The Friday Reflection Title
3-7-2014
Lent is a season of reflection that begins on Ash Wednesday (March 5) and concludes on Easter (April 20).
The following is the Presiding Bishop’s Lent Message 2014.
The reality is that the season of Lent, which Christians have practiced for so many centuries, is about the same kind of yearning for greater light in the world, whether you live in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere.
The word “Lent” means “lengthen” and it’s about the days getting longer. The early Church began to practice a season of preparation for those who would be baptized at Easter, and before too long other members of the Christian community joined those candidates for baptism as an act of solidarity.
It was a season during which Christians and future Christians learned about the disciplines of the faith – prayer and study and fasting and giving alms, sharing what they have.
But the reality is that, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, the lengthening days were often times of famine and hunger, when people had used up their winter food stores and the spring had not yet produced more food to feed people. Acting in solidarity with those who go hungry is a piece of what it means to be a Christian. To be a follower of Jesus is to seek the healing of the whole world.
And Lent is a time when we practice those disciplines as acts of solidarity with the broken and hungry and ill and despised parts of the world.
I would invite you this Lent to think about your Lenten practice as an exercise in solidarity with all that is – with other human beings and with all of creation. That is most fundamentally what Jesus is about. He is about healing and restoring that broken world.
So as you enter Lent, consider how you will live in solidarity with those who are hungry, or broken, or ill in one way or another.
May you have a blessed Lent this year, and may it yield greater light in the world.
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
“Participating in God’s Reconciling Love”
For Lent…
Walk through Lent with beautiful daily devotions,
The Lent App (for iPhone)
Illustrated with art by the inimitable Roger Hutchison, author of The Painting Table, and inspirational daily reflections by beloved author and Spiritual Director Mary C. Earle provide food for the journey. A built in journal function lets you record your own thoughts, and you can share Scripture, the daily image, or your own thoughts via email or social media.
Learn More
GOOD FRIDAY OFFERING
Since 1922, Episcopalians have supported the ministries of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East through the Good Friday Offering. Through the work of the Episcopal dioceses in the Middle East, Christians maintain a peacemaking and stabilizingpresence in the region, serving their neighbors regardless of faith background.
To make a donation to the Good Friday Offering, please write a check payable to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, write “Good Friday Offering” in the memo line, and mail to:
DFMS – Protestant Episcopal Church US
P.O. Box 958983
St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
Click here for Good Friday Offering Resources
Call to Special Convention…
Dio seal
The Recognition and Seating
of the
Provisional Bishop
The Rt. 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
Still accepting reservations till March 14, 2014
Invitation to Sing at Special Convention…
The Choir of St. Paul’s Church in Bakersfield and director, Christopher Borges, would like to invite members of the Diocese to participate with them in singing at the service for the Seating of Bishop David Rice on Saturday, March 29. There will be a rehearsal that Saturday morning at 11am in the Choir Room.
If you are interested in singing with them, please contact Fr. Vern at [email protected] for an email advance copy of the music.
For Northern Deanery…
TAKE THE BUS TO CONVENTION!
This Saturday’s Northern Deanery Meeting will be the last opportunity to insure the discounted $50 around trip rate to the March 29th Special Diocesan Convention in Bakersfield. Remaining reservations after this Saturday will increase to $65. Remember the coach departs Modesto’s Vintage Faire Mall Park and Ride on the 29th at 5:30 AM returning to Modesto that evening. On your luxury coach there will be a continental breakfast in the morning, with libations and snacks for the return trip. Reservation agents will be on hand at the Deanery meeting to help with your payment and answer questions, or they can be contacted at (209)-869-1075. See you on the bus!
People News…
The Rev. Keith Brown has been appointed as Interim Priest at St. John’s, Tulare.
The Southern Deanery recently elected new officers. Their new President is Marilyn Metzgar of St. Paul’s, Bakersfield.
The Rev. Heather Muellerof St. Andrew’s, Taft has been elected the new Vice-President.
Richard Hendricks of St. Michael’s, Ridgecrest is the new Secretary.
Thanks to all who completed a term and thanks to the newly elected for being willing to serve.
For Youth EYE…
Episcopal Youth Event 2014
WHO:
Anyone in high school during 2013/14 year
WHEN:
July 9 – July 13, 2014
WHERE:
Villanova
University, Philadelphia, PA
WHAT?
The upcoming event marks the twelfth EYE, which remains a popular and well-attended event. EYE14 is geared for youth in grades 9-12 during the 2013-2014 academic year and their adult leaders. The cost for EYE is $325. Included are transportation to/from the Philadelphia airport, your room, meals, event T-shirt, and activities. Transportation to Philadelphia is extra.
ADD-ON
3 Days of Urban Mission is offered for all EYE14 participants. It is an event designed to give delegates an opportunity to engage mission in an urban environment. The participation criteria for EYE14 continue to apply throughout 3 Days of Urban Mission.
Participants should expect to engage in hands-on labor, which might include everything from painting and hauling debris to childcare and preparing meals. Participants should bring work clothes, work gloves, and closed-toe shoes.
3 Days of Urban Mission will commence with preparatory training and evening prayer at 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, July 13, and will end of Tuesday, July 15, with an evening worship service.
The cost is $275, which includes three nights of lodging (including pillows and linens), meals on Monday and Tuesday, and a breakfast to-go on Wednesday morning. Delegates will register for 3 Days of Urban Mission online with EYE14 registration
So are YOU ready to go?
Next step is to contact your priest or youth director and let them
Click here for EYE Flyer
Click here for EYE Registration Form
From the Diocesan Office…
Since you have asked….
Bishop David now has an email and it is: [email protected]
All mail for the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, Bishop, Canon, and Administrator
is to go to the current address: 1528 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355
Time sensitive material can be emailed to [email protected] or
faxed to 209-576-0114.
Attention Clergy!
Please get your forms in this week!
All forms sent to you in January via the post office were due to the Diocesan Office by February 27th. The forms are also on our website: www.diosanjoaquin.org.
The following forms are past due:
2013 Parochial Report . Congregational Contact Form
2014 Certificate of Lay Delegate Form . Disaster Preparedness Form
Many thanks to
Holy Trinity, St. Raphael, St. James and St. Clare of Assisi
for having all forms completed and turned in!!
IONA: A CELTIC PILGRIMAGE OF RENEWAL, July 12-19, is a weeklong retreat for clergy and lay leaders who are renewing our congregations and restoring our world, held at Bishop’s House on the sacred Hebridean island of Iona in Scotland. Application deadline: March 31. More details click on “Iona Retreat”.
Whats going on…
Want to know what is happening in the Diocese of San Joaquin?
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, 11:00 a.m. March 29, 2014, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
Registration starting at 9:30 a.m.
Chrism Mass, Tuesday, April 15, 2014, 11.00 a.m. Church of the Saviour, Hanford
Annual Convention, October 24-25, 2014, St. Paul’s, Modesto
Click on the link below to see upcoming events and meetings around the diocese.
Meetings and Events
From Our Parishes and Missions…
YOU ARE INVITED
on Saturday March 15th to
SAINT PAT’S AT SAINT MATT’S
from 5:00-7:00 pm at Saint Matthew’s Church in San Andreas
to enjoy a traditional Irish Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner
The donation is $ 7.00 and the money raised goes to
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
414 Oak Street, San Andreas, CA
209-754-3878
EVERY FRIDAY IN LENT
PARISH LENTEN DEVOTIONS
6 pm STATIONS OF THE CROSS
and
BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
(followed in the Parish Hall with a Soup Supper)
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
414 Oak Street,
San Andreas, CA
209-754-3878
SAVE THE DATE!!
Christ the King Episcopal Church, Riverbank
will be hosting YOU at our Ladies’ Tea to be held on Saturday May 3rd. Put this important date on your calendars!! There will be food, music, raffles, prizes for best tables, and even a fashion show. Tickets will be available soon!! Watch this space for more info.
For our Diocesan Prayer Calendar….click here
Bishop’s and Canon’s Visitations Calendars…
Bishop Talton’s Calendar
March 29 Special Convention, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
Bishop Rice’s Calendar
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
March 9 St. Anne’s, Stockton
March 16 Central Deanery Meeting, Holy Family, Fresno
March 29 Special Convention, St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
March 30 St. Andrew’s, Taft
Have you checked it out?
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
[email protected]

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