Welcome to SLOepiscopalians.org

We are the congregations and and other ministries of The Episcopal Church in and near San Luis Obispo County, California. SLO County is on the coast, between Monterey to the north and Santa Barbara to the south. The San Luis Obispo Deanery is a part of the Diocese of El Camino Real.

On this site you will find

special events

Education and Spiritual Formation

Jan 6: REFLECTING ON THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT – 6 pm at St. Barnabas
During the Bishop’s Visitation on January 11 the entire congregation will join with the individuals being confirmed in reaffirming our Baptismal Covenant. This will be an evening to reflect upon the commitment we have made and how we can live out these promises in our daily lives. Everyone is welcome to join those planning to be confirmed for this evening of reflection and may choose to commit themselves to Christ by officially reaffirming their baptismal vows with the bishop. We will be ordering pizza for dinner, so let us know if you are planning to attend.  For more information, contact St. Barnabas at saintbarnabas@sbcglobal.net.
 
Jan 10:  CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS – 10 am to 3 pm at St. Barnabas, Arroyo Grande. What is a church without walls?  What does this mean for all of us as we reach out into our communities?  People seek church, the fellowship of the body of Christ, for a variety of reasons.  Nearly all of those reasons involve wanting a deeper relationship with God and other people.  We must seek out and welcome those people into exploring a deeper life with God in Christ.  The Rev. Canon Paul Edwards will help us become better equipped to reach out to others longing for this deeper connection with God.  Come enjoy a day of spiritual nurture and challenge.  Register by January 6 with Susan Altig at (831) 394-4526 or susan@edecr.org.  Cost - $10 per person or $50 for a congregation bringing more than 5 people. (Please let your rector know if you plan to attend, so your parish can qualify for the congregational discount.)

Jan 15-Feb 19:  MYSTICS, MARTYRS & MOTHERS – 10 am at St. Benedict’s, Los Osos. 
The Christian women of the middle ages continued to serve God in the footsteps of the courageous women who went before them.  There are some fascinating women in this era – among them, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Sienna, Clare of Assisi, and Hildegard of Bingen.  “Mystics, Martyrs and Mothers” is for women and men who want to learn more about these saints and many others, as they struggled to follow God’s call in an era which did not welcome their gifts.   Sponsored by the Hollister Institute at St. Benedict’s, this six-week discussion will be led by the Rev. Donna Ross.  To register (and to order the book, “Women and Christianity from 1000 to the Reformation” by Mary Malone) contact Donna at donnaross@charter.net or call 235-5117.

Feb 7:  THE ELDERQUEST - Deepening the Spiritual Journey - 9 am at St. Benedict’s.
Aging has been described as soul making, a spiritual enterprise.  The evening of our lives is the time to transform knowledge into wisdom.  It is time for the elder’s quest with its distinct set of trials and triumphs that are met by using different tactics and abilities than early adulthood.  Through discussion, group participation and a short presentation, participants will look at how the elder’s inner and outer journeys discover new treasures: perspective from pain, passion from purpose, and energy from a Sacred Partnership with the Divine Within.  Dr. Berta Parish, a full-time instructor at Cuesta college with a background in Jungian and Archetypal Psychology, will lead this workshop.  To register or for more information, contact Berta Parrish at 772-5118 or sadee@charter.net.

Feb 20-22:  MEN’S RETREAT at St. Mary’s Retreat House, Santa Barbara. 
This annual weekend is best described in the words of St. Mary’s brochure; “St. Mary’s was established for the purpose of providing a place for people to come away from the crowd and spend time with God.”  But in order to be alone with God, we have to stop the frenzied pace of our busy lives and spend time in silent listening, which helps know God’s presence and hear God’s voice. This retreat combines worship, presentations and discussions with periods of silence and private prayer.  The Rev. Donna Ross and Rob Ross will be our meditation leaders.  There is still room for men from other parishes to join men from St. Stephen’s, San Luis Obispo.  To make a reservation, contact Bob Levison at 544-6486 or rlevison@calpoly.edu.

Outreach

Feb 20 – BLOOD DRIVE AT ST. PETER’S, MORRO BAY
St. Peter’s plans to combine public outreach with its famous Pancake Supper.  On Friday, February 20, between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm, the United Blood Services of the Central Coast will conduct a blood drive in St. Peter's Parish Hall.  All blood donors will receive a ticket to the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, a "Celebration of Mardi Gras in the Protestant tradition", modified to include a little more celebration than pancakes would indicate.  The Pancake Supper is on February 24 from 5:30–7 pm in St. Peter’s Parish Hall.

special events for youth and young adults

Young Adult Ministry

Sundays at 7 pm – CANTERBURY CLUB at St. Stephen’s, San Luis Obispo. 
Canterbury Club is now meeting on Sunday evenings with a service of the Holy Eucharist, followed by fellowship and a light supper.  This service, and the supper, is open to everyone in the Deanery.   Chaplain Berkeley Johnson writes, “One event in January in the planning stages is a Martin Luther King, Jr., Day observance here in SLO.  We are working to put together a meaningful event for the community which will involve a candlelight vigil leading into the inauguration of president-elect Obama the following day.” Contact Berkeley at canterburyslo@gmail.com.

Youth Ministry
 
Jan 30-Feb 1 – YOUTH SKI/SNOW TRIP to Camp Sierra Summit.
The Diocese’s annual snow/ski trip is scheduled for the weekend of January 30 – February 1. We'll be returning to Camp Sierra near Shaver Lake and skiing at Sierra Summit. This trip is for youth groups and their chaperones. Registration is $100 per person which includes lodging for Friday and Saturday night, 3 meals on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. The Lodge at Camp Sierra is quite comfortable and fairly warm; sleeping quarters include bunk beds, bathrooms with showers, and heating. It is necessary to walk to the Dining Hall and to the Assembly Hall from the sleeping quarters: usually through snow, slush, or mud – or all three. Group lift ticket and equipment rental rates vary and are detailed in the registration packets. To request a registration packet, contact Leann Brooks at leannbrooks@hotmail.com. Chaperones are needed for this ski/snow trip for youth. Please contact Leann if you would like to help provide this experience for our youth.

RITE 13:  A new Rite 13 group has formed, and the “bridge” group is continuing from the previous Rite 13 group to transition to J2A.  The Rite 13 group gets together once a month, meeting at the designated church in the morning to attend morning worship and coffee hour together; after lunch (provided by the parish) the teens then meet all afternoon for lessons and discussion.  They return to their homes about 4 pm.  The group will meet at St. Stephen’s on January 18.  For more information, contact Anna Foote at anna_foote@yahoo.com.


Next Summer – SIERRA SERVICE PROJECT
Sierra Service Project (SSP) is a non-profit organization providing life-changing experiences through acts of service repairing Native American homes.  We invite high school and middle school age youth to experience the profound power of serving people who have a culture and life experience different from their own. About 40-50 youth and adult counselors from different churches attend each project week.  The Middle School week is June 28-July 3 and High School week  is July 26-August 1.  Our site for both trips is the Round Valley reservation in Covelo, California. The fee is $440 which includes food and lodging, building materials and transportation – but not food in transit. Travel time may add one day to the beginning of each trip. For more information see http://www.stlukesatascadero.org/mission.htm or call Leann Brooks 805-550-9832 or 805-466-1060.  Also available are 3 two week projects to Honduras for High School juniors, seniors and college age young adults.  These trips have had a fee cut to $1950 including airfare, and there is a $100 discount for early registration (by January 15th). Contact Leann Brooks at leanbrooks@hotmail.com if you would like more information on these trips. Our diocese had 3 participants in 2008. 

news around the deanery

 

Leann Brooks Deanery youth leader extraordinaire Leann Brooks was awarded the Bishop's Cross at the Diocesan Convention in November.

Also at Convention, St. Matthew's in San Ardo was officially transferred to the San Luis Obispo Deanery. Welcome!

St. Paul's, Cambria bid farewell to the Rev. Don Dallman and his wife Barbara at a service, followed by a festive brunch, on November 23. The parish is now in a period of transition before welcoming its new Rector, the Rev. Fred Heard, on January 16.

Recent Deanery Celebrations
 
Sunday, October 12: The Clergy and People of St. James, Paso Robles invited our presence and participation in a Celebration of a New Ministry – to install the Rev. Mary K. Morrison as Rector and to celebrate and affirm the ministry of all the baptized. Following the service in the Grand Ballroom of the Paso Robles Inn, we processed to the reception at St. James’ Church.

procession led by bagpiper
 
Mother Mary

Sunday, October 19: St. Luke’s, Atascadero celebrated 50 years of ministry with a service at 9:30am, followed by a luncheon feast.  There were displays of pictures from the past fifty years, and a DVD playing continuously with video clips and more pictures.  The Rev. Matthew Conrad writes, “It is amazing to reflect on the fact that I have been the priest (vicar, and now rector) for half of those fifty years. It simply astounds the senses!” 

Deanery Communications

Send contributions to donnaross@charter.net.