February 2005 Vol. 7 No. 2 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 February 2005 [Vol. 7 No. 2]

Report on the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist Around St. Patrick's Adult Education Alternative Energy Turning Points New Vestry Members St. Patrick's Bizarre Bazaar Youth Group News

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REPORT ON THE 9:00 A.M. EUCHARIST

At the Annual Meeting there was a request for a report on the Contemporary Service. If you have further questions or suggestions, please see me.

Attendance at the 9:00 a.m. service during 2004, not including 141 who came at Easter, was as follows. The average throughout the year was 31. The highest attendance was 47 in December; the lowest was 21 in January. At the beginning of the year the monthly average was 25, at the end it was 39.

Since September 2004, we have employed a variety of musicians. Judy Buff and Robert Young are the home team. In addition, Raymond Skipp, Evelyn McFadden and Pete Rosser have led the music. A generous benefactor has underwritten the costs of visiting musicians. Judy Buff has planned the music with these people.

Our worship is informal. We employ teenagers as well as adults to read readings and administer the chalice. We hear only two readings and a story or short homily. We gather around the altar to celebrate the Eucharist together. The service lasts 40 minutes; coffee follows. At 9:45, there has been a succession of adult education classes with attendance averaging in the 30s, attracting both 9 o'clockers and 10:30 folk who come early. Carolee Fagent has taught a revived Sunday school in the Education Center, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., with an average of 10 children plus helpers from St Patrick's. These have not been included in the number of attenders at worship.

During the summer, the vestry discussed the 9:00 a.m. service and agreed to continue for another year till June 2005. We have not accomplished some of our goals, but have succeeded in others, which we had not planned. Some new families have joined us at 9:00 a.m. as well as people who are new to our traditions. We are attracting a regular following who are loyal to this service. Four times a year, there is only one service for all parish worship. Our members are reminded by email or by a call from a vestry member. Attendance has not been great at these services.

We began the 9:00 a.m. service in March 2003 and have continued since then with a break in June, July and August each year. The vestry will review the service during the summer of 2005.

Hugh Stevenson

AROUND ST. PATRICK'S

The theme for this Sunday is the Transfiguration. The Rev. Michael Monnot will be the preacher at the 10:30 a.m. service.

Burning of palm crosses: Please bring your crosses from last year to church before February 6, so that they may be burnt to make ash for Ash Wednesday.

February 9: Ash Wednesday. There will be two services: 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.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 13: On the first Sunday of Lent, we begin the first and last services of the morning with the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) and the penitential introduction. The theme for this Sunday is the Temptation of Jesus.

February 20: Lent 2. During Year A, in the three-year cycle of Readings at the Eucharist, we hear stories from St John's Gospel, which Michael and I will read as dialogs. Today's Gospel reading is about Nicodemus (John 3)

February 27: Lent 3.The Gospel reading is about the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4).

ADULT EDUCATION

LENTEN POTLUCK
On Tuesday evenings in Lent, beginning February 8, at 6:00 p.m., we gather in the parish hall for a potluck supper of soup, bread and cheese and fruit. The supper will be followed by the Lent study group at 7:00 p.m. Please sign up in the Parish Hall.

SOWING TEARS: REAPING JOY
During Lent, Michael Monnot and I will be teaching a course on the Bible and Brahms Requiem. The same session will be taught on Tuesday evenings, beginning February 8 (after the potluck supper) and Wednesday mornings at 9:45 a.m., beginning February 9 (after the midweek Eucharist).

Unlike traditional Requiems, Brahms does not include Dies irae, dies illa etc from the Latin requiem mass, but 7 passages of scripture which move from graveside to grieving, from the challenges of self-reflection to hope. (Matthew 5: Blessed are those who mourn; 1 Peter: All flesh is grass, the flower fades but the word of the Lord endures). The material has been produced by kerygma and the course costs $15.00.

FORWARD DAY BY DAY
The latest Bible study notes (for February-April) have been placed in the tract rack in the Church entrance. They include the Biblical readings for each day according to the Episcopal calendar. Please help yourself. There should be enough for all those who want one.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

At the Annual Meeting, I recounted a conversation I had had with Kevin Gilleran, son-in-law of Louisa Carter about solar energy. This is what Kevin does for a living. He said it is more economical to lower your use of electricity before you begin to generate your own with solar power. We would do this in a number of ways:

• Make sure thermostats are working and replace them where necessary.
• Replace halogen light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones.
• Check that heating/cooling ducts are not leaking.
• Keep the outside doors closed. Even shutting the inside doors under the balcony will keep the church warmer.
• All our windows in church have single panes. You can feel the cold coming through them. Cover them with Plexiglas sheets
• Our new furnaces in church are much more efficient than those they replaced.

Currently we average 2600 kilowatt/hours per month, which costs us $400. I believe that we could reduce this by 25% by the end of 2005. The cost of fuel (electricity and natural gas) is only going to go up. If we reduce our needs, we will spend less on solar panels.

Eighteen (18) solar panels would cost us $18,200 installed. This is the reduced price after the installer has collected a rebate of $7000. This would produce 11 kws per day. This would considerably reduce our energy needs.

Our goal in doing this is not just reducing our electricity costs, but as part of our year-round stewardship, the responsible use of the earth's resources. We are members of California Interfaith Power and Light, who say that if the 50,000 churches in California changed only ten standard bulbs to CFLs (compact fluorescents), we would reduce the CO2 produced by our power stations by 130 million pounds, and save $12.5 million.

We are forming a committee to help us in our stewardship.
Hugh Stevenson

E.C.W. LUNCHEON
Bring a bear to share!
The speaker at the next E.C.W luncheon, to be held on Tuesday, February 8, at 11:00 a.m., will be Marilyn Elkins of Kairos Outside. This organization, which is an offshoot of Cursillo, provides three-day weekend retreats for wives of men in San Quentin Prison. The next one is in April. It is a tradition to place a new teddy bear or other stuffed animal on each bed. The animals need to be soft and "big enough to hug." They should be about 18 to 24 inches and may be brought to the E.C.W. luncheon or to the church on Sunday. There will be a collection box in the narthex of the church and one in the parish hall. Would you like to bring a bear?

MEN'S LUNCH
The next Men's Lunch will be held on Wednesday, February 16, at 12:00 noon, at the private dining room at Spring Lake Village. There will be room for about 20 men. The guest speaker will be Frank McCulloch who will share anecdotes and memories of his adventures as a globe-trotting journalist. Frank served in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II and the Korean War. He was graduated in 1941 from the University of Nevada with a degree in Journalism; since that time he has earned an impressive array of academic accolades.

He began his career with the United Press in San Francisco in 1941, and since then he has been a reporter, sports editor, legislative correspondent, and special correspondent for several newspapers; he was Time magazine bureau chief in Los Angeles, Dallas, New York. He was Managing Editor of the Los Angeles Times, and then went to Time & Life as chief of the Southeast Asia bureaus. He served as bureau chief of Time-Life in New York. He co-founded the Learning Magazine in 1972. From 1975 until 1985 he was Executive Editor of the McClatchy Newspapers, and then Managing Editor of the San Francisco Examiner. Frank is a superb storyteller with a lively sense of humor and an unusual depth of knowledge of world affairs.

Turning Points

Deepest sympathy:
to Marjorie Egly and her family on the death of her son Paul. Paul died unexpectedly on January 17.

To Janet Mogel, on the death of her husband Ted, who died on December 5. Ted was treasurer of the Kenwood Community Club from 1984. He was president of the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association, and was on the board of directors of the Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sugarloaf State Park.

For this, much thanks:
Our outgoing vestry members: Kate Aldrich, George Thoresen,
Chuck Chapman, Barbara Fry
Margaret Bock is our new senior warden
Fred Fisher is our Junior Warden (with help from Chuck Chapman and Hank McLain our Property Manager)
Chuck Chapman continues as our treasurer.

Our incoming vestry members are: Judy Buff, Jean Meyer
Michael Peterson, Wendy Wood
Marcia Ronchetti is our vestry clerk.
Thanks to all who attended the Annual Meeting.

Relocation:
Glenn Hendrix is at Sonoma Hills #128, at 405 W Macarthur in Sonoma (same phone: 938-3626)
Helen Doughty was with us for a few months and has moved back East to 300 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street, PA 17584.
Carolyn Watson moved to Texas in 2004. Her address is 21106, Balmoral Place, San Antonio 78258

We ask God's protection of:
those serving in the military overseas
Rick Bolen, Ryan Gnecco, Benjamin Borger, Michael Anderson, Mike Bennett, Quinn Kate Sandle, granddaughter of Joy & Perry Barker has gone to Sri Lanka to help with the relief work.

Blessings on:
Dakota Loretta Emma Borgfeldt who was baptized on January 9, the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus.

May they know God's healing power:
Linda Belding, Lolita Seguin,
Hertha Brown, John Morelli,
Joan Ingold, Diana Estabrook,
Billie Burton, Willis Rives,
Janet, daughter of Pris & Jack Abercrombie,
Natalie, daughter of Cathy Landon.

May they rest in peace:
Tom Robins died on January 9. He and Peg had been members of St Patrick's for nearly 20 years, faithful attenders at the 8:00 a.m. service. Deepest sympathy to Peg.

FOOTNOTE ON CHRISTMAS
I feared that our Christmas celebration here at St. Patrick's would be an anticlimax. Well over 50% of our regular members were away. And yet we had a record turn out for the pageant and Eucharist at 5:00 p.m. with the return of many friends who have not been here in a while. It was a joy to greet them. There was also a good turnout at 10:30 p.m.

NEW VESTRY MEMBERS

JEAN MEYER
Jean and her husband Jim came to St Patrick's in 1985. Jim died a year ago. They have three grown children (in San Leandro, Fremont and Flagstaff AZ). She has been involved in the Unique Boutique, twice as co-chair and for a number of years as chair of the pantry. She does the flowers in church on the third Sunday of the month. She was on the taskforce that sewed kneelers for church. She is an 8 o'clocker and makes coffee once a month (we need more coffee makers!). Jean would like to see the church grow, especially with younger members. She likes events where we all get together and meet people we did not previously know.

MICHAEL PETERSON
Michael came to St Patrick's to be married to Kerry Mertle in September 1996. He is a mechanical engineer with a specialty in computers. He also has much experience in management. He is currently secretary/treasurer for the Shrine Club raising funds for the hospital in Sacramento. Next year he will be Master of his Lodge. He grew up in the Congregationalist Church, but went through catechism at St Mary's Orthodox Church so that the three children of his first marriage could be baptized there. Michael ushers at the 10:30 service. He brings a sense of excitement to the 2005 vestry.

WENDY WOOD
Wendy is fairly new to St Patrick's, she arrived in 2002 from St Albans in Washington DC. She is a cradle Episcopalian. Her aunt is a vocational Deacon in Baltimore. She has a financial background and is employed as accountant at West County Community Services in Guerneville. She usually attends the 9:00 a.m. service, but some times the others. She brings the gift of curiosity; she enjoys learning new things at the Sunday morning Adult Ed. Courses. She would like to see more young people at St Patrick's especially in Sunday school and youth group.

JANUARY VESTRY
We began with prayer and a review of the year. We have accomplished quite a number of the objectives we set at the workshop in January 2004:

• So far the Every Member Canvass has 166 Pledges for $234,000. We approved the budget for 2005 which Chuck will present at the Annual Meeting
• The Rector reported on members who are in the hospital, ill, ailing or facing surgery.
• The Rector reported on Christmas.
• We made arrangements for the Annual Meeting and the vestry dinner and workshop at the end of January.
• Mel, our sexton, has fixed the leak above the parish office. Church with help from a friend and the Rector installed fire-retardant sheetrock in the shed where the lawn mower is kept (to satisfy Fire Department regulations). In 2005, we will consider new flooring for the church entrance and paint the East side of the Ed. Center.

ST. PATRICK'S BIZARRE BAZAAR

BIZARRE BAZAAR
Snake Charmers, Pied Pipers, and Others Needed

Imagine an ancient Moroccan Bazaar. A medieval European market. A caravan of gypsies. Weave them together in your mind's eye, and keep imagining. A nomad's tent where you savor the staples of ancient cultures - olive oil, wine, and morsels of foods. A world of jugglers, acrobats, musicians, and roving purveyors of goods. A colorful and aromatic Bazaar with tents draped in fabulous fabrics of purple, green, gold, and shades of crimson and azure. Plentiful offerings to tide you through the fall and winter seasons - exotic Venetian masks, bright jewels, lovely table linens, tasty baked goods, flowers and gifts. Tempt fate, and deal with the barterers and beggars, and win a wonderful prize. Welcome! You have just entered the magical world of the Bizarre Bazaar.

This is a major outreach program for St. Patrick's and we need everyone from artists, carpenters and business people to musicians, snake charmers, and pied pipers to ensure its success. If every person in this parish makes a small contribution of time, talent, or money, we can raise a lot of money for local charities. Here's how it works:

• Sign up for a Guild on the sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall. As with the ancient guilds of Europe, our guilds are based on skills and talents (and we know you have more than one, so sign up for several!) and what you like to do. A Bazaar chairperson will contact you based on your skills.
  
• Let us know if you have a really great idea for a project, or if you have a project you are working on at home that you can contribute to the Bazaar.
  
• Have a "home workshop" where you and several friends, who may or may not be church members, work on a project.
  
• Watch for more news in the Grapevine!

Please contact Marcia Ronchetti at 537-7703, Cynthia Pennington at 996-4094, or Judy Kimsey at 538-6050 with questions and/or ideas.

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

MARDI GRAS DINNER
Don't miss the dinner on Saturday, February 5, beginning 6:00 p.m. We welcome the entire congregation to join us for a gumbo feast! Tickets are still on sale. Robert Young's EI Dorado Syncopators will entertain us with live Dixieland Jazz. We will play games of Bingo and Musical Chairs. Tickets: $15.00; $10.00 for children 12 and under.

SHARES IN OUR MEXICAN MISSION
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!

RUMMAGE SALE
The Rummage Sale will be held 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.

FIRST VESTRY MEETING
We met in the Common Room after the Annual Meeting on January 16.

• We decided to hold vestry meetings on the third Tuesday of the month in 2005. We exchanged email addresses and phone numbers. We made final arrangements for the vestry dinner
• A number of the vestry members are attending the Deanery meeting for vestry/treasurers on February 5 at Incarnation.

The Bishop writes: "I have been extremely proud of the diocesan response to the needs of those suffering the effects of the tsunami in South Asia. Episcopal Relief and Development has responded to this need, and I urge your continued support for that effort."