The
Keys of
This Issue’s on Fire! Volume 151, Number 9
St. Peter’s
| May, 2015
No matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here!
The Corner Office
All Fired Up
I finished up seminary training by spending the Michaelmas term—the fall term—at Oxford University in England. I went to study, of course, but I also wanted the experience of living in a worshipping community. At St. Stephen’s College, the part of the university I attended, there was a strictly regulated schedule of worship, study, and meals, all shared with the same few people day in and day out.
It’s interesting to consider how every human achievement is based on some previous innovation. For example, you could say that the chain of developments that put this issue of the Keys into your hands began with the invention of the spinning wheel in the 14th century.
The church and living area at St. Stephens are like much of Oxford: massive, stone cold, and a bit gloomy. We lived in a multi-story building of long, twisting hallways with mysterious doors—no elevator, of course—and a haunted room that used to be the infirmary. Worship on Sundays and holy days was in a church with five altars, a 100-foot ceiling, a chancel lined with the requisite dark, wooden choir stalls, and an enormous, hidden pipe organ. For morning and evening prayer, though, there was a creaky, wooden chapel that snapped and banged at odd moments. “It’s the wood expanding,” they told me, but I was never quite convinced. Students and professors alike lived, studied, and ate together in this cozy environment. We got to know each other well, and this is where I learned to be careful what you wish for when it comes to community. Though other students and professors were eager to get to know this crazy American woman from California, they were also clear that they didn’t believe women should be ordained, and they were full of hope that the idea would soon be rescinded. It was not so much because they felt it was bad theology—it was simply that women hadn’t been ordained before, the church had always had an all-male clergy, and there was no reason to change now. For that matter, they also weren’t surprised or bothered that some clergy might be gay… but they were very upset that suddenly people were making a fuss about it. “Because we’ve always done it this way” was an answer I heard a lot. Why should it be discussed? It’s always worked fine the way it is. We’ve always done it this way. We could not leave the dinner table at night until we were excused by the principal, because… Continued on Page 2…
The spinning wheel allowed linen production to expand dramatically, and rising supplies of linen led to rising supplies of rags. The paper industry grew rapidly when more rags were available. It was widespread availability of paper that enabled printing to succeed when Gutenberg invented moveable type around 1450. And voila—church newsletters! Well, we could look even farther back than the spinning wheel. The spinning wheel itself was just another adaptation of the original wheel, the potter’s wheel, developed somewhere around 3500 BC. And since pottery requires a kiln, to some degree the existence of the whole shooting match—pottery, wheel, paper, printing, and church newsletters—began with one of the earliest and greatest of all human achievements: controlled use of fire. It’s hard to imagine a more important innovation… or one that’s more fascinating. Fire fascinates for any number of reasons. To start with, fire is so incredibly useful that it’s impossible to imagine life without it. Fire makes cooking possible… likewise, heat, light, metal, and any number of other beneficial items. Considering how transformative fire is, it’s no wonder that ancient philosophers thought it was one of the four elements. Needless to say, fire can hurt and destroy, despite its utility, and that gets your attention, too. Lots of expressions use fire as a metaphor for danger. Do a poor job and you risk being fired. Playing with fire is flirting with disaster. Shouting “Fire!” in a crowded theater is a recipe for panic. Jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire is exchanging one peril for another. We’re in danger if we’re in Continued on Page 3…
Corner Office, continued… We could not talk from 11 o clock at night until after Mass in the morning, because… When I asked why we couldn’t have Mass in the relative warmth of the chancel, I was told it was because they’d always celebrated Mass in the nave.
I was mortified and immediately tried to save the antiques. “They’re old” I said, “And valuable!” And in desperation, “Think what we could get for them on eBay!” “Oh, they’re not old,” they said. “They’re just Victorian.” And they tossed them onto the fire.
When I asked why we used the Roman Rite instead of the Book of Common Prayer for services, it was because they had always used the Roman Rite, and they had always used the Roman rite because the service in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer was hard to use. And they haven’t revised the Prayer Book since 1662 because – and this was a little different – they couldn’t quite agree on how to update it.
Victorian church furnishings were apparently just what was needed, because it became quite a blaze after they tossed in the rood screen. As I stood there in the cold starless night, getting as close as I dared to the now raging fire, I wanted to be irritated, aggravated at the nonsense or indignant at the foolishness. But it was so much fun roasting marshmallows, drinking warm beer, joking about burning people at the stake!
I knew when I went to St. Stephens that I would be among people with different opinions about how churches ought to be, that there might even be some hostility to my presence. But I didn’t go to shake things up—I went to experience community and to try to understand why they believed as they did. And so, for the most part, I just listened; occasionally offered an opinion, and sometimes allowed myself to look startled at some of the outrageous comments.
Later that night as I trudged half frozen up the three flights of stairs to my little closet of a room I realized that the bonfire had done more than literally bring warmth and sparkle to an English winter night. It had, metaphorically, lit a fire inside me. Why was my way of celebrating a feast day better than anyone else’s? And for that matter what made me so sure I was right about everything? Maybe I could be wrong.
But it wore on me. By the end of October I was beginning to feel irritable and argumentative, and to let off steam I began to call the people who disagreed with me Pharisees. Not out loud of course, just to myself or to sympathetic people. And as the weather became decidedly wintery, I wrapped my selfrighteousness around me like a warm blanket.
The day before I returned home to the U.S. I went to Mass in that cold gloomy church for the last time. I was perfectly warm because I was swathed in several layers of heavy wool, and metaphorically warm because the people who were huddled there with me had, because of our differences, set fire to my complacency and selfrighteousness.
Soon St. Stephen’s began to prepare for the celebration of All Soul’s Day, a day they marked with an evening bonfire. The occasion was eagerly anticipated long in advance. Indeed, our chore for the previous week had been to go out and cut back all the plants on the grounds so we would have the cuttings to use on the bonfire.
Susan+
As we hacked away at the roses in the cloister I asked, why a bonfire on All Souls’? What’s the significance of the bonfire? “Because we’ve always had a bonfire for All Soul’s,” they said, and so, on the evening of All Soul’s, after a festive sung mass, we all went out to the parking lot to light the bonfire. But the bonfire wouldn’t light. The green wood of the cloister wouldn’t burn nor would the cardboard boxes we tossed in or the paper we pulled from the recycling bin. We tried dousing it all with lighter fluid and still it only smoldered. Then a couple of people remembered some old furniture shoved off into one of the covered cloister walks, and they went to get it, returning with pews and part of a broken rood screen.
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The Keys of St. Peter
All Fired Up, continued… the line of fire, or caught in the crossfire, or—the ultimate danger—facing a firing squad. Before we push the detonator we shout, “Fire in the hole!” Fire signifies urgency as well as danger, though they’re probably two sides of the same coin. A burning need demands quick attention. Where’s the fire? means “What’s the hurry?” In a similar vein, going like a house on fire is fast work. This reminds us of the man at a candy bar factory who fell into a huge vat of chocolate and yelled, “Fire! Fire!” His fellow workers heard him calling, ran over, and rescued him, but they wanted to know why he had called “Fire!” “Would you have paid any attention if I had yelled,‘Chocolate! Chocolate!’?” he asked. Fire makes a good metaphor for a variety of passions. The book Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire hopes to motivate educators… to get them all fired up. Someone who’s burned up or steamed is angry. And then there’s “Light My Fire,” a song addressing the most fundamental passion of all.
changes what it touches. A flame is alive: always different, always moving, flickering… there and not there. Fires appear in the Bible several times. God first spoke to Moses from a burning bush. And there’s the familiar story of Pentecost, which we’ll celebrate on May 24, in which tongues of fire appeared above the gathered followers of Jesus, enabling people from different countries to understand the Christians as if each was speaking the listener’s native language. We think of Pentecost as a major Christian holiday, but it’s also a Jewish festival day, called Shavuot in Hebrew. Because Shavuot is celebrated 50 days after Passover, Greek-speaking Jews called it Pentecost, which means “fiftieth day.” Shavuot commemorates the gift of the Ten Commandments 50 days after the Exodus. Christian Pentecost celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit 50 days after Jesus’s resurrection. So Jewish Pentecost and Christian Pentecost are really parallel holidays. Both celebrate the mystery of God’s gifts to the world.
For all its inherent dangers, fire also fascinates because of its beauty and mystery. Who hasn’t been mesemerized by a blazing bonfire—especially under a dome of stars in a circle of good friends? We wonder how many of humanity’s fundamental myths began as tales around the campfire. All of them, probably. The dancing flames, the play of colors, the glowing coals, the crackle of burning wood—it’s like watching a movie. What’s going on in there? Scientists tell us that burning is rapid oxidation. A fire requires heat, oxygen, and fuel, and when these come together they create a chain reaction that continues as long as all three are present. You can put out a fire by cooling it, smothering it, removing the fuel, or by stopping the chain reaction. Generally speaking, it takes a fire to start a fire—for example, every Sunday we light the church candles from a single source. The process is a little bit like mitosis, one cell dividing into two to spread life. The color of flames is affected mostly by the chemistry of the fuel but also by the temperature of combustion. Burning natural gas looks different than burning wood because of the different chemical composition of gas and wood. Wood flames are different colors because of temperature differences: yellow flames are hotter than red flames. But it isn’t the science that drawns us in and holds our attention—it’s the miraculous way that a fire consumes and May, 2015
It’s kind of cool that both religions still celebrate the same holiday. It’s easy to think of the differences that divide religions… but much more rewarding to think of the commonalities that unite us, and there are many. We mentioned earlier that an invention like printing can be traced back through earlier innovations—inventors stand on the shoulder of giants, as Newton said. Those links between one human achievement and another mirror the interdependence of people on one another. Each of us is the product of ancestors who came before us, parents who raised us, teachers who inspired us, and friends who encourage us. A lovely St. Peter’s tradition is the way we light one another’s candles on Christmas Eve, sharing our tiny flames with our neighbors until the whole church is filled with candlelight. We each hold separate candles… but it’s all the same fire. Our faith holds fundamental truths that can be traced back through many traditions, like Pentecost connects with Shavuot. Some of those truths go all the way back to the campfire—the first fire that God spoke from. Look closely… listen carefully! 3
Keep the Fire Burning! One of my husband Mitch’s favorite TV shows right now is “Naked and Afraid” on the Discovery Channel. The premise is that a man and a woman are dropped into a challenging locale au naturel with exactly one survival tool each. These individuals need to make it through 21 days and then hike five miles to their extraction point. Mitch appreciates that through rigorous editing, 21 days has been condensed into one hour. On a recent episode Mitch exclaimed to me “They’ve dropped Ky and Billy into a Louisiana Bayou! It’s 50 degrees and there’s nothing but swamp, gators and venomous snakes!” Thanks, Honey, for sharing. Guess what survival tool is always chosen? That’s right, the BlastMatch All Weather Firestarter because the first order of survival is to build a fire and keep it going. To survive you need heat to keep warm, purify water, and cook dinner— which may have just slithered by. Cottonmouth Carpaccio anyone? I think not. People who think about such things have proposed that humans first captured fire from a bush or tree struck by lightning. In the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa’s North Cape Province, scientists have found evidence of cooking fire dating back 1 million years ago. Although its origin is debated in archaeologist circles, controlled use of fire was a significant advance in human development. Cooking with fire allowed humans to access more nutrition in plant foods. I don’t think it took too long for humans to discover just how good barbecue tastes. Also, fire provided warmth and protection from predators and insects. It allowed humans to work and socialize at night.
For many, fire has come to represent God’s energy and sacred light, but also the heart’s purity and clarity. This powerful element is very present at our Feast of the Pentecost. At the first Pentecost the apostles were gathered in one place in Jerusalem. Luke describes a “strong, driving wind, which filled the house.” Tongues of fire “came to rest on each one of them” and “they were filled with the holy spirit.” The apostles were now able to speak in different languages understood by the many people gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot. Peter preached, 3,000 people were baptized, and the Christian Church got a great start on the 50th day after Easter with miraculous energy, illumination and clarity of heart. There are times when God makes a point with fire. So, back to Ky and Billy in the swamplands of Louisiana where a massive storm has hit, their camp is flooded and Billy exclaims, “Our fire is dead!” Billy’s style is to express his doubts and frustration. Ky’s style is to stay mentally resilient and encourage Billy. Personally, I thought Ky could have helped more with hunting food, but both individuals were pushed to their limit with too much cold and too little water and food. This is where spiritual reserves are what you are left with. Hope, determination, and working together despite differences are what get you to Day 21, extraction by helicopter, and some tasty snacks on the ride home. Our spirit and faith are informed by teachings and experiences. It is good to remember the gifts given to us by God. Rebecca Schenone, Priest’s Warden
It follows that fire also became an important part of human culture and religion. Ancient Greeks kept a hearth fire at home and a sanctuary flame at the temples in honor of Hestia, goddess of home and domestic tranquility. The Romans called the goddess Vesta, whose temple and sanctuary flame were tended by the Vestales. Romans carried a bit of their hearth fire with them when they traveled, and temple fire was carried to bless a new settlement. St. Peter’s youth are very familiar with the Old Testament story of Moses being drawn to a bush that was burning yet not consumed by the flame. Here, on Mount Horeb, Yahweh told Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into Canaan. 4
The Keys of St. Peter’s
The Deacon’s Beacon
The Halo Award
I am sure you have heard me talk about my concepts of heaven and hell As you may recall, I am not convinced that a hell even exists as a place where we might end up after we die, Dante notwithstanding. After all, when Jesus talks about hell, he is actually referring to Gehenna, the town dump outside Jerusalem. I think that the only hell that exists is the one that we create for ourselves in this lifetime, right here on Earth. I have jokingly said that hell is when we die and get to heaven and the first people there to greet us are all of the folks that we were sure would never make it. But the more I think about it, this might not be such a bad definition. Think about it: we are called in this life to love and to forgive, even and especially those with which we are angry, we find disagreeable, or we just dislike. If we have been able to truly “love our neighbors as ourselves,” and to forgive, then our entry into heaven should be unencumbered. But if we have left unfinished business, wouldn’t it be great to be given a second chance to square our accounts, to throw off those prejudices and grievances that we harbor in our earthly lives?
You may have asked yourself, “What do I have to do to earn a coveted Halo Award and make myself the envy of everyone in the parish?” We understand the allure: halos are handsome… and rare. Not every good deed earns a halo—any Boy Scout can help someone across the street. No, if you want a genuine sparkling halo you have to go way above and beyond the call of duty… up where the angels swoop and soar. Here’s one way to earn a halo. Learn how to hang drywall by bringing the church boiler room up to code… then learn how the irrigation system works and keep it running… then join the Vestry… then help with the bylaws and tenant leases… then generally become one of the nicest guys in the congregation: patient, understanding, and a good singer, too. In other words, you have to become John Nieman, who has earned this month’s golden halo with his remarkable willingness to be the Guy Who Gets It Done around here.
The other aspect is that our current lives are always diminished by these prejudices and grievances. They eat at our insides and make us bitter. As Mitch Albom said, “Anger is a curved sword; it only hurts yourself.” So why not make an effort to identify and resolve those issues that might plague you. I promise that not only will it make this life better but it might also speed your path to heaven in the next. One other note. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all of your thoughts prayers and cards when I was in the hospital. The love from St. Peter’s was so substantial that you could cut it with a knife. I am far from being out of the woods but my progress to this point seems miraculous and I know that all of you had a lot to do with it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Lots of people are happy to talk about a problem, but there are only a few who quietly roll up their sleeves and find the solution. And John is the captain! Congratulations, John. Your golden aura is the envy of all!
Word of the Month Aa (Ah ah) n. Lava with a rough surface. Compare to Pahoehoe, lava with a smooth surface.
Deacon Skip May. 2015
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Sacred Spaces We’re willing to guess that everyone who attends St. Peter’s has a few places in the church that feel extra special, for one reason or another. What are your favorite spots in the church?
On a sunny spring morning the sanctuary can look especially inviting. But by the same token, there are lots of times when the chapel is very appealing. One space is bright and open, the other close… comfortable… and perfect for spiritual reflection.
We know that some people like the outdoor spaces… especially the newly spruced-up landscaping along the Brewster Avenue side of the church.
For many parishioners, the Sunday School rooms hold lots of happy memories.
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The Keys of St. Peter’s
The editor has a few favorite places in the church… and this is one of them. Books and inspiration—you can’t get enough of either!
A couple of very special places at St. Peter’s are in the back of the sanctuary. Like the altar, our baptismal font is one rugged piece of stonework! But of course, durability is important if you plan on welcoming lots of newcomers into the church.
As you sit in church, have you ever found yourself thinking that there’s a certain personality to the figure on our cross? To start with, we think there’s a definite resemblance to the baby on the bas relief. One thing is certain. No matter what your favorite space is, everyone who comes through the door gets the same greeting.
The bas relief showing the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple is totally unique. We wonder how many people have lit candles at it over the past 60 years.
May, 2015
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Mother Susan to the General Convention A few months back I received an email from the national Episcopal Church inviting me to apply to be a legislative aide at the 2015 General Convention. I had been waiting for this moment for some time. The General Convention is the primary governing and legislative body of the Episcopal Church. It’s made up of two houses, the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. Episcopal dioceses are part of the General Convention, which meets every three years. Of course, there are committees, resolutions, and elected representatives, just as we have at our own Diocesan Convention, except on a much larger scale. This year’s General Convention is in Salt Lake City, from June 25th to July 3rd. The application allowed me to pick two committees that interest me, and dreaming big, I asked to work for a committee that would have something to do with the next Presiding Bishop. And sure enough, the email response informed me that I’ll be working with the Committee on the Confirmation of the Presiding Bishop. Our current Presiding Bishop, Kathryn Jefferts Schori, could run again but has declined, making the election of a new Presiding Bishop the most newsworthy item of the convention. The other large topic of this convention will be a discussion of reorganizing the highest governing levels of the Episcopal Church.
Since I’m going to be in Salt Lake for quite a long time, I hope I can have some fun too. I do love the desert and my sister used to live there and the Mormon Genealogical Library is right near my hotel, so… Mother Susan+ More info at www.GeneralConvention.org or at the back of the church.
Women’s Retreat She Who Hesitates Is Last It’s not too late to sign up for the annual Women’s Retreat, scheduled for May 16 and 17 at Bishop’s Ranch… but if you wait too much longer, you’ll miss a sweet time. The weekend’s theme is Chocolate, and who could ask for a more enticing subject? The weekend’s program includes professional instruction in truffle-making, a movie (Chocolat, naturally), discussion, and plenty of time for R&R. Rides are available. If a great weekend in a glorious setting sounds good, let Mother Susan know. See you there!
Though all this seems distant from us here in St. Peter’s, Convention decisions—on topics like finances, liturgy, stewardship, outreach, and many others—have a real effect on our life together as a community. And we have a voice in this process; we elect people from our church to go to the Diocesan Convention, the Diocesan Convention elects people to go to General Convention, and they will consider and vote and propose. I won’t be one of them—that’s not my role—but I’ll get to see it all happen. Bishop Marc leads the diocesan voting group, the convocation, at the General Convention. His role at this Convention will be particularly interesting as he was among the nominees to be Presiding Bishop, although he wasn’t selected as a finalist. He and his fellow Bishops will elect the new PB from a list of submitted names. Their choice is then sent to the House of Deputies for confirmation. It is, I understand, not necessarily a process without its politics. You may know an illustrious member of this group of Episcopal leaders. Michael Barlowe, who was here in our Diocese for many years, is the Executive Officer of the Council, which oversees not just the Convention itself but also the Convention’s work between meetings.
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Coming Next Month Next month’s theme is “God and Dad,” and we’re looking for a few good stories. For example, the editor grew up across the street from a family named Nevin, who would pray, “Our Father, who art a Nevin…” Go ahead… we know you can top that! Submissions: hutchinp@comcast.net.
The Keys of St. Peter’s
From the Vestry
Kid Stuff
The Vestry last met on Tuesday, April 14, and among the items discussed were finances, staffing, some maintenance issues, scheduling, and a ton of parish activity. Treasurer John Lessar presented financial reports for the year through March, and the first quarter of 2015 was a good one for St. Peter’s, with the parish ahead of budget by more than $5,000.
Income Expense Net
Actual
Budget
Variance
$60,171 59,763
$58,156 63,490
$2,015 3,727
$408
$ -5,334
$5,741
Two staff positions remain open: the music director and a youth minister. We’ve received applications from several prospective music directors, and the leading candidate scheduled a visit on April 19th. The job description for the youth minister has not been completed and several questions remain before the position can be posted. The Vestry agreed to fund a project to organize and update parish office systems. Window frames facing the courtyard are beginning to show weather damage, and the parish young people will tackle repairs as a service project. Vestry member John Nieman agreed to demonstrate the tricks of the trade. Mother Susan reported that she’ll be attending a clerical retreat at the end of May and has joined the board of Stanford Canterbury Foundation, the university’s Episcopal community. A number of activities are being considered to support the young people’s summer mission project. (See the related article on this page.) Further discussions on the Parish Hall refurbishing were postponed until the May meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12. If you have feelings pro or con, the Vestry welcomes input. In fact, the Vestry is always delighted to hear from parishioners on any subject. Gripes, delights, and questions can be directed to any member. By the way, there’s an opening on the Vestry. If you enjoy evening snacks, good company, and an occasional glass of wine after dinner, sign up and you’ll have one night per month covered. May, 2015
We’ve heard from unnamed sources that the SPYs have formed a crafty alliance. It seems appropriate, somehow. Needless to say, the SPYs under discussion are our very own St. Peter’s Youth, and their crafty alliance is with the Crafty Ladies. The two groups have joined forces to raise money for the young people’s summer mission trip to Crownpoint, NM. Fundraising plans include a delightfully enhanced book sale on May 31—enhanced with hand-embroidered tea towels, delicious lemon curd, and a large selection of St. Peter’s branded merchandise. Start saving, and stay tuned for further details. About a dozen SPYs will head to New Mexico on August 2 through 9, to paint and hang drywall at the Navajo reservation, helping in a big way at a location that could use big help. If you think the New Mexico service mission sounds so great that you want to support it right away, never mind waiting for the book sale, head to: www.GoFundMe.com/StPetersNavajoTrip Nothing could be easier… or more fun! While the big kids are getting ready for their trip, the younger kids are getting started on a new batch of Hope Bags. Want to help the SPYs? See Megan Goulden. Want to help with the Hope Bags? See Cari Pang Chen.
Noted in Brief Just to confirm… Confirmation classes are underway for young and old alike, and we have it on good authority that they’re fun and rewarding. It’s not too late to join either group. See Mother Susan for further details. We’ve been working on the website… If there’s something that you’d like to see on the church website, now’s the time to speak up. Spring cleaning is underway, and good ideas are good to get. Send input to office@stpetersrwc.org . Atherton Court… Thanks again to the Parks family for a great project! 9
Mark the Date!
Rites of Passage
A few items for your calendar…
May Birthdays
-Thursday, May 14: Crafty Ladies at 11:00 am
Chris Angel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 1
-Friday, May 15 through May 17: Women’s Retreat
Sarah Rivera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 5
-Wednesday, May 20: Adult Confirmation, 7:00 pm
Dean Miller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 8
-Thursday, May 21: Crafty Ladies at 11:00 am
Cari Pange Chen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 9
-Wednesday, May 27: Adult Confirmation, 7:00 pm
Carl Berens. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .
May 12
-Thursday, May 28: Crafty Ladies at 11:00 am
Natalie Friend. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 13
-Sunday, May 31: ENHANCED BOOK SALE!
Erna Daley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 15
-Wednesday, June 3: Adult Confirmation, 7:00 pm
Lesly Duke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 15
-Thursday, June 4: Crafty Ladies at 11:00 am
Stacey Redman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 17
Court McKean. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 17
Declan Higgins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 18
Pat McCarty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 19
Miguel Rivera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 20
Are you an out-of-town reader? Tell us how you’re getting along. And remember: your support of St. Peter’s makes the Keys (and a whole lot more) possible.
Arthur Lloyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 21
Mona Dena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 26
Customer Service: office@stpetersrwc.org
Robbie Davidson. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 26
Helena Shapiro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 28
Danny Shapiro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 30
James Badia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 30
Dottress Rollin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May 31
To Our Subscribers Do you know anyone who might like to receive the Keys? Name names!
Good News from Nepal We were delighted to hear from Deacon Skip that the girl’s orphanage in Khatmandu we supported a few years ago survived the recent earthquake intact, likewise all the students and teachers.
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The Keys of St. Peter’s
Get Involved! Parish governance. Priest’s Warden Rebecca Schenone. rschenone@sbcglobal.net LEMs, acolytes, and lectors. Contact the church office. Godly Play (Sunday School). Cari Pang Chen. caripangchen@gmail.com Altar Guild. Barbara Naas. gladbarb@comcast.net SPY (youth group). Mother Susan. susandparsons@aol.com Men’s Group. Deacon Skip Bushee. gsbushee@gmail.com Hopkins Manor ministry. Deacon Skip Bushee. gsbushee@gmail.com Maple Street Shelter ministry. Pat McCarty. Pat_mccarty@sbcglobal.net Ushers. Erik Chen. runforyourlives@gmail.com Crafty Ladies. Midge Bobel. 650 364-0195
The
Keys
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St. Peter’s May, 2015
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 178 Clinton Street Redwood City, CA 94062 www.stpetersrwc.org 650 367-0777 The Right Reverend Marc Andrus The Diocese of California Clergy and Lay Staff The Reverend Susan D. Parsons, Rector The Reverend Skip Bushee, Deacon Ms. Faith McCoy Scriven, Interim Music Director Ms. Siobhan Taylor, Parish Administrator Officers of St. Peter’s Ms. Rebecca Schenone, Priest’s Warden Ms. Megan Goulden, Junior Warden Mr. John Lessar, Treasurer Mr. Peter Hutchinson, Clerk of the Vestry Vestry Ms. Megan Goulden Mr. Peter Hutchinson Ms. Susan Mitchell Mr. John Nieman Mr. Jim Redman Ms. Trish Reilly Taylor Ms. Rebecca Schenone
Published monthly for the friends of St. Peter’s Church
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April, 2015
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The
Keys of St.
Peter’s May, 2015
In this issue… • We’re on Fire! • Favorite Spaces • A Conventional Rector
• Halos… Retreats… and more!