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1-23-2015
February 20, 2015
Stories of the Bag
We are beginning to receive some stories regarding the distribution of our back-packs. The two which follow are from a "shy" parishioner who prefers that her name not be used. Sufficient to say that she is "missional" through and through!
-Nick Lorenzetti
One Sunday afternoon I was in a store parking lot on McHenry Avenue loading a few items in the trunk of my car. I was approached by a man and woman asking for money. The couple were perhaps in their late 50's and the woman was in a wheelchair. I explained that while I don't hand out money I did have a backpack from my church that I would be honored to share with them.
When I handed them the filled backpack and explained the contents along with the enclosed Bible verse, they were grateful. I had the opportunity to speak with them about resources available in the community for those needing housing and food. They were familiar with these, but stated that both of our shelters were currently full. Nonetheless, they were going back to the Modesto Gospel Mission that same night in hopes that beds would be available. The man attached the straps of the backpack to the handles of the wheelchair, turned it around and started the two mile walk back to the Mission. My prayers went with them. Praise be the Backpack Program!
- A parishioner from St. Paul's, Modesto Modesto
Recently I was at the Modesto Gospel Mission preparing to volunteer in the Children's Center. I observed a man in the front of the office praying with one of the Mission Chaplains. He was standing by his grocery cart filled with his belongings, and topped off with his sleeping bag. When their prayer ended, I approached them and inquired if the gentleman was going to be a guest of the Mission, and if not, I would love to share a backpack from my church with him. (If he was going to become a guest of the Mission, everything would be provided for him, and he would not be allowed to take in anything from the outside.)
The gentleman was perhaps 40 years of age, tall, with piercing brown eyes and wearing an overcoat. He asked, and I described the contents of the backpack. He smiled and his eyes sparkled. He stated that he was entering the program at the Mission but would be glad to take the backpack and share it with someone whom he knew needed it. He also was going to give his sleeping bag to that individual now that he had a bed. The Chaplain, the gentleman and I decided that it was a triple blessing day - I had blessed the man by giving him the backpack; he had blessed me for receiving it and giving it to someone who needed it, and the recipient of the backpack and sleeping bag was indeed blessed to have a friend that cared about him. Praised be the Backpack program.
- A parishioner from St. Paul's, Modesto
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"Travel Light, leaving baggage behind."
Luke 10:1-12
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Dear People of San Joaquin,
Here is a narrative offered by Linda Huggard regarding her movements.
I have been blasted by the electronic media! Being followed on Facebook has forced me to "get in front of", as they say, the report s of my movements of late.
As any of you who follow Facebook know, my working arrangement has changed. I am still the Priest-in-Charge at St Michael's, Ridgecrest (and I spend 2 weeks and 3 Sundays there each month) but I am also morphing into something else. Actually, as are we all, many other things: I am a mother, a grandmother (X2), a teacher and a student, a finance and management planner, a wanderer and a philosopher, a searcher, a gardener, a singer, a speaker and now a sort of free-lance, project-by-project, helper to Bishop David. I have moved out of the rectory and am back on the road.
You see, when I arrived in the Diocese of San Joaquin in 2008 I was already retired from my first career after 40 years (yes I am that OLD!) in the Insurance Business. I was hired to be Area Missioner for the South Deanery, at that time serving as Vicar of St Andrew's, Taft and St Michael's, Ridgecrest. Soon thereafter I added St Brigid's, Bakersfield and a Partnership with the ELCA (Lutheran) at Open Door, Pine Mountain/Fraser Park. All of this was still a half-time position, my other half was still (mostly) my own.
Soon after that I was called to be half-time interim Pastor with Emmanuel Lutheran, Bakersfield, where I served two years. Needless to say, my half-time had grown to full, or more!
Then, in 2013 St Michael's lawsuit was settled, and they got their building back! They needed me (and the Bishop asked me) to come and help them re-enter and re-envision there. So off I went to serve only that congregation, to live among them, to minister with them and to help to empower them to serve one-another and their unique community. That's now been almost two years ago.
As Bishop Rice is fond of quoting his father, "My job is to work myself out of a job". That is what my training in total (or Mutual) Ministry has taught me as well. Contrary to the top-down clerical model, I believe the church is moving toward a true sharing of ministry among all people. (As we develop the Deanery/Hub concept we need to develop different ways of clergy involvement, moving away from the professional clergy model, and/or the ancient feudal clergy as semi-royalty model.) My job, as I saw it, was to help St. Michael's get started in their new/old space. The congregation has learned where their gifts lie, how to share them to minister with and in their community, they have reclaimed their space and their place. It is time for me to ease my way out and into another phase of my own ministry. What that is, is anyone's guess, but I am back on the road again! The Bishop has his Car-the-dra, I think I may have, like the church in a box, the church in a car, or the mission-mobile.
I continue to hold Linda and each of you in my prayers.
Lenten Blessings
Bishop David
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Dear All,
I have been uniquely blessed. I have had the opportunity of a lifetime. Early in January of 2014, I was contacted by an Episcopal priest friend of mine who retired to the South of France. When he got here, he found a number of English-speakers from England, Australia, New Zealand and America who were all trying to have church together. He sort of took them in and became their pastor. It is a very ecumenical and international English-speaking group. He sort of brought them in over the years as a congregation into the Church of England/Anglican communion.
My friend turns 75 this year and has decided that he needs to be finished with parish ministry (a ministry he has been working at for free for the past 7 years). He wrote and asked me if I would like to come and do a mini-interim ministry in his congregation for 3 months. The idea would be that I have his house and his car in France while he spent 3 months traveling back in the US and away from the congregation so that they got used to not having him around.
I felt trepidatious in asking Bishop David if he would let me move last year's vacation and this year's vacation and all of my continuing ed time into one fell swoop! Bishop David gave me the OK.
So now I am here in the South of France for three months taking care of this little English-speaking congregation which is quite eclectic in their worship styles. First and Third Sundays are traditional Eucharist Church of England services (not American BCP services, but C of E Common Worship services which are quite different). Second and Fourth Sunday's are Morning Prayer and a bit more evangelical in style. The Fifth Sunday of the month is Prayer and Praise. We have Church of England Anglicans, Methodists, Quakers, Baptists and others present. The attempt is to meet everyone's worship style in some manner in some way at some time. They are all English-Speaking Christians living in a foreign place and trying to make room for all worship styles.
The day I arrived in France I discovered that Bishop Pierre Whalen (the Bishop of the Episcopal American Churches in Europe) was aware of my arrival and that he had invited me to come to the clergy conference for the American clergy who serve the American Churches in Europe at his expense...in Rome! Of course, I went. And, also met new priest friends now here in Europe.
One of my new found friends, who is a priest here in Europe, has invited me to his home in Geneva (and of course I'm going since it's a free place to stay in a country that is so expensive that I would never thinking of visiting otherwise and the EasyJet ticket was just $90 round trip). A friend from Indianapolis discovered that I was in France from Facebook and told me that he had rented an apartment in Bordeaux for three months and invited me there as well (I've already been to visit him 4 nights in Bordeaux). My cousin in Ireland also discovered on Facebook that I was traveling in Europe. She is insisting that I come and visit her (I have 3 aunts who are still alive and about 60 cousins in Ireland). I do think I'l be booking a flight there as well while I am here.
My sister and her husband arrive mid-March and we have plans to drive to Barcelona and then a week in Paris. Also, I have a priest friend from Maui, Hawaii who is coming to visit during Holy Week and we have plans to drive to the holy site of Lourdes as well as do Holy Week together for this little English-speaking church in the South of France.
Like I said, this has been an absolutely wonderful gift! This would not have happened if Bishop David had not been so open and so generous as to let me take all of my vacation time and continuing education time in one big block of time. I am extremely grateful.
The English-speaking church where I serve in France meets in a 12th century Abbey. It is a Roman Catholic church but they let the "English" use it on Sundays.
Attached are a few photos from today while traveling in Italy and from the town where I live in France.
Blessings on your continued work in San Joaquin,
Canon Kate
 
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From Walking with Integrity...
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015
From Walking with Integrity
Rev. Carolyn Woodall assumes the Chair of the Stakeholders' Council
At its February 24th meeting, the Integrity USA Board of Directors welcomed The Rev. Carolyn Woodall as Chair of the Stakeholders' Council, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Christian Paolino this past January. Carolyn was the Vice-Chair and, as stipulated by the bylaws, assumes the position of Chair until the end of the term.
Carolyn Woodall resides in Copperopolis, California with her oldest child, and four cats. An attorney since 1987, she recently retired from her position as a Deputy Public Defender in Sonora, CA. She currently maintains a small criminal defense practice in Sonora. Carolyn also retired from the Naval Reserve in 1997, having attained the rank of Commander.
She was ordained a Deacon on March 10, 2012, and is the first, and so far only, transgender person to be ordained in the Diocese of San Joaquin. She is currently serving at St. James in Sonora, where she runs a ministry providing provisioned backpacks to the homeless. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the School for Deacons in Berkeley; and a member of the Board of Directors of Sierra HOPE, which provides assistance to people with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illness.
Carolyn believes that acceptance regarding LGBT issues begins with education, and has given numerous presentations on transgender issues to church groups, government agencies, charitable organizations, and even a local news station. She told her story in Voices of Witness: Out of the Box, produced by Louise Brooks for Integrity USA.
The Board of Directors would like to thank the tireless work of Christian and all his work with Integrity, both at the national level as well as locally. President Matt Haines says, "Christian has served us with true faithfulness and dedication in his role as Stakeholder's Chairperson. He has been an authentic and prophetic voice of witness to our community and the Church. We are grateful for his gifts, friendship, and his constant service to us all."
Please join us in congratulating and thanking Carolyn for agreeing to assume this responsibility. You may reach her at CarolynW@integrityusa.org.
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Stewardship University...
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STEWARDSHIP UNIVERSITY
(Psst! Stewardship University has no tuition. It's FREE!)
Lunch will be provided.
Click here for registration form.
Registration forms are due by March 22
This exciting program is coming to San Joaquin on Saturday, March 28th, at Holy Family in Fresno. The Rev. Canon Timothy M. Dombeck will lead this workshop. The workshop begins at 10:30am and will continue to 3:30pm, lunch will be provided. Everyone is invited and it is important that at least one person from each of our congregations attends.
Why a "Stewardship University"?
Stewardship University is a one-day series of educational workshops for congregational leaders designed to assist churches in becoming more grateful, generous, sustainable, welcoming and hospitable communities of Christ-centered life transformation, outreach and worship.
How does Stewardship University work?
By the use of an engaging, workshop approach, Stew U (as it is affectionately called) educates and trains people in practical matters related to many aspects of hospitality, communication, story-telling, gratitude, and the concept of stewardship as it relates to people exercising their baptismal ministry through involvement in active ministry, including one's life as a steward and giving of one's time and abilities, as well as financial resources.
What topics get covered at a Stew U?
A typical Stewardship University event covers the broad topics of:
- Understanding Giving
- Practical Steps to Increase Giving
- Planned Giving: Giving from the Heart and Soul
- Year-round Stewardship That You Can Do, With or Without The Annual Pledge Drive
- Enhancing Generous Hospitality: What We Can Learn from Starbucks and Why
Other requested topics presented at other meetings include:
- Understanding Your Money in Your Life
- How To Talk About Money: In the Culture, In the Church
- Three Shifts in Stewardship
Additionally, you can request a particular topic that you would like addressed. Just have a talk with Timothy about what you want to achieve.
STEWARDSHIP UNIVERSITY™ is the creation of the Reverend Canon Timothy M. Dombek, Canon for Stewardship and Planned Giving in the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. Prior to entering seminary in the late 1980's, Canon Dombek was a Certified Financial Planner based in South Bend, Indiana. Serving the needs of individuals and small business owners, Timothy worked with clients in Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois.
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From Our Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori...
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 ECF Fellows are lay and ordained scholars and ministry leaders who are making a significant impact on our Church. The application deadline is March 13 for the 2015 Fellowship. Read below for 4 things we ask all applicants to bear in mind & click here for the application. |
4 things we ask all applicants to bear in mind:
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- ECF is committed to strengthening the leadership of lay and ordained members of the Episcopal Church. All applicants to the academic and ministry tracks are asked to describe how they plan on developing the next generation of lay and ordained leaders for the Episcopal Church, whether this is in the context of academia, a local congregation, through a church-wide initiative, or in another setting.
- ECF is a lay-led organization of the Episcopal Church. ECF is especially looking for scholars and ministry leaders who incorporate lay leadership development into their work. All members of the Church, whether lay or ordained, are invited to apply.
- An ECF Fellowship provides both financial support and networking opportunities. ECF has typically awarded three to four Fellowships per year. New awards range up to $15,000 for the first year and are renewable for an additional two years. In addition to this financial support, new Fellows join a wide network of past Fellows and ECF partners with them so that they may share their knowledge, experience, and best practices with the wider Church.
- The application requires a significant commitment of time and effort and is due on March 13, 2015. The selection process for an ECF Fellowship is highly competitive and a strong application requires a significant investment of time and effort. We encourage all applicants to begin this process early. ECF will announce the 2015 Fellows in late May.
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From the Diocesan Office...
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For Clergy and Lay:
Please contact the Diocesan Office if you are in need of more bags to fill and pass out to those in need. St. Paul's Preschool, Modesto has asked for bags on the next order for the children. Please think of this if you have a youth group or a preschool that can be part of our "missional" outreach. Count needed by today!
For Clergy and Treasurers:
Clergy....IMPORTANT: Please be sure to get your directories, contact forms, and other forms in packet into the diocesan office quickly! Many thanks go to Holy Trinity, St. Raphael's and St. Matthew's and St. Andrew's for having all documents turned in!
All forms due March 1, 2015.
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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Northern Deanery Meeting
The next Northern Deanery Meeting is Saturday, June 20, 2015. 10 a.m. to 12 noon,
St. Francis, Turlock.
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Central Deanery Meeting
The next Central Deanery Meeting is Sunday, May 17, 2015, 2:00 p.m.,
St. Raphael's, Oakhurst.
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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
Northern Deanery Clericus, Tuesday March 10, 2015, 11:00a.m., St. Paul's, Modesto
Standing Committee Adobe Meeting, March 24, 2015, 7:00 p.m.
Diocesan Council Adobe Meeting, March 26, 2015, 7:00 p.m.
Stewardship University, March 28, 2015, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Holy Family, Fresno
Chrism Mass, March 31, 2015, 11:00 a.m., Church of the Saviour, Hanford
Annual Convention, October 23-24, 2015, St. Paul's, Modesto
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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SAINT MATTHEW'S CHURCH
414 Oak Street + San Andreas
INVITES YOU TO JOIN US at 6 pm each FRIDAY THROUGH LENT
for our
Parish Lenten Devotions
Stations of the Cross
and
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
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Sunday, March 1
Grace Hall, 7pm
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
2216 17th Street, between "B" & "C"
Bakersfield, CA
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 ETTY: a one-woman play based on the life of Etty Hillesum
Etty is a touring one-woman play based on the diaries and letters of Etty Hillesum, adapted and performed by Susan Stein. Directed by Austin Pendleton.
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Esther "Etty" Hillesum (1914 - 1943) was a Dutch Jewish woman whose letters and diaries, kept between 1941 and 1943, describe life in during the Nazi occupation. She died in Auschwitz. Her writings were published in 1981 as Etty Hillesum: An Interrupted Life. The Diaries 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork.
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Using only Etty Hillesum's words, Susan Stein's adaptation allows Etty's words, insights,and beliefs to reach out from the Holocaust and allow us to see the power of hope and individual thought in the most
extreme circumstances.
ettyplay inc encompasses theatrical and educational experiences designed to challenge participants to reexamine assumptions about the Holocaust and explore issues of resistance, human rights, social justice, and individual responsibility.
The mission of ettyplay inc is to use the writings of Etty Hillesum to promote social justice, to challenge prejudice by examining the consequences of genocide, and to enable participants to explore their own personal stories alongside Etty's, as they consider their role in the struggle for human rights.
Suggested Donation: $5-$10
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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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