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TRANSCRIPT
ANNOUNCEMENTS Third Sunday after Pentecost
June 21, 2020
June 18, 2020
Dear Members and Friends of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church,
Aloha! Happy Father’s Day! On this day we remember and give thanks for our fathers and their loving care for us. This Sunday, June 21st is the Third Sunday after Pentecost and the gospel lesson for this Sunday from Matthew reminds us that we all have God as our common Father. Our loyalty therefore is to God and God’s ways
Bishop Marc Andrus will be preaching during his virtual visitation on Sunday, June 21 st . He will be recording his sermon so it can be part of the live-stream You Tube worship at 10 a.m.
He will also be participating in the Zoom coffee hour at 11:30 a.m. for the congregation. If you have not been participating in the Zoom coffee hour each Sunday, please send a request to me to be included in it, and I will add you to the list. The Zoom coffee hour is by invitation only because there has been a problem of being “bombed” by people enter into Zoom meetings only to disrupt them.
This week the Vestry approved the Task Force’s proposal to the phased regathering of worship for St. Ambrose. At this point the proposal is to continue with virtual worship at 10 a.m. and occasional in-person worship outdoors. The Vestry also approved a congregation survey on worship in the time of the pandemic and the future that will be sent out to the members of the congregation on Survey Monkey.
This Sunday at 10 am., our live-streaming You Tube worship will be led by the Rev. Karen Swanson as the Presider and Bishop Marc Handley Andrus will be the Preacher.
The link for the live-streaming You Tube worship is below, and the worship bulletin is posted on the church website at www.stambrosefostercity.org.
The link is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg.
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I invite you to pray for those who are ill, especially Peggy Redmond, Yvonne Sidell, Jerelyn Weber, Ariel Rallos, Miles Martin, Karen Gardiner, Mary Ota, Frank Brown, John and Barbara Milligan and Jerry and Jill Schwab.
I invite you to pray for those who lost employment, the small businesses trying to re-open, those whose loved ones have been stricken with COVID-19, those who are alone, health care workers, first responders, essential workers, those affected by natural disaster, the Episcopal Church in Navajoland, victims of violence in all its forms, law enforcement members trying to keep the peace, and especially black and brown people and all others who have been profiled by police and experienced brutality.
I invite you to give thanks for all fathers and their loving care, for Belinda Yuen, Jon Stephens and Fe Balamiento who will be celebrating birthdays, and for Michelle and James Kimmins and Olivia and Wilfredo Nagar who will be celebrating anniversaries.
May the good LORD keep you safe in body, mind and spirit so you will continue to be God’s blessing to others in your life.
Yours,
David Y. Ota, Rector
P.S. If you would like to join in any of these Zoom meetings, please contact the host of the meeting below:
Vestry Coffee Hour with Bishop Marc Handley Andrus at 8:45 a.m., [email protected] School at 10 am, Fe Balamiento, [email protected] Coffee Hours at 11:30 am, David Ota, [email protected] Youth Group at 4 pm, Karen Swanson, [email protected] Bible Study on the 2nd and 4th Mondays, 7 pm, Warren Wong, [email protected] Bible Study at 1 pm, David Ota, [email protected]
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
Welcome to our visitors. As worship in person is cancelled through until further notice please plan to join us for worship online. The Rector will be available on his cell phone: 650 200-9331.
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8:45 am: Zoom Vestry Coffee Hour with Bishop Marc Handley Andrus: Sunday, June 21, 8:45 am, to be invited to the Zoom Coffee Hour, contact the Rev. David Ota at [email protected] or 650 200-9331
10:00 am: Virtual Sunday Liturgy of the Word from the Holy Eucharist: Rite II: Sunday, June 21, 10 am, Third Sunday After Pentecost, Presider: The Rev. Karen Swanson; Preacher: The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Diocese of California, You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
10:00 am: Children’s Sunday School Zoom Meeting, Preschool to Fifth Grade To be invited to the Zoom Meeting, contact Fe Balamiento at [email protected] or 415-579-8872
11:30 am: Zoom Coffee Hour with Bishop Marc Handley Andrus, to be invited to the Zoom Coffee Hour, contact the Rev. David Ota at [email protected] or 650 200-9331
11:30 am: Youth Sunday School Zoom Meeting will be joining the Zoom Coffee Hour with Bishop Marc Handley Andrus, contact the Rev. Karen Swanson at [email protected] or 650 200-8449.
Prayer Requests: Please call in or email your prayer requests to 650 574-1369 or [email protected]. If you have an on-going prayer request, please leave a message for the church office ([email protected] or 574-1369).
THIS WEEK
Monday, June 22, 7 pm Monday Zoom Bible Study Group; To be invited please contact Warren Wong at [email protected]
Tuesday, June 23, 1:00 pm, Bible Study on 1 Thessalonians 4: Zoom Meeting. To be invited to the Bible study, contact the Rev. David Ota at [email protected] or 650 200-9331.
Wednesday, June 24, 2020,6:00 pm, Building and Grounds Meeting, Zoom Meeting
Wednesday, June 24, 2020,7:00 pm, Vestry Meeting, Zoom Meeting
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ST AMBROSE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Complimentary Delivery for Mason Jar PurchasesIf you would like a mason jar with the fixings for bean soup or chocolate chip cookies please contact the Rev. Karen Swanson by e-mail at [email protected] or by text at 650-200-8449. She will make sure that your order is delivered to your home. Donations may be mailed directly to St. Ambrose Church, 900 Edgewater Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404. The original suggested donation price was $10 per jar. However, any amount over $3 allows for you to help support youth outreach activities. The jars were put together by youth with washed hands and protective gloves on February 9 of this year. Both the soup and the cookies have been tested by Rev. Karen, and proved themselves to be delicious.
Study groups scheduleThe Monday Bible Study group be meeting via Zoom is on June 22nd at 7:00 pm. They are studying the upcoming Sunday lessons. Contact Warren Wong, [email protected] for information.
The Tuesday Bible Study group will be meeting via Zoom on June 23rd at 1:00 pm. They are reading the Letter to the 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28. contact the Rev. David Ota at [email protected] or 650 200-9331
The Church Directory is almost done being updatedIf your information has changed, please let us know as soon as you know. The information we request for the church directory is names, address, wedding anniversary date, email addresses and phone numbers. Please send you information to Administrative Assistant, Margie Lee at [email protected].
Signing Up for the Carbon TrackerDavid McIntyre has given presentations at St. Ambrose on how to sign up for the Carbon Tracker. If you want to get started on your own, it’s pretty easy.
1. Go to: https://www.sustainislandhome.org/, which is the portal for the Diocese of California (the generic portal for non-church members would be: https://sanmateo.goco2free.org/) .
2. Click GET STARTED; create a household name, enter your e-mail and name, prove that you’re not a robot, and CREATE NEW ACCOUNT.
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3. As you move through the process, you’ll want to select your Parish (St. Ambrose) and City (Where you live.) The Parish pools all the members of the congregation together. The City gives you information for people in your geographic residence.
4. After you’re in, you’ll answer some basic questions about your household and energy usage. The website can estimate your usage, but some things that you might want to gather before you start would be your usage over the past year of: water, electricity, natural gas, car mileage, and air miles.
5. From there, the website gives you a report, and then information about how to make informed decisions going forward. This doesn’t need to be confusing and is something that we can easily do from a laptop during coffee hour at St. Ambrose.
St. Ambrose ChoirsAs worship in person is cancelled until further notice the Adult Choir is taking a break until the Bishop announces when in person worship can resume. Choir Director, Maureen Fromme, will be in contact with choir members about how to proceed.
The Children’s Choir which meets on Sundays after the 10 am service is cancelled until the Bishop announces when in person worship can resume.
Please contact Maureen Fromme if you have any questions, or email her at [email protected].
Forward Day by DayForward Day by Day is available on-line at https://prayer.forwardmovement.org. You can read the daily meditation on the scripture for the day, as well as find other resources.
Altar Guild Flower Fund
During the Shelter-in-Place time, Altar Flowers have been provided since Easter Sunday. However, instead of using the regular florist, we have been purchasing flowers from the Farmers Market and arranging them ourselves. Thanks to Cathy Rincon for purchasing the flowers, and to the Rev. Karen Swanson for arranging them.
The St. Ambrose Altar Guild prepares the altar and sanctuary for each service. As part of these responsibilities, the guild provides the beautiful flower arrangements for the sanctuary. These flowers are funded by individual donations. The cost of the altar flowers is $65 per week, but any amount is welcome. You may contribute toward flowers in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days, or in memory
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of loved ones. To make a donation please complete the blue form in the flower pot on the credenza in the foyer, and place this blue form along with your donation in one of the white envelopes also found there. Checks are to be made out to St. Ambrose Episcopal Church. Please put “Altar Flowers” in the memo line. To complete your donation, put the white envelope in the offertory plate or on the desk of the administrative assistant, which is the desk facing you when you enter the church office. Thank you! Your donation is much appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to Charlene Adolph (650-504-5525).
Sign up for E-script: Good news: SaveMart, Lucky, and Food Maxx have recently partnered with E-script. If you haven’t already signed up for E-script, please sign up under Group name: St Ambrose and Group ID #139618933. All your support helps.
Mark Your Calendars
Zoom Vestry Coffee Hour with Bishop Marc Handley Andrus: Sunday, June 21, 8:45 am, to be invited to the Zoom Coffee Hour, contact the Rev. David Ota at [email protected] or 650 200-9331
Virtual Sunday Liturgy of the Word from the Holy Eucharist: Rite II: Sunday, June 21, 10 am, Third Sunday after Pentecost, Presider: The Rev. Karen Swanson; Preacher: The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Diocese of California, You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
Virtual Children’s Sunday School, Preschool to 5th grade: Sunday, June 21, 10 am, Join Zoom Meeting. To be invited contact Fe Balamiento at [email protected] or 415-579-8872.
Virtual Coffee Hour with Bishop Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Diocese of California: Sunday, June 21, 11:30 am. To be invited, contact the Rev. David Ota at [email protected]; 650-200-9331
Youth will join the Virtual Coffee Hour with Bishop Marc Handley Andrus: Sunday, June 21, 11:30 am. To be invited, contact the Rev. David Ota at [email protected]; 650-200-9331
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Monday Zoom Bible Study Group: Monday, June 22, 7 pm; To be invited please contact Warren Wong at [email protected]
Tuesday Zoom Bible Study Group : Tuesday, June 23, 1 pm; To be invited, contact the Rev. David Ota at [email protected]; 650-200-9331
Zoom Buildings and Grounds Meeting: Wednesday, June 24, 6:00 p.m.; To be invited please contact Jim Neubert at [email protected] or call 650 759-9468
Zoom Vestry Meeting: Wednesday, June 24, 7:00 p.m.; To be invited, contact the Rev. David Ota at [email protected]; 650-200-9331
Mason Jar Mission Sales: Contact the Rev. Karen Swanson to order your jars, [email protected] or 650-200-8449
Inquirer’s Class for Youth Ministry: Zoom Meeting, Wednesdays, June 24, July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.; for more information contact [email protected] or call at 650-200-8449
The Rector’s last day at St. Ambrose: Friday, July 31st
Bishop’s Ranch is cancelling all overnight Summer Camp programs through July 31st.
St. Dorothy’s Rest has cancelled all summer programs for 2020.
Diocesan Convention: Friday, October 16, 2 pm to 8:30 pm, Saturday, October 17, 9 am to 3:30 pm, Grace Cathedral
Harvest Festival Dinner: Saturday, October 24, 6 pm, Foster City Recreation Center, Lagoon Room and Blue Bird Room, to be cancelled
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Second Harvest Food Barrel: Thanks to all who donate. Due to the Shelter-In-Place order we have not been filling our barrel. In lieu of bringing cans of food you are encouraged to make monetary contributions. Monetary contributions to Second Harvest may be made to St. Ambrose, designated “Second Harvest,” or sent directly to The Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, Attention: Donation Dept., P.O. Box 213, San Mateo, CA 94401-0213.
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DOCESAN ANNOUNCEMENTS
Northern California/Vivian Traylor Chapter’s position on the eradication of racism in the Church and society
Posted on June 16, 2020. Updated on June 16, 2020
Dear friends in Christ, I and the other bishops of the Episcopal Church in Northern California (Diocese of California, Northern California, San Joaquin, and El Camino Real) received the statement, below, from the Northern California/Vivian Traylor chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) on June 10. We in the Diocese of California have already published the statement in our Diocesan News and Events newsletter. I am writing today to be clear that I personally, as Bishop of the Diocese of California, endorse this statement. Though I issued (Tuesday, June 2) a statement on structural racism and the President’s threats to use U.S. military in our states and cities to quell protest, I feel my endorsement of the UBE statement is even more important. This clear, strong, grounded, and heartfelt statement leads our way forward, and I am committed to engaging with the UBE in this work. While injustice in our country and in the world have been in plain sight from the first moments of colonization in this land, I do sense, with many, that we have reached the verge of genuine, widespread, and, by our faithful commitment, lasting change. I will work with UBE to enact the areas of resolve in their statement and ask you to join me in this undertaking. The thunderous, prophetic call, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an everlasting stream” (Amos 5:24) is both our petition to the Divine, and God’s call to us. Let us so pray and so act.
+Marc
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Northern California/Vivian Traylor Chapter’s position on the eradication of racism in the Church and society
The Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) , whose members are of African descent, has fought to eradicate racism for over 200 years by encouraging the involvement of Black people in the total life of the Episcopal Church — on every level and in every way — stewardship, evangelism, education, leadership, governance, and politics. We have stridently worked to dismantle power structures within the Church and in society that have gone askew. Today as members of African descent in the Episcopal Church, we are deeply hurt, gravely offended, and morally wounded by the unconscionable acts and senseless and horrific killings in the first half of 2020 of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, in addition to the many other Black and Brown people who have been unjustly victimized and murdered by the police; those who are charged with protecting, helping, and serving our communities. It has been a collective awakening for us, the Church, and society as a whole.
Recognizing that history cannot be undone and that we must move forward working for change, we invite all members of the Episcopal Church to join us in the fight to eradicate the systemic racism that has plagued our country and the Church. Eradicating racism in the Church is UBE’s charge, but it is not, and cannot be, solely our responsibility. Our Chapter of UBE has established the following goals with that aim in mind: Identifying and exposing structures of racism where they exist within the Church
and society. We must confront and root out racism, racial injustice, racial bias, and racial inequities wherever it exists — in the Church, our communities, our workplaces, and our homes. This is the responsibility of everyone in the Church. Our white brothers and sisters in Christ also have to educate and inform themselves about the ways racism is perpetuated in the Church and actively partner with UBE to eradicate these structures. We need to require that everyone who serves in the Church, lay or ordained, take an oath to confront this issue and work for change;
Seeking removal of such racist structures. We must educate the Church and our members, and advocate for the dismantling of racist structures, organizations, programs, both within and outside of the Church;
Promoting and increasing the representation and participation of lay and ordained persons of color on all governing bodies of local churches and in dioceses. We must honestly and clearly establish policies that ensure the selection of lay and ordained persons of all racial, gender and sexual backgrounds so that we achieve equity and inclusion.
Providing a safe and comfortable place for people of the African diaspora to interact and fellowship with each other. We must recognize that having a diverse
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and inclusive church enriches the Church and grows our mutual appreciation and understanding of the many parts that make up the whole body of Christ.
We believe that it is imperative that the Episcopal Dioceses in Northern California: California, El Camino Real, Northern California and San Joaquin join us in working not only to achieve the UBE goals but also to create better communities, state and nation by: Creating safe and whole communities for all. Everyone should live in a
community where they have good, safe, and healthy access to housing, schools, health care, libraries, open spaces and parks, transportation, and religious institutions so they can thrive. No one should be forced to live in an environment riddled by drugs, crime, poor schools, inadequate housing, lack of services and being over-policed. We call for the redistribution of police resources and the reinvestment of those resources into needed community resources and services to achieve this goal.
Using our voices, our churches, our collective power and resources to demand social change and the end of systemic racism that permeates every sector of our society. We must change the current system which leads to racial, economic, physical, environmental, and social inequities in the form of poor housing; lack of adequate transportation, health care, and childcare; poor performing schools; food deserts; limited access to services and over policing. These conditions adversely impact the majority of Black and Brown people, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and ultimately impacts our larger communities, the state, and this nation.
Supporting the rights of organizations and movements to peacefully protest and advocate for a just and equitable society free of racism, oppression, suppression and unjust acts. Collectively using our power, our resources and voices to eradicate racism, inequity, and injustice and support and promote movements working for unity, peace, hope, dignity and justice for all.
Calling for the end of “qualified immunity,” This legislation has shielded officials from the unforeseeable consequences of their “reasonable acts” and now provides near-impunity for police officers who engage in unconstitutional acts of violence.
Adopting Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community”. This would be an extension of the Jesus Movement and The Way of Love platforms of the Church. By using the “Beloved Community” tenets and lens to guide Church decisions, programs and allocations, we would ensure that the Church, by its actions, supports: all people sharing in the wealth of the earth; poverty, hunger and homelessness are not tolerated or allowed because it conflicts with human standards for decency; racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice are replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood: and that economic and social justice are the pillars of a healthy society where everyone has equal access and equity.
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Caption: St. Columba's, Inverness sponsored a Black Lives Matter rally on Sunday, June 7. There were about 110 people in attendance. You can listen or read the Rev. Vincent Pizzuto's welcome address here.
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Caption: Congratulations to the newly-ordained transitional deacons, the Rev. Liz Milner and the Rev. Scot Sherman! Here they are standing outside the doors of Grace Cathedral after their ordination ceremony on Saturday, June 13. The ceremony was done via live-stream from inside the cathedral, with people watching from all over the diocese and the Anglican Communion. From left to right: Canon Abbott Bailey, the Rev. Liz Milner, Bishop Marc Andrus, the Rev. Scot Sherman, and Vice-Dean Ellen Clark-King.
Online Ordinations to the Priesthood
Everyone is invited to tune in to the online live-stream of diocesan ordinations to the priesthood for AnnaMarie Grace Hoos and Peter Levenstrong. Live-stream details to be announced next week.
When: Saturday, June 27, 3 p.m.Where: Online at St. Gregory of Nyssa, San FranciscoLink: https://diocal.org/events/june-27th-ordinations
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More Resources for Addressing Racist Violence and Police Brutality
The recent protests and civil action over the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Aubery, and others, have raised discussions about racial relations in our country and also in our Church. We understand holding these conversations are challenging within families, communities, congregations; and thus we offer these resources.
From The Episcopal Church’s Department of Reconciliation, Justice and Creation Care and the Office of Government Relations: https://episcopalchurch.org/responding-to-racist-violence
From DioCal Faith Formation Working Group: https://mailchi.mp/diocal/faith-informed-june-2020?e=69fee91d18
We also offer this resource for a personal discernment, from The Rev. Cn. Jesus Reyes of the Diocese of El Camino Real:
Here is an invitation to a short discernment process that could keep you engaged with the situation and, at the same time, move you beyond the emotional state of mind that may paralyze your critical thinking capacity. There are four simple steps to follow, each containing a question. You can engage the material individually, but it would be best to do with a small group. However, here there is an additional invitation: the question we will offer is intended to invite you to ask an additional, similar question to help expand your critical thinking. Do not be afraid of dwelling in the questions for a while.
Step 1 – Objective understanding of the issue. o What headlines, events and/or scenes have caught your
attention this week? Focus on both positive and negative events. Step 2 – Reflecting about the issue.
o What were your emotional reactions to this social crisis? As before, pay attention to both negative and positive reaction.
Step 3 – Interpreting the issue. o What is the importance of this issue and think about the
difference that something like this could make in your/our life? Step 4 – Coming to a decision.
o What have you learned? Based on your learning, what would this mean for your future? What is the first step you will take? I will say no to ... I will say yes to … If possible, try to tell a story summarizing what you have experienced during this discerning exercise.
We are under stresses of the coronavirus pandemic and of reality of racism in our common life, which affect our Christian community. If your congregation wishes
Helpful instructions on how to join a Zoom call
We have heard from some of our clergy that parishioners are having a hard time logging onto Zoom calls. Below please find clear, hopefully easy instructions on how to join a zoom call. Feel free to share with your parishioners. For more thorough instructions, click here.
How to join Zoom by computer
Make sure all other programs on your computer that uses your camera are closed first (ex: Facetime, Skype, etc.)
Have a headset available if possible to minimize feedback – your cellphone earbuds will work well.
Click the Zoom link that’s been sent to you in an email, and Zoom should automatically and quickly download to your computer.
In Downloads on your computer, click Zoom_launcher.exe. Once Zoom has launched, a screen should pop up asking for your name. This will
identify you during the meeting. You should now be part of the meeting. Click the green button that says “Join
Audio By Computer”.
Join by tablet or smartphone
If you choose to use your tablet or smartphone, be sure to download the Zoom app ahead of time.
Once you have downloaded the Zoom app, follow the “Join by computer” instructions above.
Join by telephone
First, dial the phone number provided in the Zoom email.
When prompted, dial the meeting ID number that is also provided.
We have heard from some of our clergy that parishioners are having a hard time logging onto Zoom calls. Below please find clear, hopefully easy instructions on how to join a zoom call. Feel free to share with your parishioners. For more thorough instructions, click here.
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COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
HIP Housing is a Non-Profit Organization in San Mateo County:
The purpose of this non-profit is to connect people with extra living space in their homes with people who are looking for a room to rent. To contact HIP Housing call 650-348-6660. To schedule an appointment to discuss home sharing opportunities or other available affordable housing visit www.HIPhousing.org. On this website you will also find information about Rooms For Rent Providers and Rooms for Rent Seekers.
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