November 2006 Vol. 8 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 2006 [Vol. 8 No. 10]

I Shall Not Pass This Way Again Turning Points November Events Around St. Patrick's

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I SHALL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN

I have above my desk this quotation from the French Quaker missionary, Stephan Grellet who came to America early in the 19th century:

“I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow-creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

I do not remember who gave it to me but it is a fine principle by which to lead my life.

We live on earth for a limited period of time and we are put here for a purpose. More than avoiding doing too much damage, we are put here to make the world a better place than we found it. This is the essence of stewardship. It applies to every area of our lives.

I broached the subject of stewardship at a confirmation class by asking the students what they thought God would want us to do with our lives. They came up with a huge list of things. They did not believe that God wants us to be in conflict with each other; so we need to be peacemakers. They were against filling up landfills; so they advocated recycling. They were concerned about the poor, the homeless and the hungry in our community; so we should do our best to relieve their suffering.

Grellet’s quotation applies as much to communities like the church as it does to individuals. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. So we need to offer our love not only to one another, but also to our neighbors. Individuals and committees within St Patrick’s have a concern for the homeless, migrant farm workers, troubled youth and their families, victims of natural disasters worldwide, various programs to provide meals for the hungry and building decent houses. All of this and more we do as stewards of creation.

We can only do it with the support of all members of the congregation. The support will involve the offering of your time and energy; your skills, abilities and imagination; and your financial backing. During this month you will receive a pledge card from St Patrick’s. Will you fill it out and mail it back to church or bring it to church by October 29, so that as a community, we may offer our commitment to God at the altar?

Let us together do good and show kindness; for we will not pass this way again.

TURNING POINTS

All find a welcome:
Gloria & Dick Salander have moved to Oakmont from Oswego, New York.
Nanette Anslinger visited us from St Luke’s, Altoona PA.

For this, much thanks:
All the people who helped with the clean up over the weekend of Sept 30-Oct especially Jane Hall. Tommy Apostolides for the hire of a dumpster.
Michael Peterson organized the painting of the Ed. Center and the repair of the church tractor.
Carol Menke brought Cantiamo to sing Evensong on October 1.
Vic Howard and Michael Peterson cooked spaghetti and meatballs for the supper after Evensong on October 8.
Bishop George Hunt took the services while the Rector was away in September.
The following taught Adult Ed classes:
Elyse Jaynes on nutrition
Ray Estabrook on powers of attorney.
Rae Jayne on vigils with the dying.
Nancy Dill on nursing homes.

Relocation:
Michael & Betsy Monnot, and William are now at 6401 Lake Park Drive, Sacramento 95831 (cell: 707-251-8063).
Gordon Gary is at Brighton Gardens, 300 Fountaingrove Parkway, 95403.
Loren Brown is at Paulin Creek, 2375 Range Avenue, 95401.

We ask God’s protection of:
Those serving in the military overseas

Chris Whittaker	Dallas Casey
Dan Whitwright	George Sutherland
Mike Bennett	Joseph Palamino
Troy	Sam Jackson

We will exalt you, O God, our King:
Congratulations to George Arack (Sr.) on his engagement, and George Anderson’s great-niece, Karen Poer, engaged to be married to George Siela.
Jean Henderson has a new great granddaughter.
Michael Peterson’s son, Jason is back from Iraq.
Jill Hunting’s daughter, Mae, won the David Brower National Youth award.

May they know God’s healing power:

Shirley Flournoy	Robert Fielder
Hertha Brown	Lolita Seguin
Dave Jarrell	Mark Kirkland
Janice Currie	Linda Belding
Bridget S	Joe Rasicot
Scott Ronchetti	Dusty Lobette
Cathy Landon’s son, James
Jean Henderson’s granddaughter, Anna
Cynthia Pennington’s mother, Jeanne

Blessings on:
Kavanaugh Wynn Zopp-Henderson who was baptized on October 1 and her parents.
The candidates and teams of Men’s and Women’s cursillos in October, including Raymond Skipp, Bob Morell, John Scherer; Judy & Charlie Buff, Susan Skipp, Catherine Priestley and Paula Cook.

May they rest in peace:
Brian Olsen’s father, Philip, died mid-September.
Mary Field’s mother, Molly Bishop, died late September.
Minerva Haddad’s sister in law, Rose Rasicot died mid-October.

NOVEMBER EVENTS

Magnificat

• Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus directed by Dan Earl will sing Bach’s Magnificat with the Baroque Sinfonia at Santa Rosa High School auditorium, 8:00 p.m. on Saturday October 28 and 3:00 p.m. on October 29.

All Saints
We celebrate All Saints on Sunday, November 5

• At the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services, we will read the names of loved ones who have died, who are one with us in the Communion of Saints.
• At the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. service, we will process across to the Memorial Garden, to pray for members of our families and friends who are interred there.
• Katharine Jefferts Schori will be installed as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m. in Washington National Cathedral.
• Regular Class for Sunday school at 10:30 a.m.

Supper Clubs

• Elyse Jaynes is organizing a church family potluck on Nov. 5 for all parishioners sponsored by the Supper Clubs (or “Foyer groups”) that meet throughout the year. Please sign up.

Every Member Canvass

• On Sunday, November 5, we will bless the pledges at all services. If you did not receive a pledge card, you will find extras on the table in the church entrance.

Diocesan Convention

• The Diocesan Convention will be held in Redding on November 11 and 12. Our delegates are Wendy Wood, Jane Hall, Barbara Hunt, Angela Stevenson, Wendy Gallagher and Eddie Gibb, plus the clergy.
• Eddie Gibb serves on the diocesan Executive Youth Council and will be taking part in the Convention Youth Event in Redding
• On Sunday, November 12, The Rev Cliff Kent will celebrate and preach at all services.
• Sunday school children will come into church for the whole service at 10:30 a.m.

Thanksgiving

• On November 26, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we 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 blessings that God gives us.
• After the procession of gifts, children will continue with Sunday school.
• There will be no mid-week Thanksgiving service this year.

Advent Begins

• The season of Advent begins on December 3. On the 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 Eucharistic Prayer B for Rite II.
• On the first Sunday of Advent, we will bless the Advent Wreath at the 9:00 a.m. service and light the first candle.
• At this service we will welcome a not unexpected guest!
• At 10:30, the service of Advent carols and readings followed by the Eucharist.

Forward Day by Day
The new Bible study notes for November-January should be in the rack in the church entrance. They are the church’s gift to members of our congregation. Please take one per household.

AROUND ST. PATRICK'S

THANKS FOR THE BAZAAR
Many people contributed to the success of the 2006 Holiday Bazaar. Thanks to those who set up and cleaned up, to the stitchers 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 sandwich servers, and to everyone who made the Bazaar a great occasion. More in the next Grapevine!

Holiday Bazaar
See pictures from the 2006 charity fundraiser!!!

ECW DECEMBER MEETING
Women of St. Patrick’s, please mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 12, the day of our festive Christmas luncheon at 11:00 am. The program will be “Operation Shoebox.” We will do a 30-minute workshop decorating shoeboxes for needy children and filling them with small toys and grooming supplies. They will be sent to the Good Samaritan headquarters in North Carolina whence they will be distributed worldwide to children who are in war torn areas, areas affected by natural disasters and impoverished areas. Please sign up to bring either a salad or a dessert and please join us for some holiday cheer!

We will use some ECW funds to buy things for the boxes, but will issue a list of things that people can bring along with a $2.00 contribution to offset mailing expenses. We need 12 shoeboxes; they can be left in the parish hall and Jean and I will collect them.
Cynthia Pennington, Program Chairman.

TWO TRIPS

• Parish cruise. September 18-29 2007, to Alaska out of San Francisco on the Dawn Princess.
• English pilgrimage. Canon Stephen Brannon and Dr Jim Rawls of Trinity Church, Somona, are leading a pilgrimage to holy sites in England in May 3-14 2007.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
What would you do if a major emergency happened while you were attending a service or other event at St. Patrick’s? Do you know what your responsibilities are or who would be in charge? Are you aware that St. Patrick’s is a designated emergency evacuation center for the Kenwood area? All of these questions were asked by the Emergency Preparedness Task Force in 1998 and addressed in a manual prepared by them. It is now past time to look at that manual again and to update it. It is time to talk with the Fire Department and the Red Cross about our emergency plans and train people to take responsibility in event of an earthquake or fire or other disaster in this area. If you would like to serve on this new task force to review and update our preparedness please contact Fr. Hugh or Judy Buff who will be serving as vestry chairperson for this task force. (Phone number is 539-2667) We plan to have our first meeting sometime in January.

JOHN BOGART LIBRARY
We have one particularly important addition to our library: The New Testament of The King James Bible on cassettes. Listening to just one-half tape each day will get you through the entire New Testament in only three weeks. (The gift of Vashti Papworth)

Many of us have concerns about the world in general just now. Perhaps Harold S. Kushner’s latest book, Overcoming Life’s Disappointments will provide a new perspective. Kushner uses the experiences of Moses to find lessons of strength and faith, finding principles that can help to deal with the problems we all sense and are powerless to control, or even influence. This book may provide some new insights.