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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

The Epistle

July 1, 2020

July Issue

A Pilgrimage

I’m sure I’m not going overboard when I write, all of us are eager to see an end to our isolation so that we may embrace a time when we can all be together again. All of us are looking for that rainbow in the sky that will tell us we are loved by our Lord and that we may once again come to His house. Many of us are longing for the way things were just a short time ago, while others of us are looking for a better life in a changed world; more compassionate, a world where we may all live the promise of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Coronavirus has disrupted our lives and forced is to be creative in our thinking. Physical travel is of course almost out of the question, but what about a journey to our sacred places, the holy places held in our minds? If we travel there, we might call ourselves pilgrims on a pilgrimage. A pilgrim may be defined as one who travels to a shrine or holy place as a devotee. Following that train of thought, might we not look at this alone time as a retreat, an inward journey of spiritual growth? In my research of the words “pilgrim” and “pilgrimage” I ran across this quote from National Geographic: “Indeed, historians have argued that the Black Plague paved the way for a new wave of opportunity, creativity, and wealth from which would flourish the art, culture and ideas of the Renaissance, and the begin-

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ning of a recognizable modern Europe.”(April 23, 2020) How might our thoughts change if we used this quote as a meditation during our solo re-treat? Continuing in that vein, what would be the site of your inward pil-grimage? The steps cut in the side of a sandy bluff along our beautiful coast, that would end in the flat plane of the bluff where you could wander to see that place where the ocean and sky become one? Perhaps the pilgrimage could be a climb up a stone mountain in our Yosemite Valley, with the re-ward at the end of the climb being the unobstructed vision of forests, mead-ows, streams and waterfalls? I am unable to even venture a guess as to where your pilgrimage might take you. I only know the space where, for me, all negative thoughts vanish, and the presence of our Lord fills my mind.

My pilgrimage is to a place high in the Sierra Mountains, a place only visited once by Paige, myself, and our dear friends of 40 plus years. It was a June day, and yet it was still more than cool and very near to cold. Some hundred yards from the narrow road on which we had traveled was a fast rushing stream, now swollen with the thawing snow and ice. The five of us agreed that this was something special and that we should all walk alone to be able to take in the grandeur, and later share our experiences. As I ap-proached this stream that had turned into a river. I saw a boulder: smooth, round, and taller than a two-story house. I just knew I must try to climb to the very top so that I might see the full power and beauty of this wonder. With great effort and a few pains I would not appreciate until later, I scratched my way to the very top of the hugeness, and what a sight to be-hold. So fast was the river before me rushing down the incline of the moun-tain, that the water was churned white and the air was filled with mist. Along the banks of this new river there were patches of snow still hidden from the sun by overhanging bushes. The roar from this surging water was deafening. If one of my friends had been near and standing five feet away, he or she could not have heard me if I shouted full out. As I stood there in awe of the sight before me, I let my eyes travel upstream. I could not see very far be-cause the mist was so heavy that the thundering waters were hidden. I then looked downstream, and there also the view was blocked by mist. Caught in

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the moment and in the awe of the grandeur of God, I threw my arms out-ward, one pointing upstream, the other downstream. In the next instant I shouted as loud as possible, “Lord, you are from never-ending to never-ending.”

This is my sacred place, my holy pilgrimage; a destination where there is more of our Lord and less of me. As I wrote this last sentence, my pen froze in my hand. All along I had thought of myself as writing an invi-tation to share the meditation I had experienced. The Psalms (Songs) of As-cent*; Psalms sung by pilgrims as they traveled the roads leading to the temple and sung again as they ascended the fifteen steps bringing them into the Temples common area. My thoughts took another path with the writing of these last few words, “where there is more of our Lord and less of me.”

Those words, for me, are about learning to be humble. Isn’t that what pilgrimage and retreat are all about? Contained in both is a desire to re-member, and a desire to find that touchstone that the Prophet Jeremiah pro-claims vrs. 24:7, “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord; and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” I am humbled by Jeremiah’s words, and that is a good thing because fear and uncertainty are no match for “I am the Lord; and they shall be my people.”

May Our Lord continue to bless us.

Your Servant in Christ,

Deacon George

*Psalms 120 through 134; Psalm 139

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Financial Report – April 2020

The following information as reflected on the April 2020 Profit and Loss Statement, dated May 11, 2020 Income: $40,196.20 Expenses: $25,289.70 Net Income: $14,906.50 All bills and stipends paid timely. Thank you for your generous gifts of time, talent and treasure. Please, call me at 209 402-3017 with any questions and concerns. Blessings, Prayers, and Love. Stephanie Gilmer, Treasurer

Treasure the Present

Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest … to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient, we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later, and somewhere else. Let's be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand.

—Henri Nouwen

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Salvation Army Shelter Dinner

July 19th

The Salvation Army Dinner Team will be making and serving dinner to staff and guests, Sunday, July 19th. We plan to serve pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, potato salad, fruit, chocolate chip cookies and milk. Call Linda Lowe, 529-5467 or 496-3937, or email lwlowe@outlook.com for more information.

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Update on Family Promise

The Covid19 Pandemic has required the Fam-ily Promise of Modesto program to drastically

alter its service model. Families are still served but have not been housed in churches since early March. This has been a nationwide scramble by Family Promise programs to find alternative ways to help homeless families.

Our local program has been housing families in motel rooms. Fortunately, the pandemic stimulus funds granted to the county and city provide for shelter funds. The reputation and success of the Family Promise program which screens and coaches families into independent living has made them a candi-date to receive some of these funds. Family Promise has previously been granted funds to manage programs which provide rent and utility support for families in danger of losing housing.

The costs of housing in motel rooms has been approximately $12,500 per month, including food. One stimulus program providing funding allows only 30 days of housing support. Since most families in the Family Promise pro-gram usually take more than 90 days to reconcile their living situation and find stable employment and housing, Family Promise has needed to shift families among different programs to continue support. They have relied on the par-ticipating churches to provide food support since the motels do not have cooking facilities. For social distancing, recommended food support is restau-rant and fast food gift certificates in the amounts of $15 to $25. Since families often do not yet have reliable transportation, recommended restaurants are Subway, Pizza Guys, El Pollo Loco, KFC, McDonalds, Panda Express, IHOP, and Denny’s.

Obviously, once federal support is suspended, maintaining $12,500 per month for rentals will not be sustainable. In some areas of the country, Family Prom-ise programs have acquired halls or buildings which have been turned into

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“permanent” temporary housing rooms for families. The families stay put and participating churches come in to provide meals, but not necessarily overnight hosting. Having a place to “stay put” and not move weekly from church to church and not need to get up at 5:00am to leave and wait until 5:30pm to re-turn is much easier on stressed families.

Last fall, the city of Turlock acquired a foreclosed duplex due to unpaid taxes. They repaired it and turned it over to Family Promise to manage. Family Promise used it to provide leased housing for 2 families leaving the program unaware that they might need it a few months later. They recently have been allowed to rent an entire triplex from a landlord for whom Family Promise helped repair significant damage caused by a prior program participant. He will get his monthly rent for all units and know that Family Promise will close-ly monitor the families housed there. Once the leases are up for the Turlock duplex, they will consider using it for temporary housing also.

However, the participation of churches is an important part of the local and national Family Promise programs. Parishioners provide comradery, needed kindness, personal support, and networking which sustains families moving out of homelessness. How to include multiple church participation is evolv-ing. Groceries and items like laundry supplies and diapers will need to be sup-plied. Fund raisers are being considered. Ideas about how to develop interac-tions with church members are needed.

St. Paul’s scheduled Family Promise week is September 26 to October 3. How we will participate is yet to be determined.

Carolyn List

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Contributions from our Members

What I did staying at home. Projects! Making Boy-senberry jam with Barbara Poth.

Starting our Shepherd’s Paw Quilt. The material has been waiting in my “stash” for more years than I can count. The picture shows two rows done, with 3 more to go. It will have 3 fabrics, cream colored, dark blue, and the mottled brown currently in the rows. - Linda Lowe

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Just a thought. . .

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. . .”

Through God’s grace we are granted free will to follow his guidelines throughout our lives. But, did you ever consider how God leads us, guides us, directs us? Maybe tragedy is a sign for us to stop, rethink, and go in a different direction. This could be a personal tragedy – like a job loss, spousal abuse, a maiming accident – or a societal tragedy like a worldwide pandemic.

There is this story about a priest of a large beautiful church. The church is in a town where 2 large rivers meet. The rains come and the town floods. Waters surround the church and a policeman comes to help the priest evacu-ate. The priest refuses to leave saying “God will protect and save me.” The waters rise higher and the floors of the church are flooded. The fire depart-ment comes in a small rubber raft asking the priest to come with them. He again refuses to leave saying “God will save me.” The waters rise to the top of the first floor of the church. The River Patrol comes in a cruiser boat and tells the priest to evacuate. Again he refuses saying “God will save me.” The dams break and the waters rise to the roof of the church. The priest climbs out of the belfry onto the roof and National Guard comes in a helicopter and begins to lower a rope to the church roof. The priest waves them away shouting “God will save me.” Shortly after, the priest slips off the roof and drowns. When he reaches God’s judgement he says “I just don’t understand. I thought you would save me.” God looks at him thoughtfully and says “Well, son, I sent the police, the fire department, the River Patrol, and the Coast Guard to save you but you kept refusing to leave.”

So, pray for God to lead us in the path he wants us to follow, give us clues so we can know the direction he wants us to go, and grant us the under-standing and the will to walk that way.

-anonymous thinker

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GIFTS OF “SHELTERING IN PLACE”

Lest anybody be getting bored or running out of meaningful things to do while spending more time at home, let me suggest three books that ought to be stored somewhere right near the patio door in every home and apart-ment: first, a bird identifier (Audubon’s or Petersen’s); second, a book on California wildlife (the Audubon Society’s “Field Guide to California” or Erin McCloskey’s “Northern California Nature Guide”), and third, an in-sect and butterfly book (Audubon Society’s “Field Guide to Insects and Spiders”). Now at last you can learn to tell a Black Widow from a Brown Recluse, a sulphur butterfly from a Monarch, or find out what your elderly neighbor meant when he mentioned “fiddleneck and fillaree”.

At my place, this month I have enjoyed making a biological survey. Over the years I’ve added plantings, so that to date I count 30 kinds of wild mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, spiders, and molluscs; 26 kinds of trees and shrubs; 13 different kinds of grasses and weeds and 9 kinds of flowers. To which I have also added 15 different kinds of house and patio plants. In all I count about 95 different species, but this total is almost certainly low. For example there are many kinds of insects invisible to me because they live tucked into the thick bark of my giant coast redwoods; there is proba-bly the occasional rattlesnake who comes along to prey upon the California ground squirrels that burrow into the sandy soil. My garden soil, which I have labored to enrich, is full not only of earthworms but grubs, nematodes, and beneficial bacteria numbering in the trillions. How many critters do you share your home with? It is not possible while we are on Earth to live alone.

This month I’d like to share how to tell a visitor whom I and my neighbors very much enjoy and benefit from: the gray fox, whose scientific name (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) means “Silver-gray canid with a big tail”. The accompanying pictures show how it differs from the similar red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and coyote (Canis latrans), which also frequent urban areas. Twice now – earlier this year, and four years ago – we have had a gray fox vixen nest on my property and give birth to kits. During the height of home shel-

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tering two months ago, when both foot and automobile traffic were dimin-ished, foxes and other wild canids were in the news because they could be seen on the streets in big cities even during the daytime. Gray foxes eat a broad diet that mostly benefits the homeowner, including rats, mice, ground squirrels, fence lizards, bird eggs and birds (including stray chickens), insects and fruit. They are the only dog-like animal that can climb trees, and mine like to sprawl out on a horizontal branch for an afternoon snooze. They are curious and intelligent and not very afraid of

people, and I’ll see them peeping down at me between the leaves from the top of a shed or a tree. I never get over feeling happy and grateful for these “intrusions” that remind me how close we all actu-ally are to nature. – Deb Bennett

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The “WOW!” factor After the final notes concluded at a recent symphony performance in Bos-ton, the conductor hadn’t yet lowered his baton when a child exclaimed, “Wow!” The break in protocol, magnified by excellent acoustics, didn’t up-set the participants or audience, however. Instead, several later said it brought them great joy. One even called the moment life-changing.

The incident was especially meaningful because the child, a 9-year-old named Ronan, has autism and is generally nonverbal. Music, his family says, tends to attract his interest and make him happy. When symphony of-ficials learned Ronan’s identity, they arranged a private performance so he could meet some musicians.

How often do you shout “Wow!” — in a good way — at what you see and hear? You may tend to do so on vacation or while observing God’s natural wonders, but what about during your day-to-day life? Think about the peo-ple you encounter and their talents — and your own. When have these sparked a “Wow!” of thanks to God?

Every blessing, large or small, is a wow-moment — a gift from God that warrants our praise.

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Try a Little Kindness With everything that is going on right now it is so very easy to criti-cize others and be snippy without even realizing what you are doing. Everyone is under lots of stress and being critical doesn’t help. Most peo-ple are trying to do the very best they can at what they do. Is it really nec-essary to point out others mistakes in a critical way? What good can that

possibly accomplish? Kindness is extremely important. It helps both the giver and receiver. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit along with love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control which all seem to be in rather short supply these days. Kindness is infectious and it is contagious in a GOOD way. None of us are perfect, we all have our flaws.

Lets all try to:

Be kind to the person who has different beliefs than yours.

Be kind to the person who is serving you.

Be kind to your coworkers.

Be kind to your neighbors.

Be kind to volunteers, they may not be experts but they are trying their best.

Be kind to people who are trying to help.

Try doing a random act of kindness a day and see how much better it makes you feel.

Kindness can change our community and even our world.

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Knit One, Pray Too Plus Stays in Full Gear!

Our fellow crafters at St. Paul’s have stayed busy during this time of quaran-tine. Continuing with their support of Aubrey’s Angels, our Knit One, Pray Too Plus group has made a variety of items to support women in shelters with children and mother’s grieving the lost of their infant children.

Why the “Plus,” you ask? Well one of the items requested are burial layettes made from used wedding gowns. Our “plus” adds to our crafters those who can sew and create these beautiful pieces to comfort the families of those in-fants who have passed.

It’s never too late to join. Our target month to mail the items to the Aubrey’s Angels organization in the beginning of December. Contact Wil with any questions at (209) 567-2433.

Keep those hands busy. Now is the best time to do so!

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This year we will be holding a virtual VBS due to the current COVID-19 circumstances. Join us online on July 20th through July 24th. More information on the platform videos will be sent out soon.

The registration cost is $5 so that we can supply as many resources and activities as possible in our VBS bags. Included in these bags is a craft for each day, a music CD, a Bi-ble lesson packet, and some other fun pages and gadgets.

To register or find out more about Knights of North Castle VBS, visit the following link

https://forms.gle/jDvvQyoHFQscKTmW8

St. Paul’s Summer

Vacation Bible School

From June 20th until the beginning of August, Children’s Ministry is on Summer break. Children are highly encouraged to continue to read their Bible and grow an everlasting foun-dation of faith. VBS will be online this year and updates will be sent via email over the next 3 weeks. I hope everyone is having an amazing sum-mer and getting to know our God better and better each day!

Zach Statzer

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Kid’s Page

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Michael B. Curry, our Presiding Bishop David Rice, our Bishop & Anna Carmichael, our Canon

Armed Forces

Tom Allen, Wyoming Air National Guard Melissa Allen, U. S. Air Force Brandon Alonzo, U. S. Air Force Christopher Bradley, U. S. Navy T. J. Browning, U. S. Navy Logan Bryant, U. S. Navy Jay Colón, U. S. Air Force Brandon Cox, Texas Air National Guard Cheryl Edelman, U. S. Army

Jenavieve Johnston, U. S. Air Force Jorgito Fuentes, U. S. Navy Nick Garber, U. S. Army Johnny Olmos, U. S. Coast Guard Brett List, U. S. Navy Cole Medeiros, U. S. Navy Nate Wallace, U. S. Air Force R Carson Repan, U. S. Air Force Jeffrey Kinnaman, U. S. Coast Guard

Please pray for all of our sisters and brothers in Christ. God of wisdom and love, help me and all others who are struggling with difficult circum-stances find direction and strength to face our challenges. Give us the assurance that under-neath us are your everlasting arms, which will sustain us through everything we face day and night. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

July Anniversaries

Nick Lorenzetti & Wil Cólon - 18 Greg & Linda Masztal - 29

Stewart Peters - 2 Keith Munroe - 4 Janet Kenfield - 5 Barbara Inderbitzen - 10 Claudine Romegialli - 11 Roberta Bearden - 14 Brian Cassagio - 14 Matthew Antirien - 15 Jo Fox - 15

Bonnie Kellogg - 15 Anita Machado - 18 Bonnie Palmer - 21 Linda Masztal - 23 James Ambrosavage - 27 Clare Jensen - 30 Nick Lorenzetti - 30 Jack Biglow - 31 Toni Clark - 31

If your birthday or anniversary is in July and you aren’t listed here, please let Cherie Sheaffer know. We don’t want to leave anyone out.

July Birthdays

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On Going Events All parish meetings and social gatherings have been cancelled until further notice

Upcoming Events

Church office hours: The church office is closed until further

notice

St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Modesto, CA https://www.facebook.com/St-Pauls-Episcopal-Church-of-Modesto-CA-106952012668211/

Then click on videos.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church Modesto CA https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBABwqOZphWFUZVjnc7eFqw

www.https://www.saintpaulsmodesto.org/

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The Epistle St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

July 1, 2020 Volume 11, Number 7 July

E-mail Addresses Rector, Fr. Nick Lorenzetti julested3320@gmail.com

Parish Admin. & Facilities Coordinator Jeni Statzer, stpaulsmodestoca@gmail.com

Music Director, Organist & Choir Chuck Sheaffer, cbshea@pacbell.net

Assistant Organist James Armstrong, jfaworking@gmail.com

Bell Choir Director Judy Teter, jltpt@sbcglobal.net

St. Paul’s Epistle Editor Cherie Sheaffer, cbshea@pacbell.net

St. Paul’s Web Page & Social Media Greg Masztal, gregmasz@gmail.com

Prayer Chain & Latino Ministry Wilson Colón, 209-567-2433 wilsoncolon66@gmail.com

St. Paul’s Event Coordinator Tracy Pugh, vinofileincal@gmail.com

Visioning our Faith Team Niniv & Rossana Tamimi, ninivtamimi@sbcglobal.net

Coffee Hour Sara Heintz, sara19811007@sbcglobal.net

Finance Committee Judy Teter, jlpt@sbcglobal.net

Safeguarding God’s Children/People Jeni Statzer and Stephanie Gilmer

Children’s Sunday School Zach Statzer, bigstatz16@gmail.com

Vestry Members Senior Warden - Joyce Bell, 209-250-1614 bellj1@charter.net

Jr. Warden - Claudine Romegialli 209-489-8722 msgialli06457@yahoo.com Treasurer - Stephanie Gilmer, (non member) Samantha Bland Eric Goossens Lynelle Hains Sarah Heintz Jim Peck Claudine Romegialli Chuck Sheaffer Barbara Vassell

Sunday Services Holy Eucharist at 10 am on Facebook and YouTube

Children’s Sunday School -cancelled till notice

www.saintpaulsmodesto.org

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Modesto, CA

Visit and like us on Facebook

Church Office Phone: 209-522-3267, st.pauls_episcopal@sbcglobal.net

Office Hours: Closed till further notice