Go Tell It On The Mountain
Monthly Newsletter
Skyland Community Church, United Church of Christ
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Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a. m.
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July 1
10:30 a.m. Communion Worship Service in Whitaker Hall
4th of July Picnic after Service
Deacons Meeting after Service
July 8
10:30 a.m. Family Worship Service
Trustees Meeting after Service
July 15
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
No Potluck (due to July 1st Picnic)
July 22
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
Church Council Meeting after Service
July 29
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
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On September 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Harvest Festival will return with many of the aspects you love, and without some of those that you don’t. There will be a lunch, music, a bake sale, jams and jellies, soaps and lotion and lightly used clothes, housewares, jewelry, books, plants and produce, an auction wall, and wine donated by local vineyards.
The plan is to keep most of the donations coming from within the church to control both the quality and quantity, so will not need the storage “pods” in the parking lot. Donations and sorting will start beginning mid-August on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-12, and Sundays after church.
We are interested in hosting a few community exhibitors, neighbors, businesses, or organizations, to share topics of interest to our community, e.g., bee keeping or chickens, Scouts or 4H, etc. They would not be selling items at the event, but could certainly promote a business or organization.
In addition, we will be exploring an animal adoption event for at least part of the day. If you have a contact at the Santa Cruz animal shelter or SPCA, please let us know. I think it would be great to give the shelter animals a chance at a “forever home” in our beautiful mountains, and this would also be a fun exhibit for children.
The main goal is to reduce the workload on Skyland Church, and make the Harvest Festival a fun day that is everyone can enjoy.
If you would like to be involved, please sign up on the sign-up sheet that will be posted soon in Whitaker Hall.
Cheers,
Deana
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Interim Search Update
After a thorough interview process the Interim Search Committee has recommended that the council approve Reverend Kevin Omi to be our interim minister. The council unanimously agreed.
Although we found all the applicants to be skilled and able transitional leaders we chose Rev. Kevin for several reasons. We especially appreciated his keen understanding of the transition process in conjunction with the ReVisioning process. His communication with us was clear, compassionate and yet directed and purposeful. He listened attentively to our concerns while giving thoughtful feedback to our questions. The ISC felt he was a strong leader with gentle and caring ways, a good fit for Skyland.
Rev. Kevin is finishing his tenure as Senior Pastor of Sycamore Congregational Church in El Cerrito, CA, near Berkeley. He is a graduate of the Pacific School of Religion with a certificate in transitional ministry. Prior to his career in ministry Rev. Kevin spent 30 years in information technology at the executive level.
His passions include leading churches and other organizations through change, pastoral care, spiritual formation, helping others live out the Gospel, and community outreach. His hobbies include cycling, photography, and writing poetry.
He has two adult sons living in the East Bay and will be moving to Redwood City to reside with his long-time partner, Rev. Carol Barriger.
Because Rev. Omi is unable to join us until late September, the ISC also recommended hiring a short-term or Bridge minister, Pastor Jean Jeffress, to lead us from August 5 through September 16 for Sunday worship service and another half day per week of pastoral care. The Council approved the recommendation.
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Pastor Jean Jeffress was recommended by our Associate Conference Minister, Daniel Ross-Jones, upon our request for someone to provide consistent ministry and direction in the time prior to Rev. Kevin’s arrival. She has agreed with input from the Deacons and some limited input from Rev. Kevin to lead us through the early days of transition ministry where we grieve our losses, let go of the past and look forward to the blessings change can bring to us.
Pastor Jean holds a Master’s of Divinity from American Baptist Seminary of the West and is a Member-in-Discernment with the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. Her ordination is approved pending call. Currently she is a part-time research assistant at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland where she lives. Pastor Jean is a Lay Leader in a lay lead congregation at The First Congregational Church of Oakland and is on the list of approved supply pastors for the NCNC.
Pastor Jean is especially passionate about issues of social justice. She was described by her references as being energetic, deeply spiritual, and an excellent preacher. She lives in Oakland with her wife Carol, and her cat Baby Boy.
To learn more about the Interim period, the progress in the search for the Interim Minister and other transitions at Skyland please visit the Transitions page:
http://skylandchurch.com/
transitions/
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Flowers for the Altar
Several Sundays during the summer are open for floral gifts. Please sign up on the calendar in Whitaker Hall. You can check the calendar in the links at the end of this newsletter.
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Missions Board Delivers!
Africa Library Project
We have great books this year! We have completed the first sorting part of the work and will be packing books in the coming week. Hoping to see some of you Tues. July 3rd from 10-12 or Th. July 5th from 9:30-12 as we continue to pack our 1,000-1,200 books for Sierra Leone.
During the summer, we will be collecting the $600 from the congregation for shipping our books to New Orleans where they will put in shipping containers.
Contact: Cindy Siwajek
Local Support
Mental Health Community Action Network in Santa Cruz helps those transitioning into homes.
We are collecting socks, coats and sleeping bags.
If anyone has a diaper changing table we are still looking for one.
Contact: Shannon Edwards
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MEDITATION MOMENT
‘Tis a Fearful Thing
‘Tis a fearful thing
to love what death can touch.
A fearful thing
to love, to hope, to dream, to be -
to be,
And oh, to lose
A thing for fools, this,
And a holy thing,
A holy thing
to love.
For your life has lived in me,
your laugh once lifted me,
your word was a gift to me.
To remember this brings painful joy.
‘Tis a human thing, love,
a holy thing, to love
what death has touched.
Yehuda HaLevi
1075-1141
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NOTE From Your Treasurer
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First month into our new fiscal year, June 2018 through May 2019.
All accounts are near the adopted financial plan.
We are able to accept credit card payments for pledge, general and special offerings if that is more convenient than check or cash. See either Jan or myself after service for these transactions.
Here is our operating finances as of June 27 for our 2018-19 fiscal year.
Summary of Operating Finances
__________June 2018
__________Actual____Planned
Income___$19,324___ $ 19,434
Expenses_$ 18,445___$ 18,349
Net______$___879___$__1,085
Jun 1, 2018 to June 27, 2018
__________Actual______Planned
Income__$ 19,324___ $ 19,434
Expenses _ $ 18,445__$ 18,349
Net_______$___879____$_1,085
Note: These fiscal year actuals do not include non-budgeted special and local Mission gifts and outreach.
Sincerely,
Gerald J. Alonzo, Treasurer
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Skyland Community Church, United Church of Christ
25100 Skyland Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033
phone: 408-353-1310
USPS mail: Skyland Church
P.O. Box 245
Los Gatos, CA 95031-0245
Website
http://skylandchurch.com
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