A week from this Sunday, we will celebrate communion. If you’re joining us online, remember to have your communion elements — some bread and drink that’s common to your home and household — with you when you connect to Sunday’s livestream worship.

Did you know that each time we come to the Lord’s Table for Communion, we also have the DipJar in the courtyard to help put food on others’ tables? Dip your credit card to give $5 to Sunnyvale Community Services. Want to give more? Just dip more! This method of giving is the most beneficial way to help SCS purchase needed foods in bulk. Thanks for caring!

Worshiping online? You can give online at sunnyvalepres.com/dipjar.

Nominate online by This Sunday, May 29

This weekend is your last chance — please help us by May 29! The Nominating Committee is looking for your thoughts on which members of our church would be good elders, deacons, and Nominating Committee members for next year. Here are perspectives from two current elders on the leadership recommendations process:

From Joanne Papoulias, Caring — “Being an elder on session these last three years has been an enriching time for me spiritually, as well as an opportunity to better understand the areas of ministry our church supports. Despite the many challenges the pandemic has presented, our leadership has unwaveringly led us forward.

As an elder in the Caring ministry team, I have been able to use God’s gifts of compassion and mercy to partner and support deacons, Stephen ministry, prayer shawl ministry, grief support, and new online senior coffees. It’s been a privilege and a blessing to serve our God and our church in such meaningful ways, and I encourage you to answer the call to leadership.”

From Max Mikles, Mission and Service — “Benjamin Franklin may have said, ‘The world is run by those who show up.’ To no one’s surprise, our church is run the same way. What diversity can you bring to the table? Your outlook? Your experience? Your gender? Your trade? Your ethnicity? Your geographic vibe? Your economic situation? Are you a survivor of trauma? In any case, the church leadership needs your voice, and welcomes you. Please show up!”

Recommend yourself, or someone you know, using the button below. You can find more information on the Leadership Recommendations page.

Peggy Switchenko, our Contribution and Membership Specialist for the past 9 years will be leaving her position at the church to focus on other areas of her life.

Peggy has been a huge asset to our organization with her many talents, including her attention to detail, organizational abilities, and so much more. Beyond that, she has been a pastoral presence to so many members, especially as it related to their giving. Peggy will be greatly missed. It’s wonderful to know that Peggy will remain a part of our community as she continues to worship at Sunnyvale Pres.

At the same time that we are saddened to lose such a wonderful colleague, we are thrilled to announce that Richard Collins has agreed to step into the role of Contributions and Membership Specialist. Richard will also continue in his role as Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry. Richard comes to this new role with a vast amount of experience with databases and has already begun training with Peggy to assure a smooth transition. We are so blessed by Richard’s willingness to accept this new role.

We wish Peggy all the best in whatever comes next!

Youth ministry would like to extend a big “Thank you!” to all of our 2021–2022 adult volunteers! We are so grateful for your time, commitment, and the energy you bring when working with our youth.

Replay on YouTube

Did you miss our college panel this spring? We just uploaded it to YouTube! Are you heading to college soon or know someone finishing up high school this season? Join the Youth ministry’s recorded Zoom panel discussion featuring parents and students calling in from around the country who have “survived” the post-high school season, which often involves the college selection and admittance process. Add in the pandemic and it’s been a tough time to exit high school! Each speaker brought their unique experience and perspective to the conversation as they decided what was next after high school.

We invite you to seek comfort in their words as you contemplate post-high school, “post”-COVID opportunities! View the replay on YouTube.

Saturday, June 4 • 9 a.m. • RSVP

Hikers, join us at Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve in Portola Valley. Note that due to scheduling conflicts this hike is the first Saturday and not the usual second Saturday of the month. A repeat from February, we’ll meet at Willowbrook Dr. and Alpine Rd. and hike a 4.5-mile loop with only a 748 ft elevation gain. The trail is fairly sheltered by trees so hopefully it won’t be too hot. Please email to RSVP and/or to join our mailing list. This will be our last hike before the summer so don’t miss out. Hikes will resume in September. We hope to see you there!

Sunday, June 5 • 9 –10:45 a.m.

In-person and Zoom (passcode: 265200)

If you have been attending worship and are interested in the next step, come and explore membership with us. Rev. Karin Hejmanowski will be teaching this one-session New Member Class in-person and on Zoom. Those who become new members will also need to meet with our leadership on Tuesday, June 21, in the evening and be received during our 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday, June 26.

Zoom link (meeting ID 898 1800 8318, passcode 265200)

Help our event run smoothly by volunteering for a 30-minute slot!

VBS is still looking for more volunteers! You can be a classroom teacher, a recreation leader, help with the worship team, or even snack time. Sign up here to let us know how you can help.

Make sure we can have coffee after worship by volunteering to clean up here. We need two volunteers each Sunday or we won’t be able to serve coffee.

Sunday, June 12 • 12–1 p.m. • Onsite or online

We want to hear your voice at our town hall meeting on June 12 following worship! We will be pausing to take stock of where we are at this point in the pandemic. This meeting will take place in-person (in the sanctuary) and online (through Zoom). The emphasis of the meeting will be to give us all a chance to share about the many losses we have gone through that have brought us grief.

Sharing your experience will help us discern the ways God’s Spirit is moving in our grief and loss. Join us for this holy time in community. Child care available. Contact childrens@sunnyvalepres.com.

P.S. Remember to hold the date for the next town hall meeting on September 18. That meeting will focus on our experience of, and hopes for, worship at Sunnyvale Pres.

Our previous newsletter mentioned the church’s sabbatical policy, which session approved in 2004. However, an earlier policy had already been in place since around 1998. Dick Aldrich, who was Church Administrator at the time, shared with session and the congregation the value of a “Date of Sabbath” that he had experienced in his work with Intel. He proposed employees of our church be granted this gift of time for rest and renewal. The policy was approved after thoughtful discussion, and employees whose positions met the guidelines for a sabbatical leave have expressed gratitude for this gift.

A quick online search yields a multitude of articles on the importance of being in a faith community:

“Christian community is a big deal,” wrote one author. “It’s important for our happiness and growth. And it’s not an optional part of the Christian life. When we are in close relationships with other believers, we have people to pray for us, support us, encourage us, exhort us and serve alongside us.”

Personal experience at worship and in small groups at Sunnyvale Pres confirms the importance of being in faith communities. Visit the Book Sale Cart in Trinity Court on Sundays after worship to discover books to strengthen your Christian communities. Find a small group. Join the Book Sale Ministry Team and be part of our small community of faith and service.

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.

April 2022 (month 1).............$K   

Church Income....................$..156

Church Expenses..................$..113

Church Surplus...................$...43

Outreach Grps:PELC/TMS Surplus...$../37

Combined Organization Surplus....$...80

For the first month of our new fiscal year, both the church and the outreach groups reported surpluses — a solid beginning to the new fiscal year! The church surplus of $43K was driven by continued receipt of pledge income and lower than usual spending. Lower than usual spending is due to both the timing of some expenses and the fact that we have open positions that have not yet been filled. The outreach groups both operated at a surplus in April, reflecting the ongoing return to more normal (pre-pandemic) performance, with a healthy $37K contribution to the overall surplus. The combined surplus for the month of April is $80K.

For the birth of Sagan Jan-Zi Domske to parents Addie Domske and Dan Giles! (You can find Youth ministry contact information during Addie’s parental leave on this page.)

I would like to thank the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church community for the countless letters, cards, emails, meals and beautiful gestures of love and care during the time my mother was walking towards her death and then in the time following when we traveled to her memorial service and my family contracted COVID. “Thank you” is simply not enough, but thank you. Thank you so much for being such a caring community to my family and me during this really difficult time. I am so grateful. —Carol Heath

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:

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