Nov 14, 2024 | #Stories
Story and photos by Canon Stephanie Martin Taylor
Our Saviour’s banner received a special blessing at the beginning of the service. It survived the 2023 arson attack on the church’s building in Oakland.
Members of the Church of Our Saviour, Oakland, gathered in a Methodist chapel in San Leandro on Sunday, November 10, for their first in-person worship service in more than a year and a half.
The congregation has been displaced since April 2023, when an arson attack at their building in Oakland’s Chinatown caused extensive smoke and water damage. In subsequent months, the building was also broken into and vandalized multiple times, creating additional stress for the congregation.
Sunday’s Eucharist service, offered in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, began with the Rev. Merry Chan Ong, Our Saviour’s rector, blessing various parts of the chapel. She sprinkled holy water toward the chapel doors, the altar, the electronic keyboard—which the congregation purchased with help from the Episcopal Impact Fund—and the Our Saviour banner.
“We want to bless the banner because, during the fire, the banner was really close to the narthex,” Ong explained to the congregation. “I’m surprised it’s not burned,” she added.
Although the congregation became accustomed to worshiping online during the pandemic, Ong wanted to find space to resume in-person worship on Sunday mornings. She contacted more than 50 area churches but had no luck. Finally, she connected with Formosan United Methodist Church, a Taiwanese congregation in San Leandro. The church agreed to let Our Saviour rent its chapel on Sunday mornings and for special events, including a Thanksgiving Day service on Thursday, November 28, at 11 a.m.; a Christmas concert on Sunday, December 8, at 1:30 p.m.; and a Christmas Eve service on Tuesday, December 24, at 11 p.m.
After reviewing some of the photos from Sunday’s service, Ong wrote, “Did you notice the light shining behind my back? One of my leaders noticed it.” She said the arc of white light assured them that the light of Christ was in their midst, along with the unifying presence of the Holy Spirit.
The chapel is located at 788 Lewelling Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94579. For more information about upcoming events and worship services, please contact the Rev. Merry Chan Ong at [email protected].
The front doors of Church of Our Saviour, Oakland, shortly after the arson in April 2023. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Merry Chan Ong
The Our Saviour congregation poses for a group photo following Sunday’s services. Photo courtesy of Our Saviour, Oakland.
The Rev. Merry Chan Ong preaching on Sunday, November 10.
Sep 19, 2024 | #Stories
Story submitted by the Rev. Canon Debbie Low-Skinner (Ret.), Chair of DioCal’s Asian/Pacific Islander Commission
Photos from the Facebook feed of the Rev. Bruce Woodcock, Asia Pacific Partnership Officer at The Episcopal Church
The Rev. Merry Chan Ong, president of the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministries (EAM) Council, attended the EAM South Asian Convocation in St. Louis from Sept. 9-11. The South Asian Convocation includes Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi Episcopalians.
The photo above shows attendees with the Rt. Rev. Dr. Deon K. Johnson, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. The Rev. Merry, rector of Our Saviour, Oakland, and priest in charge of True Sunshine, San Francisco, is in the second row, fourth from the end on the right.
The EAM Japanese Convocation was held July 6-10 at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. Christ Church Sei Ko Kai, San Francisco, is a member. Dr. Gayle Kawahara, a Sei Ko Kai member, is the EAM Council’s secretary.
The EAM Chinese Convocation was held Sept. 12-14 in New York City. True Sunshine, San Francisco, and Our Saviour, Oakland, are members of the Chinese Convocation.
The EAM Filipino Convocation was scheduled for Sept. 27-30 at St. Luke’s in Las Vegas but is being rescheduled for November. Holy Child & St. Martin’s Church, Daly City, is a member of the Filipino Convocation.
There is no Pacific Islander Convocation scheduled this year. The Sa Paula Tonga congregation at St. Paul’s, Burlingame, is a member of the Pacific Islander Convocation.
View the full 2024 Episcopal Asianamerican calendar.
Sep 19, 2024 | #Stories
Photos and story submitted by Mercer Stronck
On Saturday, Sept. 14, Christ Church Portola Valley and Woodside parishioners, along with community members, packed meals with the nonprofit Rise Against Hunger for the third consecutive year.
To accommodate the more than 100 volunteers who participated, the event was moved from the church grounds to the Portola Valley Town Center event room.
The energetic group prepared 15,000 meals for school-aged children in the Philippines affected by Super Typhoon Carina, which hit the islands in July. “Nothing else matters until you satisfy the base level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs—food and water,” said Jeremy Loader, the Rise Against Hunger organizer. “Each box is enough to feed one child for an entire school year!” In total, the efficient and smiling assembly line produced 71 boxes in just under two hours, with children enthusiastically striking a large gong for every thousand meals packed to celebrate each milestone.
After packing the boxes and cleaning the event room, a large group headed to Christ Church, where a hearty lunch of chicken noodle soup, salami and cheese croissant sandwiches, and potato salad with apple pie for dessert was waiting. “This was my first year participating in this event, which has such a major impact on feeding hungry children in areas of the world facing major challenges. All ages of our community, from 4 to 92, were present participating in this amazing outreach effort,” said Deacon Lauren McCombs.
“This is a very unique event,” said Mary Soubirous, who helped organize the event and operated one of the many meal-bag sealing stations. “It combines partnership with the fun and worthwhile task of feeding those in need. It is especially rewarding for our youth because it gets them to think beyond themselves.”
On Saturday, September 28, the packed meals will leave the Port of Oakland bound for Manila, where they will be received by Rise Against Hunger’s partner Convoy of Hope. If you would like to attend next year, keep an eye on Christ Church’s website in August.
Sep 5, 2024 | #Stories
By: Lawrence N. DiCostanzo of Saint Alban’s Church, Albany, California
In the early summer of 2022, my wife and I took a walking trip on the Orkney Islands way up in the north of Scotland. On the way home we visited friends in Winchester way down in the south of England. Winchester and the Orkneys are full of sacred places. There’s the huge stone Ring of Brodgar on the Orkneys. It predates Stonehenge. And then there is Winchester cathedral, not quite as old, but still quite old and quite beautiful.
Looking back, I think our trip had an aura. It was an atmosphere of faith and hope, even from thousands of years ago. And it was an atmosphere of connection to people who preceded us but were probably like us when they looked up. It must be that this atmosphere led me to wander into a surprising and delightful experience that has led to a lasting connection for over a year now. Here is the story.
On the Sunday we were in Winchester, I wanted to go to Holy Communion. Surprisingly, it was hard to find a service! Eventually, web-surfing brought up Saint Matthew’s Church which had a service at just the right time for me. Saint Matthew is quite a small church that is united with a larger church called Saint Paul’s. Hence, the name Saint Matthew with Saint Paul.
I took off walking to Saint Matthew’s to get there in time for the service. My GPS, instead, brought me to Saint Paul’s where the service had just ended! Taking pity on my sweaty, bedraggled, disappointed state, a lovely woman broke off her post-church conversation and actually drove me to Saint Matthew’s which was not that far away, but far enough for a walker to arrive late to service.
Saint Matthew’s is a small and very old church that dates to the 12th century. It has old-fashioned pews and hymn books without the music. I think it’s assumed you’ll pick up the tune from the organ. The service was simple and the sermon on worrying about not doing enough for Jesus was striking. The pews held about as many people as in my home church, Saint Alban’s, in Albany.
At the end of the service, people came up and welcomed me heartily.They hoped I would stay for a bit of social time. I said I’d love a cup of coffee. They said, oh, we don’t have coffee. I thought, tea is on the menu. They said, how about a glass of sherry. I lit up. It was a great social hour, and I really wish I could have joined Saint Matthew with Saint Paul.
But actually, as it turned out, Saint Matthew and Saint Paul and Saint Alban in fact did join each other. In line with the Orkney-Winchester atmosphere, I could not get my experience out of my mind. Back in California, I wrote to the rector of the unified churches with the suggestion that our church and theirs might join in mutually praying for each other every first Sunday of the month. He wrote, let’s see where the Spirit takes us. Now, every month we send each other a list of prayer requests for our churches. At Saint Alban’s, we pray for our English kin on “first Sunday” at personal prayer time. We list each other’s requests, and we say this prayer:
Almighty and ever living God, ruler of all things in heaven and on earth, hear our prayers for the parish family of Saint Matthew with Saint Paul in Winchester, England. Strengthen the faithful and enliven them with Hope and Love. Grant them all thins necessary for our common life with them, and bring us all to be on one heart and mind within your Holy Church. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
We never see each other, but we have learned about each other’s work, issues, and needs. Prayer has increased out fellowship within the Church across thousands of miles. At Saint Alban’s, our time of prayer for our English siblings makes everyone smile.
Any church in any diocese can do something like this, even with the church in the next town. And you wouldn’t have to go to the Orkneys and Winchester, England, to find it!
Aug 27, 2024 | #PressRelease, #Stories
With great pleasure, The Rt. Rev. Austin Keith Rios, 9th Bishop of the Diocese of California, announces the appointment of The Rev. Miguel Bustos as Archdeacon of the Diocese of California and Director of the School for Deacons. Archdeacon Bustos will continue to serve as Cathedral Deacon at Grace Cathedral and Manager for Racial Justice and Reconciliation for The Episcopal Church. He will be installed as Archdeacon at Grace Cathedral on Sunday, September 29, at the 11:00 AM Choral Eucharist Service.
Archdeacon Miguel will serve as one of the diocese’s two Archdeacons, along with the Ven. Cn. Nina Pickerrell. Archdeacon Bustos is taking on the position previously held by the Ven. Gary England. In the role of Director of the School for Deacons, he will work closely with the Ven. Hailey McKeefry, who serves as Director of Deacons Formation at Bexley Seabury.
The Archdeacons coordinate the work of the diocese’s deacons, help active and retired deacons stay connected, and serve as chaplains for the Bishop of California.
Archdeacon Bustos was ordained a Deacon in the Diocese of California on December 4, 2021, at Grace Cathedral. Born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, he continues to live there with his fiancé, Alexander Rivera, in the house he grew up in.
Aug 21, 2024 | #Stories
Steph McNally, Grace Cathedral Formation Program Manager for Children, Youth, Families and Adults and the Ven. Cn. Nina Pickerrell, Owner and Operator of Bayview Mission
We are delighted to be sharing the outcome of our 2024 backpack drive. We exceeded our goal, with 160 backpacks, water bottles and handwritten notes distributed to young people preparing to return to school.
It was moving beyond words to be present with the children and youth at Bayview Mission as they received backpacks bursting with supplies, gorgeous water bottles, and beautiful cards addressed just to them.
As one volunteer shared, “Looking at all the children’s smiling and joy when picking out their favorite backpacks was a precious experience.”
We heard from a partner organization of Bayview Mission that distributed some of the backpacks to families how impactful these items were:
“(T)he impact is HUGE. These kids will now walk into school with excitement and enthusiasm for the new year. And these packs also send a message that their community welcomes them and is invested in their success.”
There are so many people to thank for the success of our drive, more than we could hope to name in this blog!
Thank you to the staff, Congregation Council, and congregations of Grace Cathedral, including our yoga community, who gifted their treasures, time, and talents to this initiative. Thank you to all who contributed to our drive for items, wrote cards, and lent their hands and humor to the final packing effort!
Special thanks to the Grace Cathedral Stitching Ministry who crafted caps for each child.
Thank you to the Diocese of California who supplied wonderful water bottles to ensure our young people remain hydrated and healthy through the day. These bottles absolutely made the backpacks come to life.
Thank you to the many volunteers who took part in giving the backpacks to children at Bayview Mission.
Bayview Mission shows all of us how miracles can happen through constancy, faith, and love. The day of the backpack distribution was thrumming with laughter and noise, with many people coming to the mission. They were greeted by name, with smiles, care, and love.
This ministry—which the Ven. Cn. Nina Pickerrll has led for so many years with such grace, vision, and faith—is transformative.
One volunteer shared, “I was once one of the children standing in line for a backpack. It is a good feeling to be part of today’s event.”
We are all blessed to be part of this great community of love!
