Diocesan e-News - Jan. 2, 2019

JANUARY 2, 2019

Update #2 from the Bishop's Transition Committee

Submitted by Jay Elmquist, Transition Committee;

The Rev. Jim Richardson, Standing Committee

The dates for the walkabouts are almost here. We are excited to meet the candidates for bishop and would like you to meet them with us. During the week of walkabouts, the candidates for bishop will travel the diocese and meet with the people each night. Here is a reminder of the schedule for the week of Jan. 21.

Jan. 21 2019 - Church of the Incarnation, Santa Rosa, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 22, 2019 - St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, Chico, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 23, 2019 - Christ Episcopal Church, Eureka, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 24, 2019 - Episcopal Church of St. Martin, Davis, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 25, 2019 - Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Sacramento, 6:30 p.m.

The purpose of these meetings is for clergy, delegates and members of the church to meet and hear from the candidates in person. The format each evening will be question-and-answer. The transition committee has worked diligently to gather questions from the diocese, but there will also be an opportunity to submit questions at the event as well. Look for a greeting table and write your question on a card. It will then be submitted for the possibility of being asked that evening.

Many people are asking about the walkabouts and who should attend. Here are a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that may help.

If you have further questions about the walkabout process or the election, please contact us at [email protected].

Learn more about the candidates for bishop

On Dec. 5, 2018, the Standing Committee announced the slate of candidates who will appear on the ballot for the Eighth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California on Feb. 9.

The candidates are (alphabetical order): The Rev. Matthew D. Cowden, The Rev. Christopher Brooke Craun, The Rev. Canon Megan Traquair, The Rev. Randall R. Warren, D.Min.

Additional information has been posted on the bishop search website to help you get to know the slate, including a letter, answers to essay questions, and a video from each candidate.

Upcoming dates:

Any approved petition candidate(s) will be added to the slate in Jan. 2019
"Walkabouts" will happen from Jan. 21 to 25, 2019
The Electing Convention will occur on Feb. 9, 2019
The Ordination and Consecration of the Eighth Bishop, God willing and the Church consenting, will occur on June 29, 2019

Learn more about the search here.

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, 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.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP

Special Electing Convention - Saturday, Feb. 9

The Special Convention for the election of the 8th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California will be Feb. 9, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. at Faith, Cameron Park, located at 2200 Country Club Drive. The event is free, but all must register to attend. Register here.

For more information on the Bishop Search, visit norcalbishopsearch.org .

Changes to the Office of the Bishop staff

We are pleased to share that Michelle Karimi is the new Executive Staff Support reporting to the Canon to the Ordinary. Michelle is responsible for administrative support to the Canon to the Ordinary and the Episcopal Foundation of Northern California and as well as provide Ordination Process Support.

Michelle joins us from the east coast, and she brings valuable experience from working on the Presiding Bishop's communications team. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York. Michelle enjoys spending free time with family, and has a passion for photography.

You may contact Michelle by phone at 916-442-6918, ext. 215 or by email at [email protected].

Mary Ellen Ferguson has announced that she will step back from her position as Ordination Coordinator. We are grateful for her presence here at the Office of the Bishop and her guidance for those in the ordination process. Mary Ellen will spend a few months training her replacement, Michelle Karimi, before she departs.

2019 Diocesan cycle of prayer

Jan. 6 - All Saint's, Redding

Carren Sheldon, Interim Rector

Jan. 13 - All Saints', Sacramento
Michael Monnot, Rector

Jan. 13 - St. Mary's, Elk Grove
Anne Largent Smith, Priest-in-Charge

Jan. 20 - The Belfry, Davis
Casey Dunsworth, Pastor

For the Jan. through June 2019 Diocesan cycle of prayer, visit our website.

Bishop's visitation schedule

Jan. 6 - Epiphany, Vacaville
Feb. 3 - St. Paul's, Sacramento
Feb. 17 - St. Stephen's, Sebastopol
March 3 - St. John's, Roseville
March 31 - St. James, Yuba City

Bishop Barry's 2019 visitation schedule is available here.

NEWS AND EVENTS IN AND BEYOND OUR DIOCESE

EPPN and California bishops call for refugee assistance

The Episcopal Public Policy Network of California, along with all seven bishops of the six Episcopal dioceses in California, hav e signed a statement on assisting Central American refugees.

Here is an excerpt:

In recent days, over 6,000 migrants have gathered at the California-Mexico border fence seeking appointments with American immigration officials to petition for asylum. With wait times projected to last for months, many are forced to live in shelters where food is scarce, and privacy is non-existent, and some become sick.

...As Christians during the season of Advent, we recognize the ancient echo of the Holy Family's flight into Egypt, when Mary and Joseph hid the infant Jesus from the murderous Herod. We also recognize our obligation to help the oppressed and the homeless. We urge our fellow Episcopalians to appeal to government officials to speed up the processing of asylum seekers and to provide adequate shelters and legal assistance in the U.S. for recent immigrants.

Read the full statement from the California bishops and the California EPPN.

Bible study on immigration begins Jan. 9 in Cameron Park

How do we make sense of the many opinions and news stories about the present day immigration situation in our country?

The Rector's Bible Study class at Faith, Cameron Park, will explore the complex issues of immigration from several perspectives. It will do so by combining personal stories of immigrants, an immigration attorney's legal point of view, and what Scripture says. A recent documentary and a guest speaker who was a child when her family immigrated from Cambodia will help put a face to the word "immigrant." Through conversation and study, people will have new and accurate information to develop their own informed opinions on this hot button topic.

The first class meets Wednesday, Jan. 9, from 4 - 5:30 p.m., and will continue for six Wednesdays. Although it is ideal to attend all six weeks of classes, this class is also open to those who may be able to come to only a few classes -- come when your schedule allows.

Join Trinity Cathedral in counting Sacramento's homeless

Trinity Cathedral parishioners will be volunteering for Sacramento County's 2019 Point-In-Time homeless count. The homeless count is essential to help our county apply for the appropriate level of federal homelessness funds. It's well organized and you will feel good about doing it.

Volunteering does not require any prior experience but you must be 18 years of age or older; have a strong interest in helping people who are experiencing homelessness; be able to walk a couple of miles and attend a required training class to learn to safely conduct accurate counts with teams within carefully pre-mapped territories. Information about the count goes out within the homeless community so that our counters are welcomed by people who are homeless.

The counts will occur Jan. 30-31 in the evening, and locations are to be determined. Volunteers go out in groups to their assigned area. You can sign up here; please also email Shireen Miles to let her know know you are interested: [email protected].

Community Meals Program in Vacaville receives $5,000 grant

We congratulate Epiphany, Vacaville, for receiving a $5,000 grant for their Community Meals Program. Thank you for your hard work in feeding God's children!

The grant came from the Darby Betts Fund, a program in partnership with Covia and The Episcopal Impact Fund. The fund, started in 2005, makes annual awards to support senior programs and services.

Brad Helmuth elected Rector in Nevada City

The vestry of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church is honored to announce the unanimous election and appointment of the Rev. Bradley M. Helmuth as the 33rd Rector of Holy Trinity Church, Nevada City.

Please save the date for Rev. Bradley's Celebration of New Ministry, which will be Feb. 28.

Strengthen your baptismal ministry and learn about your faith

Our diocese has established a partnership with the Center for Anglican Learning and Leadership which will allow lay and clergy members of our diocese to enroll in online courses at a discounted rate. Whether you are working on a new Lay Ministry license or are looking for a continuing education opportunity, CALL may have a course that is right for you.

One of our very own deacons, the Rev. Phina Borgeson, is teaching one of the classes available this winter. Here is her description:

Images of Diakonia is a seven week exploration for those discerning a call to the diaconate, deacons, and anyone who'd like to deepen their understanding of the church's diakonia to which we are all called in baptism. "Images" was designed by Deacon Maylanne Maybee who adapted elements of it for the recent deacons' retreat here at Bishop's Ranch. Since Maylanne is unable to teach it this year, Deacon Phina Borgeson is pinch hitting, and looking forward to helping students connect images from liturgy, their communities, and popular culture.

Visit the CDSP website for more details, and if you want to register, please email Betsey Monnot at [email protected] for information about receiving the discount. The winter term begins on Jan. 21.