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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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| Weekly Happenings at SHPC | June 26, 2014 |
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Summer Storytelling Series Begins with...
Sibling Rivalry -- Am I My Brother's Keeper?
Do you have siblings? Do you all get along? If you have more than one child, how do you promote peace and friendship among your children? The first murder in the Bible is triggered by sibling rivalry, and God appears to play a part by favoring one brother over another. How do we make sense of this troubling text?
This Sunday, June 29, 2014, at 9:30 a.m., we'll explore the story of Cain and Abel, sons of Adam and Eve. We'll examine Cain's question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and look at what this story means for us today in our families and in the world. Our texts are Genesis 4:1-16 and Luke 8:19-21.
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A Note from
Pastor Bev
There's really nothing better than the Mexico Mission trip to focus us on Cain's question, Am I my brother's keeper? Crossing the border from the well-tended outskirts of San Diego to a desolate dustbowl with families living in shelters built from refuse alongside the railroad tracks awakens us to the reality of how the world's poor live. We go to Mexico, Palestine, Palermo, Nepal, Haiti, and are challenged by the reality that much of the world lives without adequate water, food, housing, the basic necessities of life. As followers of Jesus, what is our response to this reality?
In a word, mission. Not the colonizing, evangelizing, soul-saving mission of old, but mission in the sense of bringing more life to the world through sharing education and resources and empowering people to bring about positive change.
Come meet with Mission/Social Justice chair, Matt Ehlen, and me after church this Sunday, June 29 and let's brainstorm together. Our church is doing great things with REST, Mexico Mission, hunger programs, the new Justice Garden, and we can do more. That's why we're here.
It is my great joy to serve as your pastor,
Bev
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June/July Calendar
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Thursday, June 26
7:30 p.m. SHPC Singers Rehearse at church -
New singers welcome!
Friday, June 27
12:00 p.m. Bible Study with Pastor Bev
Sunday, June 29
9:30 a.m. Summer Storytelling Series begins with
The Story of Cain and Abel - Sibling Rivalry
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
11:00 a.m. Mission and Social Justice Committee meets -
All interested welcome!
Thursday, July 3
7:30 p.m. SHPC Singers Rehearse at church -
New singers welcome!
Sunday, July 6
9:30 a.m. The Story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho -
Birth of a Nation?
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
Thursday, July 10
7:30 p.m. SHPC Singers Rehearse at church -
New singers welcome!
12:00 p.m. Bible Study with Pastor Bev
Sunday, July 13
9:30 a.m. The Story of Samson and Delilah - Betrayal
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
Thursday, July 17
7:30 p.m. SHPC Singers Rehearse at church -
New singers welcome!
12:00 p.m. Bible Study with Pastor Bev
Sunday, July 20
9:30 a.m. The Story of Elijah and Elisha - Miracle Workers
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
Thursday, July 24
7:30 p.m. SHPC Singers Rehearse at church -
New singers welcome!
Sunday, July 27
9:30 a.m. Rev. Scott Clark, SFTS Chaplain, preaching
10:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
Thursday, July 31
7:30 p.m. SHPC Singers Rehearse at church -
New singers welcome!
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Bible Study
Bible Study meets at noon on Fridays in the Pastor's office throughout the month of June and July (NO Bible Study on July 4th and July 25th). Whatever your experience with the Bible might be, you are welcome to come and learn and make meaningful friendships.
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Making Your Dream a Reality
I am in New York auditioning actors, singers and dancers for our upcoming pre-Broadway try out for a new Musical. It is amazing how, at this level, one can sense that these fabulously talented individuals are all driven by a dream; a dream to perform, a dream to sing, a dream to be on Broadway.
Do you have a dream? Or did you? I want to encourage each of us to never give up on our dreams. I'm sure we all have reasons for holding back on dreams. The biggest reason is usually that our passion is not always economically feasible. We have to build a life, pay the rent, raise a family and then one day, we wake up and realize we really are not living up to our potential.
One thing we must be careful of is evaluating our worth by packaging the circumstances around us. Even if we have messed up our lives the Bible says God has plans for our future. "For I know the plans for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper, and plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).
Prayer, focus and discipline all play a role in achieving our dreams. Obviously, we have to make some changes from where we are to focus on a God-given dream. I'd suggest we first look at our strengths, magnify our God-given talents, and believe that God wants certain dreams to come true this summer and fall.
Twenty nine of the actors I am seeing will get a part in an upcoming Broadway Show. Their dream will become a reality. I know that the right ones will be chosen. Ones that are perfectly suited for the tasks. God has prepared each of us for a task too. And that includes you. With God all things are possible.
Dream on! Make a wish. And watch God help you bring it to pass.
From New York, a Church member with a dream... Paul Lambert
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Please Remember In Your Prayers
Sharon Adams, for comfort on the loss of her father and her sister, Ceilia;
Andrea Proster, sister of Nancy Elberg, for healing from a bone marrow transplant, and Nancy, for strength in companioning her;
Jan Ardell's daughter, Jeannie, for healing of her broken wrist and complete restoration of the use of her arm;
Jerry Lambert, mother of Paul, for healing;
Gregg Elberg, recovering from surgery, and mourning the loss of his mother;
Clyde Ongaro, for healing;
Graduates, for guidance on their next steps and for a sense of optimism and hope for their futures;
The people of the middle East, for peace;
Children and young people who have no possibilities in their homelands, who take grave risks to come to the U.S.;
Our P.C.U.S.A., for continued courage in the face of attacks from those who disagree with marriage equality and divestment.
Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
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 Mission and Social Justice Committee - June 29th
Are you interested in getting involved in some of the Mission and Social Justice activities the church does, like Mexico Mission, REST, the food barrel, and marriage equality? Do you have a hankering to help start another program (like tutoring)? All topics are game at the quarterly-ish meeting of the Mission and Social Justice Committee on June 29th during coffee hour in Bev's office. Hope to see you there!
Matt Ehlen
Mission Elder
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Justice Garden Harvest
Meet SHPC's Justice Garden Managers: Serena Holway, Emma Jones, and Sophie Rosenbaum.
These managers will be on hand Sunday after the service with the Justice Garden's fresh weekly organic harvest available for the congregation. Donations are welcome!
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COOKS NEEDED!!!
Please sign up for more Wednesday night dinner deliveries!
From the Food Barrel ministry to the 2 cents ministry, no one does more for the hungry than Wil and Betty. PLEASE sign up for a few Wednesday night dinner deliveries to Wil and Betty; a few folks are doing more than their share right now.
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 Greeters Needed for Sunday Mornings - PLEASE sign up for our ministry of hospitality!
Help with our ministry of hospitality by signing up to be a greeter! All you have to do is get to church by 9:15, light the candles, and hand out bulletins with a smile. This is a great way to serve the church and share your friendliness.
--Jody Brockett Schmetz, Worship Elder
sign up here |
 Congratulations Sleepy Hollow Marin Crop Walk Supporters!
Together (walkers and donors alike) we raised $1,305 and walked to spread awareness of how we can assist people in need both locally and internationally. This is just one of the many things we do that make me feel privileged and happy to be a member of SHPC. With our support, the Marin CROP Hunger Walk raised over $18,000 this past March. The funds raised support the Marin Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul dining hall for the homeless, the Marin Street Chaplaincy program that assists the homeless, and Church World Service that assists people in need around the world.
Blessings and many thanks,
Robin Holway
sign up here |
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 ICAHD Applauds the Presbyterian Decision to Divest
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) applauds the decision of the Presbyterian Church USA to divest from Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola, three US companies that profit from Israel's military occupation. The General Assembly's decision of June 20th comes 30 years after it divested from corporations complicit in South Africa's apartheid regime. It follows a decision by the United Methodist Church to divest its pension fund from G4S, an international security firm involved in manning privatized Israeli checkpoints in the Occupied Territory, guarding settlements and working with the Israel Prison Service, and a similar decision by the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ to divest from companies profiting from the Occupation.
Emphasizing its support for a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the Presbyterian Church expressed hope combining economic sanctions to its long-standing political and moral opposition to Israeli occupation policies will play a role in realizing this goal.
ICAHD, which has long supported the BDS movement in its various forms as virtually the sole means by which people can effectively intervene to address an unjust and oppressive situation which the world's governments have failed to resolve, awaits the moment when the organized American Jewish community, so engaged in the past with movement for social justice and human rights, will speak in as firm a voice against an injustice being perpetrated in its name by the Israeli government.
In the meantime, as Israelis and as Jews, we applaud this courageous decision which gives heart to all of us in Israel/Palestinian working for a just peace. |
Pedal for Protein
Supporting Food Bank Pantries
September 20-25, 2014
Come ride with the Hunger Task Force on September 20 to 25, 2014. Tour the beautiful Northern California Coastline, from Orick to Sausalito, 360 miles over 6 days, or chose a 1 or 2 day ride.
Your participation will help food pantries along the northern coast of California stock up on protein rich foods like peanut butter, canned tuna, chicken and milk and provide them to families, seniors and children. The tour cost
for the full week tour is $200 for registration plus a $500 minimum in fundraising. A one day tour is $50 for registration plus a $100 minimum in fund raising. All funds raised will be donated through local food banks. For more information or to register, click here.
If you have additional questions, please contact me at 515-6127.
Patty Sanders
Pedal for Protein Ride Director
Hunger Task Force
Presbytery of the Redwoods
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church
100 Tarry Road, San Anselmo, CA 94960
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E-mail us at shpchurch@comcast.net or call us at 415-453-8221
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