Note from Pastor Hardy Dear SVPC Family, Yesterday, Thursday morning, thinking about what I wanted to share with you, I sat listening to eulogies for Congressman John Lewis. He was an amazing leader, even from a young age, who displayed courage and a selflessness that most of us only aspire to in our dreams. Radio stations played clips from interviews where he recounted believing that he was going to die during civil rights protests in the 1960s. But he went ahead with them anyway, believing that even if he died his faith and his community deserved all that he could give. It humbles me to bear witness to someone who lived so selflessly on account of their faith. It gives me further motivation to do what I can for others in our country and world who are suffering. And I am grateful that I am a part of this SVPC community—where we have shifted so much of our activity to care for public health, and where we are taking up critical conversations to reshape ourselves to be more affirming of LGBTQ+ persons and to be better equipped to strive for full equality for Black, brown, and indigenous communities. Today, I am grateful for the life of a saint like John Lewis. I am grateful for our community of saints here in Sunnyvale. Humbly,

News from Pastor Karin Dear friends, Thursday morning I watched much of the funeral held for Congressman John Lewis. What an inspiration. I was re-reminded of just how much work there is to be done. Pandemics and viruses don’t need to get in the way of the work that lies before us. Rep. Lewis was a beacon of hope and courage to a people in deep need. And we need it still. And we share the call of the gospel to spend ourselves on behalf of the least. With our pens, our voices, and our votes, let us together seek to be people who stand with integrity for issues of justice and hope. I thank God for the inspiration and example of those who have gone before us. Ours is to carry on with faithfulness the work that others have begun. I’m so glad we get to do it together! Peace, Congressman John Lewis at the Selma 50th Anniversary Celebration, 2015

Thoughts from Carol Heath, Director of Community Life

You have probably heard by now that your session voted in May to “work for the full participation of LGBTQ+ people in the life, ministry, and witness of our church and society.” For many, this was a surprise because they already thought we were an affirming church. Perhaps for others, there are still questions about what the Bible says about this subject (surprisingly little, actually). As a person who has called SVPC my church for over 22 years, I am feeling incredible joy. You see, my third child is queer (yes, you can say that) and I was finally able to look them in the eye and say, “The church you were baptized and confirmed in, now fully affirms you.” This brought tears to both of our eyes. I always knew that God loved and affirmed my child, but it is beautiful to know my church now fully affirms my child too. I am anxious to “be the church” with you all as together we affirm our LGBTQ+ siblings in Christ.

COLLEGE-AGE SMALL GROUP (OVER ZOOM) July 27–August 31 • 7 p.m. • For more information contact Carol Heath • Zoom link

Join other college-age students on Monday evenings for six weeks. Carol Heath will be leading “An Introduction to Joy” by Rob Bell. No prep needed, just show up. Spend some time sharing and learning together.

WINE & CHEESE & DOCUMENTARIES (OVER ZOOM) Sunday, August 16 • 6–9 p.m.

Adults! RSVP for our Wine & Cheese & Documentaries Event for an online film screening of “Cooked: Survival by Zip Code,” which examines how segregation and housing insecurity played a role in the record-breaking 1995 Chicago heat wave that resulted in over 700 deaths. We’ll end with a brief discussion on how this relates to our community here in Silicon Valley.

RSVP

NEW MEMBERS CLASS (OVER ZOOM) Sunday, September 13 • 9–11 a.m. • Led by Rev. Karin Hejmanowski • For more information contact Jean Ranck

Save the date! If you’ve been attending worship and wonder what the next step in connecting is, come and explore membership with us at our next New Members Class.

STAFF PROFILE Everyone, meet Beth Treitel , Worship Director. Beth joined SVPC staff in 2017; she previously volunteered at SVPC with worship-related work for 18 years.

Favorite snack or dessert? I’m fond of most of them! Favorite activity to do at home? Participate in hysterically funny, logic-bending conversations with my kids. Favorite musician/band? I’m a child of the 70’s and enjoy the music of the band Chicago, but my favorite individual musician is Heinz Holliger. One superpower? I would choose mind-reading; it would be so much easier to have genuine compassion when you can know and understand what people are thinking and why. How do you serve at SVPC? I’m currently Clerk of Session and Director of Worship.

UPCOMING “ VIRTUAL ” EVENTS

View Events Calendar

Ongoing Connections Bible Study • Sunday mornings • 8:45–10 a.m., Email Children’s Ministry Summer Program • Sundays & Tuesdays & Thursdays through August 10 • 10 a.m., Zoom Link Yoga with Youth Ministry (everyone welcome) • Mondays/Thursdays • 10 a.m., Info Discussion Group—African American Poetry from the Harlem Renaissance: Poems of Beauty, Perspective and Protest, Round Two • Mondays, August 3–24 • 5–6 p.m., Email College-Age Small Group • Mondays through August 31 • 7 p.m., Email, Zoom link Men’s Bible Study • Tuesdays • 6:30–7:30 a.m., Email LGBTQ+ Family and Friends Support Group • 1st Tuesday • 7 p.m., Email Parent Support Group Coffees • 2nd & 4th Tuesdays • 10–11 a.m., Email Parent Support Group Coffee • 3rd Thursday • 7:30–8:30 p.m., Email JAM (Just Among Moms) • 1st & 3rd Wednesdays • 1:30 p.m., Zoom Link Mom’s Hour • 2nd & 4th Wednesdays • 8 p.m., Zoom Link Finding the Good in Grief • Thursdays through July 30 • 7 p.m., Email Spice Dinner • 2nd Thursdays • 6–8 p.m., Check the calendar Parent Support Group Coffee • 3rd Thursdays • 7:30–8:30 p.m., Email Youth Book Club • August, Sign up here Youth Netflix Parties • Check the calendar Special Events Wine & Cheese & Documentaries (formerly CARAVAN Sunday) • Sunday • August 16 • 6-9 p.m., Info & RSVP New Members Class (over Zoom) • Sunday • September 13 • 9–11 a.m. • Info & RSVP To learn more about virtual events, videos and at-home activities for children and youth subscribe to their e-newsletters or check out the children’s ministry Facebook page or youth ministry’s web page.

RESOURCES As we read, we learn and grow. Consider these books: Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks by Diana Butler Bass The Way of the Peaceful Woman for tips on living with more confidence and less anxiety by Amy Beth Acker Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr

PRAYER REQUESTS In place of the blue prayer cards you filled out on Sundays, please send your prayer requests anytime to prayer@svpc.us. 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

IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS... Donna Yeager and Bruce Smith who have health challenges Paul Wilcox whose Aunt Nancy died Kathryn Wilkinson whose mother died, Barbara Wilkinson Praise that Shirley Harms’ pacemaker surgery went well PRAYERS FOR SAFE RELOCATIONS... Trish & Jim McAfee who are moving to Austin, Texas. Grateful that Trish has been a part of SVPC for 45 years Mark Treitel as he drives a Toyota Camry loaded with all his worldly possessions to South Dakota to begin his teaching career with middle schoolers on a Lakota Indian reservation Pat Wolff’s son, Cameron, and his family as they travel to their new home in France

JOIN US FOR “LIVE” WORSHIP SUNDAYS @ 2 PM AND A SHORT COFFEE HOUR FOLLOWING

Watch the livestream broadcast of our weekly worship service. No Facebook account is required to watch on SVPC’s public Facebook page. Or you can watch on the SVPC website. You’re invited to join us for Coffee Hour following the service. Here’s what to look for when you watch on Facebook. Click on the blue Watch on Facebook button (in this email or on the front page of the website). If you don’t have a Facebook account, ignore any prompts by Facebook to log in or create an account. You may need to scroll down just a bit to see the Videos entry on the left side. At 1:45 p.m. we’ll already be live and there should be the word “LIVE” in red on the Videos button. Just click it. You should see a Welcome to Worship slide dated for this Sunday (August 2). At about 1:50 some music will start. Welcome to worship!

Watch on Facebook Watch on Website Join us for Coffee Hour

Would you like to listen to Sunday’s service on your phone? Follow these instructions on your phone to dial into listen only mode on Zoom: Use this phone number: 1-669-900-9128 Enter this meeting ID followed by #: 668 692 256 # Enter # for Participant ID: # Enter this password followed by #: 254631#

BENEVITY & YOURCAUSE Please apply for a matching employer donation if your workplace offers this option. If you’ve tried unsuccessfully in the past, please try again because recent changes have made SVPC an eligible charity for more employers.

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