October 23rd, 2020
Dear siblings and friends in Christ,

We all have a beginning and an end to our stories. In my sermon this week, I’ll deal directly with the fact that our lives are finite on this planet. We are here for only a little while. That makes each day that much more of a blessing. Life itself is a collection of moments from our first to last breath. These are all moments God breathed into existence. The entirety of existence is the very breath of God. The fabric of the universe was exhaled into existence by a divine force that science and mystics still do not understand. And much like our bodies and breath, there seems to be a finitude to everything, even the brightest blazing stars.

How dour, you might wonder aloud. Well, I don’t see that as a bleak outlook, I see that is a blessing. Knowing things end means there is true rest, true Sabbath in all aspects of life. Grass doesn’t seem to mind that it will wither and fade, it simply knows to live out its cycle. Perhaps unlike other flora and fauna, we are conscious of our own end. What seems cyclical in nature is personal for us. It can be scary to think about the end. But, no journey is purely about the beginning and the end, stories have middles for a reason. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings wouldn’t be much of story if it were to simply start and stop with Frodo in the Shire.

Being able to know that we have an end frees us from the necessity to constantly accumulate. “Ya can’t take it with ya” is a phrase you’ve surely heard before. It’s not about what you take, but what you leave. Jesus has a prescription for that: Love God, love your neighbor, love yourself. If we do those, we will leave a better world for those who exist long after we enter our final, blessed rest. But until then, live into the love of life! Live into God’s love, compassion, and mercy! You will probably even extend your days on this planet living that way, because love is the path to life, and life is such a blessing.

In life and love,
Richard+
Congratulations Brian Peterson - New Postulant for Holy Orders

With the recommendation of the Commission on Ministry, Bishop Susan Brown Snook has named Brian Peterson as a Postulant for Holy Orders in The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. Brian has been discerning a call to ordained ministry for the past few years. This process has included prayerful meetings with clergy, Bishop Susan, a Discernment Committee of parishioners here at Holy Cross, and meetings with the Diocesan Commission on Ministry, as well as psychological and other evaluations.

Postulancy is the formal preparation for ordination and a time during which the postulant, along with their Bishop, the Commission on Ministry, and their faith community (that would be us here at Holy Cross!) continue to explore and decide about the call to priesthood. During this time Brian will continue his seminary studies at Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) in Berkeley, CA. This is the second to last phase of the discernment process (inquirer, aspirant, postulant, candidate, then ordination). If you have questions about the discernment process, please ask Rev. Richard, a member of the diocesan Commission on Ministry.

Please continue to hold Brian in your prayers. Congratulations, Brian!
Rev. Richard New Office Hours

A reminder that starting this week, Rev. Richard's new office hours are Sunday through Thursday, 9am - 5pm, he will also be available for our various evening programs. Fridays and Saturdays will be his Sabbath days. He will always be available for pastoral emergencies regardless of the day, but asks that you understand he will not be responding to general emails, text messages or phone calls on his Sabbath days as he is trying to get the rest that God requires of all of us. As a reminder, Rev. Richard is 3/4 time with Holy Cross and 1/4 time with St. Andrew's and his work hours Sunday through Thursday will support both congregations.
Worship & Formation
Drive in Church is finally here!
(at least a trial run)
Starting 9AM November 1st, All Saints Day!

We will be able to do drive-in worship! What does this mean? Come to the church parking lot, sit in your car, turn your radio on, listen to the service, see Rev. Richard and whoever else comes! For this week, in which we are trialing this form of worship, the sermon will be preached live, otherwise we will be broadcasting the pre-recorded service in the parking lot. This may change to include more live features in coming weeks. Please know you must register in order to attend for contact tracing purposes. Register here for Sunday, November 1st! We will have 15 vehicle spaces available this first Sunday of Drive in Church! While we are limiting the number of vehicles, we won't limit the number of people you may have in your vehicle. We may increase the available vehicle spaces in the weeks ahead if demand is high.

We will not congregate in the building as it will remain closed, and after the service has concluded we ask that everyone depart. We will keep the entire service to half an hour, all will remain in their vehicles. Know that ushers will go car-to-car while masked to take down contact information from every person in a vehicle in case we need contact tracing. Please review our guidelines here if you have any questions regarding this new opportunity for worship in our parking lot.

Please know the service will be broadcast to both our online.church platform and Facebook page as we do each Sunday so you will still be able to view the service if you do not attend the drive in service.
Please join the Bishop and the Diocese in nine days of intentional prayer for our nation as we approach the election. Our Novena is based on the work offered by Forward Movement and will begin on October 27 and continue through November 4.

Each evening there will be an English-speaking service at 7:00 p.m. and a Spanish-speaking service at 7:30 p.m. Congregations around the Diocese have volunteered to host each evening’s offering. In addition to the prayers, there will be a scripture passage and music (in most cases). Each congregation will be creating their prayer service as the Spirit moves them.

These services will be available on the Diocesan Facebook page and on the Diocesan YouTube channel.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral, Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness, on All Saints Sunday, November 1, at 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST. In the midst of pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor. The service will feature an ecumenical and multifaith array of voices, musical offerings, and prayers. Watch the service here.

A live prayer hotline in English and Spanish will be open during the service, staffed by Episcopal clergy and chaplains, in partnership with Virginia Theological Seminary and General Theological Seminary. The hotline will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST from November 1 to November 5.
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. This months BC meeting is rescheduled to next Wednesday, October 28th, 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 will be mailing your third quarter giving statements (YTD through September 30th) this week. Once you receive your statement, please review it carefully and notify Larry Sebastian, Treasurer, or Muriel Wahl, Bookkeeper, of any errors.

You may continue to mail your pledge/donations to the church office OR use one of our online giving options:
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, Postulant for Holy Orders, 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
Kelvin Michael, Caroline Murica, Judy Wickman

Prayers for those celebrating Anniversaries
Mirna and Julie Tinney

Prayers for those Traveling
Sue and Larry Sebastian
Notes of Care
Thinking of you. Humming bird watercolor card illustration
If you would like to be added, or suggest someone to be added (please get their permission first) to Notes of Care please contact the church office at: holycross@holycrosscarlsbad.org or 760.930.1270

Note: If you have lost a member of your family and would like us to include you and your family in "Notes of Care" please provide the name and relationship of your loved one, the date they entered into glory, and the address of where you would like notes of care sent.
Please keep in your thoughts and prayers those who are unable to be with us in worship and reach out to them to let them know they are missed.

Fr. Theodore Atwood
c/o Nazareth House Room N130
6333 Rancho Mission Rd
San Diego, CA 92108
 
Tom Andreas & Wayne Kirts
1930 W San Marcos Blvd Spc 234
San Marcos, CA. 92078

Arlene Cull
4714 Athos Way
Oceanside, Ca 92056

Allen & Cathie Zych
4014 Layang Layang Circle #J
Carlsbad, CA. 92008
In the Diocese
47th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
In accordance with Article V, Section 1, of the Constitution and Title I, Canon 6, of the Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, the 47th Annual Convention of the Diocese will gather virtually on Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7, 2020.
 
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, November 7.

The Agenda:
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. 

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 (see information on Zoom budget sessions below), 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.

The Rev. Kirby Smith and other diocesan leadership are providing an opportunity for any interested party to view and discuss the budget and resolutions before the convention. There are two Zoom sessions for each that are the same, so you won't need to attend both. The Budget Hearing presentations will provide an opportunity to see directly how the Common Life Share (CLS) and other money received by the diocese goes to support our joint mission. If you have any questions, please contact Kirby Smith, Diocesan CFO and Treasurer, at ksmith@edsd.org.  

Zoom links to Budget and Resolution sessions:


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
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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