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1924 Trinity Avenue • Walnut Creek, CA 94596 • (925) 934-2324 Fax: (925) 937-4705 The Epistle January 2008 New dawn of a new year St. Paul’s Episcopal Church - Walnut Creek, CA Blessed 2008! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! We are now at yet another opportunity to start over. As Christians we are gifted with many opportunities to begin again. God’s wonderful gift of reconciliation and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (etc.) chances to “get it right” is a hallmark of our faith. We have liturgical/religious events to mark new beginnings. Each season of the Church year is marked by a transition in spiritual tone, focus, and color. January 1st is another kind of new beginning—it’s time for the year to move forward from 2007 to 2008; it’s time for new resolutions; it’s time for a new budget cycle to begin; and for us as a parish it’s also time to elect new leadership on our Vestry. We have a wonderful year ahead starting with our Par- ish’s Annual Meeting (January 27th). For the first time in many years we have eight candidates running for four vestry positions. Take the time to carefully read the biographies of the candidates and prayerfully choose the people who will lead with me next year. You will get the budget at least one week prior to the Annual Meeting so that you’ll have time to study it and ask questions. We will have a streamlined meeting that will be dynamic, interactive, interesting, and we will use multi-me- dia presentations to move things along. Our Annual Meeting will take place in the context of worship so that we remain prayerfully present to God’s guiding hand in our decisions for our Church. Childcare and activities for the children will be provided! After the meeting and our worship are completed, the whole parish is invited to a lovely brunch hosted by the Vestry. We’ll have scrumptious food (home baked goods, smoked salmon, egg/ cheese/ham casserole, etc.) and wonderful fellowship as we honor the retiring Vestry mem- bers. We begin with registration at 9am, Holy Eucharist begins at 9:30am and we will be eating our meal by 11:30am. After our brunch we’ll have a press conference to formally inaugurate our Solar Panel system. The media will be invited to join us at 12 noon for the ribbon cutting cer- emony. What will the New Year bring? I am counting on more blessings working with you to build up the Body of Christ. I’d love to expand Godly Play to add more children (so we’ll need more teachers), let’s help the Senior Ministry Group grow, let’s develop a stronger Young Adult min- istry, let’s add more hospital visitors, let’s support Fresh Start’s new herb garden. I think we
Transcript

1924 Trinity Avenue • Walnut Creek, CA 94596 • (925) 934-2324 Fax: (925) 937-4705

The Epistle

January 2008

New dawn of a new year

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church - Walnut Creek, CA

Blessed 2008!¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

We are now at yet another opportunity to start over. As Christians we are gifted with many opportunities to begin again. God’s wonderful gift of reconciliation and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (etc.) chances to “get it right” is a hallmark of our faith. We have liturgical/religious events to mark new beginnings. Each season of the Church year is marked by a transition in spiritual tone, focus, and color.

January 1st is another kind of new beginning—it’s time for the year to move forward from 2007 to 2008; it’s time for new resolutions; it’s time for a new budget cycle to begin; and for us as a parish it’s also time to elect new leadership on our Vestry.

We have a wonderful year ahead starting with our Par-ish’s Annual Meeting (January 27th). For the first time in many years we have eight candidates running for four vestry positions. Take the time to carefully read the biographies of the candidates and prayerfully choose

the people who will lead with me next year. You will get the budget at least one week prior to the Annual Meeting so that you’ll have time to study it and ask questions. We will have a streamlined meeting that will be dynamic, interactive, interesting, and we will use multi-me-dia presentations to move things along. Our Annual Meeting will take place in the context of worship so that we remain prayerfully present to God’s guiding hand in our decisions for our Church. Childcare and activities for the children will be provided!

After the meeting and our worship are completed, the whole parish is invited to a lovely brunch hosted by the Vestry. We’ll have scrumptious food (home baked goods, smoked salmon, egg/cheese/ham casserole, etc.) and wonderful fellowship as we honor the retiring Vestry mem-bers.

We begin with registration at 9am, Holy Eucharist begins at 9:30am and we will be eating our meal by 11:30am. After our brunch we’ll have a press conference to formally inaugurate our Solar Panel system. The media will be invited to join us at 12 noon for the ribbon cutting cer-emony.

What will the New Year bring? I am counting on more blessings working with you to build up the Body of Christ. I’d love to expand Godly Play to add more children (so we’ll need more teachers), let’s help the Senior Ministry Group grow, let’s develop a stronger Young Adult min-istry, let’s add more hospital visitors, let’s support Fresh Start’s new herb garden. I think we

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In This IssuePage 3

Annual MeetingProposed Change

to St. Paul’s BylawsNominating CommitteeCandidates for Vestry

Candidates for Alternates to Diocesan Convention

Page 4Annual Meeting - FAQs

Page 5If it’s purple, it must be Lent...

or Advent...which is it?

Pages 6 - 8January CalendarUpcoming Events

Page 9 Family Newsletter

Page 10Vestry Candidate

Savannah AmersonVestry Candidate Stephanie Asker

Fall Rummage Sale Disbursements

Page 11Vestry Candidate

Jana BakerVestry Candidate

John HuntVestry Candidate

Susan Schroder Mendes

Page 12 Vestry Candidate

Marianne Orton JohnsonVestry Candidate Amanda Szakats

Mardi Gras - February 5

Page 13Vestry Candidate

Tom TchengDecember Financials

Valentine Tea

Page 14Pastoral Care

St. Paul’s Book GroupsDAMIAN - A play performanceat Resurrection in Pleasant Hill

January 18

Page 15Hail and Farewell 2007

Deadline for the February Epistle

is noonJanuary 21

can strengthen our families with more MOMS and DADS seasons, and let’s get a regular and expanded grounds crew to keep our beautiful property looking fabulous.

Remember that we’ll be moving our 9:30am worship service to 10am the first Sunday of June; we’ll begin the Adult Forum in the second Sunday of September, and we’ll change our Advent colors from purple to blue in the last Sunday of November.

Whew! Are you ready? Are you willing? I KNOW you’re able! It’s an-other year, and another chance to make a difference in our commu-nity. Are you with me? LET’S GO!

Blessings,

We’re Leaving On

Our bags are packedand we’re ready to go.

A Jet Plane To Honduras!

These bags repre-sent 1,100 pounds of donated goods St. Paul’s is giv-ing to the church in Honduras. Our mission trip group will take these bags with them as they travel to Hon-duras on January 6. They will return the evening of Jan-uary 13.

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Proposed Change to the St. Paul’s Bylaws

to be voted on by the congregation at the next Annual Meeting, January 27, 2008

4.3 Eligibility of Nominees. All nomi-nees for election as vestry members or delegates/alternates to the Diocesan Con-vention shall be communicants in good standing registered in the parish for at least one year, age eighteen or over, and regular contributors to the support of the parish as confirmed by the pledge trea-surer.

A retiring or resigning vestry member may not again serve on the vestry until one year has elapsed, except that a member completing less than one year two years of service may be elected for a full term. Incumbent delegates/alternates to Dioc-esan Convention may again be nominat-ed and elected as delegates/alternates on expiration of their terms. (Amended by the congregation at the Annual Meet-ing January 17, 1988)

Annual MeetingSunday, January 27, 2008

St. Paul’s Parish Hall

St. Paul’s Nominating Committee

Erik Watson - ChairPhyllis Bolton

Elizabeth McQuillanSteve Masterson

Fran SchroderWhitney Wilson

The 120th Annual Meeting of St. Paul’s will be held on Sunday, January 27, 2008. In addition to the Rector’s Annual Address to the congre-gation, there will be reports from the various ministry teams, and voting by the members of St. Paul’s congregation as defined in the parish Bylaws. The election of four new Ves-try members, six Alternate Delegates to the Diocesan Convention, and a proposed change to our Bylaws as described below. The nom-inees for Vestry and Alternate Delegates to Diocesan Convention are listed on this page. The Annual Meeting will be combined with the 9:30 am service. Registration begins at 9:00 am and childcare will be available. A meal will be served follow-ing the meeting.

Candidates For Vestry 2008(Vote for 4)

1) Savannah Amerson 2) Stephanie Asker 3) Jana Baker 4) John Hunt 5) Susan Mendes 6) Marianne Orton 7) Amanda Szakats 8) Tom Tcheng

Candidates for Alternates to Diocesan Convention in 2008

Delegates for 2009 (Vote for 6)

1 additional Delegate will be elected by the 2008 Vestry from its members at the Febru-ary 2008 Vestry meeting 1) Lee Baxter 2) Pat Baxter 3) Chuck Glass 4) Hugh Harvey 5) Donna Herdman 6) Mike Yale

Retiring members of the Vestry are: Donna Colombo, Noel Fuentes, Erik Wat-son, and Ken White. Also Susan Burpee is retiring as Clerk of the Vestry.

Retiring Delegates are: Russ Anderson, Susan Couch, Christy DeVoe, Jacqui Ewing, and Sheafe Ewing. Earl Tarble resigned when he moved to Reno in Au-gust.

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Annual Meeting - January 27, 2008What does that mean to me?

FAQs about the Annual Meeting

1. What is an Annual Meeting? - The definition of “annual meeting” according to A Dictionary for Episcopalians by John N. Wall is: Required meeting of each parish every year at which the rector, vestry, and other church leaders report to the congregation on the state of the parish. In addition, the annual budget is presented and new vestry members are elected.

2. Who may attend the Annual Meeting? - Everyone is welcome to attend the annual meeting. However, not everyone who attends is allowed to vote for new vestry members or any other elec-tions.

3. What are the requirements for someone to be able to vote in the elections? - According to the By-Laws of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church - Walnut Creek (item 3.6) , a person is eligible to vote if: (i) that member is aged sixteen years or over, and (ii) that member’s name has been registered on the parish register for the six month period preceding the meeting in question.

4. What does “registered on the parish register” mean? - All baptized persons whose baptism has been duly recorded in the parish register and all persons confirmed or received in the Church whose confirmation, reception or transfer is duly recorded in the parish register are members of this parish.

5. Do we get to ask questions at the Annual Meeting? - Yes, at the appropriate “Question and Answer” part of the meeting.

6. I have children so what will they do during the meeting? - There will be activities for the children in another area of the St. Paul’s campus. We WELCOME and ENCOURAGE all parents with young children to attend this meeting. Your participation is very important to the growth of St. Paul’s.

7. I have attended previous Annual Meetings and found them long and boring. What makes this one different? There is a new format in progress and it will be something different from any other annual meeting in recent history. So give it a chance.........the Super Bowl is the following Sunday and neither the Raiders nor the 49ers have a snowball’s chance in...............well, they won’t be playing! Your feedback about the meeting is very important and you will be given the oppor-tunity at the end of the meeting to give it.

8. I have others questions about the Annual Meeting. Whom may I contact for more in-formation? - You may contact our Rector, the Reverend M. Sylvia O. Vásquez, either by phone (925) 934-2324 or email [email protected], or contact the Parish Office at the same phone number or email [email protected].

See you on January 27!!!

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If it’s purple, it must be Lent...or Advent...which is it?

by The Rev. Philip T. Brochard

Have you ever wondered as you looked at the color of the liturgy, expressed in the hangings and the vest-ments that the altar party was wearing, “Why in the world is the church dressed up in this color?” As Litur-gical Artist Mary Ann Breisch has said, “When we use color in our worship as a community, it is like using a shared visual language, just as we sing and pray spe-cial songs and prayers together for each season.” The colors that we use, then, can be a way to make mani-fest the intentions and the emotions of the season that we celebrate. The fire-red of Pentecost, the pure cel-ebration of white in Easter, and the growing green of Ordinary Time (Pentecost through Advent), all of these colors speak visually. Each has its own meaning and points to an aspect of the theology of that time of the Church’s calendar.

It is no different as we approach the cradle of Christ in Advent. Yet this year, starting the first Sunday of Ad-vent 2008, instead of purple, we will be using a color known as Sarum Blue. Like purple, the color blue has long been associated with royalty, and in this season we anticipate the coming of a King. When we use blue instead of purple, though, the tone in which this is celebrated is slightly different. In Lent, the purple that we use is associated with penitence, fitting for this season of penitential preparation for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. However, as the sacramental theologian (and friend of St. Paul’s) Prof. Louis Weil has pointed out, “Our traditional Ad-vent hymnody with its abundant use of ‘alleluias’ sig-nals to us that Advent is not a penitential season but rather a season of God’s victory.”

The difference in theme and understanding of Advent comes in part from differing traditions in the Church. The focus in Southern Europe for centuries was the ex-pectation of the birth of the Christ child, an anticipation with joy (hence the “alleluias”). In Northern Europe, however, this time of year the theme of the coming Judgment of Christ at the end of time was dominant. Because of this penitential nature, the use of the Lent-en purple began to be associated with this time to pre-pare for Christmas. Our own lectionary uses both of

these themes alongside one another, that we prepare for the birth of the Christ child, the King that came and that we prepare the the Kingdom to come.

The Rev. Jim Stickney, Interim Rector of St. John’s in Clayton, is wearing a Sarum Blue chasuble.

This Month at St. Paul’s - January 2008 Tuesday, January 1 - New Year’s Day - PARISH OFFICE CLOSED ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship HouseWednesday, January 2 ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall 12:00 Noon AlAnon Wednesday Group Fellowship House 7:00 PM Honduras Packing Meeting Parish Office WingThursday, January 3 ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship House 12:15 PM Holy Eucharist Chapel 7:00 PM Annual Meeting Planning Meeting Library 7:30 PM Choir Practice Church 7:45 PM SLAA -Thursday Group Fellowship HouseFriday, January 4 - Parish Office Closed ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish HallSaturday, January 5 ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM AA Meeting Fellowship House 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Bookstore 11:00 AM Memorial Service Chapel 4:00 PM Renewal of Wedding Vows - Szakats ChapelSunday, January 6 - Epiphany ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall 7:30 AM Men’s Breakfast Fellowship House 7:30 AM Holy Eucharist Chapel 9:15 AM Godly Play Classrooms 9:30 AM Holy Eucharist Church 10:00 AM AA Meeting Fellowship House 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM AlAnon Sunday Group Fellowship House 6:30 PM Youth Group Youth CenterMonday, January 7 ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall ALL DAY Honduras Adult Mission Trip Honduras 7:00 PM SLAA - Monday Group Fellowship HouseTuesday, January 8 ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall ALL DAY Honduras Adult Mission Trip Honduras 10:00 AM Staff Meeting Library 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship House 1:00 PM Book Club Bookstore 6:30 PM Peace Creations Fellowship House 7:00 PM Outreach Ministry Team Meeting LibraryWednesday, January 9 ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall ALL DAY Honduras Adult Mission Trip Honduras 9:30 AM Youth Homes Edelweiss Chapter Library 12:00 Noon AlAnon Wednesday Group Fellowship HouseThursday, January 10 ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall ALL DAY Honduras Adult Mission Trip Honduras 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship House 12:15 PM Holy Eucharist Chapel 7:30 PM Choir Practice Church 7:45 PM SLAA -Thursday Group Fellowship HouseFriday, January 11 - Parish Office Closed ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall ALL DAY Honduras Adult Mission Trip Honduras

Saturday, January 12 ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall ALL DAY Honduras Adult Mission Trip Honduras 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM AA Meeting Fellowship House 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Bookstore

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Sunday, January 13 - The First Sunday after The Epiphany ALL DAY Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall ALL DAY Honduras Adult Mission Trip Honduras 7:30 AM Men’s Breakfast Fellowship House 7:30 AM Holy Eucharist Chapel 8:30 AM Gifts & Memorials Meeting Library 9:15 AM Godly Play Classrooms 9:30 AM Holy Eucharist Church 10:00 AM AA Meeting Fellowship House 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM AlAnon Sunday Group Fellowship House 6:30 PM Youth Group Youth CenterMonday, January 14 UNTIL NOON Warm Winter Nights Parish Hall 1:00 PM Shelter Meal Preparation Parish Hall Kitchen 6:00 PM Food Addicts Anonymous Livingston Conference Room 7:00 PM Voices of Musica Sacra Church 7:00 PM Healing Eucharist Chapel 8:00 PM Healing Ministry Prayer Group LibraryTuesday, January 15 10:00 AM Staff Meeting Library 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship House 6:30 PM Peace Creations Fellowship House 7:00 PM Vestry Meeting Livingston Conference Room 7:30 PM Boy Scouts Parish HallWednesday, January 16 12:00 Noon AlAnon Wednesday Group Fellowship HouseThursday, January 17 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship House 12:15 PM Holy Eucharist Chapel 7:00 PM Book Group Bookstore 7:30 PM Choir Practice Church 7:45 PM SLAA -Thursday Group Fellowship HouseFriday, January 18 - Parish Office Closed

Saturday, January 19 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM AA Meeting Fellowship House 9:00 AM Good SAMS Meeting Livingston Conference Room 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM BookstoreSunday, January 20 - The Second Sunday after The Epiphany 7:30 AM Men’s Breakfast Fellowship House 7:30 AM Holy Eucharist Chapel 8:30 AM Coffee Hour Parish Hall 9:15 AM Godly Play Classrooms 9:30 AM Holy Eucharist Church 10:00 AM AA Meeting Fellowship House 10:45 AM Coffee Hour Parish Hall 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM AlAnon Sunday Group Fellowship HouseMonday, January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. - PARISH OFFICE CLOSED 6:00 PM Food Addicts Anonymous Livingston Conference Room 7:00 PM SLAA - Monday Group Fellowship House 7:00 PM Voices of Musica Sacra ChurchTuesday, January 22 10:00 AM Staff Meeting Library 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship House 6:30 PM Peace Creations Fellowship House 7:00 PM Vestry Meeting Livingston Conference Room 7:30 PM Boy Scouts Parish HallWednesday, January 23 10:00 AM - Noon Contra Costa County In-Home Care Parish Hall 12:00 Noon AlAnon Wednesday Group Fellowship House

Thursday, January 24 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship House 12:15 PM Holy Eucharist Chapel 7:30 PM Choir Practice Church 7:45 PM SLAA -Thursday Group Fellowship HouseFriday, January 25 - Parish Office Closed

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Saturday, January 26 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM AA Meeting Fellowship House 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Bookstore ALL DAY Annual Meeting Preparation Parish HallSunday, January 27 - The Third Sunday after The Epiphany 7:30 AM Men’s Breakfast Fellowship House 7:30 AM Holy Eucharist Chapel 9:00 AM Annual Meeting Registration 9:15 AM Godly Play Classrooms 9:30 AM Holy Eucharist and ANNUAL MEETING Parish Hall 10:00 AM AA Meeting Fellowship House 3:00 PM AlAnon Sunday Group Fellowship HouseMonday, January 28 10:30 AM Contra Costa Food Bank Parish Hall, Parking Lot 6:00 PM Food Addicts Anonymous Livingston Conference Room 7:00 PM SLAA - Monday Group Fellowship House 7:00 PM Voices of Musica Sacra Church 7:00 PM Healing Ministry Meeting Parish Hall 7:00 PM Valentine Tea Meeting Library Tuesday, January 29 10:00 AM Staff Meeting Library 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship House 6:30 PM Peace Creations Fellowship House 7:30 PM Boy Scouts Parish HallWednesday, January 30 12:00 Noon AlAnon Wednesday Group Fellowship HouseThursday, January 31 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Fresh Start Fellowship House 12:15 PM Holy Eucharist Chapel 7:30 PM Choir Practice Church 7:45 PM SLAA -Thursday Group Fellowship House

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2008

This Month at St. Paul’s - January 2007 - continues

2008Now until January 14 Warm Winter Nights - Parish HallJanuary 6-13 Adult Mission Trip to HondurasJanuary 15 Vestry Meeting - Livingston Conf RoomJanuary 27 Annual Meeting - Parish HallFebruary 1-3 Youth Group Snow Retreat - Lake TahoeFebruary 6 Ash WednesdayFebruary 9 Valentine Tea - Parish HallFebruary 13-18 Young Adult Misstion Trip to New Or-

leansFebruary 19 Vestry Meeting - Livingston Conf RoomFebruary 22-24 Vestry Retreat - Bishop’s RanchMarch 16 Palm SundayMarch 18 Vestry MeetingMarch 20 Maundy ThursdayMarch 21 Good FridayMarch 22 Easter VigilMarch 23 EasterMarch 29 Basics 4 Marriage - Parish HallApril 12-13 Spring Rummage SaleApril 15 Vestry MeetingMay 11 Pentecost and Mother’s DayMay 20 Vestry MeetingMay 31 Basics 4 Marriage - Parish Hall

June 1 Service Time change to 10:00 amJune 17 Vestry MeetingJuly 15 Vestry MeetingJuly 20 toAugust 3 Family CampAugust 16 Basics 4 Marriage - Parrish HallAugust 19 Vestry Meeting September 7 Sunday morning Adult Forum beginsSeptember 16 Vestry Meeting October 21 Vestry MeetingOctober 25 Basics 4 Marriage - Parish HallNovember 8-9 Fall Rummage SaleNovember 14-16 Women’s RetreatNovember 27 ThanksgivingNovember 30 First Sunday of AdventDecember 16 Vestry MeetingDecember 24-25 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

If you need to schedule a meeting or an event at St. Paul’s, please contact the Parish Office (925) 934-2324 or email [email protected]. All meetings and events using any of the facilities at St. Paul’s need to be coordinated with the Parish Office and reviewed by the staff. If your group meets at St. Paul’s on a regular basis, please make sure to reserve your time and meeting place on the Parish Calendar.

St. Paul s̓ Family NewsletterVol. 3. No. 1 January 2008

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Between 60-70 families met for lots of food, fellow-ship and fun at the Dec. 9 Advent Family Foyer at Alyssa Valladaoʼs home. Thanks to Alyssa for open-ing her home to us and giving us such a fun way to celebrate the Advent season. There will more family foyer events in the New Year.

The Advent Festival was on Sunday, December 2nd and included Advent wreaths, a delicious array of goodies (Thank you, Jen Gossett), and other Advent crafts. Fr. Phil opened the event with a story to give people context for their participation. Thanks to all the volunteers for staffing the tables, bringing food, greens, and other supplies, and helping to set-up and clean up. It wouldnʼt have happened without you.

Each of the four classes of Godly Play had the op-portunity to lead the prayers while lighting the Ad-vent wreath in the sanctuary during the month of De-cember. The prayers reflected the lessons that they learned in their Godly Play class that Sunday.

The Middle School class had many great discussions on forgiveness this Advent. We talked about forgiv-

ing friends and forgiving enemies and ways to for-give. We also wrote a general confession. We will talk about forgiveness more in January. Other topics in next year will include “The Story” and Prayer.

Just A Short Personal Note Of Thanks:As I am typing these articles for the January Epistle, it is December 18th and we are in high-gear getting ready for Christmas. This year, as in past years, I am deeply grateful for my familyʼs participation at St. Paulʼs and Godly Play, especially this time of year. St. Paulʼs “grounds” us and helps us get back to where we are supposed to be. It moves us for the craziness of the malls to the quietness of Les-sons and Carols. It shifts us from the noise of the advertisements to the joyful singing of “Go Tell it on the Mountain.” It takes us from the snowflake holi-day parties to lighting Advent candles in Godly Play class. Godly Play gives me time to talk to the kids about how the Angels must have scared the Shep-herds on that first Christmas Eve. Being in Godly Play class and at St. Paulʼs reminds me that I need to enter the mystery of Christ Jesus ̓birth again and again. And for that I am deeply grateful. –Whitney Wilson

On December 6th, the kids of St. Paulʼs had planned to “walk/ride” in the Parade of Lights at Broadway Plaza but had to cancel at the last minute due to rain. We hope we will be able to participate next year.

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2008 Vestry CandidatesSAVANNAH AMERSON - Matt and I took a big leap and moved to California from Atlanta three years ago. Both of us are born and raised Southerners, so the move took us pretty far from old friends and family. The only bit of family we brought with us was our dog, Ellie, a Boykin Spaniel (the state dog of South Carolina as Matt will proudly tell you). We quickly found a bit of home in St. Paul’s, though, and were married in the Chapel in August 2006. Over the past few years we’ve been in-volved in St. Paul’s community in various ways as our time allowed. We both serve as ushers, I’ve served as a “pinch-hitter” for Fr. Phil’s youth group ministry, and I currently serve as a story teller for Godly Play. Despite the fact that Matt and I joined St. Paul’s as the church was be-ginning a transition we have always felt there is a strong sense of com-munity, and often noticed that many friendly faces keep an eye out for

us. I was raised in the Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up in an active and vibrant youth ministry (we called it EYC). When I began my professional life in Atlanta I vol-unteered as an advisor for the EYC at the cathedral, and also taught Sunday school for grades 9-12. I think that I can offer the vestry a unique perspective because I am both an insider of the church, but an outsider in the sense that I bring experiences from other dioceses. I’m honored to have been nominated and if given the opportunity I look forward to serving St. Paul’s in this new way.

STEPHANIE ASKER - Having lived in New York and Florida, my husband Jim and I moved to Walnut Creek a few years ago to be near some of our family. We had heard about St. Paul’s all the way in New York and were so warmly welcomed here, that we immediately joined. I’m retired now, but practiced for almost thirty years as a psychotherapist and marriage counselor. In previous churches, I had been on the Vestry, was a lector and had started two counseling centers, which drew people from both the congregation and the surrounding community. Many of those people later joined the church. I formed the Grace Fund, which provided money to poor, single mothers in our congregation, went on Cursillo, led Adult Education classes and held many workshops. I was also a delegate to the Diocesan Convention in New York. Here at St. Paul’s I’ve been on the membership committee, a lector, a greeter, started our Counseling Center, been on the Alpha and Women’s Retreat and

a member of Fellowship Groups. I’m also on the Adult Formation Committee and have recently held a series based on my book: Plan B which dealt with communication problems, depression, anxiety and how to live the life you were meant to have.

I would be honored to serve on the St. Paul’s Vestry, and would like to help all of the residents of Walnut Creek know that they can find a home here among so many loving hearts.

Bay Point Health Center $500CCIC $1250CCIH $500Food Pantry $1500Fresh Start $500Honduras Mission Project $500Iglesia El Buen Samarartano-S.F. $500

Fall Rummage Sale DisbursementsJuvenile Hall Chaplain $250Loaves and Fishes $1000Meals on Wheels $500Monument Crisis Center $1000St. Dorothy’s Rest Center Camp $250Wisani DayCare Ctr-Dixie, South Africa $500Youth Homes $500

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2008 Vestry CandidatesJANA BAKER - Many of you may not know me for two reasons: my husband Neal and I attend the 7:30 am service and we have only at-tended St. Paul’s for three years. We have two grown children, Jona-than and Sheryl. I attended San Francisco State University for my BSN in nursing and have been a critical care nurse at St. Francis Me-morial Hospital in San Francisco for 26 years. I attended Pacific School for Religion at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and attained my MA with a focus on BioEthics in 2000. Since becoming a member of St. Paul’s, I have been a member of the Altar Guild for three years, was confirmed as an adult in 2006, and finished the Lay Eucharistice Minister training in the Fall of 2007 and I have begun making home visits. I am a proud member of St. Paul’s and promise to do my best if elected to the Vestry.

JOHN HUNT - My wife and I began attending St. Paul’s in 2004. Over time we became more active and more involved. Our twins, Tyler and Emma where baptized at St. Paul’s in 2005. This past year I have ushered, joined the stewardship committee, the DAD’s group and was a part of the group that developed our mission statement and vision. My wife is one of the Godly Play teachers for the three and four year olds.

My wife and I have been married for eight years and have lived in Lafayette for six years. I work in San Ramon for Institutional Real Estate Inc., as a Conference Program Manager.

I am excited about the possibility of being on the vestry. I have found my experience with St. Paul’s very fulfilling and I would like to

give back in some way. If I am elected, I would like to help contribute to our growth.

SUSAN SCHRODER MENDES - Susan is a native of Walnut Creek and a life long member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Twenty six years ago Susan and Sam were married at St. Paul’s and the Rector of the church baptized their three children, Sam, Brian and Madalyn. Sam attends the University of California: Berkeley, Brian is a student at University of Southern California, and Madalyn, a St. Paul’s acolyte, attends seventh grade at Palmer School.

Susan enjoyed her position as a teacher at Palmer School for many years but has turned in books for aerobic shoes and teaches adults group exercise at local health clubs.

Family has been her top priority but as those responsibilities have lessened she feels she has more time to devote to the church com-munity. Susan feels a strong and personal commitment to St Paul’s

and looks forward to participating in church activities. She currently teaches Godly Play and attends MOMS group.

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2008 Vestry CandidatesMARIANNE ORTON JOHNSON - My family moved to Wal-nut Creek from Minnesota and joined St. Paul’s in August of 2003. Through the past four years, my children (Rob 19, John 16, Clare 12, and Neil 9) have enjoyed participation in Godly Play, acolyting, Youth Group, and the MOMs group. I currently team-teach the Middle School Sunday School class.

I work part-time as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for a private pe-diatric clinic in Walnut Creek. My husband, Bill, and I were married at St. Paul’s (by Mother Wendy) late last year. Hobbies include run-ning, reading, and quite honestly puttering around the house be-tween trips to soccer practices and games.

With children at all levels (college, high school, middle school, and elementary school) and in my work, I feel pretty plugged in to the

family community. St. Pauls has been a wonderful church home for us, and I would like an op-portunity to give something back to this place that has embraced and nurtured us.

AMANDA SZAKATS – I have been a member of St. Paul’s for more than five years and enjoy attending with my husband, Geza, and two daughters, Anna and Emese. I am passionate about Christian Educa-tion and enjoy teaching Middle High Sunday school. My husband is a doorperson for Godly Play, which both our daughters attend. After Fr. Phil discovered the program, Ministry of Moms Sharing, I helped to or-ganize the first session of this successful group. M.O.M.S. is currently in its third session.

Having worked as a journalist before staying home with my children, I enjoy serving on the communications committee. I strive to keep the local media abreast of new ministries and events at St. Paul’s. I also coordinated our upcoming photo directory on behalf of the communica-tions committee. Editing the Family Newsletter and writing articles for

the Epistle are other tasks I enjoy.

I have also participated in a number of fellowship opportunities at St. Paul’s over the years, including foyer groups, the book club, women’s retreats and Family Camp. As a member of the search committee, I had the opportunity to meet the Rev. Sylvia before she came to St. Paul’s and look forward to helping her grow our congregation and its ministries.

I am life-long Episcopalian. Before moving to California and joining St. Paul’s, I attended Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas taught middle high Sunday School and attended a young adult group. While in college at the University of Missouri in Columbia, I was also a part-time staff member in charge of the middle high youth group at Calvary Episcopal Church.

St. Paul’s Mardi GrasTuesday, February 5

Parish Hall

13www.stpaulswc.org

VALENTINE TEASaturday - February 9, 2008

Tickets are $22 Tickets will go on sale Sunday, January 13, in the Bookstore and the following Sundays in the Parish Hall during coffee hour or contact the Parish Ofice. Be sure to buy your tickets early. The Tea is a sell out every year!!!

Donation Tickets will also be available

Proceeds from the Tea will go to Res/Suc-cess which offers day-treatment programs and residential services for adults with men-tal retardation, autism, and other develop-mental disabilities.

Mary Waddington has made a beautiful quilt to be raffled at the Tea!

Quilt Raffle Tickets are $5

DECEMBER Financial Report

INCOME $92,214.88 EXPENSE $44,286.38 DEC MTD $47,928.50

YEAR TO DATE Financial Report

YTD - INCOME $602,013.65 YTD - EXPENSE $604,454.86 YTD 2007 - ($2,441.21)

THESE ARE THE YEAR END FIGURES FOR 2007!!!!

2008 Vestry CandidatesTOM TCHENG - First, I’d like to thank you all for welcoming my family and me into your community. Many years of searching for a spiritual community that suited our religious beliefs and social style have led us to St. Paul’s. We were lucky to start attending St. Paul’s in 2006 near the beginning of your search for a new pastor, which gave us some insight into the inner workings of the church. Since joining St. Paul’s, the whole family has become increasingly involved. Amy helps with Godly Play and does church mouse stuff with the kids. I’m in the Communications Ministry where I help out with audio-visual and the website, and the Altar Guild where I arrange flowers.

My day job is Director of Research at NeuroPace, where we’re de-veloping an implantable brain stimulator for epilepsy. At work, I do a lot of critical thinking, analyzing problems and working out

creative solutions. I enjoy working with people to solve these problems and bring projects to fruition. My childhood and youth was spent in Illinois where I earned a BS in Biology and Computer Science at Illinois State University, and a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Illinois. Most importantly, that’s where I met my wife, Amy, and where we were married prior to moving to California. We have two wonderful children, Zoe and Max, whose education and spiritual development are two of my top priorities. Finally, some of my hobbies are music, drumming, cooking, computers, and playing with the kids.

I’d like to join the vestry because I’ve reached the point in my life to start giving back and contributing to the community. My parents, teachers and mentors have all been very gener-ous in helping me develop my skills. Now it’s my turn. One of my lifelong pursuits has been studying spirituality, religion and esoteric philosophy. I’ve come to believe that there are only two things worth living for—people and love. At St. Paul’s, I see an opportunity to apply those beliefs by growing the church, contributing to the community, and helping others and myself grow in spirituality.

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St. Paul’s Book Groups All Are Welcome

Afternoon Group - 2nd Tuesday at 1:00 pm Evening Group - 3rd Thursday, 7:00 pm

Both groups meet in the Bookstore

JanuaryAfternoon:

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Honest and self-aware account of the evolution of the modern diet

Evening: A Long Way Gone:

Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmail Beah

An unforgettable testimony from Africa’s children.

All books may be purchased in St. Paul’s Bookstore

Leper Priest Productions

Dan Cawthon as

DAMIANby Aldyth Morris

A one-man play celebrating the life of Father Damien de Veuster, the Leper Priest of Moloki.

Performance:

Church of the Resurrection399 Gregory Lane

Pleasant Hill

Friday, January 18 at 7:30 pm$25 at the door

$15 for Seniors and under 16Net proceeds benefit

Church of the Resurrection’s Adult Mission Trip

to New Orleans

March 24 - 31, 2008

Pastoral Care [email protected]

Pastoral Care teams are standing by for your request.

Good SamsRequest a meal, a ride to church or doctor’s appointment, other short-term help during an illness or hardship.

Prayer NetworkRequest a prayer for yourself or others. Prayers are said for a period of 4 weeks.

[email protected]

Healing Prayer TeamAvailable to meet and pray with you upon request.

The Prayer Team is also available during communion at the prayer stations during the 9:30 am Sunday service to pray with you for thanksgiving or for healing for yourself or someone else.

Hospital VisitsRequest a visit if you or someone you know is hospitalized and would like a visit

Healing Eucharist2nd Monday of the Month in the Chapel at 7 pm – come and invite a friend

January 14February 11

March 10April 14May 12June 9

The Second Monday of the Month

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Hail and Farewell!May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Jane Kavert

March 9

JimBohannon

December 5

DotRunyon

June 5

Dave Horton

July 2

WandaSpalding

April 28

SleetHenderson

December 19

St. Paulʼs Episcopal Church1924 Trinity AvenueWalnut Creek, CA 94596

TIME DATED MATERIAL

PLEASE DELIVER PROMPTLY

Address CorrectionRequested

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. Postage

PAIDWalnut Creek, CA 94596

Permit No. 123

St. Paul’s Staff

• Rector The Rev. M. Sylvia O. Vásquez [email protected]

• Associate Rector The Rev. Philip T. Brochard [email protected]

• Assisting Clergy The Rev. George C. L. Ross [email protected]

• Deacon The Rev. Donald Adolphson [email protected]

• Deacon The Rev. Margaretmary Staller [email protected]

• Director of Parish Music Jane Rosenblum [email protected]

• Facilities Coordinator Bill Ennis [email protected]

• Parish Administrator Pat Smith [email protected]

St. Paul’s Vestry 2007To join a team, call the Vestry Liaison listed here.

Senior Warden Pete Smyth (08) [email protected]

Junior Warden Scott Wilson (08) [email protected]

CFO Jerry Williams [email protected]

Clerk Susan Burpee [email protected]

Ministry Team Assignments

Administration Pete Smyth (08) [email protected]

Adult Education Sherry Mattern (09) [email protected] Communication Erik Watson (07) [email protected]

Evangelism Josie Nwosu (09) [email protected]

Liturgy & Music Marilyn Harrison (08) [email protected] Membership Linnea Jessup (09) [email protected]

Outreach Ken White (07) [email protected]

Parish Life Jen Gossett (08) [email protected]

Pastoral Care Donna Colombo (07) [email protected]

Property Noel Fuentes (07) [email protected]

Stewardship Scott Wilson (08) [email protected]

Youth and Young Adult Formation Emily Banwell (09) [email protected]

WEBSITE - www.stpaulswc.org • EMAIL Address - [email protected]

Epistle Editor Pat Smith

[email protected]


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