January 2007 Vol. 9 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 2007 [Vol. 9 No. 1]

Greek Tragedy and the Christian Gospel God Among Us Turning Points Around St. Patrick's Vestry Notes

---

GREEK TRAGEDY AND THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL

One of the “in” words these days is hubris. For example, I read about a long trek made by an English writer. His publisher paid him before he even set out. In the preface, he wondered whether it was hubris, meaning, was he tempting providence? Journalists accuse our politicians of hubris, meaning exceeding their authority. This certainly applies to all of our last 4 presidents.

We discussed hubris at school when we were studying the Greek tragedies. Hubris is translated as overweening pride or arrogance. It was regarded as an insult to the gods, since humans were appropriating to themselves divine powers. Therefore the gods punished them with destruction (or nemesis), as in the proverb, “Pride goes before a fall.” Aeschylus in his play, The Persians, tells how Xerxes the Persian general offended the gods by building a bridge of boats across the Hellespont. Because of this hubris, the gods, rather than the Athenian army, was responsible for the defeat of the Persians.

The classic example of hubris was Icarus the son of Daedalus. Daedalus was an inventor; who fashioned wings, with which he and his son could escape from captivity in the court of King Minos of Crete. As they flew across the Aegean Sea, Icarus was so elated by the experience that despite his father’s warnings he flew too near the sun. The wax with which the wings were made melted and he crashed into the sea.

The Athenians were brilliant artists and builders. The Parthenon must have been exquisite when it was first built. Every line was curved so as to appear straight to the naked eye. Lest they and their building seemed to challenge the gods, they built in a deliberate mistake. If the Sunday bulletin at St. Patrick’s was ever perfect, we would become so proud of our success that to avoid hubris we would need to include a deliberate mistake!

St Paul warns that we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, but to evaluate ourselves with sober judgment (Romans 12:3). Twice Jesus tells his disciples “whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:37; 10:43). The Gospel differs from Greek tragedy in that the God we worship does not punish us. If disaster afflicts us it does so because of our own mistakes rather than the desire of God to exact retribution.

After winning the Trojan War, Agamemnon, King of Argos, entered his place walking on a crimson carpet. This was an example of conspicuous consumption. He came to a sticky end. After a success it is all too easy to have an inflated sense of our own self-importance and to indulge ourselves.

When we make New Year’s resolutions, let us resolve not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, and so to find our peace with God.

GOD AMONG US
Presiding Bishop’s Christmas Message 2006

God loved us so much that he came to dwell among us, to tent among us in human flesh... There is a wonderful echo there of God's presence in the tent while Israel wandered in the wilderness. The gift of the Incarnation says that God is willing to take on the human tent of flesh and be one with and among us.

That frail tent of flesh proves capable of holding divinity, but also capable of yielding up its spirit. Irenaeus and Athanasius insisted that the gift of Incarnation was that "God became human, that we might become divine." You and I are bearers of the image of God, and you and I share in Incarnation, for Jesus has walked this way before us. God is born in us as well.

The vulnerability of being born in obscurity, to a peasant refugee couple, in an out of the way place, says to us that God is with us in the smallest parts of life -- perhaps a reminder that we, too, may discover God in those humble and unexpected places if we are willing to go in search.

Matthew's story of the wise ones from the east who come searching for this new thing, this remarkable child, is equally a reminder that God's love extends to all, that God comes among us in human form for all humanity, not just for our co-religionists, not just for those who expect God's appearing in the same way we do, and not just in predictable ways at the altar.

Recently I watched and listened to a woman on a bus as she engaged in conversation with a three-year-old boy. The woman asked the child what happens at Christmas, but the boy, though highly verbal, wasn't able to say much. With his parents' apparent agreement, she asked him about Santa Claus, and began to tell him all about waking up on Christmas Day and finding presents. She didn't talk about St. Nicholas on his feast day, or about Jesus and his birth, but she did convey a sense of the wonder and love connected to Christmas.

That is an opening for those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus. It is the kind of invitation heard by the wise ones from the east. Even Santa Claus –- far removed though today's version of the story may be from the holy faithfulness of St. Nicholas -- can be another kind of star leading others to the humble stable where God comes among us. God continues to come among us in humility, God continues to be birthed in fragile opportunities that will need to be nourished and tended by others. The little boy on the bus had his mind and heart opened to hear the bigger story about Christmas. Now, who will tell the old, old story of God's love to those so ready and eager to hear?

-- The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church.

THE INVESTITURE
Barbara Hunt has the DVD of the investiture of Bishop Katharine—this was the great service in Washington’s National Cathedral at which she was enthroned as Presiding Bishop (the equivalent of Archbishop) of the Episcopal Church. Barbara and George were there. Bishop Katharine was the preacher. Barbara will be showing the DVD at St Patrick’s, in the Education Center at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 13. There will be refreshments.

ENDOWMENT FUND REQUESTS: The Designated Funds Committee meets early in February. If you are seeking a grant from the Endowment Fund, please get your application in by the end of January. The Endowment Fund is used for capital needs of the parish and for other outreach activities sponsored by St. Patrick's. Call Will Haymaker at 537-1169 for information.

TURNING POINTS

All find a welcome:
Gail Stockholm and C. J. Doner who attended recently.

For this, much thanks:
To the person who left a laptop at the Church for Ed Howell.

Thanks to all who supported our Christmas celebrations in so many various ways:
All who gave money to buy the poinsettias, Christmas flowers and other decorations.
John Heidel helped erect the tree.
The Cranes and the Steelmans decorated it.
Fran Crane and the Altar Guild decorated the Church with some helpers.
The children and their families took part in the pageant, directed by Raymond Skipp.
Robert Young and our augmented choir provided music at our services.
Acolytes, ushers, readers and chalice bearers and all who assisted with our Christmas services.
Marcia Ronchetti, our administrative assistant who duplicated innumerable bulletins, the annual reports and the January Grapevine.
Our team of collators and folders.
Angela and I thank you for the cards, good wishes, and expressions of love. Hugh

We ask God’s protection of:
those serving in the military overseas:

Chris Whittaker	Dallas Casey
Dan Whitwright	George Sutherland
Mike Bennett	Joseph Palamino
Troy

We will exalt you, O God, our King:
Congratulations to those who will be married in the New Year:
Elizabeth Johnson and Andrew Belding
George Arack (senior) and Bobbie Sparrow
Heather McKoy and Eric Shumaker
Karen Poer and George Siela
Whitney Fisher and Nile Zaccherle.

May they know God’s healing power:

Hertha Brown	Mark Kirkland
Janice Currie	Lolita Seguin
Scott Ronchetti	Linda Belding
Wyn Warfield	Jack Rockwell

John & Cathy Landon’s son, James
Jean Henderson’s granddaughter, Anna
Cynthia Pennington’s mother, Jeanne.

May they rest in peace:
Shirley Flournoy died on November 30. She and Spence had been members of St Patrick’s since 1985. Shirley was one of the first members of the Daughters of the King, she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School for many years and was a cursillista. Deepest sympathy to her children: Barbara, Rich, Jim and Charlie and their families.

Thanks to the outgoing ECW officers:
Jean Meyer, President
Cynthia Pennington, Vice-President
Dorothy Howard, Secretary
Alice Fielder, Treasurer

And blessings on the new ECW officers:
Cynthia Pennington, President
Audrey Jaynes, Program chairman
Minerva Haddad, Secretary
Alice Fielder, Treasurer
Jean Derum, Bazaar chairman
Charlotte Horne, Worship.

AROUND ST. PATRICK’S

December 31: On the Sunday after Christmas and New Year’s Eve, there will be two services: at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Both will be services of Lessons and Carols and Eucharist.

January 6: 5:00 p.m., Cursillo Potluck supper in the parish hall. All “cursillistas” are invited to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.

January 7: 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 the great Epiphany events.

The baby of Christine and Mark Jenkins will be baptized. If there are other baptisms, please call the parish office (833-4228).

At the 10:30 service, the new Officers of the ECW will be installed.

The Daughters of the King will meet after the 10:30 service.

January 21: Parish Annual Meeting takes place after the 9:00 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!

There will be a brief planning meeting for the new vestry (both those newly elected and those continuing).

The children of Sunday school will come into Church for the whole service with their parents.

January 28: The first of this New Year’s Adult Ed courses. For four weeks, we will read and discuss Marcus Borg’s book, The Heart of Christianity, 9:45 am in the Common Room. If you need a copy, please see the Rector.

COMING UP in February

February 2 at 6:00 p.m. in Trinity Cathedral, the Installation of Bishop Barry Beisner, Canon Britt Olson (who will take Barry’s place as the Canon to the Ordinary, or Bishop’s Assistant) and the Recognition of Honorary Canons, appointed by Bishop Lamb at the 2006 Diocesan Convention.

February 4: February is black history month. On this day, our liturgies will include spirituals in the African American tradition.

February 5-7. Bishop’s conference for all clergy at Sacramento. The speaker will be Canon Howard Anderson, warden of the Cathedral College of Washington National Cathedral.

February 10. 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Vestry/ Treasurers’ conference at St Stephen’s, Sebastopol.

February 8-15. Hugh Stevenson will be away. Bishop George Hunt will take the services on Sunday, February 11.

February 21 is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

COFFEE MAKERS. We are looking for people to make coffee and tea and provide simple refreshments after the 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.

VESTRY NOTES

PARISH ANNUAL MEETING
This important meeting takes place on Sunday, January 21, 2007.

• 3 new vestry members will be elected. The outgoing vestry members are Vic Howard, Fred Fisher and Jane Hall.. The continuing members are Jean Meyer, Judy Buff, Michael Peterson, Wendy Wood, Margaret Merchat, Jill Hunting, Vickie Ward, Becky Jenkins and Cathy Landon.
• Chuck Chapman, the treasurer, will present the accounts for 2006 and the proposed budget for 2007
• Fr Ed. Howell will be at the meeting as an associate of the parish and will speak about a companion relationship with a parish in Honduras.
• There will be reports about music and adult education in the New Year.
• The Foyer Program will be explained, and you will be invited to take part in a supper club.
• Packets of reports will be available from December 31. 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 21, to organize dates and times. This is for all vestry members (new and continuing).

Offering envelopes
These will be available in late December. Please pick up your packet in the parish hall. If you don’t find your envelopes there, please call the parish office (833-4228).

It is not necessary to write your number on a check. Your donation will be posted using the name on the check.

If you are making a cash donation, please write your name on the envelope, so that your donation will be posted to the correct account. Please call Marcia in the office if you have questions.

NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS
In the first days of the New Year, everyone in the parish will get an invitation to a neighborhood meeting near to your home where you will meet other members of the parish. Below are the different areas and dates of meetings (still under construction). Would you be willing to offer your home for one of the meetings that has not yet been confirmed? Please contact Cathy Landon (538-4659).

The purposes of these meetings are:
1. To get to know other members of St Patrick’s in your neighborhood.
2. To explore your relationship with St Patrick’s.
3. To find ways to share your time and talent, in order to deepen your experience as a member of the community.
4. To discuss the direction that the parish is going.
5. Vestry members will be present at these meetings to make note of your questions and comments. We will discuss them at the Vestry Workshop, which will be held towards the end of February.

If you cannot attend the meeting scheduled for you, please call Cathy or Hugh (833-4228) to arrange an alternative.