Cataract Falls on Mount Tamalpais 
 
Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
Weekly Happenings at SHPCMarch 20, 2014

  

Sacred Circle - Living Water 

     

     How often do we find ourselves "grading" ourselves and others on whether we're meeting, exceeding, or falling short of expectations? Does this reality of school and the workplace carry over into every area of life?  Who are we trying to please, and is it working, or draining us? This Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 9:30 a.m., the third Sunday in Lent, we'll encounter Jesus in a surprising conversation which points the way towards freedom from the expectations which contain us. Let's explore how we can bring the healing power of non-judgmental acceptance into our spiritual lives and into our community.  Our text is John 4:1-30, 39-42

 

In This Issue
Bible Study
A Mother's Love
CROP Hunger Walk
Youth Program Kick Off
Welcome New Members
Youth Corner
Happenings with SHPC Teens
Last Evening at Wellness Center
Prayers
Gardens on Faith Based Sites
Preparing Youth to Change the World
Quick Links

Bev piano
A Note From
Pastor Bev       

     

     What a wonderful celebration of community we experienced last Sunday! We celebrated a baptism and welcomed seven wonderful new members, who between them bring nine children and youth to the church.  It's time to re-activate our youth group!

   

     Dennis Latta, Family Ministries elder, and I are delighted to invite all youth ages 11 and up (turning 11 soon is fine) to come to church Sunday, March 30 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to begin co-creating the youth group they would like to be a part of, with Charles Wei and me facilitating. We will explore interest in confirmation class and be in close conversation with the youth and their parents about our plans. Charles is a terrific addition to our staff; he is an SFTS graduate, under care for ordained ministry with the United Church of Christ, and has over 15 years of experience leading youth groups. He's a gifted artist and art teacher, and has brought his gifts with mosaic art to SHPC several times over the last year.

  

     In this season of Lent, when we intentionally move toward God in prayer and daily practices, let us say prayers of thanksgiving for how richly God is blessing our church!

 

                  With gratitude,  

                                                 

                                           - Bev

  

March - April  Calendar

 

Thursday, March 20 

   7:30  p.m.       Choir practice at the church 

  

Friday, March 21
  12:00 p.m.       Bible Study with Pastor Bev 

  

Sunday, March 23

    9:30 a.m.        Third Sunday in Lent: Sacred Circle - Living Water

                          with Pastor Bev

  10:30 a.m.        Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!

     1:30 p.m.        CROP Hunger Walk

 

Thursday, March 27 

   7:30  p.m.       Choir practice at the church 

  

Friday, March 28
  12:00 p.m.       Bible Study with Pastor Bev

  

Sunday, March 30

    9:30 a.m.        Fourth Sunday in Lent: Sacred Circle - Restored 

                          with Pastor Bev

  10:30 a.m.         Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!

  11:00 a.m.         Mandatory Meeting for Mexico Mission

                          Participants and their Parents until 2:00 p.m. 

                          All Application Forms Due

    3:30 p.m.        Youth Group Start Up with Charles Wei and 

                          Pastor Bev, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

 

Thursday, April 3 

   7:30  p.m.        Choir practice at the church 


Friday, April 4th

  12:00 p.m.        Bible Study with Pastor Bev 

   

Sunday, April 6th

    9:30 a.m.        Fifth Sunday in Lent

                          Musical presented by SHPC Choir

  10:30 a.m.        Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!

    5:00 p.m.          Mexico Mission Mandatory Meeting and

                          Movie Night until 8:00 p.m. 

 

 Thursday, April 10 

   7:30  p.m.       Choir practice at the church 
   
 Friday, April 11
  12:00 p.m.       Bible Study with Pastor Bev 

  

 Sunday, April 13

    9:30 a.m.        Palm Sunday, with Pastor Bev

                          Collection for One Great Hour of Sharing

  10:30 a.m.        Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!

 

Thursday, April 17

   7:30  p.m.        Choir practice at the church 
    
Friday, April 18
    7:00 p.m.        Good Friday Service with Pastor Bev 

   

Sunday, April 20

    9:30 a.m.         Easter Sunday, Rejoice! with Pastor Bev

   10:30 a.m.        Coffee and Refreshments - Egg Hunt for kids


Thursday, April 24

   7:30  p.m.         Choir practice at the church

  

Friday, April 25
  12:00 p.m.         Bible Study Recess 
    

Sunday, April 27 

    9:30 a.m.         Second Sunday of Easter, with 

                           Guest Preacher Rachel Pence

   10:30 a.m.        Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!

     4:00 p.m.         Mexico Mission Mandatory Meeting:

                           Team Building

 

 
Bible Study

  

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 our text is the moving encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, John 4:1-30, 39-42. 

 
 

A Mother's Love is Like a Breath of Fresh Air - At Any Age

 

I am in Atlanta today celebrating my Mother's 90th Birthday. Mom loves the Lord, faithfully prays for her two sons (and daughter-in-law), grandsons as well as so many others. We talk every day. One of her biggest joys each week is to hear what is going on at Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church ... and how was Friday's Bible Study?

 

Isn't that special? But most of all Mom's unconditional love over the years - in celebrated times and challenging times - has meant everything to me.

 

Each Friday as Bible Study finishes we walk through a throng of energetic children being met by their Mothers at the pre-school

downstairs. Its a thrill. There's nothing quite as exciting as watching a child run to their Mom and share what they've been doing or what they have just accomplished here in their pre-school activities. Moms have a way of accepting, understanding, and appreciating us at all ages and in all circumstances. How they do it ... I'll never know. 

 

This week since my mom is on my mind, I wanted to include some famous "Mother Quotes" :

"Biology is least of what of what makes someone a Mother"

"A Mom's hug lasts long after she lets go"

"Children are a handful part of the time but a heart full all the time"

"A Mother understands when you can't talk about something"

"God couldn't be everywhere, therefore God created Mothers"

 

In the Bible there are several examples of Mothers who played a key role in their family's life and in God's blueprint. If you have time ... read and reflect about Eve, Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary.

 

I hope many of you will be able to join Pastor Bev tomorrow for Bible study - (Friday at noon). I'll be missing this week as I have

a date in Atlanta with a very special lady. But we'll be thinking of you.

 

Paul Lambert

 

 
CROP Hunger Walk 
Walk Sunday March 23, 1:30 p.m. 
 

This Sunday March 23rd, Robin and Ahmed Abu-Aly will be leading our SHPC group of walkers on the 18th annual Marin CROP Hunger Walk. This is a nice opportunity to come together as a community and walk together to end hunger, one step at a time.  All are welcome to join the SHPC group of walkers, whether or not they've solicited sponsors. 

 

The 5K walk begins at 1:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in San Rafael, 1510 Fifth Avenue in San Rafael, at E street. Come to First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael at 1:20 to meet up with Robin, or carpool over with others. If you are unable to join in the walk but would still like to sponsor the SHPC group, please contact Robin at [email protected] or 271-5169, and thank you for your support!  

 

 
Youth Program Kick Off 
Sunday March 30th, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. 
 

All youth and teens ages 11 and up are invited to come to church Sunday, March 30 at 3:30 p.m to hang out, play games, and get to know each other and our new youth leader, Charles Wei.  Charles and Pastor Bev want to hear from you about what you'd like this group to be and do; this is a co-creation!  Bring friends! 

 

 

Welcome to New Members 

 

On March 16th we welcomed seven new members to SHPC: (from left to right) Alex and Jennifer Gauna, Koren Grubb, Patti Vance, Janel Stewart, Shannon Mong, and Ethan Russell. What a blessing! 

 

 

Youth Corner 

 

Nate Hamilton lives in San Anselmo and is a 6th grade student at Novato Charter School, a Waldorf methods public school.  He has had a role in every class play since first grade. On March 14th, Nate played the role of Friar Tuck in his 6th grade production of Robin Hood. After studying medieval history intensively, and engaging in a community service project, Nate went through a knighting ceremony the evening after the play. Nate has become an important part of the SHPC choir.  Come see him in the upcoming SHPC Musical, which will be performed Sunday morning April 6th.  

 

 

Happenings with SHPC Teens

 

In addition to helping with Sunday school and cooking for the REST program, our teens are busy with lots of activities. Carter Stewart is active on the Drake wrestling team, Owen Hamilton is out on the baseball field every day with the Drake baseball team, and Carly de Frondeville is busy with orchestra and hip hop. Chad Gilmartin is immersed in U.S. history as he prepares for the US AP test as a sophmore, on top of taking classes at College of Marin, and Sasha de Frondeville is rehearsing for the Drake High production of Bye Bye Birdie. To check out the spring sports schedule for Drake click here. If you want to see Bye Bye Birdie, performances are at 7 p.m. from March 26th through March 29th at the Drake Little Theater; tickets are available at the door at 6:30 p.m. Sasha is cast as Albert Peterson on Wednesday March 26th, and plays ensemble parts the remaining evenings. 

 

 
Last Evening of REST at the Wellness Center
  
Last Tuesday was SHPC's final evening hosting unhoused women at the Wellness Center this winter. It was a special evening, with music by Stephen Iverson enjoyed by all. Many thanks to Stephen and to everyone who contributed food and fellowship. 
 
We have one more night of REST service for the men's program, Monday, April 7th at St. Rita's. With the end of winter, the REST program comes to a close. Sadly this may mean even more hardship for those without a home to call their own, because they are without the emergency shelter, food, and fellowship provided by the REST program.  We are grateful to have had this opportunity to help and continue to pray for better living options for those in the unhoused community. 
 
Kit Argilla 

  

 
Please Remember In Your Prayers
Praying Hands
  

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 Uncle Mo;

Alexa Ehlen, stepmother of Matt, for healing;

Jerry Lambert, mother of Paul, for healing;   

Gregg Elberg, recovering from surgery, and mourning the loss of his mother;

Clyde Ongaro, for healing;

For all those suffering from alcohol and drug abuse, and for those who love them;

For those suffering from mental illness, and for those who love them.

 

Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.

   

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Roundtable Discussion on Gardens on Faith-Based Sites

Thursday, March 27th 12:00 to 1:15 p.m. 
Novato United Methodist Church 
 

Faith-based garden projects offer benefits to congregations and the surrounding community including opportunities to advance healthy, fresh food for those in need, active stewardship of creation and faith teaching. Learn about diverse, successful models and discuss common challenges and best practices to move your faith based garden project forward! Lauren Klein of the UCCE Marin Master Gardeners will discuss how Master Gardeners provide free advising for planning and managing a garden. She will also address options for water-wise gardening.    

 

Who Should Attend? Clergy, lay leaders and/or community organizers interested in starting or further developing a garden on land owned by faith-based organizations. Sponsored by the Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative and funded by the Marin Community Foundation, this event takes place at the Novato United Methodist Church, 1473 S. Novato Blvd., Novato, CA 94947. You are not required to RSVP, but it is helpful to the organizers. To RSVP, send an email to [email protected]If you have any questions about this or other roundtables, or if you want help moving a faith based garden project forward, call Stephen Schwartz, Executive Director at the Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative, at (707) 634-4672. 

 

 
Preparing Youth to Change the World 
An Entry from Forty Days for Food Justice


The "40 Days for Food Justice" project is a free, online Lenten resource for use in teaching, worship, or devotional practice, in which forty different voices speak out on behalf of food justice. Each day one individual will offer their perspective on food justice: what food justice means to them and where they see people and communities at work to promote greater food justice. To sign up for the program, click here. To get a taste of what folks are writing about, enjoy the Day 13 entry by Andy Acton, associate pastor for Youth and Mission & Outreach at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth, Georgia: 

 

Day 13: Preparing Youth to Change the World

March 19, 2014 

 

I will come with stories of Your great acts, my Lord, the Eternal.

I will remind them of Your justice, only Yours.

You have taught me since I was young, O God,

and I still proclaim the wonderful things You have done.

Now as I grow old and my hair turns gray, I ask that You not abandon me, O God.

Allow me to share with the generation to come about Your power;

Let me speak about Your strength and wonders to all those yet to be born.

(Psalm 71:16-18)

 

On a late Saturday afternoon last fall, several high school youth at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian in Duluth, Georgia, gathered for a mini-retreat at the church to explore the problems of poverty and hunger. The youth watched videos about the topic, made casseroles for a non-profit which provides transitional housing to low-income families, and attempted to cook their own meal of rice and beans in a tin can outside with a makeshift fire.

 

The dinner exercise proved difficult because the rain from earlier in the day had dampened the fire materials of sticks, leaves and pinecones. So after laboring for an hour, we moved dinner inside where we cooked the cans atop the kitchen stove. This was also a long process but a more productive one, even though the beans and rice had a distinctly burnt flavor.  The youth happily ate and not because it was 10 pm and they hadn't eaten since lunch. They valued the work they put into the meal and appreciated the fact that many who are impoverished and have meager resources, eat their fair share of overcooked rice and beans.

 

Early the next morning, we went to a grocery store close to the church to conduct an experiment. After organizing the youth into "families of 3-4," I handed each group $5 and explained to them that they were a family living in poverty who had to use the allocated money to purchase their food for the week.

 

This task, which challenged their intelligence and creativity, might have been harder than cooking beans and rice in a tin can. Immediately, they had to pay close attention to food servings and nutrition information on the labels as well as the prices. They had to abandon obviously healthy choices like fresh fruits and vegetables from the produce section because three bananas cost more than half of their budget. After 30 minutes, they paid for their items and then each group shared what $5 can buy: bread, peanut butter, crackers, and pasta-things that are substantial in quantity but lack in quality, i.e. steady meals of carbs a healthy diet does not make.

 

One youth, Courtney, later described the experience:

"Many people would consider $5 to just be another amount of money, another bill. However, given only $5 to shop for a family consisting of about 4 people is a difficult challenge. This experience forced me to really open my eyes and take in the world around me, for I am used to always coming home to food on the table but this was different. Five dollars may seem like a lot of money to buy food with but in reality it is not. My group was barely able to buy any food and we had to consider things like portion size and price per portion. Over all, this experience taught me that in a world of bigger and better, sometimes all you get is the basics-and sometimes that it all you will ever get."

 

I've become a strong believer that food justice issues will only be fully solved when young people are exposed to what's happening around them-not because it's a crisis they have to deal with in the future, but because they have the power and capability of tackling the problem now. They have extraordinary energy, creativity, wisdom and resolve to make a profound and long-lasting impact on the way the world devours its food resources and denies others the means to access clean, uncontaminated food.

 

When youth are given an opportunity to learn about hunger, poverty, food deserts, etc., their eyes open up wide, their minds expand and their hearts burst with a desire to change the status quo and help those who truly hunger for something better. It's a marvelous sight to witness youth embrace God's call of them to be better stewards of the earth after they've cooked their own beans and rice or done a shopping exercise or worked in a community garden or visited a local organic farm. 

 

Youth see the beauty of God's work in creation when many adults have turned away. Youth proclaim the wonderful things God has done and is doing while many grown-ups complain that the planet is a messy plate that can't be scraped clean.

My hope in this season of Lent is that we seek ways to nourish our young people about food justice so that they may help us abundantly feed the world with God's wonders.

 

--Andy Acton, associate pastor for Youth and Mission & Outreach at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth, Georgia

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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church
100 Tarry Road, San Anselmo, CA  94960
E-mail us at [email protected] or call us at 415-453-8221