Hold On

I have been thinking about how patient we have to be to get to the finish line on a project or dream that we believe God is guiding.

So many things happen that distract us or derail us from what it is we are trying to accomplish or that God has desired we accomplish. The real key to moving forward on a subject is to stay in touch with God. Listen in prayer to that quiet voice.

Also we are to be obedient to the scriptures and to what we have been taught while we move forward on God's mission for us.

Here are some thoughts that I want to share:

"Keep this book of law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Joshua 1:8

"He holds success for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless." Proverbs 2:7

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do and He will establish your plans." Proverbs 16:3

"Therefore I tell you , whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

Hold on to what you believe God has destined you to do. Stay in the scriptures and pray like you never have before. God wants to be involved with us, to be next to us, and to influence the outcome of our future. Great results lie ahead for all of us. 

Your friend ... Paul

Session met on the second Wednesday of the month for its regularly scheduled meeting.

Thanks to Fred for a great job for our annual Cinco do Mayo work day.  Good attendance and a lot of jobs completed. Thanks to the Deacons for a great lunch. 

Other events and projects that the Church is involved in:  REST completed for the winter season but the trial run of the summer session will open.  The Jr. High students participated in a fun game night - thanks Dennis.  They also attended the recycling center and hopefully will help us sort out where things should go.  On a sad note, the Jr. High students will miss Charles Wei who will be leaving this month.  The garden has been planted and is growing well.  Mexico Mission has launched.  Plans are in process for a new front door.  The session will invite the Little Mountain Preschool Board to our June session meeting to discuss space sharing issues. Worship services are well attended and we look forward to our service at Samuel P. Taylor Park in June. Bev, Sharon and Lora attended the Presbytery meeting in Tiburon.  

Your Clerk of Session,

Sharon Adams

Last month, The PC(USA) Office of Public Witness worked with other faith partners to offer a briefing for Congress on the "Faithful Budget," a document written by the faith community about our nation's financial priorities. The Reverend J. Herbert Nelson joined with Sister Simone Campbell, Rabbi Jonah Pesner, and Maggie Siddiqi in calling for a budget that prioritizes people and livelihood, not corporate profit or greed. This included calling for-

• Preservation of the social safety net, essential programs serving the most vulnerable people
• Investment in health care, access to which is essential to the shalom and wellbeing of all people
• A serious look at our spending priorities when comparing over-investment in the mechanisms of war and underinvestment in human capital
• A progressive tax code that not only brings in enough revenue to pay for what is most important, but also reduces inequality by making sure that all people have enough - not too much and not too little

Download the complete briefing packet here.

In April, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have passed budgets that would repeal the Affordable Care Act, turn Medicaid into a block grant, and cut billions of dollars from nutrition and education programs, all while increasing spending on overseas wars and cutting taxes for the wealthiest.

Please  email your members of Congress this week. Ask them to create a budget that is aligned with the Faithful Budget and cares for the needs of all of all people, not just the wealthy few.

In preparation for the briefing, J. Herbert Nelson wrote:

"As a follower of Christianity, I believed that 'to whom much is given, much will be required.' God's justice insists that those who have much must contribute to the good of all. Indeed, God's vision of shalom wants a society in which each of us has enough -- not too much and not too little. We are living in a new Gilded Age where the gap between rich and poor grows ever deeper. Today's worship of money and things is nothing less than idolatry and justice requires us to change if we are gong to live up to God's radical vision for us. Responsible taxation in a linchpin of a democratic society and from a Christian perspective, greater tax justice is necessary and a key response to rising inequality."

Read all of J. Herbert Nelson's remarks on tax justice and the Faithful Budget.

View J. Herbert's remarks on YouTube.

The Faithful Budget principles are available here.