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10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 19, 2005

St. Patrick’s Day History

We celebrate Saint Patrick's Day each year on March 17th. The festive holiday has everyone wearing green (so they don't get pinched) and chatting of four leaf clovers, shamrocks, lucky leprechauns, and kissing some big rock called a blarney stone. But what’s behind the holiday? Well, let’s find out.

Saint Patrick’s name at birth was Maewyn Succat. He was born somewhere near the end of the fourth century and took on the name Patrick or Patricus, after he became a priest, much later in his life. At the age of sixteen Maewyn Succat was kidnapped from his native land of Britain, by a band of pirates, and sold into slavery in Ireland. Maewyn worked as a shepherd and turned to religion for solace. After six long years of slavery he escaped to the northern coast of Gaul.

In Gaul, Maewyn became Patrick (a more Christian name) and studied in the monastery for twelve years. He came to believe that it was his calling to convert the pagans of Ireland to Christianity. St. Palladius was appointed to go to Ireland first but transferred to Scotland two years later opening up the door for Patrick. Patrick was about sixty years old when he arrived in Ireland and it is said that he had a winning personality that helped him win converts. He used the shamrock, which resembles a three-leafed clover, to help explain the concept of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries and setting up schools and churches to aid in converting the Irish country to Christianity. Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Evidently, they all went into the sea and drowned. The snake is a pagan symbol and perhaps this is a figurative tale explaining that he drove paganism out of Ireland.

Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. He then retired to County Down and died on March 17 in 461 AD. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since. The first year St. Patrick's Day was celebrated in this country was 1737 in Boston, Massachusetts. As the saying goes, on this day "everybody is Irish!" Over 100 U.S. cities now hold Saint Patrick's Day parades.

http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/patrick/history.html

Session Meeting Minutes

January 18, 2005

The Session met in quorum in the Fireside Room at Henderson Presbyterian Church. The meeting was opened with prayer at 7:03 p.m. by the Moderator, Rev. Ross Doyel. Active Elders present were, Larry Ferguson, Chris Holman, Sue Lednicky, Paul Millholland, Howard Null, Ellen Walsh, and Sandy Willson. Also in attendance were Fred Cox, Tom Mack, and Rick Miller, newly-elected Elders who will be installed/ordained on January 23, 2005. Jim LaVeck, Karen Rood, and Jason Williams - Youth Elder were excused.

1. Opening Prayer_ Mission Yearbook: After the opening prayer, Rev. Doyel read a selection from the Mission Yearbook.
2. Deacons Report: The minutes of the November 2, 2004, Deacons Meeting were accepted as presented.
3. Strategy Report: Reverend Doyel stated that negotiations for the lease of the new HACA building are being fine tuned and are progressing.
4. Clerk’s Report: The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as presented. The following correspondence and items of interest were read:

• Reverend Doyel performed marriage ceremonies for Nain Barrios and Stefanee Marquez on November 20, 2004 and Daniel Chandler and Karen Null on November 27, 2004.
• Several items of correspondence regarding Judy Gilson’s accident.
• Letter from Reverend Hilda Pecoraro notifying us of her resignation as Pastor of Green Valley Presbyterian Church effective January 31, 2005.
• Check from Albertsons in the amount of $402.07 for the Community Partners Program.
• Letter from Presbytery regarding instructions for per capita and the annual statistical report, and asking for the names of two elder commissioners that we are appointing to Presbytery for 2005 Presbytery Meetings.
• Session approved the Annual Statistical Report that must be sent to Presbytery.
• Request for restoration to active rolls from inactive rolls for Terry and Judy Summers was approved.
• Annual Fremont Funds statement for 2004 showing an ending balance of $2,046.43.
• Request from San Francisco Theological Seminary asking that we complete a survey about their organization.
• Anonymous donation in the amount of $10,000.

• Review our rolls annually
• Hold a joint meeting with Deacons annually
• Review the Deacons records annually
• Session and Deacons both need to meet at least quarterly
• Establish the term of and elect the clerk of session
• Authorize all Baptisms
• Confer with newly elected officers
• Appoint a day for the service of installation of officers
• Pastor’s study leave must be approved by session
• The Lord’s Supper must be served at least quarterly
• The Lord’s Supper must be served by an ordained officer or members authorized by session
• The Lord’s Supper must be served to those isolated from worship by members authorized by session

1. Treasurer’s Report: None.
2. Unfinished Business: None.
3. Pastor’s Report: No change in vacation and study leave dates. Reverend Doyel will be leaving on February 27, 2005 to attend Presbytery in Hawthorne, Nevada. Session reviewed and discussed information on the Cell Phone tower. The Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, January 23, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. Mountain View Presbyterian Church plans to send us food for the food bank. Session entered executive session to discuss several items in the Pastor’s Report.
4. Organizational Items – Elections: Elections were held and the following people will serve as indicated for the next year: Sandy Willson, Clerk; Tom Mack, Nominations; Rick Miller, Building and Operations; Rick Miller, Personnel; Chris Holman, Membership Chair; Howard Null, Membership; Fred Cox, Stewardship and Finance; Rick Miller, Scouting Representative; Carolyn LaVeck and Barbara Walsh, Presbytery Representatives (primary) and Jim LaVeck and Ellen Walsh (alternates); Jim LaVeck, Worship; Ellen Walsh, Mission; and Sue Lednicky, Christian Education with Joe Lednicky serving as the Youth Elder. Serving as officers of the congregation will be: Rick Miller, President; Rob Bumann, Treasurer; Sandy Willson, Secretary; and Sue Lednicky, Trustee. The Session representative to the nominating committee will be Sue Lednicky and Sandy Willson will chair any sexual misconduct proceedings.
5. Church and Community Reports: Daytimers – none. Scouts – Annual church clean up has been scheduled for February 5, 2005; Chris Holman asked for ideas on ways to bring new scouts into the troop.
6. Committee Reports: Stewardship and Finance – December 2004 report accepted as written. Christian Education – None. Building and Operations – The Eagle Scout project to build the ramp will continue. Personnel: None. Nominations: None. Worship – None. Membership – the Church has joined the Henderson Chamber of Commerce. A suggestion was made that we look at offering the church as a meeting place in a effort to make ourselves more visible to prospective members. Mission – We sponsored 84 angels in our Angel Tree mission this year.
7. New Business: None.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 p.m. with prayer. The next Session meeting will be held on February 15, 2005, at 7:00 p.m.

  Sandy Willson
Clerk of Session