September 2008 Vol. 10 No. 8 Archive of Previous Issues The Grapevine is published monthly (except for a combined July/August issue) by St. Patrick's Episcopal Church E-mail St. Patricks The Rev. Hugh Stevenson, Rector Editor: Mary Banks, 539-7378

Table of Contents for September 2008 [Vol. 10 No. 8]

All Find A Welcome Turning Points Around St. Patrick's St Patrick's Charitable Outreach Mutual Responsibility September At St. Patrick's

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ALL FIND A WELCOME

When on Sabbatical last year, I attended a number of churches. "Of course" I went for the liturgy, but I was looking forward to a welcome (even a warm welcome in parishes where I already knew people). But I was disappointed. I wonder if there is a culture of non-welcome on Sunday mornings. People, who would have greeted me at Safeway, ignored me at church. I realized how lonely it can be if you take the risk and visit a new church. I think we have all been in this position.

Why is it that people who are normally friendly and agreeable become cold on Sunday mornings? I suspect it is that people come to church with an agenda-which is not necessarily worship! They want to meet with another parishioner to discuss some business, even church business. So they walk right past newcomers.

Those of us, who have been around St Patrick's for awhile kid ourselves that we are a warm hospitable congregation. But I could (but won't) tell you the names of people who have joined St Patrick's despite the lack of welcome they received here.

Those who make a study of church and ministry say that often people come to church even though they have driven past for months or years because they are going through a rough time in their lives. They seek consolation from God in the worship and a warm "hello" at the fellowship time.

What shall we ask those whom we think are "newish"? If you are not sure if they are new, the safe question to ask is, "Have you been coming here long?" Then you might ask, "What brings you to St Patrick's today?" An important question is, "What are you looking for in a church?" or "What was your last church like?" But often, you will not have a chance to ask questions, because they will want to say things to you. Be sure to introduce them to other members of the congregation.

Many years ago I attended the Church of the Epiphany in DC. I was moved by the worship. Afterwards I stood in the middle of the coffee hour in a daze. At least five people came up to me to say how glad they were that I was there, could they get me a cup of coffee, where was I from? I would certainly want to return to that church.

One of the characteristics of the early church was that they loved one another. It was infectious. It was the fulfillment of Christ's commandment that we love one another. People wanted what those Christians had. We are all greeters on Sunday mornings. How grateful I am for those who bring bread and wine to share with those who are new. This past week I received a note that said, "It was such a warm welcome given me yesterday by you and the congregation!! … I will be attending much more frequently." Thanks be to God!

Hugh Stevenson

TURNING POINTS

All find a welcome:
Michael & Shari Newell have moved to Santa Rosa from S. California.
John & Susan Orb from Glen Ellen.
Judy Rose from Sonoma.
Penny Mackenzie attends on Wednesdays.
Jacob & Katie Camp from Kenwood.
John and Sandra Sebastian from Ohio.
Debbie Cordova from Kenwood.
Anne Casjens (one-time member of Saratoga).
Priscilla Hall-Moore from Incarnation.
Gigi Roddy & Ron Paolini from Kenwood (to be married here in October).
Caroline Green from Ventura County is planning on moving here.
Charles & Myrle MacLaughlin are moving to Oakmont from Marina, CA.
Rennie & Jerilyn Babington have moved to Oakmont from St Clement's, Berkeley.
Chuck & Sallie Wood have moved to Kenwood from San Rafael.
Carol and Kate Shields.

For this, much thanks:
The guitar choir who played on July 20:

Judy Buff	Dennis Studebaker
Tom & Pat Babb	Terry McNally
Marshall Ward	Raymond Skipp
Kathy Littman (bass)	Kathy's sister, Pat
Ross Peters	Gus Peters
Dicksie Tamanaha (ukulele)

Barbara and George Hunt for starting the newcomer ministry distributing bread and wine at Sunday services, and their helpers: Vickie Ward, Bill and Shirley Ward, Pam Pegley, Margaret Bock.

Jean Derum and Barbara Fry who headed up the Rummage Sale, and for Bill MacDonald who heads up the Outreach Committee.

Alicia Wray for organizing the Godly Play meeting.

Hutch Gibb and Bill McKoy for barbecuing for over 90 participants, August 17.

We have slate floor in the church entrance, hard wood floor in the sanctuary, the soffits were power washed and the church's south wall was painted thanks to Charlie Chapman and Ron Sievert.

Relocation
Lang O'Brien and his children have moved to 4549 Offner Lane, Santa Rosa 95409.
Rich & Betsy Randolph have moved into their home in Oakmont at 8399 Oakmont Dr. (537-4117).

Farewell to: Julia Felker moved to Gulf Breeze FL.

We ask God's protection of:
those serving in the military overseas
Sam Jackson and Christopher Leonard

We will exalt you, O God, our King:
Robert Fisher, son of Juelle and Fred, has announced his engagement to Heather Jordan.(Wedding next July).
Bea Biggs has her first great granddaughter, Kayla, born in Denver, CO.
John Regan has his first great grandson, Beacon Charles.
Olivia, granddaughter of John Gnam and Jackie Senter was baptized in Sunnyvale on July 19.
Marshall & Carol Ward celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
Ron Keith biked across Iowa (RAGBRAI) supported by Sandy Eddy.

May they know God's healing power:

Lolita Seguin	Linda Belding
Gordon Gary	James Landon
Susan MacDonald	Dolores De Vito
Walter	Peg Poole
Mark Jenkins' grandmother, Barbara

Blessings on:
Baptism of Margaret daughter of Cameron and Michael Mahoney on August 31.

May they rest in peace:
Ida Muller had been living with her daughter, Carol Chapman at 753 Rosa Morada Road, Hollister 95023. She was 96.
Alice Kubota, mother of Dicksie Tamanaha's daughter-in-law.
Kay Merkt, Spring Lake Village, who was 100.

Deepest sympathy:
Carol and Bill Gwatkin on Carol's sister-in-law's death, Eleanor Anderson (July 22).
Josie Ross' sister, Cecelia May Munro (August 13).
Joy Barker's daughter, Sheryl, died in a water-rafting accident on the Rogue River, July 30.
Steve died, relative of Minerva Haddad.

AROUND ST PATRICK'S

Dorothy Bell celebrated her 104th birthday August 3.
Bea Moore is looking forward to her 101st birthday.
Peg Poole will be 100 in August 2009.
Polly Lengquist celebrated her 100th birthday in October 2007. She lives at 8991 University Parkway Apt 232, Pensacola FL 32514-9444.
George Anderson celebrated his 98th birthday.

Romans 8: Neither death nor life nor anything in creation will separate from the love of God.

Bishop Gene Robinson, although not invited to the Lambeth Conference, has been present to meet with any who wish to talk to him. In his blog, he writes:

"I was approached by one man, a youngish English priest whose parishes are near Canterbury. He timidly asked if I had just a minute to talk. Of course I did. It is precisely why I'm here. He described himself as an evangelical, having had a powerful conversion experience as a young adult. Upon moving to his new parishes, he discovered that he had a few gay couples in his congregations - and this sent him back to the scriptures to study and pray, to ask if what he had always been taught about homosexuals was really what the scriptures meant, in an effort to be a better pastor. He has newly come to an accepting attitude toward those gay communicants, but was feeling guilty about leaving his old understandings behind, and wondering if he was moving in the right direction. He has come to believe that God's love is far more expansive than he first imagined, and wondered aloud if there were really two Gods being worshipped in the Church. I told him what I believe - that no, there is only one God, but our ability to comprehend that God goes through lots of stages, becoming ever more expansive as God reveals God's self to us, directly and through others. Here was a young priest, open to change and growth, open to God's patient teaching and open to the notion that God's love might be more profoundly extravagant than he ever thought possible. Just your common, ordinary, everyday miracle."

OKTOBERFEST, October 4 from 1-5 p.m., is sponsored by the ECW to benefit St. Patrick's Church and Kenwood Elementary School.
In keeping with St. Patrick's goals for 2008, we are reaching out to the entire community. There will be games, food and fun for all family members.

Food in the German style, including beer and soft drinks; the ever popular Tea-towel sale; the annual Pantry Sale, and a fabulous Raffle will be included along with many games for the entire family, and prizes for everyone. We will have a clown and a face-painter. The games have been selected to allow all family members to participate. There will be a Football Throw for kids and Dads (and Moms), Sponge Ball Tic-Tac-Toe, Carnival Games for all ages; an hourly Cake-Walk with delicious home baked cakes as the prize; Pony Rides for younger kids; a light show and games for older kids, teen-agers and adults; Go-Fish for toddlers on up; A Duck Pond for toddlers; and many other activities.

We have enjoyed putting this event together, and now we are asking for volunteers to help us implement the plan. We need volunteers to help with game management; cakes for the cakewalk; pumpkins and fall flowers to keep the theme going; and volunteers for set-up and breakdown. We need an old tire and a length of rope for the football game; and long pieces (2) of MDF or wood to set up the prize-station. We have many prizes; yet appreciate any donations in that area. Volunteers and contributors can call Vicki Ward at 539-3731 or Audrey Jaynes at 539-4555.
Thank you.

ST PATRICK'S CHARITABLE OUTREACH

UNITED THANK OFFERING
We support UTO with a line item outreach grant of $1500 from the parish's operating fund. If you wish to make a personal gift, make your check payable to "St Patrick's" and mark it for "UTO."

Total giving to UTO in 2007 from our Diocese amounted to $18,145, an increase of 44%. Church wide, UTO made 91 grants for over $2 million including one to St Nicholas Paradise for their church kitchen to comply with Health Department regulations. They have a free meal ministry (like St Andrew's, Monte Rio).

Lovice Hinsdale, the diocesan coordinator writes: "UTO continues the historic mission to address compelling human need and expand the ministry and mission of the church. UTO grants have a significant impact on the lives of women and children because of Christ's love. When you assist a woman, you not only support her, you help the entire family, the parish, the community and ultimately a nation."

APPORTIONMENT
In 2007, we paid $72,000 to the Diocese as "apportionment." The Diocese makes an assessment of 23% of our expenditures (not including capital and charitable payments). We have received a letter of acknowledgement from the Diocese, which states, "We understand the challenge of maintaining current accounts when the economy is not as robust as it has been in recent years."

96% of the Diocese's income is from congregations within the diocese. Where does it go? 34% of the Diocesan budget is spent on parish support (clergy insurance, workman's compensation, retiree benefits and specialized ministries). 13% of the budget is passed on as assessment to the National Church.

We seem to pay a lot to the Diocese, but it is no more than other parishes.
Hugh Stevenson

RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT
In 2007, we made donations to ERD of $2750. The annual financial report of ERD is available at their website, www.er-d.org/Financials/.

Robert W. Radtke, the President of ERD writes:
"Because of your faithful support, Episcopal Relief & Development reached a new milestone in 2007-serving more than two million people in over 40 countries. Through your generosity, we made it possible for people to feed their families, earn more income, and move from poverty to prosperity. Together, we worked to fight killer diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS and provided access to essential health care, clean water and proper sanitation. We responded to disasters all around the world, ensuring that people had the immediate assistance they needed as well as long-term support to rebuild their lives and communities. Your partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development is evidence of your strong commitment to serve others in Jesus' name. We are grateful for your vital support."

RUMMAGE SALE
July's Rummage Sale was a great success. We raised money for the meal program at St Andrew's Episcopal Mission in Monte Rio. They came and helped us sort and sell things. The final net figure was about $3000. There were some wonderful things to buy. Thanks for all the donors. And to Barbara Fry and Jean Derum for their leadership. Many others helped; nearly every time I went in the parish hall I found John Regan, Audrey Jaynes, Doris Dill, Hal Poehlmann and Ruth Wright. They seemed never to go home! Sorry to those who wanted to use the dumpster. It was full with about 2 tons of "stuff"!

F.I.S.H.
A letter has been received from the office of FISH of Santa Rosa. They are so grateful for all the groceries we have delivered to them over the months, and expressed thanks that they were able to give emergency food to over 5,000 people in July. St. Patrick's is the Best!!!
KEEP THOSE GROCERIES COMING!

MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY

Currently our companion diocese is Honduras, and Ed Howell has been acting as the link between the Anglican Church in Honduras and us. Our previous companion was a diocese in Tanzania. When we were in Rochester Diocese, we had a companion relationship with the Bahamas. Both Angela and I escaped the winter snow in February as members of different groups visiting the Bahamas.

The Companion Diocese program came out of the Anglican Congress in Toronto in 1963. The keynote speaker was Michael Ramsay, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Congress began a movement called Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence (in the Body of Christ) or MRI. It was a great idea. It built bridges between our churches in the West and those in the developing nations. Each had a lot to gain. It was much more than a means by which the richer church funded the poorer dioceses, although this happened too.

After 6 years in Hong Kong and a summer in Malawi, we learned what it means to be the church in contexts very different from England or the USA. These lessons are summarized in a 1966 sermon by Murray Rogers who lived in a Christian ashram in India and whom we got to know in Hong Kong.

First Murray described a Hindu pilgrimage to a holy place. "There is just one end to this struggling up the mountain path; only one thing matters-to be in presence of God. On the pilgrimage, there is the sense of many ordinary people being consumed by the passion for God, which" said Murray "is a treasure we have almost lost in the West. You may be mad about many things, but to be mad about God is simply not done."

Then Murray said that we could learn about community from the Third World. "Perhaps because of our scientific revolution, our first reaction is always of duality, the difference between you and me as separate beings… The first feeling in India is of unity: of participation in one another, in the earth, in the sun. All things strive and tend towards unity, towards the One."

Then there's the otherness of God. "A true Hindu," said Murray, "is incapable of speaking cheaply about God… God is always beyond. The mystery of God leaves a [person] capable of only being silent."

These three things, passion, community and silence, are just a few of the many things we need to learn from the Third World if we are going to hold onto our sanity. One of the tragedies of the current mess which the Anglican communion is that, rather than listening to the voice of God in one another, we are busy distinguishing ourselves from one another and accusing each other of being sub-standard followers of Jesus.

The Christians in Asia and Africa are our neighbors whom Jesus in the Gospels says we should love as ourselves. In our baptismal covenant we commit ourselves to "seek and serve Christ in all people, loving our neighbors as ourselves." How hard this is in the present ecclesial climate. But, remember, with God all things are possible.

SEPTEMBER AT ST PATRICK'S

CALLER TRAINING
We are recruiting callers, who will call all the members of our congregation in October inviting you to pledge your financial support to St Patrick's for 2009. There will be caller training: either Tuesday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m. or Wednesday, September 3 at 10:00 a.m.

JAZZ MASS
On September 7, Robert Young will be leading his traditional Jazz band, the Eldorado Syncopators at the 10:00 a.m. service. They will lead us in the singing of When the Saints and other Gospel songs.

PILGRIMAGE TO WALES
Next summer, Jim Rawls and Steve Brannon (retired Rector of Trinity, Sonoma) will be leading a pilgrimage to holy places in Wales. They get a lot of repeat customers but they still have some openings. They will offer information to potential pilgrims on September 7

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
The first meeting of the fall will be September 7 after the 10:00 a.m. service in the Common Room. If you have a name that you would like added to the list, call Jane Hall at 217-3970.

WOMEN'S BREAKFAST
Saturday, September 13 is the next Women's Breakfast. All women in the parish are invited to meet at Su Casa in the St Francis Shopping Center at 8:30 a.m. For more information, please call the church office.

SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES
Raymond Skipp continues as the Sunday School teacher. Class begins on September 14 in the Sunday School room next to the church.

Sunday School will be every Sunday. September 14 & 21 at 10 a.m.; when the Fall schedule beings on September 28, Sunday school moves to 10:30 a.m.

Watch this space for infomation about Godly Play for younger children.

RECTOR'S VACATION
The Rector will be away September 8-19. The preacher and celebrant on Sunday, September 14 will be Bishop George Hunt. There will be no midweek services on September 10 and 17. The vestry will meet on September 23.

ECW LUNCHEON
The first lunch of the new season will be on September 9. There will be a brief business meeting beginning at 11:00 a.m. The guest speaker is Peter Banks on Global Climate Change. Please sign up in the Parish Hall. All women of our congregation and guests are welcome.

MEN'S CURSILLO The Men's cursillo will take place on the weekend of October 2-5, Wes Cazel and John Landon are on the team. Please pray for candidates and team.

Both the men's and the women's cursillo are taking names of candidates. Are you interested? Judy Buff can tell you more.

WOMEN'S CURSILLO
The women's cursillo will be held on the weekend of October 23-26. Cathy Scherer is the mentor for the team and Hugh Stevenson is one of the spirits.

FALL SCHEDULE IN OCTOBER
We revert to three services: 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. beginning September 28. During September, the services will be at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. with Sunday school during the 10:00 a.m. service.

ECLIPSING EMPIRES
There is no Adult Ed in September. In October we will begin a new series on Sunday mornings, 9:45 a.m. in the Common Room, watching DVDs of Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan retracing the steps of St Paul.