~ The Book of Common Prayer

Bishops of the Episcopal Church, ours included, recently released this briefing paper that begins, "Bishops United Against Gun Violence (BUAGV) is a voluntary network of over fifty active and retired bishops of the Episcopal Church. Initially formed in the wake of the August 2012 shootings at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and the December 2012 shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, Bishops United explores the means of reducing the appalling levels of gun violence in our society and advocates policies and legislation that saves lives." Read the full paper (PDF).

Are you planning to apply for a 2015 UTO grant? It is time to get your plans together. Information is available on the diocesan website. Sunday, November 23 will be the diocesan ingathering Sunday. For more information on these items, contact UTO Coordinator Jamie Wood. 

Do you currently use ritesong or riteworship for your Sunday bulletins? If not, would you like to use this online software that includes up-to-date copyrights for music and templates for easy bulletin creation? The diocese has access to group pricing, which would save congregations anywhere from $50-$200 per year. Pricing Chart. Contact Hannah Wilder to convey your interest.

Shower Supplies Wanted

Showers of Blessings, the diocesan mobile shower unit, requests donations of used but clean jeans and sweatshirts. Also welcome: toiletries: hotel soaps, travel size shampoos, toothpaste and toothbrushes, razors, combs, chapsticks, etc. For more information, contact Pam Rieger, 619-366-5354.

General Convention

The Diocese of Utah seeks volunteers for the 2015 General Convention, which will take place at the Salt Palace Convention Center June 25 - July 3. Shifts range from 2-6 hours. More information and signups are available online. The 79th General Convention will take place in Austin, Texas in July, 2018. Learn more.

Dean Carroll

Matching Grant Doubles Your Gift

An anonymous donor has given a $50,000 matching grant to the Carroll Center, which is the second floor of the Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach. Bishop Mathes said that "naming the office suite after the Very Rev. James E. Carroll is a tribute to this kind, generous and faithful man." Your gift does double-duty in the Carroll Center. Please make your check payable to "EDSD" and write "Carroll Center" in the memo line or read more and participate online.

Lillian Jarrett and Bishop Mathes

Bishop's Annual Legacy Society Evensong

On November 2, St. Paul's Cathedral held a beautiful Evensong in honor of those who have remembered the Episcopal Church in their end-of-life plans. Anyone who has included the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, their own parish or an Episcopal ministry in their wills, is a member of the Bishop's Legacy Society. This year Mrs. Lillian Jarrett, widow of the Rev. Tally Jarrett (past rector of St. Peter's, Del Mar), spoke about the $1,000,000 gift to the Diocese as a result of her annual birthday card and phone conversation with one particular clergy spouse. She reminded us of the importance of showing hospitality to strangers for we may entertain angels unawares (Hebrew 13:2). Event Photos.

Sunday, November 9 at 5 p.m.

All members of the diocese are warmly invited to join St. Paul's Cathedral for this special service, followed by a reception. The Rev. Frank Muñoz, command chaplain of Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton, will preach. The cathedral is located at 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103.

Color guard at the 2013 Armed Forces Evensong

Jim Murphy

Building a Planned Giving Ministry and Legacy Society

Saturday, November 22, 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at St. Bartholomew's, 16275 Pomerado Blvd., Poway. Join the Episcopal Church Foundation's Jim Murphy and parish leaders from other congregations in an interactive session on best practices and new ideas for implementing on-going planned giving work at your congregation. Review resources, including the new toolkit, Planned Giving on Demand, to empower your leadership and learn how to support and thank donors. Leave with an action plan to move forward confidently with planned giving in your congregation. Individual 30-minute meetings with three parishes; parishes must register in advance. RSVP to: Registrar Keren Rodriguez, 619-481-5455.

Don't miss the last four classes of the fall. Discover the School for Ministry's adult midweek offerings. There are only three more classes this fall. This season's theme - "The Gospel of Mark: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World" - explores the social context and social conscience of the ancient world. This week's speaker is Bishop Mathes. He will discuss Mark and empire. On November 12, Father Mainwaring will address Mark's theology in a time of crisis and on November 19 Bishop Mathes and Father Munoz will explore mental health as it is expressed in Mark. Click here for more information.

Wednesdays, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
The School for Ministry, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, 92107. 

Register Here

Those who have children, teach children, or know the power of Godly Play to transform the learning experience for all ages shouldn't miss this special one-day training on creating sacred space. Saturday, November 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego. Register online at http://bit.ly/GodlyPlaySPC. The participant fee is $155, but full or partial scholarships are available. Contact the Rev. Colin Mathewson for details: mathewsonc@stpaulcathedral.org.

All retired clergy in the diocese are welcome to attend the annual luncheon with Bishop Mathes on Thursday, December 11 at St. Margaret's, 47-535 Highway 74, Palm Desert, 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist will be followed by luncheon and announcements. Please RSVP to the Rev. Daniel Rondeau, 760-285-0834. 

Canon Christine Spalding offers her services as a spiritual director in training. If you are interested in receiving her guidance at a reduced rate because of her student status, please contact her directly: spaldingc@stpaulcathedral.org.

The Rev. Maryanne Lacey, an experienced spiritual director, has openings currently. Please contact her directly: marelacey@aol.com or 619-847-3964.

The San Diego Interfaith Shelter Network (ISN) is a powerful and unique way for you and your congregation to step up and provide faith-based care to homeless people. ISN is a consortium of 120 churches, synagogues and other faith organizations that feed, clothe and house the homeless. About half of the churches are host congregations and the other half are support congregations. To join this network, or for more information, read the full article. 

Interfaith Shelter Network of San Diego (5:38)

Jesus teaches us to always respond with love, but there are times in our parish life when a welcoming presence is simply insufficient for the circumstance--particularly when the person is suffering from mental health issues. If you've ever wondered who to call for help in these situations, this presentation is for you. PERT are specially trained officers who are paired with licensed mental health professionals. Together, they respond on-scene to situations involving people who are experiencing a mental health related crisis. All welcome. Thursday, November 13, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew's, 890 Balour Dr., Encinitas. Please RSVP to Gillian Campbell.
 

St. Anne's, Oceanside welcomes you to an art sale featuring works by local San Diego artists. Proceeds benefit the free medical clinic at St. Anne's. Find a unique piece for your office or loved one, and support affordable healthcare for the underserved in San Diego County. Tour the clinic and learn about services offered. Light refreshments served. Saturday, November 15, 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. at 1002 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside. For more information, contact Virginia, 760-385-3739 or sonhealthproject@csusm.edu.

Women's Empowerment International (WEI) provides micro-business loans and services to women, equipping then with the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. Through WEI programs, San Diego's poor women have been able to start or strengthen over 200 businesses. Support these local families on Sunday, November 16, from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at a holiday bazaar on the patio in front of St. James, 743 Prospect Street, La Jolla. For information, please contact: Info@WomenEmpowerment.org or 619-333-0026.

All are welcome to attend an organ concert on Sunday, November 16 at 4 p.m. at All Souls', 1475 Catalina Blvd., San Diego. Dr. Carol Williams, civic organist of San Diego, is the featured artists. She will perform works by early British composers as well as contemporary pieces and three of her own compositions. A suggested donation of $5 will be received at the door but no one is turned away for lack of funds. Complimentary reception to follow. For more information, call the church office: 619-223-6394.

The children of Dorcas House/Vida Joven in Tijuana invite you to visit them on Saturday, November 22 at 9 a.m. Dorcas House is a group foster home for children who are particularly vulnerable: many of the kids have lived through drug abuse and incarceration. All ages are welcome. Spanish not required, but a valid passport is mandatory. Registration for both first-time visitors and returning visitors is required by Wednesday, November 19. For more details, and to register, contact Beth Beall, bbeall@dorcas-house.org.

USD professor and religious studies teacher at the Bishop's School, Dr. David Moseley will lead a trip to Galilee, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Amman and Petra in June, 2015.  Estimated cost for the two-week itinerary (including flights, 4-star accommodations and local transport), plus pre-departure classes, is approximately $4,000 per person. An informational meeting will be held in October. Contact Dr. Moseley

• Vestments from Christ Church, Coronado
• Vestments in good condition (some brand new, some used, all clean)

Visit The Bishop's List for details.

• Full-Time Clergy Person, St. Luke's Cathedral, Panama (More Info PDF)
• Secretary, Grace, San Marcos

For more information about these and other opportunities, click here.

[Episcopal News Service - Philadelphia] Americans are increasingly worried about the country's polarized political debate and religious communities can help foster a return to respectful dialogue, said panelists in the Episcopal Church's civil discourse forum here Oct. 22. All three Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - believe people are created in God's image, Rabbi Steve Gutow, president and CEO of the Jewish Council on Public Affairs, reminded participants, and so people of faith must encounter each other as if they have a spark of God's great wisdom in them that others can learn from, even when they do not agree with each other. Read more.