The Very Rev. Richard Yale, Rev. Ann Sullivan, St. Nicholas, and other fire evacuees were welcome in worship Sunday at St. John's Episcopal Church in Chico.
Diocese of Northern California responds to devastating "Camp Fire"
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California continues to reel from the impact of the “Camp Fire” in Paradise and surrounding areas. “Family, friends, and loved ones have been displaced. More and more stories are emerging,” reports the diocese, “and the scope of the devastation is truly impossible to imagine, as we start to understand what it means to have a whole town destroyed at one time.”
A core disaster relief team that is “boots on the ground” has been established at St. John's Episcopal Church in Chico, 12 miles east of Paradise, the diocese announced. “We will update the diocese as we understand more of the needs and how we can best respond as the disaster moves from first responder to recovery stage. Our response team is doing a great job building on their existing connections and networks, as the wider community of Chico pulls together. The Episcopal Church is a part of this response, thanks to the ongoing work of the clergy and laity at St. John's over the years.”
Calls are happening daily with Episcopal Relief and Development. In addition to prayers, monetary donations are the most helpful. To donate to disaster relief, click here now. 100% of your donation will go directly to assist victims in the first stage of the disaster and later during long term recovery.
Want to send a check? Please make checks out to EDNC and put "Disaster Relief" in the memo line. Mail checks to:
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
350 University Avenue, Suite 280
Sacramento, CA 95825
Day of the DeadatTrinity Cathedral
On Sunday November 4, families and friends gathered from theNuestra Señora de Guadalupe congregation at Trinity Cathedral in San Jose to pray for the souls of loved ones who have died and to celebrate their lives with stories, music and prayer (see Spanish language version here).
The Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a highly misunderstood holiday celebrated in Mexico and the surrounding Americas, including the US. Dia de los Muertos is not a “Mexican Halloween,” but quite the opposite. November 1 is traditionally referred to as Dia de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels) and is the day to honor infants and children who have died. November 2 is the actual Dia de los Muertos when families honor adults whom they have lost.
It is believed that on these days, the souls of the deceased return to earth to be with their families and loved ones. It is important to explain that the celebrations for these holidays, especially for Dia de los Angelitos and Dia de los Muertos, vary widely throughout the different regions of Mexico and the US.
On this day people celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. It is also common for the streets near the cemeteries to be filled with decorations of papel picado (perforated paper), flowers, candy calaveras (skeletons and skulls), candles and all sorts of artistic representation of the dead. The Day of the Dead celebration is one of the most colorful, moving, and authentic cultural experiences.
In order to celebrate, the families make altars (such as the one pictured to the left) and place ofrendas (offerings) of food … and most importantly, a photo of the departed soul is placed on the altar. Many children participated by dressing up with traditional Mexican cultural costumes and their faces decorated with the traditional skeleton drawings. Other children participated by painting sugar skulls and weaving a traditional arts and craft called “Ojos de dios -- Eyes of God.”
Several members of the congregation also participated in the creation and stringing of paper marigolds, the celebration’s traditional flower, which represents the fragility of life. This year’s alter that was created by members of the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe congregation was especially memorable as participants from all congregations at Trinity Cathedral, San José participated by placing photos and special moments of their loves ones. At the opening of the service, the Very Rev. David Bird and the Rev. Lee Barford offered special prayers for all the souls honored on the altar.
“In the altar we incorporate what the person loved; whether it is food or sports, we incorporate everything that they enjoyed into the altar,” said Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe member Leo Fox.
“We know that every year on November 1st and 2nd we can come and visit our families in spirit, so they do not depart. It’s a visitor’s day,” stated Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe member Lorenso Arciñiega. Read Arciñiega's entire story with more photos.
Santa Cruz County youth gather in Watsonville for Día de los Muertos
Youth from parishes across Santa Cruz County gathered with their families at All Saints’-Cristo Rey Watsonville to join the congregation in the traditional Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, a time of remembering, comfort, and joyful reunion between the living and the departed.
After a meal of home-made tamales, decorated cookies, and chocolate, members of the regional youth group with painted faces processed with congregation members following the Rev. (Padre) Michael Dresbach and a crucifer into the Sanctuary. Burning incense filled the air as participants brought photos of their beloved departed and objects of loving remembrance to the altar, which was adorned colorfully as an ofrenda for the occasion.
After a celebration of Completas (Compline) in Spanish officiated by two women with music in Spanish offered by Padre Dresbach, each participant lit a candle from the Paschal candle before processing into the jardín memorial (memorial garden), where loved ones introduced departed family members to the assembly. By candlelight, the group adorned the markers of departed community members with cempasúchiles (marigolds), which in Mexican culture have a variety of ritual understandings for El Día de los Muertos. The youth in attendance experienced an important lesson in the Anglican theology of the afterlife as one of eternal comunidad (community).
- Story & photos by Pamela Stevens
We’re looking forward to November 27th – this year’s Giving Tuesday. Learn how you can make a difference! Watch for updates on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.
"No Room at the Inn" fundraiser at St. Philip's Scotts Valley
St. Philip the Apostle Episcopal Church in Scotts Valley will host the third annual “No Room at the Inn” event. No Room at the Inn is a Nativity display and fundraiser to benefit those with no shelter. On Friday, November 30, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, St. Philip’s Opening Gala will offer appetizers and wine, a silent auction, an opportunity drawing, and door prize. Childcare will be available. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Proceeds will benefit Faith Community Shelter and Wings Homeless Advocacy. Tickets can be found online here, or download the event flyer.
On Saturday, December 1, join us between 10 am to 3 pm to view the Nativities, as well as an Advent Festival and Family Day. A luncheon and special children’s activities will be available between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. A bake sale and opportunity drawing will be available.
Proceeds will benefit Faith Community Shelter and Wings Homeless Advocacy as well St. Philip’s Ministries, which include sheltering the homeless and a Food Pantry. Entry donation is a non-perishable food item per person. The Nativities will be blessed at the church’s 8:00 am or 10:00 am services. For information on displaying Nativities, visit the church website or call 831-438-4360.
Applications accepted for 2019-2020 Young Adult Service Corps
The Episcopal Church Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) offers exciting opportunities to serve, learn, and share while spending a year living and working with communities around the world. YASC volunteers build relationships with communities around the Anglican Communion and develop global perspectives on life and faith that stay for a lifetime. Open to Episcopalians ages 21-30, applications are now available for 2019-2020 placements with the international missionary program of the Episcopal Church. The application for a 2019-2020 placement with additional information and instructions is available here.
You’re invited …
Join us to celebrate the renewal of ministry and to welcome a new Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. Robert Emmons Neville, by Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves. The service on Friday, November 16 will begin at 6 pm at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ben Lomond. It will feature preaching by the Rev. Peggy Bryan and choirs from St. Andrew’s and Calvary Santa Cruz. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
Grants available for young adult and campus ministries
The application process for a 2019 Young Adult and Campus Ministry Grant opens today and continues through November 19, 2018. Submissions received after November 19 will not be considered. Read the full announcement with application links here (in English and Spanish).
Deadline extended for senior program grants
November 15 is the deadline for the Darby Betts 2019 Request for Proposals from programs serving seniors in the Dioceses of California, El Camino Real, and Northern California. The deadline is November 15. Grant awards are expected to be in the $5,000 range, although higher amounts may be considered. Download more information here. Please email your proposal to DarbyBettsFund@covia.org. See previous issues for the full story.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Los Gatos is seeking a part-time Parish Finance Assistant. The Finance Assistant performs duties to ensure that the church bookkeeping and financial functions are completed on time and correctly. Functions include: accounts payable invoices, income, bank account and general ledger reconciliation, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, and similar financial duties. Familiarity with Realm Church Accounting software is desired, as is prior experience with finance software. The position would require about 10 hours' work per month, much of which can be done remotely. If interested, download the full job description PDF here: St. Luke's Finance Admin Job Description. To apply, please contact the parish office at office@stlukeslg.org or call 408-354-2195.
Part-time Nursery/Childcare Staff Openings: St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Cupertino is seeking a regular, part-time staff and a substitute to offer loving, nurturing care for infants and toddlers 0-5 years and, at times, for children up to grade 5. Regularly on Sundays 9-Noon and as needed, special events. Compensation negotiable within area pay scale; no additional benefits offered at this time. Contact the Rev. Sarah Lapenta-H at sarah@saintjudes.org
Submitting news to Along the King's Highway
Along the King's Highway is published every Wednesday afternoon. News and event submissions must be received the previous Sunday at 9 pm. Please limit stories to 200 words and include the "who-what-where-when-why" information in the first paragraph. For event news, flyers must be accompanied by a basic summary of the event. All submissions will be edited for style and published as space allows. Questions? Contact editor Elrond Lawrence, diocesan communications, at elrond@realepiscopal.org.
