you need help with the purchase, speak with Simon.

We look forward to our usual rich and provocative discussions!

Sponsored by your Adult Education Committee.

📚 INTRODUCING: CALVARY STORIES

We’re excited to share that we have created two beautiful books featuring the fascinating stories and biographies of some of our beloved older parishioners at Calvary Church.

$10 featuring: 

Liberty Lana

Charmion Burns

Jane Martin

Dave Meyers

 $15 featuring: 

Sarah & Marv Peterson

Ernst Rosenthal

Dana Bagshaw

Sonja & Al Reetz

These books are a wonderful way to celebrate our community and the inspiring lives within it. To reserve your copy, please email Carlos at officemanager@calvarysantacruz.org.



Don’t miss the chance to own these special keepsakes!

JOIN CALVARY FOR PRIDE!

As Pride approaches, we invite everyone to be part of Calvary’s presence in the celebration! Whether you’d like to march with us in the parade on Sunday, June 7th, or help staff our booth at the Pride Festival, we would love to have you join in sharing a message of love, inclusion, and community. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with others and show that all are welcome at Calvary.

Our gathering place is on Cathcart Street, on the opposite side of Pacific. Join us by 11:00 (though we will likely not start walking until about 11:25).

If you’re interested or have any questions, please contact Rev. Simon for more information.

CRAFT NIGHT & GAME NIGHT

We are taking a summer break from these fun community events.

Keep an eye out for future announcements when we are ready to restart them.

CELEBRATING EVA'S BAPTISM

On May 24, we had the joy of celebrating Eva's baptism at Calvary. It was wonderful to gather with family, friends, and members of our parish community for this special occasion. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a meaningful and joyful celebration.

We give thanks for Eva and her family and look forward to supporting her as she grows in faith.

CALVARY JOINS COPA ADVOCACY DAY

FOR HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

On May 19, Calvary parishioners joined members of COPA and the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network in Sacramento to advocate for healthcare access for all Californians. Alongside participants from two other diocesan churches, they met with legislative staff as state leaders negotiate California’s budget.

The advocacy focused on proposals that would reduce Medi-Cal access for undocumented residents. Delegates shared powerful personal stories about the difficult choices families face between healthcare and basic necessities, including accounts of loved ones who were unable to receive timely, life-saving treatment.

The group also highlighted the broader impact of proposed healthcare cuts, emphasizing that:



• Agricultural workers often lose coverage when seasonal work fluctuates or earnings temporarily increase.

• More people will be forced to rely on emergency rooms for routine care, increasing strain on hospitals and healthcare workers.

• The consequences extend far beyond the 2 million people directly affected, impacting the health and well-being of communities across California.

Calvary continues to stand with community partners in advocating for policies that protect the dignity, health, and well-being of all people.

FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR: SUMMER CHOIR

As the program year winds down, my attention is turning to ways of keeping a meaningful musical presence in our worship over the summer months. This means, as we did last year, instituting Summer Choir.

Summer Choir is a group of people, some regular choir members, some not, who are willing to get together early on Sunday morning to learn an easy anthem and to lead congregational singing. No experience is necessary for Summer Choir. I know that our choir can seem a little daunting because we do have some excellent musicians there. But don’t let that discourage you from being part of Summer Choir. If you like to sing, come along.

Summer Choir will sing on Sundays in July and August and the first two weeks of September, with the exception of the four Sundays that I will be away, July 12, August 9, 16, and 23. Singers do not need to commit to being there every Sunday through the summer. Everyone needs a break.

We will meet on Sunday, June 21, 12:15-1:45, to look at all the music for the first time. Scores and recordings of the anthems will be available on our Choir Files page so you can review the music. We meet at 9:30 on Sunday morning to practice our anthem and the day’s hymns. There are no additional rehearsals during the summer.

I encourage everyone who can carry a tune in a bucket to consider being part of Summer Choir.

If you are interested in Summer Choir please contact me at mwalker@calvarysantacruz.org.

THE CALVARY ARCHIVE

Over many years, and more intensely over the past several months, Carol Walker has been working to develop a functioning archive that not only preserves Calvary’s original documents and history but also provides continuity by maintaining current and future documents and records. Materials in the archive are as old as the handwritten minutes of meetings in 1862 to establish an Episcopal parish in Santa Cruz and as recent as the May 2026 Vestry Minutes. Many of these documents are parish records required by the national church to be kept and protected; others are less formal pieces that tell our story over the years. As our story continues, so will its safekeeping in the archive. Rev. Simon will bless the new archive at our Founders’ Day service on June 28.  

Here, in her own words, is Carol’s story of how the archive came to be.

HOW THE CALVARY ARCHIVE BEGAN

Sometime around 1998 Fr. David J. Jones needed an office secretary and I was available, having recently been laid off from Seagate Technology. It was intended to be a temporary placement, which it was.

David's regular day off was Wednesdays. In those days when David wasn't around almost no one else was either, so I was basically alone. And, the position didn't require much of the secretary, so, I was bored.

I started looking around everywhere. I learned a lot, something all secretaries/office managers should do. I learned where everything was and where my resources were.

In the Conference Room was a small metal two-shelf safe sitting on the floor under the bookshelves. Inside was a very important find: all of Calvary's old record books. But, that metal box was very damp and the books reeked of mold. That moisture and mold would have eventually eaten up the pages in those books.

I called the office of the Archives of the Episcopal Church, located in Texas. They were very helpful. The task: dry every single page of every single book, one-by-one, and wipe the dried mold off making sure to wear 100% cotton gloves to protect yourself from the mold but also to protect the pages from the oils on your hands.



Very conveniently, the steps to the Fireside Room get direct sunlight just about all day. I was able to monitor the steps from the window beside my desk in the office. So, every Wednesday for about a year I opened a book, set it out in the sun on those steps, went out and wiped those pages dry, then turned to the next page until all were done.

After that I was able to begin what is now the Archive of Calvary Church. The archive that exists today is the result of a lot of work and research and, with the gracious donation of five fire-safe filing cabinets from Five Branches University, we have a proper place to store all of Calvary's important documents.

The documents that are placed in this archive follow the guidelines contained in the Records Management for Episcopal Parishes and Missions published by The Archives of the Episcopal Church. The contents are customized to Calvary's needs and focused primarily on documents that are listed in the Records Management guidelines as requiring permanent retention. The organization of the filing system is designed by me using a time-honored file system learned while serving active duty in the U.S. Air Force and has served me very well over my career in administrative management.

Carol Walker

Archivist

Calvary Episcopal Church

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

May 2026

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: TOWN HALL 2026

Mark your calendars for our next Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, June 14 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM in the Parish Hall.

Come be part of the conversation as we share updates, celebrate what God is doing in our church, and look ahead together. Your voice matters. Let’s grow in faith and fellowship as one body!

SNACKS OUTREACH

The Boys and Girls Club and Calvary Preschool are actively open and serving the children of our community. They are our neighbors and appreciate our outreach efforts to provide pre-packaged snacks for children. Please continue this longstanding tradition. You may deliver them in person or leave them in the narthex on Sunday morning.

If you have questions, email Alice Lopez at enna.lopez@yahoo.com.

SOCKS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED (SPIN)

Having a pair of clean dry socks when you live outdoors is a good thing. Over the years Calvary has contributed socks to SPIN, the fourth ministry of the Association of Faith Communities. Along with other Santa Cruz congregations over 60,000 pairs of socks have been distributed.

It’s simple: buy some socks, put them in the basket in the Narthex on Sunday morning and make somebody’s feet happy.

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT

CALVARY’S COMMUNITY PRESENCE

Rev. Simon is forming a Community Presence Committee to help promote events at Calvary in a coordinated and strategic way. If you have broad community connections, marketing or graphic design skills, or a passion for helping Calvary grow as a centrally located

“community cultural center,” we’d love to hear from you!

We’re also looking for volunteers to help livestream our worship services for members who are homebound, hospitalized, or unable to attend in person. If you’re interested, please reach out to Rev. Simon or Alex Johnson.

This is a wonderful way to share your talents, strengthen our community, and make a meaningful impact!



DIOCESAN FINANCE COMMITTEE SEEKS NEW MEMBERS

The Diocese is seeking individuals who may be interested in serving on the Diocesan Finance Committee. We are looking for people with one or more of the following qualifications:

1. Experience working with nonprofit organizations, currently or in the past
2. Service on a board of trustees or related committee work, either in or outside the church
3. Business experience, including ownership, management, the ability to read financial reports, or strategic planning
4. Employment in banking or financial services

The Finance Committee meets via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m. to review monthly financial reports prior to meetings of the Diocesan Board of Trustees. There is one in person meeting each year in January, typically the third Saturday, held at Saint Paul San Pablo in Salinas, attended by the Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, Commission on Ministry, diocesan staff, and the bishop. An additional in person meeting may also be held during the annual budget process in July or August.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, please contact Joanna Shreve at jrshreve@gmail.com or 650.464.5162. Please respond by June 10 so candidates may be considered for the June 18 meeting. Bishop Lucinda will interview each candidate by phone or Zoom.

☕ COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED ☕

We’re looking for volunteers to host Coffee Hour and help keep this beloved Sunday tradition going. Hosting is simple and a wonderful way to serve and connect with our church community.

If you’re interested, please call or email Sandy Goodman at 831-251-4030 or sansanag95062@gmail.com

THINKING ABOUT JOINING CALVARY? WE'RE HERE TO HELP!

Interested in making Calvary your spiritual home? We're happy to assist you with transferring your membership.

Please contact Carlos, our Parish Administrator, for guidance.

The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

📞 Call us at 831-423-8787

📧 Or email: officemanager@calvarysantacruz.org



We’re glad you’re here—and we’re ready to walk with you on this journey!

UPCOMING EVENTS TO NOTE:

Friday, June 5th

First Friday at Calvary

Parish Hall

5:00 PM

Sunday, June 7th

Santa Cruz Pride Parade & Festival

Interfaith Worship Service at 9:30 AM

Parade Kick Off at 11:00 AM

Pride Festival Booth from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Sunday, June 14th

Parish Town Hall Meeting

Parish Hall

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Sunday, June 28th

Founders' Day

Parish Family Photo

Stewardship Gratitude Picnic

Parish Life Ice Cream Social

Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th

Independence Holiday Observed

Ministry Interest? Start Here!

Click red name for e-mail



Adult Education, Cathy Watson

Book Club, Dana Bagshaw

Archives/History, Carol Walker

Building, Grounds, Rentals, Margo Fisher

Calvary Cares, Sonja Reetz

Coffee Hour, Sandy Goodman

Communication/REALM, Treasurer, Cathy Watson

Parish Life, Juli Robbins

Creation Care, Dana Bagshaw

Labyrinth, Martha Dexter

Social Justice/COPA, Al Reetz

Stewardship, Alice Lopez

This Week at Calvary, Carlos Serna

Worship, Elizabeth Chandler

Read the Latest Issue!

Real Episcopal is emailed out every two weeks. Inside you’ll find news about our diocese, the Episcopal Church, unique parish programs, photos, diocesan event & conference announcements, grant opportunities, and messages from Bishop Lucinda.

Monday - Friday

10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

The Rev. B. Simon Dinglasan, Jr.

(pronouns: they/them)

Email

Senior Warden

Alice Lopez

Email

Junior Warden

Margo Fisher

Email

Calvary Vestry:



Alice Lopez (Sr. Warden), Margo Fisher (Jr. Warden), Jane Martin (Clerk),

Elizabeth Chandler, Colin Bowser, Tony Nickel, Patricia Messer, and Juli Robbins.