Rebuilding the Church in Haiti is a national, grass-roots effort launched on the 1st anniversary of the magnitude seven earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010. The appeal was authorized by Executive Council of the Episcopal Church in response to the request from Bishop Jean Zach Duracin and the people of Haiti to help rebuild the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

For volunteer information or questions, contact our diocesan campaign coordinator, the Very Rev. Cliff Haggenjos: haggenjos@comcast.net or 916.786.6911.

Our diocese has an Easter campaign of raising $100,000 towards this effort, and we are almost there.  Please share the story of how your congregation is rebuilding our church, brick by brick. 

Kids raise almost $4000 to help rebuild Cathedral in Haiti

by Warren Dunning, Epiphany in Vacaville

By soliciting grownups to buy Lego bricks and other building materials for them, the Children and youth of Epiphany in Vacaville were able to build a cathedral and raise almost $4000 to send to Haiti to help rebuild the cathedral there. Throughout Lent the kids sold buckets of bricks, miscellaneous parts, and doors and windows for $20 and construction workers for $10. The goal was to raise $3000, but the actual total was a surprising $3926. 

Building a Cathedral

by Kim Andrup, St. Martin's in Davis

The Church of St. Martin in Davis began its campaign to raise funds for the national, grass-roots effort to rebuild the Holy Trinity Cathedral that was destroyed during the Jan. 2010 earthquake that struck Port Au Prince, Haiti.  As this was a pretty ‘concrete’ project, we wanted to give our congregation a very tangible way of monitoring our progress toward achieving our goal. Campaign member, Renee Crevelli-Gross constructed a poster with the outline of a Cathedral and made small “bricks” of adhesive paper to “build” the cathedral as bricks were sold. The challenge was drawing the Cathedral in the proper shape to fit 500 bricks! Donations were made by check and collected with the regular offerings. Once a week, campaign member Janet Lane tallied the gifts and began “building” our Cathedral by placing the appropriate number of bricks “purchased” on our poster. The poster was displayed in our new narthex so church members could “watch” the Cathedral construction as they entered the sanctuary for Sunday service.

During the third week of the campaign, chairman Kim Andrup made a formal appeal at each church service, describing the extent of the destruction of the Cathedral and illustrating the role of the Church within the community in Haiti as the spiritual center, but also an educational resource for children and adults, a neighborhood health center and a place to turn to in times of trouble. Kim explained that with an average annual income of only $480, the Haitian people cannot rebuild the Cathedral by themselves. They need our support to help rebuild their spiritual home.

In addition to the slide presentation, announcements and appeals, the Youth Group held a pancake breakfast between church services, serving up persimmon and plum pancakes, eggs and bacon to the congregation. They generously donated all proceeds from the breakfast to the Haiti Cathedral project.

With the generous support of the people of St. Martin’s, we are very pleased to announce that our “Cathedral” has been built! We have sold over 650 bricks and are now putting an “addition” on the Cathedral.

Click here to view pictures of the Rebuild campaigns around our diocese.

Do you have a story of your congregation's fundraising efforts for the church in Haiti?  Post a comment below, or submit it here. 

by Warren Dunning, Epiphany in Vacaville

Thanks to Barefoot Winery, Melissa Dunning (the same great chef who catered the Camp Noel Porter Cinco de Mayo celebration and provides those great meals for CNP campers), and a lot of hard working volunteers we raised over $5000 to help support the Vacaville Community Meal program.

The event, held at the Buck Mansion in Vacaville featured entertainment by the Sylvan Singers, Tintinabulists, and musicians from Will C. Wood High School, and auctioneering by our own Gary Tatum.

Since 2000, the Vacaville Community Meal Program has served over 120,000 hot nutritious free meals to the hungry and lonely of Vacaville. For the first ten years worshipers from Epiphany cooked and served between 200 to 300 delicious dinners every Friday night. We are now an ecumenical program, with participation by six faith communities. We hope to begin serving on an additional night later this year.

Click here to view photos of this event.

by Diocesan UTO Coordinator, Mary Ann Renzi

United Thank Offering (UTO) was begun in 1889 by the Episcopal Church to encourage men, women and children to give thanks to God for their daily blessings. The coins that you drop in the Blue “mite” Box, for large and small blessings that have brightened your life and the lives of those around you, quickly become a major source to brighten the lives of others through UTO grants. This year over two million dollars were given in UTO grants to build churches and schools, make needed renovations, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, provide shelter for the homeless, and provide care and support for those with physical, mental and emotional challenges. Specifically, grants were given to offer hunger relief and mentoring programs in Los Angeles, to purchase washers and dryers for homeless families in an interfaith hospitality center in New Hampshire, and, in our own Diocese, to St. Martin’s in Davis to upgrade their Community Outreach kitchen.

The Spring UTO ingathering traditionally takes place on Ascension Sunday which this year is celebrated on May 20th. A more convenient date may be chosen if this date conflicts with your Church’s schedule.

Explore Grant Qualifications for Your Parish

Information is available at www.episcopalchurch.org/uto or by e-mailing or calling MaryAnn Renzi, to maryar7432@yahoo.com or 916.686.6403.

UTO Mite Boxes, Donation Envelopes and Other Supplies:

You may order UTO materials online here. 
or by telephone from “Episcopal Marketplace” at 1.866.937.2772.

Where to send your UTO Offering:

Make your check payable to "UTO" and mail to:
Lovice Hinsdale, UTO
10314 Durbrow Road
Grass Valley, CA. 95945

You will receive a confirmation statement.

by the Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs

A live webcast featuring an enlightening conversation about mission between Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be available at no fee on Saturday, May 19 at 3:30 pm Eastern (2:30 pm Central, 1:30 pm Mountain, 12:30 pm Pacific, 11:30 am Alaska, 9:30 am Hawaii) on the website of the Episcopal Church www.episcopalchurch.org and will be available on demand afterwards.

Hosted by Washington National Cathedral, the event will be moderated by David Crabtree, news anchor at WRAL-TV in North Carolina and an ordained deacon.

Framing the conversation on the Anglican Five Marks of Mission, the questions to be explored are: “What does Mission mean to me;” and “What does mission look like in the world.”

The May 19 event is the first in a series of discussions about mission with the Presiding Bishop and other prominent religious leaders.

The event is ideal for congregation and group viewing, adult forums, discussion groups, etc.

Live webcast features discussion about mission with Episcopal Presiding Bishop, Archbishop Desmond Tutu
May 19 from Washington National Cathedral  -  12:30 pm Pacific Time
www.episcopalchurch.org

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori

The Anglican Five Marks of Mission

The Five Marks of Mission were developed by the Anglican Consultative Council between 1984 and 1990 and have won wide acceptance among Anglicans, and have given parishes and dioceses around the world a practical and memorable "checklist" for mission activities.
The Five Marks of Mission are:
1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
2. To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
3. To respond to human need by loving service
4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society
5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

by the Ven. Cookie Clark, Archdeacon

Virginia McNeeley of Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento and Gary Brown of Emmanuel in Grass Valley graduated from the School for Deacons on May 10, 2012 with a Bachelor of Theological Studies (BTS).  They will be ordained to the diaconate on June 9, 2012 at the Cathedral.

See Steve Skiffington (right) of Trinity Cathedral, a 2nd year Student, holding the School Banner.

To learn more about the ministry of deacons in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, visit www.norcalepiscopal.org/deacon.  

Pictured right:  (from left to right) the Ven. Cookie Clark, Gary Brown, Virginia McNeeley, Steve Skiffington, and the Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California. 

by Lori Hill, Secretary of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Elk Grove

We are pleased to announce St. Mary's 2nd Flea Market! The event will take place on June 2, 2012.

Everyone in the community is welcome to participate, either by renting a space (applications are still being accepted) to sell your goods, or by shopping the flea market.

We will have a mix of new items, direct sales companies, and used items. What a great opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping!

Click here for more information about this exciting event. 

The Wings of Glory Gospel Choir, directed by Patrecia Graham from St. John's Episcopal Church, Petaluma, performed before an enthusiastic crowd at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Benicia on May 6, 2012. Proceeds from the concert went to fund the St. Paul's Feed the Hungry Community Meal Program which feeds 75-100 people each week.

Click here to see more pictures from the concert. 

On Sunday, May 6, the Rev. Barbara Elizabeth Nixon and the people of St. Luke’s in Galt welcomed Bishop Barry Beisner and Deacon Bob Olsen and his wife, Sandy, to Sunday morning worship followed by a luncheon and teaching. The Bishop preached on the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40. He pointed out that Philip was one of the Church’s original seven deacons chosen in Acts 6:1-7, and outlined his vision that each congregation in the diocese would have a deacon. The bishop taught that, like Philip, we are all called to be evangelists and that the word evangelism really means “good news-ism”.

During the service, the bishop confirmed one parishioner and received another into the Episcopal Church. Before being confirmed and received, the candidates spoke to the congregation about their faith in Christ and why they decided to formally join the Episcopal Church generally, and St. Luke’s in particular.

Following the service, the Bishop toured St. Luke’s new memory garden. The memory garden began as an idea from St. Luke’s teenager David Gleason for an Eagle Scout service project. The plot of land used to be a patch of untended weeds and growth. David cleared and landscaped the plot, creating a walkway, benches, plants and a statue of St. Francis. He also designed the fences and built, carved and painted the wooden outer fence to match the other carved and painted historic wooden fences on the Church property. The Memory Garden is a memorial to loved ones who have passed and a beautiful place for people to take time out in peace to meditate, remember and pray.

During the luncheon, the Rev. Nixon asked the bishop to speak on how he nurtured his faith in Christ. The bishop spoke of the importance of reading the Scriptures daily, of prayer both corporate and private, having a spiritual director and time for retreat and study as well as the importance of keeping a Sabbath for quiet reflection and renewal. Along with the Rev. Nixon, he encouraged the congregation to participate in the Diocese’s Bible Challenge program later in the year which will encourage us all to read the Bible in one year.

Click here to see additional pictures from the Bishop's visit.

It has turned out to be such a beautiful spring here at Lake Tahoe; the robins were running around this morning and the squirrels have dug up all their winter stores – which makes for lots of fun walking through the woods. The bears are awake and already making their presence known in town. And those rascally raccoons keep finding their way into the dumpster. With all this spring going on, it is hard to imagine that Pentecost and summer are only a few weeks away. I am sure that your summer plans are quickly coming together and you are looking with anticipation toward some recreation and refreshment. Our summer here at Camp Noel Porter and St. Nicholas’ is also coming together quickly and we are looking forward, with great anticipation, to a fantastic summer. (We have been digging a trench today – with powerful earth movers).

As we slide into May, I hope we are able to take a moment and remember the season of the Church we are still in. I had a couple of people ask me when the season of Easter was going to be done and I surprised them by saying we still had the whole month of May left for the Easter Opening dialogue and the Seasonal blessing. We still have a couple of more weeks to sing “Jesus Christ is risen today” and we were still going to shout our Alleluias at the dismissal.

I relish that we are still in the Easter season. I am seeing the evidence of resurrection all around. We are seeing friends return to the Lake and hearing stories of God moving in their lives in new and exciting ways. We are seeing life return to our very depressed economy after a hard winter. There are lots of help wanted signs going up in shop windows and restaurants. What has seemed like a long and unexciting winter is giving way to a fresh spring in our community. People are speaking with hope all around town.

How do we respond to the Easter season? Is it simply a day on the calendar or a festival at our churches? Is it only a day of family and feast? Or have we let Easter become our way of life for the last few weeks? Let me tell you the story of today. Before we were digging the trench, I was visited by one of our community members who regularly needs assistance. While we were looking for various items, she said that she was so thankful that Jesus was in her life and was looking out for her even though times are tough. It is an Easter moment when we are confronted with such faith. Here is another story: one of the St. Nicholas’ parents asked me if it was alright for her son to go to youth group at the Baptist Church; would I or the congregation be offended? As I know the youth minister and the Senior Pastor, I said we would be happy her son has found a community and fellowship there. It is an Easter moment when we see young people seeking community.

In our response to the Easter season, I think it is important for us to look for the wonderful and inspiring ways God is moving in people’s lives. We see relationships with God not only made new in this season, but we also see those relationships resurrected. I am sure we can remember all of those moments when we felt that God was absent from our lives. I call those Good Friday moments. I know how alive I feel when I emerge from Good Friday and Holy Saturday into the glory of Easter Morning – both physically and metaphorically. I know that I often need my relationship with God to be a moment of resurrection. I need to feel that I too have emerged from the tomb and have been given new life. Have you allowed Easter to be your way of life?

As summer comes and our lives become even busier, I would hope that you continue to know an Easter life. A life full of resurrection. A life full of reconciliation. A life full of re-creation.

by Thea Mangels, Office Manager & News Editor

This year’s Bishop’s Conference, held at Trinity Cathedral on April 27 and 28, brought together nearly 200 people for a time of fellowship, education, training and worship.  Overwhelmingly, attendees of this year's Bishop's Conference said that they would recommend the Bishop's Conference to members of their congregation.  In fact, most said that they thought that it was a conference their entire Vestry (or Mission Committee) should attend.  Marti Shortridge of St. John's in Petaluma said of her experience, "I came with a sense of, this is my J-O-B and that is why I have to be here... I am just overcome by joy... I was touched by the liturgy and not just the sermon. It has been quite an experience. I have learned a lot."

Workshops were presented across the spectrum of congregational development.  People were inspired to dig into fields that they previously felt unequipped to mine as a congregation: paperless music, communication (even Facebook), Total Ministry, outreach ministries, and even innovative worship styles.  One participant said he was "taking home thought provoking questions for myself and my congregation." 

The key note presentations for the weekend, "Mortal, Can These Bones Live?" and "Midwifing the New Life of the Spirit in a World Longing for Reconciliation" by the Rev. Thomas Brackett, and "A Biblical Image for the Missional Church: The People of God in Exile" by  the Rev. Canon Dr. Neal O. Michell, were high points for many conference goers.  When asked what her favorite part of the conference was, Lisa Sargent of St. Michael's in Carmichael said, "Thomas Bracket's presentations, the concepts he is sharing."  Another conference participant said that his suggestion for a future conference would be to bring Canon Michell back someday.  The Very Rev. Jeff Frost, Dean of the Superior Deanery and Rector of All Saints in Redding said his favorite part of the conference was "Tom Bracket.  But then, I am a nonlinear, metaphorical thinker anyway."  A fourth attendee said that she enjoyed the diverse perspectives on similar themes and topics that were presented at this year's Bishop's Conference. 

Gathering under the theme "Renewing Our Relationships," high school students from six area Episcopal congregations participated in a special youth event concurrent with Bishop's Conference. Guided by the curriculum offered by Living Compass, the youth focused on tools for renewing their relationships with God, with neighbors and with self. Adding to the fun, the youth spent the night at the Cathedral on Friday night for a lock-in full of fun, food and fellowship. Additionally the young people joined the main conference for the keynote addresses from the Rev. Thomas Brackett, the Soul Collage workshop and were joined by the Bishop for lunch. The students shared leadership in the Saturday morning and Saturday evening worship services as well.

This year's Bishop's Conference was a wonderful chance for the diocese to come together to look at ways to strengthen our congregations; to "build up the body of Christ in love" (Ephesians 4:16).    

Click here to view pictures and videos from the Bishop's Conference.  Click here for information about next year's Bishop's Conference. 

Pictured above left (L to R): Director of Communications Keri Lopez, Jim Sargent, & the Very Rev. Jeff Frost.
Pictured above right: Bishop Beisner with some of the Youth Event participants.

For more than thirty years, Holy Family Episcopal Church in Rohnert Park has been an important part of the community. In 2007, its NOAH food pantry was designated a Jubilee Ministry Center of the Episcopal Church. As a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, the members of Holy Family have worshiped, cared for one another, and served the community from their location across the street from Sonoma State University.

Recently, increased maintenance costs along with a decrease in pledge income and rental revenues created a financial crisis for the congregation. After the parish exhaustively explored a variety of options with the Congregational Vitalization Committee, the diocesan Board of Directors decided to sell the property, hopefully to another church. Many of the sacred items and decorations will continue to be used in other churches within the diocese.

The legacy of Holy Family will continue on, reflected in the work and initiative taken with projects such as COTS (Committee on the Shelterless), “The Neighborhood Farm” community garden, NOAH (Neighbors Organized Against Hunger) food pantry, and HALO (Holistic Arts and Learning Organization), sponsoring, designing, and presenting quality education and arts programs and concerts.

The Rev. Dr. Gail Cafferata has served as priest in charge for the past nine years. Bishop Barry Beisner has provided Bishop George Hunt to serve as their chaplain through this process. He will be present for their closing service of thanksgiving and praise on May 20th at 4:30 pm, along with the Very Rev Matthew Lawrence, Dean of the West Deanery. The formal deconsecration will be held at a later date with Bishop Beisner present.

Click here to read the formal announcement as shared by Holy Family on April 28, 2012.

Integrity of Northern California has long been a voice for full inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered and Bisexual people (LGBT) in the Episcopal Church. We spend a lot of time on education and outreach both within and without the church, but sometimes we just like to kick back and have a good time, and this is one of those times. We are excited to partner with the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center to bring the world famous  San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus to Sacramento as they premiere the new Harvey Milk Anthem, Give ‘em Hope!

The chorus, one hundred and fifty voices strong, is known for their varied repertoire as well as for their show-stopping productions. This show, The California Freedom Tour, will include music from such Broadway hits as Godspell, Wicked, Hairspray and more. As it has been said, “No one does Broadway like the Boys!” A special appearance will be made by our own Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus. Prior to the full concert at Trinity Cathedral, the chorus will be making a brief appearance on the steps of the Capitol at four o’clock.

Tickets are available on line at www.saccenter.org/sfmenschorus, but you can also get them at Trinity’s Cathedral Bookshop (916.446.2513). Tickets for the 8pm performance are $35 reserved, $25 general, $40/$30 at the door, and $10 students/seniors. The cathedral only sits about 300 and we fully expect this to be a sell-out performance.

What: Concert of The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
When: Tuesday, May 22 at 8 pm
Where: Trinity Cathedral, 2626 Capitol Ave., Sacramento (Map)
Cost: $35 reserved, $25 general, ($40/$30) at the door, and $10 students/seniors
Buy Tickets: Call 916.446.2513 or visit ww.saccenter.org/sfmenschorus

by Eileen Thomas,  Executive Director of River City Food Bank

At long last, River City Food Bank is able to schedule an Open House for our supporting church partners.  Please join us on Sunday, June 3rd from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.  Come and see our new location and enjoy some light refreshments. 

When: Sunday June 3, 2012

Where: 1800 28th Street (Corner of 28th & R Street)

Time: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

Click here for information on how to donate.

Click here for information on how to volunteer.

Presented by the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley CA

How can visual art help us think deeper about theology? Dive more deeply into theology beyond words and texts. Using images from Latin American colonial art, this class explores a variety of theological topics ranging from the Trinity, to the Virgin Mary, and to the Body of Christ. How do such images, speaking from their cultural time and place, also speak to theology and practice of Christians today? More than just looking at images, “Art and the Theological Imagination” also discusses what possibilities exist by expanding one’s theological imagination.

Co-taught by the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Former Presiding Bishop and Primate for the Episcopal Church, Dr. Mark Jordan, Professor at Harvard Divinity School, Dr. Kathryn Tanner, Professor at Yale Divinity School, and Ms. Jackie Winter, with Anglican Theological Review.

When: Monday July 23 - Thursday July 26, 2012  9am-4pm
Where: Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley CA
Registration Deadline: July 1, 2012

Early Registration $225, Standard Registration $275, GTU Students $125

Click here for more information. 

Click here to register.  

The funding of these grants comes as a result of the passage of ( R1-07).  The purpose of the grants is to provide congregations with start-up or expansion funds for ministry programs or projects which support the Millennium Development Goals (the 8 Goals set by the UN to reduce poverty by 50 percent by 2015). 

The MDG Committee envisions that all congregations, large and small, have at least one ministry which supports the Millennium Development Goals. The committee is available to explore answers to challenges that may arise for congregations beginning such ministries as well as to provide informational resources and funds to assist in the implementation of MDG ministries.

Guidelines for Millennium Development Goals Grants

These guidelines are purposefully short, meant to encourage creativity and innovation rather than stifle new ministries through unreasonably constricting rules. It is the intention of the Millennium Development Goals Steering Committee that these grants fund new or expanded ministries which reflect the following:

1. Involvement with a program or project which focuses on the issues of Global Poverty as addressed in the Millennium Development Goals (listed at right).
2. The program or project should allow for involvement of members of the congregation in a variety of ways.
3. The congregation’s involvement should offer opportunity for nurturing of spiritual growth and expansion of the vision of God’s mission in the world.
4. The ministry should be available as a model for other congregations in the Diocese of Northern California and/or the National Episcopal Church.

Deadline to Apply

The deadline to apply for a 2012 Millennium Development Goals Grant is June 1, 2012 at noon. Click here to download the grant application.

Questions?

Please contact the Reverend Lucretia Jevne, MDG Committee Chair, lajevne@comcast.net.

The 8 Millennium Development Goals

1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS Malaria and other Illnesses
7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability
8. Develop Global Partnerships for Development

Holy Family Episcopal Church will hold its last public service Sunday, May 20th at 4:30 p.m. The community is invited to attend this service of thanksgiving and praise for over 30 years of ministry in Rohnert Park, Cotati and Penngrove. Members of the congregation will be dispersing. The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, hopes that the property will purchased by another church.

The congregation would like to take this occasion to express their deep gratitude to the communities of Rohnert Park, Penngrove and Cotati for their ongoing support. In 2008, Rebuilding Together refreshed the church by painting its windows and trim. In 2009, Sonoma State University’s (SSU) Sustainable Landscape program designed and installed the church corner garden. In 2010 and 2011, SSU’s graduate students from the Department of Psychology and the Executive MBA Program provided invaluable consultation to the NOAH Board of Directors.

For the past two years, the Church became the home of The Neighborhood Farm, a community garden nurturing the life of our wider community. The garden’s many beds filled and flourished with help from iGrow Sonoma, local farmers, dedicated volunteers from SSU’s JUMP community service club, SSU’s Sustainable Landscape Program, Sonoma Compost Company, Canyon Quality Tree Service, neighboring police and firemen, Episcopal Community Services and over twenty-five generous gardeners.

The community has offered the congregation many opportunities to share their gifts with others. In the 1990’s the church provided temporary winter housing for families referred by COTS (The Community on the Shelterless). Since its construction, the church has hosted diverse choral performances and workshops for Sonoma State University, the Sonoma Bach Society and the Santa Rosa Junior College. In early 2011, the church began the Holistic Arts and Learning Organization (HALO), sponsoring, designing, and presenting quality education and arts programs and concerts such as the ecumenical La Primavera Benefit Concert, the Northwest Boychoir, a children’s choir program using the Voice for Life curriculum of the Royal School of Church Music, and a 2011 community-wide summer music camp.

In 2005 the church joined with Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, St. John’s Methodist Church, Rohnert Park Assembly of God and Rohnert Park Bible Church to found the non-profit NOAH (Neighbor Organized Against Hunger). NOAH provides supplemental food for families from the Rohnert Park, Cotati, and Penngrove area, providing over 20 pounds of food to 200 to 300 households each week. The Neighborhood Farm’s abundance of produce has been regularly shared with the Redwood Gospel Mission’s soup kitchen and other community feeding programs. NOAH has been funded by Episcopal Community Services and is a designated Jubilee Ministry Center of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

The congregation wishes to express its deep appreciation to all in our community and the diocese who gave generously to assist the congregation with its ministries of feeding the hungry, serving children and their families, and nurturing our wider community through the arts.

Those seeking further information about the ministries of the church should call 707.795.7500 or email holyfamilymission@sbcglobal.net.

When: Sunday, May 20th at 4:30 p.m.
Where: Holy Family Episcopal Church, 1500 East Cotati Avenue (map)

This uproariously funny play takes place in the Polish Tea Room where denizens of the Broadway Theater world gather to gossip, schmooze, and be entertained by its owners and the resident stand-up comic. Presented by Mission Avenue Players (formerly St. Michael's Actors Guild). Performance dates are May 4, 5, 11, 18, and 19 at 8 pm and Sunday, May 6 at 2 pm. Tickets are $15 general, $12 students, seniors, and SARTA members. Tickets are available at the door.

There is a special benefit Dinner Theater performance on Saturday, May 12 with dinner at 6:30 and show at 8 pm. All proceeds from this performance go to support Starr King School's students through additional supplies and scholarships for athletic and arts programs. Tickets for the dinner must be purchased in advance and are $40. For more information contact the Mission Avenue Players ticket line at 916.877.6004.

When: May 4, 5, 11, 18, and 19 at 8 pm and Sunday, May 6 at 2 pm
Where: St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 2140 Mission Avenue, Carmichael (map)
Cost: $15 general, $12 students, seniors, and SARTA members, dinner tickets - $40*
Ticket line: 916.877.6004

*Dinner Tickets must be purchased in advance.

St. John’s School of Roseville will be closing its doors at the end of this school year after serving families and their children for over 30 years while “providing education that develops the whole child: mind, body and spirit,” quoting the stated mission of the school.

This announcement was made Monday evening [April 23, 2012] at the school’s town hall assembled for both staff and family by the Board of Trustees president, Keith Diederich. At the meeting, parents and staff were informed that although there is available land adjacent to the church in order to build, the school did not have the resources to do so.

All efforts by the Board of Trustees to find an alternative to closing the school were exhausted, as a nearly six-month effort of cost-containment and budget-cutting enactments were employed. In the end, the school simply did not have the revenues to meet its on-going obligations.

Under the leadership of Holly Rocha, interim head of the school, the final six weeks will be a time of celebration and remembrance for the children. The 2011-2012 school year will conclude, as scheduled, on May 25th.  As one parent stated at the town hall, “It will be our responsibility to show our children grace in the face of this difficult situation.”

The last eighth grade class to graduate from St. John’s will hold its ceremonies at St. John’s Church on Thursday May 24 with a reception to follow. The school will have scheduled graduations for kindergarten on Wednesday, May 23rd.

St. John’s School was founded in 1980 by the Episcopal Church of Roseville and has provided an enriched educational environment to students over the last 32 years.

The Very Reverend Cliff Haggenjos, Rector of St. John’s parish, also addressed the staff and parents and is available for spiritual guidance and support .

Click here to read "Roseville’s St. John’s School Forced To Shut Down" by CBS 13 Sacramento

It was 5:15 a.m. when I first got there. Soon after, these words were spoken: "On this most holy night, our Lord Jesus passed over from death to life." And again the community recounted the story. It was very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had not yet risen, and we stood, observing alongside Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, God’s powerful intrusion into human history. We heard again the story of how the divine hand raised Jesus of Nazareth to new life, and in so doing, rescued us from sin and death – A ‘once for all time’ action that changed everything.

It is yours and mine to wonder at – in terror and amazement – this singular action that is the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It shatters everything that would close the door on what is possible. It creates and recreates year after year the promise of a new future... We heard St. Paul speak of it in his letter to the Romans:

"We know that Christ being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.. and if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

In the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are given an alternative perspective on the world... and called to embody a life shaped by the Christ who sits at God's right hand.

In the resurrection of Jesus, Christians know that God indeed creates... that God's power indeed triumphs over all other powers... and that, in Jesus Christ, God has signaled the redemption of humankind.

In the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are confronted with unbelievably good news... but news that is also intimidating and, frankly, scary. That’s why Mark 16:1-8 is my favorite Easter Gospel. It catches the first witnesses to the Resurrection utterly unprepared and disorganizes them completely!

We hear how the women fled the tomb, gripped by terror, confused and amazed. Oh, we can go back and read on in Mark and the other gospels of their brief announcement to Peter, and of subsequent appearances of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and dispirited travelers on the road to Emmaus. We can relish stories of fish barbeques on the beach, reality hand-and-feet checks in the locked upper room, but as for me, I claim Mark’s stark telling. I am completely at home in what feels to me like a totally believable moment: running pell-mell from the tomb in terror and amazement!

The proclamation of the empty tomb defies easy explanation... We can imagine the women, stopping further along the road, holding on to each other, rehearsing what they had just witnessed, wondering if it was true –even more perhaps, wondering whether or not they would be believed.

But news of a divine deliverance provokes a response – and when they had pulled themselves together, they went forward in faith and conviction. I have a favorite stories from Anthony de Mello’s little book, Taking Flight, I want to share. Paraphrasing a bit, he writes:

A man greets his friend at an airport and says: "I heard this was your first flight. Were you scared?"

"Well, yes, it was, and to tell you the truth," replied his friend, "I didn't dare put my full weight down on the seat."

Easter is an event that asks us to put our full weight down on the seat. At its heart, the Resurrection asks us to really believe God will save us through Jesus Christ. It asks us to trust God's promise of salvation – And it asks us to be willing to let our life be shaped and led by the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s enough of a challenge for most of us right there.

But I think there’s more...

The resurrection of Jesus asks us, in fact, to move beyond the life and message of Jesus as we read of him in the Gospels, and invites us to a lifelong encounter with the Risen Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Resurrection invites us into a "lived" faith. This is the kind of faith that is revealed in and through meeting the Risen Christ when we pray or read the Bible with intention. It’s revealed in our Baptism the day we take it seriously. A lived faith is found as we share in the Eucharistic bread and wine in community with others. It’s a part of our loving fellowship with other Christians, and, most blessedly, it manifests itself in service to God's people in salient and concrete ways.

The resurrection of Jesus calls us to Easter faith, and requires an Easter response – which is to be a witness. We make an Easter response when we put our full weight down on the seat.

In the face of the impossible and the illogical, let us put our full weight on the seat and live this Easter Season celebrating for all time what the Rev. Fleming Rutledge called “the Undoing of Death,” and the affirmation of Eternal Life.

The Lord is Risen! The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

by Merry Phillips of Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka

It is time again for the annual ‘Rhody’ Concert at Christ Church, a popular event of the weekend festivities. The concert takes place on Saturday, April 28, 7:30 pm, at Christ Episcopal Church (15th & H Streets, Eureka). Suggested donation is $10.00 for individuals and $20 for families. The concert is sponsored by the Christ Church Concert Series.

This year’s concert features Luigi Cherubini’s Requiem Mass in C Minor, a major choral work from the early 19th century. The Requiem will be performed by the Rhododendron Festival Choir under the direction of Betty Burton, with Douglas Moorehead, organ. The evening’s program will begin with music performed a cappella by Kantorei, a women’s choir conducted by Betty Burton.

Enjoy the Rhododendron Parade Saturday morning and top off your day with a concert of great choral music. Christ Church is located at 15th & H Streets, Eureka. Doors will open at 7 pm. Contact 707.442.1797 for more information.

• When: Saturday, April 28, 7:30 pm
• Where: Christ Episcopal Church (15th & H Streets, Eureka)
• Cost: $10.00 for individuals and $20 for families

 by Deacon Robert Olsen of St. George's Episcopal Church in Carmichael

Are you seeking a lay ministry license? Perhaps you are just interested in a little more information about lay ministry licensing? If you nodded yes to either of these questions, please join us for our upcoming Lay Ministry workshops.

The Lay Ministry workshops presented by the Committee on Lay Ministry of the Commission on Ministry, and are open to all, whether seeking a license or not. The workshop is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2012 at St. Mary’s, Napa , 1917 Third Street. A morning continental breakfast and lunch will be provided by the hosting Parish. A $15.00 registration fee will cover food and handouts. (RSVP – Patty Park, 916.652.6576, pre-registration and advance payment is encouraged).

Click here for the workshops schedule.

Click here for the workshop details.

When: Saturday, May 19th  9:00 am - 3:00 pm (program starts at 9:45 am)
Where: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church , 1917 Third Street, Napa (Map)
RSVP: Patty Park at  916.652.6576
Cost: $15 per person (Includes continental breakfast and lunch)

A joyous occasion at St. Michael & All Angels Friday evening, April 13, when the Rev. Blake Leighton was ordained.  The Reverend Blake Leighton is not our Pastor but holds the title, Priest Associate at St. Michael & All Angels.  A Letter of Understanding stipulating Blake’s relationship with St. Michael’s as Priest Associate was agreed upon between Blake and the Vestry; approved unanimously by the Vestry.  Congratulations Blake+, your journey has just begun?

Is One of Our Own

Dear Friends in Christ:

Today the Diocese of Western Massachusetts made public its list of nominees to be their next Bishop. Our very own Ron Griffin, Rector of Christ Church, Eureka and Dean of Semper Virens Deanery is among them. While the prospect of losing Ron+ to another diocese is not a happy one to the many of us who know and value his ministry in Northern California, still we are pleased and proud to see him receive this affirmation from the larger church.

The 'walkabouts' are May 21-24, and the election is scheduled for June 2. Please join me in congratulating Ron+ and in praying for him, for his wife, Charlotte, for the people of Christ Church, and Semper Virens, and for the Diocese of Western MA these next several weeks.

Grace and peace,

 "Western Massachusetts Announces Candidates for 9th Bishop" an article from the Episcopal News Service including the names of all 5 candidates is available here. 

All Saints' Episcopal Church Thrift Shop is looking for your help.  The thrift shop business in Redding is getting very competitive!!!  Our donations are starting to come in at a slower rate.  We realize that there are many other thrift shops that are doing good things in the community, however, we are all experiencing the entry of the Goodwill Store to Redding.  This is like the Big Store guys coming into our town.  They have many drop off places for their donations.  We just ask that you remember All Saints' Thrift Shop when it comes time to discarding your clothes, children's clothes, kitchen items, cooking and dining items, household items, picture frames, and miscellaneous items.  The items we are unable to sell are given to several other local agencies who distribute them to those in need.  We are able to receive lamps, small tables, and small chairs.  Unfortunately, we are unable to take large items because we only have so much room. 

Please remember we are an all volunteer group of 50 people and we have no paid employees.  The Thrift Shop is a ministry of All Saints' Episcopal Church.  Last year we were able to distribute more than $30,000 to agencies in the community and we want to continue in this ministry. 

We appreciate the generous contributions you make to the Thrift Shop and your consistent support. 

The Thrift Shop phone number is 530.223.2523. We are open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM and on Friday from 10 AM to 1 PM.  Click here to visit our website for more information. 

For three and a half years now we at St. Alban's have had all ages in worship together for the opening hymn, opening sentences and reading of Holy Scripture at 10:30 a.m. with preschool and early elementary age children having their own chapel time during the sermon, Creed and the prayers. At 8 a.m. all ages are together without the provision of chapel. This grew out of a conviction that we are most faithful in worship when all ages and all conditions are together to offer their praise and thanksgiving to God. This has been well received by the children, parents and the congregation alike. It is a joy to watch the children’s faces and hear their voices as they try out the words of our liturgy and music or just greet their friends.

I am mindful that, while young children are often like sponges taking in everything around them, there are things we can do as adults to help them more fully participate in corporate worship. Connie Webb pointed out to me recently that for children who are beginning readers, the hymns can be confusing. In school, children learn to read line by line, moving from the top of the page to the bottom, but hymns start at the top, move to the middle, then to the bottom of the page and then back to the top. This is not obvious and needs to be learned.

With this in mind, I want to add a few more observations about nurturing children in worship. A colleague in Connecticut, a Methodist lay-woman, once remarked to me, “Episcopalians sometimes think their worship is too formal to engage children but the truth is there is lots of movement in your worship, ways for them to engage all of their senses.” So attend to the body. Engage children in the movement of worship—standing, sitting, kneeling, greeting and so on. Make them responsible for putting the family’s offering into the offering plate. Be sure to attend to their basic needs before the service begins—are they hungry, have they had a chance to visit the restroom? None of us, old or young, does well when our bodies are distracted by these basic bodily functions.

There is a deeper purpose to the work of nurturing children in worship. This same colleague also told me a story about one Sunday morning when she was kneeling in prayer in worship when her teenage son pulled on her sleeve and whispered rather loudly , “Mom, Mom don’t forget we need to get me a new soccer shirt this afternoon.” “Yes,” she responded through gritted teeth, “I know. Could it wait until after the Lord’s Prayer?”

It occurred to her at that moment that having her children with her in worship, teaching them the ways of worship in her tradition, was her offering to God. It might be easier, not the least for parents, to make worship a time for adults to get their “God” time—free of distraction. But then it would not be worship, the offering of praise and thanksgiving by the whole people of God—all ages and conditions—to the glory of God.

by the Rev. Gail Cafferata

At its Board Meeting on April 3rd, the Neighbors Organized Against Hunger (NOAH) Board selected a potential new Food Pantry Site. Cross and Crown Lutheran Church graciously offered to lease a vacant office building to NOAH. Cross and Crown offered the building across from Rancho Cotate High School on Snyder Lane to NOAH for a monthly rent of $400. NOAH and Cross and Crown have to work with the Sonoma County Environmental Health Department to decide on building improvements to make the building suitable for food distribution. NOAH is asking for funds and volunteers to make the building changes.

Board Chairperson Rev. Gail Cafferata explains that: “Cross and Crown was one of the original churches that founded NOAH. The congregation has been stalwart supporters of NOAH’s efforts to provide food to families in need. Their support of NOAH and the families we serve is a blessing to our community.”

NOAH needs to find a new Food Pantry site by the end of June. The Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District notified NOAH that it must move out of its current Mountain Shadows Middle School location.

NOAH provides:

• Supplemental food for families from the Rohnert Park, Cotati, and Penngrove area;
• Assists 200 to 300 household each week with up to 1,000 family members; and
• Provides over 20 pounds of food for each family for less than $2.00 each.

NOAH receives food and cash donations from many sources in the community. In particular, over 15,000 pounds of food was donated during the recent holidays from Rancho Cotate High School students and others. NOAH is partners with and appreciates greatly the assistance of the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

NOAH will continue operations at the Middle School site through June. Financial donations can be mailed to P. O. Box 2955, Rohnert Park, Ca. 94928. NOAH is seeking volunteers that would like to serve on the Board of Directors. If interested, individuals should contact the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County at 573-3399. Those that wish to volunteer as Food Pantry Coordinators should contact Carl Leivo at cleivo@sbcglobal.net or 707-293-8290.

...The Rev. Matthew Lawrence, rector of the Episcopalian Church of the Incarnation in downtown Santa Rosa, said he'll likely address what appears to be a growing trend: Christ is cool, but institutional religion is not...

Lawrence said that teens in his youth group “think it's awesome” and that he wants to address the issue in today's Easter sermon. “To say that you're spiritual but not religious is like saying that I believe in healing but not in hospitals, or I believe in learning but not in universities,” he said.

Click here for the full article.

In Sacramento

by Canon David Link of Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento

Tickets are now on sale for the Gala Concert by Anonymous 4, at Trinity Cathedral on Friday, April 20th at 7:30 pm. With twenty-one best-selling recordings on the Harmonia-Mundi label, and numerous awards and sold-out concert tours, Anonymous 4 has made a significant mark in the classical music world during their twenty-five year tenure together.

Renowned for their unearthly vocal blend and virtuosic ensemble singing, the four women of Anonymous 4 combine musical, literary, and historical scholarship with contemporary performance intuition as they create ingeniously designed programs, interweaving music with poetry and narrative.

In addition to their unmatched medieval repertoire, Anonymous 4 has often reached out into the realm of contemporary music, and has premiered works by Peter Maxwell Davies, John Tavener, Steve Reich, Richard Einhorn and David Lang. The group has also expanded their repertoire to include traditional music of the British Isles and America.

Anonymous 4 has performed in major venues and festivals throughout North America, Europe and the Far East. The ensemble has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion," "CBS Sunday Morning," A&E's "Breakfast With the Arts," and NPR's "Weekend Edition." Anonymous 4's award-winning recordings have attained unprecedented popularity, rising to the top of Billboard's classical chart, and selling almost 2 million copies worldwide.

Their "Anthology 25" concert will present a retrospect of the music which has shaped them during their twenty-five years together, and you will not want to miss this concert! Tickets: $30 general, $20 seniors and students. Tickets may be purchased in the Cathedral Bookshop (916.442.9194), as we expect a sold-out concert!

For more information, visit www.anonymous4.com.

What: Anonymous 4 Anthology 25 Concert

When: Friday, April 20th at 7:30 pm.

Where: Trinity Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave. Sacramento, CA 95816 (Map)

Buy Tickets: at the Cathedral Bookshop 916.442.9194 located at Trinity Cathedral

St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Sacramento has 15 classic style choir cassocks (Almy/red purple) with white cottas in a variety of sizes available for a church in our diocese which can use them.

Please contact Douglas Clay, choir librarian at: e-mail to st1849paul@sbcglobal.net or phone 916.446.2620 to arrange delivery.

Pictured right, St. Paul's choir with Bishop Barry Beisner and the Rev. Canon Lynell Walker at St. Paul's, Sacramento in the offered choir robes. 

St. John's Clothes Closet has been thriving and we have been able to help numerous people.  The closet will be open during the Food Shelf hours, which are normally Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:00 to 11:30 am.  Volunteers are needed for Monday and Tuesday mornings.  Volunteers will help sorting and sizing donated items and assisting those in need.  If you are interested in this ministry, please call the church office at 530.742.8829.

We are in need of the following:

- Jeans (men & women)
-Jackets/coats (men & women)
- Sweatshirts with hoods
- New or quality used socks
- New or quality used undershirts (men)
- New packaged men's underwear
- Men's belts
- Tennis shoes in good shape (men & women)
- Gloves & Scarves
- Clean children's clothing

Please, no "dressy" items.

I was naked, and you gave me clothing...
Matthew 25:36