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1-23-2015
May 8, 2015
I'm baaaaaack!
I've been back from my extended vacation for a while but this is my first time to write for the Friday Reflection since returning from my time in France.
For those of you who are not aware, I have a priest friend who retired from working in the US about 7 years ago and moved to the south of France. While in France he discovered an ecumenical English speaking group of Christians who were meeting together for prayer but had no minister or pastor. Over the past seven years he has gradually brought this group of English speakers living in France into the Church of England. It is still a very ecumenical group (Methodists, Quakers, Anglicans and Baptists) and very international (Scots, Brits, Irish, Americans, Canadians, and even some New Zealanders) but now officially part of the Church of England chaplaincy in the south of France.
My friend turned 75 this year and decided that he wanted to really, really retire. He wrote and asked me if I would like to come and do a mini-interim at his congregation for a couple of months while he travelled back in the US. That would give his congregation a time to get used to not having him around and I would get the use of his house and car while in France in exchange for Sunday services. I was delighted when Bishop David let me move last year's vacation into this year along with some of my vacation time from this year in order for me accept this once in a lifetime opportunity.
My experience with this ecumenical group has caused me to ponder some about models for church in our own diocese. This group of Christians in France had Holy Communion on the first and third Sundays of the month, Morning Prayer led by very well trained Lay Readers on the second and fourth Sundays (and on those Sunday's I was assigned to lead Eucharist at a different English speaking congregation within the chaplaincy), and a lay led Prayer and Praise service on the fifth Sunday of the month.
Everybody in the congregation seemed to get it that they needed to make room for someone else's worship style even though it wasn't their particular cup of tea. It made me think more about the hub model that we are moving toward as a diocese and how even more expansive our hub concept could be. What might happen if we really attempted to be more ecumenical and inclusive with Lutherans, Methodists and others as we move into our new model? What might our church look like in the future?
Only God knows.
A blessed Eastertide to all of you,
Canon Kate
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"Travel Light, leaving baggage behind."
Luke 10:1-12
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From School For Deacons...
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Nancy Key has graduated from The School for Deacons. Congratulations Nancy!
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The Rev. Dr. Tim Vivian, Priest-in-Charge of St. Paul's Bakersfield, has published in the Levan Humanities Review "The Beauty and Strangeness of the Soul," a review of Marilynne Robinson's new novel, Lila: http://www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu/lhr/3-1/Vivian.html.
Way to go Fr. Tim!
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From Integrity of San Joaquin...
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Believe Out Loud Workshop Coming to Modesto!
Integrity's Believe Out Loud (BOL) workshops are designed to teach people how to engage their parishes in meaningful conversations about becoming more welcoming to LGBTQ persons, and how to take the next steps in being public about it. With the tools you will gain from this workshop, you can work with your fellow Christians to build your churches as inclusive communities that welcome EVERYONE into the body of Christ. BOL Workshops ensure that each participant will leave with the ability and confidence to start the conversation in a collaborative, non-confrontational way.
Sponsor: Integrity USA
Facility by: Integrity Provincial Coordinator Cindy Smith
and San Joaquin Diocesan Organizer Jan Dunlap
Location: St. Paul's Episcopal Church,
Fellowship Room, Parish Hall
1528 Oakdale Rd, Modesto, California 95355
Date: May 16, 2015
Time: 10:00a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (lunch provided)
Sign in: 9:30a.m.
Registrations on-line: Click Here
Fee: $25.00 non-members
$10.00 low income/students/seniors(55+)
$00.00 integrity members
Local organizer: Claudine Romegialli at
msgialli06457@yahoo.com
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Love, Suffering and the Cross:
A Retreat with Julian of Norwich
June 5-7, 2015
While having lived in the 14th century, Julian of Norwich has much to say to us today. Her visions of Christ's suffering reveal the depths of love, and surprisingly convey a sense of peace and joy. Come to St Anthony's Retreat House in Three Rivers to learn about and pray with this extraordinary woman. Fr. Luis Rodriguez, the Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Savior in Hanford, will be leading this retreat, which is very similar to the Women's Retreat he led some years ago at ECCO. He is a friend of the Julian Shrine in England, has visited there many times and led a number of pilgrimages to this holy place.
A registration form with further details can be clicking here, or by visiting St Anthony's website at http://www.stanthonyretreat.org.
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The Benedictine Experience...
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The Benedictine Experience
takes place each year in a number of special places around the United States and England. Each Experience offers an opportunity to live the rhythm of Benedictine life for a few days in a "thin place" where God's presence seems very near. Each offers a chance to explore Benedictine values such as humility, stability, and listening. Every day, rich in silence, offers the distinctive balance of time for prayer, study, work, and rest. Two Benedictine Experiences are coming up in June:
Bishop's Ranch, Healdsburg, California, June 22-29, 2015: This is truly a "thin place," with beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards and hills. We will learn from conferences by Sr. Mary Donald Corcoran, OSB as well as Fr. James Knutsen and Fr. Robert Hale, OSB. Sacred music helps us build a Benedictine community of constant prayer with John Renke as musical director.
Canterbury Cathedral, June 22-29, 2015: We will stay at the Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, within the Precincts of the Cathedral. In this splendid and sacred space, we will join the Cathedral community in Morning Prayer, Eucharist, and Evening Prayer each day, often with the Cathedral choir. Our spiritual director is Abbot Stuart Burns, OSB, who is the abbot of a growing community of Benedictine brothers and sisters at Mucknell Abbey in Worcestershire.
For more information and registration details, please visit www.benedictfriend.org, email info@benedictfriend.org.
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From the Diocesan Office...
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For Clergy and Lay:
The 56th Annual Diocesan Convention is October 23-24, 2015 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Modesto, CA. The Convention Committee is asking everyone to save the date. We encourage everyone to attend and welcome all who would like to participate. Please direct any questions to: Stephanie Gilmer (sgilmer@diosanjoaquin.org) Marilyn Metzgar (mmetzgar@diosanjoquin.org)
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.
Articles for Friday Reflection
Parishes and Missions! We want to know what's 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.
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. 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.,
St. Francis, Turlock.
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Central Deanery Meeting
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 at 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
Commission on Ministry Meeting, Saturday, June 13, 2015, 9:30a.m.-4p.m., Holy Family, Fresno
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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St. Paul's, Modesto Outreach to Girl Scout Community
As part of our service to the community, St. Paul's regularly opens its doors free of charge to various Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops. This past month about 60 girls took part in the Girl Scouts Powder Puff Derby held in our church hall. Each competitor received a kit with pinewood to create her car. The girls then placed them atop the sloping track and let gravity carry them to the floor. They created designs on the cars that included Girls Scout Cookies, flowers and "The A-Team." A special themed Girl Scout Cookie pinewood derby car was included in the race. Herein is an example of the types of community building events to which our church aspires as part of nurturing the local community.
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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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From St. Michael's, Ridgecrest
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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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