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5-29-2014
What exactly does it mean to be missional?
As most of you know Karen and I are Huskers. Go into any part of our house and you will undoubtedly find some memorabilia relating to the Nebraska Cornhusker football team. Although Karen and I have lived much of our adult lives in Japan, Missouri, Nevada and now California, we will always be Nebraskans at heart. And, we are not shy about letting others know that we consider Nebraska the closest thing to heaven here on earth.
What does being a Nebraskan have to do with being missional? To me they are closely linked. In rural Nebraska neighbors looked out for neighbors. Being a Christian is how I identify who I am and what I am called to do. As a Christian being missional is not being shy about being a follower of Christ. It is taking His message to the people, not waiting for them to come to me. It is action not theological discussions. It is saying to my neighbor, “Let me help you with that.”
God sent Jesus, Jesus sent the disciples, and now we are sent – missio Dei. In several sermons I have reminded our congregation that while St. James is a beautiful building, and we are happy to be there. It is JUST a building. It was made by human hands and will not endure. What we have as Christians will endure. It is eternal. We are the church. I know that missional includes such things as working for social justice, helping the oppressed, and providing for the homeless, but I urge those who worship at St. James that to be missionaries for Christ does not necessarily mean doing the spectacular. While newspapers and TV news shows depend on those who perform wondrous acts of heroism, it is as Canon Kate once told us; God is present in the ordinary. It is the simple, ordinary things that we can all do on a daily basis. The little acts of kindness that others notice. It is being involved in the culture that surrounds us and meeting people where they live. Being missional may be nothing more than helping someone unload packages from his or her car or offering to provide transportation to an appointment. Don’t let these missional moments pass you by while waiting for your spectacular event to come along.
Fr. Andy Anderson
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| “Participating in God’s Reconciling Love” |
 Lewis J. “Scoop” Beardsley passed away Tuesday, May 20, 2014 in Newport News, VA after a brief illness. Scoop was born and raised in Watkins Glen, NY, where he held multiple jobs in the Salt Co. and Episcopal and Presbyterian churches. He and Rhoda worked full-time for the Episcopal Church and Conference Center in Oakhurst, CA, before retiring to Virginia in 1992.
For those who remember Scoop and Rhoda, Scoop’s son Chris says his mother Rhoda is doing well. If you wish to send Rhoda a card call the Diocesan Office or email
[email protected].
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Looking for Stories…
I am looking for stories, stories of mission, stories about people involved in the missional experience, stories about the ways in which we are joining with what God is already doing in streets, lanes and cul de sacs near us. And so, I will be coming to you with I Pad or I Phone or Go Pro (a wee camera I can mount anywhere including on my mitre) or all the above, to capture your story, our story, the story of the People of God engaging, serving, living. I hope to post these stories on our Website, perhaps on Face book. I hope to ensure that our stories are told. I hope to ensure that San Joaquin is known as a place where faithful Episcopalians are involved in the lives of the people in our communities.
Bishop with camera will see you soon.
Blessings
+David
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Northern Deanery Meeting – Saturday, 10 am June 14 @ Christ the King, Riverbank
There will be a Northern Deanery Meeting a June 14, 2014,10:00 a.m. at Christ the King, Riverbank. At this meeting we will elect officers for the coming year, conduct regular deanery business and also hear a report regarding the returning properties of the diocese with an emphasis on the properties anticipated to be returned in the Northern Deanery (St. Matthias, Oakdale; St. Mary’s, Manteca, St. Mark’s, Tracy as well as St. John’s, Stockton).Anyone who is interested in the ministry in the Northern Deanery is welcome and encouraged to attend.
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Fresno Town Hall Meeting – Wednesday, 6 pm June 4 @ Holy Family, Fresno
There will be a town hall meeting with Bishop David and Canon Kate on Wednesday, June 4, 6:00 p.m. at Holy Family in Fresno. It appears that the Episcopal Church may soon be in possession of St. James’ Cathedral, St. Mary’s, St. Martin’s as well as Holy Family, Fresno with a court decision about St. Columba’s yet to come. We are calling a meeting to brainstorm and plan for the return of all of these properties. Please come and share your ideas and concerns. This meeting is for ANYONE who is interested to what might happen with these properties. Certainly if you have been a member or are presently a member of any of these parishes, you are especially welcome.
A meeting of the Central Deanery has been called to discuss properties in those areas of the diocese.The Central Deanery Meeting is currently scheduled for July 13, 2013, 3:00 p.m. at Holy Family, Fresno.
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Bakersfield Town Hall Meeting – Wednesday, 7 pm June 11 @ St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
There will be a town hall meeting with Bishop David and Canon Kate on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s in Bakersfield. It appears that the Episcopal Church may soon be in possession of All Saints, St. Luke’s, as well as the already returned St. Paul’s, Bakersfield. We are calling a meeting to brainstorm and plan for the return of all of these properties. Please come and share your ideas and concerns. This meeting is for ANYONE who is interested to what might happen with these properties. Certainly if you have been a member or are presently a member of any of these parishes, you are especially welcome.
A meeting of the Southern Deanery has been called to discuss properties in those areas of the diocese. The Southern Deanery meeting is currently scheduled for 10:00 a.m., July 12, 2014 at St. Andrew’s in Taft.
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Did you know that the following writers were Episcopalian?
- C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia
- Madeleine L’Engle, A wrinkle in Time
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
- Dorothy Sayers, Lord Peter Wimsey
- Alexandra Stoddard, Daring to be Yourself
- Cordwainer Smith, The Rediscovery of Man
- T. S. Elliot, lyrics to the musical “CATS” (talk about trivia! He’s written much more.)
- Susan Howatch, Mystical Paths
- Hillaire Belloc, The Four Men, Vile Bodies
- Jan Karon, The Mitford Series
- Mortimer J. Adler
- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carrol
- Dr. Samuel Johnson, author of the first dictionary
- Richard Brinsley Sheridan
- Joseph Addison (writer and editor)
- William Congreve
- Diane Mott Davidson, mystery writer, Dying for Chocolate Edith Pargeter aka Ellis Peters, The Brother Cadfael Mysteries (shown on PBS)
- Father Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels
- William Wordsworth
- Jane Austen
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Calling all peoples who are interested in deepening the Christian Faith, studying the Bible, Church History and theological ideas and reflect on connecting faith with life experiences.
10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m.
We are all called to ministry and the Education for Ministry (EfM) program provides people with the education to carry out that ministry. EfM offers an opportunity to discover how to respond to the call to Christian service.
Please let us know if you would be interested in joining a monthly seminar in the fall.
Thank you.
Peace, Joy and Abundance,
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From the Diocesan Office…
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Picture of Bishop David
At the Diocesan Office- Modesto there are pictures of Bishop Jerry and Bishop Chet. It has been asked many times when Bishop David’s picture will be hung beside them. A shout out to St. Paul’s, Modesto: The picture is coming!
An 8×11 of Bishop David is going to be printed soon and if any other parish would like to have a picture please email [email protected] by June 15, 2015. I will mail the picture (frame and matting not included) once printed.
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].
Thank you,
Ellen Meyer,
Administrator
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What’s Happening in the DIO
Convention Arrangement Committee Meeting, May 31, 2014, 10:30 a.m., St. Paul’s, Modesto
Fresno Town Hall Meeting, June 4, 2014, 6:00 p.m., Holy Family, Fresno
Northern Deanery Clericus, June 10, 2014, 11:00 a.m., St. John the Evangelist, Stockton
Bakersfield Town Hall Meeting, June 11, 2014, 7:00 p.m., St. Paul’s, Bakersfield
Northern Deanery Meeting June 14, 2014, 10:00 a.m., Christ the King, Riverbank
Southern Deanery Meeting July 12, 2014, 10:00 a.m., St. Andrew’s, Taft
Central Deanery Meeting July 13, 2014, 3:00 p.m., Holy Family, Fresno
Annual Convention, October 24-25, 2014, St. Paul’s, Modesto
Click on the link below to see more upcoming events and meetings around the diocese.
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From Our Parishes and Missions…
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Portals to Prayer with Poets and Mystics
Deep Listening: Heart to Heart
Thursday, June 5th 7:00-8:30pm,
The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist
1055 S. Lower Sacramento Rd, Lodi
Carol Bower Foote is offering a quiet evening designed for deep listening, by speaking selected sets of poems and writings around themes for contemplation. Time for silent prayer and reflection will be offered after each set of readings. Participants are invited to be present, silently receive the spoken offerings, then listen deeply for their own soul’s experience and message. Conversation and discussion is not part of this experience.
Works shared will include Rumi, Rilke, Hafiz, Meister Eckhart, St John of the Cross, St. Symeon, Marie Howe, Mary Oliver, David Whyte, Wendell Berry, Pablo Neruda, Li-Young Lee, e.e. Cummings, Willliam Stafford, Naomi Shibah Nye, and others.
Drop ins and guests are welcome from all parishes.
Questions? Call Carol at 707-374-2124707-374-2124
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| Bishop’s and Canon’s Visitations Calendars… |
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