The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church will co-sponsor a three-day Episcopal Revival on Friday to Sunday, November 17 – 19, with an emphasis on sharing a bold, inclusive vision of faith in action.
“This wonderful event marks a new chapter in the life of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin,” noted Bishop David Rice of the Diocese of San Joaquin.
The weekend features a variety of public events and preaching by the Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry, whose office is teaming up with local leaders to organize Episcopal Revivals across America and beyond.
“The Holy Spirit is moving across the Episcopal Church, and these Revivals are just one sign of our desire to go public with the love of God and the dream of God in our communities,” said the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, the Presiding Bishop’s Canon for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation Care.
Called to be … A Safe Place for All of God’s People
Presiding Bishop Curry has stirred the whole church to take its place in The Jesus Movement: the community of people who follow Jesus and form loving, liberating and life-giving relationships with God, their neighbors and the environment. Episcopalians in San Joaquin are following that call and opening their hearts, minds, and doors to the concerns of the Central Valley, especially people who feel vulnerable and unwelcome in today’s cultural climate.
All San Joaquin Revival events are free, open to the public and will be live-streamed. Registration is here.
On Friday, November 17, beginning at 4 pm at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, hundreds of Episcopalians, faith partners, and civic leaders will join for a rousing time of prayer, singing and testimony focused on immigration and DACA (the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).
On Saturday, November 18, beginning at 1 pm at St. James Episcopal Cathedral in Fresno, ministry leaders and partners will take a Neighborhood Prayer Walk through the surrounding urban community. The prayer walk concludes at the church doors, and leads into the installation service formally installing Rice as Bishop in San Joaquin’s Cathedral. After the service comes the “Party in the Parking Lot” – local food truck vendors will serve up treats while the conversation and celebration continue.
On Sunday, November 19, beginning at 10 am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bakersfield, Presiding Bishop Curry will preach, preside and commission members and guests to love God and love their neighbors. Following worship and brunch, participants will take up the “1000 Yellow Bags Challenge,” stuffing 1,000 yellow bags with toiletries, socks, and other necessities for the homeless and then sharing them with homeless people.
The San Joaquin Revival is one of series of Episcopal Revivals launched in early 2017. Each revival includes advance training in evangelism and reconciliation, a major public revival event, and follow-up strategies to keep living the Jesus Movement. The next revivals are:
- January 20, 2018: Honey Creek Conference Center near Savannah, Georgia; info here.
- April 6-8, 2018: Siguatepeque, Honduras info here.
- July 2018: General Convention in Austin, Texas
- October 20-21, 2018: Diocese of Western Massachusetts
For 2019, Episcopal Revivals are under consideration in Michigan, England, Southwest Virginia and Utah. Share the story of your own local revivals here.
For more information about the San Joaquin Revival, contact Anna Carmichael at canonanna@diosanjoaquin.org or 559-439-5011 or check here. For more information about the Episcopal Revivals, go here.