December 2004 Vol. 6 No. 11 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 December 2004 [Vol. 6 No. 11]

Tis The Gift To Be Simple Around St. Patrick's Outreach Items Stewardship Turning Points Vestry Meeting Around The Parish

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TIS THE GIFT TO BE SIMPLE

I believe that we all wish that our lives could be simpler. But how are we to receive the gift of simplicity in a common world. I had the privilege of stepping out of context this fall when I took a mini-sabbatical during which Angela and I returned to Turkey. I am grateful to the parish for giving me time away and to Ed Howell for covering for me.

This is what I learned about the simple life.

• Basic functions take a lot of planning. Before you can clean your teeth, you will need to gather toothbrush, toothpaste and potable water.
• When we visit people who speak a different language, it can be a time of both frustration and delight. We ask directions; they say, "Go left," and point right. Often people engage us in simple conversations because they want to practice their English. We laugh together as we make simple jokes.
• We cannot hurry. There is time for more conversations. I sense that there is a greater sense of community and less loneliness among simple people
• People tell us what they think we want to hear. So when we ask for directions, they underestimate the time that it will take, the distance and the cost. There are no fixed prices. Everything is negotiable.
• Life is unpredictable. In Turkey, the buses depart when they are full, not according to the timetable. We have to be flexible.
• The things we normally take for granted are blessings for which we give thanks; things like fresh air, good health or food or sleep. Hygiene is a luxury. People smoke a lot.
• We discover that we are no longer in control of our lives. We are controlled by forces, which we do not understand. This is a hard lesson to learn. We feel frustration and anger. The agenda for peoples in many parts of the world is set by the Western powers.

As we approach Christmas, we meet Mary and Joseph who live simple lives. Their child Jesus will grow up to minister largely in a rural environment. If we want to enter this world and understand what Jesus was saying, we shall have to become simpler ourselves. Look at those who are declared blest: the pure in heart, the meek, the simple. The story would have been very different if Jesus had been member of the Jerusalem hierarchy. Instead, he seems to laugh at sophistication of the city folk.

I believe the challenge for us is to lead simple lives in the midst of a sophisticated world. May Christmas be for us an opportunity to receive Christ's gift to be simple.
Hugh Stevenson

AROUND ST. PATRICK'S

CENTERING PRAYER
After the ECW lunch on December 11, Saturday, come to the Centering Prayer Workshop sponsored by the Daughters of the King. Mary English, a member of St Gregory of Nyssa Church in San Francisco, will be here to lead the workshop. 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Please sign up in the Parish Hall.

HOLIDAY MUSIC
Sylvia O'Neill and Alan Rae will play music for Hanukah and Christmas on the grand piano in church (which Robert Young has lent us) on December 5 at 3:00 p.m. The concert is free but there will be a retiring collection.

JOHN BOGART LIBRARY
This month we have added two books about St. Paul, Christianity's most influential theologian: Paul, His Story by Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, and Rabbi Paul: An Intellectual Biography by Bruce Chilton. Both authors are known for their Pauline scholarship; both books are aimed at the general reader. Murphy-O'Connor details Paul's journeys, the dangers he faced on this travels and the bitter opposition from Jewish Christians to his insistence that the Torah was irrelevant to Christianity and that Gentiles were welcome in the new church. Chilton stresses Paul's Jewishness and portrays him as a spirit-filled mystic who had more visionary experiences than the one on the road to Damascus.

For a topic that has been much in the news of late, we have Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality by John Shelby Spong. Time Magazine calls this "the most radical pronouncement on sex ever issued by a bishop." It is for you, our readers, to make your judgement. (The gift of Marge Ruehrdanz)

ECW LUNCHEON
The ECW invites all members of the parish to a special Holiday luncheon and music extravaganza on Saturday, December 11 at 11:30 a.m. when the Carillon Choir of the First Presbyterian Church of Napa will be here to "make joyful noises unto the Lord" and give us an opportunity to hear this well-known group. Mark Osten, local musician, accompanist for the Santa Rosa Children's Chorus and Ursuline High School, and teacher at SRJC, directs the choir, which consists of twelve members who play a total of five octaves of bells. The group performs annually at the Hand Bell Conference at Lake Tahoe and throughout the Napa area.

We're going to deviate a little from our usual salad and dessert menu by asking some of you to bring a hot dish. There will be sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall where you can sign-up for one of the 3 choices. If you have a preference sign up early. When the quota for each dish has been filled, you can move to which selection sounds good to you.

The music program will be in the church, and then we will go to the Parish Hall for lunch with our guests. Please sign up as early as possible so we can plan to set enough places. You can call Jini Bauer (538-8624) if you have questions.

SING-ALONG MESSIAH
A number of members of St Patrick's will be singing in the choir for the Sing-along Messiah, on Wednesday, December 15, 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to come and sing Part I of Handel's Messiah, conducted by Dan Earl. Tickets are $15 ($10 for seniors and students), which benefits the Hospital Chaplaincy Service. This year the Sing-along Messiah will be at Santa Rosa High School Auditorium on Mendocino Avenue.

OUTREACH ITEMS

The median family income in 2000 was $61,000. 8% of individuals were below the poverty level. In August 2004, the median price of a home was $510,000, which was up 23 % from last year. In 2002, only 13 % of homes were affordable to families with median income, as compared with over 50% for the nation as a whole. 6% of seniors (aged 65 and older) live in poverty. We hear a lot about obesity these days. This paper says that nearly 50% of all adults in Sonoma County are over weight. There are a lot of other statistics. I would be glad to share the full report with you.

When we think about stewardship as a congregation, we become concerned. I define stewardship as "Making the most of what you have got, for God's sake." Our outreach committee does a great job in seeking to discern the needs of our community and by donations of both money and personal involvement, making a difference. You will find the list of grants for 2004 in the Annual Reports. Or come to Outreach Committee meetings to hear and take part in what St Patrick's is doing.

HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
This year, we decided not to have collections for special causes on Sunday mornings, but rather to make donations via the Outreach Committee. A number of people increased their pledges to include money for outreach. Thus at their November meeting, the committee made a grant of $2000 to the Heifer International.

Since 1944, Heifer has provided food- and income-producing animals and training to millions of resource-poor families in 115 countries, by giving livestock, which promotes self-reliance, which builds self-esteem and helps families lift themselves out of poverty. Animals provide milk, eggs, wool, draft power and other benefits to poor families. They improve nutrition and help families earn money for education, clothes, health care, better housing and starting a small business. Heifer's grassroots approach lets people and communities make their own decisions about how to improve their lives. As partners work together to overcome obstacles, they strengthen their communities and foster democracy. At the heart of Heifer's philosophy is the commitment families make to "pass on the gift," by sharing one or more of their animal's offspring with other families in need. More information at: www.heifer.org.

Some people have asked if they could make a personal donation to Heifer. Yes, of course! Call Bob Fry, who will be glad to give you more information.

MORAL VALUES
Moral Values were a major issue in November's elections. Tom Ehrich in his excellent newsletter, "On a Journey," wrote recently:
"If we make any claim to being Christian - any of us, conservative and liberal - we need to see Jesus saying 'No' to worldly power. Not just No to the currently powerful, but No to such power altogether. For the future of his kingdom didn't depend on his followers ever winning, but rather on their believing, serving, dying to self, and loving as Jesus loved. To love, we must listen deeply to the people around us. We must hear the many accents of faith, the many cries, the many yearnings, the many joys and sorrows, the many voices asking only to be heard, the many lives asking only to be accepted. Anything less than such hearing is a mockery of the one true King."

STEWARDSHIP

One really important ministry is an active program of providing transportation for those in need, and visiting the housebound. Another is simply offering to take someone to church with you, saving a bit of gas, but also opening up the possibility of more and friendlier contacts between you and a fellow parishioner.

To make this easier, Hugh will announce a plan to have a table for sign ups ready in the Parish Hall for people to volunteer driving and for our own version of "Share a Ride." We hope to repeat the process every 3 or 4 months.

As always, your thoughts and suggestions for implementing a rewarding Year Round Stewardship, are always welcome. Please let me know, John Morelli.

EVERY MEMBER CANVASS
As of November 18, we received 119 pledges for a total of $185,056. We are very grateful to those who have already made a financial pledge for next year. We are looking for another 60 pledges for a total of $55,000 to meet our budget. We will have the additional expense next year of a new assistant. If you have mislaid your pledge card, or did not receive one, please call the Parish Office as soon as possible. If you have questions about the Every Member Canvass or about the management of the church, please contact a vestry member.

Turning Points

Minerva and Sam Lammam

Deepest sympathy:
To Cliff Kent and the Kent family on Betty's death on November 1.

For this, much thanks:
Those who took the services on November 14, while the delegates were at convention. At 8:00 a.m., George Arack; at 9:00 a.m. Charlie Buff; and at 10:30 a.m. Ray Estabrook.

Thanks to all who helped with the receptions, and their organizers: Norma Creaghe on November 5, and Barbara Fry on November 6.

Relocation: The Rev. Julie & Martin Wizorek will begin their ministry on December 1, at St Paul's Episcopal Church, PO Box 99, 25 Church St, Prince Frederick, Maryland 20678
(Church phone: 410-535-2897)

We ask God's protection of:
those serving in the military overseas
Frank Papworth, Benjamin Borger

We will exalt you, O God, our King:
Congratulations to Greta and George MacLeod on the birth of their first great grandchild.
John Leech is engaged to be married to Sarah.
Robert Young was married to Jeanette on Friday, November 12
Charlie Buff will be the Rector of the men's cursillo to take place on April 21-24, 2005. Some members of St Patrick's will be on his team. If you would like to bew a candidate tell Charlie.

May they know God's healing power:
Linda Belding, Lolita Seguin Hertha Brown, Larry Gent Joan Ingold, Henry Williams
John Morelli has surgery on November 29
For Natalie, daughter of Cathy Landon

Blessings on:
John Leech who was ordained deacon by the Bishop on November 6.
Walter and Lee O'Brien were baptized on October 31.

Vestry Meeting

• The vestry received reports about the Every Member Canvass, the parish hall floor and arrangements for John Leech's ordination.
• John Morelli is leading a new initiative for year round stewardship in which we support one another and share rides to church.
• Ann Peters reported that 10-11 children are attending Sunday School which is being led by Carolee Fagent. About 25-30 people are regularly attending the 9:00 a.m. service, which they much appreciate. Ann Peters also reported on fund-raising for Mexico 2005.
• There was a report on the Unique Boutique. A happy day in which $7000 has so far been raised.
• Motion detector lights have been installed above the office door and outside the main door of the church, lighting up the parking lot. There is an electrical problem with the lights that illuminate our sign on the Highway. If the Highway is widened we will have to move our sign.
• We were grateful for the leadership of Ed Howell when the Rector was absent.

UNIQUE BOUTIQUE
The 2004 Unique Boutique held in the Parish Hall on October 16th was a great success, netting a little over $7000! This will be the last Boutique sponsored by the ECW, and we are indeed grateful for all of you who contributed time, talent, or product. There were so many of you that we will not list you all, but just know that every one of you is cherished and appreciated. As you may know, all the proceeds of this event go to local charities, and a list of those receiving funds will be forthcoming in the next Grapevine. In the meantime, do attend the half-price sale for the leftover merchandise to be held on December 5th.
Elayne Roland and Rosie Speight, Co-chairs

Around The Parish

The Bishop will be here on Pentecost 2005, May 15 for his biennial visitation and to confirm those who are presented to him. In the first part of 2005 we will be preparing both teenagers and adults to be confirmed and (if confirmed in another tradition) received into the Episcopal Church. If this is for you, or you would like more information, please call me. Hugh Stevenson

At Diocesan Convention Bishop Jerry announced his intention to retire in January 2007. He will have been bishop for 15 ½ years. Two committees are being formed. One will be responsible for the transition; the other will be a calling committee. If you are interested in serving on either of these committees, ask me for an application form. Hugh Stevenson