March 2009 Vol. 11 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: Mary Banks, 539-7378

Table of Contents for March 2009 [Vol. 11 No. 3]

Darwin Was A Christian Turning Points Around St. Patrick's New-ish At St. Patrick's The Church That Can... Inform, Involve, Inspire

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DARWIN WAS A CHRISTIAN

There is a war of bumper stickers. Some Christians advertise their beliefs with fish on the backs of their cars. In response, others affix bumper stickers showing "DARWIN" in the body of the fish and little legs underneath. A retaliatory bumper sticker shows the fish eating Darwin. The bumper sticker rebuttals continue with a fish that has "EVOLVE" printed on its body and a wrench in its forepaw, or the shark that eats Jesus Fish.

I believe this "Fish War" is misguided. The fish was a symbol of Jesus in the early church, not creationism. The letters for the Greek word for fish stand for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. Evolution is in no way a threat to Christian faith unless you happen to believe, with Archbishop Ussher (1581-1656), that Genesis is literally true and the world was created in 6 days in the year 4004BC.

This year we are celebrating the bi-centenary of Charles Darwin's birth (2/12/1809) and the 150th anniversary of the Origin of Species (published 11/24/1859). Though it was discussed before his birth, Darwin is credited with discovering evolution when he documented it through the study of animals and plants. Later he discussed the evolution of humans in The Descent of Man (1871).

Darwin was raised in a Christian family, studied for the priesthood and attended church. He hesitated to publish Origin of Species for fear of creating controversy and upsetting his wife, Emma. He became an agnostic, not because of his scientific theories, but because his beloved daughter, Annie, died at age 10.

When Origin of Species was first published, a number of people attempted to ridicule ideas of evolution in ways that now seem humorous. Darwin and the scientists had the last laugh.

• Cardinal Manner denounced Darwinism as "a brutal philosophy - to wit, there is no God and the ape is our Adam.
• Disraeli said, "Is man an ape or an angel? My Lord, I am on the side of the angels. I repudiate with indignation and abhorrence these new-fangled theories.
• Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford condemned natural selection, asking "Darwin's bulldog," T. H. Huxley, whether he was related to an ape on his grandmother's or grandfather's side. Huxley replied that he would rather be the descendent of a monkey than misrepresent those who wore out their lives in pursuit of the truth.

Within a year of the publication of Origin of Species, Frederick Temple (Archbishop of Canterbury, 1896-1902), preached a sermon praising Darwin, saying that God moves by natural processes. Charles Kingsley, the Christian Socialist, said the same. When Darwin died in 1882, he was buried in Westminster Abbey near Isaac Newton.

By the end of the 19th century, the conflict between science and religion in England was largely resolved. It seems extraordinary to me that there is still an issue with "Fish Wars"! Personally I don't believe in bumper stickers. But if I did I would have the fish and Darwin embracing each other.

Hugh Stevenson

TURNING POINTS

All find a welcome:
Steven Bogel was here on Feb 8 to celebrate what would have been his father, Walt's, 99th birthday.
Alejandro and Cecilia Bautista have recently started attending and came to the Valentine Evensong and party.
Dorothy Hitchcock has attended the 8am service.
Grant & Toni Esterling moved to Oakmont from Georgetown, DC (in an earlier incarnation they lived in Paris).

For this, much thanks:
Vestry Officers
Bill Ward continues as Senior Warden.
Charlie Chapman continues as Treasurer.
Mary Banks continues as Clerk.
Wes Cazel is our new Junior Warden.

Sarah Phillips was the Parliamentarian at the Annual Meeting and Jean Derum the clerk.

Thanks to those who deliver food to St Andrew's Monte Rio: Bill McDonald, John Brigham, JC Speight, Hal Poehlmann, Ramon Estrada and Chuck Wood.

Jeanne-Marie Jones Director of FISH writes:
"Thank you for your weekly donations of food for 2008. Your donations amounted to almost a ton of food. FISH broke all records during 2008. We fed over 60,000 people. We averaged about 5,000 per month. We appreciate your kindness, generosity and faithful support of FISH for so many years. Thanks especially to Jack & Mary Coon, Bob and Jane Carpenter, Margaret Bock and Norma Creaghe who delivered the food from St Patrick's to FISH."

Thanks to Ron Sievert for installing a new hot water heater in the sacristy, and Wes Cazel & Charlie Buff for labeling the circuit breakers.

We ask God's protection of:
those serving in the military overseas:
Kevin Danaher.

May they know God's healing power:

Lolita Seguin	Dolores De Vito
Linda Belding	Milo Stevenson
Mark Kirkland	Gordon Gary
Roberta Rives	The Hall family
Pierre, Walter, John, Josephine

May they rest in peace:
Doris Campbell died on Feb 15 in Santa Barbara. She would have been 94 on St Patrick's Day. She and Alex came to St Patrick's in 1980 and helped build the church. Her ashes will be interred next to Alex near their cabin in Big Sur, which she wrote about in "Sand Dollar." Her memorial service will be at St Patrick's at 1:30pm on March 21.

Deepest sympathy:
To Jean Elliott on the death of her sister Lois O'Neill in Maryland on Jan 14.

To Linda Goodwin and family on the death of Linda's mother in New Jersey on Feb 16.

To Dorothy Hitchcock who had recently started attending the 8:00am service. Her husband, David, died on Feb 10.

AROUND ST. PATRICK'S

Saturday, March 14 is the day the leprechauns will invade St. Patrick's! To honor our patron Saint, a traditional dinner will be served with one seating at 6pm. This dinner is a big fundraiser for our parish. Tickets are on sale after Sunday services and through the parish office. $15 for adult; $6 for children.

Of course, this dinner could not be a success without the help of many of people. There are sign up sheets in the parish hall for many opportunities to serve! Can you help decorate the hall? Can you help with donations for raffle baskets and special prizes?

March 1: First Sunday of Lent Samuel Wesley Sunday. Hymns and anthem by this great Victorian church musician, SS Wesley.
Adult Ed at 9:45. The continuation of Borg & Crossan, following the steps of St Paul: Eclipsing Empire" DVD, in the Common Room.
Dedication of new palls, (linen covers for chalices) in memory of Grace Barner's mother & Kathy Scherer's mother.
Daughters of the King at noon.

March 5-7 & March 9. Photo-taking for the parish pictorial directory.

March 7: Daylight savings time begins. We lose an hour of sleep. The clocks "spring" forward.
David Studebaker, son of Dennis & Val, will perform stand-up comedy at 8pm at the Person Theater in Sonoma State U. Tickets in advance: $15; general admission: $20.

March 8: Baptism of Isabella, daughter of Mari & Marshall Dawson.

March 15: Irish Sunday; we will sing Irish hymns in honor of our patron.
Sunday school (directed by Raymond Skipp) will perform a skit about Moses at the 10:30 service.

March 21: 1:30pm Memorial service for Doris Campbell.
3:00pm Blessing of LA King's new house.

March 22: Lent 4, the middle Sunday of Lent, is called Laetare Sunday (Mothering Sunday in U.K.). Traditionally this Sunday was a break from the Lenten discipline.

Healing Sunday. We will offer the Laying on of Hands and anointing with oil for healing for any who wish. You may seek healing for physical ailments or for emotional or mental pain or for another reason. Please come forward after the Litany of Healing.

March 28: Mutual Ministry Review for the vestry, led by Canon Britt Olsen.
Acolytes from St Patrick's will take part in the Diocesan acolyte festival at Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento.

March 29: Sunday of the Passion. We make palm crosses in preparation for Palm Sunday next week. Please come and help.

April 5. Palm Sunday: Blessing of palms at all services. At 9am and 10:30, the procession of palms. At 10:30, the service begins outside the main doors by the St. Patrick's Cross (weather permitting). The reading of the Passion story according to Mark.

EASTER BAPTISM
The introduction liturgy of Ash Wednesday reminds us that, "This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism … and the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith." In the early Church, Easter was the only day for baptisms. Although we now perform baptisms on other days, it is still the best day. We will pray for candidates for Easter baptism through Lent. Do you know a candidate?

FOLDERS NEEDED
Can you spare a Friday morning once a month to fold bulletins? Call Marcia (833-4228).

NEW-ISH AT ST. PATRICK'S

Shari and Michael Newell recently ended their search for a church home by finding St. Patrick's, Kenwood. Among the many contributing factors was Hugh Stevenson. Hugh reached into their hearts, minds and spirits and was a key component in their decision making process. They began their journey in Southern California when Michael returned to the United States, for the second time, from his native home of Australia by way of NASA, Singapore and Arthur Murray. In the mean time, Shari was winding down her career as an environment/ behavioral analyst and returned to her love of ballroom dance. Michael decided his life need a bit of "swing" so he too had joined the local dance studio. After enjoying a delightful friendship Michael decided the dancing should continue and they were married in 2000. Michael's optical engineering career was also in full swing when his company Advanced Digital Optics was purchased by a Sonoma County corporation. After a two year required commitment, Michael moved on to his current position as the Executive Director of the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster, a technology business incubator. Shari and Michael share their lives and love of dance with their dogs, Sara, a Yorkie and Liza Bean, a Maltese. Shari has two grown children whose love of the arts is reflected in their careers. Shelley is a gifted pet and portrait painter as well as working for Amgen Pharmaceuticals. David is a recording engineer and composer working as a co-creator of the video game Guitar Hero. For Shari and Michael, "It is great to finally find a place of worship we can begin to call home."

Ron and Gigi Paolini. Ron is a native of Marin County and a graduate of Cal Poly State University and has spent most of his career working for the Marin County Parks and Open Space District as a Ranger, Superintendent and is currently the Deputy Director for the Department. Ron is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hunting, backpacking, horseback riding, hiking, camping and many other outdoor activities. Before moving to Kenwood a year ago he lived in Rohnert Park for eighteen years with his four children Tim, Thomas, Travis and Megan.

Gigi grew up in Modesto, graduated from St. Mary's in Moraga and headed down to sunny Southern California to work at UCLA Medical Center as a Cardiac Intensive Care RN and ER Nurse for the majority of the past 24 years. She also worked one year with the Ski Patrol at Mt. Reba Bear Valley, had a 3 month traveling stint in Washington D.C. where she worked as a Traveling Nurse, was employed also by Hewlett-Packard alongside UCLA as a Clinical Applications Specialist and traveled the Western Region of the U.S. teaching the ICU, ER and Operating Room Drs. and Nurses how to use the H.P. Monitors on the critical patients. She has had many memorable, private duty VIP assignments while in Los Angeles, as well as a very special one, transporting a critically ill patient to Australia. In her off time, she enjoyed traveling, skiing, sailing and racing sailboats, windsurfing, tennis and hiking.

Gigi and Ron met each other on New Year's of 2008, and were married on October 11 at St. Patrick's. While Gigi still maintains her previous residence in Brentwood, she moved up to Kenwood in October where she resides with Ron and 3 of their 4 children. They have 2 cats, Hobie and Toby, and are expecting a puppy. They enjoy gardening and currently working around their home and property.

THE CHURCH THAT CAN…

Monte Rio is a small town nestled along the Russian River, in the southwest corner of our Diocese, known for its beautiful mountains and vineyards. St. Andrew's Mission meets in a rented church in the middle of the town. For most of the year, around 20 gather each Sunday, and services are led by visiting clergy, or more often than not, by lay leaders of the Church.

Around 3 years ago, various members began to talk about beginning a ministry of feeding people in the community. Despite its natural beauty, the area has a large number of homeless and hungry residents, and there are few resources for them. What began as a monthly food closet soon grew into a weekly meal and food closet. Each Tuesday evening, tables are set in the sanctuary and narthex. Food is brought in from volunteer's homes. Bags of groceries are assembled in the parish hall. This last year, an average of 98 people came for the dinner, and another 150 received food bags every week. Before dinner, when a priest was available, volunteers and guests met for worship and Holy Communion "In the Gravel" before dinner.

Members of St. Patrick's in Kenwood are now lending a hand. Work has begun on the kitchen so that it will be up to code for serving so many guests. ECS made a grant of $7,000 to hire a part-time staff person to help with the task of organizing this operation. Additional money has been raised to help with the cost of food, which parishioners have largely been contributing until now. An anonymous grant of $10,000 was recently received to help with all these projects. We now have a steering committee that gathers on a monthly basis, and we are planning a retreat for both St. Andrew's Mission and the Food Program this winter to help with long-term planning for both ministries.

The food program at St. Andrew's is an example of what can happen when a church follows its vision. As Mother Theresa famously said, "We can all do some thing." The ministry of St. Andrew's, Monte Rio, is an example of a community that realized the wisdom of doing something.

Eric Duff is the Executive Director of ECS. He will preach and celebrate on May 3.

After the entertainment, an auction was held. Each basket of food for two was auctioned and one member of ECW, and a band member ate lunch together. It was fun, and the ECW members and guests learned about the children, and their interests, and family members, and the children learned to interact with strangers. The auction was very lively and benefited the Kenwood Elementary School to the "tune" of $612.00.

The next ECW meeting will be held on May 12 at 6:00 p.m. The ECW will host the meeting and a potluck dinner with the deanery. The speaker will be Dr. L.A. King on Women and the History of ECW. Sign-up sheets are in the Parish Hall for this event. Rides will be available for those who need a ride and/or do not like to drive at night. Call Vicki Ward @ 539-3731.

INFORM, INVOLVE, INSPIRE.

When we met on Sunday afternoon, February 8, we determined that our vestry mission for 2009 was to "Inform, Involve, Inspire." We revisited our parish mission statement, which often appears on our bulletins: "St. Patrick's is a joyful community, Worshipping in the Episcopal tradition, Valuing diversity and reaching out in love and concern for others." We acknowledged that we were seeking to "Fulfill God's mission." So we added this to our statement.

In 2009, rather than take initiatives as a vestry and impose them on the parish, we decided we needed to work with existing committees and task forces, and to establish some new ones. The new ones are:

• Youth Committee
• Stewardship Committee, and
• Fellowship Committee.

We are looking for volunteers to serve on all our committees. Would you be interested? Each vestry member will liaise with a committee and report to the vestry. This is the projected list:

The Youth Committee will support and co-ordinate: Sunday school, acolytes, Godly Play, Mission to Mexico and other youth activities.

We will co-sponsor, with the Outreach Committee, the Rummage Sale to be held on July 25 to benefit both our ministry with St Andrew's Monte Rio and our own parish finances.

We will convene a Parish Leaders Conference in the spring with representatives from all parish committees and organizations so that we may listen to one another. We want to avoid becoming a divided congregation and bring together those who attend different services.

We want to facilitate a women's retreat in 2009. It's some years since we had the last one. Who would be interested in helping to plan a retreat?

When an electrician arrived to fix the hot water heater in the sacristy, we realized that there are 4 circuit boards in our buildings and none of the circuit breakers are clearly labeled. Wes Cazel and Charlie Buff will remedy this situation.

We want to revive the "Phone Tree." There are too many names for the vestry to handle this internally. We need volunteers willing to make about 10 calls once a month. If you can help, call the parish office (833-4228).

We want to revive the Foyer Dinner program as a way in which those who have recently joined the congregation can be brought on board.

We are meeting with Canon Britt on March 28 to do our first Mutual Ministry Review. She will help us see what we are doing well and what we can do better. The vestry is anxious to receive feedback from the congregation.
Hugh Stevenson

Please call or e-mail the project coordinator, Sarah Phillips, to sign up for service on a team or to pass on information about a parishioner's need for cheer. We aim to enlist the support of every able church member. Please call (537-6685) and let us know how you'd like to participate.