A few weeks ago I wandered over to St. Mary's, Mariposa to the Episcopal Asian Ministry (EAM) New Year celebration. Although some who attended had to leave before our group picture was taken, I think you have an idea of how well attended this event was!

Members of our Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino congregations were there, and each congregation was in charge of different parts on the Evensong we celebrated together. We heard readings and music in many different languages, saw beautiful dance demonstrations and yes, at the end, everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner. We missed our Vietnamese brothers and sisters who were unable to join us this evening.

I so enjoy EAM gatherings, and found this evensong spiritually uplifting -- what a wonderful way to start the New Year!

Tonight I'll be with members of the Chinese speaking churches here in the diocese to celebrate Chinese New Year -- the year of the dragon.

Happy New Year everyone!

Episcopal Asian Ministry New Year Celebration

This was my first experience with all the various churches at a joint New Year celebration this past Sunday. Hosted by St. Mary's Mariposa, almost all the congregations involved in Asian ministry in the Diocese were there.

Celebrating the New Year with lessons and carols was wonderful. Each of the congregations presented a representative song or dance for each of the assigned lessons. the lessons were read in the various languages in which the Eucharist is celebrated each Sunday in the diocese. Beautiful costumes and sweet voices filled st. Mary's Sanctuary.

Asian ministry in the Episcopal Church is as varied as the cultures that make it up. In this diocese Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese and Taiwanese), Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese and Japanese congregations comprise our ministry. The languages are different, as are the cuisines and cultures. Yet we come together to celebrate the one thing in coming: Asian heritage.

While there may have been historic cultural divisions between the various Asian groups that make up this ministry, all come together joyfully as followers of Jesus Christ, working and celebrating at times like this jointly and collaboratively to the glory of God. Oh that this world could mirror such love and care.

I wonder what we will be doing next year for this celebration?

Happy New Year!

Oooh! It's been a long time since I've blogged. That's because, well, it's been busy. You may ask, "too busy to blog?" Absolutely.

I started reflecting over the last few days about all the amazing mission and ministry that I experienced in a wide variety of circumstances this past year:

• Start of the Instituto de Liderazgo -- training Spanish-speaking lay leaders.
• Stewardship presentations throughout the diocese including Los Olivos, Beaumont and Fullerton, to name a few.
• AMAZING visitations from Santa Maria to Rialto to Glendale to Rancho Santa Margarita to Thousand Oaks -- I put LOTS of miles on my car this year!
• Wonderful liturgies such as the Zydeco Mass at St. Luke's in Long Beach, Christmas Eve at Trinity Orange, joint Chinese service at Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel, and all the confirmations services!
• Retreats throughout the diocese.
• Mutual ministry reviews -- I enjoy participating in those!
• Participating in liturgies at churches in my geographical area of responsibility during Holy Week, Easter and Christmas.
• Ordaining new clergy -- especially being able to do so in Mandarin.
• The wonderful tea at Holy Communion, Gardena, where I was able to announce a new Canon -- Canon Ruthie Leonard. The picture above is of the two of us at that event -- I won for most whimsical hat!

I think I enjoyed the confirmations, receptions and reaffirmations the most. Being able to speak with people about why they are making this adult affirmation or reaffirmation of their faith -- what brought them to this church and this moment was humbling. I always ask young people, "are you doing this of your own free will -- no one is making you do this?" One VERY honest young man looked at me and said, "my Mom is making me do it -- I don't want to." Fifteen minutes later, after speaking with him, we were back on track. Turns out he had a, well, interesting sense of humor.

It was and is my honor to walk together with clergy and laity in the diocese on our shared journey. I have been humbled by stories shared, amazed by creative ministry, and in awe of the energy and vitality in so many congregations. Of course, I don't need to tell you that I love working with J. Jon Bruno and Mary Douglas Glasspool --I am blessed to be working with two dedicated, spiritual and talented bishops. I also don't think I need to tell you -- but I will -- that the entire Diocesan staff works very hard -- and I so appreciate their professionalism and care.

Now, I know the greater LA area is a hotbed for TV and movie crews to film. One of the most impressive moments for me came not in the diocese as I'm driving around, but in Seoul Korea where I was able to attend a gathering of Korean clergy from the United States. I sat one evening putting my feet up in my room, resting after a LONG day of conference meetings. I flipped on the TV to find an American TV show (with Korean subtitles). As I watched -- I saw an actor sitting in the pew of a church, and as the camera panned toward the chancel, I realized it was St. Mark's in Glendale! Holy Guacamole! I just had to smile -- and email Mark Weitzel!

I could write about so many more experiences, but I'm going to stop here. One of my resolutions for this new year is to be diligent in getting the stories down more frequently -- I have a few other resolutions, but I won't share them here. You can ask me when you see me!

I give thanks to all of you, the people of the Diocese of Los Angeles, for the privilege of working with you, to the glory of God, doing mission and ministry. I look forward to 2012 and beyond --

Mail from Camp Stevens

Before starting my vacation, I was "Bishop in Residence" at Camp Stevens. You may have seen my blog post on "snickerdoodles" from Camp.

I love being with the staff and campers, and helping out any way I can. One particular group this summer -- the Super-Sleuth-Swine really tugged at my heart strings. They were detectives solving a mystery -- surrounding a character with the initials BBW -- and their activities were all centered on getting clues to solve the mystery. My favorite "clue" that they found was on a laminated piece of paper wrapped around a brick at the bottom of the pool!

Every time I ran into the group or members of the group I'd ask them if they had any new "leads" or "clues" -- they were all so excited to share with me what they were doing and what they had learned. I had to leave camp early and couldn't find out how their "mystery" was solved. Then, I received a letter from them all to let me know what had happened! The text of the letter (pictured) is as follows:

Dear Diane,

Hey. How are you doing? We, the super-sleuth-swine have solved the case. We found BBW (Big Bad Wolf) decorating (what seemed like destroying) our meeting spot, and we realized that he is actually misunderstood. The BBW was actually MUW! (Mis Understood Wolf). We came across him TP-ing our meeting spot, which was meant to make it look nice. Anyway, thanks for helping us make fantabulous journals, for listening to our stories, and we think back about the awesome time we ad with you. Your friends, the Super-Sleuth-Swine.

PS -- Oink!

The Super-Sleuth-Swine are: Alex, LexyJo, Justice, Nikky (Chloe), Sophie, John, Meredith, Nigel, Nathan, Evan and Monkey (Maria).

If you haven't been to Camp Stevens lately -- please plan on bringing a group from your church up there. If you have children or grandchildren "camp age" -- plan now to send them next summer. Don't know about the camp? Here some important links:

Camp website: http://www.campstevens.org/

Just Action Video on gardening at the camp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhJcwXiVZ44&feature=feedu

Just Action Video on the Camping Program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CKvJDNfskI&feature=feedu

I wonder when I wander over to camp what I'll find next -- maybe the BBW!

A VERY Special Charm

I have been meaning to write about this most incredible day for months now, but time slipped away from me.

A few months ago I had the privilege of visiting St. Mark's in Downey. It was a wonderful service, with almost every child from the school (and their parents) present on a Sunday morning -- not all of them are Episcopalians, mind you! I spoke with many of the children personally. The church was PACKED!

One young girl stood next to me a good deal of the time -- she was very quiet, but attentive to everything that was going on. I asked her if she would like to stand next to me as I did the closing blessing -- she stood next to me, and I invited all the children (yes, really) to come up and help me do the blessing -- they did, and it was a Spirit-filled moment in the service.

After the service was over, there was a barbeque lunch. As is my custom, I went table to table to talk to the people as I ate my hamburger (I'm really good at eating while walking around). I came to this young girl's table, and she introduced me to her parents and grandparents. We had a lovely chat about the service (they are Roman Catholic). They had never seen a woman bishop before, and they had lots of questions for me.

Right as I was saying my last goodbyes, this young girl ran up to me, took this charm off her bracelet and handed it to me -- "I want you to remember me -- I'll always remember you" she said to me.

I will -- I promised. And I do.

Snickerdoodles

I had a wonderful time at Camp Stevens this past week! Not only was the weather beautiful, but the campers and staff were great! Here is a picture of part of Lindsay Taylor's campers at work making snickerdoodles -- Lindsay is the daughter of Fr. John Taylor -- and she is a most talented and creative staff person!

Chris, the lay chaplain, was phenomenal -- she gave a wonderful talk to the campers.

We filmed an upcoming Just Action clip -- on the camp and on the farms there. I got to hold a chicken and feed them too! It was a great treat.

One of the highlights of the week for me was when a young boy ran up to me as he was on his way to join his group --

"Diane, can you pray with me later?"

I said, "Sure -- is everything okay?"

"Yes" he replied. "I just have lots of happy prayers to pray today."

I have lots of happy prayers to pray about my time at Camp Stevens!

Welcome, welcome, welcome!

It was the start of a beautiful, warm Southern California day -- the sky so blue, the air warm.

I saw the sign and smiled -- "we LOVE Our Bishops-- Welcome!" How lovely it was to be welcomed in such a warm way, and to have ALL the bishops in the Diocese of Los Angeles remembered.

It is the radical hospitality offered at this parish that caused other parishes in the area to send people over to be confirmed, received or reaffirm their confirmation vows. It was a beautiful day.

The rector of the parish, the Rev. Mark Hallahan is an exceptionally kind, spiritual man who loves Jesus and loves this congregation. It is obvious just standing in the sanctuary.Among the amazing moments for me was the fact that this ex-Roman Catholic was in a church where the Society of Mary is present -- and given that fact that today was my mother's birthday (Mary Alice Deal Jardine), it made me so glad to be there.

If you're ever in Pomona, check out St. Paul's -- today we dedicated an upper room for prayer, meditation and day retreats. It's a reflection of the love of God in Christ in this place.

There were people who hugged me as I entered St. Paul's who I remembered from a visit 5 years ago with my husband Steve. There were new friends I met last year when St. Paul's hosted the budget input meeting last summer. There was also an old friend/fellow board member of Camp Stevens (Mary)! there today. What a treat to see her.

I wonder what I will find, or who I will find the next time I wander into St. Paul's. For sure, I will see the face of God in Christ, experience radical welcome and hospitality AND feel the movement of the Holy Spirit.