A Legacy of Love
Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
Weekly Happenings at SHPC    
June 11, 2015

Connecting Across the Generations 

Creating a Life and Legacy of Love

 

     King David is one of the great heroes of the Bible, lauded for his good looks, his remorse over missteps, and his noble leadership, surpassing all others.  But at the end of his life, everything falls apart.  The King is old and weak and the power struggle to determine his successor is brutal.

 

     This Sunday, June 14, 2015, at 9:30 a.m., we'll explore how we can avoid his missteps, and build a life and legacy of love, harmony, and hope.  We are never too young or too old to create the life we have been called to lead, and to inspire others with our lives.

 

     Don't miss Let's Talk with Thom Taylor, J.D., M. Div., trusts and estates attorney and advisor on end-of-life issues, this Sunday at 10:45 a.m.  It's never too soon to find out How to Create a Family Legacy of Peace and Harmony.

 

In This Issue
Quick Links
Bev piano
A Note From Pastor Bev

 

For many of you, it's Graduation time, and I send you and all the graduates and their extended families congratulations and blessings.  This is a big accomplishment and a big transition, so keep coming to church.  Let us be a constant when things are changing in a big way.


 

Our Mexico Mission homebuilders depart this Saturday morning at about 6:45 a.m. from the church, and all are welcome to be here to send them off with prayers and love.  And with a delicious breakfast, thanks to Frankie Eakes, Jody Schmetz, and Sharon Adams.  Please take a moment to thank them; they are all officers of the church and serving in so many capacities, and it is a great kindness on their part to provide this breakfast, too.  


 

We'll be praying for our MM team as they build two houses for families in need in northern Mexico.  We are so grateful for their courage and commitment to bringing about a more kind, just, and peaceful world, one house, one family, one act of goodness at a time.

 

In peace,

Bev 


June Calendar

Thursday, June 11
7:00 p.m.


Choir Practice - New singers welcome!

Saturday, June 13
6:00 - 7:00 a.m.


Mexico Mission departure

Sunday, June 14
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
1:00 p.m.
3:30 -4:30
4:30 till dark


Creating a Life and Legacy of Love
Coffee and Refreshments - All welcome!
Church Picnic -Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Singalong with Stephen Iverson
Dinner and s'mores

Thursday, June 18
7:00 p.m.


Choir Practice - New singers welcome!

Friday, June 19
Noon


Bible Study

Sunday, June 21
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.


Mexico Mission Return Service
POTLUCK Return Brunch - All welcome!

Thursday, June 25
7:00 p.m.


Choir Practice - New singers welcome!

Friday, June 26
Noon


Bible Study

Sunday, June 28
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
10:45 a.m.


Where Judaism and Christianity Meet
Coffee and Refreshments - All welcome!
Let's Talk! about Liberty w/Howard Schwartz

 

 

Bible Study - Friday, June 12 @ Noon - 1 Kings 1 - King David and the Struggle for Control; Ephesians 4:1-3


 

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

 
Please Remember in Your Prayers
Praying Hands


Our Mexico Mission Homebuilding Team, for safe travel and for a blessed trip from June 13-20; 

Larry Mong, for freedom from suffering from his illnesses, and for grace and strength for Shannon and the family as they support him;

Lesli, Brandon, and their daughter Lindsey Dumler as they mourn the loss of their son and brother, Preston;
Kit Argilla for healing and full recovery;

Wil Swalberg, for healing for his back and full mobility;

Wanda Latta for successful surgery, healing, and full recovery;

For the family and friends of Carolyn Goodman's Auntie Wilma, for comfort in their bereavement;

Marie Ongaro for healing and full recovery;

Skye Bailey and her daughters as they mourn the loss of Michael;

Chris Lopin, and his father and family as they mourn the loss of Chris's mother;

Cat Caldwell and her father and family as they mourn the loss of Cat's mother;

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 blessed assurance of God's constant presence;

For the poor and homeless world-wide;

For everyone in family conflict;

For the imprisoned and those in detention and their loved ones;

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.

   

Back to the top 

 
Join us for the 3rd Annual 
"Church in the Redwoods" Picnic

 

Sunday, June 14

1:00 p.m. - Games and Hiking

3:30 p.m. - Singalong w/Stephen

4:30 p.m. - Dinner and S'mores

Samuel P. Taylor State Park - Redwood Group Picnic Site

 

Wear your hiking shoes or your bocce shoes, bring sunscreen and jackets, and let's play games, hike, sing, BBQ and have fun together!  Bring what you want to BBQ and bring a potluck dish to share. Water, iced tea, and decaf coffee will be provided. Other drink selections welcomed; there will be an ice chest available. We will plan to have an early dinner together and a camp fire after.

 

Other suggestions:

camp chairs, jackets, games, bikes, guitars, books

 

See you there!

Elder Linda Peltzman, 

Membership Nurture 

 

 
Let's Talk! this Sunday, June 14 at 10:45 a.m.
Thom Taylor, J.D., M.Div., trusts and estates attorney
How to Create a Family Legacy of Peace and Harmony

 
 
CALLING FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS - WE NEED YOU!
Please Sign up now for "REST Plus" in June and July!

 


SHPC is stepping up to host the temporary shelter for men on 7/6 at St. Anselm's School Gym, serving 40 guests at these events.  On 6/29 and 7/27 we'll be hosting the women's program, which will remain at the county's Health & Wellness Campus in San Rafael. As during the regular season we anticipate serving 20 guests each evening.  In addition to preparing and bringing a dish to the site, the volunteers are on-site from 5-8pm to welcome and say a blessing with our un-housed neighbors, serve and share the home-cooked meal, and then clean up.

 

You can sign up now to volunteer one or more of these dates at our online sign-up site: REST Plus sign-up

 

If you'd like more information about what's involved with volunteering, or anything else related to the REST program), please contact Shannon Mong at [email protected] 

 

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.

Mission Trip

Saturday, June 13 to Saturday, June 20

 

Upcoming Important Dates:

 

Departure

Saturday, June 13 @ 6:30 am

Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church

 

Arrival

Saturday, June 20 @ TBD

Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church

 

Mission Return Service and Brunch

Sunday, June 21 @ 9:30 am

Mandatory Attendance - Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church

 

 

 

Completed forms can 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.
 

Forms can be found here.

 

Please contact us if you have any questions.  

 

Mark SarkisianAllie Duro
Cell Ph: 415.812.3395Cell Ph: 415.497.5006
Email: [email protected]Email: [email protected]

 

Greeters Needed for June 21, 28, and month of July

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
CALLING FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS - THE CHURCH NEEDS YOU!
Let's keep our church 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.

 

JUNE: Nancy Elberg/Frankie Eakes

JULY:  Marie Ongaro

AUGUST: Robin Abu-Aly

 

Sign up now and keep the hospitality going!

 

NEW FOLKS - JOIN THE SIGN UP TO TAKE MEALS TO WIL AND BETTY!
 
Thank you and bless you to all who have signed up to take a hot meal and your love to Wil and Betty on Wednesday nights. The online sign up sheet has been updated and is ready for more volunteers!


 

There's No Need to Pretend Any Longer

 

I see many people masquerade under the guise of a pseudo personality. They aren't really trying to be deceitful, but over a period of time they have evolved to a point that they are impersonating a personality that really isn't their own. 

 

Have you ever done that?

 

Judy Garland always said, "Be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else." Another great quote is "Be who you are ... and say what you feel ... because those who mind don't matter ... and those who matter don't mind" (Bernard Baruch).

 

The Bible says, "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart," I Samuel 16:7.

 

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from God but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" I John 2:15-17.

 

Our worth and value is not in what we are - but who we are in Christ. Don't allow how others treat you, or their opinions of you to lower your opinion of yourself and take away your self worth. See yourself as God sees you. God doesn't want us to focus on what's wrong with us - but what's right with us.

 

So ... there's no need to pretend any longer that you are not talented, or not good looking enough, or too shy to be effective in life, for "we are more than conquerors through God who loves us" Romans 8:37.

 

Let's all have a new perspective on ourselves, know we are loved, unique, and are exactly who God made us to be.

 

From Atlanta ... your friend Paul

 

 

 

Paul Lambert is a member of SHPC who travels extensively for his career as a producer of Broadway-bound musicals.  He is a graduate of Moody Bible College who studies the Bible daily and attends our Bible Study whenever he's in town. He posts this blog each week no matter where he is, to the delight and comfort of many.  SHPC thanks you, Paul.


 

Act Now for Presbyterian Pastors Imprisoned in Sudan - Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Yen Face Death Penalty


 

Click here to call for the release of Reverend Michael and Reverend Yen!

 

Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Yen of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church were arrested by the Sudanese National Intelligence Service (NISS) in Khartoum, Sudan on 21 December 2014 and 11 January 2015 respectively. They were charged on 1 March in Khartoum with eight offences under the 1991 Penal Code. They are charged with committing joint acts in execution of criminal conspiracy; undermining the constitutional system; waging war against the state; espionage against the country; disclosure and obtaining information and official documents; promoting hatred amongst or against sects; disturbance of the public peace;, and insulting religious creeds. The offences of waging war against the state and of undermining the constitutional system carry the death penalty, while the other six offences carry flogging sentences. It is believed that the two pastors were arrested and charged due to their religious convictions. The two pastors were held incommunicado by the NISS until 2 March, when they were transferred to Kober prison and permitted their first family visits.


Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Yen went on a hunger strike for two days on 28 and 29 March objecting to their continued detention without trial and to their lack of access to lawyers. They are both now being represented pro-bono by a team of lawyers. They have been to court twice, on 19 May and 31 May. Their next court appearance is on 15 June.

 

Amnesty International considers Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Yen as prisoners of conscience, arrested, detained and charged solely because of their peaceful expression of their religious convictions.

 

Please write the President, the Secretary of State, and your members of Congress and urge them to:

 

Call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Yen and drop all charges against them;

 

Ensure that pending their unconditional release, Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Yen are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment.

 

Click here to send a message today!

 


 

**Alert courtesy of Amnesty International

Brick by Brick, Nepal Fights to Rebuild
Donations to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) gladly accepted 

 


 

Following April's earthquake, young Nepalis organized to bring help and hope where aid groups couldn't. Please click on the link below to view the NY Times video that documents the effort to rebuild Nepal:


To give to PDA: Financial support for relief efforts can be designated to DR999999 with reference to Nepal. Gifts can be made online, by phone (800) 872-3283 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (EST), or checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburg, PA 15264-3700.


Connecting Farm to Fork: A Forum on Building a More Just and Sustainable Food System

 

Monday, June 22

6:30-9:00pm 

First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael

1510 Fifth Avenue

Suggested Donation: $5.00 - $20.00

 

There will be a film screening of Ripe for Change, followed by a panel discussion featuring: 

  • Armando Nieto, Community Food and Justice Coalition
  • Janet Brown, Marin Food Policy Council Chair and Allstar Organics farm owner



 

The film, Ripe for Change, raises important questions about the sustainability of our current food system, addressing topics such as chemical farm inputs, the loss of the family farm, changing food paradigms, atrazine in the environment, and GMOs. Moreover, the film features diverse perspectives of family farmers, scientists, and policy experts who advocate for alternative models of local food production and marketing. It also highlights farmers who have connected with congregations in Marin City and San Anselmo to deliver affordable, culturally appropriate food, including Dru Rivers of Full Belly Farm and Will Scott, of Scott Family Farm and President of the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association.


 


Please call (707) 634-4672 or email us for more information about this event or our organization.

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative Team


 

 

Thank you to all who contacted your State Senators!  Our
State Senate Passed Senate Bill 124 to End Youth Solitary Confinement!  Now on to the Assembly - More Help Needed!


 

Yesterday, the state Senate passed Senate Bill 124 by a vote of 26-13 to limit the solitary confinement of youth in California's prisons!

 

Thank you for your emails and calls to your Senators, and for spreading the word to your friends! We would not have won this important first victory without your support.

 

Thanks also to Senator Mark Leno for his leadership, and to the other co-sponsors, Children's Defense Fund-California, Youth Justice Coalition, and the California Public Defenders Association, for their efforts to support this bill. 

 

Next, the bill is headed over to the state Assembly. There will be at least 3 votes. 

 

To make sure that lawmakers know that we want an end to this cruel and inhumane practice, we are gathering 1,000 letters from youth and allies across the state with their stories about why we need to #EndYouthSolitary.

 

Please send a letter to break youth out of solitary confinement today.

 

You can use this form to create your statement, or you can mail a letter to our office: Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, 1970 Broadway, Suite 1125, Oakland, CA 94612. For the letter to be presented in legislative committee, it must be signed.

 

So far we have collected 303 letters-please spread the word and help us get to 1,000!


 

With appreciation,


 

Jennifer Kim
Director of Programs
Ella Baker Center for Human Rights

Interfaith Counseling Center:

Sometimes "the Good Old Summertime" Provides an Excuse to Party and Overindulge


 

The Specter of Addiction: Are you or someone that you care about in the throes of an addiction to food, internet, gambling, shopping, work, alcohol or sex? The bad news is that such behavior tends to be progressive; the good news is that issues of dependency and co-dependency can be treated.


 

The counselors below may be able to help:


Natalie Harvey, MSD, MFT #53575[email protected];  415-747-5182

 

Barbara Nelson, MA, MFT #33773[email protected];  415-332-4194

 

Ruth Schweitzer-Mordecai, MA, MDiv, MFT #21841[email protected]415-258-9382


Jim Burns, MA, MFT Intern #55688; 415-494-8599

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