|
April 2009
Vol. 11 No. 4
Archive of Previous Issues
|
The Grapevine is published monthly
(except for a combined July/August issue)
by St. Patrick's Episcopal Church
|
|
Table of Contents for April 2009 [Vol. 11 No. 4]
Part of the Easter Vigil is the exsultet, the Easter proclamation, which begins, "Rejoice heavenly host and choirs of angels" (BCP, p. 286). It goes back to the 7th century. It lists some of the causes of our Easter celebration: the Exodus from Egypt, the Resurrection of Jesus "victorious from the grave." The original version included the felix culpa verse, which referred to the "happy sin of Adam." For if Adam had not sinned in the Garden of Eden by eating the forbidden fruit (and bringing sin into the world), then there would have been no need for God to send his son to die and rise for us.
The 15th century Christmas carol, "Adam lay ybounden," puts it this way:
"Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, ne had never our ladie, abeen heav'ne queen." It suggests that human sin was a good thing after all, because otherwise we would not have needed God to rescue and restore us.
The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) is not primarily about the son or the father but of the joy that comes from reconciliation. If the son had not taken his substance and wasted it in a far country, and if he had not come to his senses and crawled home asking to be employed as a hired servant, the father would not have had the joy of welcoming home his own dear son whom he had given up for lost. So he said, "This my son was dead and is alive again."
The Prodigal Son was a sinner. His sins were not the individual things that he did wrong: walking out on his father, his dissolute living, wasting his inheritance. "Sin" was the state of alienation from those who loved him (and when he came to his senses, he realized that he loved them). It was only when he recognized his alienation that he desired to be restored.
Our problem is that we do not need to be reconciled because we do not recognize our own alienation. In 1973, the psychologist, Karl Menninger, asked, "Whatever became of sin?" (There's a copy in our church library). Sin has gone out of fashion. Taking responsibility for our sin (as the Prodigal Son did) is now perceived to be a sign of weakness not of strength. In as much as we have nothing to confess, we will not describe Adam's sin as "fortunate". We will have no need of Jesus or his Resurrection.
Paul wrote to the Romans (5:20): "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." Sin led to death, but grace led to a restored relationship with God and to eternal life through Jesus Christ. Although we tend not to think that babies have sinned (!), one of the earliest understandings of baptism was that it took away our alienation and restored us to God. Baptism at Easter reminds us that since we are sinners, our old self was crucified with Jesus (drowned in the water) so that we might no longer be enslaved to sin, but made alive to God through the risen life of Jesus (Romans 6:5-11). So we shall sing:
Blessed be the time that apple taken was. Therefore we moun singen: Deo Gracias!
Hugh Stevenson
I invite you to the observance of Holy Week, which is the climax of the Christian year.
We have various services. Come to as many services as you can.
April 5. Palm Sunday: We remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. At 9:00am we will process around the church singing "The King of glory comes." At 10:30, for those who wish and weather permitting, we gather by the St Patrick's Cross for the blessing of the palms and then process into church singing, "All glory, laud and honor." Dr Jim Rawls is the preacher at 8am and 10:30.
April 7. Holy Tuesday: Soup and Superstar. At 6:00 p.m. potluck supper; bring soup, bread and cheese or fruit (no dessert!). Please sign up in the Parish Hall. At 7:00 p.m. we view Jesus Christ Superstar, the Passion of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. This presentation is based on the 2000 Broadway revival, re-orchestrated and set in the 21st Century. Judas (played by Jérôme Pradon) is disillusioned, and torn between civic duty and love for his best friend. Renee Castle's Mary Magdalene loves Jesus, knowing he will never love her back. Glenn Carter (as Jesus) knows he was born to die ("To conquer death, you only have to die"). The movie takes 1 hour 52 minutes. We conclude the evening with Compline.
April 8. Holy Wednesday: Midweek Eucharist and Healing at 9:00 a.m. Our saint of the day is Etheria who visited Jerusalem at the end of the 4th century and brought back to the west the way that Holy Week was observed in the place where Jesus was crucified.
April 9. Maundy Thursday: Washing of feet and Eucharist at 7:00 p.m. If you wish to have your feet washed wear easy to remove shoes and socks. Fr Stephen Brannon is our guest celebrant; he retired as Rector of Trinity, Sonoma. The Eucharist is followed by the stripping of the altar (while Psalm 22 is read), followed by a vigil for one hour. Flowers in church remind us of the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus said to his sleeping disciples, "Could you not watch with me one hour?"
April 10. Good Friday: Good Friday Liturgy (Prayer Book, p. 276) at noon. The central part of the service is the first performance of Steps, by Armand Russell, a multimedia composition based on the Stations of the Cross. We have invited the congregation of Kenwood Community Church to worship with us. The offering goes to the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem & Middle-East. The church is barren with no adornments and there is no communion on this day.
April 11. Holy Saturday: the Altar Guild will decorate the church at 9:00 a.m. Would you like to help them?
April 12. Easter Day:
At 8:00 a.m. Lighting of the Paschal candle and the Easter vigil. We conclude with the singing of "Jesus Christ is Risen Today."
At 8:45 a.m. The Flowering Cross. Please bring flowers for the children to decorate the flowering cross.
At 9:00 a.m. Family Eucharist. The choir will sing at both the 9 a.m. and 10:30 services.
At 9:45 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt.
At 10:30 a.m. (Note Time). Festal Eucharist including the Holy Baptism of Alex and Caroline Hogan. Do you know of others (children or adults) to be baptized?
Easter Parking - overflow parking on the "front 40." Please do not block the entrance leading from the church driveway. There is also additional parking at the rear of the church.
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 by Palm Sunday (April 5).
SPRING FASHION SHOW
On April 18th at 12:30 p.m., the ECW is hosting a Spring Fashion Show in conjunction with Coldwater Creek. There will be a luncheon; a door prize and a raffle; as well as entertainment provided by a locally well-known vocalist and his associate. This show (modeled by St. Patrick Parishioners), luncheon, and entertainment is only $20.00 and will be held in the Parish Hall. Tickets are going fast. The number of tickets is limited to 100 and, at this early writing, only 49 tickets are available. Please contact Kay Martinelli (539-9787) to reserve your ticket, or tickets will be on sale after each service until sold out. Proceeds will go to ECW outreach programs.
SUNSHINE COMMITTEE NEEDS YOU!
The ECW is organizing the parish in teams to bring sunshine to parish members in crisis. This is an effort to improve internal pastoral outreach. We'd like every able-bodied member of St. Patrick's to be involved. The teams will have one member who is the telephone contact person, one person who can drive, and one or two other people who cook/bake or generate some other forms of "sunshine." When I receive word of a person in need of sunshine, I'll let contact one member of a team and let them take it from there.
You can form your own team or just let me know you want to join a team and I'll put it together. Please contact me by calling (707) 537-6685 or e-mailing sarahphillips2000@yahoo.com.
Sarah Phillips
Make My Day!
WANTED:
CD PLAYER to plug into the amplifier in the parish hall. We have one but it has "given up the ghost."
ADULT EDUCATION.
In April (4/5, 4/19 and 4/26), John Landon will teach a course on economics in tough times at St Patrick's. 9:45am in the Common Room. John is an economic expert on the national stage (as well as overseas), specifically in the areas of the electric utility, coal, uranium, and natural gas industries. As well as teaching Sunday school at St Patrick's and being a regular cursillo paricipant, John is teaching highschoolers about handling money.
PHOTO DIRECTORY
Sincere thanks to Shirley Ward who coordinated the Photo Directory. This will be a great "Who's Who" of the parish. Shirley writes:
They say it "takes a village" to raise a child, well, it takes a great TEAM to put together a church Photo Directory! Special thanks go to those who helped so much -- Wendy Wood, Diane Melder, Barbara Hunt, Pam Pegley, Lauretta Brasacchio, Rae Jayne, Bette Leedom, Gigi Paolini, Margaret Bock, Sandra Hammond and Armand Russell, Norma Creaghe, and Marsha Nygaard. They helped in many ways -- signing up people after church, calling to remind people of their appointments, and acting as "hosts" during our photo shoot days. In addition, Administrative Assistant Marcia Ronchetti fielded many calls, Rector Hugh Stevenson took lots of candid shots for the front section, and our sexton Jose Cruz made sure the Parish Hall was open in the morning and locked up at night. And, it couldn't have been a success without so many in the Parish coming in for their photos.
The photographer reports that he took pictures of 138 "families"; we have about ten families who couldn't make it to our sessions and were photographed at another local church; and about a dozen people who were on vacation or off at school whose pictures will be included in the "Not Available" section. Thanks to one and all for a great job!
Shirley Ward
TURNING POINTS
All find a welcome:
Barbara DeCampo from Oakmont.
David and Shirley Walzem have moved to Spring Lake Village from St Luke's Los Gatos.
For this, much thanks:
Marge Ruehrdanz organized the acolyte celebration on February 22.
The children of Sunday school & Raymond Skipp for the Moses skit on March 15.
Sincere thanks to Margaret Merchat, who coordinated the St Patrick's Dinner on March 14. She was assisted by Kate Aldrich and a team of many helpers. Around 160 people sat down to eat while others worked in the kitchen. It was a great success both in terms of fellowship and fund raising.
Karen Poer Siela ordered some of the food and obtained gifts of carrots, cabbage and potatoes from Sonoma Growers Exchange.
Wine was donated by Barefoot Winery. Also Hutch Gibb brought wine from Kenwood winery.
Dorothy Pierce and Shirley Walzem brought paintings, which were auctioned. A number of people brought gifts for the raffle.
Relocation:
Erik and Heather (McKoy) Shumaker have moved to Napa.
Farewell:
Herc & Elayne Roland are moving to Grand Rapids, MI to be closer to their son and his family.
Dave & Eva Jarrell are moving to Milwaukee, WI to be closer to family.
We ask God's protection of:
All those serving in the military overseas, especially Afghanistan & Iraq.
Blessings on:
Isabella, daughter of Mari & Marshall Dawson, baptized on March 8.
We will exalt you, O God, our King:
Bobette Watson's great nephew, Kevin Danaher has safely returned from Iraq.
Ten couples (so far!) married at St Patrick's or associated with our congregation are expecting babies in 2009. Watch this space!
Kate Aldrich has completed her PhD and will receive her degree in May.
Congrats to Lindsey Collins, co-producer of Wall-E at Pixar Studios, for winning the 2009 Oscar for Best Animated Feature, which was also nominated for five other Academy Awards. Lindsey and Seth Murray were married by me in 2002.
May they know God's healing power:
| Lolita Sequin | Carolyn Perry |
| Linda Belding | Milo Stevenson |
| Mark Kirkland | Gordon Gary |
| Susan MacLaughlin | The Hall family |
| Linda Groberg |
| Pierre, Walter, | John, Josephine |
Deepest sympathy:
To Gini Bauer, whose brother Roderick Pierce, died on March 2.
Val and the Studebaker family on the death of Val's mother.
Bishop's Conference April 17-18, "Enlarging Our Tent - an Intercultural Experience" - at St. Michael's, 2140 Mission Ave., Carmichael. Keynote speakers - the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, Fellow and Minister for Radical Welcome at St Paul's Cathedral, Boston and the Rev. Dr. Fred Vergara, Director of Ethnic Congregational development and Asian Missioner for the Episcopal Church. Conference starts with dinner at 6 p.m. Friday 4/17 and continues Saturday 4/18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The conference will also include the option of taking Anti-Racism Training from national church staff on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $55 per person, including dinner Friday and lunch Saturday. Registration forms are available on the website under "Upcoming Events." For immediate questions, contact Fr. Bayani Rico at 415-797-2240 (rector_ascension@hotmail.com) or Fr. Ray Hess at 916-753-9939 (FatherRay@frontiernet.net).
Camp Noel Porter is our Diocesan summer camp, south of Tahoe City. It has played an important role in many of our children's journeys to adulthood. Important 2009 dates:
May 22-25, Memorial weekend set up.
June 14-20, Counselor training. Counselors serve for one week and are aged 16 and above.
June 21, Camps begin & continue each week.
In 2008, CNP introduced brief camps for ages 6, 7 and 8, which were very successful. In 2009, they will be held: June 28-July 1, and July 1-4.
Sept 4-7, Labor Day weekend take down.
Camps cost $375 per week. Early bird discount (before April 30) is $30.
Some camperships available from St Patrick's.
The weekly donations for birthdays and anniversaries at St Patrick's pay for CNP scholarships.
For more information see:
http://www.campnoelporter.com/camping_2008.html
General Convention Volunteers - General Convention of the Episcopal Church will take place in Anaheim, CA. The days assigned to our Diocese to provide volunteers are Sunday, July 12 and Monday, July 13 (with Tuesday, July 14th as an optional additional day.) For more information and to register, see http://www.gc2009.org/volunteers.
Contact Anne Pierson at eurekamariahjane@suddenlink.net.
WANTED: REFRIGERATOR
The feeding program at St Andrew's Episcopal Mission in Monte Rio needs a large refrigerator in working order. Are you replacing yours? Do you have a spare? Call George Hunt (494-0405).
You might be an Episcopalian if....
- When you watch Star Wars and they say, "May the force be with you," you automatically reply, "And also with you."
- If words like: vouchsafe, oblation, supplications, succor, bewail, wherefore, dost and very (in its archaic sense) seem familiar even if you don't know what they mean.
- If you think that the Bible is a holy book because it quotes the Book of Common Prayer.
- If you know the best way to quiet a room is to say, "The Lord be with you!"
- If you ever find yourself saying, "Oh, but we've never done it that way before.
- If you know that a primate isn't a monkey.
- If you know that a sursum corda is not a surgical procedure and Agnus Dei is not a woman.
- If you know that "humble access" has nothing to do with a security clearance.
- And finally, if you reach a point when you're not sure about anything theologically but you still feel completely at home at the altar rail and somehow know you're meeting God there, even though you can't begin to understand how.
Sometimes in 2008 we had difficulty attracting a quorum of vestry members. At the Annual Meeting we reduced the size of the vestry from 12 to 9. At the March vestry meeting we were only missing one person. We checked the schedule for the year in order to schedule meetings when members can be there.
Two big events have happened in March at St Patrick's: The Pictorial Directory and the St Patrick's Dinner. The vestry sent notes of appreciation to Shirley Ward for the first and Margaret Merchat for the second.
On March 28, Canon Britt Olson will lead us through the process of Mutual Ministry Review. As preparation for this the vestry were equipped with copies of the Rector's Letter of Agreement. Canon Britt reminded us that the vestry needs to sign off on this annually and send a copy to the Bishop. Whoops! The Review will be an on-going process. Wendy Wood has agreed to be our point person.
The Diocesan auditor audited our books for 2008 on March 14 and found no irregularities. Thanks to our Treasurer, Charlie Chapman, for preparing the accounts and other documents.
In the olden days (5 years and more), we had a succession of very enjoyable women's retreats; but none since Julie Wizorek left. We are having a planning meeting on March 22 in the hopes of reviving our women's retreats. Please call the parish office if you are interested in knowing more.
On March 29, a committee is meeting to prepare for the Mission to Mexico. Five of our young people are interested in going and hopefully 2 or 3 adults. We will need to do some fund-raising in April. We are monitoring the security situation in Tijuana and will not be putting our teenagers in harm's way.
We are recruiting a Stewardship Committee. There will be a gathering after church on Sunday, April 5. Would you be interested in serving on this committee? Its provenance will be much broader than the fall Every Member Canvass.
Sarah Phillips is the point person for the ECW's "Sunshine Committee." She is looking for volunteers who will make phone calls, drive and cook meals, in order to make someone's day, and bring them "Sunshine." Call Sarah to offer help.
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The Outreach Committee met on February 4. Gretchen Scott has taken over from Bill McDonald, chairing the committee. The Outreach Committee made distributions in the first quarter to the following:
| Brown Baggers | $100 |
| Meals on Wheels | $300 |
| FISH | $300 |
| Episcopal Relief | $300 |
| Redwood Empire Food bank | $1000 |
| The next meeting will be May 6, 2009 |
|
