The ParishScope
News & Events from
Arlington Community Church
52 Arlington Avenue, Kensington, CA
Called to be stewards of creation & to build a just society based upon the inspiration of our faith
November 10, 2019 | Issue: 397
*Sunday November 17 @ 11:30 AM
Singing for Dummies
ACC Music Director Shanti Moorjani leads a conversation about the transformative power of singing, including guided chanting. Free CD giveaway with holiday music.

Monday November 18 @ 10:00 AM
Memoir Group- What’s Next?
 “ I’d rather think about what I’m going to do next, ” Bruce Cockburn, age 74, singer songwriter from Canada. Usually, in memoir writing, we look backwards. In November, the almost end of the year, let’s look forward. What do you want to do “next”? Come and share what you plan/want to do next.

Thursday November 21 @ 6:00 PM
Bridge Night
Monthly potluck and bridge play at all levels for ACC'ers and guests.

Friday November 22 @ 4:45 PM
Theology on Tap: The Theology of Friendship
Join Rev. Nate every fourth Friday at The Junket, 235 El Cerrito Plaza, right near Trader Joe’s from 4:45-6:00 pm. Over a beer or soda, we'll talk about a topic related to current events, pop culture, or the life of faith.

This month's topic: The Theology of Friendship . We talk about some jobs in terms of “callings.” We recognize romantic commitments with religious liturgies. We attend baptisms for children. And yet, over the course of a lifetime, friendships can be the most important relationships we have, the most important work we do. In what specific way is God present in the act of friendship? We’ll share our own experiences and learn a bit from a few spiritual writers who have taken on this topic.
Early Thanksgiving Diner
Early Thanksgiving Dinner with our Muslim friends at the Pacifica Institute
(979 San Pablo Avenue (2nd Floor) in Albany).

Saturday Nov 23. Reception at 6:30, Dinner at 7 pm.
Program following, with table discussions. 

We’ve received a gracious invitation to join our friends at the Pacifica Institute as they host an interfaith gathering before Thanksgiving. This event is about friendship and building a peaceful community here in East Bay and beyond. How do we understand gratefulness in our own traditions? How do we build a community that we take care of each other? And more.

This is a free event and there are limited seats. Please RSVP to Rev. Nate ( revnateklug@gmail.com ) ASAP if you are interested. 

Thinking Ahead for ACC's
Christmas Concert & Green Bazaar
December 21, 2:00 - 5:00 PM
The Outreach and Hospitality Team have planned a simple Bazaar for the afternoon of December 21. We will offer cookies for munching as people survey the things for sale. (We will not be serving lunch this year.)

Several “green venders” with things for sale will ring the room. Among the vendors, an ACC table will offer baked goods and hand made items for sale. Please let Linda Young know ( linda.lapp.young@gmail.com  or 510-685-4394)

if you’d like to contribute:

  • Cookies for our guests who attend the Concert and Bazaar, or
  • Baked goods for our ‘sale table’, or
  • Hand made items for the ‘sale table’.  These could include potted plants, jams or jellies, ornaments, cards, other handcrafts.  
2019 North Richmond Christmas
People have dignity when they can purchase gifts/food for their own families.       

Families of North Richmond are very grateful for the partnership that ACC has had with the Neighborhood House of North Richmond since 1960’s. Our ACC Christmas project is part of our partnership. Thank you for your generosity of past years and we invite you to extend the same this year from Sunday November 10th through Sunday November 24th.  

Guest Preacher: Rev. Carol Manahan
Sunday November 17
Rev. Carol Manahan will be sharing the Word with us as a Guest Preacher on November 17 (Rev. Nate will be here to lead the rest of worship). Carol Manahan currently serves as Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at California College of the Arts in Oakland and San Francisco, and coordinates the Ecological Practices minor for undergraduates.

Carol served as Associate Conference Minister, Northern California Nevada Conference UCC, from 2007-2012. In addition to working with churches during interim periods and pastoral searches, she acted as conference liaison for three associations. Carol earned an MA in Art at San Francisco State University, an MDiv at Pacific School of Religion, and an interdisciplinary PhD in Environmental Ethics, Biblical Studies, and Biogeography at the Graduate Theological Union. 
Inquirers Class
Sunday December 8, 11:30 AM
Are you interested in learning more about what it means to join Arlington Community Church? Are you curious about our congregation’s history, and the history of our denomination, the United Church of Christ? Are you interested in sharing a little of your faith journey, and hearing about the journey of others? Rev. Nate will be offering an hour-long Inquirers Class after church on December 8. Please contact him ( revnateklug@gmail.com ) to sign up.
Concrete Project Update
By David Hertzer (Buildings and Grounds/Trustees)
A brief status report of the concrete project is as follows: The concrete work, the deck, and drainage system have been completed. The metal railings are scheduled to be installed on Monday, Nov. 4. The 2 wood railings on the deck will be installed in two weeks. For the landscaping around the patio, bids are now being obtained. After bids are received, a contractor will be selected and work then scheduled. The landscaping should be completed by mid-December.

Many thanks to David for his persistent faith and scrupulous attention to this project.
An Excerpt from “ A Saint's Life
Rev. Nate Klug’s Short Story Sermon on Ephesians 1:11-23
November 3, 2019
The Life of a Saint. Chapter One.

Beep. Beep. Beep.
The alarm goes off.
And just like it does every single morning, it seems louder and earlier than she had expected.
(Especially because the A’s game ended very late the night before!)

She starts to push the snooze button, and roll over for five more minutes of precious weekend sleep.
But then she remembers: today is Sunday.
And it’s not just any Sunday.

Suddenly all the things she has to do this morning start swarming into her head.
Take her older kid to soccer practice.
Drop off her other one off at that SAT prep session.

And last but not least, make it to church in time to set up the coffee hour!