Each September, Presbyterians across our country participate in the Season of Peace, which builds on the Presbyterian Commitment to Peacemaking established in 1980. Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church quickly joined that Commitment and has a history of generously supporting the Peace & Global Witness Offering, which we will receive on World Communion Sunday, October 2.

You will receive a letter on September 6 with details about how this special offering is used to support peacemaking locally, nationally, and around the world. Join us in worship on September 11 to hear the Focus on Mission describing how the Sunnyvale Pres share of the offering will be distributed this year.

Your financial support is most appreciated. You can either give using the Peace & Global Witness offering envelopes (in pew racks beginning September 11) or give online.

On August 15, John Carroll joined the staff at Sunnyvale Presbyterian as Church Administrator. Since 2007 he has worked in churches as a business manager, building manager, treasurer, and bookkeeper. Prior to this he was an HR executive and consultant. His wife, Carla, is Senior Pastor at First Congregational Church of San Jose. John and Carla relocated from Connecticut last November and love the Northern California lifestyle, geography, and weather. John is getting to know the Sunnyvale Pres campus and all the staff as he settles into his work, and we’re all looking forward to having his experience and support. If you have questions about facilities or our logistical resources at the church, John is now the person you should speak to. Please welcome John if you see him, and don’t hesitate to reach out and set up a time to get to know him yourself!

We have been so blessed to have had Mia on staff for the past year. Although their time with us has been short, the list of accomplishments is long! Mia has been responsible for creating and attending programming for middle and high school students, coordinating the Wednesday night programming called “The WELL Wednesdays,” attending the Youth Ministry Advisory Team (YMAT), coordinating and attending youth retreats, attending worship on Sundays with students, and preparing, coordinating and being one of the leaders on this summer’s CARAVAN trip. Mia has done an especially terrific job of keeping all the Youth ministry programs running smoothly during Addie’s maternity leave.

Of all the many ways Mia has made a positive impact on our ministry, one thing we are most grateful for is the many positive relationships they have built with students. One student gifted Mia with a pair of warm socks and explained that’s because the student finds Mia to be such a warm and comfortable person to talk with and relate to.

After completing their time with Sunnyvale Pres on August 24, Mia will continue working toward their Associate of Arts degree in Political Science at West Valley College. In addition to taking classes this fall, Mia will be applying to four-year degree programs for next year. Mia is also looking forward to being accepted by one of the internship programs for which they are currently interviewing, where they can expand their skills in the areas they feel passionate about — at either Breakthrough Silicon Valley, where they would be assisting first-generation students with a pathway to college, or at Catholic Charities where they would be able to utilize skills developed here at Sunnyvale Pres in developing after school programs for students and supporting underserved families in the community. Mia’s ultimate career goal is to work in International Diplomacy, at an American or Mexican embassy either here or abroad.

Please join us in thanking Mia for their contributions to our ministry, and wishing them well in their future endeavors!

Tomorrow! Saturday, August 27 • 2–5 pm

Please come to hear student performances, meet the faculty and staff, and see the classrooms, studios and piano lab. Everyone will enjoy face-painting, musical crafts, popcorn and cotton candy. No tickets or RSVP needed — just show up! We look forward to meeting you. Learn more at themusicschool.org.

Hybrid: in-person or Zoom • Register

If you have been attending worship and are interested in the next step, come and explore membership with us. This one-session New Member Class, led by Rev. Karin Hejmanowski, will be a hybrid class taught in-person and on Zoom. Those who become new members will also need to meet with our leadership on the evening of Tuesday, September 20, and be received during our 11 am worship service on September 25. Find more information or to register for the class.

6:30 pm video, 7 pm discussion • Zoom (password: svpcnext)

Please join us for some meaningful conversations sparked by the recent NEXT Church National Gathering. The Restoration Bible Study features a short video series (10 minutes each) with accompanying reflection guides. Topics include Sabbath, environmental justice, inequities around rest, racial justice, post-pandemic church life, and the tension between tradition and vision. If you missed the first two evenings, no worries! Jump in where we are. Feel free to preview the videos and discussion guides ahead of time, or just join at 6:30 to watch with us. (August 31 will cover sessions 5 & 6.)

Resource materials (password: svpcnext)

Want to get to know other parents and families in the community? Stop by for a park date or join us online for conversation and connection with parents of all ages. Beginning in September, we meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 9–11 am at Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale (at the picnic tables near the playground — kids are welcome!) and the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 8 pm on Zoom. Learn more on the website or email Carol. Parents Together is open to all parents in the community!

Wednesday, September 14 • 7 pm • Zoom

Amber Cantorna, most widely known as the gay daughter of a 30-year Focus on the Family executive, lost everything when she came out in 2012. This all-too-common narrative has made Amber passionate about dissolving shame, fostering self-acceptance, and generating messages of hope for LGBTQ+ people and their families, especially those from conservative faith backgrounds.

Do not miss this next installment of our Affirming Church series, as we continue to learn together what it means to love, welcome and affirm all!

Check out the Book Sale Cart for two of Amber’s books — Unashamed: A Coming-Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians and Refocusing My Family: Coming Out, Being Cast Out, and Discovering the True Love of God.

Amber says that Unashamed is the first coming-out guide for LGBTQ+ people of faith on their journey. “My experience propelled me into a world of social justice, and my heart is to help others foster self-acceptance and reconcile their faith with their sexuality so that they can live and thrive in the world without shame,” writes Amber on her website.

Do you know someone who enjoys working with youth, and who might consider a part-time position at our church? Please let that person know that there is a position available! Details about the position can be found on the church website.

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.

July 2022 (month 4)$K   

Church Income......$447

Church Expenses....$497

Church Deficit.....$(50)

Outreach Surplus...$.27

Combined Deficit...$(23)

Church income of $447K was offset by $497K of church expenses year-to-date, resulting in a year-to-date church deficit of $(50)K. Strong summer enrollment in The Music School and PELC drove an increase in the outreach groups’ surplus, bringing it to $27K and reducing our combined year-to-date deficit to $(23)K. Both outreach groups are experiencing strong growth in their income — almost doubling versus this time last year — reflecting a return to more “normal” pre-pandemic enrollment levels.

To say “thank you” does not seem sufficient, but it’s all I have. Thank you for your kindness during my recent illnesses. God heard your prayers, and He is healing my body. I read your cards, texts, and emails, and they soothed my hurting soul. I thank God every day that I found such a loving group of people to be my church family. God bless you all.

— Kristy Freese

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.”