I don’t know where I first saw or heard this phrase: “Happy Ash Wednesday! We’re all gonna die!” I think it was on social media. It’s funny, irreverent, and profound…the sort of joke I love. I was unable to attend an Ash Wednesday service this year, but I didn’t need much of a reminder that I am dust and will return to dust. Last July, I was admitted to the hospital after a CT scan revealed my carotid artery was inexplicably dissected—that is, torn—in my neck and in my skull, behind my eyes. My artery was almost entirely obstructed in two places, and the amount of blood going to the right side of my brain was noticeably less than the left side. The tear in the neck was holding back a blood clot that very easily could become a stroke, and the tear where the artery goes through my cranium resulted in a four-centimeter pseudoaneurysm that could very well burst. After a few hours in surgery, the neurosurgeon pulled my wife, Keisha, into the room and showed her what he said was the worst case he’d ever seen and that he didn’t know what to do.

I suspect everyone faces death in their own way. Knowing that each moment could be my last narrowed my field of vision. All the distractions of life fell to the wayside, and what had my full attention was the moment. This had the remarkable effect of making me realize that what matters in life is love and that I had more love than I could possibly contain. I was loved by so many. I loved them in return. I had no enemies, no wounds to heal, no people to forgive. God owed me no favors, and I didn’t ask for any. I already had in my possession the greatest favor God could give me: my life was saturated in love. I felt God’s nearness in a way I never have before. I was scared, sure, and sad at the thought of not being there for the ones I love. But I was also at peace. I knew in my bones that my soul was safe in God. In videos and letters I made every attempt to tell the people I care for that they were loved and that we would, in life or death, be okay.

As Jesus was marching to Jerusalem, he knew it was a showdown between his good news of the kingdom of God and the empire of Caesar, along with Herod and all the other puppet-kings. Jesus knew and told the people following him that he would not escape this confrontation unscathed. His followers’ expectations of what God’s kingdom was supposed to look like—the destruction of their oppressor Rome along with the rest of their enemies—left them unable to hear Jesus foretelling his own death. They celebrated his arrival on Sunday. By Friday,
disappointed, the crowds who were hailing him a few days ago were now calling for his execution or denying any association with him.

Jesus was facing his own death. When the distractions faded away, his field of vision narrowed, and there before him was a cross. What had his full attention? What mattered most to him?

Love.

He gathered with his closest friends in a private place just around the corner from his appointment with death. He ate with them and expressed how much he loved them, asking them to remember him and to love each other in the same way he loved them…to the very end.

There’s a popular conception of Jesus’ death—a misconception, I would suggest—that goes something like this: God is too holy to be around sinners, so sinners deserve to die and forever be without God; but God sent his son to be punished on our behalf. I think this is a misconception because it makes God into a distant and violent father. I think if we’re going to believe in the Trinity we have to reject such a view. When we see the cross, that isn’t just the Son of God, but God the Son. On the cross, we see the fullness of God, who would rather be a victim of our worst impulses than to make us victims of divine wrath.

God’s holiness does not mean he cannot abide the company of sinners. There he is! He’s having dinner with them and washing their feet. He’s feeding them. He’s loving them—loving us—to the end. He has no enemies, only forgiveness. Jesus faces his death by unveiling the fulfillment of God’s love, not the extent of God’s wrath. Jesus, God the Son, is simply and utterly in love with us. To the very end.

The season of Lent is making the final turn towards the cross and the grave. Take one long, last look at death—not only our own deaths, but the pervasive violence and wrath of humankind surrounding us, the hate that threatens to overwhelm us with darkness. Look fully at the cross, where all hate and violence comes down in full force on the Lamb of God. Let your field of vision narrow…and look! The God who is Love! This is the Love which has the last word in your life, the last word in all lives, the last word spoken before the cosmic lights go out. The Word of Love that always and inexorably leads to life.

We all love celebrations! EDSD congregations have found many ways to celebrate Earth Month; some of the most popular were through Creation Care Sunday services or outdoor activities.

Sacred Trails, in 2024, offered different walks at different locations, times of day, and degrees of difficulty. One of the Sacred Trail leaders and priest-in-charge of St Brigid’s in Oceanside, the Rev. Brian Petersen said, “Allow the created world to be our teacher as we listen for the wisdom that our local more-than-human neighbors are eager to share with us if we would only slow down and pay attention…. Through making these connections, we grow deeper in our relationship with both creation and the Creator.” He quoted the words of Senegalese environmentalist Baba Dioum : “in the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”

This Earth Month, the celebration continues! Join congregations throughout our diocese in honoring creation through prayer, education, and action. Here are some liturgical resources and a current schedule of events around the diocese.

April 19 from 9 – 1 pm, Gardening at Project New Village, Chollas View 

Join volunteers from EDSD congregations and the Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice by Project New Village at Mount Hope Community Garden (4261 Market St.). “Project New Village envisions Southeastern San Diego as a community of active neighborhoods supporting and contributing to the health, wealth and well-being of community members.” https://projectnewvillage.org

To register: dianelopezhughes@gmail.com

April 26 Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice Tijuana Estuary Walk Co-sponsor with Sweetwater Zen & St Paul’s Cathedral

Optional 2 mile walk from 9 – 10am; Ceremony and walk from 11 – 12pm

April 26 at 2pm Sacred Songs for a Sacred Earth

St Margaret’s in Palm Desert, 47535 Hwy 74

Free Benefit Concert for Neighbors-4-Neighbors

Creation Care Sunday services

Liturgies and prayers

May 17 from 9 – 12pm Ocean Beach Clean Up

Resurrection Episcopal Church in Ocean Beach and the Ocean Beach Merchants Association are planning a beach clean-up day.  Contact Resurrection Community Organizer Stasi McAteer for more information at stasi@resurrectionob.org.

May 18 from 9 – 3pm: E-waste collection and clothing swap

Resurrection Ocean Beach will host an e-waste collection.  Bring your old electronics for proper disposal.  The clothing swap will run from 1-3pm. Contact Resurrection Community Organizer Stasi McAteer for more information at stasi@resurrectionob.org.

When Earth Day is every day, celebrating creation not only invites our gratitude towards God and such wondrous works but also our responsibility to live in harmony with all living things. We are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. Green Belt leader Wangari Maathai said, “We cannot tire or give up. We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk!” 

Until April 15 the Earth  Month schedule will be updated. Please share your services or events with dianelopezhughes@gmail.com.

On April 1, 2025, in Tijuana, Mexico, dozens of community leaders, clergy, and advocates gathered for the ribbon cutting of Comunidad de Luz or “Community of Light,” the newest shelter in Tijuana supporting migrant women and children. It is a testament to the healing work that can happen when people of faith answer the call to serve.

Organized by the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego (EDSD), in partnership with Via International, the Vida Joven Foundation, the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Anglican Church in Tijuana, the ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the culmination of years of prayer, planning, and coalition-building. The shelter will provide housing and wraparound services for up to 150 women and children fleeing violence, poverty, and instability across Latin America.

Comunidad de Luz is a sanctuary—a place where mothers and their children can breathe, rest, and begin again. The shelter is equipped not only to meet physical needs like food and lodging, but to offer mental health support, job training, spiritual care, and educational resources. It’s a place designed to nurture the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.

“We are called to walk alongside the most vulnerable,” said Bishop Susan Brown Snook of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego during the ceremony. “To offer them shelter, and the dignity and hope they deserve. Comunidad de Luz answers that call with love and our commitment to help.”

For many attendees, the opening of the shelter is the beginning of a new chapter in cross-border ministry and justice work. Attendees included local officials, clergy, community activists, and leaders from Tijuana who have worked tirelessly to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis at the border.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. with remarks offered by Bishop Susan Brown Snook, “We know that many migrants in Tijuana will never make it into the US because of restrictive asylum policies, and many others have been deported and cannot return to the US. Yet they left their homelands because their lives were in danger there, and they cannot return. We believe that this shelter will transform the lives of these women and children by offering not only a safe place to stay, but also the hope of a better life in Tijuana or wherever they find themselves, through training, education and care for those here.” 

Robert Vivar, EDSD’s Migration Missioner and one of the leading visionaries behind the shelter, told local reporters, “Migrant women and children face unimaginable hardships on their journey,” he said, “Comunidad de Luz is an oasis—it is a place where people can begin to rebuild their lives with security, support, and a sense of belonging.”

The energy among attendees was deeply reverent but also joy-filled. After the ribbon was cut, guests were led on a tour of the facility, where they had the opportunity to meet staff and learn about the programs already in place. 

The group later gathered for a prayer and comments from Bishop Susan, Via International’s Director Elisa Sabatini, and Vida Joven Board Member Janet Marseilles in the rooftop chapel. Bishop Snook, Sabatini, and Marseilles also serve on the board of Community of Light, the US nonprofit which supports the shelter. Father Tony Hernandez, the local Anglican Church of Mexico priest who will be offering regular services at the shelter, led us in prayer. Each partner organization brings a specific expertise and role, creating a deeply integrated support system for the residents.

Via International, a nonprofit focused on sustainable community development, has taken responsibility for adult programming within the shelter, including trauma-informed psychological care and job training. For decades, Via has offered job training and microcredit to women with classes focusing on nutrition, culinary arts, and gardening. Their approach ensures that mothers not only have a place to rest, but the tools they need to build a new future.

Vida Joven, which has served vulnerable children in Baja for decades, has committed significant financial support to the shelter’s children’s programs, and will lend its expertise in providing stability, education, and emotional support to children. 

The Anglican Church in Tijuana is providing a priest, Father Hernandez, to offer regular worship services and pastoral care in the shelter’s chapel. “Faith is central to this mission,” Bishop Snook emphasized. “In times of uncertainty and transition, a grounded faith provides strength, healing, and hope—reminding our residents that they are not alone on their journey.”

Though the ribbon has been cut, the work of Comunidad de Luz is just beginning. Staff are already preparing for the first families to arrive in the coming days. Volunteers from both sides of the border have signed up to help with childcare, meal preparation, language classes, and transportation.

Local residents from Tijuana, along with members of San Diego congregations, are expected to become an integral part of the shelter’s community life. Leaders hope that this collaboration will continue to grow, inviting more congregations, donors, and volunteers into the mission.

“It’s not just about opening a shelter,” said Bishop Snook. “It’s about building a community—one where those who have been cast aside are brought into the center, where they can heal and be seen and be known.”

For those who wish to support Comunidad de Luz, there are many ways to get involved—from financial donations to volunteer trips and prayer support. The Diocese is actively seeking partners to ensure the sustainability of the shelter for years to come. 

Support Comunidad de Luz Today

The hum of passing traffic underscored a hopeful buzz of the crowd gathered at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Clergy, civic leaders, developers, and neighbors stood together at the corner of Gunn and 30th Streets to witness a remarkable milestone: the groundbreaking of a new 78-unit affordable housing development on church grounds.

The groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, March 28, 2025, marked the official start of construction on the first project of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego’s (EDSD) Mission Real Estate initiative—an effort to reimagine underutilized church property as a tool for community flourishing. In partnership with Trestle Build, the new development will provide much-needed housing for individuals and families earning 30–70% of the area’s median income.

But beyond the shovels and architectural drawings, the ceremony reflected something deeper–the gospel made visible by welcoming new neighbors into our community.

At the center of the Mission Real Estate initiative is the Christian call to love our neighbors in word and in deed. “Love for our neighbor is not just a feeling,” said Bishop Susan Brown Snook. “It’s an action, a commitment to justice, hospitality, and the flourishing of our neighborhoods.”

In the Episcopal tradition, Christ’s call to love is not an intellectual pursuit—it is lived out through service, advocacy, and being in community with one another. Every person is beautifully and wonderfully made, and every person deserves dignity, shelter, and belonging. Jesus himself said, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me” (Matthew 25:40). Christ’s call to service came alive in North Park as for new affordable homes and a new way of being church in the world.

“We believe it’s part of our mission in this diocese, in this church, to be partners with our neighborhood,” said Bishop Susan Brown Snook. “We see a number of homeless people in this neighborhood and a number of people who really can’t afford adequate housing for themselves and their families. So, this is our way of contributing to the well-being of the whole neighborhood.”

The vision for this project began in 2018 when leaders at St. Luke’s realized that many of their own parishioners were being priced out of the neighborhood. Families who had worshiped together for years were suddenly facing impossible rent increases and displacement. As the leadership team discerned a faithful response, one idea emerged over and over: use the land. What if the church garden—beautiful but underutilized—could be transformed into affordable homes?

Nicodemus Lim, junior warden of St. Luke’s Church, said, “I feel like it’s a prayer that has been answered by God because a lot of my friends left the city who were part of this church – St. Luke’s Church – they left San Diego because they could not afford to live here. And so, that is basically breaking the community apart. But if we have something that will keep us together, that is a blessing.”

It wasn’t a quick or easy road. Real estate development is complex, and church-led real estate development is even more so. But with the support of the Diocese and the expertise of Trestle Build, the dream began to take shape. Rob Morgan, Principal at Trestle Build, said, “St. Luke’s and the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego saw the need, had the vision, and the faith to take action. We’re honored to bring our expertise and passion for urban affordable housing to the table, working alongside them to turn that vision into homes that will serve this community for generations to come.”

North Park is a vibrant, walkable neighborhood filled with creative energy, cultural diversity, and local charm. But it’s also a place where housing costs have skyrocketed in recent years, displacing many people who give the neighborhood its soul—essential workers, artists, young families, and longtime residents. The new apartment building at St. Luke’s will provide homes that people can afford within easy walking distance to grocery stores, schools, parks, libraries, and transit stops. 

“We’re not just building apartments,” said Jessica Ripper, EDSD Mission Real Estate Portfolio Manager, “we’re building homes and creating opportunities for people to remain rooted in community.”

St. Luke’s has long been a community hub—offering English classes, refugee resettlement support, meals for the unhoused, and a spiritual home for those from all walks of life. Supporting the development of new homes is a natural extension of that mission. 

In an era of rising inequality and increased numbers of residents priced out of rental housing, St. Luke’s has chosen to model what it means to be the Church in the 21st century: one rooted in justice, abundance, and trust in God’s provision.

The Diocese and its partners hope that this project will inspire other churches, faith communities, and civic leaders to take bold steps toward housing justice. Church land is among the few types of urban real estate that are not driven exclusively by profit. When activated for the public good, it can have profound impacts.

As the group held the first shovelful of dirt, the spirit of the moment was clear–this is just the beginning. EDSD is committed to continuing this work–building a future where everyone has a place to belong.

“This is the Church the world needs,” said Bishop Susan. “A Church that puts love into action, that listens to the cries of its neighbors, and that dares to believe that with God’s help, we can build a more just and compassionate world.”

For more information about this project or the Mission Real Estate initiative, visit EDSD.org/MRE.

News coverage from Fox5 San Diego can be found here.

News coverage from NBC San Diego can be found here.

News coverage from KPBS can be found here.

“The purposes in the human heart are deep waters; but the one who has insight draws them out.” Proverbs 20:5 

Discipleship is more than books we read or Bible studies we attend. In fact, Jesus’ first disciples were greatly shaped not only by their relationship with Jesus, but also with one another. Each of them brought their own backgrounds and contexts to their shared ministry. Through the gathering of fishermen, tax collectors, and the redeemed, Jesus embraced that we are more than any one piece of our story. In fact, the challenging pieces of our stories bring richness and depth to the ways that we follow Jesus. We embrace discipleship not through perfection but from a humble place of authenticity. 

With that in mind, there are two formative offerings this spring–offerings that will enrich our discipleship and help us to grow in relationship with one another. 

Jesus deeply understood the communities and systems in which he lived and served. He understood the institutional structures and power dynamics of the times, and he sought, served, and centered those whom these systems marginalized. As followers of Jesus, we are similarly called to minister in our own local contexts. 

EDSD’s Localized Anti-Racism Knowledge workshop equips our congregations for local contextual ministry. Over the course of a 2-day workshop, participants will hear stories of lament and hope through the actions of leaders and communities of color who have faced structural and systemic challenges across the extent of our region. Participants will then analyze and think critically about ongoing instances of racism in our neighborhoods.  

LARK supports attendees in applying what they have learned to their own lives and ministries. Through post-workshop follow-up, the program makes space for folks to nurture the relationships and resilience necessary for advancing racial reconciliation and justice within our diocese. 

LARK was commissioned by Bishop Susan in 2022 and co-designed by Mae Chao and Therese Carmona of EDSD’s Racial Justice and Reconciliation Task Force. After two “test” workshops, LARK launched its first diocesan-wide workshop in November of 2023. Last year, EDSD held two workshops, one at St. Matthew’s in National City, and another at Good Samaritan in UTC. These were attended by a total of 52 people from 23 of our 46 congregations.  

The next LARK workshop will take place at St. Luke’s in North Park on Friday, May 2, 3:30-8:30 PM and Saturday, May 3, 9:30-4:30 PM. Facilitators will include Mae Chao, Therese Carmona, and Vincent Walton. A follow-up Zoom meeting will be scheduled at the workshop. 

Register Today!

While ministry is contextual, it is also relational. As disciples, we are also called to love our neighbors as ourselves. But truly understanding our neighbors–and truly understanding ourselves–requires recognizing the ways our own backgrounds shape our perspectives. This is what we call social location: the unique combination of factors or identities like race, gender, class, education, and culture that influence how we experience the world. We may be acutely aware of some of these identities. Others may be less obvious to us. ALL aspects of our social location are useful to God. 

 Every person has a social location, whether we are aware of it or not. It affects the opportunities we have, the challenges we face, and even how we interpret Scripture, engage in faith, or understand God at work in the world. By acknowledging how our own backgrounds shape our views, we can foster greater empathy, challenge biases, and work toward a more inclusive community. And, we can better understand how we have been uniquely formed to be bearers of God’s image in our times and in our world.  

 For this reason, we co-created Knowing Yourself: Ministry from a Place of Self-Awareness. During a three-hour session, attendees will have space to reflect on their own “social location” in order to name how they have been formed as bearers of God’s image, consider how their social location has equipped them for ministry and cultivate self-awareness in community to practice nurturing authentic relationships across lines of difference. 

Knowing Yourself debuted in 2024 at Leadership Academy. Based on feedback, we expanded the program to a three-hour workshop, which was hosted at All Saints, San Diego this past April, and at St. Peter’s, Del Mar in September. Across the three workshops, 54 people from 17 congregations discovered, named and shared various pieces of their own narratives and received the rich and diverse stories of those around them.   

Knowing Yourself will be offered next at St. Luke’s, North Park on Sunday, May 4 from 1-4 PM. Facilitators will include Danielle Beabout, Leighton Jones, and Rachel Ambasing.

Register Today

Both offerings provide an opportunity to dive into the deep waters, to share our insights in a community of support, to practice discipleship from a place of humble authenticity, and ultimately to return to our ministries and our lives transformed.   

Ten years ago, I was living in San Francisco, where I went to school full-time and worked in retail part-time. Though I grew up in the church, and the Episcopal tradition had been important to my family for multiple generations, this was a chapter of my life when I did not consider myself to be an Episcopalian. But, I was living in a city that was hitting peak gentrification. The gap between the haves and the have-nots increased before my eyes, and the signs of displacement were inescapable. I longed for spiritual comfort and sought to find it in community. So, on a rare Sunday morning without a scheduled shift, I decided to check out an Episcopal Church in the area.

I found myself sitting in the pews of a grand, historic Episcopal church located in an aspirational neighborhood. The church was one of those places where the stained-glass windows told centuries-old stories, the organ thundered with precision, and every element sought to express the majestic nature of God. The preacher that morning was a well-respected white cleric, who, according to his bio in the day’s print-perfect bulletin, was from a wealthy area in Northern California and known for his eloquence, academic writing, and theological depth.

His sermon that day focused on “living in faith.” He began by referencing a nearby lower-income, racially diverse neighborhood well known in NorCal. It was one of my favorite neighborhoods to frequent. It reminded me of where I grew up in Southeast San Diego. To me, though the neighborhood was historically underserved and economically lacking, it was rich with its creative minds, deep thinkers, and adaptive, resourceful leadership. The streets teemed with colorful art, soulful music, iconic small businesses, and hot spots. There was a sense of a particular community care and pride that only seems to grow in the cracks of our systems. Leaders from this community were actively organizing to resist gentrification and the displacement of their neighbors.

At the mention of the neighborhood, I perked up in my pew, yearning to hear a message about hope or resilience or some other interpretation of the Good News as it was reflected in those streets.

Unfortunately, the sermon that I was longing for was not the sermon that this preacher was able to give.

I sat in the pew, dumbfounded. The preacher and I saw two different neighborhoods. We had two different ideas of how God showed up in the world. He seemed to understand God’s presence in the quiet and orderly rhythms of life, perhaps finding God most where there was ease.

I, on the other hand, had encountered God in the resistance: in the resilient joy and inconvenient courage of communities that had to fight to be heard, or seen, or stay together, or even to simply pass on their cultural traditions from one generation to the next.

Once the sermon was over, a woman behind me was delighted in how well the sermon was structured. Another declared the sermon a display of his theological prowess. As the sermon ended, I was surrounded by a sea of bobbing heads and satisfied murmurs. I felt like I was the only one in the congregation who felt disconnected with the interpretation of the Good News. In a house of God, I felt like a stranger.

I never returned to that congregation, nor did I attempt to attend an Episcopal Church again in my remaining two years in San Francisco.

That moment of disconnect was the first time I realized just how much perspective shapes the way Scripture is preached and received. How much richer would our understanding of Scripture be if we heard it through the lens of those whose experiences of God’s grace were different from those lenses that we’ve historically held as more “reputable” or “respectable”?

Hearing Scripture interpreted by diverse preachers also strengthens the Episcopal Church’s mission. When we embrace diverse voices, we affirm the dignity of all people and acknowledge the ways God moves in different communities. This not only deepens our faith but also makes the Church more welcoming to those who have felt unheard or excluded.

The Episcopal Church is at its best when it reflects the full breadth of God’s kingdom. Our diocese is home to people from a breadth of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, life experiences, and theological traditions. This same diversity is not yet reflected in our ordained leadership, nor is it reflected in the pulpit on an average Sunday at many of our congregations.

And so, our diocese is offering Towards a Fuller Gospel,  a dynamic virtual speaker series featuring priests and preachers of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds from across the Episcopal Church. This dynamic program aims to help bridge a diversity gap that many of us have been lamenting. I know this series will help us all discover what more of God’s goodness might be revealed to us if we heard from more diverse voices. Join me in interpreting scripture through their diverse lenses. 

Towards a Fuller Gospel will take place on Tuesdays in May, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Guest speakers will include The Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers from the Diocese of Alabama; The Rev. Canon Eric McIntosh, Canon for Beloved Community Initiative, Diocese of Pittsburgh; and The Rev. Ryan Macias from the Diocese of Los Angeles. You can register by clicking here.

 The Episcopal Church has long prided itself on being a place of openness and inclusion. But true inclusion is not just about welcoming people into our pews—it’s about making sure their voices are heard from the pulpit.

Hearing Scripture through diverse voices is not just about fairness or representation; nor is it about checking off boxes on a “woke agenda.” It is about faithfulness. It is about ensuring that we do not limit the ways God speaks to us. It is about recognizing that no single cultural lens or social position can fully capture the breadth, length, depth, and height of God’s word.

We have so much to gain from accessing the gift of diverse voices and perspectives. May we have the courage and the humility to do so.

This year at Trinity Church, Escondido, we organized an adult formation program around watching and analyzing sermons. I figured that this would be a good topic to talk about because everyone at church has experience with sermons. After all, sermons are at the root of formation and discipleship. It might be beneficial to look at what goes into a sermon and reflect on what parts of preaching really work for us and what parts do not.

I spent hours looking at sermons on YouTube. I wanted something that was out there and accessible to everyone. We settled on six sermons from Christian preachers who came from different denominations and traditions. The preachers we picked were Michael Curry, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Martin Luther King, Jr, Barbara Brown Taylor, Billy Graham, and Gregory Boyle.

The most famous sermon was Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which we watched shortly after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which was also the day of the inauguration, if you remember. That was a powerful experience for most people. 

Each week, prior to watching the selected sermon, we’d read an article or look at an excerpt of a book that related to the preaching. We’d dive into material from the Episcopal Preaching Foundation, as well as other resources I discovered on the web. We’d discuss oral traditions and the ways that people give and receive information through speeches and sermons. But, the discussion around the experience of the participants about the many sermons they had heard over their lifetimes as church members was the most energized. And we talked about my sermons and the sermons of my predecessors at Trinity.

As we sat to watch each sermon, I gave people a sheet of paper with notes of things for them to pay attention to. I had something like this for a homiletics class in seminary. We were encouraged to take notes on other students’ preaching and give them constructive feedback. 

A consistent suggestion was to pay attention to the theme of the sermon–to look at how that theme was developed, to notice the structure of the sermon, how and the points that were made, and how scripture was referenced. Another focus was rhetorical techniques like repetition, contrast, or alliteration that preachers employed. And we looked at personal practices–does the preacher use notes or not, do they engage with the audience or not, do they pause dramatically or not. Finally, what was the “takeaway?”  What was the preacher asking the congregation to do next, if anything?

Thank God, that my parishioners do not regularly analyze and dissect my sermons the way we did in this program! But, I think it was an enlightening experience to look at sermons this way. Not only did the group receive six great messages over the six weeks, but they really appreciated talking about preaching.

I was not really surprised to hear this, but it turns out that people really like how Michael Curry preaches. (Maybe Trinity’s next preaching series will be just Michael Curry sermons.) Our group did not connect as much with Billy Graham’s sermon we saw from the Revival, although several of the people in our group had seen Billy Graham preach in person. With respect to the other sermons, participants all got something out of the sermons by Nadia Bolz-Weber, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Gregory Boyle.

We came to appreciate that despite the preachers’ different styles, tones, and messages, their sermons still conveyed something valuable. As I mentioned, our discussion on Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was probably the most powerful for participants. It was amazing to go through his speech looking at the structure and the techniques of a person who clearly was at the top of his game, and to reflect on how powerful preaching can be.

I don’t know that the experience of this series on preaching will necessarily make me a better preacher, although I always preach better when I am exposed to great preaching. And I don’t think that any of the participants in the program are necessarily going to get up someday to deliver their own sermons. But I know that all of us, myself included, enjoyed talking about preaching and thought it was worthwhile looking at what makes preaching powerful. 

As a priest, it gave me a sense of something new, which is the way that preaching, over time, gives people a foundation that they cannot get anywhere else. There really is nothing else like preaching in our lives. We are hardwired in our DNA to be inspired by things people say, and there are very few experiences in life of being in a group sitting, listening to inspirational messages. And we need that. That’s something else we all agreed on.

 To find out more about Trinity, Escondido’s preaching series, email the Rev. Tom Callard at: office@trinityescondido.org

In the spirit of community, hope, and faith, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) leaders from across our diocese gathered for a life-giving afternoon of connection and fellowship.

The event was planned and hosted by a team of four: Karla Chavez from St. Matthew’s, National City; Alyson Terry from Resurrection, Ocean Beach, Stephen Arturo Greenlaw from St. Luke’s, North Park, and myself. Held at Café X on Feb. 8, the Link-Up was more than just a time of networking – it was a space of renewal, affirmation, and visioning. Together, participants shared their various leadership and ministry journeys, and modeled a vision of what gatherings of disciples of Christ could look like in our Church.

In the Episcopal tradition, discipleship is not just about personal faith—it is about community, justice, and the responsibility to lead with courageous love. For BIPOC leaders, this call comes with both profound opportunities and deep challenges.

As the Gospel of Matthew reminds us: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

This call to discipleship is inclusive, expansive, and rooted in justice. It calls each believer to engage in the transformation of their community, offering leadership not from a place of privilege, but from a deep well of faith and empathy. The gathering was a reminder that this work of discipleship— following Jesus and leading in our communities with love, compassion, and integrity—is central to the sacred vocation of leaders of color in the Episcopal Church.

Many BIPOC clergy and lay leaders serve as bridges between diverse cultural traditions and the Episcopal Church, yet we often navigate spaces where our voices have historically been underrepresented or marginalized, or “othered.” In more traditional, homogeneous Episcopal gatherings where people of color are the minority, the feeling of “otherness,” or disbelonging, can feel stifling, and may make it challenging to access our identities as God’s beloved.  The Link-Up created a trusting, affirming space for authentic conversation and mutual learning, as well as a space to cultivate a deeper sense of community and belonging in the fullness of our identities and experiences.

Through prayer, dialogue, laughter, and breaking bread with leaders representing different congregations, we made new friends and strengthened existing connections. It was a nice reminder that none of us is alone in this work. And, that we are just one generation of a long and sacred tradition of diverse faith leaders who have shaped the Church and continue to transform it.

As the afternoon concluded, there was a shared commitment to continue these Link-Ups quarterly, and to continue to keep in touch between meet-ups. With hearts full and spirits strengthened, the leaders who attended this meet-up left with full stomachs, full take-home containers, and full hearts.

For more information about future gatherings – or for partnership in creating a BIPOC Leadership Link-Up closer to your area – contact me at rambasing@edsd.org.

Photos courtesy of Karla Chavez (St. Matthew’s, National City).

St. Dunstan’s was teeming with voices—singing, greetings, laughing. The opening Eucharist for Leadership Academy set a foundation of purpose for the day. With over 100 attendees gathered, it was clear they weren’t there just to listen. They came to engage, to challenge themselves, to step forward in faith and action.

The Rev. Cyndi Jones, interim priest in charge at St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea in Pacific Beach, set the tone with her sermon–calling on all attendees to embrace inclusion not as a task but as a way of life. Speaking from her own experience as a wheelchair user, she challenged the community to reflect on what true inclusion looks like in the Church. She reminded the congregation, “All people are fearfully and wonderfully made.” But do we celebrate the inclusion of all—or do we default to questioning the cost? 

Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, participants discovered perspectives they had never considered before. During the Safe Church, Safe Communities training, while focusing on ways the Church remains vigilant in protecting its most vulnerable members, one participant admitted they had not fully grasped the prevalence of abuse and the responsibility churches carry in addressing it. For many, this training reframed the way they understood their role in fostering a culture of safety and trust. Safe church, Safe Communities training is required for all clergy, staff, vestry members, and other key lay leadership roles. You can find out more about Safe Church Safe Communities training here.

Across the campus, in the Welcome Track, a conversation on neurodiversity became a true moment of awakening, when a participant admitted that they had never encountered the term “neurodiversity” before. Another person shared that people with disabilities make up the largest marginalized group in society, with approximately 20% of the population identifying as having a disability. It was a humbling realization. The session provided thoughtful conversation and reshaped the way people thought about true inclusion, but the class didn’t conclude with theories or statistics; it moved into real, actionable changes that churches can implement to become places where neurodiversity is embraced. You can read more about neurodiverse church experiences here.

The Storytelling Track, tucked away in St. Dunstan’s Youth Room, became an unexpected place of discovery for many. One participant, reflecting on the session, said they had never realized how powerful character transportation was in crafting a compelling story. Another marveled at the experience of writing a group poem, something they never expected to be part of a leadership workshop. “I didn’t know we could write a group poem,” they said. “Thank you, Chris T!” There was an energy in the room, a collective realization that our stories are opportunities for connection, authenticity, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. To learn more about sharing your story, reach out to Director of Communications, Chris Tumilty at ctumilty@edsd.org

And that only speaks to three of the workshops. There were important conversations around accessibility, presented by the St. Dunstan’s disability ministry, and practical and engaging faith formation opportunities for teens, led by the EDSD Youth Leadership Council. The workshops provided practical tools for ministry, but it was the people—their passion, their honesty, their courage to be vulnerable—that made the day transformative. Again and again, attendees were moved by the sheer depth of commitment in the room. One participant described the overwhelming desire of so many to be truly welcoming. Another shared that St. Brigid’s talk about inclusion, particularly for people on the spectrum, left a lasting impact. A third reflected on a simple yet profound truth they had taken from the day: “Everyone matters or no one matters.”

The Youth Leadership Council, a group of 12 teenagers from across the diocese, left a powerful impression.  What do young people need from the Church today? It is simple: a place to belong, a space to ask hard questions, a faith that feels real. The council’s guidance stirred important conversations about how congregations could better serve the next generation. One participant was deeply moved by what they heard and made a commitment to expand children’s and youth programming in their parish–determined to create an environment where young people truly feel at home.

Throughout the day, the holy moments were impossible to miss. The kindness of St. Dunstan’s volunteers, the warmth of the facilitators, the creativity that flowed through the storytelling sessions, the powerful testimonies shared in discussions on neurodiversity—all of it created an atmosphere where Episcopalians felt encouraged to step into their callings.

Transformation begins within individuals before it can take hold in communities. It was a call to step forward, equipped and inspired, into the work that will shape the Church for years ahead.

The commitments made at Leadership Academy were not empty words. They are aspirations for the future of the church. It is a reminder that transformation begins within individuals, take hold of their faith and share it. It is a call to step forward, equipped and inspired, into the work of discipleship that will shape the Episcopal Church in San Diego.

Leadership Academy is not just an event every year; it is a movement toward growing into the Church that God calls us to be.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. It’s an odd thing to say in a Christian church, where we proclaim that Jesus has defeated death and brought us to eternal life. Why do we remind each other today of our dustiness, our grittiness, the impermanence of our bodies and our very lives?

The key to what we celebrate today is the word “remember.” When we say you are dust, and to dust you shall return – that is simple fact. Every molecule of our bodies came from the dust of the universe that blew outward from the Big Bang, the dust that formed stars and planets, the dust that formed this earth. Out of that dust our bodies were made, and when we die, those molecules of US will be recycled for other uses. We are dust, and to dust we shall return.

But the key to Ash Wednesday is not the fact of our dustiness. The key is the word “remember.” When we remember that we are dust, we remember not just our death, but the other part of our faith, that God willed every molecule of our selves into being. We remember that God looked at the dusty, beautiful world, and called it “very good.” We remember how God reached into the dust and lovingly handled it, rolled it, breathed into it, to create human beings. We remember that we are holy and beloved. We remember that our own God took on the dust of human existence with his own life in Jesus. We remember that God welcomed our holy human dustiness as he welcomed Jesus back into God’s presence.

“Remember that you are dust, to dust you shall return” means, remember that the very dust of your body is forever linked with the creator of the universe. Remember that your dusty humanity has been washed in the water of baptism and made a part of Christ’s own Body. Remember that the ashy cross marked on your forehead is drawn over the same place where you were marked with the sign of the cross at your baptism, when someone said, You are sealed with the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever.

This day, this Ash Wednesday, this day of dust, is a day not of death but of resurrection. We remember that we are dust, and to dust we shall return, but that’s not the end of the story. The last chapter of Good Friday was followed by the new story of Easter. The end of our dusty human lives will be followed by the new creation of resurrection. You are dust, and to dust you shall return. Thanks be to God.

Throughout Lent, take a few moments each day to deepen your faith with Faith to Go in Lent, a daily podcast featuring reflections from individuals across the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. Each episode offers a fresh perspective on the daily Gospel reading, inviting you into a journey of prayer, contemplation, and spiritual growth.

Whether you listen during your morning coffee, on a walk, or as part of your daily devotion, these reflections provide a meaningful way to connect with God and our diocesan community. As we walk this Lenten path together, let these voices inspire you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Christ.

Join us every day throughout Lent at edsd.org/faithtogo and discover the power of shared faith and reflection. May this season of renewal bring you insight, peace, and a deeper relationship with God.