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1-9-2015
From The Rev. Bob Woods,
St. Sherrian's, Kernville
We've just celebrated the secular New Year - Ours having commenced the First Sunday of Advent. A time for resolutions, new beginnings, a fresh start. As we continue our journey away from schism and towards deeper ministry, I am reminded of Luke 10:29-37, the story of the "Good Samaritan" or, today, we might say the "Good Talabani" to convey the same irony. Well should we also ask, "who is my neighbor?"
Tubatulabal. Kawaiisu. Yokuts. Kitanemuk. Miwok. Maidu. Monache. What are these? Do you recognize all, any, or what they are? If I add Paiute and Shoshone, you will doubtless recognize these as First Nation tribes. We are affiliated with the Diocese of Navajoland, and that is a good thing, yet as far as I can tell we have little to do with tribes who are indeed neighbors, in our own back yard.
First Nation peoples face many obstacles, seldom recognized or discussed. Some are obvious: Loss of ancestral homes and lands, culture, language; Often herded onto "reservations," usually land unwanted by us latecomers; Lack of opportunity and abominable discrimination. First Nation people are frequently assigned a negative stereotype which limits their opportunities, and which is overcome most often by "blending in," that is turning their backs on their own. The loss of their culture hurts and diminishes us all.
Perhaps the greatest insult arises from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Some tribes indeed are given "reservations" as they are "federally recognized." That recognition provides health and other support services, as well as the ability to build casinos. But who are we to say a tribe like the Tubatulabal, who have inhabited the Southern Sierra for at least 8,000 years, in essence does not exist?
Non-recognized tribes receive nothing whatsoever, and must either meld into general society to avoid the widespread negative stereotype, or eke out a bare existence on unwanted land which can be cheaply acquired. It is my hope that, in this new year, we as a Diocese will at least look further into the plight of many of our local tribes, and do what we can as the earthly hands and hearts of Christ.
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"Travel Light, leaving baggage behind."
Luke 10:1-12
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From the Diocesan Office...
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For All Clergy: HOUSING ALLOWANCE: Dear Clergy, please remember that you need to have a housing allowance resolution passed by your Vestry/Bishop's committee in December of 2014 for the 2015 tax year. If you have any questions about this process or would like a recommended format, please contact Canon Kate.
For Clergy and Treasurers:
Manila envelopes were just mailed to all parishes and missions. Clergy will receive the yearly reports and forms that are required by the Episcopal Church and the Diocese and Treasurers will receive forms and information for assessment reporting.
ALL MAIL...
for the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, Bishop, Canon, and Administrator is to be mailed to 1528 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355.
Thank you, Ellen Meyer, Administrator |
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3rd Annual Diocese of San Joaquin Integrity Chapter Retreat..
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Still Time to Register !
- Friday, January 23rd - We gather in the evening for fellowship, snacks, a movie and discussion as we arrive at ECCO in Oakhurst, south of Yosemite.
- Saturday, January 24th - Canon Randy Kimmler leads our retreat program throughout the day.
- Sunday, January 25th - After morning Eucharist with Bishop David and free time, we enjoy lunch together before departure.
$130 per person/double room
2 nights, 5 meals
Registration
For questions or to register contact:
Integrity Diocesan Organizer,
Jan Dunlap 661.201.2630661.201.2630
Email: jan@kerncomputer.com
Meet Canon Randy Kimmler, our 2015 Retreat Leader. 
Randy is Missioner for Vocations in the Diocese of Los Angeles, where he supports and oversees clergy development prior to and after ordination. About 8 years ago, he helped plant the Community of the Holy Spirit (CHS) in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles. Lay-organized and led, the group is an emergent progressive Christian community that is being studied by many Episcopal dioceses. "It's not a church. It's not a mission. It's an
anomaly and dioceses around the country are trying to figure out what to do with groups like us that are springing up all over the place." Those who attended the 76th General Convention 2009 in Los Angeles experienced wonderful worship services and worship spaces designed by Randy and his team. Randy attends St. John's ProCathedral in Los Angeles, serves on the Bishop's Commission on LGBT Ministries and has been recognized by Bishop Jon Bruno for his significant service to the wider church.
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From The Episcopal Church Website...
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The Five Marks of Mission
The Mission of the Church Is the Mission of Christ
~ To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
~ To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
~ To respond to human need by loving service
~ To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and
to pursue peace and reconciliation
~ To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
We recognize with gratitude that the Five Marks of Mission, developed by the Anglican Consultative Council between 1984 and 1990, have won wide acceptance among Anglicans, and have given parishes and dioceses around the world a practical and memorable "checklist" for mission activities. You can read more about the Five Marks of Mission and learn more about the Episcopal Church by going to www.episcopalchurch.org.
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From Episcopal News Service...
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Episcopal priest-curator hopes to build peace through filmmaking
By Pat McCaughan
[Episcopal News Service] The Rev. Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler hopes his upcoming film, "Ports of Call," a "passionate interfaith love story," will help foster understandings between East and West. But he hesitates to consider it a religious-themed movie because "I'm somewhat of a skeptic looking at religious films, as in the Middle East and the culture I grew up in, you don't really separate one from the other. It's all interwoven, a single thread," said Chandler, former rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Cairo, Egypt. For example, he said, if the new movie "Exodus: Gods and Kings" is shown in the Middle East, "no one thinks that it's a religious film. It's simply a story related to the Middle East, whether it's true or not." Chandler is the founder and curator of the Caravan interfaith arts exhibition, a nonprofit movement founded in Cairo that since March 2014 has been based in Chicago. To read more go to http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/12/16/episcopal-priest-curator-hopes-to-build-peace-through-filmmaking/
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Northern Deanery Meeting
The next Northern Deanery meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Janaury 31, 2015,
10:00 a.m., St. John the Evangelist, Stockton
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Central Deanery's First Gathering for 2015
All members of the Central Deanery are invited to attend a concert and then a Deanery gathering on February 8 at Church of the Saviour, Hanford.
The University String Quartet will be preforming in the historic 1882 Chapel. The concert begins at 3 PM.
After the concert we will join together to get to know each other and meet to plan future events, sharing ideas about the work of our deanery.
Local contacts are Terry March - Hanford
George Sitts - Oakhurst
Marilee Muncey - Madera
Marion Austin - Fresno
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Southern Deanery Meeting
The next Southern Deanery meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2015,
11:00 a.m., St. Michael's, Ridgecrest.
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What's Happening in the DIO
Commission on Ministry Meeting, January 17, 2014, 10:00 a.m., Holy Family
Standing Committee Teleconference Meeting, January 20, 2014, 6:30 p.m.
Diocesan Council Teleconference Meeting, January 22, 2015, 6:00 p.m.
Northern Deanery Meeting, January 31, 2015, 10:00 a.m., St. John the Evangelist,Stockton
Taize Weekend, January 23-24, 2014, Holy Family, Fresno
Integrity Retreat, January 23-25, 2015, ECCO, Oakhurst
Diocesan Council and Standing Committee Retreat, Friday-Saturday, February 20-21, 2015, ECCO, Oakhurst
Click on the link below to see more upcoming events and meetings around the diocese.
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From our Parishes and Missions..
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 An Altar Guild Workshop...January 10, 2015
We will sponsor, here at St Andrew's in Taft, an Altar Guild workshop om January 10 from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon.
This will be a workshop covering the basics for people wanting to learn how to serve their church on the Altar Guild. It is open to men and women.
Lunch will be served for all of the participants and the workshop is open to everyone...even those who simply want to learn more about the sanctuary and what needs to take place there as we prepare the space for our worship.
Please RSVP......Thank you.
The Rev. Heather Mueller, Priest -in - Charge at St Andrew's Episcopal Church
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Diocesan Website and Facebook...
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Have you checked it out?
Keep up to date on news and events with our
Facebook
Check out postings from Bishop David and Canon Kate at
Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin
The Episcopal Church Website
Episcopal News Service
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For the Bishop and Canon's Calendar...
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