I recently attended a promotion ceremony for a chaplain—a student of mine from my days as Director of the Naval Chaplains School—onboard one of the ships homeported in San Diego. Afterward at lunch, I mentioned my current role as military missioner for the diocese and the public commitment the diocese has made to reach out to servicemembers, families, veterans, and retired military. As one might expect, there was a great deal of interest in the shape and form of the outreach was taking. We discussed the EDSD Military Ministry Symposium the diocese held in July and the interest it sparked. I pointed out that it was a jumping-off point to start the journey that we intend to build on as we share the love of Christ within the military community.

In San Diego County, there are approximately 110,700 active-duty military personnel and 118,300 family members, which represents 7.6% of San Diego County’s total population. An estimated 60.7% (71,759) of military families in San Diego County have children. In Yuma County, Arizona, the US Marine Corps Air Station, and the US Army Yuma Proving Ground are two of Yuma County’s principal industries. At MCAS Yuma, there are 6592 military personnel. In Imperial County, Naval Air Facility El Centro serves as an aircrew training facility and the winter home of the Blue Angels.

Even if you agree that churches should reach out to armed services members and their families, you might think your church isn’t up to the job. But don’t discount what your congregation can do in military ministry. Over the past thirty years, the trend in military chaplaincy has been to utilize the services of chaplains in more operational settings as opposed to the chapel model. This is due in part to the decreasing number of chaplains entering the military and the general decline of military personnel attending chapel services. Recently, for example, in the Bremerton, Washington area, the local commander announced the closing of a chapel in their Area of Responsibility (AOR). The general reasoning is that the ministry of chaplains can be better utilized in operational settings.

This trend has significant implications for civilian churches in areas such as San Diego and Norfolk, Virginia, due to a large concentration of military men and women, their families, and veterans. Discussions of the armed forces chaplaincy in church circles tend, at times, to become confused with the pacifist/non-pacifist debate over whether there should be an armed force. That is, of course, a legitimate debate in which the church has debated for twenty centuries and will undoubtedly continue to engage. From our immediate perspective, however, it is not the point. Realistically, we recognize that the United States does have large armed forces and is likely to continue to have them. We also recognize that the churches will continue to provide ministries to military men and women.

While civilian ministries could not replace the military chaplaincy without serious loss of effectiveness, there is unlimited opportunity for civilian ministries to supplement and cooperate with the ministries of chaplains. This is particularly true stateside, where numerous civilian churches are in the vicinity of military bases. 

Two immediate goals came out of the Symposium. First, the creation of an EDSD Military Resource Manual to aid the local parish in developing a ministry to the military or complementing one that is already in place. It is important to note that this is not a “one size fits all” scenario. Many factors determine the content and scope of military outreach. And second, to foster a consciousness of outreach to the military community from the church.  

Among the needs identified at the symposium:

• • •         Care and Support (practical help)

o   Before deployments

o   During deployments

o   After deployments

o   After separation from service

• • •         Pastoral Care

o   Grief and loss counseling

o   Healing for combat trauma

o   Marriage counseling

o   Overcoming addictions

• • •         Education

o   Marriage Enrichment

o   Parenting

o   Finances

o   Navigating available services

No one, at least of all chaplains, would deny that many military people can and should turn to civilian churches for spiritual nurture. Most chaplains have no desire to “compete” with local churches. Neither the denominations that sent them into the armed services, nor military people themselves want such competition. Chaplains recognize that the local parish, which confronts military men and women from a stance of relative permanence, can offer a kind of normal and stable church experience that chaplains themselves, because they are part of the institutional environment and its mobility, cannot provide.

If you want to learn more about Military Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, email me at tcash@edsd.org.

In 1973 St. John’s Episcopal Church in Chula Vista hired a teenager as their organist.  This year marks fifty years of faithful service and beautiful music by Cheryl Seppala!

She has served with five rectors and many assistants and interims. Cheryl truly is St. John’s institutional memory and a blessing to all.

In 2006 Jane Graves Ferguson retired as choir director, the tenth with whom Cheryl had worked. Fr. George Keith asked Cheryl to fill in temporarily “for a few months”.  Cheryl says, “I don’t know how it happened” but all these years later, she is still wearing two hats.

“Watching St. John’s burn to the ground (in 1994) is perhaps one of my most vivid memories,” she says.

Cheryl and her husband Wayne, who is organist for St. Andrew’s in La Mesa, have been very generous over the years. They purchased and donated a new organ in memory of Fr. Jerry Graves, who died suddenly in 1987.  For years, they have taken care of problems that have come up with organ repairs at their own expense; many times they have transported theater organs on their own to the church for cantatas and special concerts with guest artists.  During a time when the church was suffering financially, Cheryl agreed to take a temporary pay cut to help the church meet its expenses and even took care of paying the section leaders a few times in order not to have the choir diminished. Many times, she has donated money to cover food costs at musical events. Cheryl is very humble and does not broadcast these acts of kindness.

St. John’s has had ice cream socials, church revues, fundraisers for rebuilding, promotion ceremonies for the children attending St. John’s School, and, almost every time, Cheryl was asked and willingly agreed to play for these events, even when they were outside the realm of her job description. She has also co-produced several Christmas Cantatas with Wayne, joining the choirs of St. Andrew’s and St. John’s.

On September 17, St. John’s showed their love and appreciation of this special lady with an organ tribute concert and reception.

As the beauty of Southern California lures us into a sense of tranquility, the wildfire season reminds us to remain vigilant. It’s not just homes at risk but also places of worship—our churches, which serve as crucial community hubs and sanctuaries in times of crisis. 

In the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, the threat of wildfires is an unfortunate but undeniable reality, particularly as we face increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. The area’s natural landscape, chaparral, scrublands, and canyons provide ample fuel for fires to ignite and spread. Adding to this are the seasonally hot, dry Fall conditions, exacerbated by the Santa Ana winds that can swiftly turn a small flame into an uncontainable blaze.

By acknowledging the threat of wildfires and taking proactive steps to mitigate risks, our churches can remain strong pillars of community during times of crisis. Let’s support each other in prayer and action, making our community more resilient to whatever challenges lie ahead.

Knowing that areas around San Diego are susceptible to wildfires can help us safeguard these sacred spaces while underscoring the importance of community support during turbulent times.

Jeff Green, EDSD Safety Officer, has gathered a number of resources to help prepare for wildfire season below: 

WILDFIRE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES

IF YOU ARE UNDER A WILDFIRE WARNING, GET TO SAFETY IMMEDIATELY:

• Leave if told to do so.
• If trapped, call 9-1-1.
• Listen for emergency information and alerts.
• Use N95 masks to keep particles out of the air you breathe.

PREPARE NOW:

• Sign up for your community’s warning system. 
• The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
• Know your community’s evacuation plans and find several ways to leave the area. 
• Drive the evacuation routes and find shelter locations ahead of time. 
• Have a plan for pets and livestock.
• Gather emergency supplies, including N95 respirator masks.
• Keep in mind each person’s specific medical needs, including medications. 
• Don’t forget the needs of pets.
• Confine pets and livestock to a specific area so they can be found and evacuated quickly.
• Designate a room that can be closed off from outside air. 
• Close all doors and windows. 
• Set up a portable air cleaner to keep indoor pollution levels low when smoky conditions exist.
• Keep important documents in a fireproof, safe place. Create password-protected digital copies.
• Find an outdoor water source with a hose that can reach any area of your property.
• Create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris, or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your buildings.
• Review insurance coverage to make sure it is enough to replace your property.
• Pay attention to air quality alerts.

SURVIVE DURING THE FIRE:

• Evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to do so.
• If trapped, call 911 and give your location, but be aware that emergency response could be delayed or impossible. Turn on lights or place bright-colored pieces of clothing or signs in your window to help rescuers find you.
• If trapped, call 9-1-1 even if you can see responders outside your building (they may not know you’re inside).
• Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.
• Use N95 masks to keep harmful particles out of the air you breathe.
• If you are not ordered to evacuate, but smoky conditions exist, stay inside in a safe location or go to a community building where smoke levels are lower.

BE SAFE AFTER THE FIRE:

• Listen to authorities to find out when it is safe to return and whether water is safe to drink.
• Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris, and live embers. The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or spark another fire.
• Consider the danger to pets and livestock.
• Send text messages or use social media to reach out to family and friends. Phone systems are often busy following a disaster. 
• Document property damage with photographs. 
• Conduct an inventory and contact your insurance company for assistance.
• Wildfires dramatically change landscape and ground conditions, which can lead to an increased risk of flooding due to heavy rains, flash flooding and mudflows. Flood risk remains significantly higher until vegetation is restored up to 5 years after a wildfire. 
• Consider purchasing flood insurance to protect the life you’ve built and to assure financial protection from future flooding.

INFOGRAPHICS:

https://www.readyforwildfire.org/wp-content/uploads/calfire_go_brochure_LINOweb.pdf

https://www.readyforwildfire.org/

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/

https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/wildfire-information-sheet.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/orr/infographics/00_docs/beready_wildfires.pdf

https://resqme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Get-ReadyInfographicWeb_page_001.jpg

https://surefirecpr.com/wp-content/uploads/surefirecpr-wildfire-checklist-infographic-back-4-01-1.jpg

The tradition of blessing animals can be traced back 800 years to Saint Francis of Assisi. His pioneering act of blessing animals highlighted the intrinsic connection between humans and all of creation. Recognizing the divine in all living beings has only become more relevant today, especially when we consider recent data on pet ownership.

Between 2018 and 2020, the landscape of pet ownership underwent a notable shift. Millennials, representing 32% of all U.S. pet owners in 2020, have shown a growing affinity, especially towards cats and birds, with ownership percentages rising from 30% to 34% for cats and a significant jump from 36% to 45% for birds within these two years. Despite these changes, dogs remained the top pet choice for this generation, with 80% of Millennial pet owners having canine companions. Gen Z, the age group immediately following Millennials, accounted for 14% of pet ownership, indicating the continued importance of pets for younger generations.

With dogs being the most owned pet across all age groups, they’ve become inadvertent ambassadors of evangelism. When a clergyperson blesses a pet, it opens avenues for dialogues on faith, spirituality, and community. It also becomes an open invitation for younger generations to explore spiritual paths they might not have previously considered.

Pets aren’t merely considered domesticated animals that share our spaces. For a rapidly growing segment of the population, particularly among Millennials and Generation Z, pets are cherished members of the family. These pets, affectionately termed “fur babies,” are integral to the lives of their owners, providing emotional support, companionship, and often a tangible connection to the broader community. Acknowledging this profound bond, is it time for our faith leaders to bring Blessing of the Animals directly to the community–in dog parks and other public areas?

Like Ashes to Go on Ash Wednesday, pet blessings “to go” is a modern response to changing societal values and trends. It is recognizing what is important to our neighbors and celebrating it. By considering the data and understanding the deep-rooted love younger generations harbor for their pets, the Church can commit to innovative ways of connection, engagement, and fostering spiritual exploration. In doing so, we share the love of Christ with the world. 

This year, bring Blessing of the Animals into the world. Partner with your neighborhood veterinarian, humane society, dog park, or pet store–these blessings can be offered in places where young pet owners frequently visit. Invite your partners to post clear signage in their facilities and invite them to make themselves available for pet blessings so that your community can learn what their organization and the church offer the community. This adaptation not only makes these blessings more accessible but provides those hesitant to interact with the church a way to receive the Good News.

In various cultures, larks are said to symbolize, represent, and inspire many things. In some Latin American cultures, for example, they are believed to advise humans on how to improve their lives. In Japan, the lark represents change, adventure, and courage when exploring the unknown. For the indigenous Lakota & Dakota traditions, the lark represents renewal and vitality; for the people in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, LARK stands for Localized Anti-Racism Knowledge, a new program developed by the Diocese to help us better understand our local history and background.

This program will give you a lark’s-eye view of the stories of others as we explore ways to understand and practice anti-racism in our own diocese.

The Localized Anti-Racism Knowledge (LARK) program, developed by Mae Chao and Thérèse Carmona, is a unique initiative tailored to understanding the racial history and current racial dynamics of our region. LARK is designed as a two-day workshop set to take an in-depth look at the racial and ethnic history of the region. By interpreting local issues through a wide spectrum of narratives and perspectives, this innovative program aims to expose participants to a multitude of stories and viewpoints–fostering a broader and more comprehensive understanding of the region’s racial landscape.

After attending the alpha test of the program, Bishop Susan said, “This program will knock your socks off.”

One of the key objectives of LARK is to challenge and expand the single-story perception, a perspective that tends to oversimplify and reduce complex issues by viewing them through a single lens. By encouraging participants to consider the diverse experiences, histories, and perspectives present in their local context, LARK promotes a richer, more nuanced understanding of race-related issues. This awareness, in turn, fosters empathy and mutual respect, ultimately helping to bridge racial and ethnic divides in the community.

“I was surprised at how useful this was. I thought the questions that facilitators asked were thoughtful, and the content was geared a lot towards unconscious bias & systemic racism. I normally get nervous that these spaces will not be safe for people of color, but the way you both facilitated (including calling on people of color to speak first at times) promoted a space of equity,” said one participant.   

Bishop Susan said, “I learned so much and was challenged to take concrete steps forward. I hope that more and more people will take the opportunity to participate in LARK as it becomes available throughout the diocese.”

Larks (the bird) are sometimes mentioned as representing the shift from night to day–the break of a new dawn. They are unique among birds in that they sing not only while perched but also in flight, and a lark’s song is interpreted by some as a promise of better times ahead. In much the same way, the LARK program signifies a new horizon in our diocese, a promise of a brighter, more inclusive future.

The LARK program is a crucial step toward creating a new, informed, and empathetic community within our diocese. By spotlighting the local racial history and bringing forth multiple narratives that often remain unheard, LARK equips its participants with the knowledge to challenge racial biases and prejudices. Through its mission, LARK not only contributes to building a more inclusive community, but it also challenges participants to commit to specific action to help combat racism and advance racial reconciliation and justice within our diocesan  region.  

Whether you are a novice or veteran in the areas of racial justice and reconciliation, whether you are a Sacred Ground alum, current Sacred Ground participant, or have never even heard of Sacred Ground, this LARK workshop is for you! All are encouraged to attend, and all are welcome!

For more information, please contact Rachel Amasing at rambasing@edsd.org

Deacons are ordained ministers of the church, dedicated to a special ministry of servanthood. According to the Book of Common Prayer’s Ordination service for Deacons, deacons make Christ and his redemptive love known; interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world; assist in worship; and serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely. In the Diocese of San Diego, we are grateful for the ministry of deacons in many of our congregations. They not only serve God’s people themselves, but they also lead the people of God in serving the world around them.

On Sunday, October 15, the Diocese of San Diego will celebrate the ministry of deacons – and, by extension, the ministry of service that is the calling of all baptized Christians. Bishop Susan is authorizing congregations who wish to celebrate deacons that day to transfer the feast of Philip, Deacon and Evangelist (October 11) to the following Sunday. Bishop Susan also requests that congregations pray the following prayer of thanksgiving for the ministry of deacons on Sunday, October 15:

O God, we praise you for sending your Son Jesus Christ, who took on himself the form of a servant, and humbled himself, becoming obedient event to death on the cross. We praise you that you have highly exalted him, and made him Lord of all; and that, through him, we know that whoever would be great must be servant of all. We praise you for the many ministries in your Church, and for calling some of your servants to be ordained in the order of Deacons, who have a special ministry of servanthood. We pray for God’s blessing upon all deacons (especially N.), and ask that through them, we may all be inspired to serve God’s people, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In our diocese, our Archdeacon, or leader of the deacons, is The Venerable Cindy Campos. Many of you have been privileged to hear Archdeacon Cindy speak in your congregation about the ministry of deacons. She is happy to visit congregations at the invitation of their clergy, and is also happy to talk with anyone who feels they may be called to explore becoming a deacon themselves. Archdeacon Cindy may be reached at CCampos@edsd.org.

Here are some ideas for how you could celebrate Deacons’ Day on October 15:

• Celebrate St. Philip’s Day, using the appointed lessons: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 67; and Luke 24:13-27.
• Invite a deacon to preach about the ministry of Diakonia.
• Include bulletin information about St. Philip and the ministry of deacons.

We thank God for the ministry of all our deacons – they are true servant leaders in our diocese.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last week, the President of the Episcopal Church’s House of Deputies, Ms. Julia Ayala Harris, wrote a letter to deputies, informing them that she had been the victim of unwanted physical contact and inappropriate comments from a retired bishop at the last General Convention in 2021. She filed Title IV disciplinary charges, which have been in process over the last year, and has just been notified that the church attorney (similar to a prosecuting attorney in a court case) had referred the matter for a “pastoral response” rather than further disciplinary proceedings. She was very disappointed in this response. It is important to say that a “pastoral response” can include non-public disciplinary actions (e.g., the Presiding Bishop could impose restrictions on the bishop’s ministry). But I can understand her disappointment.

The retired bishop involved in the situation has now been identified as The Rt. Rev. Edward Konieczny, whom I served as Canon in the Diocese of Oklahoma from 2017-19. This revelation has been heartbreaking for me. I ask your prayers for the Diocese of Oklahoma, its current bishop, The Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed, and for all who are devastated by this revelation.

President Ayala Harris’ letter opened up a wide conversation across the church, as you might imagine. We who follow Jesus have an obligation to do all in our power to support “the lease of these,” and to protect victims against any kind of abuse. Sadly, there have been several other high-profile Title IV charges against bishops in the last few years, and there is a perception across the church that bishops receive more lenient treatment than priests or deacons in Title IV cases. While I don’t have enough information about the events that President Ayala Harris experienced to express an opinion about that case, I want you to know that I am fully committed to work toward full accountability for all bishops, and for all orders of ministry in the church.

To that end, I worked with several other female bishops in Province VIII (i.e., the western states) to draft a letter to the Presiding Bishop, requesting that time be set aside at our upcoming House of Bishops meeting for a full discussion on this issue. That letter began as a small endeavor, and grew to include nearly 60 signatures from bishops across the church. I anticipate that significant time will be devoted to this issue at our upcoming House of Bishops meeting. That meeting was originally scheduled to be held in person, and was moved to Zoom due to the Presiding Bishop’s health issues. This will necessarily limit the scope of the conversation, but I anticipate that the work will continue far beyond this meeting.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry responded to the revelations on Tuesday of this week with a statement to the church, calling for the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution, and Canons to review the Title IV provisions for bishops.

A discussion at the House of Bishops is only a first step, and a review of our Title IV canons is only a second step. Many more steps need to be taken to protect victims in our church, and ensure that every person in God’s church is safe and protected. For now, I want you to know the following:

• I am committed to full and equal accountability for bishops under Title IV, and will work toward that goal.
• I am in communication with others – both bishops and deputies – as to the best way to amend our canons to achieve this goal.
• I recognize that a large part of the problem is cultural rather than canonical, and will speak out to change the culture of our church so that all are held accountable.
• I care deeply about the issue of providing safety in God’s Church, and will work to make that a reality in all the places we have fallen short of God’s hope for us.

I ask your prayers for our church, for President Ayala Harris, for Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, and for all who are vulnerable. Please pray for me, as I pray for all of you.

In Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

It is rare to a find a place where you feel at home. I don’t necessarily mean your experience of the family you grew up in, but home in the truest sense of the word. A place where you can be known and seen. Where your most authentic self can be nurtured and shine through. Where you feel safe. Where you are connected to something bigger than yourself—a network of people or something transcendent like God or nature.

This is my experience of Camp Steven’s. It is a home for campers, counselors and staff, and chaplains like myself—in the truest sense of the word.

This summer I had the privilege of serving as a chaplain at Camp Steven’s alongside Charlette Preslar and Rev. KC Robinson (not to brag, but I got an amazing team). I knew we were off to a great start when Charlette had three shirts made for us that said in bold, cheerful rainbow colors: “This Chaplain Loves You.” That was essentially our role, loving around 200 campers under the age of fourteen who came from the San Diego and Los Angeles Dioceses. Many campers didn’t have a church affiliation, and this will likely be their only experience of religion and spiritual formation.

As chaplains, we provided emotional and spiritual support to campers, counselors, and staff, both through our presence and in coordinating the spiritual components of camp. This mainly included giving homilies at the evening gatherings, leading Spiritual Sunrise in the mornings, and celebrating the final Eucharist.

Spiritual Sunrise was particularly meaningful to me. At the break of day, we hiked around to all the cabins to collect campers. Our most enthusiastic were the youngest, who were already awake and waiting for us. After prompting sleepy kids to put on their shoes, we walked along dirt trails to the outdoor chapel. As the sun rose, we sat on pews that consisted of logs, under a thick canopy of ripe, green grape vines.

Campers from other sessions had put sacred relics around the altar—stones, sticks, shells, expressive pieces of original art. It is a space that has been formed within, and exists through, the beloved community and the creative vision of children. Each morning, we entered into this thin place to practice mindfulness meditation, reflect on scripture, and pray. Without fail, I had a fresh sense of God’s presence as I engaged all my senses, heard the kids’ perceptive insights, and witnessed their growing love for one another.

Our final Eucharist also met in this outdoor chapel. A handful of kids were in leadership roles, and the bread and grape juice was made by campers earlier in the week. I had asked one of the younger girls to be my chalice bearer, and she carefully practiced her lines with me in preparation. When the time came, kids approached the altar, and I broke off hearty pieces of homemade bread to give each one of them. One by one, my petite companion took the bread from kids’ palms and dipped it in the juice, dying the bread a vibrant purple. I heard her words, “the body and blood of Christ, keep you in eternal life,” as each camper was spiritually nourished.

It is hard to put into words the inner transformation that happens at camp. In just a matter of days, kids who didn’t know each other have formed a family with their peers and counselors. Kids who had never been away from their parents overnight have a newfound sense of independence. Kids who have only spent time in cities’ bright lights and busyness have been re-connected to nature, the dark night’s sky, and their body’s natural rhythms. Kids who don’t normally have family dinners or quality food have eaten three wholesome meals a day, including vegetables grown in the garden and eggs from the resident chickens, alongside a table full of lively children.

This is the sacramental life. These are the means of grace that put campers in direct contact with Christ’s Presence: friendship, family, nature, food, interconnectedness, homemade bread and grape juice, and chaplain’s that love them. Joining our lives together through these ordinary, everyday sacraments is what makes Camp Stevens a home.

Registration for 2024’s Summer Camp will open in March 2024.

For me, it began with ‘Beanie Bundles’ for field workers in Imperial Valley. At the gathering of deacons last Fall, we dedicated ourselves to serving the needs of the farm workers. What is it that we can offer that can truly be useful to those tending the land each and every day? Warmth.

For many laborers in the field, the day starts well before the sun comes up–in every season of the year. In the deep cold of winter, hands and feet freeze. In the heat of summer, brows burn, and water is life. 

These are our siblings in Christ who go out in the winter at 3:00 AM, when the frost is still on the ground, oftentimes working until late in the evening. They work the fields so that fresh fruits and vegetables can make their way to our tables–nourishing us and our families. 

In the late 1800s, as the Industrial Revolution took hold, the poor and recent immigrants worked 12-hour days, extremely unsafe working conditions, and insufficient sanitary facilities or breaks. In some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories, and mines for a fraction of adult wages.

Today, we celebrate Labor Day; we have standard work hours, minimum wages, and a number of laws protecting workers, but a largely poor group of people still suffer difficult working conditions.

Being able to meet these men, see their joy, their smiles, feel their exuberant thank you and an occasional hug–the need was real, and the path forward was clear.

The Deacons of EDSD began a Warm Hands, Warm Feet campaign to collect the needed supplies to put together Beanie Bundles for the workers. These bundles are held in beanies (a hat to warm their heads) that are filled with fresh socks, gloves, candy kisses, oranges, or fresh fruit. These small packages are given freely, in person, by teams of deacons and volunteers from the hills of Fallbrook to the deserts of Yuma, AZ.   

Several years ago, a conversation with the Rev. Lilia Mendoza touched my heart. Rev. Lilia was invited to distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday to the workers in the field. These men could not be in church to receive ashes due to their work and lack of transportation. The workers were deeply moved by Rev. Lilia’s care for them. Equally so, Rev. Lilia was deeply moved, and the story deeply moved me. Now it has prompted us to move forward with a ministry that provides real things for people in real need.   

When I visit churches throughout the diocese as Archdeacon, I always share my service ministry with the congregation. To me, sharing my experience with farm workers helps to spread the good news of Christ with those that I meet. Like when Rev. Lilia shared her ministry with me, my story invites these congregations to fully participate in Christ-like service–it opens congregations to the needs around them. Being aware of the needs of farm laborers inspires many to act in service and generosity.  

With the financial help of so many across the diocese and the generosity of Bishop Susan, we were able to warm the hands, feet, and heads of over 850 field workers in the Imperial Valley. 

The question I have been asking since distributing these beanie bundles last Advent is, ‘What can we do to nourish these workers, to build relationships with them, and let them know that last Advent was not just a one-time event, that we really care.’

In talking with Robert Vivar, EDSD Migration Missioner, Rev. Lilia Mendoza, Vicar of Saints Peter and Paul in El Centro, and those working directly with the farm workers, there continues to be a need for these bundles.  

Now, a group of deacons is expanding this ministry and is planning for Advent 2023. What a great time of year to be generous!  

But what about actually engaging in fellowship, sharing a meal, warming stomachs and hearts with sharing a meal? Loving our siblings in Christ?

This year, we hope to distribute the bundles and provide a breakfast of hot oatmeal, coffee, and hot chocolate–a moment where we can break bread as a community. Joining the workers in the meal and engaging in conversation. 

Through the generosity of St. Paul’s in the Desert and Steve Moore, we already have 1000 pairs of Bomba socks for the Beanie Bundles. St James By The Sea has committed to supplying us with 720 beanies (Thank You, Hook and Needles Group,  Barbara Alcorn, and The Rev. Mark Hargreaves). Ed Campos, my husband, is donating 3000 Candy Kisses–sometimes chocolate is just what the soul needs. But we could offer so much more with your support.  

If you are so moved to help with this outreach, financially or with your time, please contact Archdeacon Cindy Campos at Ccampos@edsd.org.  Financial donations may go to the Deacon’s Outreach Fund here.

In recognition of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego’s 50th anniversary this year, we are posting a series of articles exploring our history. In the photo above, the newly consecrated Bishop Wolterstorff greets the congregation with the Peace.

Beneath the shadow of San Diego palm trees, a religious transformation was taking root in the early 1970s; a new chapter began for Episcopalians throughout San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside counties. A portion of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles was carved out, paving the way for a new diocese–The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. And with a new diocese came a new leader. 

Bishop Robert M. Wolterstorff was a stalwart figure with a past deeply intertwined with the region. Having served two decades as the rector and associate rector at St. James by-the-Sea in La Jolla, he wasn’t new to the San Diego community. When he was consecrated as the first bishop of the freshly minted Episcopal Diocese of San Diego on March 30, 1974, anticipation buzzed in the air.

Bishop Wolterstorff said, “People call me bishop, but it’s hard to realize they’re actually talking to me. It’s a new experience that’s going to take some getting used to.”

The day before the consecration, Sunday, Bishop Wolterstorff and his family worshiped at St. James in La Jolla. He said, “We sat in a pew just like everybody else, something we haven’t done very much as a family down through the years.”   

In a city as varied and vibrant as San Diego, Episcopalians were a growing family, with 39 distinct congregations and 20,000 members. Bishop Wolterstorff recognized the diversity and richness of the diocese’s tapestry. Bishop Wolterstorff pondered aloud to a San Diego Union newspaper reporter that he intends “to knit us into a family.”

Many in the community remember Bishop Wolterstorff’s beaming optimism. Susan Mallory, a bank president who had the privilege of knowing him since 1957, fondly reminisced about him as “a unifier.” To her, the blend of his unwavering faith, values, and optimism made him an inspiration.

However, the journey was full of challenges. The winds of change were blowing across the broader Episcopal community. In 1976, a significant shift occurred as the church voted to ordain women as priests. While many embraced this change, Bishop Wolterstorff held onto his traditional beliefs. Two years after his retirement, the diocese ordained Patricia Bush, the first female priest in the Diocese of San Diego. 

Beyond his ecclesiastical life, Bishop Wolterstorff had a passion for education. The Bishop’s School in La Jolla witnessed his influential hand. Under his trusteeship, the school transformed from an all-girls boarding institution into a coeducational daytime campus. 

As we trace Bishop Wolterstorff’s journey back to his early days, we find a young man born in 1914 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The call of the divine led him to St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and later to the Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. The 1940s saw him ordained, first as a deacon and then as a priest, marking the commencement of a life devoted to faith.

When the news of his passing at 92 reached the community, it came with a heavy heart. But in the silent corridors of the churches he served and in the hallowed grounds of the institutions he touched, Bishop Robert M. Wolterstorff’s legacy lives on–a testament to a life lived in faith, ministry, and an unwavering love for this community.