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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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Weekly Happenings at SHPC
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July 16, 2015
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Summer Storytelling Series Continues
Hard Choices and Seriously Bad Ideas
Floods, Fixes, and Fresh Starts
The Bible tells us that within ten generations of Adam, the world that started out so beautifully was a mess. Such a terrible mess of violence, brokenness, and evil, that God regretted creating human beings on the Earth, and God's heart was deeply troubled (Genesis 6:6). The solution? One righteous man (Noah), an ark, and the Great Flood.
This Sunday, July 19, 2015, at 9:30 a.m., we continue our Summer Storytelling Series, Hard Choices and Seriously Bad Ideas, with the story of Noah. When do we give up on brokenness and start over? When are we called to work with what we have, and to repair, restore, and rebuild? Bring your ideas to church this Sunday!
We are delighted to welcome as guest soloist our own Charlotte Phillips, singing with and for us while Stephen Iverson is away this Sunday.
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A Note From Pastor Bev
How many of you watched the Sleepy Hollow Fourth of July parade this year and thought, wouldn't it be great to add a marching band to this parade? Well, folks, why not dream big? I bet many of you have a brass instrument or a drum somewhere in your house which you could dust off and play, especially with a year to practice! And we all know some teens and tweens who play pretty well. This could be great fun! My nephew was the Drum Major of the UC Berkeley marching band in 2013-2014, and he or one of his fellow band members could teach us some moves. Dancers are welcome, baton twirlers, fire eaters (maybe not) -- Don't be shy! Let me know if you are interested! It would be a good way to show that church is doing a lot of good for the community AND that church is fun!
With joy,
Bev
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Thursday, July 16
7:00 p.m.
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Singers ON VACATION until July 30 | |
Friday, July 17
Noon
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Bible Study | |
Sunday, July 19
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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Summer Storytelling Series Continues Floods, Fixes and Fresh Starts Coffee and Refreshments - All welcome!
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Thursday, July 23
7:00 p.m.
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Singers on vacation until July 30 | |
Friday, July 24
Noon
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Bible Study | |
Sunday, July 26
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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Interfaith Conversation with a Muslim Woman of Faith - Shared Values - From Fear to Understanding Bring your Q&A - all welcome! Coffee and Refreshments - All welcome!
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Thursday, July 30
7:00 p.m.
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Choir Practice - New singers welcome! | |
Friday, July 31
Noon
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Bible Study |
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Bible Study - Friday, July 17 - Genesis chapters 6-9,
2 Cors. 5:17-19
Whatever your experience with the Bible might be, you are welcome to come and learn and make meaningful friendships.
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Please Remember in Your Prayers
Larry Mong, for freedom from suffering from his illnesses, and for grace and strength for Shannon and the family as they support him;
Wil Swalberg, for healing for his back and full mobility;
Skye Bailey and her daughters as they mourn the loss of Michael;
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 Marines killed by gun violence in Tennessee and their loved ones;
For all those impacted by gun violence and for an end to the proliferation of weapons in our society;
For those struggling financially, for relief from anxiety and an answer to prayers;
For those struggling with addiction and dependency, for recovery;
For those struggling with mental illness;
For the unhoused community;
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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Interfaith Conversation with a Muslim Woman of Faith
Shared Values; From Fear to Understanding
Sunday, July 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Bring Family, Friends, Neighbors, Questions
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Let's Talk! is off this Sunday July 19, but thanks
Tanya Cothran (Millie Millar's granddaughter)
of Spirit in Action, a micro lender
which has worked wonders in Africa,
and our own Laurie O'Hara, who is working wonders here in Marin - Sonoma, for wonderful presentations last Sunday
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Christmas in July!
Our Flower Guild Hard at Work Planning Advent Art
(Left to Right) Jody Schmetz, Merle Ongaro, Frankie Eakes, Linda Peltzman, Patti Vance, Peg Maclise, and not pictured, Millie Millar
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Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Hebrews 13:3
Places to start:
(1) Bryan Stevenson's book Just Mercy, his organization Equal Justice Initiative, and their website http://eji.org/ Stevenson: our criminal justice system treats the rich and guilty better than the poor and innocent. EJI frees innocents from death rows, plus much more.
(2) A good look (great pie chart) at who is incarcerated in the USA (highest per capita incarcerated population in the world) can be found at http://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie.html Note the number awaiting trial/not convicted is 428,312. And that 94,600 of 216,362 in federal prison are incarcerated for drug offenses.
(3) SB124 would limit juvenile solitary confinement in California to 4 hours per day and provide tracking data - Sen. Leno of SF is sponsoring SB124 and it has passed the State Senate, and last week, the Assembly's Public Safety Committee. It should come up for vote in the State Assembly in August, and we need lots of phone calls and emails in support to Assemblymember Marc Levine: http://asmdc.org/members/a10/
(4) National Religious Campaign Against Torture has taken their solitary confinement replica on the road; they are collecting signatures to end prolonged solitary confinement at http://www.nrcat.org/
(5) An excellent local organization engaged in incarceration prevention as well as lessening suffering for inmates and families during incarceration and help with re-integration into society upon release is Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland at http://ellabakercenter.org/ On their website at About Us, they say the problem is mass incarceration, and the solution is JUSTICE REINVESTMENT.
(6) Project Avary in San Rafael serves children of incarcerated parents and needs support - at http://www.projectavary.org/
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Justice Garden Update
Thank you so much to ALL for supporting the Justice Garden farmstand in our Fellowship Hall each Sunday. It's a delight to harvest such good greens, beans, and squashes and see them go home to nourish our folks! The garden is thriving and our busy season of harvest and Butterfield Road farmstand is right around the corner. If you feel called to help out, please contact Patti Vance at pv3@comcast.net
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Thank You! SB 124 to end cruel Juvenile Solitary Confinement has now passed the California State Senate and the Assembly Public Safety Committee - Stay tuned for the vote on the floor of the Assembly next month!
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Greeters Needed for the 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
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FELLOWSHIP ALERT! WE NEED 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.
JULY: Marie Ongaro
AUGUST: Robin Abu-Aly
Sign up now and keep the hospitality going!
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ALERT!!! WE NEED WEDNESDAY MEALS for WIL AND BETTY!
Wil and Betty are pillars of our church family, and we are so grateful for their food barrel ministry and their Cents-ability ministry. 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 urgently needs more volunteers!
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SF-Marin Food Bank Update
Thank you Wil and Betty for bringing a total of 108 pounds of dry and canned goods to the SF-Marin Food Bank!
Check out the SF-Marin Food Bank website for more information about this wonderful organization: sfmfoodbank.org
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Prayer is Like Jumping Into a Swimming Pool...Splash!
On a hot summer day there's nothing more enjoyable than diving into a swimming pool, making a big splash, and coming up for air. Imagine for a minute that all the water splattering around you is God's reassurance, God's protection, and God's encouragement.
When I bow my head and pray (at about 5:30am each morning), I visualize this actual scenario and feel totally surrounded by God's presence. I am able to shut out the chaos and focus on God (and the splashing water)!
If you can escape to a place where you can be alone with God it makes praying so much more rewarding. Imagine just you and the person who loves you the most being together to chat and address whatever is on your mind.
Jesus tells us "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (Matt 6:8). And in the Old Testament God declares "Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear" (Isa 65:24).
I know prayer makes a big difference in how I feel, how I handle different situations, whether I am calm or anxious, and whether I am able to keep my priorities in perspective. Let's pray more. Let's come as we are, hair messed up, tired, or overwhelmed with certain problems and issues. When you don't have a clue about the right answer ... pray. When you have a big decision coming up in the near future ... pray. When you want to tread wisely when dealing with explosive personalities ... pray.
The Bible says, "Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you or forsake you." (Duet 31:6). "The spirit helps us in our weakness, even when we do not know what to pray for, the spirit intercedes for us." Rom 8:26
God is our ally, God is faithful, God is wise. I'm always uneasy when I feel God is raising His voice to me and saying "Paul, are you listening? ... hey, listen up!" It is in my quiet time with God that I hear those words, and freeze on the spot. But it is also during those times when I hear from the Lord "never give up," and "trust in me with all your heart" and "I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I am with you always."
So think of this as you make that next splash in the pool this summer. I promise it will not only be refreshing, but reassuring.
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.
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Prophetic Spirituality: Transforming Self, Transforming Community
July 20-23
There is still time to register for the July 20-23 Program in Christian Spirituality Retreat taking place Monday through Thursday, July 20-23. Please contact Ruth T. West at rwest@sfts.edu, or 415.451.2838. Scholarship opportunities are available. Please help us get the word out about this amazing event! Forward this email to anyone who think may be interested.
Register Here
As part of God's creative community, how do you...
- Faithfully engage realities of hatred, oppression, and indifference;
- Help your faith community make a difference in issues of injustice and peace;
- Overcome obstacles to "love your neighbor"?
Poverty, violence, race relations and mass incarceration are crucibles for understanding how faith sustains and transforms us to live fearless and abundant lives.
Explore empowering spiritual practices for the transformation of self and community through presentations, worship, readings, and exercises.
Click here for complete retreat information.
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ISFC: Lammas Day Harvest Party
July 25
Come join us and learn how to hand harvest heirloom wheat! Young and old alike are welcome!
Saturday, July 25
10:00am-4:00pm (or come for a few hours)
The Bishop's Ranch
5297 Westside Road
Healdsburg, CA
Please RSVP to elizabethderuff@gmail.com by July 22nd so we can order enough lunch
Visit the What's Up With Wheat website for more information: whatsupwithwheat.com
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Interfaith Counseling Center:
Growth, Hope and Healing
The Interfaith Counseling Center offers a variety of services to promote the healing, growth, and wholeness of individuals, couples, families, and congregations. All services are non-denominational, inter-religious, confidential, and available to persons without regard to race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. A sliding scale of fees for service is available.
Birthdays and Aging
The Journey into Age: Perspectives on aging change. New categories are being explored, like being a "novice senior," that is, someone over 65 but below 80.
The lifestyles that we adopt, the habits that we create can have a direct effect on the aging process. Navigating the choices, options, alternatives and elections that help smooth the aging process is complex and often bewildering. For example, transitioning into retirement, managing the stress of becoming a caregiver to a beloved partner or parent, avoiding isolation, and appointing the proper executor for estate matters and health care are all difficult rites of passage.
There are helpful guidelines, strategies and perspectives that can help you sort out these challenges and support you as you determine the best course of action for you and your family.
- Nancy Rhine, MS, CPG LMFT #51127, nancyrhine@aol.com,
(415) 378-6577
- Joyce E. Thomson, RScP, MFT #37969, Rosen Method Bodywork,
joycethomson@sbcglobal.net, (415) 384-0953
- Ruth Schweitzer-Mordecai, MA, MDiv, MFT #21841, livingfromwithin.com (415) 258-9382
- Barbara E. Nelson, MA, MFT #33773, tendingrowth@earthlink.com
(415) 332-4194
Note from Pastor Bev - Our own Jan Ardell is a great resource for those seeking help with gambling addiction - from shame to healing!
Contact Jan Ardell, MFT #M16147, janardell@yahoo.com, 415-233-0384
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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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