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Calendar
October 10:
Irish Fiddling
Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill
6 p.m. Potluck Dinner,
Whittaker Hall (bring
something tasty!)
7 p.m. Sanctuary opens
7:30 p.m. Concert begins
$20
brownpapertickets.com
Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill are some of the finest and most respected musicians of our time.
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October 21:
Ocean Pilgrimage Day
All-Ages Welcome
La Selva Beach Community Church,
9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Come restore your soul as Jesus did,
along the shore, in wind and wave.
We'll have Bible study on Blue Theology, worship together, a walk on Manresa State Beach, lunch, and a beach cleanup. All are welcome!
Rev. Deborah Streeter is called to minister with us on behalf of the world's oceans, and she has offered to lead us, along with friends from La Selva Beach and Skyland Community churches, on a day of ocean pilgrimage.
Cost: $30 includes program, lunch, devotional book. Children under 16 attend free. Please note that while all ages are welcome, this is a spiritual retreat day with times of silence, meditation and group spiritual practice.
Bring: Reusable water bottle, hat, walking shoes, jacket, sun screen.
Don't bring: Anxiety, calendar, lunch (lunch is provided!).
Contact
by Oct. 15:
Paula Leary
408-425-3345
paulaleeleary@gmail.com
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October 22
Erica Goss
will give a video presentation and poetry reading at Skyland Church on Sunday, October 22 after the church service.
Erica has made several videos based on poems from her new book, titled
Night Court, which won the 2016 Lyrebird Award from Glass Lyre Press. Book-signing to follow.
Poet Laureate, Los Gatos (2013-2016)
Author, Night Court, winner of the 2016 Lyrebird Award
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Skyland Women's Group
Oct. 1:
"Introduction to NonViolent Communication"
Our guest leader, Marina Barnes, led thirteen of us through various exercises to introduce us to this effective means of communicating. One exercise had us silently remember one of our own personal interactions, to understand our own feelings and needs without judgment, thereby increasing self-empathy.
The exercises were complex, yet rewarding and clearly take a lot of practice.
Through these steps one can enjoy more effective dialogue and reduce misunderstandings and conflicts in our communication with others.
Over half of the participants on Sunday afternoon were women who work and caregivers who have not been able to attend the Women's Group Tuesday morning meetings in the past. Everyone was enthusiastic and wanted to extend this introduction and practice to the whole congregation.
We want to thank Marina Barnes for leading us in this productive practice.
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Altar Flowers
Open dates for donating flowers in October are the 8th, 15th, and 29th. Please consider also Sundays in November and December.
in sizzling summer,
cooling autumn, bright hot lips
blow flow'ry kisses.
--haiku by John Heyes
Salvia microphylla "Hot Lips"
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Meditation M
oment
Small service is true service.
The daisy, by the shadow that it
casts,
Protects the lingering dewdrop from
the sun.
William Wordsworth
written in the album of his
god-daughter,
Rotha Quillnan, in 1834
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Stephen returns October 8!
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COMMUNICATIONS
Sept. 19 Meeting of the Church Council
The council discussed ways that we could better inform the members of the congregation regarding proceedings of the council. Deana suggested a note from the moderator in the monthly newsletter summarizing the more important actions taken by the council. So, here goes!
The Council is considering the ReVision program for congregational renewal and reinvigoration offered by the Center for Progressive Renewal (www.progressiverenewal.org). They will be discussing the program by video-conference with a representative from CPR at noon on Sunday, Oct. 8. The program being considered would take about one year and would involve small and large group discussions under the mentorship of a coach. More information will be circulated following the Oct. 8 meeting and prior to any final decision on whether we will move forward with the program.
Busy, busy lunch time. Delicious rice bowls and salads!
Shannon Edwards reported that both guests and volunteers enjoyed the Open House held on 9/16.
Thirty-six church members and friends of Skyland Church donated their time, food, plants, clothes, books and other treasures to make this day a warm welcoming for our community.
The simple event was not planned as a moneymaker, but the function did raise about $2500 and many visitors were seen happily visiting with their neighbors over a lovely lunch. The bulk of the unsold items are being given to local charities, with a few being sold online to generate additional revenue for the church.
There was also discussion of making our "no parking" signs friendlier. The Council wants to make sure the parking lot feels welcoming to guests, so it was suggested that the signs limit parking only during the overnight hours. This suggestion was referred to the Trustees.
Please feel free to reach out to the council if you have any questions (council@skylandchurch.com).
Fantastic youth team in charge of the baked goods and tea.
Deana and Linda with the clothes and etcetera downstairs! |
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Yummy heirloom tomatoes available at the Open House!
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NOTE from your treasurer:
Report after four months into our fiscal year.
Pledge income for September matched our plan but we are still behind by $2,000. If possible please try to catch up on your pledge commitment.
Total Offerings received are low by $3,000 from financial plan. Offerings are donations from members and visitors who have not made a pledge. Our financial planning was optimistic on this item.
Our Harvest Festival sabbatical which was transformed into an Open House (Mini H.F.) had donations of $2,673. Not the $8,000 planned for regular H.F.
The booming stock market has increased the value of our operating investments by $6,293. This unanticipated gain has offset about half of our other income shortfalls, with the end result being actual income is short by $3,414 of planned income at end of September.
Expenses are essentially on target.
We are now able to accept credit card payments for pledges, 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 September 30 for our 2017-18 fiscal year.
Summary of Operating Finances
September 2017 | Jun 1,2017 to Sept 30
Actual Planned | Actual Planned
Income $18,546 $19,450 | $70,570 $73,984
Expenses $23,063 $23,200 | $66,148 $66,495
Net $(-4,517) $(-3,750) | $ 4,422 $ 7,489
-- Gerald J. Alonzo,
Treasurer
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NOTE from the editors (Brian and Patricia Wood):
Next month we will introduce a mobile-friendly format for
Go Tell It On the Mountain.
This new format will automatically adjust to the format of any device, making reading our newsletter more accessible.
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