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In Jacob's Extraordinary Dream,
a Ladder Connects Heaven and Earth |
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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Weekly Happenings at SHPC
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August 3, 2017
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Summer Storytelling Continues with...
Extraordinary Moments
Stairway to Heaven?
Jacob's father sent him away from home to escape his brother's wrath and to find a wife. After a long day's journey, he fell asleep under the stars expecting nothing unusual. And then it happened - his extraordinary dream. A ladder appeared right where he was sleeping, and it reached up to heaven! Angels of God were ascending and descending on it! God brought Jacob an astonishing message. When Jacob awoke, he knew he was in the house of God, at the gate of heaven.
This Sunday, August 6, 2017 at 9:30 a.m., we'll explore stories of extraordinary experiences which place us at the gate of heaven, connecting us to the divine in our midst, and filling our lives with meaning.
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A Note from Pastor Bev
Last Sunday we talked about reviewing our lives with a spiritual lens, so that we're not falling into the trap of looking at ourselves as a succession of successes or failures. We are spiritual beings, and there's a more spiritual way to look at our life journey. We can focus on claiming, naming, and honoring our holy moments.
What are holy moments? Spiritual dreams, visions, and encounters with "angels" bearing messages can bring us life-changing information. We can be those angels for others, too. Have you ever brought a message of truth in love to someone when you felt powered by Spirit?
Sometimes intuition or even a "wake up call" sets us onto a new path. And don't forget those times when you have found yourself willing and able to freely forgive someone who has hurt you badly. These extraordinary life events bear witness to our connection to the Living God, whose Spirit guides, companions, and energizes us. When we take the time to let these mystical and ephemeral experiences bubble up to the surface, we re-claim the trove of wisdom which is ours.
See you in church!
With joy,
Bev
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Bible Study |
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Sunday, August 6
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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Extraordinary Moments
Coffee and Fellowship - All Welcome
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Wednesday, August 9
7:30 p.m.
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SHPC Singers- All Welcome |
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NOON
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Bible Study |
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Sunday, August 13
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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Silver Linings in Extraordinary Times
Coffee and Fellowship - All Welcome
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Bible Study this Friday, August 4th
Genesis 28:10-22, Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-15
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Please Remember in Your Prayers
Sue Burr,
in the hospital with a perforated appendix, for healing, relief from pain, full and speedy recovery, and God's loving presence;
Wil Swalberg, for a full and speedy recovery from his Double Carpal Tunnel surgery;
Kim Alling, sister of Peg Maclise, for God's healing presence, and for
Peg, for God's strength, love, and peace;
Jeri Rayford and her family, grieving the loss of Prentis,
for God's loving presence, strength, and support in their bereavement;
Jody Brockett and her family, grieving the loss of Jody's mother Jeanne, prayers for the family to feel God's comfort and peace, and healing and strength to Jody as she moves her Father into a new residence;
Kelsey Lopin, for total healing, renewed strength, continued flourishing, creativity, and energy as she pursues her education and excels in art;
Andrea Proster, sister of Nancy Elberg, for complete healing, and for Nancy to continue to feel God's abiding presence in companioning her;
Katie Brendler, may God's loving presence and comfort abide with her and her family as they mourn the loss of Katie's dear Father, and for full recovery for her mother as she gets treatment for cervical cancer;
Transgender US military service personnel and their loved ones, for an end to discrimination based on dishonesty, and for the right to continue to serve their country honorably;
Sen. John McCain, diagnosed with brain cancer, and his loved ones, for God's healing presence, comfort, and strength;
Victims of gun violence, and their loved ones, and those who lose all hope and resort to violence, may God heal them;
The hungry, especially all those depending on the US government for food aid here and abroad;
Those fearing loss of medical insurance, for accurate information and honest, humane decision making by our leaders in Congress;
Those living in the shadows and fearing deportation, for safety, security for their families and children, a path to citizenship, and sanctuary;
The incarcerated, and their loved ones, for a justice system and prison system that uphold our highest values of human dignity and fairness;
Our country, for a way forward where we live our values of justice and equality for all people; for a well-informed citizenry; for government of, by, and for the people, with leaders of integrity, and for an end to hate crimes;
The refugees and displaced
, almost 1 out of 100 people in the world today, for safety, homes, the basics of life, and freedom from being scapegoated;
Our Muslim neighbors, subject to Islamophobia and hate crimes;
Our planet, the world's poor, all who suffer from disruptive climate change, may we continue our work to keep the planet livable;
The PC(USA), for the way forward to be illuminated, and for our mission and ministries to be salt and light for the world;
Dr. Doug Tilton, our PC(USA) mission co-worker in Southern Africa;
Our church, for the Spirit to continue to guide us and fill us with energy for mission and love for all our neighbors!
Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
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Family Ministries Update
Our Doodle poll revealed (no surprise!) that most of you are very busy for next few weeks, and with out of town plans, we couldn't find even a few days where we could gather a critical mass of our young people.
But something new is cooking! Family Ministries is working with youth ministry partners to bring back Charles Wei and our regular youth ministry program. We will keep you posted!
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Save the Date for Let's Talk Church Finance- Sunday, August 27, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
The final
Let's Talk Church Finance discussion is scheduled for Sunday, August 27th after the worship service. The Session has now studied our church's finances in depth, and will be sending a report of the study to the congregation with findings to share. Meanwhile, a helpful resource was presented at the June 1 educational discussion meeting and is available here:
Dennis Latta
Clerk of Session
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Office of Public Witness calls on Presbyterians to participate in fall event in Washington
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Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Office of Public Witness of the PC(USA)
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The Presbyterian Mission Agency's
Office of Public Witness is calling on Presbyterians across the denomination to come to Washington D.C. this fall to speak out on the proposed federal budget. Church members, presbyteries and synods are being asked to gather on September 12 for a budget briefing, press conference and a visit to congressional offices.
"When I visit churches, I get a sense that people want to make a statement. There is a lot of frustration about the direction the country is headed and I sense that people want to come and make their voices heard," said the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, OPW director. "We are not coming to disrupt anything, but to engage. We are here for a positive purpose, to sit down and have dialogue about the things that concern and energize us."
While the details are still being finalized, Hawkins says the day will begin with a 9:30 a.m. briefing, followed by a press conference and then two and a half hours of meetings at congressional offices. He says the day will end with worship.
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Stated Clerk Speaks Out on Trump's Proposed Ban on Transgender Personnel in the Military
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) stands with transgender community members, affirms their sacredness - as they are created in the image of God - and asserts their deservedness of a dignified and respectful work environment. On Wednesday, President Trump issued a series of tweets that abruptly announced a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military. It is particularly disappointing given that this proclamation falls on the anniversary of President Truman's
Executive Order 9981 that abolished racial discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948. This decision by President Trump reversed a gradual transformation under the Obama administration, which welcomed transgender people to serve openly. President Trump said, "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail." Naming transgender people and their life-saving medical needs a "burden" is cruel, inaccurate, discriminatory, and serves to further push to the margins a population that experiences job discrimination, homelessness, suicide, and hate-motivated violence at devastating rates. As Micah stands firmly within the prophetic tradition that calls us to honor God's image in one another, so should Presbyterians in this moment. God requires us "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessor churches have explicitly affirmed the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people for almost forty years. A resolution passed by the 221st General Assembly (2014) entitled, On the Global Crisis for People Who Are LGBT and Their Families: A Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Response, "[encouraged] each Presbyterian to hold in prayer our LGBT sisters and brothers in the countries where they are vulnerable around the world" (Minutes, Part I, p.737). It is a painful reality that, indeed, our own country remains one of those where LGBT people, particularly transgender people, are vulnerable and explicitly targeted by our most powerful politician and the systems he influences.
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Voice your Support for the Right of Collective Non-Violent Action against Injustice!
Ask your members of congress to oppose the Israel Anti-Boycott Act!
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Earlier this year, Israel passed legislation banning entry to supporters of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement, an international effort to boycott businesses in Israel and occupied Palestinian territories in order to pressure Israel to comply with international law and stop the further construction of settlements. It applies to any activist "who knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel that, given the content of the call and the circumstances in which it was issued, has a reasonable possibility of leading to the imposition of a boycott - if the issuer was aware of this possibility".
It also bans entry visas and residency rights for those who call for boycotts of Israeli institutions in any "area under its control", including Jewish settlements in the West Bank that are regarded as illegal under international law. While the Presbyterian Church (USA) is not a part of the official Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement, the PCUSA General Assembly has voted to divest from companies that are profiting off the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The General Assembly also voted in favor of a boycott of products made in the Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Now, there is legislation before the US congress to criminalize participation in boycott, divestment, and sanctions of Israel or Israeli institutions in the West Bank. The Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S. 720/HR 1697) is cosponsored by 46 Senators and 246 Representatives.
If this legislation passes, businesses and individuals who do not buy from Israeli companies operating in occupied Palestinian territories and who make public statements saying that they are doing so in order to boycott could face large fines and prison time. Violations of this law could be punishable by civil and criminal penalties of up to $1 million and 20 years in prison.
In a recent op-ed in the Washington Post, the national legal and political directors of the American Civil Liberties Union wrote that "The ACLU . . . takes no position for or against campaigns to boycott Israel or any other foreign country. But since our organization's founding in 1920, the ACLU has defended the right to collective action. This bill threatens that right."
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Please contact your members of congress today!
Click here
to ask them to oppose legislation that would limit free speech!
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Come Join!
The Restorative Justice Advocates
Summer Retreat ~ Aug 16th
Do you consider yourself a leader in your community?
Do you care about the justice system?
If this is you, we would love your participation in the Restorative Justice Advocates Summer Retreat
When: Wednesday, August 16th at Noon
Where: Restorative Services & Marin County Youth Court
734 A St. San Rafael, CA 94901
What: participants will learn about restorative justice, youth court, school to prison pipeline, American mass incarceration, implicit bias, educational inequity, and the corporate marijuana agenda.
Lunch will be provided!
RSVP/ More information
Don Carney
Marin County YMCA Director
415-459-9622
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Wil has moved!
Wil would like you to know that he has moved to Alma Via in Terra Linda. YES, he still plans to come to church! At Alma Via, he'll have 3 meals a day, and so now he'll be inviting US to eat with him! Please call the church office to get his new cell phone number.
And thank him for his Food Barrel ministry!
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WE ALL LOVE FELLOWSHIP--
PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP OUT
NEW FOLKS - We will match you with a veteran so that you can be trained on our highly complex coffeemaker and have FUN!
Fellowship time is organized by your Deacons. We need everyone to sign-up about 3-4 times a year.
Click below to sign up:
Sign up now and keep the hospitality
going!
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Don't be shy, Greeting is a Treat!
We've updated the signups for the new year!
Help with our ministry of hospitality by signing up to be a greeter! All you have to do is get to church by 9:15, light the candles, and hand out bulletins with a smile. Thank you to all who have signed up so far!
Thank you all for your continued support,
Jody Brockett,
Worship Elder
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Many thanks and fond farewell for now to our interim office administrator and communications associate, Kara New, who has been our newsletter editor while Katie Brendler has been away. This coming week will be Kara's last week since Katie is back. We welcome back Katie!
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Lost and Found
Time to come see if you have anything in our lost and found
. Please check out our table downstairs one last time this Sunday, August 6th.
Please take home
anything that belongs to you.
We'll be donating the unclaimed items
after this weekend.
Thank you!
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Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship of men and women who help each other to maintain sobriety through sharing their recovery experience with others.
Looking for more information? Check out the
San Francisco/Marin AA website for more information including meeting times and places, including meetings at Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church every Tuesday at 8:30pm
24-hour hotline is also available for immediate listening and guidance if wished -
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6pm-10am in Marin
415-499-0400
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10am-6pm - SF Central Office
(415) 674-1821
(they will refer Marin callers to Marin resources)
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church
100 Tarry Road
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Kara New,
Editor
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