Table of Contents for February 2012 [Vol. 14 No. 2]

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RELIGION AND ECONOMICS

Alas, we are in another election year! We see American politics at its worst. It is certainly a flawed system. We see attack ads and Republican candidates squabbling with each other. It is not edifying. I suspect that the only people who benefit are the political advertisers and the media whom Newt Gingrich, at the final debate in South Carolina, described as "destructive, vicious and negative."

The theologian Karl Barth advises young theologians "to take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible." One who has done this well is Jim Wallis, an evangelical who has written a number of books and spoken out about social justice. In 1974 he wrote that, "The new evangelical consciousness is most characterized by a return to biblical Christianity and the desire to apply biblical insights to the need for new forms of sociopolitical engagement."

In an interview, Mitt Romney said, "I love business," adding that he "grew up understanding the cross-pollination of politics and business." He then asserted his evangelical credentials as a Bible-reading Christian that would "not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the presidency and would maintain a firm separation between them." Will he also maintain a firm separation between values and business? Will he also say that beliefs must not contaminate political judgment?

Jonathan Sachs, chief rabbi of the British Commonwealth, says in The Dignity of Difference (2002: p. 12), "Contemporary politics and economics have little to say about the human condition?We need to recover an older tradition-essentially, a set of religious traditions-which spoke of human solidarity, of justice and compassion."

Sachs believes that the free market is still the best way to alleviate poverty. But he cites Adam Smith who was an early advocate of free markets as saying (p. 78): "the disposition to admire the rich and the powerful, and to despise, at least to neglect, persons of poor and mean condition is the great and most universal course of the corruption of our moral sentiments." Sachs laments that "late modern Western culture tends systematically to dissolve the values and virtues that give meaning to life." The trouble with the new economy is that it has created a breakdown in social solidarity and the segregation of the wealthy from the poor (p. 99). Sachs is writing not specifically about the USA, but about the world as a whole. The world's 3 richest billionaires make more than 600 million in the world's poorest nations. One sixth of the world's population still lives on less than $1 per day (p. 106). So Sachs concludes, the market has been good at creating wealth but not at distributing it (p. 87).

So what does the Gospel say about the poor? Jesus called them blest (Luke 6:20). He saw as one of the goals of his ministry to preach good news to the poor (Luke 4:18). The poor and the outcast figure as heroes in many of his parables, like the widow who seeks justice (Luke 18). Jesus himself was poor and often homeless. Mary, in the Magnificat, proclaims that God has "put down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted the humble and meek" (Luke 1:52). We all remember these truths. But what we don't know is what presidential candidates who profess to be "Bible-reading Christians" make of these things. Perhaps they will tell us; but in doing so, will they make themselves less electable?

TURNING POINTS

All Find a Welcome:
A lot of old friends of the congregation came at Christmas, plus the grown children of families at St Patrick's. Debbie Munkacsy, from OK, came on January 8. Also, Karen Panting brought her grandson, Jake.
John Lillie may move to Oakmont from MN.
Ninon Cabrales brought her son, Tyler Harris, on January 15. He is re-joining the army as a Doc at Fort Bragg NC.

Relocation:
Louise Clark has moved to 115 Oakmont Gardens, 301 White Oak Drive 95409 (same phone).

For this, much thanks:
Wes Cazel, Barbara Fry, Ingo Rencken and Winston Bull rotated off the vestry at the Annual Meeting.
To Ingo and Christian Rencken for taking down the great Christmas tree.

Deepest sympathy:
To Claudette & Russ Engle. Claudette's mother, Sylvie Veissel, died on November 22 in France.
"Buffy" Treat died on January 2. She was 91. Her memorial service will be on February 11 at 2:00 p.m. Her husband, Allan, died January 24, 2010. They came to St. Patrick's early in 2001. She was a very creative person.
Will Rush died November 28, 2011. He was 85. His wife, Shirley, died January 23, 2010. They came to St. Patrick's from Christ Church Windsor in early 1996. In 2003 they moved to Medford, OR. After retirement, they served in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica. Upon returning, they became "parents" for returning volunteers.
Susan Boak's mother, Mary Wheeler, died on January 11 in Suffolk, UK. She was 92. Marge Ruehrdanz's sister, Virginia Legg, died on January 19 in Maryland. She was 82.

We ask God's protection
on Christopher Creaghe and Chris Leonard, serving in harm's way.

May they know God's healing power:

Deepest sympathy to Tommie Cazel & family. Wes died on January 22. More next month.

Catholic Charities thanks us for our donation in 2011 of $500. They say that in 2011 they were able to "preserve the dignity, promote justice and provide opportunities for over 40,000 individuals last year." We will be listed as a donor.

Fr. Thomas Diaz, on behalf of Star of the Valley RC church, thanks us for assisting with the Christmas Food Distribution program. He says, "Your generosity benefited countless others. Your support won't be forgotten."

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 2-10. Hugh will be taking his post-Christmas break. The Rev. Dr. LA King will be here on February 5 (Superbowl Sunday).

February 5. Meeting of the Daughters of the King in the Ed. Center after the 10:30 service.

February 11. 2pm Memorial for Wes Cazel.

February 11. Congregational Leadership Conference at St. Paul's Benicia. Canon Britt Olson speaks on "Transition: Negotiating the Leap Into a New Future" (change management), as well as taxes for churches and training for Lay Eucharistic Ministers. Call the church if you are planning to attend.

February 12. This is the 10th anniversary of the ordination of The Rev Julie Wizorek. We were hoping that Julie would be here, but she is recovering from surgery. Nevertheless we will sing the same hymns and anthem (by Layton Heckman) as on that occasion. Julie was here July 2001-October 2003.

February 12 at 4:00 p.m., Fr. John Dear talks about his upcoming book, Lazarus, Come Forth. Lazarus represents "humanity" stuck in the culture of death. Jesus calls humanity, out of the culture of violence and war, into "the new life of resurrection peace." The meeting is sponsored by the Emmaus Community. All are welcome.

February 14. All women are encouraged to come to the Episcopal Church Women planning lunch at 11:00 a.m. We will discuss where do we go from here? Please sign up in the parish hall.

February 16. The men's lunch will be at 11:30 a.m. All men are invited; contact Claus Schroeder, the coordinator (537-7233).

February 18. Memorial service for Buffy Treat at 2:00 p.m. at St. Patrick's.

February 19. The last Sunday before Lent. We will sing spirituals to mark Black History Month. The theme of this Sunday is the Transfiguration of Jesus upon the mountaintop. Bring last year's palm crosses to be burnt to make ash for Ash Wednesday.

February 19. Keyboard Recital. Robert Young will perform works of J.S. Bach at 4:00 p.m. on organ, piano and our newly acquired harpsichord (the gift of Penny Mackenzie).

February 21. Shrove Tuesday pancake supper fundraiser.

February 22. On Ash Wednesday, there will be one service, 9:00 a.m. with the Imposition of Ashes (from last year's palm crosses) for those who wish followed by the Eucharist. "I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a Holy Lent." (Prayer Book p. 265)

February 16. New Adult Class: Jim Rawls will be leading a five-week course on "The Mystical Tradition: Key Texts and Themes in Early Christian Mysticism." in the Common Room 9:45 to 10:30, beginning February 26 and ending March 25. No homework. All are welcome.

February 26. Judy Buff (539-2667) will teach First Communion class, 9:45 am in the Ed. Center for 4 weeks for children in Primary School

February 29. The Outreach Committee meets at 10 a.m.

March 4. Deacon Phina Borgeson, a trainer for the School of Deacons, will be our guest preacher and will lead an adult education workshop on Total Ministry.

March 11. We commemorate one of the great hymn-composers, John Bacchus Dykes. He wrote Nicaea, the tune for "Holy holy holy" and Melita, the tune of the Navy hymn.

ST. PATRICK'S DINNER The dinner, one of our major fund-raising events, will probably take place on Saturday, March 17. We are looking for volunteers to help. How about you?

March 24. Mutual Ministry Review for the Rector and vestry with Canon Britt, the Bishop's Assistant. Canon Britt will also preach on March 25 (which is also Healing Sunday).

AROUND ST. PATRICK'S

THE DIRECTION OF OUR DIOCESE
From the Bishops letter, January 2012
In reviewing the work of the Diocesan Council in 2011, Bishop Barry said, "We made a serious commitment a year ago to work towards increasing attention paid to ministry development in all our congregations in general, and especially with congregations interested in Total Ministry. Today, the search for a new Ministry Development Coordinator is getting underway, and the funding for that position is in the (balanced!) budget."

Priorities for 2012. The Bishop said that the Council aims to proclaim the Good News to congregations through:

• Evangelism,
• Encouragement and development of new faith communities,
• Speaking the prophetic Word,
• The work of making disciples.

PRAYER OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PLEDGE ENVELOPES
We no longer use the number on the pledge envelope. It is intended as a convenience and a reminder for the donor. When making contributions for several weeks, please use a single check for the total amount. Contributions are recorded on the day they are received.

FORWARD DAY-BY-DAY (February-April)
The latest Bible study notes are in the tract rack at the Church entrance. Please help yourself. There are enough for all those who want one.

BILL MACDONALD offers the following:
A nun at a Catholic elementary school was grading tests. Imagine how difficult it was for her to maintain her composure at these (unedited) answers!
Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. Noah's wife was Joan of Ark. Noah built and ark and the animals came on in pears.
The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with unsympathetic genitals.
Moses led the Jews to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread, which is bread without any ingredients.
The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went up to Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandments.
The first commandments was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.
The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.
David was a Hebrew king who was skilled at playing the liar. He fought the Finkelsteins, a race of people who lived in Biblical times.
Solomon, one of David's sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
When the three wise guys from the east side arrived they found Jesus in the manager.
Bill lives with his wife, Nell, at Villa Capri, Verena.