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

Saturday, January 11, 7pm Yale Whiffenpoofs Concert

Sunday, January 12, 10am The Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus

Sunday January 26, 10am The Feast of St. Paul, The Rev. Canon J. Sierra Reyes, Preacher

Sunday January 26, 3pm Prometheus Symphony Orchestra Concert

Tuesday, January 28, 7pm on Zoom - Vestry Meeting

Sunday, February 2, 10am Annual Parish Meeting

Rector's Message

The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Wilson

STAND WITH JESUS

When I was much younger and serving as an acolyte in my Costa Rica home congregation, one of my favorite hymns was 561 of the 1982 Episcopal Church hymnal: Stand up, stand up for Jesus. I specifically loved the verse that says lift high the royal banner. As a young crucifer there's nothing that excited me more than lifting the processional cross as high, as I possibly could during that verse. To be honest, at that time, I had little to no understanding of what was being sung, what was important was doing my part by raising the banner I carried. 

My theology has changed significantly since then and even that hymn has a completely different meaning in my life and ministry. I'm not going to place all the lyrics here, but if you remember the hymn you may understand why singing about being a soldier, part of an army or putting on armor, even the Gospel armor, may not have the same impact in the 21st century as it did in the 20th or 19th centuries. 

What has not changed for me is the desire and longing to stand up for Jesus. Not that Jesus is weak and in need of my defense, by no means. I would actually say that I would like to stand with Jesus. The Word of God made flesh doesn't need me to stand up for, but rather invites us to stand with. Jesus invited his disciples and followers to walk, be and proclaim with him and to proclaim like him. I believe that the Christian’s call isn't to be messianic and die for the church for Jesus - even though many, like Stephen, have been put to death due their faith. Our call is to share the gospel message that has been embodied in the redeemed life and faith we live. Jesus has already done everything needed for redemption.

In 2025 the church has to remember God's invitation to walk alongside the one true light, the messiah, our savior. Doing so means that we stand on the side of justice, standing with those who suffer wrong, standing with those who are continuously imprisoned by social systems that are built to benefit a small minority and abandon those of greater need among us. Standing with Jesus is embodied when we take on Jesus' open arms stance on the cross to redeem and open our arms to embrace with love and compassion all those for whom he gave his life.

For this year 2025 I would like to invite all of St. Paul's in Oakland to stand on the side of God's eternal truth. May your life and testimony be the royal banner that goes before you and shines forth to transform the world and the church itself.

Stand up and stand with Jesus.

Message from the Senior Warden

Indira Balkissoon

Happy New Year!

At our Annual Meeting in February we say goodbye and thank you to Vestry Members Irene Plunkett and Matthew Schooler who are rolling off Vestry. You have both brought unique talents and I have enjoyed getting to know you better. The Vestry has also approved next year’s budget. 

Also in February, I will be stepping down as Senior Warden. There is so much to say and all of it is good. The Senior Warden is considered to be the Rector’s Warden and as such I hope that I have been a positive support to the rector. I have enjoyed this position. It has been an honor to support such a talented and caring spiritual leader. You have been a joy to work with. I have treasured my meetings with you because you have so much wisdom to share. 

Over these past several years, I have learned a lot about St. Paul’s and our wonderful community. As Senior Warden I have welcomed newcomers, fielded questions, made connections, listened to concerns, made observations, supported the Vestry, our Stewardship Committee, and our Sunday School leaders. I hope it has been helpful. There is so much going on at St. Paul’s it is hard to list here. 

It is my hope that the Ministry Action plan completed by Richard Larson, Pam Kruse-Buckingham and I and approved by the Vestry this past year, will help guide the Parish over the next 3 years with the goal of assigning resources and providing a comprehensive summary, along with Stewardship’s Narrative Budget, in garnering additional funding of St. Paul’s as we grow the church.

As I step down from the role of Senior Warden, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to serve our community. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated individuals, and I am proud of what we accomplished together. While I may be moving on, my commitment to this parish remains strong. I wish you all the best in the future, and please know that I will always cherish the memories we've made.

God be with you.

Blessings,

Indira Balkissoon, Senior Warden

Bakers Needed for Communion Bread

Do you like the taste of homemade bread? Do you find the aroma of bread baking in the oven irresistible?

If you attended any services during Advent or Christmas, you may have noticed that rather than communion wafers, we had homemade bread. It has a secret ingredient: BEER!

I have made it off and on for the last several months. One recipe makes enough for four small loaves (4 Sundays). It is not difficult to make. If you would like the recipe or chat more about how to make it, contact Sharon Pilmer at pilms@hotmail.com.

Would love to create a small army of bakers!

Giving Tree 2024

Again this Christmas the Giving Tree was a wonderful success. When social worker at

the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Center for the Vulnerable Child reached

out to us to ask if we could again participate in their Family-to-Faily program, we said

YES, because they have such an amazing program. This is from their website:

The Center for the Vulnerable Child (CVC) provides individual and family therapy,

clinical and medical case management, developmental screening, and parental

education to the most vulnerable children in our community. Children experiencing poverty, family disruption, homelessness, foster care placement, drug exposure, abuse, neglect, community violence, or other threats may be at risk for health, emotional, developmental, or social problems. The CVC works to promote resilience, health and well-being for the children we serve through a breadth of programs, highly individualized services and a dedication to our patients that reflects UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland long mission to care for all children.

The CVC Family-to-Family program matches the families of at-risk children with those who would like to make sure they have Christmas presents. This year we were matched with 4 families, as we were last year. However, this year the families mostly just had one child, so that we had only 39 tags to put on the giving tree. In 2023 we had 51 tags, so we had fewer this year, and our congregation noticed b the time some went to look for a tag. Clearly next year we need to ask for a certain number of people rather than a number of families.

This year was also unusual because Ms. Claus (OK, me) had to be out of town until Dec. 22, so the loading of the sleigh (OK, my car) could only happen after church that Sunday, and the following Monday the CVC Social worker met me at the CVC so I could transfer the presents to her. Because she was coming in on a day when she would normally be off, she had our families meet her at the CVC to pick up their presents, and I got to meet one of the families & experience their joy and gratitude. This is the first time I have met one of the families, because the CVC rightfully respects their clients’ privacy, and it was so wonderful.

We have an amazing parish, thank you all so much for your generosity.

Paula Hawthorn, Co-Chair

Social Justice Ministry

Pastoral Ministry Group Has Initial Meeting

A group of parishioners interested in a lay pastoral care ministry met with Fr. Wilson and Archdeacon Bolton, the current clerical pastoral care team, on December 1st after the 10am service.

The participants were enthusiastic about the possibilities for expanding pastoral care through the use of lay people, who can not only increase the frequency of visits to those in need but may at times prove to have skills and resources that are particularly helpful.

One of our deacons will be the pastoral contact for the group and will coordinate efforts to identify and

respond to potential candidates for a visit.

Fr. Wilson explained the differences among and training for visitors, Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs), and Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs). He said that everyone should go through the Whole and Healthy Church training, and he emphasized that all can benefit from these sessions, whether they become licensed or not.

The group plans to meet again in the new year for further discussion. If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, please get in touch with Sharon Pilmer at: pilms@hotmail.com.

JANUARY CONCERTS

The Yale Whiffenpoofs

Featuring Pocket Octave, from The College Preparatory School

The Whiffenpoofs in Oakland!

Saturday, January 11, 2025

7PM TICKETS

The Yale Whiffenpoofs are coming to Oakland!

Since their founding in 1909, the Whiffenpoofs have brought their diverse repertoire of vocal jazz, folk, pop, and Broadway hits to more than two hundred audiences each year across all 6 inhabited continents. In past years, the ‘Whiffs’ have sung for Presidents Obama, Bush (41 and 43), Clinton, and Reagan, and at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. They've even been featured on television shows such as “The Sing Off,” “The West Wing,” and “Glee.”

Pocket Octave is the Advanced Vocal Ensemble (AVE) at The College Preparatory School in Oakland, directed by Tina Harrington. Consisting of students of all four grades, we sing a mix of a cappella arrangements from classical to pop—and everything in between. Pocket Octave performs primarily at school events, so the group is excited to have their first off-campus gig since the pandemic. 

We hope to see you there!

Prometheus Symphony Orchestra

Eric Hansen, Music Director

Third Concert

Sunday, January 26, 2025

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

Zoltán Kodály • Háry János Suite

Claude Debussy • La plus que lente

    Jay Stebley, Cimbalom

Sergei Prokofiev • Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major

   Ian Cheung, violin soloist

     Kuhnert Young Artist Concerto Competition Winner

We are happy to offer free, Sunday afternoon concerts to further Prometheus’ primary mission of bringing classical music to members of our community, including those who may not otherwise be able to attend a live symphony concert. Families with children are always welcome and the facility is wheelchair accessible. 

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

Ticket information will be posted HERE when available.

ROTAS & SCHEDULES

Altar Guild 2025

Prayers of the People Writers 2025