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Rest in Peace

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April 2014

Holy Week on Holy Ground

Bishop Mathes

Beloved,

The forty days are coming to an end. We prepare the palm fronds to be handed out. In a matter of days, we will move from "Hosanna" to "Crucify him." And then after an ignoble burial, we will wait expectantly in the dark. We await a new creation. We wait for the light to dawn. We wait for God's greatest masterpiece.

I am aware of how hard you work in this season. There is so much to do: sermons, an array of bulletins, readers in place. To be sure, sometimes in the flurry of doing ministry we all can lose sight of the beauty, grace, and unfettered joy of being the Jesus people. In managing church, we can forget whose body we are.

What almost always happens to me is that at that very moment when I feel overwhelmed with doing and duty I am gifted by a grace-filled moment within one of our congregations. Maybe it is the beauty of a choral piece, the way a child's face lights up when receiving communion, an example of life-giving service, or simply being with the community of faithful gathered on holy ground. Whatever it is, I have almost come to expect a holy spirit gift in each and every visitation.

That is the privilege of being priest and bishop with and among you in this time and place. I cannot imagine a more gifted way to live out this vocation.

As we renewed our vows today and received the oil of baptism and unction, we touched the core of who and whose we are. I pray that it was one of those liminal places where God's gift of abundant life is seen and felt.

Agape and pax,

The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes

Bishop

Leadership Academy

If you weren't able to attend the Leadership Academy at St. Bartholomew's last month, you can still benefit from the presentations and videos on the diocesan website.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, April 17: FootWashing, 11 a.m., the Episcopal Church Center, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego

Good Friday, April 18: Stabat Mater & Meditations at St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego, 12 p.m.

Saturday, April 19: Easter Vigil with Bishop Mathes presiding, at St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 20: Easter with Bishop Mathes preaching and presiding, at St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, May 3: Episcopal Refugee Network Gala on board the USS Berkeley, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Click here for tickets

Saturday, May 3: Celebration of New Ministry at All Souls', 1475 Catalina Blvd., San Diego at 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 4: St. George's Day Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 7: Communicators' Lunch at the Episcopal Church Center, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, 12 p.m.

Saturday, May 10: Celebration of New Ministry at St. Anne's, 701 West St., Oceanside, 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 17: Celebration of New Ministry at St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego 10 a.m.

Friday, May 30: Holy Smoke at 6:30 p.m. at All Souls', 1475 Catalina Blvd., San Diego. A relaxing evening with Episcopal Community Services.

Walking the Way Stewardship Conference

The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) invites you to its annual conference, Walking the Way, June 6-7 at Emory University in Atlanta. Keynote speakers include: Joan Chittister, OSB, the Rt. Rev. Robert Wright, bishop of Atlanta, and the Rev. Charles LaFond, canon steward at St. John's Cathedral in Colorado. To access webcast information according to time zone, go to: http://www.tens.org/2014-conference

Rest in Peace

The Rev. Rempfer Lees "Jack" Whitehouse died last week. His services will be held after Easter. Please pray for his wife, MaryRose, and other family members.

Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon him. Amen.

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