New Beginnings in San Joaquin ...

Do keep the good people of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin in your prayers this weekend as they take important steps forward into God's future. Today is their Convention to elect a new provisional bishop but here's the ENS report on last night's service of healing and reconciliation:

ELO photo/Mary Frances Schjonberg

[Episcopal News Service, Stockton, California] The reorganization of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin officially began on the evening of March 28 in a church partially illuminated by the Paschal Candle.

Officiant Bonnie Anderson, president of the House of Deputies, began the service at the Episcopal Church of St. Anne in Stockton, California, with the Easter acclamation: "Alleluia, Christ is risen." After the Prayer for Light and the rest of the candles were lit, she and the congregation recited the three Easter Lucernaria, or anthems.

The service was based The Book of Common Prayer's Order of Worship for the Evening.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori led the congregation of about 300 in the Litany for Healing, praying in part that God would "heal our wounds received at the hands of our friends, our fellow parishioners, and the clergy of this diocese, and help us to know the joy of your saving help."

The litany also included a prayer that God would "remove the darkness of our anxiety and despair over what has been done in our parishes and in our diocese, and let us see the glories of new possibilities, new friendships, and new ways of serving you." And the litany included the prayer that God would help the people of the diocese to know that God is always present "guiding us to Easter hope and resurrected life."

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PS - Fr Jake has a round up of bloggers commenting from San Joaquin ... check it out here.