Go Tell It on the Mountain
Skyland Community Church
Monthly Newsletter
10:30 Sunday Service		April 2014
Minister: Stephen Glauz-Todrank
Church phone: 408-353-1310

 Spring Cleanup After Church April 6

 

 

Spring is upon us and it's time for the proverbial Spring Clean-Up. Weeds are growing, branches and leaves fall, paint peels, cobwebs appear, storage space overflows, etc. 

 

We will have a family clean-up after service on Sunday, April 6. Paula has volunteered to lead the charge to organize the shed. 

 

I am sure everyone has noticed items that need our personal attention. With a lot of help we can make this a short and enjoyable event. 

 

Wear your "grubbies", bring tools to support the effort, and come join in the fun.

 

-- Gerald J. Alonzo

 

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Altar Flowers 
Please sign up in Whitaker Hall to donate flowers on these Sundays:  April 13, 20, 27.



April's air stirs in 
Willow-leaves . . . a butterfly
Floats and balances 
 

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Green Business:

Clean Beaches,

Drop Off Unused Drugs

 

Skyland Church received certification as a Green Business in 2007. Part of our commitment was to have an on-going awareness and training program in "best environmental practices" which is a bit of a challenge for a small church with only one full- time employee. Undaunted, we decided to meet the challenge by having an Earth Day project designed to help us become more aware of living sustainably. 

 

This year, I proposed a few projects and asked for suggestions in a small survey of members attending church recently. Beach Cleanup received the most votes and I will set this up in conjunction with the group "Save Our Shores" for Saturday, May 17, 10 AM - 12 noon at Capitola Beach in Capitola. I will put details in Whitaker Hall and in next month's newsletter.

 

However, Angela Patterson brought another project to my attention that I thought we could also participate in, "Turn in expired and unused medications," sponsored by CASA (Community Against Substance Abuse) and the Los Gatos Police Dept.

 

Drugs accumulate in our water systems and cause problems for humans and wildlife. In addition, when left in cabinets, they can be a hazard to young folks. Drop-off is on Saturday, April 26, 10AM - 2PM, in front of Los Gatos Parks & Public Works, 41 Miles Ave. Los Gatos. All prescription or over-the-counter medications (except aerosols, syringes, injectables, or IV solutions) can be taken.  

 

See the flyer in Whitaker Hall for more information. If you can't make it to Los Gatos, and have drugs you want taken, please give them to me after church any Sunday before April 26th and I will drop them off.

 

        -- Jackie Seymour

 

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Meditation Moment

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in God,  so that you may overflow
with  hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
-- Romans 15:13

Easter - Season of Newness 
Resurrection of Jesus Bob Whitehead
    Resurrection of Jesus                                         Bob Whitehead
 
Minister's Column
  

Dear Skyland Friends,

 

As I write this, I am just back from a weekend retreat on Human Centered Design in Chicago, where a small group of people from around the country came together to explore using HCD (another acronym!) to support innovation in the United Church of Christ.

 

We emerged not with a big action plan, but with lots of enthusiasm and ideas for the future. I believe the concept that God is still creating, and doing some of that creating through all of us in the UCC, can inspire us for the journey forward. This idea transforms our view of the world from more or less passive acceptance of things as they are toward an active approach to how we might make anything better, from tonight's dinner to global climate change.

 

We have a group of very committed Skyland members working with the HCD material to help us reach out to meet the spiritual needs of more people in our wider community. You will hear a report from them soon.

 

Take a moment with these words from our scriptures portrayed as coming directly from God: "I am about to do something new. Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness." (Isaiah 43:19) and "See, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:5).

 

Easter is a time of "newness," and corresponds in many places with the renewal of the natural environment in Springtime; so I invite you to join me in prayerfully asking God, "What do you want to create through me today?" I hope that the Easter season will bring new creativity to you and your activities. 

 

Blessings in this time of new life!

 

-- Stephen                                           

 

Holy Week Schedule

 

Sunday, April 13: Family Palm Sunday Service

Thursday, April 17: Soup Supper, 6;30 PM; please bring your own bowl and utensils to help with cleanup.   

Service of Tenebrae, 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 20: Two Family Easter Services, 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM

Please bring something tasty for the receptions after the services.

  

There will be an Easter Egg Hunt and an Easter Bunny visit after the 10:30 service. 

  

We will take our annual One Great Hour of Sharing Offering at both services. One Great Hour of Sharing is an annual offering in our church that began in many denominations after the World War II to support the rebuilding of Europe. 

 

It continues to help people and churches in time of need around the world. After the Loma Prieta earthquake, we received OGHS funds to help us begin the rebuilding project. Please join us in giving generously so that others in need may benefit. 

 

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Celebrate Earth Day!
Green Living Benefits and Tips from Ellie
 
Every year on April 22, more than one billion people in

190 countries celebrate Earth Day. They plant trees, clean up their communities, recycle, and more - all on behalf of the environment. Click  here to learn more about the history of Earth Day.

 

There are many things we can do collectively to promote a cleaner environment and reduce the harmful effects of  

climate change. 

         

 

We can:

 

* Compost

* Insulate our homes

* Use high-efficiency outdoor lighting
* Replace high-use indoor lights with compact fluorescents or LEDs

* Consider a radiant floor heating system for cleaner air quality in the home and improved energy efficiency

 
            

* Get a high-efficiency shower head and a low-flow toilet

* Always run the washing machine and dishwasher with a full load

* Avoid cleaning products with harmful chemicals and use natural or organic ones

* Be creative when recycling: An old claw foot tub or an

  old boot may be reborn as planters!

 *  Drive shorter distances for          groceries. Shop locally owned        businesses, i.e. Summit store and Redwood Estates store in our mountain community (or other local stores in your own community).

* Shop local organic farms and farmer's markets 

* Eat organic and grow your own organic vegetables and herbs

* Plant trees

* Use solar energy

* Drive an electric car

* Go meatless on Mondays - The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide  - far more than from transportation. To learn more about meatless Monday dinners held in Santa Cruz every month, stop by the Santa Cruz vegetarian meetup booth on Saturday April 19, 11:00 a.m. - 4:p.m. in San Lorenzo Park. 

 

* Promote environmental awareness on Earth Day and throughout the year.

 

Happy Earth Day!

  --Ellie Lavender
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MNHN Video goes viral (locally)

 

 

The Mountain Neighbors Helping Neighbors forum in Whitaker Hall March 23 drew about 40 people to see Anne Evans's video about the group and hear founder Patricia Wood and MHNH board member Ann Wells describe its purpose and operation - providing simple but needed services for mountain residents. 

 

MHNH recruited several volunteers and the video is now   online at the group's website, MNHN95033.org. The event reportedly inspired Ann Wells to plan a showing and a forum for her own church, Christ Child Catholic.

 

The video incorporated photography by Nancy Jo Lopp, music by Al Murphy and Al Feuerbach (who also contributed an original song, "Hills of Los Gatos,") and narration by Colin Evans.

 

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Financial Report for March 2014 

 

NOTE from your treasurer:

 

Nothing special to report this month.               

 

Here is our operating finances report for March 2014 as of March 27.                     

 

 Summary of Operating Finances

 

Mar. 2014   |Jun 1,2013 to Mar 27,2014
           Actual     Planned |    Actual      Planned  Income    $  9,165   $  8,625 |   $155,114    $151,750   Expenses  $ 21,939   $ 24,308 |   $149,401    $148,513

 

Net      $(-12,774) $(-15,683)|   $  5,713    $  3,237

 

 -- Gerald J. Alonzo

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Skyland Community Church

Web: http://www.skylandchurch.com

Mail: P.O. Box 245, Los Gatos, CA  95031-0245