October 16th, 2020
Dear siblings of Holy Cross,

Many Christians and non-Christians alike can quote this famous line of Jesus’ that we will hear during this weekend’s Gospel: Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s. Often this gets used in part to tell people to pay their taxes—which we should do as responsible citizens—however, I do not know that is the sole lasting impression Jesus intended for us to have.

Even Jesus’ simplest messages (Love God with all your heart, soul, and might; and love your neighbor as you love yourself) are richer and deeper and more powerful than any surface level reading merely implies. Jesus talks in parables for precisely that reason. A simple statement does not always get to the root of what Jesus is trying to say, so he makes dynamic characters and stories come to life to illustrate his own dynamic truths.

A Jewish guy in his time, wandering from town-to-town spreading messages that gather the marginalized and anger the powerful, we can guess that Jesus wasn’t a big institutionalist outside of his love for the Temple (and his dislike of the staff). In fact, Jesus carries more in common with Simon the Zealot than most, he’s a revolutionary of sorts, no matter how else you perceive him, he ticked off the institutions of his time the way any rebellious or “disorderly” person would.

Jesus is also someone who is deeply reliant on his relationship to the divine. As the Son of God and a part of the Trinity, we can take that on its face. But even as a simple human, Jesus is constantly crying out to God and going off to pray by himself. He clearly believes that God is the singular source of life and existence in all forms, and gives God praise, thanks, and glory at every turn. No, I think the true irony of Jesus’ statement is how it belies itself intentionally with the crowd and accusers before him. How can anything be Caesar’s if everything is God’s to begin with? Maybe that is the real trap he has set for his accusers.

Before I end this, I want to alert you all to my new Sabbath schedule. Starting next week, I will be taking Fridays and Saturdays as my Sabbath days. While you can certainly reach out to me with pastoral emergencies regardless of the day, know that I am trying to get the rest that God requires of all of us. As such my usual hours will be 9-5 Sunday through Thursday, and certainly will be available for our various evening programs. Thank you for you understanding as I try to keep myself as fresh as possible for the benefit of our community week-to-week.

Blessings,
Richard+
Worship & Formation
Christian Formation Forum
Sundays at 10 am on Zoom

To join the Zoom forum click here.

This Sunday, October 18th - Environmental Justice & Community Organizing (led by Pete Hasapopoulos, lead organizer, San Diego Organizing Project)

Upcoming forums:
October’s theme: Eco-theology and Creation Care
  • October 25th – Humanity and Our Planet: What it means to be Human on a Finite World (led by Rev. Richard)
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Prayer & Witnessing for Peace & Justice
Tuesdays at Noon
through January 19th
Dove Library, La Costa
1775 Dove Ln, Carlsbad

We had a great time this past Tuesday at the Dove Library as part of a larger coalition of faith groups all gathering throughout the county at the same time in a witness of prayer for justice, peace and nonviolence in our nation at this time. There was a long line of people in their cars lined up to drop off their voter ballots as well as people walking up to drop-off their ballots.

We pray for racial justice, an end to voter suppression, state-sanctioned violence and brutality, and for those who hold public office to uphold justice and ensure that all receive equal protection under the law. We pray for a free, fair and safe election, for peace in our hearts and justice in our communities.

We will gather each Tuesday at Noon at the Dove Library in La Costa for a half hour of prayer and witnessing. Contact Rev. Richard for more information. Please join us as you are able and feel comfortable for this mask and social distancing prayer event. We will also broadcast the event live on our Facebook page
Social distancing selfie!
Karen Sanchez (left lower corner), Rev. Richard (left behind Karen)
and Marci Stafford (right)
Ballot collection
drop-off
Rev. Richard and Marci
Stafford
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Pre-Election Peace & Prayer Vigil
Sunday, November 1st
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

The Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, and the Rt. Rev. Andrew Taylor, bishop of the Lutheran Pacifica Synod, your own Rev. Richard and many others, will speak alongside the San Diego Police Department at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego at this pre-election peace and prayer vigil. All are welcome to join. Masks and social distancing event.
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Sundays
Worship Service
9 AM
via livestream

Join us on our Livestream platform (link below) or on Facebook here.

The service bulletin is here.
Miss last Sundays service? Watch it below:
All past services video's are archived on our Youtube channel here and on our Facebook page here.
Wednesdays
Evening Prayer
7 PM **
on Zoom

We tour the world via Evening Prayer from countries throughout the Anglican faith tradition (and sometimes from our own prayer book). Come feed your soul and take a little time to socialize with your fellow Holy Cross family members!

Please watch for Tuesdays email with the link to join us via a Zoom video, or call in from your phone if you choose not to use video.

** 3rd Wednesday each month starts at 5 PM due to Bishop's Committee meeting
Thursdays**
Contemplative Prayer
Noon
on Zoom

** Every other Thursday, next service Oct. 15th
Led by our seminarian Brian Petersen, the service begins with a short spoken prayer service and then transitions into 20 minutes of Centering Prayer. The service lasts about 45 minutes.

The Zoom link will be provided in our Tuesday midweek newsletter along with the link to the Wednesday Evening Prayer service.

Click here for a short brochure from Contemplative Outreach on information about Centering Prayer.
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CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
NEW GODLY PLAY LESSONS!!

We hope our Godly Play families are doing well. We sure miss you all!

Posted below are the next four lessons in our fall season. These are available on the Godly Play Foundation YouTube Channel and we are providing a link with each lesson below. If you have questions or need assistance please call or text Sue B. at 760-607-2778.


Sending love and hugs, May the lord be with you all,

Your Storytellers: Sue B., Sue S. & Judy C.
Neighbors in Faith
Due to COVID related activity many changes in this ministry have been taking place so rapidly over the past few months that this column has been rather bare as we have not been able to keep up with communicating the constant change. We have transitioned from personally meeting and serving food for Neighbors in Faith in an open setting in at Magee Park in Carlsbad ... to making sandwiches/dinner in my kitchen... to just delivering commercially prepared food that is passed thru a window by others at Church of the Advent.
 
Our drive thru drop-offs earlier this year were a huge success: we have plenty of peanut butter and jelly and with regard to other supplies our donations combined with donations from the other groups engaged in the feeding program now centralized at Church of the Advent actually overstocked the shelves with supplies and we were asked to hold up. 
 
Going forward we are now required to follow county health regulations which stipulate that all food being served at Church of the Advent must be prepared in a commercial kitchen. That is being worked on in conjunction with Church of the Advent, we do not have a timeframe for how long it will be before this is available.
 
In the meantime, we will continue to support Neighbors in Faith and our commitment to feeding our brothers and sisters in need by purchasing prepared meals that are delivered to Church of the Advent for distribution. Our next scheduled date to provide a simple dinner meal is Monday October 26th. If you have an interest in participating in any part of this now or in the future, I welcome your contact. You may reach me at 760.918.9559 or joyceawayman@gmail.com.

I will do my best to keep the Holy Cross family posted on the progress of this ministry.

Stay well... God bless you all, Joyce

Follow our Neighbors in Faith ministry on Instagram @neighborsinfaith_carlsbad, and Twitter, @NIF_Carlsbad. 

Stewardship & Supporting Holy Cross
Bishop's Committee
 
Bishop's Committee meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm. The next regular BC meeting is Wednesday, October 21st, via Zoom.
Church offering plate with some currency in it
Offertory - Supporting Holy Cross

Thank you to all who continue to support our mission and ministry during this time when we cannot meet in person. We continue to accept checks mailed to the church office. We also offer the following convenient ways to electronically make your pledge and other donations:
Look for Zelle in your banking app or online bank account (no credit cards) and send your pledge/donation to: holycross@holycrosscarlsbad.org. Please note "general fund" on the note/what's this for line for your pledge. There are no fees when you use Zelle.
Use the button above (secure) to make your pledge or donation via your credit card or bank account. There is a fee with each transaction (just like Paypal and other payment processing services). We use Faithstreet - they offer the option for donors to pay the fee which is treated as a donation to Holy Cross and is tax deductible.
Text giving - text the amount you want to donate to 646-832-4848. Click on the link you receive and enter the Holy Cross quickcode, hcec. Follow the instructions to finalize the process. (This is part of our Faithstreet platform and the same fees apply).
Please hold all on our prayer list in your prayers:
If you would like to be added to the Prayers for Comfort, or would like to add someone else (please get their permission first) or add a family member to the Prayers for the Departed, please contact the church office at: email holycross@holycrosscarlsbad.org or 760.930.1270. Please mention 'Prayer List' in the Subject line and include whether the prayer request is for "Comfort" or for the "Departed".

Individuals will remain on the prayer list for 4 weeks. Please contact the office if you wish to have someone added for another 4 weeks.
Prayer for Discernment:
Brian Petersen, our seminarian, as he continues to discern God's call for ordained ministry and as he attends seminary.

Prayers for Comfort:
Fr. Atwood, Tom & Wayne, Peter, Arlene, Tom & Ann, Paul, Bob, Grant, Trina & Ron, Jerry, Mark & Toni, Karen, Art, Rhonda & Michael, Larry, all who have been affected by the COVID-19 virus, all who have been impacted by the fires in California, Oregon, and Washington, all who have been impacted by hurricane's and tropical storms, and those who have no one to pray for them.

Prayers for the Departed
We commend to God all who have died, those who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 virus, those who have lost their lives to the wildfires, hurricanes and flooding, and those who have given their lives for freedom’s cause.

Prayers for those celebrating Birthdays
Elizabeth Burr, Pat Canney

Prayers for those celebrating Anniversaries
none this week

Prayers for those Traveling
Sue and Larry Sebastian, Larry Kucera, Kylie and Megan Jenkins
In the Diocese
47th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
November 6: Opening Worship & more: 2:30pm - 7:00pm
November 7: Business of Convention, Bishop’s Address, Keynote, & more: 9:00am - 4:00pm

So, what exactly is the Diocesan Convention?
Diocesan Convention is the annual business meeting of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and acts as the primary legislative body of the Diocese. It’s a time when clergy and elected laypeople (delegates) from all over the diocese come together to vote on the annual budget, various resolutions, to elect officers, and to hear reports of work from diocesan programs. But more importantly, we join together, worship together, learn together, and discern together--reflecting on becoming a better people of God. 

Where, when, and how will we meet?
The convention this year will be held online Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7, utilizing a new event management platform, Whova. Convention dates and times may be found here. Visit the new Convention website at www.ConventionEDSD.org.

Who are the Holy Cross delegates to Convention?
Our delegates to convention this year are Rev. Richard, Mae Chao, and Marci Stafford. Next year’s lay delegates will be selected at our annual meeting to be held in January (date TBD).

Diocesan Budget, Resolutions and Nominees
We hope everyone will take time to review the proposed 2020 budget (not yet available), resolutions here, and nominees here, and provide our delegates with any thoughts you may wish them to consider as they are acting for and on behalf of our congregation.

Nominations are open!
Nominations for Elected Positions are open. If you would like to nominate someone for an elected position (please get their permission first), please visit the convention website and put forward your nomination.

I'm not a delegate may I attend Convention?
Yes, Convention is open to anyone in the diocese. The visitor cost this year is $10 per person and you may register here (please note that once you complete the registration you will be taken to a screen that shows a shopping cart, click on the cart to finalize the payment process for your registration).

Diocesan Convention Youth Track
For youth in grades 6-12, a multitrack exploration of concepts that affect our world and each other. Participants in each track will work together to present their takeaways to the entire group and help to shape the focus of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego's youth ministry program for the next three years. November 7, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., online via Whova - no cost to attend. Register for the youth event here. Registration Opens: Monday, October 12, 2020, A full list of speakers and times will be published October 16th. Registration Closes: Wednesday, October 28, 2020

“… and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.”
Humor Corner
Cartoon from Naked Pastor @nakedpastor.com
Staff and Leadership
Our Clergy
Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook **
Vicar: The Rev. Richard Hogue - vicar@holycrosscarlsbad.org
Associate Priest: The Rev. Theodore Atwood
Assisting Priest: The Rev. Walter Edelman

Staff
Church Secretary: Kathleen Menei, Jr. - holycross@holycrosscarlsbad.org
Bookkeeper: Muriel Wahl, Bookkeeper

Leadership - Bishop's Committee ("BC")
Sr. Warden: Karen Sanchez - seniorwarden@holycrosscarlsbad.org
Jr. Warden: Katie Ho
Dennis Baggett
Brian Petersen
Marci Stafford
Treasurer: Larry Sebastian
Clerk: Dave Dana

Contact information:
Church office: 760.930.1270
To contact any of our clergy, staff, or BC members that do not have an email address listed above please use the church email address, your message will be forwarded to the individual. If you wish to contact them in confidence please indicate that in your message and we ask the individual to contact you.

** To contact the Bishop's office or another member of the diocesan staff ("EDSD"):
EDSD phone: 619-291-5947
EDSD staff directory: https://edsd.org/staff/
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