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Moses Parting the Red Sea
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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| Weekly Happenings at SHPC | February 13, 2014 |
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Called to Lead
Do you think of yourself as a leader? Are leaders born, or is leadership something we learn? Do you have to love public speaking to be an effective leader? How do leaders develop thick skins to withstand Monday-morning quarterbacking and worse? This Sunday, February 16, 2014, at 9:30 a.m., we'll explore what it takes to be a leader. We're ordaining and installing our new church officers, and we'll celebrate the call to lead, and the vision and commitment that come with it. Our texts are from the Book of Exodus, chapters 3 and 4.
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Yes, we are having noon Bible Study tomorrow on Valentine's Day, and we're going to have a wonderful time exploring love in the Bible. From King David's love for Jonathan, to Jesus' love for the Beloved Disciple, the Bible is full of love stories. And there's a whole book, The Song of Solomon, which (despite centuries of interpretive attempts to make it about God and the people Israel) seems to be all about sexy love. Come to Bible Study for a celebration of love!
Our cup is running over with excitement here at church, as we prepare for another "Fat Sunday" Musical Extravaganza March 2 and a beautiful and spiritually deepening Season of Lent. We need volunteers to help welcome back the Children of Uganda Tour of Light Dancers March 7 (performance and Dine with the Dancers potluck). A Green Team is forming under the leadership of Doug Eisinger to bring education and community leadership to our efforts to be good stewards of the planet. And we have an adult musical in the works! Mark your calendars, and let me know how you'd like to help out. We are all called here to help make the world a more beautiful, kind, just, and peaceful place for all people.
It is my joy to serve as your pastor.
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February - March Calendar
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7:30 p.m. Choir practice at the church
Friday, February 14th 12:00 p.m. Bible Study - Love in the Bible
Sunday, February 16th
9:30 a.m. Called to Lead, with Pastor Bev
Cents-ability Sunday
Ordination and Installation of New Officers
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
7:30 p.m. Choir practice at the church
Friday, February 21st 12:00 p.m. Bible Study
Sunday, February 23rd
9:30 a.m. The Medium is not the Message with Merle Ongaro
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m. Charles Wei returns for Mosaic Art
7:30 p.m. Choir practice at the church
Friday, February 28th 12:00 p.m. Bible Study with Pastor Bev
Sunday, March 2
9:30 a.m. Fat Sunday Musical Extravaganza with
Meg Eldridge String Quartet and the
SHPC Children's Choir
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m. Informational Meeting for New Members
7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday service; Lent begins
7:30 p.m. Choir practice at the church
Friday, March 7 12:00 p.m. Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Children of Uganda Tour of Light Dance Troupe Performance and Potluck Dinner Sunday, March 9 9:30 a.m. First Sunday in Lent, Sacred Circle, with Pastor Bev
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m. The Bible in Literature with Cathy Sarkisian
5:00 p.m. Mexico Mission Kick Off Barbecue
7:30 p.m. Choir practice at the church
Friday, March 14
12:00 p.m. Bible Study
Sunday, March 16
9:30 a.m. Second Sunday in Lent, with Pastor Bev
New Members Join the Church
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m. The Bible in Literature with Cathy Sarkisian
7:30 p.m. Choir practice at the church
Friday, March 21
12:00 p.m. Bible Study
Sunday, March 23
9:30 a.m. Third Sunday in Lent, with Pastor Bev
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m. The Bible in Literature with Cathy Sarkisian
1:30 p.m. CROP Walk
Thursday, March 27
7:30 p.m. Choir practice at the church
Friday, March 28
12:00 p.m. Bible Study
Sunday, March 30
9:30 a.m. Fourth Sunday in Lent, with Pastor Bev
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m. The Bible in Literature with Cathy Sarkisian
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Bible Study
Valentine's Day - Love
Bible Study meets regularly at noon on Fridays in Pastor Bev's office. All are welcome, and you are invited to bring your lunch. If you are new to studying the Bible, join us! This week we explore the topic of Love in the Bible, and we'll read from The Song of Solomon.
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Becoming the person God wants us to be?
I am in Los Angeles again this week and have been thinking about the word "becoming". Being over 50 can sometimes make us think our best years are now behind us. But I think not.
I was good friends with the author Sidney Sheldon for several years. Most people remember him for his popular novels "The Other Side of Midnight", "Master of the Game", "Windmills of the Gods" - books that were translated into 17 languages and sold millions of copies. Yet I was astonished one day when Sydney shared with me that he didn't write his first novel until he was 55 years old. He practiced the art of "becoming" for many years before finding his real stride as a novelist.
One of the keys to understanding this principle of "becoming" is to stay in God's word. In Romans 12 the Bible says to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind", in Colossians 3 it suggests that we are to "set our minds on things above", and in I Peter the Bible instructs us to "prepare our minds for action."
I believe that "becoming" definitely has a mental component. We have to mentally focus on it. And I have found that reading God's word can be a key to this focus. Pastor Bev each Friday at noon joins with us - a group of individuals who are "becoming", who are a "work in progress", and who are trying to find that special place God wants us to be - to stimulate our thinking, and help us apply God teaching as revealed in the scriptures to each one of our situations.
It takes courage to get out of our comfort zone and focus on transformation. But it is never too late. Onward !!
From the hustle and bustle of Hollywood ...
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Cents-ability Sunday
Sunday February 16th, 9:30 a.m.
Please remember to bring your Cents-ability coins to church this Sunday.
With the Cents-ability program, we are given the opportunity to think about the hungry when we eat a meal. When a person sets aside just a nickle each meal the funds build up to an annual $55 contribution. This amount may seem small, but it really adds up when everyone participates. The funds from the Cents-ability program support the Marin Food Bank, food pantries, soup kitchens, community garden projects and all the Norcal food banks in the presbytery up to the Oregon border. These are programs that some families rely on every week. Thank you so much for your support!
Patty Sanders
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New Sign Ups for Meal Sharing
Last April we began something special. Each Wednesday evening, a member or friend of the church makes a meal for Wil Swalberg in honor of his 90th Birthday. The program has been such a joy for all involved that we have decided to continue it.
If you have not yet participated, please consider doing so. It is really easy. When you are cooking for your family, just cook a little bit extra for Wednesday evening and deliver it to the Swalberg's house in San Anselmo before 6 p.m. It is a fun and enjoyable way to share food. To sign up for a date, click here. This program is so popular, the next available date is not until March 26th!
For more information about the program, go to the church website at http://www.sleepyhollowchurch.org and you will see the link for the meal program under "news" in the lower part of the home page. If you have questions, please contact Janel at Janelstewart@gmail.com or Birgit at shpchurch@comcast.net.
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Children of Uganda Tour of Light Dance Troupe
Friday, March 7th
Performance - 6:00 p.m.
Dine with Dancers - 7:00 p.m.
We are delighted to welcome back to our church the Children of Uganda Tour of Light Dance Troupe. This is a wonderful opportunity for cross cultural exchange and to support these students on their tour. Everyone in the wider community is welcome, so please spread the word and invite your friends and neighbors.
The Deacons will be coordinating the potluck that takes place immediately after the performance. Please bring a dish to share... whether it's a casserole, cookies, or corn on the cob... the fun part is simply getting together and celebrating our gift of community with the Children of Uganda. Questions? Email carolyn@goodmanmarketing.com.
Carolyn Goodman
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Mexico Mission Kick Off BBQ
Sunday March 9th 5-7 p.m.
The Mexico Mission team will host an informal barbecue for students and their parents to learn about the 2014 trip, as well as get to know each other and the adult leaders. The barbecue will be at the church at 100 Tarry Road on Sunday, March 9th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The church will supply the barbecue and drinks; please bring a side dish.
It is important for prospective participants to attend this event to learn about the application and commitment requirements for this year's trip. Applications and Intention to Participate forms will be due back on March 16th.
Please RSVP to the BBQ by Thursday March 6th with an email to Mark.Sarkisian@som.com, placing "Mexico Mission" in the subject line of your email. Your RSVP helps us plan for enough food and beverages. For the people that are attending, please bring a side dish (organized by last name): Last name starting with A - K brings salad, chips, or vegetables; Last name Starting with L - Z brings dessert or fruit.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Mark Sarkisian
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Please Remember In Your Prayers
Jake Greenberg, brother of Barbara Zilber, for healing;
Andrea Proster, sister of Nancy Elberg, for healing, and Nancy, for strength in companioning her;
The Paige Family, dear friends of Diane Latta, and for Diane, for comfort in mourning the loss of Aunt Glo and for comfort for Uncle Mo in his illness;
Jeri Rayford's sister-in-law Lee Livingston, recovering from stroke, and for her loved ones;
Jerry Lambert, mother of Paul, for healing;
Beth Gilmartin and her mother, for healing;
Patty Kuehn and her mother, for healing;
Gregg Elberg, recovering from surgery;
Clyde Ongaro, for healing;
For our leaders, in church and society.
Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
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SFTS Valentine's Day Labyrinth Moon Walk
Friday February 14th, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
This year, celebrate Valentine's Day by gazing at the stars on San Francisco Theological Seminary's outdoor terrace. Under a full moon, enjoy beautiful views of Mt. Tamalpais while walking the labyrinth, an exercise that focuses the mind and induces a peaceful, meditative state.
The labyrinth has existed for over 4,000 years, first appearing in Neolithic rock carvings in southern Europe. Labyrinths can be found on coins from Knossos, Crete around 300 B.C., and on mosaic floors during the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, labyrinths that were large enough to walk on were constructed on the floors of cathedrals and used by Christians who could not make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Unlike a maze, which has many pathways and dead ends, a labyrinth has a single path which leads to the center and back out again. The path becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives, touching our sorrows and releasing our joys, a symbol of life's journey. The spiral symbolizes the process of growth and evolution, a process of coming to the same point again and again, but at different levels, so that everything can be seen in a new light.
Those who walk the labyrinth say that the exercise focuses the mind, slows the breathing and induces a peaceful, meditative state. We invite you to walk the labyrinth with an open mind and an open heart, and allow the labyrinth to lead you into blessing, healing, clarity, and balance as you engage with this embodied form of prayer. Time spent here is healing and refreshing. We invite you to pray for peace in world, for peace in your own heart, and for peace in the hearts of all.
At the entrance to the path, pause for a moment and ask God, the Holy Spirit, to be your guide, and offer this time to God to be at work in you.
For more information, call 451-2830 or see click here for the SFTS website. The San Francisco Theological Seminary is located at 105 Seminary Road, San Anselmo, CA 94960.
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Conference on Faith, Family Farms and Food Access
February 23rd, 1:30 to 7:00 p.m.
San Rafael, CA
The Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative is an organization in the Marin-Sonoma area that advances faith-based community gardens, educational forums, and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, as well as promotes advocacy and food access for the needy. This year the theme of its Second Annual Conference is "Faith, Family Farms and Food Access." Individuals of all faiths are encouraged to participate and learn about successful models of faith based approaches to sustainable agriculture and food justice. Last year's conference drew participants from 25 different faith based groups who felt empowered and enlivened by what they learned.
The conference takes place on February 23rd from 1:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin, 240 Channing Way, San Rafael. Registration is $55 per person, with discounts for small groups. To register, click here. For more information, contact the Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative at (707) 634-4672 or info@interfaithfood.org
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Send us an e-mail or call us at
415-453-8221 |
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