From The Rev. Joey Lee, Executive Presbyter
Giving Thanks
Fall is a favorite time of the year. It is a season of change. The air is crisp; the colors vibrant, the sweaters soft and warm. Fall is filled with anticipation. The holidays are coming and already here, with joy and family and food.
Fall is a time of transitions. We wrap up a year with Tom Coop as our moderator, who stepped in with grace and wit as the Presbytery needed his leadership. Changes on committees as well, as chairpersons and members rotate in and out. I am grateful for the ways in which so many give of their time and effort for the good of the Presbytery. Each of you could focus attention on your own church home, and could not be faulted for such. But instead you gave your time and talent to the body of Christ that is the Presbytery of San Jose.
During the march of festivities in the fall, I think Thanksgiving needs lifting up. Halloween (not a holiday to be sure) is quickly becoming the behemoth that is Christmas. But Thanksgiving seems reduced to a BIG meal, football, and the gateway to the holiday shopping season. Defiantly not enough thanks or giving areinvolved.
It's a tough year to give thanks, given the news abroad and at home. Yet as people of faith we still give thanks. "I bring you good news of a great joy" cried the angel (Luke 2:10). The Apostle Paul reminds us to "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice." (Philippians 4:4). Hard to do in tough times, harder for those depressed, beaten down, cynical or jaded. And yet rejoicing and giving thanks in tough times is exactly what followers of Jesus are called to do.
In remembering, believers receive and trust the love of Christ present to them and to the world; they manifest the reality of the covenant of grace in reconciling and being reconciled; and they proclaim the power of Christ's reign for the renewal of the world in justice and in peace. (W.2.4004)
This is what the Directory of Worship says about the Lord's Supper... the Eucharist... thanksgiving. As you journey from Thanksgiving to Advent and Christmastide, may you be blessed, and may you give thanks.
Joey
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Last Muse and Testament
 I'm sure many of you've heard (or read or watched the video of) the LAST LECTURE, by Randy Pausch. He was dying of cancer and gave a stirring "last lecture" to his students. The lecture, followed by a book, were international hits. Let me start off by telling you all I am not dying. But this is the last edition of my Moderator's Musings as I end my term as your Moderator. And I thought about what my last Musings should include. Certainly I would want to thank all those who have been so gracious to me during my unexpected run as Moderator. Thank you for looking past my foibles and politely enduring my semi-frequent attempts at humor. Thank you also for treating one another with respect and dignity during our Presbytery meetings.
It is a sign that we are being sensitive to the Spirit when we can come from such different viewpoints and theologies and still deal with the issues of the day with Christ-like love for one another. We didn't always agree, but I think it can be said that we loved each other well.
I would be remiss if I didn't also say a word about how we showed that love outside of our churches. More and more I am convinced that if Jesus was here today (physically), he wouldn't be spending much time in church. Now I didn't say he wouldn't spend any time within the walls of our churches - just not the majority. The majority of the time he would be out with those whom he asks us to serve (love): the poor, the hungry, the prisoner, the disenfranchised, the downtrodden ... well, you get the idea. I think if we are really serious about following Jesus, then we need to be engaged in serving (loving) those whom he calls us to serve (love). Just my two cents!
If I had a charge to leave you with as my term comes to a close, it would be the following. It is one that I actually read online and so I take no credit for its authorship. Still it is a powerful message to all of us. It goes like this: May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war so that you may reach out a hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that, through your love, you can make a difference in this world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen!
Tom Coop, Moderator
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 MANDATED REPORTER and ABUSE/MISCONDUCT PREVENTION TRAINING
For: Ministers, Elders, Deacons and Youth and Children's Ministry Directors
- Sat., Nov. 14 10 am - 3 pm at West Valley Presbyterian Church, 6191 Bollinger Rd., Cupertino 95014
- Sat. January 23, 10 am - 3 pm at Santa Teresa Hills Presbyterian Church, 5379 Snell Ave., San Jose 95123
Lunch provided for all attendees
PLEASE RSVP ahead of time to Natasha Jackson at the Presbytery office (408) 279-0220, natasha@sanjosepby.org
SAFE
CHURCH PRACTICES-Training
Models (read more)
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"Rejoice with Thanksgiving" -
Thank Offering 2009
Since 1888 when Eliza Clokey of Springfield, Ohio urged each woman to give one dollar over and above her usual contribution to the Women's General Society of the United Presbyterian Church of North America as a "thank offering to her Lord," Presbyterian Women have continued to give generously to what is now known as the Thank Offering.
Each year the Creative Ministries Offering Committee meets to review project grant applications and to choose the recipients for the current year. Grants totaling $684,900 will fund the twenty-seven projects chosen from the sixty-nine proposals received.
CERVS' INTERFAITH CARE COMMUNITY, a Veterans Family Reunification Program in Medford, Oregon, will receive $30,000 for their program that works to transition homeless vets back to productive lives through self-empowerment programs. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Food Bank, also in Medford, Oregon, will receive $15,000 for their program to fight poverty and feed economically deprived individuals and families in the Rogue Valley area.
This Fall, Presbyterian Women in our local congregations will hold gatherings where the Thank Offering will be received and dedicated. The Thank Offering goal for 2009 is to raise one million dollars...one dollar at a time!
To learn more about the Thank Offering, visit www.pcusa.org/pw/thank or contact Claudia Hamm, Moderator of Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of San Jose at jnchamm@gmail.com.
Claudia Hamm, Moderator
Presbyterian Women
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Refugee Ministry
In 2010, roughly 600 refugees will be legally resettled to the San Jose area. For the past two years the majority have been coming to us fleeing conflicts in Bhutan and Burma. This next year most will be arriving from Africa and Iraq. Some will be coming highly educated with excellent English skills; others will come from rural villages having little in the way of formal schooling. All will be leaving behind homes, friends and family to begin their new lives here. We as a Presbytery are helping to provide hospitality and sense of community to our new neighbors.
Opportunities for Involvement:
Sunnyvale & San Jose Transitional House: Help with grocery shopping and produce pick up twice a month.
Tutor / Mentor: Visit Refugee Transitions at www.reftrans.org to learn how you can be a literacy coach and mentor for two hours a week. The next orientation will be held November 17th.
Bus Tokens: Fare hikes for bus passes took effect in October from $62 to $70. Please consider helping with this need especially for the children who rely on public transportation to get to school.
With Gratitude,
Elsa Amboy and Melissa Kreisa,
Refugee Ministry Advocates, refugee@sanjosepby.org
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WORLD MISSION CHALLENGE 2009
The Presbytery of San Jose hosted both a Mission Co-Worker and an International Peacemaker as part of World Mission Challenge 2009. Commendations to those of you who provided a wonderful welcome to our International Peacemaker, the Rev. Delia Leal, and the Central American Mission Liaison, Tracey King, when they visited our Presbytery September 25-October 2.
Special thanks go to Sue and Stephen Coates who provided housing, sightseeing and hospitality to the team. Sue also planned and organized a dinner at the Los Gatos First Presbyterian Church, which offered an opportunity to anyone in the Presbytery an opportunity to hear the visitors' stories.
Trinity Church in Santa Cruz offered their pulpit to Rev. Leal, who presented her sermon in Spanish, which was translated expertly by Tracey. The service was followed by a potluck lunch hosted by the church mission team.
Other churches that hosted this team for presentations or small group discussions include San Jose First Presbyterian, Covenant in Palo Alto, Felton Presbyterian and Sunnyvale Presbyterian.
We were blessed to have such a dynamic team share the story of the partnership that PC (USA) has with the Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America.
Judi Pogue
Mission Advocate
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Give thanks
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Dealing With End of Life Issues
For thou shall honor... walking alongside our loved ones at the end of the journey
Sat. Nov. 14, 20099 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Westminster Church, 1100 Shasta Ave., San Jose 95126
$15 per person, $30 per couple
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Walking the road in sickness and health - Dr. Gary Lee, MD, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Specialist
· Walking alongside on the spiritual journey - Rev. Nancy Schell, MDiv
· Assisting in the physical journey - Janet Johnson, PT
RSVP to reserve lunch :
(408) 294-7447
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HUNGER ACTION ADVOCACY
URGENT NEEDS IN OUR PRESBYTERY BY LOCAL NON-PROFITS- HELP at the new San Jose Furniture Bank/Donate FurnitureVision (read more)
- HELP at the InnVision One Stop Center's Donation Depot (read more)
- Help EHCLifebuilders (read more)
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SEA KAYAKING
How to unwind following the Christmas holidays:Kayak in the Sea of Cortez Dec. 26-Jan. 3
With all the busyness of the Christmas season behind you and the joy of God's love still within you, travel to the Sea of Cortez to begin the New Year from a completely different perspective. You will set out on a kayak and for the next several days paddle, pray, camp, and rest! This is a leisurely journey of the spirit to a barren yet beautiful part of the world. Stunning sunrises, austere terrain and a rhythm of life set by the cycle of the sea are part of this wilderness adventure.
Rev. Dr. Steve Harrington, pastor at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, is a master wilderness guide and inspirational retreat leader. His December sea kayaking and camping trip in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico is open to everyone in the Presbytery. For more information visithttp://www.svpc.us/groups/seacortez.php or contact Steve at steve@svpc.us, 408 739-1892.
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PEACEMAKING
ACT NOW
TO ADVOCATE JUSTICE FOR ALL IN THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE
Click here
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Message
MISSION TRIP TO HOUMA POSTPONED
Although the planned mission trip to Houma, Louisiana, will not take place this month, an opportunity for those interested in doing recovery work in Galveston, Texas for survivors of Hurricane Ike is being planned for the spring. Informational meetings will be scheduled in January. Please watch for details.
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2010 Mission Yearbooks Available
The 2010 edition of the Mission Yearbook of Prayer and Study features stories collected around the theme, "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).
The page on San Jose Presbytery (p. 267; Sept. 22) features two of our college Chaplains: the Rev. Geoff Browning who serves Stanford University students; and the Rev. Aimee Moiso who serves the interfaith community at Santa Clara University.
To order Mission Yearbooks go to: www.pcusa.org/missionyearbook or call 1 888 728 7228 x 5689.
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One Church, indivisible
Once every five years or so, a group of about 120 men and women, pastors, laypersons, academics, and church leaders get together to talk about the issues that still divide the churches. It's called the Faith and Order Plenary Commission, and it met in early October at the Orthodox Academy of Crete, Greece. This year the Rev. Aimee Moiso was invited to attend and has written about her sexperience (click on the word "blog" above).
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2010 YOUTH TRIENNIUM
Opening Registration begins December 1, 2009 for the 2010 Youth Triennium. This important event will take place at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana July 20-24.The theme for the gathering will be, "For Such A Time As This" from Esther 4:14. Cost per person will be $409.00 which includes housing, meals, conference t-shirt and all programming. Contact Natasha Jackson at the Presbytery office for more information: (408)279-0220, natasha@sanjosepby.org.
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NEXT MEETING
The next Presbytery meeting
after the Nov. 22 event, is Jan. 23 at Northminster Church, Salinas 9 am
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