Camp Stevens, an Episcopal camp and retreat center just outside of downtown Julian, has shifted gears this year—instead of summer camp for 100 kids every week, the facility now offers day use for hiking, swimming, meditating in the outdoor chapel, as well as small overnight retreats for individuals and families. Nestled on 256 acres of […]
Sometime in Lent, several of us started to wonder how Vacation Bible School could look this summer then began to dream big. Beginning to glimpse Jesus’ vision of our mission field in The Great Commission, we realized that we were free of geographic boundaries and that our traditional and separate week-long Vacation Bible Schools could […]
Good News! New Date set for EDSD Revival: Dec 3-5, 2021 Jesus said, “I have come to bring life and life in abundance” (John 10:10). If this isn’t good news, I don’t know what is. Especially in these times of unrest, angst, pandemic and isolation, the world is yearning for this good news- Jesus’ gift […]
Dear Friends in Christ, I am writing to you with regret to ask you once more to suspend in-person worship at our churches during the month of July. This decision does not come without significant prayer, discussion, and deep thought. As you may know, the governor of California today instituted broad restrictions on in-person […]
I deeply appreciate the hard work congregations are doing to plan for restarting in-person worship. I have said previously that in-person worship may begin on June 21, but congregations may start later than June 21 if that is appropriate for their context. In making this determination, task forces should consider their physical context, the age […]
For our diocese, one of the hardest consequences of sheltering in place was the suspension of many services to our less fortunate neighbors. Church members bemoaned the fact that Showers of Blessings, food distribution, and other similar efforts needed to wait until the pandemic passes us by. That is because our diocese is deeply committed […]
“Jesus said: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27)” From the beginning of the pandemic, our Episcopal congregations and our respective dioceses have been strengthened by prayer, study, […]
Did you know that veterans are 10 times more likely to go to clergy than all other Mental Health Providers? Our military and veterans often don’t know where to go to for help, compassionate care and support. Often they are seeking a more comfortable place, like a church or clergy for help with their problems. […]
We Need a New Liturgy for a New Medium The church has changed. We all knew it was coming. Not the devastation as COVID-19 sweeps through our communities; rather, we knew the digital era, online church, and a great change to how we worship and gather as a community was coming. Now it is […]
Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! When can we reopen our churches? It’s the question at the top of most of our minds. I don’t know the answer yet, but I will be watching guidance that comes out from governmental authorities to determine the best time to begin a phased reopening, […]