ON-GOING ACTIVITIES AT ST. BEN’S
ABUNDANCE SHOP– Thrift shop at 2025 9th St. (If you would like to volunteer, please contact them at (805) 528-1370)
COMMUNITY DINNER – Providing and serving food at SBCC, on 1st Thursday of odd-numbered months, in conjunction with Los Osos Cares.
EARTHCARE – ZOOM 3rd Wednesdays 3pm. Discussion/action group seeking spiritual and practical solutions to environmental concerns. MEN’S GROUP – Morning social gathering, 3rd Saturdays – 9am at Celia’s Garden Cafe.
HEALING SERVICE – FACEBOOK – A time for prayers for healing at the 10:30 service on 5th Sundays.
HOLLISTER INSTITUTE – Opportunities for stimulating discussion and thoughtful exploration on Tuesdays at 10:15am on ZOOM. “The Dream of God” by Verna Dozier begins Sep 7.
LAUNDRY LOVE – Helping low-income families with funds, soap, and friendly assistance at Osos Clean Laundry. 4-6pm on last Wednesdays
PEOPLE’S KITCHEN – Providing and serving lunch at 40 Prado, 1st Saturday of even-numbered months
VESPERS AND CONVERSATION – ZOOM – 5:30 pm Tuesdays
VESTRY / PARISH COUNCIL – ZOOM – 3rd Sundays at 12:30pm.
- The Rev. Dr. Caroline Hall, Rector
- Stef Shuman, Sr. Warden
- Jane Wu, Jr. Warden
- Lisa Gonzalez, Treasurer,
- Lorienne Schwenk, Clerk
- Esta Kandarian,
- Alan Kiste,
- Benjamin Nucum
- Helen Schnieders
- Barbara Schippers
- Maureen Titus
Bidding Book Prayers – If you’d like to request prayers for someone and have their names read out during the online worship services on Sunday, please submit their names to stefshuman@sbcglobal.net during the week (by Friday).
We are grateful for God’s financial providence and blessing. Thank you for making your offerings by mail to our PO Box, or on-line.
Our Sunday services are held indoors at the church for anyone wishing to attend in person. Masks are still required, and we will continue to ask people to maintain social distancing by having no more than three people per pew. Communion will be distributed in bread only. Wine will be received by sight.
The 8:00 am service will also be on Zoom.
The 10:30 am service will also be live-streamed for those who watch remotely — either on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stbenslososos/ or through our website at http://www.stbenslososos.org/facebook-including-live-stream/
Service leaflets for both services are available under the Worship tab on our website: https://www.stbenslososos.org/category/service-bulletin/
Unless otherwise stated, our meetings happen on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7977776046?pwd=VUFZSXY3UVpNVitJaDl2VmhPS3E2UT09 Passcode is: 93402
This Week at St. Benedict’s
Sunday, Sep 26 “Restoration” Sunday
8:00 am – Contemplative Eucharist service (also on Zoom)
9:20 am – Bible Study
10:30 am – Eucharist service – (also live-streamed on FB)
12:00 pm – Membership Committee Meeting at the church
Tuesday, Sep 28
10:15 am – Spiritual Conversation: The Dream of God (Zoom)
5:30 pm – Vespers service – (Zoom)
Wednesday, Sep 29
11am & 4pm – Laundry Love at Osos Clean Laundry
5:30 pm – Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, Sep 30
6:30 pm – “Creation Care & the Climate Crisis” (Zoom, by registration)
Saturday, Oct 2
12:00 noon – People’s Kitchen at 40 Prado
Sunday, Oct 3 – St. Francis
8:00 am – Contemplative service (only on Zoom)
9:20 am – Bible Study
10:30 am – Eucharist service – (also live-streamed on FB)
10:30 Ministers of the Service Sep 26
Celebrant: The Rev. Brian Stein-Webber
Eucharistic Minister: Alan Kiste
Lector: Brian Spolarich
Piano: David Alm
Ushers: Barbara Schippers & Maureen Titus
Altar Guild: Diana Hammerlund
Flowers: Brian Spolarich
Prayer Team: Jill Denton
Teller: Steve Cake
Online Hosts: Julie Bailey
ANNOUNCEMENTS
RESTORATION SUNDAY – We end our September Season of Creation observation with “Restoration Sunday.” Having marveled at the wonder and abundance of God’s creation, we acknowledged our own part in contributing to its abuse and neglecting its care. We now pray for reconciliation and commit to acting towards restoration of harmony with the created order.
30 NEW TREES FOR ST BEN’S – The Parish Council has approved a proposal by the Landscape Committee, in partnership with Los Osos Valley Garden Club, for the planting of 30 new trees on our property, and the repair and expansion of our irrigation system in order to water them. The trees, to be donated by EcoSLO, will be Monterey Cypress, Silk Oaks, Coast Live Oaks, and Torrey Pines. The cost of the irrigation system expansion, approximately $7000, will need to be raised. Some possibilities exist for a small grant, fundraising help from the Garden Club and others, and of course donations from our own membership ;o) Our deep thanks go to the Landscape Committee (Liz M., Ron T., Michael L) for its months of dedicated and diligent work to make this happen. We are excited about the project and look forward to seeing the result!
BIOREACTOR INSTALLATION
In July the Parish Council approved the purchase and installation of a bioreactor on our property, which will turn leaf matter into a high quality food source for our plants and trees by the growth of micro-rhizome fungi. This natural regenerative process results in carbon sequestration and improved soil health. Our trees and plants will show improved growth and drought tolerance, and St. Benedict’s will continue its leadership in working with nature for climate health.
You are invited to join EarthCare and friends in a work party on Saturday, October 30 to build the bioreactor: 9:30am-12noon, followed by lunch. Tim LaSalle (Director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture, Chico State) will guide us in building the bioreactor. We anticipate that it will take about 2.5 hours to complete. Lunch will be provided to celebrate our accomplishment. Bring work gloves and a mask for Covid protection and to avoid inhaling dust. If you can join in, please RSVP project manager Don Maruska.
Also – if you know of any sources for chopped leaf material to feed the bioreactor, please contact Don Maruska. Material (such as leaves, wood chips, hay, etc. – not eucalyptus or pine needles) needs to be brown/dried and chopped up (as from a wood chipper.)
IN-PERSON SERVICE AT ST. BENEDICT’S
To help lessen the chance of spreading Covid – or Flu or colds – please observe the following behaviors when worshipping at St. Ben’s. Thank you.
- Masks are required at all times inside the church, except when putting the communion bread into your mouth, or when reading the lessons or making announcements from the lectern.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
- Maintain safe social distancing – spread out in the pew to maximize space both from side to side and before/behind.
- When coming forward for communion, spread out the circle to keep from standing too closely together.
- During communion the consecrated bread will be dropped into your palm for you to consume. The consecrated wine will be held before you to receive by sight alone.
- No physical contact with people outside of your family unit.
- Follow the diocesan fellowship protocols, below, during coffee hour. We will only have coffee hour if someone signs up in the kitchen in advance and agrees to follow these guidelines.
REVISED DIOCESAN FELLOWSHIP PROTOCOLS [9/15/2021]
Protocols for the sharing of food in an institution of The Diocese of El Camino Real are revised this date due to the seriousness of the Delta and Mu variants of COVID-19.
- The sharing of food is only permitted outside. When people are eating their masks are off and they are engaged in conversation. These are the conditions under which the virus is most likely to be transmitted.
- The sharing of cooked food and common snacks is permitted if properly handled and served by a food handler, with all protocols in place. Pre-packaged and wrapped food is preferred.
- If coffee or other beverage is offered, a food handler must pour the beverage for each person to avoid contamination.
- Food handlers must wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, wear masks, wear gloves, and distribute food using tongs or other TOUCH FREE method to avoid passing along the virus.
- Each person participating in a food sharing event should wash their hands and use hand sanitizer.
- Social distancing must be observed when conversing with others during the event.
The CDC offers further information and recommendations for gatherings at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/considerations-for-events-gatherings.html#anchor_1619540981216
The CDC’s General Information page on COVID 19 is at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
CREATION CARE & THE CLIMATE CRISIS – We are continuing our live-facilitated sessions on the “Beginner’s Guide to Creation Care and the Climate Crisis,” on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:00 pm, via Zoom. Sessions include Bible reflections, short videos, and discussion. The topic for Sep. 30 is: “What Can We Do as a Congregation?” led by Don Maruska; and on Oct. 7th “How Are We Called to Be Public Advocates for Climate Health?” led by Mike Eggleston. Come and share your questions, insights and ideas. More information and registration at https://www.stbenslososos.org/a-beginners-guide-to-creation-care-and-the-climate-crisis/
ALL SAINTS’ DAY OBSERVATION – This year we will be observing All Saints’ Day on Sunday, November 7. At that time there will be a memorial slide show presentation during the service, which will display photos of loved ones departed and especially those we’ve lost during the last year. If you would like to submit photos for this display, please send them to Jay in the church office at office@stbenslososos.org Also during that service there will be a reading of the names of the departed during prayers for the dead, the Necrology. Submit names for that to stefshuman@sbcglobal.net
JOAN AND BILL HAYES have moved to Sacramento.
They hope their friends at St. Ben’s will stay in contact with them at:
1445 Expo Parkway, Apt #323
Sacramento CA 95815
(805) 440-6191
CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK:
— Birthdays —
Sep 29 Barbara Hirahara
Oct 1 Gio Soretelli
LOOKING AHEAD:
Memorial Service for June Wright – Saturday, Oct 9 at 11:00 am
RECTOR’S SABBATICAL – Caro+ is currently on sabbatical and will return on October 31. In her absence, Sunday services will be led by Susan Plucker+ and the Rev. Brian Stein-Webber. If you have a pastoral concern, please contact Senior Warden Stef Shuman who will put you in touch with help. Jay Matthew will be continuing in the office to answer questions and help with administrative details. The Parish Council will be responsible for the congregation in the Rector’s absence.
SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY – Sunday Morning Bible Study is held each week between the two morning services starting at 9:20 in the classroom. Lisa Gonzalez and Lorienne Schwenk will be leading the discussion.
COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UPS – Sign-up on the sheet posted in the kitchen if you would like to host coffee hour on a specific Sunday. If no one signs up there will not be coffee hour on that day.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR – for those watching at home, the Zoom room is available between 11:30-12:30 on Sundays for informal no-host conversations. Supply your own coffee!
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES – We are looking for more people to serve on Sundays as ushers, tellers, lectors, altar guild, flower guild, and Eucharistic ministers. If you have done this in the past and are now able to return to this ministry, please let Lorienne Schwenk know. If you haven’t done it here at St. Ben’s before but would like to start, please contact Stef Shuman.
ST BENEDICT’S OFFICE HOURS – Jay will be in the church office on:
Tuesdays 3-6pm; Thursdays 10am-1pm; Saturdays 10am-1pm
NAME TAGS – We are asking everyone to wear a name tag. Please check the name tag board by the door for yours. If you don’t have one, or if an old one has become too shabby, please ask Stef to make one for you. (Or just tell the ushers). In the meantime, you can fill out an adhesive tag for the day.
DONATIONS – Collection plates are not passed during the service, but you may put your contributions in the plate by the usher’s station before the service, or contribute on-line at: https://www.StBensLosOsos.org/support-us/ or by mail to our PO Box. Thank you for your offerings! We are grateful for God’s financial providence and blessing.
BIDDING BOOK PRAYERS – If you’d like to request prayers for someone to have their names read out during the worship services on Sunday, please submit their names to stefshuman@sbcglobal.net during the week.
PERSONAL PRAYER – A member of the Healing Prayer Ministry team is available each week after the 10:30 service to pray with you for special concerns. If you’d like this prayer support this week, contact Jill Denton at (805) 704-1364. If no answer, please leave a message and your call will be returned.
PRAYER CHAIN – Also, remember that you may send your prayer requests to the prayer chain at: prayers@stbenslososos.org This is a group of individuals dedicated to intercessory prayers, who upon receiving your email will pray for your concerns.
ST. BENEDICT’S CONNECTIONS – Please do not hesitate to reach out to each other to stay in contact, and feel free to call Stef at 805-534-3622 or stefshuman@sbcglobal.net
Be well, be safe, and stay in touch.