Dear Friends,
Epiphany Greetings!
January 6 is the day we celebrate the visit of the magi to the newborn Jesus and His family. It’s a time to think about how we might encounter the light of Christ in our world — especially in new ways.
The magi journeyed far and overcame risks and dangers to be in the presence of God’s living savior. As we enter another year — filled with possibility and risks alike — I wonder how we might be able to live into the curiosity, courage, and conviction of those visionary leaders from long ago? And what of our own gifts might we be willing to offer up to God in grateful response to God’s willingness to be present in our world?
May we continue to look for — and to actively follow — guiding stars that indicate the presence and activity of God in the world in the new year 2022. May it be filled with many new revelations and opportunities to show our gratitude to God.
With hope,
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Dear Friends,
I’m looking forward to seeing you on Sunday whether onsite or online. Together we’ll ordain and install our new officers. Your deacons met this past week and session is meeting for a Zoom-based retreat tomorrow. The officers you elected and have prayed for are ready to serve you in this coming year.
I enjoyed some time off and a chance to play in the snow with the kids as we visited my mom in Seattle after Christmas. But perhaps like me, the new year rang in for you with a bit less enthusiasm than last year. I don’t feel jaded, but I do feel realistic about the time that lies ahead of us. Omicron has given us quite a reality check, right? As a community, we’ll continue to listen to the doctors supporting our Reopening Committee, the CDC, and county guidelines. We all long to be able to sing out not only when we worship online, but also in person. At the same time, we’re committed to keeping one another safe as a community.
We may tire of precautions, for sure, but let us recommit to them out of a resolve to not tire of caring for and loving one another and making the world a safer place in so many ways. This is our call.
See you soon,
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Thank You, Volunteers!
Last week, a great group of volunteers joined together on Wednesday and Thursday to help clear out the storage containers in the back parking lot. They helped sort, carry, recycle, lift, and remove all the “stuff” from four very large containers. THANK YOU for your help to complete this seemingly insurmountable task! (Stay tuned for a possible workday in the gym in the future.)
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Free Stuff!
In doing our cleanout, we found some tools, garden equipment, gas cans, and other random stuff we’re giving away for free. Just head out to the open shipping container and take a look inside. Feel free to take anything you find and help us to reduce, reuse, and recycle rather than throwing away.
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Sunnyvale Pres Hikers
This Saturday, January 8 • 9 a.m. • RSVP
For our January hike, we’ll meet in front of the American Bistro Cafe at Shoreline Lake, 3160 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View.
We’ll do an easy, up-and-back, 4-mile hike along the Bay Trail at Shoreline. After the hike, we’ll have social time to share our holiday stories and plans for the New Year at the American Bistro Cafe on their outside patio. You’re welcome to bring your own beverage and snack or buy something at the cafe. Please RSVP to let us know if you’ll be able to join us. |
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Officer Installation and Ordination
This Sunday, January 9
You’ve elected people to serve as officers of the church — both as elders and deacons. We hope you’ll show your support for these new officers by joining us for worship onsite or online as they’re ordained (if they haven’t been previously ordained as an officer in our denomination) and installed on January 9. Your presence will encourage them as they begin their term of service. You can also be praying for our elders as they meet via Zoom the day before for a time of retreat.
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Men’s Bible Study: The Jesus I Never Knew
Tuesdays • 6:30–7:30 a.m. • Over Zoom • Email
On Tuesday, January 11, the Men’s Bible Study begins a study of Philip Yancey’s The Jesus I Never Knew. We meet at 6:30–7:30 a.m. every Tuesday on Zoom. All are invited. For more information, email Roger Medsker. |
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CLUE 2022 Winter Retreat:
Conversations About Sex & Sexuality
January 22–23 • Westminster Woods
Hey CLUE (high schoolers) — join this year’s Sunnyvale Pres Youth Retreat at Westminster Woods! Students will have a chance to engage in frank and age-appropriate discussions about sex, gender, and sexuality as it relates to living a faithful Christian life. Inviting a friend? Use the code HALFSCHOLAR22 for 50% off! Learn more and register here. |
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New Member Class
Sunday, January 30 • 9–10:45 a.m. • Over Zoom • Register
If you’ve been attending worship and are interested in the next step, come and explore membership with us. The Rev. Karin Hejmanowski will be teaching the next one-session New Member Class over Zoom. Those who become new members will also need to meet with our leadership on Tuesday, February 15 in the evening, and be received during our 11 a.m. worship service on March 13. To register for the class, click here. |
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Join us for Black History Month: A Case for Reparations
Wednesdays in February • 7–8:30 p.m. • Over Zoom • Register
In this year of racial reckoning, join others in our faith community as we explore a powerful resource together. The artistic graphics, clear highlights of history, and intriguing case studies all combine to flesh out how we got to this place and where we might go from here. |
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Led by Stephanie Lutz Allen, each session will involve discussing the materials and then participating in a creative activity. While “reparations” can be a loaded word, you’re invited to listen to these voices as we explore together. The first session will be a hybrid meeting (in-person or over Zoom) and the remaining three sessions will meet over Zoom. Register here to access the materials and Zoom link. |
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Immanuel House Manager Needed
Immanuel House is looking for a new house manager. Immanuel House is a nonprofit in San Jose that provides transitional housing to newly arrived refugees. The house manager receives free rent and utilities in a manager’s suite in return for safe operation of the refugee transition household. No salary is provided; this is a volunteer position. Responsibilities include providing new residents with an orientation on household maintenance and house rules, ensuring residents complete weekly chores, collecting and distributing mail, and communicating with the board and partner organizations. Please contact info@immanuelhousesj.org for more information about the position.
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2022 Youth Confirmation Elder Mentors Needed!
Youth ministry is seeking session elders (currently serving and past elected) to serve our Confirmation students as elder mentors in early 2022! The role of an elder mentor is to support your one confirmation student (grades 8–12) during the Confirmation process. You’ll help them formulate their statement of faith and encourage and support them in this journey of faith exploration. Sign up by emailing youth@sunnyvalepres.com!
Relational Commitment:
- Be fully safe-church trained.
- Pray for your mentee; stay in touch through email or text, encouraging them through the process.
- Schedule two check-ins (via Zoom, phone call, or in-person) with your Confirmation mentee:
- Late February or early March — after we’ve introduced them to the idea of a faith statement. You can be a sounding board for them as they start their writing process.
- Late March — about a week before the final deadline (April 9) for the faith statements, to revise the draft and offer support in finishing their faith statement.
Meeting Dates:
- Monday, January 10, 7–7:30 p.m. — attend the first half-hour of our first Confirmation class in the CLUE youth room
- Tuesday, January 18, 7–8:30 p.m. — Confirmation class observes a session meeting
- Tuesday, April 19, 7–8:30 p.m. — Confirmation class meets with session to present their statements of faith
- Sunday, April 24, 11 a.m. — Confirmation Sunday service
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CARAVAN 2022
In July of 2022, SVPC Youth ministry will head to the Southside of Chicago, Illinois to learn from community members about the effects of segregation and institutionalized racist city policies that have kept Chicago as one of the most segregated cities in the country. We hope to return with concrete tools to address our own version of housing issues here in the Bay Area so we have eyes to see the ways we segregate our lives from each other each day. Interested in learning more or registering? Click here. |
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Now Hiring: AV/IT Coordinator
Please let those you consider qualified for this position know about this vacancy. Job description and the process to apply can be found here. We’re so grateful for the faithful service of retiring long-time employee, Suzanne Ungson. |
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Begin 2022 with an Easy 90-Day Plan to
Get Closer to God in Five Minutes a Day
Well, maybe ten minutes. Pick up a free copy of the PC(USA) quarterly devotional booklet These Days for January/February/March 2022 from the Book Sale Cart. Follow the daily plan: Read the suggested verses, read the reflection, say the prayer. Then reflect on the words as you go about your life. Free copies of These Days are limited. What’s to lose? A better question, what’s to gain in just five to ten minutes a day?
For a home-delivered, paid subscription (with large-print option) to These Days, call 1-800-554-4694 or click here.
Devotional and Bible study books, including the Jesus Calling series, are available for purchase from the Book Sale Cart in Trinity Court Sundays after the worship service.
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Get connected at SVPC! 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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Officer Installation & Ordination • Sunday, January 9 • During 11 a.m. worship
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Youth Group: God @ the Movies • Sunday, January 9 • Check the calendar
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2022 Youth Confirmation Class • Begins Monday, January 10 • Register
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CLUE 2022 Winter Retreat: Conversations about Sex & Sexuality • January 22–23 • Westminster Woods • Register
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New Member Class • Sunday, January 30 • 9–10:45 a.m. • Over Zoom • Register
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Black History Month Discussion: A Case for Reparations • Wednesdays, February 2, 9, 16, 23 • 7–8:30 p.m. • Register
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Youth Family Winter Party: Paint & Sip • Sunday, February 6 • Check the calendar
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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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Youth Group: FLASH + CLUE • Sundays • FLASH (middle school) 5:30–7:15 p.m. • CLUE (high school) 7–8:15 p.m. • 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 (new book begins Tuesday, January 11) • 6:30–7:30 a.m. • Email
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LGBTQIA+ Family and Friends Support Group • 1st Tuesday • 7 p.m. • Email
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Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse Families: Virtual Morning Coffee • 4th Tuesday • 11 a.m. • Email for Zoom link
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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 • New time! 5:30–7:15 p.m. • Email
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The Well (FLASH + CLUE) • Wednesdays • 7:15 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: In-Person Coffee • 2nd Wednesday • 9:30 a.m. • Room 750 • Email
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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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Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse Families: Virtual Evening Coffee • 3rd Thursday • 7:30 p.m. • Email for Zoom link
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Hiking Group • 2nd Saturday • 9 a.m. • Email
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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.
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In Our Thoughts and Prayers...
- Dan Dutro who has upcoming surgery
- Bill Prior and Kristy Freese who are both recovering from health issues
- Madeleine Fackler who is in cancer treatment
- Ethel and Charley Hopkins for the loss of their son, David
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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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:
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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#
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