Suzanne Foucault, member of St. Peter's, Del Mar, and wife of the Rev. Robert Nelson, died on Saturday, January 9. Suzanne served as a personal adviser to Bishop Mathes; she also conducted countless vestry retreats, mutual ministry reviews, workshops and bishop searches. A memorial service and life celebration will take place on Saturday, January 30 at 10 a.m. at St. Peter's, 334 14th St., Del Mar. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon her. 

The United Thank Offering (UTO) grant application process is now open. Complete criteria, worksheets and applications are available online: www.episcopalchurch.org/page/uto-grants. The applications are due to the review committee no later than Monday, February 8. The committee is available to assist with applications. Contact Jamie Wood, UTO chairperson, with questions.

Anglican and Roman Catholic clergy members meet on Saturday, January 23, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. for a day of dialogue at St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego. The Rev. Simon Mainwaring, rector of St. Andrew's, Pacific Beach, will speak about The Call and the Journey: Invitation to Christ. Chris O'Donnell, director of catechetical ministry at San Rafael Catholic Parish, will also present on this theme. The cost is $25 per person, which includes lunch. For more information, visit the diocesan website. 

All clergy and laity are welcome to attend this day of pragmatic workshops about how to be an effective Episcopal church. The Rt. Rev. Mary Gray Reeves, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real, will be our keynote speaker for the plenary session. She is bilingual and has authored numerous books on reimagining the church. Saturday, February 20 at St. Bartholomew's, 16275 Pomerado Rd., Poway. $15, includes lunch. Congregations that bring their entire vestry or bishop's committee will be our guests. For more information and to register, visit the diocesan website.

The Youth Collaborative, open to all in youth ministry leadership, will hold its next quarterly meeting on Saturday, January 23, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at St. Thomas, 44651 Avenida de Missiones, Temecula. Please bring your calendars, youth curricula and Bible studies for sharing ideas and $5 for lunch. We will recap past events and plan for our spring youth retreat, fall leaders' retreat, summer missions for 2016 and 2017, and seasonal events. We will also discuss youth spiritual formation and work experientially with the Echo the Story curriculum. RSVP directly to Brigitte Sipra. 

Vida Joven de Mexico (formerly Dorcas House) provides a safe and loving home for children ages 3 - 18 in Tijuana. Come on a trip to visit the kids. Meet at St. John's, 760 First Ave., Chula Vista on Saturdays, January 16 and 23 at 9 a.m. We will travel together in a 15-passenger van and return around 3 p.m. Valid passport and pre-registration required. Spanish is not required. Pre-Register for the Trip. Questions? Contact Beth Beall. The trip on January 23 includes diocesan young adults. 

Make it a day on, not a day off! Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by joining with people of all faiths on Monday, January 18, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at a Balboa Park clean-up. Find all the details online. Note that the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is an official sponsor of the event. If you have questions, contact Sarah Shealy Stump, convener of the Diocesan Service Coalition.

Join the League of Women Voters and the Islamic Center of San Diego for a public show of support and solidarity with Muslim women on Monday, January 18, 2 p.m. at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Laurel in San Diego. All are invited to wear headscarves to counter prejudiced attitudes toward Muslims. Learn more online. Bishop Mathes plans to attend and host a coffee hour at Starbuck's afterwards to debrief. All welcome. RSVP to Hannah Wilder.

The Diocesan Service Coalition (DSC) is a consortium of outreach coordinators from churches throughout the diocese who meet quarterly to network, share ideas, and collaborate on outreach projects. Our winter service summit will be Saturday, January 30, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Christ Church, 1114 Ninth St., Coronado. All are invited. Our afternoon session begins at 12:30 p.m. and features a panel of speakers talking about ways to serve our local military families. Our winter project is a drive to help those families. Find details online and consider collecting items at your church. 

Bishop Mathes has partnered with the Episcopalians of Navajoland to honor and support ministries there. To that end, Sunday, June 6 will be Navajoland Sunday in our diocese. Please keep an eye out for more information as the date draws near.

During Lent the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) offers a series of spiritual disciplines focused on God as the chief gardener of our souls. Just as stakes and lattices nurture the growth of young plants, so too can spiritual disciplines support the flourishing of our whole being. This series uses a tool from monastic spirituality called a rule of life to explore and cultivate our relationships with God, self, others and creation. To watch an introductory video by Brother David Vryhof, signup, or download the free workbook, visit: ssje.org/growrule. 

Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) invites us to walk the path of Lent with this year's meditation series featuring reflections on spiritual practices written by the organization's staff, partners and friends from around the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. Spend Lent holding in prayer those who work with the world's most vulnerable. Ditigal versions of the English and Spanish booklets are available online: www.episcopalrelief.org/Lent. Hard copies are available from Episcopal Marketplace. Order by Monday, February 1 for delivery by Ash Wednesday.  

Lent Madness, inspired by college basketball tournaments, pits 32 saints against each other in a bracket as each saint seeks to win the coveted Golden Halo. Throughout Lent, fans vote for their favorite saints at www.lentmadness.org. The saintly scorecard is the definitive guide to Lent Madness in 2016. Many parishes and families like to keep track of the competition on the bracket poster. Other accouterments include the saintly beverage holders and the golden halo flying disc. 

Lent is a time for introspection and self-reflection. As we make this turn inward, we typically become intentional about changing the routine and rhythm of our daily lives. We may also choose to take on a practice or habit or give something up. Living Well Through Lent 2016 is a tool to assist you on your journey. It can be used as a daily devotional, the basis for a Lenten program, or as a handout at Ashes to Go. Weekly themes include letting go of normal, shoulds, control, perfectionism and worry. Order online now in English and Spanish. Contact Edith Braeger with questions.

Increasingly our culture emphasizes more -- both in what we own and in how much we do. This pursuit of stuff and busyness drowns out God's voice. The alternative is to seek the "pearl of great price" and build our decisions about what we do and own on that pearl. This Seeking Simplicity workshop will address these topics in three one-hour sessions: seeking the pearl with Sr. Bunny Flick; limiting possessions with Lee Van Ham; and following God's call with the Rev. Colin Mathewson and Phil Petrie. Saturday, January 16, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego. Light refreshments provided. For more information, contact Phil Petrie, 619-298-0464.

This two-part forum series will be led by Professor Khaleel Mohammed and will take place on Sundays, 9 a.m. at St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego. The audience is invited to come with questions -- please note that as long as the intention is genuine inquiry, no question is out of bounds.

January 31: History and Tradition: Professor Mohammed will focus on the historical development of Islam as a movement that drew upon Jewish and Christian foundations. Attention will be paid to examining the lines of confluence and divergence as the religion developed. We will also discuss Jesus and Mary in Islam, as well as Islam as a religion where culture often impacts practice and creed. 

February 7: Violence, Politics, and Gender: Ever since 9/11, America has been flooded with information about Islam and violence. This lecture seeks to delve into the history of violence in Islam, and to analyze the contemporary situation in Muslim majority countries, with particular emphasis on the Middle East. If time permits, we will engage the issue of gender relations and dress.

The Lecturer: Professor Khaleel Mohammed is originally from Guyana, South America. He has studied Islamic law in Saudi Arabia and obtained his PhD in Islamic law from McGill university in Montreal, Canada. He holds bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Religion. His master's thesis examined the Jewish and Christian influences on Islamic eschatology. In addition to academic publications, his latest book is David in the Muslim Tradition. Professor Mohammed currently teaches at San Diego State University.

Selections from Gounod's St. Cecilia Mass, Dvorak's Slvaonic Dance and Pryor's The Blue Bells of Scotland, featuring trombone soloist Alexander Mayhew, Coterie Celli will perform during the wine reception following the concert from their large repertoire of classical, Latin, Celtic and popular music. Freewill donation at the door. Sunday, January 31 at 3 p.m. at All Saints', 625 Pennsylvania Ave., San Diego. For more information, contact Louise Lawson.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited young Christians to join the Community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace. Applications open today for the second year of the program, which offers people aged 20-35 the opportunity to spend a year in God's time as they live together as a community inspired by the monastic traditions. The participants commit to a year of prayer, studying theology and ethics, serving the poorest in local communities, and adopting a pattern of life devoted to Jesus Christ that monastics down the centuries would recognize. The first year of the program has seen 36 young men and women forming a community based at Lambeth Palace. Sixteen residential members from around the world - including the USA, Kenya and Australia - have been joined by 20 non-residential members who live and work in London. Archbishop Justin Welby has made the renewal of prayer and Religious life a priority for his ministry. Application information

The InterReligious Council of San Diego invites you to share a spiritual weekend with Father Michael Fish. Friday - Sunday, January 22 - 24 at the Vedanta Monastery, 1440 Upas St., San Diego. Father Fish is a Camaldolese monk and member of the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur. Balancing solitude and ministry has taught him how to live a vibrant and valid spirituality in the world. Register online.

Episcopal Church Foundation's free webinars are a great way to get your congregational leadership teams engaged in the strategic, leadership, and financial topics that are essential to the health of your congregation. This winter's lineup includes vestry orientation, endowment investment strategies for 2016, senior warden ministry, vestry retreat planning, and basics of a capital campaign. For all webinar details and registration, visit the website.

Special guest Eugene Cho will speak during a luncheon address at Point Loma Nazarene University on Friday, February 12, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.. This is a time of fellowship with pastors throughout Southern California. Please RSVP online.