ENGLISH CHURCH HISTORY

SUMMARY: The beginnings of the Church of England, from which the Episcopal Church derives, dates to at least the 2nd century, when merchants and other travelers first brought Christianity to England. It is customary to regard St. Augustine of Canterbury's mission to England in 597 as marking the formal beginning of the church under papal authority, as it was to be throughout the Middle Ages.

In its modern form, the church dates from the English Reformation of the 16th century, when royal supremacy was established and the authority of the papacy was repudiated. With the advent of British colonization, the Church of England was established on every continent. In time, these churches gained their independence, but retained connections with the mother church in the Anglican Communion.

Human Nature

We are part of God’s creation, made in the image of God. That means that we are free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with God. From the beginning, human beings have misused their freedom and made wrong choices because we rebel against God, and we put ourselves in the place of God. Our help is in God, who first helped us by revealing himself and his will, through nature and history, through many seers and saints, and especially through the prophets of Israel.

The Diocese of California is more complex than having "white" congregations and "ethnic" congregations. That reality became better known on Saturday, November 5, during a diocesan event titled Weaving God's Beautiful Pattern. The event was conducted at Holy Trinity/La Santisima Trinidad Church, in Richmond.

The event, held at Holy Trinity, Richmond, recognized that the old image of the Episcopal Church as white in membership and leadership is no longer accurate. 

Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, attended All Saints Sunday services at the Parish Church and Retreat House of St. Columba's in the quaint California seaside town of Inverness.

The royals were in the middle of a visit that included stops to an organic farmers' market in the town of Point Reyes; lunch with farmers in the hidden coastal community of Bolinas; a visit to the long-running San Francisco cabaret show "Beach Blanket Babylon," accompanied by the Rt. Rev. William Swing and his wife Mary Swing, former Secretary of State George Shultz and his wife Charlotte Maillard Shultz, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, author Danielle Steel, and other Bay Area notables; and a tour of the Berkeley Edible Schoolyard led by chef Alice Waters. 

When it comes to technology, the Diocese of California has not necessarily been on the fast track. Signs of change were spotted, however, at this year's Diocesan Convention, held at Grace Cathedral on October 22, 2005. For the first time in its 156-year history, the convention's election ballots were counted by machine. The Pearson NCS Optical Scanner became the official ballot counter of the 156th convention, and appeared to be up to the task.

As you may know by now, the Diocese of California is in a search to find our next bishop. Bishop Swing has announced his retirement, and we will be electing our eighth bishop in a special election at Grace Cathedral on May 6, 2006, then consecrating her or him on July 22, 2006.

In this interview, we introduce you to the co-chairs of the Search Committee, the Rev. Jim McKnight, Associate Rector of Christ Church, Los Altos, and Ms. Helen Sause, an active lay member of Christ Church, Alameda. Watching the two of them work together reminds me of what it means to be Church -- it is what we do together that calls Christ's presence with us. 

At the Diocesan Convention in October, I mentioned that in the first six months of this year individuals and congregations had sent over $225,000 to Episcopal Relief and Development before the hurricanes hit.  Just to get a sampling of what we have done since the devastation, I urged people to jot down on a piece of paper what contributions they had made since.  These snaps of miscellaneous papers told a story of amazing compassion and generosity.  I assembled the messages into categories, and here they are.

On October 22, 2005, the Diocese of California met in its 156th annual Diocesan Convention. The convention, held at Grace Cathedral, was especially poignant as it was the last convention to be presided over by the Rt. Rev. William Swing. It was also eventful, celebrating the ministries of the most recent graduates of the Academia Teolَgica Latina, the Spanish-language theological academy that is a ministry of the Center for Anglican Learning and Leadership, and the diocesan Latino Commission. It was also timely, passing resolutions that denounced torture, that called for healthcare for all Americans, and which authorized development of a rite for blessing same-sex unions for the consideration of the Diocesan Convention to be held in 2007. It was also reflective, looking back at the fruits of the Jubilaté Deo initiative, and entertaining, with lunchtime musical entertainment provided by the Latin music group Los Chalanes.

St. Cyprian's at 2097 Turk, San Francisco, is pleased to present the Saturday Afternoon Jazz Series one Saturday each month, 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission is $8, $4 students 16 & under. Refreshments will be served at intermission

May 21 - Candice & Co.
June 25 - Jack Pollard
July 23 - Dima
August 27 - Denise Perrier

 

All too often newly elected Stewardship Chairpersons find themselves in the "panic" mode as they begin to make plans for the annual pledge drive.  Although September may seem like a long way off, the new Chair sees it as "right around the corner" and is already asking: "…and now what do I do?" Well, help is on the way.  The Diocesan Stewardship Department is offering a training session at this year's Ministries Conference, May 21st at Grace Cathedral. 

"From Fall Panic to Year Round Ministry: Developing a Stewardship Program That Works" is a double workshop (1:00pm - 2:30pm and 2:45pm - 4:00pm).  It will provide an overview of quality stewardship programs, strategies and the resources available to assist not only your Stewardship Chair, but members of your Stewardship Committee and Vestry. The workshop will focus on the basics: exploring the biblical/theological foundations, writing a stewardship statement, identifying needs, developing a plan, setting goals, building and training leadership, providing on-going education and faith formation for adults and children. The presenters of this workshop are seasoned stewardship leaders themselves, including former senior wardens & other  vestry positions, those with "day jobs" in business and fundraising, stewardship committee chairs, rectors/interim rector. Space will be limited. You and your Stewardship Chair are encouraged to register now. Visit the Ministries Conference website to register (www.diocal.org and "click" on 2005 Ministries Conference).
 
 

The Chaplain to St. Ambrose Episcopal Church's Sea Breeze School is charged with the spiritual formation and religious life of Sea Breeze School and the Sunday School children of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church. The Chaplain is responsible for five should chapels a week (two on Tuesdays and three on Wednesdays) and for getting to know the children and families of Sea Breeze School. The Chaplain will also provide programs for the parents of the Sea Breeze School and St. Ambrose Church on parenting, and of other special interest to them. The Chaplain will also be responsible for a monthly Canterbury Kids program for elementary school age children, from kindergarten through fifth grade. The Chaplain will also be support staff to the St. Ambrose Sunday School Superintendent and teachers.

St. Ambrose Sea Breeze School
900 Edgewater Blvd
Foster City CA 94404
 

We are delighted to share with you the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Ministry degree with a special emphasis in pastoral care and counseling at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Our new brochure describing this program, including testimonies from some of the current students, the curriculum outline and application are all on line at www.sfts.edu/pastoral, which is our web site. All you need to do to see this brochure is to press "Ctrl" and left click on the word "pastoral" in the address above and you can read all about the program. A pdf version of the current brochure may be downloaded from this site.
 
Lent is completed, Easter and Eastertide have arrived. Now is a good time to consider something for yourself in the near future. Applications for this program are being received for the fall semester, until May 15. Extensions are possible.
 
Please give me a call to ask whatever questions you may have about this program. I would be glad to talk with you!
 
Rev. Ruth Ann Clark, D. Min., Director of Training
Lloyd Center Pastoral Counseling Service, San Francisco Theological Seminary
415.258.6652
 

On Friday, May 20, at 8:00 pm, and on Sunday, May 22, at 3:00 pm, the Oakland East Bay Symphony will perform Leonard Bernstein's Mass as a part of its regular subscription series at Oakland's Paramount Theater. You are invited to attend and may obtain tickets at www.oebs.org.

Bernstein's Mass is a monumental, rarely performed work that was commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis for the opening of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC in 1971. The work is set against a backdrop of the social, political, and religious upheaval of the late 1960s. Mass explores both our individual and communal struggle to find meaning and direction amidst new questions, crumbling institutional structures, pain, suffering, and a rising global awareness. "I've seen this work several times," says Michael Morgan, Oakland East Bay Symphony conductor, "and it feels like Bernstein is speaking directly to our situation today, thirty-five years after he wrote it!" Mass invited us to consider the possibility of art, spirituality and social engagement coming together in our lives to illuminate a path to greater understanding. It is a work of musical theater. It features a full orchestra, chorus, boys and girls choirs, soloists and a chorus of singers with varied backgrounds. The Celebrant leads his people in the familiar Liturgy from the Roman Mass. As the Service develops, people's voices raise the painful questions facing all of us in a world bereft of justice and caring. Tension between the ideals of Liturgy and the anger of the people grows to a dramatic yet hopeful climax. For three decades, Mass has provided people, all over the world, an artistic means of engaging the big questions of a complex world:

In addition, local communities and church groups are invited to participate in a Symposium on Sunday, May 15, 3:00-5:00 pm at the First Congregational Church, Oakland (27th & Harrison) as preparation to more fully appreciate this work. Conductor Michael Morgan, and a number of distinguished community leaders will lead the panel and audience discussion. There will be no charge for the Symposium.