Encountering the Holy In the Arts: a thought provoking and playfull education series open to all ages.

We will explore how we engage with the sacred through the arts and by way our senses. Music, color, symbol, poetry, and sacred space can touch and evoke in us a very unique and immediate connection to spirit and what is holy. Come join us as we journey through the various modes of artistic expression, with both discussion and hands-on exercises: Listen to others’ favorite songs that evoke the holy, work with clay, draw a mandala and walk our labyrinth. Hear from the creative souls in our midst about the spiritual dimension of their work.

Future installments include reflections from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jim Wallis, John Hockenberry, and Phyllis Tickle, as well as profiles of Sister Helen Prejean and author Kathleen Norris.

“We’ve envisioned video as an integral part of the Café right from the beginning,” said Jim Naughton, founding editor of the Café, a group blog site that went online in late April, “but we wanted to team up with people who did quality work. Trinity fits that bill in spades.”

According to Nathan Brockman, editor of Trinity Church Wall Street's website and publications, “Trinity's website is a sacred parish space that receives nearly as many visitors annually as our historic church buildings. Virtual outreach is essential to church vitality, and our partnership with Episcopal Cafe helps us extend that outreach in service of the wider Church.”

The Café, a partnership between the Diocese of Washington and Episcopal Church in the Visual Arts (ECVA), currently features news, art, spiritual readings, multi-media meditations, and a daily essay from one of 30 contributors from around the Episcopal Church.

We have been discussing whether to change our format. The Later Life Group came together to focus on spirituality in later life, and we have been primarily a discussion group. So on Sunday June 10th we put a questionnaire in the bulletins, to discover whether there were people interested in coming to a different kind of program during the day. We only received 16 replies, and discovered that the three things people were most interested in, were coming to hear a speaker, having discussions on spiritual topics, and seasonal social events. So we have decided to continue, next September, primarily as a discussion group on spiritual topics, with occasional speakers as we can find them, and with a special social event once a quarter.

step onto Bourbon Street and

step into a Nite in N’Orleans.

with live music, dinner and silent auction
that will benefit ongoing Katrina relief and St. Thomas ministries.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with appetizers and beverages (included in the ticket price)
and the music of the Mission Gold Jazz Band.

Patrons are encouraged to examine the gift baskets on display
as they enjoy wine, punch and hors d’oeuvres.

Tickets can be purchased following every Sunday service from Fundraising representatives.

Look for sign-up sheets for
basket assemblers—beginning Aug. 5)
food preparation—Friday afternoon, Aug. 24;
decorations and set-up—Saturday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m..

Servers for appetizers, the buffet line, and wine and beverages
will be needed starting at 5:30.

The Episcopal Church calendar has Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle listed for August 27. Who are these men?

• Thomas Gallaudet was born in 1822, in Hartford CT. His mother was deaf and his father was the founder of American School for the Deaf. He was ordained in 1851, and the next year established St. Ann's Church in New York especially for deaf persons, with services primarily in sign language. He died Aug. 27, 1902.
• One of Gallaudet's students and parishioners was Henry Winter Syle, deaf from an early age. Gallaudet encouraged him to become a priest, and in 1876 he became the first deaf person to be ordained by the Episcopal Church in the United States. He established a congregation for the deaf in 1888, and died January 6, 1890.

Our library has sign language books. Here are a few to look at:

• Signing: signed English: a basic guide by Harry Bornstein
• Signing everyday phrases by Mickey Flodin
• Alpha teach yourself American Sign Language in 24 hours by Trudy Suggs
• American Sign Language learning system [DVD].by Elaine Costello
• Religious Signing by Elaine Costello
• Sesame Street Sign Language and Sign Language Fun by Linda Bove
  (both for young people)

52 months to our Centennial (December 2011)

Appetizers
Mixed assortment of canapés and veggies
Wine, beer, punch, coffee, and tea

Entrees
Cole Slaw
Shrimp boil with corn cobs and red potatoes
Sausage jambalaya
Vegetarian Creole
Red Beans and Rice
French Style Green Beans

Since we will be preparing a lot of food, we can use some extra help. If you would like to join in to help cook, please add your name on the Volunteer Signup sheet located in the Narthex.

Please contact:
Wendy Tracy, cdtracy4310 AT aol.com
Bill Hufford , W.Hufford AT comcast.net

My Donation is attached: ____________________________ Value: ___________________

I would like to donate cash so you can do the shopping for me! $ _____________________

Name: _______________________________ Phone Contact: _______________________

FINANCE REPORT: Jim Cobb reported that April was a very good month. Income was ahead of budget.

In the Building and Grounds’ account, the charge for the repair of the sewer line reflected only the contractor’s cost, as he omitted his profit. The Vestry indicated that a note of thanks be sent to him, and Peg said she would send the note.

The fence expense is not included in the April report.

FAMILY MINISTRY REPORT: Rosemary Parker submitted a written report.

1. SATTERBERG GRANT—Emma Valdez from the Mt. View and Los Altos Community Services has been hired. She will start June 21, and work 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
(edit by Clerk: Emma Valdez did start work on May 25, 2007)

2. TRANSFER CENTER—Outreach to Children: Pam Storrer has submitted a grant request to Target for the expense of 2 training days, August 17 & 18th. Chris moved that the Vestry approve funds for start-up expenses for the Transfer Center with the understanding that any grant money received will be reimbursed to cover these expenses. Wendy Tracy seconded the motion. The motion passed.

3. FENCE—Chris reported that the property line between the Church and the property on the Washington Avenue side has been surveyed to determine where the fence is supposed to go. The owners will do another survey to make sure that the fence goes in the same place we have determined. All of the fence will lie within our property line by 2 inches. We will allow enough space so the homeowners can get their garbage cans out to the sidewalk. The property is being sold to the current owners’ daughter.

4. ODB Tea—Peg sent around a sign-up sheet for Vestry members to help with the ODB Appreciation Tea.

NEW BUSINESS:

The DAYBREAK PROGRAM—Peg, Chris and Wendy discussed a request from Catholic Charities to start a respite program at St. Thomas. No action was taken.

RECTOR’S REPORT:

Rev. Wendy brought up the fact that the 100th anniversary of St. Thomas Church will be in 2011. She will start checking with other parishes that have had a celebration to find out what they did for their anniversary.

Wendy hopes to have some kind of Planned Giving Program developed by next spring. All former senior wardens have been invited to participate in this planning project. Prior senior wardens Jon Aderhold, Gary Letson, Jan Letson and Lou Poulain are currently working on this project.

Rev. Wendy thanked the Vestry for the contribution to the Theatre of Western Springs made in honor of her Mother.

She reported that CREDO was a good experience—it affirmed her perception of her future.

She announced that there will be a funeral service for Evelyn Lloyd’s daughter.

SR. WARDEN’S REPORT:

Peg expressed her pleasure in having Rev. Wendy back at St. Thomas.

JR. WARDEN’S REPORT:

Chris announced that the Farmers Market and the Parish picnic will be on the same Sunday.

Pam Storrer will look into the procedures about the Pandemic. Chris indicated that we should think about how we will maintain our St. Thomas community when this becomes a reality.

He also spoke about the response to the Rev. Bill Cowan’s Sunday sign in the lighted sign at the sidewalk. It was a great success and we need to think of other occasions to use the same concept.

COMMISSION REPORTS:

SERVICE IN THE WORLD: Pam reported on the Crop Walk, reporting that over $600.00 was raised.

AIB: Bob Kunz reported that AIB has changed their name to the Friendship Commission. He passed out to the vestry a pamphlet highlighting bios of people in the congregation. The commission plans on putting these pamphlets in the pews on Sunday. June 10^th will be the newcomer’s luncheon.

PROPERTY: Parish workday will be July 28^th, Saturday at 9:00 AM.

Chris reported that he will start getting bids on refinishing the staining on the outside of the church.

He indicated a preference for using the same contractor we have used in the past for the tree maintenance. The reason is that he knows the property and is familiar with the different trees, especially the large oak.

The Architecture Committee is exploring the use of photovoltaic (solar panels that generate electricity) panels for the roof of the Church. This is a way to help save the Church money on electricity and help the environment in the process.

They have been also reviewing restoration of the altar panels. Joe Gutierrez will report at the next vestry meeting.

Our campsites were situated right by the Big Sur River encompassed by coastal redwoods. This made for a lovely, well-shaded area. It was an absolutely beautiful weekend with mild temperatures and no fog! Hiking, reading, knitting, and tubing were some of the activities enjoyed by the campers. A number of hikers enjoyed taking their chairs and cooling their feet in the river following our most interesting hike through part of Julia Pfeiffer State Park (adjacent to Fernwood) and the “unofficial trail” we ventured out exploring. Others hiked back toward the visitors’ center and rewarded themselves with ice cream. The Poulains and the Barnes hosted a delicious barbeque in the Saturday evening. Of course the whole weekend was filled with wonderful communal meals—super burgers (Friday evening); French toast (Saturday morning); and breakfast burritos (Sunday morning).

Special thanks go to Randi and Linda who led our evening prayer services. Everyone did a wonderful job of chipping in to help out so that everyone had the opportunity to sit back and relax too. Our Saturday evening was topped off with a campfire and s’mores. Somehow a camping trip would seem a bit incomplete without a campfire and marshmallows!

Mollie Whisler participated on July 7 & 8 in the San Francisco 2007 Walk for Breast Cancer. She walked 39 miles over 2 days & raised over $3500. Mollie has been training for this since November of last year.

Alexander Tan has come home to his family for summer vacation, from Exeter College in Exeter, England.

Ashley Cobb is in charge of a pre-school this summer, in preparation for student teaching next year.

Col. Mike Luft deployed to Afghanistan on July 4th, for a year's tour of duty.

Chris McVey came to church on July 8th, on his way from the Naval Training Command Great Lakes, to the Navy Base in San Diego.

Dorothy Blank is doing well in her new apartment in Virginia.