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Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
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From the Bishop
Dear Friends in Christ,
Grace and peace to you, and new year's blessings.
I hope that your Christmas was a joyous one, and that you've found some holiday respite from the usual press of business. My own was a blessed and happy time with both personal and church families, for which I am grateful.
January has become the busiest month of my year, by virtue of standing commitments to the Province 8 House of Bishops meeting, the Deans and Board of Trustees review and planning retreats, and the Holy Land Pilgrimage. I know many of you also find this to be a particularly demanding time, with all the work related to Annual Meetings.
As we turn our attention to such things as elections and appointments, canonical requirement and by-laws, committee reporting and forming, we need to be especially mindful of the reason for such chores. Our organizational work is mission work, in as much as it is an opportunity to put into practice what we say about the nature and purpose of the Church, and the ministry of all baptized. And it is pastoral work. It helps to make our congregations into places where people are drawn more deeply into relationship with the living God, where the pathways are more open and the obstacles removed. Seen in this Epiphany light, our shared work of church governance is also an exciting opportunity, and a very great privilege. God help us take that attitude into each and every committee meeting of this new year!
May this Epiphany Season be a time of great blessing for you.
Yours in Christ,
+Barry
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Californian Episcopal Bishops Send Letter of Concern to Trump
December 29, 2016
Dear President-elect Trump,
Recently (December 12, 2016) our brother and sister bishops in the Episcopal Church in the State of Massachusetts wrote you to strongly question and oppose your nomination of a climate-change denier to be the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. ...
We join with the Episcopal Bishops of Massachusetts in questioning and challenging your choice for the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The great majority of reputable scientists recognize not only the reality of human-induced climate change, but the looming danger to our children and grandchildren from the worst, unchallenged effects of climate change. ...
To read the full letter, click here.
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Bishop's Partnership Appeal
Many thanks to all those who made the 2016 Bishop's Partnership Appeal a resounding success! The Appeal so far collected $25,000, nearly an 80 percent increase over the prior year. The Appeal
is a chance to remember all the gifts and services that are done throughout our diocese by our churches and ministries and we're grateful for the generosity of so many. It's important to note also that 100% of donations go directly to the ministries of the diocese.
This year, EFNC pledged to contribute a challenge grant of $1,000 when the annual appeal reached $15,000 in donations. The Diocese also pledged to contribute $1,000 when that goal was reached.
For more information about the Bishop's Partnership Appeal, and to make a gift,
click here.
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St. Paul's Gives Shelter From Floods
By Paula Schaap, Communications Director
It may signal the end of a long, hard drought for California, but the storm that blew in the weekend after New Year's also brought flooding and misery, especially for those with no shelter.
With the Russian River near Healdsburg cresting at close to 20 feet in one day on Sunday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 23 feet is considered flood stage - people who call the bank of the river home had to be moved quickly to safer areas.
But
St. Paul's, Healdsburg, was ready for the influx of homeless people set adrift again by the rising waters. And they did it by marshalling the resources of an entire community.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
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2017 Congregational Leadership Conferences
Join us for time with Bishop Barry to help us strengthen our service to the church through learning, connecting and gaining best practices for our church life.
These leadership conferences, sponsored by the Bishop's Office, 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 information will be available soon. Check in, coffee and conversation begins at 9 a.m.; the program runs from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Dates and Locations:
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Clergy News & Updates
Celebration of New Ministry
The Rev. Amy Denney Zuniga will be formally installed as Rector of
Grace Church, Saint Helena, 1314 Spring Street, on Thursday, January 26, at 6:00 p.m., Bishop Barry Beisner, presiding. Clergy are invited to vest and process wearing red stoles.
Ordinations to the Sacred Order of Priests
The Rev. Charles Knuth will be ordained by Bishop Scott Hayashi of Utah to the Sacred Order of Priests at
Trinity, Folsom,
803 Figueroa Street, on Wednesday, January 25, at 6 p.m. Your prayers and presence are requested.
The Rev. Kacei Conyers will be ordained by Bishop Barry Beisner to the Sacred Order of Priests at
Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento, 2620 Capitol Avenue, on Friday, January 27, at 7 p.m. Your prayers and presence are requested.
Clergy on the Move
The Rev. Diana Turner has been called to be pastor-in-charge of
Hope Lutheran Church, South Lake Tahoe. She begins her new ministry on February 1.
The Rev. Andrea Baker, who served at
Faith Church, Cameron Park, from September 2013 until December 2016, is moving to Germany for a year to serve as a command chaplain with the U.S. Army. She invites prayers for her new ministry and for her family during her absence.
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Open Clergy Positions
To learn more about these and other opportunities, click here.
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Prayers are requested for Bishop Barry Beisner as he embarks on this year's pilgrimage to the Holy Land, for those who are traveling with him from our diocese, including the Rev. Maryly Adair, Donna and Hector Arellano, and Fred Reynolds, and others on this pilgrimage, that they may travel in peace and safety to follow in the footsteps of Our Savior and to visit with our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Jerusalem.
Please pray for the Rev. Richard DeGiorgis, priest of our diocese, who is entering his last days and is in hospice care. Richard is at peace and is very content with God's will for his life.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of James, brother of the Rev. Suzanne Guthrie, priest of our diocese.
To submit a clergy prayer request, please contact Sandra Littman, Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, at 916-442-6918 ext. 213 or email
[email protected].
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Triennial Episcopal Youth Event - Deadline: January 15
The theme of this year's EYE is "Path to Peace," based on Matthew 5:1-12. Youth from all parts of the Episcopal Church will be present for the event to be held July 10-14, at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
Our diocese will once again be sending a group. The Rev. Anne Clarke is the registrar for the event - contact her
directly at [email protected] by January 15 to indicate your interest. Matching funds are available, so don't let cost be a barrier!
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Pathways 2017- Reconciling with the Earth & Each Other
The Pathways 2017 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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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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