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May 2001
Vol. 3 No. 5
Archive of Previous Issues
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The Grapevine is published monthly
(except for a combined July/August issue)
by St. Patrick's Episcopal Church
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Table of Contents for May 2001 [Vol. 3 No. 5]
Virtue Versus Law
In the Law of Moses (Leviticus 19:9), there is found the following instruction: Farmers are not to reap their harvest to the very edges of their fields. When they pick their grapes, they are not
to strip their vineyards bare. They are commanded to leave some pickings for the poor and the alien. Remember that this is what Ruth was sent to do. Her family consisted of widows and
they were very poor. Naomi sent her daughter-in-law to the fields of Boaz because he was a cousin. Without Ruth's gleaning, they might have starved to death.
This was humanitarian legislation. In today's world, it would not make sense. The farmer is entitled to all the harvest and he will want to maximize his return. He planted the seed; the
harvest belongs to him, though perhaps he will give the first fruits for harvest festival. Why should he be concerned about the poor, the Ruth's of this world?
There is a difference between law and virtue, of taking that to which you are entitled and leaving a little bit on one side-that is, not pushing things to the limit. This issue came up in the
recent conflict between China and the United States over the spy plane that was forced to land on Hainan Island.
A Chinese American commentator, speaking on National Public Radio, said that Chinese and American see things differently. The Chinese demanded that the Americans apologize. But the
Americans said rightly that they had broken no laws; they were only doing that which they were entitled to do. They pushed things to limit. The Chinese however saw this action as an offense
against virtue. The Americans had no sense of honor. There is a gray area between right and wrong and the Americans had trespassed into that area.
In our culture we see a sharp dividing line between black and white. We know what we are entitled to and we make sure we receive all that we deserve. We would claim that this is
common sense. I believe that the culture of the time of Jesus would have more in common with the Chinese than the Americans.
Paul says that we are justified by grace, not by law. The difference is one between claiming that to which we are entitled, and the generosity of God who gives us that which we have not
deserved nor are entitled. It is God's free gift that his son, Jesus, died on the cross and rose again for us. In a legalistic culture, we should expect to be punished for our sins, not forgiven.
Look at the stories that Jesus tells. The loving father has no obligation to take home his prodigal son, who has grabbed his inheritance and moved out. But the father has virtue. The Good
Samaritan has no obligation to help the Jew, who is not of his race. But he does not acknowledge that dividing line between the races that the Jew would claim. He makes him
responsible for the one who needed help. He has virtue.
We are thinking this year about the Jubilee. In the ancient account (Leviticus 25) the trumpet sounds and all our debts are forgiven. If we would follow Jesus, we need to be thinking not just
now, but for the rest of our lives, how we may cut some slack for those who owe us, rather than claiming our entitlement.
--Hugh Stevenson
Vacation Bible School
There will be a meeting for teachers and helpers on Tuesday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Education Center. We will review the Augsburg materials and view a video. Lots of helpers are
needed. VBS will take place July 30 to August 3, 9:00-12:00. You can gain further information from Shirley Rush. "We're going to have fun" she says, "and we're going to love Jesus!"
Trinity Institute
The 32nd Conference of the Trinity Institute will discuss questions of identity. The speakers include a professor of brain research, a physician, a professor of systematic theology and
others. It will be down linked by satellite to St. Patrick's. It will take place on Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4. The first speakers on Thursday and Friday will be "tape-delayed" for
Pacific Time and will begin about 8:15 a.m. (Note change of time). Coffee and cakes will be provided for which we request a $5 donation. For further information see our website: stpatskenwood.org.
Nametag Sunday
On Sunday May 6, after either service, you can make a nametag for yourself in the parish hall. There will be helpers on hand to provide you with materials. You can either leave your nametag
in a basket at church or take it home with you. We want to encourage people to wear nametags. It is a blessing for new members to know who you are!
Shamrock Supper
Sunday May 6, at 5:00 p.m. Glenn Hendrix will speak about his experiences and different assignments in a talk entitled "Living with the National Parks." Glenn and Lilo lived in Denver
for his last tour, which was as Director of planning and design for the United States. Please sign up in the parish hall and bring your own place setting and a dish to share.
Human Race
The race starts at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Slater Junior High School. Most of Santa Rosa turns out for this festive event, even though it often seems to rain. There are sponsored
walks, runs or bike rides. You can raise dollars for the CARE Children's Counseling Center, the Valley of the Moon Children's Home or another charity. Would you like to take part or be
a sponsor? More information is available during the coffee hours.
Mothers' Day
On May 13, at 10:00 a.m. there will be a contemporary service, which will be shorter than the usual services and "user-friendly" for the younger members of our congregation. There will be
special music.
Movie Night
Because its regularly scheduled date falls on Mother's Day, there will be no movie review session in May. The final meeting of the year will be in June at the home of Herc and Elayne
Roland. Check later for details.
United Thank Offering
The UTO Spring in-gathering will take place on Sunday, May 20th, at both services. We at St. Patrick's have much to be thankful for. Let us share some of our thanksgivings with others.
In the year 2000, United Thank Offering awarded 121 grants, 84 within the United States and the rest worldwide. One grant for $12,000.00 was given to St. Paul the Redeemer, Chicago,
to start up a coffee shop and youth center in the parish hall, which is very close to an over-crowded public high school, to provide a safe, healthy, clean and positive space for lunch
and opportunities for studying and social-izing. Matanzas, Diocese of Cuba, received $40,000.00 to finish a dormitory to house Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and other
seminarians being trained to meet the tremendous growth in churches. For every grant awarded each year another request has to be left out. Please give generously.
--Jeanne Anderson
Ascension Day Eucharist
Ascension Day falls on Thursday, May 24, forty days after Easter. We recall St. Luke's witness that Jesus departed from his disciples in order to send the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
There will be an additional celebration of the Eucharist at 9:00 a.m.
Forward Day by Day
The May-July edition of these Bible study notes is available on the table in the church entrance. The church provides them for free for our members. We have received an additional ten copies
of the current issue. If you would like a large print version, please call the parish office. Please leave your old Day by Days in the parish hall; the Church Periodical Club will recirculate them.
Vestry Report
The vestry met on April 17. Copies of the minutes of the previous meeting and of the financial report are posted on the notice board in the parish hall. Josie Ross, our treasurer, reported that
our finances are in a healthy state and Jana Denegri, who was our accountant before, will be helping us again next month. We are receiving from the diocese a Jubilee Credit of $5184.00
and are seeking input from Barbara Fry and the Outreach Committee.
We voted to invite John Leech to become a staff member of St. Patrick's with responsibilities of being vestry clerk and co-coordinator with Bill Perry of Adult Education. Charlie Buff has
agreed to help out in the office, posting notices, acknowledging memorial donations, gathering reports for vestry meetings etc. Charlie already is mailing the Grapevine. Jay Hunt has agreed
to be our property manager and met with Neil McKay and Walt Boden to review up coming projects. We are setting up a search committee with a view to recruiting a full time assistant priest.
Walt Boden has installed the electric cable out to highway sign and is waiting for the lights to arrive. We are also planning to install reflectors to make our entrance more visible at night. We
are going to empty our new container, paint it a more neutral color and disguise it with landscaping. We are going to buy a heater to boost the water temperature in the dishwasher in
order to sterilize the coffee cups better. We reviewed plans to provide more shade for the memorial garden and liked the idea of surrounding it with more trees. Additional cabinets for
the Common Room have been ordered.
We discussed writing to our senators and others, asking them to designate Sonoma County as an urban rather than a rural area. Urban areas get more Medicare dollars; this has a spin off
affect on HMOs. It is harder to keep a medical practice going in our county. But Jackie Senter explained that we would only get more Medicare dollars if the surrounding counties (who are
already designated as "urban") would be willing to receive less-which is unlikely. Change can only happen if we urge our representatives to pass legislation. We signed a letter to that effect.
Bishop Visits At Pentecost
Bishop Jerry Lamb visits us every other year for his official visitation. He will want to know about the good things that are happening at St. Patrick's. He will baptize those who are
presented to him. Do you have a family member to be baptized? And he will confirm some adults and teenagers who are currently attending classes. We pray that the Spirit will inspire
these candidates. He will also lay hands on those who are already confirmed, but who wish to reaffirm their baptismal promises.
Pentecost
Pentecost is June 3. This festival comes 50 days after Easter. We remember that the Holy Spirit came down on the disciples like tongues of fire and they proclaimed the good news
about what God had done so that all heard in their own languages. We will read verses from the Gospel in different languages. What language can you manage? Please tell the Rector. Red
is the liturgical color for the Spirit. Why not wear red for Pentecost?
Confirmation Classes
Classes are meeting on Fridays at 3:30 pm in the Education Center. Eight teenagers are taking part. They will be presented to the Bishop not only by their families but also by a sponsor from
the congregation. Would you like to be a sponsor?
Adults are meeting for Inquirers' Classes at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays in the Common Room in preparation for the Bishop's visit. For further information, call the Rector.
Parish Meeting with the Bishop
During the course of his visit, the Bishop will want to meet with parishioners on Sunday morning, at 9:00 a.m. Could "Ten o'clockers" come early in order to be present for this
meeting? The Bishop will speak about the wider church beyond our diocese and will answer questions. After the 10:00 a.m. service, the Bishop will meet with vestry members for brunch at Jean Derum's house.
Turning Points
Rest in Peace Roger Pearson died on Easter Day, April 15. He had been an active member of St. Patrick's for the past year and before that was one of the pillars of Christ Church, Windsor.
Ernie Hartmann died on April 18. Ernie came to St. Patrick's in 1986 when he moved into Spring Lake Village. Herb Ward recruited him to the Stewardship Committee. While Norm
Reinhard was still alive, Ernie brought him to church; after Norm's death, Ernie was chauffeur for Jane Tilson.
Weddings Dan Zimmerman and Lorrie Ragozzino were married on April 14.
In May, we look forward with prayers to the weddings of Whitney Black and Jeff Brewer (5/12), Geoff Parker and Wendi Chamberlain (5/18)
and Sharon Belding and John Tapia (5/19).
Blessings on Brannon Mark Breining, baptized on April 15.
Congratulations to Helen and Rob on the birth of Arthur Douglas MacPeak, and Marge Ward on the birth of her great-grandson, Ethan.
Fred Bauer is engaged to be married to Mary Virginia Kelley in July.
Prayers of healing for
- Phyliss Mealman, recovering from a broken wrist. Phyliss should be going home early in May.
- Alan Chambliss has been in intensive care in Memorial hospital.
- Jackie McDonald is home after a stay in Kaiser hospital.
- Pattie Gerber, Barbara Teige and Allen Treat are all home after falls.
- Linda Belding is doing well at the nursing facility at Spring Lake Village.
- Marjorie MacAdams, a new member, was taken ill in Arizona.
- Ruben Beseda and Carol Pearson are both doing well after knee surgery.
- Welcome to Barbara Nichols and Shirley Coombs, both originally from England.
- Marcia Ronchetti, next-door neighbor to Phyllis Cressy worshipped with us during April.
- John and Cathy Landon of Oakmont also joined us during April.
- It was a joy to welcome Jim Foster back to church on April 1.
- A host of old friends and guests joined us for Easter services
Farewell We said goodbye at Easter to Richard and Diane Sexton who are returning to Florida where Richard has a new job
Thanks To all who helped to make Easter such a joyful celebration? To those who contributed to the cost of flowers and to the altar guild who decorated the church. To Robert
Young, the choir and the trumpeters, Pete Estabrook and Nicholas Stephens. To Lectors, ushers and acolytes. To Robin our secretary who ran nearly 500 bulletins and Shirley Rush,
Phyllis Cressy and Ann Chapman who folded them. To Shirley Flournoy who supervised the flowering cross and Angela Stevenson who hid Easter Eggs for the hunt. Comment made by
one of our guests, "I love Easter at St. Patrick's; you have the best Easter Egg Hunt!"
Thanks too to Margaret Merchat who chaired a most happy St. Patrick's Dinner, which was sold out, and to all her helpers.
Thanks to Jay Hunt who will be our new Property Manager.
Sunday School
Next year the curriculum for Sunday school will be based on ten top Bible stories. What should those Bible stories be? What do you think the children should learn? Please submit your list to
the Rector or Bonney Philbin, the Sunday school superin-tendent, before the end of May. Ten, more or less! The teachers will develop curriculum based on those stories, including songs and
crafts that go with the stories.
We plan to keep you informed what the children are studying by publishing the list and the timetable in later Grapevines.
During the summer, we want to offer Summer Sunday school. We invite members of the parish to offer their skills. The attendance at Sunday school is not huge, because children are away at
camp or vacation. And therefore the same children do not attend every week.. Can you offer one Sunday in the summer? Can you teach an art project, or knots or cook something in the
kitchen or photography or something else? What can you offer? Please contact Bonney or Hugh.
The large classroom behind the parish hall is going to be the High School room where older kids can "hang out." There is already one couch in there, and we have the possible offer of two
more. We hope to acquire a refrigerator. We need a ping-pong table that folds up and a stereo system. Can you provide either of these?
Future dates:
- June 3, confirmation of eight of our young people.
- June 10, appreciation day for our teachers and students; and recognition of our high school graduates.
- July 4, participation in the Kenwood Festival.
- July 30-August 3,Vacation Bible School.
- September 8, picnic at the start up of the New Year.
We are also planning a summer swim party and barbecue and a visit to the county fair.
Quilting Group
We will have the first meeting of the Quilting Interest Group on Monday, May 14, at 1:30 p.m. in the Common Room of the church. This will be a get-acquainted and planning meeting. Please
bring something that you have made or are working on and be prepared to share a little about yourself and your quilting experience.
This is meant to be a group for all levels of ability - from beginners to "pros." We will talk about
future plans including meeting times that suit most people. Hope to see many interested quilters at the meeting. If you cannot make the meeting please sign the sheet in the parish hall or call
Judy Buff at 539-2667 to express your interest.
ECW News
At the March meeting of ECW over thirty members heard an interesting and informative talk by Eva Atkins who spoke about her career as a travel agent and gave tips on all aspects of travel.
The new Executive Board for 2001-02 was elected: Elayne Roland, President; Nancy Dill, Vice-President; Carolyn Perry, Secretary; Cecily Meehan, Treasurer.
The final meeting of the year will be held Tuesday, June 12. New officers will be installed and the theme will be "Hats." All attending are asked to wear hats and to share stories that may be
connected with that hat. Please sign up in the parish hall and plan to be there with us.
More ECW News
The annual "Gathering" of Episcopal Church Women of Northern California will be hosted by St. Nicholas' Parish in Paradise on May 4 and 5. Participants from St. Patrick's will be Jeanne
Anderson, Barbara Fry, Bette Leedom, Elayne Roland, and Karen Steelman. They will attend a variety of workshops and share information about these events at the next ECW luncheon, June 12.
Unique Boutique Workshop
The workshop is again in full swing and meets the 2nd and 4th Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to noon with delicious refreshments from all who gather. Again, I would like to remind everyone that
this is the season for flower cuttings. I (Robin) have started some topiaries and cuttings from my garden. If you would like to help me please call me in the office.
If anyone is interested in working from home or has any ideas, please call Barbara Fry at 538-2164.
Outreach Committee
St. Patrick's came to the aid of the homeless who had to leave the Armory the end of March. The Committee designated $500.00 to purchase sleeping bags and several parishioners added
their own checks and sleeping bags.
You can help the Living Room, a day shelter for women and children at the Church of the Incar-nation, by putting toiletries, boxed and canned food, into the large carton under the table
in the rear of the Parish Hall.
Episcopal Relief and Development
This is a ministry of the whole Episcopal church for the whole world. Help earthquake victims in INDIA and EL SALVADOR. Please make checks payable to Episcopal Relief and
Development, c/o Earth-quake Relief, P.O. Box 12043, Newark, NJ 07101.
Needlepoint Kneelers
Begun in 1994, the kneelers in the nave were planned, designed and stitched by members and friends of St. Patrick's. Funding was made available from the ECW, the Altar Guild and the Church Memorial Fund.
The design plan is as follows: Rows I, IV and VII and X quote scripture or the Book of Common Prayer, Rows II, V and VIII are decorated with Trinity crosses in two shades of
either purple, green or blue, Row III has symbols of the Evangelists stitched, Row VI depicts the Festivals of the Church and Row IX symbols of the Eucharist.
There are 78 kneelers in all. To date 47 have been completed and installed, 5 are ready to be upholstered, 16 are in process and 10 remain to be stitched. The kneelers are approximately
44.5" x 11". Each one requires 92,098 stitches.
The most important element in this project is the stitchers. Most are members of St. Patrick's, some are not, but the dedication of all of these people to the project is overwhelming. The left
end of each kneeler has the initials of the stitcher and the year it was completed worked into the flap.
Stitchers
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Pat Amick
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PAA
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Sandra Lipscomb
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SCL*
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Connie Apostle
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CWA
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Nell McDonald
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NWM
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Marian Barry
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MRB
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Jean Meyer
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JAM
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Ellie Bearden
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EWB*
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Molly Morgan
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MHM
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Penny Brewster
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PB
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Anne Morshead
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AKM
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Norma Creaghe
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NSC*
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Ida Muller
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IEM
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Norman Dake
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ND
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Roberta Paselk
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RSP
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Janine Dunkak
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JCD
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Kay Plaut
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KP
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Martella Fry
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MGF
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Nina Pohl
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NHP
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Alice Fielder
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AJF
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Camille Richardson
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CCR
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Kathryn Gary
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KBG*
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Josephine Ross
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JGR
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Naomi Holm
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NSH
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Kristine Saslow
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KWS
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Bette Leedom
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EAL
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Mardi Shepard
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MCS
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Rosalyn Leonard
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RRL*
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Marilyn Schlangen
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MS
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Ashley Lipscomb
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AGL
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Hjordis Wolfe
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HLW
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* Planning and design group
Donn Bearden, Will Brown, Tom Clark, John Creaghe and Hank McClain made significant contributions in designing and installing the kneelers, and John Taylor of The Recovery in upholstering them.
For more information about this project or taking part in it, please call Norma Creaghe at 539-0152.
Valley of the Moon-Children's Center
"Valley of the Moon Shelter Changes Ordered" - a Press Democrat headline on Easter morning.
5.5 million dollars of the 6 million dollars needed to build a new "shelter" has already been raised, and the land cleared for it. We can be a factor in closing the gap so that Sonoma
County's Human Services Department will "break ground" and start to build this summer.
After more than ten years and thousands of cookies, Easter eggs, birthday cards, flowers, and
"benefits," we qualify as Valley of The Moon Children's Shelter's "elderly angels." We know
the need, - putting forty-seven children to bed on couches and roll-away cots, as was the case at Easter, - is not an acceptable solution for youngsters who already live unstable and unwanted lives.
Let us again take part for them in the Human Race, on May 12th. Our unwavering support as their champions can "make a difference." Sign up as a walker/runner or simply a sponsor in the
Parish Hall on April 29th and May 6th.
--Jean Henderson
Health and Wellness Coordinators
The social and physical support we can provide each other has been shown to benefit the health and well being of us all. The church has always been aware of that fact and parishioners
have long min-istered to others, both inside and outside the parish. Now, the Health and Wellness Committee is putting in place a system to make that impulse work more efficiently.
The parish will now have a "Coordinator of the Month" in order to match a person with need with someone to help. The idea is that the person them-selves or perhaps friends who are
aware of a need, will contact the Coordinator of the Month who can arrange the needed assistance. Fr. Stevenson will, of course, be a prime source for information about unmet needs.
In short, it is a system to be more intentional about our ministry.
For now, the committee has decided to focus on three categories:
a) giving rides to church or for a doctor appointment.
b) Providing a short respite for a caregiver.
c) Visiting parishioners either at home, in a nursing home, or in the hospital. (Tips and guidelines for the latter two categories are available).
Last fall a goodly number of parishioners responded to a questionnaire regarding offers to help. It is still quite possible to make offers to help if you missed the earlier opportunity. Give the
Coordinator a call to have your name added to the list for the following categories: transportation, respite care or visiting. The committee has decided to limit assist-ing to these
three areas for the time being, though if someone has an out-of-reach light bulb that needs changing we can probably satisfy that need!
During the month of April, Nina Pohl was the Health and Wellness Coordinator. Nell McDonald (538-5571) has the position during May. In June it will be Rae Jayne (833-6177).
The Sunday Bulletin and the monthly Grapevine will identify the coordinator each month. In a pinch call the parish office. In September we will evaluate how this system works. Let us know.
John Bogart Library
This month we have really exceptional books to add to the library.
For all Jan Karon fans there is a seventh book in the Mitford series: A Common Life. The Wedding Story. Father Tim and Cynthia are finally married and herein is the story.
As a follow-up to the recent class on Christianity there is the best known and most readable bio-graphy of Martin Luther, Here I Stand by Roland Bainton. A classic with details of Luther's life.
A second book on Christian history is Wide as the Waters. The Story of the English Bible and the Revolution it Inspired, by Benson Bobrick. It covers the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI,
Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I. A story of a crucial epoch in history that changed the course of human events.
Hugh Stevenson has given us a book that is hard to put down. The Bible is History by Ian Wilson that deals with the question of whether or not the Bible contains any element of
historical truth. Beginning with Genesis (but not Adam and Eve) he examines findings of scholars and archeologist trying to find a scientific explanation. Compelling text, illustrations,
make this a fine addition to the library.
Millie Allyn has given us an audiotape of The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis, read by Lewis, and the only published recording of his voice. Another fine addition to the audio collection.
--Ronnie Leonard
A Brief Update on Linda Belding , April 21, 2001
Some folks have asked how Linda is doing and I am excited to share her progress. As you may know in September she had surgery for an aneurysm situated right above the brain stem.
The surgery was a success but left her pretty incapacitated. She has made miraculous progress and continues to improve. She is at Spring Lake Village in the Health Care section, currently
room 204. She is able to see and hear and understand all that is going on but due to a trach in her throat and status, she cannot talk. She does mouth some words. Her right hand, arm, leg,
and foot work reasonably well and getting stronger but her left side lags. Over the past couple of weeks she has been able to stand for 20 minutes at a time, play Yahtzee, pick up and hand
over a Koosh ball. So improvement is made daily with a ways yet to go. She enjoys visitors but be aware that her facial expressions are still limited. She can respond yes/no with a slight
nod or thumb up/tucked, or a wag of the right foot.
Many of you and friends around the world are praying for her - thanks and keep up the good work! God keeps looking out for her and the rest of us, I am sure. To be on my update
distribution list please e-mail at: rickbelding@agilent.com
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