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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September 2
10:30 a.m. Communion Worship Service
September 8
"Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice" Worship and March in San Francisco 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. UCC contingent.
September 9
10:30 a.m. Family Worship Service
Trustees Meeting after Service (possibly)
Deacons Meeting after Service
September 13-14
Setup for Harvest Festival (specific times see below)
September 15
Harvest Festival 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
September16
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
Post-Harvest-Festival Feast/Potluck after Service
September 23
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
Church Council Meeting after Service
September 30
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
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Notes from Pastor Jean
Hello Friends,
We have come just past the half-way point of my time with you all here at Skyland. My hope is that you all have gotten at least as much, if not more, out of my being here as I have gotten out of being here. Coming up to this beautiful place every week for the past 5 weeks has been like a mini retreat every week. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here with you all.
I want to tell you the story of how I came to be here at Skyland. I made my way here by way of a conversation during the NCNC Annual Gathering last June. I was at one of the evening after parties in the Conference Office suite. I think it was the 20/30 Clergy gathering for clergy in their 20s and 30s. I figured I’m both 20 and 30, so I went over to socialize.
I was telling Diane Weible, our Conference Minister, and Danial Ross-Jones about my search and call process – that I had, so far, gotten 3 nos from the churches where I had applied. I was talking about how I understand that these processes take time – that I have faith that God has something for me and that I just have to wait for it. Diane tilted her head a slightly, looked at me with her nose a little crinkled and her eyes a little squinted and she asked, “How do you feel about Skyland?”
“It’s a little far away,” I said. Then she and Daniel explained to me that the senior pastor was going to retire and that they had been searching for an Interim Minister – and that they had a favorite Interim Minister candidate that they wanted to hire, but that he could not start until the end of September. So, Daniel asked, “How would you like to be a bridge pastor for a few weeks? It’s like being an interim interim.” I said, “Okay,” without hesitation. Now, I know I said a little earlier that I had thought that Skyland was a little far away. But, there is a reason I said yes to this opportunity without hesitation.
Just 2 weeks earlier, during my prayer time – which consists of me talking to God as if God were sitting right next to me – I felt a sureness in my spirit that I had not yet experienced that it was time to pray in earnest for a call. I believe in prayer – that God works in and through prayer. And when God starts moving on something it doesn’t always turn out as we might expect or like. I refrain from praying for things that I want or changes that I would like to see in my life until I feel that I am ready to deal with whatever change comes – however God works in and through my prayer. So, I did not start to praying in earnest for a call, even after I was approved for ordination pending call, because I wanted to feel reasonably sure that I was ready for the way my life would change once that call came.
It was that one day while talking to God – it was in the morning while I was walking out to my car to go to work – something clicked and I knew in that moment that it was time to start praying in earnest for my first call.
Two weeks later Daniel asked me if I’d like to go to Skyland for a few weeks. He emailed the search team right then and there on his phone, and the rest you know. I knew it was right, so I said yes.
So, you see, my Skyland friends coming here was the answer to my prayer. I have enjoyed this time immensely with all of you, meeting you, hearing some of your stories, your concerns, your prayers – seeing and experiencing the dedication this church has for the life of the community has truly been a great joy. It is my distinct privilege to serve in this church with these church people – you. I said at the beginning of this writing, it is my hope that all of you have gotten at least as much out of my being here as I have gotten out of being here. I hope you have gotten more.
I look forward to the next 3 weeks with all of you. We will continue our journey through grief, loss, and transition, discovering when and how God is with us, and moving toward creating newness in the midst of change. Here’s to the next 3 weeks going slowly.
May the grace of God, the peace of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always.
Pastor Jean
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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LITANY THROUGHOUT THE INTERIM PERIOD
For God’s holy presence amidst change, we pray.
For comfort because loss is part of change, we pray.
For Christ-like steadfastness during the challenges of transition and seasons of faith, we pray.
For reassurance through frailty and failings, we pray.
For the abundant creativity the Spirit provides, we pray.
For our loved ones in this community of faith, we pray.
For God’s children beyond this community, we pray.
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WAYS TO HELP:
Thanks to the help of many Skyland members, we are well on the way to setting up for the Harvest Festival!
DONATIONS:
We are accepting donations from church members on Tues. 10-12 and Sun. 12-2 until Sept. 13th. Please bring lightly used treasures.
SET UP:
All are welcome to help us set up and sort the books, clothes, housewares and workshop booths for the festival.
Tues. Sept. 4, 10-1 Thurs. Sept. 6, 10-1. Sun. Sept. 9, 12-2
Tues. Sept. 11, 10-1 Thurs. Sept. 13, 10-1 Fri. Sept 14, 10-3.
Sat. Sept 15, 8:30-10
HARVEST FESTIVAL JOBS:
We are doing well with volunteer positions.
We are still looking for booth helpers for Sat. Sept. 15th from 8:30-3pm.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP FROM HOME:
(the sign up sheet is in Whitaker Hall)
Make Canned goods
Share plants and produce
Create a salad to compliment our rice bowl meals that will include pulled pork, chicken, and chili.
Make baked goods and pies
Help us find the missing white bowls and small plates from the kitchen (or lend us yours for the day.)
The kitchen needs cookie sheets too for baking veggies on Fri. Sept 14th.
Invite your friends and share the electronic flyer with your friends on Social Media and email.
Help us find more items for the Silent Auction
Lend us a carpet cleaner for donation.
Shannon Edwards is leading the volunteers for the Harvest Festival on Sat. Sept. 15th from 10-3. This is the day for all members of the church to come and welcome our mountain community to Skyland Church.
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Special Note:
WANTED! Jams, Jellies, Chutney, Pickles, Dried and Canned Fruit
Please bring us any of your comestibles so we can fill our shelves with a nice array! We will price them and also label them if needed.
Harvest Festival shoppers look forward to buying our products every year! It’s the first stop for many; they head in to see what’s available on our green shelves before they continue shopping. We don’t want to disappoint them!
Please leave your contributions on the fireplace in Whitaker by Friday, Sept.14 morning, so we can do another beautiful display of our joint efforts.
Thank you,
Mary Ellen McTamaney
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Church Council News
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See the Harvest Festival Flyer here:
To see Harvest Festival page click below
See the "Climate, Jobs, and Justice" March info here:
Saturday, Sept. 8th: Rise for Climate March in San Francisco
The United Church of Christ Council for Climate Justice and the Disciples of Christ Green Chalice ministry are co-sponsoring the Rise for Climate marches taking place across the country on or near September 8th. The largest of these marches is planned for San Francisco, in advance of the Global Climate Action Summit. The day's events include an interfaith worship service at 9 am near Embarcadero Plaza.
Email Patricia Wood at pwood10@aol.com to sign up.
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Flowers for the Altar
Several Sundays during September and October 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
Thanks to the congregation and the local schools we were able to raise the money required to send 1200 books to the MCA School Heremakomo in Sierra Leone.
It is a primary community library and we sent 2/3 preschool - 4th grade books and 1/3 4th - 8th grade books in 19 boxes.
They were mailed in early August and are on their way to the shipping containers in New Orleans. They will be on the boat to Africa in September and will arrive before the New Year.
A BIG thanks to the Mission Board and all who helped. It was a group effort!
Contact: Cindy Siwajek
Local Support
Mental Health Community Action Network in Santa Cruz helps those transitioning into homes.
We continue to collect 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
"God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame."
Elizabeth Barret Browning
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NOTE From Your Treasurer
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Our expenses for August ended up negative! How can that be? Expenses show negative because we received a refund from the UCC Pension Boards on advance payments for Stephen’s Annuity, Medical, and Life Insurance. All of the individual expense accounts are less than budgeted except Utilities. The utilities deficit is due to an unanticipated propane delivery.
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 August 27 for our 2018-19 fiscal year.
Summary of Operating Finances
__________August 2018
__________Actual____Planned
Income___$8,496___$10,552
Expenses_$(-490)___$ 5,899
Net______$8,986___$ 4,693
Jun 1, 2018 to Aug. 27, 2018
__________Actual______Planned
Income____$48,898___$49,037
Expenses _ $27,711___$36,053
Net_______$21,187___$12,984
Note: Operating finances 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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