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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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Weekly Happenings at SHPC
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February 19, 2015
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First Sunday of Lent - Sacred Circle
Costly Compassion
Would you go to Liberia to work in an Ebola clinic? Syria to take humanitarian aid to refugees? Gaza to rebuild homes demolished by air strikes? Mexico to build homes? Marin County court to accompany a foster child as a CASA volunteer? How far out of our comfort zones are we called to go when we are following Jesus, the embodiment of God's Compassion? We'll start our Lenten series with two stories of Jesus moved by compassion and taking great personal risks. What's the greatest risk you've taken for God? Our scripture passages are Mark 1:40-45 and 3:1-6.
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A Note from
Pastor Bev
Lent is a wonderful time to get to know Jesus better. This Sunday we embark on a sacred journey with him, and it's a six Sunday experience, our opportunity for six encounters with the embodiment of God's compassion. There is nothing more rewarding.
Don't feel like you have to give up anything for Lent. Instead, add at least a few moments of quiet to your life each day. Let the God of Life, the God of Compassion, speak to you.
And join us at the church on Wednesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. for a special Lenten Bible Study. No worries if you are new to the Bible! We will read great stories about Jesus, share our own stories, pray, and grow spiritually.
In the peace of Christ,
Bev
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Friday, February 20
12:00 p.m.
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Bible Study with Lora East | |
Sunday, February 22
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT - Compassion
ANNUAL MEETING of the Congregation
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Wednesday, Feb. 25
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 26
7:00 p.m.
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Lenten Bible Study with Pastor Bev
Choir Practice - New Singers Welcome! | |
Friday, February 27
12:00 p.m.
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Bible Study |
Saturday, February 28
5:00 p.m. |
MOLOTH Game Night - All Welcome!
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Sunday, March 1
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
10:45 a.m.
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SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
Nourishing Prayer
Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
Let's Talk
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Wednesday, March 4
7:00 p.m.
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Lenten Bible Study | |
Thursday, March 5
7:00 p.m.
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Choir Practice - New Singers Welcome!
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Friday, March 6
12:00 p.m. |
Bible Study |
Sunday, March 8
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
10:45 a.m. |
International Women's Day - Jesus, Friend to Women
Coffee and Refreshments - All Welcome!
Let's Talk
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 Bible Study - Friday, Feb. 20 @ Noon - Mark 1:40-45, 3:1-6 with Lora East
For the Season of Lent we are adding a second weekly Bible Study.
All are welcome - Lenten Wednesday Evening Bible Study
@ 7:00 pm starts Wed. Feb. 25!
Whatever your experience with the Bible might be, you are welcome to come and learn and make meaningful friendships.
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 When God Chooses You to do Something, God Provides the "Back Up!"
Greetings from Chicago where it remains bitterly cold with riveting winds, yet crowds of people are lining up to see The First Wives Club Musical in its first previews. As I go out each morning, I layer up with warm clothing, two scarves around my neck, and a CAL baseball hat. Nonetheless, I am excited to be here and am anxious to get to work every day.
Producing this huge musical has really put me to the test. And I need "back up" both personally and spiritually every day.
As I think about the tasks and assignments God has given to various people in the Bible, I can relate to the feeling of inadequacies many have expressed in the scriptures. Many of you, too, have been given tasks by God, and at times, might feel this sense of isolation.
There are times we feel very alone when on the road or away from our trusted friends, family, and Church body. Feeling a bit inadequate is one thing, but feeling alone without "back up" is even tougher.
I was reading in Joshua this week and found a terrific passage which is comforting to any of us experiencing this. In Joshua 1:5-9 the Lord promised to the Israelites, "No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life ... I will never leave you nor forsake you ... Be careful to obey the law my servant Moses gave you .. do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. Meditate on the law day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Reading the Bible on a regular basis and adjusting our behavior to what we learn are two keys to God's instructions in this passage. The beautiful part is the pay off; being prosperous, successful are wonderful, but we don't have to be afraid or discouraged either. And that is huge.
I so appreciate knowing that God has promised to be with us wherever we are, and that God's words of wisdom are within reach, along with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Now, that's what I call "back up." And I am so glad to have it here in Chicago.
Your friend ... Paul
Back to the top
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Please Remember in Your Prayers
Chris Lopin's mother and father, for healing;
Cat Caldwell and her family as they mourn the loss of Cat's mother;
The family of Clyde Ongaro, who died December 30; may Clyde's spirit be blessed and may Merle and the family be surrounded by God's comfort;
Ahmed Abu-Aly, for healing;
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 victims of violence everywhere, may they know healing and peace;
For the unhoused community;
For those living in poverty;
For those living with mental illness, and for their loved ones;
For those struggling with alcohol and drug dependency, and their loved ones;
For the caretakers;
For our church community, for creativity, compassion, unity in the Spirit, and energy for mission.
Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
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Season of Lent and Easter
This week starts the Season of Lent and Easter, where we are invited to step into the Sacred Circle, for a deeper encounter with Jesus.
- Sunday, February 22 - Jesus, Costly Compassion
Mark 1:40-41 and 3:1-6
- Sunday, March 1 - Nourishing Prayer
Luke 10:21-24, 18:9-14
- Sunday, March 8 - International Women's Day - Jesus, Defender of Women
Mark 14:3-9, John 8:1-11
- Sunday, March 15 - Sung and Spoken Word with Guest Poets
- Sunday, March 22 - From Grief to New Life
John 11
- Sunday, March 29 - Palm Sunday - Jesus the Radical?
Mark 11
- Friday, April 3 - Good Friday
- Sunday, April 5 - EASTER! Egg Hunt for the youngsters!
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Justice Garden Work Parties!
If this balmy weather has your gardening fingers twitching, come this weekend to help prepare our garden for spring!
We're planning 2 work parties to accommodate busy weekend schedules:
Friday, Feb. 20th: 4:00-5:30 pm
OR
Saturday, Feb. 21st: 8:30-10:00 am
Let me know if you can make one of the two days.
Thanks to all!
Patti
Our garden 'to do' list:
- Weed-whack weeds surrounding the raised beds
- Roll out weed fabric; apply wood chips on top
- Install tomato support system in 4th bed to replace the one that blew down
- Dig holes for 8 blueberry plants
- Plant 10 raspberry plants donated by Sunnyside
- Dig holes for spring pumpkin patch
- Remove old tomato plant roots from last year
- Harvest beets and winter veggies to sell on Sunday at church
Thank you to Michael Durphy for the hard work putting stakes on each side of the beds so that they won't bulge!
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How Many Presbyterians Does it Take
to Install a Rain Water Tank?
Answer: FOUR!
Thank you to Fred Morfit, Richard Peltzman, Patti Vance, and Michael Durphy for rolling the SHPC Rainwater Catchment Tank from inside the fence into its home in the corner behind the Memorial Garden (which will soon be replanted). Now, let the rains come!
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MOLOTH Game Night!
Saturday, Feb. 28th @ 5 p.m.
All Welcome! All ages!
Join MOLOTH for Game Night. There will be games, pizza, and fun!
Bring your favorite game or play one of the many games from the church closet -- and Pastor Bev will be teaching Hearts, Bridge, or whatever card game you'd like to learn that is in her repertoire!
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Mexico Mission 2015!
The Mexico Mission home-building trip is a life changing opportunity to go outside of our comfort zones and make a meaningful change in the lives of families living in poverty. This year's trip is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 through Saturday, June 20, 2015.
Sleepy Hollow church and the Mexico Mission Leader Team will host an informational barbecue for those interested in going on this year's trip. Students 9th grade and older are eligible, and please bring your parents to learn about the 2015 trip, and to get to know our adult leaders. The barbecue will be at the church at 100 Tarry Road, San Anselmo on Sunday, March 1st, from 5:00-7:00 pm. We will supply the barbecue and drinks; please bring a side dish (see below).
It is important for you 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 to us on March 8th. The forms will be available March 1, but if you can fill them out and send them in advance or bring them to the barbecue, that would be great. And, yes, we do require a paragraph or so on why you would like to join this year's Mission.
Forms can be found here.
The completed forms can also be dropped off / mailed to Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church, 100 Tarry Road, San Anselmo, CA 94960, e-mailed to Mark Sarkisian, or sent to Mark at 667 Butterfield Road.
Please e-mail Mark with your RSVP (include "Mexico Mission" in the subject line of the e-mail) for the barbecue by Thursday, February 26th to confirm attendance so that we can plan for enough food and beverages. Please bring a side dish (organized by last name):
Last Name Starting with A - K: Salad, chips, vegetables
Last Name Starting with L - Z: Dessert, fruit
Participants will be required to have a current passport for the trip since Federal Laws require one for travel to Mexico. If a new passport is needed, the process could take a long time, so please get started now.
Please contact us if you have any questions. We've had a lot of interest so far and we're looking forward to another great trip. If you know others that would be interested in the trip, please feel free to pass the information along.
| Mark Sarkisian | Allie Duro | | Cell Ph: 415.812.3395 | Cell Ph: 415.497.5006 | | Email: mark.sarkisian@som.com | Email: alliemduro@gmail.com |
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Let's Talk!
We're on a Two Week Break
We Resume with a Great Lent Schedule on March 1
Cathy Sarkisian
Ethan Russell
Fred Morfit
Richard Peltzman
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 7th Annual "DHS...On The Same Page (DOTSP)" Event
Monday, March 2nd @ 6:30 pm
Drake High School - Student Center
Jack Adler, Polish Holocaust and Auschwitz survivor, Drake grandparent of Matt Adler ('07), and Eli Adler, Drake parent, will honor us with their attendance at our 7th Annual DOTSP Event.
On Monday, March 2nd at 6:30 pm Jack will discuss his memoir, and provide a personal connection to his story in a way that only this charismatic, thoughtful and reflective man can. Jack's warm heart and passionate delivery brings balance to his tragic and desperate experiences with the darkest sides of humanity.
Y: A Holocaust Narrative is crafted well and will allow students of all reading abilities to access its powerful message, and will allow for teachers to connect historically, socially and emotionally to the War, family, politics, fate, destiny, and the themes of perseverance and resilience. Jack's story seeks to bring a civility and level of respect to the reality that human beings will not always like one another; and that "The necessity is respect and it is only through the mutual nature of this attribute that we can survive as the race of man. Mutual respect is the glue that bonds us in civility."
Many Jews survived the horrors of the Holocaust and came to America to put the past behind them. For decades they kept their awful memories secret, even from their children. But their silence ended when a band of neo-Nazi thugs threatened to march in their quiet village of Skokie, Illinois "because that is where the Jews are."
We ALSO will screen segments of Emmy Award winning filmmaker Eli Adler's intensely personal documentary Surviving Skokie; the story of a community's battle against the voices and gestures of hate, of a quiet village and its once-turbulent history. It is a universal story about the importance of speaking up and out. And it is the personal story of a quest through which a man and his father rediscover their pasts.
Additional resources to support Jack's book and Eli's film:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Y-A-Holocaust-Narrative/239370786161975
http://www.amazon.com/Y-Holocaust-Narrative-Jack-Adler/dp/0984984240
http://www.survivingskokiemovie.org
Thank you to The Drake Fund for supporting this powerful learning opportunity.
Many thanks,
Kendall Galli
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 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION
Sunday, Feb. 22 Immediately Following the Service
All members and friends of the congregation are invited to the Annual Business Meeting of the Congregation this Sunday. The 2014 Annual Report has been prepared by your elders/committee chairs, and is available here.
Elders will be at the meeting to answer questions. The 2015 budget will be reviewed in summary, and members of the congregation will vote on the Pastor's Terms of Call (compensation package) and to elect new elders, deacons, and a new Nominating Committee. Thank you so much for your faithful support of the church!
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 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.
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It Takes a Village --
Thank you so much to all the volunteers who are making our church so warm and welcoming 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.
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!
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Greeters Needed for Sunday Mornings: March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 (The Season of Lent)
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
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3rd Annual Conference
Congregations Cultivating
Local Food Access
Sunday, February 22nd
It's not too late to join the ISFC for their 3rd Annual Conference! Don't miss out on the conversation with food and faith thought leaders as they talk about how their sacred texts address sustainability, care for God's creation and justice through lenses of food, agriculture and seasonality. Register here.
Sunday, February 22
Registration - 1:30 pm
Program - 2:00-7:00 pm
Petaluma Woman's Club
518 B Street
Cost: $55
Full and partial scholarships available. Discounts for multiple members of the same congregation
The Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative organizes an annual conference designed for lay leaders and clergy active in food system programming to connect with each other as well as secular leaders of the sustainable agriculture movement. National leaders at the forefront of joining sustainable food programming with faith-based advocacy are featured at the conferences. Click here for more information.
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church,
100 Tarry Road, San Anselmo, CA 94960
Allie Duro, Editor/Office Administrator
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E-mail us at shpchurch@comcast.net or call us at 415-453-8221
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