“Being American is more
than a pride we inherit;
it’s the past we step into
and how we repair it.”
—Amanda Gorman
Dear SVPC Family,
I know that I have pushed us all to think beyond our national identity, and to always live true to our Christian calling—even if that means going against what some might consider our “patriotic duty” or our American traditional values.
Yet, over the past few weeks we’ve experienced a national crisis that has threatened the stability of our democracy. As people of faith, who desire God’s justice to be a reality for all, we are compelled to care about what happens in the world around us and to do what we can to ensure health and wholeness for all.
That’s why I was glad to see a peaceful and celebratory inauguration day this week. No matter our party affiliations, I think we can agree that a smooth transition between administrations is important and that a government that seeks to serve all in our country—no matter how they voted—should be the norm.
I pray that the work of our leaders will go smoothly in the days ahead—that it will be work directed at steering us wisely through the multiple crises we are experiencing, and that it will bring comfort and dignity to those who are suffering. I pray this as one convinced that God calls us to participate in politics and government so that God’s justice, mercy, and love might shape the world. I hope this as an American who believes we can be a good nation, if we are willing to do the work.
In hope,
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Dear Friends,
What a week this has been. Many of us carried anxiety around the events of Wednesday and I know we were holding our nation in prayer. How grateful we are for the peaceful and lovely event it was.
Now we continue in our work to seek justice for all, especially to work against white supremacy as was mentioned in the inaugural address. Part of that work was the meaningful Community Conversation we held on Thursday evening. I’m so glad many of you were able to join.
Let us hold to hope and carry on, seeking in our discipleship to Jesus to follow the ways of love, mercy, and justice.
Peace,
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Staff Profile
Everyone, meet Roxanne Ramirez,
Church Administrator Assistant
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Favorite snack or dessert?
My favorite dessert would have to be a lemon tart.
Favorite activity to do at home?
My favorite activity is curling up with a nice book and some coffee.
Favorite music?
My favorite music to listen to is usually Motown and oldies.
One superpower?
I would love to have the power to heal.
How do you serve at SVPC?
It seems everyone in my family is taking turns at SVPC. My father, Gama, has been with SVPC for many many years. Cody, my husband, served the church for about 7 years. I previously worked at the front desk for about 3 years while the kids attended PELC before I left to pursue my paralegal degree. Because of the pandemic, I was laid off from the law office where I was working. SVPC graciously invited me to join the team again working from home as Assistant to the Church Administrator.
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Conversations with God:
Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans
Mondays, February 1–22 • 5–6 p.m. • Zoom
Taught by Rev. Dr. Stephanie Lutz Allen
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When living in Minneapolis, MN, there were many ways to celebrate Black History month every February—plays, art exhibits and more. I came upon the book Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans, and began making it a yearly tradition each February, reading through these amazing prayers that span two centuries. Church Historian and ordained Baptist minister James Melvin Washington divides the prayers into six epochs of the black experience in America, from slavery to post-modern. The book describes the prayers as “Uplifting, thankful, heartbroken, and inspired—they are a document of living, breathing conversations. At times contradictory and resentful, at others, despairing and pleading, but always speaking of a hard-won constancy.” No need to purchase the book. We’ll hear about the person/epoch of the prayer, read the prayer together, discuss, and then close with time for meditation on the prayer, as a guided Lectio Divina.
Image credit: painting called “The Thankful Poor” by Henry Ossawa Tanner, from the cover of the book used in this series.
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Join Us for Fellowship and Fun
at the Men's Virtual Pub Trivia Night
Thursday, February 11 • 7 p.m. • Zoom
Gentlemen, it’s been a long time since you could get together with friends for a beer and hang out. So, the Men’s Ministry is putting together the next best thing—Men’s Virtual Pub Trivia Night. It’s your chance to kick back with some good home brew (provided by the Grateful Goat Brewing Community) delivered to your door, and test your trivia knowledge with men from the church.
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Family Winter Party:
Escape from Azkaban—Virtual Escape Room
Sunday, February 7 • 6–8:30 p.m. •
Families will come together online for a collective virtual escape room! Each team (family) will work together to unlock puzzles to “escape” from the room. Prizes will be awarded to the families who get out first. No RSVP required. All SVPC families and their friends welcome.
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The Music School's
Teddy Bear Concert
Saturday, January 23 •
11 a.m. • Zoom
Grab your bear and tune in for our annual Teddy Bear concert. Faculty performers from The Music School will present a program planned especially for young listeners. This is a great introduction to a variety of musical instruments.
Visit this link for family reservations and donations of any amount. Zoom information will be shared via email before the event. Proceeds benefit the Janice Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund.
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The Music School's
Storytime Series with Nick
February 16–19 •
10:30 a.m. • Zoom
Approximately 15–20 minutes of daily musical stories for babies through age 7, all ages welcome. Visit this link for FREE ticket reservations. Zoom information will be shared via email before the event. |
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Seminar: Aging in Place—"But How Will You Manage?"
Wednesdays, February 24, March 3, 10 • 7–8:30 p.m. • Zoom
Maturing adults concerned about congregate care in light of the current pandemic are considering remaining in their homes. In this seminar you will learn about the principles and resources, transportation, medical and ambulatory issues, along with legal matters, protection and prevention of abuse, and preparing the home for safe living.
This seminar will be taught by Rev. Dr. Libby Boatwright, Palliative and Hospice specialist, Cindy Thorp, an attorney who specializes in assisting senior adults, and Tiffany Mikles who has provided training and coaching for family caregivers for over 32 years.
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UPCOMING "VIRTUAL" EVENTS |
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Get connected at SVPC in 2021! We have weekly and monthly online events for all ages, plus frequent special events on a wide variety of subjects. We’d love to have you join us!
Ongoing Connections
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Bible Study • Sunday mornings • 8:45–10 a.m. • Email
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Children’s Church: STARS + BLAST • Sunday mornings • 9:30 a.m. STARS; 10:10 a.m. BLAST • Registration requested but not required • Zoom
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FLASH + CLUE • Sundays • 6 p.m. FLASH (grades 6–8); 7:45 p.m. CLUE (grades 9–12) • Check the Youth calendar
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College-Age Small Group • Mondays • 6–7 p.m. • Check calendar for Zoom info
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Men’s Bible Study • Tuesdays • 6:30–7:30 a.m. • Email
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LGBTQIA+ Family and Friends Support Group • 1st Tuesday • 7 p.m. • Email
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Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse families: Morning Coffees • 2nd & 4th Tuesdays • 10–11 a.m. • Email
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JAM (Just Among Moms) • 1st & 3rd Wednesdays • 1:30 p.m. • Zoom
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LOGOS • Wednesdays over Zoom • 5–6 p.m. • Register
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The Well (FLASH + CLUE mid-week program) • Wednesdays • 6:45 p.m. FLASH (grades 6–8) • 8 p.m. CLUE (grades 9–12) • Check the Youth calendar
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MINT (Moms & Intentionality) • 2nd & 4th Wednesdays • 8–9:30 p.m. • Zoom
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Spice Dinner • 2nd Thursday • 6–8 p.m. • Check the calendar
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Queer Fellowship Group • 3rd Thursday • 7–8:30 p.m. • Email
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Parent Support Group for Neurodiverse families: Evening Coffee • 3rd Thursday • 7:30–8:30 p.m. • Email
Special Events
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The Music School’s Teddy Bear Concert • Saturday, January 23 • 11 a.m. • Reservations
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Family Winter Party • Sunday, February 7 • 6–8:30 p.m. • View the invite
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Men’s Virtual Pub Trivia Night • February 11 • 7-9 p.m. • Sign up
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The Music School’s Storytime Series with Nick • February 16–19 • 10:30 a.m. • Reservations
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Seminar: Aging in Place—“But How Will You Manage?” • February 24, March 3, 10 • 7–8:30 p.m. • Register
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LGBTQIA+ Affirming Church Event • February 25 • 7-8:30 p.m. • Zoom
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Women’s One Day Online Retreat • March 13 • 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. • Info & Registration
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SVPC College Panel: Choices After High School • March 14 • 7–8:30 p.m. • Check the Youth calendar
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January's These Days Devotional
You may download the January These Days devotionals here. |
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Fiscal YTD Results
Apr 2020 through Dec 2020 ..............$K
Church Income ..........................$1,273
Church Expenses ........................$1,227
Church Surplus .........................$...46
Outreach: PELC/Music School ......... - $..544
Combined Organization Deficit ....... - $..498
Church income continues to cover church expenses, resulting in a church surplus of $46K year-to-date. We remain grateful for our members generosity in their giving in this difficult year. The outreach groups’ loss, as mentioned in prior months, is primarily due to the impacts of the shutdowns last spring. We continue to expect that the US Government PPP loan we received (to help businesses during the pandemic) will help offset much of the combined organization deficit of $(498)K. Application for forgiveness of that loan is ongoing.
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In Our Thoughts and Prayers
- Nancy Kop who is hospitalized
- Ethel Hopkins who has COVID-19
- Norma Brown for the loss of her husband, Kip Brown
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Have a prayer request?
In place of the blue prayer cards you filled out on Sundays, please send your prayer requests anytime to prayer@svpc.us. Be sure to include whether your request should/can be:
- Shared confidentially with the prayer team and pastors only
- Listed in the weekly newsletter
- Shared during prayer time on Sunday
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Join Us "Live" for Worship on Sundays @ 11 a.m.
Coffee Hour follows.
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Watch the livestream broadcast of our weekly worship service. No Facebook account is required to watch on SVPC’s public Facebook page. Or you can watch on the SVPC website.
Here’s what to look for when you watch on Facebook.
- Click on the blue Watch on Facebook button (in this email or on the front page of the website). If you don’t have a Facebook account, ignore any prompts by Facebook to log in or create an account.
- You may need to scroll down just a bit to see the Videos entry on the left side. At 10:45 a.m. we’ll already be live and there should be the word “LIVE” in red on the Videos button. Just click it.
- You should see a Welcome to Worship slide dated for this Sunday (January 24). At about 10:50 some music will start. Welcome to worship!
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Would you like to listen to Sunday’s service on your phone?
Follow these instructions on your phone to dial into listen only mode on Zoom:
- Use this phone number: 1-669-900-9128
- Enter this meeting ID followed by #: 668 692 256 #
- Enter # for Participant ID: #
- Enter this password followed by #: 254631#
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