 | The GrapevineSt. Patrick’s Episcopal ChurchFebruary 27, 2025 |
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"To be a community that shares the joy of God's Love"
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| | | LENT IS COMING
In less than a week, we’ll be in Lent. Sunday marks Last Epiphany, when we always read of Jesus’ Transfiguration, a mountainous moment as mysterious as the Magi being guided by a star which began the season. On the mountain, Jesus shows his disciples his true nature: both fleshly and mortal and energetic with pure light who could speak face to face with the ancestors. He considered it a matter of great importance that his disciples know this about him, and about them. They, not surprisingly, were scared.
Lent brings us down from the mountain and into our own inner reaches, a season in which we are asked to study and map the contours of our hearts. Last year during Lent, as I prepared to lead you through a time of change, I did a deep dive into Paul’s Letter to the Romans, prayerfully asking what it meant to build a church, to invite people into the wonderful letting go of becoming members of the Body of Christ. This year, as we hover at the brink, nothing less than Truth is my quest, as if I’m finally going to look Pilate in the eye on Good Friday when he asks Jesus “What is Truth?” and stun him with my still small voice.
Truth lies on everyone’s lips these days. In his most recent book, Biblical scholar Walter Bruggeman explores two truths: “the easy, compromised truth of ruthless, powerful people, and the ‘unalterable bedrock’ truth, which comes from below. Like the Way of Death and the Way of Life, these truths can often look alike: the test arrives in their substance. Do they oppress and control or do they heal and set free?
Just as Epiphany always ends with Transfiguration, Lent always begins with Temptation. Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness is so central to our understanding of things, I think the Church is too timid to give us only one Sunday to ponder it. One year, I devoted an entire Lent to nothing but these, which was both illuminating and partial, which again emphasizes what happened out there in the desert between Jesus and Satan holds vast layers of complexity for such a simple telling.
It all came back to me as I was reading Amy Jill Levine and Ben Witherington’s commentary of the Gospel of Luke, in which Amy slyly hints that Jesus in fact fulfilled the temptations, by transforming the will to power (top-down) to the will of union with God. If Satan tempts Jesus to transform stones into bread, Jesus feeds 5000 with five loaves and two fish. If Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in return for bowing down to him, Jesus shows the world an even greater kingdom which arises when we bow down to love, and finally, Jesus does jump off the temple not to prove anything to Satan, but to give his life that all may live, and yes, the angels bore him up.
The secret, says A-J, is less about resisting evil than transforming it. The Lenten command that we spend time in introspection gives us a rich opportunity to explore just what that might look like.
My Lenten books this year are: The Gospel of John, Forward Movement’s The Disciple’s Way: Daily Reflections for Lent, Wild Bright Hope, the Church of England’s Big Read, which shows us the richness of a multi-cultural Church, and Love Unknown by the British Carmelite Ruth Burrows, in the tradition of Julian of Norwich and Thomas Merton.
And for fun, I never miss a day of Lent Madness, a bracket game of saints, where holiness competes with holiness to win votes and win the coveted Golden Halo!
Check it out at lentmadness.org. You’ll love it.
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|  | | The Medical and Financial Advocacy for Seniors program presented February 19th in Stevenson Hall was a bright spot on a gloomy day.
Despite the rainy weather 29 people attended the presentation entitled, “Who Can You Contact When You Need Urgent Medical or Financial Help For You Or A Loved One?”. The presenters were Sandra Dexter, Esq., of Sonoma Fiduciary Services and Paige Yahya, RN, BCBA, Founder of Streamline Advocates. Sandra is also President of the Senior Advocacy Services of Santa Rosa.
Sandra and Paige reviewed useful information to assist seniors in finding help during and hopefully before an urgent health or living situation occurs. Their PowerPoint can be found here. There are two handouts which will be available in the Narthex.
The feedback was uniformly positive and three different people noted they wanted to invite the speakers to present for their group. Attendees included parishioners from Trinity and Incarnation Episcopal churches and from Star of the Valley Catholic Church.
It requires the help of many to host such an event. We wish to thank our greeters and registration desk volunteers, Laurie Boone-Hogen (who also brought flowers for the refreshment and registration tables), Eleanor Albon, and Margaret Merchat; Candace MacNair and Elisabeth Romayko, who kept the pastries and coffee going. Nothing says welcome like food and a hot beverage!
Thanks to Ann and Alec for being back-up and to Ann for writing the article published in the Kenwood Press. And kudos to Ron Keith, our “Tech Guru”, without whom the show could not go on! Appreciation to Leslie Clark, Senior Warden , Rev. Carol Luther, and Fr. Mack and April Sunderland, Parish Administrator, for their support and handling registration. - Stephanie Chapralis (The event was hosted by the Planned Giving and Education Ministries) |
|  | On the left is presenter, Sandra Dexter, Esq. and on the right, is Stephanie Chapralis. |
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|  | Eleanor Albon and guest signing in at registration desk. |
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|  | | |  | |  | This week is the last Sunday after Epiphany, and the choir is busy preparing for the season of Lent. The Oertory Anthem this week is Take Time to Be Holy. Its melody comes from the beloved hymn Be Thou My Vision. The words express the need and desire for us to take time out of our hectic and busy lives to come to God and connect to our spirituality and faith.
This Week’s Hymns: Processional Hymn: #135 “Songs of thankfulness and praise Sequence Hymn: #129 “Christ upon the mountainside” Communion Hymn: WLP #764 “Taste and See”
Recessional Hymn: #336 “Come with us, O blessed Jesus”
After this Sunday, our organist, Doug Richardson, will be away for two weeks. In his place we will have our very own Eleanor Albon filling in as organist for Sunday services and Jackie Senter as our rehearsal pianist!
Stay tuned for news about our music selections for the season of Lent. |
| | | | | This Year’s Lent Book will be Atul Gawande’s classic book on life, death, and the medicalized world view.
In Being Mortal, bestselling author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending |
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| Facilitated by Fr. Mack, this book study will meet Wednesday Evenings beginning March 12. Even if you have already read it, this book craves re-reading. |
| | Five Thursdays with Carol: Our Science, Our Spirit, Our Stories, Ourselves |
| Join me between 1pm and 3pm for a Contemplative Lenten Experience of Eco Theology. Classes will be March 12, Creation, March 19, Earth, March 26, Air, April 2, Water and April 9 Fire. First class will meet at church and the rest will be outdoors, weather permitting. We’ll do some walking on well maintained trails and paths at a meditative pace.
The Forest helped me change my story and experience God’s love in the trees. Join me for something wonderful. |
| | SAVE THE DATE!! Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 5:00 pm |
|  | St. Patrick’s Day Dinner
Saturday, March 15,2025 at 5:00 pm
Tickets on sale at Coffee Hour after church. Price is $25.00 adults; $12.50 children 12 and under. Cash or Check payable to St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church.
If you can’t be present to purchase tickets, please have a friend buy them for you! Tickets are not sold in the church office or over the phone. Thank you! |
| | Flower & Sanctuary Candle Offerings |
| Would you like to commemorate a special anniversary? Or give thanks for someone important in your life? Perhaps you are looking for a special way to remember the birthday of loved one? Consider making a special flower offering or sanctuary candle offering, and we’ll put it in our Sunday bulletin. The suggested donation for flowers is $25.00, and for the sanctuary candles, $5.00 (you can always give more, if you like!) Please call the parish office at 707-833-4228 or email us at parishadm9000@gmail.com to make your request.
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|  | | | Our Ash Wednesday services will be on Wednesday, March 5th at 10am and 5pm. |
| | St. Patrick’s Upcoming Worship Service In Person and on Zoom |
| | |  | | Mon. March 3 - Art with Kate Rogers, 11 am, Common Room
Wed. March 5 - Wellspring Contemplative Community -Facilitator: Sharron Simpson
Sat. March 15 - (5 pm)- St. Patrick’s Day Dinner |
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| Ministries of the parish that we cannot directly accomplish, except by our hospitable welcome to these fellowships and healing work include the following:
* AA Group, weekly on Wednesdays at 7:30PM, meets in the Parish Hall.
* Al Anon Group weekly on Wednesdays at 6PM, meets in the Common Room. * PEO, once a month on the first Thursday at 10AM meets in the Parish Hall.
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Pop-Up Monday, Feb 24, 2025
Dear All,
Thank you to Beth, Andrew, Ned, Adeline, Carolina, Yulisa, Jose, driver Tomi, and rep Hiya. 50+ families and 175+ individuals received REFB food at St Pat's distribution! "Neither snow nor rain, nor dark of night" were obstacles in our distribution! Tucked dryly under the overhangs, we overcame tight quarters to successfully maneuver around and keep the tables full! The misty, light rain deterred nothing - just made many things a little moist!!!
For March 10, Pam and Andrew are scheduled.
Are there 2 more available? Please let me know if you can help.
Eleanor |
| | Have News to Share in the Grapevine? Send articles and pictures to parishadm9000@gmail.com no later than Thursday morning. Submissions received after that will be published the following week. |
| | IF YOU NEED A CHECK OR REIMBURSEMENT
We now have a special box in the copy room for your request forms. Left side, 2nd from the top. We want to get your payment to you ASAP! Thanks. |
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| | |  | Will Haymaker, a former member of St. Patrick’s, died on February 25, 2025. After a lengthy illness, Will died peacefully in Hospice care at the age of 95. Will and his wife, JoAnn, were married for 52 years. Will served on the Vestry at church, and was very involved in St. Patrick’s activities!
A service at 1:30 pm will be on March 15,2025 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, California.
Our prayers are with JoAnn and all of the family. |
| | Salmon Creek, Bodega Bay, CA |
|  | Photo by April Sunderland |
| | The Rev. Mack Olson, Priest-in-Charge
Email: mack.saintpatricks@gmail.com Phone/text: 707-395-5572 |
| | St. Patrick’s Church Kenwood acknowledges that we sit on unceded lands traversed by the Coast Miwok, the Southern Pomo and the Central Wappo.
With God's help, we commit ourselves to acknowledging the truth of California's history, as well as strengthening existing relationships and improving our efforts to build collaborative relationships with Native peoples. |
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