Canon Participates in Diwali Celebration

Canon Participates in Diwali Celebration

Nov 14, 2023 | #Stories

Story by Canon Debbie Low-Skinner
Photos by Canon Debbie Low-Skinner and Michael Pappas
 

“Om Shanti!”  That was the greeting of peace I received when I attended the Nov. 11 Diwali celebration and spiritual meditation service that was held at the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center (BKMC) in SF (I attended as Bishop Marc Andrus’ representative and as Vice President of the SF Interfaith Council Board).

Per the PBS News Hour: “Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India — and for Hindus in particular. It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people in the world’s most populous nation and the diaspora. Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer. Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.”

The BKMC celebration began with candle lighting and prayers offered by myself, a few other interfaith ministers, and then the BKMC ministers.  All our prayers from our various faith traditions gave glory to God as Light and Peace, which is the theme of Diwali. The teaching offered by a BKMC elder minister was that each of us contains a soul that is a point of light from God, who is the Source of Light, Peace/Shanti, Truth, and Love. When we pray, and especially when we meditate, we connect with God and reignite the light within us. And when we pray together, the light is brighter and spreads further beyond us.

Here is the Diwali prayer I offered:
Most magnificent and omnipotent God, you created the Earth and also the Sun, Moon, and Stars that illumine the heavens.

You are the Source of Life and the Light of the World.  Your Light is the True Light that shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.

We, who you created in your image, are enjoined to let our light shine before others, like lanterns on lampstands, so that others may see our good works as reflections of the goodness of God and give you glory.

O gracious and glorious Light, pure brightness of our ever-living Father in Heaven, continue to illumine our way to become closer and closer like your Son Jesus Christ.

Christ taught us to spread your love, healing, and light in this imperfect world, that is fraught now with so much suffering, fear, hunger, injustice, distrust, hatred, and war.

With the encouragement of your Holy Spirit, strengthen our resolve to be your light-bearers in the world and to spread your love, truth, healing, peace, and salvation to all.  Amen/Om Shanti!

PS– Recent demographic studies show that Indian immigrants and persons of Indian descent are the fastest-growing Asian populations in the Bay Area, especially in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.

Eligibility to vote in the Electing Convention is determined by the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of California

Eligibility to vote in the Electing Convention is determined by the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of California

Sep 26, 2023 | #DidYouKnow, #FunFacts

Eligibility to vote in the Electing Convention is determined by the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of California, which are publicly available from both the DioCal and Diocesan Convention websites: diocal.org and diocalconvention.org; and the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church.

Lay eligibility

Lay Delegates for the Electing Convention

Congregational leadership (Vicars, Rectors, and Wardens) should be prepared to report their elected delegates and alternates as soon as possible following their congregational annual meetings for 2023. An online form is available for this purpose.

Clergy eligibility

All clergy who are canonically resident are eligible to participate and vote at the Electing Convention scheduled in December:

All canonically resident clergy are eligible and expected to participate at Convention, including:

  • All canonically resident clergy who are elected or appointed to offices of ministry within congregations or institutions of the Diocese up to 30 days prior to the Convention; DioCal Article VI – 6.2(a)(i)&(ii)

  • All canonically resident clergy who have the Bishop’s consent to work outside of the Church, provided they have filed their 2023 annual report on their ministry prior to the Convention; DioCal Article VI – 6.2(a)(iii) and TEC Canon I.6.2

    All canonically resident clergy not included in a parochial report of a church in the Diocese of California must complete the Report of Non-Parochial Ministry. Click here for more information about clergy whose ministries are not in parochial reports.

  • A list of all clerics eligible to vote will be prepared by the Bishop’s office well ahead of the Electing Convention. Any dispute regarding a cleric’s eligibility to vote will be resolved by the Convention after reviewing the recommend

  • All canonically resident retired clergy who, according to the Church Pension Fund, have retired or are on permanent disability leave from ministry within the Diocese. DioCal Article VI – 6.2(b)

  • All retired clergy are asked to complete a Retired Clergy Report.

A list of all clerics eligible to vote will be prepared by the Bishop’s office well ahead of the Electing Convention. Any dispute regarding a cleric’s eligibility to vote will be resolved by the Convention after reviewing the recommendations of the Committee on Credentials. DioCal Canons 2.01-2.03

If you have questions about your eligibility to participate in Convention, please contact Denise Obando, the Diocesan Canon for Transition Ministry ([email protected]).