News for the week of April 23, 2019
Easter around the Diocese
This weekend, Bishop Barry was at Trinity Cathedral in his last Easter as Diocesan. He kindled new fire, pronounced Easter, anointed the newly baptized, confirmed several, preached and celebrated the Eucharist! It was a special time.

A few shots of Easter Sunday in around the diocese, from left, at Trinity, Folsom; St. James, Yuba City; St. John's, Marysville.
Ringing our church bells in support of Notre Dame and the Episcopal bishop in Europe
Good Shepherd, Cloverdale; pictured are the Rev. Jane Snibbe, Tim McDonald and Robert Scott
The Rev. Aidan Rontani , Priest-in-Charge at St. Peter's, Red Bluff
St. Luke's, Woodland, preschoolers joined in on the bell-ringing
On Maundy Thursday, several churches in our diocese, joined by other cathedrals and churches throughout the world, rang their church bells for 7 minutes at 11 a.m. (7 p.m. Paris time). A clip of the bells at the Cathedral is available here.

"May this be not only a sign of our solidarity with Notre Dame, but a sign of our commitment to bring faith, hope and love throughout the world, especially to those who have no peace, and know no justice. Let us commit ourselves to rebuilding not just great cathedrals, but the churches burned in Louisiana and elsewhere, and let us resolve to safeguard the freedom to worship God, each in our own way, everywhere," said Interim Dean of Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento, the Rev. Jim Richardson.

Bishop in charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe the Rt. Rev. Mark D. W. Edington is the most recently consecrated bishop within the The Episcopal Church. His consecration, ordination and seating was at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Paris on April 6.

In a written reflection of the fire, he said, "...the long process of rebuilding may also rekindle anew an appreciation, if not for religion, then for the idea of faith and the possibility of the transcendent, even in this most jaded and materialistic of all the world’s capitals. The pain felt in the hearts of France is not merely from the loss of a building, but from ideas it has represented throughout the ages.

The embers will likely just have cooled by Easter Sunday, the feast — for us — of resurrection. May Notre Dame rise again, for people of all faiths and none, as a sign of that enduring possibility."
Celebrate Bishop Barry
Join the diocese as we gather in three different events to honor Bishop Barry Beisner. These events are free. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend.
 

Saturday, May 11, 5:30 - 8 p.m.   
Registration for this event closes Friday, May 3.

Friday, June 7, 5:30 - 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 15, 1:30 - 4 p.m.  

 
The diocese is giving Bishop Barry and Rev. Ann a trip to begin their life in retirement together. You may donate to their gift here . 
Save the date for the ordination and consecration of Bishop-Elect Megan Traquair
The Reverend Canon Megan Traquair will be ordained and consecrated Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California.

Saturday, June 29, 2019
11:00 AM
Mondavi Center
Davis, CA

The liturgical color for the day is red. 

Official invitations and links to tickets will be sent in May. Please check our website here for information as it becomes available. For diocesan and other related events, please see the diocesan website.
Gifts for the Bishop-Elect
When a bishop is consecrated, it is customary for them to receive gifts of different types that will be used in their ministry. These gifts often include the following:

  • Vestments
  • A mitre (the pointy hat worn by a bishop)
  • A crozier (the staff that is a symbol of the bishop's office)
  • An episcopal ring
  • A pectoral cross
  • A Bible

Each of the gifts listed above has a special use that Bishop-Elect Megan will fulfill following her consecration. In the coming weeks, we will be offering descriptions and pictures of each these gifts to aid in understanding of their use.

You are being offered an opportunity to donate toward diocesan gifts for Bishop-Elect Megan. Click this link and select the "Bishop-Elect Gifts" button on the donation page to give your gift toward our future bishop's ministry.
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
Bishop's visitation schedule 
  • May 19 - St. Barnabas, Mt. Shasta
  • June 2 - St. Mary's, Ferndale
  • June 9 - Emmanuel, Grass Valley

Bishop Barry's 2019 visitation schedule is  available here .
NEWS AND EVENTS IN AND BEYOND OUR DIOCESE
Gift cards for St. Nicholas, Paradise
St. John's, Chico, continues to be actively involved in helping folks impacted by the Camp Fire in Paradise. As a part of this work, the church is requesting gift cards that they can hand out to those who need assistance. Specifically, they have found that Safeway cards are the best as recipients can use them for either gas or groceries. The gift cards can be mailed directly to St. John’s, Chico (address below).

St. John's Episcopal Church 
c/o The Very Rev. Richard Yale 
2341 Floral Avenue 
Chico, CA 95926 

You may also donate to the diocesan disaster fund here. Want to send a check? Make checks out to EDNC, with "Disaster Relief" in the memo line. The diocesan office address is below.

Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Disaster Relief
350 University Ave., Suite 280 
Sacramento, CA 95825 
St. Alban's reducing carbon footprint with solar panels
On Sunday, March 2, St. Alban’s, Arcata, blessed their new solar panel system.

The south roof over its sanctuary is sporting an array of 20 350-watt solar panels in two rows. The solar panels will not only reduce St. Alban’s energy bill, it will also reduce St. Alban’s carbon footprint.

The installation of the solar panels is just one part of St. Alban’s creation care ministry, which seeks to heal, defend and work toward justice for all God’s creation and to respect the kinship and connection of all that God created through education, advocacy, and action.

Read the full story from the Eureka Times-Standard.
Free Bible study on the book of Hebrews in Antelope
The Center for Bible Study, a program of St. Andrew's, Antelope, invites you to study the book of Hebrews with Morey Lloyd, M.Div. These events are free and classes are open --just drop in any time.

The author of Hebrews challenges us with new insights into the inner workings of the Author of our salvation. Resources include the Hebrew Scriptures, the Septuagint, the Greek Bible, the Apocrypha and the Dead Sea Scrolls. These studies will explore the ongoing legacy of our common life and eternal hope.

When: Wednesdays, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., beginning April 24
Where: St Andrew’s, 7580 Watt Ave., Antelope, CA 95843
ECS application period is open until May 1
The 2019-20 Request for Proposals (RFP) and applications for the Ministry Development Fund Grants, the Bishop Jerry & Jane Lamb Grant, and the three-year Warren Dunning Memorial Social Justice Grant can be downloaded from the ECS website .

If you did not submit a Letter of Interest, please contact Betty Harrison-Smith at [email protected] , so that a mentor may be assigned to assist you through the application process.

Applications are due May 1 and should be emailed, with the appropriate attachments, to Betty Harrison-Smith.
Trinity Cathedral women’s retreat
Join women of the diocese for a women's retreat, facilitated by Libby Vincent and entitled "Fill Your Cup: Self Care as a Means of Loving God and Loving your Neighbor." Libby has been a Presbyterian pastor, conference speaker, spiritual director and taught for Fuller Seminary in the area of Systematic Theology and Theology and Film. Currently she is in the process of pursuing ordination in the Episcopal Church.

When: Friday, May 3, 6:30 - 9 p.m. and Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Trinity Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, CA 95816
Registration: $50 (Includes workshops, art supplies and a catered lunch. Childcare is available for an additional fee.) Register here.
Contact: Susan Hotchkiss at [email protected]
Rooted in faith: Immigration advocacy, the Church and you
Alexia Salvatierra and Paula Nesbitt will be leading a two-day presentation and training on faith-rooted immigration advocacy. Racial reconciliation will also be part of this important workshop. We will also prepare ourselves for Immigration Day, which will be held at the state capitol on May 20. If you want to complete Racial Reconciliation Training certification, you must attend both days of the event.

When : Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 5, 2 to 5 p.m.
Where : St. Martin's, 640 Hawthorn Lane, Davis, CA 95616
Registration : The cost is $10; lunch will be provided. Please register here by April 28.
Help our neighbor diocese (Diocese of San Joaquin) with the Pilgrimage of Hope walk
The hope and intention in this walk is raising awareness of the struggles immigrants and refugees face daily, while also raising money to support Legal Defense Funds throughout the Central Valley. They will begin the Pilgrimage of Hope on May 4 at St. James Cathedral in Fresno, and will conclude on the Day of the Immigrant in Sacramento on May 20. This will involve sixteen consecutive days of walking, praying, and reflecting.

Ways you can help:

  1. Want to drive a “runner car”? Check out the route and complete this registration form by April 30
  2. Want to be a pilgrim? Check out the route and complete this registration form
  3. Want to join for conversation and Evening Prayer one night? Follow along through social media or join in person. Check out the route to find that night’s location and then join at 6:45 p.m.
  4. Continue to raise funds to support the walk, as well as the Legal Defense Fund. You can make a donation on the Pilgrimage of Hope website.
From the wider Church
The following is Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s statement on the violence in Sri Lanka:

The joy of Easter was mixed with grief following the dreadful attacks that morning on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, bombings that left hundreds dead and wounded. Our hearts ache for the all those who mourn this week, and as Episcopalians join with countless persons of good will I’m praying for the power of love to overcome the forces of hatred and violence. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercies of God, Rest In Peace.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
The Episcopal Church

Statements from the Bishop of Colombo and the Bishop of Kurunegala are available here.


Other news: