March 2005 Vol. 7 No. 3 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 March 2005 [Vol. 7 No. 3]

The Election of a New Bishop Around St. Patrick's Holy Week Good Friday Offering Turning Points Vestry Meeting John Bogart Library Youth Group News

---

THE ELECTION OF A NEW BISHOP

When we were at the clergy conference in Sacramento we worshipped in the chapel of the Roman Catholic retreat center. Behind the altar there was a large statue of Jesus in agony upon the cross. We met with a facilitator to talk about the qualities we wanted in our next bishop. When people said they wanted someone like Jesus, I thought about that statue. I hope our next Bishop will be loved, not crucified.

Bishop Jerry Lamb will retire at the end of 2006. He will be here at St Patrick's one more time after his next visit on Pentecost (May 15). The new bishop will be elected at a special electing Convention to be held early May of 2006. Our Convention Delegates will be elected at our Annual Meeting of January 2006. These delegates will not only attend the electing convention, but will also attend the regular convention in November 2006 (Jerry's last). I believe we will have 6 lay delegates.

Our delegates, with those from other parishes, will meet the candidates when they do "walkabouts" (formerly called "dog and pony shows") around the diocese, after Easter, 2006. A search committee and a transition committee have been elected. The search committee willnominate 4 or 5 women or men, as candidates to be Bishop. To elect a new Bishop, there needs to be a majority in both the house of laity and the house of clergy (voting separately). Sometimes the laity like one candidate and the clergy another. There may need to be some compromise.

After being elected, the new Bishop will be consecrated at a major service, scheduled for September 30, 2006 (probably in Sacramento) and afterwards will be installed/enthroned. After the new Bishop is elected, s/he will overlap as "Bishop Coadjutor" assisting Jerry and getting to know the Diocese, until Jerry retires when s/he will take over as Diocesan Bishop.

For more information: Let us pray for the election of our new Bishop.
Hugh Stevenson

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, p. 818)

AROUND ST. PATRICK'S

Healing Sunday. Also on March 6: at the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services, we will offer the Laying on of Hands and anointing with oil for healing for any who wish to receive it. You may seek healing for physical ailments or for emotional or mental pain or for another reason. No one will ask you any questions. Please come forward after the Prayers of the People.

Soup and study continue on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. during Lent. We gather in the parish hall for a potluck supper of soup, bread and cheese and fruit. The Lent study group begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Education Center.

Study groups. These continue on Sunday mornings, in the parish hall at 9:40 a.m. during Lent, Turning Points in the Church in England: Hilda of Whitby, the Reformation etc.

On Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings: Michael and I are teaching a course on the Biblical texts selected by Johannes Brahms to include in A German Requiem, and also listening to the music.

Bishop's Conference. The fifth conference will be held April 27-29, 2005 at Konocti Harbor on Clear Lake. The title is, "Discovering Spirituality: Living Our Faith Together in Challenging Times." The Keynote speaker will be Norvene Vest OSB. The purposes of the conference are: to reflect on our spiritual journey, to be community, to discover different ways of praying and to identify resources for spiritual growth. Total cost: about $170.

St. Patrick's Dinner. Saturday, March 12. Two sittings: at 5:45 and 7:15. The cost of tickets: $15 for those 13 and older and $7.50 for those under 13. This feast is a time of great fellowship; we honor our patron and we also hope to raise lots of money for the Church!

Succulent corned beef or barbecued turkey, with dill butter, parsleyed potatoes, gingered carrots and desert. Please publicize this event and invite your friends and neighbours.

Kate Aldrich will chair the dinner with Margaret Merchat. The youth group will be involved in serving. This dinner would not succeed without the help of many volunteers. There are lots of different ways of helping. Will you please sign up in the Parish Hall? Donations for raffle baskets and special prizes are also needed.

St Patrick's Sunday, the Sunday, closest to St. Patrick's Day, March 13. We will sing St. Patrick's Breastplate and Be thou my vision to the Irish tune, Slane. We will give thanks for our patron saint, and pray for Ireland and Irish people abroad.

Palm Cross making. Also on March 13, during the 9:40 a.m. education time, we will make palm crosses for Palm Sunday. Instruction will be offered. Please come and help.

HOLY WEEK

Palm Sunday: March 20, at the 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. services, the palms will be blessed and distributed after communion. Between the services, the final session of the study group on the Turning Points of the Church in England. At the beginning of the 10:30 a.m. service, those who wish to process gather outside the main doors of the church, by the St. Patrick's Cross (weather permitting). We enter the church, as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday.

Holy Tuesday: March 22, at 6:00 p.m., potluck supper in the parish hall before the final session of the Bible study, based on the Brahms German Requiem.

Holy Wednesday: March 23, at 9:00 a.m., Midweek Eucharist and Healing, and a repeat of the Tuesday night class.

Maundy Thursday: March 24. On this day, Jesus instituted the sacrament of Eucharist. He took bread, which he called his Body and wine, which he called his Blood. We will celebrate the Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. only.

At 6:00 p.m., the "Seder" supper in the Parish Hall. John and Else Redmond will cook the lamb. The rest of us will bring the side dishes. Please sign up in the Hall so we know how many to expect.

At 8:00 p.m. after the supper, the stripping of the altar, reminding us that Jesus was stripped before his crucifixion. The church is stark and bare for Good Friday. This will be followed by a vigil in church, sponsored by the Daughters of the King.

Good Friday: March 25, the Good Friday liturgy (in the Prayer Book, p. 276) is at noon and lasts about one hour. The church will be barren with no adornments and there is no communion on this day. The church will be open for private prayer from 9:00 a.m. onwards.

Holy Saturday: March 26, the Altar Guild will decorate the church at 9:00 a.m. Would you like to help them?

Easter Day: March 27, the 8:00 a.m. service will begin with the lighting of the Paschal candle. Michael will sing the exultet (Prayer Book, p. 286). It will conclude with the singing of "Jesus Christ is risen today."

The Flowering Cross. Before the beginning of the 9:00 a.m. Family Eucharist, the children decorate the flowering cross and carry it into the sanctuary. Please bring flowers for them to decorate the cross. The Easter Egg Hunt follows the service.

The 11:00 a.m. (Note Time) Festal Eucharist will include Holy Baptism with special music. We will baptize Daniel Paul Haskins. Are there others who would like to be baptized?

Easter Egg-tivities. The Easter Bunny needs jelly beans and small chocolate Easter candies for the Easter egg hunt. This will take place after the 9:00 a.m. service on Easter Day. She says that she has enough plastic Easter eggs from last year.

Easter Coffee Hours. Refreshments will be served after the 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. services, but not after the 10:30 a.m. service. Would you like to volunteer with others to do the coffee, juice and refreshments? At the same time, could you please check the schedule and see if you can lend a hand on another Sunday?

Easter Flowers. Will you give Easter decorations in memory of or in thanksgiving for a loved one? Please sign the Flower Book in the church entrance. Please write in CAPITALS. Checks payable to St. Patrick's, "For Easter Flowers."

Easter Parking - if the "front 40" is dry enough, we will use it for overflow parking. Please do not block the entrance leading from the church driveway. Do remember that there IS additional parking at the rear of the church.

GOOD FRIDAY OFFERING

GOOD FRIDAY OFFERING
From the Bishop: "I received a mailing from the National Church on January 12, 2005 regarding the Good Friday Offering. I urge all clergy in this diocese to remind people of the custom that the offering taken on Good Friday goes to the church in the Middle East. In 2003, the offering was over $300,000. Given the state of affairs in Jerusalem and the Middle East, I once again urge your attention to this matter and to bring it before people so that we may appropriately support our brothers and sisters in their time of need."

F.I.S.H. FOOD
You can be part of this important outreach to hungry people in Sonoma County simply by bringing one item of food each week and placing it in the basket in the narthex.

We have been averaging about 35 pounds a week, but we can do better. Go ahead - make the people getting out of the car next to you feel guilty when they see you bringing a can of soup, green beans or baby food. (It's Lent - a little guilt is good for you.) And, it's okay to bring double if you forget a Sunday.

In addition to Margaret Bock, Norma and John Creaghe and Barbara Hunt, John and Brycie Brigham and Mary and Jack Coon are now on the list for pick up and delivery to F.I.S.H. on a regular basis. Let Norma know if you would like a turn.

PHYSICS IN THE LIBRARY
Congratulations to Robert Laughlin, son-in-law of Carolyn and Bill Perry and Nobel laureate, on the publication of his new book, A Different Universe: Reinventing Physics from the Bottom up. Robert will be signing books at Copperfields on March 25 (ask the Perry's). The book explains the physics of the future in layman's terms. The Perry's will be donating a copy to the Church library.

Turning Points

Farewell to:
Sheila King, moved to 5524, Dyke Street, Onekama, Michigan, 49675.

Thanks to:
Judy Buff, Jean Meyer and Ann Peters are acting as a transition committee for Michael Monnot.
Michael Peterson, Vic Howard and Fred Fisher worked on the survey for the congregation.

We ask God's protection of:
those serving in the military overseas
Rick Bolen, Ryan Gnecco,
Benjamin Borger, John Metzger,
Mike Bennett, Tom Slago,
and Quinn, The Seguin's grandson.

Blessings on:
Canon John Bogart who celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination on February 10.
Daniel Paul Haskins who will be baptized at Easter.

May they know God's healing power:
Linda Belding, Lolita Seguin,
Hertha Brown, Bob Bonino,
Joan Ingold, Jean Henderson,
The Halls, Margaret Kelley,
Diana Estabrook, Cliff Kent,
George Rawson, The Abercrombie's daughter, Janet.

May they rest in peace:
Billy Burton, husband of Rose
Georgene Nagle, of Oakmont
Chuck Chapman's uncle in Miami Florida, Jack MacNamara.

VESTRY MEETING

We approved the treasurer's report. Chuck Chapman also included the "Treasurer's Monthly Report" which he submits to the Diocese. We also circulated the annual "Parochial Report" which lists our assets, number of members, average attendance at worship etc, which goes to the National Church office.

We formally elected Fred Fisher as the Junior Warden.

We received written reports about pastoral concerns, the process for the election of the new bishop for our diocese and arrangements for Lent and Easter.

There was considerable discussion about matters arising from the Vestry, Treasurers & Rectors' Conference especially about insurance. We will be taking a pictorial inventory of all church property. We approved the policy of requiring all groups using the church premises to provide a certificate of insurance (this includes wedding and funeral receptions in the parish hall). We can offer accommodation only to non-profit organizations (otherwise we risk losing our own tax-exempt status).

We approved the charter for the new parish Energy Committee.

All the clergy staff (lay and ordained) will be evaluated by the vestry during 2005.

We wish to be more responsive to the whole congregation. On Sundays, there will be a listening post in the parish hall: a vestry member will be available to receive comments from members of the congregation. In the next month or so, we will circulate a survey and later on there will be neighborhood meetings.

We hope to produce a new Pictorial Directory during 2005. Would you like to help? H.S.

JOHN BOGART LIBRARY

We have added three new books to our library this month. There are two mysteries in the popular Faith Abbey mystery series: A Matter of Principle and a Matter of Time. As always author David Manuel deftly unravels a murder mystery while exploring the mysteries of the human spirit.

The third book, Faith Seeking Understanding, An Introduction to Christian Theology by Daniel Migliore was recommended by Michael Monnot. This has been a standard introduction to Christian theology for more than a decade and is one of the most stimulating, balanced, and readable guides to theology available. We have the second edition which has an updated and expanded text. This is a valuable addition to our library.

MAYA ANGELOU LEARNT:

• That no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
• That you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
• That regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.
• That making a "living" is not the same thing as making a life.
• That you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.
• That whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
• That even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
• That every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
• That I still have a lot to learn.
• That people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

CONFIRMATION
Bishop Jerry Lamb will visit St Patrick's on May 15 (Pentecost Sunday). He will meet with the congregation. He will confirm some teenagers whom Michael is preparing. Those who were confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church or other churches are not confirmed again. But the Bishop "receives them in to the Episcopal Church. Those who have already been confirmed in the Episcopal Church can reaffirm their baptismal covenant. The Sunday morning course at 9:45, on Turning Points of the Church in England is intended as a preparation course for adults. If you would like to be confirmed, receive or to reaffirm (or would like more information), talk to me. H.S.

ADVENT WREATHS
Just a reminder - If you made an Advent wreath at St. Patrick's last December, please return the wooden form as soon as possible so we can store them for use next year.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Women's Breakfast
All women are invited to the monthly Women's Breakfast on Saturday, March 12. Please join us at 8:30a.m. in the Parish Hall for this potluck breakfast fellowship. Our special Lenten meditation this month will be doing The Stations of the Cross. No signup needed; just come with something to share for breakfast.

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

YOUTH GROUP NEWS
The Mardi Gras party was a huge success, thanks to so many people. First, thank you to Robert Young and the El Dorado Syncopators. What great musicianship! One person declared it was worth the price of admission just to hear them play.

Thank you to Alex Purroy, the chef/owner of Doce Lunas Restaurant, across the street from St. Patrick's. Alex gave us much valuable advice on preparing the jambalaya; he ordered food for us through his wholesalers; he cooked the chicken pieces for us, and he even made vegetable stock and chicken/duck stock, which is why it all tasted so good! Please think of Doce Lunas the next time you want to go to a great restaurant run by good people.

Thank you to Michael Peterson, who made bread pudding and rum sauce for the entire party. Not only was it delicious, but it was also a huge help to us.

Thank you to the Bizarre Bazaar ladies - Judy Kimsey, Cynthia Pennington and Marcia Ronchetti - for putting up their tent around the kitchen window. They made us look good!

Thank you to the Youth Group kids and parents who all took a task. Many hands make light work, and that is especially true with this particular group of people. You are all fabulous!

Finally, thank you to everyone who came to the party, or gave donations even when you couldn't come. This parish has been extremely generous to the Youth Group. We're glad the party came off so well, so we could give a little something back to all of you.

And now for the really good news: We made $2,400 - more than we had hoped! We're getting to closer to reaching our funding goal for the Mission to Mexico.

Our next big event will be the Rummage Sale on May 7. If you have items to donate, we ask that you hold onto them until the end of April, at which time we'll begin collecting things, storingthem in the Youth Group Room and the storage locker out back. Please, no clothing or mattresses. If you have any questions, give me a call at 833-5524.
- Ann Peters