Guest columnist:  Bishop Stacy Sauls,  

Chief Operating Officer of the Episcopal Church   

"What Mission Means"

The Rt Rev Stacy Sauls

About keynoting the conference:    

"I am so very honored to have the chance to be here in the Diocese of San Joaquin ... I have been following you for a long time. And praying for you. I agonized some years ago about the things that were happening here and the fact that help was so slow in coming.

Now I finally have the chance to know you, to know you beyond Jane Lamb's collection of your reflections on Hurt, Joy and the Grace of God. It makes me very, very happy because you have inspired me now for a long time."

About mission:

The only really effective way to approach the subject of mission is concretely, and as we Anglicans would say, incarnationally. As strange as this is going to sound, one of the things that really matters in life is being in relationship with people who are poor.

They have everything to do with God in the flesh, concretely, tangibly. And that has something to do with the mission we have been given, to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. That is why the poor are inseparably linked to God's mission, and to our salvation.

About compassion:

Compassion means to suffer with. The path God has chosen is not to walk for us but to walk with us. It is God's mission. It is that mission to which we are called.

We have a name for this. We call it the way of the cross, God choosing in Jesus to share our suffering with us, not to relieve us of it. Compassion is to do just this, to share the life of others. And it is in that, sharing the life of others, frankly especially the poor, that unity is restored and reconciliation of humanity among itself and to God is accomplished.

And that, after all, is what it is all about. Relationship. Unity. Reconciliation. In other words, love. The mission is love.

About the church's 'cultural captivity':

The cultural captivity of the Church ... did not begin with the liberal drift of mainline denominations in the 1960s. In truth it began on Oct. 28 in the year 312 (when Constantine became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire and the church) ... which had been growing steadily since its founding but which had suffered intermittent and sometimes severe persecution, developed amnesia.

From then until now really, the Church, particularly the clergy, especially the bishops, became identified with power, prestige and privilege. Instead of being the voice of truth to power, the Church justified the use of power in the name of God. Instead of being an instrument of peace, it perpetrated violence and preached the crusades. Instead of being the advocate of the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, it became the defender of the established order. Instead of a posture of self-offering, it assumed a posture of self-protection.

In short, we forgot. We forgot about God. Our memory and our perspective became impaired by power, privilege, and prestige.

About remembering God:   

We are finding that power, privilege and prestige are hard things to give up, but they are crumbling around us. The fact that they are crumbling appears to be decline, which has resulted in a great deal of anxiety and acting out by those still trying to cling to the Church that once was, but we are no longer the established church nor the church of the establishment.

We are being liberated from all that. As we are freed from the trappings of privilege, though, we have an unprecedented opportunity to remember about God, to make Christ present, to be who we really are. I think the world's salvation may be in that. I know ours is.

About re-forming the structures of the church:   

What is happening all around us, I think, is one of the most hopeful moments the church has ever experienced, although it comes, as hope often does, in a fearful way. All around us the old way is crumbling. We are finding that difficult. We are finding that anxious. We are finding that a little frightening. But it is fearful and difficult only when we fail to remember, to remember who we are, to remember about God.

You may read more of Bishop Sauls comments in the October print issue of the Episcopal Life San Joaquin.

Eucharistic Minister Quiet Day

by Terry March

Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor

Church of the Saviour, Hanford, CA

Ten Eucharistic Ministers from around the diocese attended the Eucharistic Minister Quiet

Terry March

Day Retreat on Saturday, September 1, 2012.The retreat was part of the Celebration of Ministry Conference, held Aug. 31-Sept. 2 in the beautiful, serene environment of Evergreen Conference Center Oakhurst (ECCO). The quiet day included a contemplative Eucharist facilitated by the Rev. Luis Rodriguez, rector of the Church of the Saviour in Hanford.

The quiet day focused on the "Anima Christi", a Western European prayer dating back to at least the 14th century, originally written in Latin. Fr. Luis explained the history and

The Rev Luis Rodriguez

Tpossible origins of the prayer, in a series of addresses. Participants were provided ample time to reflect, meditate and rest, during the quiet time, between each address.

The prayer is deeply rooted in the history of the church and is an invitation for Christ to come into us, to transform us - body, soul and spirit. Eucharistic Ministers may be called to unexpected places to do unexpected things in their ministry and can use the Anima Christi as preparational prayer. The quiet time allowed ministers to be open to the possibility of hearing God. The rest recharged our bodies, to make us ready for the ministry of enabling people to live out their vocation in the world - to pray.

An English Translation of the Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O Good Jesus, hear me.

Within Thy wounds hide me.

Suffer me not to be separated from thee.

From the malignant enemy defend me.

In the hour of my death call me.

And bid me come unto Thee,

That with all Thy saints,

I may praise thee

Forever and ever.

Amen.

Nuevo Amanecer Conference

By the Rev. Glenn Kanestrom

Rector, Christ the King Church, Riverbank

The Rev Glenn Kanestrom

Four of us from the diocese had a chance to attend "Nuevo Amanecer" (New Dawn), a four-day national gathering at the Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina about Hispanic Ministry organized by the Episcopal Church.

The gathering was practical, profound and lively! The theme of the conference was "Muchos Pueblos, Una Familia" (Many People, One family) and there were over 200 in attendance-Hispanic and Anglo Episcopalians alike. Those attending from San Joaquin included: the Rev. Canon Kate Cullinane, the Rev. Kathleen West, rector of St. Paul's, Modesto; the Rev. Paul Colbert, vicar of Holy Trinity, Madera and St. Raphael's, Oakhurst, as well as myself.

Workshop topics ranged frombeginning and fostering Hispanic Ministry, Immigration, second and third generation Hispanics and finding common ground through prayerful arts. I came away with the feeling that we have a great opportunity to begin Hispanic ministry in our diocese.

The Rev Canon Kate Cullinane, The Rev Paul Colbert, The Rev Kathleen West and The Rev Glenn Kanestrom attend Nuevo Amanecer

We were blessed to hear Bishop Dan Edwards of Nevada talk about the successes and failures of starting Hispanic ministry in his diocese. He commissioned us for the work as he talked about the ministry as a part of our catechesis: that we are called to reconcile all people to one another and to God. Yes, wounds have been inflicted and now it is time to heal. This is God's plan. We can heal and grow and learn from one another as we continue to live into the Kingdom of God.  

The worship experiences and music were joyful and exuberant. As we came together for Eucharist we really felt old divisions fade and new friendships form. We were beginning to be family-with all of the love and hospitality that one hopes for from a family. One of the songs that we sang (that really rocked!) was created for the conference. The lyrics pretty well sum up my hope for our diocese after the conference:

Many people; just one family.

We are like a rainbow in the air.

Many people; just one family

With Jesus altogether, everywhere! 

Disaster Planning in the Diocese of San Joaquin

For the past several months' two Episcopal volunteers, the Rev. Karin and Steve White have been meeting with deaneries, parishes and individuals around the diocese. They have been presenting programs intended to educate and encourage us about the importance of disaster preparedness.

As it turns out, this is often seen as a difficult project since most of us really don't want to think about even an emergency, let alone a disaster. Yet we all know that something could, and sometimes does, happen that could turn our lives upside down. There is an old saw - "Fortune Favors the Prepared". Following some specific steps and spending just a little time preparing for the worst can help turn a potential tragedy into possibly a temporary inconvenience.

The Rev Karin and Steve White

The Whites are basing their talks on materials and trainin g they received from Episcopal  Relief and Development's (ERD) USA Disaster Preparedness program in February 2012. They and a small team from St. Raphael's, Oakhurst have been modeling the "Bronze" Congregational Planning Guide as a means to test drive the planning process and learn how to implement those plans. Essentially, the steps are:

• To help individuals to personally prepare for three possible emergency scenarios by assembling "Escape Kits" sufficient for 3-5 days.
• To help parishes to plan and prepare for possible interruptions due to local or community wide disasters unique to their own environment.
• To consider community needs arising from such a disaster and prepare possible responses to those needs by cataloging church and parishioner assets that can aid long-term recovery.

Two members of the team, George Sitts and Carolyn Enlow, collaborated in producing a "Preparing For Disasters" booklet that is now being adapted for use by both the diocese and the national church. Several community groups have asked for copies of the booklet and St. Raphael is making it available as a ministry outreach project for a donation of one dollar to cover printing costs.

Obviously, these planning activities can range from the simple to the complex. This is the reason that three congregational plans (Bronze, Silver and Gold) exist. However the first step for any parish is fairly simple and the initial step is to complete the "Bronze" Guide. This guide was distributed at the recent COM Conference at ECCO to folks attending from some 20 churches. It can also be downloaded from the "Forms and Documents" section of www.diosanjoaquin.org and consists of the following simple to complete sections:

1. The Front page - Contact information for the church.
2. A page for listing the congregation's Disaster Leadership Team members. This will most likely be your Vestry or Bishop's Committee, Church Administrator, and Priest.
3. A page for listing parishioners with special needs.
4. A page for recording Insurance Policy information such as Policy number and Assigned Agent.
5. A page listing key contacts at the Diocese of San Joaquin.

Some forecasts are predicting a hard winter in 2013 and Bishop Talton is asking that all churches within the diocese complete the Bronze Congregation Disaster Plan and return it electronically to Ellen Meyer at the Diocesan Office no later than December 1, 2012 so that we can pull together in the event of difficulty.

The Whites are available to help and can be reached at  karinreedwhite@gmail.com or trampatb@gmail.com or by phone at 559-641-6286. 

Nick Rogers

All Souls Episcopal Church in Ridgecrest celebrated a milestone June 10, with the confirmation of seven new members and a child baptism.

Our Bishop, the Rt. Reverend Chester L. Talton joined the Rev. Linda Huggard and the Rev. Ruth Eller to preside over this special ceremony.

As this group photo shows, this was much elation in our growing congregation, which meets Sundays at 5pm in Old Town Ridgecrest's Historical Society Building.

Diocesan Convention to offer mission, outreach, cool jazz, meditative music and copies of Jane Lamb's book for sale

There will be something for everyone at the Oct. 26-27 diocesan convention at St. Paul's Church in Modesto - cool jazz, good food, fellowship, community and worship-and the entire diocesan community is invited to attend.

Jane Lamb signing copies of Hurt, Joy and the Grace of God at General Convention

An extra bonus will be copies of Hurt, Joy and the Grace of God: A Resurrection Story of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of San Joaquin, written by Jane Lamb, which will be available for sale through the Rev. Tim Vivian, vicar of Grace, Bakersfield.

Lamb premiered Hurt, Joy and the Grace of God at a book-signing party during the 77th General Convention in Indianapolis. Her compilation of the stories of clergy and laity began while she was serving alongside her husband, the Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb, who served as the diocese's provisional bishop from 2009-2011.

All proceeds from the book, which retails for $16, will benefit the diocese.

Convention will offer opportunities to learn about the workings of the wider Episcopal Church as well as our own diocese. It is a time to come together for a renewal of hearts and spirits in fellowships and worship with other Episcopalians in our diocese. 

Among other things, it will include:

News and Reports: Our San Joaquin deputies will offer reports from General Convention. Chancellor Michael Glass will discuss his work within the diocese. Bishop Chet Talton will offer a convention address. Sister Marie Margaret from the Diocese of Haiti will discuss the ongoing renewal of the church in the Diocese of Haiti.

Fellowship: There will be time to meet and greet one another Friday evening with the enjoyment of hors d'oeurves to be followed by a buffet dinner. During the evening's events, the Norm Freeman Quartet of jazz musicians will perform. Freeman is the rector and headmaster of St. George's Church and Academy in Laguna Hills, California.

Worship: Friday worship will include a renewal of baptismal vows in the afternoon, and evening compline. On Saturday morning, we will gather for a 9:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist. All congregations are invited to bring their church banners and to designate a banner-bearer during into the service. The Rev. Andy Anderson will coordinate the presentation of banners. (eldonanderson@sbcglobal.net.) Acolytes from throughout the diocese are welcome to serve during Holy Eucharist, and interested acolytes are asked to contact the Rev. Kathleen West (Kathleenfwest@att.net).

Worshippers will be treated to the melodic sounds of Katherine Cash, an award-winning Juilliard-trained violinist, who is one-half of N2K-a musical duo with the Rev. Norm

Katherine Cash

Freeman. She will perform a meditation during worship.

Cash has toured the U.S.S.R, the Americas, Europe and Japan, both as a performer of chamber music and as a soloist. She has performed as a concertmaster of the New York Symphonic Ensemble and the New York Arte Chamber Orchestra, and also for such Broadway musicals as: Les Miserables; Nicholas Nickleby; Singing in the Rain; Dreamgirls; and Fiddler on the Roof.

As 'N2K' she and Freeman, have performed Soul Break, a collection of "healing music" throughout the Los Angeles diocesan area. Selections of their music have recently been released as a DVD entitled "Soul Break."  

There will be a practice session prior to the service. Singers from throughout the diocese are invited to join with others to form the choir for the service. Interested singers are asked to contact Chuck Sheaffer. (cbshea@pacbell.net)

There will also be an opportunity to witness an example of a service of same sex blessings. Time will also be given for a presentation by our youth. Last, but not least, the convention will convene to conduct the important business of the diocese. 

 
For more information about the convention or to register as a delegate or exhibitor or vendor, visit the diocesan website at: www.diosanjoaquin.org 

Lodi church celebrates the ministries of the Rev. Harold and Beverley Clinehens

By Carol Foote

The Rev. Harold Clinehens Jr. may have retired as rector of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Lodi, but he's already anticipating responding to God's call in the next chapter of his life.

That includes continuing as chair of the diocesan task force on Haiti. He and his spouse Beverley also plan to develop their property at Mount Shasta where they will live, to travel and to visit family within and outside the United States. Engaging their "life-giving vocations" is also in the forecast, they said.

"If we're engaged in the Body of Christ and in the work of the Body of Christ, we begin to see the world through different eyes," said Fr. Harold during an interview with the Rev. Anne Smith. "We begin to see the world with gratitude, seeing the incredible beauty in ordinary stuff."

More than 130 parishioners, clergy and well-wishers from many chapters of Fr. Harold's life were on hand for the Aug. 12 celebration of his final service as rector of St John's. He retired after 33 years in active, ordained parish ministry ... a "life-giving vocation".    

He was ordained a deacon June 9, 1979 and a priest on February 23, 1980. He served several churches in the Diocese of Arkansas before accepting a call in 1982 as associate rector at St Andrew's Episcopal Church in Amarillo, Texas.

Three years later, he became the rector of St Paul's on the Plains in Lubbock, Texas, where he raised his young family. In 1991, he became rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Benicia, in the Diocese of Northern California. There, he deeply touched many lives and served on the standing committee, visiting Kenya and Uganda with members of the diocese, including then Diocesan Bishop Jerry Lamb.  

In 1999, he accepted a call to serve as rector of St. Wilfrid of York Church in Huntington Beach, in the Diocese of Los Angeles. During his tenure at St. Wilfrid, he returned to Africa to visit a diocese in Tanzania with a contingent from his parish. He was an interim rector in the Diocese of Arizona from 2006-2009, prior to becoming rector of St. John the Baptist, Lodi, in May 2009.

In the moving service for the ending of a pastoral relationship and leave-taking from a congregation, Fr. Harold was assisted by: recently ordained deacon, the Rev. Steve Yurosko, whose life he had touched at St Paul's, Benicia; the Rev. Anne Smith who was ordained a priest at St John's under Fr. Harold's mentorship, and by the Rev. George Ross, retired, who has assisted and provided inspiration to Fr. Harold since he came to St. John's.  

The service reflected Fr. Harold's priority for including children as significant participants in worship, spiritual growth, and ministry; he invited them to the altar for a final blessing before they filed out for Children's Chapel, and also later, for the blessing of the sacraments to begin the Eucharist.  

Believing in the power of the beauty, rhythm, and structure of liturgy to invite people to discover in church "something happening here you can't get anywhere else ... propelling us heavenward", Fr. Harold sought to be creative so that the liturgy would remain fresh, alive, and relevant to those he served.  

During the celebration, Celisse Johnson, St. John's senior warden and a teacher and professional dancer, performed a liturgical dance as the Offertory Anthem. Dressed in flowing blue, she used signing and graceful movement to offer a stirring performance expressing the emotion and message of "Stand", by Donnie McClurkin.

Fr. Harold later handed the keys of the parish and the rector's cell phone to Johnson in the symbolic gesture representing the ending of the pastoral relationship.

Beverley Clinehens served as lector for the Old Testament lesson delivering, almost by heart and with her whole heart, passages regarding time and season from Ecclesiastes.  

During his sermon, Fr. Harold shared the couple's emotions about moving into retirement, leaving St John's and Lodi, and gave special tribute to individuals at St John's from whom he had drawn inspiration, support, and growth. He also acknowledged visitors with whom he had a long history.

He encouraged St. John's outreach efforts, which grew from the passion of parishioners including: the Soul Kitchen; Pumpkin Patch (a project requested by the children); and the community garden. Echoing the gospel of the day, he spoke to the challenge and hard work of following Jesus in which we are not always safe, comfortable, at peace, or free from hurt. He gave examples of how he personally had grown in such times.  

Expressing joy over the growth of St John's, he ended the sermon with a call to action which reaches beyond any one parish:  "This is God's church here in Lodi, and you are the stewards of it. Claim it. Stand up. Speak out. Disagreeing won't kill us. Not openly talking about our disagreements in a spirit of love and respect will".  

Worship music also echoed the theme of mission and engaging faith, including such hymns as: "Open Your Ears, O Faithful People"; "Hallelujah, We Sing Your Praises!"-a South African hymn; a Kristopher E. Lindquist version of St Patrick's Breastplate, and "Come , O Come, our Voices Raise".

The congregation presented Fr. Harold and Beverley with four photo collages of their participation with St. John's, a calligraphy poster of blessing for the Clinehens, and the bound photo album of pictures of Fr. Harold's years of ministry with printed messages from people all over the country.  

Other highlights included: a basket filled with cards and tributes from well-wishers from around and outside the United States, and a buffet-style lunch attended by more than 130 people, seated at tables decorated in royal blue with bright summer bouquets filling the inside gathering area and outside entryway to the nave.

Among the guest who shared memories of Fr. Harold's impact on their lives were: Judy Furlong, Pat Paterson, and Ralph Nave formerly of St Paul's, Benicia, the Rev. Wendy Watson who worked with Fr. Harold in Huntington Beach, Beth Elwood and Sharon Farnsworth from St John's, and moving tributes from two young women: the Rev. Anne Smith and Josie Daughrity who was baptized as an adult by Fr. Harold and confirmed into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Chet Talton at St John's.  

There was laughter and tears. As the celebratory cake was cut, Fr. Harold was presented a stole handcrafted by Celisse Johnson from the monetary contributions from parishioners to launch the Clinehens into their retirement.  Fr. Harold and Beverley addressed the gathering, offering their love, gratitude, and feelings of being overwhelmed and humbled by those they had served who had come to celebrate with them.

People

The Rev Eldon Wayne Anderson

Eldon Wayne Anderson, also known as Andy, will be ordained to the priesthood at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6 at St. Anne's, Stockton, by Bishop Chet Talton. He concluded his ministry at St. Paul's, Modesto on Sept. 9. He had served there as a transitional deacon.

The Rev Jim Stickney

The Rev. Jim Stickney is serving as interim rector at St. John's Lodi.

Two members of the Disaster Planning team, George Sitts and Carolyn Enlow, collaborated in producing a "Preparing For Disasters" booklet that is now being adapted for use by both the diocese and the national church.