Dear SVPC Family,
It was so good to get together with so many of you for our online Community Picnic this past Sunday. It felt like we were actually together as we enjoyed our food, caught up with folks we haven’t seen in a while, and listened to a great performance organized by the Music School. Plus, it was wonderful to enjoy the talents and presentations from some of our youngest community members!
Another great moment of sharing last Sunday was being able to present Bibles to our 3rd graders. What a joy to hear their voices and to see how they are growing in understanding and faith! Again, this was done virtually—but it made it so even more of us could see their faces and hear their words clearly. I am grateful for the technological resources of our community.
With Thanksgiving and the Advent season coming up, I know that we will be missing so many other ways that we have traditionally marked the passing of the seasons. But I also know that the pandemic is worsening again, and that an unseen risk threatens so many in our networks who are already feeling the strain of the long months of isolation.
I just want to remind you all that the extra precautions we take now—all the hard decisions to refrain from travel or large indoor gatherings—that these are ways that we are working to keep our whole community safe (even folks whose names or stories we don’t know so well). The hard, wise decisions we make now really are expressions of our care for one another. This kind of care is a living out of God’s will, not our own will.
I know so many of you have been faithful in this effort, that you have supported the decisions of the session for our church, and I am grateful to you for your commitment and care.
Faithfully,
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Dear Friends,
I’m not sure if your memories of Thanksgiving, if you grew up in this country, are of intimate family gatherings or large, crowded tables. I grew up with a large dinner table or multiple tables joined end to end. On Thanksgiving there was always room to squeeze in one more person. Often there were numerous people who had arrived in our country in the past year as refugees and this was their first Thanksgiving meal. I’m sure many of them didn’t care for our traditional foods, but they were gracious, usually eating everything we enthusiastically offered them!
This year will be far from that. It will be just four of us—as it has been for the past eight months. We’re still figuring out what foods we’ll make—deciding which ones feel dispensable and which (like the traditional green bean casserole with the crunchy onions on top—one of my kids loves that!) are much loved and can’t be left out!
But we’re also talking about the holiday differently. Time will tell if we make it through the whole thing, but the kids and I are reading An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz as one part of trying to understand and process our nation’s history differently. And while I haven’t figured out how to easily include some indigenous recipes in our meal, I plan to begin our meal by acknowledging whose land we are on.
Grateful to God for the many ways we feel blessed, I will be thinking of and praying for you and our community—for comfort and strength in our isolation and for joy in our connections.
Peace,
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Leadership Reflections
Wouter de Groot, Elder for Worship Ministry
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My wife and I are expecting our first child in early March, and I wonder what kind of world we will leave for them. Climate change is threatening us all, threatening the very ability of our planet to sustain human life.
It’s a contemplative time, I find, knowing the baby is on the way but not here yet. What kind of example do I want to set? What kind of life do I want to try and model for them? I take comfort knowing there are real, practical things we can all do as individuals to reduce our carbon footprint: buy less, buy sustainable, plant trees, defend objective truth, and so on. Do not wait for collective solutions. Be the change you want to see in the world. Model a life in balance with nature, not endlessly extracting from it.
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Thank you, Toni, for Leading our Children in Song
Children at SVPC have been singing under the direction of Toni Woodruff for the past 18 years. Wow! We have seen Toni leading the children on Christmas Eve and at countless events in the Phoenix Center gym and, of course, in worship. We have marveled at her ability to inspire (and sometimes coax) beautiful singing from our children. With a big smile on her face, Toni managed to stay calm during the many Palm Sunday processionals and countless Christmas pageants. What we will always remember is how she taught our children to worship God in song. Toni has decided it is time to step away from her role as Children’s Choir Coordinator, but we do not have to say goodbye. As a congregation, we will continue to be blessed on many Sundays by her music as she plays her viola in worship.
Thank you, Toni, for your many years of ministry with the children of SVPC.
To sign an e-card for Toni, please edit the Google Slides document here. |
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Community Online Picnic Was a Great Success!
A huge thank you to the Welcome and Hospitality Committee for thinking outside the box and creating a fun, virtual event on Zoom this year. It was great to see festive spaces in each other’s homes including balloons and tattooed faces. A highlight was watching the virtual choir which you can see here. We wrapped up the evening with a talent show that included jokes, trained rats, piano and accordion music, and more! Thanks to all who attended and a big apology to Pat Strandburg whose recipe was unintentionally omitted from the original recipe booklet. It’s been added now and all the recipes can be viewed in the updated recipe booklet here. |
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Stewardship Update
Timblin Kelleher, Church Comptroller
Thanks to so many of you who have already pledged your financial support to SVPC for next year. So far this stewardship season the response has been a bit slower than usual. It’s important for us to hear from everyone if we are to meet our 2021 budget needs. Won’t you join the members and friends of SVPC who have already pledged their financial support for our ministries? Every gift, large or small, makes a difference. If you have not yet made a 2021 financial pledge, please prayerfully consider your response to our Stewardship drive and turn in your card or submit a response online. We remain so grateful for your commitment to support our church and our community.
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This year we are unable to have our annual Thanksgiving dinner due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we would still like to provide Thanksgiving meals. By donating to Our Daily Bread, you will be serving dinner to many in our community who may otherwise go without.
- $20—serves 10 people
- $50—serves 25
- $100—serves 50 people
Learn about ways to donate here. |
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2020–2021 Presbyterian Giving Catalog
Small Gifts. Big Impact.
As Presbyterians, we are people rooted in the grace of Jesus Christ. In our gratitude for God’s grace, we can join in God’s mission in the world. Gifts to the Presbyterian Giving Catalog serve to feed the hungry, confront the brokenhearted, and share faith with all ages. Gifts of kits and tools, relief and assistance, water, empowerment of women and girls, livestock, education and formation, and agriculture are waiting to be given to Christ’s siblings around the world. Imagine giving a gift of a sewing machine, or winter heating fuel, or supplies for a beekeeper, or arts education for young people of color. Visit the Presbyterian Giving Catalog and complete your Christmas shopping list! |
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Fiscal YTD Results
Apr 2020 – Oct 2020 ....................... $K
Church Income .................................. $932
Church Expenses ............................... $906
Church Surplus .................................. $..26
Outreach: PELC/Music School ....... - $504
Combined Organization Deficit ...... - $478
The church’s giving year to date is similar to last year, and continues to cover church expenses. The outreach groups’ deficit reflects the impact of the shutdowns during the spring semester. For the last few months, they have relaunched some programs at a much reduced capacity, and are operating much closer to break even. The good news is that the U.S. Government Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan (to help businesses during the pandemic) is covering our deficit, and we are currently applying for forgiveness of this loan, which we expect to receive.
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Shop for your Black Friday deals through Amazon Smile
Use Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases to SVPC if you list the church as your charity. When shopping with Amazon, just go to smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com. It’s that simple! |
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STAFF PROFILE
Everyone, meet Marsha Dyslin, Safe Church Database Manager since 2015
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Favorite snack or dessert?
My favorite dessert is cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries.
Favorite activity to do at home?
My favorite activity at home is reading, and away from home is sailing.
Favorite music?
The new artists my daughters expose me to!
One superpower?
Ability to travel, quickly!
How do you serve at SVPC?
In addition to the Safe Church Database Manager position, I volunteer at SVPC in Children's ministry, I play in the Handbell Choir, and I will be serving as an elder beginning in 2021.
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UPCOMING "VIRTUAL" EVENTS |
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Ongoing Connections
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Bible Study • Sunday mornings • 8:45–10 a.m. • Email
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Children’s Church • Sunday mornings • 10 a.m • Registration requested but not required • Zoom
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FLASH + CLUE • Sundays • 6 p.m. FLASH (grades 6–8); 7:45 p.m. CLUE (grades 9–12) • Check the Youth calendar
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Black Art from Soul of a Nation • Mondays • November 9–30 • 5–6 p.m. • Email
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College-Age Small Group • Mondays • 6–7 p.m. • Check the calendar
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Men’s Bible Study • Tuesdays • 6:30–7:30 a.m. • Email
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LGBTQIA+ Family and Friends Support Group • 1st Tuesday • 7 p.m. • Email
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Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse families: Morning Coffees • 2nd & 4th Tuesdays • 10–11 a.m. • Email
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JAM (Just Among Moms) • 1st & 3rd Wednesdays • 1:30 p.m. • Zoom
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LOGOS • Wednesdays over Zoom • 5–6 p.m. • Register
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The Well (FLASH + CLUE mid-week program) • Wednesdays • 6:45 p.m. FLASH (grades 6–8) • 8 p.m. CLUE (grades 9–12) • Check the Youth calendar • Note: no meetings on 11/25
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Parents with Pastor Hardy • Wednesdays, November 18, 25, December 2, 9 • 8–9:30 p.m. • Register via email
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MINT (Moms & Intentionality) • 2nd & 4th Wednesdays (no meeting 11/25) • 8–9:30 p.m. • Zoom
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Spice Dinner • 2nd Thursday • 6–8 p.m. • Check the calendar
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Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse families: Evening Coffee • 3rd Thursday • 7:30–8:30 p.m. • Email
Special Events
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Advisor Fall Small Group • November 30 • Sign up
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Youth Ministry Advisor Christmas Party • December 20 • 3–4 p.m. • Sign up
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Resources
Processing the pandemic is a challenge for all of us, but a new children’s book reminds us that we’re not going through it alone. God is With Us Always Even in a Pandemic was written by Miriam Kishi, illustrated by Jim Peterson, and enriched by Lucy Janjigian’s paintings. It’s now available on Amazon or at a discounted rate from SVPC Book Sales. You may place an order with SVPC Book Sales by sending an email to Miriam Kishi. Church staff will mail the book to you in accordance with the Church’s COVID-19 protocol. |
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In Our Thoughts and Prayers...
- Jen Britton for the loss of her close college friend, Linda
- Carolyn Gross for the loss of her daughter-in-law, Leslie Gross
- Continued prayers for Julie Forys, Holden Steffen, and Mildred Prasad
- Frontline and essential workers
Praise...
- For the birth of Reese James Walker to Rebekah and Jason Walker
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Have a prayer request?
In place of the blue prayer cards you filled out on Sundays, please send your prayer requests anytime to prayer@svpc.us. Be sure to include whether your request should/can be:
- Shared confidentially with the prayer team and pastors only
- Listed in the weekly newsletter
- Shared during prayer time on Sunday
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Join Us "Live" for Worship on Sundays @ 2 p.m.
Coffee Hour follows.
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Watch the livestream broadcast of our weekly worship service. No Facebook account is required to watch on SVPC’s public Facebook page. Or you can watch on the SVPC website.
Here’s what to look for when you watch on Facebook.
- Click on the blue Watch on Facebook button (in this email or on the front page of the website). If you don’t have a Facebook account, ignore any prompts by Facebook to log in or create an account.
- You may need to scroll down just a bit to see the Videos entry on the left side. At 1:45 p.m. we’ll already be live and there should be the word “LIVE” in red on the Videos button. Just click it.
- You should see a Welcome to Worship slide dated for this Sunday (November 22). At about 1:50 some music will start. Welcome to worship!
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Would you like to listen to Sunday’s service on your phone?
Follow these instructions on your phone to dial into listen only mode on Zoom:
- Use this phone number: 1-669-900-9128
- Enter this meeting ID followed by #: 668 692 256 #
- Enter # for Participant ID: #
- Enter this password followed by #: 254631#
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