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In this edition of ENews:
- Town Hall is this Thursday!
- Bishop Visits St. Paul's Sacramento
- Church Life - Evangelism Huddle - Let's Talk!
- Semper Virens Deanery Congregations Plan Advent Project
- Redding Episcopal/Interfaith team Welcomes Refugees and Asylum Seekers
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Thursday, October 6 | 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | |
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Deadline to reserve Childcare for Convention
is Friday, October 7.
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Top left: Bishop Megan with the confirmand, and those reaffirming their faith with Father Rik - Priest-in-Charge. Bottom left: The sack lunch assembly line. Making sack lunches that will feed the hungry in downtown Sacramento every week. Right: Bishop Megan welcomed with a cake at reception. | |
St. George's Carmichael hosts Garden Event | |
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On Sunday September 25, St. George’s, Carmichael had our fall community garden event. We had one worship service at 10 a.m., followed by time to do spruce up work in the garden along with some of our gardeners. Our garden ministry is a shared project with the International Rescue Committee, which has a New Roots program for refugees in the Sacramento area. New Roots helps refugees grow some of their own food and to become more rooted in our community through having garden plots. The New Roots project manager, Aminah Hassoun, was part of our garden event. Jim Schaal, director of St. Matthew’s Center, was a special guest for the day. He represented both St. Matthew’s Center and Episcopal Community Services. Over the past two years, St. George’s has received two grants from ECS, which have been used to repair and improve the irrigation for the garden and to redo the parish alarm system and locks so that the gardeners have access to the parish bathrooms.
After time working in the garden, we met in the parish hall for lunch and time for some conversation. Our gardeners speak only Russian (they are from Ukraine and other eastern European nations), and we had the help of St. George’s music director Tess Testeza to translate from English to Russian and vice versa (Russian is her first language). Many of the gardeners shared with us, giving thanks for our garden. Aminah Hassoun and Jim Schaal also spoke during lunch, along with our senior warden Zack Wilcox. Many of our gardeners have received help from St. Matthew’s Center with language classes and with food from the food bank.
I give special thanks to our junior warden Vicki Karsten who is our vestry liaison for the garden and organized the garden event. Our plan is to have two garden events each year, in the spring and fall. This is a wonderful opportunity to work in the garden and to form relationships with the gardeners.
Father Ray Hess – Priest in Charge
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Semper Virens to build Project (Re)Start bins this Advent
In Advent, congregations of the Semper Virens Deanery will launch Project (Re)Start. Of the five types of bins, St. Albans, Christ Church, and St. Francis will each fill five bins of one of three types (bathroom, cleaning, or kitchen). This effort will be expanded in the future.
The Semper Virens (Re)Start working group is led by Deacon Cindy Woods (St. Alban's, Arcata) with members Steve Preston, Deacon Anne Pierson, Lyn Klay, and Bill Walser (Christ Church, Eureka); the Rev. Geri Cunningham and Helen Winfrey (St. Francis, Fortuna); and Karen Wert (St. Paul's, Crescent City).
Welcome to the (Re)Start team and thank you for your commitment!
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Missioner for Church Life | |
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Evangelism Huddle – Let’s Talk!
Each month, Episcopal evangelists are invited to join the Episcopal Church’s staff officer for evangelism Jerusalem Greer and guest mentors via Zoom to talk about issues around the practice and ministry of evangelism. Monthly topics may include evangelism in a Latino/Hispanic ministry, forming evangelists, small group ministry, evangelism for campus ministry, storytelling, and much more.
Evangelism Huddle – Let’s Talk!
Third Wednesday of each month
12:00 p.m. Eastern on Zoom
To register for the October 19th and November 16th huddles, go to:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJArdu-oqDItE9O9WT2CJ_g_0GoCBvFOSZ-8?mc_cid=1d7a112635&mc_eid=d936b581ee
For more information go to:
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/evangelism/evangelism-huddle/
Here you can sign up for the monthly evangelism newsletter, as well as access recordings of previous huddles.
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Stewardship Resources
for Congregations
The Episcopal Parish Network (EPN) is a collaborative membership association of approximately 200 clergy and lay leaders in the Episcopal Church. They have an extensive webinar library covering a wide range of topics, including stewardship, which are available for anyone to use.
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Centered: A Christian Discipleship Experience
The Episcopal Church Office of Evangelism announces a new small-group resource for churches and individuals seeking to go deeper in relationship with Jesus and in loving and serving others.
Centered: A Christian Discipleship Experience is a digital, nine-session resource—available in English and coming soon in French and Spanish—for church members, neighbors, and friends to explore in small, gathered communities. Learn more.
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Five Wishes is an easy-to-use legal advance directive document written in everyday language. It helps all adults, regardless of age or health, to consider and document how they want to be cared for at the end of life. It is America's most popular living will with more than 40 million copies in circulation.
If you would like to receive free copies for your congregation, please contact the Missioner for Church Life at 916.442.6918 ext. 224 or Mack@norcalepiscopal.org
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Missioner for Disaster Resilience | |
Boost Your EQ Preparation IQ! | |
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Here in Northern California, we live under the threat of all kinds of disaster. Unfortunately, we sometimes forget about the constant threat of earthquakes. Earthquakes (EQs in Disaster-speak) are natural, know no season, and are unpredictable, causing flooding, igniting wildfires, and wreaking havoc with the built and natural environment.
This year, at our Diocesan Pre-Convention, I'll be hosting a workshop that coincides with the Great California Shake Out. We will discuss the three phases of earthquakes and attendees will take part in an earthquake drill.
For those who cannot join us for the workshop, we are sharing a three-part series of articles that provide basic information for earthquakes.
This week, we look at preparation before the earthquake. For a quick guide, click here.
Peace,
Mark
Mark G. Dibelka | Missioner for Disaster Resilience
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Sunday, October 9, 2022
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost:
Luke 17:11-19.
Samaritan. When we hear this word we have positive feelings as we remember Jesus’ famous parable of the Good Samaritan(Luke 10:25-37) who at great risk and cost to himself helped the man who had fallen among thieves. But for the Jews of Jesus’ time the term Samaritan had a negative association. It referred to those people who lived in the area between Judea and Galilee, and who were considered heretics (they worshipped at Mt. Gerazim, not at the Jerusalem temple) and half-breeds (they had inter-married with gentiles after the exile of the northern kingdom, and were therefore not considered true Jews). Racial and religious prejudice against Samaritans was such in the time of Jesus that John could write, “Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans” (John 4:9).
The Samaritan was a double outcast: excluded because of race/religion, and excluded because of his disease. But Jesus seeks and heals him, turning exclusion into embrace. The phrase at the beginning of the passage “he was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee,” has stumped both ancient copyists and modern interpreters of Luke. This was a deviation from Jesus’ goal to get to Jerusalem. But what if we took the phrase as it should be translated literally? “because of the region between Samaria and Galilee?” Here Jesus breaks his journey to break down the wall of hostility between the insider (Jewish members of the community) and outsider. (the double outcast who was healed). Jesus then resumes his journey to Jerusalem to finish his reconciling work. Paul wrote of this work in Ephesians 2:14 “For he is our peace; in his flesh he made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is the hostility between us. “ The healing of the leper was a sign of the great healing Jesus was about to accomplish in his death on the cross. And we, his followers, are invited to join him in this reconciling work.
– The Rev. Peter Rodgers
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Commission for Intercultural Ministry | |
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Redding Episcopal/Interfaith team ready to welcome Refugees and Asylum Seekers
One of several inspiring stories from around the Diocese about meeting the needs of individuals and families fleeing violence and war in Afghanistan and Ukraine is the organization and formation of the Redding Refugee Sponsor Circle. The seeds for this team were planted last winter during a webinar series on Immigrants, Migrants and Refugees, sponsored by All Saints Episcopal/Redding. This gathering included participants from many faith communities in the city. As the truth about the dire plight of millions of people around the globe, who were forced to leave their homes, was learned in the weekly sessions, a desire to do something to help developed.
Alexandra Stephens, a member of All Saints, convened a meeting of folks who wanted to explore how they could help refugees. The result is a new non-profit, Redding Refugee Sponsor Circle. RRSC just launched their website - https://www.r2sc.org/ which beautifully tells their story and the results of their loving work.
To learn more about your opportunity to provide a safe haven for Refugees and Asylum Seekers contact Bob Wohlsen, Refugee Resettlement Team, Volunteer and Donor Coordinator - bob.wohlsen@gmail.com
Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Commission for Intercultural Ministry
Refugee Resettlement Team
Lynn Zender, Chair
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Upcoming
Events
Around
The Diocese
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TRINITY CATHEDRAL:
Explore the ancient wisdom of the Enneagram
Thursdays, September 22 – November 10 | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
In person at the Cathedral | On Zoom
Facilitator: Jay Elmquist
To Register, Contact Susan Hotchkiss susan_hotchkiss1@hotmail.com
Dr. Catherine Meeks
Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta, Georgia is coming to Sacramento.
Friday October 28 | 7:00 pm
Speaking in the Cathedral with a reception to follow. | Recommended donation of $20
Saturday October 29
Leading a morning training and educational session in the Cathedral’s Assembly Area
Sunday October 30 | 11:00 am
Preaching at the Cathedral’s 11am service.
Visit centerforracialhealing.org to find out more about Dr. Meeks and the Center.
For more information contact Susan Hotchkiss susan_hotchkiss1@hotmail.com
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Diocesan Day of Discernment | Zoom Meeting
Saturday, October 15 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
This is the first step for those interested in the ordination process. Discerners and sponsoring clergy must register and attend.
Questions? E-mail Jacqi Seppi at jacqi@norcalepiscopal.org
To register: https://form.jotform.com/220656380441149
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Cursillo 117 | In person
October 27 – 30 | Thursday – Sunday
Mt. Hope Bible Camp | located outside of Oroville
Accommodations for 25 candidates – applications on the website: cursilloncal.org. Potential candidates will need a sponsor (a previous Cursillo attendee). For information contact Jo Churchill at gjchurchill@snowcrest.net or call/text 530-524-1468
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109th Annual Christmas Bazaar
St Luke's | Galt
Saturday, Dec 3 9:00 am – 3:00 pm | Sunday, Dec 4 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
https://stlukegalt.org
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35th Annual Diocesan Choir Festival | In person
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Trinity Cathedral | Sacramento
All choral singers throughout the Diocese are invited
Guest conductor will be Dr. Bruce Neswick, the recently retired Canon for Cathedral Music Trinity Cathedral in Portland, Oregon.
To add yourself to the email list, contact David Link, Canon Precentor & Director of Music at Trinity Cathedral: link@trinitycathedral.org
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Job Opportunities Around The Diocese | |
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Incarnation | Santa Rosa is seeking a part-time, lay or ordained,
Pastoral Care Coordinator. See position description here.
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St. Clement's | Rancho Cordova is seeking a 3/4 time Priest-in-Charge.
See the position description here.
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St. Paul's | Sacramento is seeking a Music Director.
Read the job announcement here.
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Diocesan Commissions | Committees | Ministries | |
The ENews is published weekly on Tuesdays.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
www.norcalepiscopal.org
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