Called to be... St. James Episcopal Church, Sonora.
Each of us and our individual parishes are called to be living, breathing, active disciples of Jesus Christ. How that plays out in each of our lives and the life of the parish we belong to, depends on our ability to listen to Christ's voice and to follow him at a moment's notice.
St. James is unique in that it is both a beloved icon for the community of Sonora, Tuolumne County and beyond; as well as an active parish of the Episcopal Church since 1860 when it was built. We are known simply as "The Red Church". At St. James we don't have to look for or discern in prayer what we are, "Called to be". It stands out as you approach the church building. It sits at the top of the hill looking down on Washington Street; it is the very heart of the city of Sonora.
We are called to be "the light on the hill". A place of hope, love, and reconciliation to the hurting and broken world around us. A place where all are truly welcomed. To be a constant reminder that God is present in our world today. To be a constant reminder to the community of Sonora that we all need to deal with the homeless population. We remind them daily that they are "in our front yard". To enforce that image of 'the light on the hill", our church building, parish hall building, and grounds are lit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
All are truly welcomed regardless of their life experiences. We ask only that they join us as members of God's family in our journey towards Him. As a church family we offer support and comfort, assuring everyone of God's love for us. True welcoming is infectious and must come from the heart and that is what you feel when you come in contact with our church family.
We continue to grow monthly, numerically and spiritually. We welcome the new members who are encountering our faith for the first time, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We continue teaching with our Wednesday Worship Service and Gospel reflection. We welcome back the old members that have been gone for some time.
Even though most of our congregation is in their 60's, 70's, and 80's we are not afraid to get our hands dirty. We volunteer for all kinds of outreach. We meet those in need on a one to one basis. We do not simply sit in our pews and write checks. We are encouraged to go out and preach the Gospel with our lives, and if we have to use words. Our lives are the only bible some people will ever read. Our Red Church pins we wear open up opportunities for Evangelism and we find ourselves talking about our faith, the love of Jesus Christ, and how we are following Him.
We provide a Backpack program for the homeless which provides basic items and food for their immediate needs. We meet them on a one to one basis. We hand out an average of twenty backpacks a month.
We partner with Lighthouse Ministries to provide a food pantry and meals for the homeless on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Our $200,000 dollars a year Red Church Thrift Store provides jobs for those in our community who would have trouble finding employment. It also provides jobs for "Work Release From Prison" programs, and "Work for Welfare" programs. It provides a source of quality items at affordable prices to those on small incomes in the community. It provides items free of charge for those in need who cannot afford anything. And it provides outreach income and volunteer opportunities to St. James members.
We continue with the repair of our buildings and the upkeep of our grounds. To be both good neighbors, and to show our care and concern for God's creation and to sustain and renew the life of St. James, "The Red Church".
We help to sponsor and support agencies & programs in our community against "Human Trafficking" and racism.
We have reengaged with the social and economic life of our community with "The Red Church" concert series, the use of our facilities by various groups, and support of the Downtown Business District by participating in promotional events.
I believe you will find "The Five Marks of Mission here. We are His sheep and we follow His voice. We are His disciples and we seek to respond when He calls. We are both the beloved icon of the community; as well as an active parish of the Episcopal Church. We are "The Red Church". We are "the light on the hill".
From Fr. Verne L. Walter
St. James Episcopal Church, Sonora
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The Rev. Deacon Donald Rees
April 11, 2016
St. Francis Episcopal Church, Turlock
Thomas Jacobs
April 16, 2016
Husband of The Rev. Deacon Connie Jacobs
St. Raphael's Episcopal Church, Oakhurst
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The Right Reverend David C. Rice
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin
will ordain
Gail Elizabeth Bernthal
To the Sacred Order of Priests
In Christ's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
Saturday, The Twenty Third day of April
Two Thousand and Sixteen
At Eleven o'clock in the morning
The Feast Day of Saint George
Episcopal Church of the Saviour
519 North Douty
Hanford, California
Your prayers and presence are requested
Reception to follow Clergy: red stoles
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Parish and Mission Events
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Pictures from Grand Opening
off the HUB April 16th
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Human Trafficking Event in Visalia
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Human Trafficking
Time: 7 PM
Where: 1039 S. Chinowth, Visalia,
Congregation B'nai David
Who should attend: Parents, Teachers, Youth Leaders and anyone who wants to know more about Human Trafficking.
About this Film
America's youth find themselves engaged in a battle they never have been prepared to face. This movie is the story of two "All-American" teenage girls tricked into trafficking. One 18 and one 13, these girls were both manipulated and exploited.
Both were CHOSEN. For poster click here.
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Spring Tea- St. Paul's, Modesto
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Central Deanery Meeting
June 11,11am
Holy Family, Fresno
Deacon Nancy Key will be sharing highlights and showing slides of her recent Spanish Immersion pilgrimage with the Diocese of Los Angeles to the Anglican Diocese of Cuernavaca. She will include information on opportunities for others from the Diocese of San Joaquin to participate in future Spanish Immersion pilgrimages.
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Ordination to Priesthood, Gail Bernthal, Saturday, April 23, 11am, Church of the Saviour, Hanford
Diocesan Council and Standing Committee Joint Meeting/ lunch, Saturday, April 30, 11 noon, Holy Family, Fresno
Standing Committee Meeting, Saturday, April 30, 1pm, Holy Family, Fresno
Diocesan Council Meeting, Saturday, April 30,1pm, Holy Family, Fresno
Central Deanery Clericus, Thursday, May 18, 5:30pm, Holy Family, Fresno
Northern Deanery Meeting, Saturday, May 21, 10am, St. Francis, Turlock
Central Deanery Meeting, Saturday, June 11, 11am, Holy Family, Fresno
57th Diocesan Annual Convention, October 28-29, ECCO
Evergreen Conference Center, Oakhurst
Advent Clergy Retreat, December 6-8, St. Anthony, Three Rivers
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EDSJ
School for Deacons
"A Center for Learning"
I was consecrated bishop in June 2008, soon thereafter (a month and a few days) Tracy and I attended the Lambeth Conference at the University of Kent (UK). It was an absolutely wonderful way to begin one's episcopacy; equally it was a gift for Tracy to share the experience. Lambeth 08 was a major multimedia event and this was evident in the interviews given each day by bishops and spouses to the vast number of media outlets covering the conference. One of the most memorable interviews was from one of the African Bishops. This particular bishop was attending his fourth conference. As Lambeth is traditionally every 10 years, you do the math; he had been bishop for at least forty years. In this interview, the bishop was asked what he enjoyed most about being bishop and what he enjoyed most regarding the conference. He responded, "I am a learner. I love to learn. And I learn from everyone. Being bishop has afforded me the extraordinary opportunity to learn. And each time I have come here I have learned more. Lambeth has been a place where I have learned."
I have been reading The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization by Peter M. Senge. It is a rather thick tome. This is not a quantitative remark, it is simply an acknowledgement that Senge doesn't use ecclesial language (not church-speak). He uses business and systems and organizational rhetoric which perhaps makes it not easily applicable for the church. But I think it is and must be applicable. I believe exploring ways to become a "learning community" must be a well-defined and intentionally pursued priority for the church. Said another, I am completely and utterly convinced that for the church to be sustainable moreover vibrant, we must become far more serious about training, formation, continuing education, namely, becoming a "learning community."
Last year we launched the EDSJ's School for Deacons. The impetus for this school was to provide diocesan (local) training, formation, continuing education (forming a learning community) for postulants and candidates for the Holy Order of Deacon. Our own early learning has been that our school provides an extraordinary opportunity for not only deacons-in-waiting but for anyone, clergy and laity alike to be a learner.
So, sisters and brothers of the EDSJ, I commend to you our School for Deacons: A Center for Learning. If you would like to take a course in Old Testament or Church History or Theology, framed differently, if you are interested in becoming and continuing the path of a learner, to participate in a Learning Community, then I believe we have, as I said, an extraordinary opportunity for you.
If you are interested in exploring this possibility I would encourage you to have a conversation with your Rector or Priest-in-Charge and to contact Ellen Meyer, Michele Racusin or myself.
Eastertide blessings
+David
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St. John the Baptist, Lodi
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St. John the Baptist, Lodi
April 17, 2016
Baptism and Confirmation after ceremony group pic!
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For Clergy, Wardens, Treasurers
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Annual Peer Audits are to be done by June 30, 2016. Please fill out form included in the Annual Congregation Management Review Binder and send to the Diocesan office with confirmation of intent of audit.
Fr. Paul Colbert is available to do the required peer audit. Contact him at pcolbert@diosanjoaquin.org
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Safeguarding God's Children
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Safeguarding God's Children!
Please review your Safeguarding God's Children program in your parish. Are all volunteers working with children current with the training or have gone through the program?
Please contact Stephanie Gilmer, Diocesan Coordinator at mzgilmer@att.net.
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University of
Central Oklahoma
Click here for more information |
The Five Marks of Mission
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The Five Marks of Mission
Click here for poster to post
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TAKING ORDERS NOW!
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.
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Stories of the Bag, Missional Days, Five Marks of Mission, Special Events Articles can be submitted to the Diocesan Office at: emeyer@diosanjoaquin.org
All submissions are due Tuesday for the following Friday Reflection.
Submission requirements:
pictures -JPEG format
articles- word document
linked documents- PDF
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