Go Tell It On The Mountain
Monthly Newsletter
Skyland Community Church, United Church of Christ
Minister: Rev. Kevin Omi
|
|
Sunday Worship Service
10:30 A.M.
|
|
February to mid March Church Calendar
Sunday, March 1
10:30 A.M. Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
Monday, March 2
Rev. Omi Educational Leave starts
Tuesday, March 3
7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. CA Primary Election Polling Place in Whitaker Hall
polls close at 8 P.M., election staff will be there later for closing up, etc.
8:15 A.M. Qigong Class (
Lower Whitaker Hall )
Wednesday, March 4
10:30 A.M. Loma Prieta Club
Thursday, March 5
8:45 A.M. Bible Study: Genesis cont. with Rev. Patricia Wood
9:45 A.M. Bible Study: Sunday Scripture
Friday, March 6
8:30 A.M. Meditation: Anne Evans leads
Sunday, March 8
Rev. Omi Educational Leave
10:30 A.M. Worship Service with Rev. Carol Barriger
12:00 P.M. Deacons
Tuesday, March 10
Rev. Omi Educational Leave ends
8:15 A.M. Qigong Class
Thursday, March 12
8:45 A.M. Bible Study: Genesis cont.
9:45 A.M. Bible Study: Sunday Scripture
Friday, March 13
Whitaker Hall Reserved All Day for setup and event.
Building Blocks Bash
and fundraiser to support the teachers and scholarships at Building Blocks co-op preschool, supported by Loma Prieta Community Foundation. Aimee Curtis and Lesley Louden are contacts.
8:30 A.M. Meditation at Temporary Community Center
: Anne Evans leads
Sunday, March 15
10:30 A.M. Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
12:00 P.M. Potluck Sunday
Thursday, March 19
8:45 A.M. Bible Study: Genesis cont.
9:45 A.M. Bible Study: Sunday Scripture
Friday, March 20
8:30 A.M. Meditations
5:00 P.M. Mountain Hangout
Sunday, March 22
10:30 A.M. Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
12:00 P.M. Church Council
Thursday, March 26
8:45 A.M. Bible Study: Genesis cont.
9:45 A.M. Bible Study: Sunday Scripture
Friday, March 27
8:30 A.M. Meditation at Temporary Community Center
12:00 P.M. Fourth Friday Documentary + Lunch
Sunday, March 29
10:30 A.M. Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
Wednesday, April 1
10:30 A.M. Loma Prieta Club
Thursday, April 2
8:45 A.M. Bible Study: Genesis cont.
9:45 A.M. Bible Study: Sunday Scripture
Friday, April 3
8:30 A.M. Meditation at Temporary Community Center
Sunday, April 5
10:30 A.M. Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
Thursday, April 9
8:45 A.M. Bible Study: Genesis cont.
9:45 A.M. Bible Study: Sunday Scripture
Friday, April 10
8:30 A.M. No Meditation: school break
Regularly Scheduled Events in Whitaker Hall
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sundays:
Choir rehearsal 9:00 A.M.
Mondays
:
Alcoholics Anonymous 8:00
P.M.
Tuesdays
:
Qigong
8:15-9:45
A.M.
Thursday
:
Yoga 7:00
P.M.
|
|
Message from Reverend Kevin Omi
|
|
Lent is a Time for Growing at the Edges of Our Faith
Rev. Kevin Omi
By the time you receive this, we will have started the holy season of Lent. Lent, like Advent, is one of my favorite seasons of the liturgical year. It is a time for reflection, reevaluation, and renewal. Cliff Barney recently shared with the Deacons that the word, “Lent”, comes from a word meaning spring, so that is an important part of it. While Lent has traditionally had a somber, penitent mood, particularly in the Catholic tradition, I am choosing to view this as a season for us to explore ways in which our faith can continue to grow, particularly in new ways.
|
|
Our recent Mid-Winter Retreat series was a great example. Our focus contemplative practices gave us new ways to grow spiritually, spiritually in the widest possible sense. I wouldn’t be surprised if a bit of contemplation sneaks into worship occasionally; or, if the Spirit moves us to another time of dedicated focus on opening ourselves to Presence.
Yet at the same time, Lent IS inexorably moving us towards Holy Week. That’s why the cross is hiding in the background of the budding daffodils. As Good Friday grows closer, our focus on the cross will grow clearer. While it is always tempting to skip from the warmth of Maundy Thursday, past the (disturbing) crucifixion and on to the joy of Easter morning, to do so would be to shortchange those among us for whom the cross is a powerful symbol. In the cross we can acknowledge undeniably hard aspects of life, including the realities of prolonged illness, the loss of loved ones, shattered relationships, and the damage our species is imposing upon God’s beloved creation and sisters and brothers around the globe. There
are
times to repent, a word that simply means, to
“change direction,”
in ways both small and large, both personally and globally.
All this will be occurring, while, like bulbs silently preparing for spring, our Search Committee will continue its word of deep discernment on our behalf. So much of the growth that happens in life occurs in silence and darkness!
Praise God
for light and nurturing darkness.
Praise God
for helping us grow together, at the edges of our faith. Amen.
|
|
UPDATE:
Children’s Photo Show and "Three Great Loves"
The United Church of Christ has a program called "Three Great Loves", which is based on stories about how UCC churches and communities are living out God’s love and expressing love of neighbor, children and creation.
Lesley Louden led our
Connected Through Adventures
team in creating and producing the Children’s Photo Shoot last year. This year Lesley provided information to Rev. Kimberlee Vasco, Three Great Loves Coordinator. Kim was able to share this information with our entire denomination. You can see what was published on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B82gL0IgTP_/?igshid=1d1azn560lx0w
|
|
reVision Action Teams News
Fire Safe Roads
On Feb 12th the Loma Prieta School Board unanimously approved the Fire Safe plan developed over the last two months by Andrew Hubbs, JR Call, and Paul Harville and members of Cal Fire and the
Fire Safe Roads Team
.
|
|
The agreement is that the lead work will be along Summit Road and the "Frog Pond Park" wooded area on the north edge of the south campus. These are the most critical to complete before the next fire season.
|
|
The funding provided by the Santa Clara Fire Safe Council along with the donation of the Cal Fire engine crew’s time provides for the core work on phase one. Additional funding in the form of donations and grants will be needed to complete phase two.
Thanks to all involved to get this critical program moving forward now.
The
Fire Safe Roads Team
, working with Santa Cruz County Government and the Santa Clara Fire Safe Council will continue its efforts to create fire-safe escape routes along the entirety of Summit Road and Soquel Old San Jose Road over the next 2 years. Thus protecting our community members, visitors and commuters who use this corridor of roads.
|
|
Mountain Hangout
Feb 21-
the Mountain Hangout Soup Night
fed over 40 hungry mountain residents. The
Mountain Hangout Team
along with many church members created eleven delicious soups and chili.
|
|
March 20, 5-8 pm:
Mountain Hangout
Burger Night
Gourmet burger, french fries, salad
and hot fudge Sundaes on the house.
|
|
FOURTH FRIDAY DOCUMENTARIES
March 27
th
-
Paper Clips
|
|
Paper Clips
is an inspiring, emotional account of the middle schoolers at Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee who struggle to grasp the concept of six-million Holocaust victims. They decide to collect six-million paper clips to better understand the extent of this crime against humanity. The film details how the students met Holocaust survivors from around the world and how the experience transformed them and their community.
|
|
UPCOMING: April 24
Harriet
Feature film about Harriet Tubman
|
|
UPCOMING: May 22
Waste Land
|
|
Email the reVision team:
reVision@skylandchurch.com
Anne Evans
|
|
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.
|
|
Church Council News
++++++++++++++++++++++
The church council met on February 23 with eight attendees. Gerald Alonzo reported that the financial status is good.
The activities of the reVision Action Teams were reported by Anne Evans and are included in a separate section of the newsletter. The trustees’ representative was not present but had informed the moderators that they will be assigning the women’s bathroom project to a tbd lead person. The elevator project is moving forward. Recommendations from the manufacturer for installation contractors are being sought.
The food pantry current lead, Julie Victorine, is stepping down. She will be replaced by a team of two volunteers. There will be no expansion of the types of food offered at this time. If there is a written proposal to consider other foods, such as frozen or fresh produce it could be considered at that time. However a list of other free food providers in the local area will be placed on the pantry door.
Rev Kevin Omi presented an updated roadmap of activities in the church leading up to Easter, the action team activities, and beginning the handoff of responsibilities for social media, the web site, and visiting homebound.
Rev. Omi also presented a graphic depiction of the proposed leadership more closely reflecting the structure of the church now. This structure and leadership division may be a basis for the upcoming bylaw revision.
Rev. Omi also informed us that our conference has sent a letter requesting additional funds of $5 per member even though we already send 10% of our operating budget to them. There will be further discussion on this since it is not in the budget.
Submitted by your co-moderators:
Jackie Seymour
Anne Evans
|
|
Flowers for the Altar
Several Sundays are open for floral donations. Please sign up on the calendar in Whitaker Hall.
We have enjoyed some beautiful floral arrangements on recent Sundays. If you wish to plan ahead--perhaps for a special occasion--please write your name alongside any open Sunday on the calendar in Whitaker Hall.
|
|
hardy geraniums--
red, white, salmon, magenta
--
flaming into fall
~haiku by John Heyes
|
|
LOCAL AID:
MHCAN
The Mission Board will collect toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, sunscreen, toiletries during March and April for the
Mental Health Client Action Network (MHCAN), 1051 Cayuga, Santa Cruz.
MHCAN provides showers to help those on the streets. The toiletries are for those working to transition back into the community and looking for jobs/support/etc.
Helping to Erase Medical Debt in the East Bay
The Mission Board has agreed to support "Helping to Erase Medical Debt in the East Bay" during Lent. Inspired by several UCC churches in Chicago and St. Louis, there is a UCC campaign to help people burdened by medical debt. This debt cripples so many Americans, particularly those vulnerable communities who are living in poverty, veterans, the sick and the elderly. Medical debt is a huge driver of the destabilizing forces that can lead individuals and families to become homeless. In America right now, 43 million Americans owe about $75 billion in past due medical debt. 60% of all bankruptcies are caused by medical debt. And this is despite the fact that 75% of those in medical bankruptcy had health insurance coverage. Debt like this can cause immense stress, sleepless nights, the fracturing of families, and the loss of hope in the future.
Through an organization called RIP Medical Debt, we can help buy up large bundles of medical debt in particularly hard hit communities and then forgive that debt. Every $100 contributed forgives around $10,000 in medical debt – and that changes lives. RIP Medical Debt says that they can purchase all the available medical debt for Alameda and Contra Costa County for just under $50,000. The East Bay UCCs will begin the campaign on Ash Wednesday, February 26th with the intention of raising $50,000 by Easter Sunday, April 12th, 2020. This means that “we erased $2.7 million in medical debt for Lent!” Please pledge to help!! There is nothing like a “Medical Jubilee” to help move us towards greater justice. Please contact Shannon Edwards
ShannonEdwards14@gmail.com
if you have questions.
|
|
Note from your Treasurer for first 9 months of our fiscal year:
Pledge income is on par with expectations based on anticipated distribution of pledge donations.
Offerings received during February were $85 below expectations, but for first 9 months $-1,207 below expectations.
Hall Rental is $1372 above expectations for first 9 months.
Fiscal year to date income exceeded expenses by $9,170.
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 Feb 27 for our 2019-2020 fiscal year.
|
|
Respectfully
Gerald Alonzo, Treasurer
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|