Dear Friends,
It was so hot about a week and a half ago when people were gathering in cities and towns nationwide to urge our leaders to take action to address the evils of gun violence that I wondered whether folks would show up in Redwood City and Mountain View.
I was so gratified to be able to march and shout and protest with members of our Sunnyvale Pres congregation and friends. It felt truly Spirit-filled and worshipful to hear the stories of young people who long to grow up safe from the scourge of gun violence, to help amplify their voices so that they can be heard far and wide.
This week we hear the news of how, finally, there is at least some action being taken by our representatives in Congress to reduce the accessibility of guns to those who would use them to do harm to others. I do not believe that the timing of this action so soon after the nationwide protests is coincidental — this shows what happens when we all stand up together. It shows the good that can happen when our worship is public and purposeful.
I hope you will feel encouraged by this. I hope you will feel emboldened and called to make our ministry one that sees real-world change as a necessary part of what it means to be God’s people in the world.
In hope,
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Dear Friends,
Wow! Here in the Bay Area, as throughout much of the nation, it’s been so hot. Fortunately here we are free from the humidity compounding the heat in many other areas.
Last week we had a wonderful week of VBS. Session met this week and last night some of our community was present at Sunnyvale Pride to let people know our church welcomes all people!
While some things take a break during these summer months, much of our ministry and community is ongoing. Many small groups continue to meet and we hope you’ll join us on Sundays for coffee hour, whether online or in Trinity Court!
As we head toward July, maybe it’s a good time to take a moment and think about who you haven’t seen or connected with in a while and give them a quick call or send a quick text. Everyone likes being thought of, so go ahead and take the initiative!
Peace,
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Communion Sunday
July 3
A week from this Sunday, we will celebrate communion. If you’re joining us online, remember to have your communion elements — some bread and drink that’s common to your home and household — with you when you connect to Sunday’s livestream worship.
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Did you know that each time we come to the Lord’s Table for Communion, we also have the DipJar in the courtyard to help put food on others’ tables? Dip your credit card to give $5 to Sunnyvale Community Services. Want to give more? Just dip more! This method of giving is the most beneficial way to help SCS purchase needed foods in bulk. Thanks for caring!
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Welcome to our new Director of
Children’s Ministry and Inclusion!
We are so happy to share the good news that the hiring team has completed its search and interview process and have hired our own Jenna Burkhalter as the next Director of Children’s Ministry and Inclusion! We are so grateful that Jenna has put herself forward for this work, and that she will be able to share even more of her gifts for ministry and her vision for including folks of all abilities as she assumes the new role.
Jenna will begin onboarding with the Children’s ministry staff and leaders soon. In the meantime, I hope you will all join us all in celebrating this new chapter in Jenna’s journey as a leader in ministry at Sunnyvale Pres. Please also pray for Adam, Jenna, and all the folks connected to Children’s ministry, that all these transitions go smoothly.
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SVPC Youth Group Published in the Journal
Dialogue on Science, Ethics, & Religion
Youth ministry was recently contacted by Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase, Senior Scientist and Senior Education & Communication Specialist at the Planetary Science Institute, about a youth group event we held with her (during our online days) around science and religion. Grace came to be with us on Zoom in February 2021 as a part of a larger project teaching science in religious-based contexts. Had we not already been meeting online, this opportunity wouldn’t have been available to us as Grace is based in Illinois. Her project is now published in the journal Dialogue on Science, Ethics, & Religion, and Sunnyvale Pres is featured! You can read it here. (The whole article is worth a read, but if you’re short on time, scroll almost halfway down the page to the “ Zooniverse with Youth and Families” section. The second paragraph there is about us!)
As we celebrate our time together in person these days, we wanted to share this as a testament to the great work done in Youth ministry (and across the church!) over our online months. God is abundant in this place!
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Grief Wall
Trinity Court and Online
Many of you were able to participate in our Town Hall meeting on June 12 where we shared ways that we have experienced grief over the past few years. We want to continue the opportunity for those who were unable to attend the meeting to participate in this process of sharing our grief. This Sunday and next in Trinity Court, there is a Grief Wall where you can write on pieces of paper the places where you have or are continuing to experience grief — these can be big things or seemingly small things. For people online, please send your grief thoughts to info@sunnyvalepres.com and we will get them included on the wall. |
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Personalized Reading — Book Selections Geared for Individual Interests
It was Father’s Day last weekend and Dave Hui, although now a grandfather, reflected on A Dad After God's Own Heart in Trinity Court. Books on the Book Sale Cart have been chosen to nurture spiritual development and appeal to the diverse interests, roles and ages of our church family.
A sampling of titles: Big Hugs for Grandmas, 3-Minute Devotions for Girls and 3-Minute Devotions for Boys, Indescribable: 100 Devotions about God & Science, The Vintage Years: Finding Your Inner Artist, and coloring books for adults and children. Books on housing segregation relate to the Youth ministry’s CARAVAN trip to Chicago July 16-24.
Book Sale Team ministry members in Trinity Court after Sunday worship are happy to help you find the perfect books for you and for someone you love.
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2022–2023 Fiscal YTD Results
May 2022 (month 2).$K
Church Income......$273
Church Expenses....$279
Church Deficit.....$.(6)
Outreach Surplus...$.26
Combined Surplus...$ 20
While the church reported a small deficit year-to-date, this was more than offset by the surplus provided by the outreach groups (PELC and The Music School). The church deficit of $(6)K was due in part to the timing of expenses; our income is tracking to budget. The outreach groups continue to generate income as they approach the end of this school year and move into summer sessions. The combined year-to-date surplus for May is $20K, which is favorable to our budget for this point in the year.
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In Our Thoughts and Prayers...
- Scott Brittle who has COVID
- Hilde DeMarco who has been diagnosed with cancer
- Kristy Freese who is recovering from a stroke
- Hardy Kim who is recovering from knee surgery
- Nancy Koski who is in hospice
- Fran Lusk who is now in memory care at Sunny View
Have a prayer request?
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:
- Shared confidentially with the prayer team and pastors only
- Listed in the weekly newsletter
- Shared during prayer time on Sunday
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Join Us Onsite or Online for Worship on Sundays @ 11 a.m.
Zoom Coffee Hour Follows.
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If you’re not ready or able to join us in person, you’re invited to join the livestream broadcast of our weekly worship service.
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