The Baptism of Jesus
 
Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
Weekly Happenings at SHPC    
January 8, 2015

Baptism of the Lord Sunday

What to Make of Mark


 

          This Sunday, January 11, 2015, at 9:30 a.m., we welcome     back to the pulpit Cathy Sarkisian for a fascinating exploration of the story world of the Gospel of Mark.  Cathy has recently been awarded the Certificate in Worship Leadership by the San Francisco Theological Seminary.  Her lifetime love of literature will help open up a new understanding of Mark's gospel.  Our focus passages will be Mark 1:1-20 and 9:14-29.  


 

          Let's Talk is back!  Get your coffee and join Cathy and the Let's Talk team for a follow up discussion on Civil Disobedience in the Spirit of Jesus!  We learn so much from listening to each other, so join in!

 

In This Issue
Bev piano
A Note from 
Pastor Bev
Thank you so much to all of you who have sent blessings for Andy and Erin's wedding this Saturday!  I'll be back Monday night, but in the meantime, chaplain Bentley Stewart is here for pastoral care emergencies, and you can reach him at 407-489-1258.

Please mark your calendars and invite friends to our Sunday, January 18 Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  This year our focus will be In the Wake of Ferguson.  

Our Family Ministries/Middle Schoolers invite you to BOTSWANA NIGHT January 25 from 4-6 p.m., a fascinating photo safari with the artistic adventurous Baigrie family.  You don't want to miss this!

This church is humming with energy! Thanks be to God!
                   With joy,
                       Bev 
January Calendar


Friday, January 9
2:00 p.m.


Bible Study with Cathy Sarkisian

Sunday, January 11
9:30 a.m.
 
10:30 a.m.
 


Cathy Sarkisian preaching on What to Make of Mark
Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
Let's Talk resumes - with Cathy Sarkisian and the LT Team

Friday, January 16
12:00 p.m.


Bible Study

Sunday, January 18
9:30 a.m.


10:30 a.m.


Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King- In the Wake of Ferguson

Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
Let's Talk

Friday, January 23
12:00 p.m.


Bible Study

Sunday, January 25
9:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.
4:00 p.m.


PCUSA Criminal Justice Sunday

Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
MOLOTH hosts Botswana Night!


Friday, January 30
12:00 p.m.


Bible Study

Fri., Jan. 30 - Sun., Feb. 1

Westminster Woods Women's Retreat

 

 

Special Bible Study - Friday, Jan. 9 at 2:00 p.m. with Cathy Sarkisian Focus passages: Mark 1:1-20 and 9:14-29 


Whatever your experience with the Bible might be, you are welcome to come and learn and make meaningful friendships.  

 
 
Knowledge, Alignment, and Endurance...3 Keys to 2015 

This past year I have enjoyed Pastor Bev's thoughtful teaching in our Friday noon Bible Studies and have been moved by her preaching on incredibly relevant topics each Sunday. For me, an increased knowledge and perspective on Biblical teaching has been the key to becoming more steady, loving, and calm no matter what life has hurled at me.

I would encourage each of us in 2015 to commit to increasing our Bible knowledge. By the way, did you know the Bible was the first book ever put to the printing press (thanks to Johannes Gutenberg)? The Bible is God's preserved message. By reading it often, we will develop a closer relationship with God, a clearer understanding of God's teaching on the value and worth of every individual, and learn that God has certain instructions for behavior and living that are incredibly important.

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it" (Luke 11:28). In 2 John 1:6 we read "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands." Deuteronomy 28:1-12 states "If you fully obey the Lord, and carefully follow all his commands ... all these blessings will accompany you." The list of blessings is impressive.
When we start to move our intentions into harmony with Biblical teachings, we become aligned with God's purpose and plan for us.  We experience a freedom and resilience when interacting with the world and its grip on us. In order to grow in our ability to be more aligned with God's purpose and plan, we need to trust the Lord, love the Lord, and listen to the Lord more than we ever have.

The end result of this new focus on knowledge and alignment is the ability to endure challenging situations better than ever before. One has a new tenacity, a broader patience, and most of all a much better sense of priorities in small things as well as in larger things. So, as we approach 2015, I would encourage us to make a new commitment to knowledge and aligning ourselves with God, because if we do, I am positive we will gain a new sense of endurance.

From a frigid New York (wind chill at 15 degrees) ... your friend Paul

  

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Please Remember in Your Prayers
Praying Hands


The family of Clyde Ongaro, who died December 30; may Clyde's spirit be blessed and may the family be surrounded by God's comfort;

Patty Sanders, for healing for her hip;

Jean Brockett, mother of Jody, for full recovery, and for Jody and her father;
Carolyn O'Hara, mother of Laurie, for healing, and for strength and support during her recovery;

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

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

For the victims of the Charlie Hebdo magazine shooting and their loved ones;

For victims of violence everywhere, may they know healing and peace;

For the unhoused community as the winter storms come;

For our church community, for unity in the Spirit and energy for mission in the new year.


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

   

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In Memoriam
Clyde Ongaro
      Clyde Ongaro, beloved husband of Merle and father of Haden and Barrie, beloved father-in-law of Marie, loving grandfather and great-grandfather, died Tuesday, December 30, 2014 with his beloved Merle by his side.  We thank God for the life of Clyde, and we surround Merle and the family with our prayers and our loving support.  
 

MOLOTH (Middle School Youth Group) - JANUARY SCHEDULE

 

- Sunday, January 18 at 9:30 a.m. - Join in the remembrance of Dr. King and meet with youth leader Charles Wei after the service for discussion.

 

- Sunday, January 25 at 4 p.m. - BOTSWANA NIGHT with the Baigrie Family.  All are invited to travel to Botswana for an evening!  Bring friends!

 

BOTSWANA NIGHT with the Baigrie Family 

Sunday, January 25th 

4:00-6:00 p.m.

 

We are delighted to invite you to an evening with the Baigire Family,who will be presenting photos and stories from their 4 week adventure through Botswana:

"In the summer of 2013 we spent 4 weeks off the grid, living out of a Landrover (sleeping in tents on the roof) and exploring one of Africa's last un-spoiled wildernesses. We observed animals in their true habitats, their ancient genetic lines having matched them perfectly to their environments generations before. Many of these animals may not exist in 20 years time (Lions especially) in their native environments and we wanted to show them to the boys before they are gone. We cooked over a fire at night, carried our own water, followed GPS coordinates instead of roads and hoped that the kids would want to do it again once it was over (they did!). We were forced to give the boys (7 and 8 at the time) responsibility for their own safety in a very real way and every day saw them evolving in to seasoned adventurers, with hearts and eyes wide open to all that came our way.

It was a transformative experience for us all to seek out such a big adventure as a family and come back not only in one piece but emboldened by it."

Hope to see you there!
The Baigrie Family

 


woodsWestminster Woods Women's Winter Retreat, Friday, Jan. 30-
Sunday, Feb. 1st

Come nurture your body - mind- and spirit with a weekend away in the woods for inspiration, outdoor time, contemplation, relaxation, and fun.
All women are welcome!  If you have questions, talk to Lori Lopin or Sue Burr. To sign up, click here.

 
Let's Talk! January 11 
at 10:45 a.m.
All welcome!

Civil Disobedience in the Spirit of Jesus? 

Richard Peltzman
Matt Ehlen
Cathy Sarkisian
Fred Morfit

 
REST Photos - Monday, January 5th

Many thanks to Luke Argilla, James, Rowan, Flynn and Karen Baigrie, Andy and Doug Eisinger, Richard Peltzman, Scott Hamilton, Pastor Bev, Emily Hanavan and Jeanette Molineaux for providing a warm and welcoming meal to the homeless community.




















 
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.
 
 
Food Barrel Ministry Update
 
Thank you to all who donated food items to the Food Barrel. Wil Swalberg took 85 pounds of food items to the SF-Marin Food Bank at the end of December! Thank you Wil and Betty for all of your good work!

This is a year-round ministry of our church community to the hungry, and we are so grateful to Wil and Betty Swalberg for all the heavy lifting!
 
It Takes a Village --
Thank you so much to all the volunteers who have made our church so warm and welcoming in 2014 with coffee hour hospitality!

 

Fellowship time is organized by your Deacons, but we rely on everyone pitching in to help. While each Parish is assigned a month for Fellowship, that time may not be convenient for your schedule. So now you can sign up online! Just click here and pick a Sunday that's most convenient for you.

 

January 2015 - Parishes: Cat Caldwell and Nancy Elberg/Frankie Eakes

February 2015 - Parishes: Laura Taylor and Patti Eisinger

March 2015 - Parishes: Nancy Elberg/Frankie Eakes and Patti Eisinger

 

Sign up now before the good slots are all taken!

 

Greeters Needed for Sunday Mornings: Jan. 18, 25 and Feb. 1, 15

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
2014: A Year of Big Changes for John and Patty Sanders! 
An update from Patty:

YES, we finally did it! What we had been talking about for ten years. We are now officially (at least in our minds) full-time RV'ers as of August 1, 2014. It's been a whirlwind year to say the least including starting in March preparing our home in San Rafael to sell. We had the best realtor ever, Steve Derr.

 

In the meantime, I kept my sport biz going at a moderate level and John took care of his handyman clients. Inspired by a Fall 2013 retreat, and as part of my hunger action advocate work, I organized a six-day charity bike ride, "Pedal for Protein." We rode from Orick, CA our northern most church in our Presbytery of the Redwoods, mostly on Hwy 1, to the most southern church in Sausalito, 364 miles, averaging 60 miles and 4,500 feet of climbing per day. It was a beautiful ride with sunny weather all but one scary foggy, rainy day perched over the ocean on a narrow windy road. Fifteen of us completed the six-day ride and more joined for one day rides along the way. We stayed mostly in Presbyterian churches along the way, which fed us dinner and breakfast, provided sleeping accommodations and even did our laundry so we could wear our Pedal for Protein jerseys every day. My goal was to raise $20,000 and was thrilled that we raised over $25,000, providing grass roots food pantries in Northern California that often struggle to provide nutritionally balanced meals to hungry neighbors in their communities. Lots of help came from our Hunger Task Force members and our presbytery, which made it all possible.

 

My year started off in January with a seven-day trip to Nicaragua with Equal Exchange and the Presbyterian Hunger Program to visit small coffee farmers. What a beautiful country and people! We spent two nights sleeping with coffee farmers (and their families). During the day we hiked through mud over hill and dale, a rainforest, and farm animals to the large coffee field, which is on a slight hill and shaded by surrounding trees. Hence shade grown coffee, which is the premium coffee. We picked the coffee cherries (they are hard red shells covering the very anemic looking bean). You have to pick them one by one, not by the bunch like grapes, you have to pull them off (think tired fingers). It is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process to pick, roast and taste test coffee; I think organic, fair-trade coffee should cost at least $20 a pound! It was a wonderful experience learning how we can help small farmers make a decent living by purchasing Fair Trade coffee and chocolate.

 

We updated our 2003 motorhome in October with a 2008 Holiday Rambler 40 foot model with 4 slide outs. Now I can do my exercises on the floor without hitting any appliances or furniture. We feel like we are living in a small apartment on wheels that expands when stopped and contracts when traveling. Best thing is, it is so much quieter when traveling and especially during overnight stops at rest areas, next to an 18-wheeler with its engine running.

 

Over the holidays we enjoyed visits with our grandchildren (7) and great grandchildren, now numbering 6.

 

Wishing you and yours a blessed and Happy New Year!

 

John and Patty, who are allowed to wander... 

 

Our current mailing address is:  

John & Patty Sanders  

440 Eastwood Drive 

Petaluma, CA 94954

 

John's Cell 415-515-6139
Patty's Cell 415-515-6127

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