Fearless Love Calls Us to
Forgive as We've Been Forgiven
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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Weekly Happenings at SHPC
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March 30
, 2017
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Fifth Sunday in Lent
Fearless Forgiveness
Are you holding on to any grudges? What would it take to get to a place where you might want to let go of hurt, anger, being-right-ness?
This Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 9:30 a.m., we explore the forgiveness commandment, and take an honest look at the many ways we avoid following it. We'll examine the costs and benefits of forgiveness through the lens of fearless love - and miracles may happen!
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A Note From
Pastor Bev
There's a great deal of perspective and proportion to be gained from spending several days on a remote island where you boil water from a cistern, have very little phone/email access, and eat mofongo for dinner every night. I've brought back many stories to share with you, first from the PC(USA) national board meeting in San Juan, and then from the island of Culebra.
Culebra is one of the Spanish Virgin Islands, known for the beauty of its beaches and great snorkeling, and also for what it doesn't have: no golf courses, no resorts, no water table, and not much in the way of transportation. We rented a golf cart to get around the island. Yes, there are golf carts, just no golf courses! Food and drink are brought in by ferry and the 2 grocery stores sell out fast. We quickly re-calibrated and came up with a much shorter list of what we really needed.
The season of Lent calls us to take a careful look at what we need and what we want. What do we value most? Where is our heart? And what is the condition of our heart? This is a time for healing and softening. We might be afraid; we might think that a soft heart is a vulnerable heart, and that vulnerability is weak and dangerous. But our Teacher knows better.
It's not too late to give up something for Lent, so why not give up a resentment? All it takes is willingness to let God re-focus us on what matters most: Love.
With Lenten blessings,
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Friday, Mar. 31st
NOON
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Sunday, Apr. 2nd
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
4-6 p.m.
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FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Fearless Forgiveness
Coffee and Fellowship -- All Welcome!
Youth Cook for REST |
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Wednesday, Apr. 5th
7:30 p.m.
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SHPC Singers rehearse - all are welcome
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Friday, Apr. 7th
NOON
5:00 p.m.
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Bible Study
Yoga |
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Sunday, Apr. 9th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
Fearless Love - Blind Expectations
Coffee and Fellowship -- All Welcome!
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Wednesday, Apr. 12th
7:30 p.m.
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SHPC Singers rehearse - all are welcome
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Friday, Apr. 14th
NOON
7:00 p.m.
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GOOD FRIDAY
Bible Study
Service of Scripture, Song, and Prayer |
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Sunday, Apr. 16th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
10:45 a.m. |
EASTER SUNDAY
Fearless Forgiveness
Coffee and Fellowship -- All Welcome!
EASTER EGG HUNT
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Bible Study Friday, March 31 - NOON
Mark 14:1-11, Luke 6:37-42
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Please Remember in Your Prayers
The Rayford Family, for recovery for Prentis, and for God's loving presence, the peace of Christ, strength, and support for Jeri and the family;
The Saunders - Burr Family, for God's love and comfort to be with them as they mourn the loss of Sue's beloved Father, Ron Saunders.
The Ongaro Family, mourning the loss of Phyllis Ongaro, for God's presence and comfort in their bereavement;
Wil Swalberg, for a speedy recovery for a sprained wrist and for God's comfort in his bereavement;
Paul Lambert, for God's comfort as he grieves the loss of his beloved Mother;
Those living in the shadows and fearing deportation, for safety, security for their families and children, a path to citizenship, and sanctuary;
The victims of hate crimes, in Kansas and nationwide, and their loved ones, comfort in their sorrow, and safety and healing for the survivors;
Our country, for a way forward where we live our values of justice and equality for all people; for a well-informed citizenry; for government of, by, and for the people, with leaders of integrity, and for an end to hate crimes;
The refugees and displaced
, almost 1 out of 100 people in the world today, for safety, homes, the basics of life, and freedom from being scapegoated;
Our Muslim neighbors, subject to Islamophobia and hate crimes;
Our planet, the world's poor, all who suffer from disruptive climate change, may we continue our work to keep the planet livable;
Kelsey Lopin, for healing and full recovery from complications of Lyme disease, and for God's abiding presence, comfort, and love;
Andrea Proster, sister of Nancy Elberg, for complete healing, and for Nancy for continued strength in companioning her;
The PC(USA), for the way forward to be illuminated, and for our mission and ministries to be salt and light for the world;
Dr. Doug Tilton, our PC(USA) mission co-worker in Southern Africa;
Our church community, renew us and grant us fortitude to continue to bring light to the darkness in this world.
Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
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Fearless Love - Lenten Series
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Floral art by Flower Guild for Betty Swalberg's Celebration of Life
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FEARLESS LOVE
with quiet time,
space for pondering,
reflection,
prayer,
meditative music,
love songs.
What are you afraid of?
How much power does fear have over you?
Is fear sapping your energy?
Would you love more if you feared less?
How can we grow into fearless love?
Imagine a life without fear. . .
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A gift to One Great Hour of Sharing enables the church to share God's love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and helping to empower the poor and oppressed.
Take a fish bank home, fill it with your change, and bring it back to church on Palm Sunday, April 9.
The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing are the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance,
the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People. All three work in different ways to
serve individuals and communities in need. Learn more about each branch below.
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) receives 32% of funds raised from One Great Hour of Sharing.
PDA enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic event.
PDA is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. that w
orks alongside communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation
of natural or human-caused disasters
PDA works both nationally and internationally. The states in blue below are states currently that have active responses to disaster.
To learn more about PDA, check out their
website.
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Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) receives 36% of funds raised in One Great Hour of Sharing.
Fighting hunger is at the heart of our Presbyterian understanding of mission. Jesus fed the hungry and told his disciples to do the same. Yet, we know that hunger is an extremely complex phenomenon with economic, political and social causes.
We approach hunger holistically with 5 tools:
- Direct Food Relief combined with Root Cause Work
- Sustainable Development
- Advocacy
- Intentional and Sustainable Living
- Education
Employing these tools alongside congregations, partners and local communities, together we can end hunger.
PHA takes action to alleviate hunger and the systemic causes of poverty so all
may be fed.
To learn more about PHP, check out their
website
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Self-Development of People (SDOP) receives 32% of funds raised in One Great Hour of Sharing.
Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People is a ministry that affirms God's concern for humankind. We are Presbyterians and ecumenical partners dissatisfied with poverty and oppression, united in faith and action through sharing, confronting, and enabling by participating in the empowerment of economically poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged people, seeking to change the structures that perpetuate poverty, oppression and injustice.
SDOP Core Strategies:
- Promote Justice
- Build stronger communities
- Seek economic equity
Self-Development is not charity. Rather, it is a ministry in which people join together to share and use the human and material resources God has provided. Self-Development is the freeing of a person to be the kind of person God intended, because all humanity was created in God's image. It is human dignity and worth; it is justice; it is spiritual, social, political and cultural freedom. It partners with those oppressed by poverty, who have decided what they will do to change their situation. It is the Church in action made possible by the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.
SDOP invests in communities responding to their experiences of racism, oppression, poverty
and injustice and educates Presbyterians about the impact of these societal ills. To learn more about SDOP, check out their website.
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LAST REST DATES FOR THIS SEASON
There are only two remaining events for this REST season - on 4/3 (men) and 4/11 (women).
Thanks to all who have already signed up! There is
only one slot let to fill -
Large Fruit Salad
for 34 people (cut up fruit, without sauce or "dressing") for Men's REST on 4/3.
To sign up please go to:
Thank you to all who have helped throughout the season!
REST will return in the fall; see you then!
If you have questions, please contact Shannon Mong at
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YOUTH REST COOKING - FOOD4GOOD - SUNDAY 4-6
Calling all youth! This Sunday,
April 2nd, from
4:00pm - 6:00pm we will be cooking for the last time for the season.
Thanks to all who have joined us this year!
Food 4 Good - Sleepy Hollow's Youth Cooking Program will return to cooking in the fall when the REST program starts up again.
If you have questions, contact
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Thank you to our REST Coordinator - Shannon Mong!
As this year's REST season comes to a close, we'd like to send a big thank you to our faithful REST coordinator, Shannon Mong. Thank you for your time, energy, and love in helping us help and love our un-sheltered neighbors. We greatly appreciate your dedication in your service and your ministry.
As we look to the next REST season in the fall, our wonderful REST Coordinator Shannon is looking to pass the baton onto the next person. Please consider becoming next year's REST Coordinator and helping this wonderful ministry continue in our church, and if you are interested, please contact Patti Vance, Mission Elder by clicking
here.
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NO YOGA THIS
FRIDAY
See you April 7th & 21st
We are taking a break from our Friday evening class this week. My youngest turns 11 and my evening needs to be his, so we can celebrate his wonderful young life. Thanks for understanding!
Join me next Wednesday AM for a community class I am teaching in San Anselmo. It is part of a series of classes taught by students of the Bhakti Nova school of yoga. It is a weekly Wednesday AM class which I will teach from time to time.
Weds April 5
9:30-10:30am
POM Yoga
25 Tamalpais Ave
San Anselmo
$10
Otherwise will meet for yoga next Friday evening, April 7 at Sleepy Hollow Pres. from 5-6pm.
Have a lovely weekend!
Karen x
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Youth Climate Change Summit Sat. April 29
Our own Patti Vance and Ethan Russell are bringing their many gifts to facilitating Marin young environmental leaders in planning and leading the first annual Marin Youth Summit on Climate Change! This event will bring together students, their videos, speeches and projects with global leaders in Climate Change. It will serve as a place where students can learn the tools and science to help spur action in their communities. We hope to inspire and give weight to the idea that youth can create real change, not just in the future, but now.
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All Church Family Picnic
April 30
Save the Date
Redwood Grove at
Samuel P Taylor State Park
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Wil LOVES an invite for lunch or dinner!
Thank you and bless you to all who have reached out to invite him over for a meal. You are lighting up his life!
Sunday our dear Wil, took a small fall during the Marin Hunger/CROP Walk. Determined to finish the 3 mile walk, even after the fall (refusing our request to drive him the rest of the way), Will ended up at the hospital with a lot of pain in his right hand. Except for a bad right hand sprain and a scraped left hand, he is fine.
However, he can't really cook and shouldn't drive probably for at least a week. Therefore, if anyone can make and bring him some meals this week, it would be of great help to Wil.
Click here to sign up to bring him a meal.
And we thank him for his faithful and continuing FOOD BARREL MINISTRY.
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WE ALL LOVE FELLOWSHIP--
PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP OUT
NEW FOLKS - We will match you with a veteran so that you can be trained on our highly complex coffeemaker and have FUN!
Fellowship time is organized by your Deacons. We need everyone to sign-up about 3-4 times a year.
Click below to sign up:
Sign up now and keep the hospitality
going!
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Don't be shy, Greeting is a Treat!
We've updated the signups for the new year!
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!
Thank you all for your continued support,
Jody Brockett,
Worship Elder
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Fresh back from their border trip to the Douglas, AZ/Agua Prieta, Mexico border crossing, League members Barbara Rowe, Linda Jackson and Veda Florez will share their experience at the April membership meeting. Immigration has been a hot topic for the League's Justice Committee for a year now, and will continue to be so as we learn more about national immigration issues going forward. You won't want to miss this one.
Marin League of Women Voters on Monday April 3, 11:30-1:30
4340 Redwood Hwy, San Rafael
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What is God calling us to do about deportations and immigrant detention?
Let's start with study and prayer.
Watch for upcoming Let's Talks!
Our own Dennis Latta has become part of a team visiting immigrants in detention in Richmond. Contact
Bev if you are interested in joining this team.
Communities of faith throughout CA are connecting to share info, pool resources, and work together effectively. Here's a link from that group which is a good starting place:
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It's not too late to sign up for a great lakeside summer treat!
Join us at ZE!
"The best lakefront experience ever"
"Great classes"
"Awesome bike rides"
"Food was not bad and plentiful"
Guess who said which - Dennis Latta, Michael Durphy, Pastor Bev
Hope to see you there!
To learn more or to register for the event
check out their website:
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Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship of men and women who help each other to maintain sobriety through sharing their recovery experience with others.
Looking for more information? Check out the
San Francisco/Marin AA website for more information including meeting times and places, including meetings at Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church every Tuesday at 8:30pm
24-hour hotline is also available for immediate listening and guidance if wished -
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6pm-10am in Marin
415-499-0400
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10am-6pm - SF Central Office
(415) 674-1821
(they will refer Marin callers to Marin resources)
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church
100 Tarry Road
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Katie Brendler,
Editor
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E-mail us at shpchurch@comcast.net or call us at 415-453-8221
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