The Friday Reflection Title

 
1-17-2014       
 

The Book of Common Prayer and the Constitution of the Episcopal Church require that each person ordained as deacon, priest and bishop make a Declaration of Conformity. The Declaration reads:

 

     In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

I, (name), chosen Bishop (or Priest or Deacon)

of the Church in the Diocese of San Joaquin,

solemnly declare that I do believe that the

 Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be

the word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation;

and I solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline and

worship of the Episcopal Church.

 

Because, Bishop David Rice was ordained as bishop in the Anglican Church of New Zealand he has not made the Declaration of Conformity. He must make this declaration as a bishop in the Episcopal Church.

 

Bishop Rice will make the Declaration of Conformity within a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist and in the presence of The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts-Schori. The service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. 1528 Oakdale Road, Modesto, Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.

 

Bishop Jerry Lamb, Bishop Barry Beisner and other bishops will also be present. It is most important for the clergy, vested in white, to be present for this service and it is important that lay members of the Diocese be present to witness as Bishop Rice makes the Declaration and to celebrate the occasion.

 

I look forward to being with all of you and Bishop Rice and our Presiding Bishop for this important time in the life of the Diocese.

Faithfully,
 
+Chet Talton

“Participating in God’s Reconciling Love”

IF You Borrowed…..

If you borrowed the white vinyl banner that has the Episcopal shield and the words  The Episcopal Church Welcomes You please call the Diocesan Office at 209-576-0104 immediately. We need it back! Thank you.

From Integrity of Diocese of San Joaquin…


 

  It’s Not Too Late to Register! 

 

Join the Integrity LGBT and Allies Winter

 Retreat at ECCO!!

The 2nd Annual Winter Retreat for the San Joaquin Chapter of Integrity will be held at ECCO in Oakhurst on January 24 – 26, 2014.  We are thrilled to have the Rev. Dr. Caroline ‘Caro’ Hall, President of Integrity USA, as our 2014 Retreat Leader.  The retreat beginsFriday evening, January 24th as we arrive at ECCO and gather for fellowship, snacks and a movie.

On Saturday, the Rev. Dr. Caro Hall, Integrity President, leads our retreat program throughout the day. On Sunday, after morning Eucharist (joined by our friends from St. Raphael’s, Oakhurst) and free time, we enjoy lunch together before departure.

Accommodations at ECCO are $119 per person/double room and include 2 nights lodging and 5 meals. Registration deadline is January 6th. For questions or to register contact the Integrity – San Joaquin Diocesan Organizer, Jan Dunlap at 661.201.2630 or[email protected]. Click here to get registration form.
About our Retreat Leader: One of Caro’s passions is helping people who feel excluded from a Christian faith community because their beliefs don’t fit the mold, to realize that Christianity is a lot bigger and broader than they thought and that God’s abundant love is available to everyone. Her background is in social work and non-profit management. Caro is English but has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years – most of them in Los Osos, where she is now priest-in-charge of St. Benedict’s. She met her spouse at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland where she lived for several years in the 1980s.  Caro is the author of the just-published “A Thorn in the Flesh: How Gay Sexuality is Changing the Episcopal Church”.  She also serves on the board of People of Faith for Justice, and is a founder of the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations.

From The Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin …

 

  Madonna and Child

From the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin

Service of Dedication and Celebration

of the Ministry of

 

David Rice

 

as a Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin

 

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presider

 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

4:00 p.m.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

1528 Oakdale Road

Modesto, CA 95355

209-576-0104

For Clergy…

 

The Clergy Spring Retreat: Feb 25-27, 2014
 
Can you believe it? The President of the House of Deputies has agreed to be our retreat leader! The Rev. Gay Jennings has agreed to be our retreat leader. Gay is not only the President of the House of Deputies, she was also a former faculty and administrator for CREDO before her retirement. She is an experienced retreat leader and she welcomes this opportunity to come and be with the clergy of the diocese of San Joaquin. This retreat will be a Pre-Lenten opportunity for the clergy of our diocese to get into a spiritual and reflective place in their own lives in order to lead members of our congregations into a reflective Lenten mode.
 
Can you believe it? That the President of the House of Deputies has agreed to be our retreat leader?
 
Can you believe it? That this will be the first opportunity for most of our clergy to actually meet Bishop Rice?
 
Can you believe it? That we will once again be at St. Anthony’s Retreat Center which has the space for us all to meet at the lowest cost per person that we have ever been able to acquire?
 
There are times when everything does come together. Can you believe it? This is one of those times. Dear clergy, please do sign up now by using the retreat registration form found here.
 
I wish us all blessings on our retreat together.
 
Canon Kate+
 

Call to Special Convention…

 

Dio seal

The Recognition and Seating

of the

 Provisional Bishop

The Right Rev. David Rice

 

March 29, 2014

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Bakersfield

 

2216 17th Street

Bakersfield, CA 93301

Click here for Special Convention Schedule 

Check here for Special Convention Registration Form

 

Registration is due February 27, 2014

Postulant/Candidate Book Grant Fund Director…

 
                      Postulant/Candidate Dio seal Book Grant Fund
 

Many of you will have visited the book sale at our last Diocesan Convention. Over $200.00 was raised to help establish a new diocesan initiative – The Postulant/Candidate Book Grant Fund. Spearheaded by the Commission on Ministry, the purpose of the fund is to provide annual book grants to all postulants and candidates in training. It is humbling to bear in mind the amount of time and energy many of them contribute so that they might better serve our diocese, the Church and world; not to mention, the financial costs entailed which are extensive and in most cases come entirely from their own resources.

The hope is that each parish or mission in the diocese would be willing to contribute $100.00 annually to enable the new fund. Such a contribution would not only send a wonderful message to those who are committing themselves to Christ’s work in this particular way, but will ultimately benefit our Church as they continue to exercise their ministry among us.

Please speak to your Vestry or Bishop’s Committee members and encourage them to make this part of your community’s regular planned giving. Of course, individuals may also contribute to the fund and are encouraged to do so. Checks can be made out to the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin with a note in the memo – P/C Book Grant Fund. These can be sent directly to the diocesan office.

The Rev. Luis Rodriquez

From the Diocesan Office…

Upcoming Meetings:

 

  • Diocesan Council TELECONFERENCE Meeting, 10:00 a.m.
  • Standing Committee Meeting, 12:00 p.m., Holy Family, Fresno
  • Integrity Retreat, January 24-26, 2014, ECCO, Oakhurst
  • Celebration of Ministry for Bishop Rice, Sunday,  February 23, 2014, 4 p.m., St. Paul’s, Modesto with The Most Rev. Bishop Katharine Jefforts Schori presiding
  • Clergy Retreat, February 25-27, 2014, St. Anthony Retreat, Three Rivers, CA
  • Southern Deanery Meeting, Saturday, March 1, 2014, 11:00 a.m., St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
  • Northern Deanery Meeting, Saturday, March 8, 2014, 10:00 a.m., St. Anne’s,     Stockton
  • Central Deanery Meeting, Sunday, March 16, 2014, 3 p.m., Holy Family, Fresno
  • Special Convention, Saturday, March 29, 2014, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
Do you wish to see what else the Diocese is up to? Click here for The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin calendar.

From Our Parishes and Missions…

Julian of Norwich  

Love Suffering and the Cross:

A Retreat with Julian of Norwich

 

February 12-14, 2014

 

Fr. Luis Rodriguez, the Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Saviour in Hanford, is leading this special retreat at St Anthony Retreat House in Three Rivers.
 
In large part it is the one he led for the diocesan women’s retreat last year; but, of course, this is open to both women and men.  While Julian of Norwich lived almost 700 years ago, her writing still seems fresh and profoundly resonant.  Her visions of Christ’s suffering reveal the depths of love, and surprisingly convey a sense of peace and joy.

As we look to begin Lent, come to St.  Anthony Retreat House to learn about and pray with this extraordinary woman.  Fr.  Luis, is a Friend of the Julian Centre in England, has visited there many times and led a number of pilgrimages to this holy place.

Please  feel free to arrive between 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. and to settle and enjoy the quite beauty of St.  Anthony’s.  The retreat begins with dinner on Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. and ends with lunch on Friday.  For a registration form  and further information, follow this link:
http://www.stanthonyretreat.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Julian_of_Norwich-retreat-2014.pdf.

Alternatively, you can contact Fr. Luis directly via email at [email protected].

For our Diocesan Prayer Calendar….click here

Bishop’s and Canon’s Calendars… 

Bishop Talton’s Calendar
 
January 18                       Diocesan Council Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
Standing Committee Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
 
February 23                      Service of Dedication and Celebration of
the Ministry of Bishop Rice, St. Paul’s, Modesto
 
March 29                          Special Convention, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
 
Bishop Rice’s Calendar
 

February 23                      St. John the Baptist, Lodi
     

February 23                      Service of Dedication and Celebration of
the Ministry of Bishop Rice, St. Paul’s, Modesto
 
February 25-27                 Clergy Retreat, St. Anthony Retreat, Three Rivers
 
March 1                             Southern Deanery Meeting, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
March 2                             St. Michael’s, Ridgecrest
 
March 5                             Holy Family, Fresno
 
March 8                             Northern Deanery Meeting, St. Anne’s, Stockton
 
March 9                             St. James, Sonora
 
March 16                           St. Paul’s, Visalia
 
March 16                           Central Deanery Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
 
March 29                           Special Convention, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
March 30                           St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
 
Canon Cullinane’s Calendar
 
 
January 18                        Diocesan Council Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
Standing Committee Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
 
January 19                        St. John’s, Tulare
 
January 24-26                   Integrity Retreat, ECCO
 
February 23                       Service of Dedication and Celebration  of
the Ministry of Bishop Rice, St. Paul’s, Modesto
 
February 25-27                 Clergy Retreat, St. Anthony Retreat, Three Rivers
 
March 1                             Southern Deanery Meeting, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
March 8                             Northern Deanery Meeting, St. Anne’s, Stockton
 
March 16                           Central Deanery Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
 
March 29                           Special Convention, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
 
 

Keep up to date on news and events with our
NEW Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin website
www.diosanjoaquin.org
Click here:  Our Website  
Contributions to the Friday Reflection are most welcome and are due by the Tuesday before the Friday Reflection is scheduled to go out. Articles are to be submitted in word document format and pictures in jpeg format for best results.
Contact Information: Ellen Meyer

Adapt or Die

By Ken Howard, part of the Vestry Papers issue on Vestries: Listen to God’s Call (January 2014)

At a recent conference I was asked to speculate about what our parishes would look like a decade from now. My answer was brief: “One thing I can say with certainty is this: The only way our churches will look like they do now is if they have been stuffed and mounted and displayed in a museum of natural church history.”

The context in which our congregations exist is shifting so dramatically that mere tweaking of method and message can no longer return us to health, let alone vitality. We are facing radical change – radical as in going to the root – requiring of us both radical recognition and radical response.

As congregational leaders, we must confront the fact that our churches are dying. While we may wish they were timeless and eternal, at the core our churches are living human organisms, and dying is what all living organisms eventually do. But first they are born, live, adapt, create new life, and pass on their DNA to the next generation. We cannot insulate our churches from death without isolating them from the very process that would empower the next generation, not just to survive but also to thrive.

To guide our churches into a vital future, vestries and other church leaders must help our congregations to embrace their organic nature – to see death not as the ultimate failure but as the door to greater life. We need to help our congregations learn how to die in a way that plants the seeds of their resurrection. But how? How can we as congregational leaders learn this radical response and walk this counterintuitive, paradoxical path? How do we help our congregations live into a more incarnational Christianity that values organism over organization?

Changing the Paradigm

If we as leaders are to help our congregations change their ways of doing Church, we first have to recognize that our old and familiar paradigm of Church is fading away, and that a new and unfamiliar paradigm of Church is emerging. And because the new paradigm is not yet fully present, we have to help our congregations learn to explore its pathways and boundaries.

Leading congregations in a time of paradigm shift is no easy task. Be wary of any who call themselves experts in times like these; when a paradigm shifts, everyone goes to zero. There are no experts, only fellow learners. While I do not claim to be an expert in the emerging paradigm of Church, I do have some experience in helping my own congregation – as well as a few other congregations and dioceses – to explore it. And I am willing to share some of what my congregation and I have learned since it was born in 1995.

My congregation began its journey into the emerging paradigm with an exploration of the Apostle Paul’s image of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12):

There are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (NRSV)

We began to ask ourselves what our congregation would be like if we took this passage seriously. If in this passage Paul is expressing his deeply organic understanding of the nature of Christian community, then how is God calling our own Christian community to live? As we engaged this question with imagination and prayer, our image of Church began to shift. We began to think of Christian community less as an organizational structure in which people occupy various fixed and static roles, and more as a living organism that grows, adapts to its environment, reproduces, thinks, and moves – one which has a vision and a calling implanted in its DNA by the Spirit of God.

As our paradigm of Church began to shift, our behaviors as leaders and as a congregation began to shift as well. We began asking ourselves additional “so what” questions. If we were to answer the call to become an organic, incarnational Christian community, how would we need to change:

  • The way we think of congregational unity?
  • The way we develop and articulate our congregational vision?
  • The way we think about the lifecycle of our congregation?
  • The way we organize to get things done?
  • The way we develop our leaders, followers, and various working groups.

What this Means

Wrestling with questions like these have led to profound shifts in how we think, what we do, and how we do it – shifts which are summarized in the following outline.

  1. Unity: Moving from boundary-set unity to centered-set unityWhen we think of church as an organization, unity is achieved by clearly defining boundaries. Leadership asks, “What characteristics (e.g., doctrines, practices, etc.) separate THOSE WHO ARE A PART OF US from THOSE WHO ARE APART FROM US?”When we think of church as an organism, unity is achieved by clearly defining focus. Leadership asks, “WHO is the center of our community?” (The answer was/is “Jesus”) and “HOW do we clarify our focus (on Jesus) and invite others to share with us in it?”The implication of this shift is that we avoid making others into copies of ourselves and instead allow all of us together to be transformed into God’s image.
  2. Vision: Moving from vision-setting to vision-birthingWhen we think of church as an organization, leadership creates and propagates an organizational vision. Leadership asks, “What is God calling this congregation to be and to do?”When we think of church as an organism, leadership facilitates the emergence of a shared vision from the congregation. Leadership asks, “How can we help our congregation discern what God is calling us to be and to do?” Leadership does this by paying attention to the gifts and callings of those participating in the life of the community and those God is calling into it.The implication of this shift is that we remind ourselves to remain attentive to the Spirit’s movement in our congregation and in the world around us.
  3. Moving from organizational permanence to congregational vitality

    When we think of church as an organization, leadership assumes current structures and processes are there for a good reason. Leadership asks, “HOW can we do WHAT we’re already doing more effectively?”When we think of church as an organism, leadership assumes nothing. Leadership first asks, “WHY do we exist?” then, “HOW do we organize and behave to fulfill that calling?“ then, “WHAT specific activities is God calling us to carry out?” Leadership also asks, “What does the congregation do that is so unique and valuable that it would be missed if the congregation ceased to exist?” and, “If our church were to die today, what would the community around us write as our epitaph?” Leadership pays attention to what feeds and energizes the congregation (and the leadership) and finds ways to do those more of those kinds of things, while letting those things that do not promote congregational vitality die.The implication of this shift is that we continuously rediscover and reconnect with our spiritual DNA, and allow ourselves to be watered and pruned by God’s Spirit.
  4. Moving from hierarchical structure to organic networksWhen we think of church as an organization, leadership (and followership) is organized and structured via power, position, and turf. Leadership asks, “What COMMITTEES should a healthy church have?” and “Who can we get to lead and staff them?”When we think of church as an organism, all congregational structures and processes are functional and provisional. Work is accomplished through small-group, co-led teams, which can expand and contract, as needed. Leadership asks, “What needs to be done?” then, “Who is called to be on a TEAM to do it?” then, “Which of its members are called to lead the team?”The implication of this shift is that we assure that our structures and processes are nimble and flexible, capable of growing and adapting to our context.
  5. Moving from individual perfection to interconnected completenessWhen we think of church as an organization, leadership strives to help every individual person and part of the organization become as self-sufficiently effective as possible. Leadership asks, “What does this person/committee need to be the best, most well-rounded person/committee possible?”When we think of church as an organism, leadership strives to help every person and part of the organization become more complete through interconnectedness with others. Leadership asks, “What connections can we forge between persons/teams that make them more complete in their interconnectedness?The implication of this shift is that we allow each person to give their best gifts and strengthen our organic interdependence as the body of Christ.

An Invitation to Exploration

What I have offered above is not intended to be a quick fix or a step-by-step guide. It cannot be that because the new paradigm is still emerging. Think of it rather as an example of the kinds of questions your vestry will have to ask yourselves and your congregations if you commit yourselves to this journey.

One thing I can promise is this: Embracing the organic and incarnational nature of Christian community can both make your congregations more vital in the present and enable them to face the “changes and chances” of the future with adaptability and resilience. And it will make your job as leaders more exciting and creative, and perhaps even fun.

Ken Howard is the author of Paradoxy: Creating Christian Community Beyond Us and Them(Orleans, MA: Paraclete Press, 2010), the founder and director of The Paradoxy Center for Incarnational Christianity at St. Nicholas Church, and the rector of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Germantown, Maryland. St. Nicholas Church was the first successful church plant in its diocese in nearly forty years. Growing steadily since its start in 1995, it is in the top third of diocesan congregations in size and the top 5% in per capita giving. Ken’s blog, Paradoxical Thoughts may be found at PracticingParadoxy.com.
Resources

 The Friday Reflection Title

 
 
1-3-2014
 

Dear Friends,

As a new year brings new beginnings we also turn to a new year full of changes and new beginnings for our Diocese of San Joaquin.

 

The Diocese of San Joaquin vs. Schofield trial will begin next week. Our chancellor, Michael Glass, anticipates that the trial may take up to two weeks to complete. Following the completion of the trial the judge usually has three months to render a decision. Chancellor Glass will be sending the diocese regular updates as the litigation process continues in his “From the Chancellor” updates. (This is just a friendly reminder. As always, if you are contacted by any media during the trial please do not respond to any questions but refer them to the diocesan offices or the chancellor for any answers to their questions.)

 

On a more upbeat note, we are also anticipating the arrival of Bishop David Rice in the diocese. Bishop David is coming with his wife, Tracy, on February 17th and anticipates finding a home in the Fresno area. He will be travelling around the diocese for the first six weeks after his arrival in an attempt to meet as many of you as possible, spend time with the clergy at the clergy retreat, and to see as many of our congregations as he can in that short time. Please do make an effort to come to your local deanery meetings scheduled during those first six weeks of his arrival in order to meet him in person.

 

On Sunday, February 23, our Presiding Bishop will be with us to formally welcome Bishop Rice as a bishop in the Episcopal Church. This Service of Dedication and Celebration of the Ministry of David Rice will be held at 4 pm, February 23 at St. Paul’s in Modesto with a reception following the event. Everyone, absolutely everyone, in the diocese is invited! We hope as many of you as possible will be able to be there for this festive celebration with our Presiding Bishop on her second visit to our diocese since the split and to heartily welcome both Tracy and Bishop Rice.

 

Some of you may have heard that the diocesan offices are moving to Fresno. This is partially true. The office of the Bishop and Canon to the Ordinary are relocating to Fresno. The office of our Administrator, Ellen Meyer, will remain in Modesto. We will have two locations for our diocesan offices. This is not unusual; there are a number of dioceses which have multiple locations for diocesan offices. We will let you know soon if we will retain just one phone number for the diocese and also identify which address will be our primary mailing address.

 

The Special Convention to elect a new Provisional Bishop will be held Saturday, March 29th at St. Paul’s in Bakersfield. The business meeting and election will take place in the morning and a Celebration and Seating of the new Provisional Bishop is scheduled for the afternoon. Great food and wonderful music are planned, so this promises to be a festive gathering of the diocese as we move into our future. Once again, absolutely everyone is invited…but for this event we ask that you register! The registration form for the Special Convention can be found here. Please do plan to come and celebrate with all of us together as a diocese.

 

The Primate of New Zealand is planning to attend the Special Convention to honor Bishop Rice. We, as a diocese, are honored to have a Primate from the Anglican Communion come and visit our diocese. Not every diocese in the Episcopal Church gets a visit from our own Presiding Bishop during his/her tenure. We, as a diocese, are blessed to have The Right Rev. Katherine Jefferts Shori visit us twice during her term as Presiding Bishop. Even fewer dioceses are afforded the opportunity to welcome a Primate from other provinces of the Anglican Communion. And now we are blessed with the anticipated presence of the Primate of New Zealand at our Special Convention. People around the Anglican Communion are watching, showing support through their visitations, and praying with us as we re-emerge from our struggles. We are not alone in this communion of prayer and support from around our own Episcopal Church and around the Anglican world.

 

To assist with all of these transitions and events Bishop Talton has appointed a Transitions Team much like the team used during the transition of the diocese from Bishop Lamb to Bishop Talton. The Transitions Team will meet every other week by phone and its membership is; Bishop Talton, Michele Racusin (president of the Standing Committee), Stan Boone (Standing Committee representative), Jan Dunlap (Vice President of Council), George Sitts (Diocesan Council representative), Canon Cullinane, Administrator Ellen Meyer, Treasurer Marion Austin and Chancellor Michael Glass. Bishop Rice will join the Transitions Team when he arrives in the diocese and the team will continue to meet until Bishop Rice decides that the team is no longer needed.

 

These will be a very full and busy first few months of the new year for the diocese. I hope that as many of you as possible will plan on attending the celebrations planned in both the northern and southern end of the diocese as we welcome Bishop Rice and thank Bishop Talton for his service to our diocese.

 

I pray God’s blessing on all of us as we enter a new year of ministry together as the Diocese of San Joaquin.

 
Canon Kate+

“Participating in God’s Reconciling Love”

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

From The Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin …

 

    Madonna and Child

From the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin

Service of Dedication and Celebration

of the Ministry of

 

David C. Rice

 

as a Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin

 

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presider

 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

4:00 p.m.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

1528 Oakdale Road

Modesto, CA 95355

209-576-0104

From The Episcopal Church…

 
 Episcopal Church Mission Enterprise Zones,
           New Church Starts Grants Announced
 

[From ENS – December 17, 2013] Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of The Episcopal Church, has announced the first recipients of the grants for Mission Enterprise Zones and for New Church Starts.

These two innovative Episcopal Church initiatives are funded through the Five Marks of Mission triennial budget, approved by General Convention July 2012. In the budget, $2 million was allotted for the work of establishing Mission Enterprise Zones and for supporting New Church Starts for the First Mark of Mission, To proclaim the Good news of the Kingdom.

Matching grants were available for up to $20,000 for a Mission Enterprise Zone and up to $100,000 for New Church Starts.

Thirty grants totaling $1.3 million were awarded to 27 dioceses, including one to an Episcopal/Lutheran initiative. The committee continues to meet monthly to review new applications.

Application forms can be accessed herehttp://www.episcopalchurch.org/NewMinistryApplication
Applications were reviewed and considered by the Local Mission and Ministry Committee of Executive Council, serving as the review committee for the grant applications.

 

Grant Recipients

The following are the grant recipients, the sponsoring diocese and the amount:

  • Allston Project, Diocese of Massachusetts, $100,000
  • Canton/Fells Point Mission, Diocese of Maryland, $100,000
  • Divine Power Yoga, Diocese of  Chicago /Metro Chicago Synod, $100,000
  • Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Hurricane Shelter, Sewing Clinic, Diocese of Honduras, $20,000
  • Episcopal Development Agency of Thomasville, Diocese of Georgia, $20,000
  • GEORGE: Center for Community – An Artist’s Space, Diocese of Olympia, $20,000
  • Grace Church – Episcopal, Diocese of  Oklahoma, $100,000
  • Hmong Ministry Planting Initiative, Diocese of Minnesota, $100,000
  • Holy Apostles Episcopal Sudanese Church, Diocese of South Dakota, $20,000
  • Iglesia Santa Maria, Diocese of Arizona, $100,000
  • Kairos West Community Center, Diocese of Western North Carolina, $20,000
  • Korean Ministry of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Diocese of El Camino Real, $20,000
  • La Iglesia Detroit, Diocese of Michigan, $100,000
  • Latino Ministry Leadership Development, Diocese of Southwest Florida, $20,000
  • Lawrence House Service Corps, Western Massachusetts, $20,000
  • Living our Baptismal Covenant Together, Diocese of Idaho           , $20,000
  • Mission Christ the Liberator (Cristo Libertador), Diocese of Dominican Republic, $100,000
  • Organizing Latinos for Mission, Diocese of San Diego, $20,000
  • Our Lady Of Guadalupe Episcopal Church, Diocese of Olympia, $100,000
  • Reviving Cultural and Ministry Needs of the Penn Hills Area, Diocese of Pittsburgh, $20,000
  • Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, Diocese of Maine, $20,000
  • St. Columba Church Replant, Diocese of Hawaii, $20,000
  • St. Mary in Palms Spanish speaking ministry, Diocese of Los Angeles, $100,000
  • St. Matthew’s Mission Enterprise, Diocese of Northern California, $20,000
  • The Matthew 25 Project, Diocese of Los Angeles, $20,000
  • Trinity Episcopal Bread and Roses Ministry, Diocese of Virginia, $20,000
  • Urban Core Mission Enterprise Zone, Diocese of Southern Ohio, $20,000
  • Warriors of the Dream – Transforming Violence, Building Leaders, Diocese of New York, $20,000
  • Westside Ministry Partnership, Diocese of Northern Indiana, $20,000
  • Young Adult Ministry Development Team, Diocese of Iowa, $20,000

 General Convention Resolution

General Convention 2012’s Resolution A073 established “the Mission Enterprise Fund, to be administered by a grants committee for that purpose established by the Executive Council, with $1 million for the 2013-2015 triennium.”  It also states that “Diocesan Standing Committees and Bishops partner to create ‘Mission Enterprise Zones,’ defined as a geographic area, as a group of congregations or as an entire diocese committed to mission and evangelism that engages under-represented groups, including youth and young adults, people of color, poor and working-class people, people with a high-school diploma or less, and/or people with little or no church background or involvement.”

Text here: http://www.generalconvention.org/gc/resolutions?by=number&id=a073

For more information contact the Rev. Thomas Brackett, Episcopal Church Missioner for New Church Starts and Missional Initiatives, at [email protected]

From Integrity of Diocese of San Joaquin…


 

  Register Now!

 

Join the Integrity LGBT and Allies Winter

 Retreat at ECCO!!

The 2nd Annual Winter Retreat for the San Joaquin Chapter of Integrity will be held at ECCO in Oakhurst on January 24 – 26, 2014.  We are thrilled to have the Rev. Dr. Caroline ‘Caro’ Hall, President of Integrity USA, as our 2014 Retreat Leader.  The retreat beginsFriday evening, January 24th as we arrive at ECCO and gather for fellowship, snacks and a movie.

On Saturday, the Rev. Dr. Caro Hall, Integrity President, leads our retreat program throughout the day. On Sunday, after morning Eucharist (joined by our friends from St. Raphael’s, Oakhurst) and free time, we enjoy lunch together before departure.

Accommodations at ECCO are $119 per person/double room and include 2 nights lodging and 5 meals. Registration deadline is January 6th. For questions or to register contact the Integrity – San Joaquin Diocesan Organizer, Jan Dunlap at 661.201.2630 or[email protected]. Click here to get registration form.
About our Retreat Leader: One of Caro’s passions is helping people who feel excluded from a Christian faith community because their beliefs don’t fit the mold, to realize that Christianity is a lot bigger and broader than they thought and that God’s abundant love is available to everyone. Her background is in social work and non-profit management. Caro is English but has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years – most of them in Los Osos, where she is now priest-in-charge of St. Benedict’s. She met her spouse at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland where she lived for several years in the 1980s.  Caro is the author of the just-published “A Thorn in the Flesh: How Gay Sexuality is Changing the Episcopal Church”.  She also serves on the board of People of Faith for Justice, and is a founder of the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations.

For Clergy…

SAVE THE DATE – CLERGY RETREAT – Spring 2014

Dear Clergy,

Please plan to save the dates of February 25 – 27, 2014 for our next clergy retreat. Great news is upon us! The Rev. Gay Jennings, President of the House of Deputies, has agreed to be our retreat leader at that time for a Pre-Lenten clergy retreat. We will once again be at St. Anthony’s retreat center in Three Rivers.

 

This will be our first retreat with our new bishop, Bishop David Rice, in attendance with us. Please do mark your calendars now to save the dates. More information about the retreat itself and about registration will be coming soon.

 

We are looking forward to The Rev. Gay Jennings being with us for this Pre-Lent retreat and to having some significant time as clergy together in this diocese with our new bishop. Please do plan to join us and mark your calendars now.

 

From the Diocesan Office…

Upcoming Meetings:

 

  • Transitions Committee Teleconference Meeting, Tuesday, January 7, 2014, 4:00 p.m.
  • Diocesan Council Meeting, Saturday, January 18, 2014, 10 a.m., Holy Family, Fresno
  • Standing Committee Meeting, Saturday, January 18, 2014, 12:00 noon,  Holy Family, Fresno
  • Integrity Retreat, January 24-26, 2014, ECCO, Oakhurst
  • Northern Deanery Meeting, Saturday, February 22, 2014, TBD
  • Celebration of Ministry for Bishop Rice, Sunday,  February 23, 2014, 4 p.m., St. Paul’s, Modesto with The Most Rev. Bishop Katharine Jefforts Schori presiding
  • Clergy Retreat, February 25-27, 2014, St. Anthony Retreat, Three Rivers, CA
  • Southern Deanery Meeting, Saturday, March 1, 2014, 11:00 a.m., St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
  • Central Deanery Meeting, Sunday, March 16, 2014, 3 p.m., Holy Family, Fresno
  • Special Convention, Saturday, March 29, 2014, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield

 

Do you wish to see what else the Diocese is up to? Click here for The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin calendar.

 

From Our Parishes and Missions…

 
st francis
 
 
Speaker Series to begin in January at St. Francis, Turlock
 

St. Francis Church in Turlock is organizing a speakers’ series to begin in January, 2014 and extending through the 2014 calendar year. We already have a wide variety of topics to be offered, and invite you to visit us for our first event on Tuesday, January 14th at 6:30 p.m. The topic will be “Getting the Most out of the Affordable Care Act” (aka Obamacare). The presenter, Howard Grieshaber, is a state-certified expert on the Affordable Health Care Act and will answer all your questions regarding the many choices in health insurance that are now available.

 

Future topics that will be offered in the series by local experts include:

 

— A Victory Garden That’s a Victory for All: Growing Your Local Food Bank from Your Own Backyard

— Beautiful but Deadly: Poison Plants in Your Backyard and Pasture that Can be Harmful

–The Perils of Self-Publishing: Fundraising and Income from Effective Use of the Internet

— Getting the Most out of the Current Real-Estate Market: Investments, Property Flips, and Solid Value

–A number of other topics of general interest to the public will range from archeology, psychology, and history to music and art.

 

We invite you to join us at St. Francis in the New Year! Tuesday, January 14th at 6:30 p.m. At 915 East Main St, Turlock. Please contact the Rev. Kathie Galicia at 209-324-1677 or email [email protected] for more information.

For our Diocesan Prayer Calendar….click here

Bishop’s and Canon’s Calendars… 

Bishop Talton’s Calendar
 
January 7                          Transition Team Teleconference Meeting
 
January 18                        Diocesan Council Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
Standing Committee Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
 
February 23                      Service of Dedication and Celebration of Bishop David Rice of
the Ministry of Bishop Rice, St. Paul’s, Modesto
 
March 29                           Special Convention, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
 
Bishop Rices’s Calendar
 

February 23                      St. John the Baptist, Lodi
     

February 23                     Service of Dedication and Celebration of Bishop David Rice of
the Ministry of Bishop Rice, St. Paul’s, Modesto
 
February 25-27                 Clergy Retreat, St. Anthony Retreat, Three Rivers
 
March 1                             Southern Deanery Meeting, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
March 2                             St. Michael’s, Ridgecrest
 
March 5                             Holy Family, Fresno
 
March 8                             Northern Deanery Meeting, St. Anne’s, Stockton
 
March 9                             St. James, Sonora
 
March 16                           St. Paul’s, Visalia
 
March 16                           Central Deanery Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
 
March 29                           Special Convention, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
March 30                           St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
 
Canon Cullinane’s Calendar
 
January  5                         St. John’s, Tulare
 
January 12                        St. John’s, Tulare
 
January 18                        Diocesan Council Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
Standing Committee Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
 
January 19                        St. John’s, Tulare
 
January 24-26                   Integrity Retreat, ECCO
 
February 23                      Service of Dedication and Celebration of Bishop David Rice of
the Ministry of Bishop Rice, St. Paul’s, Modesto
 
February 25-27                 Clergy Retreat, St. Anthony Retreat, Three Rivers
 
March 1                             Southern Deanery Meeting, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
March 8                             Northern Deanery Meeting, St. Anne’s, Stockton
 
March 16                           Central Deanery Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
 
March 29                           Special Convention, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
 
 
 

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