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Dear Sisters and Brothers of the EDSJ
As an all-too-frequent-flyer, I wish to begin with this image. It has been an extraordinarily long flight, suffice it to say, the flight was challenging, sometimes turbulent, and certainly at times less than comfortable. And I trust the thought occurred to all those on board once-or-twice, will this thing ever land? Landed it has. We are on the runway and the tarmac upon which we find ourselves is unfamiliar to us, that's what eight years will do. And if you allow me to continue with the image for a moment longer; we are sitting on the tarmac and the attendant has indicated that the seatbelt sign is still on. Faithful ones of the EDSJ, this is the most important point I wish to convey. The seatbelt sign remains illuminated. It is not time yet to get up and empty the compartments overhead, nor is it time to deplane. We need to sit a bit longer. And patient we have been, particularly those who have been waiting for eight long years, what a flight! But sit a bit longer we must.
As I trust you are aware, the Supreme Court has denied the defendants' petition for review. Thus, the original judgement in favor of the EDSJ and ordering the return of the properties and funds stands.
And as we have anticipated, now much of the hard work truly begins. Firstly, our Chancellor and I need to engage in conversation with Bishop Eric Menees (ADSJ) and his Chancellor. These conversations will involve the ways in which properties are returned and the appropriate time frames established. I hope these conversations will occur as soon as possible and I am inviting your prayers for these discussions. I can assure you, the Chancellor and I will be approaching these conversations in the most pastoral manner possible. We will seek an orderly transition and exercise our responsibility on your behalf with humility and care.
Secondly, we need to give more attention to and prepare for the plan regarding the future landscape of the diocese. At the last joint meeting of Standing Committee and Diocesan Council, we discussed every property and explored through prayerful discernment the potential outcome regarding each one. SC and DC will continue to develop the plan in the days to come. We welcome your input via members of SC and DC. We want to ensure that we are working as consultatively and transparently as possible and to that end we will offer frequent updates.
And lastly, I must ask you to allow us to do the work we need to do at this time. I have every confidence that the attention we give to this part of the process will make our "deplaning" far more expeditious. So please again, be still a bit longer.
I have suggested in the past that we assume a position of "prayerful restraint." There will be an appropriate time and place for celebration. What we do now, which is what we are always called to do, is to give thanks to God that we are Called to be...
And the ways in which we continue to emerge in this Jesus Movement remains our focus.
I ask that you direct any queries from the Press to my office or to the Chancellor.
You are in my daily prayers and I give thanks to God for each of you.
Blessings
+David
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 Preparing for Canonball Express |
Current Total: $7,029.95
Last week we introduced the Canonball Express and already have received a good response. It is our hope that our new Canon to the Ordinary will be in place well before diocesan convention. Therefore we need to start raising funds for a new car. For the Car-thedra appeal, your generosity and the expediency in which you gave was extraordinary. I hope we can duplicate that again for the Canonball Express.
Blessings,
+David
Please send your donations to The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, memo Canonball Express,1528 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355 Be on the lookout! Canonball Express Envelopes were mailed yesterday, Thursday July 7th to all parishes and missions.
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Erskine Fire: A Time To Reflect
Fr. Bob Woods
St. Sherrian's, Kernville
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Smoke swiftly rising to the south. Never a good sign. A small fire, only 4 acres, had ignited at about 4 PM barely southeast of Lake Isabella. By 7 PM, it was past 5,000 acres, driven by a persistent wind that gusted upwards of 60 miles per hour. Unfortunately those winds were driving the fire into two small communities, South Lake and Squirrel Valley, both a mixture of conventional and mobile homes, a number of expensive places but mostly lower income, many uninsured.
A parishioner from South Lake called and, lacking a car, asked with some urgency if I could get him. Driving into the area, thoughts of Dante's writings and Viet Nam arose - it was that bad. I could watch the flames advance at an alarming rate. The parishioner had left by the time I got there and, we figured out later, I had undoubtedly passed him on the street, but never saw him. The smoke was that thick and, illuminated by flames, limited visibility to less than 40 feet. Fortunately he turned up at the Red Cross shelter the next morning. And the fire raged on, nearly 20,000 acres by morning. By week's end, about 50,000 acres and over 300 homes and buildings had been consumed. South Lake took the worst hit. Ironically, one parishioner's home burned to the water line while his neighbor's, another parishioner, was one of only 3 homes in the area that suffered only minor damage. In other areas, the fire leapt over some homes, consumed others, leaving a checker board of ash and the untouched. Read more
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57th Diocesan Annual Convention
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Radical, Welcome, and Sending
The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin
57th Annual Convention
October 28-29, 2016
ECCO
Evergreen Conference Center, Oakhurst
 Guest Speaker
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
Canon to the Presiding Bishop
for Evangelism and Reconciliation
Attention Clergy, Delegates and Alternates! Convention Notification Packets are in the mail!
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Called to Be...Life Long Learners! - Have you ever heard a "Bible quote" in the media and wondered...Is that really in the Bible?
- Have you ever heard that the Episcopal Church was started by King Henry VIII because he wanted a divorce and wondered... Is that really what happened?
- Have you ever wanted to go deeper in your spiritual life and wondered...What type of spiritual practices might help me?
- Have you heard about the Anglicans and wondered...What makes someone an Anglican and why does it matter?
- Have you ever....
Well...Maybe you are called to be...a participant in The Adult Life-Long Learning Center where you can explore your faith in a safe environment with other adult learners. What is it? - Classes offered include Scripture, Church History, Spiritual Practices, and more.
- Sessions are facilitated by University professors and ordained clergy.
- Participants can attend one or more of the classes.
When is it? - Classes offered on a monthly basis (third weekends--on Friday evenings and Saturdays) from September 16-17th to June 16-17th.
- Some of the classes are offered for the academic year (10 sessions), some for a semester, (5 sessions), others vary week to week.
- The length of each class ranges from one-half hour to three hours depending upon the subject.
Where is it? - Conveniently located in the center of the diocese at Holy Family Episcopal Church in Fresno.
How much does it cost? - Are you ready for this? We simply ask for a donation as you are able to support the expenses of the school. The facilitators donate their time. You will be responsible for the purchase of your books and supplies from outside vendors.
Frequently asked questions - Do I have to write papers? No.
- Is there work outside of the class? Yes. Depending upon the class, you may read a few pages, to several chapters of Scripture, to a book. You may be asked to try spiritual practices or to reflect on a Christian ethic. Commitments vary according to the class.
- What is the class schedule for the first year? Click here.
- How long is the program? Two academic years.
- Do I need to take the whole program or can I pick and choose what interests me? You can take whatever inspires you. The program repeats every two years.
- What should I do if I want more information or want to sign up? Email The Rev. Michele Racusin here: rector@holyfamilyfresno.org
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Announcements, Stories of the Bag, Missional Days, Five Marks of Missions articles, and 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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Returning Properties News from Chancellor Michael Glass
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In case you missed lastest email from Chancellor Michael Glass about returning properties click here
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Erskine Fire at Lake Isabella: Help Needed!
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Thank you for your calls and concern for parishioners whose property was damaged by the Erskine Fire at Lake Isabella. The good news is that 2 out of the 3 homes are repairable. One needs just cleaning, the other some electrical work and clearing outbuildings that burned. The third home burned to the waterline and there is no insurance.
Please contact Fr. Bob Woods at 760-376-2455 if you can donate or have connections to the following:
Motor home or trailer or
a tiny house or house kit
Wellhead and pump motor
Financial donations to purchase the above.
Donations are to be mailed to:
St. Sherrian's Episcopal Church P.O. Box 1837, Kernville, CA 93238. Memo: Erskine Fire Assistance.
Thank you,
Diocesan Staff
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October 1 - 9, 2016
The Community of St. Francis will offer a Ten Day Immersion Program in Franciscan Spirituality centered around the Feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4. Any interested woman over 18 is invited to join the Sisters at St. Francis House in San Francisco in studying Franciscan Spirituality and living out that spirituality through participation in our life of prayer, work, ministry, and community. Room and board are provided as part of this free program, but donations are always welcome.
(Note: St. Francis House unfortunately is not wheelchair accessible).
Application deadline:
September 1, 2016
The Community of St. Francis consists of Franciscan Sisters in the Episcopal Church who are part of the world-wide Franciscan family in the Anglican Communion: The Society of St. Francis.
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 Mission Focused Buildings
Go to link below to learn more!
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 Good stewardship is to understand that giving
is an integral part of our spiritual journey.
If you have yet to start your Stewardship plan, start now! Contact the Diocesan Office for the TENS password.
Stewardship is a year long program!
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The Five Marks of Mission
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The Five Marks of Mission
Click here for poster to post
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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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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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Central Deanery Clericus
Friday, July 15, 4pm
The Episcopal Church of the Saviour, Hanford
Native Vendor Market
Saturday, July 16
10am-4pm
St. John's, Tulare
Southern Deanery MeetingSaturday, September 17, 11:am,St. Michael's, Ridgecrest
Northern Deanery Meeting
Saturday, October 1, 10am,
St. John the Evangelist, Stockton
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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For Clergy, Wardens, Treasurers
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HAVE YOU SCHEDULED YOUR AUDIT?All audits should be have been done or scheduled by now and date communicated to the Diocesan Office! Audit is not optional.
Please turn in the 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
Completed Audits:
St. Matthew's, San Andreas
St. Paul's, Visalia
St. John the Baptist, Lodi
St. Nicholas, Atwater
St. Raphael, Oakhurst
St. John the Evangelist, Stockton
Holy Trinity, Madera
St. Paul's, Modesto
Scheduled Audits:
St. Michael's, Ridgecrest
St. Anne's, Stockton
St. Andrew's, Taft
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