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The Good News
June, 2025
The Season of Pentecost begins June 8
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The Monthly Newsletter of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
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IMPORTANT DATES AT-A-GLANCE
Every Tuesday at 11am - Prayer Group - Online (See article below)
Every Wednesday, 12:10pm Liturgy of the Word & Holy Communion
Every Sunday 8am (spoken) & 10am (sung) Liturgy of the Word w/ Holy Communion
4th Sunday Each Month, 8pm A Service of Compline
On Hiatus June 9 through September 15
First Saturday of Every Month, 10am Acolyte Training
4th Saturdays, 10am Food Pantry Bag Prep
2nd & 4th Sundays, 12pm Food Pantry Service Day
2nd Sunday Each Month, 4pm A Service of Evensong
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Special Upcoming Services in the Life of St. Paul's
Saturday, June 7, 3pm our deacon Rev. Rachel Dykzuel's ordination to the priesthood, at Grace Cathedral.
Sunday, June 8: 8 & 10am, Pentecost Join us for a Festive Holy Spirit Coffee Hour after the 10am service. Bring your favorite snacks to share!
Sunday, June 8, 4pm: Evensong
The final Sunday of Evensong before our summer break. Evensong will return on 2nd Sundays once/ month at 4pm on Sunday September 15.
Sunday, June 15, 8 & 10am: Celebrate Father Chrstian's Ministry
This is the last 10am Sunday morning service with the full choir before their summer break. During the summer months, we will offer Eucharist with Music at 10am. Ben Bachmann will play the organ, and one of our very talented section leaders (Philip Saunders, Amy Kessler, Diana Pray, or Benjamin Brown) will sing. The full choir will return on Sunday September 15.
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From Joy to Action:
Help St. Paul’s Keep Growing in Grace
If you’ve ever stepped into St. Paul’s on a Sunday morning, you know something special is happening here.
Maybe it’s the soaring notes of our world-class organ, the embrace of a community that looks like the Kingdom of God, or the powerful message of hope and justice from the pulpit. Perhaps it’s the volunteers who nourish our neighbors through the food pantry, or the quiet reverence of the altar guild. St. Paul’s is a vibrant, growing community—a rare gem among Episcopal parishes today.
But even a thriving garden needs tending.
Our historic sanctuary is a beautiful 113-year-old reminder of God’s enduring presence. And our beloved organ—an instrument that lifts our prayers to the heavens—is now 90 years old. As you can imagine, both need more than a little TLC. At the same time, we’re relying heavily on our endowments to keep things running, which isn’t a sustainable path forward.
The good news? We have the people and the spirit to rise to the occasion. That means ALL of us.
Father Wilson, our Vestry, and a small team of energized parish leaders are launching a new effort to secure the future of St. Paul’s through fundraising. Our goal is simple but powerful: to support the music, ministries, and mission we love—without borrowing from tomorrow’s blessings.
To do this, we need your ideas, your passion, and your presence. Whether you have a talent for event planning, a knack for donor outreach, or just a love for our church and community, there’s a place for you at the table.
We’re forming fundraising sub-committees in order to hold a Gala event in September 2026—and you are most welcome to join us! The committee is being co-chaired by Digger Lauter & George Strait, and a few more familiar faces—but the real secret to success is all of us, working together as the Body of Christ in this time.
Not sure where you fit in yet? That’s okay.
We’re also asking everyone to take this short survey so we can match your interests and skills with the needs of the committee. Please click on the button below:
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Whether you can offer time, talent, or treasure, we believe God has given each of us something unique to share.
Let’s write the next chapter of St. Paul’s together!
With faith, fellowship, and a little fundraising magic, we can ensure that our music continues to soar, our doors remain open, and our ministries grow deeper roots in the Oakland community. Together, we’ll make sure that the joy we experience every week at St. Paul’s is just the beginning.
Yours in faith, hope and love,
Pamela Kruse-Buckingham
Sr. Warden
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Children's Fairyland Tomorrow!
If you have young children, please join us for an end-of-year celebration this Sunday, June 1 at Fairyland. We will meet at the front of the church, at the start of the 10am service, and walk over together. RSVP to Deacon Carolyn or Virginia McManus (510-407-0920).
Summer Plans:
Throughout the summer, we are incredibly grateful that MJ will continue to support the youngest members of our community in the Mustard Seeds room. However, FaithQuest lessons will pause beginning after Pentecost (June 8) and will resume when the choir returns in September. This will give our volunteer team an opportunity to rest and enjoy the full service.
During the summer, any families with young children are invited to join an informal, drop-in group in the courtyard, where we will read the day's readings from a children's bible and then have free-choice play and simple crafts until Communion begins. There will not be a designated facilitator, and we will lean on each other to create this community together; it will be an open invitation for any families who are present. At the back of the church, we will also provide take-home activity bags with a small coloring book, crayons, and a flyer inviting families to join the full FaithQuest group in the fall.
Scott Buckingham, Sheila Fischer, Athena Honore, Katie and Digger Lauter, Virginia McManus, Sarah Smith
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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!
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Immigration Updates with the Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Migration Ministries via Zoom
Tuesdays, 10-10:30am PST
Join us every Tuesday for a 30-minute call on the changing landscape of U.S. immigration, refugee, and migration policy. Episcopal Migration Ministries will share updates and resources and will be joined by the Office of Government Relations and the Chief Legal Officer. Spanish interpretation will be available.
REGISTER HERE
Office of Governmental Relations Weekly Network Call via Zoom
Thursdays, 10-10:30am PST
Join the Office of Government Relations (OGR) for 30-minute, weekly conversations about the policies and legislation we are advocating with Congress and the Administration. Every Thursday, OGR staff will provide an overview of the political environment and legislative outlook, tips for advocacy, and time for questions from you.
REGISTER HERE
Please stay tuned for details about the school supplies drive in July & August!
Matthew Schooler
Co-Chair of Social Justice and Community Outreach Committee
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The Annual Diocesan Juneteenth Feast Day will be celebrated
on June 15 at 6pm at Grace Cathedral
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San Francisco Choral Artists
Magen Soloman, Artistic Director
Welcome to the Zoo! A Musical Menagerie
Sunday, June 15, 2025 qt 4pm
Join us on a whimsical trip to a fantastical musical zoo, where we’ll visit with ducks, horses, nightingales, snakes, chickens, lizards, seals, worms, and even some crustaceans! From the sublime to the silly, we’ll get to know our animal earth-mates through music spanning centuries and a range of styles – from playful Renaissance madrigals to shimmering contemporary works. With three world premieres, this musical menagerie promises fresh discoveries and timeless reflections. Let us take you to the zoo – just follow the paw prints!
Tickets available HERE
Ticket Prices:
Advance, online: Pay what you will. We are committed to making our concerts accessible to everyone!
At the door: - General $35; Senior $30; Under 30 $15
More information at SFCA.org
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Video Presentation of Recent Photos
Click the Arrow inside the circle to watch
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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.
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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. Gary England, Archdeacon
The Rev. Stephen Tiffenson, Deacon
STAFF
Benjamin Bachmann, MMusic, FAGO, Music Director
Philip Saunders, MMusic, Assistant Music Director
Jackie Kamakate, Parish Administrator
Joan Clerk, Bookkeeper
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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
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