The Good News


January 2024


The Season of Christmas & Epiphany

Click on the collage above to see the photo slide show of all the Advent & Christmas Music Services & Festivities

Liturgical Year B

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


A ST. PAUL’S CHRISTMAS


St. Paul’s Family, you have done it again. The last two months of life and ministry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oakland has demonstrated once again that we are indeed a community of believers who seek to worship God and reflect our love of God through our service to those in need in our broader community of Oakland and beyond. Our worship services for Christmas Eve and Day were magnificent. Our children, youth and parents put together a beautiful Christmas Pageant, retelling the story of the nativity in a unique St. Paul’s way. Our choir put together a wonderful pre-midnight Mass concert, and then followed by leading us in singing our beloved Christmas hymns during the Christmas Eve and Day services.


For the full article click HERE












Introducing

The Rev. Dr. Irene Plunkett 


Most of you know her simply as Irene and may or may not be surprised by her impressive resume and bio as presented HERE. What impresses me most about Irene are her deep spiritual expression and her humility. When it comes to her involvement with the ministries of St. Paul’s, she has always been willing to offer her skills, knowledge and experience. I have asked, and Irene has accepted to be officially a part of the group that offers spiritual leadership to the members of our parish. 


Not being ordained in the Episcopal tradition, there are limits to how she exercises her ministry among us. Nevertheless, it is my hope that many will benefit from having her as a conversation partner in your journey of faith.


As always, the clergy of St. Paul’s remain available and at your service for all spiritual and pastoral needs.

The Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 4, 2024, during the 10:00 am service, where we will hold the Vestry election, thank the outgoing members and reflect on all the good ministry done in 2023.


Stay tuned for a special email coming in mid January!

St. Paul’s/CVC Family-to-Family Program a Success


This year we were so busy with the CVC program that we forgot to take pictures! So instead of a picture, here is a bit more about the CVC/St. Paul’s partnership.


The Center for the Vulnerable Child (CVC) is a program of USCF Benioff Children’s Hospital. They provide a comprehensive range of services for the most vulnerable children in our community. Many problems can put a child at risk for needing this kind of help, including poverty, family disruption, homelessness, foster care placement, drug exposure, abuse, neglect, community violence and more.


For the full article click HERE

Senior Warden’s Message

Indira Balkissoon, Sr. Warden



Happy New Year! I want to share with you the progress made to date on the Ministry Action Plan (Strategic Plan) (MAP). Several articles ago, I summarized the results of the questionnaire to Parish experts. This article provides a summary of the information collected from the Parish Survey intended to determine the satisfaction of Parishioners with the various activities/ministries/services.


For the full article click HERE

Mr De’Amon Harges speaks at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Oakland Sunday, 14 January 2024, 10 am


We are pleased to have Mr De’Amon Harges as guest homilist and speaker at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oakland, at the 10 am Holy Eucharist, with conversation following.


Mr Harges is an innovative conversationalist and activist who’s called ‘a roving listener’ for his abilities of strengthening communities through connecting people and resources within their neighborhoods. He recently spoke at The Genesis II Gathering, a meeting of Episcopal Church church planters, where he inspired the next generation of church innovators. 


Mr Harges is founder of The Learning Tree in Indianapolis, IN, which supports asset-based community development in that city. He was featured in the recent documentary “The Antidote: On Kindness in America”, and is a speaker at the King and Faith Evensong and Forum at Grace Cathedral, 14 January, 3pm.

Stewardship: Reflecting God's Love


We're getting closer to our goal of 80 annual gifts- so far we've got 58. If you haven't yet turned in a giving card, that's OK! You still can.


Click HERE to learn more about how we fund our ministries, allocate our resources, and about ways to give. 


Click HERE to download the Giving Form

Print and fill out the form above and mail or put it in the offering plate any service, OR go to our webpage, complete the fillable pdf on your phone or computer, save, and email it to finance@stpaulsoakland.org.


We hope that you will give as you are able and join us in funding the mission and ministries of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church!


Questions? Ask any member of the Stewardship team: Sharon Pilmer, Victoria Larson, Mirela Stanke or Sarah Smith.

ROTAS & SCHEDULES


Altar Guild 2024


Prayers of the People 2024


Meals for Times of Need or Crisis


 Send your requests to: loavesandfishes@stpaulsoakland.org  and you will be directed to Katie Lauter, who will set up an on-line sign up.

Volunteer Opportunity

Nametag Ministry


We are seeking a few people to take on the printing and weekly management of the nametags in the Narthex.


  • Each week, the handwritten nametags are collected and the guest book is checked for folks that have requested permanent name tags.


  • Make the nametags and bring them back to church the following Sunday.


All that is required is the ability to make and print nametags at home. We have plenty of clip on badges here at the church.


Please contact pamela.kruse.buckingham@gmail.com if you can help out with this task.

Concerts and Special Music Events at St. Paul’s 

January 2024


Stay up to date at www.stpaulsoakland.org/concerts


CONCERT

Sunday, January 28, 2024

3:00pm (Preconcert talk at 2:40pm)


Third Concert

Prometheus Symphony Orchestra 

Eric Hansen, Music Director


George Gershwin • An American in Paris

Aaron Copeland • Quiet City

Terri Knight, English Horn; John Maga, Trumpet

Ludwig von Beethoven • Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 

Dustin Breshears, Violin

Khuner Young Artist Concerto Competition Co-Winner


Dustin Breshears, our 2023 Khuner Young Artist Concerto Competition Co-Winner, will perform the Beethoven Violin Concerto. In addition, we will perform An American in Paris by George Gershwin and Copland's Quiet City. Come for an enjoyable afternoon listening to these three great composers' works.  


Tickets, required for admission, are available HERE

There is no admission fee for our concerts, but donations are gratefully accepted.


See our website for updates and parking details.

Environmental Stewardship

Indira Balkissoon


Redlining and Biodiversity


Happy New Year! This January, I am thinking of a New Year’s resolution that builds on the past and focuses on urban green space. Early in my career I worked on cleaning up Superfund sites located mostly in rural areas.


For the full article click HERE


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.


CLERGY

The Rt. Rev. Marc H. Andrus, Bishop of California

The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Wilson, Rector

The Ven. Canon Carolyn Bolton, Archdeacon

The Rev. Christian Harding, Assisting Priest

The Rev. Gary England, Deacon


STAFF

Benjamin Bachmann, MMusic, FAGO, Music Director

Philip Saunders Assistant Music Director

Jackie Kamakate, Parish Administrator

Joan Clerk, Bookkeeper

Danislav Nedevski, Sexton

Elena Nedevska, Housekeeper


VESTRY

Class of 2023

Frances Dibble

Maura Lane

Brian Stanke– Treasurer

Class of 2024

Indira Balkissoon-Sr. Warden

Irene Plunkett

Matthew Schooler

Class of 2025

Pam Kruse-Buckingham— Clerk

Richard Larson– Jr. Warden

Daniel (Digger) Lauter

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Pamela Kruse-Buckingham & Victoria Larson

Co-Editors