cow hollow church news - winter 2014

Cow

Hollow Church News

T h e E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h o f S a i n t M a r y t h e V i r g i n W i n t e r 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5

Do Not Be Afraid The Rev. Claire Dietrich Ranna, Associate Rector

“Do not be afraid” (Luke 1:30). Other than a greeting, these are the first words the

angel Gabriel says to Mary. I have often been puzzled by this phrase. Throughout

Scripture, angels often tell those they visit not to be afraid ‐ the shepherds in the

field, the women gathered at the empty tomb – but these words have always seemed

incongruous in this case. Mary was highly favored, chosen to bear the holy child.

Gabriel came to share good news of great joy. What could she possibly have to fear?

Do not be afraid. On November 30th, we entered the season of Advent, a time of

heightened anticipation as we await the coming of the infant Jesus at Christmas and

his coming again at the end of the age. Just as the world around us rushes to

celebration, rolling out twinkling lights and nostalgic marketing campaigns, we are

called to sit with our wonder, our uncertainty, and our hope. Who is coming into the

world? And what new life does he bring?

Do not be afraid. These words have made much more sense to me in recent months.

The beginning of Advent marked, in some ways, the end of my nine‐month

advent of pregnancy. On November 19th, my husband, Haamid, and I were

blessed to welcome into the world our first daughter, Safina Olive Ranna. In

the weeks before, I found myself reflecting on the miracle of birth and the challenges of waiting. It was a time

of great excitement. When will she come? We just can’t wait to meet her! And uncertainty. What if I go into labor

during worship? Will we ever get a good night’s sleep again? But there was also a lot of fear. What if something

happens during delivery? Are we even remotely ready to be parents? Haamid and I, like all new parents, had to sit

with the reality that our lives were about to change in ways we couldn’t even imagine.

Haamid, Claire, and baby Safina

Do not be afraid. In Advent, we remember that God is not only creating new life in the womb of Mary but in

each of us as well. And new life always brings with it great change. The birth of Jesus has profound

implications for our lives and the life of the world. So this is the great invitation set before us: to wait faithfully

and allow ourselves to be led into an ever‐deepening trust.

Do not be afraid. The months ahead are incredibly rich. I pray we might all be open to whatever new life God

is growing in us, walking through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany with these wise words echoing in our

hearts:

“Do not be afraid … for nothing will be impossible with God.”

Winter 2014-2015 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin

News of Note from the Sr. Warden in Holl

Betty Hood‐Gibson

Advent – A Time for Waiting

Advent is a time for waiting – we wait and

one,

he

aiting during the Advent season is a joyful sort of

w

ith

g

s I was thinking about doing something good

as

n

May 1940, German forces invaded the

occupied

.

rans met a doctor who asked him to let a German

s

and faced, and the danger he and Mien

eetje

g for the war and

azi occupation to end, they worked with the

something as

ourageous as the Wijnakkers did, but there are

lp

en Larkin Street

Youth Services and St. Mary’s to support

Joy, supporting St.

st

of each month.

tate homes for

ral

co Food Bank.

ile we wait – while we

ait for the arrival of the Christ Child and

anticipate the arrival of Christ, the anointed

born as a baby. The word “Advent” comes from t

Latin adventus, which means “coming” or “arrival.”

Advent is about waiting and about faith ‐‐ so

critical in the waiting process.

W

waiting. However, sometimes we are waiting for a

hard time to be over, and we don’t always have

assurances of a happy ending. When we are sick,

we wait to get well. Sometimes we don’t know ho

long that wait will be. We must have faith to

endure this kind of waiting. However, even w

faith, waiting can be difficult. Is there a way to

make waiting more bearable? What about doin

something while we wait—something good?

A

while waiting, I remembered the program that w

held at St. Mary’s during the “Summer in the City”

program series, Two Among the Righteous Few: A

Story of Courage in the Holocaust. Marty Brounstei

told the story of Frans and Mien Wijnakker, two

very courageous and compassionate people, who

hid Jewish children and adults in the Netherlands

while under Nazi occupation during World War II.

In

Netherlands and Holland became a Nazi

country. Frans and Mien began waiting—waiting

for World War II to end, the Nazi occupation to be

over and to be free again. Fortunately, they lived in

the countryside and were removed from the

harshness of the Nazi occupation in the cities

F

Jewish girl stay at his home for two to three weeks.

Freetje was malnourished and needed to spend

time in the country to regain her health. At first,

Frans didn’t fully understand the danger the Jew

would face for harboring them. But he quickly

came to understand, as Frans and Mien kept Fr

hidden until the end of the war.

While the Wijnakkers were waitin

N

Dutch underground to hide many Jews and help

them escape from Nazi persecution. While they

were waiting, Frans and Mien put themselves at

great risk, by helping as many as two dozen Jews

avoid the concentration camps.

We may not be called upon to do

c

many things we can do today to help in our

community. For example, we can volunteer to he

with the following at St. Mary’s:

1. Join the partnership betwe

the youth at the Edward II in celebrating the

Christmas holiday.

2. Prepare baked goods for the Pantry Sale for

Tidings of Comfort and

Mary’s Grant Outreach Program.

3. Contribute gifts to the “Giving Tree” at St.

Mary’s for the residents of Canon Barcus

House.

4. Cook or serve at Raphael House on the fir

Monday

5. Work with “Rebuilding Together” in April

each year to help rehabili

low‐income and elderly homeowners.

6. Help make sandwiches for Open Cathed

four times a year.

7. Contribute canned goods to the Food Basket

for the San Francis

8. Contribute new toiletries to new mothers at

St. Luke’s Hospital.

Let’s do good things wh

w

during the rest of the year. The need is always

there – let’s turn our time of waiting into a

beneficial and rewarding time.

Cow Hollow Church News Winter 2014-2015

Sur

d 140 children

ssrooms,

l

Confirmation has been on the classic

d

the

l

in

drus

St. Mary’s, and in the process learned about the

nt

a mini‐

nday School News ctoNancy Clark, Sunday School Co‐Dire

With eleven Sundays behind us, an

and 14 teachers and assistants in the cla

there is no question that the 2014‐15 Sunday Schoo

year is operating at full tilt. Led by veteran Phil

Woodworth, the Confirmation class has 25

students, at last count, and that number is still

growing.

As always, the focus for the first semester in classes

ther thano

Old Testament heroes. We have also engaged the

children with stories, as well as special celebrations

for St. Francis Day, All Saints’ Day, and Dia de los

Muertos. Birds, dogs, and cats (not in attendance),

were rewarded with special treats in honor of St.

Francis and his love and concern for all Creation. A

Day of the Dead altar, the handiwork of the 5th an

6th graders, comprised of sugar skulls, skeletons,

marigold bouquets, and butterflies was crafted,

colored and assembled, and served as a teaching

point. All Saints’ Day, one of the important

Christian holidays always falls on November 1st,

and is the day to remember the great saints of

Church as well as all Christians who have died; Al

Souls’ Day, a.k.a. Day of the Dead/Dia de los

Muertos, is celebrated on November 2nd, and is a

cultural variation celebrated with exuberance

Latin America as a time to remember all souls,

especially family members, who have died.

In November, we welcomed Bishop Marc An

to

work of bishops as shepherds of their flock; this

provided a smooth introduction to stories of Jesus

the Good Shepherd. Advent is upon us and then

comes Christmas and Epiphany, all with built‐in

themes. In Advent, we transition to New Testame

stories and along the way, meet John the Baptist,

Santa Lucia, St. Nicholas, and the Virgin of

Guadalupe. In Epiphany, we will hold our much‐

anticipated, traditional Bible Times Market,

experiential learning activity designed to help

students visualize daily life in Jesus’ time.

Fifth and sixth graders created a Day of the Dead altar, using sugar skulls, skeletons, marigold bouquets, and

butterflies. With their handiwork, left to right: Jeremy Pitzer, Ali Saraceni, Amanda Davis, Wyatt Alt, Margaret

Veatch, and Maddy Tunnell.


New Structure for YMichael Stafford, Director of Y

We are

outh Group outh Programs

really excited about piloting a new format

ool Youth Group and

eviously, all 7th

would come to all Youth

of

and energy. With the new setup, we have the

h the

ce a

r fantastic volunteer Youth

roup leaders Riley Haggin, Caroline McDermott,

th

still working on the

e June 15th

30th as the dates for the trip. All current 8th

through 12th graders are invited to participate!

Stewardship 2015 Roulhac Austin, 2015 Stewardship Chair

During Stewardship season, Fr. Scott invited me, as

your Stewardship Chair for 2015, to talk about

pledging, reaching our pledge goal of $900,000, and

why I support St. Mary’s financially. At press time

sponsible way. The vestry lets the

we

the

t

the

meless

of

like

ally rich people

for Youth Group: Middle Sch

High School Youth Group. Pr

through 12th graders

Group meetings, which was a wonderful blend

ages

opportunity to continue with the energy and

community, and we can have more age‐specific

activities and age‐appropriate discussions. Bot

high schoolers and middle schoolers have

embraced the new structure, and we have already

had a lot of fun and many great conversations with

our new groups. Adventure Nights and

community service days continue to be for all 6th

through 12th graders, which brings together the

whole Youth Group community at least on

month.

Of course, Youth Group could not do the incredible

activities that we do without the support of the

Rev. Claire Ranna; ou

G

and Marshall Worhsam; our wonderful youth; and

all the parents who have helped make church and

Youth Group a priority for their 6th through 12

graders. Thank you!

In Mission Trip news, we are

Mission Trip plan, but we have set asid

to

for the Cow Hollow Church News, I want to begin by

busting five myths about pledging and money in

the church.

First, it is a myth that we have an endowment that

pays for our overhead. We do have an endowment

and it contributes to the operating budget in a

and resmall

endowment stay stable or grow so that it will be

available to fund big vision ideas. You may not be

aware, but St. Mary’s is the go‐to parish in the

diocese to launch big impact outreach projects:

started a homeless shelter at Grace Cathedral that

has developed into a

network of homeless

services supporting

thousands on the streets

of San Francisco. More

recently, we put up

initial $100,000 to star

Canon Barcus House,

first housing for ho

families with support

services right on site.

These are the kinds of big

projects our endowment is designed to launch.

The second myth is that we have outside sources

funds for our ministries and mission. The national

Church does not give us money and the diocese

certainly doesn’t either. St. Mary’s doesn’t charge

tuition, or make you pay rent for your seat like

some congregations, or ask for your tax return

some churches. Instead, we rely on your yearly

pledge of generosity to pay our earthly bills.

The third myth is that a couple of re

pay for the church. That’s flat not true – if it once

was, they’re all dead or gone now.

Youth Group gets into the spirit of Bollywood dancing.


The fourth myth is that the church expects you to

tithe, to give ten percent of your income to the

church. St. Mary’s does not demand or expect this

of you. We recognize that you support the arts,

your children’s schools, your alma mater. We want

our pledge to St. Mary’s to be a substantial part of

enty

or

th here, I cannot even imagine what

onderful works God would give us to

ow for the truth about pledging and

is

where else can you

o where you know everyone really hopes for your

uld

of

here. As much as

howing up on Sundays, pledging is integral to

is

e

ver

d willed me to

e. How could I not reflect that gratitude daily for

pledge eventually, so make your promise today.

y

your overall strategy of graciously giving back.

Finally, the fifth myth is that we’re pl

as it is. Our average pledge is $2,700, sh

$3,100 a day it costs to operate. That

$2,700 figure is the average pledge for

Episcopal churches generally ‐‐ meaning

that a parishioner in East Oakland or

Detroit is pledging more than most of us

as a percentage of income. If we pledged

more generously, more in line with our

weal

generous

t of the

I am approaching my pledge with questions: can I

do more? Am I honestly giving in gratitude? Or am

w

do.

N

money:

We all choose to be here at St. Mary’s.

We are choosing to be enriched in th

lovely space with like‐minded people:

adults, children, teenagers, seniors, who share

similar values, who want to support and be

supported by the people in this parish. As Colleen

Skews‐Cox declared years ago:

g

success?

Pledging is your promise to support the mission

and ministries offered and created here. We co

have a loaf of bread and jug of wine on the beach

and that would be lovely. We could not have

Sunday School. But that’s not the place and style

worship we want to share

s

giving back in gratitude.

God created everything in our universe; all that

seen and unseen. To me, that means every singl

subatomic particle that God put here in the

beginning is infused with God’s spirit and can

coalesce with other particles to become whate

God chooses – a quasar, a rock, a giraffe, or me. I

am astonished that this collection of atoms is

conscious, alive, and grateful that Go

b

the mystery of my own existence?

I just tipping God, like a waitress at Rose’s?

If you have already pledged, we thank you. If

you’ve procrastinated, you know you’re going to

Stewardship Update

Thank you to all who have acted to support th

mission of this parish in 2015. We encourage

those who have yet to pledge to please do so

now. Your pledge will allow

e

the vestry to make

faithful plans epen your

personal spir

and, as importantly, de

itual journey.

Pledges Received: 228

Pledges Needed: 325

Amount Received: $713,490

Amount Needed: $900,000

Roulhac Austin, standing left, created connection and community with

First Sunday Feast Days.


Greens and Pantry Sale, Sunday, December 7th

Benefactor Party, Friday, December 12th

Anne Kieve and Fran Hegeler, Event Co‐Chairs

Ava Eichler, Chair, Outreach Granting Team

Celebrating Ten Years of Outreach Grants

2014 marks the 11th year that the St. Mary’s

community has made a significant fundraising

effort to support the financial

component of our outreach

ministry: the ministry which,

in so many ways, serves

disadvantaged fellow

citizens of all ages, mostly in

the Bay Area. This single

effort enlists the greatest

number of participating

parishioners, from committee

chairs and members to

benefactors and volunteers of

any single St. Mary’s

ministry.

In 2004, a committee chaired

by Stephanie Barmmer and

Jennifer Smith organized the

first “Home for Christmas”

fundraiser featuring a tour of

five neighborhood homes

decorated for the holidays

and refreshments, and a

boutique at the church. That

first event raised $32,000, and

was deemed such a success, not only as a

fundraiser, but also as a community event, that it

became the fundraising model for the next four

years. Each year, different people stepped up to

chair the event and serve on the committee.

In 2009, due to the economic downturn, Senior

Warden Roulhac Austin saw the need for another

kind of fundraiser. It was an “in house” event,

hosted by Beth and Russ Silvestri. That year more

than $35,000 was raised, making it clear that, even

in difficult times, our collective commitment to

outreach was unwavering. In years since, the

fundraising model has been varied: “Eggnog and

Jazz” in 2010 and “Tidings of Comfort and Joy” most

recently.

In the past 10 years these fundraisers have raised

more than $340,000. This amount, combined with

varying funds budgeted by the vestry, has enabled

our community to distribute almost $460,000 to 22

different nonprofit

organizations.

In the second year of

“Home for Christmas,”

recognizing the

importance of diligence

in allocating the outreach

funds, Linda Logemann

proposed forming the

Outreach Granting Team.

This part of the ministry

focuses on distributing

cash grants to non‐profit

organizations that serve

disabled and

disadvantaged peoples,

mostly in the Bay Area.

The Committee reviews

grant requests and makes

awards based not only on

need (all are pressing

needs), but also on where

our dollars can make the

biggest difference. Site

visits and follow up assures St. Mary’s donations

are well used, and their effect maximized.

Our outreach grant program is a wonderful model

that assures each and every dollar raised is

Ava Eichler signing people up for greens.


distributed and used in the most effective way.

Also, because the grant requests indicate precisely

how the funds will be used, the granting team can

work with organizations to help them achieve

important, sometimes long‐range goals. In the

words of thanks from a

spokesperson for the

Episcopal School for

Deacons, “In many ways,

the grant from St. Mary

the Virgin is a powerful

multiplier of ministry,

even a turbo charger, of

social ministry and

justice making.”

This model of combined

effort of fundraising and

discerning allocation of those funds has held strong

for ten years. As the St. Mary’s community

embarks on the second decade of making

commitments to area non‐profit agencies, the goal

is to pass $500,000 in gifts.

Adult Formation Programs Kathleen Bean, Pastoral Associate

I’m delighted to report that we have expanded our

Adult Formation offerings for the next few months,

adding some new events and times and ways to

gather in community, and I hope many will be able

to take advantage of them.

Bible & Book Study Series

We have resumed our popular Bible & Book Study

series. I had a great kid in Sunday School a couple

of years ago who said to me, “I don’t really believe

any of that stuff in the Old Testament. I just believe

in the New Testament.” I appreciated his honesty,

and he made me smile – and I know a few adults

who would agree with him. Who hasn’t read

something challenging in the O.T. and thought,

“What am I supposed to think about this?”

In November, we tackled this question head‐on

when we took up biblical scholar Ellen Davis’ book

Getting Involved with God: Rediscovering the Old

Testament. Davis invites the reader to approach the

stories and teachings of the O.T. through the lens of

relationship, saying that the

point of the most challenging

stories in scripture is to

demonstrate God’s relentless

pursuit of an intimate

relationship with

humankind. If you were not

able to join us, keep this book

on your list of things to read!

In December we will

explore the different

accounts of the nativity

story as we read The First Christmas: What the

Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Birth by Marcus J.

Borg & John Dominic Crossan. Join us in the Study

on Thursday mornings, December 4 and 11 from

10:00 to 11:00 a.m. or on Tuesday evening,

December 16 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. In January we

will return to the Old Testament, with a study of

the book of Genesis, meeting on Thursday

mornings January 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 10:00 a.m.

to 11:00 a.m. and Tuesday, January 20 from 6:30

p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you can’t join us in person, read along anyway

and check the website for discussion questions and

comments.

Seeing as a Holy Act

We will welcome Peggy Parker, mother of

Margaret Stafford and the artist who created our

Mary statue in the side courtyard, on Saturday,

January 10 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Peggy will offer

an Adult Forum on the topic “Seeing as a Holy Act

‐‐ An invitation to a discipline of sight.”

We will open with a brief Morning Office and then

take time to share our experiences of seeing. We

will then look at and discuss images that call us to

Anne Kieve (left) and Fran Hegeler talking up Tidings.


attend to the small beauties that we walk past

every day and also to the sorrows from which we

instinctively avert our eyes. After a break for coffee

and refreshments, we will have the opportunity to

experience holy seeing: perhaps through time spent

in individual reflection on a work of art; through

the act of drawing or taking photographs; or

through observations noted in a journal. We will

re‐gather to talk about ways that each of us might

take on a discipline of sight before ending with a

brief Noonday Office.

Peggy (Margaret Adams) Parker is a printmaker

and sculptor who created the Mary statue in our

courtyard. Her work often deals with religious and

social justice themes and she has taught the

“language” of the visual arts at Virginia

Theological Seminary for over 20 years. For more

information about Peggy Parker, go to

www.margaretadamsparker.com.

Mt. Calvary Retreat

We are already planning for a rich season of Lent,

beginning with a retreat at Mt. Calvary Monastery

in Santa Barbara February 24 to 27. This beautiful

facility, nestled between the Mission Santa Barbara

and the Natural History Museum of Santa Barbara,

offers retreat goers an experience of monastic life,

complete with services observing the Daily Office

in a historic chapel, but in much more comfortable

rooms than a medieval monk’s cell. Check out the

website at http://mount‐calvary.org. The cost of

$100/night includes all meals; space is very limited

so please be in touch with Kathleen if you are

interested at [email protected].

Rutter’s Requiem for All Souls Jay Russell, Parish Choir Bass

Last year, for the first time, our choir presented a

requiem for All Souls’ Day, singing Gabriel Fauré’s

Requiem, a beautiful piece that moved performers

and parishioners alike. Making a requiem an

annual tradition, Director of Music Chip Grant

announced that we would perform John Rutter’s

Requiem this year. I was very pleased, as our choir

sings several carols by this contemporary British

composer—most notably “For the Beauty of the

Earth” at Thanksgiving—but I had not sung

Rutter’s Requiem before.

I lost my mother last year, and Fauré’s Requiem had

affected me deeply. Both she and my late father

were always in my mind as we rehearsed and

performed. Before starting practice on Rutter’s

work, I did some brief research and I was amazed

to find his comment:

The Requiem was written in 1985 and

dedicated to the memory of my father, who ha

died the previous year. In writing it, I was

influenced and inspired by the example of

Faure. I doubt whether any specific musical

resemblances can be traced, but I am sure that

Fauréʹs Requiem crystallized my thoughts

about the kind of Requiem I wanted to write:

intimate rather than grandiose, contemplative

and lyric rather than dramatic, and ultimately

moving towards light rather than darkness – the

ʺLux aeterna

d

ʺ of the closing text.

Chip knew that our Parish Choir, joined by

members of other choral ensembles, would build

on last year’s experience by performing the work

directly inspired by Faure. When practice on

Rutter’s Requiem began in early September, we

concentrated on its most difficult parts.

Experienced directors like Chip teach that if a choir

can recognize repeated themes, intensive practice

on one section will yield benefits throughout the

http://www.margaretadamsparker.com/

http://mount-calvary.org/

mailto:[email protected]


piece. Early on, he explained that essentially three

main melodic themes run through Rutter’s work. If

we could master those, things would be just fine.

I had doubts. Even if the Requiem sounds “clear”—

or even simple—to audiences, it is difficult to sing.

Time signatures change constantly, and many

chords are “compressed” so that, for example, the

bass section is often singing notes a half‐tone away

from tenors. Rutter’s Requiem can challenge even

accomplished choirs, and it sometimes seemed

overwhelming to us. But Chip never lost faith in

our ability and capacity to practice, listen, learn,

and create.

The beginning movement, the “Requiem Aeternum,”

presented the first tonal challenge. It starts with

three very compressed, sharply dissonant chords

that might symbolize the confusion and tension we

experience in earthly life. We practiced singing

these three opening chords so many times that

soon Chip needed only to hold up three fingers for

us to know what he wanted. To overcome time

signature problems, we would clap or tap to

ourselves until the rhythms were confidently

within our heads. The entire piece demands

dynamic discipline, and Chip constantly reminded

us that the work’s expressive power is driven by

the choir’s ability to grow louder or softer as the

score requires. Many times, after reaching what we

thought was the right dynamic level, Chip would

respond, “nice, but now half that loud and people

will really pay attention.”

These technical complexities never overwhelmed

the Requiem’s emotional pull. Chip would end

rehearsals with a Compline prayer, and I would

leave practice humbled and contemplative,

reminded of the Requiem’s purpose and intent to

honor the departed, and the responsibility we had

in performing it.

Chip Grant, Director of Music, conducts John Rutter’s Requiem on All Souls’ Day at St. Mary’s, drawing 180 people into

our pews. The choir performed the work at St. John’s Presbyterian Church on the Eve of All Souls’ Day.


Before Sunday’s service at St. Mary’s, I again went

online to find more information about the Requiem,

and found a video of John Rutter discussing his

work and honoring his recently deceased father:

I wanted to remember him in music, in some

way. And preferably in a way that he might

have enjoyed and appreciated. He was fond of

music, and had a good ear, but never had any

formal music training. So, the kind of work I

wanted to write would be one that if he had been

sitting in the front row, he could have

appreciated.

Echoing my own experience, Rutter’s words made

it difficult for me to gather the discipline to sing

that morning. Processing into church, I thought of

my father who loved music but, like Rutter’s father,

had no music training; my mother and uncle

singing gospel duets in church; and all my

departed family, friends, and acquaintances who

had been “fond of music” and “might have enjoyed

and appreciated” the Requiem. I sang for them,

imagining them seated in the front row just beyond

Father Scott. I knew they would have been moved

by soloist Lindsay McLennan’s last, ethereal notes

of the “Pie Jesu,” reveled in the joy of “Sanctus,”

and taken solace in the final prayer that all will rest

in “Lux Aeterna,” God’s light eternal.

I did my best to concentrate on the important

messages we were charged to convey to our fellow

parishioners, and not be overcome with emotion.

But after recessing from the church in silence, I

needed several quiet minutes to gather myself

emotionally.

I consider myself blessed to sing, doubly so in a

choir and community as inspiring and comforting

as St. Mary’s. Any notion that we “work” in choir

is belied by the pure joy derived from assisting the

St. Mary’s community to find contemplation,

comfort, and solace from the music we are

privileged to offer. Singing the Requiem is a

highlight within a year of these blessings.

Pittsburgh Pirates Pick Premier Pitching Prospect Sandy Stadtfeld, Admiring Fan

Parish Pride Palpable!

Frank Duncan, son of parishioners Carol and Ken

Duncan and brother of Della Duncan, was drafted

this June by the Pittsburg Pirates as a right‐handed

pitcher. Frank is a 2010 graduate of San Francisco’s

Stuart Hall School, where he lettered in basketball,

soccer and baseball. In his senior season Frank

compiled a gaudy 1.36 ERA with 127 strikeouts

over 72 innings pitched, before graduating to

attend the University of Kansas.

His standout career on the Jayhawks’ mound

culminated in the 2014 season, when he started 16

games, pitched 118.2 innings, and struck out 82,

posting a 6‐4 record and a career‐best 2.58 ERA. His

2014 season performance earned honors including

Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, Louisville Slugger

National Player of the Week, and First Big‐12

Conference Team, while helping propel the

Jayhawks into the 2014 College World Series.

Frank had been selected in the 2013 draft by the

Cleveland Indians, but stayed at KU to complete

his senior year, toward earning a Bachelor’s degree

in civil engineering with an environmental focus.


After signing with the Pirates organization, Frank

played this summer for the Jamestown Jammers,

Pittsburgh’s Single ‘A’ farm team.

Frank is a veteran of the rigorous spiritual

development program at St. Mary’s, where he

completed Sunday School, was confirmed, and

started for more than six seasons with the Virgin

acolyte squad. We wish Frank and his family

continued success and fulfillment in his

professional baseball career!

Andrea Imhof Aces Races Ellen McLean, Proud Mom

Parish Pride Pervasive!

Andrea Imhof running in the New York City Marathon.

Star runner Andrea Imhof ran the New York

Marathon in November and placed fourth in her

division, Women 25 to 29, and 39th woman overall.

Her time was a very impressive 2:58:18.

Andrea ran both cross country and track at

University High School (class of 2007) here in San

Francisco. She also ran cross country and indoor

and outdoor track for four years at Dartmouth

College, graduating in 2011. Her specialty was

really “middle distance,” specifically 800 meters,

1500 meters, and one‐mile races.

She signed up to run the “New York double” i.e.

the New York half marathon and the New York

Marathon. Because she had never run a marathon

and therefore had no qualifying time, she decided

to qualify to run by raising money for “Team for

Kids” a non‐profit that raises money for running

programs for New York City public school kids.

She raised almost $4000 and has herself started a

“Team for Kids” running program for 50 first and

second graders in the school where she is a teacher

in the Hunts Point neighborhood in the Bronx.

Andreaʹs comment after her race was, “I am

humbled by all the emotional and financial support

I received from friends and family. I am so happy I

made my goal of running under three hours;

because it was so painful, I never want to run

another marathon.” She does expect to continue

running competitively in the mile, 5K, 10K and half

marathon races.

2014 Christmas Pageant On Christmas Eve at 3:00 p.m., we will stage our

beloved Pageant, complete with animals,

shepherds, a holy family, and angels.

If you would like to

play a part in this

very special

worship service,

whether behind the

scenes or out in

front, please contact

Kathleen Bean at

[email protected]

Participants of all

ages are needed

and welcomed!



St. Mary’s is Partnering With Larkin Street Youth Services The Rev. Claire Dietrich Ranna and Marta Johnson

Monday, December 8 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

in the Great Room

”Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the

least of these who are members of my family, you

did it to me.”

Matthew 25:37‐40

In October, we were thrilled to announce a new

partnership between St. Mary’s and Larkin Street

Youth Services. Larkin Street helps homeless and

troubled youth between the ages of 12 and 24 to

rebuild their lives by providing a place where they

can feel safe; rebuild their sense of self‐respect,

trust, and hope; learn school, life, and job skills;

and find the confidence to build a future. With 25

comprehensive youth service programs located

throughout San Francisco, Larkin Street is an

internationally recognized model for the successful

integration of housing, education, employment,

and health services in the interest of getting

homeless and at‐risk kids off the streets.

The newest residence of this exemplary

organization is only a few blocks from our front

door at the intersection of Scott and Lombard

Training session: Larkin Street’s Jessie Backer (standing)

working with Elaine Larkin and Jeanne Lacy.

streets. Starting in October, the first of 24 young

adults ages 18 to 24 began moving into the former

King Edward II Inn, now converted into 24 units as

part of a public‐private partnership.

For many young adults moving into the Edward II,

this will be their first stable home in a long time, if

not their entire lives. When they arrived, they each

found a welcome basket assembled by St.

Mary’s volunteers waiting for them,

complete with a St. Mary’s coffee mug. St.

Mary’s also hosted their first

Thanksgiving dinner, a joyful and festive

celebration. At Christmastime we will

mark the holiday for our new neighbor

and, starting in January, our volunteers

will be cooking their dinner alongside

s

once a month.

any

to

t to

in

them

The project was controversial for m

local residents, and Larkin Street is

delighted that St. Mary’s has agreed

support the new program not only

through volunteer participation by our

parishioners but also through opening our doors to

people from the wider community – in a kind of

multi‐dimensional outreach effort that is new for

our parish. For example, Larkin Street runs in‐

depth training sessions for volunteers who wan

become involved in supporting the work of Lark

Street staffers with the young adults. In October,

Jessie Backer, Larkin Street’s Manager of

Preparing welcome baskets: left to right, Ellen McLean, Jeanne

Lacy, Tom Robertson, Marta Johnson, and Georgene Keeler.


Volunteers, met in our vestry room with a group of

St. Mary’s parishioners and others to train them in

how to optimally interact with the young people,

including how to build tru

st, set boundaries, and

aintain confidentiality.

e

nteer in this new partnership

ince its launch.

dream with, and walk alongside them toward a

more stable and independent future, we are

responding faithfully to Jesus’ invitation.

m

Several parishioners have been involved for over a

year in laying the groundwork for this partnership

and its launch, including Marta Johnson, Georgene

Keeler, Anne Kieve, Loren Kieve, Stephen Koch,

Ellen McLean, Jeanne Lacy, Tom Robertson, and

Beth Silvestri. Forty St. Mary’s parishioners hav

signed up to volu

s

Jesus had a special place in his heart for the poor,

the lost, and those most in need. He was explicit

that his followers were to feed the hungry, give

drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe

the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned. This

partnership with Larkin Street is one way tha

can do just that as living witnesses of God’s

profound love for these young people, who have

t we

lived through more hardship than many of us can

imagine. When we volunteer to feed, mentor,

We hope you will consider how you may be called

to be present with these young people and explore

some of the many ways to get involved. If you’d

like to learn more, join us on Monday, December 8

from 6:30pm – 8:00 pm in the Great Room for an

informational gathering coordinated by Larkin

Street for the Cow Hollow and Marina

neighborhoods. Please RSVP to Marta Johnson to

attend the gathering, or ask her any questions at

[email protected].

California Counseling Institute Marian Brischle, CCI Board

eling

of the

St. Mary’s

utreach Granting Team.

lifornia Counseling

in the healing

dividuals, couples, and

of income through the integration of

1981 to reflect its expanding clientele and

al

Member

The California Couns

Institute is one

organizations that receives

funding from

O

The mission of the Ca

Institute (CCI) is to aid

transformation of in

families from all backgrounds and at all

levels

psychotherapy and spirituality. Since 1980,

CCI has been a healing, safe place for

people to receive counseling and therapy.

Beginning as a Center for Pastoral Care,

CCI was established at the Episcopal

Church of The Advent in 1978 and

renamed the California Counseling Center

in

direction when it moved to Grace

Cathedral. CCI was originally formed to be

a resource for ministers in their pastor

care, which included their congregants. CCI

also served as the primary provider to the Diocese

of California and Deanery for psychological

services.

Marking the opening of the Edward II as Larkin Street transitional

housing, Mayor Ed Lee (center) enters with a young resident.



Now CCI serves people of all faiths and

backgrounds. Offices are located adjacent to St.

James Episcopal Church on California Street

additional office is locate

and an

d in the East Bay hills in

y, and spirit through

sychotherapy. Short‐term and long‐term in‐depth

ly

cal Social

orkers (LCSW). CCI also trains registered interns

is

try

pproximately three

ecades, St. Mary’s has provided continuous

d

g.

tion

served on the board include

usan Barber, David Gibson, Alyiffe Mumford

ly

Kensington near Berkeley.

Elaine Chan‐Scherer is Clinical Director, and Meg

Bloomfield is Executive Director. CCI is dedicated

to integrating the mind, bod

p

psychotherapy is available to individuals, couples,

families, teens, and children. Staff members also

lead workshops and group sessions.

Currently there are seven staff therapists, including

a Clinical Psychologist (PhD), Marriage and Fami

Therapists (MFT), and Licensed Clini

W

who work under the supervision of a licensed

therapist. CCI is incorporated as a non‐profit 501

(c)(3) organization, with a Board of Trustees and

self‐supported by client fees and donations.

Approximately 34% of clients pay below indus

standards and are supported through the Client

Assistance Fund (CAF).

Since its inception, CCI has enjoyed a very long

and rewarding relationship and partnership with

St. Mary the Virgin. For a

d

support through grant funds to both the CAF an

the Intern Training Programs, as well as referrals

from staff members, and pre‐marital counselin

Grant funds from St. Mary’s help to pay a por

of the cost of training interns and expanding the

intern program.

Each year, CCI’s board includes at least one

member of St. Mary’s. Parishioners in addition to

myself who have

S

Pittman, and Cynthia Soyster. CCI is current

hoping to expand its board membership. For

additional information, please consult the CCI

website: www.californiacounseling.org or conta

Marian Brischle at

ct

[email protected].

Diocese Planned Giving AwarGoes to St. Mary’s Jane A. Cook, Chair, Planned & Major Gifts Com

d

mittee

Margaret Wosser

a San

s

Ms.

ns.

this year at the home of Kim Regan

Dan Hoth, where 30 people listened to Lisa

Each year, the Planned Giving Department of the

Diocese of California gives the

Award to a parish or Episcopal institution which

as demonstrated exemplary efforts in promoting h

estate planning and legacy gifts within their

congregation or organization. An award is

presented and the recipient’s name appears on a

plaque at Diocesan House.

The Margaret Wosser Award is named after

Francisco woman who left over one million dollar

to the diocese in her estate for outreach programs

the homeless and AIDS communities.to

Wosser, a neighborhood fixture in the Castro

District, owned a community laundromat, which

she personally operated every day for over 30

years. Ms. Wosser was known for two things: her

frugality and her love for her only son.

Unfortunately, her son was diagnosed with AIDS

in the 1980s and subsequently died from the

disease. Ms. Wosser was eternally grateful to the

Episcopal Church for the love, care, and support

shown to her son during his last years. In his

memory, she bequeathed the laundromat building

to the Diocese so the proceeds of the sale could

support the church’s outreach ministries.

St. Mary’s has a long history of generous donors

who have lovingly made arrangements for planned

gifts to our parish and other Episcopal institutio

ast year, we created a formal Planned & MajorL

Gifts Committee to renew our efforts. Since then,

the ten members of the committee have embarked

on a number of initiatives and accomplished a

great deal.

We have offered two annual gatherings for

members of our Legacy Society: one last year at the

home of Betty Hood‐Gibson and David Gibson,

nd anothera

and

http://www.californiacounseling.org/



Parker, an inspirational speaker and expert on

philanthropic topics. Both events generated a lot of

enthusiasm about and interest in planned gifts, a

they reinforced a sense of community among our

Legacy Society members.

We have also sponsored two educational

presentations for all parishioners, as part of the

summer Adult Formation series. The first, in 2013,

featured attorneys David

nd

ibson and Martha Daetwyler

l

is

nd on

s

e that

ing

s

d

’s.

ds, we transferred the content into a flyer

nd put copies in the entryway of our sanctuary.

ary’s

. We

es in St. Mary’s Annual

aret

osser Award during the 165th Convention of the

f

rous donors,

and present, who

y have

l

ft,

a nd

& .

G

speaking on estate planning

and planned giving

techniques. This year Sandy

Stadtfeld gave a wonderfu

illustrated talk on Frank

Pixley’s fascinating life and h

amazing gift of the la

which our church was built.

The 20 people in attendance

had several great question

and observations. Afterwards,

we had a lively discussion

regarding other substantial

received gifts and how they

were used. We concluded by

reminding everyon

planned gifts may be

made in many forms, includ

easy ways. All of these events, a

Cow Hollow Church News, sprea

planned giving at St. Mary

During an event promoting St. Mary’s

Columbarium, we distributed a list of Easy Ways to

Remember St. Mary’s In Your Estate Plan.

Afterwar

some quick and

covered in the

the word about

include you in future Leg

we appreciate the diligent

members of our Planned _________________________

a

We are also revising our Remember St. M

planned giving brochure.

We have an attractive plaque listing the names of

our Legacy Society members, living and deceased,

on a wall leading to the balcony in our church

will also publish their nam

Reports. In addition, we plan to include planned

giving information on our parish website.

For all these reasons, the Rev. Scott Richardson

nominated St. Mary the Virgin for this prestigious

award this year. We received the 2014 Marg

W

Diocese of California at Grace Cathedral on

October 18, 2014. Scott and I were present to accept

the award on behalf o

our parish.

We wish to thank all of

the gene

past

have made

arrangements for

planned gifts to St.

Mary’s. The

made a meaningfu

difference for our

parish and will

continue to do so for

many years to come. If

you have not notified

us of your planned gi

please speak with

Scott so we can

cy Society events. A

work being done by the

Major Gifts Committee______________________

The Rev. Claire Dietrich Ranna will be ordained

into the priesthood on Saturday, December 6, at

Grace Cathedral, at 3:00 p.m. All are invited.

The Rev. Scott Richardson and Jane Cook lifting up our award.


St. Mary’s Walking Group Kim Regan

It’s foggy and windy on a chilly Tuesday morning

at 8:30 a.m. on Crissy Field. Or it is sunny and

warm, a perfect windless beach day. Either way,

the gathering has begun. Anywhere from two to 20

folks will meet at the East Beach parking lot on

Crissy Field, and set off to walk to the Golden Gate

Bridge at exactly 8:35 a.m. They will return to the

e

oup which

ily. History

Erika

;

u

kers

rd

finding

r

rs.

outpost in

ashington DC: “Iʹm there in spirit! Hugs and

had

r

ne of my primary

oals at that time was to build community. I had

ve

as

d

rly at

the younger end of

all had

v

u ars,

y

a

m

m

i

Beach Hut for coffee between 9:30 and :40 wher

there may be more friends waiting to join in this

most convivial way to begin the day in San

Francisco.

9

This is St. Mary’s

alking GrW

has been stepping off in

most kinds of weather

(pouring rain does stop

us) every Tuesday and

Thursday since sometime

in the 1990s. What began as a daytime Foyer

Group evolved into a

caring community of

faithful friends from

many parts of the St.

Mary’s fam

records that it was

Coughlan, ever the

practical one, who first

said, “8:30 at Crissy Field

be there or not.”

Many have followed her le

welcome, and both men an

semi‐weekly trek. Life circ

the most consistent wal

they, too, often find it ha

Most of us know that

our friends, and for ou

on our personal calenda

well worth it in myriad ways.

Deborah Franklin, who walks with us when she

can, once wrote an email from her work

ad. Everyone is

d women have made the

mstances find many of

are retired, though

to fit it into their lives.

time for ourselves, for

health has to be a priority

Every walk has been

ha

la

with this wonderful and ver

the epitome of community:

anyone who turns up, witho

like the wider community of

wherever you are.”

How we live our lives as me

also comes up in our three‐

Linda Logemann’s example

“My experience as walker w

W

gratitude and cherry blossoms to you all! Iʹve

many thorny issues suddenly lose their thorns

under the wise, collective counsel of the Walking

Group. Many thanks, friends ‐‐ each and all.”

Another far‐flung correspondent, Lizzy Cryer,

wrote from Singapore about her first encounters

with the group: “I joined the walkers in 2010, afte

leaving the corporate world. O

g

read about the SMV

Walkers and decided

to give it a go. I ha

to confess, the first

time I attended I w

a little unsure I woul

fit in ‐‐ I was clea

the age spectrum.

During my second

walk, Marta Johnson

was talking about

having a birthday

party for the 42s.

ʺ42?ʺ I asked with

excitement, ʺWhoʹs

42?ʺ to which Marta

replied, ʺUm, the

1942s!ʺ and we

a good laugh. In the

years since then, I

e shared many more

ghs, and a few te

wise group. They are

group that accepts

ut expectations, and

St. Maryʹs, meets you

bers of St. Mary’s

ile conversations.

s only one of many:

as to get to know the

Walking Group gathering at the Beach Hut Cafe.


great generosity that the walkers offer to each

and to the community. They were key advisors

me in the creation of the Outreach Grant Program,

and Home for Christmas in 2006. They unselfishly

gave insight, wisdom and volunteer tim

other

to

e that

elped to lay a foundation for each fund‐raising

,

nning

p and down stairs if it were not for them.”

cket to 42nd Street

and

that

teric

group.

Many

rd

!

GBT Group Kicks Off

St.

gays and lesbians; and,

living in a

becoming

clusive. Conversation was upbeat

the group discussed an interest in

ss

are

p

rw

h

s

a

h

program to grow, transition, and mature.”

We have found that being there for each other can

mean celebrating birthdays over our morning

coffee or something more physical, as Jeanne Lacy

recollects: “When I was moving upstairs, Linda

Logemann pointed out something which was

obvious: I was not ready for the movers. Many of

the Walkers stepped in, packed, carried, hauled

put away. They just did everything. It was

amazing. I am forever grateful. Iʹd still be ru

u

Who is a good

plumber? Where can I

take my five‐year‐old

granddaughter? Is

anyone going to

carpool to the Opera? I

need a house

sitter/lawyer/babysitter.

Can you use my extra

ti

Moon? All this

more are the topics of

conversation. And we

are always amazed

even the most eso

questions seem to have

an answer in the

The group gathers, whoe

as far as they choose.

good for your body and

to take a picture‐postca

Walkers at 8:30 a.m. on

mornings. We have incor

dogs and babies. Come

ver shows up, and walks

go to the bridge. It is

soul. Consider showing up

walk with the SMV

Tuesday and Thursday

porated friends, relatives,

group. A

looks fo

host festive church functions.

The LGBT Group will have t

Wednesday, December 10, at

Grant and John Moore’s hou

identify as LGBTQ and their

join! Please contact Jory Sand

[email protected]

LJory Sandusky

Kicking off the fall in fine style, 16 members of

Mary’s LGBT community gathered for brunch,

conversation, and getting to know one another. The

Rev. Scott Richardson shared how many of his

piritual mentors have beens

other members of the group discussed

“post‐Prop 8” San Francisco which is

increasingly in

nd relaxed asa

meeting on a semi‐regular basis as well as serving

with outreach projects in the months to come.

With an eye toward serving the community,

discussion and interest surfaced about working

with Larkin Street Youth Services, which provides

support for homele

youth in San

Francisco (see story

on page 12). A

disproportionately

high number of

homeless youth

LGBTQ teens who

have been ostracized

from their families

and are seeking a

new beginning. It’s

a natural fit for St.

Mary’s LGBT

community to offer

assistance to this

dditionally, the grou

ard to helping to

eir next event on

7:00 p.m., at Chip

e. All people who

llies are welcome to

usky at

for more information

and to RSVP.

LGBT Group convening in fine style.


Marybeth Volk Retires llen McLean, FormerE Treasurer

urer from 2013 to

truly going to miss

ty

e

of the

e

e

t

aynard

h Treas

ve

orshiped in temporary space in the Presidio.

nd

counts;

our

its; and dealing with all kinds of

questions from

rgy. Not

l the

, adds:

after Marybeth

e

in‐a‐

y.

tion

m

h

nia

r

At the end of November, Marybeth Volk retired

after serving the parish for 17 years as Finance

Manager for St. Mary’s one million dollar a year

operations. “I would be driving to work and feel

excited to get there,” says Marybeth, reminiscing

about the people she has worked with over the

years. “I will miss everybody here.”

Scott Elaine Case, church Treas

e present, observes: “We are th

Marybeth. She takes great care with the generosi

of each of our members and has been a dedicated

steward of our finances and endowment. Every

month, without fail, flawless financial statements

are reconciled and

delivered to the

vestry. We have so

uch to thank her for m

during her 17 years of

service.”

Hired by Richard

Fowler in 1997, she

served under three

rectors, worked with

eight vestry Financ

Chairs and helped

guide us through two

interim periods.

Although most

embersm

parish may not hav

had direct contact

with Marybeth, she

has been integral to ev

through her competen

details that keep the

functioning.

In 1997, Frank M

position of churc

Marybeth’s arrival: “W

1997, St. Mary’s was midway through an extensi

project of upgrading the church property. Clergy

and staff had their offices in cramped temporary

quarters on Fillmore Street while the congregation

ry aspect of parish life

and attentive focus on the

business part of St. Mary’s

served in the volunteer

urer. He remembers

hen Marybeth was hired in

was complicated further

Marybeth rose to those

diligently and leveraging

remaining upbeat all the

Marybeth’s part‐time sc

commute between Fernd

and the Bay Area. In reti

w

Marybeth’s cheerful attitude, cooperative spirit a

Boston accent charmed everyone. She quickly

became an indispensable component of the

enterprise with a clear understanding of its

purpose.”

Through all changes, she has tended to

contribution and stewardship accounting;

managing, reconciling and reporting all bank

activity; maintaining bequest records; reporting

and serving as liaison for our endowment ac

managing payroll and benefits; coordinating

annual aud

parishioners, vestry

members and cle

to mention paying al

bills.

Gene Weber, who was

vestry chair of the

Finance Committee when

Marybeth arrived

“Soon

joined the SMV staff, w

faced several once‐

generation challenges:

Richard Fowler’s

retirement, financing the

reconstruction of Fowler

Hall, and adding

ownership of the rector

And then the situa

by the dot com crash.

ajor challenges, working

her experience,

while.”

edule has allowed her to

ale, in Northern Califor

ement, she is looking

Marybeth Volk focusing on the details that keep us functioning.


forward to simplifying her life by living fu

Ferndale which will allow her to spend more time

with her

ll time in

partner, Herb Chaker, to do more fun and

pontaneous travel, and to return to social work by

at Kathleen Bean is joining our

taff as our Pastoral Associate on an interim basis

a three‐month maternity

onsible for the Evening

nts, some pastoral

the continuing development of adult

s

into

or

sonnel matters. Kevin recently

as an accounting associate with the St.

Mary’s Medical Center Foundation, and, at

of

sity

as been studying at the

Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley

inistry with

eds, and

ry to

ay

Hannah into our

– may God bless them and keep them as they

.

ude prayer and guided meditations by

giPer com

s

volunteering at the CASA (Court Appointed

Special Advocate) program in Eureka, California.

The parish celebrated Marybeth’s work and

ministry on Sunday, November 16th with prayers

and a cake‐fueled sendoff in the courtyard. A

grateful congregation wishes Marybeth a long and

happy retirement!

Staff Transitions The Rev. Scott Richardson, Rector

I have three exciting personnel announcements to

make. The first is th

s

while Rev. Claire is out on

leave. Kathleen will be resp

Service, other liturgical assignme

matters,

formation programs, and “other duties as assigned

by the rector.” She prepared for this ministry

through her studies at the Franciscan School of

Theology in Berkeley, earning her Masters of

Theological Studies in 2012. She has been serving

as our Associate for Adult Formation since 2012,

enriching our spiritual life by arranging forum

and occasionally preaching, often on creation care

topics. We are delighted to welcome Kathleen

this new ministry for her and for us. We are also

grateful to the Church Pension Group for the

generous maternity support it offers our

congregations.

Kevin Bulivant has joined us to replace Marybeth

Volk as our Finance Manager. Marybeth retired

with a grand send‐off on November 16th. Kevin

will be with us full‐time and, in addition to his

accounting duties, will also help with don

support and per

served

different points in his career, as a financial analyst,

small business owner, treasurer, project leader,

manager, and consultant. He earned his Bachelor

Commerce in Finance from Saint Mary’s Univer

in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

And we are also blessed to receive the

ministrations of the Rev. Hannah Elyse

Cornthwaite for a brief period of time as she

transitions from the diaconate to priesthood.

Hannah is canonically resident in the Diocese of

Iowa but comes originally from a small island in

Southwest Alaska. She h

Church

since 2010. Hannah has a passion for m

children, including those with special ne

for engaging with young adults who are often

called “spiritual but not religious.” Her minist

us will be primarily on Sundays as she brings her

time in seminary to a close.

Someone once reminded me that the church is a

river and not a pond. It is the case that people

come, make their contribution, and then go – just

like in Scripture. But even though the people m

move on, one prays that the contribution to the life

of the congregation endures. With that hope, we

receive Kathleen, Kevin, and

midst

give themselves in service to us and to the world

QUIET DAY FOR ALL MEN and WOMEN Hosted by the Daughters of the King The day starts with a bring-

your-own bag lunch at noon. Water, coffee, and tea will be provided as well as snacks and dessert. Theday will inclDr. Roderick DouDeacons. There wreflection. To RSVreflection and timGod, email Cathe

las, Dean of the School for ll be periods of silence for for this afternoon of peaceful for practicing the presence of ine Secour: cathsecour@msn. .

Saturday, February 21, 2014, 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.





Hilda Jonas 1913 - 2014 Michael Secour, Organist‐Choirmaster, and Cath

Secour, Children’s Choir Director, at St. Maryʹs from

1976 to 2009

erine

ilda Jonas, internationally known harpsichordist

f

.

Hilda in 2010. She wished that we

ave it in our

oncert Series for

a

t

r until

r

an

ton. Hilda’s

.

s

cted

attended other concerts in our series.

n.

ichael said, “It was, indeed, a lot of fun, but I also

n

n

Pearl

Harbor, they moved

ilda

y

seldorf.

r

d ainly

m long

mily

m

. It was

afternoon, June 26, 1984, at a rehearsal of

G.F. Handelʹs Israel in Egypt (a Baroque sacred

H

and pianist, passed away peacefully at the age o

101 years, in her home in San Francisco

The Ebeloe harpsichord which resides between the

pulpit and the organ console was given to St. Mary

the Virgin by

h

building to honor

her time

participating in the

C

16 years. Her first

concert was on

December 30, 1984.

She performed

New Year’s concer

every yea

January 9, 2000,

when she

performed Bach’s

Goldberg

Variations.

Earlier in

1984, before

performing at St. Ma

performed at the

Convention with

Simon Pres

was Steve Repasky

Most of her concerts were solo recitals but there

were several collaborative efforts including Bach’

Coffee Cantata with St. Mary’s soloists Margaret

Secour and Neal Rogers. Hilda regularly attra

large crowds for her masterful concerts and

frequently

y’s for the first time, Hilda

American Guild of Organists

orchestra under the baton of

page turner at that concert

During the San Francisco yea

numerous recitals. She recor

Bach. She was a teacher who

in her students and many re

friends. Her presence will be

and the greater musical com

In 1992, Michael Secour had the rare privilege of

performing with Hilda in a program of music

composed or arranged by Mozart for two

keyboards, including his Fantasia in F minor. In a

recent conversation with Hilda she recalled that

particular concert and said that it was the most fu

M

remember how much work it was trying to keep up

with her. She was always a bundle of energy, eve

approaching her eighth decade of life.”

Hilda and her husband Gerald were German‐bor

and were married in January 1938. By May of 1938

they fled Germany, taking the Ebeloe, and arrived

in Australia, and

then settled in

Hawaii. After

to Cincinnati, Ohio.

She performed

regularly with the

Cincinnati

Symphony, and

toured extensively.

In 1988, 50 years

after escaping from

the Nazis, H

returned to her

hometown to

perform in honor of

the 700th

Anniversar

of Düs

s, she also gave

ed four CDs, m

took special interest

ained life‐

missed by her fa

unity in which she

participated for so many years.

Meeting Hilda Jonas Steve Repasky, Associate Director of Music

I was in my late twenties at the time

Tuesday

Hilda Jonas at the keyboard of the Ebeloe harpsichord that she gave to St. Mary’s.


oratorio scored for strings, double

continuo instruments) held in the

choir, and

cavernous St.

the

Simon

in

a

rd.

l

e

ror

ng was

uncharacteristic of proper harpsichord

id,

had the deepest and utmost

t

t her

Maryʹs Cathedral. The concert was under

direction of the world‐renowned conductor,

Preston. This presentation of Handelʹs oratorio was

one of the events for the gathering of the national

convention of the American Guild of Organists

San Francisco that year. I was asked to be Hild

Jonas’s page turner as she played her harpsicho

During the rehearsal, Hilda registered her

harpsichord in the style suitable to Handelʹs music.

However, in the large acoustic, Mr. Preston could

not hear the harpsichord and stopped the rehearsa

and then asked Hilda to bolster her sound. A littl

stunned and with a twinkle in her eye, she turned

to me and said in her adorable mid‐western

German accent, “Now watch this, honey.”

Much to my surprise and within a second, Hilda

placed all the stops of the harpsichord in the on

position and proceeded to play the continuo

(chordal accompaniment) part in double octaves in

a Franz Lisztian style. I sat there in abject hor

and disbelief as this style of keyboard playi

so

accompaniment that would have been suitable to

Baroque style music.

With my mouth open in sheer astonishment at

Hildaʹs chutzpah, Simon Preston nodded toward

Mrs. Jonas as much as to say, yes, thatʹs the sound I

am looking for. Hilda looked at me and sa

“Idiot!” while still playing her continuo part. From

that moment on, I only

respect for Hilda.

It was one of those meetings that I will never forge

and in my mindʹs eye I can still picture her under

Simon Prestonʹs direction just whaling away a

harpsichord. It was one of the most absolutely

electrifying performances of that work I have ever

heard.

It is an honor to play her Ebeloe harpsichord, a fine

instrument that still retains its original 1938 strings.

It is a real survivor, just like Hilda was.

Annual Parish Meeting On Sunday morning, January 25, 2015, we will

come together for our Annual Parish Meeting.

Once again, this meeting will take place in the

church, beginning at 10:30 a.m., following the 9:00

a.m. service. A lunch in the Great Room will be

served right after the meeting.

The 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services will be

combined, taking place at 9:00 a.m. on this day.

The Annual Parish Meeting is different from most

of the obligations we experience elsewhere; for, in

addition to taking care of some of the normal

temporal actions we need to fulfill—such as the

election of new members of the vestry and new

delegates to represent all of us within the Diocese

of California and the San Francisco Deanery, as

well as reflection on the proposed budget for the

coming year—we also take time to ponder our

spiritual health and condition.

We receive reports and remarks about many of our

ministries and programs, and take time to raise

questions about how we might better serve the

community and the world. Parish leaders, lay and

ordained, offer their reflections on the State of the

Parish. And, unlike in many other meetings, we

join together as one community: we sing, laugh,

remember our departed sisters and brothers, and,

in general, recall who we are, whose we are, and

why we gather, week in and week out, season after

season, and year after year, in this holy place. Child

care will be available, and we encourage teenagers

to attend.

Please take part in this year’s Annual Parish

Meeting, and join your sisters and brothers in faith,

discerning God’s presence in, and call to, this

community of faith.

Baby

In anticipation of the arrival of Claire

Shower for Claire

and Haamid’s baby, the vestry and parishioners gave a

bountiful and joyous baby shower for the expectant parents.

At an occasion buoyant with good

wishes; clockwise: gift table with diaper

“cake;” expectant mom Claire; opening

presents; the actual cake; warm

welcoming sentiments.

Thanks to all who helped, including: Betty Hood‐Gibson, David Gibson,

Diana Sullivan, David Sullivan, Liz Paxton, Ursula Clark, Jane Cook, Gloria

Powell, Everett Powell, Jan Bolles, Nancy Bryan, Mary Hill, Josie McGann,

Steven Currier, Lisa Carey, Laura Ruppert, Vanessa Lane, Carla Ocfemia, and Manny Gabiana.



ADVENT

Dec

9:00 a.m

Children’s hoir

December 14 Third Sunday of Advent

9:00 a.m. Sankta Lucia Celebration

Children’s & Youth Choirs

December 20 A Festive Parish Tradition

1:00 p.m. Caroling on Union Street

All are Welcome to Participate

December 21 Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

9:00 & 11:00 a.m. A Service of Lessons and Carols

Children’s, Youth, Handbell, & Parish Choirs and Chamber Orchestra

5:30 p.m. A Service of Lessons and Carols

EVE

3:00 p.m.

ed players and live animals

5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Eucharist

Children’s and Youth Choirs

10:30 p.m. Candlelight Carol Sing

Parish Choir and Chamber Orchestra

11:00 p.m. Candlelight Eucharist

Parish Choir and Chamber Orchestra

CHRISTMAS DAY December 25

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Carols

Parish Choir and Organ

December 28 First Sunday after Christmas

8:00, 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. regular service times

FEAS

ember 7 Second Sunday of Advent

. La Virgen de Guadalupe Celebration

C

CHRISTMASDecember 24

Christmas Pageant

Costum

T OF THE EPIPHANY January 4

9:00 a.m. Visit of the Magi

First Class Mail

.

HIGHLIGHTS—W 14-20 Also visit www.smvsf.orgINTER – 20 15

SPIRITUALITY & PASTORAL CARE Holy Eucharis

Nursing Home Ministry – every 4th Sunday, Golden Heal re Ce , at 1:30

Presidio Gate Ministry –2nd & 4th Mondays, 2770 LoStreet, at 11 am

OUTREACH

t, Rite II – Wednesdays, in the chapel, at 7 am

Gate thca nter, 2707 Pine Street pm

mbard

Raphael House Ministry – First Monday of ea

Contact Alisa Quint Fisher at [email protected] month.

MEETINGS & MISCELLANY Deadline for the Spring 2015 Cow Hollow Chur

February 1. Please email articles to [email protected] News –

SAVE THESE DATES Bible and Book Study Series – Thursdays, December 4 & 11,

10 am, and Tuesday, December 16, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, in the Study

Ordination of Claire Ranna – SaturdGrace Cathedral

Tidings Greens and Pantry sale – Sunday, December 7, between servic

LGBT Group Christmas Party – Wednesday, December 10, 7 pm, at Chip Grant and John Moore’s home

actor Party – Friday, December 12, at a beautiful home

, December 21. For details on ryan at [email protected]

ay, December 6, 3 pm, at

es, in the courtyard

Tidings Benef

Open Cathedral – Sundayattending, contact Nancy B .

t – Saturday, December 20, 1 pm,

Seeing as a Holy Act – Saturday, January 11, 9-11 am, in the

ncert “West Coast Wildfire” – Sunday, nuary 11, 7 pm

ual Parish Meeting – Sunday, January 25, 10 am, in the unch to follow, in the Great Room

Mt. Calvary Retreat – February, 24-27, Mt. Calvary Retreat Monastery in Santa Barbara

Quiet Day for All Men and Women – Saturday, February 21, on attending, contact Catherine Secour m.

Caroling on Union Streemeet in the courtyard

Great Room

andlelight Co CJa

Annchurch; l

noon-5 pm. For detailsat [email protected]

i

Fran

(415) 921

2325 Un

San CA 94123‐3905

on Street

cisco,

‐3665 • www.smvsf.org

INSIDE…From the Assoc. Rec r

Sr. Warden’s Letter ............................ 2

Su

Yout

Stewardship .......................................

Tidings of Comfort & Joy .................. 6

Adult Fo

Ru

Pitching Prospect &

Partnering With Larki

California Counselin

Planned Giving Award

Walking Group .........

LGBT Group .................................... 17

Marybeth Volk Retires .................... 18

Hilda Jonas ...................................... 20

Claire Ranna’s Baby

tor ... Cover Sto y

nday School ................................... 3

h Group ....................................... 4

4

rmation Programs ............... 7

tter’s Requiem for All Souls ......... 8

Aces Races10-11

n Street ........ 2 . 1

g Institute....... 13

..................... 1

........................ 16

4

Shower ......... 22

cow hollow church news - winter 2014

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