 |  | | The GrapevineSt. Patrick’s Episcopal Church |
| Thanks Living:
Joyfully Transforming Lives
Our Mission Statement:
"To be a community that shares the joy of God's Love" |
| | | |  | What is a Blue Christmas service?
For many, Christmas is not ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ (as the song goes). A Blue Christmas service can offer some healing and hope.
St. Patrick’s will hold our Blue Christmas service on the longest night of the year, December 21st, the Winter Solstice. There is an interesting convergence for this day as it is also the traditional feast day for Saint Thomas the Apostle. This invites us to make some connections between Thomas's struggle to believe the tale of Jesus' resurrection, the long nights just before Christmas, and the struggle with darkness and grief faced by those living with loss. A Blue Christmas service acknowledges the heaviness that many carry during this season, and reminds us of the hope that Jesus gives. You will be invited to reflect on the pain, the loneliness, and the sadness you may feel, and offer it to God for healing and transformation. Join us at our Blue Christmas service on Saturday, December 21st, at 5pm, and I pray that you will find hope and comfort in knowing that you are not alone.
Fr. Mack+ |
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St. Patrick's News Briefly A. Just Happened B. Happening Now C. About to Happen
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| A. Just Happened
The First Sunday of Advent: Once again the sea and its waves roared, and we had a roarin’ good beginning to a beautiful season. |
| Seeing Images of God in Art has begun! We’ll meet for two more Wednesdays, December 11 and 18th. You are always welcome to join us! Class meets either at 11 am or 2 pm. |
| A NOTE OF THANKS FROM MARK KRATZ |
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Dear St. Patrick’s Family, My family and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support during this tremendously difficult time for us as we mourn the loss of my mother and our family home of 55 years due to a devastating fire on November. 4, 2024. I moved to California from Pennsylvania and have no immediate family in California besides my partner, Mikel. I do not know what I would have done without the St Patrick’s community over the past month. I want to thank Reverend Carol, who has supported me since the morning of the fire, and Father Mack, who continues offering me spiritual comfort. I want to thank Rich and Betsy Randolph and Charlotte Carlson for making it possible for my partner and me to return to Pennsylvania for my mother’s funeral. Also, thank you to Doug Richardson, who has taken over handling the wonderful music at St. Patrick’s over the past month. I would also like to thank all of you who contributed to the collections that took place to help my father, who lost everything in the fire. Your contributions are helping my father secure a vehicle and pay for several medical expenses and his basic needs. Once again, from myself and my entire family, thank you for your kindness, compassion, and generosity. Sincerely, Mark Kratz and family |
| | | NOMADIC SHELTER IS BACK THIS SATURDAY!!! |
|  | |  | COOKIE DONATIONS AND BLESSING BAGS ARE DUE SUNDAY WE’LL FILL CANDY BAGS ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 15 Tis the Season to Feast and Be Merry! Be sweet and join us!! |
| | And Laurie will be selling her famous Lavender Sachets at both Coffee Hours: Only $5.00 each and ALL PROCEEDS GO TO BBC/ViVO! The perfect Stocking Stuffer!! |
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| Tis Also the Season for Concerts! |
|  | | Sunday, December 8, 3 pm: Kenwood Community Church Holiday Concert with Kyle Craft, violin, Harold Julander, piano & Daniella Caveney, soprano. Christmas classics, waltzes, old-time favorites
Sunday, December 15, 4 pm: Kenwood Community Church Tuesday, December 17, 6 pm: El Verano School: ViVO!!! |
|  | Sunday, December 22, 5 pm: St. Paul’s Healdsburg A Festival of Lessons and Carols |
| |  | Your choir is busy getting ready for our Holiday Concert. We will have a rich musical offering which will appeal to people of all ages.
The doesn’t mean that we’re ignoring Advent.
The Second Sunday of Advent brings us John the Baptist and his message of renewal, and we will sing “On Jordan’s banks the Baptist’s Cry” as our opening hymn and “There’s a voice in the wilderness crying” as our sequence.
Our anthem “Pass the Advent Light” continues the Advent theme of waiting and longing by incorporating a traditional canon and “Veni Emmanuel” arranged by Patrick M. Liebergen.
The spirit of hope, which follows in the wake of renewal, rises as the service progresses. During communion we will sing WLP 722 “The desert shall rejoice,” showing the salvation of a barren world, and end with the beautiful “People Look East,” (WLP 724), a song of warmth and welcome, for “Love the guest is on the way.” |
| An Important Message from our Senior Warden |
| Dear Parish Family,
On behalf of St. Patrick’s Vestry, I invite active members of the congregation to prayerfully consider serving on the Vestry, the governing body of the church.
Vestry members are legal representatives and agents of the parish with responsibility for sound management of finances, as well as of church property and resources. The Vestry functions similar to the board of any nonprofit.
Vestry members share leadership responsibilities with the priest/rector. We at St. Patrick’s are blessed to have as our new Priest-in-Charge The Rev. Mack Olson, who brings a positive approach to Vestry matters, which is helpful in quelling any doubts about our ability to work together.
It is necessary to be realistic regarding the time commitment of being a Vestry member. At a minimum, there are regular monthly meetings, and in addition there may be need to meet for special sessions. Also, there are committee assignments, participation in congregational events, and Diocesan meetings as necessary. Vestry members also need to be certified in “Safe Church” and “Racial Reconciliation” training programs offered through the Diocese on a periodic basis.
Of utmost importance to serving on the Vestry is discerning what God is calling our faith community to do as the Holy Spirit moves us towards fulfilling our mission “to become a community that shares the joy of God’s love.”
As the year 2024 comes to an end, there will be three (3) members of the Vestry whose 3-yr terms will have been completed, namely Wendy Wood, Minerva Haddad, and myself. There will also be a 2-yr term open, as Xavier Cabrales has decided to resign from the Vestry for personal reasons.
Vestry members are listed on the back of every Sunday service bulletin. If you feel called to serve on the Vestry, please know we are available to help you understand what is involved with this awesome responsibility. With sincere appreciation to all who serve the Lord,
-Jackie Senter, Senior Warden |
| Have News to Share in the Grapevine? Send articles and pictures to carol.luther@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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| | The Rev. Mack Olson, Priest-in-Charge
Email: mack.saintpatricks@gmail.com Phone/text: 707-395-5572 |
| St. Patrick’s Upcoming Worship Service In Person and on Zoom |
| | |  | | Fri. December 6 - Wellspring with Sharron Simpson, Contemplative Prayer and Conversation, 10-11:30 Parish Hall
Mon. December 9 - Art with Kate Rogers, 11 am, Common Room
Monday December 9 - Redwood Empire Food Bank, 4 pm
Wed. December 11 - Holy Eucharist with healing @10AM
Saturday January 4 - Nomadic Shelter
Saturday December 14 - Women’s Breakfast, 10am Boudin, Montgomery Village |
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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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| | | | |  | Will be at St. Patrick’s on Monday, December 9, 4 pm in the Parking Lot. |
| Collection Corner: Doing Good!Blessing Bags and F.I.S.H. |
| Blessing Bags are due Sunday, December 8th.
Each bag needs: A Can of Pasta and Meat w/ pop top lid Crackers with Cheese or Peanut Butter A Boxed Drink A Granola/Trail Mix Bar Napkin and sturdy plastic fork |
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Please consider sending a monetary contribution to F.I.S.H. P.O. Box 4291 Santa Rosa, CA 95402
or putting non-perishable food in the basket in the Narthex. The need is great. Thank you,
Eleanor Albon and on behalf of Margaret Merchat, Leslie Clark and Kerin McTaggert |
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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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