June 25 - July 3
The 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church meets at the Salt Palace Convention Center to consider and vote on resolutions that affect our common life. They will also elect a new presiding bishop, attempt to restructure the church and vote on marriage equality. 

Our deputies will blog about their experiences: genconsd.wordpress.com. 

Follow in real-time on the media hub, which provides live-streaming of legislative sessions from both the house of deputies and the house of bishops. 

The Rev. Colin Mathewson

Join in prayer and worship by submitting prayers via social media in the form of a word or image, in response to a daily prayer theme. Subscribe by June 21. Prayers will be included in worship at General Convention where 10,000 Episcopalians are anticipated. Presiders and preachers are listed here. The Rev. Colin Mathewson, curate at St. Paul's Cathedral, San Diego, will preach on Thursday, July 2. Worship will be live-streamed on the media hub and available afterward.

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 832)

The next presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church will be elected on Sunday, June 27 in the context of worship. The nominees are: the Rt. Rev. Thomas Breidenthal, 64, Diocese of Southern Ohio; the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, 62, Diocese of North Carolina; the Rt. Rev. Ian Douglas, 56, Diocese of Connecticut; and the Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, 61, Diocese of Southwest Florida.
The committee's formal announcement, along with biographical information about each nominee, is posted on the General Convention website. Full story from: Episcopal Digital Network.

Come cheer for the Padres as they take on the Colorado Rockies! Tickets are $12 for Upper Reserved; $25 for Toyota Terrace and $63 for Skyline Patio which includes all-you-can-eat drinks and food. Bring a pair of clean athletic socks for someone in need. Come early to see an Episcopal choir sing the National Anthem and a (yet-to-be-named) Episcopalian throw the first pitch. Contact your church Padres representative, or Hannah Wilder to purchase tickets today. All welcome! To join the choir, contact Bill Eichorn.

The young women of the diocese meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month for Bible study, tea, snacks and conversation. The location rotates among the homes of participants. Please contact Becky Gleason, diocesan program intern, to learn more. 

Refugee Campership Drive
Sunday, June 21, World Refugee Day

Congregations throughout the diocese are supporting the new Refugee Campership Drive to send refugee children to our diocesan camp in Julian. The goal is to raise $30,000 to provide registration costs for approximately 65 refugee campers. Join the effort and send kids to camp where they gain self-confidence, life skills, an appreciation for God's creation, and the message that God loves them. To learn more about this effort, visit: www.campstevens.org/refugee.

Wednesday, June 24, 7 p.m. at 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.

This special mass, featuring medieval settings and chant propers, will observe the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. This is an especially unique opportunity to see the intersection of traditional worship with the multipurpose worship and classroom space at Trinity Chapel in OB. We welcome support for the music at this worship. Learn more about the Sarum Mass on the diocesan website.

Wednesday, July 1, 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Episcopal Church Center, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego

Graphic artist Megan Stanton (St. Michael's, Carlsbad) is back by popular demand to teach us about the elements of graphic design. She taught a well-received class at Leadership Academy about the basics of design for church flyers and posters, and will delve into design composition, color and layout during our 90 minute brown-bag lunch. All are welcome. Beverages will be provided. Please bring your own lunch. RSVP to Hannah Wilder by 6/25.

Friday, July 17 - Sunday, July 19

Stand Down is the most valuable outreach tool to help homeless veterans in the nation today according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego will have a tent at the event, which takes place at San Diego High School, 1405 Park Blvd., San Diego, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Volunteers are wanted to help staff the table, talk with veterans and inform them about services offered at the Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach and other congregations. Interested parties should contact Volunteer Coordinator Bill Murray. Learn more about Stand Down.

The online training for preventing sexual misconduct, Safeguarding God's People, has been updated. Please note the new instructions for logging in and completing modules. If you have any questions, contact Registrar Keren Rodriguez, 619-481-5455. 

Episcopal Community Services (ECS) is looking for a volunteer to lead a small weekly Bible study at ECS' Downtown Safe Haven, a transitional housing program for homeless adults with mental illness, near City College. All interested parties should contact Deann Ayer. 

ECS' Annual Meeting will be at St. David's, 5050 Milton St., San Diego, on Friday, June 12, 6:30 p.m. A Celtic evening with dinner, music and entertainment. $25 per person. Contact Deann Ayer. 

Saturday, June 13, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

This interactive course teaches awareness, assertiveness, verbal confrontational skills, safety strategies and physical techniques that will enable women to successfully avoid, prevent, resist, escape and survive a potential violent assault. You will also learn:
* that you are worth defending
* that your voice and brain are powerful
* that you do have personal strengths
* that your intuition is truly a safety tool
* that you do have options and choices

Free. Donations accepted. St. Bartholomew's, 16275 Pomerado Rd., Poway. To register, contact Rosalind Duddy, 858-485-1770. 

Saturday, July 11 at St. Paul's Plaza honoring Dr. William & Barbara McColl

For more information contact Kathryn Courter.

Friday - Sunday, August 28-30 at St. James by-the-Sea, La Jolla

For more information, contact Gabrielle Strickler.

Monday - Wednesday, October 5-7 at Vina de Lestonnac, Temecula

Please check this calendar listing for more information.

Sunday, October 11 at churches throughout the diocese

Check this page on the diocesan website or read this article.

Saturday, November 7 at All Souls', 1475 Catalina Blvd., San Diego

One day only! Check this page for information as it becomes available.

Episcopal churches throughout the diocese will hold a special service project on Sunday, October 11. Your church can join the fall quarterly services project of the Diocesan Service Coalition by doing something out of the ordinary either before, during or after your Sunday service. Ideas include packing lunch bags for homeless people, beach/canyon cleanup, visiting nursing homes, fixing up a refugee family's apartment. Learn more and share your ideas by visiting the event page on the diocesan website. Together we can accomplish so much more in Jesus' name. 

Episcopal Relief & Development unveiled a new online tool to help Episcopalians learn more about local ministries, and prepare for disasters. The Diocese of San Diego's map is here. To get your parish up to speed, navigate to your parish page and "Take the Survey." 

The Rev. Simon Mainwaring, rector of St. Andrew's by-the-Sea, Pacific Beach, has departed on sabbatical. He and his family are traveling in Tanzania. Follow his adventures on his blog, God at the Beach: www.simonjamesmainwaring.wordpress.com.

July 6-10 at 1300 E. Colorado St., Glendale, in the Los Angeles area
This training is open to all church leaders of all denominations; it is valuable in dealing with conflict and learning to be proactive so that conflict can be transformative. More information is available online. If you have questions, please contact Laura Palomino, 818-507-9591 ext. 109. 

Episcopal Church policy on sovereign debt reduction supports debt relief for poor countries that are heavily indebted and have not previously qualified for debt cancellation. In that spirit, we call on the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to provide immediate debt relief to Nepal so that the government can redirect these funds toward recovery and rebuilding efforts. Click here to sign.

All Our Children helps churches connect with local schools to help children reach their full potential and support them in their schoolwork. To partner with under-resourced public schools, read this article or contact All Our Children directly: info@allourchildren.org.