 | 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" |
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Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
Beloved People of God, I am hearing daily stories from migrants and their friends about the confusion and distress they face as their lives have turned upside down by the fear of the unknown, of separation and potential violence. The care and support we offer arises directly from biblical mandates in the Old and New Testaments and specifically from our Savior, Jesus, to love our neighbor. Here is a short list of examples, in addition to the Matthew passage that opens this message: Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43; Matthew 19:19; Mark 12:33; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8. As a Christian denomination, we have a long history of offering loving service to immigrant families. When conflict erupts abroad, new families seek refuge here and we are blessed by their work and presence. Indeed, we are a nation filled with immigrants from many generations and all corners of the world. In the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, we will continue to support neighbors of all sorts, equipping them with food, childcare, education, and information to know their rights. These are our tangible acts of mercy, and our spiritual work is even deeper: We are a people of prayer: praying for all elected leaders and those in need every Sunday. We are a people growing in Christ: we know God is cultivating a spirit of loving-kindness in our congregations and in our hearts. We are a people who are welcoming: people who feel tossed by chaos and fear can find a safe haven with us. We are a people with a living relationship to Christ: we can listen deeply and compassionately to those who feel alone. We are a people called to walk with each other: we accompany all who walk a difficult road, even as we ourselves are being companioned by our Savior. We are a people called by Christ to pray and give persistent loving service.
This is how we love our neighbor. As we learn to navigate the changes affecting our houses of worship and funding for aid programs, we will be convening sessions with experts to help ensure we understand our rights and responsibilities. We will share details on these educational opportunities as they are solidified. Despite the emerging challenges to our work, we continue to be guided by our Church’s mission to love our neighbors. “I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, being rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:16-17.
In Christ, |
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The Rt. Rev. Megan M. Traquair Bishop |
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| |  | |  | Dear All,
Thank you to Adelene, Carolina, Polly, Lori/Tim, sub driver Eric and rep Hiya. With smiling faces and cheerful conversation, the clients made their way down the tables to get what they needed.
The "flood gates" opened tonight! 29 were waiting in line before we opened at 4:30 p.m. More came, keeping the line long, so the street sign was brought in at 5:00 - we were running out of food. We reduced the portions given to each family so that each family could receive something.
When we closed at 5:30, 71 families/267 individuals had received REFB food! We haven't had this many since the beginning of the pandemic. On April 21, 2020, we had 73 families/305 individuals - our highest ever! The count dropped significantly after that with no way to know why. And. there's no way to know if tonight was a "fluke" or the beginning of a new trend. Time will tell!
Please know: one of REFB's challenges is to not waste food. Fresh produce has to be distributed quickly; cold or frozen food has to be kept at certain temperatures. If too much is sent to a distribution, there's the real possibility of waste. Based on our past counts, Hiya requested food for 50 today; hence our shortage. She'll ask for food for 65 for our next Feb 10 distribution, having no way to know if that will be sufficient.
With joy, we learned that our former REFB rep, Arturo and his wife, are now the proud parents of a baby girl, born Friday, Jan 24! Our best wishes to the new parents and to a very fortunate baby girl!
Volunteers for Feb 10 are not yet assigned. I'll contact those when I know! Eleanor |
| | Congratulations to our newly elected vestry members Kate Aldrich Dakota Borgfeldt Hutch Gibb Candace MacNair
and a big THANK YOU to our delegates to diocesan convention Marti Hoeft Ron Keith Sandy Keith Candace MacNair (and Jackie Senter, Leslie Clark, Pat McEntee, alternates) |
| | Saturday February 1 - Nomadic Shelter
Sunday February 2 - Carol Luther’s House Church
Monday, Feb. 3 - No Art Class |
| Saturday February 8 - Women’s Breakfast, 10am Boudin, Montgomery Village |
| A Message from the Planned Giving Ministry |
| We live on through our legacies, but without a will or trust to guide your heirs, all that you have might end up at the Dastardly Land and Water Pollution Society!! It is very important that you make sure that you will live on in ways that honor what you have been and done. Attend our upbeat workshop on Wednesday February 19, 11 am in the Parish Hall. Immortalize your dreams, free yourself from worry, and live well!
The Planned Giving Ministry members include Laurie Boone-Hogen, Ann and Alec Peters and Stephanie Chapralis McCaffrey. |
| | | 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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| Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Nursing homes, preoccupied with safety, pin patients into railed beds and wheelchairs. Hospitals isolate the dying, checking for vital signs long after the goals of cure have become moot. Doctors, committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that in the end extend suffering.
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. |
| | | To Celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Christ at the Temple, tenor Mark Kratz and mezzo soprano Jackie Senter will sing a duet of “Ave Maria.” |
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| | 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. January 24 Wellspring with Sharron Simpson, Contemplative Prayer and Conversation, 10-11:30 Parish Hall
Saturday February 1 - Nomadic Shelter
Mon. February 3 - Art with Kate Rogers, 11 am, Common Room WILL NOT MEET
Wednesday, February 5 - Eucharist and Healing
Monday February 10 - Redwood Empire Food Bank, 4:30 pm
Saturday February 8 - 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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| | | | | Collection Corner: Doing Good!Blessing Bags and F.I.S.H. |
| Blessing Bags are due Sunday, February 9
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 bring Peanut Butter, Canned Tuna, Canned Soup. Canned Chicken or
Consider sending a monetary contribution to F.I.S.H. P.O. Box 4291 Santa Rosa, CA 95402
Thank you, Eleanor Albon, Margaret Merchat, Leslie Clark, and Kerin McTaggert |
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| | Carol’s Corner: A Black Rock Blessing and An Invitation |
| The world now is too dangerous and too beautiful for anything but love. May your eyes be so blessed you see God in everyone. Your ears, so you hear the cry of the poor. May your hands be so blessed that everything you touch is a sacrament. Your lips, so you speak nothing but the truth with love. May your feet be so blessed you run to those who need you. And may your heart be so opened, so set on fire, that your love, your love, changes everything.
This prayer opens the Black Rock Prayer Book, prepared by the Episcopal Church Evangelism Society to be used at the Burning Man. Many I know have worshipped at this camp. Some were changed forever by its outpouring of grace. |
| | I’m opening my afternoon Bible Study to all. Meets 4:00 on Zoom. Liturgy of the Word, homily, conversation. A chance to deepen your Sundays. We end promptly at 5. |
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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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