Grace and peace. At our annual Parish meeting on Sunday, the following leaders were elected to serve in 2012. I thank these members for their willingness to serve.

• Senior Warden - Nicole Chapin Duke
• Junior Warden for the Church - Marilyn Nowalk
• Junior Warden for the Day School - Charlie Johnson III
• Vestry Member (2 year term) - Candy Fowler
• Vestry Member (2 year term) - Garrett Lowe
• Vestry Member (2 year term) - Josh Firebaugh
• Diocesan Delegates - Lesley Krauland, Robert Vaughn, Sally Fowler (alternate), and Peter Jobusch (alternate)

The state of the Parish is good, but we have imagine new ways to minister to our neighbors as we begin our next century of mission and ministry. Last Friday, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schiori reminded the clergy of the diocese that everyone of us is a beloved creature of God. That does not give us the excuse to look in the mirror and admire our belovedness. Instead, it fills us with a responsibility to serve in a way that comes closer to building a world of equity and opportunity for all beloved creatures of God. That is the work before us at St. Patrick's.

I believe that the Episcopal Church's Christian theology is situated to meet the needs of modern people. Over the past one hundred years, the world in which we live has changed and this change has meant that many more people depend on inquiring and discerning minds to reflect on issues of faith and formation. Instead of being insular in our homogenous groups, the culture is more open to the diversity of God's creation. This mode of being is consistent with the Episcopal tradition. The Episcopal Church and St. Patrick's respects differences of opinion and is open to civil disagreements. We expect that people who disagree about issues of politics and social policy can gather together to seek communal good. The Episcopal Church and St. Patrick's welcomes all people no matter who they are, where they are from, or how they identify themselves. We are a place for people called to respect the dignity of every human being and, also, willing to keep an open mind about how that respect can change the way they are.

We live in a world where more and more people are giving up on religious communities. The most common complaints about religion are that it takes too much time, asks people to join, and isn't filling the needs of the world. My experience tells me that filling one's spirit is a practice of a lifetime, requires one to discern truth in community, and to pass love forward to God's beloved creation.

St. Patrick's is blessed with wonderful ministers (that's you). The state of our Parish depends on each of us dedicating ourselves to fulfilling God's mission in the world and inviting others to join us on that path. We can only do this together and it will demand of us precious time and resources. I'm ready to make this leap, are you?

Faithfully,

Read or listen to this past Sunday's sermon titled, "Be all that God created you to be." 

Music at St. Patrick's

Sibling rivalry, mistaken identity, dream interpretation... No, it's not the Opera House at the Kennedy Center, it's our own Jubilate Deo right here at St. Patrick's this Sunday as they tell and sing the great story from the Old Testament of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."  These 3rd - 6th graders have been working hard to bring you the first of our two mini-musicals this year, and this one by Andrew Lloyd Webber is chock full of wonderful tunes that really bring the story to life.  We hope you will be here to support the kids and enjoy a modern look at an old story in our faith history.

Children of all ages are invited to stay in church for the whole of the 10 am service and enjoy songs from Joseph. Though Sunday School will not meet, the nursery will be open for infants and toddlers.

Make Christmas Brighter for Families in D.C.  

Take An Angel from the Giving Tree

Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington will host its annual Christmas party on Sunday, December 4. They have asked St. Patrick's to provide new, unwrapped gifts for children and adults. If you can help, please take an angel from the Giving Tree in the Great Hall. Each angel specifies a gift requested by Samaritan Ministry. Bring your new, unwrapped gift to the Church Office no later than Sunday, November 27 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving). Thank you!

For convenient, on-line shopping, Samaritan Ministry has posted a wish list on Amazon.

Please take a look at the fabulous prayer book, A Centennial Canon, a display copy of which is found today in the Great Hall. We thank Janet Lee for compiling these prayers and photos from many past and present parishioners and clergy. This beautiful book would be a terrific gift, and we ask that you place your orders ($60 per book) before Sunday, November 20 so we can have these books to you in time for Christmas.   

Order forms are available in the Great Hall, the Church Office or online here at the Church website. 

If you want to make a contribution to the Chapin Carpenter Fund, please click here.  

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION DUE DECEMBER 4

All special consideration applications and supporting materials for Nursery, PK, and Kindergarten admission (for qualified applicants who are siblings of current students and Grade 6 and Grade 8 graduates of St. Patrick's, children of faculty and staff, and children of alumni and of active St. Patrick's parishioners) are due in the Admission Office by Friday, December 2. By this date, we must also receive teacher recommendations (N, PK, and K) and testing (Kindergarten only). Any applications received after this deadline will not be given special consideration. Please note that we do not extend special consideration for applicants to Grade 1 and beyond. Thank you for your cooperation. ~Jen Danish, Xiomara Hall, and Pat Spector, Day School Admission Office

Camp Wright - An accredited Episcopal camp on nearby Kent Island in Maryland is ready to enroll campers for the summer of 2012. The drive from St. Patrick's is about an hour (first exit after the Bay Bridge). The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard will again serve as chaplain for Session 2 (week of June 23-29, 2012). Last year, eight St. Patrick's kids joined him. Each session enrolls approximately 140 campers and is staffed by professional administrators and counselors from around the United States and the world. The range of activities is broad including things like archery, games, crafts, and sailing (on the Chesapeake Bay). If you are interested, please register through Camp Wright (Registration Form). If you need more information or financial assistance, please contact Kurt (kurt@stpatrickschurchdc.org).

Thank you to volunteers Ellen Teplitz and Devon McCollum for their work at the St. Philip's Food Pantry last Thursday! And thanks to those of you who have been bringing food every week. Ellen and Devon report that the shelves were almost bare from last month's delivery, and that there is a particular need for peanut butter & jelly, canned fruit, cold/hot cereal and soup.

HOLIDAY TREE SALE! On December 3 and 4, Bancroft Elementary School will be holding its annual Holiday Tree Sale benefiting the Bancroft PTA. (Bancroft is Lillian Keller's school.)   We have a great selection of trees, including Frasier Furs, Balsams, Douglas, White Pine, and Scotch Pine. Trees of every size to fit every budget. We also sell roping and wreaths.   The sale starts at 10 on Saturday and Sunday, and goes to 4 pm (or until we sell out on Sunday!). All trees will be located on the school playground (off 18th Street, North of Newton). There will be activities for the kids, including decorating their own pine cone ornament!  

If you have any questions or want to place a special order, please call or email parishioner Donna Murphy at 202-368-1776 or murphy.keller@verizon.net. We appreciate everyone's support!"

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