We are the Solution: Election Day and Reconciliation
Dear Friends,
Besides our diocesan convention which begins tomorrow, our nation is very much on my mind. I know it is on your mind too. I know there is significant distress among us as we watch the news, listen to debates, and worry about the economy, international relations, our kids, our future, our world.
These are not irrational concerns or worries. They are legitimate and arise out of a sense of violation to our values as a nation as well as out of our personal political perspectives. Indeed, I find myself more troubled not by differences of political opinion, but that we seem unable – and even unwilling – to find a way through those differences. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. Worldviews are colliding. This is not a battle with a quantified battlefield. It is in the air we breathe. We cannot distance ourselves from it; “It” is us.
I do not need to tell you to pray or to vote. I believe you know these things and are living them to the best of your ability. I do believe I need to remind us all that democracy “only works if we work it.”
True democracy only works if we have our common good as a goal. What this is and how it is lived out shall be negotiated, of course. That is the process. In this collective time of repentance and soul-searching as a nation, I invite us to observe ourselves and our roles. As we figure out where we stand, how we vote, with whom we align, we must not forget that we are our problems. We can also be our own solutions. As a people, is it not also good and right to drop to our knees in humility and say we are sorry for the ills of our nation?
As I pray for our nation and for our election process, I know I will also open my heart for the ways in which I have exercised my democratic obligation and privilege that have been self-serving, disrespectful, harmful, and in violation of others. Ways known and unknown. Things done and left undone. As we take our stand, may we do so conscious of our deep need of God’s grace and healing.
As the church, we are able to share this message. It is our regular spiritual practice to name our personal and corporate brokenness. We know how to do this. We have the tools to open our doors to our neighbors who are having this same experience and do not know what to do with it. I would urge all of our congregations to open doors on Election Day and in the days following. I would encourage us to be spaces where our neighbors may enter and pray, light a candle for our country, find a community with whom to gather. No matter who becomes our President next week, serious matters will remain before our nation.
Living Room Conversations has become a valued and precious partner in our ministry of reconciliation in this diocese. Several of our congregations are having LRCs, and as a diocesan staff we are using them to open up conversations in order to strengthen our congregations at times when conversation across difference is challenging. Would you be willing to host a Living Room Conversation in your congregation, open to your neighborhood, in the days following the election? Our members and our neighbors will need a safe and constructive place to gather, speak and listen to diverse points of view. This is not only cathartic and healing, it is a step forward as “we the people” re-gather as a nation.
Scroll down to find guidelines and questions designed to support a Living Room Conversation about the election experience.
Next Sunday, if you're following the lectionary for All Saints Day, the gospel reading will remind us to love your enemies. This is not for the faint of heart or the spiritually undisciplined. There is no wiggle room to minimize the mandate. Jesus offers a very complete and rigorous exegesis of the Hebrew understanding of this great commandment. Our practice of such love is The Way toward the wisdom and courage we need to be the people God calls us to be. With confidence in God’s grace, may we step forward in the same sacrificial love made known to us in Jesus’ own dying and rising.
To God be the glory, +Mary
Living Room Conversations:
The Election Experience
One: Why are we here?
What interested you or drew you to this topic?
Two: Your core values
Answer one or more of the following:
What sense of purpose or duty guides you in life? What is your mission statement?
What would your best friend say about who you are and what makes you tick?
What are your hopes and concerns for your community and/or the country, now and long-term?
Three: Your election cycle experience Remember that the goal of this Living Room Conversation is for each participant to listen to and learn about the different opinions within the group to see where you might share interests, intentions and goals.
Answer one or more of the following questions:
Did you vote? Why or why not?
What was your experience during this election cycle?
How has your experience changed your perception of our nation?
Where do you find yourself now?
Four: Reflection
Answer one or more of the following questions:
In one sentence, share what was most meaningful or valuable to you in the experience of this Living Room Conversation;
What new understanding or common ground did you find within this topic?
Has this conversation changed your perception of anyone in this group, including yourself?
Five: Accomplishment and moving forward
Answer both of the following questions:
Name one important thing that was accomplished here;
Is there a next step you would like to take based upon the conversation you just had?
For more background on LRC, read an interview with co-founder Joan Blades here.
Convention Preview
“Learning Together” is Theme of 2016 Bishop’s Address
Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves will speak about the importance of learning communities at the 36th Convention of the Diocese of El Camino Real, which begins tomorrow afternoon in Salinas and continues through Saturday, November 5. Her address will reflect on the past year’s work of becoming a values-driven organization, provide an update on the Strategic Plan Remix, and examine the need for our diocese to become a learning community.
Starting tomorrow, delegates from every congregation in our diocese will gather at Sherwood Hall for two days to have a voice in the business of the church and to be inspired by one another’s successes. The Bishop's Cross and Simple Servant Awards will also be presented.
Please note: Sign-in and registration for Convention opens Friday, November 4 at 2:00 pm. Evening Prayer will be at 4 pm, and Convention business will begin at 5 pm. The social hour will be at 6 pm, followed by the banquet and award presentations.
For those who can't attend, follow the convention on our Facebook and Twitter pages. We'll be using the hashtag #learntogether2016. See you in Salinas!
Going to Convention? Visit the Sargent House!
If you’re coming to Convention and haven’t yet viewed the art exhibition at your diocesan offices in Salinas, here’s your chance! The 1896 Sargent House will be open for self-guided tours Friday, November 4 (tomorrow) from 11 am to 1 pm. Communication Specialist Elrond Lawrence will be on hand to answer questions. The Sargent House is only 10 minutes away from Sherwood Hall, our convention venue. Plan some time for a visit!
The Steinbeck House, John Steinbeck’s birthplace and childhood homer, is a block away and serves excellent lunch (we know from experience). Visit their website here.
500 Interfaith Clergy and Laity Answer Call to Stand with Standing Rock
In a historic show of interfaith support and solidarity, more than 500 interfaith clergy and laity answered a call to come to North Dakota to stand in peaceful, prayerful and lawful solidarity Nov. 3; and to bear witness with the Standing Rock Sioux Nation as they continue to protect the tribe’s sacred land and water supply. El Camino Real's own Robin Denney was one of nine students who traveled from the Virginia Theological Seminary to be part of the day.
The interfaith group spent more than five hours on site, marching, singing hymns, sharing testimony and calling others to join them in standing with the more than 200 tribes who have committed their support to the Sioux Nation as they protest the route of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The complete Episcopal News Service story, complete with photo gallery, can be read here.
The Rev. John Floberg, supervising priest of the Episcopal churches on the North Dakota side of Standing Rock, gives instructions to more than 500 people from 20 faith backgrounds gathered in the Oceti Sakowin Camp just after dawn.
Photo: Lynette Wilson/ENS
Board of Trustees’ October Recap
Below are highlights from the Diocesan Board of Trustees’ monthly meeting on Thursday, October 20 at Sargent House in Salinas:
Bishop Mary is back from sabbatical, her time spent in part trying to determine how to live out being a learning community. Since her return, Bishop Mary has had a visitation every weekend. She attended ECW’s Honored Women’s Day on October 15, which 125 attended, featuring a topic of domestic violence. She also attended the House of Bishops meeting in Detroit.
In addition, Bishop Mary has had a mutual ministry review with the Standing Committee using an outside facilitator. It was an excellent experience. Beyond all this, she has spent every free moment preparing for Convention.
The Board of Trustees met with The Rev. Carl Hansen and Sherie Hinkle, the Priest-in-Charge and People’s Warden respectively, of St. Mark’s in King City. St. Mark’s hopes to renovate and revitalize the vicarage on church grounds in order to use it either as a rental to a family or to bring non-profit services to the community. The board approved a grant of up to $25,000 for this purpose contingent on the agreement of the Property Committee.
The Board continued its ongoing discussion and revision of the draft of the diocesan strategic plan remix in preparation for its presentation at convention.
The Board approved a mission opportunity grant to Good Samaritan Episcopal Church as recommended by the Mission Commission.
The Board of Trustees also approved a mission opportunity grant to the Episcopal Church in Almaden as recommended by the Mission Commission.
Finally, the Board approved a mission opportunity grant to CERC (the Conference Education and Resource Committee) as recommended by the Mission Commission.
All Saints Day at All Saints' Carmel
All Saints' Day at All Saints' Church in Carmel, California, was celebrated on Sunday, October 30, amongst the current contemporary art exhibit, Icons in Transformation, that line the walls of the church. Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves was present to welcome nine new celebrants to the All Saints' congregation.
The Icons exhibit -- which has featured special concerts, lectures and workshops -- will offer its final lecture of the tour on Saturday, November 19, from 4 to 6 pm when mystery writer Pamela Cranston discusses her best-selling novel The Madonna Murders. The lecture is free and open to the public. It will take place in the church at Dolores and 9th and will be followed by a book signing and a champagne reception.
El Camino Real Offices closed on Monday
Please note that the diocesan offices will be closed on Monday, November 7. The office staff will return on Tuesday. Thank you!
Good Shepherd Hosts Western Artist and Historian
Peter Hiller, Curator of the Jo Mora Trust Collection, will join the Double Nickels luncheon for seniors 55 and up on November 9 at 12 noon at Church of the Good Shepherd, Salinas. A catered lunch will be served in the Parish Hall, 301 Corral De Tierra, followed by the program at 12:30 pm. Hiller will share stories about and artifacts from Mora's artistic accomplishments. An artist himself, Hiller has been intrigued with Mora since discovering Mora's "Evolution of the Cowboy" poster created in 1933 for the California Rodeo in Salinas. Many of Mora's accomplishments have their origins in Monterey County thus providing a special local component to this presentation.
Double Nickels is a service of Church of the Good Shepherd in partnership with Episcopal Senior Communities. Suggested donation is $5, but not required. For more information call the church office at 831-484-2153.
Comings and Goings ...
In Memoriam: Fr. Ken Beason
The Rev. Ken Beason, former rector of St. James in Paso Robles, passed away October 11 surrounded by his family after a hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 73. His memorial service will be held at St. James on Friday, November 11 at 11:00 am. Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves will preside and preach. His obituary can be found here.
St James Presents Blues & Jazz Vocalist
St. James Church in Paso Robles is proud to present blues and jazz vocalist Nicole Stromsoe and her band. All proceeds from this event benefit Food Bank. This popular event is selling out fast, so be sure to contact the church office at (805) 238-0819 to order tickets. Complete concert event and dinner details are available by clicking here. Help feed the hungry in our community and have a wonderful time!
St. Dunstan’s Concert to Celebrate Bach and German Romantics
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church continues the music series on their new Dobson Tracker organ with a concert on Sunday, November 13 at 3 p.m., featuring Dr. Angela Kraft Cross,renowned international organist. Her program will feature works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Schumann and much more. Dr. Cross has performed extensively on both organ and piano in concerts across the U.S., Canada, England, Europe and in Lesotho and Guam.
Tickets for the 3 pm concert to benefit the church organ fund are available at the door for a suggested donation of $20 for adults; students and those under 18 attend free. A wine and cheese reception with the artist will follow the concert. For complete information, visit the website here or call (831) 624-6646. The church is located at 23005 Robinson Canyon Rd., just off Carmel Valley Road at Mid-Valley.
Integrity Chapter to Host Annual Meeting November 5
Integrity El Camino Real will hold its annual meeting on Saturday, November 5 at Sherwood Hall in Salinas, located at 940 N. Main Street. The meeting will be during the lunch break at our diocesan convention on the second floor of the hall. All are welcome. Contact Dottie Fuller for more information at dotfuller@aol.com.
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All Saints' Episcopal Church in Carmel invites you to ICONS in TRANSFORMATION, a unique contemporary international art exhibit. On its first Northern California tour, the ICONS exhibit presents 130 paintings, sculptures, frescos and tapestry weavings, some over 8 feet tall, on display through November 20. The bulk of the exhibit was created by Russian artist Ludmila Pawlowska, and includes many large-scale metal, limestone and gesso covered sculptures and paintings. Full details can be found at www.allsaintscarmel.org.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas is looking for a part-time administrative assistant. 20 hours per week with some flexibility. Individual should be a people person, a team player, self-motivated, comfortable with technology, attentive to detail and able to juggle competing demands.Duties include: creating weekly service bulletins, creating weekly electronic newsletter, updating the website and FB page, answering phones, greeting people at the church office, managing church database, calendar, and facility reservations. Resumes should be emailed to Pastor Linda at revlinda@goodshepherdcorral.org. For questions, please call the church office at (831) 484-2153.
St. John’s Aptos/Santa Cruz is receiving applications for their next Rector. Detailed information can be found by viewing their Parish Profile here and their OTM Portfolio here. If you wish to apply, please send a cover letter, resume and Personal OTM Portfolio to Canon Brian at brian@realepiscopal.org. If you have questions or need further information, please contact Canon Brian via email or at (831) 394-4465.
All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Carmel-by-the-Sea is seeking a Choir Director to lead the choir and work collaboratively with the Priest-in-Charge by providing anthems and service music from a variety of sources and traditions in accordance with the seasons of the church year. We are seeking both an interim choir director and a long-term choir director. For more details and application deadlines, see last week's issue here. To express interest, submit a letter and resume to The Rev. Amber Sturgess at All Saints', 9th and Dolores Streets, Carmel, CA 93923 or e-mail amber.sturgess@allsaintscarmel.org.
Along the King's Highway Submissions
Stories and photos are due by 6 pm Wednesdays. All submissions must be e-mailed in story form --please don't send only a flyer. Please limit submissions to 250 words and include the important "who-what-where-when" details. All stories will be edited for space. For questions, contact AKH editor Elrond Lawrence at elrond@realepiscopal.org. Thank you!
