St. Patrick's Episcopal Church
Washington, DC
September 29,
2010
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| From
the Rector |
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Dear St.
Patrick's,
Grace and peace.
Today is the beginning of the annual stewardship campaign at St.
Patrick's. The theme this year is Labor, Love, and
Give*.
Stewardship is a
spiritual practice. As with any practice, each
opportunity is an occasion to grow. Remember your many blessings as
you consider your responsibility to give back to the work of God
here at this parish. In addition to being an obligation to God,
stewardship is an expectation of membership at St.
Patrick's.
Our goal for 2011 is that we reach 100%
participation. We like to think that others will carry the
burdens for us, but the reality is that the labor is less when we
work together. Over the past several years, your vestry has
streamlined the budget; yet we are still running a deficit [2010-2011 Budget].
Our Day School ministry is financed through the collection of
tuition, but the Parish of St. Patrick receives none of those
funds. Almost 90% of our income to
cover operating expenses comes through the pledged support of our
members. We, together in love, keep our parish ministries
growing and expanding. Without your increased support, we will have
to cut back on what we are able to accomplish. I believe we are on
the cusp of a new beginning at St. Patrick's. Please help us reach
our goals.
This year, we have
set a target date of November 7,
2010 for the end of the Labor, Love, and Give campaign.
On that date, we will bring our pledges forward to the altar to
symbolically give them to God. Do not be confused with the
terminology. A pledge is a statement of intent; payments to fulfill
your plan may be made anytime in 2011. We ask for pledges so that
the vestry can plan, responsibly, for the
future.
If you are on our
mailing list, you should receive a letter in the mail today or in
the near future from the Labor,
Love, and Give Co-Chairs, Tricia Duncan and Tad Anderson.
You can also read about the Labor, Love, and Give campaign online.
You can even complete your pledge, in the next minute, with the Pledge Online
feature of our website.
Labor, Love, and Give
Introduction
Why Give?
Pledging at St.
Patrick's FAQ
St. Patrick's Budget
2010-2011
Campaign Committee
Contacts
Sermon Reflections: Number, Where Your Treasure
Is, Shrewd Dealings,
Lost, Power
After ninety-nine
years, the future of St. Patrick's remains bright. We have programs
for young children, youth, young adults, adults, and older adults.
We educate the spirit and serve the common good. We are a place to
seek fellowship and support. Please join us on this journey by
pledging your support to your spiritual home.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Dr.
Kurt Gerhard
Rector
www.stpatrickschurchdc.org
P.S. I was honored with an opportunity to open the House of
Representatives in prayer on Friday, September 24. Several St.
Patrick's members witnessed it in person (see photo). You can watch
it for yourself. [C-Span Video]
Read or listen to last Sunday's sermon titled "Power"
* Frank von Christierson (1900-1996) from #705 in the Hymnal 1982.
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| From
the Senior Warden |
Dear St. Patrick's,
I
reported to you, a few months ago, that the Bishop had asked all
vestries to evaluate same-sex marriage in response to the passage
of the DC Marriage Equality Act. I want to thank you for your
feedback and careful review of the resources prepared by the
Diocese. The Vestry began discussions in June that continued in
August. After careful consideration of its own views, as well as,
of the thoughtful feedback it received from the parish (which was
overwhelmingly in favor of same sex marriages happening at St.
Patrick's), the Vestry voted unanimously, on September 15, to
support the Bishop's pastoral direction on same-sex marriage at St.
Patrick's. What this means is that the clergy serving this parish,
at their discretion, can perform same-sex marriages, as long as the
couple have been active members for at least one year and have met
all the regular requirements of any couple seeking to be married in
the Church. Lesley Riddle and Nancy Tait, who are long-term members
of this parish, were the first to take advantage of the Vestry's
approval at a ceremony held at St. Patrick's on September 24th.
Thank you again for your support and thoughtful input on this
important issue.
Nicole
Chapin Duke
Senior
Warden
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| Prayer
List |
We pray this week for the soul of Roland Chamblee and all who mourn
especially his daughter Sandy Chamblee-Head. May his soul, and the
souls of all the departed, rest in Peace.
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| Vestry
Nomination Committee |
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St. Patrick's is nearing the parish election
season. We are pleased to announce the 2010 Nominating Committee
chaired by Tony Lee: Miren Beitia, Josh Firebaugh, Amy Graham, and
Virginia Murphy. If you know someone or are interested in serving
on the 2011 Vestry, please send your nominations to the Rev. Kurt
Gerhard or Tony Lee, Chair of the Nominating Committee.
Nominees are being sought for:
Officers (for one year
terms):
Senior Warden
Junior Warden for the Church
Junior Warden for the Day School
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer
Clerk
3 Vestry Members - 3 year terms (Class of
2013)
3 Vestry Members - 1 year terms
2 Delegates and 2 Alternates to Diocesan Convention -
Convention convenes January 28-29, 2011 and a special session to
elect the 9th Bishop of Washington will be convened on June 18,
2011.
Elections will be held on Sunday, November 7 at
the Annual Parish Meeting.
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| Music
Update |
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 Most of our music groups are "up and running" for
the year. Nova
Lux starts this week and bells are coming up soon. Let me know if
YOU or the young person in your household (5th grade on up) would
like to play our beautiful Timpani drums. We just need to arrange
a Sunday and a rehearsal time during the week and you can help us
make a joyful noise!
 Many thanks to our Cambiata Choir who sang their
meditation song so beautifully even after decidedly UN-meditative
technical difficulties delayed our start. (They had worked hard on
a powerpoint backdrop for the song and the cords, not chords, were
not cooperating!)
Adele Lynch (202-342-2823 adele@stpatrickschurchdc.org)
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| Youth
Group News |
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Last call for Washington National
Cathedral "campers" in the annual Diocesan youth lock-in!
It begins Friday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 (check-in at 6:30) with pick-up
the next day at 8:30. The Cathedral does not allow any late
arrivals or early departures so see if your schedules are clear
enough to join us. We will be registering our group this Friday.
If you haven't already, please let us know if your youth wants to
participate.
 If you didn't get to join us at Shadowlands last
Sunday, WE MISSED YOU! And you missed the
opportunity to compare your stealth skills and marksmanship with
Father Kurt! Hope you can jump in on another event soon.
The Youth Group Czarinas
Adele Lynch and Ellen Teplitz
202-342-2823
adele@stpatrickschurchdc.org
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Last
Acolyte Training for the Fall Is Next Sunday, October
10
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BEFORE the 10 am
service,
Sunday, October 10, 9 am - 9:30
am
(Note slightly earlier time than previously
advertised 9:15 start).
After church, all acolytes are invited to go to
Six Flags with Kurt and Andrea. If your
child plans to go to Six Flags, please RSVP to Andrea so we can
purchase advance tickets. Adult drivers and chaperones are also
needed: andrea@stpatrickschurchdc.org
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| This
Sunday's Participants: Pentecost XIX October 3rd |
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8:00am Server: Mary Grace
Corey
Altar Guild: Ellen Terpstra
Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Sally Fowler, Bill Pugh, Virginia
Hurt
Ushers: Scott Sutherland, Wynne &
Martin Teel
Greeters: Benno Schmidt
Readers: Lisa Sutherland, Cheryl
Bruner
Intercessor: Scott Sutherland
Psalmist: Charlie Hartley
Server: Phoebe Schmidt
Crucifer: Needed!
Torches: Perrin Benagh
Flowers: Renee DeVigne, Carol
Hylton
Refreshments: Karen Melchar & Benno
Schmidt
Vestry Person of the Day: Ele Carpenter, Bob Hurt
Grand Oaks Service John Nicholson
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| Beautify
Your Surroundings and Help St. Patrick's! |
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We are initiating a new fundraising effort to help
St. Patrick's Church. Fall flower bulbs will be sold over the next
few weeks to produce beautiful spring flowers. Don't have a yard?
Plant them in pots. Give bulbs as gifts to friends! We need bulb
buyers, and also volunteers to help sell some bulbs. It's so easy
kids with supervision can sell to friends and neighbors. We need
to help during Fellowship after church, and with shifts on October
2nd--Family Fun Day. Please
contact Scott Sutherland at (202) 347-1530 or ssutherland@ducks.org
to buy some bulbs and get involved.
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| Caregivers,
Come Gather Strength |
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chronically ill family member, you are invited to a caregivers'
group which will meet at St. Patrick's Thursday evenings,
7-8 pm, beginning October
21st.
The group will open with prayer and a meditation,
followed by focused conversation around a topic related to
care-giving. Each week, we will seek to answer where God
is, in all the responsibilities and upheavals
of caregiving.
Participants need not come every week. Come when
you need a reminder of God's presence in your life. Come
for faith, love, and strength on your caregiving
journey.
If you need respite care (a caring person
to sit with your loved one while you come to this evening
meeting), a small group of St. Patrick's volunteers have
offered themselves for such a ministry. Please make your need
known to Andrea.
This group will be convened by Andrea Martin, Mona
Hanford, and Mary Baylor, Pastoral Care Nurse at Washington
National Cathedral, and a team of lay
facilitators.
To know more, email Andrea Martin at andrea@stpatrickschurchdc.org
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| Day
School Campaign |
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Save the
Date!
Join Us for the Kick-Off Event for
A Broader Vision: The Campaign for St. Patrick's Episcopal Day
School
Thursday, October 14
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Look for your invitation in September!
Please contact Chris O'Shea in the Day School Development Office at
202.342.3453 or
osheac@stpatsdc.org with any
questions.
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| Join
us on FaceBook and read the Blog! |
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| Keep up with St. Patrick's with the
following:
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St. Patrick's Episcopal
Church
4700 Whitehaven Parkway,
NW
Washington, DC 20007
202 342-2800 or 202 342-2802
fax
Associate Rector/Day
School Chaplain:
Parish
Administrator:
Senior Warden:
Nicole
Chapin Duke, 301 530-9640
Junior
Warden for the Church:
Cheryl
Crispen Bitsberger, 202 441-9041
Junior
Warden for the Day School:
Charlie
Johnson III, 301 229-6342
Photo credit: Cross (at top) by
Carol Jobusch
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