Thank you for the gift of sabbatical!

Kris Sheridan, SVPC Marketing Manager

Dear Jennifer,

This summer, I was blessed to spend time in Iowa and Michigan visiting with friends and family. The purpose of the Sunnyvale Pres sabbatical program is to give staff members a period of rest and renewal. In addition to relaxing on the lakeshore, hiking, biking and boating, I immersed myself in restorative yoga practices, including techniques for quieting the mind, breath awareness, and sound healing. Thank you for this opportunity for restoration and renewal.

In gratitude,

Kris

New Interest Groups

One of Pastor Karin’s parting gifts was a sermon series on community building here at Sunnyvale Pres. As a result, many new groups are forming around different interests and lots of folks are getting involved! Just a few of those groups include yoga, board games, cooking, poetry, pickleball, fiber arts, and an environmental justice action group. There are also old favorites like hiking, cycling, choir, handbells, genealogy and knitting. Now is the time to check out all the groups and get connected. Let’s build community!

Saratoga Quarry Park Hike

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 14 • 9 am • Map • RSVP

Join us on the Saratoga-to-the-Skyline Trail to Viewpoint, led by Jonathan Dix. This moderate 5.1-mile hike has a steady elevation gain throughout — less so than some trails we’ve done but enough to be a good workout. There’s a lovely stone labyrinth near the top. 

Meet at Saratoga Quarry Park (22000 Congress Springs Rd., 95070). Please RSVP if you can join us or want to arrange a carpool. We hope to see you there!

Peace & Global Witness

The P&GW Offering supports PC(USA)’s peacemaking and reconciliation efforts globally and locally, and provides a witness to God’s gift of peace in the world. SVPC’s portion of this year’s offering supports two great organizations:

(1) Undue Medical Debt (formerly RIP Medical Debt), which buys and forgives medical debt for patients in need.

(2) WeHope, which provides innovative outreach services to help individuals experiencing homelessness in Sunnyvale become healthy, employed, and housed.

Thank you for contributing online or by check. (Be sure to designate “Peace & Global Witness” in the drop-down menu online, or on the memo line on your check.)

Welcome to Evie Macway

Caring Ministry

Rev. Evie Macway was ordained at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church and served as an Associate Pastor and Parish Associate in the 1980s and 90s. Now she is once again serving this congregation as she works part-time under Pastor Laura to assist with Pastoral Care while Hardy is on sabbatical. She is also preaching occasionally and assisting with memorial services. We are grateful for her ongoing loving care of this congregation.

Adult Learning

Mission Study Trip to Peru

Sunday, September 22 • 11:30 am

Soulé Hall & Zoom

Barry and Mary Green Vickrey will give a presentation about their mission-study trip to Peru in May. On this trip sponsored by the Presbytery of San Jose, they learned about the environmental justice work of Mission Co-worker Jed Koball.

Congregational Meeting

Sunday, September 29 • Immediately after 10 am worship

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the congregational meeting, either in person or on Zoom. The purpose of the meeting is the election of church officers: 

• Elders (Class of 2027) — Laura Compton, Audrey Hinton, DJ Hyun, Lynn Thomas, Rebekah Walker, and Linda Wieder
• Deacons (Class of 2027) — Maria Benevento-Collins, Karen McCoy, Kay Narva, Wendy Smith, and Keyla Zorzella
• Nominating Committee 2025 Members-at-Large — Mary Boyle and Joanne Papoulias 

The Nominating Committee is deeply grateful to these members of our congregation who have answered yes to the call!

Adult Learning

What is Ranked Choice Voting?

Sunday, October 13 • 11:30 am

Soulé Hall & Zoom

Come hear a presentation on what ranked choice voting (RCV) is all about. Many believe this system would make our elections better by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference, which would result in more representative outcomes. David Newswanger, a former Sunnyvale Pres member, will present in his capacity as Coordinator for Sunnyvale with the California Ranked Choice Coalition.

Love to sing? Join the Chancel Choir!

If you sang in the school choir when you were young, if you are in a high school choir right now, if you sing in the shower, if you enjoy singing hymns in church, please come be part of the chancel choir! We rehearse from 7–9 pm on Thursday evenings in the sanctuary and then gather at 8:45 am on Sunday mornings to practice and be ready for the 10 am worship.

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministers are available to provide confidential, one-on-one, Christ-centered care to people in our congregation and the community experiencing life difficulties such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation. 

Stephen Ministers are trained lay members who listen, support, pray, and help their care receivers explore feelings without judgment. If you or someone you know would like to connect with a Stephen Ministry, please email our Care Coordinator or call 1-408-412-9699.

Update on Pastor Hardy

We continue to pray for Pastor Hardy in his sabbatical journey. This week he visited the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum in Seoul, Korea. As he explores the interplay of religion and peacemaking, Hardy and PC(USA) mission co-workers and young adult mission volunteers listened to the stories of women who survived military-inflicted systematic sexual exploitation, focusing now on hope for peace and justice for those who have suffered at the hands of imperialism.

Top row, all PC(USA) mission co-workers: 

Myung Sung Han, Jieun Kim Han, Pastor Hardy, Unzu Lee, Kurt Esslinger, HyeYoung Lee

Bottom row: 

German volunteers Gidelaine and Maxine, 

PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Claire Kim 

In Our Thoughts and Prayers...

• Judi Pogue — healing and strength
• Howard Gaines — on hospice care
• Don Frevert — recovering from broken hip
• Dave Bentley — health challenges
• Pat Wolff — cancer treatment
• Maggie Burklund — healing and strength
• Joan Latimer — cancer journey
• Mildred Prasad — dementia

Get to Know

Pastor Laura

Sept. 15

Fall Fest

Oct. 20

Trunk or Treat

Oct. 26

Save the Dates

• Young adult gathering • September 28
• Youth outing • September 29
• League of Women Voters presentation on ballot measures • October 20
• Macular degeneration group • October 24
• Adult Learning class on Presbyterian history • October 27
• Safe Church training • November 10

Sunday Mornings

• Bible Study • 8:30–9:30 am • Email
• Worship • 10 am • Child care available for ages 6 months–2 years (extended through kindergarten on All-Ages Worship Sundays)
• Children’s Programs: STARS (3 yrs–kinder) + Children’s Church (grades 1–5) • 10 am •  Register
• Youth Group • Times vary, check the website
• Children’s Ministry Bake Sale • 1st Sunday • After worship • Trinity Court or donate online • Supports Children’s Ministry service projects
• DipJar • 1st Sunday • Trinity Court or donate online • Supports Sunnyvale Community Services
• Grief Support Group • 1st Sunday • 1 pm • Zoom • Email
• Centering Prayer • 2nd Sunday • 9:15 am • Fireside Room
• Prayer Stations • 2nd Sunday • After worship
• Family Meals • 2nd Sunday (Note: September Family Meal is 9/15) • 11:30 am–1 pm • Phoenix Center • Info
• Walking the Labyrinth • 4th Sunday beginning Sept. 22 • After worship

Wednesday Evenings

• Sunnyvale CircleSongs • 1st Wednesdays • 7 pm • Fellowship Hall
• Modern Worship Collective • 2nd & 4th Wednesdays • 6 pm meal, Fellowship Hall • 7 pm service, Sanctuary
• Evensong: Contemplative Worship • 3rd Wednesdays • 7 pm • Sanctuary

Prayer & Bible Study Groups

• Virtual Small Group for Grades 4–6 • Mondays • 6:15–7 pm • Email
• Men’s Bible Study • Tuesdays • 6:30–7:30 am • Email

Social & Support Groups

• LGBTQ+ Family and Friends Group • 1st Monday • 7 pm • Email
• Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group • 4th Tuesday • 11:30 am • Over Zoom • Call 1-800-272-3900
• Parents Together • 1st Wednesday • 9–11 am • Coleman Room or patio outside the gym • Info 
• Support Group for Parents of Neurodiverse Kids • 2nd Wednesday • 10–11 am • Coleman Room 702 • Info • Email
• Senior Zoom Coffee • 2nd Thursday • 10:30 am • Info • Zoom • Email
• Queer Fellowship Group • Monthly get-togethers • Email
• Check our website for lots of interest groups — hiking, cycling, yoga, music, pickleball, board games, crafts, genealogy, environmental justice, and more!

Helpful Links

• Subscribe to e-newsletters for children, youth, and/or weekly worship focus.
• Like us on Facebook.
• Follow Sunnyvale Pres and Youth Ministry on Instagram.
• Re-read past articles in our newsletter archives.

Join us for weekly worship opportunities!

• Sundays @ 10 am — onsite or online
• Modern Worship Collective — 2nd & 4th Wednesdays @ 7 pm in the sanctuary
• Evensong: Contemplative Worship — 3rd Wednesdays @ 7 pm in the sanctuary

To join online, look for the red “Online Worship & Event Links” button at the top of our website.