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May 2009
Vol. 11 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 2009 [Vol. 11 No. 5]
I suspect that the break-away of parishes and dioceses is about power as much as it is about the Bishop of New Hampshire.
I recently heard Malcolm Gladwell* talking about "Power Distance," an idea that was formulated by the Dutch thinker, Beert Hofstede. His definition is, "Power Distance is the extent to which less powerful members of organizations expect (and accept) that power is distributed unequally." The issue is not about who's in charge, but rather who's in charge by how much.
When new parishioners ask me, "What do you liked to be called?" their question is about Power Distance as much as it is about being polite and respectful. My answer is, "If you came from a hierarchical background (which promotes high Power Distance) call me 'Father' for the first six months, and after that call me Hugh like everybody else."
In the Gospels, while most people desire a high power distance, Jesus advocates a low power distance.
- The Roman centurion recognizes high power distance, he says to his troops "go" and they go (Matthew 8:9).
- The mother of James and John wants the chief seats in the kingdom for her sons (Matthew 20:20).
- At Caesarea Philippi, Peter feels comfortable rebuking his Lord (Mark 8:31), rather than deferring to him.
- While we begin our prayers with high Power Distance titles (like "Almighty and ever-lasting God"), Jesus teaches us to address God as "Father" or Abba, "Dad.
- At the Incarnation the Son of God crossed the great gulf, fixed and narrowed the Power Distance between our heavenly Father and ourselves.
A friend, after many years of faithful service in an African diocese, was fired because, at a clergy conference, he stepped down from the high table where he was sitting with the Bishop and the senior clergy to mingle with the lesser clergy. He was perceived to be doing a subversive act. The senior clergy liked their status as separate from lesser mortals.
I wonder whether break-away bishops and clergy are uncomfortable with low Power Distance and are attracted by African dioceses which maintain high Power Distance. Is the generalization fair that these Bishops are autocratic and demand that their clergy defer to them and adopt their line? For myself, I would rather relate to my bishop with love instead of fear.
I believe that our relationship with the church will be low Power Distance. If we are truly a pilgrim people then we will have low power distance relationships with one another. We will worship together, not out of guilt, but because we love our church.
And our relationship with the Bible will also be low Power Distance. We will not approach it as a book of rules with frightening consequences but rather as the love story of a forgiving God and his often-wayward children.
Hugh Stevenson
*City Arts and Lectures on NPR, 22 March 2009
RECTOR AWAY. May 1-2, Hugh and Angela will be at a "Planning for Tomorrow" conference presented by the Church Pension Fund.
May 3-15, Hugh will be at a CREDO conference in New Orleans. CREDO stands for "Clergy Reflection Education Discernment Opportunity." With clergy from all over the USA aged 55-65, Hugh will be reflecting upon his health (physical and emotional), his vocation, his spirituality and his financial security. A number of parishioners have provided feed back by completing a vocational profile.
In Hugh's absence, the Rev. Eric Duff, executive director of the Episcopal Community Services, will celebrate and preach on May 3. Eric has been very supportive of our outreach to St Andrew's Mission in Monte Rio. On May 10, the celebrant and preacher will be Bishop George Hunt.
WOMEN'S CURSILLO takes place at the Angela Center, April 30-May 3. Paula Cook is on the team. Pray for candidates and team.
DAUGHTERS OF THE KING meet May 3 after the 10:30 service in the Common Room.
THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE meets on Wednesday, May 6 at 10:00 a.m. in the Common Room. The Committee makes quarterly distributions from the parish's Outreach Fund. A major item on the agenda will be the meal program at the Monte Rio Episcopal Mission. Guests are welcome at the meeting.
THE WOMEN'S BREAKFAST meets on Saturday, May 9 at 8:30 a.m. Please join us at Su Casa in the St. Francis Shopping Center on For additional information contact Karen Steelman at steelman@sonic.net or 538-3970.
THE HUMAN RACE takes place on May 9, starting at 8:00 a.m. from Slater Middle School at 3500 Sonoma Avenue to raise money for the local nonprofit organization of their choice.
MOTHERS' DAY is May 10. Bring your mother (or children) to Church. Or adopt a mother.
ECW DINNER is on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m. The speaker is the Rev Dr LA King, talking about women in the Episcopal Church. We have invited women from other churches in our Deanery.
QUIET MORNING. The Daughters of the King are sponsoring a Quiet Morning on May 16, 9:30-1:00, at the home of Audrey Jaynes. Please tell Jane Hall if you are planning to be there.
ASCENSION SUNDAY. We will celebrate the Ascension of Jesus on Sunday, May 24.
PENTECOST. The Feast of the Holy Spirit, is May 31. At the 10:30 service, the account of Pentecost from the Book of Acts will be read in different tongues. Red is the color of the Holy Spirit. Why not wear red on Pentecost!
CONCERT by the SR Symphonic Chorus including Jackie Senter on May 30 & 31 "Songs of the Slaves." Tickets available from her.
The summer schedule begins on June 14.
OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS
In the past, Christians had little need to relate to other faiths and cultures, but now we cannot afford to ignore them. Alas, we tend to react to other religions either by becoming entrenched in our own positions and deprecating every one else, or by surrendering our own beliefs in an effort not to be judgmental. We need to go beyond merely tolerating one another; we need to find out what makes other people tick. This may even help us understand our own faith better.
Our May Adult Ed class will be about Islam:
- What are our past experiences with Muslims and Islamic culture?
- History of Islam, Mohammed & the Koran.
- A guest will share what Islam means to her.
- Our relations with our Muslim neighbors and Islamic politics.
- The classes will be held on Sundays in May, beginning May 3 at 9:45 in the Common Room.
All find a welcome:
Yasmin Nibbe brought her mother on Palm Sunday. Bridget & Jim Henderson and their children also attended.
Dale Englehorn and her sister, Gordon Harsaghy, Toni Intur-Fox, Marisa Giottuso & Tami Turner, John & Nancy Murray, Robert & Diana Bridwell, and Laura & Thatcher Dilley (from Reno) attended on Easter.
For this, much thanks:
Judy Buff supervised the palm cross-workshop on March 9.
Many people gave money for the Easter flowers. Thanks to Barbara DeCampo, Barbara Hunt, Johanna Knight, Audrey Jaynes, Judy Kimsey, and Rosie Speight for decorating the church for Easter.
The various "Easter Lambs": many people gave jelly beans and chocolates, Vickie Ward, Sarah Phillips and Cynthia Pennington filled plastic eggs with goodies and hid them for the Easter Egg Hunt.
Robert Young played at all services; the choir sang on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. Thanks for all the music.
Thanks to Armand Russell who wrote the widely appreciated Steps for Good Friday.
The Borgfeldt, Voegels and Schloemp families supervised the flowering cross. Many people brought flowers to decorate it. It was the best ever!
Marcia printed and folded nearly 1000 bulletins with help from Judy Rose, Ninon Cabrales and Josie Ross.
Thanks to those who participated in our worship as acolytes, ushers, readers and chalice bearers.
Blessings on:
Melanie Webster & Steve Watrous, who were married on April 4.
Alex and Caroline Hogan, who were baptized at Easter.
Thanks to all who took part in the Fashion Show: Models: Ann Peters, Josie Ross, Rosie Speight, Wendy Wood, Diane Melder, and Pam Pegley, organized by Shirley Ward with Sarah Phillips as the "checker" and Tommie Cazel as "dresser."
Model Coordinator: Shirley Ward
Model Make Up: Karen Borgfeldt
Show Music: Robert Young
Guest Musical Performance: Ben McClain and Paul Peglar
Tickets: Kay Martinelli
Kitchen/Food Service: Barbara DeCampo, Carol Papworth, Phyllis Cressy, Pam Moore (lemon curd)
Flowers and decorations: Vicki Ward
Napkins: Kerry Mertle
Wine: Elizabeth (Johnson) Belding of Barefoot Wine and Bubbly
Raffle Prizes: Fisher Family Vineyards, Bill and Shirley Ward, Sally Frei and Sarah Phillips
Farewell to:
Maria Heidel is transferring her membership to St John's, Napa. She had been a member since 2006 and served on the Altar Guild.
John and Nancy Young are moving back to Coalinga on Easter Day.
We will exalt you, O God, our King:
Emily Grace was born to Heather McKoy and Erik Shumaker on April Fool's Day. She weighed in at 8.8 lbs.
May they know God's healing power:
| Roberta Rives | Carolyn Perry |
| Linda Belding | Gordon Gary |
| Mark Kirkland | The Hall family |
| Linda Groberg | Sue Hogan |
| Glenn MacKenzie |
| Pierre, Walter, | John, Josephine |
May they rest in peace:
Dolores DeVito died on March 30. She had been around St Patrick's since Easter 2001. Recently she had been attending Kenwood Community Church when she was well enough, which is where her service was held.
VESTRY JOB DESCRIPTION
At our Mutual Ministry Review with Canon Britt Olson on March 28, we identified as our #1 goal, identifying, recruiting and training leadership for the parish. This goal has been on our agenda for several years. It is more than 7 months until the Annual Meeting when you will elect your new vestry members. We are starting now to recruit and train leadership. This is the job description for a vestry member (from The Vestry Resource Guide, published by the Episcopal Church Foundation.)
All vestry members should strive to the best of their abilities to:
- Have a love of God and demonstrate a commitment to following the way of Christ;
- Be active in and knowledgeable about the congregation, its programs and governance;
- Be fair, interact well with people and strive to earn the respect of the members of the congregation;
- Purposefully strive to "check one's ego at the door;
- Purposefully strive to be a servant of the people without the need to be the "most important person" in the congregation or the need to be the one with the right answers to everything;
- Have enthusiasm and vitality for this ministry.
All vestry members should be able to make the following time commitments:
- Vestry meetings, committee work;
- Vestry retreat(s);
- Weekly worship services (rotating occasionally if more than one service);
- Congregational events: coffee hours, meals, fundraisers, adult education-programs, etc.;
- Diocesan meetings, as necessary;
- Annual meeting.
All vestry members are responsible for:
- Pledging financial support early in the stewardship campaign;
- Offering talents to support the congregation's ministry;
- Praying daily for the rector, leaders and members of the congregation;
- Being active ministers of the Gospel in daily life and work;
- Bringing one's whole self to the table; being present - mind, body, and spirit;
- Risking openness with one's ideas, beliefs and desires.
The JOHN BOGART LIBRARY has a new book: a novel written by St. Patrick's own Bob Ruehrdanz. It is both an enjoyable and informative book dealing with rapid transit monorail and maglev systems. The characters are appealing and there is plenty of local northern California color. A good read.
GOURMET PANTRY. We need 8 oz. jam & jelly jars for the Oktoberfest. Please put them in the cupboard behind the door to the choir room. (Please do not bring pint or quart jars).
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