Episcopal Life News
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AN EDITION OF EPISCOPAL LIFE Y E I I L R R L O O MAY O H H O C C S S W D D M R R A I A A L H 2008 H L C C I I I W R R Y Y Y B B B O O O T T T O O O H H H P P P VOLUME 19 NUMBER 5 It was glorious! . …was the most-often heard remark at the end of the day March 29. More than 400 people spent the day at St. John the Baptist in Lodi for the special convention called by the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Business was done expeditiously and cheerfully but seemed to take a back seat to fellowship — animated conversation, hugs, greetings between people who hadn’t I R seen each other for too long. Episcopal News Service coverage of the convention is O H C S N on page 3 of Episcopal Life, and more information and photographs may be found D R A H I on our website. Convention-goers welcomed the presence of many agencies and C I R organizations of the Episcopal Church. More information about all of them will Y B O T appear in future issues of this newspaper and on the website. O U H P Clockwise from top: The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori and Q the Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb at Special Convention March 29; A young ‘To heal a diocese’ communicant receives the sacrament from the Presiding Bishop Reconciliation Retreat, during the closing Eucharist at Special Convention; Processing after A convention Eucharist are the Rev. Rick Matters and the Rev. Ray June 11-14 at Three Rivers Knapp, both former rectors of St. John’s, Lodi, and the Rev. Suzie L L retreat center A Ward of Visalia; Bishop Lamb accepts applause from the congrega - H S O I R tion after his installation as the provisional bishop of San Joaquin; O D TEAM LED by the Rev. Canon Brian Y Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori signs Miseael Acevado’s T-shirt. B J O Cox of Reconcilers.net under the T Members of Grace Mission Bakersfield wore specially-made shirts O H A auspices of the provisional bishop of P to celebrate being admitted as a mission of the diocese. the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin will N conduct a three-day reconciliation seminar for clergy and lay leaders, June 11-14, 2008, at Saint Anthony Retreat Center at Three A Remaining Episcopalians Rivers, east of Visalia. This three-day seminar will be followed HAT DOES IT mean to be an Episcopalian? being called to a new ministry that seeks to by a series of regional one-day Reconcilia- Now that the Episcopal Diocese of San celebrate the spirit and beliefs of Episcopalians, S tion Learning Conversations. The purpose WJoaquin is joyfully rebuilding, can we fostering our identity as members of the Episcopal of these two initiatives is to introduce a draw on our experiences to help others? Can we Church. While this vision does not yet have form process of healing and reconciliation so articulate and find ways to teach the core of what or substance, this may be an opportunity to e that the newly reconstituted diocese will it means to be Episcopalian — in a way that not further serve God and the church. This new f emerge as a healthy, vibrant diocese of the only helps our own diocese grow and flourish, ministry is completely consistent with Remain i Episcopal Church united around the per - but strengthens other Episcopal groups? Episcopal’s purpose set in 2003, and is enthusias - son of Jesus Christ, committed to a plural - When Remain Episcopal formed in 2003, its tically encouraged by Bishop Jerry Lamb. istic vision of community and engaged in purpose was simple, and included: “to keep the To further explore this vision, to give L Christ’s mission to advance the Kingdom Episcopal Church . united,” and “to promote it depth, and to recruit leaders and workers, we l of God in the Central Valley and beyond. the historic Anglican tradition of unity within a have declared May 31 at Holy Family, Fresno, as The seminar will include a combination diversity of opinions and styles of piety.” That is a day for discernment and facilitated visioning. of presentations, small group discussions, spelled out for us in our bylaws, and has been the We need you — all of you in the Episcopal a conversations and worship. A Service of Re- heart of our mission from the beginning. Diocese of San Joaquin — to take part. J conciliation is scheduled for the second day. March 29, 2008, marked the rebirth of All members of the Episcopal Diocese the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin as REMAINING EPISCOPALIANS: of San Joaquin are invited to the seminar. Bishop Jerry Lamb was seated as provi - p The cost is $50 which includes meals and sional bishop. As such, one of our objec - A Day of Discernment shared lodging. A few private rooms are tives in Remain Episcopal for 2008 has Date: Saturday, May 31, 2008 available for $100. Registration and pay - been to turn its activities over to the o ment may be made through the diocesan Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. Place: Holy Family Episcopal Church, Fresno website, www.diosanjoaquin.org , or the However, organizations in other threatened Time: Registration 9:30 a.m. c Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, P.O. dioceses have recently asked Remain Morning Visioning 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Box 7606, Stockton, CA 95267. Episcopal to share its experience and learn - Lunch 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Afternoon Planning 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. s To learn more, contact the diocesan ings, and to support them in their struggle office at 209-952-0006. J with similar divisions. It seems we are Holy Eucharist 3:00 p.m. i Adjournment 4:00 p.m. INSIDE Cost: $10 for lunch, served at Holy Family p Please register at www.diosanjoaquin.org, or send I Nancy Key shares the support and message of hope from the diocese your check, payable to Remain Episcopal, to: 2067 W. Alluvial, Fresno, CA 93711 of San Joaquin with faithful Episcopalians in the diocese of Fort Worth, E Please register by May 26. Page C B Episcopal Life SAN JOAQUIN May 2008 New beginnings in Visalia Communicators FROM THE BISHOP By Beth Johnstone send blessings “I greet you in the name SHORTLY BEFORE 9:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning the priest By Doris Hall, Editor, of the Risen Christ. ” said to the congregation. “I’ll just Episcopal Life San Joaquin slip into the sacristy and we’ll get April 15, 2008 started.” This would not, under THE “NEW” EPISCOPAL Diocese of San Brothers and Sisters, normal circumstances, have Joaquin has had a troubled labor but a caused a ripple of laughter, but glorious birth, and as at every birth, a One week ago today Jane and I drove as the “sacristy” was simply a multitude of people were waiting, pray - out of Las Cruces, New Mexico, along school cafeteria table shoved to E ing, and rejoicing in the announcement with our dog, Mark, to travel the 1100 N O one side of the room and littered T of the new life. Many members of that miles to this diocese. After the Special S N H with boxes and plastic bags it O multitude were in Seattle in early April Convention on March 29, 2008, I J H seemed quite funny. After much T for the annual conference of Episcopal returned to New Mexico to take care of E B painful soul-searching, a group Y Communicators. It seemed to me they an obligation in Albuquerque and make B O of about 25 parishioners from T were there for the sole purpose of woo- arrangements for the care of our home O H St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in P hooing with me, hugging me, telling me in Las Cruces. Visalia met to celebrate the Mary York, seated, her daughter, Tusie Hodgin, how regularly and fervently they have These last five days have been very resurrection of Christ in the and Kirk Kleinsteuber visit before the Easter been praying for our diocese, and send - full days. Jane is looking for a house or cafeteria of Pinkham School, service begins in Visalia. ing home with me their expressions of apartment to rent and I’ve been in the far from the beloved red brick love and support to all of us. Many were office, at meetings or visiting congrega - faux-gothic building that had been their singers and organist were found and new members I was meeting for the tions. It has been an exciting time. home for the last 50 years. Christ’s resurrection was proclaimed first time. More than one of them said it It is my intention to visit every Only a week earlier, the congregation with gusto and enthusiasm. Fr. Foresman was good to meet someone they had congregation and faith community by had voted and the majority had chosen reminded us in his sermon that the been holding in prayer for a long time. the first of summer. The leadership of to follow their former bishop out of the apostles were surprised by the events As if all that weren’t enough, one the diocese and I are looking for every Episcopal Church. Of the almost 100 that overtook them in the weeks leading event of the week resulted in a generous opportunity to bring people together people who had voted against the deci - TO PAGE D gift for our bishop.