SAINTS, TURKEYS, PUMPKINS AND SOULS

Rev. Dr. Mauricio Wilson, Rector

November is a trap month. We begin the month with the celebration of saints and all faithful departed, and close to its end turkeys are baked and pumpkin pies devoured. Between it all we are already beginning to think about the close of the year and the festivities of Christmas and for some Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. Then are those of us who are one this or that board of organization worrying about budgets, year end parties. In the church of course, we are thinking about Advent, special year end outreach projects, while also trying to find ways to fulfill our giving goals for the current and future years. Then to add to it all, this is a year of national elections that are causing large swaths of the population to be stressed beyond what is ‘normal’ for this time of year. 

Some would say that this is a month where everybody is “crazy busy.” But I ask: Does it have to be? ‘Crazy busy,’ I mean? It seems to me that so much of what occupies our worrisome hearts and minds is mostly human made and therefore unnatural to the human state of being. Even the things that we do in and for our church life is of our making. God did not command the prophet to order the people to do any of the things that occupy us so profoundly - except for Hanukkah. 

I am not suggesting that we not do any of the things we do, since many or all of them hold deep importance to so many of us. What I do want to suggest is that we don’t imagine that any of them not happening perfectly would bring our existence to an end. Even the fact that we are having an election that seems a little out of the ordinary, when looked at from the perspective of human or even U.S. history should be viewed as a moment, but not necessarily one of deep transcendence. You may think that I am being naive, but as a person who seeks to live my life truly believing that Jesus is my friend and savior, and that I am called to emulate his life and testimony, the results of an election should not in any way mitigate my commitment to fighting for justice for all.  

My hope for each of you is that, in the midst of all this perceived chaos, you allow yourself to breathe and live. I share Paul’s belief: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39

To the list I would add no pie, nor turkey, nor president, nor politician or even a crazy relative will cause such separation. May God’s blessings be ever present to the eyes of your heart.

Message from the Senior Warden

Indira Balkissoon

Gratitude

“What ever you think about and give thanks about, you’ll be about” (Louie Schwartzberg, UTO)

In this month of November I like to think about all the things for which I am thankful. Positive Psychology calls gratitude an emotion and describes it as both a trait and a state because it acknowledges the goodness in one’s life and it recognizes that the sources of goodness lies outside one’s self. Gratitude helps focus on the positive aspects of life and is linked to mental wellbeing. 

The United Thank Offering program of the Episcopal Church has a webpage that discusses strength and optimism through gratitude. There is a statement that I found incredibly powerful.

“What ever you think about and give thanks about, you’ll be about. If we focus on the negative, we begin to only see the negative. If we focus on the positive, we see more of that. Optimism, or looking for the good things in the world, helps with a growth mindset and helps us deal with anxiety, depression, and burnout. Which means, when we think about good things, and are thankful for those good things, we’ll find more good things”.

As with all things, gratitude takes practice and since we are in the month of giving thanks through the ritual of Thanksgiving. Let’s take time this month especially to say acknowledge our blessings. Let’s commit to 30 days of gratitude and share one thing we are thankful for from the past year. I will start. I am thankful for this St. Paul’s family.

For more information:

Positive Psychology

https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-appreciation/#:~:text=Gratitude%20is%20an%20emotion%20similar,et%20al.%2C%202020).

Optimism and Gratitude 

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/uto/strength-and-optimism-through-gratitude/

Thankfulness prays and ideas:

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/uto/thirty-days-of-thankfulness/

Grace and peace to you,

Indira 

Lay Led Pastoral Care Team

In years past, St. Paul’s had a group of trained and licensed Lay Eucharistic Visitors who could take and administer the sacraments to individuals who were ill or shut in. Like so many things in our lives, the pandemic put a stop to this practice. Nevertheless, the need for this ministry still exists, and our clergy are stretched thin.

The ancient practice of taking the sacraments to those unable to partake during communal worship is the essential practice of inclusion. It binds them to the community of love and prayer that had together blessed the bread and unites them with Christ in the remembrance of his life, teachings, passion and resurrection. Lay Eucharistic visitors are part of a pastoral care team who, by their presence, bring the love, hope and prayers of the church to those in need.

At the ministry fair in September, we identified a core group interested in learning more about a possible lay led pastoral care ministry. We would like to set up an organizational meeting as a first step during October or early November. If you are interested in being a part of this, please contact Irene Plunkett (irene.l.plunkett@gmail.com) or Sharon Pilmer (pilms@hotmail.com).

For more information about eucharistic ministers and visitors, please visit the diocesan website at https://www.diocal.org/formation/eucharistic-ministers-and-visitors/

Diocesan Resolution Addressing Christian Nationalism from St. Paul's Oakland was Passed

During Lent, a group read, met & discussed The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta. As a result, the Social Justice Ministry decided to submit a resolution to the 175th Annual Convention, with the goal of creating a tool kit for the people, parishes, and organizations of the church to use to Stand Up For Jesus and countermand Christian Nationalist messages. Over the summer, we've worked with the Diocesan Committee on Resolutions to clarify and strengthen Resolution #!: Addressing Christian Nationalism.

I am delighted to report that the resolution was passed with 213 votes. We look forward to hearing what the next steps will be from the Diocese. When we hear more, we will report out! Thanks you so much for your prayerful discernment of this important issue facing us.

Pamela Buckingham for

The Social Justice Ministry

NOVEMBER CONCERTS

Sunday, November 3, 2024

4:00pm

SPANISH MUSIC FOR THE DAY OF THE DEAD

Tactus SF

Sven Edward Olbash, Music Director

Tickets available HERE

Reflect on the Day of the Dead with meditative Spanish polyphony for four, five, and six voices by Victoria, Morales, Franco, and Vasquez.

Tactus SF will present a concert of music for the Day of the Dead, featuring music by Renaissance composers working in Spain and the Spanish New World. The concert will be conducted by new Tactus SF Music Director Sven Edward Olbash in his premiere appearance with the ensemble. The 24-voice a cappella ensemble will present musical settings of texts that comprise the traditional Roman Catholic Office for the Dead, a centuries-old liturgy underlying the Hispanic commemoration of El Día de los Muertos.

The music contemplates death and the afterlife in a series of powerful settings of texts from the Book of Job, the Psalms, and the Hebrew prophets. The settings, in both chant and polyphony, are by some of the greatest composers working in the major cathedrals of Hispanic Europe and the New World, including Cristóbal de Morales, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Fernando Franco, and Juan Vásquez. More information at TactusSF.org

Sunday, November 17, 2024

3:00pm (2:40pm Pre-concert talk)

SECOND CONCERT

Prometheus Symphony Orchestra

Eric Hansen, Music Director

Tickets, required for admission, are available HERE

Johannes Brahms • Violin Concerto in D Major

   Ava Pakiam, Violin soloist

Augusta Holmès • Andromède Poème symphonique

   Women Composer Series

Our second concert of our Diamond Jubilee 2024-25 Season features the up-and-coming star Ava Pakiam playing the Brahms Violin Concerto. Ava, as you remember, won our Khuner Young Artist Concerto Competition in 2023 playing the Prokofiev G Major Concerto to great acclaim. 

We will also present Andromède, Poème Symphonique by the 19th Century composer Augusta Holmes. This wonderful work has been far too long overlooked as a masterpiece of symphonic writing. More information at https://www.prometheussymphony.org/

ROTAS & SCHEDULES

Altar Guild 2024

Coffee Hour Thru' Dec. 2024

Prayers of the People 2024

Worship Volunteers July - Dec. 2024