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July 17, 2015
Dear People of San Joaquin,
Below is a letter that is being sent to the groups and people that we have asked you to invite to your Trafficking Awareness Events.
I am the Rt. Rev. David Rice, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. I am writing to invite you to join me for a cycling tour in the Central Valley of California during the month of October. This tour has the purpose to raise awareness concerning human trafficking in the places we live and support advocates already engaged in their work against trafficking. This tour, coordinated by the diocese over which I am bishop, will invite economic support for local agencies and organizations that are working to end trafficking. As part of this effort, I have asked my parishes and missions in our diocese to screen the documentary film, The Trafficked Life, in their community and hold a question and answer session after watching the film.
If riding 750 miles across the valley to gather attention for this rapidly growing 'crime' catches your attention and imagination, I invite and encourage you to consider how you might support our efforts. We are looking for people to: sponsor riders, directly fund the agencies/organizations who are already working against trafficking, ride part of the route with us as a sponsored or non-sponsored rider.
As I am inviting others, I am inviting you to visit the touragainsttrafficking.org website. Please check out how you can support this tour, specifically, I am inviting you to sponsor riders like myself and others.
Many thanks to those parishes and missions that have held or will be hosting soon a Trafficking Awareness Event. The response to these events has been wonderful.
+ David
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"Travel Light, leaving baggage behind."
Luke 10:1-12
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The Rev. Bill Eastman passed away on July 14, 2015. Fr. Bill was previously a priest in this diocese. Fr. Bill joined the Anglican Diocese of the Southern Cone after the schism. At one time he was the Priest in Charge of St. Mathias in Oakdale, and held other positions in the previous Diocese of San Joaquin, assisted Fr. Tom Foster at Christ the King, Riverbank and supplied throughout the diocese. May he rest in peace.
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Trafficking Events in the Diocese ...
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TRAFFICKING EVENTS IN THE DIOCESE
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
St. Paul's, Visalia
Monday, August 17, 2015, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
210 Café
210 Center Street, Visalia
St. Matthew's, San Andreas
Human Trafficking Awareness Symposium
Thursday, August 27, 2015
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Calaveras County Library - Main Branch
1299 Gold Hunter Rd, San Andreas, CA
St. James, Sonora
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Watch this space for details.
St. Paul's, Modesto
St. Francis, Turlock
Thursday, September 17, 2015
6:30 p.m. refreshments
7:00 p.m. Presentation
Modesto Centre Plaza, Stanislaus Room
1000 L Street, Modesto
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Tour Against Trafficking...
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For Wardens, Jr Wardens and Treasurers...
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JUST A REMINDER FOR TOMORROW!
Warden and Treasurer Workshops.
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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Ordinand Book Fund
The Diocese of San Joaquin is certainly growing people in ministry for this diocese and the wider Church, but ministerial training in an expensive enterprise and many of those in training must bear all the costs themselves. The Ordinand Book Fund seeks to provide a grant of $100.00 a term to each of our postulants or candidates in training.
Are you willing to help in making the program a success, and give to the future deacons and priests of our diocese a tangible sign of your support? Theological education is expensive both in terms of time and money, and many of our people in training are completing their education with very little financial assistance, and even while working full-times jobs. These are sacrifices they make gladly, nevertheless, a small gift on the part of their diocese can help ease some of the financial costs, and tells them we value and support what they are doing.
The hope is that each congregation will donate at least $100.00 to this fund, and encourage individuals to make donations themselves. Checks can be sent to the diocesan office and be made out to the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, with Book Fund in the memo line. If you have any question, you can get in touch with the diocesan office or with Fr. Luis Rodriguez at hanfordrector@gmail.com.
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A Story of The Traveling Bag
From Betty Cordoza, St. James, Sonora
When Deacon Carolyn Woodall and I left for Salt Lake City, Utah, for General Convention, there was a "Yellow Bag" in the back of my Chevy Equinox. There is usually always one there. That was Sunday afternoon, June 21st.
Upon arriving at General Convention, we told Bishop David Rice that we had a "Yellow Bag" in the back of my car, if he needed one for "Show and Tell" when sharing with others about the Diocese of San Joaquin's "Yellow Bag Project" of providing supplies to the homeless on our streets in the diocese. And there the Yellow Bag sat, riding around Salt Lake City in the back of the Equinox.
On Monday night, June 29th, Carolyn and I were ravenously hungry after the Integrity Eucharist. It was about ten o'clock at night! The only place open was a Denny's not far from where we were staying.
Finally full, we left Denny's shortly before midnight. Seated at the end of the driveway into Denny's was a homeless gentleman. We pulled over, and gave him the Yellow Bag that had been riding in the back of my Equinox. As Carolyn was having mobility problems, I got it out of the car and took it over to him.
Since it was dark, I told him that it contained some toiletry and food items for him that I had brought with me to Salt Lake City, from my Church in California. He was moved to tears and kept thanking us and saying "Bless You," repeatedly. As we drove away, he was going through the bag and smiling.
Fortunately for us, Bishop David never required a Yellow Bag, for "Show and Tell." As planned, Carolyn and I had given away the Yellow Bag, to homeless man, in Salt Lake City, rather than the Diocese of San Joaquin.
We also managed to acquire judiciously, another dozen "sets" of shampoo, conditioner, and lotion, for more backpacks, from our twelve days in Salt Lake City and our two days on the road, each way.
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Education for Ministry (EfM) Mentor Training
The diocese will offer its first Vocations Formation Training for EfM mentors at Holy Family Church Wednesday, August 26th starting at 1:00pm and ending on Friday, August 28th at 2:00pm. Mentor training and certification is required in order to form and mentor an EfM group.
Vocations Formation is an advanced mentor training and requires that the trainee has attended a minimum of two training cycles and has an EfM group enrolled.
Certification requires a full 18 contact hours with your trainer, so you will need to attend the entire event. We plan the schedule carefully in order to use our trainers' time well.
The cost of the training is $199. The fee includes two meals. It does not cover overnight accommodations.
Please be aware that recertification as an EfM mentor is not automatic. This is standard practice. An important part of the trainer's role is to discern when mentor-trainees are appropriately prepared to continue to lead an EfM group.
Please return your form and registration fee soon to confirm your reservation, but no later than August 7th. Send them to the address listed on the bottom of the registration form, not to the Diocesan Office. In the meantime, don't hesitate to call or email if you have any questions.
Click here for the registration form.
Michele Racusin
Diocesan EfM Coordinator
rector@holyfamilyfresno.org
559.289.4076
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Upcoming Events at Our Parishes and Missions...
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Visalia Monday, July 27, 2015 6:30 p.m. 939 S. Chinowith St. Paul's, Visalia is hosting Steve Natoli who just published the book "Liberally Speaking: Why Liberalism is Good for America. Steve Natoli is currently a history professor at the College of Sequoias in Visalia. In this book, Professor Natoli confidently analyzes the successes of America's liberal Left; he also makes a case on the need for America to continue on the road paved by giants such as Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy in the past, Mr. Obama today, and all Americans who believe in the liberal vision of a society that puts people first in the pursuit of peace, freedom, prosperity and genuine equality for all. He will be sharing his ideas and leading participants in a discussion. he evening presentation begins at 6:30 PM at 939 S. Chinowth (in the Little House.) |
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Northern Deanery Meeting:
The next Northern Deanery Meeting will be September 26, 2015, 10 a.m. - 12 noon, St. John the Evangelist, Stockton.
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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, September 19, 2015,
2:00 p.m., St. Paul's, Bakersfield.
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From the Diocesan Office...
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For Clergy and Lay:
The Diocese has signed up for the TENS Program for Stewardship. Please contact the Diocesan Office for this year's log in and password.
Yellow Bags have arrived and will distributed at the Warden and Treasurer Workshops July 11th, Taft and July 18th, Modesto and Fresno. 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.
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
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 Clericus, Tuesday, September, 15, 2015, 11:00 a.m., St. Anne's, Stockton
Southern Deanery Meeting, Saturday, September 19, 2015, 2:00 p.m., St. Paul's, Bakersfield
Northern Deanery Meeting, September 26, 2015, 10:00 a.m.- 12 noon, St. John the Evangelist, Stockton
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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