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February 2010
Vol. 12 No. 2
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 February 2010 [Vol. 12 No. 2]
Last year we saw two Puccini operas, La bohème and Madama Butterfly. They reduced quite a number of people in the audience to tears. We were emotionally involved in the tragedies played out on the stage. And yet, probably many people in the audience were normally emotionally reserved people. Opera provided an emotional outlet for us.
As Episcopalians we pride ourselves in having a thought-out faith; we don't park our brains at the door when we come into church. But at the same time I wonder whether church is not also an emotional outlet for us. One parishioner said she was touched by my Rudolph sermon at the Christmas carol service. For myself, I got choked up singing, "A stable lamp is lighted" (Hymn 104) with the refrain, "And every stone shall cry."
My vision of the church is a place of emotional release where it's ok to laugh and to cry. In The Case for God, Karen Armstrong says that mythos is an important component of faith, which "helped people live effectively in a confusing world and [focus] on the more elusive, puzzling and tragic aspects of the human predicament" (p. xi). As I look at you, Sunday-by-Sunday, in the congregation, I am aware of the tragic aspects of the predicament of many.
In the summary of the great commandment (Mark 12:30), Jesus says that we should love God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength. He intends us to mobilize not just our brains (minds) and our devotion (souls) and our outreach (strength), but our emotions (hearts) as well.
Harvey Cox (pp 200ff) describes the conflict between evangelicals and pentecostals. He says that it is easy to confuse the two. Both were born in the early 20th century in the USA and both protested against the established Protestantism of the time. But they also fought bitterly against each other. The Fundamentalists "insisted on a hard core of nonnegotiable doctrines one must hold unquestioningly." They distrusted those who relied on the direct experience of the Holy Spirit and who welcomed ecstatic praise. Perhaps from our perspective pentecostals go overboard.
I have read some sermons by the great evangelical preachers and am struck by how dry they are. There is almost no appeal to the emotions. The important thing is to believe the right doctrine. The Established Church in the 18th century has been called "high and dry". It is small wonder that it did not meet the needs of the Wesleyans and other evangelicals.
One of my complaints about seminary in Cambridge and life in the Church of England is about how cerebral it all is. Intellectual argument flourishes. There was little place for experience and emotion. How grateful I am to be in an Episcopal congregation where people feel free to laugh a lot (and sometimes cry). I am also grateful to those who dragged me into cursillo. So, let us not be uptight Christians, but use all that we are in our worship of our Lord.
Hugh Stevenson
All find a welcome:
Howard Mays from Oakmont Gardens was here on January 10.
Dave & Kay Criley and Jane Hirsch were here on January 17.
For this, much thanks:
Cathy and John Landon hosted an Epiphany Ultreya for cursillistas on January 9.
Fran Crane took down the Christmas decorations in the Church Entrance and Ingo Rencken and assistants put the big tree away.
Ben McLain sang at the carol service on December 27.
Bill Ward and Hutch Gibb are retiring from the vestry at the end of their terms.
Relocation:
Penny Brewster moved to 306 Mountain View Ave, Apt X, Petaluma 94952 (765-1475). Penny received Council on Aging approval as a caretaker and has some time available.
We will exalt you, O God, our King:
Congratulations to:
Georgia Jenkins was born on December 22 and weighed in at 7lb 8oz, a sister for Julia. Congratulations to Christine and Mark!
May they know God's healing power:
| Greta MacLeod | Peg Robins |
| Shirley Pippin | Ed Dill |
| Dick Beynon | Missy Harper |
| Harry Fry | Merilyn Adams |
| Judy Rose | Jackie MacDonald |
Deepest sympathy:
To Cliff Kent on the death of his brother, Richard.
We ask God's protection of:
those serving in the military overseas
Jamie Crouse grandson of Marge and Bob Ruehrdanz, in Afghanistan and Frederic Cazel in Haiti.
Blessings on:
George Hunt has been appointed priest-in-charge of Trinity, Sonoma.
May they rest in peace:
Gary Brown, aged 66, oldest child of Loren and Will Brown and brother of Jay died late December.
Cursillo 2010
Judy Buff, Cathy Landon and Kathy Littman are on the team for the women's cursillo, which is scheduled for February 25-28. John Scherer is on the team for the men's cursillo, April 8-11. The second women's cursillo will be April 29-May 2. Fran Morell is on the team.
From Hugh Stevenson:
Thanks a million for your cards, good wishes and prayers during my illness at the beginning of the year. I am deeply appreciative
HAITI
When the devastating earthquake struck Port-au-Prince on January 12, the Outreach Committee of St Patrick's immediately sent a check for $1000 to Episcopal Relief and Development and a check for $1000 to Doctors Without Borders. On Sunday, January 17, parishioners gave $810 for earthquake relief. Our Presiding Bishop said, "Even under 'normal' circumstances, Haiti struggles to care for her 9 million people, I urge your concrete and immediate prayers." If you would like to donate, please make checks payable to St Patrick's and noted "For Haiti."
February 2. The ECW luncheon is at 11:00 a.m. It is a box lunch with music by the 5th and 6th grade concert band from Kenwood School. Their teacher Karen Haslag and some parents are chauffeuring them. Women of the Kenwood Community Church have been invited.
February 7. The Daughters of the King meet after the 10:30 a.m. service. If you have names of people for whom you would like prayers, please pass them on to Jane Hall (or the office). Would you like to be part of this intercessory ministry?
Bring last year's palm crosses to be burnt to make ash for Ash Wednesday.
February 13. The women's breakfast group meets at Su Casa on the corner of Farmers Lane in the St Francis shopping center at 8:30 am. All women are welcome.
February 14. This is the last Sunday in Epiphany. The theme of this Sunday is the Transfiguration of Jesus upon the mountaintop. Hymn 135 reminds us to look forward through the cross to Easter. The disciples were filled with awe. "When from there thou leddest them/steadfast to Jerusalem/cross and Easter Day attest/God in man made manifest."
February 16. On Shrove Tuesday there will be a pancake supper with a free will offering. Funds raised will be used to replace the chairs in the parish hall with padded chairs.
February 17. On Ash Wednesday there will be one service at 9:00 a.m. with the Imposition of Ashes (from last year's palm crosses) for those who wish, followed by the Eucharist. "I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a Holy Lent." (Prayer Book p. 265)
February 17. The men's lunch will be at 11:30 a.m. All men are invited. Contact Harold Poehlmann, the coordinator.
February 21. The 75th Gala Celebration of the Santa Rosa Symphonic chorus will be at
3:00 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial. Tickets are $40 for an afternoon of music, food and silent auction. Hugh Stevenson and Jackie Senter are long time members.
February 22-24. The Rector will be at the Bishop's Conference at Bishop's Ranch. The speaker will be Peter Steinke, who will share his insights into the complex relationships in the Christian community.
February 28. February is Black History Month. On this Sunday we will sing songs from the African American tradition at both 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services.
March 6. The Office of the Bishop will present a Congregational Leadership Conference at St Paul's Benicia. The format (introduced last year) covers a wider array of topics, which will be of interest to Treasurers and Vestry Members as well as to other church leaders. Lunch will be served. Let's car pool. If you are interested call the parish office (833-4228).
March 7. This is Welsh Sunday. There are lots of Welsh hymns in our Hymnal. We will sing some of them like Cwm Rhondda. March 1 was St David's Day, the patron saint of Wales.
This will also be one of our biannual Healing Sundays. At all services any who wish can come forward for the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. James 5:14: "Are any among you sick? Let the elders pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord."
LENT STUDY GROUPS
- On Sunday mornings the Bible Study theme will be "Inclusive and Exclusive," who's in and who's out, who's pure and who's defiled? 9:45 a.m. in the Common Room beginning February 21.
- On Thursday evenings there will be a Supper at 6 p.m. followed by Study at 7 p.m. on Reconciliation in clips from videos.
AROUND ST. PATRICK'S
LENT BEGINS ON FEBRUARY 17
At Rite II Eucharists during Lent we will say the contemporary Lord's Prayer, which begins Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name… As last year, we will use a Eucharistic Prayer from the NZ BCP.
On the 1st Sunday in Lent, the liturgical color changes to penitential purple and we use Eucharistic prayers that focus on the cross.
Catechumenate. Lent originated as a time when "converts to the faith were prepared for holy baptism" at Easter (BCP p. 265). Do you have children (or grandchildren) or adults to be baptized at Easter? We would like to pray for them during Lent.
FORWARD DAY-BY-DAY
The latest Bible study notes (February-April) have been placed in the tract rack in the Church entrance. Please help yourself. There should be enough for all those who want one.
MARCH IS ST. PATRICK'S MONTH
To honor our patron Saint, a traditional dinner will be served with one sitting on a date to be announced. This dinner is a big fundraiser for our parish. Tickets will be on sale in due course after Sunday services and through the parish office. Of course, this dinner could not be a success without the help of many. We will need donations for raffle baskets and special prizes.
FRIDAY MORNING WORKSHOPS
All women of St Patrick's are invited to the outreach workshops on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the Common Room. Though we advertise the workshop to be a Knitting Class we are doing so much more. Sharing with each other as we work on the various projects that the ECW hosts during the year. We need many hands and ideas to make our projects successful. If you can't commit to every date of the workshops, just drop by when you have time.
CLERGY LEADERSHIP PROJECT
I have been invited to take part in this project. I have been angling for an invite for some time. Participants meet in West Cornwall CT four times (April & September 2010 and February & September 2011).
These are some of the goals:
- To equip clergy to do ministry effectively in a more pluralistic church and world
- To advance the dialogue between church and contemporary culture
- To link theory and practice through experiential learning communities
- To use the context of one's own congregational system to imagine and implement these new strategies
- To develop a vision for growth in one's personal, spiritual, and professional life
- To form, and make a commitment to, a small group who will covenant together for support and accountability for the two years of the program and perhaps beyond.
CLP is sponsored by Trinity Institute (Wall Street). I am hoping that CLP will energise me and give me new ideas to share with you.
Hugh Stevenson
JESUS SEMINAR
The Spring Meeting has moved from Santa Rosa to Salem, Oregon March 17-20, 2010.
FISH
Thank you, Thank you to all of you St. Patrick's faithful who week after week bring an itemof food to add to the FISH basket. We are constantly told how very, very grateful they are to receive those wonderful staples of soup, spaghetti or any pasta, pasta sauce and canned goods. Keep 'em coming!
Margaret Bock
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