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November 2007
Vol. 9 No. 10
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 November 2007 [Vol. 9 No. 10]
Dear members of St. Patrick's:
Pledge time - what runs through our heads? How much is left to make up this year's pledge? How much can I afford to give to the church next year? How much does the church need to continue its missions?
Fall is often "budget season." We plan ahead for the next year, trying to guess what will happen to our businesses, the economy, the stock market. As a vestry, we are evaluating how successful we have been in guiding St. Patrick's over the last year and trying to anticipate our needs for the next one.
For myself, this is also a time of personal evaluation. How well have I fulfilled my commitments to the church? What can I do better? How is the Holy Spirit calling me to serve this community?
The Episcopal Church has always been my church. I was raised with Morning Prayer, Sunday school and potluck suppers. I helped fold bulletins and stuff newsletters on many afternoons (so I didn't have to play with my little sisters, I suspect). I learned to do dishes with the youth group after parish dinners. God's love was always there for me to tap into whenever I reached for it. I never questioned it. But, my faith has been tested and strengthened over recent years. And my desire to express my faith through community has increased.
I have found St. Patrick's community to be a place of healing and growth. I have made friends with some awesome Christians who are a constant inspiration to me. I have been able to deepen my understanding of Christ's message through study and prayer. I have been able to serve in ways I never thought possible and been rewarded in too many ways to count.
My financial pledge is one expression of my faith and thanks to this community. Money provides us with a beautiful place to worship, staff to guide us and opportunities to help others in the wider community. Our gifts of time and use of our talents make the other parts of our community - the heart and soul of St. Patrick's.
I hope you will join me in continuing to search for new and better ways to serve and support our community of faith through prayer and contemplation. What new mission and ministry will we discover together next year? What new ways will we say THANKS BE TO GOD?
In love and prayer,
Wendy Wood
Senior Warden, Vestry
You will need to wake up some time during the night of November 3, in order to turn your clocks back one hour!
All Saints
We celebrate All Saints on Sunday, November 4.
- At the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services, we will read the names of loved ones who have died and 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.
- After the 10:30 service, the Daughters of the King will meet to update the prayer list. If you would like a person included, see Jane Hall.
- Evensong will be sung by our St. Patrick's Choir at 4:30 p.m., followed by a potluck supper (please sign up to bring a dish) and a slide show of the Rector's travels during his sabbatical.
- We are looking to build links with St John's Episcopal Church in Petaluma and their priest in charge, Norm Cram. We have invited them to be our guests at Evensong and the supper.
Every Member Canvass
On Sunday, November 4, 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 10 and 11. Our delegates are Wendy Wood, Minerva Haddad, Kathy Littman, Karen Steelman and Doug Steelman. On Sunday, November 11, The Rev. LA King will celebrate at 8:00 a.m. The Rev. Cliff Kent will celebrate at the other services with lay preachers from the congregation.
There will be Sunday school as usual during the 10:30 service.
Thanksgiving
- On November 25, we celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving. Members of the congregation will present wine from their vineyards and bread from their kitchens. We come to church to offer to God our thanksgivings for all our talents.
- We will gather 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.
- At the 10:30 service Spencer Henry will be baptized. He is the son of Megan and Eric Wilson who were married at St Patrick's, and the grandson of Kay Martinelli.
- There will be no mid-week Thanksgiving service.
Advent Begins
- Advent is the New Year of the church calendar. We begin a new cycle of readings, "Year C." Most of the Gospel readings will from St. Matthew.
- December 2 is the first Sunday of Advent. On the four Sundays we look forward to the Incarnation of the Word of God. 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 10:30, the service of Advent carols and readings followed by the Eucharist.
- At 3:00 p.m., Robert Young will play a concert in church of Bach preludes and fugues and ragtime music. All are welcome; there is no charge. Please invite your friends. A schedule of all the concerts is included in this Grapevine.
TURNING POINTS
All find a welcome:
Bonnie and Phil Wiggin who were occasional visitors have now moved to Oakmont from Columbus, OH.
Joe and Mary Jester have now moved to Woodley Place in Oakmont from Wayzata, MN.
For this, much thanks:
George Hunt organized the parish cruise to Alaska, and Barbara brought an inexhaustible supply of seasick pills!
Thanks to Harry Allagree for taking the services while we were away.
Thanks to John Landon for subbing for Raymond Skipp as Sunday school teacher.
Thanks to Herc Roland for editing the Grapevine since January 2003, and to Mary Banks who is taking up the mantle.
Relocation:
Pat and Pete Wolffe's phone number in Fairfield: 5401 Victory Court, Fairfield, CA 94533, is
707-426-6298.
Virginia Poust married Ron Wirsing on Sept 1. Their address is 5531 Palisades Parkway, Rockford, IL 61109, 815-873-7300.
We ask God's protection of:
| Dan Whitwright | Dallas Casey |
| Mike Bennett | George Sutherland |
We will exalt you, O God, our King:
Blessings on Barbara and Harry Fry who have become grandparents of Topaz Alexander Lee.
John Leech has been called Rector of St Albans, Edmonds WA in the Diocese of Olympia. He and Sarah will be moving up there for Advent.
John Burt, George Arack Jr, and Vashti Papworth had successful surgery. Pete Rosser is recovering from his illness.
Chris Whittaker, grandson of Susan Lee, has safely returned from Iraq.
Kay Merkt celebrated her 100th birthday on October 4.
The first great granddaughter of Fred and Jini Bauer was born on October 11 at Pulaski, Tennessee.
Diana Estabrook caught a 10lb salmon in Alaska during the cruise. Other members of the congregation caught great quantities of fish during their separate trips to Alaska.
May they know God's healing power:
| Lolita Seguin | Linda Belding |
| Hertha Brown | James Landon |
| Matt Harris | Jack Rockwell |
| Mark Kirkland | Al Cook |
| Eleanor Anderson | Beverly Daw |
| Maureen Thompson | John Phillips |
| Jan, Teddy, John, Pierre, Andy, | Kanaan, Steve, Phyllis, Aurora and Benjamin |
Rest in Peace:
Millie Brown has died in Eureka. She was 101. She (and her husband Joe) were members of St. Patrick's 1969-1999. She was a member of the Friday workshop. She was warm and caring and had a great chuckle.
DOROTHY PIERCE EXHIBITION
"The Autumn of Love" is the title of an exhibition of Dorothy's paintings at the Bank of America on the SW corner of Sonoma Plaza, 35 West Napa Street. Hours: Mon-Fri, 9-6; Sat, 9-2. For information call 495-6530 or 996-5840.
AROUND ST PATRICK'S
THE STRANGER IN OUR MIDST
We had a lengthy discussion at the last vestry meeting about the Sunday Coffee hours. We want to change the focus of these times from the refreshments to identifying new and recent arrivals and making them welcome. We are working on a policy that asks coffee makers to do no more than provide simple food, like cookies. We hope this will encourage new people to sign up to make the coffee.
SEXTON SUPERVISION
Jose and Maria Cruz are our new sextons. They will report to only one person. At the last vestry meeting, Hutch Gibb volunteered to be the interim supervisor. If you have requests for Jose and Maria, please don't go to them directly, but run your idea past Hutch. His position is interim, until another person is found to take his place.
2008 VESTRY
Now is the time when we nominate a slate of candidates to be elected at the Annual Meeting in January 2008. Would you be willing to run for the vestry? Do you have people that you would like to nominate? Would you please check with them first? Those retiring from the vestry are: Jean Meyer, Judy Buff, Michael Peterson and Wendy Wood. We will need 4 new candidates. The nominating committee is the retiring vestry members. We will have 5 women and 3 men continuing on the vestry. We will need more men to balance the vestry. We will finalize the slate at the next vestry meeting, November 27.
2008 VESTRY WORKSHOP
Near the beginning of the New Year, we will hold a vestry workshop (provisionally, February 9) at which we set our goals for the New Year. It is important to have new vestry members at this meeting. There will be a vestry supper the night before the meeting to get to know one another.
FORWARD DAY BY DAY
The new Bible study notes for November-January are in the rack in the church entrance. They are the church's gift to members of our congregation. Please help yourself.
OUTREACH
The Outreach Committee meets on November 7 at 10:00 a.m. This committee co-ordinates our outreach activities and makes quarterly contributions from the parish's outreach fund. There will be reports on the decisions of these committees in the next Grapevine.
The Designated Funds Committee manages the church's investments and makes grants from our endowment income. The next meeting is at 4:00 p.m. on November 5. Copies of the grant proposal forms are in the parish office.
These two committees have different purposes. They do, however, co-ordinate with each other as well as with the ECW, who make grants from their fund raising.
INTERFAITH MARCH
On November 11, at 2:30 p.m., there will be an interfaith march and rally for workers' rights which will conclude at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. More information at www.justiceatstjhs.org.
THANKS FOR THE BAZAAR
Many people contributed to the success of the 2007 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.
ECW LUNCHEON
DECEMBER 11TH AT 11:00 A.M.
Guest speakers at the luncheon will be Carolyn Poggi (Chaplain) and Ginger Bonner (Senior Assistant Chaplain) of Law Enforcement Services of Sonoma County. Their motto is Being There and their message is on Sharing. They will explain when and why they are contacted and some of the services they provide.
The ECW will vote on candidates for 2008 offices during the business portion of the meeting.
10. You don't have to dress up - the robes hide a lot.
9. The ushers never pass the collection plate in the choir.
8. You have a guaranteed seat at Christmas and Easter.
7. It's a lot like singing in the shower, except that you have clothes on and people are actually listening.
6. Since you never became a pharmacist, you'll finally get to put to good use all those years of studying Latin in high school or college.
5. Because we meet on Wednesday night (7:00), you'll never miss Monday Night Football.
4. You might as well volunteer to sing since nobody's going to pay you to do so.
3. If you're a Tenor, you're guaranteed membership for life.
2. Where else can you get caught up on the latest jokes?
1. You'll have more fun, friendship and fellowship than you can take in one evening.
The choir rehearses weekly on Wednesdays at 7:00. We are always looking for new voices, so if you're interested in giving the choir a try, contact Robert Young at nivola@earthlink.net or 792.2433.
VIETNAM MEMORIAL
Jill Hunting will be one of the people Reading the Names of those who died during the Vietnam War at the Memorial in Washington this November. She lost a close relative in that war.
Are there members of St. Patrick's who lost a relative in that war, whose name you would like Jill to read? Contact her at her home.
THE ANGLERS FOR FISH ARE:
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Norma and John Creaghe
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Margaret Bock
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Jane and Bob Carpenter
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Mary and Jack Coon
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They are angling for more of you to join in with one item per week to take to FISH headquarters in Santa Rosa. Soups, pasta, beans, rice, canned tomatoes, oatmeal. Put something in the trunk of your car right now so that you will remember it on Sunday.
ST. PATRICK'S PROVIDES
ENGLISH CLASSES
FOR VINEYARD WORKERS
The Outreach Committee and Vineyards Workers (VWS) sponsored classes to teach English to migrant and local farm workers during the 'crush' period when the bulk of the grapes grown in this area are harvested. Up to 30 workers attended the twice per week classes held in Boyes Hot Springs. Jackie McDonald with the assistance of Xavier Cabrales managed the program. Other parishioners participating were Barbara Fry, Joan Haymaker, Dorothy Pierce, Laurie Raess, Josie Ross and Gretchen Scott.
INGATHERING OF PERSONAL PRODUCTS
Over the summer, many people contributed to the collection of supplies for homeless people. The Daughters of the King would like to thank everyone who contributed. The response has been overwhelming. We now have enough to bag and do not need any more donations.
FRIDAY MORNING BAZAAR BUSY BEES
I am writing this article 6 days prior to our 30th annual Holiday Bazaar and you will be reading it several days or weeks after. It has been a long 9 months for the Friday Morning Busy Bees. We have come together, ladies of many and varied talents, to create the unique items that are so much a part of St. Patrick's history for the past 30 years. I wish to sing these ladies' praises, for without my "bees" the Bazaar would not be the success it has been and continues to be.
Barbara Fry continues to be the mistress of tea towels; this year creating kits for the weak hearted who weren't certain they knew how to do crewelwork. Rosie Speight vacationed in Colorado and came back to us with many new and interesting ideas. That lady is so creative! Who would have thought that a simple light bulb could be such a cute Santa for the tree. Fran Crane found many beautiful hankies to create our darling hanky angels. (I hope you were lucky enough to purchase one.)
Doris Dill worked tirelessly on our golden Wise Men/Woman and produced the darling tabletop trees. Ruth Wright and Phyllis Cressy sanded and painted wooden angels, flower stakes and flower pots with flourish. Elayne Roland painted faces on round beads that emerged into angels with so much personality that one could not help but smile. Oh to have such talent!
Quietly sitting at the sewing machine was Johanna Knight, hemming one after the other of the completed tea towels and created the cute pillowcases for the holidays. Gini Bauer and Josie Ross picked up needle and thread to produce lovely candle wicking ornaments that will add sparkle to any Christmas tree.
Joy Spragens, gathered together her recipes, mixed and stirred to once again add the wonderful smelling potions, manicure scrubs and herbs found in our own St. Patrick's spa department.
Jean Meyer, a source of inspiration for her enthusiasm and experience kept us all on an even keel moving from one project to another with grace and talent. Gathering all those jars, making jams and jellies can be a "sticky" job but Jean does it oh so well. Vicki Ward, last year's chairwoman, created and worked on so many projects that it is hard to list them all for fear of missing one. I appreciate her most for being there over the last months mentoring and guiding me as we prepared for October 20th.
I thank each and every one of these women for all the time and energy they have given so freely to our efforts over the past year. We have shared coffee, cookies, laughs and even a few grimaces over not so successful projects. Always with a smile, always with words of encouragement and always there on Friday morning for nine long months; thank you dear ladies of the Busy Bee Club.
Although not a member of the Busy Bee Club, I do wish to especially thank our unofficial St. Patrick's Bazaar elf, my husband Dick Derum. Without his talent, without his willingness and without his good humor the bird houses, bean bag toss games, flower pot stacks, holiday serving trays, and other items would just be figments of my imagination. I thank you dear husband for putting up with all my "honey do you think you could …." requests.
Thank you one and all.
Jean Derum
How is being a Christian like being a pumpkin?
God sees us, picks us out of the dirt, cleans us off, takes the yucky material out of us by forgiving us,
puts a smile on our faces and places a shining light within us for others to see.
Jesus said: "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16)
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