October 2019
Bishop Megan visits St. James, Lincoln, for a very special service
Pastor Sarah, Bishop Megan and friends sang "This Little Light of Mine" together.
Braden was prepared to answer the questions with his words and from his heart.
Bishop Megan was assisted at the altar by the Rev. Sarah Quinney, Priest-in-Charge, and the Rev. Julie Vice, Transitional Deacon.
The choir and congregation sang "Praise My Soul the King of Heaven" as the clergy recessed at the close of the service.
Bishop Megan visited the people of St. James, Lincoln, on Sunday, Oct 6. There were two services that morning.

At 9 a.m. on the first and the third Sundays of the month, St. James' hosts a Special Needs service and liturgy. Bishop Megan began that service with by describing her vestments for the friends that came to worship together. She spoke of her shepherd's crook and her flame-shaped hat (mitre).

A special moment in the service was the confirmation of Braden Johnston, one of the regular attendees. Bishop Megan noted that he had prepared so that he could respond to the examination questions from his heart, as well as his mind. You may watch the confirmation here.

The 10 a.m. service was full of great music, preaching and celebration. Bishop Megan preached the sermon and celebrated Eucharist, and music was provided by the St. James choir.

The parish hosted Bishop Megan at a Coffee Hour, following the service, that was full of delicious food offered by the members of the parish. Donna Beach, Senior Warden, called it a Holy Spirit potluck. She directed those that came to "bring what the Holy Spirit told them to bring." Donna said, "It works every time!" Bishop Megan met with Donna and the Vestry at the end of her visitation.
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
Nominee bios for diocesan office, General Convention deputies, are available
From John Miller, Chair of the Nominations Committee

It is my great honor to announce to you that the diocese has received 31 nominations for our Nov. 7-9 Diocesan Convention, and that all five elections scheduled have enough candidates to be contested. Because of this, we will not need a second period of reopened nominations this year. This level of participation in diocesan leadership is truly a blessing, and I want to extend thanks, both personally and on behalf of the diocese to all those who have put their names forward for election.

This is a great slate of candidates. I cannot express how pleased I am to see the growth in the number and diversity of people willing to stand for election to the Standing Committee, the Board of Trustees, and Deputies to General Convention.

View the nominee names and their biographies/statements here.
Deanery Convocations are Saturday, Oct. 19
Deanery convocations are Saturday, Oct. 19. It is important that all clergy, delegates and alternates attend a Convocation to become familiar with the resolutions and nominees. Find where your deanery is meeting by clicking on the image or by clicking  here.

Please note that the Convocation packet and video, including budget, nomination information and resolutions and more, will be available early in the week of Oct. 19.
Clergy: Invite your laity to serve as lay ministers at convention!
Clergy: please invite your acolytes, Eucharistic Ministers, ushers, vergers, or choir members to consider volunteering to serve at our Diocesan Convention Eucharist, Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m., at the McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento. This liturgy is a special time when we celebrate our whole life together as a diocese. Volunteers will be asked to attend a rehearsal on Thursday afternoon (time TBD).

Please have them sign up via this link to indicate their interest in serving.
What is the Investment Fund of the diocese?
Welcome to the best kept secret for some congregations - the Investment Fund of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northern California. This Fund is available to congregations and the Diocese to take advantage of an investment pool, managed with diversification and a very low fee structure that uses third party experts.

This Fund strives to balance investment return and risk while protecting the fiduciary responsibility of the leadership of each congregation. These funds are designed for investment on a longer term basis and not for funds needed for current operations. The returns for these funds have been well in line with the benchmarks established for the classes of investments and overall portfolio over the years and leaves the day to day decision making in the hands of experts. Read more here.
Bishop Megan's visitation schedule
  • Oct. 13: St. Patrick's, Kenwood
  • Oct. 20: St. Luke's, Galt
  • Nov. 3: Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento
  • Nov. 17: St. Andrew's, Corning

See more visitation dates here.
NEWS AND EVENTS IN AND BEYOND OUR DIOCESE
Rev. Delia Fay joined by diocesan clergy at St. Nicholas, Paradise
On Sept. 12, the people of St. Nicholas', Paradise, gathered together in their church building for the first time since the Camp Fire broke out last Nov. Several clergy from our diocese were present at the Evening Prayer Service that was led by the Rev. Delia Fay, who is the long term supply priest for the congregation from St. Nick's. Joining her were the Rev. Ann Sullivan, the Rev. Anne Powell, the Rev. Lew Powell, and the Rev. Canon Andrea McMillin.

Members were able to greet, pray, and worship together, alongside visitors from St. John's, Chico, and the Office of the Bishop. Canon Andrea brought greetings, saying, "Even as we are healing from great pain, and some of us are still working through great grief, this prayer service in this space is a stepping stone on the path to healing. We all stand here together on that path - and Bishop Megan is with us in that healing. The bishop's office, the whole diocese, we pray for you and with you, bringing resources and support as we continue towards the new horizon that God is calling us to."

Look for more on this service in next week's Diocesan e-News.
The Rev. Robin Denney begins work at St. Mary's, Napa
The Rev. Robin Denney began her work as Rector at St. Mary's, Napa, on Sept. 19. We are excited to have you officially join our diocese!
Rev. Perry Polk appointed Civil Air Patrol Squadron Commander
Lt. Col. Perry Polk, priest at Grace, Fairfield, with members of Grace, celebrating his installation as Travis AFB Civil Air Patrol Squadron Commander.
The Rev. Perry Polk (Lt. Col. Polk) was appointed Civil Air Patrol Squadron Commander at Travis Air Force Base. This is a unique appointment in that Lt. Col. Polk was the Squadron Chaplain from 2012 through 2017 and for most of that time he was the Interim Rector for Grace Church in Fairfield. It is most unusual in the Civil Air Patrol for a member of the Chaplain Corps to assume command.

Rev. Polk participated in a ceremony on Sept. 23 where the Chaplain insignia on his uniform was exchanged for the Squadron Command insignia. As Squadron Commander, he is responsible for the three missions of the CAP: Aerospace Education, Emergency Services and Cadet Programs. The squadron consists of 21 cadets and 27 senior members. Lt. Col. Polk served as Air Force officer for 20 years and retired at Travis AFB in 1982.

"Personally, I was awed to have been appointed the Group Commander for this duty. I feel I am equipped to handle the duties as a former Air Force Officer. I have achieved the highest professional award in the CAP, the Gil Rob Wilson Award, and I have continued my professional education through CAP programs and the Air Force.

I'm looking forward to providing aerospace education opportunities to schools and to training our personnel to respond to emergencies and disaster preparedness. Close to my heart is the Character Development program which enables cadets to have a strong foundation in ethical living and producing young people who are critical and ethical thinkers. In addition to this appointment, I am an Associate Priest at Grace Church and part-time Chaplain at Paradise Valley Estates, a retirement community in Fairfield," said Rev. Polk.
Exciting things happening at St. Matthew's, Sacramento
River City Food Bank had an open house on Sept. 27 where they celebrated two years (YAY!) of serving at The Center at St. Matthew's. While initially planning to serve 15,000 clients at St. Matthew's, in 2018 they served 44,000 people, and this need only continues to rise in the Arden-Arcade area. Read more about the open house and work being done at St. Matthew's here.
The Rev. Babette (Babs) Haggenjos, Deacon at St. John's, Roseville, will be transferring to St. Matthew's, Sacramento. Her last day at St. John's will be Oct. 20, and her first day at St. Matthew's will be Oct. 27.

Read the full announcement from St. John's  here.
We are excited for the great work that is happening at The Center at St. Matthew's, and we invite to consider joining this work! There is a high need for volunteers to pack and distribute food the second and fourth Fridays of each month. If you are interested in helping, please contact the Rev. Cindy Long at [email protected].

In recent St. Michael's newsletter, Jim Hamill of St. Michael's, Carmichael, shared his experience on volunteering. He said: "I wasn't sure I would be comfortable volunteering with River City Food Bank at The Center at St. Matthew's. Now half a dozen visits later I look forward to those second and fourth Fridays. Handing out food to the needy with a welcoming smile helps me realize this is what we're supposed to be doing."  
Former Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori visits Faith, Cameron Park
Former Presiding Bishop Katharine took a moment to take a picture with the Faith Church youth band
Interim Rector, the Rev. Liz Armstrong and Assistant Rector, the Rev. Sonya Reichel with Former Presiding Bishop Katharine
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori joined the people of Faith, Cameron Park, for worship on Sunday, Sept. 22, following the Daughters of the King Province VIII Assembly at the church. You may listen to her sermon here.
You're invited: Trinity Art Show Opening Reception on Oct. 12
You are cordially invited to
The Opening Reception of

The Trinity Art Show
A National Juried Christian Art Show
giving visual expression to
“Arise, shine, for your light has come” Isaiah 6:1

Sparrow Gallery
1021 R Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
October 12, 2019
6 pm to 9 pm

Sponsored by
Two events supporting Camp Fire recovery: Oct. 26 in Chico
Songwriting workshop on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Singer/Songwriter Dave Nachmanoff will be leading a songwriting workshop for Camp Fire Survivors. He has held similar workshops across the U.S. with churches, synagogues, and other groups to help attendees use songwriting as a means of healing and expression. The cost to attend is $25; lunch is provided. To ensure the best experience for all, the workshop is limited to 20 participants. Priority will be given to Camp Fire survivors. To register, please call 530-894-1971.

Songs for the Strong Benefit Concert on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7 - 10 p.m.
Join St. John's for an evening of incredible music by renowned musicians Dave Nachmanoff and Radim Zenkl. The cost to attend is $20; learn more about the artists and register here.

Both events take place at St. John's Episcopal Church, located at 2341 Floral Avenue, Chico, CA 95926.
Diocesan Recovery Ministry celebrates Recovery Month
From the Rev. Anne Dryden McKeever, diocesan representative for Recovery Ministries

Happy Recovery Month! In almost every pew in our congregations sit people struggling with some kind of addiction of their own or of people they love.

As your diocesan representative to the Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church, I invite you avail yourself of our resources for this valuable ministry.
 
Clergy in Charge of Congregations received last month a packet of information from our Partners in Health Ministries including information about Recovery Month, a list of recovery books in our diocesan library, Prayers for the People for a 12-Step Eucharist, and assorted RMEC pamphlets. Read more here.
Applications for EYE20 Pastoral Care Team due Oct. 20
Applications are now being accepted for the pastoral care team members for the 2020 Episcopal Youth Event (EYE20). Drawing hundreds of youth from throughout The Episcopal Church, EYE20 will be held on July 7-11, 2020 in Washington, D.C.
 
The pastoral care team is open to adults (at least 19 years of age or older) who are willing to volunteer to support the ministry and work of EYE20. Pastoral care team positions include dorm crew, event team, and medical care team. Learn more here.
The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry
Season 2 of The Episcopal Church’s podcast The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry, continues with new episodes every Tuesday through Nov. 5. These weekly conversations, featuring Bishop Curry, podcast hosts Kyle Oliver and Sandy Milien, and a variety of guests, center on ways to live a life committed to living the way of God’s unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial and redemptive love. Each episode focuses on one of the seven Way of Love Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life: turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest, with a focus on living these practices every day. Read the full announcement.