This Sunday, June 11, 2017, at 9:30 a.m., we'll explore how the gift of the Holy Spirit fills us with insight, clarity, direction, energy, courage, and even humor! The Spirit gives us spiritual sight so that we can bring wisdom to all areas of life. The Spirit guides and directs the church towards God's way for the church and fills the church with life and zest. What a gift!
Many years ago, I was listening to Melba Beals, who walked with Dr. King during the civil rights movement. She paused before describing him, and then said, "He had spiritual sight." She gestured to indicate that he saw above the heads of all the rest of the folks, and had access to something closer to a God's-eye view of the world.
Last Sunday we had a wonderful celebration of the Mexico Mission team. Thank you to ALL who made it memorable, especially our rappers Jen Boynton, James Baigrie, and Sharon Hamilton, accompanied by Bill O'Callaghan. We talked about several ways that Alexander Hamilton, Jesus, and our MM team are alike; a key similarity is the gift of seeing beyond racial ethnic boundaries. In a time when slavery was accepted and justified by the white supremacy myth, Hamilton wrote that blacks had the same natural abilities as whites. Jesus almost got hurled over a cliff for preaching that God's grace extends outside the synagogue (Luke 4:14-30). And our MM team is crossing a border to say no to scapegoating our Mexican neighbors. All this happens because of spiritual sight, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Let's welcome the gift of the Spirit, which propels us forward onto God's path with no fear of change or differences, and with a great joy for life and for doing God's work in the world!
In the Spirit,
Bev
June Calendar
Friday, June 9
NOON
Bible Study
Saturday, June 10
6 a.m.
MEXICO MISSION DEPARTURE
Sunday, June 11
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
Visions and Dreams; Holy Communion Coffee and Fellowship -- All are welcome!
Wednesday, June 14
6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Session Meets at Church SHPC Singers- All Welcome
Friday, June 16
NOON
Bible Study
Saturday, June 17
TBD in the p.m.
Welcome Back Mexico Mission Team!
Sunday, June 18
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
Mexico Mission Return Service & Potluck Brunch
Bible Study Friday, June 9 at NOON
Acts 2:1-17
Please Remember in Your Prayers
Our graduates, congratulations and blessings!
Our Mexico Mission home builders, blessings for travel, mission, growth, connection, and community;
Katie Brendler, may God's loving presence and comfort abide with her and her family as they mourn the loss of Katie's dear Father;
Jeri Rayford and her family, grieving the loss of Prentis, for God's loving presence, strength, and support in their bereavement;
Jody Brockett and her family, grieving the loss of Jody's mother Jeanne, prayers for the family to feel God's comfort and peace;
Shannon Mong, for complete healing for her left hand, and for God's presence, support, and assistance in not over-working while healing;
Kelsey Lopin, for continued flourishing, creativity, and energy as she pursues her education and excels in art;
Andrea Proster, sister of Nancy Elberg, for complete healing, and for Nancy to continue to feel God's abiding presence in companioning her;
The hungry, especially all those depending on the US government for food aid here and abroad;
Those fearing loss of medical insurance, for accurate information and honest, humane decision making by our leaders in Congress;
Those living in the shadows and fearing deportation, for safety, security for their families and children, a path to citizenship, and sanctuary;
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;
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, for the Spirit to continue to guide us and fill us with energy for mission!
Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
Mexico Mission Next Gathering: Breakfast and Departure
Sat. June 10, 6:00 a.m.
SHPC
We are looking for a couple more volunteers to help with the Saturday June 10 6 a.m. breakfast -- Please contactFrankie Eakes or
Nancy Elberg if you are available to help. This breakfast is a gift of love to the MM team and much appreciated!
Our team will be in Mexico Sunday through Friday, and you can follow them on their blog
SHPC Mexico Mission Trip.
The team plans to return Saturday, June 17th in the afternoon, time TBD, but MM leaders will make sure the parents get the ETA.
Please join us Sunday, June 18th at 9:30 a.m. for the Mexico Mission Student-led Return Service and Potluck Brunch following the service. Thank you to those who have volunteered to set up and clean up, and to all for bringing something yummy.
You can still donate to support the trip online or if you prefer, by checks.
If you are donating to a specific person, please note their name in the comment section of the donation page or memo line of the check.
checks (MM on the memo line): Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church, 100 Tarry Rd, San Anselmo CA 94960
CHURCH FINANCIAL RESILIENCY EDUCATION, DISCUSSION, AND DISCERNMENT CONTINUES:
Watch this space for the date of the final financial resiliency Let's Talk.
Thank you to the participants who came to June 1 meeting. For those that could not make it, please take a look at the Discussion Paper:
Discussion Paper.
Dennis Latta
Clerk of Session
Interfaith leaders speak out on White House decision to withdraw from Paris climate accord
PC(USA) Stated Clerk says it represents a setback in environmental advocacy by Rick Jones | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE - President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accord is being met with harsh criticism from church leaders who have been strong advocates for the agreement and environmental causes. The president announced the decision yesterday saying the agreement favored foreign countries while hurting American workers.
"The president's statement is a disappointment and represents a setback to our work as well as the work of other interfaith and ecumenical groups on the issue of the environment," said the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, stated clerk for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) "But we will not be deterred. We will continue to work toward building an environmentally safe world, creating jobs and a new economy based on clean air and building on a more environmentally safe nation and world."
Nelson recognized leaders within the PC(USA) that have dedicated years working toward cleaner air.
"I'm grateful for the work the PC(USA) has done with regards to climate change and environmental issues, through its continued work across the globe," he said. "Specifically, I'm grateful for the delegation that went to the Paris accords and represented us well, setting the tone for the current work that we are doing."
In December 2015, two Presbyterian staff members, Rebecca Barnes, who served as associate for Environmental Ministries, and Bill Somplatsky-Jarman, former coordinator for Mission Responsibility Through Investment, attendedthe 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris. The two, along with other faith-based representatives from nearly 200 countries, discussed the impact of climate change and possible solutions.
During COP 21, the PC(USA) delegation discussed how the church's work is affected by climate change. Barnes said more than half of all the international grant proposals received in 2015 by the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) made "at least a mention" of the worsening effects of climate change on food and water scarcity. She added that Presbyterian Disaster Assistance responds to national and international disasters - both natural and human caused, and the number of violent weather events has increased in recent years.
Barnes, who now serves as coordinator for the Presbyterian Hunger Program, says this is a moment to lament, to raise a moral voice about the ongoing imperative for climate action in every nation, and to move forward in hope and action.
"When I attended the United Nations climate talks, I was very impressed by the cooperation, hard deliberations, honest conversations and hard-fought agreements that the world's nations came to," she said. "Being there in person was impressive - to see businesses, governments and citizens come together in common cause for all of our well-being."
Barnes says the global climate change agreement is necessary for the earth's future survival.
"Those of us who represented the religious communities from the U.S. spent much time in prayer as well as arguing for the moral mandate to care for thepoor and vulnerable who suffer the most from climate change," she said. "We believe as Christians and as American citizens that it is our sacred obligation to do our part in the world's healing because our country has done much to hasten climate change with our greenhouse gas emissions."
This just in from KC Vlah, mom of Piper and Paige Kelly:
Mission accomplished! Today we dropped off 6+ bags/boxes of book donations to the Short School. (Piper and her friend asked for book donations in lieu of a gift for their 10th birthday.)
Vanessa (principal) seemed really pleased with the quality of books and shared that many of the students don't have books at home and this will allow them to take more home. She toured us around. What a sweet school!
Please welcome our new interim office administrator and communications associate, Kara New, who is our newsletter editor while Katie Brendler is away. Kara is a rising senior at Dominican University, majoring in communications and media, and she is currently interning for the Warriors AND the SF Giants! You can reach her at the office email,
Members needed to count the offering and deposit the funds in the bank each week. You'll be teamed up with a veteran! Contact
Doug or
the office if you are interested in this important way of serving the church.
Wil has moved!
Wil would like you to know that he has moved to Alma Via in Terra Linda. YES, he still plans to come to church! At Alma Via, he'll have 3 meals a day, and so now he'll be inviting US to eat with him! Please call the church office to get his new cell phone number.
And thank him for his Food Barrel ministry!
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.
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!
Improv Marin brings people together through spontaneity. They produce improv workshops, performances, and events to educate, entertain, and inspire the people of Marin (and beyond) to work and play better together.
Friday, June 16th and 30th, 8:00pm- 9:45pm, West End Studio Theater
Burgers, hot dogs, favorite beverages, ice cream, music and the Pool!
Cooked & Served by your Sleepy Hollow Homes Assoc. Board & Neighbors
SHHA Members Receive 2 Free Beverage Tickets.
JOIN NOW at shha.org or at the Party
July 4: See or be seen in the Sleepy Hollow Parade, then join the all-day party at the pool.
August 4: The beat goes on, Friday: 6:00-9:00 pm
Join us at ZE!
A spectacular setting and the friendliest folks
Pastor Bev is teaching a class on Transformation in favorite stories from sacred text and sacred art, and we'll be sharing our own "turning point" stories.
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 -
·6pm-10am in Marin 415-499-0400
·10am-6pm - SF Central Office (415) 674-1821 (they will refer Marin callers to Marin resources)
