The committee charged with facilitating a smooth transition of episcopal leadership in the diocese has announced two days of events to celebrate the recognition and investiture of the Right Rev. Marc Handley Andrus as the eighth bishop of California.

The service will begin with children from the diocese escorting the bishop-elect into the cathedral. The Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Bishop of North Carolina, will preach, and the Rt. Rev. Harry B. Bainbridge III, Bishop of Idaho and President of Province VIII, will preside at the liturgy representing the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Outgoing Bishop William E. Swing will present Andrus with the diocesan crosier, symbolically handing the pastoral care of the diocese over to the new bishop.
Andrus will also receive as gifts from the diocese a ring and an episcopal seal.
An original anthem has been commissioned for the event, and famed liturgical dancer Carla DeSola has choreographed a dance for the occasion.

Congregations will be invited to have one of their ticketed attendees participate in a banner procession. Clergy will receive information about where to assemble and vestment colors with their tickets.

Day One: The Beginning of a Shared Ministry

On his first full day in office, Bishop Marc will join in three ministry activities that reflect his ongoing care and concern for those on the margins of church and society and for the oneness of all creation.

First thing Sunday morning, he and his wife, Sheila, will serve breakfast to residents of The Sanctuary, a program of Episcopal Community Services, which provides shelter, hot meals, housing, and social services to 200 homeless individuals each night.  The bishop will also lead worship at the shelter. The Sanctuary was founded in 1982 in the basement of Grace Cathedral and was the initial program of the current Episcopal Community Services.  Today ECS manages 13 different facilities serving more than 4,500 people annually with a continuum of programs: 2 large shelters, 11 permanent supportive housing sites, senior services, and a skills center offering adult education and vocational training.  

Bishop Marc and his family will then attend morning service at one of the diocese’s  several mission congregations which serve the many ethnic populations of the Bay Area.  The predominantly Filipino congregation of Holy Child & St. Martin’s, Daly City is served by Rev. Bayani Rico, its second vicar.  In 2005, the sanctuary was severely damaged by a fire and construction and repairs are near completion. This visit is of special interest in light of the Episcopal Church’s new Concordat of Full Communion with the Philippine Independent Church at the 75th General Convention last month.

In the afternoon, Sunday in the Parc with Marc offers an opportunity to gather with our new bishop, his family and friends and the youth and young adults of the Diocese of California to celebrate their creativity and to honor all creation. Presented by Youth and Young Adult Ministries (YaYA), Sunday in the Parc with Marc is an opportunity to meet with and celebrate the eighth Bishop of California.   Held at Oakland's Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline Park (see flyers at the reception for directions), from 2 to 5 p.m., the event is open to all. Bring a picnic and your favorite outdoor activities and make a day of it.  The event will include live music and a celebration of all creation called Cosmic Walk: California Story, led by Eleanor DelBene, D. Min. A cosmic walk is a telling of the history of the universe, as inspired by the writings of cosmologist Brian Swimme.

For more information, contact Susan Peek at 415.869.7818.