Epiphany!

Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter

Weekly Happenings at SHPC

December 31, 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Epiphany - Where Imagination Meets Insight

On the first Sunday of the New Year, we celebrate Epiphany, a day of revelation, imagination, and insight. The light of heaven shines in the darkness and provides an opportunity for each of us to glimpse truths and gain wisdom which will enliven and enrich our lives. This Sunday, January 3, 2016, at 9:30 a.m., we'll explore our frontiers and experience Epiphany together! Our texts are Isaiah 60:1-6, 19 and John 1:1-18.

In This Issue

Stewardship Update

Bible Study

Prayers

Greetings from Hina Khan-Mukhtar

Grace's Baptism

Pedal for Protein

REST - Sign Ups

Mason Jars Needed

SHPC Book Club Library

Greeters Needed

Meals for Wil

Fellowship Sign-Ups

Paul's Blog

Cook's Cozy Corner

Teen YOGA

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Holy Land Witness

Quick Links

SHPC Website

SHPC on Facebook

SHPC on Youtube

A Note From

Pastor Bev

Monday afternoon I was rushing to get in a quick "God walk" on my favorite trail through the forest before I was on duty for babysitting Grace for the evening. My mind was so busy, I wasn't paying any attention at all to my footing, and I slipped on a slick wooden platform and heard a loud snap as I fell in a heap. This trail is usually deserted, but when I came to, a family of 5 was standing around me and somehow they seemed to levitate me to their car at the trailhead and then drove me home. Grace and I played on the couch for the evening, and she didn't mind at all that I wasn't moving off that couch! This morning something told me to go to the doctor. Seven hours later I am finally back home in a cast with a broken fibula. Wil Swalberg has been telling me to slow down for 4 1/2 years now, and finally, I will have to do it! I am anticipating learning many spiritual lessons over the next 6 weeks, and growing in patience. I'm awed by the kindness of everyone who helped me out since the fall, and I am so grateful.

With many blessings for a New Year

of joy, awe, and wonder,

Bev

December/January Calendar


Thursday, December 31	SAFE NEW YEAR'S EVE TO ALL! Choir resumes next week
Friday, January 1, 2016	HAPPY NEW YEAR! No Bible Study Today
Sunday, January 3 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.	EPIPHANY! Sacrament of Holy Communion Coffee and Fellowship - All welcome! REST cooking for Youth
Thursday, January 7 7:00 p.m.	SHPC Singers - New Singers Welcome!
Friday, January 8 Noon	Bible Study
Sunday, January 10 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.	When God is Well Pleased Coffee and Fellowship - All welcome!
Thursday, January 14 7:00 p.m.	SHPC Singers - New Singers Welcome!
Friday, January 15 Noon	Bible Study
Sunday, January 17 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m.	Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Service Coffee and Fellowship - All Welcome! Let's Talk about Race, Privilege, Power

STEWARDSHIP/PLEDGE UPDATE:

DOUBLE MATCH brings in $7,200!

Just $2,800 needed to trigger DOUBLE MATCH LEVEL TWO!

Last Sunday, Carolyn Goodman again challenged the congregation to forge ahead to our pledge goal by promising

to donate an additional $500 if we raise $5,000 in pledges by January 31, and promising to donate an additional $1,000 if we raise $10,000 by January 31. Luke and Kit Argilla then matched Carolyn for a DOUBLE MATCH!

Our folks rose to the challenge, and as of today, have pledged and/or increased their pledges for a total of $7,200. The $5,000 mark has been achieved, triggering the first level Double Match, so that

$7,200 brings $8,200 to the church, thanks to Carolyn and the Argillas!

This puts us at $122,630 towards our goal for 2016 of $135,000.

THANK YOU to all who have pledged so far! Your commitment to the church strengthens us in our ability to do God's work in the world.

If you have any questions about church finance, please contact Finance Elder Peg Maclise at pmaclise@comcast.net.

No Bible Study - January 1st-
Happy New Year!

Bible Study Resumes Friday, Jan. 8th at Noon - All Welcome!

Please Remember in Your Prayers

All those who are traveling during the holidays - traveling blessings of safety, patience, and human kindness;

Sharon Adams, speedy recovery from surgery;

Betsy Fox, and all the loved ones of Betsy's nephew Evan, especially Evan's mother, father, and brother, for God's comfort in their bereavement;

Jody Schmetz and her family, for God's peace and comfort;

Betty and Wil Swalberg, for God's presence and community support in Betty's transition to Harmony House, and for pain relief for Wil's back;

Kelsey Lopin, for healing and full recovery from complications of Lyme disease, and for her family as they care for her;

Carolyn O'Hara, mother of Laurie, for continued 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 our church community, keep us strong in our commitment to the church, and make us hope-bringers to the world.

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

Back to the top

Greetings and Peace from Friend of SHPC Hina Khan-Mukhtar

On behalf of the Muslim community, I would like to wish my Christian brothers and sisters much joy and many blessings. This year, according to the Islamic lunar calendar, the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was celebrated on Dec. 24. How serendipitous that we honored the birth of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) just one day later. It is our hope that we will all try to live up to the teachings and personal examples of these two beautiful, wonderful teachers so that we may eventually find peace both in this life and in the next. Amen.

--Hina Khan-Mukhtar

Grace's Baptism - Sunday, Dec. 27

Thank you to all for welcoming Grace to God's household! If you missed the celebration, we have beautiful photos by Ethan Russell and Tom McAfee's wonderful video.

Photo above and videography by friend of our church and videographer par excellence, Tom McAfee.

Photography by our own amazing Ethan Russell

$33,643 Raised by Riders in 2015 Pedal for Protein

We commend the participants, especially SHPC's own Patty Sanders, for the great successes of this fundraiser. We are grateful also to the congregations of the Presbytery of the Redwoods for meal preparation, providing shelter, as well as genuine hospitality to the riders.

Keep a look out for next year's annual event! Happening Sep. 18-22, 2016; starting from Mendocino and ending in Napa, Rockville area. Read a full summary here to see how the $33,643 raised by our riders, friends and churches in our presbytery was disbursed via grants including Valley Fire Relief. This year's ride had an increase of 30% in revenue.

DIGNITY, SOLIDARITY, HOSPITALITY, FOOD & SHELTER FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS

Volunteers are needed to cook and serve dinners on Jan 4, and Feb 1, and Feb 9. To sign-up online, please go to: http://bit.ly/RESTprogram
7th-12th grade students can sign up online to prepare food (salad on 1/3, cookies on 1/31) at: http://bit.ly/REST-StudentCooks
NOTE: Our Youth REST cooking Pilot Program is off to a great start and we have more young volunteers than we can accommodate with our limited kitchen. We are looking at ways to grow the program! What a blessing!

With thanks,

Shannon Mong

REST Volunteer Coordinator

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT REST:

Please contact Shannon Mong (shannon@in-sightassociates.com)

The Membership Nurture Team

would love your clean Mason canning jars to re-load with their special bean soup fixins' which they give to visitors! Please leave them in the marked box in the upstairs office.

--Linda Peltzman, Membership Nurture Elder

SHPC Book Club Library

Do you have a book you have read that you would like others to read? Or would you like to pick up a book recommended by someone you know? Join the SHPC Book Club Library; lend a book, borrow a book. You can add a book to the library just by adding a "checkout card" so others will see who else has read this book. You can borrow a book just by stopping by and picking one out. We hope you'll want to discuss the book with others. There is no checkout procedure. It's that simple. The Book Club Library is located in "Pastor Bev's MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM."

--Dennis Latta, Family Ministries Elder

Greeters Needed!

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

A GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

PLEASE SIGN UP TO TAKE A WEDNESDAY DINNER TO WIL -

Or bring HIM home and cook together!

Pictured at right, Wil baking cookies in

Nance's kitchen

Wil is spending most afternoons with Betty at Harmony House, so please call him to arrange a time. And bless you!

WE ALL LOVE FELLOWSHIP -

PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP OUT

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: Robin Abu-Aly Parish

FEBRUARY: Nancy/Frankie Parish

MARCH: Patti Eisinger Parish

What can be "new" in 2016?

One of the most haunting questions after the holidays is what can be different next year? What should be different?

And, how can I play a part in influencing those differences?

Steven Spielberg has said, "Every single year we're a different person" ... really?

I guess when you think about it, I really am. I'm one year older, the career is one year further along, I'm better at discerning right from wrong (as it rears its head in my surroundings), and my thoughts and reflections are more divinely influenced since I've dedicated another year to and with our Bible study group on Fridays at noon.

As I thought about writing a "launching" blog for 2016, I mentally percolated through some of the great themes of scripture and reflected while I was practicing one of Pastor Bev's New Year's resolutions of the past ... which was to "listen".

Yes, shhhhh, listen.

So I listened quietly these last few days to what I consider to be God's whispers and nudges intended to affect me.

A single theme emerged and gripped me. It's found in several different passages of scripture but I'll highlight just 4 of them:

"For whatever a person soweth, that shall they also reap"- Gal 6:7

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly" - 2 Cor 9:6

"Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will be watered" - Proverbs 11:25

And ... the Apostle Paul encourages us "to not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" - Gal 6:9

We reap what we sow, and we are never never to stop sowing.

Meditating on this concept revealed to me what will make me "new" and "different" in 2016. For me, the answer is to SOW and SOW and SOW. Sow creatively, sow unselfishly, sow in small ways, in big ways, and sow with a purpose. The good news is God has gifted each one of us, God's Spirit indwells in us, and actually prays for us (and with us), and empowers us ... as we sow.

Stephen Spielberg also said "When I was a kid, there was no collaboration; it's you with a camera bossing your friends around. But as an adult, filmmaking is all about the talents of the people you surround yourself with and knowing you could never have made any of these beautiful films by yourself."

God asks us to sow, but I believe God has appointed other collaborators to participate in watering, fertilizing, caring for and reaping what we have sowed, along with us.

My friend Tim Storey has said, "Someone is waiting on the other side of your obedience." So, in 2016 I want to be obedient to Gal 6:7 -9; Proverbs 11:25; and 2 Cor 9:6.

If I do, I think I can claim that I am a "different" person, making a significant difference in what I touch and accomplish in 2016.

And for me, that's what's "new" for 2016. How about you? I hope this is helpful.

Happy sowing ... from San Anselmo, California ... 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 Institute 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.

Cook's Cozy Corner

'Tis the season to pass around fruitcake, pound cake, persimmon cake and other dense sweet things. We've had a recent run in our family of recipe sharing for "grandmother's pound cake", which reminds me just how rich those holiday doorstops can be (a pound each of butter, sugar and flour and a dozen eggs). So here's a recipe for a delicious, rich holiday cake that's not so heavy or so caloric. And it takes advantage of the Meyer lemons which are in season right now. And happy cooking in the New Year!

Meyer lemon-ricotta pound cake

In a bowl, mix together:

1 c. cake flour

1/2 c. all purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

In a stand mixer, cream together:

1 1/2 sticks (6 oz.) butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 1/4 c. whole milk ricotta

Beat in:

3 eggs

Then add and mix in:

Zest of 1 Meyer lemon

1 T. lemon juice

1 tsp. almond extract

Add dry to liquid ingredients and mix briefly to combine.

Bake at 350� for about 60 min. (until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean)

After it cools, you can griddle slices in a little butter until golden and serve with fruit compote.

--Michael Durphy

Tween/Teen Girl Yoga with Lizzy and

Aging Gracefully Yoga Return in January

contact the church office to keep posted

"Record storms and human-caused disasters stretch Presbyterian Disaster Assistance resources"

Update from the PC(USA) Disaster Assistance:

Disaster mitigation and response are two increasingly important aspects of facilitating a safe and just environment for those affected by both natural and human caused disasters.

Windham Presbyterian Church in New Hampshire is blanketed by last winter's record snow. -Lavina Miller

Faith-based organizations have played major roles in aiding destabilized regions, and the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is one leading organization. Yet, as stated in this article, "There are only so many times the church can issue direct appeals, and with disaster layering upon disaster, it is difficult for any of us, however generous, to respond adequately to all of the needs. Still, we are deeply grateful for the continuing faithful support of Presbyterians to disaster response-the suffering of many has been mitigated by our joined efforts." 2015 generated a multitude of issues to address, such as the record rainfall, flooding in Texas and snowfall in South Carolina that has impacted congregations' ability to hold services. Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, PDA coordinator, brings light to the issue, saying that the PDA "had to make some extraordinary arrangements because the impact on small, immigrant congregations was huge in the snow-impacted areas."

Human caused disasters are prevalent in the media and occurring more frequently, too. Keep the recent incidences of mass shootings in Charleston, South Carolina, Oregon, the violence in South Sudan, the Syrian refugee crisis and Paris terror attack in your thoughts and prayers and be mindful of those affected.

Check out the full article here:

http://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/12/21/record-storms-and-human-caused-disasters-stretch-p/

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship member provides Israel/Palestine update

A group attends a Sabeel Witness Visit to learn more about the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian community.

This year Donald Meade, a ruling elder of the PC(USA), visited Israel/Palestine for the 8th time in the last 15 years.

In the company of four other American Presbyterians, and people from Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, Australia, and others from the U.S., Sabeel's founder, the Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek led the group on a tour of traditional Holy Land sites while helping participants, as Meade says, "understand the impact of the occupation."

The occupation refers to the Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territories, which has been going on for almost 50 years. To read more about Meade's personal reflection on the trip, click below.

Check out the full article here:

http://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/12/29/presbyterian-peace-fellowship-member-provides-isra/

Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church

100 Tarry Road

San Anselmo, CA 94960

Sophia De Quattro, Editor

E-mail us at shpchurch@comcast.net or call us at 415-453-8221

Visit us at www.sleepyhollowchurch.org