July 2004 Vol. 6 No. 7 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: Herc Roland, 538-3134

Table of Contents for July 2004 [Vol. 6 No. 7]

Mission to Mexico Summer Worship Parish Business Turning Points Fall Service Schedule Daughters of the King ECW September Luncheon Endowment Fund Committee

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Mission to Mexico

In mid-June, 13 youth group members and 4 adults drove down to Tijuana, Mexico, to build a house under the auspices of Amor Ministries. We finished our house and returned safely.

Senora Flores lives with her daughter-in-law and 2 grandsons in a shed about 6 feet by 10 feet, with an earthen floor and plywood roof in a dusty yard. At first we did not realize that it was their home because much of it was taken up by sacks of cement and other building supplies. Her son and his cousin had been murdered at the beginning of the year. Her daughter-in-law brings in a little income selling tamales. The streets around her home are unpaved and the walls are covered with graffiti.

Amor provided us with Adam, a student from Kansas City, who steered us during the building. There were upwards of 600 volunteers camping in a dusty quarry, working on different projects. Plumbing was basic. One youth leader in the men’s shower suggested that we were part of an episode of “Survivor.”

We accomplished much more than the building of the house. This was a life-changing experience for all of us. We agreed that we had gained as much, or more, as Senora Flores. I asked each person to write what this had meant for them. They said that they could no longer take for granted the comforts of everyday life when so many people are impoverished. In working and living together, we formed a community in which we found ourselves to be valued and empowered; we belonged together. Here are some of their comments:

“Whenever we work together, we can accomplish many things.”
“I was happy to see how much the family appreciated the house and the gifts we gave them.”
“I have always been ashamed of how, in the U.S., people with so many riches, while in places like Tijuana, people are overwhelmed by a simple a gift as a new soccer ball."
One participant learned to distinguish between what is convenient and what is necessary for life.
When asked where is God in all of this, one person said, “God is in Senora Flores,” who, in the midst of her grief for her son, displayed immense dignity and grace.

For myself, I realized that this was a pilgrimage and the time we spent together was sacred. I came to respect the wisdom, maturity and compassion of the youth in our church. Many people made this project happen; to them, we are deeply grateful—but especially to Ann Peters, our leader and our “mother”!

Hugh Stevenson

Summer Worship

WHO IS THIS MAN? AND WHAT’S HE SO HAPPY ABOUT?
His name is Samuel Scheidt and he’s beaming because his #1 advocate in Sonoma County (perhaps in the world), our very own organist, Robert Young, is going to present a “postlude recital” of his music on Sunday, July 18. You may remember that the postlude recital (Mr. Young’s own invention!) is a short program immediately following the morning service. The postlude of the service is the first piece in the recital! It will be followed by a coffee time in the parish hall hosted by the ladies and gentlemen of the choir. This would be a wonderful opportunity to bring a neighbor or friend to St. Patrick’s.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
At both services on July 18, we will introduce and welcome those who are new to St Patrick’s. Have you started attending St. Patrick’s recently? Would you like to be welcomed as a member of this congregation? We will need existing members to sponsor and introduce new members; can you help us? Call the parish office (833-4228)

SUMMER DRESS
During the hot days of summer, please dress comfortably, especially if you will be in the sanctuary, which gets hotter than the rest of the church. We hope that this will be the last summer without air-conditioning!

COFFEE MAKERS
We continue to have “Coffee Hours” after each service. Please watch the sign up sheets in the parish hall. If there is a vacancy, will you volunteer?

SUMMER SERMONS
From July 11, for six weeks, there will be a course of sermons on Abraham. He survived great difficulties. He set out from his home in Ur to establish a new base in a strange land. He and Sarah were childless, but they were the parents of a great nation. He was willing to sacrifice his only child to obey God.

SUMMER HYMNS
During the summer, we choose favorite hymns that are well known. Please make a list of your 10 (or 20) favorite hymns and send it to the Rector for use in future years.

DEDICATION ANNIVERSARY
Our church building was dedicated on a hot summer’s evening in August 1982. We will remember that date and give thanks for all who built our church at our services on August 22.

JAZZ MASS
On September 5, at the 9:30 service, Robert Young and the Eldorado Syncopators will kick-off the fall season.

Parish Business

In addition we are moving along in the recruitment of a new assistant for St Patrick’s whose prime responsible will be to work with the youth of our parish.

• We hope to have a dance and supper during the summer, a “fun” social event.
• Vic Howard organized Choral Evensong, directed by Carol Menke on June 13, with a supper to follow. About 50 people attended.
• We are working on a year-round Stewardship statement which the vestry will sign and offer to the congregation for your adoption.
• We are planning to relocate the parish offices to the Education Center and convert the existing offices into a nursery and a classroom close to the church. It is a disadvantage having the assistant’s office so far from the hub of operations.
• We agreed to extend Pam’s hours to 30 hours a week as parish administrator.
• Hugh will be away September 13 to October 29 for the first part of his 3-month sabbatical. We are working to cover the bases while he is gone.
• Thanks to John Morelli, we have an advertisement in the Oakmont News and the Kenwood Press.

CAPITAL FUNDS DRIVE
A letter signed by the vestry and a pledge card went out in the mail in mid-June. Please return yours as early as possible. Our goal is to raise $50,000 which we will use for capital expenses: to air-condition the church, to fix the leaks in the roof above the offices and sacristy, to repair the driveways and parking lots. If you have questions about this drive, please talk to the Rector or a vestry member.

GRAND PIANO
At the May Vestry meeting, we agreed that it was time to make room for a “concert-quality” grand piano to enhance both our worship and our music program. We authorized Robert, our resident musician, to solicit one. Do you have a piano that is looking for a new home? Robert writes:

Dear parishioners, in keeping with the goal of continuing our musical outreach in the greater Kenwood community, the vestry has given their OK for the acquisition of a concert-quality piano. The outright donation (tax deductible, of course) of an instrument would be the easiest course of action. A memorial gift earmarked for the piano fund is another way to help us reach this goal. And your attendance at our fledgling concert series is also very important, even more so if you bring a friend or neighbor!

By “concert quality” instrument we mean a grand piano of good make and in good condition both mechanically and cosmetically. Pianos are categorized by their size, and we are looking for a 7 or 8 foot model, although smaller and larger instruments can be considered.

So, if you have such an instrument in your house, or know of someone who does, please leave a message for me at the church office, 833-4228.
Robert Young.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Carolee Fagent has agreed to chair the 2004 VBS. It will take place August 2- 6. We will need lots of helpers to teach classes, do arts and crafts, work in the kitchen etc. The first meeting was on June 23. More will be forthcoming. Carolee was a teacher for a number of years.

Turning Points

Reunion:
On June 6, Janet and Charles Johnson returned to visit us from Sequim WA and Don and Pat Jones from Norwell, Mass.

For this, much thanks:
Bob Fry for leading the Health and Wellness ministry.
Hank McLain for re-attaching the kneeler benches with new needlepoint.
Ann Peters for leading the Mission to Mexico, for all the support we have received from parents and friends, and for the dedication of the youth of St Patrick’s.
Carol Lee Fagent who has taught VBS for several years, agreed to chair it this year.

Relocation:
Doris Campbell has moved to The Lodge at Paulin Creek, 2375 Range Avenue, Santa Rosa 95403. (Telephone: 546-0136). This is just behind Snoopy’s ice rink on Steele Lane.
Doris welcomes visitors.
Dicksie Tamanaha has moved to 2124 Humboldt St, Santa Rosa, 95404

We ask God’s protection of:
those serving in the military overseas
Frank Papworth
Adam Derum
Rick Bolen
Ryan Gnecco
Benjamin Borger
Mike Bennett
And those serving in the foreign service.

We will exalt you, O God, our King:
Congratulation to Robert Young on his engagement to Jeanette Isenberg

May they know God’s healing power:
Linda Belding
Lolita Seguin
Hertha Brown
Phyllis Arack
Joan Ingold
Henry Williams
Lincoln McLain
Jean Elliott
For Natalie, daughter of Cathy Landon
For Karen, friend of Marge Ruehrdanz

Blessings on:
Katie Baird and Tim Dolan, married on May 22
Anna Nidecker and John Coleman, married on June 19
Gordon Rogers and Bernice O’Toole, married on June 26

Deepest sympathy:
For Vernon, father of Charlotte Horne who died Friday, May 21

NEXT GRAPEVINE
There is no August Grapevine. The next Grapevine will be the September edition, published at the end of August 2004. It will include details of the start up of parish activities after the summer recess. Please submit your articles by August 15, 2004.

Fall Service Schedule

A year ago we decided to try the 3-service schedule in the hope that the new 9:00 a.m. service would attract families with children, and that it would grow. We planned that Sunday school would take place between the end of the 9:00 a.m. service and the 10:30 service so that teachers (and children) would be able to attend worship. These expectations have not been realized. Some have said that the 9:00 a.m. service is too early for families with children to get ready.

One of the “rules” of church growth is that if you add a service, the overall attendance will grow. However, over this past year attendance at the 8:00 a.m. service has declined from a 12-month average of 49 to 44, and the two later services combined, from 143 to 135. The new 9:00 a.m. service averages about 30 people. Various factors may account for this overall reduction in attendance, including the loss of people who used to attend every week.

What have we gained? There is now a core group which attends the 9:00 a.m. service every week, including four new households. Some attend more often at this service. It is beginning to have its own identity. People who attend say they like the music, which is “singable”, the informality, the brevity of the service, the intimacy when we are gathered around God’s altar. While the majority of attenders are adults, we are attracting a few younger families.

Margaret Bock convened a task force, which came up with a number of recommendations which we need to address. Music is an important factor.

Some members prefer the relatively formal 10:30 a.m. service. There is a consistent liturgy each week. The choir sings and attenders say they enjoy the music. However, one disadvantage of this service is that the time is less convenient for Spring Lakers than the original 10:00 a.m. service, and we may well see a drop from that location.

One of the unexpected surprises has been the development of the adult education class at 9:40. Attendance has been upwards of 40, a with a mingling of people from both 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services. We have discussed a number of topics, including a Bible study (“Buckets R Us”), Da Vinci Code, Gnostic literature, and there is more to come.

In order to overcome the fragmentation of the congregation as a result of the three services, we have held “All-parish worship” once a quarter, combined with a parish meeting or a breakfast. This month there is Evensong and Supper, and during the summer we plan to hold a supper/dance to bring people together.

From all of the above, it would appear that we are not in a position to make a final decision on a service schedule at this time. For this reason, with the full support of the Vestry, I have decided to continue with the new 3-service schedule for another year. Then we will be in a better position to review the results.

Hugh Stevenson

Daughters of the King

“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace…O Divine master grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console…” St. Francis of Assisi.

Sharon Traeger

ECW SEPTEMBER LUNCHEON

The author’s anger about women being excluded from the national conversation about the efforts of emergency personnel and, more importantly, their decision to focus that anger to create positive change, led to an exciting and entirely unexpected series of events that changed the lives of the authors, the women rescue workers they interviewed, and the many people who came into contact with them over the course of the project.

On their return to California, Mary who is a local news journalist and Susan a retired firefighter/ EMT, rallied the people of Sonoma County to fund an all-expense-paid week of rest and recognition for the 30 female rescue workers featured in the book. With the help of more than 100 volunteers, they not only raised the funds necessary for a first-class trip to the wine country last November, but also collected over $40,000 to seed a “Women at Ground Zero Scholarship Fund” at Santa Rosa JC for students enrolled in police, fire, and paramedic academies.

This program will begin at 11:00 am followed by our gourmet, potluck salad and dessert luncheon after which Mary will sign copies of the book which will be available for purchase that day. All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the SRJC Scholarship Fund. Please plan to bring a friend or new member of St. Patrick’s to this special luncheon. A sign-up sheet will appear in the Parish Hall on Sunday, August 29. As you know, table seating is limited. So mark September NOW and look for further announcements in the Sunday bulletin and the September Grapevine.

ENDOWMENT FUND COMMITTEE

Phil Holm