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1-23-2015
It's Not About the Bag
Holy Family has become a sanctuary for numerous homeless persons who spend the night in what they perceive to be a safe place. Most of them sleep in their cars, although there have been those who sleep outdoors. Some use our tables for their meals, others stash their bicycles for later retrieval behind the metal sheds, and a few leave their belongings hidden in the bushes.
One of our "regulars", a couple who sleeps in their van, was still parked in the lot this Sunday when I arrived. After the sun rose, I became concerned for their well-being as they normally leave before sunrise. I tapped lightly on the side window of the van. Startled, Sarah reached for the hood release, came out and asked for a jump. She began a story of why they were stranded....a dead battery...
As she took a breath, I said to her, "Look, I know you spend the night here. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
To which she snapped: "Well you're pretty smart there. Almost as smart as I am. My partner doesn't drink coffee."
"Would she prefer tea?" I persisted. "Come on, I'll make some for you."
As she walked with me to the kitchen, she commented: "Well, you're kinda nice. You are smart too, so I'm gonna be honest with you." And as I made coffee for her and green tea for her partner, she opened up....about being a veteran, about failed relationships, about abuses, about how she has a place to stay, but doesn't want it, about the child she has who is in foster care because she lives in a van, about her partner's childhood and her relationships.
Would it be easy to be judgmental? You bet! Had she made bad decisions? Certainly. Did she have a way off of the streets? Yep.
But that is not really the point, is it? This is someone in need. This is a human being. This is someone's child, someone's mother, someone's lover.....and she is a child of God.
The yellow bag project is not only about what you put in the bag. And to an extent, it is not about to whom you give the bag. It is about really seeing and attending to the necessities of those who so desperately need compassion, love, and comfort. The yellow bag serves as our reminder that we, as people of God, are called to minister to a broken world.
As I put lids on the cups of coffee and tea, I invited her into our food pantry. I handed her a yellow bag and told her to take whatever she needed. She placed cereal, granola bars, and canned goods with pull tabs into the bag. I noted that she was not at all greedy. She thanked me profusely. We hugged.
As she got ready to leave she said, "You know, I have been to your church."
"I know and you are welcome anytime."
As she walked across the parking lot, she began to say something under her breath. As I strained to hear, her words became evident. "Thank you God. Thank you God. Thank you God."
Rev. Michele Racusin
Holy Family Fresno
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"Travel Light, leaving baggage behind."
Luke 10:1-12
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Follow up to Stewardship University...
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The Rev. Canon Timothy M. Dombeck spoke of Demographic Reports and Participation and Trend Charts at the Stewardship University Workshop.
Here is the information from the Episcopal Church Website. Click here to print out your demographics and latest Chart.
Studying Your Congregation and Community
In order to know who you are, you need to examine where you are and where you have been.
Looking at the social and demographic characteristics of the local community sheds light on the people to which we hope to minister. Looking at trends in membership, average worship attendance, and financial giving sheds light on congregational strength and whether current patterns indicate growth, decline or stability.
By following the instructions below, you can display and print two charts and a community demographic profile. The two charts track membership, participation, and giving over the most recently available eleven years for your congregation and your diocese. These data are from annual Parochial Reports. The community demographic profile will give you a demographic overview of the area within a three-mile radius of your congregation's physical location. (For guides to understanding the information provided in the profiles, please see Mosaic Descriptions (link is external)). Profiles of a larger area are available from the research office, diocesan and congregational ministries.
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Safeguarding God's Children...
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From the Episcopal Church Website on Children's Ministries:
Children's enthusiastic expressions of faith can help transform the church and everyone in it. To assist children in fully participating in their church communities and in exploring their own ministries, we provide imaginative, innovative resources for those who work with children.
The Episcopal Church is serious in its call to love, shelter, protect, and defend children within its own community and in the world. The General Convention of The Episcopal Church adopted the Safe Church Resolution (B008) in 2003 to "Protect Children and Youth from Abuse."
The Safeguarding God's Children program was developed to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in everyday life and ministry. By keeping our children safe we can empower them to grow, receiving and responding to God's love.
We here in the Diocese of San Joaquin are serious about protecting our children.
Is your parish/mission making Safeguarding God's Children a priority?
Contact Stephanie Gilmer at sgilmer@diosanjoaquin.org to get started or renew your commitment to our precious children.
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From the Diocesan Office...
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For Clergy:
Is your parish/mission information correct on The Episcopal Church Website?
Go the Episcopal Church website at www.episcopalchurch.org and click on Find a Church. Upon finding your church, you can verify, update, and correct your information if needed.
For Clergy and Lay:
Articles for Friday Reflection
Parishes and Missions! We want to know whats happening! Articles can be submitted to the Diocesan Office at emeyer@diosanjoaquin.org. All submissions are due no later than the Tuesday before the Friday Reflection. Pictures submitted are to be in jpeg format and forms to be attached to the Friday Reflection are best in PDF format. Diocesan Website:We know our website has been disappointing, but hold on just a little bit longer! It's coming soon!
Missional Bags...
are in the office. If you have not made your request please email me at the Diocesan Office with your needs.
I have mailed the bags to those who have requested them.
Treasurers:
Cash donated for the Bishop Discretionary Fund at your Episcopal Visits, should be deposited it into your parish account and a check for the total amount be sent to the Diocese of San Joaquin. Thank you.
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 6, 2015. 10 a.m. to 12 noon,
St. Francis, Turlock.
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Central Deanery Meeting- Fun Update
The next Central Deanery event will be May 17, 2015. It is a BBQ potluck hosted by St. Raphael's.
The event will be held at the Fresno Flats Historic Village. Fresno Flats Historical Park is located near Oak Creek Intermediate School and Yosemite High School on Road 427, also known as School Road.
The fun begins at 2 PM. St. Raphael's is cooking the hot dogs and hamburgers. The rest of us need to bring salads and/or desserts. Everyone should bring their own drinks. Paper products will be provided.
Click this link for driving directions.
Each parish group should RSVP to the Rev. Suzy Ward so we can cook enough hot dogs and hamburgers. sward1978@sbcglobal.net.
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Southern Deanery Meeting
The next Southern Deanery meeting is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2015, 11:00 a.m., St. Andrew's, Taft. There will also be a Warden and Treasurer Meeting from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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What's Happening in the DIO
General Convention Deputation Meeting, Saturday, May 9, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,
Holy Family, Fresno
Central Deanery Meeting, Sunday, May 17, 2015, 2:00 p.m., St. Raphael's, Oakhurst
Diocesan Council Meeting, Saturday May 30, 2015, 10:00 a.m., Holy Family, Fresno
Joint Meeting with Standing Committee and Diocesan Council, Saturday May 30, 2015, 12:00 noon, Holy Family, Fresno
Standing Committee Meeting, Saturday, May 30, 2015, 1:00 p.m., Holy Family, Fresno
Northern Deanery Meeting, Saturday June 6, 2015, 10:00 a.m., St. Francis, Turlock
Southern Deanery Meeting, Saturday, July 11, 2015, 11:00 a.m., St. Andrew's, Taft
Warden and Treasurer Meeting, Saturday, July 11, 2015, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., St. Andrew's, Taft
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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From St. Paul's Modesto
Organ available
There is a Thomas Organ available for any parish who needs it.
It is a Celebrity Royal with a 2-tier keyboard. If you are interested
please call St. Paul's, Modesto 209.522.3267 and ask for Mike Cox.
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ICON WORKSHOP
St Andrew's Episcopal Church in Taft
May 14, 15 and 16
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day
Joyce Tanner will provide the supplies and the expertise for people to create an icon. St Andrew's will provide the lunches.
Joyce will be at St Andrew's Episcopal Church in Taft for three days in May to help whoever would like to create an icon.
As many of you already know Joyce has been offering these icon workshops all over the diocese and many people have benefited by her faithful instruction.
We can see her beautiful icons in many churches in the Diocese of San Joaquin.
Everyone is welcome to come and be given the opportunity to create. It is a wonderful way to explore some of the important people and symbols imbedded our common faith. A person does not need to be a talented artist to come, participate and have some fun painting in the long and ancient tradition of "writing an icon".
The cost of the workshop is $35.00 which is meant to cover the cost of the supplies needed to create an icon. Scholarships are available. Please contact the church if a scholarship is needed.
Joyce will be the speaker at the Taft Rotary Club luncheon meeting on Wednesday May 13
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The pictured icon is the Baptism of Jesus which is in St Andrew's Episcopal Church, in Taft, California.
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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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