September 2010 Vol. 12 No. 8 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: Mary Banks, 539-7378

Table of Contents for September 2010 [Vol. 12 No. 8]

GRATITUDE AND THE BRAIN TURNING POINTS AROUND ST PATRICK'S SEPTEMBER AT ST PATRICK'S HARVEST LUNCHEON PILGRIMAGE AS TOTAL MINISTRY

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GRATITUDE AND THE BRAIN

In the old order, "Stewardship" meant the Every Member Canvass in the fall. Each member of the parish was asked to pledge and warned how much the church needed to pay its bills. There would be anxiety about whether people would give enough, which led to a corporate guilt complex.

Times change! Now St Patrick's follows the Diocese's lead, which follows the attitude of the national church. We are invited to give, as a reflection of our gratitude.

I have been reading Jill Bolte Taylor's book, My Stroke of Insight (2006). Ironically, Jill is a brain scientist, who had a left-side stroke at the age of 37. She knew what was happening inside her brain and afterwards was able to reconstruct the course of events. Jill describes the two hemispheres of the brain. She said: "Because they process information differently, each hemisphere thinks about different things, they care about different things? Our right hemisphere is all about this present moment. It's all about right here, right now...Our left hemisphere thinks linearly and methodically. [It] thinks in language. It's that ongoing brain chatter that connects me and my internal world to my external world. As soon as my left hemisphere says to me "I am," I become separate. I become a single solid individual separate from the energy flow around me and separate from you."

Her stroke knocked out the left brain with its critical thinking. Along with the acute pain, she experienced euphoria. "It was beautiful there? So here I am in this space and any stress related to me, to my job, it was gone. And I felt lighter in my body. And imagine all of the relationships in the external world and the many stressors related to any of those, they were gone. I felt a sense of peacefulness."

What does this tell us about stewardship and gratitude? Once we set aside the left brain and heed the right brain, we become no longer separate, but united with every other human being in community. We leave behind that part of ourselves that is stubborn, arrogant, sarcastic, jealous, a sore loser, begrudging, dishonest, vengeful-the opposite of all that Paul (1 Corinthians 13) tells us that love is. Without the left brain, we are no longer calculating or anxious, afflicted by our internal messages.

Gratitude flows out of our right brains. Jill says, "The easiest way I have found to humble myself back into a state of peaceful grace is through the act of gratitude" and "When I am simply grateful, life is simply great!" When we are compassionate we activate our right brains. The one word she chooses to describe what the right brain is all about is JOY.

It seems to me that the old order of stewardship arose from our left-brains while the new dispensation is from the right brain. Jill says that we have some choice about whether we allow our left-brain to dominate. As "responsible" people we are "response-able." She consciously avoids places in the mind where impatience, criticism and unkindness live. Anytime her awareness drifts there, she consciously moves to her now-familiar right side, where compassion and a subjective sense of time make a connection between joy and giving in its many forms: giving money, giving of skills to serve others, giving time for prayer and meditation, giving time for worship within the community of faith.

Hugh Stevenson

TURNING POINTS

All find a welcome:
Candy Akers has returned to Oakmont from Lake County.
Kay Lehr has moved to Glen Ellen.
Joanne Nagel, neighbor of the Randolphs.
June Lyons, from Sonoma on August 8.
Peter & Naoko Vincent on August 15.

For this, much thanks:

Canon Britt Olson, the Bishop's assistant, preached and celebrated on July 25.

Musicians at the Guitar Mass on July 18:

Tom & Pat Babb	Marshall Ward
Kathy Littman	Raymond Skipp
Dennis Studebaker	The Spauldings
Terry McNally	Russ Kirby

& Judy Buff who organized the service
And our guests from cursillo.

Farewell to:
Mary MacDonald, an 8 a.m. service attendee since March 2010, is moving to Denver to be closer to family.
We lament the departure of Pastor Andrew Metcalf from Kenwood Community Church.

Relocation:
Buffy Treat to Paulin Creek on Range Ave.
Darlene Craigie to 324 Oakleaf Circle.
Mark & Christine Jenkins to 425 Carrillo St.

We will exalt you, O God, our King:
To Darci and Bob Alderson on the birth of their grandson, Emmett Scott born May 30, and to Scott and Alex, the parents. Scott is serving in the air force at Mountain Home, Idaho.
Jamie Crouse, grandson of Marge Ruehrdanz has returned safely from Afghanistan.
Antica Odabashian has a new great granddaughter, Alexis, born July 5.

Congratulations to:
Bobette Watson, Elsie Bassett, Buffy Treat and Jini Bauer on their 90th birthdays.

We ask God's protection
of those serving in the military overseas:
Ian Papworth in Afghanistan and Andrew Belding in Iraq.

Blessings on:
George Siela, and the twins of Karen and George Siela, Michael and Elizabeth who were baptized at the celebration of George Anderson's 100th birthday, July 10.
Scott Williams and Rebecca Cook were married at Chateau St Jean on August 7.

May they rest in peace:
Dorothy Mowry died on July 27, she was 97 ½. She used to live on Oak Leaf Drive. She moved to Charleston, SC in Feb 2000 to be closer to her daughter Dorie Runyon. She and her husband Frank were members of St Patrick's from its earliest days. Frank was a vestry member in 1967. Frank died in 1998. Their son, Greg, died tragically in 2006 aged 58.
Jim Dale was a member of Incarnation and sometimes attended since 2006 our 8am service with his wife Thorne. Jim died on Aug 5.

Deepest sympathy:
Emile Lammam brother of Sam Lammam and Minerva Haddad died on July 20.
Ted Mower, husband of Barbara Hunt's sister Lydia, who died August 13.

May they know God's healing power:

Conner Johnson	Peg Robins
Greta MacLeod	Ed Dill
John Orb	Pat Amich
Frank Barner	Harry Fry
Josephine Frommel	Shirley Pippin
Fred Bauer	Helen Clasper

Mary Beth, daughter of Wendy & John Gallagher
Harv and Jeanne Doron

AROUND ST. PATRICK'S

PILGRIMAGE TEA
You are cordially invited to attend an informational "English (or Cornish!) Tea" in the Parish Hall at 5:30 on Saturday evening, October 9, 2010. Think of it as a potluck with Cornish Pasties and Devonshire cream on Scones.

Hugh Stevenson and Jim Rawls will offer some highlights (and a few surprises) of the upcoming pilgrimage to England they will be leading, May 13-23, 2011. All are welcome who would like to learn more about the pilgrimage. If you wish to attend the tea, please leave a message for Angela Stevenson at 707-571-3743. Just bring a main dish, salad, or dessert to share (also BYOB). Hope to see you there!

ADULT EDUCATION: Pilgrimage
We begin a new course in September at 9:00 a.m. (between the services) in the Common Room taught by Jim Rawls and Hugh Stevenson.

• Sept 12: An Introduction to Pilgrimage: On the nature of pilgrimage and the antiquities of Cornwall and the West, including missionary Saints Petroc, Piran, and Ia (6th century).
• Sept 19: Arthurian Legends: Focused on the ruins at Tintagel, a reflection on the legendary King Arthur (early 6th century), Camelot, and the Quest for the Holy Grail.
• Sept 26: The Monastic Ideal: Inward and outward journeys by medieval monks of the West Country, as manifested at Hurley Priory, and Glastonbury and Buckfast Abbeys (10th to 12th centuries).
• Oct 3: West from the West: A consideration of William Bradford (1590-1667) and the Pilgrim Fathers who sailed from Plymouth in 1620; and of John Wesley (1703-1791) whose missionary journey to Georgia in 1735 preceded his establishment of the first Methodist chapel in Bristol.
• Oct 10: The World of Wessex: A reflection on the imagined landscape created by Dorchester-native Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), journeying inward to explore the "brave new world" created by the industrial revolution; recapitulation of "A Pilgrimage to the West Country.

WORSHIP PLANNING
The Worship Committee of St. Patrick's meets quarterly before each major season of the year: Advent/Christmas, Lent/Easter, Pentecost/ summer, and the fall schedule. The committee discusses and plans the services, and supports our Rector in an advisory capacity. We also discuss new ideas and plans for improving our worship at St. Patrick's. Representatives from the Altar Guild, Choir, Sunshine Committee, and Acolytes participate.

A worship survey was conducted in June and several parishioners submitted recommendations, suggestions, and constructive criticisms to be considered by the committee.
Minerva Haddad, Chair

Reports about other parish committees will appear in future Grapevines.

THANKS
FROM KENWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH
The KCC Pancake Breakfast and Auction was a huge success for KCC. Many thanks to you and St. Pat's for your wonderful support. We had a few glitches at the Breakfast, and will have them cleared up by next year, i.e. slow pancake cooking and running out of food. It was a great boost for KCC netting over $7500, a lot of work by a lot of people. We hope the parade goes on next year. Please express our thanks to your congregation for their support.
Randy Ruark, Moderator

FROM CAMP NOEL PORTER
A note of thanks to St Patrick's' recent gift to CNP. Please express my deep and grateful appreciation for the people of St Patrick's. It is through on-going gifts such as yours that we are able to continue this valuable ministry.
Jenni Liem, Camp Director

So far we have sent over $1200 this year from donations for birthdays and anniversaries.

SEPTEMBER AT ST. PATRICK'S

RECTOR'S COURSE
The Rector will be in Connecticut for the 2nd stage of the Clergy Leadership Project September 24-October 2. The preacher and celebrant on Sunday, September 26 will be the Rev Harry Allagree. There will be no midweek service on September 29.

FRAN MORRELL
Fran, our communications coordinator will be away, August 31 to September 14.

JAZZ MASS
On September 5, Robert Young will be leading his traditional Jazz band, the Eldorado Syncopators, at the 10:00 a.m. service. They will lead us in the singing of When the Saints and other Gospel songs.

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
The first meeting of the fall will be September 5 after the 10:00 a.m. service in the Common Room. If you have a name you would like added to the list, call Jane Hall at 217-3970.

SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES
Raymond Skipp continues as the Sunday school teacher. Class begins on September 12 in the Sunday school room next to the church.

Sunday school will be every Sunday.

MEN'S LUNCH
The men meet at Playa Azul at 11:30 a.m. on September 20. All men are invited. Contact Harold Poehlmann (539-7097).

PIANO RECITAL
Sylvia O'Neill, Alan Rea and Robert Young will play Bach's concerto for three pianos on September 26.

FALL SCHEDULE: OCTOBER 10
We revert to three services: 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. October 10. During September, the services will be at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., with Sunday school during the 10:00 a.m. service.

SEPTEMBER WEDDINGS
Sept 5. Matthew Appel and Sarah Haggberg will be married by her grandfather, Bill Sell-Lee.
Sept 25. Per Rosdahl and Diana Cardenas will be married by Bishop George Hunt.
Oct 1. Ryan Opatz and Miranda Soares will be married by her godfather, Gary Lemery.
Oct 3. William McDonald and Megan Kemph will be married by Hugh Stevenson.

CURSILLO WEEKENDS
September 16-19 Men's team Bob Priestly is the Assistant Head Cook, Terry McNally is the music director and Charlie Buff is on the team.
October 7-10 Women's team Raymond Skipp is the music director and Susan Skipp and Pat Babb are on the team.
Feb 24-27, 2011 Co-ed team John and Cathy Landon are on the team
Cursillo is a weekend course at the Angela Center, behind Cardinal Newman High School. All cursillos are taking names of candidates. Are you interested? Judy Buff can tell you more.

THE HARVEST LUNCHEON

Is presented to you by ECW and the Sierra Youth Center on Saturday, September 11, from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

All proceeds from ticket sales, centerpieces and craft items go to the Sierra Youth Center. Cost: $15 per ticket (Only 100 tickets will be sold.)

We have invited Valley of the Moon Rotary and the Santa Rosa Masters Gardeners Club because they have worked with these girls on their wonderful veggie garden and orchard. The produce for our luncheon is all from the vegetable garden at SYC. The girls are tending the garden, doing all of the harvesting, prep, cooking and cleanup for the luncheon. They are learning valuable life skills.

Some of the girls are training Companion Dogs and will demonstrate their training techniques. Some of their artwork on display and there will be some of their craft items available for sale.

Funding for the Sierra Youth Center was almost cut in this year's budget crunch. Only by an outpouring of protests was this decision reversed. This program is dependant on the generosity of the community. Let's show them how much we care!

ECW GENERAL MEETING
All women of the parish are requested to attend. Tuesday, September 14 at 11 a.m. This important meeting will discuss and vote on revisions to the bylaws and discuss future plans for ECW. Bring a bag luncheon with dessert and drinks provided. We need to have a quorum. All St. Patrick's women are automatically members of ECW.

For further info, see Marge Ruehrdanz.

OKTOBERFEST
October 16, 5:30 p.m. dinner catered by Café Europa and auction. Fundraiser for ECW charities (Sierra Youth Center, YWCA, Salvation Army Christmas program, and Social Advocates for Youth). Seats for 100 people; tickets are $15. We are looking for items and services to auction. What can you offer?

Please contact Jean Derum (e-mail jderum@comcast.net or phone 523-4553).

PRAYER FOR HAITI
At a service for Haiti in the National Cathedral in January, the Presiding Bishop said, "our remembering has to be long-term. May today's compassion be transformed into a steely will to continue caring for the least." In July, 6 months after the quake, there were reports about the reconstruction of Port-au-Prince in the media. This prayer was said in the National Cathedral.

Gracious God, we lift our voice in prayer with all the people in the world. Surround Haiti and all her people with your loving embrace that they may be
Supported by the world in the work of rescue and recovery;

Comforted as they grieve;
Strengthened as they bury the dead;
Healed as they tend the wounds;
Restored in faith and the hope of things unseen; and
Transformed through the newness of life in Christ.

DOROTHY BELL'S PRAYER
Dorothy died earlier this year just before her 106th birthday, which we celebrated on August 1. Dorothy wrote this prayer in spring 1999.

Dear Lord: We thank thee for this place in which we dwell; for the love that unites us; for the peace accorded us this day; for the hope with which we expect tomorrow; for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies that make our life delightful; for our friends and families in all parts of the earth.

Give us the courage and gaiety and the quiet mind and in all changes of fortune, keep us loyal and loving to one another.

We ask this in Christ's name. Amen

PILGRIMAGE AS TOTAL MINISTRY

For the past several years, I've been co-leading pilgrimages to sacred sites in the British Isles. On each of our pilgrimages, we've experienced a total immersion in the spiritual riches of the lands through which we were traveling.

As engaging as travel-films and other forms of armchair-travel may be, there's nothing like being out in the field, surrounded by the sights and sounds and smells of an exotic landscape. All the senses are engaged. While on pilgrimage, we make sure that our spiritual sense also is fully alert and receptive.

Rick Steves recently published a book called Travel as a Political Act, a reflection on how his travels have transformed his view of the world and his role in it. Travel also may be regarded as a spiritual act. Ideally, we return from a pilgrimage with our faith deepened and our spiritual lives enriched.

The Rev Hugh Stevenson and I are leading a pilgrimage next spring to Cornwall and the West Country of England. May 13 through 23, we'll be visiting such iconic sites as Wells and Exeter cathedrals, the Cornish seaside village of St Ives, and St Michael's Mount in Penzance. We'll also be exploring out-of-the-way hidden gems that few tourists ever see-places like Buckfast Abbey, John Wesley's "New Room" in Bristol, and Thomas Hardy's lovely thatched cottage and garden in Dorchester.

We'll experience these sites not as tourists but as pilgrims, for a pilgrimage is not a tour. A pilgrimage is geographical and spiritual journey, both physical and metaphysical. It's a journey in faith, traveling both outward and inward. The outward part takes us through a picturesque landscape; the inward journey takes us deeper into our faith, ever nearer the presence of God.

We're calling next spring's offering A Pilgrimage to the West Country: Journeys Outward and Inward. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website at OnPilgrimage.com or contact us at hugh@stpatskenwood.org.
Jim Rawls

AUGUST VESTRY
We had a full, productive meeting:

• As usual we "spun" the room to share what we were grateful for. Personally I was grateful for the various committees that are furthering the church's ministry; Outreach, Stewardship/Gratitude, Worship, Sunshine, Finance and others have met during the summer.
• The treasurer reported that though expenses are on target, income is about $15,000 behind. We had a thorough discussion of the pros and cons of installing solar panels. We decided to move ahead. The sun will generate most of our electricity and the monthly payments for the panels will be close to what we are currently paying PG&E.
• Charlie Buff reported on the S/G meeting (arrangements for the parish picnic and a timetable for the fall).
• About 25 new members, and six vestry members, are signed up for the New Members Supper.
• We have begun to recruit candidates to be delegates to Diocesan Convention (November 12-13) and for next year's vestry.
• In the community, we lamented the departure of the pastor of the Community Church.
• Ingo Rencken reported that he had taken the Diocesan training for child abuse prevention. He took three teenagers from the parish water rafting and is setting up a project in South Africa for 2011. Does anyone have Delta frequent flier miles?
• Ushers need to lock up the church each Sunday and coffee makers need to ensure the Parish Hall is locked.
• The Sunshine Committee is linking up visitors with those who are housebound.