158Th Diocesan Convention Passes 9 Resolutions, Elects 29 Offices by Sean Mcconnell That Has Caused Isolation and Division Within the One Clergy and One Lay

an edition of

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CHURCH THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA December 2007 PACIFICNEWS VOL. 18 No. 12

158th Diocesan Convention Passes 9 Resolutions, Elects 29 Offices By Sean McConnell that has caused isolation and division within the one clergy and one lay. The Rev. Nina Pickerrell communion. (Deacon), and Ron Johnson were elected to the Standing he 158th Convention of the Diocese of California, “To follow either extreme is to put at risk the great Committee’s class of 2011. Both Pickerrell and Johnson held at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral on Friday riches of our Anglican heritage, through which the Lord are from Grace Cathedral. and Saturday, October 19 and 20, passed nine T has blessed us so greatly over the centuries,” Ndungane The Ecclesiastical Court’s class of 2010 added two resolutions and elected diocesan officers and deputies to told the convention Eucharist. members of the clergy and one lay person. They are the the 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church to “We must not lose this inheritance, if we are serious Rev. Nancy Eswein (Deacon), the Rev. Paul Burrows be held in Anaheim, California. about being faithful to the Lord, as he has been faithful (priest), and Karen Valentia Clopton.. The week leading up to convention included a Taizé to us. The Board of Directors added two clergy members service for diocesan unity held at St. Paul’s, Walnut “At the heart of Anglicanism is not one single way and one layperson, although unlike the offices above, Creek, and town hall meetings around the diocese of being Christian. Rather, within a broad and fertile there is no canonical requirement specifying a specific featuring the Most Rev. Njongonkulu Ndungane, territory, there is a breadth of legitimate expressions of number of clergy and lay. The new members of the Archbishop of Cape Town and primate of the province of faith, which hold to that centre who is Jesus Christ.” Board of Directors are Margaret K. “Peggy” Greene, the Southern Africa. Members of St. Paul’s, Walnut Creek, Following the Eucharist, a reception with swing Rev. Paul Fromberg (Priest), and the Rev. Mary Moore held a reception following the Taizé service welcoming dancing was held in the Cathedral’s gym. Gaines (Priest). Gaines was nominated from the floor of Ndungane to the diocese. The reception included On Saturday, the convention’s business day opened convention. proclamations from the mayor and Contra Costa County with Morning Prayer and the Bishop’s Address in the The Provincial Synod added one clergy member and supervisors and a short speech by the archbishop. cathedral’s nave. During his address, the Rt. Rev. Marc two laypersons. The Rev. Anna B. Lange-Soto (Priest), Tuesday, Handley Andrus told how Carole Jan Lee, Wednesday, baptism moves us from and Diane Audrick and Thursday isolation into a sense of Smith. of convention mutuality, and he called on Election results week featured the diocese to share the gifts are tabulated at programs that we have in Christ with the Diocesan House. included the world around us. He pointed Convention elected Chinyakare out that “it is a fiction, four clergy and Ensemble (a though, that I accomplish four lay deputies Zimbabwean anything apart from a great to the General music and web of creation, to which I Convention of the dance troupe), contribute and from which Episcopal Church. a segment from I draw my life. Drinking Four clergy and an HIV/AIDS the shared water of the four lay alternates documentary Spirit signifies the process were also elected. entitled “A of becoming clear to the The clergy deputies Closer Walk,” sources of our lives, first to are the Rev. and a speech the many who participate in Michael Barlowe by Ndungane. Archbishop Njongkulu Ndungane delivers life with us, and ultimately (Priest), the Rev. St. Paul’s, San the homily at the opening Eucharist. to the fountain of all life David Ota (Priest), Rafael; St. and creativity, and indeed the Rev. Vanessa Augustine’s, The Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus gave his of individualism properly Glass (Priest), and Oakland; and Trinity Parish, Menlo Park, hosted convention addressin the nave of Grace understood — God.” the Rev. Barbara the events. More than 500 members of the Diocese Cathedral. “All my episcopal ministry is founded Bender Breck of California attended the events and joined in a in the ideas of this baptismal reality,” (Priest). Lay Deputies are Warren J. Wong, Roderick B. conversation with Ndungane about the South African Andrus said in his address. “I believe that the particular Dugliss, Sarah E. Lawton, and Holly McAlpen. concept of ubuntu, the MDGs, post-apartheid South ministry of the episcopate calls me to both always seek The clergy Alternate Deputies to General Convention Africa, and the Anglican Communion. to discern the reality of our common life founded in God, are the Rev. M. Sylvia Vasquez (Priest), the Rev. Richard The convention was called to order on Friday night and point the Diocese to it.” E. Helmer (Priest), the Rev. Katherine (Kate) Salinaro with an opening Eucharist at Grace Cathedral. The Following the bishop’s address, the delegates and (Deacon), and the Rev. John H. Eastwood (Priest). Lay Eucharist included a homily by Ndungane and a sung guests of convention moved downstairs to Gresham Hall Alternate Deputies are Carolyn W. Gaines, Liz Graves, Eucharistic prayer composed by Christopher Putnam, for the convention’s business. Associate for Liturgy and Music at All Souls, Berkeley. Election Results In his homily, Ndungane addressed the historical breadth of Anglicanism and denounced the polarization Standing Committee elected two new members, 4Convention: Page 2

Will Hocker responds, p.3 Serving first responders, p. 5 Antioch combats racism, p. 6 Gift ideas, p. 8 God With Us Isaiah 62:6-7,10-12 its people striking. What can it mean to Spirit of God we can ask about Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, remind the all-seeing God of the world’s “reminding the LORD” in another way; I have posted sentinels; woes? what does it mean to remind God-with- all day and all night First, I need to remember that for the us? they shall never be silent. people of Israel, God was not far away, The New Zealand Book of Common You who remind the LORD, but had been found to be a God both Prayer, in one of its marriage rites, says take no rest, transcendent and immanent, a God who that prayer is “an outlook, a sustained and give him no rest inhabited, caused to be, and sustained energy, which creates a marriage and until he establishes Jerusalem the whole universe, but also a God who makes love and forgiveness life-long.” and makes it renowned throughout the traveled with them through the wilderness, Prayer then is the use of our energies earth. who tabernacled with them. For the in the intentional forwarding of what Go through, go through the gates, Hebrew people, unlike many peoples with we discern to be God’s way on earth. prepare the way for the people; whom they shared the land, the God of the So, as we act with godly intentionality, build up, build up the highway, universe had come near and dwelt among we are praying. Let me suggest that as clear it of stones, them. we so act, we are reminding ourselves lift up an ensign over the peoples. For us, as Christians, the trajectory of the indwelling Spirit. The prayerful he above is a portion of one of the moves to God taking on human life in action awakens and renews our sense of texts for Christmas Day in this Jesus the Christ, and beyond that, to God inspiring and animating our lives. year’s lectionary. I find the idea the Holy Spirit taking up life within the You could say that in such moments, the T life of the earth, within our Christian Christ Child is born anew among and that the “sentinels” of the beleaguered Holy City are called upon to remind the communities, and within our own hearts. within us. LORD of the conditions of the city and So understanding the indwelling The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus  Another resolution called on the diocese to approve 4Convention: From page 1 the work of the Companion Diocese Task Force and to Election Results of the Kay Bishop, and Barbara Smith Bisel. Eastwood and enter into a companion diocese relationship with the 158th Convention Bishop are both members of the San Francisco Deanery. Brazilian Diocese of Curitiba. Two offices were elected without opposition. They The governance of the diocese was also considered, Standing Committee, Class of 2011 are David A. Frangquist, Secretary of the Convention, and a resolution calling for a special convention on Nina L. Pickerell (Clergy) and Elizabeth (Betsy) Munz, Treasurer of the Diocese. May 10, 2008, “to consider and give final approval Ronald C. Johnson (Lay) As Frangquist and Munz are both from San Francisco, to proposed changes to the Canons of the Diocese of Ecclesiastical Court, Class of 2010 the San Francisco Deanery won eighteen elections out California” was passed. Convention adopted “The Five-Year Ethnic Nancy G. Eswein (Clergy) and Multicultural Strategic Plan” to develop new Paul Burrows (Clergy) multi-ethnic and multi-cultural ministries, and Karen Valentia Clopton (Lay) calling for the bishop to install a multicultural Secretary of the Convention missioner by June of 2008. This resolution also called on all clergy and diocesan lay leaders to David A. Frangquist complete two sessions of anti-racism training Treasurer of the Diocese within the next five years. Elizabeth (Betsy) Munz A resolution was presented from the floor responding to the House of Bishops’ Statement Board of Directors, Class of 2010 from September 2007. The resolution, offered Margaret K. (Peggy) Greene Paul Fromberg Mary Moore Gaines Provincial Synod, 2008 Anna B. Lange-Soto (Clergy) Carole Jan Lee (Lay) Dianne Audrick Smith (Lay) Elections committee tabulates vote results. General Convention Deputies, 2009 of twenty-nine possible positions. Alameda and the Peninsula each won four elections, Contra Costa Michael Barlowe (Clergy) won three, Marin won one, and Southern Alameda David Y. Ota (Clergy) did not win an office. Vanessa Glass (Clergy) Barbara Bender Breck (Clergy) Nine Resolutions are Passed by Convention Warren J. Wong (Lay) Resolutions considered by the 158th Diocesan Roderick B. Dugliss (Lay) Convention reflected the diocese’s interest in Sarah E. Lawton (Lay) social justice and the environment and for how Holly McAlpen (Lay) Delegates to convention show a card vote. the diocese is governed. All nine resolutions Alternate Deputies, 2009 considered by convention were passed. Resolutions by the vestry of St. John the Evangelist, San Francisco, 1. M. Sylvia O. Vásquez (Clergy) called for Episcopalians to change their light bulbs “affirms the unanimous decision of the Standing 2. Richard E. Helmer (Clergy) to more energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Committee to refuse to discriminate against partnered gay 3. Katherine (Kate) Salinaro (Clergy) (CFBs); to support immigrant families and to condemn and lesbian bishops-elect in the consent process as called 4. John H. Eastwood (Clergy) raids by the Immigration Custom Enforcement Agency for in General Convention 2006 resolution B033.” It 1. Carolyn W. Gaines (Lay) (ICE); and called on the Church Pension Group (CPG) to also points out that discrimination against LGBT persons 2. Liz Graves (Lay) divest in companies doing business in Sudan. continues in many dioceses of the Episcopal Church 3. Kay Bishop (Lay) Of international interest was a resolution calling and calls on the Presiding Bishop to establish a listening 4. Barbara Smith Bisel (Lay) on the bishop to approve the trial use of three rites “as process within the Episcopal Church. resources in the Diocese of California for formalizing Certified copies of the convention’s the blessing of same-gender unions.” Garnering the most resolutions are now available online at discussion was a resolution proffered by the Standing EpiscopalBayArea.com/convention.  Committee calling for “the creation of the position of Assistant Bishop” and authorizing “the Bishop of California to appoint a Bishop for that position, whose Large screens enable better viewing of appointment is subject to the consent of the Standing the convention floor. Committee of the Diocese of California.” PCN2 | December CHURCH PACIFIC NEWS PCN Reader Response Vol 18, No 12. December 2007 By Will Hocker suffering — body, mind, and spirit. Unlike the social worker I was, the chaplain I am n “Dying to Act,” editor Sean does not usually try to fix problems, nor Episcopal Life ISSN 1050-0057 McConnell’s recent article on gang even necessarily to empower people to USPS# 177-940 is published monthly violence and faith in action, he asks I resolve their own problems. As a chaplain by the Domestic and Foreign “Have you listened and begun to act? If my action primarily involves standing Missionary Society, Inc. 815 Second so, whom have you listened to? What did beside people in pain, grief, anger, fear Ave, New York, NY 10017. Periodical you do next? If you are working for an and despair, letting them know their postage paid in New York, NY and ad- end to violent crime, let us know.” suffering matters, that they are not alone. ditional mailing offices. We chaplains of Sojourn Chaplaincy Standing beside. Praying with. POSTMASTER: Send change of address at San Francisco General Hospital have Like Sean McConnell, I live in a to Episcopal Life, PO Box 2050 been listening. We listen to everyone — neighborhood erupting many Friday Voorhees NJ 08043-8000. patients, their loved ones, and Hospital and Saturday nights with gang on gang staffers. It’s our job: active listening. violence. I live in East Oakland. Unlike The Rev. Will Hocker is Execu- The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, But, to Sean’s point, we do listen to gang Sean’s street in El Cerrito, my street rarely tive Director of Sojourn Chap- publisher members — primarily to those gang sees scary violence. But, many weekends, laincy at San Francisco General members who are hospitalized for being Mr. Sean T. McConnell, editor and some weekday nights, we hear the Hospital. Visit Sojourn at www. on the receiving end of gang violence. rapid fire of a pistol or more, a shoot out. sojournchaplaincy.org. Ms. Monica Burden, managing editor What I am struck by is the relative It’s down the hill, usually two or more innocence and goodness of most these blocks from my house. My partner and I Advisory Board men and boys (they are primarily young Sean’s question, “What did you do next?” don’t have children, so I don’t worry for men, but some are young women) whom I fear I have no answer. I suppose I write The Rev. Rob Droste, chair their safety. But, my neighbors do have we serve. For the most part, they remind this article in hopes that someone else will Ms. Mary-Jane Wood, kids. And, I sometimes worry with them me of the delinquents (as we called them write to suggest next steps to us chaplains. Diocesan Council Representative for the safety of their children. Our next- then) I worked with thirty years ago in For now, I need to believe that door neighbors’ son was killed by a gun Ms. Sandra Gary Detroit, early in my career as a social listening alone is sufficient action for fourteen years ago. We are not afraid for The Rev. Fred Heard worker. They are not “bad actors” — not some of these gangster patients. ourselves. But every time I hear gunfire, Mr. Tom Jackson youth with character disorders. They are A week before Jeremiah’s last I think of some mother’s son lying in his Ms. Julia McCray-Goldsmith people with few to no choices in how to discharge from SFGH, following jaw own blood in the street. Ms. Eleanor Prugh entertain themselves, how to learn a new reconstruction surgery, there was a knock I am not afraid. Rather, I feel The Rev. Dr. M.R. Ritley skill, how to receive respect and how to at my office door. Jeremiah delighted positively helpless. I feel sick at heart. All Ms. Connie Rusk earn a living. me by grinning broadly — showing off the years of neighborhood meetings result Ms. Mary Singer Take Jeremiah. (I have changed his his handsome new smile after months in nothing more than reassurances the The Rev. Mark Spaulding name and other identifiers in this article of having his mouth wired shut. “Hey, cops will arrive faster on the scene. Ms. Ede Zollman to help keep him safe.) He spent most of Reverend Will! How’s it be? I want you Hearing that pop pop pop, we call Mr. Gary Lawrence, chair emeritus this past summer at the General, the first to meet my brother, man.” Before I quite 911. Are we the first caller to speak to the three weeks in a coma. He arrived late one knew what was up, Anthony cranked dispatcher this night, or the sixth? How Friday night in our emergency department his wheelchair around from the corner many people don’t call because of fear? The Episcopal Diocese with eight gun shot wounds — six to of the chapel. “Good to meet you, man. Fear of telling what they know or fear of of California his body, two to his head. Until he was Jeremiah tells me you’re a good guy.” making a tense relationship with the cops discharged in mid-September his jaw was All these months. I had met Jeremiah’s in this neighborhood even more tense. is 27,000 people in 81 congregations, wired shut, having been shattered by a mother many times. She had spent most of Distrust and disrespect between the police with 40 educational institutions, who bullet. His survival and his recovery are his first two months of recovery sleeping and the people are real. speak English, Spanish, Chinese, nothing less than miracles. And, Jeremiah in the second bed of his room. I had met We chaplains are listening. And, Japanese, Filipino, and American Sign knows it. He expresses his gratitude daily. his father. He had moved to Davis to take we’re acting by standing with young Language, and minister to one another, Hospital chaplains witness miracles a new job just to get Jeremiah out of the men as they mourn the loss of half their proclaiming the good news of God’s un- every day: often in the midst of profound Mission neighborhood where he is at conditional love as shown to us in Jesus. intestines or a leg or a cousin. But, to ongoing risk of being tracked down to be finished off The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, for withdrawing Bishop from his gang. But, I had never 1055 Taylor Street till now known San Francisco, CA 94108 about a brother. Anthony told me The Episcopal Church that he himself was shot two is a community of 2.5 million members years ago in gang in 114 dioceses in North America and related violence. abroad. Organized in 1789. He remains in nearly constant The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, pain due to a Presiding Bishop bullet entering his body near Episcopal Church Center his spinal cord. 815 Second Ave. As he stood New York, NY 10017 himself up from his wheelchair to shake my The Anglican Communion hand goodbye, Anthony winced is a global community of 70 million in pain. “But, we Anglicans in 37 member provinces. got each other, man. Sometimes The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Dr. Rowan I’m thinking Williams that’s all I need.” Are you London, England SE1 7JU listening? 

PCN3 | December PCN: Advent 2007 An Episcopalian in Pain: Reflections on the Diocese of Pittsburgh By Pat Smith Nothing changes for now regarding addition, a secretarial position was cut, the Diocese of Pittsburgh was searching 22% in Mission Grants were cut, and for a bishop in 1994–1995. In 1992, moved to the Bay Area in October the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s affiliation there were reductions in the Happening Robert Duncan was hired by the Diocese of 1995. I am a cradle Episcopalian. with the Episcopal Church, unless there staff and in expenses for Calvary Camp, of Pittsburgh and worked as canon to I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, is an approval of a second reading of the I proposed amendment at the next annual Clergy Conference, Leadership Overnight, the ordinary, taking charge of mission, Pennsylvania, and I was baptized and Deacons’ Hospital Ministry, Commission administration and clergy deployment confirmed in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. diocesan convention in 2008. on Racism, Absalom Jones Celebration, of the diocese. Two years later, Bishop I was the third generation of my family The vote approving the first reading the Commission on Ministry, Diocesan Hathaway announced his plan to retire on to serve on the vestry of the parish on November 2 occurred after our Convention, and Communications. The January 1, 1998, and a Bishop’s Search where I grew up. I served in the District Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts legal fees line item from the Convention Committee was formed. By the fall of (Deanery) and attended many diocesan Schori’s October 31 letter urging Bishop Approved Budget for 2007 was $2,000. 1995, three finalists emerged: the Rev. conventions. I was a member of the Board Duncan not to have the Pittsburgh diocese The legal fees line item from the New David Craig Anderson of Newport Beach, of Trustees of the diocese during the time adopt the resolution at the convention. Revised Budget for 2007 is $500,000. CA, the Rev. Dennis Fotinos, the former the Rt. Rev. Alden Hathaway served as Prior to the Pittsburgh convention, I I love my parish in Walnut Creek, I rector of Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh, the Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. A searched for convention materials on love being in the Diocese of California, then of Kingwood, TX, and the Rev. year ago, at the National Cathedral at the their website. I found it quite interesting and I love being an Episcopalian, but Gary Nicolosi of Lancaster, PA. The Investiture of the Presiding Bishop, I ran that they had adjusted their upcoming it pains me to see how Bishop Duncan voting delegates had an opportunity not into Bishop Hathaway in the nave and we budget in the legal fees category. Due is leading the Diocese of Pittsburgh. only to read the writings of each of these had a very pleasant chat. Now retired and to the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s lawsuit Although I no longer have any personal candidates but also to hear them in person. living in Florida, he was dressed in his with Calvary Episcopal Church, a parish affiliation with Diocese of Pittsburgh, it Some delegates were shocked that bishop’s finery and had participated in the in the diocese, the Diocesan Council in will always be the diocese where I grew the Bishop’s Search Committee had not procession along with the other members March 2007 voted to transfer $120,500 up and enjoyed serving for many years. named Duncan as an official candidate of the House of Bishops. As I walked from the Budget Reserve Fund and the In addition, I know many Episcopalians and a movement to nominate him from away, I wondered how the direction of the Energy Relief Fund to cover the defense in Pittsburgh who are not now nor have the floor of the convention was begun. Diocese of Pittsburgh might be different costs of the diocese. (Calvary Episcopal ever been happy with Bishop Duncan. Only 10 signatures from voting members if Bishop Hathaway were still in charge. Church, one of the largest churches in When St. Paul’s–Mt. Lebanon, another representing parishes were needed to On the first weekend in November, the Diocese of Pittsburgh, has withheld of the largest churches in the Diocese nominate Duncan from the floor. It took the Diocese of Pittsburgh held its 142nd paying its assessment to the diocese in of Pittsburgh, was seeking a full-time three ballots until Duncan received diocesan convention. The diocese, let by a disagreement with Bishop Duncan rector earlier this year, the parish placed enough majority votes from both the the Rt. Rev. Robert William Duncan, Jr., regarding property ownership. For more an ad in the classifieds of the March 11, laity and the clergy to be elected the next voted to approve the first of two readings information, go to www.calvarypgh.org/ 2007, issue of The Living Church. The St. bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. needed to enact a constitutional change litigation.html.) Paul’s ad stated quite clearly, “St. Paul’s In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article removing language from the diocesan At the November Diocesan is a moderate church within a diocese dated December 3, 1995, upon his election constitution that accedes to the Episcopal Convention of 2007 there was a resolution containing a majority of conservative as the new bishop, Duncan said, “We Church’s Constitution and Canons, as requesting an additional $100,000 from parishes. Our church and the rector will have tried to focus not so much on our is required by the national church’s the Budget Reserve Fund, making the be committed to ECUSA and not affiliated differences as on the things that give constitution. According to the Episcopal total transferred to date $220,500 to assist with the Anglican Communion Network.” us unity together — particularly Jesus’ Church News Service, the deputies voted in the payment of defense costs. The 2008 Many may not remember or may call to reach the unreached.” It appears 118 to 58 with one abstention to approve budget does not have an entry because it not know that Bishop Duncan never Bishop Duncan suffers from a short-term this resolution while the clergy voted 109 is expected that there will be no balance went through the search process when memory!  to 24 in favor. in the Budget Reserve Fund in 2008. In

MDGs in 2008: Annual Urban Caucus and MDG Leadership Training in DioCal By Sally Coates In this season of light, we look forward to some exciting events in the coming year. fter the whirlwind of Advent has passed, when the Christmas decorations are losing their The Road to Peace: The Annual Epis- Aappeal, we joyfully anticipate another season copal Urban Caucus Assembly in the church year. This is the season of Epiphany—the This is a day of workshops, networking, activism season of light. Christ, as our Morningstar, shed his light opportunities, site visits, guest speakers and youth on the world to bring hope and comfort to those afflicted activities. This is a national conference with attendees in mind, body, and spirit. We are called by our faith to from around the country. It is an exciting opportunity to follow in those footsteps and serve those in need locally learn advocacy, strategy, and actions that influence the and around the globe by reducing suffering. We have Episcopal Church’s priorities and decisions regarding been given the tools of the Millennium Development anti-racism, peace and war, poverty, environmental Goals to help us with this task. justice and hunger that adversely affect the inclusion of Following General Convention in July 2006, our people in the life of the Church. Join us February 13 to 16 diocese wholeheartedly embraced the Millennium at the Oakland Airport Hilton. Development Goals, and many Bay Area parishes responded with projects and aid. Our diocesan MDG Millennium Development Goals Leader- Working Group sponsored an “MDG Summit” in March ship and “Followership” Training 2007. This day-long event with speakers, workshops, and In September 2007, the diocesan Clergy Conference youth activities provides tools to embrace the MDGs agenda focused on MDG Goal #7, “Ensure environmental and have them come alive in your parish and your life. sustainability.” Episcopal Charities hosted an MDG Watch for a save-the-date announcement for this event, retreat with its 14 partner agencies to think about how occurring early fall 2008 at Grace Cathedral. to work locally to reduce suffering globally. Finally, America’s Promise to End Global Poverty.” Plenary So dispel the doldrums of January and embrace at Diocesan Convention in October we affirmed speakers were our diocesan guest Archbishop Njongkulu this season of Light. Be inspired to find ways to Curitiba, Brazil, as a companion diocese and will begin Ndungane of Cape Town, South Africa, and Alex engage with your church through a direct experience working with them soon “through an MDG lens” for our Baumgarten of Episcopal Public Policy Network. The of interdependence across cultural and geographical mutual benefit. Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus served as the Chair of the boundaries within the body of Christ. Tune in to discover On October 27, our diocesan MDG Working Group, Legislative Town Hall, which addressed representatives how you can change the world. Reach out and make it together with the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, from legislators’ offices asking for congressional focus on happen.  co-sponsored the Point 7 Now! Conference “Keeping aid to the world’s poor. PCN4 | December Focus on the Diaconate The Rev. Jan Heglund, Hearing What’s Not Being Said By Sean McConnell When asked why this is diaconal ministry, Heglund Simply being there has deepened the relationship doesn’t hesitate. “As a chaplain, I’m out there in the between Heglund and the officers and agents she works n the months following September 11, 2001, the world. As a deacon, I bring that experience back into the with. “They are very slow to trust anyone outside of their Rev. Jan Heglund, then a deacon at the Church of church.” families, so in the beginning I just started being around Our Saviour, Mill Valley, could no longer sit and I One way that she connected the church to the world — all the time. When you start being teased in briefing watch what was happening in and around Ground Zero of first responders was to connect people in a retirement — I might add, unmercifully — you know you’ve got it — she had to do something. After a conversation with community to her police officers. The priest she was made.” her husband and a call to the Ven. Dorothy Jones, then working with said to her, “Just because the residents at Confidence and a comfort with one’s self are archdeacon of the diocese, she volunteered as a chaplain the Redwoods are old doesn’t mean their life is over. I important qualities for a police chaplain. “We’ve at St. Paul’s Chapel, and within a short time, her trip was want you to stir them up. Get them to do something.” had people in the program who are not so sure of arranged. After asking the chief’s permission, Heglund sent an themselves,” says Captain Jeff Franzini with the SRPD. This trip came a little more than two years after email around to the police officers she works with in San “Jan comes around with a smile, a warm face, and a Heglund and a group of emergency responders she Rafael asking if they wanted someone to pray for them confidence that defuses situations. Because of her varied worked with founded the West Coast Post-trauma Retreat every day for a year. She then took the list to the faithful experience, she’s coming from a place that is more (WCPR) program. WCPR was established to help knowing and reassuring, and she brings all of her those who have suffered from some traumatic incident experience into play.” or incidents. For one week a month, Heglund and the When Heglund arrived in New York after staff of WCPR converge on St. Columba’s Church 9/11, Sister Grace, a nun who was coordinating the and Retreat House, Inverness, where they meet with chaplains, apologized that there were only night seven clients. These clients come from a variety of shifts left. Heglund told her that she had come to fill backgrounds: they are police officers, fire fighters, in wherever she was needed and that the night shift dispatchers, crime scene investigators, members of would be fine. Heglund bivouacked at the YMCA and the military, paramedics, doctors, nurses, chaplains — spent her chaplain time at St. Paul’s Chapel — the anyone who might have experienced a critical incident little church on the edge of the destruction that became or who works with those who have may attend. a refuge for responders and relief workers. “When they come we ask them to rank their Heglund was told by some of the chaplains at St. incidents,” Heglund told me, “and they always think Paul’s to pay extra attention to one man, a backhoe they are there for the most recent one. But some of operator who was obviously not coping well. them have been on the job for more than twenty years “So I watched this guy for a while,” Heglund said, and some of them have hundreds of incidents. Then, “then walked up to him and asked how he was doing. before they leave we ask them to rank their incidents “And he said to me, ‘This is the worst day of my again and they always get changed around.” life.’ People’s lives are changed at WCPR. One client “And I said, ‘What makes it “the worst” in this called and thanked Heglund. “When I got out of the scenario?’ car,” the client told Heglund, “and my wife saw my “And he said, ‘I’ve never uncovered so many face, she started to cry. She had not seen me that heads in my life.’” peaceful in years.” This man was just one of many that Heglund Heglund, who serves as deacon at Christ Church, would listen to during her three-week stay at Ground Sausalito, and as chaplain to the San Rafael Police Zero. Department and the San Francisco Division of the FBI, Because of her presence to those who are on the thinks of her role as a “non-obtrusive presence.” She front lines of emergency response, and because of is a listener, and she comes at this work naturally. On her work with WCPR, Heglund was recently named her first ride along with a young police officer in San “Woman of the Year” by the Marin County Chapter of Rafael, they drove along for some time in total silence. residents of the Redwoods Community for Seniors and Soroptomists International. “He was so young,” Heglund said of the officer, “and asked them each to pray for one person every day. There “I’m reminded of the saying,” Heglund tells me, I was looking at him and I said, ‘I bet I know what you’re was such a great response from those officers asking for “It’s great when boats are in a harbor, safe. But that’s not thinking.’” prayers that she ran out of Redwoods residents and had what boats are made for.” That is the life of a deacon for He said, “You do?” with eyes wide open. to take her list to Our Saviour. Every day for a year, more Heglund, to do the work that a deacon is called to do. It is Heglund responded, “Yeah I bet you’re thinking, than 60 officers and the people for whom the officers had a life on the boundaries. She is a part of the family that is “What is this woman doing in my car? And worse than asked prayers were prayed for. the SRPD, and of another family that is the FBI, but she’s that, am I going to have to talk about God in this small Heglund performs all sorts of tasks as police and not an officer or an agent. Then there is the liminal role of space?” FBI chaplain. She makes hospital visits, she visits crime the deacon leading the church into the world and holding “And he started to laugh so hard, and I said, “All I victims, she counsels officers, she attends briefings, and up the world to the church. We don’t always want to see want to tell you is that everything that is said in this car, she listens. the world that Heglund sees. It is a world where crime stays in this car.” “I really bank on God giving me intuition,” Heglund and violence and pain and loss seem incessant. And in “And he said, “Everything?” says. Every day I pray, “Help me to hear what’s not that world is one quiet and confident deacon, listening for “I said, “You got it.” said.”” what is not being said.  “You know, he didn’t stop talking that whole shift.” VENSONG ! Diocese of California Receives E St. Paul’s, Burlingame Award for MDG Work ~ Third Saturdays at 5pm ~ n October 24, the Diocese of California received was “Water for Life,” and many of the awards centered the Global Citizens Award from the East Bay October 20 Choral Evensong for St. Luke around international water-based projects. November 17 Evensong & Hymn Festival Chapter of the United Nations Association of the This year seven awards were given in all; recipents December 15 Advent Lessons & Carols O January 19 Choral Evensong for St. Paul United States of America. The award was given for the included a religious institution (the Diocese of February 16 Choral Evensong for Absalom Jones diocese’s work advancing the Millennium Development California), a city (Berkeley), advocacy institutions (the March 15 Meditation on Passion of Christ April 19 Choral Evensong for St. Mark Goals (MDGs). The Rev. Este Cantor from Our Saviour, Pacific Institute and the Oakland Institute), students (the May 17 Festive Choral Evensong Mill Valley, accepted the award on behalf of the diocese Shuar Project), a scientist (Ashok Gadgil), and a civic sung by St. Paul’s Choristers & Chancel Choir and the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus. group acting in the local community (St. Mary’s Center). This is the second year the East Bay Chapter has For more information and to read Cantor’s acceptance Dr. Susan Jane Matthews, Director of Music The Reverend Thomas Skillings, Rector given out the awards to individuals and organziations speech, please view her blog “Shekinah” at estecantor. whose exemplary work has international impact and is blogspot.com.  415 El Camino Real, Burlingame • 650.348.4811 www.StPaulsBurlingame.org helping to fulfill the MDGs. The theme of the evening

PCN5 | December Around the Diocese Episcopalians Connect with Muslims After Arson By Amber Sturgess media, and the people who wanted to Christianity, and help. Many of the Muslim children were various other slam-o-alai-kum (Arabic for afraid and asked, “Why do they hate us? traditions. The “Peace be with you”) is becoming What did we do to make this happen?” Episcopal Church Aa common greeting in Antioch, Several women recalled experiences when was represented at least among parishioners in mainline they had been profanely harassed in public by marchers Protestant and Roman from St. Alban’s, Catholic parishes, as Brentwood; we build a network St. George’s, of support for our Antioch; and St. Muslim brothers and John’s, Clayton. sisters. The marchers On August 12, walked 1.5 miles Abdul Rahman, the to the ICEB, chair of the Islamic where they placed Community of the signs on the fence East Bay (ICEB), surrounding received a phone Islam, Judaism, Christianity and other faiths are represent- the condemned call that there had ed at the Interfaith Council and East County United march. building, and then been a fire at the marched on to mosque located in George’s organist and children’s choir the Antioch High Antioch. At first he director, taught them songs for peace, School auditorium for an educational was not that alarmed such as, “Let there be peace on earth” and program on Islam. During the ceremony, because there had “We shall overcome.” It was a touching the youth sang the songs for peace that been several break- moment to see Muslim and Christian they had rehearsed at St. George’s, and ins and a drive by Making signs in preparation for the March Against Hate. youth singing songs together for peace in several speakers gave their testimonies of shooting over the a Christian church. Afterwards, everyone the tragic event, principally Mohammad past year causing gathered in the parish hall to paint signs Chaudhry, the president of ICEB, and minor damage, but as the conversation for wearing their hajibs. and banners for the march. And the Maha ElGenaidi, CEO of the Islamic ensued he realized that the mosque had Out of concern for the Muslim younger ones who were not fasting for Network Group. Shafath Syed, Council on been completely gutted. Abdul recounted, community and for the African American Ramadan ate pizza. American Islamic Relations, gave a more “I felt like I had just received a call that family in Brentwood whose home was Jenelle Mazaris, a drama therapist global view of Islam. After the program, someone in my family had died.” The vandalized a few weeks after the burning intern from the Living Arts Center in ElGenaidi commented that she had never news became even more tragic when of the mosque, the Interfaith Council of Berkeley, joined us for the day and seen Muslim youth so energized and he learned that the cause of the fire was Contra Costa County and East County interacted with the youth. At the end of wanting to talk and work together for the arson. Someone had tried to start a fire United, under the direction of The Rev. the event, we formed a line and walked cause of peace. inside the mosque in four different areas Will McGarvey, pastor of the Community slowly and silently by the beautiful ElGenaidi wasn’t the only one to before it finally blazed. Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, painted posters and banners, taking it all notice. We were all feeling the love, as The ICEB mosque served almost organized a “March Against Hate” to take in, and then we formed a circle. Jenelle though we had been buoyed up and were 500 Muslim families in East Contra place on September 23, 2007. led us in an exercise asking each person flowing down a deep river of peace. As Costa County and the fire occurred just In preparation for the march, St. to express how they felt about the day in Chaudhry said, “the overwhelming love one month before Ramadan, the blessed George’s Episcopal Church in Antioch a gesture, sigh, or word. Most everyone and sympathy and the flood of affection thirty-day observance of prayer and hosted a sign- making day the week waved or said, “fun.” But one Muslim girl we have received from all communities fasting. When news that the mosque before, in which forty-five Muslim captured all of our hearts when she said and, indeed, America stands for love, for had burned became public, several and Christian children, youth, and the word, “relieved.” unity, and diversity, and not for hatred.” religious communities and philanthropic adults attended. Members of the Jewish On Sunday, September 23, at 12:30 Salaam, Shalom, Peace.  organizations offered their facilities to the community had wanted to attend, but were PM about 350 people gathered at Antioch East County United has organized several Muslims for a place of worship. not able to because of Rosh Hashanah. City Hall for the pre-march activities of upcoming educational events on Islam, In the first few weeks following At the beginning of the day, the youth face painting and more sign making. At Christianity, and Judaism. For more infor- the tragedy the Muslim community was gathered in the nave for storytelling and 2 PM, the march began with a parade mation visit www.eastcccunited.org or call overwhelmed with the investigation, the song practice. Marilyn McClain, St. of signs representing Islam, Judaism, the Rev. Amber Sturgess at 925.628.5494.

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Orlo Steele, vestry member of Emmanuel, Grass Valley, presents a home communion kit that is thought to have been originally owned by the Rt. Rev, William Ingrahm Kip, first bishop of California, to the Rt. Rev. Marc Boots representing soldiers killed in the Iraq war Andrus and Mary Judith Robinson, Kip’s great- Construction workers add a steeple and cell cover the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral as part of great-grandaughter, on behalf of the Diocese of phone tower to the roof of Holy Trinity/La the Eyes Wide Open campaign. California. Santisima Trinidad, Richmond.

PCN6 | December Around the Diocese Faith On Tap By Pat Smith and the reference to Soma. It was believed that consumption of Soma bestowed The date and time: October 29, 7 p.m. divine qualities on human beings via The place: Pyramid Ale House, Walnut hallucinogenic experience. Bishop Marc Creek compared this to the hallucinogenic The subject: Is There a God Pill? experimentation with LSD and other The speaker: The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley similar drugs in the 1960s with Aldus Andrus, Bishop of California Huxley, Timothy O’Leary, Huston Smith ur Bishop in a Bar? What is the and the work done at Harvard and MIT. world coming to? Theologically Did altered consciousness as a result Oand historically speaking it of the hallucinogenic experimentation makes perfect sense: Go where the people open the door to a religious experience? Robert W. Radtke, president of Episcopal Relief and Development, was are, and in this case, where the 18 to 35 Bishop Marc posed the questions: What welcomed at a reception at the home of the Very Rev. Don Brown and Carol year olds are. In the Faith On Tap series, are the religious implications of this type Anne Brown in Berkeley on September 29. The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts this evening’s talk with Bishop Marc was of experience and what does that have to Schori was also present. the second in a series titled “Sex, Drugs, do with our faith? and Rock and Roll.” The goal of this Bishop Marc stated further that a series is to attract the 18 to 35 year old religious experience is different from a group that is generally missing in most religious life; that a religious life involves congregations. moral commitments. Another discussion question was, “Is a religious experience necessary for a religious person?” As this question was raised, Bishop Marc talked about Mother Theresa whose recent published writings revealed that she had a crisis of faith for most of her life yet she was able through her many good works to influence millions. During St. Andrew’s, San Bruno, celebrated its 150th anniversary on October 7. The the discussion, Bishop Marc Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus and Larry Franzella, mayor of San Bruno, attended the talked about a trip that he celebration. took with his wife Sheila and another couple to the Young adults discuss faith issues with the Rev. Phil Holy Land. They visited a Brochard at Pyramid Ale House in Walnut Creek. convent of contemplative When Bishop Marc arrived, by his nuns. Sheila Andrus described a personal appearance, one would never have known religious experience to one of these nuns he was a bishop let alone a member of and Sheila wondered what this experience the clergy. No miter, no crosier, no collar, meant? The nun said to her that it was not and absolutely no hint of the color purple what the experience meant at the moment – he appeared to be like any other person but what effect does it have on your life? stopping by a local restaurant to meet with If the church has no way of dealing friends and I believe he made quite a few with the “experience” then it will be new friends in the Diablo Room of the forgotten. No one can judge another Pyramid Ale House that night. person’s religious experience. The In attendance were about 35 young experience is only valid for the person adults. I only counted about 6 who were it happened to and at this time, there members from St. Paul’s while the others is no structure to carry this forward in where either friends of those 6 or friends the church. And that may be one of the of friends. In any case, the word about this reasons why the church has not done a series is getting out to the community. good job of helping young adults. Bishop Marc began with a question The discussion moved to imagination. to the group – “Why is Christianity legal What keeps us from opening the doors of and psychotropic drugs illegal?” It was perception and how do we open young * interesting to watch the groups as they lives to other possibilities? Why is our discussed this question. As I observed culture so imaginatively impoverished? the various conversations, there was no Why don’t we have the lives of the dominant speaker and everyone seemed to imagination our English teachers hoped be thoroughly engaged in the discussion. we would have? Why is imagination okay Bishop Marc made it perfectly clear for children but not for adults? at the beginning of his talk that he was The evening began at 7 p.m. and limiting it to psychotropic drugs such as continued past 9 p.m. How engaging this LSD. He talked about the three levels of evening’s program was could be easily mysticism: nature, finding the barriers measured by the fact that the reporter between self and nature absolved, at and photographer from the Contra Costa one with all there is; a sense of deeper Times stayed for the entire evening. It was meaning – “I have a purpose”; and a a wonderful evening with our bishop as vision of unity with God, a union between a teacher and getting to know him a little the subject and the divine being dissolved better as a person and I know he left his boundaries. He talked about the Vedas, “Marc” on a few lives including mine that the oldest religious documents from India night. 

PCN7 | December Christmas Giving How the Episcopalian Stole Christmas By Monica Burden significantly reduces the environmental Act Globally both carry a range of items that might suit impact of Christmas by eliminating an Episcopal palate. At Grace Cathedral, n the Dr. Seuss classic How the Buying imported goods might not shipping. Check with your own parish to you’ll find elegant jewelry, finger Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch have as small an environmental footprint, see what handmade products they might labyrinths, and spiritual artwork. At St. tries to stop Christmas by stealing but it can make a difference the world I be offering, some of which are described Paul’s, you’ll find ornaments, nativity sets, all the presents. Thinking about an around. Your Christmas money need not below. Attend the church’s Christmas and items such as flip-flops, dog leashes, “alternative” Christmas — one that be put in the hands of large corporations; bazaar, boutique, or other sale; such and t-shirts with the Episcopal shield on avoids the rampant consumerism instead, it can make a direct difference in events are a great way to pick up unique them. They even carry the t-shirt with encouraged by retailers — can make us the lives of those craftspeople and laborers locally-produced gifts. Here are some Robin Williams’ “Top Ten Reasons for feel a little like the Grinch. After all, who create the products. other options for supporting your local Being an Episcopalian” on the back. Christmas isn’t really Christmas without The Bookstore at St. Paul’s, Walnut Episcopal communities. Anglican rosaries also make great some gift-giving. Creek (contact information above), St. Edmund’s, Pacifica, makes jars of Christmas gifts for Episcopalians on Maybe that’s because Christianity is for instance, carries small purses and herbs de Provence from locally grown your list. Lani Nelson, deacon at St. a deeply materialistic eyeglass cases embroidered herbs. The herbs included Andrew’s, San Bruno, religion. The Eucharist, by Christian and Muslim in the mix (rosemary, makes exquisite rosaries one of the defining women in Jerusalem. The savory, marjoram, to order. She prefers to features of Anglicanism, women are part of the Melia basil, thyme, fennel make her rosaries out of is a tangible experience Art and Training Center, seed, and lavender) are 500- to 2,000-year-old of the faith found in which empowers women to grown in the garden of glass beads from Dead the weekly handling economic self-reliance by St. Edmund’s, and the Sea salts in the Hebron of physical elements. teaching them needlework blend is packaged by valley, beads made by Giving gifts at arts. Helen Greenwood, St. Edmund’s members. women in Africa from Christmas is an act who runs the bookstore, If you are new to using broken glass, and various of generosity and carries these unique items herbs de provence, some other African trade beads. celebration, a small because, as she puts it, “It is introductory recipes are She has made many reminder of God’s a wonderful experience to included. A jar of herbs peace rosaries using the gift to us in the birth hold these and think about costs $7.50, plus any Episcopal service cross of Jesus. It’s also a Herbs de provence at where they come from, shipping charges. Funds with a Jerusalem cross re-enactment of the St. Edmund’s, Pacifica the poverty and life of the are used to underwrite at the center. She says, scripture, as the Magi women in the Middle East, St. Edmunds’ retreat “To me, the Jerusalem give gifts to the child Jesus; giving gifts to and to support and help ministry, so that they can offer reasonably Cross, or Crusader Cross, each other can be an outward sign that we them.” Hebron bead rosary priced day retreats to vestries, bishop’s has become such an icon recognize Christ within each one of us. Another way to support by Lani Nelson committees, and other non-profit groups in of hate throughout the But shrewd profit-driven retailers workers in distant lands is to the area. For more information about the Middle East that peace have hijacked these aspects of Christmas purchase fair trade, shade grown, organic herbs, contact the church (650-359-3364, prayers are the only way I like to use gift-giving and turned it into a stressful Bishop’s Blend coffee (www.er-d.org). [email protected]). them. And when I sell them I donate all buying frenzy. Even if we manage to This coffee not only makes for a great cup The Community of St. Francis still the proceeds to peace causes.” Cost varies restrain our Christmas buying, the typical of joe, but ensures that the farmers who has some jars of marmalade, lemon by materials; Hebron bead rosaries can store-bought Christmas unfortunately grow it are receiving a living wage. Profits curd, and pear-ginger chutney available. run $100 to $200. To order, contact Lani lacks something that Christian materialism from Bishop’s Blend coffee are also used These delectable concoctions were made Nelson at [email protected]. Nelson tries to cultivate — a sense of relationship. by Episcopal Relief and Development when the ingredients were at the peak is also able to point people toward many When we buy Christmas presents (ERD) to respond poverty, hunger, of ripeness. (If you don’t manage to get other resources for praying with rosaries, off the shelf, we might think about our and disease worldwide, furthering the any for Christmas, check back next year including instruction booklets, prayers, relationship with the gift recipient, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). when the fruits ripen. Sister Jean promises and online resources for buying rosaries but how often do we think about our If you are willing to give gifts that she will have a wide variety of jams such as www.atelier-beads.com relationship with the people who made may seem less tangible, but that will be available.) For an 8-oz jar, Sister Jean Finally, a great way to think the things we buy? Or with the entity deeply felt by the person who profits suggests a donation of $5. To check on Episcopalian with your Christmas presents that profits from our purchase of the gift? from them, the ERD Gifts for Life availability and find out how to get yours, is to give books by Episcopal authors. Or with the earth that provides the raw Catalog (www.er-d.org/giftsforlife, contact Sister Jean ([email protected], We’ve included in this issue reviews of materials for the object? 1.800.334.7626x5129) has a host of ideas. 415.824.0288). three books by local Episcopal authors. Buying gifts in a way that encourages Give high-impact tax-deductible gifts, Christ Church/Sei Ko Kai, San Take This Bread is a memoir recounting a sense of relationship can help us find an like farm animals, fruit trees, mosquito Francisco, makes beautiful Japanese- Sara Miles’ conversion from atheist to alternative Christmas that makes us feel nets, and health care. You can provide style cards, helped of Vicki Mihara Avery running the food pantry at St. Gregory’s, like our hearts have grown three sizes. basic sanitation and clean water for $25 from the Paper Tree, an origami paper San Francisco. All Saints, San Francisco, The suggestions below focus specifically per person or $150 per family. Or you shop in Japantown. Church members member Lindsey Crittenden traces her on Episcopal resources, so that Christmas can make a micro-credit loan to women make the cards using origami, Japanese emerging faith through prayer in The shopping might deepen your relationship ($150), food vendors ($175), honey papers, other fiber art, Japanese postage Water Will Hold You. And if you’re with the church. These items have been producers ($150), bicycle, rickshaw, and stamps and ink stamps looking to not just read but also write, Dr. selected because they convey a sense of taxi operators ($150), and with Japanese designs. Sheppard B. Kominars, also of All Saints, relationship with the earth as a source for other small businesses These sophisticated cards San Francisco, offers Write for Life, an the products, with those who made the ($550). These loans are a are available through the atlas to writing as therapeutic healing. products, and with the person or entity great way to make your church, and funds are used After the Grinch steals all the that sells the products. Christmas dollars matter to support their mission Christmas presents, he’s surprised to Since we can only include few and to promote the MDGs and ministry. To buy cards discover that Christmas comes anyway suggestions here, we’ve also included all over the globe. ($3 each), contact the when hears all the every Who down in some information about how you might go church at 415.921.6395. Think Episcopalian Whoville singing. Alternative buying about finding similar items. We hope this Hand-painted greeting is one way that we, too, can remember small list will fertilize your imagination If acting globally cards by the wife of that Christmas comes without packages, and encourage you to experience fails to satisfy your need the associate rector T.C. boxes, and bags. Christmas doesn’t come Christmas presence while you gather to wrap something, Yao of St. Anselm’s, from a store, Christmas comes from Christmas presents. consider buying gifts that Lafayette, can also be are distinctly Anglican. relationships — the radical love God Buy Locally found at the bookstore at Episcopal goods The Bookstore at St. reveals to us in the Christ child.  at The Bookstore, One way to keep our relationship with St. Paul’s, Walnut Creek Paul’s, Walnut Creek, St. Paul’s, Walnut the earth in mind this Christmas is to buy (925.935.3653, bookstore@ and The Shop at Grace Creek locally. Buying items produced locally stpaulswc.org). Cathedral, San Francisco,

PCN8 | December Great Gift Ideas From Diocesan Authors Learning Prayer by SF Bay Journeys in Journaling Food for the Soul Review by Sean McConnell Review by Monica Burden Review by G. Richard Wheatcroft The Water Will Hold You: A Write for Life: Healing Body, Take This Bread: A Radical Skeptic Learns to Pray Mind, and Spirit Through Conversion, The spiritual by Lindsey Crittenden Journal Writing memoir of a twenty-first (Harmony Books, New York, by Sheppard B. Kominars century Christian 2007) (Cleveland Clinic Press, by Sara Miles ’m a huge fan of movies Cleveland OH, 2007) (Ballantine Books, New York, 2007) and books that are set in ’ve always had an Ithe San Francisco Bay uneasy relationship with he day after I bought Area. Watching the 1950 Ijournaling. Countless this book and had film “D.O.A.” gives me a times in my life I’ve begun Tread about half of thrill with its panoramas of a journal, only to stop it, I experienced myself a city that had been lain to abruptly a few days later being fed with bread by this waste only 44 years earlier. because I think I’m too busy memoir. I wanted everyone Reading those books by or because I’m too bored by to know this astonishing Christopher Moore that what I’ve written. Sheppard story even before I wrote are set anywhere from Big Sur to San Francisco always Kominars’ Write for Life comes as a refreshing tool for this review, so I sought the author on the Internet, gives me a sense that I might see the characters walking overcoming those kinds of obstacles. found an announcement of her book, and forwarded it down the street at any moment. Kominars, a member of All Saints, San Francisco, to everyone on my e-mail list. In Sara Miles’ memoir, Then there is that connection you make when you advocates journaling as healing. Keeping a journal, he which spans over thirty years and several countries, read a memoir and find haunting similarities between the points out, is not the same as writing for publication, you will find bread for yourself and experience what is milestones in your life and the memories of the author. or even like blogging, when the writing is meant for an involved in being bread for others. It’s like connections of place, but they are deeper than audience. Journaling is a form of self-care, a therapeutic The author begins her memoir by inviting us to the that — connections of human experience that let you way to connect your mind and body with your feelings. family table. Her father and mother were children of know that you are not alone. Kominars began journaling as a way to cope with ministers and missionaries. During adolescence each And there is one more thing that I like in a book, severe migraines, quickly making it a daily routine. began to question and reject many Christian doctrines. and that is when an author knows how to make you see Eventually he began to share the benefits of journaling When her parents met and married, they never went to what she sees, in a way that is rich and visual, but is not through workshops with people in recovery from church. She writes, “My parents atheism proclaimed sappy or manipulative. For me, this is done best through addiction and cancer survivors. This book contains this world, in its physical beauty and fascinating human sentence-craft — I don’t want to call it poetry — that the wisdom and some of the stories that Kominars has complexity, is what mattered.” She, her sister Ellen, and helps words find a type of musical quality. In other amassed over many years of journaling and teaching her brother David believed them. When she was eighteen, words, it is the type journaling to she traveled to of writing that I love others. Mexico City to read aloud and The book and enrolled in that falls in such istremely a Friends’ World a way as to give a accessible, clearly College founded perfect picture of the written and well by Quakers and scene. structured. Part communists. Every single One tells how to During her one of these write a journal and time there, she elements is present how to overcome experienced what in The Water Will blocks; Part Two was later called Hold You: A Skeptic addresses writing The Corpus Christi Learns to Pray, as a healing massacre. Mexican by San Francisco process, including police attacked author and member what it means to be people marching to of All Saints, San Francisco, Lindsey Crittenden. a survivor, scientific research on the healing properties support opening the university system to the poor. Many The spiritual memoir has become a popular seller of writing, and excerpts from other writers’ journals; and were wounded and at least 25 were beaten to death. in the past decade, and fans of books by Frank McCourt Part Three offers fifteen different “journeys” to inspire Sara returned to New York where she entered the and Nora Gallagher will very quickly find space on their your journaling. Kominars recommends beginning with world of restaurants. She writes that this experience shelves for Crittenden’s work. Honestly, even though the journey of self-caring, when you meditate on being of feeding people became a “central part of my life, I like biographies, I’ve never really been a fan of the self-caring rather than self-critical. informing way I experienced friendship and community, spiritual memoir. Reading such books has always felt Throughout the book, Kominars offers exercises political organizing and eventually belief.” An accident a little too voyeuristic for me. Like sex and personal and prompts aimed at overcoming the myriad problems when “three gallons of boiling brine drenched” her hygiene, I really don’t want to know that much about the encountered when we get in better touch with our legs led to a job helping lawyers of the Center for spiritual lives of my contemporaries. But in Crittenden, feelings. A survivor of both addiction and cancer, Constitutional Rights research and write about cases of there were simply too many opportunities for me to Kominars consistently demonstrates compassion and human rights violations in Nicaragua after the overthrow enter into dialogue with her. A conversation opened up insight into the self-discovery process of journaling. of the dictator Somoza by the guerrillas of the Sandinista as I read this book that made me think in a new way Kominars’ cure for my excuse-making is a front. During the 1980’s, she covered revolutionary wars how my own lapsed religious upbringing had been tremendous gift, and makes this a book great to give in El Salvador, the Philippines, and South Africa. She revived through a number of — what I thought had been to yourself or to others this Christmas. Though I may shares what she learned living in the midst of violence, disconnected — personal experiences. not quite be ready to jump into journaling with both writing, “What I learned in those moments of danger and I also love the connections of place and person in feet, I find it comforting to know thatWrite for Life is grief informs what I now call my Christianity. It was a this book. Readers from the Diocese of California will here on my shelf, waiting to guide me along in my own feeling of total community with others, whether or not find familiar churches and clergy in these pages, while journaling travels.  I liked them, through the common fact of our mortal traveling to familiar haunts. While I was in seminary I bodies.” She adds, “Never was that feeling stronger than did my field education in Sacramento, and I would take unfolds from page to page. I have already recommended when people fed me, which they did constantly.” After the train back and forth from Berkeley. One of the things The Water Will Hold You to friends who are only just six months, fearing for her life because of the fighting, that I noticed in the dusky winter evenings as the train beginning an adult experience of religion, and one friend she returned to the United States and settled in San rolled between Sacramento and Davis were the murders told me that Crittenden helped her get past “a corny Francisco. of crows in the trees. I found those same crows in The feeling” she got when she tried to pray. Prayer is the gift One day, five years later, she walked into St. Water Will Hold You. of this book: not just how to, but an all-encompassing Gregory’s Episcopal Church. She recalls, “I had no Crittenden is at once gritty, neurotic, poignant, and understanding of the depth and breadth of prayer. Buy earthly reason to be there. I had never heard a Gospel funny, all while tracing an emerging faith. The book’s a copy of this book for yourself, and buy one for every title reflects a personal theology and a sense of faith that person longing for a deeper spiritual connection.  4Bread: Page 10

PCN9 | December 4Bread: From page 6 parish. She writes, “It was communion, after all, but with free groceries instead reading, never said the Lord’s Prayer. I of bread and wine.” And then she knew, was certainly not interested in becoming “This is it, I thought, what I’m supposed a Christian — or, as I thought of it rather to do: Feed my sheep.” less politely, a religious nut.” When Driven by this vision she helped she joined others gathered around the establish a food pantry at her parish. She family table for her first communion, told the people at St. Gregory’s that the she received “a piece of fresh, crumbly pantry would be church and not a social bread” and heard the words “the body of service program. The Sunday after the Christ,” then was handed the goblet of pantry opened, she was baptized. After wine with the words “the blood of Christ.” several years Sara, after much discussion, She writes, “Something outrageous and argument, and persuasion, convinced the terrifying happened. Jesus happened to clergy and vestry to open the food pantry me.” She cried. She realized that what after the Eucharist. Her rationale was that she had been doing with her life until “We could feed more people, offer more that moment “was what [she] was meant of our members the chance to serve, and to do: feed people.” Reflecting on what make explicit the connection between had happened, she began to understand Holy Communion and free groceries.” that “God could be located in experience, Near the conclusion of her memoir, sensed through bodies, tasted in food; Sara shares that she experienced a crisis that my body was connected literally and of faith. She struggled with the question, mysteriously to other bodies and loved “What is my faith going to cost?” This without reason.” question, she writes, returned her to the Acknowledging that “questions are “fundamental practices that had stayed at the heart of faith,” she found that her central for me, such as just following first year at St. Gregory’s “would begin what Jesus did.” She concludes, “As and end with questions.” She began to I’d discovered as a student in Mexico, a “deacon” at the Eucharist. As she served reporter in war zones, a cook, learning week after week, “flooded with hunger from experience instead of memorizing a and gratitude,” she began to be concerned formula forced me to pay attention. Doing about the people who lived in poverty the Gospel rather than just quoting it was near where she lived. One day she opened the best way I could find out what God a fund raising letter from the nonprofit was up to.”  San Francisco Food Bank, which said that more than 90,000 people in the city, Sara Miles is a member of St. Gregory most of them children and women with of Nyssa, San Francisco. She’s available families, lived with the threat of hunger. A for book talks at local churches (sara@ picture began to develop in the back of her saramiles.net). head of establishing a food pantry at her I AM PROUD The Athletes of Special Olympics

In 1968, Eunice Kennedy Shriver took issue with the notion that people with mental disabilities are simply too different to belong, to be friends, or to deserve a good education, quality medical care, or a chance in sport and in life. By founding Special Olympics she opened the doors to a world where everyone has a chance to be a champion. Let me win

Twenty-three years later Richard Corman discovered but if I that world and put his own considerable gifts to work cannot win documenting the spirit and courage of Special Olym- pics athletes. His amazing photographs capture the let me energy and excitement of men and women, boys and be brave girls from around the world as they display their skills in the and celebrate their gifts. attempt. Gallery 1055 is pleased to present "I Am Proud : The Athletes of Special Olympics," photographs by Richard Corman. It is made possible through a generous gift from MedeFinance. "I Am Proud : The Athletes of Special Olympics" is presented in partnership with the Diocese of California, Grace Cathedral, and Special Olympics Northern California. This exhibition is sponsored by Visio Divina and Episcopal Church and Visual Arts.

Churches and organizations interested in donating funds for Christmas toys, please contact the Rev. Nina Pickerrell at 415.749.6391.

Gallery 1055 is at 1055 Taylor St., San Francsico (Diocesan House).

PCN10 | December InFormation Moving Through Mystery By Julia McCray-Goldsmith How does your household get ready for the mystery of Christmas? A recent t is possible to move right query of parents yielded suggestions through the middle of a great both traditional and surprising. Light the mystery and not even notice it,” “I Advent wreath and say a prayer before begins a Sunday school story told being dinner — but don’t stop there. Set the told throughout the Diocese of California table with purple napkins, suggested one at this time of year. Guilty as charged, mother, to remember that we are preparing thinks the storyteller (who happens to be for the coming of a king. Or borrow a me) with chagrin. Just when my attention Jewish Sabbath tradition and set the table seemed utterly absorbed by the next without any knives to express your thing on my “to do” list, an faith in the coming of God’s Advent narrative rendered reign of peace. in the deceptively And then there simple language of are those traditional Godly play upends domestic symbols my assumptions of Christmas. and leaves me Many families breathless with mentioned wonder. crèche figures I should — the holy have expected family and the this — God’s three kings, shameless especially — trafficking that they move in surprise deliberately has caught me around the house unaware plenty in purposeful of times before. journey towards Just a few weeks a designated earlier, in the midst Bethlehem. Myself, I of a season dedicated to might actually have gotten remembering the dead, I had my act together to do that last been given a new understanding of year, but a funny thing happened on the living community. At a retreat sponsored way to setting up Bethlehem. A group of by the Department of Missions, a group neighbor children visiting our home for of mission clergy dressed the altar at the our annual Christmas tree decorating party Bishop’s Ranch chapel with the traditional found the box where I keep my various symbols of the Mexican Day of the Dead. crèche sets. These were not children After the vicars placed their own photos who attended church or had any formal and mementos of remembered loved Christian education, but they were happy ones on the altar, the collection of sacred to play with the figurines, and I was happy objects continued to multiply day by day. to watch them out of the corner of my eye. We had no idea where this abundance was Like children anywhere, they used the coming from, as we were the only group figures to act out the social dramas they in residence at the Ranch that week. It knew best, grouping and regrouping them wasn’t until most retreatants had departed by size and color and gender. And the that a member of the housekeeping segregation and stratification might have staff shyly approached me and asked continued all evening, but for the ministry if ours was the group that had created of one soft-spoken 7-year-old, who had the altar. “Era muy hermosa” — it was learned the rudiments of the nativity story very beautiful, she said. “We were so from her grandmother. Gently pointing surprised when we went into the chapel out the smallest infant figurine, she and saw it set up that way,” she said, “that began to tell of a vulnerable family on an we all went home and brought our own arduous journey towards the place where mementos to place on it.” a long-awaited child might be born. And The prolific altar itself was not itself as her narrative unfolded, the clusters the miracle; rather it was the cross-cultural of figures spontaneously desegregated. community of devotion it engendered. Other children moved their characters Nevertheless, the setting reminded me into a circle surrounding the baby at the that objects have particular power to center of Clara’s story. The result was an draw community together and invite our aesthetic mess — animals and parents heartfelt stories. And nowhere is this truer and kings and angels of different sets in the life of the church than the season of and sizes clustered haphazardly around Advent, its rich array of traditional sights the smallest of three available babies. and symbols and sounds. Jesus had several siblings and lots of odd Clergy Conference 2007 was attended by nearly 200 clergy members. The looking aunts and uncles present at his program on environmental justice was organized by the Environmental m2ss.org birth that year — and I didn’t have the Commission. Festivities during the conference included cajun dancing ministry to straight spouses heart to move a thing. and a birthday celebration for former bishop of California, the Rt. Rev. G. We are walking right through the Richard Millard (pictured bottom right). Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts m2ss makes no recommendations about middle of a great mystery. Let us pause Schori spoke with the clergy on the final day of the conference. the validity of relationships or of mar- for a moment this Advent season and riages. It has been put together by people notice it.  who have lived with these issues and healed. It simply shares what has been been useful to others in this situation.

PCN11 | December Hors d’Oeuvres • Dinner • Live Auction • Dancing CHURCH PACIFIC NEWS Giving Peace a Chance By Este Gardner Cantor beloved disciple had witnessed Jesus’ death. He spoke of the unreliability of the media, and the importance of telling n Saturday, October 27, a long-planned coalition our stories and of giving others a forum for telling theirs. peace march took place in San Francisco. He posed a question to the crowd: How many people know There were parallel marches all over the O the number of Iraqis killed in the Gulf War? I saw no hands country, and although two other significant ones took raised. He proposed we use whatever platforms we have to place in Los Angeles and New York, the San Francisco give voice to those not often heard — to learn information march was by far the largest at 10,000 marchers. This so often suppressed — and he mentioned the church as one was a coalition of 180 groups, including faith groups, likely forum. Saturday April 5, 2008

2008 Night of Light Helping Dreams Come True Honoring SaveMargaret the G. Gill date

PCN photo Carole Jan Lee

After he spoke, a burly man approached him and said students, labor, women’s groups and many more coming repeatedly, “Are you the head of the church?” After the together under one banner only: Stop the war in Iraq. bishop clarified who he was, the man said wonderingly, The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus decided that “I’ve seen people who go to church here at these marches, the Diocese of California should participate in the but I have never seen the head of a church here!” The man San Francisco march, gathering at the Cathedral and shook the bishop’s hand. The other speakers were lively, marching the short distance to the Civic Center where the loud and inspiring. Standouts were the always-irrepressible masses were gathered. There was an unusual emphasis Code Pink, who led the crowd in song, and a wonderful CHURCH on including the faith community by the organizers of Philipino rapper named Kiwi, who had everyone dancing. PACIFIC NEWS the march, and a large and moving interfaith service was We all marched together to Market Street where 1055 Taylor Street held at Grace Cathedral on October 25 to further that everyone lay down on the street for a short, legal, very San Francisco, CA 94108 effort. affecting three-minute die-in — a demonstration of the The Episcopalians met at Grace Cathedral at 10 loss of life we hear so little about. Then we marched on to a.m. and marched down to the Civic Center on a truly Dolores Park, remaining with the large faith contingent and beautiful day, singing all the way. They met an enormous singing peace songs led by a Quaker with a megaphone, a crowd at the rally, which included a huge interfaith great spirit, and a self-described awful voice. Spirits were group of Buddhists, Quakers, Baptists and many other high throughout the march. As usual, the streets were lined denominations. with police and helicopters flew overhead, reminding us Our own Bishop Marc was one of about ten people again of the realities of war. Ten thousand people witnessed who addressed the crowd, and he spoke movingly about for peace that day, and the witnesses will keep on marching the importance of being witnesses to the deaths and until the war is at an end. Join us. injustice in Iraq, as the women by the cross and the