SEPTEMBER 12, 2017
Dear Friends in Christ,

Grace and peace to you! I assume that by now you've seen the letter from Liz and I, along with my personal video message. I won't go over all of that again here, except to affirm my complete confidence in our Standing Committee to govern the process, and to underscore the importance of not becoming distracted from important ongoing work. 

It will have its special demands upon us, this time of attending simultaneously to what is at hand and what is on the horizon; it will be a sort of extended Advent, a season of now/not-yet. Don't think for a minute that God won't help, sustain, guide and bless us. We are the Church of Jesus. All will be well.
 
To help us with the ongoing work, I am pleased to make these appointments: as Regional Dean of Alta California Deanery, Richard Yale; as co-chairs of the Commission on Intercultural Ministry, Linda Jensen and Lynn Zender; as joint Jubilee Ministry officers, Derek Jones and Marcia Traner; and as bishop's appointee to the Board of Trustees starting with this coming Convention, Terri Hobart. May they all be blessed in these ministries.
 
I commend to you th e joint statement by Michael Curry and Gay Jennings on DACA, together with accompanying resources.  If you are not already signed up with the Episcopal Public Policy Network, sign up now. I am pleased that the Director of TEC's Office of Government Relations, Rebecca Blachly, will be with us at Convention, helping to update our information and focus our response on immigration and other issues. In the meantime, know that our CIM is available to you as a resource.
 
I ask you also to continue to support ERD in their flood relief work. Our commitment needs to extend beyond the immediate emergency, for the duration of restoration.
 
Ann and I travel to Fairbanks, Alaska this month for the fall meeting of the House of Bishops. The theme is "Culture, Creation, and Reconciliation: Bishops in the Jesus Movement." While there we will join a small cohort that will travel north of the Arctic Circle to be with the Gwich'in ("people of the land" in Athabaskan) community for a ceremony of "Blessing of the Great Land." 
 
I pray daily for our Great Land, for this nation, and for its leaders.  I recall how Dante calls Hell the "City of Dis"-as in dis-respect, dis-unity, dis-integration... Our current deep divisions are a sign of the powers of Hell at work.  Ideologies of White supremacy are evil. Nazism is evil. They number among those demonic powers that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God, and we have sworn in the Covenant of Baptism to resist them. And, as Stanley Hauerwas reminds us, Jesus knew that Hell would work to destroy his work; that is why he is building his Church.  That is why he has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. That is the Church's mission.
 
We have work to do.  Let's get to it.
 
God bless you,

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
Register for Convention Now! Deadline is Oct. 2


The general registration deadline for 2017 Diocesan Convention is Oct. 2. After this deadline, late registration will open and prices will increase by an additional $10 per ticket (visitors excluded). Don't delay; register now!

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Please Note:
Filling out your Certificate of Lay Delegate form does  NOT 
count as registration! If you're a delegate, you must complete both in order to attend Convention. For any questions, please contact Elizabeth Vang.
2017 Pre-Convention Gathering -  Nov. 3

Join the Rev. Canon Andrea McMillin and the Rev. Anne Clarke for a pre-Convention workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the McClellan Conference Center. 

Whether you're in a small church with limited resources, or in a larger place looking for a way to help your community find and/or build its collective voice, this is the workshop that will enable you to deepen your community of practice, through the shared creation of sound and silence. With simple chants and global songs, led by composer Ana Hernandez, we'll have a day of transformation and deep fun. 

The event is free, and lunch will be provided. Register here!

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Speaking of Convention, all diocesan youth are invited for Convention overnight at Trinity Cathedral! More information is available here.
Save the date
Save the Date - CLCs 2018

Next year's Congregational Leadership Conferences (CLCs) set for the following dates and locations:

Feb. 10: Incarnation, Santa Rosa
Feb. 24:  St. Alban's, Arcata 
March 10: St. John's, Roseville

Please mark your calendars and plan accordingly!
Open Clergy Positions
  • Incarnation, Santa Rosa:  Receiving names for rector
  • St. John's, Roseville: Receiving names for assistant rector
  • Grace Church, Fairfield: Receiving names for priest-in-charge
  • Christ Church, Eureka Reviewing names for rector
  • St. Patrick's, Kenwood: Reviewing names for rector
Learn more about these positions and others here.
Bishop's Visitation Schedule
  • Oct. 1 - Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento 
  • Oct. 8 - St. Peter's, Red Bluff 
  • Oct. 15 - St. John's, Petaluma 
  • Oct. 22 - Christ the King, Quincy 
  • Oct. 29 - St. Luke's, Auburn
The Bishop's full 2017-2018 visitation schedule is available here. 
FAITH FORMATION
Adult Formation Online Conversation

Compare notes and learn about our favorite curricula for the upcoming year with Scott Gunn, executive director of Forward Movement, the Rev. Canon Andrea McMillin and the Rev. Anne Clarke. The online conversation will be held  Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. In order to participate, you must register  here.
Bishop's Book - Fall 2017

Bishop Barry Beisner has selected "Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict " by Esther de Waal as this fall's Bishop's Book. Join us in reading this excellent primer on incorporating contemplation and prayer into everyday life.

A discussion guide for book groups is  here.

Join Bishop Barry online for more discussion this fall: Sunday,  Oct. 15 at 7 p.m and Thursday,  Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.   Registration and more information is available here
PNEUMA 2017 - Conference for Christian Educators 

Available for both clergy and lay, PNEUMA is a chance to  learn from each other about innovative and time-tested ways of ways to grow in faith. The conference will be held  Oct. 9-12 at Bishop's Ranch;  register soon to get your choice of accommodations. 
 
The guiding center this year is "Gather Around the Fire: Faithful Conversations in Heated Times." Workshops include "Choosing a Curriculum for your Congregation" with Sharon Ely Pearson of Church Publishing," "Hosting Pastoral Meetings in a Digital World," and many more . 
 
Scholarships are available; contact Anne Clarke at  anne@norcalepiscopal.org for more information.
NEWS & EVENTS IN OUR DIOCESE AND BEYOND
Retired Clergy & Spouses Lunch - Oct. 26

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Join Bishop Barry and the Rev. Dr. Christine Leigh-Taylor, chaplain to the retired clergy of the diocese, on Thursday, Oct. 26 for a special luncheon with  your fellow/sister retired clergy and spouses at St. John's, Roseville. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

There is no cost to attend, but please send Jacqi Seppi, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, an email to reserve your seat.  I f you have any dietary restrictions, please let Jacqi know, or if you need a ride, Jacqi will do her best to connect you with someone going your way.
Clarify Your Call - Workshops Start Sept. 16
 
The archdeacons in this diocese are conducting a series of workshops on discerning what God is calling you to do. The first session is being held on Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Epiphany, Vacaville. Dates for the subsequent 5 sessions will be decided with input of those attending the initial workshop.    All are invited, because all are called!

More information on these workshops is available here. To make reservations, contact Cookie Clark at  cookie.clark@sbcglobal.net  or Gary Brown at  garybrown6@yahoo.com .
Women's Prayer Day 2017 - Sept. 30

St. Luke's, Auburn, in partnership with Mercy Center Auburn, will be hosting the second annual Women's Prayer Day on Sept. 30, 2017 from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

This event is perfect for any women who are interested in learning how to deepen their spiritual life and draw closer to God. There is no cost to participate. Continental breakfast and lunch are provided. For more information or to RSVP, please visit St. Luke's website.
Trinity, Sutter Creek, Seeking Organist/Choir Director

Trinity, Sutter Creek, is looking for a part time organist/choir director  to lead their congregation in song each week. If you are interested or know someone who might be interested, send please send a resume to frcraig@trinitysuttercreek.org.
St. Martin's, Davis, to Welcome New Rector This Sunday

Join St. Martin's, Davis, as they welcome their new rector, the Rev. Dr. Pamela Dolan, this Sunday, Sept. 17.  The Rev. Pamela will lead worship and preach during St. Martin's two Sunday services, at 7:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A brunch/coffee hour will be held in between the two services. 

Read more about St. Martin's new rector.
Richard Yale to Become Oblate 

The Rev. Richard B. Yale, dean of the Alta California deanery and rector at St. John's, Chico has announced that he is in the process of becoming an oblate. Read on what this means at St. John's website here.
In Remembrance of Sue Tavernetti

A well-attended memorial service for the Rev. Suzanne Tavernetti, previously a deacon at Faith, Cameron Park, was held Sept. 1 at Faith. Sue died Aug. 24 after having open heart surgery. 

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Grieving the loss of a loved one? Trinity Cathedral is hosting a bereavement support group, which will be held Sept. 7 through Nov. 16 on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information,  contact the Rev. Anne Arthur at arthur.anne@gmail.com or at 916-718-7925. 
Successfully Serving Your Aging Congregation - Sept. 20
              
Presented by Senior Care Solutions, this free event is designed to help faith leaders assist an aging congregation and their families. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town and County Lutheran Church in Sacramento. Additional information and registration is available via email at info@seniorcs.com or via phone at 916-965-5565.
From the Episcopal Church...

Applications are now being accepted for the 2018  United Thank Offering grants: 10 grants of $2500 for young adults; and 10 grants of $2500 to seminarians.  The focus of the grants is  The Jesus Movement: Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation CareMore information on these grants is available here .

If you have a news story or event of interest to others in the diocese, please contact Sophie Smal, Communications Coordinator, at communications@norcalepiscopal.org Interim Communications Director Lori Korleski Richardson will be away until Sept. 18.