Tech-savvy strides have been made to bring you Convention information on your smart-phone: edsd.org. 

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The dedication of the Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 21. Hospitality begins at 9 a.m. Arrive early for optimal parking. This event is free and open to all.

Prayer flags are still being accepted. See article.

Volunteers who can serve as greeters are still being accepted. Contact Nancy Holland for more information.

Hotel parking is $5 with validation. No in-and-out privileges. Visit the registration table for validation.

Due to the overwhelming response to the dinner, we added more tables and renumbered them. Everyone who has registered to attend the dinner should check-in at 5 p.m. and pick up a new ticket and meal choice card. Convention attendees will receive their dinner tickets in their packets.

The Friday reception begins at 5:30 p.m. on the tennis patio and in the gallery.

The doors open for dinner at 6:30 p.m. 

Church banners and stands are wanted for the Eucharist. Contact the Rev. Canon Brooks Mason to reserve your spot. Don't let your church be left out!

The diocesan-wide choir is still accepting singers. RSVP to Canon Martin Green.

The festive Eucharist at St. Paul's Cathedral begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 22. Hospitality begins at 8 a.m. Free event.

More Info Here Questions? Contact Bobbi Hoff, 619-481-5454 or Hannah Wilder, 619-200-5036.

We're 200 away from our goal!

Eighteen congregations have made prayer flags for Diocesan Convention! We appreciate all your hard work . If you still have creativity left in your hearts, minds and hands, stop by the prayer flag open house at the Episcopal Church Center, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, 92107, Monday through Thursday next week, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Help us reach our goal of 1,000 prayer flags! To deliver flags, contact Canon Nancy Holland, 619-823-8998.

Campaign Kick-Off Countdown

The Build the Serving Church capital campaign will kick-off on the first evening of our 40th Annual Diocesan Convention on Friday, February 21. 

Only 7 days away!

• Use the collect and propers for the Martyrs of Sudan found on page 370 in Holy Women, Holy Men. 
• Lessons: Wisdom: 3:1-9, Hebrews 10:32-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Psalm 116:10-17 and the preface of holy week.
• Add a prayer for peace and reconciliation among all Sudanese to the weekly prayers of the people in your parish
• View this flyer for more information

Leadership Academy

Leading an Episcopal church is no easy task. Juggling finances, communications, outreach, discipleship and mission can be taxing. Attend this one-day conference about everything you need to know to be an effective leader. Saturday, March 15 at St. Bartholomew's, 16275 Pomerado Rd., Poway, $15 in advance. $20 at the door. Scholarships are available. Please contact Canon Julie Young for scholarship information. Visit the diocesan website for workshop specifics and to register.

Come enjoy a day of rest and renewal with meditations led by the Rev. Maryanne Lacey interspersed with quiet times for contemplative prayer, journaling and walking the labyrinth. Coffee and gathering at 9 a.m. Program 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Eucharist at 12 p.m. followed by lunch and optional silent reflection. Saturday, March 15 at St. David's, 5050 Milton St., San Diego. Bring a salad or dessert to share. RSVP to Janet Allen Shaw, 619-823-2304.

The Rev. Gary Hall

Take time for yourself this spring with a weekend retreat for adults at Camp Stevens. Retreats include: A reflective weekend led by the Rt. Rev. Gary Hall, dean of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., and formerly rector of All Saints', Pasadena (Feb. 28-March 1); a rejuvenating women's retreat (March 28-30); a weekend gardening workshop, where you can spend time outdoors, and learn from Camp Stevens's resident garden-farm director on its 3+ acres of gardens (May 16-18).

Seeds of Hope

Is your church hoping to start a garden? Join Camp Stevens for part one of two workshops about building a successful garden. Our first workshop will focus on building your garden's foundation within the community. Topics will include strategies for planning and working in small groups that encourage participation and consensus building. Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. $10. For more information on these, and other programs, visit www.campstevens.org.

Join Episcopal Community Services in giving up one meal each week for Lent. Donate what you would have spent on that meal to ECS programs for homeless, mentally ill people. From March 5- April 19, stand in solidarity with those who struggle to find their next meal. For more information, visit the website or contact Deann Ayer, 619-694-9892. 

Visit Dorcas House in Tijuana on Saturday, February 22. Dorcas House is a foster home for children, many of whose parents are incarcerated.  Meet in the Cathedral parking lot at 10:30 a.m. Bring $20 to cover food and transportation. We park at the border, walk across, eat a delicious lunch, taxi to Dorcas House, play with the children, and are back at the Cathedral by 6 p.m. No Spanish required. For more info or to sign up for the trip, contact Suzanne Warren, 619-437-8700.  www.dorcas-house.org 

The Diocesan Service Coalition (DSC) is a consortium of outreach/service coordinators at churches throughout the diocese who meet quarterly to network, share ideas and best practices, and collaborate on outreach projects. We will hold a desert region Service Summit on Sunday, March 2 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at All Saints', 305 H St., Brawley. Anyone interested or involved in outreach efforts (clergy and lay) are encouraged to attend this exciting meeting with Bishop Mathes and service coalition members. For more information contact Sarah Shealy Stump.

Coachella Valley Service Summit will take place also on Sunday, March 2, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. This separate meeting will be held at St. John's, 45319 Deglet Noor St., Indio.

World Water Day
The official winter event of the Diocesan Service Coalition involves every congregation. We'll raise funds to purchase one well for a village ($5,000) through Episcopal Relief and Development. Creative fundraising ideas and support for your congregation are available. Contact Sarah Shealy Stump for more information or click here.  

Imagine the most energetic worship service of your life. Now imagine that twice a day. Throw in workshops, parties, and celebrations of culture from Hawaii to Holland, Dominican Republic to Denver, and all across the Episcopal world. Now imagine it with 2,000 teens. That's EYE! Learn more. Please share this news with the youth of your congregation. Registration deadline is March 1. Questions? Contact Keren Rodriguez, 619-481-5455.

A new e-newsletter debuted this month: Youth Buzz. It's choc-full of information about youth events, including profiles of diocesan people, tidbits from Camp Stevens staff and other exciting news. This is one email you won't want to miss. Sign up here.

They're back! Grammy Award-winning Chanticleer is a cappella singing at its best. Audiences worldwide have been delighted by this brilliant chorus of 12 illustrious male voices because of their sublime sound and unrivaled technique. Sunday, March 30 at 4 p.m. at St. James by-the-Sea, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. 

Adults only Mardi Gras celebration complete with Louisiana red beans and rice, chicken and sausage gumbo, jambalaya and more! Live New Orleans music and dancing. Saturday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Dunstan's, 6556 Park Ridge Blvd., San Diego. $30/person. Contact Roy Heringer with questions.

St. Alban's, El Cajon welcomes you every Wednesday evening during Lent, beginning on March 12 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a light Lenten meal, conversation around the book, True Prayer, An Invitation to Christian Spirituality by Father Kenneth Leech, and Compline prayer to end the evening. Call the church, 619-444-8212, to RSVP.