We recently bid farewell to Ernesto Villarreal as our Church Administrator, and we’re happy that he’s pursuing his calling to care for God’s creation by his work with the Clean Creeks Coalition. However, all the areas that Ernesto was overseeing still need care and attention — including things like all our facilities and logistical support for our staff.

Therefore, I’m so grateful to tell you that Carol Heath has agreed to serve as Acting Church Administrator. Carol will be adding some hours to her usual weekly schedule, and she’ll be helping us cover the general areas that the church administrator oversees. This means that issues related to the campus and its facilities, to scheduling of events and programs, and questions about our overall resources and infrastructure at Sunnyvale Pres can (for the time being) be directed to her at carol@sunnyvalepres.com.

Carol has a great breadth and depth of experience here at Sunnyvale Pres, and a great passion for supporting her colleagues (both staff and lay leaders) in ministry. I am so grateful to Carol for stepping up to this new challenge so we can continue to be faithful in our stewardship of our community resources and continue to reach out to serve our members and our neighbors. Please join me in welcoming Carol into this role.

With gratitude,

Hardy H. Kim

Pastor, Head of Staff

What leads a person to volunteer? In the case of church member Dave Morley, it is the desire to give back to an organization that supported him in a time of need. Dave and his partner Betty MacDonald volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association, from advocacy to teaching classes and leading support groups. They find it rewarding to educate caregivers in navigating issues that arise with their loved ones. Using curriculum developed by the Association and their own experiences, Dave and Betty share their journey of supporting their spouses through Alzheimer’s disease. If you are in need of support related to this disease, visit alz.org or call 1-800-272-3900.

Thank you, Dave and Betty!

This Sunday, November 28, begins the season of anticipation and preparation. You’ll be receiving a packet with resources for your Advent journey. Check the church website for information about upcoming events and special worship services. For daily devotional messages, follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, or text SVPC DEVOTIONAL to 51400 to receive daily devotional text messages.

Join us (onsite or online) for one of our two “Lessons and Carols” services on December 24. Everyone is encouraged to come to the family friendly 5 p.m. service dressed as your favorite nativity character. Linger after the 8 p.m. service for conversation around the fire pit in Trinity Court or online for a virtual hot cocoa hour.

Thursday, December 2 • 10:30–11:30 a.m. • Zoom

Seniors in your 80s and 90s are invited to a virtual holiday coffee via Zoom! Join Pastor Karin and members of the Caring Ministry Team on Zoom for conversation, community, and a musical treat. We’ll email you a reminder a few days before the tea. Questions? Contact Judy Beggs at jmbeggs@live.com or 1-650-305-0810.

Children’s ministry has partnered with the Bill Wilson Center’s Adopt-a-Family Program to provide Christmas presents for a local family of six. The parents, Veronica and Ralph, don’t have any biological children of their own, but are adopting Katrina, Sophia, Franklin, and Elizabeth! Each family member has given us a wish list of presents they’d enjoy receiving.

We’re also collecting items for donation to the HomeFirst Shelter and San Jose Peace & Justice Center. If you’d like to sign up to help with our mission project, please click here.

All donations must be given to the Children’s ministry staff by December 4 for drop-off the next morning. For more information, please contact childrens@sunnyvalepres.com.

Sunday, December 5 • 2 p.m • Over Zoom • Register

Come join us for this fun online event that will help us welcome in the season of Advent and provide yet another opportunity for our congregation to fellowship together and have fun.

We will sing Christmas carols led by the Chancel Choir, enjoy learning to bake a delicious dessert in small groups, be entertained by our Music School, and finish off with Advent trivia led by Pastor Hardy.

Please register here to receive more information. We are so excited to invite you all to participate in this fun event for all ages and can’t wait to see you there!

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. • Zoom

All are welcome to join a joyful Zoom Advent celebration! Invite a friend to visit your home for tea, then join a Zoom event to visit with others. At noon, the Cupertino High School Cantos Choir led by Andy Aron will virtually perform Christmas and seasonal music. This event is sponsored by Presbyterian Women.

Saturday, December 11 • 11 a.m. • Market Info • RSVP

Join us as we explore the Mountain View German Holiday Market. We will be meeting up at 11 a.m. near the palm tree on the NE corner of Castro Street and Evelyn Avenue in downtown Mountain View. Let us know if you are planning to join so we can make sure to get enough tickets. Tickets are not necessary for entry, but will give us priority if the market is crowded.

Emily Sayles (she/her) — 1-661-304-8629

Megan MacDonald (she/her) — 1-816-888-9900

There will be a congregational meeting on December 12 immediately following the 11 a.m. service. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend either in person or over Zoom. The purpose of the meeting is the election of church officers.

The Nominating Committee is grateful to place the following individuals in nomination for election as church officers:

Thank you to these members of our congregation for answering the call to leadership!

Thursday, December 16 • 7–7:45 p.m. • Zoom (passcode: 153517)

The Longest Night service creates a worship space in which we acknowledge our grief — whether the loss of connection, loss of jobs or opportunity, the loss of loved ones, a lack of justice, or any other grief —and allow worship to lead us to the hope of restoration. Our worship will include music, poetry, prayer, candlelighting, and a brief meditation. All are invited.

Apply now for February 2022 training session • Email

Our community is full of people who are hurting: those who have lost a job or a loved one, gone through a divorce, or are battling a terminal illness. Stephen Ministers bring God’s love to those who are hurting through compassionate and accepting listening.

We’re accepting applications for Stephen Ministry training which will begin in February 2022. If you would like to explore becoming a Stephen Minister, contact Judy Beggs.

If you would like to have a Stephen Minister reach out to you, contact Allan Graham.

July 16–24 • Chicago • Info & Register

In July of 2022, SVPC Youth ministry will head to the Southside of Chicago, Illinois to learn from community members about the effects of segregation and institutionalized racist city policies that has kept Chicago as one of the most segregated cities in the country. We hope to return with concrete tools to address our own version of housing issues here in the Bay Area so we have eyes to see the ways we segregate our lives from each other each day. Interested in learning more or registering? Click here.

as a Super (Senior) Advisor! • Info

This July, graduates of 2020 and 2021 are invited to attend this summer’s in-person CARAVAN in a special capacity that we’re calling “Super (Senior) Advisors.” You’ll be attending the trip as an advisor and will be placed in a family group with other recent grads. We ask that you also complete the SafeChurch program beforehand (about a two-hour commitment) because you’ll be attending the trip as an adult.

Are you currently residing outside the Bay Area? We can arrange your travel from your current location if needed. We’ll make the same accommodations for CARAVAN pre-trip meetings. Find more information here.

Please let those you consider qualified for this position know about this vacancy. Job description and the process to apply can be found here. We’re so grateful for the faithful service of retiring long-time employee, Suzanne Ungson.

To learn more about events for children and youth subscribe to their e-newsletters. Also, check out the Children’s ministry Facebook page or Youth ministry’s microsite and Instagram, or text ‘FLASH’ (Middle School) or ‘CLUE’ (High School) to 51400 for live updates.

Check out this article for three popular ways people are giving to charities from their IRAs, appreciated stock, and charitable trust accounts.

In place of the blue prayer cards you filled out on Sundays, please send your prayer requests anytime to prayer@sunnyvalepres.com. Be sure to include whether your request should/can be:

Look for the red banner at the top of our new website (SunnyvalePres.com). Click the white button, “Join online worship & events.”