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 June 19, 2015
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Next week Episcopalians from several countries will gather in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. For those of you who are perhaps unfamiliar with the reason and purpose for/of General Convention, suffice it to say, this is TEC's most significant forum (certainly in size) where our legislative work occurs. Equally, (and I frame these words hopefully as this is your bishop's first GC) I hope this will be an ecclesial occasion where relationships are enhanced, community is built and gratitude is expressed to God for the gift of the Church and the mission given to us.
During General Convention, our Deputies and yes, your Bishop will offer updates and observations regarding proceedings. And following GC, more specifically, during our Pre-Convention gatherings leading up to our own Annual Convention, our Deputies will offer more extensive reports and commentaries regarding their experiences of GC. And lastly, at our Annual Convention in October, a number of our Deputies will offer brief reflections from GC.
I wish to name the members of our Diocesan Deputation (and your Bishop and Chancellor) in this space, more importantly, I ask that you remember us in your thoughts and prayers
Delegates
Cindy Smith, Chair
Nancy Key
Bill Latham
The Rev. Glenn Kanestrom
The Rev. Cn. Kate Cullinane
The Rev. Michele Racusin
The Rev. Luis Rodriguez
Alternates
The Rev. Paul Colbert
The Rev. Lyn Morlan
The Rev. Anne Smith
Our Chancellor, Michael Glass And, The Rt. Rev David Rice
Peace Sisters and Brothers, please take good care of EDofSJ whilst we are away. Blessings
+David
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"Travel Light, leaving baggage behind."
Luke 10:1-12
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From the Commission on Ministry...
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The Commission on Ministry has accepted and approved Josie Daughrity, St. John the Baptist, Lodi, Amy Larsen, St. Francis, Turlock, and Greg Masztal, St. Paul's, Modesto for Postulancy.
The Commission on Ministry has accepted and approved Nancy Key and Gail Bernthal, both of Holy Family, Fresno for Holy Orders.
Congratulations to all!
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Trafficking Events in the Diocese ...
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TRAFFICKING EVENTS IN THE DIOCESE
St. Nicholas, Atwater/Merced
Wednesday, July 8, 2015, 6:30 p.m.
Sam Pipes Room at the Merced Civic Center,
18th & N St., Merced
St. Anne's and St. John the Evangelist, Stockton
Saturday August 1, 2015, 10:00 a.m. Alumni House, College of the Pacific 3601 Pacific Ave, Stockton
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Tour Against Trafficking...
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A Story of the Bag
From Ed Bearden, St. Paul's, Modesto
In April while picking our mail up at the Empire Post Office my wife, Roberta, and I saw a woman sitting at a picnic table in front of a former child care center. She was cutting fabric with a pair of scissors. We had prepared our back-pack a few weeks before but having two cars proved to be a problem back-pack wise. We always had the wrong car. If we noticed a homeless person the back-pack was in the other car. Well here we were, in Empire, picking up our mail and there she was cutting fabric on a rather cool day. We stopped and I talked to her a while. Her name is Kayla and she had been around Empire her whole life. Briefly she had stayed with relatives in Southern California but it only lasted about a year. As happens, families fight and she found herself on the edge of a real mess; the sort that include violence and calls to the police. Her addiction at that time may have also been a factor. On returning to Empire she found herself homeless but glad to be back. Addiction didn't seem to be a current problem. The fabric she was cutting was old tee-shirts she had picked up somewhere and was removing whatever design was on the shirt. Mostly these were advertisements of some sort. Her plan was to get a blanket at a thrift store and sew the various advertisements on the blanket. She said people really liked them and would pay as much as $200.00 for one of her blankets. While I didn't say it, I thought if no one bought them she would at least have something to keep her warm at night and the fun of making it herself. Kayla had a medium sized pit-bull for companionship and perhaps a measure of protection. She was interested in the back-pack and the story of what we were doing. She requested a copy of my story if it were published and said I could send it General Delivery, Empire.
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Good News from our Parishes and Missions...
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Saint Matthew's Church, San Andreas
recently gifted the Sisters of Saint Margaret at the Foyer Notre Dame in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with a set of two Chalices and Patens for Mass in loving memory of Sister Marie Margaret SSM.Sister Marie Therese SSM, recently wrote saying that they received these Sacred Gifts in time for a Diocesan Requiem Mass celebrated for Sister Marie Margaret SSM
+May she rest in peace.
St. John the Evangelist, Stockton
has a bike ministry called the HUB, which stands for "Helping Urban Bicyclists". We build and repair bike for the homeless and the under-employed who need transportation while trying to improve their lives. So far, we have built and given away 15 bikes since starting this fledgling ministry last September. Old bikes and parts are donated and used to complete a finished product to give away.
Mr. Littlefield (pictured) was greatly helped by receiving a bike. We recently received a letter from Adam Cheshire, Chief Executive Officer, Stockton Shelter for the Homeless thanking us for our service to the community and helping Mr Littlefield in the process of getting back on their feet.
Deacon Stephen Bentley,
St. John the Evangelist, Stockton
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Upcoming Events at Our Parishes and Missions...
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RENEW MY CHURCH, TRANSFORM MY LIFE A WEEKEND OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AND PARISH REVITALIZATION
Saturday, June 20, 2015 St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church 316 El Dorado St., Stockton, CA
Guest Speaker: The Rev. Canon Dr. Fred Vergara, Episcopal Church Missioner, Asiamerican Ministries
9:30 AM - ARRIVAL, REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
10:00 AM - MISSION, VISION AND PRAYER What is the mission of the church? What is your specific vision for your church? How do you integrate them into prayer?
11:00 AM - Break
11: 15 AM - A THREE-FOLD MINISTRY: WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, AND SERVICE Worship is ministry to the Lord; fellowship is ministry to the church; and service is ministry to the world. How do you develop and improve your church's three-fold ministry?
12: 15 PM - Lunch
1:15 PM - PRACTICUM 1: How to Lead Contemporary Worship
2:15 PM - PRACTICUM 2: How to Pray for Healing and Deliverance
3:15 PM - PRACTICUM 3: How to Share the Gospel/Evangelize
Please join us for Holy Eucharist on Sunday, June 21 at 10:30 AM
The Rev. Dr. Winfred Vergara, guest preacher.
To register for the Seminar please e-mail Karen at episcopalangel@outlook.com
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Fire and Love: John the Baptist's Legacy
Celtic Eucharist, Party and Bonfire Wednesday June 24, 7:00 p.m.
An event celebrating the nativity
of John the Baptist and the summer
solstice. Please bring a beverage or snack
to share for the potluck party.
The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist
1055 S. Lower Sacramento Road,
Lodi, California 95242
stjohnslodi@sbcglobal.net www.stjohnsoflodi.org
Priest In-Charge The Rev. Elaine Breckenridge
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"Inequality for All"
Film and Discussion
St. Paul's, Visalia
June 29, 2015
As a child, Professor Robert Reich (former U.S. Secretary of Labor and current Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at Berkeley) made alliances with older boys as protection from bullying. Born with a condition that limited his physical growth, be became a target. As an adult, his identification with those who suffer from the many forms of economic bullying led him to seek protection for them.
The film, "Inequality for All", is based around Professor Reich's book "Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future". At times funny, educational, compassionate, entertaining, and poignant, "Inequality for All" sheds light on the widening economic inequality in America, it's causes, how it can undermine democracy, and the real people whose lives are affected -- some of whom inhabited his class, "Wealth and Poverty", on the Berkeley campus. Finally, he deals with what should be done, the role of the middle class, and how it could get done.
This outstanding 90 minute film will be presented Monday, June 29th at 6:30 p.m. with discussion after the viewing. This event will be held "The Little House" at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Visalia, 939 Chinowth. This will be the first of an on-going series of speakers or documentary/discussion events. Come join us in the conversation! All are welcome!
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Bakersfield
Sunday July 5th 11:30 a.m.
Old Fashioned Picnic to celebrate 2 years since
Grace moved into and became St. Paul's.
Hamburgers, hotdogs and all the sides.......
Watermelon eating contest, 3 Legged sack races, Pie Bake off
and Blue Ribbon Winner, Photobooth, Music and more to come....
in the courtyard in front of St. Paul's.
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For Wardens, Jr Wardens and Treasurers...
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Warden and Treasurer Workshops.
Warden Workshop
Presenters: Bishop David and Canon Kate
The Roles of Wardens, Vestries, and Treasurers
What your job is and what your job is not
Treasurer Workshop
Presenter: Treasurer Marion Austin
How to Stay Out Of Trouble with Money
Good guidelines to protect your financial resources
All Wardens and Treasurers in the Diocese are strongly encouraged to attend.
This workshop WILL NOT be like those held in the diocese in previous years.
Meeting Dates and Locations:
July 11, 2015 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 703 5th Street, Taft
July 18, 2015 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1528 Oakdale Road,
Modesto
July 18, 2015 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Holy Family, Fresno, 1135 E. Alluvial Avenue, Fresno
No Fee to Attend
Click Here for Registration Form
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Northern Deanery Meeting:
The next Northern Deanery Meeting will be September 26, 2015. Location to be determined.
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Central Deanery Meeting: Let's all go to the ball game!
The next Central Deanery event will be gathering at Chukchansi Park to watch the Grizzlies play on August 2, 2015. The game starts at 6:05 PM. The Rev. Suzie Ward is working on reserving a block of tickets. Each congregation in the Central Deanery needs to make an estimate of how many people will be coming and email her 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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From the Diocesan Office...
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For Clergy and Lay:
We have been receiving many requests for bags and we are planning another order however we DO need financial support for the missional bag program. The first two bag orders were possible due to gracious donations from St. Paul's, Visalia and Bishop David.
Each order is $465.00 for 500 qty. and any contribution from you towards this amount would be greatly appreciated.
Please send your donations to The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, 1528 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355. Please write Yellow Bags in the memo line. Thank you.
We need Stories of the Bag from all parishes and missions for Friday Reflections. Please submit to emeyer@diosanjoaquin.org!
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)
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.
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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What's Happening in the DIO
78th General Convention, June 25-July 3, 2015, Salt Lake City, Utah
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
Deacon Luncheon with Bishop David, Tuesday, July 14, 2015, 11:30 a.m., Pane Cafe, Fresno
Warden and Treasurer Meeting, Saturday July 18, 2015, 10:00-noon, St. Paul's, Modesto
Warden and Treasurer Meeting, Saturday July 18, 2015, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Fresno,Holy Family
Central Deanery Clericus, July 28, 2015, 6:00 p.m., Home of Canon Kate Cullinane
Central Deanery Meeting, August 2, 2015, 6:00 p.m., Chukchansi Park
Northern Deanery Meeting, August 26, 2015, Location and time TBD
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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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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