Friday Reflection 5/30/08

Dear Friends,

I received great news three days ago from the office of the manager of the Lambeth Conference. The e-mail says “we are expecting you at the Lambeth Conference”. I was wondering when the invitation would arrive or even, some days, if it would ever come to Jane and me. Well, it is here and we are making plans to attend. We attended the Conference in 1998 when I was the Bishop of Northern California.

I am pleased to be going, but I am more pleased because this a clear sign from the Anglican Communion that the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin is the only Anglican Diocese in all of inland Central California. I received this invitation because I am your Bishop and, therefore, entitled to attend the Lambeth Conference as the Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

We have much work left to do in bringing this Diocese back together. But, rejoice, sisters and brothers, your faithfulness has been recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury and by the Anglican Communion.

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice.

In peace,

+Jerry A. Lamb

Bishop of San Joaquin

From Canon Mark Hall:

Note to congregations. Medical insurance through the Medical Trust will begin on 1 July 2008. We have arranged for the Fresno office to bill you for medical premiums due for June. This will allow a seamless transfer to the new insurance. Also, we have arranged for the medical trust to bill congregations directly for dental insurance and life insurance (and disability if you have it.) The next billing cycle should start next week, so watch to make sure that you do not pay two bills for the same coverage. Please let me know if you have received your billing for our new workman's compensation plan.

On another note, please let the diocesan office know if you need Books of Common Prayer, vestments, altar items, albs, surplices, etc. We have been given a number of items, and would like to see them used. Jane Lamb is compiling a list of what we have, and we will publish it soon.

Please contact Canon Mark Hall at 209-952-0006 or markhall@diosanjoaquin.org if your congregation needs a tax ID number.

From Juanita Weber, Diocesan Administrator:

Clergy Information Form

Several Clergy have completed the Confidential Clergy and Employee Information form and e-mailed it back to me. I am attaching it again for those who have not yet sent it in. Please download it, fill it out and send it back to the Diocesan Office. You may mail the completed form or attach it to an E-mail addressed to jweber@diosanjoaquin.org. If you have trouble downloading or filling it, please call me at 209-952-0006, and I will put the form into the mail to you. This form will be kept in all clergy and diocesan employee files. Because we are starting from scratch, so to speak, these files are empty. We need this kind of information for insurance, pension, and just to know you better

Northern Deanery Convocation

Delta and Yosemite Deaneries are meeting at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Riverbank on Saturday, June 7. Training sessions are scheduled for vestry or bishop’s committee members and church treasurers, Pastoral Lay Eucharistic Minister (PLEM) and Eucharistic Minister (LEM), and for youth and their leaders.

Reconciliation Retreat

Dennis Maynard will be the retreat leader for this one-day event held in Fresno at Holy Family. Although there is no charge for the retreat, registration is requested so we can count on you for lunch. The registration form is available on our Web site www.diosanjoaquin.org.

Daughters of the King Assembly

Many thanks to The Episcopal Church of the Holy Family. They are hosting many diocesan events as we try to even out travel distances. The San Joaquin Daughters of the King (DOK) will hold a meeting at Holy Family in Fresno on June 28. Bishop Lamb will be meeting with DOK members who will be choosing diocesan officers.