Santa Cruz County youth group explores Eucharist in the kitchen
What is the meaning of the Greek word Eucharistia? Thanksgiving!
Days before Thanksgiving on November 14, teens from Episcopal parishes across Santa Cruz County gathered in the kitchen at Calvary Church in Santa Cruz to explore the service of the Eucharist. Vested in aprons, they organized vessels and prepared a meal of macaroni and cheese with chocolate-dipped strawberries to be shared in ways that would welcome all. The youth then explored Eucharistic prayers and body postures before touring the sacristy at the parish with their parents and Calvary’s rector, Rev. Austin Leininger.
The Eucharist in the kitchen was part of an ongoing program for regional youth in Santa Cruz County that builds Christian community with formational experiences that embody the liturgical calendar as a script for a life of reconciliation with God through Christ.
Story & photo by Pam Stevens
Episcopal Church in Almaden hosts "Living Room Conversation" on homeless crisis
On Sunday, Nov 11, the Episcopal Church in Almaden hosted 27 people from our neighborhood, nearby churches, and organizations in a “Living Room Conversation” about homelessness. The idea was not just to have another conversation about this problem, but to gather interested people, begin to form relationships, and explore the possibilities of working together toward addressing the root causes of homelessness in the area.
For two years, ECA has been active in Village House – a local, cooperative, rotating homeless shelter. The congregation will continue with this work, but wanted to do more. We wanted to help people avoid homelessness.
Our community organizing group decided that to have impact on this huge problem, we needed partners to gain the power to act effectively. So, we decided to host a “Living Room Conversation” to bring interested folks together.
Participants responded well to the LRC format because it emphasizes listening, learning, and sharing our own experiences. Some felt hopeful and some felt overwhelmed. We identified next steps, including: finding more conversation partners, learning exactly what the city and county are already doing, and talking with other groups that are responding to homelessness.
ECA will host two “House Meetings” for more conversation in February and March 2019. We will also launch some research actions to gain the information needed to move forward together. Our hope is that with a lot of concerned, ordinary people working together, along with a city with good intentions to solve this problem, we can find solutions.
- The Rev. Shelley Denney, rector of ECA; photo by Wendy Martin
Meet the Bishop Search Committee
As the Diocesan Profile website beckons candidates to be the fourth bishop of El Camino Real, the Bishop Search Committee is busy receiving applications from and nominations for potential candidates. If you're interested in learning more about the committee, a new web page lists biographies and photos of its members. Visit the search committee page here.
Arriving in your mailboxes ...
Our latest diocesan magazine, Real Episcopal, is mailing to the diocese and should reach mailboxes by Friday. Inside you'll find stories about Holy Family church in San Jose, an essay on transformation and connection by Kelsey Davis, curator for emerging communities, and much more. A sneak preview was emailed yesterday, available here; see extra photos on our Instagram, Facebookand Twitter pages.
Presiding bishop’s delegation to attend 24th UN climate change conference
An eight-member delegation representing Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will attend the 24th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland, December 2-14. This is the fourth Episcopal delegation to attend this climate change meeting. The conference produced the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and the 2015 Paris Agreement, which serves as the current basis for global standards on climate action and lowering carbon emissions.
Called by Presiding Bishop Curry and led by Bishop Marc Andrus of the Diocese of California, the COP24 delegation will advocate for the environmental priorities named at the Episcopal Church’s 79th General Convention and promote the Church’s ministries and activities to address ecojustice.
Follow the delegation on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using the search term #EpiscopalClimate. The Episcopal Church primary accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter will share videos, Facebook Live feeds and periodic summary updates about the conference. Read the full announcement here.
SLO College Ministry News:
Canterbury Advent Lessons & Carols Service
The Canterbury Shire Episcopal Campus Ministry in San Luis Obispo is hosting an Advent Lessons & Carols Service on Sunday, December 2, at 3pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, located at 1344 Nipomo St. in San Luis Obispo. Samuel Neil Byrd, Lead Coordinator for Campus LGBTQ Initiatives and Interfaith Chaplain at Cal Poly, will be our speaker!
This festive event is a fundraiser for the SLO Canterbury Shire Campus Ministry, and will be followed by a reception in Ramsden Hall. The event is free to the public and all are invited and welcome to attend. The service will include a free-will offering and donations will be accepted at the reception. Download the flyer here.
Mediation Skills Training Institute offered in Palo Alto for church leaders
Peninsula Bible Church, in Palo Alto will host the Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders next spring (March 18-22, 2019). Acquire contact hours for Continuing Education credits, enjoy fellowship with like-minded church leaders, and rejuvenate your ministry -- all at the same time!
To register, fill out and submit the form on our registration brochure, or register online at Brown Paper Tickets (please note: a small service fee will be assessed).
The deadline to receive a $200 discount for the MSTI in Palo Alto is Friday, February 15, 2019. Space is limited, so make your plans now while a spot is still available! Click here to learn more about the institute.
Walking in Welcome: Advent webinars addresses refugee and immigrant ministry
Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations are hosting a series of three one-hour webinars, Walking in Welcome: An Advent Series with Episcopal Migration Ministries on December 5 at 1 pm, December 13 at 1 pm, and December 18 at 9 am.
December 5:Mapping the Way: Tools for the Journey will provide the current state of play in refugee resettlement, a brief exploration of how to assess community gifts and assets, guidance on communicating the message of welcome, and next advocacy steps.
December 13: One Community’s Journey to Welcome: The Story of West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry will offer listeners the opportunity to hear how one interfaith group of local leaders have come together to educate, advocate, and provide welcome to refugees and immigrants.
December 18: Partners in Welcome: Join Us on the Way will include an overview of the Partners in Welcome program that Episcopal Migration Ministries is actively involved in developing, building, and recruiting.
Registration is required. Request registration links here. The webinar will be available on-demand following the event. Read the full announcement.
Apply today for 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.
"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, a Nativity display and fundraiser to benefit the homeless. On Friday, November 30, from 6 to 8:30 pm, the 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 are available online here, or download the event flyer.
Madrigal Affair Holiday Boutique
This Saturday, December 1, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Carmel Valley will host “A Madrigal Affair” from 1-4 pm. Browse a curated, discounted selection of women’s and men’s apparel from Madrigal in Carmel, bid on the silent auction, and take home a bakery sweet, jam, or handmade gift. Free admission, plus free child care for ages 3-8. Proceeds will fund grants to community nonprofits and parish ministries. For more info and directions, visit stdcv.org or call 831-624-6646.
Follow us on social media for news, photos and more!
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
St. Paul’s/San Pablo Episcopal Church in Salinas is now receiving applications for their next rector, a bilingual position. Interested candidates can view their Parish Profile and OTM Portfolio below, in both English and Spanish. Parish Profile in English OTM Portfolio in English
To apply for this position, please send a cover letter, resume and OTM Portfolio to Canon Brian Nordwick inboth English and Spanish at brian@realepiscopal.org. Feel free to contact Canon Brian via email or at 831-394-4465 with any questions or additional information.
St. Paul's / San Pablo Salinas está recibiendo solicitudes para su próximo Rector. Los candidatos interesados pueden ver su perfil parroquial y su cartera OTM en inglés y español en: Parish Profile Español OTM Portfolio Español
Para solicitar este puesto, envíe una carta de presentación, un currículum y un Portafolio OTM a Canon Brian Nordwick en inglés y español al: brian@realepiscopal.org. No dude en ponerse en contacto con Canon Brian por correo electrónico o al: 831-394-4465 con cualquier pregunta o información adicional.
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.
