After a Busy Summer 

Our Skyland fall schedule is a bit different from most churches'. They go on vacation in the summer and return full of energy for the fall in September. We work hard in the summer, our efforts culminating in the huge Harvest Festival project, followed by an early fall of catching our corporate breath before the holiday season begins. While we are recovering from the summer's big events, I hope you will enjoy some opportunities to renew soul and Spirit in October. 

Some of these you can read about elsewhere in this newsletter. Matt Colbran-Patterson will be speaking about his summer internship in Africa at the Community Center on the 11th. We will have guest speakers coming for our worship service on Oct. 13, and will be moving our potluck to that Sunday so we can continue our fellowship with our guests during that time. We also will have a guest speaking after church on the 20th, helping us to make plans for end of life care. We will bless and dedicate those forms on the 27th. 

I will preach on "The Beatitudes" found in Matthew 5:1-10 using a wonderful, fresh translation called The Unvarnished Gospels by Andy Gaus. I recommend this book for a new look at the gospels.

We will also have the opportunity to participate in two wider church events coming up. Many of you will remember Pam Nates, who was one of our first interns. She will be meeting with delegates and visitors of the Santa Clara Association of the UCC on Oct. 13 at an Ecclesiastical Council, the purpose of which is to examine her for ordination. The Council will be at 3 p.m. at First Congregational UCC in San Jose. I hope you will join me for that.

Speaking of the Association, the Fall meeting is Sunday, Nov. 3 from 3-5 p.m. at Foothills Church  in Los Altos. The principle order of business will be to decide whether we as a body will agree to ordain otherwise qualified candidates for ordination who don't have a paid position. Securing at least a part-time paid position has been a requirement in our Association but is not required in our Conference or in the wider UCC. If we do agree to the proposed change, it will allow Patricia Wood to be ordained! Please be with us there in body and prayer.

Thank you for all the ways you support Skyland Church with your prayers, actions and financial resources. We are who we are because of you. Wishing many blessings to you and to all,

-- Stephen

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Note from our treasurer:

Harvest Festival is a success and is over for this year - including cleanup. Thanks for everyone's dedicated support.

(Editor's note -- including thanks to Gerry for playing the keyboard in the middle of a downpour!)

A summary of booth donations:

Silent Auction                                    $7,570

Baked Goods                                          850

Books                                                       621

Clothes                                                 1,341

Coffee                                                         67

Face Painting                                              6

Jams & Jellies                                     1,172

Kitchen wares                                         342

Luncheon                                                889

Misc. Gifts                                             1,045

Odds & Ends                                           295

Produce                                                   132

Toys                                                          574

Total donations                                    14,904

Advertising & Misc. Expenses                281

Net                                                        $14,623

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Here is the operating finances report for September 2013, as of Sept. 26. 

           Sept. 2013     |Jun 1 to Sep 26,2013           Actual   Planned    |    Actual      Planned

Income     $ 27,168   $ 28,200 |   $ 68,336    $ 70,727

Expenses   $ 24,311   $ 23,589 |   $ 63,990    $ 63,897

Net        $  2,856   $  4,611 |   $ 4,346     $  6,830

-- Gerald J. Alonzo