January 2005 Vol. 7 No. 1 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: Herc Roland, 538-3134

Table of Contents for January 2005 [Vol. 7 No. 1]

Welcome To The Rev. Michael Monnot Around St. Patrick's Outreach Items Taking The Word Seriously Turning Points Vestry Meeting John Bogart Library Youth Group News

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WELCOME TO THE REV. MICHAEL MONNOT

After a long search, we have called Michael to be our new assistant rector. Although he has a strong background in youth ministry, Michael will also be involved in preaching and the liturgy, visiting and house communions and in the day to day administration of the parish. His office will be next to my new office in the Education Center. I am greatly looking forward to having him on board. HS

Hello, my name is Michael Monnot, and I will be the new Assistant Rector at St. Patrick's starting in January, so I thought I would take this moment to say a few things about myself.

I am a native of California (in fact, on my mother's side, I come from several generations of native Californians), and grew up not that far from here in Solano County. After college, I worked in the publishing industry for a number of years, and was a partner in a small commercial graphics business in the Bay Area for a time.

I was born a Roman Catholic, but found my way to the Episcopal Church as a young adult. My life in ministry began at my home parish, St. James' in San Francisco, where I was the Youth Minister for four years. Eventually, I attended Seminary at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. There, not only did I undergo discernment and training for ordained ministry, but I also met my wife, Betsey. We graduated and were married in 2002; Betsey is an Episcopal Priest in this Diocese, and we are expecting our first child this coming April.

I also spent two years of my training as the seminarian at St. Clement's, in Berkeley, and three years as a Sacristan in the CDSP chapel. I was just (on December 4) ordained to the Transitional Deaconate in Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and anticipate being ordained to the priesthood in June.

Although I am sad to be leaving St. James,' I am glad to be coming to St. Patrick's. I have already visited a couple of times, and have met a few people already, and look forward to getting to know even more of you. St. Patrick's seems like a vibrant community, and I am excited to have the opportunity to take part in it. My first Sunday at St. Patrick's will be January 9; I'll see you then!

AROUND ST. PATRICK'S

January 9
Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, when after Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan, the voice from heaven affirmed him, "This is my beloved Son!" The Baptism is one of four great Epiphany events. The others are: the wise men, the turning of water into wine at Cana (which we read on February 6) and the Transfiguration (which we celebrate on the last Sunday of Epiphany.) These events reveal the divine nature in the human Jesus, "God in man made manifest." (Hymn 135) We hope to have baptisms on this day.

This will be the first Sunday at St. Patrick's for our new assistant, the Rev Michael Monnot. He will be the deacon of the liturgy and we will welcome him at each service.

January 16
Parish Annual Meeting takes place after the 9:30 a.m. Eucharist. There is only one service on this morning-an opportunity for those who attend different services to greet one another. Will you, please wear your nametag!

January 23
The beginning of our series, "Focus on the Liturgy." This year, our liturgies will come from a number of different sources, including the Prayer Book of the Church in New Zealand. A number of us already know this book and find the liturgies very attractive. Our new assistant, Michael, will preach for the first time on this Sunday.

Between the services, I will offer a new 4-week series, "How Constantine changed the Church."

February 5
The youth group will present the Mardi Gras Dinner, to raise funds for Mexico 2005. Please buy tickets in advance. We hope to have live music and some games.

February 6
February 6: This is black history month. On this day, our liturgy will include spirituals in the African American tradition.

Please bring your old Palm crosses before this day, that they may be burnt to make ash for Wednesday.

February 9
February 9: Ash Wednesday Eucharist, with the imposition of ashes (from last year's palm crosses) for those who wish. Eucharist at both 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

COFFEE MAKERS
We are looking for people to make coffee and tea and provide simple refreshments after both services each Sunday in the New Year. If you have not done it before, call the office (833-4228) for instructions; perhaps you can be paired with an experienced coffee maker.

FLOWER POWER
Each Sunday, one or more people give the flowers for church. They make a donation of about $25. They mark an important day: a birthday or anniversary, a baptism or a graduation. If you would like to do this, please sign up in the church entrance; please write clearly the person in whose honor or in whose memory the flowers are being given.

OUTREACH ITEMS

The Committee agreed to support the Youth Group's trip to Mexico next year but will wait until the need can be specified. On the other hand, the Committee will no longer sponsor the practice of giving out lemonade and cookies at the Kenwood Fourth of July event, but will instead make a grant directly to the Kenwood Fire Department.

Hal Poehlmann, our representative on the Board of Vineyard Workers Services, reported that VWS operated two camps for workers during the crush season where two meals a day were served. VWS has hired a high school girl part time to serve as a liaison with Latino teen-agers. VWS is promoting the services of their clients as part time yard care and home repair workers.

The Committee continues to support a statewide initiative by many different churches to develop a religious response to global warming. A proposal to the Vestry by the Rev. Hugh Stevenson for St. Patrick's to commit to the program of California Interfaith Power and Light has been favorably received. Among the first steps is to obtain data on the economics of installing solar panels to cover the parish's power needs and to sell the excess produced in warm weather back to PG&E.

The Committee has made contacts with Interfaith Shelter Network and Catholic Charities to determine how we may assist in preparing and serving food to persons using homeless shelters and a specific plan is being developed.
Bill McDonald, chair

EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT
Sandra Swan, the President of ERD, writes to thank us at St Patrick's for our gift of $1000 for the Sudan Relief Fund. She tells us that violent militias in the Darfur region have already killed 70,000 people and displaced more that one million people from their homes and villages. Many of those who are fleeing are women and children who have lost family members in attacks on villages. They are left with nothing and now struggle to survive. ERD is working with partner agencies help displaced people by providing food, medicine, water, emergency health care and clean water. People also need plastic sheeting for temporary shelters.

She closes her letter, "Your continued support of our programs to help the Sudanese is wonderful. Please thank all those who helped make this gift possible." Thanks to all the members of our congregation who by your support of the parish make our outreach possible.

More information about Episcopal Relief and Development is found on their website, www.erd.org. Thanks to Karen Steelman who offers her talents to ERD. She reports that an ERD board member will be in our diocese soon. HS

BISHOPS BLEND COFFEE
We will take orders each quarter. Each order provides money for ERD throughout the world.

TAKING THE WORD SERIOUSLY

Because we are not fundamentalists and do not interpret scripture literally, this does not mean that we do not read the Bible. We should not throw out the baby with the bath water. At the back of our Prayer Books (pages 936-995) is a lectionary with readings for every day of the year. We have just begun "Year One." I find that the "Forward Day by Day" quarterly Bible study notes are a convenient source of the readings.

As I read the scripture day by day in the course of daily Morning and Evening Prayer, I do not read with a critical eye asking, "Did this really happen?" Instead I try to be open to what these readings are saying to me right now.

Sometimes there is comfort in reading again a familiar passage. Recently, the Old Testament reading was from Isaiah 6, in which the prophet describes his call. The Lord asks, "whom shall I send and who will go for me?" and I said, "Here am I; send me!" I remembered my ordination retreat when the Bishop took this passage for his messages, and I replied, "Send me!" After I was ordained, I lived in a bed-sitter next to the vicarage. On Tuesday mornings, I jumped over the stonewall into the vicarage garden on my way to the weekly staff meeting with Arthur, my vicar. One day, the psalm appointed was Psalm 18. Verse 29 says, "By the help of my God, I can leap over a wall." Not only was I leaping over a physical wall, I was also crossing the gulf from being a layperson to being ordained.

On the night when the vestry of St Luke's Fairport had called me to be their new Rector, I read Psalm 16. The words were familiar because we had read them often at Compline at seminary. "My lot has fallen in a fair ground." It was easy to switch ground to port. I believed that God was calling me to accept their invitation. Then I remembered other familiar words "Faithful is He who calls" (1 Thess. 5:24).

The more we read the scriptures, the more familiar they become. Some passages are familiar friends. We remember a context when they were important to us-even a sermon for which they formed the foundation. Through the scriptures, God speaks to us in surprising ways. I invite you during this New Year to read the daily lectionary remembering that you are doing so with Christians throughout the world. There are still some "Day by Days" left in the tract rack-- and they are free!
Hugh Stevenson

Two other comments on scripture
First a controversial poem by Sidney Carter (who wrote Lord of the Dance)
Your holy hearsay
Is no evidence.
Give me the good news
In the present tense.
What happened
Nineteen hundred years ago
May not have happened,
Who am I to know?
The living truth
Is what I long to see
I cannot lean upon
What used to be.
So shut the Bible up
And show me how
The Christ you talk about
Is living now.

Second, a comment by Tom Ehrich writes in his daily letter, "On a Journey":
One currently popular use of Scripture asserts that the "Word of God" is a bounded document, written in ancient times and never to be amended, containing all of the rules and definitions one needs to live. Inerrant, unchanging, sufficient in itself. That isn't how Jesus understood Scripture, and it isn't how Isaiah understood the word of God. Jesus preferred stories, and Isaiah understood God as actively engaging in the history of humankind. You don't memorize a verse to prove a point; you hear a story and receive instruction for responding faithfully in today's dynamic reality. Thus, the content of Leviticus 18 isn't eternal rules about sexuality, but a story about how a people wrestled with the mystery of sexuality.

Turning Points

Deepest sympathy:
Janet Mogel on the unexpected death of her husband Ted.
Nancy Aristimuno on the death of her mother, Ruth Daugherty.
Marge Ruehrdanz on the death of her aunt Clara Nelson.

For this, much thanks:
Bob and Marge Ruehrdanz have given St Patrick's a new house communion set in memory of the donor who gave the gift of life (a new kidney) to Bob 11 years ago. Marge has been very active as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor bringing communion to the home bound.

Relocation:
Helen Doughty has moved back East to be with family.
Doris Campbell is staying with her daughter Kathy at 2015 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara CA 93105 (tel: 805-569-1414).
The Rev Julie and Martin Wizorek' home is at 35 Church St., Prince Frederick MD 20678.

We ask God's protection of:
those serving in the military overseas
Frank Papworth, Benjamin Borger, the Seguin's grandson, Quinn.

We will exalt you, O God, our King:
We kept in our prayers Hutch Gibb's nephew, Nicholas, who badly injured his leg while skiing. His doctors were able to save his leg.
Sandra Hammond and Armand Russell have a new grandson, born December 15

May they know God's healing power:
Linda Belding, Lolita Seguin
Hertha Brown,
Phyllis Arack Joan Ingold
John Morelli Diana Estabrook
For Natalie, daughter of Cathy Landon

May they rest in peace:
Henry Williams died November 28 at Spring Lake Village.

Farewell to:
Bob and Marge Ruehrdanz are moving to Sebastopol to look after their son's property. They will be attending St Stephen's Church there. They have been contributed greatly during their time here: Bob with the Every Member Canvass, and Marge as altar guild member, Eucharistic Minister at the 8:00 a.m. service.
The Rev. John Leech is currently at 2750 East Camino a los Vientos, Tucson AZ 85718 (phone 520-615-6422, or cell 390-3630). He is ministering at St Michael's in Tucson. He is engaged to Sarah Condon. We send them our prayers and good wishes.

Thanks to all who supported our Christmas celebrations:
Sylvia O'Neill and Alan Rea played Holiday music in a concert on December 5.
All who gave money to buy the Christmas flowers and decorations.
Bette Leedom and the Altar Guild decorated the Church with some helpers.
The Fisher family provided the great wreaths of grape vines for the church.
Robert Young and our choir for the music at our services.
Acolytes, ushers, readers and chalice bearers and all who assisted with our Christmas services.
Pam Bledsoe, our parish administrator, duplicated innumerable bulletins and the January Grapevine.
Angela and I thank you for the cards, good wishes, and expressions of love. Hugh

Vestry Meeting

• The outgoing vestry members are Kate Aldrich, George Thoresen, Chuck Chapman and Barbara Fry. The continuing members are Margaret Bock, John Redmond, John Morelli, Ann Peters Bette Leedom, Jane Hall, Fred Fisher and Vic Howard.
• Judy Buff, Jean Meyer, Michael Petersen and Wendy Wood have been nominated for the 2005 vestry.
• Chuck Chapman, the treasurer, will present the accounts for 2004 and the proposed budget for 2005.
• Packets of reports will be available from December 26. Please pick one up and read it, before the meeting. If you have questions or comments bring them to the meeting.

VESTRY START-UP
There is a brief meeting of the new vestry, right after the Annual Meeting on January 16, to organize dates and times. This is for all vestry members (new and continuing). HS

OFFERING ENVELOPES
These will be available by the end of December. If you requested envelopes, a box has been ordered for you. On the outside of the box is a label with your name, address, and envelope number.

When you write a check, your envelope number is not necessary - your donation is posted using the name on the check. If you wish to do so however, you may write your envelope number on the offering envelope.

If your donation is in cash, I need either your name or envelope number entered on the offering envelope. This is to ensure that I post the donation to the correct account. Please call Pam in the office if you have questions (833-4228).

NOVEMBER VESTRY MEETING

• Ann Peters began the meeting with a moving reflection about the past year
• We reviewed the results so far of the Every Member Canvass, and parceled out to vestry members people to call about their pledge
• We made a list of nominations for next year's vestry.
• We voted to explore a companion parish relationship with a parish in Honduras that Ed Howell will hook us up with.
• We are receiving information from California Interfaith Power and Light (CIPL), and hope to present information at the AGM about installing solar panels at Church.
• New and retiring vestry members and significant others are invited to the vestry potluck dinner at the Chapman's new house on January 28. The vestry workshop led by Canon Berry Beisner will be the following day.
• The new carpet in the parish hall received favorable comments.
• The clergy will have their offices in the Education Center. Hugh's old office will become the new nursery. Pam will stay in the parish office for the time being.
• Bette Leedom reported on the Diocesan Convention.

VESTRY TREASURERS CONFERENCE
The deanery conference will be on February 5, at the Church of the Incarnation, Santa Rosa. In addition to training vestry members and treasurers, the Bishop wants to instruct Rectors about clergy responsibility in financial oversight in their parishes.

LAY MINISTRY WORKSHOP
The next workshop in our Deanery will take place on Saturday, April 16 at St Mary's Napa. There will be workshops on a variety of topics.

John Bogart Library

NEW BOOKS IN THE NEW YEAR
To begin a new year, the library has three fine books from the Episcopal Bookstore.

The first is by L. Michael White: From Jesus to Christianity. How Four Generations of Visionaries and Storytellers Created the New Testament and Christian Faith. White writes of the beginnings of Christianity in historical context, both Jewish and Greco-Roman. The description of the social and cultural world of the Roman Empire is especially interesting.

Next is One Catholic and Apostolic. Samuel Seabury and the Early Episcopal Church by Paul Victor Marshall. Seabury was the first bishop in the Episcopal Church in the United States. He was a Loyalist, a "redoubtable man of massive physique (he weighed over 300 pounds) and learned mind. He was very pompous...and wrote a number of pamphlets reviling the officers of the Continental Congress as... a venomous brood of scorpions... for their support of a trade embargo against Britain." Because he was ordained by the Episcopal Church in Scotland, he agreed to incorporate the Communion Service from the Scottish Prayer Book into the new American Prayer Book. He is a pivotal figure in our Church history.

Lastly, we have The Meaning of the Miracles by Jeffrey John. Rather than look for a scientific explanation of the miracles John gives us their prophetic and theological significance. There is a lot to think about in this book.

WOMEN'S LUNCHEON
The next luncheon will be on Tuesday, February 8, at 11 :00 a.m. The speaker will be Marilyn Elkins of Kairos Outside, an organization that provides support for the wives of those in prison. Please sign up beforehand in the Parish Hall. Hope to see you there. Also, the ECW Board will probably meet a week earlier on February 1 at 9:00 a.m. in the Common Room.

ENDOWMENT FUND COMMITTEE
The Endowment Fund Committee met in December and approved a $2,500 grant to St. Patrick's Youth Group, to assist in the mission to Mexico being planned for June 2005. A grant of $1,000 was also made to assist St. Patrick's in establishing a Companion Parish with San Patrico, an Episcopal Church in El Progresso, Honduras, as previously approved by the Vestry. Our diocese is in a formal Companion relationship with the Diocese of Honduras. In addition the Committee also disbursed $1,000 to Goodwill Industries from the Friedrich Small Grants Fund, to make grants to assist persons seeking a job.

The amount in St. Patrick's Endowment Fund has grown as a result of significant contributions to the Endowment Fund during 2004 from the estate of Spencer Flournoy, and others. Grants, such as the ones outlined above, are made only from income received on the investments in the Fund. If you are interested in making a contribution to grow in St. Patrick's Endowment Fund or the Friedrich Small Grants Fund, so that funding of other worth while grants is made possible, please contact Will Haymaker, Chair of the Committee, 538-4005.

SEXTON'S REQUEST
If you need Mel to set up or take down for a parish function, could you please drop off a note in her box in the lobby outside the parish office, with a floor plan if possible. Mel is still available to clean your gutters, painting, window washing etc. Call her at 833-1173.

WANTED: TAPE RECORDER
For a book she is working on, Jill Hunting (8 o'clocker) is looking for a reel-to-reel tape recorder she can borrow for home use. She will pick it up and return it. If you have one of these old-technology classics, Jill would be pleased to hear from you at 935-0592 or trufflehunting@vom.com.

Youth Group News

YOUTH GROUP NEWS
The youth group has several activities and fundraisers planned for the New Year.

On January 21 and February 18, some of us will be cooking and serving dinner at the Armory Shelter in Santa Rosa. The shelter asks that we bring the food (for about 70 people), so we will be cooking up big pots of spaghetti and meatballs! If anyone in the congregation would like to bake cookies that we can take along, please let me know.

Our next big fundraiser for the Mission to Mexico will be a Mardi Gras Dinner on Saturday, February 5. We invite the entire congregation to join us for a gumbo feast! Tickets will be on sale after church services throughout January. We hope to have: Robert Young's EI Dorado Syncopators entertain us with live Dixieland Jazz,. as well as playing games of Bingo and Musical Chairs.

We still have plenty of trip "shares" available for a $10 donation. These are cards decorated, and signed by the youth group teens. Like a corporation, we will invest the funds in our business - our house-building trip -: but with this corporation, the shareholders' dividends are more spiritual. Or, as my mom used to say, you'll get your reward in heaven!

We will be holding a Rummage Sale on Saturday, May 7. Please look through your closets, attics and garages for any treasures you can donate. We ask that you hang onto them until the end of April, and then we will start storing items in the youth group room and the storage locker. Please, no clothing or mattresses.

We will also be having some more pancake breakfasts and car washes as we can fit them in.

We would like to offer a huge THANK YOU to the Endowment Committee for funding our grant request in the amount of $2,500. Last year the trip cost about $8,500, and we need to raise at least that much again this year. So far, including the Endowment Committee grant, we've raised almost $4,000. Thanks to all of you for coming to our fundraisers and buying our trip shares. We really appreciate it, and we hope we give you something of value in return.

Our trip is scheduled for June 18-24, 2005. If you have any questions, please call me at 833-5524.
Ann Peters