|
The Good News
November, 2023
| | |
The monthly newsletter of St. Paul's Episcopal Church | |
+ To know Christ better and make him better known + | |
|
Rector's Message
The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Wilson
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13
Fourteen years ago, when Karla and I said “Yes” to coming to St. Paul’s we were excited about what was currently happening, but we were even more excited by this parish’s level of potential.
For the full article click HERE
| | |
Wednesday, November 1 at 6:30 pm
Requiem Mass for All Souls
All are invited to our Requiem Mass for All Souls at which we will remember and celebrate the lives of all the beloved departed. We will present Gabriel Fauré’s beautiful, moving, and much-loved Requiem, offered as it was intended to be heard, in the context of the liturgy.
The church will be illuminated with candles, and votive candles will be available for individuals to light. You are invited to submit the names of loved ones to be held in remembrance and listed in the service sheet.
Please submit names by October 30 by email to:
admin@stpaulsoakland.org or phone to the church office 510 834 4314, x501.
The link to our Facebook Event is HERE.
For the full calendar of concerts and events, click HERE.
| |
|
In Memoriam
We lost our beloved Robert Knapp on Sunday, Sept. 17. He served St. Paul's in many capacities over the years, most recently as editor of The Good News. Please Keep Carolyn and their family in your prayers for comfort and peace.
A celebration of his life will be held at St. Paul's
on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 10:30 am, with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall
May Robert's soul, and the souls of all our beloved dead,
rest in the eternal light and peace of God.
| | | |
|
The slate of Bishop Candidates
has been announced!
Click HERE to review the candidates.
Meet & Greet events are scheduled for Nov 2-5.
Click the link below for the schedule. You are welcome to attend any event. All events will also be live streamed and recorded.
Meet & Greet Events
| |
|
Senior Warden’s Report
Indira Balkissoon, Sr. Warden
I wanted to relay what I was saying in church several Sunday’s ago and I understand that it was hard to hear me. I promise to try and either speak louder, into the microphone, and so that the Choir can hear me.
My hope was to provide an update on some of the work of our Ministry Action Planning (MAP) process. I think it is significant and wonderful to see all in one place many of the activities of the St. Paul’s Congregation.
Depending upon how you list them, we have at least 34 various ministries/committees/work groups. So far these activities fit into13 Pastoral Areas; 9 Administrative Areas; and 4 lay ministries/committees/work group areas. These are listed below:
| | |
St. Paul's Children & Youth Calendar of Events
November 21, 2023 Thanksgiving bag distribution
November 25, 2023. Golfing
December 15, 2023. Game Night
December 25, 2023. Food Delivery – Christmas Brunch
January 14th & 15th. Martin Luther King Day of Service
February 10, 2023. Valentine Day Celebration
February 17, 2023. Rock Climbing
March Ice Skating
April Youth Service
May Pilgrimage
For information and details contact Deacon Carolyn
(510) 834-4314 x 504
deacon@staulsoakland.org
| |
Mustard Seed Group
The Mustard Seed Room is open each Sunday with MJ Wilson Morris supervising.
MJ is making sure that your son/daughter is cared for during the Sunday service.
He is providing supervision, learning and coloring experiences, fun and
excitement, stories, and learning about the bible.
MJ is a graduate from St. Paul’s Episcopal School and Bishop O’Dowd High School
and is currently attending San Francisco State University, majoring in Physics and
Astro Physics. Come visit to see what’s new in the Mustard Seed Room.
| |  |
|
Social Justice: Guns to Gardens
On November 18th , for the third time, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Oakland Police
Department will join in sponsoring Guns to Gardens. Guns to Gardens encourages Oakland and other area residents to surrender firearms in exchange for gift cards worth up to $300, plus a garden tool that was hand-forged from a gun surrendered in a prior Guns to Gardens event.
St. Paul’s Social Justice Ministry is devoted to getting the guns out of homes because they
pose such serious risks to children and other members of our community.
For the full article, click HERE.
| Guns taken off the streets at the first Guns to Gardens Buyback event in 2022 | | |
Diocesan Convention Results | Click HERE for all the information and documents pertaining to the convention. | | |
|
Beyond the Word: A Reading & Discussion Group
Children of All Ages! Let’s read a book together during Advent!
Please join us to read Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. (The link provided leads to a .PDF version of the entire book, which is a short 138 pages.)
For the full article, click HERE
| | |
|
St. Paul’s Giving Tree
As is our custom, St. Paul's will provide gifts for several families being served by The Center for the Vulnerable Child.
If you'd like to help with putting the tree up and decorating it, please join Paula Hawthorn in the Narthex on Saturday, Dec. 2 @ 11am.
The Tree will be in the Narthex and decorated with gift tags for you to choose on Sunday Dec. 3 and Dec. 10.
All gifts must be wrapped and returned by Sunday, Dec. 18, with the gift tags attached.
- Please be sure to log your gift tags on the sign out sheet, so we know who has what gift tags.
- If you'd like to get a jump on things, $25 gift cards for Target will be especially needed.
(In the drop down select "Seasonal Giving" & put "Giving Tree" in the memo section.)
Let's make a wonderful Christmas together for the families of the CVC!
Advent is coming! Emmanuel!
| | | |
|
If our Loaves & Fishes Ministry will help you, please ask! Just contact the church office, admin@stpaulsoakland.org, and you will be directed to Katie Lauter, who will set up an on-line sign up.
| |
|
Volunteers Needed!
We are seeking more people for this important ministry of care.
If you are interested, here are the ways you can help:
1. Cook a meal at home and deliver it to the parishioner requesting meals.
2. Buy a pre-made meal and have it delivered—or deliver it yourself.
3. Be a delivery person between the two homes.
Please Go to this web page for information on the program and how to volunteer. Many hands make light work!
| |
Help Needed by Seniors
- Senior needs assistance in setting up their Wi-fi.
- Senior is losing eye sight and needs assistance in writing some letters.
If possible, please contact Deacon Bolton deacon@stpaulsoakland.org.
Thank you!
| | | |
|
|
Saint Paul’s Choir on Retreat!
A devoted group of St. Paulsians turned a working weekend (for our Music Director, choir, and section leaders) into a wonderful time filled with music, fellowship, and refreshment, in a beautiful place.
For the full article & more pictures, click HERE
| | | |
|
CONCERT
Friday, November 3, 8pm
Book of Colors: and other short stories for voices
Music by Marcos Balter, Yu-Hui Chang, Emily Koh, Freya Waley-Cohen, LJ White,
and Mark Winges.
Poetry by Fernando Pessoa, Billy Collins, John Milton, Aleksandr Pushkin, and more.
Volti’s professional singers, under the direction of founder and Artistic Director Robert Geary, are dedicated to the discovery, creation, and performance of new vocal music. The ensemble’s mission is to foster and showcase contemporary American music and composers, and to introduce contemporary vocal music from around the world to local audiences. The group has commissioned more than 100 new works, by emerging as well as established composers.
Tickets are available in advance at voltisf.org/
| | |
|
CONCERT
Saturday, November 18, 2pm
Celestial Ties
Fog City Singers
Fog City Singers, a San Francisco based barbershop chorus, presents a TTBB a cappella exploring the ties that bind us to each other and the universe around us. We will explore the variety of emotions we experience while gazing into the sky, and how it affects our souls, our love stories, and how insane we can become at times.
Click HERE for tickets.
www.fogcitysingers.com/
| | |
|
CONCERT
Sunday, November 19, 2023
3:00pm (Preconcert talk at 2:40pm)
Second Concert
Prometheus Symphony Orchestra
Music Director Eric Hansen and The Prometheus Symphony Orchestra welcome you to our concert series for the 2023–2024 season, featuring well-established favorites as well as innovative, modern works.
Tickets are required for admission.
There is no admission fee for our concerts, but donations are gratefully accepted.
See our website for tickets, updates and parking details.
| | |
Leaves, Leaves, Everywhere
Indira Balkissoon, Environmental Stewardship Chair
Autumn is an exciting time of year! Our St. Paul’s pollinator gardens that have been busy all Summer blooming and nurturing bees, birds, and butterflies are slowing down. Thank you Liz for faithfully tending them all Summer long! We still plan on planting a few more native plants. Fall is the best time to plant many natives.
There are so many leaves this time of year. Remember jumping into leaf piles? Leaves are something to celebrate and forgive the pun…to literally leave on the ground. Leaves do so much for wildlife. They provide helpful habitat and essential cover, food, and places to raise their young. Many types of wildlife (frogs, turtles, salamanders, and butterfly caterpillars) need leaf cover to survive the colder months. Also, leaving leaves on the ground can help reduce the volume of organic matter sent to landfills and helps to reduce the greenhouse gasses (methane) produced by the landfill. Methane contributes to global warming. Fallen leaves provide a natural mulch. Letting the leaves degrade is a natural way to fertilize garden beds and under tree canopies. If you don’t want your leaves perhaps you can offer them to your neighbors who compost. Composters love leaves because they add carbon to the compost which is a food source for the decomposing organisms and allows decomposition to happen.
| | | |
Celebration of the Ministry & Retirement of the Venerable Canon Carolyn Bolton, Archdeacon | |
Bishop Marc Andrus leads Carolyn down the aisle. | |
The Venerable Nina Pickerell gave a wonderful sermon. | |
The Venerable Canon
Carolyn Bolton, Archdeacon, wearing her beautiful new Cope
| | |
|
A celebratory Evensong was celebrated in honor and thanksgiving for our beloved Deacon, The Venerable Canon Carolyn Bolton. Carolyn's family joined the Parish in a celebratory dinner in the Parish Hall.
We love you and we celebrate you, dear Carolyn!
| | |
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 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.
| |
Oasis Ministry at St. Paul's
St. Paul's is an Oasis Congregation, signifying that we have completed an intentional process of reflection and education, signed a public affirmation of commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTQIA+) people, and are committed to participating in programs and actions that advance and fulfill the mission of Oasis/California.
St. Paul's is also a member of Integrity USA, working for the full equality of LGBTQIA+ persons in every part of The Episcopal Church.
| |
Pamela Kruse-Buckingham & Victoria Larson
Co-Editors
| | | | |
