OCTOBER 3, 2017

River City Food Bank Opening Second Location

By Lori Korleski Richardson, Interim Communications Director

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.  Bishop Barry Beisner, in a statement welcoming the addition to St. Matthew's, said, "We know, as faith teaches us, that together we can do more for others. Our partnership with River City Food Bank to provide food and resources on the St. Matthew's campus is a pledge worthy of our common history to help our low-income seniors, adults and families."

River City Food Bank is the oldest continuously operating food bank in our community, and the only food bank in our area which is open every weekday to provide food to anyone experiencing hunger in Sacramento County.

The ties between the food bank and our diocese are wide and deep, going back to its beginnings at St. Paul's in downtown Sacramento in the late 1960s, and its longtime presence, as River City Community Services, next to the diocese offices before an arson fire destroyed both buildings in 2010. Trinity Cathedral housed the food distribution for a while until funds could be raised to buy its current building.

Executive Director Eileen Thomas said she hopes everyone will come to an open house on Oct. 21 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 lgarcia@rivercityfoodbank.org or calling 916.217.1951.
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
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.

It's not to late to register for Convention,  and we ask your help to make sure that everyone is registered.  Register here now!

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  elizabeth@norcalepiscopal.org.
 
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.
Call for Convention Volunteers

Diocesan Convention would not function without the help of our volunteers. 
We are asking for volunteers to work the late morning and early afternoon of Friday, Nov. 3 and the morning of Saturday, Nov. 4. Please note that a short training will be held in advance, which all volunteers will be expected to attend. As of now, the exact times have yet to be determined; stay tuned for more information!

To volunteer, please contact Elizabeth Vang.
2017 Pre-Convention Gathering -  Nov. 3 

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. 

The event is free, and lunch will be provided.  Register here.

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Speaking of Convention, all diocesan youth are invited for Convention overnight at Trinity Cathedral. More information is available  here.
Office of the Bishop Staff Changes

The Rev. Betsey Monnot, co-rector at All Saints', Sacramento, has  accepted the position as  Missioner for Leadership Develo pm ent and Networking of our diocese. The Rev. Betsey will be leaving her position as co-rector at All Saints', a nd her husband, the Rev. Michael Monnot, will remain at All Saints' as rector. 

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Also, Kati Braak is the new Assistant to the Canon to the Ordinary and staff support for the Episcopal Foundation of Northern California. Kati is a parishioner at St. John's, Roseville

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Tamoya Bell's last day at the Office of the Bishop was Sept. 29. During this time of transition, for benefits inquiries and questions please email benefits@norcalepiscopal.org. 
Congregational Leadership Conferences for 2018

Save the date
Next year's Congregational Leadership Conferences (CLCs) have been set for the following dates and locations:

Feb. 10: Incarnation, Santa Rosa
Feb. 24:  St. Alban's, Arcata 
March 10: St. John's, Roseville
Bishop's Visitation Schedule 
  • 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.
FAITH FORMATION
Bishop's Book, Fall 2017

Bishop Barry Beisner has selected "Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict " by Esther de Waal as this fall's Bishop's Book. Join us in reading this excellent primer on incorporating contemplation and prayer into everyday life.

A discussion guide for book groups is here.

Join Bishop Barry online for more discussion this fall: Sunday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m and Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.  Registration and more information is available here
Post-EfM Idea for Alumni

Why not try a reading group?

One of the best parts of the EfM experience is being part of a reflective learning community. Many miss that after graduation. 
Some EfM graduates have found that bringing together a post-EfM reading group encourages:
  • Committing to a community with similar interests and experiences from EfM
  • Continuing to reflect on life in the context of faith
  • Lifelong theological learning
  • Ongoing vocational discernment, helping members to see new opportunities for ministry.
Choosing books for a reading group may seem a bit overwhelming, so here's a list of options on the EfM website.
NEWS & EVENTS IN OUR DIOCESE & BEYOND
Prayer Vigil Friday at St. John's, Roseville

St. John's Roseville will hold a prayer vigil at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 for all who wish to prayerfully respond to the recent tragedies. Please join us as we gather to reflect, listen and support one another in response to the Las Vegas shooting, the Mexico City earthquake, and the recent devastation resulting from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. St. John's is located at 2351 Pleasant Grove, Blvd., Roseville. For more information: 916.786.6911.  

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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 this afternoon, Oct. 3, 2017.
St. Patrick's, Kenwood, Calls Rector: the Rev. 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)." 
October Is Mental Health Month: Join in Prayer Today

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The National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding is Tuesday, Oct. 3.  Mental illness networks and faith leaders are urged to work together so that they may recognize and prepare for this day in a way that works best for each faith community. The prayers and actions of both faith communities and secular organizations are needed to restore mental wellness in America. In seeking God's guidance, we can recommit ourselves to replacing misinform
ation, blame, fear and prejudice with truth and love to offer hope to all  who are touched by mental illness.
 
You can download a resource with liturgies to use for the National Day of Prayer on the home page of the Mental Health Ministries website. This resource is available in English and Spanish. Many faith communities have sponsored an interfaith candle lighting service using a liturgy written by Carole J. Wills. 
CROP Walk This Saturday - All Are Welcome to Participate
 
The Very Rev. Brian Baker, dean of Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento, will bless the CROP walkers as they start their walk from the south steps of the state Capitol at 10 a.m. and walk to the River City Food Bank, 1800 28th Street and back, slightly more than three miles.
 
Most of the walkers have sought pledges from donors before walking, but CROP (Community Responding to Overcome Poverty) longtime volunteer Helen Rogers says, "Anyone can walk - just bring a can of food to donate." Walkers need to sign in at 9:30 a.m.
 
If three miles is beyond your ability, Rogers says it's easy to take RT back from the food bank to the capitol, where there will be water, snacks and drawings for prizes. CROP walks from around the U.S. raise around $10 million annually to fight hunger globally and in each walk's local community.

More information is here
Workshops by Peter Frisch

Founding missioner of St. Augustine's, Rocklin, Peter Fritsch, will be hosting a series of workshops at the following congregations:
 
Trinity Cathedral  - Wednesday, Oct. 4
Workshop: How God Speaks to Us in Dreams for Healing & Wholeness ( more information here )
Workshop: The Fisher King and the Handless Maiden 
 
St. John's, Roseville  - Thursday, Oct. 5
Workshop: How God Speaks to Us... ( more here )
Workshop: The Fisher King... ( more here)
 
Trinity, Folsom  - Saturday, Oct. 7
Workshop: How God Speaks to Us... ( more here )
 
St. James, Lincoln  - Wednesday, Oct. 10
Workshop: How God Speaks to Us... ( more here )
Workshop: Removing Obstacles and Meeting Real Human Needs So St. James Can Grow and Keep on Growing ( more here )
Trinity, Sutter Creek, Seeking Organist/Choir Director 

Trinity, Sutter Creek, is looking for a part time organist/choir director  to lead their congregation in song each week. If you are interested or know someone who might be interested, send please send a resume to  frcraig@trinitysuttercreek.org


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 lori@norcalepiscopal.org , 916-442-6918, ext. 226.