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June 2001
Vol. 3 No. 6
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 June 2001 [Vol. 3 No. 6]
New Assistant Called
At the vestry meeting on May 22, the vestry voted unanimously to call Julie Wizorek to be our new assistant, subject to the Bishop's permission, contract and letter of agreement. Nina Pohl
and I had interviewed her a couple of weeks ago. God willing, she will begin here in August.
Julie is married to Martin, an industrial hygienist. They have sons in college in California.
Currently they live in Fremont. Before seminary Julie was an archaeologist on the staff at Santa Clara University.
Julie will be ordained deacon in El Camino Diocese on June 23. She has been a seminarian at Church Divinity School of the Pacific (the Episcopal seminary in Berkeley).
In field education she has taught adult education, new member ministry and pastoral care. She comes highly commended as a preacher. She and Martin have a lifetime interest in scouting.
She has also worked with Sunday school children and teachers.
We look forward very much indeed to welcoming the Wizoreks in August. Would you pray for
Julie and her family as the day of her ordination approaches and during this time of momentous change?
--Hugh Stevenson
Becoming a “Program Church”
Churches of different sizes operate in different ways. Some researchers have categorized the size of churches as follows. When I first came to St. Patrick's, there are up to 150 worshippers
in the congregation on Sunday morning; we were a "pastoral" church. I tended to visit the congregation myself, often taking communion to the housebound, and I attended most of the
meetings. Everyone knew everyone else. Only 10 years earlier when John Bogart was starting out, there had been 50 on a Sunday morning. As we grew someone complained to me that
there was so much going on that they could no longer get to everything.
A "program" parish has more than 150 worshippers on a Sunday morning. Numerous cells of
activity characterize it. Lay leaders take on some of the pastoral care, which had previously been the monopoly of the Rector, who now spends time recruiting and supervising volunteers
within the parish. No longer can people drop in on the Rector to see what he is doing or arrive unannounced top pick up a check.
I prepared a list of all the programs going on within St. Patrick's for the Inquirers' Class and for new members. I posted a copy in the parish hall; please check it out.
The transition time between the two categories of size is an uncomfortable one (its like being not married but engaged, or like being not adult but adolescent). We grew to an average of
190 in1994, but slipped back to an average of 170 in 1998. Since then, we have grown to an average of about 200 on a Sunday. This year alone we have been blest with a significant number of new members.
The size of a congregation is related to the size of the church. I had always thought that St. Patrick's could hold 200. I did some measuring. We have 20 16-foot pews in the nave. The
experts say that the comfort zone for a parishioner is 30-36 inches. So I calculated that the church is fairly full with 130 in the congregation, plus choir, organist, lay readers etc in the sanctuary.
The standard distance between pews is about 3 inches closer than the pews in our church. When I moved the pews three inches closer, there was room for an extra row at the back of
the congregation; but people were uncomfortable so we moved them back again. There are seats in the balcony but most people would rather not sit up there.
We could have a capital funds drive and extend the church, but I suspect that would not be a popular move.
If we are to accommodate those who are already attending St. Patrick's we may need to
introduce a third service on Sunday morning (or Saturday evening, like the Roman Catholics. But when we did this before, those who came on Saturday evening came again on Sunday
morning!) This would impinge upon Sunday school, altar guild, readers, acolytes, organist and others. There is a danger that the congregation would become fragmented. The experts
recommend that a third service not be very different from the existing services. It would mean changing the church-going habits of existing worshippers. A third service would need a critical
mass of at least 50 people to make it "fly."
Staffing is a major factor. The experts say, a church needs one staff person for every hundred
worshippers. So we need a second person to service full time. The vestry is working on recruiting such a person to serve at St. Patrick's. People who are cared for adequately will be
more likely to invite their friends. The conventional wisdom that the addition of an extra staff person pays for itself over time.
There are many advantages to being a growing church, but the greatest, I believe, is being faithful to the mandate of Jesus to us, his followers, "Go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing and teaching. And I will be with you always to the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 20)
--Hugh Stevenson
Humor from the Internet
A ten-year-old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming quite knowledgeable about the Bible. Then one day she floored her grandmother by asking, "Which Virgin was the
mother of Jesus? The virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?"
The Sunday school class was studying the Ten Commandments. They were ready to discuss
the last one. The teacher asked if anyone could tell her what it was. Susie raised her hand, stood tall, and quoted, "Thou shall not take the covers off thy neighbor's wife."
June is the month of weddings. There was a problem for a little boy in a relative's wedding. As he was coming down the aisle, he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd. While
facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar. So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way downs the aisle. As you can imagine, the crowd was
near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit.
The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from all the laughing, and was
near tears by the time he reached the pulpit. When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
Turning Points
Congratulations to:
Whitney Black and Jeff Brewer married on May 12.
Geoff Parker and Wendi Chamberlain married on May 18.
Sharon Belding and John Tapia married on May 19.
Neil McKay and Coralie Schmidt (Corky) were married on April 23.
Ryan Ward, son of Charlie and Vicki, to be married on June 9.
Fred Bauer and Virginia Kelley to be married on July 7 at St Clement's, Berkeley.
Maria Huff and Martin Gair who will be married in New Mexico in December.
Karen Wilson and Brian Borgfeldt to be married at St Patrick's on June 16.
Bob Worth and Margaret McCarthy to be married on June 30.
Dolores Hellmuth, on the birth of her great, great granddaughter.
Charlotte and Will Horne on the birth of their grandchild, Lucas Todd, on April 17.
Carol and Harold Gwatkin on the birth of their grandchild, on April 8.
Helen and Rob McPeak on the birth of Arthur Douglas on March 20.
Jack Abercrombie's mother turned 101 in early April.
Bill and Carolyn Perry celebrate their golden wedding anniversary on June 16.
Our graduates:
Claire Rosenberry of Montgomery High School, has already started at the Junior College with a possible major in nursing
Andrew Belding of Montgomery High School, starts at the Naval Academy in Annapolis
Ben McLain of Maria Carrillo High School starts at UC Irvine majoring in music performance.
Michelle Jasso will continue her studies in voice at the University of Oregon
Laura Stevenson graduates with a Master's in Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin and
continues her studies in linguistics
James Hoey is graduating at the Naval Academy, Annapolis
Deepest sympathy to:
Shelley Cochran on the death of her mother, Emma, on May 12
The family and friends of Priscilla Moore who died in early May
Comings and goings:
Bob Morrison is moving to 6241, 14th Street, Sacramento, 95831. His final Sunday here will
be Pentecost. We will miss him in the choir and congregation.
Norm Dake has moved to 19920 Granite Drive Sp 225, Bend, Oregon 97702. Norm was
serving on the vestry and supervised the construction of the swing set.
Richard and Diane Sexton have moved to West Palm Beach, Florida.
Welcome to:
Deanna Mattos and Dolores Devito of Oakmont
The following were welcomed as members on May 27
- Gil Gonzales
- Elsie Bassett
- Cathy & John Landon
- Emma Phillips
- Brian Borgfeldt & Karen Wilson
- Steven Merla
- Shirley Coombs & Michelle Renee
- Barbara Dohaney
- John Regan
- Mary Ellis
- Marcia Ronchetti
- Matt Forester
- Allen & Buffy Treat
- Marjorie MacAdam
Transfers:
- Allen and Buffy Treat from St. Michael's, Carmichael.
- Bea Biggs from Holy Nativity, San Rafael
- Elsie Bassett from Christ Church, Greenwich, CT
- Ted & Dana Unruh, Alexander & Austin to St. John's, Petaluma.
Blessings:
These young people are being confirmed:
- Michael Atkin
- Justin Overshiner
- Allyson Hunt
- Carol Papworth
- Sarah Johnson
- Ross Peters
- Holly Locke
- Sara Rosenberry
These adults are being received:
- Brian Borgfeldt
- Marcia Ronchetti
- John and Cathy Landon
- Emma Phillips
These adults are being confirmed:
- Robin Goerl
- Michelle Renee
- Karen Wilson
- Matt Forester is reaffirming his baptismal promises.
Recent surgeries:
- Peg Poole is home again with a new knee.
- Laurie Raess is home with a new hip.
- Bob Neyhart had surgery, May 21.
Farewell, Robert & Michelle
In July 1995, Carol Menke, the choir director, recruited Robert Young to be our organist.
When Carol left in January 1997, Robert became both organist and choir director. In time Robert wooed Michelle Jasso to sing soprano in the choir. She also produced the performance
of Wenceslas a couple of years ago. We have been much blessed by their musical talents and wish them great success in Eugene, Oregon where Michelle will continue her musical studies.
Robert's last Sunday will be June 24, but we will give thanks for his and the choir's musical ministry the previous week. We are in the process of calling a new choir director and organist.
Thanks:
- Neil McKay is stepping down as senior warden.
- Shirley Flournoy is stepping down and Sharon Traeger is taking over as President of the Daughters of the King.
- Katie Cercone and Holly Dranginis for singing two songs at the Mothers' Day service.
- Jean Henderson with Jane Hall persuaded a number of people to take part in the Human Race (was she the senior walker?) A total of $385 was collected for the Valley of the Moon Children's Home.
- Jeanne Anderson organized the United Thank Offering ingathering.
- Walt Boden installed the lighting of the highway sign.
- Charlie Buff prepared us for an emergency.
June at St. Patrick's
June 3, Bishop's Visit. The Bishop will celebrate and preach at both services as the chief pastor of the diocese. At 9:00 a.m., there will be a forum in the Parish Hall, when the Bishop
can tell us what is going on in the wider church and we can ask him questions. There will be envelopes in the bulletins for those who wish to make a donation to the Bishop's Discretionary
Fund. At the 10:00 a.m. service he will confirm, receive Roman Catholics (who are already confirmed) and reaffirm those who want to make a new start. After the second coffee hour, he
will meet for lunch with the vestry at Jean Derum's house.
Pentecost. We recall that the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles and they preached the
good news in different tongues. This day is the birthday of the Church. Some verses of the Gospel will be read in different languages. Red is the liturgical color of the Holy Spirit. Why not
wear red in honor of the Spirit.
June 10. At the 10:00 a.m. service we will recognize the teachers and children of our Sunday
school. The music at this contemporary service will be led by Raymond Comstock-Skipp (another "Brit"!). Raymond has been the music leader at a number of cursillos; he is a drama
teacher and "loves the bard." He will lead such popular songs as "morning has broken," "I, the
Lord of sea and sky," and "Shine, Jesus, shine." Cliff Kent will be the preacher. We will also
give Bibles to our graduating seniors. There will be a special coffee hour after the 10:00 a.m. service. Hugh arrived as Rector the first Sunday after Pentecost 10 years ago.
June 17.
Fathers' Day. We will give thanks for our music director and choir on the last Sunday of the season.
David's Story.
During the summer we will read stories about King David and the sermons will interpret the meaning of his life for us. David was the most beloved of the Israelite Kings and
Jesus was of David's line. On June 17, the story of David's anointing by the prophet Samuel, and June 24, the battle of David and Goliath. During the summer we will sing your favorite hymns.
June 24. Robert's last Sunday before he and Michelle leave for Oregon. We will have a pot luck lunch in the parish hall to say "goodbye." Please sign up to bring a dish to share.
July 1. We will celebrate Independence Day this weekend. Schuyler Lee Peterson, the great grandson of Camille Richardson, will be baptized at the 10:00 a.m. service.
Sunday School News
On June 10th we will celebrate the end of the year for Sunday school classes. Many thanks to our terrific students and especially to the many hours of teaching from:
- Greta MacLeod
- Lori Hunt
- Vashti Papworth
- Joan Contreras
- Shirley Flournoy
- Robin Goerl
- Margaret Merchat
- Eva Atkin
- Cindy Locke
- Barbara Rosenberry
- Ann Peters
Assistants:
- Marjorie MacLeod
- Julie Lorenc
- Janet Fisher
- Dee Keller
A special thank you to Greta for teaching for the entire year and bringing in so many new children to our program. Another thank you to Shirley Flournoy who has taught for many years
yet always answers my call for one more time!
We had many special Sundays due to the creative energy of Dorothy Pierce and Sharon
Traeger. Thank you for the exciting Sunday mornings we spent with you.
Finally, our Christmas pageant was, in my opinion, the best ever at St. Patrick's Church thanks
to the efforts of Janet Fisher, Julie Lorenc and Dee Keller.
This has been a terrific year thanks to the hours of commitment of the people I have mentioned.
Thank you on behalf of the children of St. Patrick's.
--Bonney Philbin
Emergency Preparedness
"This is just a test!" With these words, Fr. Hugh Stevenson introduced our emergency preparedness plans to the congregation at the 10 o'clock service on Sunday, May 20.
Although it is highly unlikely that we may need to be concerned about an earthquake during a service at St. Patrick's, it is also wise to remember that a dangerous earthquake or fire can
occur at any time even when we least expect it.
Remember that in an earthquake, our first action must be to remain calm, protect our heads
and remain in place until the earth motion has subsided. Before leaving the building, check to see if there is anyone who will need assistance. Then leave the building in an orderly way
through the nearest exit if it is safe to do so.
Once outside, avoid dangerous passageways and any downed power lines along our driveway
and move to the second parking area at the front of the church. Fire fighters will need access to the fire hydrant at the end of the parking area nearest the church.
Please stay in the parking area until a designated person determines that it is safe to gather any children who are safely outside the Education Center. Do not attempt to make any phone calls.
Leave phone lines open for emergency services. Please remain at the church until we are told that it is safe to drive on the highway. It may be damaged or closed by debris. It is also
important to allow emergency vehicles unencumbered use of the highway immediately following a severe quake.
The Vestry has given permission to the Fire Department and the American Red Cross to use
our facilities as an emergency evacuation center for the Kenwood area if needed. If you are able, you may wish to help at such a center following a disaster in the Valley of the Moon.
--Charlie Buff
ECW Luncheon
Ladies, grab your hats….and come to the ECW luncheon on Tuesday, June 12. It will be official "Hat Day" and if you have a special story to go with the hat, please, share it. The usual
fine luncheon follows, complete with salads and desserts. Please sign up in the Parish Hall if you're coming.
--Sandra Hammond
(833-2450)
New Daughters of the King
St. Hilda's Chapter of the Daughters of the King welcomes Jane Hall and Charlotte Horn as candidates for membership. After three months study and preparation they will reaffirm their
confirmation promises and undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating a Rule of Prayer and a Rule of Service. The candidates pledge themselves to a life-long program of prayer, service and
evangelism dedicated to the spread of Christ's kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of the parish.
Daughters of the King is a national order founded by Mrs. Margaret J. Franklin in 1 885. Mrs. Franklin taught a Bible Class named Daughters of the King in Holy Sepulcher Church (now
Church of the Resurrection), New York City. The Order was founded on Easter Even, April 4,1885.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God" (Philippians 4:6). If you have a prayer request please phone the
church office 833-4228 and the Daughters of the King will pray for your request.
--Sharon Traeger
(537-8661)
Boutique Workshop
It is spring-cleaning time. So don't forget to put aside any quality items for the Silent Auction. Marilyn Schlangen at 833-5011 and Kathryn Gary will pick-up, polish, launder, iron or
whatever to prepare the items for the auction. Both ladies have forms to fill out for income tax purposes.
The workshops are in full swing. They meet on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month in the common Room. We are looking for volunteers to sew and appliqué tea towels, and to do all
sorts or fun jobs. If you would like to join us please do or if you would like to have a project to do at home please call me.
--Johanna Knight
(539-2622)
Quilting Group
The next meeting of the St. Patrick's Quilters will be on Monday, June 11, at 1:30 p.m. in the Common Room. Four people attended our first meeting. We agreed to devote the next
meeting to beginners, but all are welcome. Please come and show us what you are working on. We need experienced quilters to inspire the rest of us and show us the way.
On June 11 we will cut and sew a simple Nine-Patch. Please bring cutting boards, rotary cutters, and a half-yard of cotton material. We will trade some of our material with another
person or you can bring two half yards of your own. You will also need a sewing machine but I think we can share them if two or three can bring theirs. Please let me know if you can bring
yours. If you don't have all this equipment please come anyway. We will share and show you how to use it.
If you are interested in joining this group but can't come to this meeting please call me and let me know. Also if you have any questions please call. Looking forward to seeing all you quilters
on June 11!
--Judy Buff (539-2667)
John Bogart Library
There are six great new books in the library this month.
For you who enjoyed the Amish series by Beverly Lewis, we have her new novel, The Postcard.
From the best seller lists there is a fine book by Bruce Feiler, Walking the Bible. A Journey by Land through the Five Books of Moses. This is part adventure story, part archaeological
exploration, part spiritual exploration. It covers Feiler' s 10,000-mile journey tracing the five books of Moses through the desert.
Also a best seller was Ethics for the New Millennium by the Dalai Lama. Exiled from his country at sixteen, a refugee in India since, he tells of his extraordinary life, as he calls for a
spiritual and ethical revolution.
Two gifts to the library are Listening to your Life. Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner
and A Year of Days with the Book of Common Prayer by Bishop Edmond Lee Browning.
Also a gift is Awakening the Buddha Within. Eight Steps to Enlightenment. Tibetan Wisdom
for the Western World, by Lama Surya Das. This will be a valuable addition to our comparative religion section. Many thanks to those who left these books in the library.
For you who have asked me about the explanation of the arrangement of the library, it has been moved from the wall by the window to the side of the new bookcase facing the new books shelf.
--Ronnie Leonard
Jump Start at Sierra Youth Center
This is now in the fifth week of an 8-week course, focusing on making right decisions, goal setting and community responsibility. Eight young teenagers from Sierra Youth Center at Los
Guilicos are meeting weekly with their mentors
and facilitators. Graduation will be May 31st, and another 8-week Jump Start course is
scheduled to start June 14th for 10 young residents at Sierra Youth Center.
The program has been successful in teaching the sierra youth to "think before they act". The
relationship with the adult mentors has been building. One difficulty has been recruiting mentors. Anyone who is interested in considering volunteering as a mentor (filling an important
need) should call me.
--Paul Offill
(537-7058)
MUY GRANDE FIESTA
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EL GATO IS
OUT OF THE BAG!
Come and celebrate the Stevenson’s
10th Anniversary at St. Patrick’s
June 10, 2001
3:30 p.m. ? 6:00 p.m.
The Courtyard at St. Patrick’s
Food, Music, Entertainment
Come early and stay late
MUCHO COLORES!!!
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