Aurora Clergy Newsletter

JANUARY 9, 2018

Office of the Bishop will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15

The office will reopen for business at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 16.

The Diocesan e-News will be published later that afternoon.

From Bishop Barry

Dear Friends in Christ:

Grace and peace to you. I hope that this new year is joyfully underway for you. Reflecting on Epiphany, Miroslav Volf reminds us that "Christ has come to bring joy not only by turning darkness into light, conquering powers of evil and establishing the reign of justice. He has also come to bring joy by turning water into wine, by overcoming what we lack and helping sustain and enhance the goods we already enjoy."

The joy of this Season persists, even as we mourn the loss of two of our dear colleagues, Tom Johnson and Walter Phelps. We mourn, but not as if we were without hope, without the abiding epiphany of God's light and love for us. Even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia.

Congregations also eventually die. One of the saddest, hardest jobs given to bishops is the closing of churches. I have been determined throughout my episcopate never to close one unless it was truly unsustainable, or it was the clear determination of the people of that church that the time for an ending had come. Then, we try to end well. We celebrate what has been. We find joy amidst mourning. We look for ways to create, articulate, and pass on that particular church's legacy to its particular community, and to the whole Church. We seek assurance that nothing important about that church is lost or forgotten. We look for seeds from the old that can be planted in hope of new life, emerging in new and different ways.

Please pray for St. Francis, Fair Oaks, in this regard. For many months now, that congregation has been seeking to discern the future God has in mind for it. While this is the vestry's decision alone, the Standing Committee, Board of Trustees, Congregational Development Committee and I have all been kept informed during their discernment; we stand ready to honor their decision. The decision is expected this month. Pray for the vestry, for Joe (the Rev. Joe Duggan), and for all the people of St. .Francis, that they might be guided by the Holy Spirit in this work. Pray that Jesus Christ, whose church this is, will bless and lead his beloved sheep. And pray for grace that we all might find the best ways to be most truly helpful to them.

May the joy of this Season abide with you always.

Yours in Christ,

THE SEARCH FOR OUR NEXT BISHOP

Reminders, Updates and More

Convention delegates and alternates elected at 2018 parish annual meetings will serve as the delegates and alternates for Diocesan Convention and the Electing Convention on February 9, 2019. This is an opportunity not to be missed; please help educate your delegates on this important work.

All delegates and alternates are required by Canon to be certified at least 90 days before a convention. You don't want to be the church that can't vote for the next bishop!

Registration for the listening sessions - as promised, a new one has been added! - is now available on the diocesan website ; everyone is encouraged to attend one. Additionally, new FAQs have been posted about the bishop search, as well as an update from the committee.

Please keep the Bishop Search in your prayers!

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP

Bishop's Partnership Appeal

Although we've stepped into the new year, you can still donate to the Bishop's Partnership Appeal through the end of January. To see a list of diocesan ministries you can support, click here .

Save the Date: Clergy Lenten Quiet Day - March 7

The Clergy Lenten Quiet Day will be Wednesday, March 7, at Mercy Center, Auburn. The event is free, and lunch will be provided.

Mercy Center can make lunch accommodations if you are vegetarian; however, i f you have other special dietary needs, Mercy Center invites you to bring your own supplemental food. A refrigerator and microwave is available for guest use.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Jacqi Seppi, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, at 916-442-6918, ext. 213, or email [email protected].

Ordinations and Celebrations

On Saturday, Jan. 20, at 11 a.m., Lisa Biersch Cole, Jana Mauck Branson, Grant McNeill Bakewell Jr. and Thomas Robert Gartin will be ordained t o the Sacred Order of Deacons by Bishop Barry Beisner at Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento. Your prayers and presence are requested; a reception will follow. Clergy: white stoles.

On Thursday. Feb. 8, at 7 p.m., David Gilman Rickert will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests by Bishop Barry Beisner at Trinity, Folsom . Your prayers and presence are requested; a reception will follow. Clergy: red stoles.

On Friday, Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m., the Rev. Bradley Helmuth will be celebrated for his new ministry at Holy Trinity, Nevada City. All are invited to attend this event.

Anti-Racism Training Jan. 27 - Register by Jan. 22

The first 2018 Anti-Racism Training will be 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, at Faith, Cameron Park. This year's event will be facilitated by leaders from the Kaleidoscope Institute and provides an opportunity to come together as congregational leaders to learn how to help our worship communities appreciate and welcome the great diversity of people among us and around us, and to develop tools to work against the forces of racism in our world.

Anti-Racism Training is required for all who are engaged in ministries of governance (diocesan boards and commissions, as well as vestries and mission committees) and licensed lay ministers.

This event is free, and lunch is included, but registration is required by Jan. 22. Please contact the Rev. Anne Clarke with any questions. Register here!

Bishop's Visitation Schedule

Jan. 21 - St. George's, Carmichael
Feb. 11 - St. John's, Lakeport
Feb. 18 - St. Michael's, Anderson
Feb. 25 - St. Paul's, Crescent City

The Bishop's full 2018 visitation schedule is available here.

FAITH FORMATION

Pathways Early Registration Deadline Extended to Jan. 15

Just a reminder that if you or someone in your parish is planning to attend Pathways, June 24-30 at Sonoma State, please register sooner rather than later! The early registration discount of $50 has been extended through Jan. 15. If cost is holding you back from attending, please contact the Rev. Sarah Quinney.

NEWS & EVENTS IN AND BEYOND OUR DIOCESE

Epiphany, Vacaville, Awarded Jubilee Grant

Jubilee Ministries, the Domestic Poverty network of the Episcopal Church, has awarded $67,000 in 54 grants to support mission and ministry in 35 dioceses for 2017.

Epiphany, Vacaville, was one of six recipients of a $3,000 grant that was awarded for programs committed to alleviating poverty and injustice. Epiphany sponsors a community meal program that has been running since 2000, where 250-350 meals are given to those in need every week. Learn more about the program here.

Congratulations to Epiphany, and thank you for all that you do in the name of Christ!

Funeral for the Rev. Tom Johnson

Please join us in prayer for the repose of the soul of the Rev. Tom Johnson, who died Dec. 13. Tom was a priest of our diocese, attending Trinity Episcopal Church in Folsom. Please also pray for Tom's wife, Susan.

He was active in the Third Order Society of St. Francis and was named Minister Provincial of that organization's Province of the Americas in 2014, taking over responsibility for the work of the Order from Alaska and Mexico in the north, to Brazil in the south. Before serving as an associate in Folsom, he also was associate rector at Faith, Cameron Park, and priest-in-charge at St. Michael's, Alturas.

His funeral will be on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 1 p.m. at Trinity, Folsom .

Celebrations of New Ministries: Kenn Katona & Pamela Dolan

Two congregations welcomed new ministers recently: St. Clement's, Rancho Cordova, celebrated the new ministry of its priest-in-charge, the Rev. Kenn Katona, on Dec. 21, at left, as he receive s his letter of institution from the bishop; and St. Martin, Davis, formally installed its rector, the Rev. Dr. Pamela Dolan on Jan. 4, shown below left with her family and Bishop Barry, and below at Eucharist with the bishop and Deacon Margaret Grayden.

Photos by Lori Korleski Richardson and

Amy Denney Zuniga.

Discussions on Issues of Interest to the Episcopal Church

Insights & Ideas - Centennial Conversations, a series of discussions featuring thought leaders from the Episcopal Church, the private sector, and the Church Pension Group (CPG) who will discuss issues of interest to the Church and to CPG: The Demographics of a Changing Church and Investing for Positive Impact.

Hosted by CPG in observance of its centennial, Insights & Ideas will be held at The Golden Gate Club at The Presidio, San Fransisco, Wednesday, Feb. 7. There is no cost to attend, but you must register, as space is limited.

Learn more here.