Back in the mid-1990s, some of the leaders of Sunnyvale Pres felt the call to start a “praise band” style worship. This service, driven by musicians who enthusiastically offered high-energy songs, drew folks into an informal setting. What started out as a small gathering in places like Fellowship Hall has lived on as a service that has been taking place for over 25 years. So many people of all generations — particularly youth and young adults — have experienced joy and blessing through the dedication of so many leaders and volunteers who have prepared music, overseen tech and slides, prepared skits, or even just set up chairs. 

For Intersections leaders, the pandemic has given us a chance to step back and take stock. Some longtime leaders have completed their time of service. New leaders are slower in coming than they used to be. Many who love contemporary worship are now seeking new words and songs to express the more open and less hierarchical sense of God’s love and justice that they envision. After prayerful consideration, Intersections leaders have decided it is time to end Intersections as we know it. We are shifting our focus to co-creating a new expression of contemporary worship with God. We will be telling you more about a forthcoming progressive, contemporary worship project in the days ahead. 

For now, we want you to know that the last official Intersections worship will take place on November 20 at 11 am, followed by a special lunch together. Come and join us in celebrating the great gift that Intersections has been! Let us find comfort in one another as we grieve the end of this particular expression of our faithfulness. And let us look in hope to the future with new gifts of worship to be discovered.

As we celebrate the significant ministry of the Intersections worship service, we would like to hear from you. Please share your photos and memories at this link. Thank you!

TOMORROW! Saturday, October 15 • 11 am–1 pm

Spina Farms, Morgan Hill • Info • RSVP

For all young adults who just can't get enough of autumn, please join us for a day at Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch in Morgan Hill. This is the premiere pumpkin patch of the Bay Area with a wide variety of events and food.

All young adults are welcome — long-time attendees as well as those new to the church. Children of young adults are welcome as well — you know you want to get a good fall family photo for the grandparents!

Admission is free! Please email Joe Lyon at josephlyon87@gmail.com to RSVP so we can get a head count and organize some carpooling. See you there!

Sunday, October 16 • 9:15 am–7 pm • Santa Cruz • Register

This year our fall CLUE retreat is shortened to a “day out” together in Santa Cruz! High schoolers will travel together to the ocean to discuss seeing the church outside of the church building, and to marvel at God's creation together. We’ll end the day back at church for dinner at Addie’s house.

Sign up here. Inviting a friend or sibling? Select $5 off in the payment section!

Saturday, October 22 • 9:30 am–12:30 pm • Over Zoom • Register

PW will host Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters for a Zoom workshop entitled “Considering Reproductive Justice.” Dr. Peters is a Professor of Religious Studies and the founding director of the Poverty and Social Justice Program at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina. She received her MDiv and PhD in Christian Social Ethics from Union Seminary. Her work as a social ethicist focuses on globalization and economic, environmental, and reproductive justice. Ordained in the PC(USA), she represents the denomination on the Faith and Order Standing Commission of the World Council of Churches and serves on the Clergy Advocacy Board of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Her 2018 book, Trust Women, A Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice, was a NYT best-seller.

As a leading Protestant scholar in the field of reproductive justice, she will deepen our understanding of this complex issue with her scholarship and personal experience. The opening mediation will be given by Rev. Katheryn McGinnis from Trinity Presbyterian in Santa Cruz.

All are invited to attend. The cost is $25 per household and $10 per student. Scholarships are available. Registration is required — sign up here.

Let’s gather in community over a meal and some fun! Enjoy a warm bowl of soup and conversation with new and old friends. There will be activities for the kids including pumpkin painting, games, and a bouncy house. Bring cookies or a dessert to share!

Don’t let the 127-page election guide overwhelm you. Help is available at Voters Edge California. This site lists candidates and ballot measures in the same order that they appear on your ballot.

When you enter your address and zip code, you will be able to choose the ballot for the November 8 election. Photos of the candidates that have provided information for the website are displayed with an arrow to Compare candidates. This is particularly helpful if you are unfamiliar with a candidate.

Information provided by the League of Women Voters of California about the ballot measures follows the candidate section. This is similar to the League’s Pro/Con presentations that they offered at Sunnyvale Pres before COVID.

The local Leagues are preparing a Pro/Con video. When the link to that is available it will be in the church newsletter.

If your mailing address has changed since the last time you voted, you need to provide your new address at registertovote.ca.gov. The last day to register to vote in the November 8, 2022 election is October 25.

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.

Wednesday, October 26 • 7–8:30 pm • Over Zoom • Register

Everyone is invited to learn about protecting older members of the community by increasing awareness of elder abuse — how to recognize it and how to know when and how to intervene. Resources will be included. The training will be taught by Sunnyvale Pres member Cindy Thorp who is the co-chairperson of the Elder Abuse Task Force of Santa Clara County.

Registration is required. To sign up, please fill out this form.

Saturday, October 29 • 7–8 pm • Volunteer

Celebrate the return of Children’s Ministry’s annual Trunk or Treat, where children get to trick or treat at decorated cars and parking spaces in the Sunnyvale Pres parking lot! Everyone is invited. Bring your children, invite your neighbors, or sign up to be part of the fun by decorating your own trunk. We need more volunteers, so please come join us in creating a joyful and safe Halloween event for all of the little ghosts and witches in our community! 

See the website for details or to sign up to volunteer. Questions? Email Jenna. See you there!

Friday–Saturday, November 4–5 • 6 pm–11 am • Register

Our annual fall retreat for FLASH returns to our lock-in format for a service lock-in! We’ll be working with various service groups in the area — including hearing from Children’s Ministry about their October service program — to discuss service and how it applies to our faith. Join us Friday evening through Saturday morning. Register here. 

Sunday, November 13 • 1–4 pm • Over Zoom • Register by Nov. 7

If the holidays have you feeling overwhelmed or you’re wondering how to navigate them in this time of grief, consider joining us via Zoom for “Surviving the Holidays”, a program developed by GriefShare and facilitated by Pastor Karin Kennedy Hejmanowski. This is open to all who want to think with others about how to walk through the upcoming holiday season in a way that allows you to be true to your experience of grief while our culture seems to insist that we be joyful.

For those who attend this group, we will also have an optional one-hour Zoom gathering on Sunday, December 4 at 1 pm to check in on how Thanksgiving was and think together about the rest of the holiday season. Questions? Email Karin.

Registration is required. Please fill out this form by Monday, November 7.

Write T for True or F for False in front of each question.

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.

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 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.”