AUGUST 22, 2017 
A Journey from Computer Programmer to Deacon 

By Sophie Smal, Communications Coordinator

Bishop Barry Beisner and Deacon Donna at her June 10 ordination at Trinity Cathedral.

As a cradle Episcopalian, the Rev. Donna Lynn Arellano spent her adolescent and young adult years attending church in Philadelphia. After she graduated high school, Arellano attended college and earned her degree in computer engineering.

Upon completion of her schooling, Arellano moved to North Carolina, where she said that her church attendance became more sporadic. Throughout the next eight years, Arellano worked long hours as a computer programmer, met and married her husband Hector and gave birth to their child.

After her daughter was born, Arellano knew that she wanted her to be raised in the Church, so when the trio moved to California in 1989, their home church became St. Michael's, Carmichael.

While raising her daughter, Arellano gave up her job as a programmer to become an IT analyst, which was more family friendly. And e ven though she loved working, Arellano couldn't shake the feeling that her job wasn't enough.  More...
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
You Say You Want a Resolution? Forms Due Sept. 1


There are  two  r esolution forms, both of which must be sent to Elizabeth Vang via email, as well as to  the Rev. Betsy Monnot via email, by Sept. 1.   Resolution forms and more information are available here. 

To those of you who completed and submitted your Certificate of Lay Delegate forms - thank you!  Please note: filling out your Certificate of Lay Delegate forms does  NOT  count as registration. The registration deadline for 2017 Diocesan Convention is  Oct. 2 ; you may register  here .
New Executive Assistant to the Bishop  

We are pleased to announce that Jacqi Seppi has accepted the position of the Bishop's Executive Assistant. She will start in the position effective tomorrow, Aug. 23. Jacqi's knowledge of the Diocese, along with her connections to clergy and lay leaders, makes this a smooth transition.
Bishop's Visitation Schedule 
  • Aug. 27 - St. Barnabas', Mount Shasta
  • Sept. 3 - Good Shepherd, Cloverdale
  • 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.
NEWS & EVENTS IN OUR DIOCESE
New Priest-in-Charge for Holy Trinity, Nevada City

The Rev. Bradley Helmuth
Bishop Beisner, with the vestry concurring, appointed the Rev. Bradley Helmuth Priest-in-Charge of Holy Trinity, Nevada City, effective Oct. 30. 

Helmuth has been an associate priest at Holy Trinity since his ordination immediately after the Sierra convocation in October 2012. Christ the King Vicar Matt Warren was also ordained by Bishop Barry at that time.

He has worked full-time as a hospice chaplain in the community. He graduated Nevada Union High School, Grass Valley, and Chico State. He received his Master of Divinity from Denver Seminary in 1998.

Correction:  The Rev. Christopher Seal's retirement party is Aug. 26 and is "by RSVP only."
Christ the King, Quincy, Featured in ER&D Release

The Rev. Matt Warren
The Rev. Matt Warren's quick and thorough response to the Minerva Fire that threatened the community of Quincy and Christ the King was praised in the Aug. 14 Episcopal Relief & Development "Emergency Response" newsletter.

The publication noted that Father Matt was active on Social Media and email providing updates to parishioners and community members. Said the vicar: "The first email was the easiest! I just hit send on my emergency template." By creating an email template with information on what to do in an emergency, tips on evacuation packing, and a checklist of what to pack, the email was ready to send in an instant.

"Unfortunately, many of us don't plan for an emergency before we face that situation. We have to remember, Noah built the ark before the rains started!"

Read the "Emergency Response" newsletter  here.
All Saints', Redding, to Celebrate 125 Years 

All Saints, Redding will be celebrating its 125th anniversary on Aug. 26; a service will be held at 4 p.m., followed by a catered meal at All Saints' Memorial Hall. Bishop Barry will be in attendance and will partake in the blessing of All Saints' new church additions, including  the new narthex screen, rose window, original building tissue stained glass, and the new organ. 

If you plan to attend, All Saints' asks that you bring a beverage and a dessert to share with others. Also, please contact Nathalie Hatch with the number of people attending at  [email protected].
Save the date
Coming Up

The St. Augustine Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew will be hosting a one-day workshop at  St. Augustine's, Rocklin , designed to inspir e and enrich the different groups of men's affiliations of the Episcopal Church in the Sacramento area. 

The event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $15; contact Robert Shonk at [email protected] or at 916-599-1218 for more information or to register.

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Trinity Cathedral will be  hosting an art show with the theme "Light Out of Darkness" from Oct. 3-26. All artists may enter; the first prize is $2500 and the art showing will take place at Beatnik Studio in downtown Sacramento. The deadline to enter is Oct. 21. More information is available here. For any questions, please contact the Rev. Dr. Pamela Anderson at [email protected].

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Mark your calendars: next year's Pathways will be  June 24-30, 2018. Theme and location to be decided soon.
FAITH FORMATION
Invest in the Future: Conference for Christian Educators 


Invest in Christian education leaders in your congregation! An ecumenical gathering of lay and clergy, staff and volunteer leaders in all kinds of Christian formation ministries, Pneuma is a time of refreshment, collaboration, and learning from each other about innovative and time-tested ways of ways to grow in faith. Sign up for PNEUMA 2017, 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 "Homegrown VBS," "Hosting Pastoral Meetings in a Digital World," and many more. 
 
Scholarships are available; contact the Rev. Anne Clarke, Lifelong Christian Formation Coordinator, at [email protected].
Center for Bible Study, Antelope, Offers 2 Courses for Fall 

Center for Bible Study presents "Beginning Hebrew" with biblical scholar Kristin Ball on 
Fridays, 4-5:30 p.m. Sept. 15-Nov. 3, and 
"Spiritual  Practices: Preparing to Worship in the Beauty of Holiness", l ed by the  Rev. Suzanne Guthrie,  a priest and former CDSP v isiting pr ofessor, on Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m.  Sept. 19-Nov. 21, both at  St. Andrews, Antelope. Both classes are $100 for the entire course; the "Spiritual Practices" first class is free. Register online here.
Connect Your Students to Campus Ministry

A note from the Rev. Casey Kloehn of The Belfry, a joint Episcopal-Lutheran campus ministry in Davis: 

"Is someone in your congregation headed off to college or graduate school? Have you encouraged them to get in touch with the campus ministry there? Have you considered reaching out to the chaplain to let them know your loved one is on the way? There are so many ways that congregations and campus ministries can work together to shepherd young adults through this next phase of faith and life, and this is chief among them. My colleagues around the country and I look forward to hearing from you!" You can reach Pastor Casey at  [email protected].
NEWS & EVENTS BEYOND OUR DIOCESE
Texas Bill Dies; General Convention 2018 a Go in Austin  

The so-called bathroom bill,  Senate Bill 3 , failed when the state House refused to hold a hearing on it. In an unexpected move late on Aug. 15, the Texas House wrapped up its business a day ahead of the official end of the 30-day special session, killing any hopes the legislation could be revived this year. 

The Episcopal leadership, which had issued a letter that opposed the bill and hinted that they would move General Convention out of Texas if it passed, said: "Now that we can be more confident that transgender deputies, exhibitors, advocates and guests can travel to Texas safely and with dignity, we have no plans to ask  Executive Council to reconsider the location of the 2018 General Convention."

The Episcopal Church General Convention is scheduled to meet July 5-13, 2018, in Austin.

Read the statement by Presiding Bishop Curry and House of Deputies President the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings here.
It's Never Too Late for Summer Camp Fun

Camp Wise is a four-day experience that invites those age 60+ to co me and experience highlights of a summer camp program with peers.
 
Attending camp provides everyone an opportunity to experience the healing that can occur by being in nature. Camp also is a place where participants can meet new
people, play and try new things, such as arts & crafts, archery, drama, canoeing, swimming, fishing and hiking.  

Camp Wise is Sept. 11-14 at St. Dorothy's Rest at the beautiful Camp Meeker. For more information and to register, click here.
Sisters of the Transfiguration Return for Fall Retreat  

Sisters Teresa Martin and the Rev. Diana Doncaster from the Community of the Transfiguration in Cincinnati (and formerly of Eureka) are offering a retreat at  St. Dorothy's Rest in Camp Meeker Sept. 22-24, with an optional rest day on Sept. 21. Deadline for registration is Sept. 1, with final payment due by Sept. 15. Limited scholarships are available.
 
Cost is $300, including a $50 non-refundable deposit. Private room, add $15 per night. Optional extra day of relaxation on Thursday is $125. 

To register, send a check, made payable to The Society of the Transfiguration, for the deposit to  Mrs. Virginia Pankoski, 2440 Hillsdale Rd., Meadow Vista, CA 95722.

St. Dorothy's Rest is hilly and rugged, with steep stairs and no handicap access. Please bring a flashlight, comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes. 
News from The Episcopal Church

Registration is now open for the October session of the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency, an innovative nine-day intensive course designed for diocesan staff, clergy, lay leaders, and seminarians to learn cultural competency for Latino ministry. 

The course will be held at St. James Commons in Chicago on Oct. 15-24.  A future offering will be held at Bloy House in Southern California on June 10-19, 2018.  The course will be taught by seminary faculty, lay church leaders, and clergy with extensive experience in Latino and intercultural ministry.  The course will be conducted in English. Bilingual faculty will interpret as needed. 

More information is available here; r egistration is due by Sept. 29.

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Other news:


I f you have a news story or event of interest to others in the diocese, or if you would like assistance with your church or ministry communications, contact Lori Korleski Richardson, Interim Communications Director at [email protected] , 916-442-6918, ext. 226.