Visioning Days Question from the Central:

What would our church be like if more of our stories were heard, honored, and a source of Hope?
 

Administrative items:

• Along the King’s Highway – The April edition is in the final editing phase.  Please submit articles or comments for future editions to Edy Unthank at: editor[atecr]edecr.org
• Deployment/Position Postings – Detailed postings for jobs can be seen by clicking on the following link: http://www.edecr.org/jobs.htm .
  • Santa Maria Urban Ministry is looking for a new Treasurer for their Board of Directors. If you know of someone, or are interested in serving as Treasurer for this important diocesan ministry, please contact The Rev. David Breuer at: drbreuer[atecr]stlukeslg.org or 408-354-2195. Thank you.
  • St. Peter's by the Sea – Morro Bay - music director.
  • New: All Saints Carmel is seeking applicants through April 18 for the position of bookkeeper. This is a part-time (20 hours per week) full-charge bookkeeping position. To see a detailed job description and obtain an application, please go to, www.allsaintscarmel.org , or telephone 624-3883.
• Parochial reports are to be completed online with a hard copy sent to the diocesan office by April 1st.  If you have questions or need help in completing these reports, please contact me at: brian[atecr]edecr.org  or 831-304-4465. 
• Vestry/Bishop Committee Training (including Treasurers) will be offered by the Diocese in April. There will be 3 regional sessions on the evenings of April 1-3 from 6 to 9pm. A 4th session will be offered on Saturday morning April 12th from 9:30 to noon. All wardens, vestry/bishop committee members, treasurers, parish administrators, and clergy are encouraged to attend. Topics to be presented include: roles and responsibilities, business methods in church affairs, risk management, church finances and legal issues. This will be a basic overview of these subject areas - an introduction or general review of vestry/bishop committee functions. The following are the locations and dates:
  • April 1st – St. Lukes in Atascadero – 6-9pm
  • April 2nd – All Saints in Watsonville – 6-9pm
  • April 3rd – St. Andrews in Saratoga – 6-9pm
  • April 12th – St. Pauls in Salinas – 9:30am to noon
     

  The registration form is attached to send to Susan Altig at the Diocesan office or susan[atecr]edecr.org .  Please share these dates and times with your Vestry, Bishop’s Committee and Treasurers, and come as a group. Rectors and Vicars are welcome to attend in addition to parish administrators. If you have any questions, please contact me at: brian[atecr]edecr.org  or 831-394-4465.
   

• New: Picture gallery: To view pictures of Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves with her sister bishops, please click on the following link: http://www.edecr.org/gallery/
• New: Epiphany Church in Marina is in need of an organ. If you have one to donate, please contact The Rev. Jon Perez at vicarjon@sbcglobal.net 

Announcements:

• You are invited to the ordination to the priesthood of Lawrence Robles to be held tomorrow, Saturday, March 29th at 2 p.m., at St. Stephen-Gilroy, 651 Broadway, Gilroy, CA 95020 -The Rt. Rev. Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves, presiding. (Clergy: White Stoles) Reception to follow.
• New: Exploring End of Life Questions - St. Mark’s, Santa Clara - Saturday, April 12, 1-3pm- Are you concerned about talking with your family about end of life decisions? Do you have questions about writing a will, planning a memorial service, or what to include in a health care directive? No matter how old we are, these are questions all of us need to consider. Join us for a panel discussion to help sort out these issues and develop tools for planning ahead. Please RSVP to 408-296-8383 or office@st-marks.org .
• The School for Deacons Annual Inquirer’s Day will be Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 7:45am with Holy Eucharist in the All Saints Chapel at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 2451 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California. Learn about the ministry and formation of the deacon – the School program and curriculum. If you are interested, contact the School at 510-848-1723 or email mlhintz[atecr]sfd.edu . (website: www.sfd.edu )
• New: The St. Stephen’s Gilroy Coffeehouse Mini-Concert Series continues on Saturday, April 5th with guest Christian musician, Bob Thomas. The concert begins at 7pm at 651 Broadway in Gilroy. This is a free offering. For more information call: 408-842-4415.
• U2charist, a unique worship experience featuring music of the Irish rock band U2, comes to St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church, Arroyo Grande, Sunday, April 6, at 5 p.m. Robin Denney missioner to Liberia will deliver the homily All money collected will fund scholarships to train nurses and midwives at Curran Hospital in Lofa County, Liberia to continue U2's efforts to reach the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals. The event is sponsored by all seven Episcopal Churches in San Luis Obispo County at St. Barnabas', 301 Trinity Ave., Arroyo Grande. For information call 772-1723.
• Western District Cursillo Meeting: Theme: REKINDLE THE FIRE on Saturday, April 12, 8:30AM – 4PM at Trinity Cathedral, 81 North Second St., San Jose, CA 95113. See attached registration form.
• Trip to Camp Coast Care in Mississippi - Our Diocese is planning a mission trip to Mississippi Camp Coast Care May 3 - 10 or May 4 - 11, 2008. There is an urgent need for volunteers to help Gulf coast residents get back into homes. Many are still in FEMA camps, tents and trailers over 2 years after Katrina. Persons with some experience in any type of construction are desperately needed but all volunteers are important and utilized. If you can cook, paint, pound nails, install tile, clean up, put on roofing, use a saw, read a level, clean the bathrooms or dorm room, you are needed at Camp Coast Care. There are some construction supervisors on staff but both experienced and non-experienced helpers are needed. Our group is already registered as the El Camino Real group using my name as contact person. We need to make our plans soon in order to reserve space in camp. If you are at all interested in going on this trip, please e-mail me and I will answer all your questions. You should also go to www.campcoastcare.com  and watch the videos and read the information. Please join us on this 2nd diocesan trip to Mississippi. Together we can be the hands and feet of Jesus on the Gulf coast. Sheila Vossler, mabear2[atecr]sbcglobal.net .
• De Colores - The Santa Clara Servant Community is in the final stages of preparation for the upcoming Cursillo Weekend at Camp St Francis in La Selva. The dates for the weekend are May 1-4, 2008. The team has been working since November getting ready for another unforgettable experience for your candidates. Cursillo is an experience that enhances the grace GOD has freely given to all of us with instructions to share with each other. Cursillo has also lead many people to further their Christian development, some to the point of working to join the clergy, others to become more active in the Lay leadership within their congregations and/or the diocese. To help the team, we need to receive your candidate applications as soon as possible. We would like to place a tentative cutoff date for the 19th of March. That will give the Cursillo Board time to review applications and get them to the team for their final preparation. The number of candidates is limited to around 30, so don’t wait or yours may miss out this year. Applications can be downloaded at www.sccursillo.org . If you need more information, contact your Cursillo Parish rep or email chair[atecr]sccursillo.org  or weekend[atecr]sccursillo.org . Thank you all for your assistance and God bless you all.
• Monterey County Prayer Breakfast at NIGHT! The date is Thursday, April 24, from 6 – 8:30PM at the Golden State Theater in downtown Monterey, where the Wurlitzer will be played and a100-voice choir will sing. To make your reservation, go to www.montereyprayerbreakfast.com . Questions? Call Beth Heston of St. Dunstan’s at 831-333-9088. See attached flyer for more information.
• The Resource Center, housed at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 231 S. Sunset Avenue, Sunnyvale will be having an Open House on Thursday, April 10, from 11-3. Emphasis will be on current curriculum, confirmation and the newest Vacation Bible School material. New VBS is “Beach Party: surfing through the scriptures” (Spanish portion should be available by April 10), “Power Lab: discovering Jesus’ miraculous power”, “Holy Land Adventure – Jerusalem” (revised edition), and “Walk it Out: together in the way of Jesus”. Come join us, snacks will be available during lunch hour.
• ECW Women's Day is scheduled for April 19th at St. Paul's, Salinas. This year we will have two sessions only. The morning session will start at 9:30 in the church and Bishop Mary will be the speaker. There will also be a question and answer time. Bring your pennies for the Church Periodical Club Ingathering. After lunch there is a choice of four classes: The Rev. Mary Lou McKenney will teach a bible class, the Rev. Kathey Crowe will talk on Centering Prayer, Louisa Lim will be back with her Ikebana class and making a prayer shawl. Come early and visit with your new and old friends. The cost is $15.00 to cover registration and the luncheon. Make checks out to ECW and mail to Dorothy Duckett, 180 N. 4th St. #505, San Jose, CA 95112. Deadline is April 1st.
   
• Youth ministry:
  • MARK YOUR CALENDARS - YOUTH VISIONING DAY WITH BISHOP MARY - SATURDAY MAY 3, 10:00 AM TO 1:00 AM - ST. PAUL'S SALINAS. How is the Holy Spirit moving in and through our Youth and Youth Leaders? In our Year of Wonder, the newly formed Diocesan Youth Network invites all youth leaders, youth, Rectors and Associates to be in conversation about dreams and aspirations for youth ministry at both the parish and diocesan levels. We look forward to wondering together. Please RSVP to Rev. Laurel Johnston at curatelaurel@sbcglobal.net
  • Diocesan Youth Mission Trips for 2008: This summer our youth will have the opportunity to serve Native American populations in Nevada through Sierra Service Project. http://www.sierraserviceproject.org / Our diocese has a 5-year history of teaming with SSP for our mission trips. This year we plan to send two groups to the Walker River Paiute reservation in early summer, coordinated by Leann Brooks and Robin Denney. The trips are now full, but we are still accepting applicants to be put on a waiting list. Please contact Leann Brooks at: leannbrooks[atecr]hotmail.com if you are interested. Separate applications for the Middle School and High School youth are attached for completion and submission by February 15th with a $100.00 deposit. The first trip, June 29-July 5, is for high school youth who will be entering 9th grade in the fall of 2008 through those graduating in the summer of 2008. Experienced counselors from ECR (including Bishop Mary) will accompany our youth and other church youth groups will join us at the reservation. The second trip, July 14-19, is a brand new opportunity for Middle School students and is for youth entering 6th through 8th grades in the fall. This will be a smaller group and the program is being specially crafted for the younger audience.
  • Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) – Between the 2 youth mission trips, the 2008 EYE will be held in San Antonio, TX from July 8-13 at Trinity University. The theme for the event is, “Sown in the Heart of Christ”. This event is for youth that have completed grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 by this Spring and who have not begun to attend college. El Camino Real has space reserved for 15 to attend (12 youth and 3 adult sponsors). The cost for the event is $480 per person that includes room and meals and ground transportation in Texas. Airfare to San Antonio is extra. To register, you need to contact the diocesan office. There is only one registrar per diocese, so you can not sign up on your own. Lastly, if you are an adult youth leader, and would be willing to help coordinate the ECR contingent, please contact me at the diocesan office (831-394-4465) or brian[atecr]edecr.org . 
  • Youth Katrina Relief Summer Mission Trip: June 14-20, 2008: Trip is full.
  • Honduras Youth Trip - There is an opportunity for our youth to go on a mission trip to Honduras. Sierra Service Project (the organization also running our Diocesan Youth Trip to Nevada) runs this program. Robin Denney, (our diocesan missionary who just returned from Liberia) is leading one of the trips (July 14-July 28). The trip is open to high school juniors, seniors, and college age young adults, who have had some previous mission experience. The trip costs $2,000 for each participant. SSP staff will talk parents through the steps required for obtaining passports and necessary documentation, and will answer any security related questions. View more information online: http://www.sierraserviceproject.org/honduras_info.htm  To sign up, get the registration form online at the above link, or call the SSP office at: (916) 488-6441. Applications must be received by March 1, with a $300 deposit.

Important Training / Dates to mark on your calendars:

• Reminder from the Conference Education Resource Team - The Magnetic Church Conference – a new way of looking at evangelism within a spiritual context - May 16, 17, St. Andrew’s, Saratoga. Our speaker, Andrew Weeks, will invite us into new creative ministries, not urge us to take on more tasks. He will challenge us to explore new opportunities for reaching out beyond our parish walls. Please come be a part of this exciting and rewarding conference being offered in our own diocese. Remember 5 or more from one church, registered by April 15, receives a $5 reduction in cost for each person. If you wish housing for the event, please contact Joanna Shreve (jrshreve@aol.com ) or by phone 650-941-6436 by May 1. Please reference Magnetic Church when you email her. We look forward to seeing you there.   More info here.
• The Anti Racism Commission of the Diocese of California is once again making available the training that the General Convention requires for all leaders in the Episcopal Church. Now is a prime time to register to participate in this workshop. When: Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: St. Stephen's, 66 St. Stephen's Drive, Orinda Cost: $60 includes breakfast and lunch two days; $50 early bird for registering before March 28 Contact: To register, Toni Van Kriedt, ardvk331[atecr]aol.com , 415.218.4983 or 415.331.0464; to inquire about content, the Rev. Barbara Bender-Breck, revb3[atecr]yahoo.com , 510.655.7870 Deadline: April 4.
• Online Spring course offerings from CALL (associated with CDSP) can be found in the attached PDF file.
• Healing Our Planet Earth: Singing A New Song of Hope is a national conference focused on the web of relationships between faith, justice and the environment to be held April 10 – 12, 2008 Hilton SeaTac, Seattle, Washington. It will be a place and time where people from all faith and spiritual institutions and environmental communities come together to learn, share, inspire and seed plans for sustainable action, and a global sustainable future. For more information, please see attached.
• CLERGY CONFERENCE – April 21-23, 2008 at St. Francis, San Juan Bautista. More info to follow.
• Learn a positive, life-giving way of working and being in the world and then apply it to either Interim Ministry or Search Consulting. Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry - Mercy Center, Burlingame - May 5-7, 2008. Introduction to Appreciative Interim Ministry or Search Consultant Training - Mercy Center, Burlingame -May 7-9, 2008. Facilitators are Dr. Rob Voyle and Dr. Kim Voyle. For more information, to register, and for a special diocesan discount, contact Brian at the diocesan office or brian[atecr]edecr.org  - also, please see attached flyer.
• Breaking Barriers Conference – Sometime in September/October 2008. Details to follow.
• 2008 Diocesan Convention – November 7-8 – Sherwood Hall in Salinas

Diocesan Office Meetings:

• Next Week:  Congregation Restoration Group, Tuesday April 1st – 2pm
   

God, open the ears of those who hear our stories of faith - that they might receive them as a source of hope for a better tomorrow.  Help each of us to honor one another’s stories for the unique gifts that they are - as a witness to our belief in you –  and may our stories inspire us to greater actions to your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray…Amen.