Esprit header
In This Issue
Calendar
Story of Hope
Gone Fishing
Course on Compassion
Not Outreach
Candlelight Yoga
Volunteer Opportunities
Quick Links
Calendar
Sundays 10am:
Worship Service 
 
M,W,F 9:30am - 11:00am:
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry 
Wednesdays 6:00pm:
Home-Cooked Dinner followed by Candlelight Yoga

Thursdays 12:00pm:
Lunch

 

Thursdays 3:00pm:
Food Distribution
 
Saturdays 7:30am-10:30am: Medical Services
8:30am: Hot Breakfast
 
 
All events at ECC are open to all. Join us!

 
September 2012
One Story of Hope
homeless young woman
Homeward Bound: Brenda Louise found her way home with the Center's help.
Brenda Louise was a 24-year old who appeared at the Center last April. She was afraid for her safety in downtown San Diego as a young, homeless woman and wanted to go home to Alabama. It was impossible for her to find shelter because she lacked identification and there were no available beds. Director Nancy Holland and other Center staff helped Brittany get cleaned up and packed her a traveling meal. They bought her a phone charger and a one-way ticket to Alabama. About ten days later, Brittany Danielle was on her way home where she could confront demons from her past, and move forward in a more positive future. This is just one of many stories of hope from the Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach.
 
Bishop's Visitation
bishop mathes with staff Bishop Mathes will visit us on Sunday, September 23 during the 10:00am service in Trinity Chapel. This is a special time to welcome him and for him to learn about what we are doing to serve our community. He will participate in service work and will provide a class for all who are interested. For more information about his visitations, visit the diocesan web site.
Gone Fishing
tuna can donation
Fruits of Fishing!
All Souls' Episcopal Church in Point Loma delivered a case of canned chicken. The Community Presbyterian church delivered over 200 cans of tuna. Their Vacation Bible School kids "went fishing!" Peace River Christian Fellowship delivered over 200 bags of groceries from their recent VBS as well. Indeed, our Loaves & Fishes food pantry program is supported by many fishers in our broader church community. Many thanks!
 
Course on Compassion
Twelve Steps
A book study group that could change your life.
This fall, Sister Marie Louise Flick, RSCJ, will teach a course at the Center on compassion using a text by Karen Armstrong. 
 
Armstrong, an expert on the role of religion in the modern world, provides a practical guide to helping make the world a more compassionate place. The twelve steps she suggest begin with "Learn About Compassion," and closes with "Love Your Enemies." She shares concrete methods to cultivate and expand our capacity for empathy and compassion.
 
This is a seven-week course with an expectation for reading about two chapters a week (20 pages) in Armstrong's book, Twelve steps to a Compassionate Life. The teaching style will be Socratic questioning and interactive discussion. The class will be held on Thursdays, beginning September 27 through November 8 (tentative dates; please confirm with Nancy Holland). Cost: $70 plus the book: $14; total: $84.

Sr Marie Louise Flick, RSCJ, is on staff at the Spiritual Ministry Center in Ocean Beach. During the summers, she teaches in the Christian Spirituality program at the graduate level at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
 
For more information, contact Nancy Holland, 619-823-8998.
 
 
Save the Dates for Upcoming Classes
 
It's Advent! A Season of Waiting with Gertrud Nelson, a discussion of Richard Rohr's book, Falling Upward: Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
Tuesdays, November 27 - December 18, 10am-Noon

Ashes to Easter with Gertrud Nelson
Tuesdays, February 19 - March 19, 10am-Noon.

Second Annual Maundy Thursday Foot Washing
Thursday March 28, 2013 

 

Something to Ponder

The Rev. Susan Richardson, rector of Grace-St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Mercerville, New Jersey, asks us to ponder: what if "outreach" were instead "welcoming in?" Outreach feels like something we do to people who are out there, apart from us. We go out because we feel obligated to do something, but what if we welcome others in? What if we were in real relationship with the people we serve? 

 

Tim Safford shares the Rev. Richardson's thoughts and his own about 2/3 of the way through this video from the pulpit.

 

Transforming Churches - Christ Church, Philadelphia
Transforming Churches - Christ Church, Philadelphia

 

Candlelight Yoga
Introductory candlelight yoga classes on Wednesday nights

Come and visit Trinity Chapel bathed in candlelight with meditation music playing in the background. This introductory yoga class will be offered at the Center on Wednesday nights following the Community Dinner, which begins at 6:00pm. Bring a mat or a beach towel and wear comfortable clothes. Our own Jamie Spano felt moved by the Holy Spirit to offer these classes to the Ocean Beach community.

 

Namaste.

Volunteer Opportunities

Calling All Notaries! - Certified notaries needed to certify applications for identification. Hours/Days flexible. Saturday mornings preferable from 9:00am - 11:00am.

 

Nurses, community health workers needed for Saturday morning community clinic from 7:30am - 11:00am. Other Days/Hours available.

 

ID Program Specialists - do you love solving puzzles? putting the pieces together? working at home?  using the internet?  Become an ID program specialist with our ID Clinic searching out birth certificate issues. Flexible hours/times. Work from home.

 

To engage in any of the above volunteer capacities, please contact Nancy Holland, 619-823-8998.
Thank you for reading. For more infromation about the Center, visit www.edsd.org/ecc or contact Nancy Holland.