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We are praying for all who may be affected by the fires in our region. Please refer to our
fire updates page
for more information. And here's the report on the Northern California fires to the wider church from Episcopal News Service.
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A prayer from Bishop Barry for the diocese:
Most Gracious God,
Hear our prayer for all whose lives are impacted by this crisis.
Shield and deliver all emergency responders;
give wisdom and guide those in authority;
watch over all who have been forced to evacuate, and all who wait with uncertainty.
Comfort those who mourn great loss. Help those who wish to help
to be patient and effective in compassion. Bless us all, and help us trust in you.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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From Bishop Barry
Dear Friends in Christ:
Grace and peace to you.
Thank you for your prayers for last month's House of Bishops meeting. It was a very stimulating and inspiring time. We worked well together, and were strengthened as a body. We heard repeatedly from people of our host diocese that it was extremely important to them that we had chosen to meet there.
I was personally deeply touched by our various encounters with the Athabascan people in general, and in particular with the Gwich'in people of Arctic Village. By now you have read our "Word to the Church." I would add something I heard said by the 82-year-old priest who lives and serves in Arctic Village, on the border of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - and who is profoundly, anxiously aware of the possibility of oil drilling on sacred lands located there: "Animals, plants, and people all really need each other right now." Amen.
Many of you know and care for Olga Barrera, a priest of the Diocese of Honduras who a few years back spent several months living and ministering among us as part of her formation for ordination. We have learned that Olga has recently started treatment for cancer. I ask that you join me in praying for God's help and healing. Bishop Allen has asked that we also join in contributing to cover the cost of her treatment. Sean Cox graciously has offered to manage our donations so that any money we raise will directly benefit her. Those wishing to contribute should send checks to Faith Church, marked "Tela."
I am aware that many of you and folks in your congregations have given generously to Episcopal Relief & Development for assistance to the many victims of recent storms and floods. I am very grateful. And I am able to report that donations to the Bishop's Discretionary Fund have enabled me to send $2,000 to ER&D in the past few weeks. This would also be a good moment to thank our ER&D Coordinator, Jane Snibbe, for her work, and to invite you to help her connect with your congregation on a regular basis.
Finally, an important announcement: Cookie Clark will be stepping down as an Archdeacon of the Diocese, in order to focus on other ministries. At Convention I will appoint Pam Gossard to fill that position, and I rejoice that she and Gary Brown will form the new team. At Convention, we will honor and give thanks for Cookie's faithful service to this Diocese. I am grateful that that service, which has taken many forms over many years, will continue. I know that you will join me in thanking God for her!
Yours in Christ,
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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
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Prepare for Convention at a Fall Convocation Near You
Fall convocations are Saturday, Oct. 14; all are encouraged to attend! During this time, you will also be hearing from the Standing Committee regarding Bishop Barry's retirement.
Convocations help familiarize resolutions and nominations to be discussed during Convention, and provide an opportunity for deaneries to pray together and have conversations about our life together as a diocese.
PLEASE NOTE:
The Russian River deanery convocation is canceled - those who are able may join the Wingfield deanery in Vacaville or
Semper Virens at Christ Church, Eureka. Times and locations at norcalepiscopal.org.
The Bishop's Office will be sending out more information on how we can prepare for the convention and prepare for the Bishop search process.
Our convocation was to elect a representative to the Board of Trustees, and so are proposing that Russian River clergy and delegates will meet over lunch just prior to Diocesan Convention on Friday, Nov. 3 at the McClellan Conference Center in North Highlands. Details on this will follow.
***
General registration for Convention has now closed; however, late registration will be open until Oct. 31.
Register here.
Last minute changes to your delegation happen! However, registering and communicating about those changes in advance helps us all to avoid confusion (and long check-in lines when we get to Convention). If someone from your congregation's delegation changes, please make sure to let us know. This is especially critical if an alternate or substitute is not on your Certificate of Lay Delegates. If this is the case, you can revise your Certificate of Lay Delegates right up to Convention by emailing Elizabeth Vang at [email protected].
Alternates and visitors do not vote at Convention (unless an alternate formally takes the place of a registered delegate, by reporting to and filling out the correct forms at the registration desk). However, it is wonderful to have alternates and visitors attend, as Convention is also a place to learn and connect with others, and gather resources and information to take back to their congregations.
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Pre-Convention Gathering - Register Now
Join the Rev. Canon Andrea McMillin and the Rev. Anne Clarke for a pre-Convention workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the McClellan Conference Center.
Whether you're in a small church with limited resources, or in a larger place looking for a way to help your community find and/or build its collective voice, this is the workshop that will enable you to deepen your community of practice, through the shared creation of sound and silence. With simple chants and global songs, led by composer
Ana Hernandez, we'll have a day of transformation and deep fun.
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Retired Clergy and Spouses Luncheon - Oct. 26
Join Bishop Barry and the Rev. Dr. Christine Leigh-Taylor, chaplain to the re
tired
clergy of the diocese, on Thursday, Oct. 26 for a special luncheon with yo
ur fellow/sister retired clergy and spouses at St. John's,
Roseville. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There is no cost to attend, but please send Jacqi Seppi, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, an email to reserve your seat. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let Jacqi know, or if you need a ride, Jacqi will do her best to connect you with someone going your way.
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Open Clergy Positions
- Incarnation, Santa Rosa: Reviewing names for rector
- Grace Church, Fairfield: Receiving names for priest-in-charge
- Christ Church, Eureka: Reviewing names for rector
Learn more about these positions and others
here
.
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Bishop's Visitation Schedule
- Oct. 15 - St. John's, Petaluma
- Oct. 22 - Christ the King, Quincy
- Oct. 29 - St. Luke's, Auburn
- Nov. 12 - St. Mary's, Elk Grove
- Nov. 19 - St. Paul's, Healdsburg
The Bishop's full 2017-2018 visitation schedule is available
here.
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Bishop's Book: Online Discussion Oct. 15
Are you interested in talking more about the religious life? Are you currently engaged in a religious order or interested in learning more about all the diverse ways and opportunities to connect with religious orders? Are you enjoying the Bishop's book Seeking God and want to talk more with others about the ideas in the book?
Join Bishop Barry, Sister Diana Doncaster and others for a free online discussion (you can join using a phone or a computer) and talk with a panel of people who will share their experiences with the religious life. After hearing their reflections, there will be a chance for a longer discussion.
The discussion will be held Oct. 15, from 7-8 p.m. Although the discussion is free, registration is required. Please contact Rev. Anne Clarke for questions.
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Pathways 2018 - Applications Now Being Accepted
Pathways 2018 will take us to Sonoma County where we will explore matters of social and eco-justice as we journey to the ocean, visit historical sites of immigration in the Bay Area, and meet
with people in these communities who are engaging in the work of reconciling us and creation to God.
We hope that congregations will consider ways to help support this trip financially and in other ways; we will offer scholarships and other support with the goal of making this trip possible for everyone who wishes to participate. Please be in touch with the Rev. Sarah Quinney ([email protected]) if the cost is a barrier.
Dates:
June 24-30, 2018
Location: Sonoma County
Participants: Those finishing grades 7-12
Young adult leaders: Ages 18-30
Cost: $500 per participant ($450 early registration discount by Dec. 15 & deposit of $50 due by Dec. 15)
Apply online as a youth participant here. (Email Rev. Sarah for a hard copy)
Apply online as a adult/young adult leader here.
You may download a Pathways flyer here. Please post in your parish and/or relay this information in your parish bulletin.
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NEWS & EVENTS IN OUR DIOCESE
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Interim Rector for St. Mary's, Napa: Vanessa Glass
From the Vestry and People's Warden Ted Migdal: "I am very happy to introduce you to our new Interim Rector, the Rev. Vanessa Glass. She will begin her ministry at St. Mary's on Nov. 20. The members of the Vestry are very excited to have her lead us through the transition process." Read more about the Rev. Glass.
Canon Stephen Carpenter's last mass at St. Mary's will be Oct. 29, with a reception after the 10 a.m. service.
A local "kid" and graduate of Napa High School, he returned to Napa in 1983 to become St. Mary's rector.
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St. Patrick's, Kenwood, Calls Rector: Doyle D. Allen
The vestry of St. Patrick's, Kenwood, has called the Rev. Doyle Dietz Allen as rector. Priest Doyle is currently assistant rector at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Tuscon, Arizona. In a letter to St. Patrick's, she wrote: "I am so excited to be coming to you as your new rector! Tom (my husband), Kita (our Siberian Husky puppy) and I are all so looking forward to joining you in Northern California. ... I hope to be with you sometime in December (first of January at the latest)."
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News & Notes
The Rev. Seth Kellerman and his family will lead a group from Emmanuel, Grass Valley, to Mexico for a mission trip Oct. 14-21. They will participate in medical and dental clinics with Clinica Filadelfia in Tijuana, assisting the doctors and dentists, as well as offering arts and crafts activities for the local children. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel.
***
Father Ray Hess, priest-in-charge at St. George's, Carmichael, says he's "making gradual but very real progress in his health" after having brain surgery July 11. He starts back on his regular schedule for Sundays on Oct. 15, and said "I should be able to drive again by the first part of November."
***
Since 2011,
St. Alban's has had an active Street Meals ministry, feeding lunch to the less fortunate in Arcata. But after reading the spring 2017 Bishop's Book selection, "Toxic Charity" by Robert Lupton, Street Meals is taking a time out to consider the issues raised by the book and discern a path forward. In announcing the hiatus, with the Rev. Sara Potter's support, Bill Strider noted that things may not change, may be tweaked or "perhaps our vision of engagement with the marginalized in our community will venture into a new direction that doesn't involve food." May the Holy Spirit guide their way forward.
***
The Rev. Rik Rasmussen of St. Paul's, Sacramento, thanks all who joined in praying for his mother Ruth at the time of her death. She died Oct. 3. Her service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at St. Paul's,1430 J St. (corner of 15th &
J), Sacramento. A reception will follow the service; all are welcome.
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Trinity Cathedral's Art Show - 'Light Out of Darkness'
Trinity Cathedral's national juried exhibition entitled "Light Out of Darkness" continues through
Oct. 26, with viewing times on Tuesday through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and by appointment at
Beatnik Studios,
723 S Street in Sacramento.
There will be special panel discussion tomorrow, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., that will focus on the purpose of the show, the rationales underlying the pieces which were selected as winners, and the motivation of the various artists in creating the pieces. The juror for the show is Frank Ordaz, an accomplished fine artist who was featured in The White House under the George W. Bush Administration. At one point in his career he was the artist who created the background paintings for Lucas Productions, notably for ET and the Star Wars series.
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All Souls Day Creative Retreat at Incarnation - Oct. 28
The urge to honor and remember is long and strong in the human spiritual story.
Join artist and teacher Lisa Thorpe in a day of art and meditation and community building on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m at Incarnation, Santa Rosa.
Sponsored by Incarnation's Numina Center for Spirituality and the Arts, the morning will be filled with story telling of saints old and new. Each person will make a decorative icon on a wooden plaque. Lisa will bring images of saints to use or you can bring photos of someone who has passed that you would like to honor.
To complete the day together, everyone will assemble a beautiful Dia De los Muertos Altar in the church to share with the whole Incarnation community.
Registration is $35; you may register here. For more information, visit Incarnation's website (scroll down).
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River City Food Bank Opening Second Location
River City Food Bank, 1800 28th St., Sacramento, is opening a second food distribution center at The Center at St. Matthew's in Arden Arcade later this month.
Executive Director Eileen Thomas said she hopes everyone will come to an open house to get a first look at the food bank's new location. "We will host light refreshments and will provide guests with a tour of the new space," she said.
Where: The Center at St. Matthew's, 2300 Edison Ave., Sacramento
When: Saturday, Oct. 21, from 1-3 p.m.
RSVP: Please RSVP to Laura Garcia by emailing [email protected] or calling 916.217.1951.
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NEWS & EVENTS BEYOND OUR DIOCESE
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Keep in Touch with Province VIII
The Province VIII Executive Committee has a brand new electronic newsletter in order to expand our communication throughout the province and share ideas, resources, and opportunities. Sign up
here to learn more about what's happening in other dioceses throughout the province.
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Global Issues Dominate Primates Meeting
[Episcopal News Service | October 3] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joined most of his fellow Anglican primates - or senior Anglican Communion leaders - in Canterbury last week for a five-day meeting that focused primarily on global issues of peace and justice, evangelism and discipleship. But the issue of marriage equality took up a significant portion of the opening two days. Read more.
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Communications Help through Episcopal Digital Network
Did you know that besides providing news of interest to Episcopalians, the Episcopal New Service also provides a press release service, free to dioceses, congregations, church organizations, groups and institutions?
According to Matt Davies, ENS advertising and webmanager, the ENS audience currently stands at 105,000 unique users per month and has more than 20,700 opt-in newsletter subscribers.
- Submit a press release for inclusion on the Episcopal News Service here.
- Publish a People news item (e.g. new position, ordination, award) here.
- Publish a Job or Call listing here.
- Publish an Event listing here.
- Publish a Book listing here.
- Considering a paid advertisement? More information is available here.
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From the Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations is seeking an intern to provide research, policy, and administrative support during the Spring of 2018. This policy and research internship provides the intern with opportunities to learn and practice the skills of policy research engagement. More information is available here.
Other news:
Q&A: Union of Black Episcopalians President Annette Buchanan
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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.
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