Note from Pastor Hardy
“A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones…”
—Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

Dear Friends,

This upcoming Sunday is Palm Sunday. As we re-incorporate many of the worship elements we were used to pre-pandemic, I hope we can encounter them with newfound joy. I suspect that a palm processional with children waving big leafy fronds will be a good opportunity for us to try this out.

A happy and chaotic group of children in worship also makes me mindful that Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter were all part of the way God acted out love for the lowly and suffering of the world. We celebrate how Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, not on a war steed with a military escort. This signaled how God was in the world to show solidarity with the suffering, not to win glory for God’s self by dominating others.

So, in this world where we see refugees crying out for help in the face of besieging armies. Where we see once-fired former employees building unions to temper the power of global corporations. And where everyday laborers and caregivers struggle to make ends meet at the same time that wealthy investors and fossil fuel companies rake in record profits… let us consider who would have been in the throng celebrating Jesus, and who would have been in Herod’s courts shaking their disapproving heads.

I pray that our Lenten reflections and worship will have prepared us to be waiting and watching for Jesus — not distracted by the promises of worldly leaders. On Easter morning, may we be with those who still are looking for hope from the One who comes in the name of love.

Wishing you a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter,
P.S. Please join us for all of our special services, including a sunrise service by the bay! You can find details for all of our special services here.
News from Pastor Karin
Dear Friends,

This Lent we’ve been taking a different perspective than usual. Given the many kinds of loss and isolation and deprivations of the pandemic years, we are looking at this Lenten season through what biblical scholars would call a hermeneutic — a lens — of God’s expansive, abundant love. I have been especially struck by two of the parables this season. The parable of the fig tree where the gardener went beyond expectation to give space, time, and care to a tree not valued by the landowner. And the parable of the prodigal son, which is a story of the prodigal or extravagant and lavish love of a father who never, ever gave up and never let go of hope.

It can be easy to feel like there isn’t enough. There’s not enough time. Not enough money. That we’re not enough. But what would it be like to still those voices and shun those assumptions of scarcity? What would it look like to bask in the extravagant love of God and seek to lavish that on others?

I know it may feel like it could only make a tiny difference in our tiny part of the world. But I’ll bet it would be worth it!

Peace,
Holy Week & Easter
Schedule of Events

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 livestreamed on Facebook)
  • 11 a.m. Traditional service, onsite & online

Use password Lent2022 to access the online Lenten resources.
One Great Hour of Sharing

For the first time in two years, our offerings to One Great Hour of Sharing will be acknowledged and received in the sanctuary during the celebration of Palm Sunday! (Don’t worry, those watching online can easily participate as well.)

For more than 70 years, One Great Hour of Sharing has provided us a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need. In fact, OGHS is the single largest way Presbyterians come together every year to work toward a better world.

The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing — Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People — all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope.

Please make your donation online or with a check to Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church with “OGHS” written on the memo line.
Memorial Service for Dick Nepstatd
Tomorrow, Saturday, April 9 • 10 a.m. • Zoom (passcode: 654321)

There will be a memorial service for Dick Nepstad on Saturday, April 9 at 10 a.m. (Pacific Time) on Zoom. The Zoom link can be found on the church website or here. Use passcode 654321.
Memorial Service for Kay Shields
Sunday, April 10 • 2 p.m. • The Terraces Los Altos or over Zoom

You’re invited to a memorial service for Kay Shields, in person (with COVID protocols listed below) or via Zoom. The service will be held at:

The Terraces Los Altos
373 Pine Lane
Los Altos, CA 94022
1-303-948-8291

COVID Protocols for The Terraces Los Altos: 
Visitors must wear a mask indoors. Visitors must register with the front desk. Fully vaccinated visitors must present their vaccination card. Unvaccinated visitors must take a COVID test in front of a TLA nurse — bring your own test and please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the service.

If you prefer, we’d love to have you there virtually. Here is the Zoom link.
Easter Egg Dyeing Party
Tomorrow, Saturday, April 9
10 a.m.–noon
Trinity Court

Children’s ministry is inviting you and your family to join us for a morning of Easter fun at our Easter Egg Dyeing Party! You bring the hard-boiled eggs — we’ll provide everything else! We will also have plenty of other crafts and activities to entertain your families while waiting for your eggs to dry. There will be a table for decorating plastic eggs for anyone with egg allergies. No registration is required, just come join in the fun!

If you’d like to help out as a volunteer for this event, please fill out this quick form.
Coffee Volunteers Needed!

Are you ready to have coffee again after the service? With our new policies, coffee can return. But only if we have volunteers! The good news is that the coffee will be made for us (thank you John Ahn!), but we will need two people each week to be a smiling presence and to clean-up afterwards. Sign-ups are online at sunnyvalepres.com/volunteer. Just a heads up — if we don’t have clean-up people on any given week, we will cancel coffee that day, so find a friend and sign-up soon!
Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group
Tuesday, April 26 • 4th Tuesdays of the month
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. • Over Zoom

Join other caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia in a group led by Diane Currier of the Alzheimer’s Association. The group that previously met at Sunnyvale Pres is currently meeting virtually over Zoom. Please contact 1-800-272-3900 to register for this group or any of the Alzheimer’s Association’s caregiver support groups now meeting over Zoom or in-person.
Senior Coffee
Thursday, May 12 • 10:30–11:30 a.m. • Zoom (passcode: 654321)

Sunnyvale Pres seniors in your 80s and older are invited to a virtual coffee with Pastor Karin and members of the Caring Ministry Team. It’s always good to be together! If we have your birthday in our database (to tell us you’re 80+), we’ll be sending you an email reminder a few days before the coffee. Questions? Contact Roger Medsker at medskerrd@gmail.com or 1-319-400-2828.
Vacation Bible School
June 13–17 • 9:30 a.m.–noon • Info & Register

VBS is back this summer! Children age 4 to incoming 4th graders are invited on campus to spend the morning learning about God and the ways that we are called to love and serve one another. Come join us for interactive and exciting biblical learning! Click here for more information, including registration or volunteer opportunities.
Seven Habits to Enhance Christian Living
Habit #4: Forgiveness
by Sue Ahn, Book Sale Ministry Team Volunteer

“Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” —Luke 23:34
Forgiveness is central to the message of Jesus who proclaimed it in His hour of greatest suffering, who freely offered it throughout His life and exhorted His followers to do the same.

Readings about forgiving and accepting forgiveness can be found in many books, some of which are on our Book Sale Cart in Trinity Court. Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? by Brian D. McLaren, the focus of our church’s discipleship book study in April, speaks of forgiveness as a way of choosing hospitality over hostility. It can be a path toward touching others, and ourselves, with kindness.

We hope you will find books on our book cart to help in your journey toward Easter — the greatest sign of God’s never ending love and forgiveness.
Upcoming Events
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
  • 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 • Zoom
  • Easter Egg Dyeing Party • Saturday, April 9 • 10 a.m.–noon • Trinity Court
  • Memorial Service for Dick Nepstad • Saturday, April 9 • 10 a.m. • Zoom (passcode: 654321)
  • OGHS Offering • Sunday, April 10 • During 11 a.m. worship • Give
  • Memorial Service for Kay Shields • Sunday, April 10 • 2 p.m. • The Terraces Los Altos or over Zoom
  • Confirmation Sunday • April 24 
  • Senior Coffee • Thursday, May 12 • 10:30–11:30 a.m. • Zoom (passcode: 654321)
  • Promotion Sunday & Afternoon Fun in the Park • June 5 • Send photos & info by May 20
  • Vacation Bible School • June 13–17 • 9:30 a.m.–noon • Info & register
  • CARAVAN 2022 • July 16–24 • Chicago • Info

To learn more about events for children and youth subscribe to their e-newsletters. Also, check out the Children’s ministry Facebook page or Youth ministry’s Instagram or Linktree, or text ‘FLASH’ (Middle School) or ‘CLUE’ (High School) to 51400 for live updates.

Ongoing Connections
  • Bible Study • Sunday mornings (no meeting Easter Sunday) • 8:45–10 a.m. • Email
  • 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
  • Children’s Church: STARS + BLAST • Sunday mornings • Register
  • DipJar to support Sunnyvale Community Services • 1st Sunday • Give in the courtyard or online anytime
  • Grief Support Group • 1st Sunday • 1 p.m. • Zoom (passcode: 265200) • Email
  • Youth Group: FLASH + CLUE • Sunday evenings • New time starting in April! 6:30–7:45 p.m. for FLASH + CLUE combined • Check the calendar
  • Children’s Virtual Small Group (grades 3–5) • Mondays • 6:15–7 p.m. • Over Zoom • Register
  • College-Age Small Group • Mondays • 6–7 p.m. • Check the calendar
  • Men’s Bible Study • Tuesdays • 6:30–7:30 a.m. • Email
  • LGBTQ+ Family and Friends Group • 1st Tuesday • 7 p.m. • Email
  • Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse Families: Morning Coffee • 4th Tuesday • 10 a.m.–12 p.m. • Room 702 • Email
  • Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group • 4th Tuesday • 11:30 a.m. • Over Zoom • Call 1-800-272-3900 
  • The Well (FLASH + CLUE) • Wednesdays (no meeting April 20) • 7:15–8 p.m. • Check the calendar
  • JAM (Just a Moment) Parenting Group • 1st & 3rd Wednesdays • 9:30–10:30 a.m. • Over Zoom • Email
  • Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse Families: Virtual Coffee • 2nd Wednesday • 9:30–11 a.m. • Email for Zoom link
  • MINT (Moments of Intentionality) Parenting Group • 2nd & 4th Wednesdays • 8–9:30 p.m. • Over Zoom • Email
  • Prayer Shawl Knitters • 3rd Wednesdays • 7:30–9 p.m. • Over Zoom • Email
  • Spice Dinner • 2nd Thursday • 6–8 p.m. • Check the calendar
  • Queer Fellowship Group • 3rd Thursday • 7–8:30 p.m. • Email
  • Hiking Group • 2nd Saturday • 9 a.m. • Email
Employer Matching Gifts: 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 Sunnyvale Pres an eligible charity for more employers.
In Our Thoughts and Prayers...

  • Continued prayers for Paul Nowicki, Mildred Prasad and Gary Schultz
  • Patsy Duke who is in hospice
  • Carol Heath’s mother, Karen Walters, and Emily Ralph’s uncle, Kenny Sooy, who are at end-of-life

Praise!

  • The marriage of Dale Bracey and Marilyn DiLoreto

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
Join Us Onsite or Online for Worship on Sundays @ 11 a.m.
Zoom Coffee Hour follows.
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.

Look for the red banner at the top of our new website (SunnyvalePres.com). Click the white button, “Join online worship & events.