Dear Friends in Christ:
Grace and peace, and Eastertide blessings to you!
I write this having just returned from our Anglican Heritage pilgrimage. (You may have heard me refer to it as a trip to that
other Holy Land.) Above is a photo showing Ann, Cookie, and me leading the group's closing Eucharist. We were at St. Andrew's, Bemerton--George Herbert's church. (And his chalice.) The rigors of travel notwithstanding--and there was grace to be found even in those--it was a truly, deeply blessed time, and a wonderful way to say thank you and goodbye to a group of people representing several of our congregations and much of our ministry together, people who love this Church and serve it faithfully.
I also write this fresh from my final meeting with the diocesan Board of Trustees. Two resolutions were passed which I want to make you aware of now, so that you can note it, set it aside during these next several busy weeks, and turn your attention that direction later, when the time is right. Both have to do with the sale of our Noel Porter Property.
The first one impacts our diocese substantially, and will involve you in conversation with the Board and Bishop-Elect Megan for many months to come:
Resolved: The Board of Trustees orders that the proceeds net of approved carry costs and expenses from the sale of the Noel Porter Property be placed in a designated fund known as the Bishop Noel Porter Fund and that the proceeds together with its gains and earnings be retained in the fund until completion of a strategic and long range planning process between this Board of Trustees and Bishop-Elect Traquair which forms and articulates the strategic goals and policies of the Diocese, including, but not limited to, congregational development, the spreading of the Gospel of Christ, and the right use of the resources of the Diocese, all as set forth in Section D of the Letter of Agreement between the Standing Committee and Board of Trustees with Bishop Traquair.
Further Resolved: The Board of Trustees acknowledges and gives thanks for the ministry of the Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner and its past and continuing ministry to children and youth of the Diocese.
The second is entirely non-binding, passed simply as a courtesy to me, but important to me as a statement for the record of what my intentions as bishop have been with regard to this very significant transaction:
Resolved: Effective May 11, 2019, The Board of Trustees acknowledges the Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner's strongly expressed desire that a significant portion of the proceeds from the Noel Porter Property sale be used to create a fund which will;
- Continue to honor Bishop Noel Porter
- Give substance to our often repeated public commitment to minister to the children and youth of the diocese
- Provide for such ministry in perpetuity
- Allow maximum flexibility in its actual use, so that the Board can take advantage of unexpected opportunities
I will be praying for you as you continue this and other vital work together. You face important challenges, for which you have abundant resources. Some of you have already heard me say that the Golden Age of this diocese is still to come. I truly believe it. I hope that I have helped you move in that direction. What a privilege it has been.
And our pilgrimage continues....
Yours in Christ,
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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
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The Consecration of the Rev. Canon Megan Traquair
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We are sending you, today, an email that outlines all of the ways that you can be involved in the consecration of our new bishop. Please look for it in your email box.
NOTE:
Attire for the consecration is cassock, surplice and red stoles.
Your invitation and RSVP links will be sent to you by the end of this week. Please be looking for them in your email and respond ASAP. All events to which you and your spouse/partner are invited will be listed individually in the RSVP and each of you, including your spouse/partner, will RSVP separately, and you will also have to RSVP and procure a ticket for any children that are coming with you. Instructions will be on the RSVP page of the bishop’s consecration website.
We are looking forward to seeing you all in the end of June. Thanks be to God.
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Register for Redding and Sacramento celebration events by Friday, May 31; send in photos and memories
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Join the diocese as we gather to honor Bishop Barry Beisner. These events are free. Please
RSVP here
if you plan to attend. Registration for these events closes May 31.
Friday, June 7, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 15, 1:30 - 4 p.m.
As Bishop Barry nears the end of his episcopate, we ask that you send photos of your church, ministries and people, as well as cards, notes, and stories about the way our bishop has blessed you to
[email protected]. Photos and notes will be included in a Memory Book for him. Please include your church name and city in the subject line.
We are aiming to receive photos/notes from every church in the diocese – please help us achieve this goal! Please have your photos/wishes/stories sent in by
Friday, May 24.
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2019 Clergy Conference: Registration closes Wednesday, May 15
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Clergy Conference is almost here! The conference is May 21-23 at the Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg. The agenda will be sent out in an email later this week.
The final date to
register is Wednesday, May 15.
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Bishop's visitation schedule
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- May 19 - St. Barnabas, Mt. Shasta
- June 2 - St. Mary's, Ferndale
- June 9 - Emmanuel, Grass Valley
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NEWS AND EVENTS IN AND BEYOND OUR DIOCESE
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Remembering two beloved priests
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A Memorial Service for The Rev. Lester Westling, Jr. was on Monday, May 13 at
2 p.m. at Paradise Valley Estates in Fairfield. A funeral for Rev. Lester will be held on Monday, May 20 at 9 a.m. at St. Luke's Anglican Church,1750 Canby Road in Redding. Clergy: no vesting.
The Celebration of Life for The Rev. Art Lillicrapp will be held on Friday, May 17, at
7 p.m. at Trinity Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave. Clergy: white stoles.
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May is Mental Health Awareness month! Join St. Martin's for a fundraiser benefiting suicide prevention
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Join St. Martin's, Davis, and the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services of Yolo County, for “Giving from the Heart,” an Indian dinner fundraiser.
Supporters will enjoy dining on authentic Indian dishes, sipping on local wines in a commemorative wine glass, and purchasing delectable treats from the dessert bar. Attendees can bid on exciting auction items and purchase a ticket to win a wine refrigerator, fully-stocked with wines from some of California’s best grape-growing regions!
When
: Saturday, May 18,
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Where
:
St. Martin's, 640 Hawthorn Lane, Davis, CA 95616
Cost
: Tickets are $50; tables are also available for purchase. Purchase
here
.
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Russian River Deanery Spring Convocation
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The recent bishop search process engaged us in vital discernment about our hopes and needs for our Diocese of Northern California and its future. But the successful election of our new bishop is no reason for these conversations to end. In fact, now we can move on to a more open-ended and creative kind of conversation. We in the Russian River Deanery have asked the Bishop-elect how we can support her in becoming the bishop for our place and time and, with her input and blessing, we now invite you to a World Café about the vision of the church that is emerging in our congregations, deanery, and diocese.
World Café is a powerful tool for engaging congregations and other groups in conversations that matter, in a natural process that welcomes the wisdom of everyone present. The clergy of the Deanery will be with her in person at the May Clergy Conference, but here is an opportunity for the rest of us to join the conversation.
When: Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Veterans Memorial Building, 205 West 1st St., Cloverdale, CA 95425
Registration: A $10 donation will be requested for the luncheon that will conclude the program.
Register here.
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Ordinations: May 25 and June 8 at the Cathedral
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May 25: Bob Scott and Cindy Woods will be ordained into the Sacred Order of Deacons at Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento. Reception to follow. Clergy - red stoles.
June 8: Anny Genato, Karen Lawler, Tim McDonald and John Heidel into the Sacred Order of Deacons (Transitional Diaconate) at Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento. Reception to follow. Clergy - red stoles.
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Sustainable Development Goals Grants for 2019
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At the 2016 Diocesan Convention we passed a resolution, following the lead of the United Nations and the Episcopal Church, that extends the commitment of using 0.7% of our budget for overseas development. The focus is on efforts to help people and or communities develop ways to become self sustaining. Among the 17 stated goals are those including comprehensive education, better farming techniques, relief of hunger and economic growth.
Our funds are available for projects that support one or more of the above goals for the development of locally sustainable projects. We are inviting our congregations to consider applying for grants supporting projects or programs overseas that meet one or more of these goals. We are particularly interested in ways partnerships and projects are being developed in cooperation with and supporting local efforts.
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John Day wraps up tenure at Holy Trinity, Ukiah
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The Rev. Canon John Day served as Priest-in-Charge at Holy Trinity, Ukiah, for a year and a half, and wrapped up his time at the church a few weeks ago. Canon Day continues to be active within the diocese, recently doing consulting work for St. John's, Roseville. We thank him for his faithful service to our church in Ukiah.
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Art by the Rev. Peter Rodgers from the England Pilgrimage
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The Rev. Peter Rodgers, Vicar at St. Andrew's, Antelope, was a pilgrim on Bishop Barry and Ann Hallisey's pilgrimage to England April 24 - May 7. While there, he painted the scenes above.
At left and middle: "Canterbury. A wonderful place to pray. A wonderful place to paint!" said Rev. Peter. At right is Magdalene from the meadows.
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Supply clergy retreat opportunity
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St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church at ECCO is offering Episcopal priests an opportunity to spend a weekend at ECCO, the
Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst, to enjoy the beautiful mountain setting in exchange for leading worship at St Raphael's at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Lodging and meals will be “on the house” at ECCO, for you and your spouse, Friday and Saturday nights.
Mileage is not reimbursed. There may be some weekends you can stay but have to eat locally if there are no groups staying at ECCO (more likely during winter months). ECCO is close proximity to the south end of Yosemite. Learn more
here.
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California Episcopal bishops statement supporting moratorium on the death penalty in California
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"Grace and peace to you, in the Name of Jesus Christ. We are the bishops of the six dioceses of the Episcopal Church in California. On March 13, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty in the state, calling it 'ineffective, irreversible and immoral.' We are grateful to Governor Newsom for taking the bold and courageous step to institute a moratorium on executions in the state of California." Read the full statement
here
.
A New York Times article from May 9, 2019,
Why the Golden State Killer May Keep California’s Death Penalty Alive, is available
here.
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"An estimated 1.9 billion people watched Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, the first African American to head the U.S.-based Episcopal Church, tell a congregation of royals and celebrities that “love is the way.” Curry, presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church, is to receive the 2019 Sandford St. Martin Trustees’ Award in recognition of the huge media impact generated by his royal wedding sermon which helped to bring a better understanding of religious belief and its modern relevance to a new audience."
Read more from ENS
here
.
Other news:
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