November 2004 Vol. 6 No. 10 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 November 2004 [Vol. 6 No. 9]

A Message From Father Ed Howell Stewardship at St. Patrick's Outreach Items November Events Bits And Pieces Turning Points

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A MESSAGE FROM FROM FATHER ED HOWELL

Dear St. Patrick's Parishioners,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for rich experience of being your substitute priest for a few weeks! It was actually a very full few weeks, considering the Annual Pledge Campaign, the restart of the Sunday School, the Unique Boutique, the Town Hall Meeting, Healing Sunday, Blessing of the Animals, planning for John Leech's ordination, and the several stilulation Wednesday conservations we had about the Prayer Book. Sadly this time also included the funerals of Phyllis Arack and Rosalie Beynon.

My thanks to Fr. Hugh for having made such complete plans fro the worship while he was away. That preparation, and the faithfullness of all the lay ministers, made the Sunday Services easy as well as enjoyable. Thanks also to Pam Bledsoe for her attentive secretarial ministry; the Church office never missed a beat, even during this busy time.

If I am sounding unusually nostalgic over a few weeks, it is because we won't be seeing so much of each other over the coming months. I have accepted an invitation to be the Priest-in-Charge at Church of the Ascension in Vallejo, beginning right after the Diocesan Convention. My ministry with them will be half-time, as they look to some future growth. So, say a prayer for Ascension along with St. Patrick's as our adventures continue to unfold, God willing. In Christ, Ed Howell.

STEWARDSHIP AT ST. PATRICK'S

This year we are planning to develop a program of Year Round Stewardship which offers each of us an opportunity to improve our relationship with God through various activities. YOUR thoughts on this very broad subject are welcome; please call, write, or talk to our Clergy or Vestry anytime you have suggestions or questions.

The Episcopal Church website offers the following about year round stewardship:

Ordinary Stewardship is the regular practice of returning to God a portion of all that God has given us. (the Canvass)

Extraordinary Stewardship involves the special occasions that arise in the life of Christian communities that call us to accept increased risk and experiment with sacrificial giving. (the Campaign)

Legacy Stewardship is the way in which we address the matter of disposing of the accumulations of our lifetime. (Bequests)

Giving can seem like a sacrifice at first but it has a peculiar habit of turning into a precious gift to yourself.

Today's impossibilities are tomorrow's miracles.

OUTREACH ITEMS

The next meeting of the Outreach Committee is Wednesday, November 3 at 10:00 a.m. The committee will be recommending disbursements for our outreach program for 4th quarter. If you have ideas of whom we should support, please submit a grant request to Bill McDonald.

Food Basket

Please remember to bring one item of food (canned or dried food) each week for the food basket in the church entrance. After Sunday services, a team of volunteers delivers the food to F.I.S.H. in Santa Rosa. November 23 is the Harvest Ingathering when we bless the food at the altar.

Festival of Lights

This beautiful evening is Saturday, November 27 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wineries in our valley will be decorated for the holiday season, and will offer wine, food, and entertainment. Tickets are available at area wineries; proceeds assist the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program

This holiday season the "Neighbor-to-Neighbor program" will once again distribute Christmas baskets. Young people and adults from our congregation help assemble food parcels at Star of the Valley, White Oak Drive, in Oakmont. The baskets are then distributed on the days before Christmas. If you are able to help, please call Bill McDonald at 538-5571.

Outreach Opportunity - help feed the homeless

We are looking for two people to help with the Sonoma Brown Bag Lunch Program. On the 3rd Monday of each month, we help make "brown bag lunches" from 9:15 to 11:00 a.m. at St. Leo's Catholic Church, Agua Caliente Road (off of Arnold Drive) in Boyes Hot Springs. Please call Lori Raess at 539-8391 if you are able to help.

JOHN BOGART LIBRARY

There are three new books in the library this month. The first is the eighth book in the Mitford series by Jan Karon, Shepherds Abiding. Although many of the familiar characters are in this book it seems to lack the depth of the earlier books. Nonetheless, fans of Mitford will find it a pleasant read.

Those of you who knew and loved Camille Richardson will appreciate the book given to St. Patrick's by her family, A Short Story of a Long Life. Camille dictated the book to her granddaughter, Katie, and it contains many wonderful pictures and tales of Santa Rosa in the early years. Remember, Camille lived to be 96, lived in this area all her life, and had many interesting tales to tell.

The third book is The Reformation. A History of European Civilization from Wyclif to Calvin: 1300-1564. This is the sixth volume in the monumental history written by Will Durant. It is easier to read than our other volume on the Reformation. It is a gift from Marge Ruehrdanz and a fine addition to our library.

We need your help in locating two books from the biography section: St. Patrick of Ireland. A Biography by Philip Freeman. We are also looking for the book St. Augustine by Garry Wills. These books have been missing for some time. Please check your bookshelves and if you have them, let us know so we can update our records. Thank you.

NOVEMBER EVENTS

• The Bishop will be at St. Patrick's on November 6 to ordain John Leech a Deacon. The service is at 11:00 a.m.
• Immediately following the Ordination service the women of the St. Patrick's will host a reception honoring John. All those interested in making sandwiches & cookies please contact Barbara Fry at 538-2164.

• The Diocesan Convention will be held in Redding on November 14 and 15. Our delegates are Bob and Marge Ruehrdanz, Bette Leedom, Carol Papworth, and Hugh & Angela Stevenson.
• During convention, on November 14, at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Cliff Kent will celebrate Morning Prayer & Holy Eucharist. At 9:00 a.m. he will celebrate the usual contemporary service.

• On November 21, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we will have an ingathering of dried and canned food which will be distributed through F.I.S.H. Please bring non-perishable items and place them in the wagons or boxes in the church entrance. The food will be brought forward and offered at the altar in thanksgiving for all the food that God gives us.
• On Wednesday evening, November 24, at 7:00 p.m., there will be a joint Thanksgiving service with Kenwood Community Church here at St. Patrick's. "Come ye thankful people come!"

• LIBER unUSUALIS will be performing at St. Patrick's on Monday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m. This Boston based trio of young musicians has been hailed by the Boston Globe as "deeply moving" and recognized internationally for their interpretation and performance of medieval music. Carolann Buff, daughter of Charlie and Judy Buff, is a member of the group and is very excited to be singing at her hometown church. Their program is "a cappella" music from 14th century Italy and is titled "In the Company of Mars: Johannes Ciconia and the Italian Trecento". A $10.00 donation for the concert is encouraged. CDs are for sale now and more will be available at the concert. You may visit their website at www.liberunusualis.com and read the bios of these young artists.

• On November 27, the wineries in our valley will host the Festival of Lights. Wineries are decorated for the holiday season and from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. wine, food, and entertainment are offered. Tickets are available at individual wineries. It is a beautiful event - hope to see you there.

• The season of Advent begins on November 28. On four Sundays we look forward to the coming of the Son of Man. This is a season of both expectation and penitence; we are exhorted to prepare our hearts to receive our Lord. The liturgical color is purple and we use Prayer B for the Eucharist Rite II.
• On Sunday, November 28, we will bless the Advent Wreath at the 9:00 a.m. service and light the first candle.

BITS AND PIECES

So many people contributed to the success of the 2004 Boutique. Thanks to those who set up and cleaned up, to the stichers and cooks, to the artists and plant growers, to the donors of items for the silent auction and the raffle, for the traffic directors and the cashiers, to the cookie bakers and the tea servers, and to everyone who made the Boutique a great occasion. Thanks especially to the Boutique chairwoman Elayne Roland.

ECW December Meeting

Women of St. Patrick's - please mark your calendars for Saturday, December 12, the day of our festive Christmas luncheon at 11:00 o'clock. We'll have a short business meeting and then a delightful music program. Please sign up to bring either a salad or a dessert and please join us for some holiday cheer! Nina Pohl, Program Chairman

Trinity "High Street" Event

The women of Trinity Church Sonoma invite St. Patrick's congregation to attend their "High Street" event, somewhat similar to our Boutique. It is on Sunday, November 21 from 11 to 2. Lunch is served for $7.00 and there are four different shops selling Baked Goods, Jams and Preserves, and Christmas items. Trinity Church is at 275 East Spain Street, Sonoma.

Vestry Nominations

Would you like to be a member of the Vestry? Do you have a candidate that you would like considered? We are looking for three vestry candidates. The election takes place at the Annual Meeting on January 17, 2005. The nominating committee is made up of the out-going vestry members: George Thoresen, Chuck Chapman, and Barbara Fry. Please give them your input.

Daughters of the King

Admission of new members is November 7 at the 10:30 service. Coffee hour hosted by the Daughters. Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 11 from 2 to 6 p.m. We are having a workshop on Centering Prayer given by Mary English from St. Gregory of Nyssea of San Francisco.

Bishop's Blend Coffee

Order your Christmas supply of Bishop's Blend Coffee on Sunday, November 7. We will be taking orders after each service in the Parish Hall. All profits go to the Episcopal Relief and Development program. The cost is $9.00 for a 12 oz bag, either ground or whole bean; regular coffee or cinnamon spice is available. For more information call Barbara Fry on 538-2164.

Forward Day-By-Day

Bible study notes for November, December, and January are in the rack in the church entrance. They are the church's gift to members of our congregation; one per household please.

TURNING POINTS

• A successful Unique Boutique
• To all who gave reports at the Town Hall meeting
• The beginning of Sunday School.

• Ashley Wharton
• Suzanna Forest
• Sandy Hills
• Keith Olsen
• A.V. Nason.

• Joan Ingold
  3707 Sleepy Hollow Dr.
  Santa Rosa, CA 95404
  707- 523-3235
  
• Shirley and Robert Lowe
  208 Whippoorwill
  Cove Georgetown, TX 78628
  512-863-5390.
  
• Wayne and Ruth Wright
  555 N. Pantano
  Tucson, AZ 87510
  (until April)

• The men and women of the armed forces serving overseas, especially Frank Papworth, and Benjamin Borger, and all civilian staff

May they rest in peace:

• Rosalie Beynon
• Plyllis Arack

VESTRY NOTES

• Met with a candidate for Assistant Rector - a final decision will be made on Hugh's return.
• Discussed budget which was presented at Town Hall Meeting.
• Discussed "Year-round Stewardship" and planned presentation for Town Hall Meeting.
• Fr. Ed attended in Hugh's absence.