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Bishop Barry is on church business for the first part of this month. The Rev. Canon Andrea McMillin is filling in while he's away.
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From Canon Andrea:
Vestry and Mission Committee as a Spiritual Gift
Have you ever participated in a vestry or mission committee and wondered what our common work would be like if we gathered more as a community of believers, and less like a business meeting?
A part of my work this year has focused on transforming governance meetings into a place of deepening discipleship: where the group gathered has made a commitment to learn about and practice a discipline of the Christian faith, and to engage that discipline together as a primary part of their work of management, finance, leadership, and oversight.
What if a vestry meeting became a place where we experience the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, and in the life of the church? What if we looked across the table and saw our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we realized that together we have made a commitment to mature in faith as a part of governing the church?
This is happening in churches across our diocese. It has been exciting this year to facilitate vestry retreats and to participate in their discernment about what spiritual practices will guide and strengthen them in their common work.
Our tradition is full of spiritual practices that engage the heart, mind, and soul. Taking up one of those practices intentionally, as a vestry or mission committee helps the individuals and the group to connect, learn, practice, support each other, and grow as Christians.
At St. Augustine's, Rocklin, the vestry has made a commitment to engage as individuals with a daily prayer discipline using Centering Prayer, and to incorporate intentional silent prayer during their vestry meetings. This helps to ground them in their work and deepen the call that they have.
The St. Martin's, Davis, vestry was very excited about the idea of discipleship as a part of their ministry, taking time to learn about the many opportunities for spiritual growth and depth.
Grace, St Helena; St. John's, Petaluma; and St. Stephen's, Sebastopol, all have engaged this work: transforming vestry and mission committee to be a place where disciples support each other, share a common discipline, and grow in their Christian faith.
I imagine these small groups of faithful leaders working together, burning as a steady flame at the heart of the congregation. Gradually, slowly, with daily, weekly, and monthly discipline, they become a stronger and more mature band of disciples who shine brightly with the love of Christ within our congregations and our diocese.
Yours in Christ,
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From Bishop Barry
Ann and I will be leading a final, farewell, diocesan pilgrimage in 2019, this time to that
other (for Anglicans) holy land, England. We will explore southern England, and focus on the English roots our Church's spirituality, worship, and belief. The itinerary includes Canterbury, Bury St. Edmunds, Norwich, Cambridge, Oxford, London, Salisbury, and Winchester. The dates are April 25 - May 7; approximate cost will be $4,000 (including air fare). A complete brochure will be available in June.
Space will be limited, but I hope you can join us. Please let
Jacqi Seppi know if you are interested.
Grace and peace,
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THE SEARCH FOR OUR NEXT BISHOP
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Bishop Search Work Continues
Our Diocesan Profile has been drafted and is undergoing revisions.
Only after the Standing Committee approves the profile will it be available for the public to view on our
Bishop Search website
. We'll be sure to let the community of the diocese know as soon as that happens.
As a reminder, the published timeline states that the Diocesan Profile will be published in spring 2018, at which point the nominations process officially begins. It is a great pleasure to confirm that we are on track with our timeline.
Many, many thanks go out to the listening events subcommittee as well as the profile subcommittee for their extraordinary work!
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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
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CDSP to Honor Bishop Barry at May 18 Commencement
The Very Rev. Dr. Mark Richardson, president and dean of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, announced that our bishop will receive an honorary degree from the seminary at its commencement on Friday, May 18.
If you are in the Sacramento area, please let your congregants know they can take the bus! If enough people are interested in attending the ceremony, we'll charter a bus to take a group to Berkeley. Email us at
[email protected] with "BUS" in the subject line by Monday, May 14. Also, if you will be driving to Berkeley and you'd be interested in taking a rider or two with you, we'd like to hear from you as well - same email, but put "CARPOOL" in the subject line.
We hope to see you there!
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2018 Clergy Conference Just Two Weeks Away - Register Now!
The 2018 Clergy Conference will be from 3 p.m. May 22 to 11:30 a.m. May 24 at the Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg.
The guest speaker will be T
he Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real. Bishop Mary recently announced her decision to begin the process of electing the next bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real with a projected ordination and consecration of the next bishop of El Camino Real to be on Jan. 11, 2020.
There will also be a chance for clergy to speak to members of the Diocese of Northern California Bishop Search Committee during the conference.
Are you in need of Chrism or Unction oil? Now taking "orders" to have these oils delivered at Clergy Conference! Please email Jacqi Seppi at [email protected] to let her know how many 1.5-ounce bottles you would like (e.g. Two bottles of Chrism, one bottle of Unction).
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Register for the CCD Week-Long Session, June 10-15
There's still time to register for the week-long intensive session at the Bishop's Ranch, June 10-15! Learn more about the College for Congregational development here. Check-in begins on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and the program begins at 2 p.m. The session ends on Friday at 4 p.m.
Register here.
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Open Clergy Positions
- All Saints', Redding: Receiving names for rector
- Grace Church, Fairfield: Receiving names for priest-in-charge
- Trinity, Sutter Creek: Receiving names for part-time priest-in-charge
- Grace, St. Helena: Receiving names for full-time assistant rector
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Bishop's Visitation Schedule
- May 20 - All Saints', Redding
- May 27 - Holy Trinity, Willows
- June 3 - Holy Trinity, Ukiah
- June 10 - St. Michael's, Carmichael
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NEWS & EVENTS IN AND BEYOND OUR DIOCESE
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Save the Date: Camp Noel Porter Celebration, Sept. 1, 2018
F
or decades, Camp Noel Porter has been a sacred place for families, young adults, youth, and children. As camping programs have changed, the
Camp Noel Porter
board and the Board of Trustees have prayerfully decided that it is no longer possible to hold camp programs on this site. It is time to say goodbye to this summer camp ministry, remembering the spirit-filled gifts that we have received here. The time has come to "pass it on" as our camp-song reminds us.
To honor this beloved ministry, Bishop Barry Beisner invites you to a day of memory, celebration, prayer, and song on Sept. 1, 2018. The event will be mid-afternoon to early evening, at Camp Noel Porter. Specific details and RSVP information coming soon.
What about the Noel Porter property?
While both boards have reached consensus approving a possible property sale, there is no sale in process at this time. Any sale of the property would need to account for the care of the chapel and answer the concerns about St. Nicholas church.
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Trinity Cathedral Dean Brian Baker Farewell Party June 10;
Richardson to Return to Trinity Cathedral as Interim Dean
Dean Brian Baker's Farewell Party to celebrate his 12 years in Sacramento will be Sunday, June 10, at 5 p.m. in Trinity Cathedral's Great Hall. Dinner will be served; donations and RSVPs are greatly appreciated. The cathedral's
office phone is
916-446-2513.
The Rev. James "Jim" Richardson, former associate dean at Trinity from 2000-2006, will serve as interim dean.
He most recently was priest-in-charge at Incarnation, Santa Rosa, since August 2015. Before that, he was the ninth rector of St. Paul's Memorial Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, from 2008-2015, and interim rector at All Soul's, Berkeley. He and his wife, Lori, attended Trinity Cathedral for 18 years.
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Episcopal Community Services Annual Appeal is Sunday!
May 13 is ECS Sunday and
Episcopal Community Services are inviting all congregations to participate. A suggested newsletter article/bulletin announcement and copy-ready bulletin inserts are available on the
ECS website
.
All funds raised are for grants used to help congregations develop, strengthen and support social justice and health ministries in their communities. Since the funds are available to all congregations in our diocese, we hope that all congregations will support this work by participating in this appeal.
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Education for Ministry to Graduate 18 at Service on Friday
Everyone is invited to join 18 graduating EfM students from nine churches of this diocese at 7 p.m. Friday May 11 at Trinity Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave., Sacramento. Students and their mentors are asked to attend a short rehearsal at 6:30 and there will be a reception in the Great Hall after the Eucharist. Scheduled to speak are Thomas Stephenson of St. Luke's, Auburn, and Sue Ahlquist, Barbara Shreve and Kim Patrick of St. Luke's, Woodland.
Students from St. Michael's, Carmichael; All Saints, Redding; Trinity Ca
thedral; Trinity, Folsom; St. Martin, Davis; Faith, Cameron Park; and Incarnation, Santa Rosa will also be graduating.
Education for Ministry is a four-year extension program that meets during the academic year in groups o
f six to 12 students led by one or two mentors trained in small-group facilitat
ion and theological refection. The course also requires about five hours a week of outside reading.
The next mentor training will be Aug. 1-3 at Mercy Center, Auburn. For more information, contact Sally Rooney at
[email protected]
, or the Rev. James Richardson at
[email protected]
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Cursillo 114 Postponed for 2018
A message from Jo Churchill, President of the Secretariat:
I am writing on behalf of the Cursillo Secretariat to announce that the Cursillo planned for May 31- June 3 will not be happening. ... Unfortunately there were some expenses incurred for canceling the weekend, but we are grateful to Camp Alta for working with us to reduce the fees as much as possible. ... Additional gifts are certainly welcome, and will ensure we have sufficient cash flow to launch Cursillo 114 at a later date. You may donate online or mail a check payable to Cursillo Ministry of Northern California to the following address: Amy Cavalleri, Registrar, 7067 Tucker Lane, Redding, CA 96002. If you have paid team or candidate tuition you will be receiving information about your options for a refund.
In other news, the Secretariat has submitted an application to incorporate as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. ... This will ensure your donations will remain tax deductible, and hold the organization accountable to our established bylaws and articles of incorporation.
On behalf of the Secretariat, thank you for your patience and your continued support as we work to strengthen and grow the Cursillo movement in Northern California.
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Taize Community Brothers in Red Bluff and Arcata This Month
Two brothers of the ecumenical Taize Community in France will be making presentations about their community's music meditation as the guests of St. Peter's, Red Bluff, and St. Alban's, Arcata. The chants and repetitve melodies appeal to worshipers of all ages.
Join the parishioners of
St. Peter's, Red Bluff on Friday, May 11 at 7 p.m. as they gather at a nearby church, Presbyterian Church of Red Bluff, located at 838 Jefferson St., for a presentation about
Taize by Brothers John and Emile from the Taize Community in France. After the presentation, participants will join in Taize Prayer, a reflective hour of simple and meditative songs, scripture reading, prayer, and silence.
In Arcata, St. Alban's is hosting the brothers at 7 p.m. service Wednesday, May 16, at the church, 1675 Chester Ave. A soup and bread supper will follow.
Taize prayer allows participants to come together around the cross to pray and bring all that is in their hearts to Jesus Christ.
For more information on the Red Bluff event, email the Rev. Maryly Adair at
[email protected]. For the Arcata event, email the Very Rev. Sara Potter at
[email protected].
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Book Offers Unique View on Homelessness
Apostles' House
, a book published last year and written by the previous rector of St. Alban's, Arcata, the Rev. Eric Duff, examines the issue of homelessness in a way most people tend to miss.
The book is available
on Amazon.
"Father Eric did a wonderful job of examining individual's lives (including his own), public policy and the ins and outs of operating a shelter," said Diana Cooper, delegate at St. Alban's. "It has given me some insights into the issue of homelessness that I had been looking for."
Fellow parishioner and delegate Cindy Woods wrote a review on the book, which is
available here.
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FB Group for Clergy Serving Lutheran/Episcopal Congregations
Did you know there's a closed group for clergy serving Lutheran/Episcopal congregations? They are having a Zoom chat at the end of the month. If you are Lutherpalian or know clergy who are, please share this Facebook group with them.
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Archbishop of Canterbury Asks Christians to Pledge2Pray
The days between Ascension, May 10, and
Pentecost, May 20,
are traditionally a time when the Church focuses on prayer. T
he vision for Thy Kingdom Come builds on this tradition and aims to see the whole family of God joining together to pray for the Holy Spirit to help them as witnesses to Jesus Christ and to play a part in the renewal of the nations and the transformation of communities.
Our experience is that when people come together to pray amazing things happen. Pledge to pray for 10 days as an individual, a family or a church and
sign up here. You can also find resources to help you plan special events to share the joy. Let's light up Northern California on the global map!
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From The Episcopal Church
General Convention will be in Austin, Texas, this summer, and now's the time to sign up if you want to volunteer. A variety of jobs and shifts are available throughout the convention, from set up beginning on June 29 to take down on July 14, and many more in between, for both the convention and the concurrent Episcopal Church Women Triennal.
Sign up here to volunteer.
The Provincial Leadership is sponsoring a free online webinar on
Thursday, May 10, from 4:30 -6 p.m. Pacific to
discuss Structure, Provinces, Title IV, and Churchwide Leadership, and
explore issues and resolutions coming before convention. The presenters are Mariann Budde, Polly Getz, Thom Peters, Molly James and Scott Haight.
Register here. An o
rientation for Province VIII Deputies to General Convention will be offered by video conference on May 19, 2018. According to the Province VIII website: "We will let you know the specific time and other details as soon as the General Convention Office settles them."
Some dates for special events during convention:
- Texas Night, 7-9 p.m. Saturday, July 7, at the Palmer Event Center. Everyone is invited for a revival with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and an old fashioned family picnic on the grounds.
- Church Divinity School of the Pacific will host a reception to honor Diocese of Indianapolis Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, CDSP M.Div. '97, at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 8, at St. David's, Austin.
- Province VIII bishop/deputy caucus, 6:45-7:30 p.m. Monday, July 9; place TBA.
Other news:
House of Bishops invites reflections on #MeToo and the Episcopal Church
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THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
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