Category Archives: Church

My home parish of St. Andrew’s
Episcopal Church (Saratoga, CA) hosted its 2nd annual Youth Dinner and Dance on
Sunday night. St. Andrew’s large and active youth community plans, manages, cooks for,
and runs the popular event to raise money for their Mission Trip. Sunday’s cajun-style
dinner was excellent and there was much sharing between those with catfish and those
served pork.

This past June, the youth Mission Trip was to Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi (on the U.S.
Gulf Coast), to rehabilitate houses as part of the
Katrina
recovery effort. Next summer, they plan to work in Mexico.

The Dinner and Dance is fun both for those who work and those who dine. My son Paul
was again one of the table servers. John, Laura, J.R. and I bid on auction items;
Laura won a day at a local spa. One of the unexpected treats was not only listening
and dancing to the CSB Big Band
but also looking at their elegant instruments during breaks. Photos:

Ready for dinner

Dance floor

Ready to serve

CSB Big Band

Saxophone mouth

Electric Guitar

Saxophones

Images Copyright 2008 by Katy Dickinson and John Plocher

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U2Charist and World MDG Blogging Day

My church is preparing to present a
“U2Charist” on 20 September 2008
at my home parish of
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church (13601 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, CA).
A U2Charist combines music from the library of humanitarian band
U2 with worship and Holy Communion. For more
U2Charist information, call 408-887-2977. Also in development
is World MDG Blogging Day
on 25 September 2008 in support of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).

St. Andrew’s speaker at the 20 September U2Charist will be
Peter Kithene,
Founder, President, and CEO of Mama Maria Kenya and the Mama Maria Clinic. Peter Kithene
was orphaned at age 12 but went on to found Mama Maria Kenya and the Mama Maria Clinic
during his Junior Year at the University of Washington in Seattle. In 2007, Peter was chosen one out of over 70,000 applicants from 93 countries to be CNN’s Global Heroes honoree of “Medical Marvel” for his work in developing rural healthcare in Africa.

The funds offered at the event will benefit Kithene’s project
Mama Maria Kenya, and
Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD). This month,
ERD achieved a
4-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management. 4-stars is the
highest possible rating.

The U2Charist is a project of the 18 Episcopal member churches of the Santa Clara Valley Deanery, to bring wider attention to the
Millennium Development Goals, a set of eight health and welfare goals supported by nearly all of the 192 United Nation countries, including the United States.

Photos of Peter Kithene and Mama Maria Kenya

Peter Kithene

Mama Maria Clinic, Kenya

Peter Kithene with Patient

Images Copyright 2008 by Peter Kithene

We went to a graduation party yesterday. John and I volunteer weekly at
SMUM (Santa Maria Urban Ministry) Studio 17, an
after school homework and computer lab in San Jose. Yesterday, we went to SMUM
with Jessica and Paul for the end of year pizza and cake party. This summer,
Studio 17 will offer weekend activities, including a karate self-defense class
by Jessica. Here are photos from the party:

SMUM Big Girls

Brother and sister

Lining up for cake

Ice Cream Cones

Compukidz Bilingual Toy Laptop

Loves her computer

Graduation picture

Graduation picture

Graduation picture

Graduation picture

Computer boys

Pattycake rhyme games

Carlos’ 13th Birthday

Studio 17 picture

Images Copyright 2008 by Katy Dickinson

John and I volunteer a few hours a week at Studio 17, the grade school
homework and computer lab program of
Santa Maria Urban Ministry (SMUM). SMUM provides
basic services in the inner city of San Jose, CA: both short-term needs
such as food, clothing and transportation, and long-term transformation
through education, counseling, after-school and seasonal programs.

Last week, John showed the girls who came for Studio 17 the
Apple Photo Booth software on his Mac laptop. They were delighted.
Here are the girls having fun with John and Padre Lorenzo:

Images Copyright 2008 by John Plocher and Katy Dickinson

I am one of the committee managing this Sunday’s Middle Eastern Feast and Auction
to benefit SAMA, St. Andrew’s Medical Assistance.
More about SAMA.

Save Sunday, 13 April for the SAMA Dinner
and Auction!

Your chance to feast amidst delightful company, enjoy surprises, while helping to provide hope and healing to a hurting world. To be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (13601 Saratoga Ave. Saratoga, CA), starting with a silent auction at 5:30 pm, followed by dinner and a live auction.

Tickets are $30/adult or $15/child

For Sale After Every Service at St. Andrew’s or at the event

Here are some of the fun items to be auctioned off:

Item # 2021

16-inch colorful ceramic fish platter by artist Carol Worthington Levy, Worthington Fine Art Studio, San Jose (Donated by Carol Worthington Levy), Value $175-

Item # 2035

Art – Fish and Scuba Divers signed, matted, framed and glazed painting 2’x3′ size, artist: Mark Newman, 1997 (Donated by Roger Barney), $400- Value

Item # 1005

Brunch for six on a private 1916 historic railroad caboose (Western Pacific Feather River Railway WP668) in Willow Glen, San Jose (Donated by John Plocher and Katy Dickinson), $200- value

Item # 2011

Calligraphy hanging (small banner) of a tree with a quote: “Tongues in trees, Books in running brooks, Sermons in stones, And good in everything” Shakespeare As You Like It – Hand painted and signed by local artist Cari Ferraro (Prose and Letters) of fabric, wood, and ribbons, 1999, size: 20″x10″ (Donated by Katy Dickinson and John Plocher), Value $100-

Item # 2024

High tea for four served in the conservatory of a Saratoga home. Gift basked includes china tea set and tea. Meal will include sandwiches, scones, shortbread, and cake. (Donated by Jill Ebenhahn), $100 Value

Item # 1007

Jewelry – Lady’s pink enamel watch in Elegant Deco-style on a matching pink enamel 26″ long chain, c 1920, watch recently cleaned (Donated by Liz Mulford), $300- value

Item # 2031

Peugeot road bicycle, 1982, orange color ten speed, rim brake, in good mechanical condition and age-appropriate wear (Donated by John Watson-Williams), $200- value

Item # 2043

Private flight plus lunch. Experienced Palo Alto pilot Charles Jackson of the Shoreline Flying Club will be your host for 2 hours in a 4 seat Cessna 182 Skylane II. Want to tour the San Francisco Bay and see the Golden Gate Bridge from the air? Here’s your chance! (Donated by Charles Jackson), $400- value

Item # 1013

Wine – Old treasures from the Louis M. Martini family wine collection. 1968 Mountain Barbera Private Reserve. The Barbera is from the Monte Rosso Ranch. The Martini family blends it with petit sirah to give a drinkable yet well aging wine. The Barberas age the best of all wines. 1968 was an extremely good year for red wines, so this should be good now or have the ability to age a few more years. (Donated by Patricia Martini) $150 Value

Item # 1014

Wine – Old treasures from the Louis M. Martini family wine collection. 1969 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. 1969 was a little bit of a lighter year than 1968, more delicate. This wine is very drinkable now. Further aging is not recommended. Special Selection means it has the top grapes, in this case cabernet, from the harvest. These grapes usually came from either Monte Rosso in Sonoma or cabernet from the valley floor in Napa Valley. (Donated by Patricia Martini) $150 Value