News from Pastor Karin
Dear Friends,
I hope you are well and staying warm. It’s been a cooler week here in Sunnyvale and I know it’s much chillier where others of you are.
Hardy is off this week to spend time with family whom he, for obvious reasons, has not seen for over two years. Join me in praying his time is refreshing and rejuvenating.
Lent is soon upon us. March 2 is Ash Wednesday and we hope you’ll be able to join us for that special service. We’ll be gathering in person, but if you are joining us online, you likely already received the Lenten packet in the mail. Note that there is a small envelope of ashes for you to use for that service as we begin our journey toward the cross. For those with children in first through fifth grade, a special Ash Wednesday earlier in the evening has been created with children in mind.
By way of update, the Reopening Committee continues to meet bi-weekly to review where we are in the current arc of the pandemic and what feels safe to do at church. Beginning in March, masked and fully vaccinated worship leaders will be able to sing live in the sanctuary. We are so pleased to get back to that! This also depends on their ability to prepare and rehearse, but I know they are eager to do this as soon as they are able. And the committee is watching numbers with hopefulness that we will be able to lift other restrictions in the not-too-distant future. We watch county statistics in addition to reading articles and listening to podcasts, and we are grateful to have practitioners in the medical field on the committee.
We have a lot going on, as you can see from opportunities in this newsletter and on our calendar. Members of session (which is like the church leadership board) are involved in calendar events, but also in taking a look at the bigger picture. I hope you’ll read the article by elder Laura Compton (see green box below) in which she shares some of her reflections on this year’s January session retreat.
Take care and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Peace,
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Communion Sunday
March 6
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 that 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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Reflections from the Session Retreat
By Laura Compton, Elder
In early January, session spent time learning about a journey our congregation is contemplating. It will be a long, challenging road, but the journey’s end is inspiring: it is a chance to change and save lives.
We began with a presentation by Rev. Jake Medcalf of First Presbyterian, Hayward, who inspired us all with his congregation’s experiences of providing members of their community with stable, affordable housing. As we watched videos of tiny home projects sprouting up, he shared stories of Bible-doing and of the joy that has come to many as they solved problems. I felt most drawn to the stories highlighting how re-visioning church land use brings communities together. I was thrilled to hear how people across generations, cultures, abilities, income levels, and life stages have been united by one purpose: providing true hospitality, shelter, and inclusion.
Many of us understand that God’s call to love and serve includes loving and serving our whole community, not just the people we think of as “the church.” During the retreat, my breakout group spent quite a bit of time considering how to move from a church-first orientation to a community-first orientation — trying to imagine what that might look, feel, and sound like.
We recognized that our church campus and buildings might not seem approachable and welcoming. To see what’s here, a person must enter the parking lot — one cannot just walk past and see all that’s happening. To actually find people on campus, even during non-pandemic times, a person must cross Trinity Court or walk through outdoor hallways. For those of us familiar with American religious architecture, it might not seem like a big deal, but for people who didn’t grow up exposed to suburban Christianity, how would they even know where to begin?
We thought it might be easier to find a welcoming smile on Sunday mornings. Then we asked: What do we see when we come into the Sanctuary each week? We know how important representation is. Are there obvious, visible connections to our whole community, or are those connections limited to “our church”?
We also asked ourselves whether there are ways we can use our physical site to strengthen the community that is already here. There are so many willing hearts and helping hands but sometimes there is not an obvious way for them to provide care and support to one another. Are there ways we can adapt our physical spaces to strengthen those connections as well?
Thanks to the work and planning of many before us, we have a beautiful campus and plenty of land. As stewards of that land, and as a people responding to God’s call, we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to explore many ways to welcome all of God’s children and to make a difference to those who cross our paths right now. What a blessing it is that we get to make a difference, and what a journey we have in front of us as we become “doers of the Word.” I know it will be a challenge with life-changing opportunities, and I have questions, but I also know that together with God we can make a difference for good.
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Lent & Easter Schedule of Events
Ash Wednesday, March 2
- 5:30–7:15 p.m. Special events for children & families (see article below)
- 7:30 p.m. Worship service, onsite & online
Sundays during Lent, March 6–April 3
- 11 a.m. Worship, onsite and online
Special Lenten Devotional Event, Thursday, March 10
- 6–7:30 p.m. on Zoom
- Led by Rev. Lisle Garrity from A Sanctified Art
Holy Week Services, onsite & online
- Palm Sunday, April 10 @ 11 a.m.
- Maundy Thursday, April 14 @ 7:30 p.m.
- Good Friday, April 15 @ 7:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 17
- 6:30 a.m. Sunrise service at Shoreline Park in Mountain View (also live streamed on Facebook)
- 11 a.m. Traditional service, onsite & online
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Resources for Your Lenten Journey
The season of Lent is fast approaching — Ash Wednesday is March 2! As we have done in recent years, Sunnyvale Pres is making available resources for your Lenten journey. We recently mailed out a packet that includes daily word/devotion cards, a Lenten intention-setting exercise, and some ashes for those attending the Ash Wednesday service online. Once again, you can receive daily devotional text messages (text SVPC DEVOTIONAL to 51400) or keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for daily meditations.
Other resources are available for digital download and/or print from our website. Please note the resources are copyrighted and for personal use only. You may access them at sunnyvalepres.com/lent-resources, using the password Lent2022. There will be a small number of printed materials available at church on Sundays for those not able to access them digitally, or if you weren’t on our mailing list. (Please contact us at info@sunnyvalepres.com to receive future mailings.) |
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Children’s Ministry Ash Wednesday & Lent
Ash Wednesday, March 2 • 5:30–6:30 p.m.
LOGOS is inviting all 1st–5th grade children at Sunnyvale Pres to a special Ash Wednesday event! Your children will learn about Ash Wednesday — why we celebrate it, what it represents, and some special parts of the worship service that they should look out for.
Afterward, join us for a family pizza picnic party on the grassy area behind the gym. Bring your own picnic blanket and we’ll provide the pizza! Families are encouraged to join the 7:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday service in the sanctuary after the picnic.
If you are not registered for LOGOS and want to join this special event, please fill out this form so that we know how much pizza to order. We ask that each family outside of LOGOS contribute $5 per person for dinner to help with food costs.
Children’s Lenten Packets Available
Children’s ministry has also assembled special packets of activities designed to help you and your children reflect on the meaning and purpose of Lent. If you would like to receive one of these packets, please fill out this form. |
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Lenten Devotional Event with A Sanctified Art
Thursday, March 10 • 6–7:30 p.m. • Zoom (passcode: 592021)
If you’ve participated in worship with us during special liturgical seasons over the past few years, you might have noticed that we always have a wonderful set of images and prayers that center nicely around a meaningful theme. In recent years these materials have helped us imagine the season of Lent as a journey through the wilderness; they’ve focused our attention on the urgent needs of the world in the Advent lead-up to Christmas. This year’s Lent brings a wonderful set of art and poetry that will help us see this time of preparation that isn’t just a test of discipline, but also a season full of signs of God’s grace and love.
These worship and devotion materials come to us from an art and worship ministry called “A Sanctified Art” ( sanctifiedart.org). The pastors and artists in this group are dedicated to providing faith communities with rich materials to sustain meaningful faith journeys. We are grateful for our partnership with them, and thought you all would appreciate the chance to meet one of their members — to learn from them and to dig in a bit deeper to the Lenten packet that you received in the mail. (If you’re not on our mailing list, contact us at info@sunnyvalepres.com or 1-408-739-1892.)
In this special Zoom event, we will be led by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity, one of the founding members of A Sanctified Art and one of the main visual artists in the group. Rev. Garrity has a wonderful breadth of experience in worship and arts leadership, and she will be teaching us about how to get the most out of our Lenten packets. This will include taking us through a devotional exercise called “visio divina” and offering us a chance to ask some questions about her work.
We hope that you’ll join our Sunnyvale Pres community for this special evening of spiritual enrichment. It will be held over Zoom so there’s no limit on how many can join — you can invite friends from near and far to be with us!
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Grief Support Group
Sunday, February 27 • 1st Sunday of every month • 1 p.m.
If you’ve lost a loved one and are walking the journey of grief, come join others in a Zoom space where it’s okay to not be okay. Tears, laughter, and the presence of others who also know loss will help ease the pain and provide a way to experience the love of God. Join us the first Sunday of each month at 1 p.m., led by Pastor Karin. Questions? Contact Pastor Karin at karin@sunnyvalepres.com. |
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College Panel: Entering College Post-COVID
Sunday, March 6 • 7–8:30 p.m. • Zoom (passcode: svpcyouth)
SVPC Youth ministry has assembled a wonderful group of parents and students from around the country who have “survived” the post-high school season, which often involves the college selection and admittance process. Add in the pandemic and it's been a tough time to enter college! Each speaker will bring their unique experience and perspective as they’ve decided what was next after high school and are willing to share their stories and knowledge with students and families that will go through this process in the coming months or years. Open to students, parents, and friends of Sunnyvale Pres and San Jose Presbytery. All ages. No RSVP required.
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Women’s Retreat: Cultivating Love
with speaker Annanda Barclay
Saturday, March 12 • 9:30–4:30
All women are invited! Join us as we find unique ways to connect during the day including music, a speaker, small groups, and afternoon activity groups that will include both online and in-person options. We will offer breaks and movement throughout the day to help avoid screen fatigue. Before we join into activity groups, we will have a short worship service and communion. Retreat cost will be just $10 to go toward our speaker’s honoraria.
Annanda (she/her/hers) is the pastor of Mission Bay Community Church in San Francisco. She is also a student chaplain at Stanford Hospital pursuing a full-time career in chaplaincy. Annanda seeks to create professional spaces that facilitate connections to the sacred through experiential education, network building, and spiritual care.
When not on the clock, Annanda enjoys nerding out on artificial intelligence, eco-housing, concerts, film, food, exploring outdoors, and quality time with friends, family, and her beloved dog, Wes. She also enjoys home-brewing craft beer and learning urban beekeeping.
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Annual Congregational Meeting
Sunday, March 13 • Immediately after 11 a.m. worship service • Onsite and online
All are invited to our Annual Congregational Meeting. Our fiscal year runs from April 1 through March 31, so this meeting is a great time to see where the church stands financially. This is also the time when the congregation meets its obligation to approve the Terms of Call for the pastors. We will also be reflecting back on Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church in 2021.
This will be a hybrid meeting, meaning that you can attend in person or via Zoom immediately following worship. Hope to see you there!
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Hiking Group Meets Third Saturday
in March
Saturday, March 19 • 10 a.m.
We’ve switched the date for the March hike to avoid a conflict with this year’s Women’s Retreat. Instead of hiking together on the second Saturday, we’ll meet on the third Saturday next month. If you’re attending the Women’s Retreat on March 12, a hike will also be one of the offered activities. For more information about the hiking group, email us at hiking@sunnyvalepres.com. |
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Calling All Men!
Sunday, March 20 • 12:30 p.m. • Las Palmas Park
Looking for a fun way to get outside and enjoy the company of others? Please join us at 12:30 p.m. or whenever you can get there after church for our “Cornhole, Dogs, and Suds” event at the Las Palmas Park picnic grounds in Sunnyvale. Enjoy grilled hot dogs, a cornhole tournament (for the uninitiated, it’s basically a bean bag toss) and beer tasting. The beer is being provided by the Grateful Goat brewing community, started by some of our own church members.
After a long period of COVID isolation, we are looking forward to seeing you, renewing old ties and making new friends!
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Seven Habits to Enhance Christian Living
Habit #3: Prayer
by Kate Jacobson,
Book Sale Ministry Team Volunteer
When I was younger in my Christian life, I rushed through my prayers, rushed through the rest of my day, and then wondered (surprisingly) why I never heard a response to them, or so I thought. It never occurred to me that I might not be giving enough time to God.
However, one day during an illness when I was in bed most of the day, I suddenly — because I had been so subdued and quiet and willing to let the Spirit in — felt the presence of Jesus all around me and could feel Him talk to me and comfort me, perhaps because I hadn’t said my prayers in a rushed way.
Ever since then, I make a still, quiet time every day for prayers and for listening to God’s answers to them. Doing this — what C.S. Lewis called “seeking the secret place and closing the door” — has been one of the deepest, most rewarding parts of being a Christian.
For Lent, I am using a book called 40 Days 40 Prayers 40 Words—Lenten Reflections for Everyday Life by Bruce Reyes-Chow. It’s especially enhanced my prayer skills, and I highly recommend it.
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Get connected at Sunnyvale Pres! We have weekly and monthly online events for all ages, plus frequent special events on a wide variety of subjects. We’d love to have you join us!
Special Events
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Ash Wednesday LOGOS Event • Wednesday, March 2 • 5:30–6:30 p.m. • Register if not enrolled in LOGOS
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College Panel • March 6 • 7–8:30 p.m. • Zoom (passcode: svpcyouth)
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Lenten Devotion Event with A Sanctified Art’s Lisle Garrity • Thursday, March 10 • 6–7:30 p.m. • Zoom
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Women’s Retreat • Saturday, March 12 • 9:30–4:30 • Over Zoom • Register
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Congregational Meeting • Sunday, March 13 • After 11 a.m. worship service • Online and onsite
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FLASH Retreat • March 19–20 • Check the calendar
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Men’s Event: Cornhole, Dogs and Suds • Sunday, March 20 • 12:30 p.m. • Las Palmas Park
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Rescheduled CLUE 2022 Winter Retreat: Conversations about Sex & Sexuality • March 26–27 • Register
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Save the dates! Book Study: Brian McLaren’s Why did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha and Mohammed Cross the Road? Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World • Wednesday evenings in April • Over Zoom
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CARAVAN 2022 • July 16–24 • Chicago • Info & Register
Ongoing Connections
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Bible Study • Sunday mornings • 8:45–10 a.m. • Email
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In-Person and Online Worship • Sunday mornings • 11 a.m. • See usual links in blue box below to connect online • Sign up for child care
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Children’s Church: STARS + BLAST • Sunday mornings • Register
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DipJar to support Sunnyvale Community Services • 1st Sunday • Give in the courtyard or online
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Grief Support Group • 1st Sunday • 1 p.m. • Zoom (passcode: 265200) • Email
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Youth Group: FLASH + CLUE • Sundays • FLASH (middle school) 5:30–7:15 p.m. • CLUE (high school) 7–8:15 p.m. • Note: new start time coming later this spring • Check the calendar
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Children’s Virtual Small Group (grades 3–5) • Mondays • 6:15–7 p.m. • Over Zoom • Register
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College-Age Small Group • Mondays • 6–7 p.m. • Check the calendar
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Men’s Bible Study • Tuesdays • 6:30–7:30 a.m. • Email
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LGBTQ+ Family and Friends Group • 1st Tuesday • 7 p.m. • Email
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Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse Families: Morning Coffee • 4th Tuesday • 10 a.m.–12 p.m. • Room 702 • Email
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Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group • 4th Tuesday • 11:30 a.m. • Over Zoom • Call 1-800-272-3900
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LOGOS • Wednesdays • 5:30–7:15 p.m. • Email
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The Well (FLASH + CLUE) • Wednesdays (resumes March 9) • 7:15–8 p.m. • Check the calendar
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JAM (Just a Moment) Parenting Group • 1st & 3rd Wednesdays • 9:30–10:30 a.m. • Over Zoom • Email
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Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse Families: Virtual Coffee • 2nd Wednesday • 9:30–11 a.m. • Email for Zoom link
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MINT (Moments of Intentionality) Parenting Group • 2nd & 4th Wednesdays • 8–9:30 p.m. • Over Zoom • Email
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Prayer Shawl Knitters • 3rd Wednesdays • 7:30–9 p.m. • Over Zoom • Email
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Spice Dinner • 2nd Thursday • 6–8 p.m. • Check the calendar
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Queer Fellowship Group • 3rd Thursday • 7–8:30 p.m. • Email
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Hiking Group • Saturday, March 19 (exception; usually 2nd Saturday) • 9 a.m. • Email
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2021–2022 Fiscal YTD Results
January 2022 (month 10)..........$K
Church Income....................$1,356
Church Expenses..................$1,437
Church Deficit...................$..(81)
Outreach Grps:PELC/TMS Surplus...$...71
Combined Organization Deficit....$..(10)
Strong giving in January brought year-to-date church Income to $1,356K. Church income through January is higher than we had budgeted for, but is 3% lower than last year at this time. Church spending of $1,437K resulted in the year-to-date church deficit of $(81)K. The outreach groups both operated at a surplus in January. The combined church and outreach group deficit is $(10)K. In January, our second government PPP loan was forgiven. This will more than offset our deficit for the fiscal year.
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In Our Thoughts and Prayers...
- Jackie Mattison who is recovering from knee surgery
- Chris Aben who is recovering from surgery
- Continued prayers for Mildred Prasad and Paul Nowicki
- Drew Crow-Bray for the loss of her grandmother, Donna
- David and Nancy Tousignant for the loss of David’s son, Jimmy
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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