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Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
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From Bishop Barry
Dear Friends in Christ:
Grace and peace to you, and Lenten blessings.
I write this on the eve of my departure for the Spring House of Bishops meeting at Kanuga. The theme this time is "Bishops in the Jesus Movement," which promises to be a particularly interesting exploration in light of current events. As before, I am grateful for your prayers for this particular community of leaders -- and for me in it.
Speaking of leaders, I am most grateful for all who participated in, hosted, led, and worked to make possible this year's
Congregational Leadership Conferences. Feedback to date bears out my impression that these gatherings are very important to the life of our diocese.
Important also is the attention we give to the care of our own souls. Please remember the gift of our Clergy Quiet Day for Lent -- information about it is in this newsletter below and
online here. I dearly hope that we will be able to enjoy this time together. There is an urgent need in these times for us to do the work of staying spiritually centered, and responding to what can feel like a flood of challenges from that center. With that in mind, I refer you to this most recent appeal from
Episcopal Migration Ministries.
Finally, I want to comment on something several of you have spoken to me about: the
news of Ann's retirement from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. As she will tell you, this is by no means a retirement from ministry, but a happy and timely transition to ministry in different forms and venues. Writing as bishop, I am delighted that a priest whose past ministry in this diocese has included chairing the Commission on Ministry, heading our General Convention Deputation, and serving as a rector, interim, and associate in several of our congregations, is now (after a 10-year hiatus) able to be actively engaged with us again!
Yours in Christ,
+Barry
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Bishop's Book For Lent and Lenten Formation Resources
Bishop Barry has chosen "Toxic Charity," by Robert Lupton, as the Bishop's Book for Spring and Lent. The book discusses ways in which the growing trend of service projects and trips (what Lupton calls the growing "compassion industry") can be damaging and toxic to the people they are intended to help.
To help your congregation or other group with your reading and discussion of the Bishop's Book, the Rev. Anne Clarke has prepared a companion guide, which is available here.
Lenten Faith Formation Resources for 2017 are available to download and share with others.
Click here
for books, study guides, online resources and more to help you and your congregation observe a holy Lent.
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Clergy Quiet Day - Lent - April 5
Mercy Center, Auburn, CA
Wednesday, April 5, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Facilitator: Marilyn McEntyre
Cost: Free
Registration: Please e-mail Sandra Littman at
[email protected]. Registration is limited to 30 participants.
Marilyn McEntyre is a writer and professor of medical humanities at the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program. She cares about connecting spirituality, politics, food, healthcare, care for the earth and its creatures, care for language and public discourse, and finding new ways to live together on a planet that needs healing. More about McEntyre and her work is
available here.
If you're interested in McEntyre's writing, a large selection of her books are available at the
Cathedral Bookshop.
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Summer Camper Scholarships Available From the Bishop's Office
Summer camper scholarships in the amount of $200 will be available to 60 children and youth who are active in Diocese of Northern California congregations. T
he scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis to be used for Camp Living Waters, Camp Galilee, Bishop's Ranch, St. Dorothy's Rest, the Episcopal Youth Event, and the Pathways Youth Pilgrimage.
Congregational leadership such as clergy, vestry members or youth ministers, please
click here for the form to use to request a scholarship. Congregations will be responsible for verifying that each child is eligible and for distributing the scholarships.
The Bishop's Office is committed to expanding opportunities for our young people to experience life-changing summer programs. If you would like to join in this effort, your donation is welcome.
Click here to donate online. Enter the amount, select "Youth Camp Scholarship" in the "Select a fund" field and enter your e-mail address. Follow the screen prompts to complete your donation.
You can also send a check with "Camp Scholarship" in the memo line to:
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Attn: Accounting
350 University Ave. #280
Sacramento, CA 95825
If you have questions about applying for a scholarship, please contact Tamoya Bell, Benefits Coordinator and Accounting Specialist at
[email protected].
If you have questions about summer camps and other youth programs in our diocese, please contact the Rev. Anne Clarke, Lifelong Christian Formation Coordinator, at
[email protected]
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Save the Date - Retired Clergy Lunch - May 11
Our next Retired Clergy lunch with Bishop Barry will feature a special presentation by the Church Pension Fund called "Enriching Your Retirement."Although primarily directed to those who participate in the Medical Trust and who receive Church Pension Fund pensions, topics covered include financial and estate planning, the status of the pension fund, and being your own healthcare advocate. Spouses and partners, and surviving spouses, are especially encouraged to attend.
Time: Gathering, with coffee, tea and snacks will begin at 9 a.m. The program, including luncheon will start at 10 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m.
To learn more, contact the Rev. Dr. Christine Leigh-Taylor, Chaplain to Retired Clergy at
[email protected] or 916-704-8698.
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Save the Date - Clergy Conference - May 23-25
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ellen Davis,
Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of Bible and Practical Theology,
Duke Divinity School
Location: Bishop's Ranch
5297 Westside Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Click here for more information about Dr. Davis and this year's clergy conference. Registration and agenda will be available soon.
The Rev. Phina Borgeson reviewed Dr. Davis's new book: Preaching the Luminous Word: Biblical Sermons and Homiletical Essays -- her review is
available here.
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Clergy News & Updates
Ordinations to the Sacred Order of Priests
The Rev. Anne Elizabeth Sutherland Clarke - March 25
On Saturday, March 25, at 11:00 a.m., the Rev. Anne Elizabeth Sutherland Clarke will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests by Bishop Barry Beisner at
St. Luke's, Woodland, 515 Second Street. Your prayers and presence are requested. Clergy: red stoles.
The Rev. Mark Ragon Parker - April 8
On Saturday, April 8, at 11:00 a.m., the
Rev. Mark Ragon Parker will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests by Bishop Barry Beisner at
Emmanuel, Grass Valley,
235 S. Church Street.
Your prayers and presence are requested. Clergy: red stoles.
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Open Clergy Positions
To learn more about these and other opportunities, click here.
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Youth Ministry Symposium - Church Divinity School of the Pacific - Mar
ch 18
Parents, clergy and lay leaders are invited to the fifth annual CDSP Youth Ministry Symposium with keynote speaker
Leslie A. Choplin, D.Ed.Min.
, co-author of "These Are Our Bodies: Talking Faith and Sexuality at Church and at Home," a new curriculum from Church Publishing. In addition to the keynote address, the day will include opportunities for training and certification in safe church practices according to the national Safeguarding Church practices.
Scholarship and travel funding is available from the Diocese of California, the Diocese of Northern California and Province VIII.
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Center for Bible Study - A Study of the Apostles Creed -
Begins March 28
This course is an exploration of the Apostle's Creed, engaging and discussing each statement so as to best understand Christian theology in its traditional and contemporary expression. Taught by Dr. Patrick Oden, professor of Systematic Theology and Church History at Fuller Theological Seminary, it will be held Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. on the seminary's Sacramento campus, 2250 Del Paso Road, Suite B. It will also be available online.
Registration is $100 before March 15; $200 after March 15.
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News & Events in our Diocese and Beyond
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Stations of the Cross - St. Alban's, Arcata - During Lent
The devotion known as the "Way of the Cross" or "Stations of the Cross" is the offering of prayer at a series of fourteen stations traditionally associated with Jesus' passion and death and takes place along a church's walls.
During this Lenten season, St. Alban's, Arcata, is excited to introduce its newly acquired set of original metal panels depicting the Stations of the Cross by Haitian artist Jean Sylvestre. The artwork was commissioned by the church through the Rev. Sally Bates, a retired chaplain of Duke Divinity School and a regular missioner in Haiti.
"Decorative metal work is one of Haiti's most beautiful indigenous crafts," Bates said.
"The artisans fashion their pieces from discarded steel oil drums which are stripped of surface paint, cut open and hammered flat," she added. "Nothing is ever wasted, and all things can be used for the glory of God, so the transformation of used oil drums into beautiful liturgical art seems to be an apt expression of the story we have come to celebrate."
The church invites the community to walk the Stations of the Cross on Fridays at noon throughout the Lenten season, including Good Friday.
If you wish to walk the stations in private devotion, view the artwork, or need more information, please contact the church office at 707-822-4102 or [email protected].
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Grants and Scholarship Opportunities From The Episcopal Church
Student Scholarships - Deadline - March 31
These scholarships assist students who are mostly
enrolled in theological education and training.
The deadline for applications is March 31.
Click here
for the list of trust funds and scholarships as well as key information.
The application form is available in English here and in Spanish here.
For information, contact Ann Hercules at
[email protected]
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Young Adults, Campus Ministries Grants - Deadline - April 10
Grants are intended to provide funding for an Episcopal ministry (or ecumenical ministry with an Episcopal presence) in a diocese, congregation, or community college/tribal college/university campus that is currently engaging or seeking a new relationship with young adults on and off college campuses.
Click here for more information and for applications. Deadline for submitting grants is April 10 by 10 p.m. Eastern.
For more information contact the Rev. Shannon Kelly, Officer for Young Adult and Campus Ministry at [email protected] or Valerie Harris, Formation Associate at [email protected].
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Community of St. Francis - Franciscan Spirituality - April 7-17
Join the Sisters of the Community of St. Francis for a 10-day residential immersion program to study Franciscan Spirituality and a living out of that spirituality through participation in the Sisters' life of prayer, work, ministry and community. The programs are open to any woman over 18 and there is a limit of two participants per immersion.
The program, including room and board, is free, but donations are always welcome. (St. Francis House is not wheelchair accessible.)
2017 Program Dates:
Holy Week/Easter - April 7-17
Summer - August 11-21
St. Francis Day - September 29-October 9
To register, email Sr. Pamela Clare, CSF at [email protected].
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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.
Click here to sign up for our e-Newsletters.
Artwork: Christ Healing the Blind, El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), ca. 1540, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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