June 2009 Vol. 11 No. 6 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 June 2009 [Vol. 11 No. 6]

Imagination Turning Points June Events Around St. Patrick's

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IMAGINATION

Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus who is a leader of the Jews and highly educated. He says, "Unless you are born again you cannot enter God's kingdom." Nicodemus takes him literally and is confused; "How can one be born again?" he asks. But Jesus is speaking metaphorically and Nicodemus needs to use a little imagination to see what he means.

When Jesus meets the woman at the well in Samaria, he offers her "living water." But she takes him literally and points out that he does not have a bucket and the well is deep. The woman needs to use her imagination.

After feeding the multitude, Jesus promises his disciples, "bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Taking him literally, they ask, "Give us this bread always."

A little later, Jesus explains that he himself is the living bread. The literal minded Jews dispute among themselves, "how can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

After healing the man who was born blind, Jesus says (paradoxically), "I came that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." The Pharisees take him literally and question, "Surely we are not blind are we?"

There is discussion throughout John's Gospel about those who see and those who do not get it. The climax is on Easter evening when the Risen Lord appears to his disciples and they see him. What they see is that Jesus, who was crucified, has risen from the dead. Thomas who was not there is another literalist. "Unless I see the wounds of the cross," he says, "I will not believe." The following Sunday, the Lord appears to him and he confesses, "My Lord and my God!" For seeing is believing.

I suspect that several of the events John describes in his Gospel actually happened. But John does not want us to make the mistake of taking them literally; he wants to point us in the direction of the inner meaning. Like his audiences in the Gospel, we shall need to use our imaginations.

John explains his reason for writing, "These signs are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah." If you had lived in those days (and if you were a literalist) when you looked at Jesus you would have seen a human being like yourself. There was nothing to prove to you that he was otherwise. What you needed to do was open your eyes and use your imagination. Then you would have seen through this man to the divine one beyond.

Often we say the creed (about the virgin birth and the resurrection and other unlikely things) with literal thinking questioning in our heads whether these things actually happened. But it's a metaphor!

Imagination is hard work; it requires our effort. We need to let go our critical thinks, our left-brains. We need to surrender our judgments and open up to the truth that stares us in the face. Then, like the witnesses of the Resurrection, may the words of scripture come alive and our hearts burn within us and may we see Jesus for who he really is, the Son of God.

Hugh Stevenson

TURNING POINTS

All find a welcome:
Timmy Wiedeman was here on May 17, from Oakmont Gardens.

For this, much thanks:
Eric Duff who took the services on May 3 and George Hunt on May 10.
Mary Banks is retiring as vestry clerk ('05-'09). Nancy Dill is our new clerk.
To Dorothy Pierce for offering a water-color workshop on April 25, "for the Beauty of the Earth." Participants donated nearly $500.
The youth group and diners who raised around $900 at the pancake breakfast for the Mission to Mexico.
Betsy and Rich Randolph for coordinating the Book and Bake fundraiser on May 31.
Dorothy Pierce and Bill Kelly for teaching the adult education course on Islam.
Barbara and George Hunt for organizing the parish outing to My Fair Lady in Napa (8/9).
Minerva Haddad for organizing the diverse tongues to read the story of the first Pentecost.

Italian	Robert Young
Spanish	Xavier Cabrillo
French	Jackie Senter
Hawaiian	Keith Olsen
Welsh	Shirley Pippin
Afrikaans	Ingo Rencken
Zulu	Kerin McTaggart
Arabic	Minerva Haddad
Latin	Hugh Stevenson
Greek	Hugh Stevenson
English	Marcia Ronchetti

Sandra Hammond & JC Speight who scheduled coffee makers after the last service for the last 12 months. We are looking for new schedulers.

Farewell to:
Kay McHugh is moving closer to family in Elk Grove.

We ask God's protection of
those serving in the military including:
Ian Papworth (Marines), Frederic Cazel, and Scott Alderson (who has joined the Air Force).

We will exalt you, O God, our King:
The book that Jill Hunting has been working on for a number of years is now in bookshops. Finding Pete: Rediscovering the Brother I Lost in Vietnam is a "beautifully written history-of loss, love and redemption." Copies available from her website www.jillhunting.com use discount code W301.

May they know God's healing power:

Roberta Rives	Carolyn Perry
Linda Belding	Gordon Gary
Mark Kirkland	The Hall family
Barbara Fry

Blessings on:
The participants in the Mission to Mexico from St Patrick's and Church of the Incarnation including:

Evan MacLeod	Carol Papworth
Christian Rencken	Elizabeth Peters
Ingo Rencken

Carol Papworth attended Vocare at Grace Church St Helena in April.
Anne Campbell Rolston was baptized at Pentecost.

May they rest in peace:
Harriett Thompson, died on April 22 in Truckee, her memorial was on June 27.
Viola Hess had her memorial service on April 25.

Deepest sympathy:
To Judy & Charlie Buff on the death of Judy's brother in law, Paul Fisk (4/14).
Sandy Eddy Keith on the death of her father, Herb Austin (4/17).
Penny Mackenzie on the death of her husband Glenn (4/21). His service was on May 21.

JUNE EVENTS

SUNDAY SCHOOL APPRECIATION
On June 7 at the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist, we will recognize Raymond Skipp and our Sunday school children. We will commission those going on the Mission to Mexico.

CHOIR FINALE
The choir's final Sunday before the summer will be June 14. Rehearsals begin August 26. The choir will sing for the first time in the fall on September 13.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES
Bishop Barry Beisner will be here on September 20 for his Visitation and Confirmation. The Bishop will also "lay hands on" confirmation candidates, those who wish to be received in the Episcopal Church and those who wish to reaffirm their baptismal promises. There will be classes for both adults and teenagers on Sunday mornings between the services, 9:00-9:50, beginning June 21. If you are interested call the Rector at 833-4228.

RUMMAGE SALE
The Outreach will hold a Rummage Sale Saturday, July 25 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Proceeds will be divided between St. Patrick's and St. Andrew's, Monte Rio. Items for sale should be in sellable condition but NO large furniture and appliances nor clothes. Donations may be left in the Youth Room in the Parish Hall during Office Hours beginning July 7. A dumpster will be provided for non-sellable items that people in the community may deposit July 24 to July 27. Any volunteer help will be appreciated during those dates. Please contact Barbara Fry (538-2164) or Gretchen Scott (933-8414).

SING-ALONG
Bud and Sue Crystal have invited us to a summer sing-along and potluck supper at their house on July 18. We will be singing old time songs that we used to know and still love. There will be a sign-up sheet, but mark your calendar now. Parking is limited so we'll need to car pool.

ST JOHN'S PETALUMA
From the Bishop: "Today, May 20, 2009 the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California has announced a settlement agreement with a group calling itself "St. John's Anglican" church, which has occupied the parish buildings at 40 Fifth Street in Petaluma, CA, since December 2006.

The agreement follows peaceful and respectful settlement discussions. Under the agreement, property will be returned to St. John's Episcopal Church.

Further details of this settlement and the re-opening of St. John's Episcopal Church will be made available through diocesan communications. The parish will return to the church building on or before July 1, 2009. Until then, St. John's Episcopal Church continues to worship on Sunday evenings as the guests of Elim Lutheran Church in Petaluma."

On Wednesday, July 1, clergy from our Deanery are planning to attend the 1st service in the church at 9:30 a.m. I am proposing to cancel the midweek Eucharist at St Patrick's. Would others like to join me at St John's Episcopal Church that morning?
Hugh Stevenson

CAMP NOEL PORTER
We have a new camp director and vicar of St. Nicholas Episcopal Mission, Tahoe City (to succeed Len Shaheen). She is The Rev. Jenni Liem from Denver, Colorado. She arrived mid-May.

Camps begin June 21. CNP is located in beautiful Tahoe City. All are welcome. The counselors and staff lead games and arts and crafts activities. There is daily worship service and discussion led by a member of the clergy. Days end with Campfire and "Gone the Sun." The food is fantastic. Web site: campnoelporter.com. Some "camperships" are available from St Patrick's.

AROUND ST PATRICK'S

SABBATH
Marcia wears at least two hats. On weekdays, she is "Parish Sec"; on Sundays she is a worshipping member of the congregation. Please do not refer parish business to her on her Sabbath. You can contact her at 833-4228 (line 2) or by email parishsec@cds1.net. Please note that email to info@stpatskenwoood.org only goes to the Rector's inbox.

KITCHEN DOOR
The kitchen door has been "re-keyed." Now it doesn't need a special key; the regular church key will unlock it. Alternatively you can access the kitchen by going through the parish hall.

OUTREACH GIVING
The Outreach Committee met in both February and May. With an awareness that local and distant charities are experiencing difficulties in these stressful economic times, the committee chose to emphasize giving to local needs without forgetting some of those charities we have long supported globally.

The following organizations received funds in February and May:

Redwood Food Bank in Santa Rosa	$1,500
Meals on Wheels in Sonoma	$300
FISH in Santa Rosa	$300
Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS)	$1,000
Episcopal Relief and Development in the Middle East	$300
Doctors Without Borders	$500

Sonoma Overnight Support
In May we voted to help SOS defray a $14,000 shortfall in the operation of The Haven, a family-sized home constructed by SOS that opened in February 2008 for homeless individuals and families. The house has a capacity for nine people and a house manager. The day-to-day activities of the house are carefully monitored by a board of directors and an executive director who is available 24/7 to address client issues. The success stories at The Haven in just a year of operation are inspiring.

DEWITT JONES
Would anyone like to donate the movie, Celebrate What's Right With the World to St. Patrick's? It's expensive, $347.50! We viewed it at CREDO and it makes profound points. It's by Dewitt Jones who is a photographer with National Geographic.

SWINE FLU PRAYER
The Church of England has published a number of prayers for those affected by the virus including the following: May our Lord Jesus Christ, who healed the sick and brought comfort to those in need, by his risen presence be with all who have contracted this virus, take from them all that harms and hinders them, and fill them with his healing and his peace. Amen.

AS ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR ENDS …
we offer a special thank you to teachers and parents.
One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, how big my house was, or what kind of car I drove. But the world may be a little better, because I was important in the life of a child.
-Forest E. Witcraft

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots, the other is wings.
- Rev. Henry Ward Beecher