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Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
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Bishop Beisner Writes From the Holy Land
Dear Friends in Christ:
Grace and peace to you, and greetings from the Old City of Jerusalem. Our group of pilgrims has just arrived here, after a full day in Bethlehem. There we stayed for two nights at the Franciscan pilgrim house next to the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square; previous to that we were in the Galileo for three nights. We will be here four nights, and then head home. So we are halfway through our journey, and already it has been such a profoundly important time of blessings and of challenges that are hard to put into words. I say that as one who has been here many times, as you know, since this pilgrimage ministry has been a major commitment of my episcopate. I say that also believing that each pilgrim's experience is unique, but that this place will be a place of encounter with God to everyone who comes with an open and expectant heart.
Last year I was blessed to be here with a large group of recently and soon-to-be ordained persons from our diocese and the Dioceses of Olympia and Arizona. This year, the group is comprised of lay and ordained leaders in the church who are learning how to lead pilgrimages themselves -- an exciting ministry-multiplier -- since one of my goals in doing this ministry is to get as many Episcopalians over here as possible. We are 38 pilgrims, including four bishops and two cathedral deans, from five Episcopal Church dioceses, plus a few from England and Wales. It is a wonderful group that has come together beautifully to pray and worship and learn, and to share the joys and rigors of international travel. It is a great privilege for me as a bishop to be a leader in this particular pilgrimage.
Next year there will be another pilgrimage, but it will be different. As I announced at Convention, Ann and I hope to lead a Holy Land pilgrimage that will be open to any and all in our diocese who wish to come. The tentative dates are January 25-February 4, 2018. Details will be available soon. Space will be limited, so I encourage anyone who thinks that they might be seriously interested to let Sandra Littman know soon.
God bless you and give you a joyous Epiphany. I look forward to returning to you soon, and to sharing more of this experience.
Yours in Christ,
+Barry
Follow Bishop Barry and the other Holy Land pilgrims on the diocese's Facebook page.
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2017 Congregational Leadership Conferences
Each spring Bishop Barry invites us to gather for regional Congregational Leadership Conferences (CLCs), as we seek to strengthen our service to the church through learning, connecting and gaining best practices for our church life.
These leadership conferences, sponsored by the Office of the Bishop, are designed for clergy, vestry members, treasurers and other program leaders in your church. Everyone is welcome to attend. There is no cost to participate -- registration is required. Check in, coffee and conversation begins at 9 a.m.; the program runs from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This year there are a variety of offerings at our different regional sites, so look below to choose the program that fits you best (and you are welcome to attend more than one!)
Dates, Locations and Registration Information:
May 13 - Christ Church, Eureka - Registration information coming soon.
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Anti-Racism Training - March 11
St. Patrick's, Kenwood, is offering a day of anti-racism training led by the Rev. Lewis Sitting Panther Powell, on Saturday, March 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register by
February 27 by calling the church office: 707-833-4228.
From the Rev. Marcia Tyriver: "This will be a time of small group discussions, videos, Bible study, prayer and sharing to help us better understand key concepts and wrestle with issues of power and privilege, culture, structural and institutional racism, and where God call us to be brothers and sisters in this multicultural church and culture."
For more information, see
St. Patrick's website.
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Pathways 2017- Reconciling with the Earth & Each Other
The pilgrimage, led by Bishop Barry and young people from the diocese, will explore the stories of oppression, struggle and healing from the Yosemite and Central Valley areas of our state. Scholarships are available, so cost shouldn't stand in the way.
Final deadline to apply is February 15.
Dates: June 18-23, 2017
Location - ECCO: Episcopal Conference Center, Oakhurst, California
Participants: Those finishing grades 7-12
Young adult leaders: Ages 18-30
Cost: $400
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Call for Young Adult Volunteers
Do you know a young adult looking for an opportunity to serve, learn about social justice and spirituality, and gain experience in non-profit work? LEVN, the Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network in Davis, California, is looking for young adults (age 21-30) with Bachelor's degrees, for an 11-month program of non-profit volunteer work and learning about social justice. From the end of August 2017 to the end of July 2018, our corps members will be provided housing, utilities, health insurance, transportation, spiritual direction and a $400/month food stipend. We also offer a $1,000 re-entry grant at the end of the program for moving expenses.
The placement sites for the upcoming program year include faith-based non-profits, secular non-profits, congregations and our campus ministry at UC Davis. These placements address issues of homelessness, unemployment, children and youth ministries, computer literacy and other important social justice issues facing our communities.
We meet each week for worship, dinner and discussion. The corps members live in intentional community in a 4-bedroom apartment in Davis. We're an ecumenical program in the Episcopal Service Corps network; applicants don't have to be Lutheran or Episcopalian to apply -- an interest in Christian spirituality is the only expectation.
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Events B
eyond
our Diocese
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The Episcopal Church Welcomes Refugees Webinar - February 1
Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations are sponsoring a webinar to discuss the root causes of refugee crises and to examine critical questions such as: who is a refugee; how a refugee is resettled to the U.S.; how resettled refugees benefit their communities; and how you can engage with local communities to welcome these new Americans.
The webinar will be Wednesday, February 1, at 1 p.m. Pacific time. The event is free, but registration is required. For more information and to register click here.
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Not Just Flint: Trinity Institute Dialogues 2017 - February 4
Millions of Americans are facing issues of access to safe water and sanitation, especially those living in poor or marginalized communities, more than a year after news broke about toxic water in Flint, Michigan.
Trinity Institute is holding a one-day event in New York City, on Saturday, February 4, to spark dialogue about how faith communities can make a difference. The event will also be available via live webcast and on demand. For more information,
click here.
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Share the Good News!
If you have a news story or event of interest to others in the diocese, or if you want assistance with your church or ministry communications, call Paula Schaap, Communications Director, 916-442-6918, ext. 226.
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