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From Bishop Barry
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Dear Friends in Christ:
Lenten blessings to you!
I hope that you have been finding meaningful and effective ways to respond to the problem of gun violence, and of violence in general, in recent weeks. The Service of Lamentation on March 14, and the March for Our Lives on the 24th, are two occasions for advancing that work; you may be engaged in others also. I hope to hear from you about what you are doing in your particular ministry context, and how I can best support you. I am personally very grateful to Gary Brown for his recent statement of witness and encouragement. May we all find new and increasing boldness in living our renunciation of those things which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God. (Read the Ven. Gary Brown's
statement here.)
It is a blessing to see the Bishop Search process going so well. Many thanks to all who are doing that work. As I write this, I am preparing to attend the spring meeting of the House of Bishops. After this one, two more such meetings remain on my horizon. I'm not counting down, but just noticing some significant markers in the landscape of my own transition process. God bless and guide us all, and help us stay focused.
Finally, I want to let you know that Ann and I will be leading a final farewell diocesan pilgrimage in 2019. This time, we will journey to that other holy land - an Anglican heritage pilgrimage to England. The current plan is to leave on April 25 to Canterbury and return home on May 7. Details will follow soon.
God sustain you in your Lenten journey.
Grace and peace,
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Service of Lamentation 7 p.m. March 14 at Trinity Cathedral;
March for Our Lives on Saturday, March 24
In response to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, one month ago, Bishop Barry Beisner and Dean Brian Baker are welcoming all to Trinity Cathedral at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, for a Service of Lamentation, one of the actions recommended by the national group, Bishops United Against Gun Violence. Clergy are strongly encouraged to attend, and
if you wish to vest, please wear a cassock and surplice, tippet/no stole.
Click here for a copy of the service bulletin for the Service of Lamentation.
Featured speakers will include youth leaders Giovanna Zampa of St. Paul's, Benicia, and Iris Bookholtz of Grace, Wheatland. Teachers and leaders from other area faith communities also are scheduled to speak.
An ad hoc choir will practice at 6:15 before the service. Choirmaster Chris Reynolds asked that anyone who would like to sing email him at
[email protected].
On Saturday, March 24, Episcopalians across the diocese are planning to join March for Our Lives.
Click here to read:
- More about the planned march in Sacramento and other similar events happening around the diocese.
- The unanimous statement released by the House of Bishops on March 6 about the Service of Lamentation, the March for Our Lives and other actions the church has taken on gun violence.
At the House of Bishops last Tuesday, Bishop Barry was touched by the following letter from an Episcopalian family in Florida that was read to the bishops, and he wanted to share it with the clergy of our diocese:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As you may know, our daughter Carmen was murdered in the tragic massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Ash Wednesday. My wife, April, and I would like to thank all of you who have kept us and our children in your prayers. Prayers and love are helping our family through this incredibly tough time, please keep them coming; for us, and for all the victims of this senseless massacre.
Our hearts are saddened for the loss of our beautiful little girl and the absence of her amazing presence, but we cannot be sad for Carmen. We believe that Carmen's murder was not part of God's plan and that God is saddened by the violence in this world more than we can know. We know that God's promise is for us to be with him in heaven, and in faith, we believe that Carmen is in heaven, in the loving embrace of God. She awaits us, loved and cared for.
As our family struggles to pick up the pieces of our shattered lives, we ask the Good Lord daily for the strength to fight the good fight, to finish the race. In our attempt to heal from despair and grief, we are compelled to try and make the world a better place for our two remaining children and for all children. To that end, we implore you, as leaders of Christ's church, to address the issue of gun violence head-on. We ask that you make this a priority for the Church and to leave little ambiguity as to "what would Jesus do." The scourge of gun violence on this nation, especially with military assault rifles, is a problem of our own creation and counter to God's desire for peace and love. As a nation we can solve this problem, and as leaders of the Church in our country, we ask that you help lead the way. In Christ's name, we beg you to take action.
We would also like to extend an invitation to all bishops to rally with our church, St. Mary Magdalene, and our diocese this March in Washington DC. We, along with our church family, will participate in the March for Our Lives this coming March 24th and would very much urge all bishops to come with us to stand up for the lives of children and for the ministry of Christ's church. One can only imagine the example of leadership and solidarity that such a showing could make on our fractured and divided country.
Thank you for your time. Thank you for your stewardship of our flock. Thank you for your prayers, and we look forward to walking hand-in-hand with you later this month.
Sincerely,
Philip and April Schentrup
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THE SEARCH FOR OUR NEXT BISHOP
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Parish Forums Continue; Input for Profile due March 24
By Erika Trez, Bishop Search Committee Communications Co-Chair
Clergy, we get it. You're so excited about the Easter Vigil (Fire! Chanting! Waters of
Baptism!) but you also realize that there are 2.5 weeks before that happens... to live into the reflective and faith-deepening time of Lent.
Well, the Bishop Search Committee is ready to walk with you. We want to offer you one more reminder about your opportunity to reflect on our diocese. The Listening Events are completed, and so we invite you and your staff to hold a Parish Forum before Palm Sunday that will help inform our diocesan profile.
Wait a moment, you say - this Parish Forum isn't my idea of a Lenten discipline! My calendar is already chock-full of rich, programmatic offerings. And before Palm Sunday?
Never fear. Should you decide to hold your Parish Forum in the Easter season, we can still use the data in our search process. (Already held your Forum? Skip to step 3 below and send us your notes!)
Holding a Parish Forum is simple. Really!
1.) Content:
Here are two documents that will give you more than enough content for your Forum. One is the
Parish Forum Question Sheet
. We want these questions to be guidelines for your conversation, not a rigid prescription about what to discuss. You know your congregation better than anyone else! The other document contains some Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs) and contact information
for the Listening Subcommittee.
2.) Scheduling:
While the Parish Forums in some ways parallel and complement the Listening Events, they do not have to be three hours long or take place on a Saturday morning! One parish in our Diocese is squeezing a Forum into the 40 minutes they have between Sunday morning services. Another is using the hour after their primary Sunday service, adding it to their Coffee Hour discussion. You might want to meet on a weeknight. Be creative! Again, you know your congregation better than anyone else. If you meet over coffee with three parishioners who really care about the process and capture their feedback, that's a win as far as we're concerned!
3.) Process:
Complete the process by sending the feedback to Mary Davy, our Bishop Search Committee Chair, at
[email protected]
. The deadline is March 24 for feedback to be used in shaping our Profile. Feedback received after that can still help us in later phases of the process.
If you have any questions about this please don't hesitate to reach out to the members of the Listening Subcommittee, whose contact info is at the end of the FAQ sheet. And thank you for all you are doing for the diocese and the Kingdom of God!
Please continue to pray for the search process; the Bishop Search Committee encourages you to add this to your Prayers of the People as a congregation:
Almighty God, giver of every good gift, look graciously upon your church
and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this diocese,
and those who offer themselves as candidates, that we may receive a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
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Good Friday - March 30
The Office of the Bishop will be closed. The office will reopen for business at 8:30 a.m. on April 2.
The Diocesan e-News will be published later that afternoon.
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Special Good Friday Offering Sought for Holy Land
Presiding Bishop Curry wrote in the annual Good
Friday letter to all bishops and congregations asking them to consider providing assistance for the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.
"
The Good Friday Offering is one way we in the Episcopal Church help to support the ongoing ministry of love and compassion carried out by our Anglican sisters and brothers throughout the Province of Jerusalem and Middle East," Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry wrote to the bishops and clergy of the Episcopal Church. "Whether funding an eye clinic in Aden or women's programs, schools and medical services in the West Bank, the Good
Friday Offering is making a difference in the lives of so many."
Curry continued: "I believe our partnership with those who keep the faith of Jesus alive in the region where our Lord walked and began his movement is a significant aspect of our work as part of the church catholic."
Information, including bulletin covers and bulletin inserts on the Good
Friday Offering, is
available here.
For more information, contact the Rev. Canon Robert Edmunds, Episcopal Church Middle East Partnership officer, at
[email protected].
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Retired Clergy Luncheon - April 12
Bishop Barry invites all retired clergy and their spouses/partners to lunch twice a year. The next luncheon is Thursday, April 12 at Faith, Cameron Park.
The lunch will begin at 11 a.m. and run to no later than 1:30 p.m.
Rev. Christine Leigh-Taylor (
[email protected]) is chaplain to the retired clergy of the diocese. She arranges these fellowship events at churches around the diocese. There is no charge, but reservations are required so we know how much food to order. For reservations,
contact Jacqi Seppi, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, at 916-442-6918, ext. 213, or email
[email protected]
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Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves to Speak at May Clergy Conference
The 2018 Clergy Conference will be from 3 p.m. May 22 to 11:30 a.m. May 24 at the Bishop's Ranch, Healdsburg.
The guest speaker will be T
he Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real.
Gray-Reeves was instrumental in forming Beautiful Authority, a network gathering for young women clergy, and is a participant in The Gathering of Leaders, also designed to encourage, energize and empower clergy leadership. She serves on various committees and boards of The Episcopal Church, and is a member of the International Women's Forum.
She is the author of "Unearthing My Religion" and co-author of the
2011 book "
The Hospitality of God." She has been bishop of El Camino Real since 2007.
There will also be a chance for clergy to speak to members of the Bishop Search Committee during the conference.
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Welcome the New Accountant for Our Diocese
Danea Thomas has joined the Finance & Administration team as our Accountant
. You may contact her at
[email protected] or at 916-442-6918, ext. 220.
With more than 15 years of experience in accounting and business managem
ent,
Danea has spent the last few years focused on accounting for various nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Danea has a sincere desire to apply her strengths and
passion for numbers in a mission-driven environment.
Danea currently holds an Associate's degree in both Accounting and Business Management. She plans to finish her Bachelor's degree while working in the field she loves and caring for her family.
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Open Clergy Positions
- All Saints', Redding: Receiving names for rector
- Grace Church, Fairfield: Receiving names for priest-in-charge
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Bishop's Visitation Schedule
- March 25 - Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento
- April 1 - St. Matthew's, Sacramento
- April 15 - St. John's, Chico
- April 22 - St. Alban's, Arcata
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NEWS & EVENTS IN OUR DIOCESE
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St. Francis, Fair Oaks, Final Service on Saturday, April 14
The Rev. Joseph Duggan, priest-in-charge of St. Francis, Fair Oaks, since Sept. 2012, announced that its final service will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. The vestry voted to close the church, and the closing was announced at its annual meeting on Jan. 14.
A reception will follow. All are invited to attend;
please RSVP by March 15 to Mary Lee Pennington at
(916) 989-4512.
Clergy are welcome to vest: white stoles. The church is at
11430 Fair Oaks Blvd.
As a part of its closing, the people of St. Francis are offering up an inventory of items (office supplies, religious items, etc.) to congregations in our diocese on a first come, first serve basis. Sometime in the
next few weeks, you will receive a copy of the inventory to your office email address, which will include the procedure for requesting items. Please do not contact anyone at St. Francis about this; the email will provide all information needed.
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Memorial Service for Pastor Gene Jewell
Pastor Gene Jewell, an ELCA pastor who served on staff at Faith, Cameron Park, died March 12 after a prolonged illness.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
His memorial service will be at Faith Church
on March 26 at 11 a.m.; a reception will follow. Pastor Trudy Franzen from St. Stephen's Lutheran Church will preside, and Bishop Mark
Holmerud will preach. The church is at
2200 Country Club Drive.
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St. Patrick's Weekend Event in Rocklin to Benefit Haiti School
"Join St. Augustine, Rocklin, for a fun evening of Irish music and dancing, as well as a delicious corned beef dinner," said Jim Quinney, chair of the event. The music and dancing will be provided by Molly's Revenge, a dynamic acoustic Celtic band known for its unique and infectious enthusiasm. The classic combination of bagpipes, whistle and fiddle, with a backdrop of guitar, mandola and bodhram, an Irish drum, guarantees an exciting experience for Irish music fans.
"Proceeds from the event will go directly to St. Luc's School in Thomassique, Haiti to help fund teacher salaries, uniform costs and a hot lunch program," Quinney added.
The event will be on Sunday, March 18, at the church, 1800 Wildcat Blvd. in Rocklin, starting at 5 p.m. Tickets for the dinner and concert are $50 and can be obtained through the church office, (916) 435-9552.
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Send a Kid to Camp or Pathways This Summer!
Camper scholarships in the amount of $200 are available to 60 children and youth who are active in their congregation.
Congregational leadership (such as clergy, vestry members or youth ministers) can apply for these scholarships;
click here
to fill out the form. 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, and you may
donate online here. 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.
If you have questions about summer camps in our diocese or camper scholarships, please contact the Rev. Anne Clarke at
[email protected].
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Anti-Racism Training - April 21 at St. Mary's, Napa
The second 2018 Anti-Racism Training will be from 10 a.m.-
5 p.m. on April 21 at St. Mary's, Napa.
This training also will be facilitated by leaders from the
Kaleidoscope Institute.
This event is free, and lunch is included, but registration is required. Please register by April 16.
Register here.
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NEWS & EVENTS BEYOND OUR DIOCESE
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From the Episcopal Church
Applications are now being accepted for educational scholarships from TEC for the 2018-2019 academic year. Scholarships are available for educational training for ethnic communities, children of missionaries, bishops and clergy, and other groups,
covering a wide range of eligibility. The lists of trust funds and scholarships as well as key information are
here. Deadline is April 6.
Other news:
House of Bishops meeting accepts statement on sexual harassment, gender bias
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THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
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