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From Our Bishop


Connection through Disconnection D


ear Friends in Christ, As you receive this copy of the


Messenger, I will have been on sabbatical for a couple of months. In preparation for this time, our technology specialist has disengaged my regular email from both my computer and blackberry. I have placed out- of-office messages on my cell phone, voicemail, and email. I am truly disengaging from the diocese for a period of twelve weeks.


Dedicated from Afar: Above, Bishop Mathes celebrates the Eucharist. Currently he is studying in Jerusalem, Israel as part of his sabbatical. He is pondering the question of how our church handles rites of initiation: baptism, confirmation, reception and reaffirmation. Stay tuned for more information about this topic when he returns in the fall.


Thus it is somewhat ironic that I pause in departure to write to you these opening words for an issue of the Messenger whose theme is making connections. This odd juxtaposition has invited me to wonder about the relationship between engagement and disengagement. We too often think the former is positive and the latter, negative. Yet to be always engaged is, at the very least, exhausting, if not an invitation to burnout. And disengaging can be an avenue to helpful distance and perspective.


Making connections can actually be served by intentional separation.


be served by intentional separation. After all, we all know there is such a thing as too much togetherness. Even more deeply, there is great value in reflection, self- knowing, and individual growth in the service of making connections in the Body of Christ. This is why we draw together in community for worship and teaching before we venture out into the world to serve in Christ’s name.


In our weekly cycle, we disconnect from the world in Sabbath so that we can make connections in Jesus’ name throughout the week.


In a similar way and in that spirit, I now disconnect. It is my prayer that my time away from you—this short season of disconnecting—will actually strengthen the Body of Christ as it is manifested in and through us in this time and this place.


Faithfully,


Upon further reflection, I wonder if perhaps making connections can actually


The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes Bishop of San Diego


Conexiones por Medio de Desconexiónes Q


ueridos amigos en Cristo, Cuando reciban esta copia del Mensajero,


ya habré estado en sabático por algunas semanas. En preparación para esto, mi asistente técnico, desconecto mi correo electrónico de ambas mi computadora y mi blackberry. Grabe un mensaje en mi teléfono celular, en mi correo electrónico y en mi correo de voz, me estoy desconectando totalmente de la diócesis por un periodo de doce semanas.


Me pregunto si tal vez haciendo conexiones, podemos realmente servir separándonos intencionalmente.


Es un poco irónico que pause para escribirles sobre mis palabras de apertura sobre una edición del Mensajero, del cual, el tema es sobre conexiones. Esta rara combinación sugiere preguntarme sobre la relación entre compromiso y descompromiso. Muy a menudo pensamos que compromiso


Opportunity Awaits


serving as an acolyte or chalice bearer one Sunday morning per month, or per year. Perhaps you’ve always wondered what it would be like to serve on the altar guild or to lead worship. All are welcome to come to Trinity Chapel, as the sanctuary is called, learn new skills around our Episcopal liturgy and practice them on Sunday mornings.


Onions for All: our new ministry center in Ocean Beach distributes food weekly.


A


new opportunity for ministry partnership awaits at the Episcopal Church Center in


Ocean Beach. With weekly Sunday services, meals for homeless people and community outreach programs, the possibilities to connect and engage are endless. Consider


Maybe hands-on ministry is more your style. Come to the Center on a Wednesday evening and help prepare, serve and clean up a meal for homeless people. Volunteers are always welcomed and appreciated.


Another point of connection could be around facility clean-up, repair and maintenance. If you’re handy with a hammer, paint brush


or power tools, your skills are coveted at the Center! An older campus in need of some attention makes a great seedbed for meaningful connections and future endeavors.


This is a golden opportunity for a smaller congregation that may not be able to sustain its own soup kitchen to participate in one that’s already established and growing. A group could carpool to Ocean Beach one night per month to help prepare and serve the meal.


Perhaps you would like to get involved but aren’t sure where to start. Contact the Center’s director, Nancy Holland, to learn more and discuss the possibilities. Contact her at nholland@edsd.org or 619-823-8998. X


es positivo y descompromiso es negativo. Aunque el estar siempre comprometido, es un poco cansado y una invitación al agotamiento. Y desconectarse puede ser el camino hacia una distancia útil y a una perspectiva diferente.


Después de reflexionar, me pregunto si tal vez haciendo conexiones,


podemos realmente servir separándonos intencionalmente. Después de todo, sabemos que hay tal cosa como demasiada convivencia. Más a fondo, es de gran valor el reflexionar, conocerse y crecer individualmente al hacer conexiones con el cuerpo de Cristo. Es por


esto que nos reunimos durante la misa y a la enseñanza antes de aventurarnos al mundo a servir en nombre de Cristo.


En nuestro ciclo semanal, nos desconectamos del mundo en nuestro día de descanso, para poder hacer conexión con el nombre de Jesus por el resto del tiempo. En forma similar, y con ese espíritu ahora me desconecto. Mi oración es que durante este tiempo lejos de ustedes, que en esta corta temporada de desconexión, realmente fortalezca el cuerpo de Cristo y sea manifestado por medio de todos nosotros.


Fielmente


El Reverendisimo James Mathes Obispo


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