| This Sunday, March 25th Holy Communion - 10AM at Holy Trinity All are welcome to receive Communion!
The first and second readings and psalm are the same this Sunday every year: Christ emptying himself of divine power and protection, willingly becoming vulnerable to those who struck him and put him to death. With Christ we lament his suffering and all human suffering, but expect God's final vindication. Mark's passion story begins with an unnamed woman anointing his head, perhaps to proclaim him Messiah, and Jesus saying she has anointed him beforehand for burial. Mark's Easter story will begin with women going to anoint Jesus for burial, only to find that he has been raised, God's living Anointed One.
Sunday's readings: |
| Serving God on Sunday March 25th Assisting Minister: Holy Trinity Crucifer/Acolyte: Holy Trinity Lector: Holy Trinity Ushers: Holy Trinity Organist/Pianist: Cesar Cancino Flowers: Holy Trinity Fellowship: Holy Trinity Sacristans: Holy Trinity Counters: Anita Patten, Wayne Olson Janitorial: Judy Faye Groundskeeper: Matt Thelen |
| Worship Schedule Our last Lenten Soup Supper will be Thursday, March 22, at Holy Trinity beginning at 6 pm. After supper there will be a brief study period followed by the Holden Evening Prayer Service ending at 7:30 p.m. Next Sunday, March 25, is Palm Sunday which will be at Holy Trinity. We will read the Passion Story. Readers don't forget to bring your green gospel books to worship on Sunday. An Easter Egg Hunt will follow the service for the children. Maundy Thursday, March 29, will be at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity. Good Friday, March 30, will be at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity. Easter, April 1, will be celebrated at St. Paul's. Easter breakfast will be served before the service starting at 8:15 a.m.
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| Attention all Children! There will be an Easter Egg Hunt following worship this coming Sunday, March 25 after the Palm Sunday Service. Feel free to invite your friends to come and join you in the fun. |
| Thursday Evenings in Lent Soup Supper, Study, and Holden Evening Prayer Service 
Who: St. Paul's and Holy Trinity.
What: During Lent, St. Paul's and Holy Trinity are hosting Thursday evening Lenten soup suppers, and a five-part, five week, Lenten study on the five "I am" statements of Jesus from the Gospel of John, and ending each Thursday evening with the Holden Evening Prayer service.
When: For five consecutive Thursday evenings in Lent, beginning at 6pm and ending by 7:30pm on Thursdays, February 22nd through March 22nd. Where: Thursday evening, February 22nd will be at St. Paul's; March 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd will be at Holy Trinity.
Why: To provide a midweek Lenten experience where food will be shared, where the five "I am" statements of Jesus from the Gospel of John will be explored, and where those gathered together will share in the music and beauty of Marty Haugen's Holden Evening Prayer Service.
The five part, five week Lenten study is based on Karoline Lewis's The Call to "I AM": A Five-Part Lenten Series:
http://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=5046. Please click on the link to review the weekly study topics.
To listen to a recording of the Holden Evening Prayer Service, please click on the link: http://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?e=864.
Dean Ahlberg
Co-chair of the consolidated St. Paul's and Holy Trinity Worship Committees
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| Brown Bag Ministry Reminder from Karen Spears Food prices are increasing and the need for meals is holding steady to increasing. It is time to call for cash infusions. Donations for the Brown Bag Ministry can be placed either in the special brown envelope, available at the Brown Bag display table or in any envelope, marked as a Brown Bag Ministry donation, and placed in the offering plate. Your support of this vital program is very much appreciated. |
| On Going Building and Property Survey Don Ockrassa and Craig Pyle are in the process of doing a building and property survey as a part of the Consolidation Process. They are compiling a list of building problems and needs both of the main church property and the remaining annex property.
They will be accepting written lists of what individual church members see as needs. Hand your written observations to either Don or Craig.
Sometimes we live with problems so long that eventually we don't even see that they are there so your input may be an important supplement to their list. The word "written" is important. If it is important, it is worth writing down. Also there is the old saying, "What goes in one ear goes out the other."
Support Don's and Craig's hard work by writing your observations down. Once all needs have been identified, they will attempt to assign estimated costs to put things in order. A similar process is going on at Holy Trinity. Your lists should be turned in over the next month.
Submitted by: Judy Faye |
| Celebrating March Birthdays  7-Isabella Rose Domingo 23-Cindy Poehls 24-Jan Jackson
27-Karen Spears 31-Louisa Johnson
Note: I am in the process of reconstructing the monthly birthday list. If I get it wrong or someone is left out for the month, please let me know. Contact me at judithfaye@aol.com or call or text me at (707) 980-9667. |
| Opportunities for Study Draft Social Statement on Women and Justice. This is a process statement from the ELCA and feedback from both women and men is sought. You can take a look at the statement and print it out at womenandjustice@elca.org. This is an interesting and challenging discussion for us to engage in and broad participation is encouraged. We will meet downstairs at Holy Trinity at 8:00AM during the month of February.
Martha Circle, women's Bible Study using "Gather" magazine meets the third Thursday of each month in Fellowship Hall at St. Paul's. Bring your own bag lunch and dessert will be served by the monthly hostess.
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| Opportunities for Service Joint choir practice will meet upstairs at Holy Trinity at 8:45 AM under the direction of Dean Ahlberg. New singers are always welcome.
Food Basket Sunday. The first Sunday of each month when we are having service at St. Paul's. Food donations go to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Brown Bag Lunches for distribution to the homeless are located in Fellowship Hall. Sewing Ministry: The 1st Thursday of every month in Fellowship Hall from 1 to 4 pm. Both women and men are welcome. No prior sewing experience is required. |
"Without the discipline of prayer, the world retains its illusions. Without an hour of public prayers, or half hour of private prayer, or ten minutes of quiet meditation, or saying a brief prayer of gratitude before or after a meal, we forget that God is present in the world and in our life. When we remember to pray in the morning, when we are mindful of the present moment, when we set apart Saturday or Sunday as the Sabbath, God's special day of the week, then all of life, and all times and places, and all people that we see are transformed by the light of God. The more we pray--in the sense of living a prayerful life--the more we desire to be with God in prayer. Prayer creates in us a hunger and thirst to be with the One whom we have see shining through nature and moments in time, people and events." -Henri Nouwen-SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Christ's Care List
(Recent Additions or Updates) Louisa Johnson has had recent fall in which she broke her left leg. She is in Springs Road Convalescent Center for rehabilitation. Don reports that she is in good spirits and has little pain.
John Bennett and Karen Balabanian are in the aftermath and recovery process from a recent home invasion. You will remember both as musicians at Holy Trinity.
Steve Vad was in a recent motor cycle accident. We are thankful that his life was spared but he is healing from bruises and contusions and other injuries incurred.
Pray for the families and friends of the victims whose lives were slain in Yountville. Pray also for the family of the shooter.
Gary Schumacher has been diagnosed with stage 3, non-small cell lung cancer. He has begun chemo treatments and will soon start radiation.
Lisa Olson recently hospitalized is struggling with proper diagnosis issues, medication and diet adjustments.
Keith Domingo broke his arm requiring recent surgery. He is will be on disability at least through April 16.
Keith also requests prayers that God will give Sonya strength in caring for both him and her brother at the same time. Healing of body, mind, and spirit...
Eugene Duquettee, diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and his sister, Sonya Domingo, as she cares for him.
Anita Patten recent gall bladder surgery.
The family of Carmen Harnish coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and still without electricity. Those Who Grieve:
The family of Colleen Jolly, wife of Bob Jolly, cousin of Karen Spears.
Those Who Need Long Term Prayer: Margaret Cole
Anna Hervey
Jan Jackson
Louisa Johnson and Don Johnson (as he provides care for Louisa)
Gladys Jones (Kathy Campas-Sutin's mother)
Caryl Kroan Don and Ila Stradal parents of Pr. Dawn. Angelika Shanley
Robin Slusher as she navigates the legal process in pursuit of justice for her granddaughter and other children at risk.
We also pray for: -
Those affected by hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and other natural disasters. Your support through Lutheran Disaster Response will bring hope and healing to those who have or will be affected. Donations can be made on line at ( http://www.elca.org/give) or call (800)638-3522. -
Pray for an end to acts of terrorism and hatred in our country and around the world. Pray also for those who hate that their hearts might be changed. Pray also that we will not become numb and will work toward sensible laws to discourage violence. -
The communities of both St. Paul's and Holy Trinity as we continue to explore the possibility of consolidation. -
An end to racism and its injustice -
A just and lasting peace in the Holy Land -
Refugees - Those serving the armed forces.
Please Note:
If you wish to add new prayer requests please contact Judy Faye at judithfaye@aol.com, or (707) 980-9667 or (707) 557-4531. When submitting new names, be sure to use an identifier such as friend of Karen Spears or daughter of Jessica Nelson. Also briefly tell us the reason you are requesting prayers such as recent surgery so people will know what to pray for. If you see names on the list that it is time to remove, your own, or an old submission please let Judy know. With the exception of the Long Term Category, Council has recommended that names will be placed on the list for one month and then removed unless a new request with an update is submitted. If a name disappears that you want to stay in, just contact Judy with the reason you are requesting continuing prayer and she will add it back.
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| Kindly Remember Submissions to The Weekly e-pistle are due on Tuesday of each week as we agreed to at our Congregation Meeting. If you submit an article late, and it still has significance for the next week it will be included then.
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| Know Your Church Council
Don Ockrassa, President (510) 719-7730, d.ockrassa@gmail.com Craig Pyle, Vice President (707) 645-7092, capylepe@pacbell.net Keith Domingo, Secretary (707) 373-2774, k-s-domingo@sbcglobal.net Corie Hervey, returning member (510) 691-2728 Kim Hervey, new member (707) 334-4872 (Use text messaging) Kathy Sutin , Church Treasurer, Ex officio member (707) 333-0150 (use text messaging) Rev. Dr. Dawn Roginski (650) 771-4241 Please know that you are free to contact your council members with questions you might have about church governance. Remember to be patient while waiting for a response as most council members hold full time jobs and volunteer their free time to the church. They will get back to you as soon as possible. You are also welcome to attend council meetings with the exception of occasional closed executive sessions dealing with such things as personnel matters. If you wish to get something on the council agenda for a regular council meeting, contact Keith Domingo. If you wish to view council minutes, they are on file in the office. Any council member can help you access these. Remember if you are viewing minutes, they do not become final and official until approved at the next meeting.
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The ELCA strongly suggests that all congregations have a mutual ministry committee comprised of the pastor and members of the congregation. There are many models for this group, and the model chosen for St. Paul's is a pastor-driven committee. This committee is there to discuss concerns, joys, and struggles from the congregation as well as any questions the pastor has. It is also a place for new ideas to be tested, as the committee members listen for comments being made by others. There is always a preference to bring any concerns directly to the pastor, but if that is not possible, these are the people to bring them to. At this time, the committee members are Karen Spears and Judy Faye. |
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