Grace and peace to you.

 

Foremost in my mind as I write this are the terrible fires still burning near Redding and Lakeport, all who have suffered loss, and all who now struggle, suffer, labor, hope, and endure in those places. Our prayers and support continue, and will continue as long as needed. I am especially grateful to all of you who have contributed to the Disaster Relief (formerly "Fire Relief") Fund of the Diocese.  Your compassion and generosity have enabled us to put necessary resources into the hands of those who need them most, in the most efficient and timely ways possible.  

 

It already seems a long time ago, but General Convention is behind us, and the work of understanding and implementing its actions now begins.  In the coming months, we will be determine the best ways to do that work throughout this new triennium. Our Deputation will be reporting soon on much of this, and I will have more to say also; there are a few things I wish to touch on here, sooner rather than later. 

 

For one, I want you to know that you have my permission to begin using the "expansive language" texts for Eucharistic Prayers A, B, and D made available to us by D078. Just please let me know if you intend to do so.    

 

I have already begun to form a group that will help me oversee the experimentation diocesan bishops are asked to undertake as part of General Convention's commitment to revision of the Book of Common Prayer.

 

You can expect to see the Marriage section of our website revised and updated in the near future. In the meantime, you have permission for discretionary use of all authorized liturgies for marriage and blessing of relationships.

 

I will have much more to say about this soon, but know that the passage of A052-the re-admission of the Diocese of Cuba into the Episcopal Church-brings with it some special responsibility on our part. Their exclusion from CPF for the last 50 years has resulted in significant hardship. In order to help address this injustice I intend to ask that each congregation collect an amount equal to $1 for each member; that money will be presented as our offering at the opening Eucharist of Diocesan Convention.

 

Happily, my own B033 was adopted, albeit much amended. More about that in due course-along with much, much more, on a variety of topics.

 

I am most grateful to Canon Andrea, and to all our Deputation, along with many from Northern California who served as support staff. We were very well represented and very well served, and together made a significant contribution to the governance of our Church.

 

Thank you for your prayers, input, and engagement so far. General Convention was able to address issues that had the potential to divide us deeply; instead, by grace, we found common ground, based on common purpose and shared vision. We really are coming to see ourselves as "the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement."  Please look for ways to help carry this work forward, in that same spirit, here in at home.

 

As we were reminded in Austin, "Movements move." Keep moving on, in the Name of Christ.