The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego (EDSD) has embarked on a Year of Service with a particular focus on Migration Ministry in the month of June. EDSD is rallying its community to make a meaningful impact on the lives of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Embracing our Christian call to show hospitality to strangers, the diocese is preparing multiple ways you can participate. In short, you can volunteer, give, and/or donate desperately needed basic materials. There is also a unique opportunity on June 25 to visit Tijuana and witness firsthand the challenges and resilience of those affected by the border situation.

The call to love and serve our neighbors, extending a helping hand to those in need is central to our lives as Christians. The Epistle to the Hebrews reminds us to show hospitality to strangers, as in doing so, we may unwittingly be hosting angels. The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego embraces the responsibility to serve migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.

Every year on June 20, the world celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. This year, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is especially dedicated to serving migrants in June. This intentional focus aims to address the immediate and pressing needs of individuals and families affected by the migration crisis. Recognizing the complexity of the situation and the ever-changing circumstances, the diocese, led by Migration Missioner Robert Vivar, wants to provide practical assistance and support to those in distress.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is offering three primary avenues for individuals to contribute and make a meaningful impact during the Year of Service and specifically during June’s Migration Ministry focus:

1. Volunteer: Those with a heart for service and specific skills, such as legal, mental health, or medical expertise, are encouraged to volunteer their time. By offering your professional training, you can provide invaluable support to migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in need of legal assistance, mental health care, or medical attention. Volunteers become the hands and feet of compassion. Bring hope and help to those navigating challenging circumstances by signing up to volunteer.
2. Give: Financial contributions play a vital role in supporting the mission and activities of Migration Ministry. Generous donations enable the diocese to provide essential resources, services, and aid to individuals and families in desperate situations. These contributions help meet immediate needs. Your gifts empower the diocese to respond promptly and effectively to emerging challenges. www.edsd.org/give
3. Donate Needed Materials: Tangible donations of goods can help those stranded with little more than the clothes they’re wearing. Clothing, food, and toiletries contribute directly to addressing the urgent needs of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. There is a desperate need for old (chipped) smartphones, which serve as a valuable tool to apply for an entrance interview through the new CBP-One phone application.

The Service & Learning Trip, scheduled for June 25, offers individuals a chance to engage in hands-on service and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and resilience of those impacted by the border situation. Participants will have the opportunity to visit various locations, including the Deported Veterans Office, Casa De Luz (LGBTQ shelter), Friendship Park, and a migrant shelter. Through active service, you will contribute to meal preparations, engage with the Border Church community, and assist with essential tasks like garden beautification.

By visiting Tijuana, you not only provide practical, on-the-ground aid, but you cultivate empathy and compassion for those affected by migration. The experience fosters personal connections, breaks down stereotypes, and allows for a genuine exchange of stories and experiences. It is an invitation to transcend borders and engage in meaningful relationships with our neighbors in need.

The call to serve our neighbors is deeply rooted in Christian teachings. The Epistle to the Hebrews reminds us of the significance of hospitality, for in extending kindness to strangers. Embracing this call, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego channels the values of love, compassion, and solidarity to alleviate suffering and promote justice for migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.

As the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego continues the Year of Service, we ask that the diocese responds to the Christian call of hospitality. Through volunteering, giving, donating needed materials, and joining the opportunity to visit Tijuana, we can extend compassion and make a lasting impact on the lives of those in distress, echoing the words of Hebrews 13:2…some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Memorial Day, perhaps more than any other holiday, was born of necessity. Deep inside all of us lies a fundamental desire to make sense of life and our place in it and the world. What we have been given, what we will do with it and what we will pass to the next generation is all part of an unfolding history, a continuum that links one soul to another.

Abraham Lincoln undoubtedly pondered such thoughts in the late fall of 1863. His darkest fear was that he might well be the last President of the United States, a nation embroiled in the self-destruction of what he described as “a great civil war…testing whether the nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.” He began his remarks with those words as he stood on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19^th of that year.

The speech that became known as Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address turned into what might be called the first observance of Memorial Day. Lincoln’s purpose that day was to dedicate a portion of the battlefield as a cemetery for the thousands of men, both living and dead, who consecrated that soil in the sacrifice of battle. Said Abraham Lincoln: “That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause which they gave the last full measure of devotion…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom…”

While exceptional valor and sacrifice has occurred in all of America’s wars, we did not always honor our fallen with a day dedicated in their honor. In fact, the first Memorial Day was not called Memorial Day.  David W. Blight, a professor of history at Yale, believes it was celebrated with a parade of freed enslaved peoples and Union soldiers marching through Charleston, South Carolina in 1865. Not long after the Civil War ended, freed enslaved peoples, members of the U.S. Colored Troops, and some locals organized a ceremony to bury Union troops who died due to horrendous conditions of a prison created at what was once a racetrack. They honored the dead by singing hymns and placing flowers on their graves. Within the cemetery enclosure, a black children’s choir sang “We’ll Rally Around the Flag,” the “Star Spangled Banner,” and spirituals before a series of black ministers read from the Bible. An archway over the cemetery was engraved with the words “Martyrs of the Race Course.”

Waterloo, New York, is also considered the birthplace of Memorial Day because after it was observed there on May 5, 1866, General John Murray and General John A. Logan called on all communities to honor the war dead every year. Logan had been impressed with how the South had honored their fallen soldiers. In 1868, Logan, the head of the prominent veteran’s group, the Grand Army of the Republic, issued a proclamation that “Decoration Day” be observed nationwide. The date chosen was May 30 – specifically because it was not on the anniversary of a battle. Still, some communities did not want to honor “Decoration Day” because of lingering resentments from the Civil War. The alternative name, “Memorial Day,” wasn’t commonly used until World War II.  Federal law recognized the holiday as “Memorial Day” in 1967.

From our founding Revolution to the ongoing Global War on Terrorism, nearly one million men and women in the Armed Forces have sacrificed their lives while defending America in times of war. Each of them has a story to tell, the crosses and stars of David at Normandy, the markers at the Punchbowl in Hawaii, the tombs at Arlington, and the fallen heroes who rest in places unknown.

The numbers of our fallen heroes are not just statistics. They are real people with real families who worship at real churches and live in real communities.

We can best honor their sacrifice by remembering their families, who have lost so much. Long after the battlefield guns have been silenced and the bombs stop exploding, the children of our fallen warriors will still be missing a parent. Spouses will be without their life partners. Parents will continue to grieve for their sons and daughters that died too early.

Americans must remember that freedom comes with a price. In fact, it’s only possible because our fallen heroes have paid that high price. A price paid which enables us to have ceremonies and observances in towns across our nation. As the unofficial beginning of summer, let us never lose focus of what Memorial Day means. It is not about beaches, picnics, or auto races. It is a day to remember. It is a day for us to remember the promise President Lincoln made to “care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.”

Remembering our fallen once a year is not enough. The widows, widowers, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and children remember every day. The empty seat at the dinner table, the smaller gathering on Thanksgiving, and the voice of a loved one heard only as a distant memory in one’s mind are constant reminders that they are gone.

We owe it to the heroes that died, and the loved ones left behind to make sure that their sacrifices are remembered and that their service to this nation always be honored.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is committed to remembering the fallen and reaching out to their loved ones left behind. For more information, please contact CAPT Tierian Cash, CHC, USN Retired, Military Missioner, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego at tcash@edsd.org.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to witness what “welcoming the stranger” means.

You may have seen in the news that hundreds of vulnerable migrants fleeing persecution made their way into the USA, to apply for asylum protection and were stuck between two border walls. Many of these folks were stranded with very limited access to water, food, and no shelter from the cold nights and rain for several days. 

Action needed to be taken. What started with a few concerned friends grew to a small army of strangers–from both sides of the border. We set up a support station at the border wall to provide the stuck migrants with much-needed food, water, hygiene items blankets, tarps, clothing, first aid items, and hope. These people from San Diego and Tijuana came from all walks of life to welcome the stranger. 

And suddenly, I was taken back in time to my very same scenario from over a decade ago; being welcomed while feeling very out of place. 

After living in the USA since the age of six, I was deported to Tijuana, Mexico. I was confused, out of place, and, yes, very frightened. I spoke Spanish, but with an accent that marked me as an outsider.

But I found that Tijuana was full of good people that were welcoming to me, the stranger. I soon made friends, and they introduced me to a sacred piece of land– Friendship Park. These new friends at Border Church were different. I was meeting them through a border wall at Friendship Park as we celebrated Communion together …one bread, one body. 

Soon I didn’t feel so out of place. I had a new community that was not allowing a border to come between new friends and families.

Time after time, migrants arrive at the border after a long and dangerous journey, full of struggles and victimization to be met with insults and threats. However, the good people of Tijuana and San Diego came to their defense and support. Providing much-needed aid. The food, clothing, hygiene items, and most importantly a welcoming smile are returned with unimaginable gratitude.

My reward is their smile. It is their blessing on me–from these precious children of God that I have the honor to serve. Just letting them know they are loved feels so good!

Recognizing that the situation is complex, ever-changing, and our role may evolve over time, Migration Missioner Robert Vivar has made us aware of the most desperate needs along the border that simple acts of mercy can address.

We are asking everyone that wants to assist those in distress along our border to help by offering one of three things: 1—Volunteer, 2—Give, or 3—Donate Needed Materials. Gifts of all three kinds will be directed to immediate aid efforts—whether that be those stuck between fences or those just released from detention centers. Our partners, along with state, county, and federal organizations, are daily letting us know where the most desperate needs are.

You can sign up to volunteer, give or donate materials by visiting the Migration Ministry page. Click on “How To Help” and select the option that matches your ability. Once you do, a member of our staff will be in touch to coordinate.

The pictures above illustrate the deplorable condition, these brothers and sisters had to endure. While the drawing is a gift from a young child who was asking for a ball, but all I had were crayons for him to draw with.

Throughout the months of April and May, churches throughout the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego took part in the 2023 Year of Service by hosting or joining in creation care projects–many in partnership with community organizations.

During the Creation Care Month of Service, churches throughout the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego engaged in numerous projects and engaged with various community partners. It is so impressive! These projects and events allowed church members to connect with and support local community organizations, serve together and meet new neighbors. They provided opportunities to get out into and enjoy nature; learn about animals, plants, and conservation efforts; and build memories while working together.

Doug Thompson from St. Paul in the Desert called their volunteer maintenance work to preserve a natural habitat in Palm Springs with the Oswit Land Trust “laborious fun!”. And Jacky Dyess, the coordinator for St. Paul’s Cathedral’s clean up with I Love a Clean San Diego shared that her daughter “really liked helping and was happy to do it with a group of kids her age.”

The Rev. Hannah Wilder, Vicar of St. Mary’s in Ramona said, “We had hundreds of people show up to Sustainable Ramona’s Earth Day Festival, which we hosted at St. Mary’s, to listen to music, hear speakers, shop at booths, and learn how to take better care of the earth. I was blown away by the event, all the hard work of the volunteers, and how much learning and celebration took place. It was a positive event and one we hope to support again next year.”  

The EDSD Creation Care Month of Service was a wonderful opportunity to proclaim the good news to all of creation. Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as one of the most important ways to follow him and live out our Christian faith. These projects allowed us to love our neighbors by connecting with them, supporting their ongoing conservation efforts, learning together, and caring for our common home which sustains us and whose health is vital to the health and wellbeing of all of creation.

In Mark 16:15, the risen Jesus called his disciples to “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” I love this, as it is a call to love, respect, and care for people and the earth. Care for the earth, God’s creation and an amazing, life-giving, and sustaining gift to us, is an essential way to love God. As we care for the earth, we care for all who live in it and proclaim the good news to all of creation.  

What we do changes the world. Check out these amazing creation care service projects that EDSD churches and their neighbors participated in! 

All Souls’, Point Loma joined the I Love a Clean San Diego Creek to Bay Cleanup on April 22 for a multi-generational, multi-community ecology support event. Mary Brown from All Souls’ Point Loma said, “Today was a special day of friendship and good work and learning to garden! What a great kick-off to All Souls’ participation in the diocese’s creation care work. It was a beautiful day with great people, and we got so much done!” 

Christ Church, Coronado has been improving the recycling programs at their church and school during April and May, distributing EDCO (a waste and recycling company) pamphlets to their church and school communities, and installing drought-tolerant landscaping on their church property.

Good Samaritan, University City collected used socks to recycle through the Smartwool Second Cut program. 

Grace, San Marcos partnered with their local Lions Club for the 2nd annual butterfly festival at Grace Episcopal Church on May 13. 

St. Andrew’s, La Mesa planted native plants in their garden. They are also planning to plant trees in their neighborhood through Growing Trees in Community, the Diocese’s tree planting project coordinated by Rachel Ambasing.  

St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea, Pacific Beach joined forces with the Pacific Beach Public Library to do a beach clean-up on April 16th with parishioners and neighbors.  

St. Bartholomew’s, Poway offered “Chaparral Chapel”, a reflective nature walk on April 15 at Blue Sky Ecological Reserve and a Clean-up Hike on April 16 where St. Bart’s members and friends hiked on the Pomerado Trail connected to their church campus to clean up trash. The hike was followed by some planting.   

St. David’s, Clairemont participated in a clean-up at Mission Bay High School.   

St. Dunstan’s, San Carlos joined Patrick Henry High School’s Environmental Club to pick up trash at Lake Murray on April 22 as part of an ongoing partnership. 

St. John’s, Chula Vista began the Sow and Grow project with children at the Head Start program on their campus. The children decorated popsicle sticks that mark their very own plant. After planting seeds in a plastic cup and setting them in the sun, the children will watch the seedlings grow until they’re eventually planted in gardens around the church campus. When the children return in the Fall, they will see the fruits of their labor and harvest the vegetables from their very own plants! The Rev. Roger Hanke said, “It’s a great project to do with children.” 

St. Margaret’s, Palm Desert hosted a community event on their church campus on Creation Care Sunday, April 23, highlighting their ongoing work with community partners to care for the earth and provide education and care for their neighbors. Their partners include Desert Compost, The City of Palm Desert, Palm Desert High School Ecology Club, Desert ARC, Palm Desert Rotary Club, and Burrtec of Palm Desert. They served fair trade and local, healthy food; had demonstrations on pesticide alternatives, garden journaling, and backyard composting; gave tours of their native plants garden and pollinator sanctuary; shared information about a local composting facility; and sold shredding bags and local produce.   

St. Mary’s in-the-Valley, Ramona hosted the 2nd Annual Earth Day Festival on April 22. It was coordinated by Sustainable Ramona and took place in the Ramona Community Garden on St. Mary’s church property. The day included music, speakers, food, and booths selling items and educating event guests.   

St. Michael’s by-the-Sea, Carlsbad partnered with the Carlsbad Village Association for their monthly Carlsbad Village Cleanup and also participated in the water distribution at the Carlsbad Village Street Faire on May 7.  

St. Paul in the Desert, Palm Springs hosted a clean-up day on Friday, April 28 with the Oswit Land Trust in Palm Springs. The Trust purchases open land for the preservation of natural habitat, and the properties require maintenance. Church members volunteered and helped with the basic maintenance of this natural habitat. 

St. Paul’s Cathedral participated in a Balboa Park Clean Up and Picnic at the Redwood Trail on April 22. St. Paul’s also joined in a Hillcrest Clean Up through I Love A Clean San Diego. But picking up trash is only one way to care for creation. Recycling is another effective way to be a good steward of the land. St. Paul’s collected used socks for a recycling program where old socks, socks without pairs, and socks with holes are recycled into new items! You can learn more about this recycling program here. 

St. Philip-the-Apostle, Lemon Grove planted trees on their church property as part of the Growing Trees in Community Project this spring.  

There is still time to participate. Care for creation is on-going and important all year long! Church communities throughout EDSD are continuing to engage in care for the earth, and support is available to help you find ways to adopt greener practices on your church campus and/or connect with environmental organizations and work in your local community. Did you know that we have a Creation Care Community (CCC) you can join? This ministry leads our diocese’s work to care for creation and supports churches in this work. The CCC is a perfect way to meet new, like-minded people and churches who are engaging in work to heal, protect, and preserve our environment. To help churches get started with this work, the CCC created the EDSD Creation Care Community Church Guide. If you would like to get started or engage further in creation care at your church, check out this guide. And to learn more about and connect with the CCC, reach out to Diane Lopez Hughes at dianelopezhughes@me.com.  It’s wonderful to do this work in community. It allows us to share ideas as well as struggles and to celebrate and be encouraged by each other’s work.  

Throughout 2023, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is continuing to celebrate a year of service. Next month, in June, the churches throughout the diocese will be participating in service projects oriented toward migration. If you are interested in learning more about the upcoming service projects in June–including trips to Tijuana–visit www.edsd.org/migration-ministry or contact Robert Vivar, Migration Missioner, at rvivar@edsd.org.

Three years ago, the world was shocked when churches, schools, and most other public spaces in our country were closed indefinitely because of a pandemic that most of us thought could never happen in the twenty-first century. During the spring of 2020, still expecting to reopen our churches after a few weeks, I invited Dr. Cheryl Anderson, a distinguished epidemiologist from UC San Diego, to speak on a clergy Zoom call. Someone asked Dr. Anderson, “How long do you expect this pandemic to last?” Without missing a beat, she said, “About three years.”  

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I couldn’t imagine that the emergency could possibly last that long. But it was almost three years later, last December when we finally felt comfortable enough to hold the Good News Festival that had been postponed twice – and even then, one of our keynote speakers, Dr. William Barber, had to bow out at the last minute because he caught Covid. Three years later, the world is finally returning to normal. 

But even if the world is back to normal, our churches aren’t quite back to normal yet. While some churches are enjoying booming attendance and participation, most are still not back to pre-pandemic attendance. On average, the churches I visit tell me that they are financially stable, but their attendance is not back to pre-pandemic levels, especially among younger families. While we did well with the short-term challenge of how to keep our congregations together during a pandemic, the bigger challenge is proving to be the same one that our churches have confronted for a long time: how, in a time of church decline, to reach our communities with the good news of Jesus Christ.  

Just last week, I issued updated post-pandemic worship guidance to clergy. This week, I am continuing with a Top Ten List of suggestions for congregations, and how our diocese can support you as we emerge from the pandemic.  

1. Start with prayer. Pray for your church and its leaders. Pray for God to help you reach those who need to hear the good news of Christ as we have received it in the Episcopal Church. Ask your members to pray. Pray in worship, and pray in your congregation’s prayer teams.  
2. Focus on ministries with young people. Engage with our diocese’s Director of Christian Formation, Charlette Preslar (CPreslar@edsd.org), if you’re not sure where to begin. Get people ready to work with children before you think they are needed. Just a couple of weeks ago, I heard about a member of a small church who attended training to be certified as a Godly Play instructor. Two weeks later, a newcomer arrived at church and asked if there was anything for children. That church now has a small but thriving Sunday school program.  
3. Build discipleship among adults in your congregation. If you’re not offering Bible studies or other discipleship classes, find a way to offer them. Charlette Preslar or Canon Jason Evans (JEvans@edsd.org) can help you find resources. You can also find great Bible study resources at Forward Movement, or do a deep dive into discipleship in your congregation by doing the RenewalWorks program (Canon Jason can give you more information about that). Committed disciples help reach other disciples. 
4. Get engaged in your community. Our diocese offers a Community Engagement Process to help you get to know leaders in your area and discover how your church should be involved. Contact Canon Jason Evans at jevans@edsd.org for more information.  
5. Every congregation has one or two people who are joyful evangelists – who have transformative personal stories, or who are gifted inviters. Get them trained as lay evangelists through our diocese’s offerings. Contact Canon Jason for more information. 
6. Consider how your congregation treats newcomers. Canon Gwynn Lynch tells of attending a church in another diocese whose members completely ignored her. The priest had no idea that a newcomer had that kind of experience. Insiders to your church may not realize a newcomer’s experience, either. Canon Gwynn Lynch (GLynch@edsd.org) would be happy to come lead your vestry or other leaders in considering newcomer ministry. Or, get a “Mystery Worshiper” to come to church and honestly report what they experience. Or, contact Canon Jason and ask him how to institute an Invite Welcome Connect program in your congregation.  
7. Update your church’s website. Make sure that service times and directions are clear. Scrub outdated information and put exciting news and photos on the home page. Contact Director of Communications Chris Tumilty (CTumilty@edsd.org) for support.  
8. Get started with military ministries. If your church is near a military base, contact our Military Missioner, Randy Cash (TCash@edsd.org), for ideas on how to reach out. Even if you’re not near a military base, consider how you can support veterans in your congregation or convene them so they can support each other.  
9. Contact our Multicultural Missioner, Rachel Ambasing (RAmbasing@edsd.org). Talk with her about how to hear the stories of, and build relationships with, the diverse peoples of your area. Our church needs to learn and grow through the experiences of all God’s people.  
10. Contact our Migration Missioner, Robert Vivar (RVivar@edsd.org), to learn how to support migrants and refugees. As Title 42 was lifted last week, the plight of migrants is becoming more and more urgent in our communities. Demonstrate God’s love for all people in word and action by serving the people God loves.  

Three years ago, we could not have imagined how the world would change. But God has been with us. I am unendingly grateful for the many ways our clergy and lay leaders led our congregations through an emergency. Now we’re out of the urgent into the important: the long-term work of partnering with God and growing God’s Reign on earth. The Episcopal Church has so much to offer our world: the good news of Christ’s redeeming love, and the resurrection of the Son of God, through which we have been born anew to a living hope. Thanks be to God!   

In our baptismal covenant, God’s people promise to respect the dignity of every human being. One of the chief ways we do so in The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is by committing ourselves to the protection of vulnerable people. All of us may be vulnerable at some point in our lives, and we all should be able to trust that our Christian community will support, love, and protect us in our time of vulnerability.   

To that end, the Executive Council of the Diocese has approved two new policies: The Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults, and The Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth. These policies are based on models developed by The Episcopal Church, and they have been customized for our own use. These new policies outline how to be appropriate when doing ministry with others.  

Many volunteer positions at churches require Safe Church – Safe Communities training. All clergy, church employees, and youth ministers are required to complete the entire training package every three years. Other ministries only need to complete portions of the training. The matrix for training can be found here.

You can find the Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults and the Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth here. Included in the policies is a guide to Safe Church, Safe Communities training (formerly known as Safeguarding God’s People).  

Thank you for all the ways you serve God’s people! 

I’ve been a part of the Episcopal church for about five years. Coming from a non-denominational background, I found the Eucharist liturgy rich, beautiful… and bewildering. As I stepped into the role of children’s director at St. Luke’s, I was so curious about the way our kids were receiving the communion liturgy. Did they understand it, or was it washing over them like background music? How might they feel like participants, owning a faith of their own and occupying their individual seats at our spiritual meal? I asked my own questions about the meaning and function of each part of the liturgy and found the passionate instruction of our priest, the Rev. Laurel Matthewson, to be a really wonderful ‘audio guide in a museum’–a true deepening of my experience of coming to the table. I really wanted to get that ‘audio guide’ into our kids’ ears.

So, Rev. Laurel and I decided to create the children’s own communion liturgy. We would have them follow the same structure, with much of the same language- simplified and made visual and interactive. We color-coded the parts of the liturgy, laminated reader cards, and posted the liturgy in our children’s area. On St. Luke’s recent delegation trip to East Africa, we found colorful fabric for each season’s table and a beautiful wood-carved chalice.

For the past year of Sundays at St. Luke’s, the children have led their own “Great Thanksgiving” downstairs, danced with the angels during the Sanctus, and moved their hands in the graceful rhythms of American Sign Language while singing the Lord’s Prayer. Then we headed up to the sanctuary to offer our gifts at the altar and receive the bread and wine at the altar rail with our families and the larger church body.

The response has been lovely. Multiple children have asked to be baptized, desiring to receive communion. Sometimes they recite Jesus’ Words of Institution with me as they come up in our Godly Play stories. They’ve been making connections–seeing Jesus’ Last Supper referenced at the table in Emmaus, recognizing the similarities of the Upper Room and our church altar. We’ve had lots of wiggles, and plenty of days when the chaos seems to reign over the sweetness, but our young congregation can testify to the graciousness of God’s work in our consistent practice.

For Good Shepherd Sunday, we decided to let the kids teach us what they know. After all, I have learned so much alongside our kids this year; surely, it could be a rich teaching for all ages.

Where the sermon would be, we moved our congregation into six intergenerational Sacred Story circles, scattered around our church building. All six groups simultaneously told the Godly Play story, “The Good Shepherd and World Communion.” (Shout out to my fellow children’s directors who let me borrow their story materials!) We added a second part to the story: “Now that we’re at the table of the Good Shepherd, what do we do here? How do we come close to the Good Shepherd at his table?” Here, in the style of “The Circle of the Eucharist”, we taught the why and how of the communion liturgy in ten main parts, from The Offertory to The Invitation.

The children and adults did their wondering together, which is a wonderful exercise in role reversal. In this space of curiosity, the children really are the leaders, and I often hear from adults about the ways the children helped them reflect on the story in meaningful ways. Then we all moved back into the service.

The children took turns reading their liturgy cards from the lectern, and holding posters they drew, reminding our congregation of each of our ten liturgical parts. They took breaks for Rev. Laurel to offer prayers and read the words of Institution and Epiclesis. They came together on the altar steps to share with us their songs and movement for The Sanctus and The Lord’s Prayer. The congregation robustly read their responses and even called out some things they were thankful for during the “things we name aloud or to you in our hearts.”

All in all, it was a memorable day at St Luke’s and one that I pray will stick with our church as we come to the table again on Sunday, and the Sundays after that. And as our children are naturally inclined to do (with the breath and help of the Holy Spirit), we see them lead us into more life in our rituals and depth in our faith experience. All so we might all meet Christ at his table and dance with the angels for a moment here on Earth, our ages irrelevant, our souls exultant.

If you would like to learn more about how to incorporate children’s teaching into your Sunday liturgy, please feel free to reach out to Amy Reams here.

I had the privilege of being part of the Children’s Day celebrations in Tijuana, Mexico. Children’s Day, or Dia Del Niño, is a highly anticipated holiday for the children in Tijuana, celebrated on April 30th. For the children at the intercultural school, House Of Wise Words, we held our celebration on Thursday, April 27th. For some of these children, who come from families struggling to make ends meet, this was likely their only opportunity to enjoy this special day.

Children’s Day is a day to honor and celebrate children, highlighting their importance in society and recognizing their rights. The celebrations in Mexico vary from region to region and from family to family, but some common ways of celebrating this day include:

Special Events: Schools, communities, and organizations organize special events like parades, picnics, concerts, and cultural activities that are specifically geared toward children.

Gifts: Parents, relatives, and friends often give children gifts such as toys, clothes books, or sweets to show their love and appreciation.

Family Time: Families spend time together, taking part in activities such as baking, playing games, or going on outings.

Fun Activities: Children are encouraged to participate in fun activities such as sports, crafts, and games. Parks and public spaces often have special activities and events for children on this day.

Recognition of Children’s Rights: This day is also an opportunity to raise awareness of children’s rights and the importance of protecting and promoting their well-being.

Thanks to the support of my colleague Aida Amador, Via Migrante Coordinator, and Via Internationals sister organization Los Niños De Baja California, we received a generous donation of toys and fruit juice from the Banatti organization of Tijuana, Mexico. Along with pinatas and candy, the toys made for a very special celebration for the children at the House of Wise Words.

The photos from the event show the pure joy and happiness in children’s faces.

God’s word in scripture reminds us how valuable children are to him. How we care for our children, demonstrates our love for Christ. In my experience, the gladness we share with children is rewarded with joy in our own hearts.

At this point, after handing out dozens of gifts and celebrating with the children at House of Wise Words, I thought my children’s day celebration was over. I thought I would enjoy the “actual” Dia Del Niño at Border Church from the United States side of the border. But a small voice in the back of my head kept reminding me that my Veterans office in Tijuana, was filled with three barrels of toys and too many 2-liter bottles of juice. What do I do with them?

That voice whispered, “The children from Casa De Luz shelter as well as the children that gather at Border Church, could surely enjoy being celebrated on this special day.” Again, I reached out to my colleague Aida at Via International and my friend Pastor Guillermo of Border Church. We mobilized; packing up the toys and drinks, we set out for Casa de Luz to celebrate with more children. Pastor Guillermo’s brother-in-law hopped in to serve as an MC and activity director for the impromptu celebration. The joy of children is contagious. We were all overcome by it.

A tremendous children’s day celebration was created. For a few hours, these precious kids completely forgot the trauma, struggle, and hardships they have been enduring.

As I recall that day, all I can think about is Jesus feeding the multitude with just a few pieces of bread and fish. Christ manifests himself when we least expect him to. By looking at the number of children, you would think that three barrels of toys would not be enough for each child to receive a toy, yet they did.

The voice that whispers always has an amazing message. I will always try to keep my heart attentive to those whispers that bring such great things.

Children’s Day is a special holiday for me. I was separated from my young grandchildren for nine years. I was not able to see them grow up from young children to teenagers. During this separation, I strived to serve children as best as I could. To me, these became my own grandchildren, filling in the void in my heart of the missed opportunities with my own grandchildren. Today, Christ continues to bless me with continued opportunities to serve children, like at the House Of Wise Words, Casa de Luz, and at Border Church.

Overall, Children’s Day in Mexico is a day to celebrate children and to show them how much they are valued and loved. The looks on their little faces tells me that for a few hours, they felt the warmth and joy of Jesus Christ through our efforts.

This year, EDSD is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the Year of Service. In June, the service projects will focus on the plight of refugees and migrants around the world. Please stay tuned for opportunities to serve our neighbors here and in Tijuana in June.

Confirmation is a significant moment in a teenager’s spiritual journey and an essential rite of passage in the life of many churches. This sacrament provides an opportunity for young people to deepen their faith, explore their beliefs, and commit to a personal relationship with God. Through the confirmation process, teenagers engage in self-reflection, prayer, and study to better understand their faith and the role of the church in their lives. While learning about the history and traditions of the Episcopal Church, they also develop a sense of community and connection with their fellow confirmands. Ultimately, confirmation is not just about receiving a sacrament but about affirming one’s personal commitment to Christ and continuing to grow in faith beyond the teenage years.

On Sunday, April 23rd, the 12 students who participated in We Believe, a collaborative confirmation program, laced up their sneakers and climbed Black Mountain in Rancho Penasquitos. These students hiked the four-mile trail as the final piece of their confirmation journey; a journey that was different for each of them. 

Throughout Lent, the students engaged with the book My Faith, My Life, by Jennifer Gamber and participated in a weekly Zoom meeting and several in-person gatherings. The confirmands came together in person for the kick-off meeting at Christ Church, NightWatch at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, a trip to a bead store and the beach hosted by St. Andrew’s By-The-Sea, and this final hike where students considered where God was calling them next.

As is true with every confirmation journey, it is a personal experience. Here are three personal reflections from students about their confirmation experience in We Believe…

“This confirmation program offered such a beautiful and creative experience. One of my favorite parts was when every participant got to string their own Anglican Rosary, picking out our own beads together and visiting the beach afterward. We each got a chance to learn how to express ourselves through our love for Christ and were given the tools to learn even more about Him, as well as growing our relationships with Him and each other. I was a bit hesitant to do this program at first, but it turned out to be something more special than I ever thought it would be.” – Cassidy – Christ Church Coronado

“The confirmation program allowed me to connect more deeply with peers in my faith journey. It was interesting to learn more about my Christian faith and the Episcopal traditions. I would encourage Episcopal teens who are interested in deepening their faith to participate in the confirmation program.” – Jackson – St. Bartholomew’s Poway

“I was grateful to take the time each week to pause and reflect on the impact of God in my life as well the impact of my actions on others— all while making fun connections with other people my age.” – Annika – St. Paul’s Cathedral

I found so much joy in partnering with leaders from around our diocese to offer this confirmation program to students. Sharing the facilitation of the weekly classes diversified and deepened the program while reducing the time commitment from leaders. I deeply felt the Holy Spirit moving as the students drew closer to God and to each other. 

If you would like more information on this program, and how you can connect students to it next year, please contact the Director for Formation, Charlette Preslar (me!), at cpreslar@edsd.org. Next year’s program will kick off on Sunday, February 18th, and run through the season of Lent.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego (EDSD) is committed to providing ministry and support to the men and women (and their families) who wear the cloth of our nation. Working alongside military chaplains and commanding officers responsible for the Command Religious Program (CRP), the diocese is actively developing programs to serve the needs of the military community, active duty, retired, and veterans. In later articles, we will outline specific initiatives and a how-to guide for individual churches. This article lays a foundation for military ministry.   

I arrived in Afghanistan early in the twilight hours of 4 September 2004 at Bagram Air Base, north of the capital Kabul. My new assignment was as the Theater (Command) Chaplain for Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan. For the previous four years, I served in Washington, D.C. on the staff of the Commandant of the Marine Corps and later with the Chief of Naval Operations. Everyone remembers those years, starting with 11 September 2001 and the War on Terror. I certainly do. 

On the journey to Kabul, in a convoy of military vehicles, I looked back on my years as a Navy Chaplain. Chaplains are unique in the military as the only group of officers whose primary identification is with a non-military institution. But they are also unique in the church, as the only large group of the clergy whose vocational identification is with a non-church social institution. The fact that a chaplain is not just affiliated with, but is fully part of, two major social institutions—is a key to understanding both the problems and the opportunities of the chaplaincy.  Outreach to the military community by the church begins with an understanding of the role chaplains play in the military structure. First, a little background on chaplaincy.    

The motivations that drive individuals and nations into war and sustain them during it are many and complex—especially when one considers the complexity of human nature as part of the equation. War has been the subject of intense thought since antiquity—the Iliad of Homer, the histories of Thucydides, Tacitus, and Josephus treat war with much insight. Their purpose was to commemorate great events and inspire courage and virtue. Heroic adventures of warriors lined the pages of these works. 

In his seminal treatise On War (Vom Kriege), the noted Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) observed, “Military action is never directed against material force alone; it is always aimed simultaneously at the moral forces which give it life, and the two cannot be separated… [for] moral values can only be perceived by the inner eye, which differs in each person, and is often different in the same person at different times.” He also declared; “Theory becomes infinitely more difficult as soon as it touches the realm of moral values.” Religious and ethical sentiments are most assuredly part of the domain he termed moral values. The church and military chaplains stand at this critical intersection. They play a crucial role in providing a balance “as a force within the total institution standing for human values and the dignity of the individual.” 

By the fourth century, there was evidence of Christian clerics accompanying Roman army units and attending to their spiritual needs. And by the mid-fifth century, Christian priests and deacons accompanied military units providing for the spiritual needs of the men. 

The modern term “chaplain” comes from this period. Walafrid Strabo, a monk and scholar born in the ninth century, served as a royal chaplain to Holy Roman emperor Louis I the Pious. He records that the Latin word capellanus derives from the great royal relic of the patron saint of the Franks, the cappa. This cape, according to Strabo, was the very cape St. Martin sliced in half and shared with a homeless man who turned out to be Christ. Martin, a soldier with a group of well-dressed companions, met an importunate beggar shivering in his rags on a bitterly cold night at one of the city gates of Amiens. The others passed by heedless of the cries for alms. Martin, touched with compassion, opened his purse but found it empty. He drew his sword and, with it, divided his heavy cloak with its ample folds. One-half he gave to the beggar and kept the other for himself. That night,  in a dream, Martin saw Christ clad in that half cloak and was so moved by the vision that he sought baptism. Soon afterward, he abandoned his military career and devoted himself to the church. 

As a result of the Reformation and the subsequent Wars of Religion (1517 to 1598), and the religious upheaval of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, propelled an established institutional chaplaincy, with a single confessional model, into a multi-confessional institution made up of numerous creeds and ecclesiastical practices. It was this model that was transplanted to the shores of America. 

Historically, the evolution of institutional religion—institutional as opposed to religion in the ranks—mostly followed a western path of development and flourished in the clerical hierarchy of Christianity. Faith and religion in the non-western traditions of warfare and conflict leaned more toward the non-institutional or lay lead model. The influence of Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism (non-Christian religions represented by chaplains in military chaplaincy today) on the development of chaplaincy is a relatively recent phenomenon. The first Muslim chaplain commissioned in the U.S. military was in 1992. Jewish chaplains first appeared on the landscape in American military chaplaincy during the Civil War, serving with the U.S. Army. The first Jewish chaplain to serve the U.S. Navy was during the First World War, and the first Buddhist chaplain was commissioned in 2003. 

From the pre-institutional days of warrior-priests, religion has occupied a place in the annals of warfare. Institutional military chaplaincy in the United States is a direct descendent of the office of chaplain formally established in the Carolingian era. The Crusades, Wars of Religion, European colonial expeditions, and the American War for Independence were its proving grounds. 

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego strives to be a welcoming community for those who are facing the unique challenges related to military life. Our churches are developing programs to support active military members, military families, and veterans. Simply speaking with chaplains who understand their experiences can be of immense help for military professionals. Military families, who are often new to a neighborhood, can benefit from the support of the church community, helping them navigate the stresses of deployment and separation. And veterans can find a place to find connection and understanding with others who have shared experiences. Our churches are well equipped to serve these individuals.

In EDSD, we are called to serve, and what better way than to help those who have served in the military? 

If you would like to learn more about how your church can serve active military, military families, and veterans, please contact CAPT Tierian (Randy) Cash, CHC, USN Retired at tcash@edsd.org or phone 703-609-3238.