November 8, 2022

In this edition of ENews:

  • Convention Satisfaction Survey Results Available
  • Resources for Advent
  • Videos from Dr. Catherine Meeks' visit to Trinity Cathedral
  • West Coast Collaborative to Begin Offering Programs in the New Year
  • Open Enrollment for Retired Clergy

From the Office of the Bishop

Diocesan Convention Survey Results Available

Thanks to all who responded to the Diocesan Convention Satisfaction Survey. Click on the link below to see a summary of the survey. Please note that we have deleted any names and emails for respondents.

Click here for the survey summary.

Around the Diocese

The Rev. Canon Mary Goshert with the ofrenda at St Patrick's Kenwood

St. Patrick's Kenwood honors "Personal Saints"


All Saints Sunday was celebrated at St. Patrick's with the Rev. Canon Mary Goshert, Priest-in-Charge presiding, and an assembly of parishioners, both current and those who have found us once again, or for the first time.


This year parishioners contributed to a special "Ofrenda", or altar, in the tradition of Hispanic culture, to honor and fondly remember our own personal "saints"; family members, or friends, and even a pet. 


Parishioners were invited to bring photographs of loved ones to put on the alter which was in the Narthex. The response was impressive with scores of photos in ornate frames or by themselves, old and newer photos, and lists of names all intermingled with the glow from many candles and votives.


The Ofrenda was created by Stephanie Chapralis McCaffrey who designed it with the help of Candace MacNair. Parishes in the Diocese had been invited by Bishop Megan Traquair to create our own versions of an Ofrena. Many people commented on how this was a lovely new (for us) tradition to incorporate into our annual observance. May we honor our Saints, both personal and historic.


Stephanie Chapralis McCaffrey

Jacqi Seppi, and her husband Nicholaus show off their island spirit

St. Michael's Carmichael Hosts Luau Benefit


St. Michael's Carmichael hosted a Luau on Saturday, October 29, raising lots of money for outreach. But with great food, and fellowship you never know who might show up! Here's a picture of Jacqi Seppi (with her husband Nicolaus) at the photo area. Congratulations to St. Michael’s for a wonderful, beneficial night!

Missioner for Church Life

Resources for Advent

e.e. cummings and the Joyful Poetry of Advent


Canon Julie Wakelee and Missioner for Church Life Mack Olson will lead a Diocesan-wide Advent series using the poetry of e. e. cummings. 


Pairs equally well with church potlucks or sweats and slippers at home!


7:00 pm each Wednesday in Advent

November 30, December 7, 14, and 21.

On Zoom!


Stay tuned for a signup link and more details! 

Advent & Christmas resources from the Episcopal Church


New and updated Resources for congregations, dioceses, and communities of faith, including:


  • “Journeying the Way of Love” – Advent curriculum, calendar, bulletin inserts (also in Spanish and French)


  • “Sermons That Work” for Advent and Christmas (coming Nov. 5; also in Spanish)


  • “Preparing to Become Beloved Community” – Advent curriculum (also in Spanish and French)


  • Resources from Episcopal Migration Ministries, Episcopal Relief & Development, AdventWord, and more


Click here to download: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/advent-and-christmas-resources/mc_cid=3173a0443d&mc_eid=d936b581ee

Antiphons for Advent in English & Spanish for 2022


A devotional resource in English and Spanish created from antiphons that families and communities can use daily in Advent. The short liturgy includes a prayer for lighting candles of an Advent wreath.


Advent Antiphons 2022 in English



Adviento para Evangelizar 2022 en español

Missioner for Disaster Resilience

We Shook Up Our EQ IQ and Had Fun Along the Way!


Many participants from all corners of the diocese joined our Missioner for Disaster Resilience, Mark G. Dibelka, at the “Great ShakeOut” earthquake preparation and response workshop during pre-convention on Thursday, October 20, 2022. The pews at All Saints’, Redding, were alive with the scribbling of notes, sharing of experiences, laughter, and even yoga as some of our nimbler congregants slipped under the pews for an earthquake drill.


When I recorded our participation in the event, I discovered that a total of 9.5 million folks participated across the state of California at the same time we were!


Although we earned a certificate of participation, our work isn’t done. Put a note on your calendars for October 19, 2023 for the next Great California ShakeOut event and look for tips throughout the year that will be brought to you with the assistance of some of our local congregations.


Congrats to everybody who participated!


Peace, 

Mark 


Episcopal Foundation

The Bishop’s Partnership Appeal is a collaborative year-end process designed to support our congregations and institutions of our diocese directly. Last year, a total of roughly $28,000 was received in appeal donations, 100% of which went straight to the designated recipients.


This is a Partnership of people who love The Episcopal Church in Northern California. It is an opportunity for each of us to support the ministries and organizations we believe in and equip them for the future. When we give in this way, our Church becomes more vital, better able to reach out and engage in the work God calls us to do.


We are thrilled to share with you the 2022 Bishop’s Book of Dreams. The Book of Dreams presents a brief overview of dream project and ministries across the diocese. Because this is an interactive book, you can click on the “Give to this Dream” button on each page. If you wish to give to multiple projects, you may also visit the diocesan website at www.norcalepiscopal.org and click on the Give button.

Trinity Cathedral

Dr. Catherine Meeks, Founder and Executive Director of the Absolom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing, visited Trinity Cathedral to talk about racial healing. Videos of her sessions are included below. We have the video of her Opening Address, the Saturday morning workshop session and her sermon on Sunday. Please watch and allow her words to speak to you and invite you to healing and wholeness in the area of your perspectives on race.

Dr. Catherine Meeks Opening Address

Saturday Morning Workshop

Dr. Catherine Meeks' Sermon

Spiritual Formation

Sunday, November 13, 2022

The Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost.

Luke 21:5-19.


“not one stone will be left upon another…there will be great earthquakes…”


The “apocalyptic” teaching of Jesus in Luke 21 (Mark 13 and Matthew 24) is challenging for today’s reader. As I have sought to understand what Jesus is saying and how it related to his world and to ours, I have been helped by the work of several scholars who have observed some very important features regarding the Temple in Scripture.


Two scholars in particular, Jon Levenson and G.K. Beale have observed a very close connection between the Temple and the Creation. That close connection was part of the mental furniture (so to speak) of the cultures of the ancient Middle East, including Ancient Israel, but is not part of our thinking today. It is seen especially clearly in the way the story of the building of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6-8, 2 Chronicles 3-4) echoes the Creation story (Genesis 1-2) and the Creation/ garden story is a Temple story, the goal of which is that God, his glory and his name, would dwell among his people. So the Creation story is a Temple story. As N.T. Wright notes, “The book of Genesis offers us, then,  a picture of the world as a temple, and of humans as the statue, the image of God.” (Surprised by Scripture, 142).


You can see this Temple/Creation link in several Psalms.  Look for it in Psalms 29, 65, 93. See Especially Psalm 78:69.

With this in mind, we re-read Luke 21 and parallels, and note the link between Temple and Creation – here we read of distress to both, because both belong together.  And the for the followers of Jesus, who are now the new temple (Ephesians 2:20) we realize that this will mean challenge and disturbance for us.  But it will also mean divine presence and salvation (Luke 21:19). Details in this challenging passage are better understood against this background.


West Coast Collaborative to Begin Offering Programs in the New Year

The West Coast Collaborative Episcopal School for Ministry is a new, combined ministry of the Dioceses of Northern California, El Camino Real, and San Diego. We provide innovative lay and diaconal formation based in the curriculum of the Iona Collaborative at the Seminary of the Southwest. Most of the coursework occurs online.


The School is currently offering formation for lay preachers. In January 2023, we will start a program for those preparing for ordination to the Vocational Diaconate. Over time, we will continue to expand program offerings in support of lay and ordained ministries.


We are currently accepting applications for a course opening in the winter of 2023 to prepare individuals to apply for a Lay Preaching license. We are forming cohorts of students in Spanish and English and seeking adult learners of all ages and educational backgrounds who are actively involved in ministry in their congregations and demonstrate gifts in lay leadership. Participants must be members of a congregation within one of our three partner dioceses.


If you have further questions or to request an application for the Lay Preaching program, contact the Northern California dean:  

The Rev. Kathy Lawler, sfmdean@norcalepiscopal.org



La Escuela Colaborativa Episcopal para el Ministerio de la Costa Oeste es un nuevo ministerio combinado de las Diócesis del Norte de California, El Camino Real y San Diego. Brindamos formación innovadora laica y diaconal basada en el plan de estudios de la Colaborativa Iona en el Seminario del Suroeste. La mayor parte del trabajo del curso se realiza en línea.


La Escuela actualmente ofrece formación para predicadores laicos. En enero de 2023, comenzaremos un programa para quienes se preparan para la ordenación al diaconado vocacional. Con el tiempo, continuaremos ampliando las ofertas de programas en apoyo de los ministerios laicos y ordenados.


Actualmente estamos aceptando solicitudes para un curso que se abrirá en el invierno de 2023 para preparar a las personas para solicitar una licencia de predicación laica. Estamos formando cohortes de estudiantes en español e inglés y buscando estudiantes adultos de todas las edades y antecedentes educativos que participen activamente en el ministerio en sus congregaciones y demuestren dones en el liderazgo laico. Los participantes deben ser miembros de una congregación dentro de una de nuestras tres diócesis asociadas.


Si tiene más preguntas o para solicitar una solicitud para el programa de Predicación Laica, comuníquese con el decano del Norte de California:

Rev. Kathy Lawler, sfmdean@norcalepiscopal.org

https://ost.edu/forestdwelling

News for Retired Clergy

Open Enrollment for Retired Clergy


If you wish to make changes to your United HealthCare Group Medicare Advantage plan, please note that Open Enrollment ends on November 14.

A Decision Guide is available at www.cpg.org/retired-clergy/insurance/health-and-wellness/overview. Choosing the comprehensive plan over the premium plan could save you money.

Upcoming

Events

Around

The Diocese

Evangelism Huddle – Let’s Talk!

Third Wednesday of each month 

12:00 p.m. Eastern on Zoom 

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/

Trinity Cathedral Christmas Market

Trinity Cathedral | 2620 Capitol Avenue | Midtown Sacramento

Sunday, November 23 | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

trinitycathedral.org

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

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

Job Opportunities Around The Diocese

St. Clement's | Rancho Cordova is seeking a 3/4 time Priest-in-Charge. 

See the position description here.

St. Paul's | Sacramento is seeking a Music Director. 

Read the job announcement here.

Diocesan Commissions | Committees | Ministries

Commission for Intercultural Ministries

Commission on Ministry

Christian Formation Committee

Episcopal Community Services

Ministries of Health Committee

Investment Fund Committee

Disaster Preparedness

Recovery Ministries

Episcopal Foundation of Northern California

Center for Bible Study

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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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