The Generosity of God
 
Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
Weekly Happenings at SHPCSeptember 18, 2014

Theological Education Sunday...

The Generosity of God

 

With our Confirmation Class this month, we've been pondering the nature of the ineffable God:  so vast, so great, and so holy that no one name, description, or image can capture, contain, or fully describe the Mystery.  When you think of the attributes of the Creator, does generosity spring to mind?


 

This Sunday, September 21, 2014, at 9:30 a.m., Lora East, our Pastoral Intern, a third year seminarian at San Francisco Theological Seminary, will explore the generosity of God. How does this generosity manifest in our relationship with the Sacred? What does Jesus teach us about the generosity of God?  And how are we called to be generous with each other, with our earth, and with ourselves?  Our scriptures are Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 and Matthew 20:1-16.

The SHPC Singers will lead us in an opening hymn from the new Presbyterian Hymnal, Glory to God, and will sing an anthem by our composers-in-residence, Hallie Foster and Stephen Iverson.
 
 

In This Issue
Bible Study
Paul's Blog
Prayers
Confirmation Classes
CC Pix
Let's Talk
Bible Study Field Trip
Mexico Mission Reunion
Farm Stand Help Needed
Bennett House Photos
Take Wil and Betty Dinner
Greeters Needed
Pedaling for Protein
Action Alerts: Carbon and Fair Pay
Housing Sabbath
Quick Links
Bev piano
A Note from 
Pastor Bev       


 

Thank you so much to all of you who have been praying for my Mom!  She is out of the hospital, happy to be home, and we had a really good visit. Now the goal is to get her out here to California in January for her grandson's wedding and to visit us here at church!


 

We have a great weekend coming up, with many opportunities to support the life of the church.  If you love being in the garden, with the veggies, and making new friends, please sign up for Friday's Produce Pick and/or Saturday's Farm Stand (see below).  


 

Then Sunday, our Pastoral Intern Lora East is preaching her first sermon for us, and we want to give her maximum support!  


 

And after coffee, Green Team chair and climate change expert Doug Eisinger leads Let's Talk - about Saving the Planet.  Please DO bring your friends and neighbors to this informative opportunity to understand the greatest challenge to life on our planet.  Especially if they disagree with me on that last part! Our Let's Talk series is designed to foster respectful disagreement, learning from differences, and skill building.  


 

We are all growing in the Spirit here, thanks be to God!  With joy,

                       
                            Bev
 Fall Calendar

                     


Thursday, September 18
7:30 p.m.          SHPC Singers Rehearse at church 

Friday, September 19
12:00 p.m.        Bible Study

Sunday, September 21
9:30 a.m.          Theological Education Sunday - Lora East 
                               Confirmation Class #3 - Caring for Ourselves, 
                               Each Other and the Planet
10:30 a.m.        Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m.        Let's Talk about Saving the Planet, 
                               with Doug Eisinger

Thursday, September 25
7:30 p.m.           SHPC Singers Rehearse at church

Friday, September 26
12:00 p.m.         Bible Study
7:30 p.m.           Ordination to Ministry of Hannah Dreitcer

Sunday, September 28
9:30 a.m.           Evolving Church Continues: 
                               Big Tent -- Who are God's People?
                               Confirmation Class #4
10:30 a.m.         Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m.         Let's Talk about God - with Cathy Sarkisian

Thursday, October 2
7:30 p.m.           SHPC Singers Rehearse at church 

Friday, October 3
11:45 a.m.         Bible Study to SFTS for Bentley's Senior Sermon

Sunday, October 5
9:30 a.m.           WORLD COMMUNION/PEACEMAKING SUNDAY
                                Confirmation Class Celebration
                                Three Choirs Sing Plus Drums!
10:30 a.m.         Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m.          Let's Talk about Becoming Peacemakers - with                                Ellen Dodge

Thursday, October 9
7:30 p.m.            SHPC Singers Rehearse at church

Friday, October 10
12:00 p.m.          Bible Study

Sunday, October 12
9:30 a.m.             Evolving Church: 
                                 Sacred Texts: Alive, Stone Tablets, Both?
10:30 a.m.           Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
10:45 a.m.           Let's Talk about Interpretation - with Matt Ehlen

Save the Date:  Sunday, November 9- String Quartet and 
                        Harvest Feast for Stewardship Celebration

 
Bible Study - Friday Sept. 19-
Noon - Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, Matt. 20:1-16
 
Bible Study meets at noon on Fridays in the Pastor's office.  Whatever your experience with the Bible might be, you are welcome to come and learn and make meaningful friendships.  
 
 

Letting "God be God"


In this picture don't we all look happy? 
 
These are the key players of the creative team working on "The First Wives Club" Musical. The only two missing are Linda Bloodworth Thomason (book writer) who was unfortunately in a car accident last week and must remain in L.A., and David Connolly our choreographer, who is currently in Toronto en route to New York.
 
I'll be with this team for the next two weeks facing what could be fireworks, disagreements, and one of the most stressful times of my career. We are making several decisions in the final script and music for the show. We'll be rehearsing for the first time with our star cast and then on October 2nd presenting the show (in workshop format) to the Broadway theater owners, large investors and industry insiders. We'll actually be taking it from the "page" to the "stage" for the first time.
 
The number of decisions to be made in these next days are many. And the individuals making them are opinionated artists who are both volatile and intense. They all have personal preferences, a pedigree of success, and in most cases, are feisty and famous.
 
We can expect clashes and confrontations beyond description, yet I have a calmness about me because I have learned that I am to take care of the "possible" and let God handle the "impossible." I also heard one time that in these highly charged situations "God will either calm your storm or allow it to rage ... while God calms you."
 
Learning to manage stress has been a big part of my focus this past year. Stress can rage like a lion, cause mood swings, create tension and be harmful to one's health. God reminds us in stressful situations to remember to "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed" (Prov 16:3); "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you" (Psalm 55:12); "Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you" (i Peter 5:7). Ultimately, we live and work for an audience of ONE. 
 
I hope and pray that, in addition to my bold faith in God's desire and ability to help me, that I will also develop eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst in people and a temperament that overlooks comments that are hurled in the heat of battle. 
 
In your life, when stress rears its head, remember to deal with the possible and hurl the "impossible" to God. I've learned to pray about these stressful circumstances, boldly and expectantly, and then let go; it has really changed my life. It's so different when I let go and let GOD. I'm healthier too!
 
From New York ... Paul


 

 

 
Please Remember in Your Prayers
Praying Hands


Patty Kuehn's mother Diane, for complete recovery; 

Carolyn O'Hara, for healing, and for strength and support during her recovery;

Evan Peltzman, for healing and complete recovery from a broken heel, and for strength and support during his recovery;

Andrea Proster, for healing, and her sister Nancy Elberg, for strength in companioning her;

Clyde Ongaro, for healing;

Jerry Lambert, for healing, and for blessed assurance of God's constant presence;

Pastor Bev's mom Anne Brown, for healing and the comfort of God's presence;

For the unhoused community as we approach winter without a permanent shelter in Marin County, and for our local government, for the wherewithal to create and fund a permanent shelter;

For all those struggling with mental illness, and their loved ones;

For all those struggling with addiction and dependency, and their loved ones;

For all those struggling to make ends meet, with housing and food insecurity, and with financial stress;

For all those living in places of darkness and violence, for peace, shared humanity, and hope.

 

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

   

Back to the top

 

SHPC Confirmation Class
with Charles Wei, M. Div., Pastor Bev, and Lora East

Confirmation class continues this Sunday, September 21st during worship and concludes Sunday, Sept. 28th, with a celebration of our confirmands in a special service Sunday, October 5th, World Communion/Peacemaking Sunday.

 

Here are our topics for open-ended discussion:

September 7 - God, Holy Spirit, and Holy Communion

September 14 - Jesus, Baptism, and Grace

September 21 - Taking Care of the Planet and Each Other

September 28 - The Bible, Church, and Other Faith Traditions

 

We'll start upstairs at 9:30 and continue after the service with music, art, discussion, Q&A, and fun.  We'll try to finish at 11:30 this week, but appreciate a little flexibility on our finish time.  Save the date: we'll celebrate our confirmands with special worship and a presentation on Sunday, October 5 at 9:30 a.m.

 

 

Photos from Confirmation Class
Sunday, September 14

Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River 
with the Descent of the Holy Spirit


 

 

  

      Creating and Displaying Prayer Practice Art 

 

 

 
Let's Talk! Fall Discussion Series
Continues September 21st at 10:45 am

In our increasingly polarized culture,
is it possible to dive into charged topics and emerge friends?  Can we learn from people who don't see eye to eye with us on key issues? We're going to show the world it can be done!

Sept. 21- Saving the Planet with Doug Eisinger

   

Coming up:
- Sept. 28 - Let's Talk About God with Cathy Sarkisian
- Oct. 5 - Kimochis, Feeling Our Way to Peace, with Ellen Dodge
- Oct. 19 - Israel/Palestine with Rev. Kate Tabor, PCUSA missionary
- November - End of life, heaven, and afterlife
- December - Religion and Science - can they talk?

Watch the calendar for dates and topics.


Richard Peltzman
Matt Ehlen
Cathy Sarkisian
Fred Morfit

 
Bentley Stewart's Senior Sermon
Friday, October 3rd
12:05 p.m.

Our own Bentley Stewart will be giving his Senior Sermon on October 3rd and we would love for our SHPC friends to join in the special service. Bentley will be preaching on the theme of "Why Seminary?"

 

The worship service will be held in Montgomery Chapel 

5 Richmond Road (corner of Bolinas Ave. and Richmond Rd.)

San Anselmo, CA

 

The service will be 12:05pm - 12:35pm and includes Communion.

 

Community lunch will be held after the service in Upper Alexander Hall (40 Kensington Rd.) and will cost $8 cash at the door.

 

Warmly,

Janel Stewart

 

 

 
Volunteer Opportunity for Mexico Mission Team 2014

 

While we were down in Mexico several of you asked what we could do as a group when we get back home AND HAVE FUN.

 

The answer has arrived. Several youth and adults have been working on a Civic minded party and you are INVITED!

 

Most of you have played at Memorial Park as a kid - now it is time to have fun and give back. Click here for a little more information.

 

All we are asking at this point is save the date:

 

Saturday, October 18th from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm

 

We will be sending you an evite to do a little work for a great cause, eat some awesome BBQ and most of all have fun with your MM Teammates. Save the date and watch for an evite soon!


 

With thanks,

Chris Lopin and MM Adult Leadership

 

 

 

 
Volunteer to Pick Produce and/or for Saturday's Farm Stand

 

Volunteers are needed to pick our beautiful produce Friday, and also for the SHPC Farm Stand this Saturday, September 20th at the corner of Butterfield and Green Valley Court. Sign up for Saturday at either 8:15am - 10:15am or 10:15am - 12:15pm.

 

Make new friends and provide fantastic tomatoes to benefit local hunger programs!

 

Please contact Patti Vance, [email protected] to sign up.

 

 

      

 

Thank you to the Grubb Family for the colorful Farm Stand sign!


 
Justice Garden Produce Delivery to Bennett House 
Puts Smiles on Many Faces 

Our friends at the Bennett House enjoyed Patti and Ethan's delivery of organic produce, and they seem to be enjoying Ethan's photographic attention, too!

 

    


 

      

 


 

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO TAKE MEALS TO WIL AND BETTY!
 
Now's your chance to share your cooking and your love! Thank you and bless you for taking a hot meal and your love to Wil and Betty on Wednesday nights.

 
OUR MINISTRY OF HOSPITALITY NEEDS YOU!
Greeters Needed for Sunday Mornings: September 21, 28 and all of October

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. Thank you to all who have signed up so far!

Jody Brockett Schmetz, 
Worship Elder

sign up here 

Last Call for Donations!
Pedaling for Protein
September 20th - 25th

 

Please support our riders with a check made out to Presbytery of the Redwoods. In the memo line, note "Pedal for Protein" and the name of rider you wish to support. 

 

Mail to: 

Presbytery Office

1226-A Salvador Ave.

Napa, CA 94558

 

Or you may donate online at:  www.imathlete.com/donate/PedalforProtein


 

Help us raise $20,000 to support grass roots food pantries, provide protein-rich foods. Click on the links below for more information:

 

Presbyterian Hunger Program AND Presbytery of the Redwoods 


We ask that you pray for our riders, for safety, strength and endurance for the 6 days of riding 364 miles.  


 

With thanks,

Patty Sanders
 


 

Support EPA Regulation of Carbon Pollution

 

On June 2nd, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule under the federal Clean Air Act to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from existing power plants, a step towards modernizing our nation's power plants while limiting our contribution to global climate change.

 

We need your help to ensure these rules are implemented and Presbyterian voices are heard throughout the process! Visit our Action Center today!

 

Power plants are the single largest source of carbon dioxide pollution in the United States, emitting more than two billion tons of carbon dioxide and other toxic pollutants into our air each year.  Scientists tell us that carbon dioxide released by burning fossil fuels is linked to changes in earth's climate.

 

  • Climate change is already causing extreme weather events, long term droughts and rising sea levels, all of which impacts communities and people around the world - particularly those who lack the money and technology needed to adapt.
  • Changes in climate pose a threat to global agriculture, including food supplies and prices.
  • Pollution from carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases impacts human health by increasing unhealthy air days and resulting in more respiratory ailments, heart attacks, heat-related deaths, asthma attacks, and other harm. These health problems disproportionately impact on our most vulnerable friends and neighbors, including low-income communities, children and the elderly.

 

There are currently no limits on the amount of greenhouse gases power plants can emit. This is why reducing carbon emissions from power plants must be a top priority for the U.S. if we hope to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and ensure a just and sustainable world for our generation and those to come.

 

Presbyterian leaders have been engaging this process throughout the year, but the comment period is scheduled to end on Oct. 16, 2014. Send in your comments before it's too late!

 

Read the Rev. Ashley Goff's testimony before the EPA from July 30, 2014. Ashley is the Minister of Spiritual Formation at Church of the Pilgrims, which has an urban garden and bee hives.

 

At the beginning of this process last fall, OPW Director the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson also offered testimony in support of carbon regulation.

 

Now is your opportunity to weigh in on critical new protections for public health and the health of God's creation!

 

Visit our Action Center to tell the EPA to enact these important standards that will help to save lives and help our country transition to a cleaner energy economy.

 

 

 

 

Action Alert: Women Deserve Equal Pay for Equal Work

Women continue to earn less than men. In 2012, the last year for which we have data, women earned 76.5 cents for each dollar earned by a man-a figure which has remained essentially unchanged since 2001. The statistics for women of color are even more staggering, with African American women earning 64 cents and Latinas only 54 cents for each dollar earned by a white man.

 

This practice is bad for women, bad for families, and bad for our local economies.

 

April 8 was recognized as Equal Pay Day because it marks the date a woman's salary finally catches up with a man's salary from the previous year. Additional "Equal Pay Days" throughout the year mark the even higher discrepancies for particular groups of women: June 12 for mothers, July 16 for African American women, and November 12 for Latinas. The Senate voted down the Paycheck Fairness Act earlier this year, which would have taken a critical step in the right direction to eliminate the gender wage gap.

 

But for the first time ever, the Senate last week agreed to move on to a full debate of the Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA), by a vote of 73-25. We've passed the first of many hurdles, but it's not over - this is the Senate's chance to do the right thing.

 

Act now! Urge your Senators to vote in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act and a fair up or down vote.

 

The PFA would close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 that prevent the original legislation from fully addressing the pay gap. It would give employees the necessary legal tools to challenge the wage gap itself. Specifically, the Paycheck Fairness Act would require employers to prove that pay disparity is based on a legitimate business reason not related to gender. It would also prohibit retaliation against workers who discuss or ask about salary information.

 

As faithful advocates, we know we must respond to the command in Leviticus 19:13, "Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight." Ask your Senators to continue to shed light on the issue with each passing Equal Pay Day by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act!

 

 

 

 
Housing Sabbath
MIC & MOC Partnership: Response to the Marin Housing Crisis

 

The Marin Interfaith Council (MIC) and the Marin Organizing Committee (MOC) are partnering to create a Housing Sabbath, the weekend of October 10th - 12th, 2014, during the Jewish Feast of Sukkot.

 

The Housing Sabbath culminates with an action on Sunday, October 12th, in the Sukkah at Congregation Kol Shofar, 3-5pm. Save the Date!

 

Click on the link below to register or RSVP. 



We are grateful for your commitment to advocating for justice and building community in Marin.  We hope to see you October 12th.

 

Blessings,

 

The Reverend Carol Hovis (Executive Director)

Marin Interfaith Council

[email protected]

415-456-6957

 

 

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