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Radical Welcome, Radical Sending:
Two Sides of the Same Coin
The Rev'd Kathi Galicia,
St. Francis, Turlock
For several years at St. Francis in Turlock, members of our congregation have met on Thursday evenings for study and fellowship. Our group is taking a short hiatus this summer and preparing to begin another book in mid-August. Choosing a book is sometimes a challenge. It's important to find something that appeals to those who attend regularly, while hoping that newer members may become interested and wish to join the group. In choosing our next study, the main dilemma is to pick between two very timely books, both of which are relevant to the direction in which St. Francis and our diocese have been moving. The book, Radical Sending, by Demi Prentiss and J. Fletcher Lowe, caught my eye while we were just beginning Toxic Charity. It seems like a logical choice, since we have been learning about how to increase the relevance of the outreach we are
doing at St. Francis.
I n the introduction to the book, Demi & Fletcher mentioned that their work was in response to a book by The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, published in 2006, called Radical Welcome. Because we will have the opportunity to meet Canon Stephanie in October at our Diocesan Convention, I think it is a good idea to explore her book as well. The plan now is to spend several weeks studying both books, beginning Radical Sending in a few weeks and finishing Radical Welcome closer to the time when we will meet its author. In a way, Radical Welcome and Radical Sending are two sides of the same coin.Read more ...
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 Preparing for Canonball Express |
Current Total: $7,726.55
Thank you, Thank you, and again Thank you. The donations are rolling in. If you have not yet contributed to the Canonball Express please prayerfully consider doing so. The new Canon to the Ordinary needs some wheels!
Blessings,
+David
Please send your donations to The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, memo Canonball Express,1528 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355
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Mutual Ministry Review (MMR)
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"If you want to build a ship don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work but rather teach them to long for the immensity of the sea."
(Attributed to Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of "Le Petit Prince" [The Little Prince])
This is one of my absolute favorite quotes as it speaks about vision and purpose and "adaptive challenges" and it points to how we get there.
Mutual Ministry Review (MMR)
Firstly, I wish to dispel any presuppositions, preconceptions or entertained myths regarding Mutual Ministry Reviews. This is what a MMR is not. It is not a referendum. It is not a tool or mechanism endeavoring to resolve conflict. It is not a performance review, nor is it ever about a singular person. A MMR is a process of "appreciate inquiry" and mutual conversation. It is a process which fosters queries like: "What is going well?" "What could be better?" "What is our vision and purpose? "And how are we going with that?"
Earlier this year I experienced a MMR with Diocesan Council and Standing Committee. This process was choreographed by Suzy Ward (who gleaned much of the information from other dioceses and organizations). Suzy was joined by Don Austin (Dio Council) and Kathie Galicia (Standing Com) to facilitate the process. I found the process informative, enriching and I hasten to add, honest, healthy and holy.
I include here a "wordle" (word cloud [compliments Ellen Meyer]) highlighting some of the conversations from our Diocesan MMR.
If you would like to access the more complete work of our Diocesan MMR, please contact Ellen Meyer.
It is our intent to make this MMR process a part of our Diocesan "Cycle of Behavior and Practice" that is to say, every three years we will engage in the process.
I believe it is extremely important that MMR become a part of every Letter of Agreement for our clergy, said another way, the MMR process will enhance our local life therefore should be a part of our local "cycle of behavior and practice."
Suzy Ward is willing to serve as a consultant as you move towards engaging in MMR. I invite you to contact her as she will offer a simple and easily applicable process.
I look forward to hearing about how this process is enriching the common work and service in your local context.
If you have any queries, as I said, please contact Suzy or myself.
Blessings
+David
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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
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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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For Clergy and Lay Leaders
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California Interfaith Power& Light
T he mission of California Interfaith Power & Light is to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. I encourage you to learn more about this group by going to their website at:
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Alpha Omega Stewart III (nickname Poppy) collecting food for St Paul's, Bakersfield Food Pantry Co-op and praying with a woman who just donated two bags of food.
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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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A steward is not one who owns, but one who makes the best
use of everything he/she
have been given
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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Southern Deanery Meeting
Saturday, September 17, 11:am,St. Michael's, Ridgecrest
Northern Deanery Meeting
Saturday, October 1, 10am,
St. John the Evangelist, Stockton
Central Deanery Meeting
Sunday, October 9, 3pm
St. Paul's, Visalia
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
St. Sherrian's, Kernville
St. Francis, Turlock
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