MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2024

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2024 Christmas Offering

Today is deadline to donate to CityTeam

The recipient of this year's Christmas offering is CityTeam - in support of their 19 mobile food pantries with a goal of serving more families in need in Alameda County. We have received $21,700 so far. 

All donations received before December 31 are doubled.

Don't Miss A Beat!

Our church calendar is updated almost daily to include all meetings, worship times and special events.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Couples Workshop

Thriving, Loving Relationships: The Art of Fulfilling Communication and Deep Connection: On Friday, February 7, 6:30-8:30pm and Saturday, February 8, 9am - 12pm, Piedmont Church will host a workshop for married couples and those in long-term relationships. The workshop will be led by Laura Taggert, an experienced couples therapist, author and presenter. It will provide practical tools and exercises to strengthen communication and understanding, as well as guidance on how attachment, or love style, can impact your relationship.  

The cost per person is $60, with a limit of 25 couples. Refreshments will be served, and childcare is available if a request is made by February 1. Contact Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.org

Registration deadline is January 14

Online Bible Study

Bible Study won’t meet on January 6. 

On Mondays at 10am, Don Ashburn leads an online study. Starting in January, the focus will be on the Book of Revelation. To participate fully, no previous experience in Bible study is expected or required. Just come with an open heart and mind and see where the Spirit leads you. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83211177073

Life Groups Adds Virtual Option

Life Groups return on Thursday, January 16. And now, there are 2 ways to participate — in person and online.

Groups meeting in person get together starting at 6:15pm in Guild Hall for a shared meal, then meet in separate rooms in the church. There will be two online groups meeting at different times during the day. Once we know who can participate in online groups, we’ll finalize the days and times.

If you’ve never participated in a Life Group before, it is a way to participate in small group discussion and support. Discussion usually focuses on the previous week’s sermon, but at other times addresses books or other topics. It's a great way to learn about the Bible while finding fellowship and support.

While we believe it's important to meet in person, we recognize that for many reasons, some may need to participate remotely. That’s why we now offer virtual Life Groups. All participants need to sign up to be part of a Life Group. Contact Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.org

Registration deadline is January 14

Women Together Spiritual Dance

On January 25, 2pm, Kimery Leong will lead the group in a one hour introduction to liturgical/spiritual dancing in Guild Hall. The session will involve a warm up, meeting each other and learning to use movement to express spiritual themes like joy, love, praise, peace, worship, struggle and strength.

Contact Kimery at kimarj@gmail.com

NEXTGEN

Our NextGen ministry is very active, with lots of events throughout the month. Visit the NextGen web page by clicking below.

Two Sessions, Confirmation 2025

Confirmation Session 1:

We invite 7th graders and above to join our 9-week Confirmation Class, which starts on January 12 and concludes with a special overnight retreat on March 28, 29.

Class Details:

• When: Sundays, from 12-1pm (starting January 12)
• Where: Youth Room, C.E. Building
• Duration: 9 weeks, plus an overnight retreat

What to Expect:

In this class, students will:

• Explore the core beliefs of the Christian faith
• Wrestle with deep questions about life and spirituality
• Craft their personal Statement of Faith as they grow in understanding

Confirmation Session 2:

We invite 7th graders and above to join our nine-week Confirmation Class, which starts January 12 and concludes with a special overnight retreat on March 28-29.

Class Details:

• When: Wednesdays, from 3-4pm (starting January 8)
• Where: Youth Room, Piedmont Community Church
• Duration: 9 weeks, plus an overnight retreat

At the conclusion of the classes, students will have the opportunity to be introduced to the congregation during the Palm Sunday service if they choose to pursue membership with Piedmont Church.

SERVICE

Help overcome food insecurity. Nearly 12% of Bay Area residents are food insecure. Members and friends of Piedmont Church will gather at Alameda County Food Bank on Wednesday, January 22 at 8:30am to bag food for distribution to the food bank’s recipients. Contact Janet Peterson at janetp201@gmail.com. She will send you a link to sign-up on the ACCFB website. You can also sign-up Sunday after worship. Carpooling can also be arranged.

Refugee Family To Arrive Soon

For those who wish to be involved in Piedmont Community Church's Refugee Task Force (RTF), here's what's important to know:

Our family arrives soon

We have been in discussion with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and we will be receiving a family sometime in the first half of January, 2025. They must be assigned prior to the January 20 Presidential Inauguration Day. We do not know anything more specific about their arrival date or country of origin.

RTF All-Hands meeting January 7  

Please put it in your calendar and join the RTF All-Hands meeting on Tuesday January 7, 7pm. We will post the work involved, answer questions and have signups. We will meet in the Chapel, entrance off Highland Way. Who knows, we may already have a family!

Contact Scott Willis at scottwillis724@gmail.com. Please pray for our family to have a safe trip.

Ride Coordinator Needed

In seeking to meet the needs of people in our community who cannot - or no longer can - drive to church on Sunday mornings, we are seeking a volunteer Ride Coordinator. The responsibilities consist of finding out who may need a ride to church, what their physical capacity may be and arranging for people to drive them to church.

This task would be done in coordination with the pastoral staff and the Board of Deacons. We'll start by offering a limited number of rides and then decide if we need to build our capacity. Contact Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.org

FELLOWSHIP

Our next FREE adults Game & Gab Night will be held on Friday, February 1 from 6:30-9pm in Guild Hall. Snacks, dessert and drinks will be served.  Enjoy chat tables for those who don’t like to play games, Poker, Mexican Train, Rummikub, Scrabble and more. Bring your favorite game or puzzle if you’d like.  

Click the registration link below or sign up in the Courtyard after worship by January 26. Contact Kathy Hurd at (916) 343-1519

New Beginners, Gentle Pickleball

Are you interested in playing, or learning to play, pickleball but without the seriousness or competitiveness that you may feel is associated with our current Sunday Pickleball Fellowship? 

If so, you'll enjoy this new gathering of Beginners and Gentle Pickleball Fellowship Saturdays from 2-4pm in the indoor gym, second floor of the Christian Education (C.E.) Building, beginning January 11, 2025. Equipment is provided. No experience required.

A more serious version of pickleball (slam, lob and dinking battles) takes place Sundays from 1-3pm, also in the indoor gym.

Contact Lucille Yee at lucilleyee@gmail.com or Suzanne Latham at suzlatham3@gmail.com

WEEKLY REMINDERS

Staying Well While Gathering

Although many of us have begun to travel and widen our social lives in the past months, COVID and other respiratory infections have kept up with us, as you may have noticed in recent months.  We have learned a lot since 2020 about the consequences of these infections, which continue to impact the health of the most vulnerable and those we love.

To keep everyone we love well when gathering, we should take advantage of multiple effective strategies developed since 2020: 1) get updated COVID, influenza, and RSV vaccines that strengthen our individual and community immunity;  2) use rapid home antigen tests that are now free and available again by mail from the USPS; 3) take Paxlovid and other early antiviral treatments to reduce the risk of severe complications; 4) mask to protect yourself and prevent transmission; 5) use proper hand hygiene; and 6) ensure good ventilation wherever you gather.  For more information here are trusted sources:

Updated Vaccines: 

https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

Free tests:

https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Test/Pages/default.aspx

Messenger and Sunday Bulletin Deadlines

The Messenger

Piedmont Church’s online newsletter, The Messenger, is the primary source of communication. The Messenger is published digitally and distributed via email weekly.

Deadline for Messenger articles is 12 noon Monday

Michael Barber edits copy and designs the layout of each Messenger with careful consideration of article placement. Placement is determined based on relevance to the congregation and the wider community. 

Sunday Bulletin

Sunday bulletin and worship announcements are decided by Michael based on Tuesday discussions with Staff and lay leadership.

Print deadline for Sunday Bulletin is 12 noon Tuesday

Church Calendar

All information regarding the church calendar, including event dates, setup times and meetings, should be sent to Jay Foreman at Jay@PiedmontChurch.org

Please consider making an online offering by clicking below, or give while watching Sunday services on our website.