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The Good News

April, 2025


The Season of Lent Continues

Holy Week & Easter are on the Horizon!


The Monthly Newsletter of St. Paul's Episcopal Church

+ To know Christ better and make Him better known +

Liturgical Year C



IMPORTANT DATES AT-A-GLANCE


Every Wednesday, 12:10pm Liturgy of the Word & Holy Communion

First Saturday of Every Month, 10am Acolyte Training

2nd & 4th Saturdays, 10am Food Pantry Bag Prep

2nd & 4th Sundays, 12pm Food Pantry Service Day

2nd Sunday Each Month, 4pm A Service of Evensong

4th Sunday Each Month, 8pm A Service of Compline



PARISH NEWS


CHILDREN'S EASTER EGG FAIR

& FESTIVE EASTER BRUNCH

after the 10am service

Easter Sunday, April 20

Parish Hall


Dear Family in Christ:


Your children & grandchildren are invited to an Easter Egg Fair and you're all invited to the Annual Easter Brunch!


Join us in celebrating the joy of Easter with a special feast following our Easter Service on Sunday, April 20, at 11:45 AM! Vestry will provide the ham, & champagne. The Children & Youth Ministry are providing the Easter Basket goodies.


The Parish will provide the side dishes and deserts to complete our feast! Bring your dish to the Narthex and give to an Usher.


Click on the button below to let us know what you are bringing!



CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Rector's Message

The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Wilson


This year April offers us an opportunity to live into the dichotomy of Lent and Easter.


During the season of Lent we are called by the Church to seek a closer relationship with God. The closeness begins to happen when we work at taking away the things that come between us and God. In the church we use one word as a summary of those things- Sin. 


Sin encompasses all the things we do, and some we don’t do, in accordance with the mind and heart of God, in whose likeness we are made. Removing the divide between us and God therefore means the removal of sin, and sin can only be removed if the sinner repents in a truthful and earnest way. This is not an easy task by any stretch and maybe we ought to declare ourselves to be living in a permanent Lent.


The wonderful thing about Lent, it is followed by Easter. Just as in Lent we take seriously the reality of the passion and death of Jesus, in the same way, we are very serious about his resurrection. The same way in which we take the time to recognize that we have strayed from God’s ways through sin, we also marvel in the forgiveness and new life that comes through God’s grace in the resurrected life of Jesus. 


This is the dichotomy of our living with God: the invitation to recognize our sin, along with the invitation to accept the gift of renewal brought to us in Jesus. I would like to suggest that we can hold these things together if we are willing to accept God’s renewing grace as we take responsibility for our falling short of our goal of Christlikeness.


May God’s love give you the grace needed to accept your sin and live in forgiveness.


Message from the Senior Warden


This Lenten season has been a long and reflective journey for me, marked by extensive work travel that has provided extra time alone for deep discernment and an opportunity to witness the vast beauty of God’s creation. At times, I was blessed with a little company!


On our way home from a conference in Las Vegas, Scott and I, along with our faithful companion Luckee the dog, took a drive through Death Valley in February. We were struck by the sheer magnitude and ancientness of the landscape, but even more so by the life we saw thriving in the midst of such harsh conditions.


This experience brought to mind Isaiah 43:16-21, where God proclaims, "I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" These words resonated deeply within me as I witnessed the desert brimming with life—plants and animals flourishing even in the most unexpected places. It was a powerful reminder that God is always at work, bringing forth life where there is barrenness and making a way in the wilderness.


This assurance strengthens my faith, reminding me that my struggles and seasons of waiting are not in vain. It renews my capacity to endure, to press forward, and to hold onto hope.


Lent calls us to trust in this renewal—to release past burdens and fully embrace the new life God continually offers us.


As we approach Holy Week and Easter, I am encouraged to open my heart to God’s transformative work, to trust in the promise of restoration, and to respond with love to Christ’s unwavering love for me.


May this Lenten season be a time of letting go, embracing grace, and drawing nearer to the One who makes all things new.


Amen, amen!


God’s Lenten Peace,


Pam

Weekly Prayer Call via Zoom

TUESDAYS 11am PST


We'll Walk Hand In Hand 

We Are Not Afraid

God Is On Our Side



A group of us are getting together via Zoom once a week to share prayers, information, and hope. 


We meet via Zoom every Tuesday at 11am Pacific Time, and everyone is welcome. If you have favorite prayers, please bring them to share.


To get the Zoom link, please email Paula Hawthorn paula.hawthorn@gmail.com


We are stronger together. Please join us when you can!

LENTEN FAITH FORMATION

Praying the Daily Office - Morning Prayer with Rachel & Theo Dykzeul


Join our Deacon Rachel & her husband Theo as they invite us into their Morning Prayer Practice each day on the St. Paul's Facebook Group, which you can find HERE.

7:00pm Program via Zoom on Wednesdays during Lent Co


HOW WE LEARN TO BE BRAVE

The Rev. Linda McConnell will convene our Lenten study and guide our conversation through zoom on Wednesdays. 


Courage, like love, is more choice than feeling. We blaze the trail of God’s call by putting one foot in front of the other, falling down, getting up, changing direction, and starting again. How We Learn to Be Brave, by Bishop Marianne Budde of the Diocese of Washington will inspire, encourage and guide us in this process. 


APRIL 9 • The Hidden Virtue of Perseverance


This will be a Zoom only event.


Sign up HERE

SUNDAY Lenten CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE @ 2pm



A Different Kind of Fast: feeding our hungers in lent 

By Christine Valters Paintner


Fasting is not just the physical practice of giving up food. Fasting can also be a way to combat our culture of endless distractions and busyness. Fasting is an act of letting go, of making more internal space to listen to the sacred whispers of our lives. Join us on this spiritual journey through seven different kinds of fasts, including fasting from control, from our attachments, from our grasping, and more. When we practice these fasts, we can discover unexpected spiritual gifts, as well as answers to deeper questions, leading us to ask: "What is my true hunger?"


Sundays at 2pm on ZOOM.



  • April 6: An Invitation to Fast from Planning and Deadlines and Embrace Unfolding and Ripening

  • April 13: An Invitation to Fast from Certainty and Embrace Waiting

 

The book is available online, on Kindle, in audio formats or in hard copy with Fr. Wilson.


Sign Up HERE

CALLS TO ACTION


EASTER FEAST SIGN UP FORM


Dear Family in Christ:


You’re Invited to the Annual Easter Feast!


Join us in celebrating the joy of Easter with a special feast following our Easter Service on Sunday, April 20, at 11:45 AM! Vestry will provide the ham and champagne. The Parish will provide the side dishes and deserts. 


We would love for you to bring a dish to share and lend a helping hand in making this gathering a wonderful experience for all. Whether it's setting up, serving, or cleaning up, every helping hand makes a difference!


We have three short shifts of an hour each. Please sign up for one if you are able. Many hands make light work for all of us. 


Please let us know what dish you’d like to bring and what shift you are available to volunteer. Together, we’ll make this a joyful and welcoming celebration for all!

Looking forward to celebrating with you!


Pamela Kruse-Buckingham

Senior Warden

 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP! 

Safe Church, Safe Communities Training Saturday, April 5


St. Paul’s will host the above training on Saturday morning, April 5, from 9:30-12:30. This training offers the theological background and structural framework for diocesan policies regarding healthy boundaries, inclusion, abuse and neglect, power and relationships, pastoral relationships and bullying. This training must be renewed every three years and some or all elements are required for individuals serving in the following roles:


  • All Clergy (Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Retired Clergy, Postulants)
  • All lay and ordained individuals who work with children and youth
  • Congregational staff
  • Elected lay leaders (vestry, wardens, treasurer, convention delegates)
  • Pastoral Care Providers
  • Key Holders (altar guild, building hosts, renters, sextons, vergers)


You can learn more about this training and what the specific requirements for your role are here. Please let Fr. Wilson know if you plan to attend.

Pastoral Care Team


Illness, surgery or life limiting challenges may present barriers to our physical

participation in worship. At these times, maintaining connection to the faith community

is more important than ever.


There are many ways that we can and have supported each other during challenging

times: a meal provided, a ride to a medical appointment, a visit or phone call, or

intercessory prayer can help those who are unable to attend worship stay connected

and cared for. St. Paul’s is moving closer to formalizing an expanded lay led pastoral

care team.


We have taken the first steps to schedule training for potential Eucharistic

Ministers and Visitors who will be able to bring the sacrament to parishioners at home or in the hospital.


This training helps us become more familiar with the prayer book, writing intercessory prayers, and training us to administer the sacraments as representatives of the church, as well as a broader understanding of pastoral issues presented by life limiting illness. The training will consist of both in person and zoom sessions, beginning March 11.


If you are interested in learning more please contact Sharon Pilmer at

pilms@hotmail.com.

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

CLICK HERE TO CONNECT WITH THE DIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA

April Concerts

Pacific Edge Voices


MUSIC OF THE ELEMENTS:

The Bonds We Share


ONE NIGHT ONLY!

7:30 pm Friday, April 4, 2025 TICKETS HERE


PEV’s spring concert, Music of the Elements: The Bonds We Share, is led by guest conductor Jeff Howe.


This uplifting program celebrates the power of music to activate our senses and our world at the most fundamental level - air, water, fire and earth. We’ll explore new and beloved music by California composers and luminaries like Sanford Dole, Randall Thompson, Stephen Paulus and more.


An accomplished Bay Area conductor and tenor, Jeff was PEV’s assistant music director from 2021-23 and was a featured soloist with the group. He is currently director of music ministry at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church.


For more information, visit pacificedgevoices.org ​​​​

Pacific Boychoir Academy

Zach Salsburg-Frank, Music Director


Spring Serenade –

A Concert for Sustainability and Renewal


4:00pm Sunday, April 27, 2025 TICKETS HERE


Featuring strings from Young People’s Symphony Orchestra (YPSO) and internationally acclaimed organist, Benjamin Bachmann.


Join the GRAMMY-winning Pacific Boychoir for an inspiring spring concert celebrating the beauty of our planet and the urgency of environmental stewardship. For the Beauty of the Earth brings together powerful choral works that honor nature, reflect on our relationship with the environment, and call for sustainability.


Featuring selections from Haydn’s The Creation, Bernstein’s Make Our Garden Grow, Shaw/Walker’s Deep River, and more, this program weaves together themes of wonder, reverence, and responsibility. In partnership with Young People’s Symphony Orchestra, Lake Merritt Institute, and Keep Oakland Beautiful, this concert is part of a larger commitment to environmental action during Earth Week.


Through music, we reflect on our place in the natural world and the responsibility we share in preserving it.


More information at pacificboychoir.org.

SCHEDULES & INFO

ROTAS, SCHEDULES & INFO


Altar Guild 2025


Worship Volunteer ROTA


Prayers of the People Writers 2025

SPANISH LANGUAGE & CULTURAL IMMERSION PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIGUA


The Very Rev. Julia McCray-Goldsmith and John McCray-Goldsmith are hosting a Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Pilgrimage in Antigua, Guatemala, from February 2-14, 2026. Open to Episcopal clergy, lay leaders, and others, this all-inclusive trip offers one-on-one Spanish instruction, home-stays with local families, and a weekend excursion to Lake Atitlán to engage with indigenous communities. Language instruction is provided by CSA, a well-established Guatemalan academy, and additional lessons can be arranged. Participants will explore the region’s rich history, culture, and natural beauty while deepening their language skills.


For more information or to register, contact the Very Rev. Julia McCray-Goldsmith or visit portal.myfaithjourneys.com (Group Number 26007). The trip is organized by Faith Journeys (877-732-4845, info@myfaithjourneys.com).

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PRESS RELEASE


RECENT PHOTOS


Ways to Give to St. Paul's Oakland


 Cash in an envelope in the plate, with your name on it so we know who it came

from. Do not send cash in the mail.


 Paper check, in the plate or mailed to the office.


 By credit or debit card. Visit our website, www.stpaulsoakland.org, click the red

“GIVE” button, select “give to annual pledge”, select the frequency, the amount,

and “give by Credit/Debit Card”. Credit card companies typically charge a fee

which you may elect to pay so that the church sees the full value of your gift.


 Direct transfer from your bank, otherwise known as an ACH (automated clearing

house) transfer. You may set this up directly with your bank, as a recurring

payment, OR you may set it up on our website following the same instructions as

for a credit card payment, but select “ACH bank transfer” instead. ACH fees tend

to be less than credit card fees.


 Gifts of stock, mutual funds etc. Contact Sharon Pilmer, chair of the stewardship

committee for instructions.


 Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution. If you are over the age of 70 ½ years

and have an IRA, you may make a tax-free gift directly to St. Paul’s. Contact

Sharon for instructions.


Questions? Reach out to our bookkeeper Joan at finance@stpaulsoakland.org or

Sharon Pilmer at pilms@hotmail.com.

Land Acknowledgment


We acknowledge that the CONFEDERATED VILLAGES OF LISJAN are the traditional stewards of the land on which our buildings stand and we pay our respect to their people and heritage. The Lisjan Ohlone people have lived in the territory of Huchiun since the beginning of time, and are still here fighting for their land, heritage, culture & spiritual traditions.


St. Paul's is a member of Integrity USAworking for the full equality of LGBTQIA+ persons ​in every part of The Episcopal Church.


CLERGY

The Rt. Rev. Austin Rios, Bishop of California


The Rev. Dr. Mauricio J. Wilson, Rector


The Ven. Canon Carolyn Bolton, Archdeacon


The Rev. Christian Harding

Assisting Priest


The Rev. Linda McConnell

Assisting Priest


The Very Rev. Julia McCray Goldsmith

Assisting Priest


The Rev. Rachel Dykzeul, Deacon


STAFF

Benjamin Bachmann, MMusic, FAGO, Music Director


Philip Saunders, MMusic, Assistant Music Director


Jackie Kamakate, Parish Administrator

Joan Clerk, Bookkeeper


VESTRY


Class of 2025

Pamela Kruse-Buckingham - Sr. Warden

Richard Larson - Jr. Warden

Daniel (Digger) Lauter - Treasurer



Class of 2026

David Anderson - Clerk

Paula Hawthorn

Doug Jensen


Class of 2027

Virginia McManus - Secretary

George Strait

Annette Blue

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Pamela Kruse-Buckingham & Victoria Larson

Co-Editors