Fearless Love 
Passion Week Begins with Palm Sunday
Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
Weekly Happenings at SHPC    
April 6 , 2017
Palm and Passion Sunday
Holy Week Begins

     Whether our expectations match up to reality can make the difference between a life of fulfillment and one of devastating disappointment.  When Jesus entered the city gates of Jerusalem on a donkey, his disciples and much of the crowd thought that some kind of triumph would ensue.  They were in for a shocking disappointment.  

     How do we make sense of the Passion of Christ? What does this Holiest of Holy Weeks mean for us today?  This Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 9:30 a.m., we'll explore the meaning of Palm/Passion Sunday, and come to a deeper understanding of why Holy Week matters for each of us.
In This Issue
Quick Links
Bev piano
A Note From 
Pastor Bev

This season of Lent, my joy has been to enact an important Gospel story with the children each Sunday. I have loved Jesus ever since I was a young teenager, and I hoped that through acting out the stories each week, the children would get to know and love Jesus.  
We've acted out stories which have shown us many of the ways Jesus touched people's lives and restored them to wholeness: the healing of the "contagious" woman, which Jesus credits to the woman herself, the healing of the paralyzed man, which Jesus credits to the faithful friends, the feeding of the multitudes, reported 6 times in the Gospels, reminding us that when we share there is enough for all, and the anointment with costly perfume, reminding us of God's extravagant love.  A different young person has been our Jesus each week.  The children's curiosity and spontaneity bring so much liveliness and freshness to our understanding of Jesus.  I am grateful for this season of Lent!  

Our community is experiencing sorrows along with joy this holy season, as you'll see in today's prayer list.  We hold each other's hands and pray through these times.  Don't be in sorrow by yourself.  We are the church together.

Sending blessings for Holy Week, and with love, 
Bev


April Calendar
Friday, Apr. 7th
                    
                    5:00 p.m.

Bible Study OFF today
Yoga
Sunday, Apr. 9th
                    9:30 a.m.
                   10:30 a.m.
PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
Fearless Love - Blind Expectations
Coffee and Fellowship -- All Welcome!
Wednesday, Apr. 12th
                    7:30 p.m.

SHPC Singers rehearse - all are welcome
Friday, Apr. 14th
                    NOON 
                     7:00 p.m.
GOOD FRIDAY
Bible Study
Service of Scripture, Song, and Prayer
Sunday, Apr. 16th
                    9:30 a.m.
                   10:30 a.m.
                   10:45 a.m.
EASTER SUNDAY
Jesus Lives! 
Coffee and Fellowship -- All Welcome!
EASTER EGG HUNT
Wednesday, Apr. 19th
                    7:30 p.m.


SHPC Singers rehearse - all are welcome
Sunday, Apr. 23rd
                   
Sunday, April 30th                                    
EARTH SUNDAY - GREEN TEAM LEADS US

Church Picnic at Samuel P. Taylor Park-
immediately following the service

Bible Study is OFF this week
Self study passage for Sunday is Mark 11:1-11 
Please Remember in Your Prayers

Jeri Rayford and her family, grieving the loss of Prentis, who died peacefully yesterday,  for God's loving presence, the peace of Christ, strength, and support in their bereavement;
Jody Brockett and her dear mother Jeanne, prayers for the family to feel God's peaceful presence in the final chapter of life; 
The Saunders - Burr Family, for God's love and comfort to be with them as they mourn the loss of Sue's beloved Father, Ron Saunders.
The Ongaro Family, mourning the loss of Phyllis Ongaro, for God's presence and comfort in their bereavement;
Wil Swalberg, for a speedy recovery for a sprained wrist and for God's comfort in his bereavement;
Paul Lambert, for God's comfort as he grieves the loss of his beloved Mother;
The people of Syria, suffering greatly, for intervention which will bring relief to the greatest number;
Those living in the shadows and fearing deportation, for safety, security for their families and children, a path to citizenship, and sanctuary;
The victims of hate crimes, in Kansas and nationwide, and their loved ones, comfort in their sorrow, and safety and healing for the survivors;
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;
Kelsey Lopin, for healing and full recovery from complications of Lyme disease, and for God's abiding presence, comfort, and love;
Praying Hands
Andrea Proster, sister of Nancy Elberg, for complete healing, and for Nancy for continued strength in companioning her;
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 community, renew us and grant us fortitude to continue to bring light to the darkness in this world.

Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
     
 
Prentis C. Rayford
September 9, 1929 - April 5, 2017
Friends are invited to attend 
the Celebration of Life Service at 
Monte's Chapel of the Hills, 330 Red Hill Ave., 
San Anselmo on 
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 11 a.m.

Holy Week at SHPC
 

Sunday, April 9, 9:30 a.m. - Palm and Passion Sunday

Friday, April 14, 7:00 p.m. - Good Friday Service 

Sunday, April 16, 9:30 a.m. - EASTER with Egg Hunt to follow

 Report from Your Clerk of Session 

Presbyterians are big proponents of the democratic process. We believe that everyone has a voice that should be heard. If you were at the February Congregational Meeting, you heard me share some historical information about how Presbyterians have lent vigor to democracy for many years including a model for the U.S. government, and for the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Well, we are at it again, only this time it is closer to home! All are welcome to join the May 6th workshop that will be a gathering of the folks who have the most knowledge of concerns surrounding the church finances and real estate - members of Session, The Manse Study Team, and the Finance Elders. Our planned workshop will examine SHPC's financial resiliency and facilities. We'll talk about any concerns so that we can decide how to present them to other interested members of the congregation through a couple Let's Talk gatherings later in May. As Bev often reminds us, when we listen to each other, the Holy Spirit is at work guiding our decisions and guiding our church. We are working to come to a consensus so that Session, the governing council of the church, can work to coordinate the next steps required to implement the congregation's decision. Laborious as it may seem, that is the Presbyterian way and we are glad you are part of it!
Dennis Latta
Clerk of Session 
 
Sunday 4/9 after the service - 
Bring Your Garden Gloves and help weed the rock garden by the front path to pretty up the church for Easter with Michael

Mexico Mission Update!

Our Mexico Mission Team has 63 youth and adults ready to head down to Mexico in June to help build houses. 

Please consider becoming a mission co-worker through donations of your thought/prayers and or monetarily. 

You can donate online or if you prefer, by checks. 

If you are donating to a specific person, please note their name in the comment section of the donation page or memo line of the check.

checks (MM on the memo line): Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church, 100 Tarry Rd, San Anslemo CA 94960


earth helping
Sunday, April 23 is Earth Sunday

Our Green Team will lead us and we'll welcome the Rev. Will Scott,
Program Director of California Interfaith Power & Light, to the pulpit in celebration of Earth Sunday.

For 17 years, California Interfaith Power & Light (CIPL) has been living into its founding mission-to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming as a moral issue. Today, CIPL is a network of 680 congregations of all faiths committed to addressing climate change from Chico to San Diego, Mono Lake to Monterey Bay. If you'd like to learn more about this work, please check out the  website.

 
A gift to One Great Hour of Sharing enables the church to share God's love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and helping to empower the poor and oppressed. 
Bring your fish banks back to church this Sunday, Palm Sunday, April 9.

The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing are the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance,  the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People. All three work in different ways to
serve individuals and communities in need. Learn more about each branch below.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) receives 32% of funds raised from One Great Hour of Sharing.

PDA enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic event.

PDA is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. that w orks alongside communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation
of natural or human-caused disasters

PDA works both nationally and internationally. The states in blue below are states currently that have active responses to disaster.

To learn more about PDA, check out their website.

Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) receives 36% of funds raised in One Great Hour of Sharing.
 
Fighting hunger is at the heart of our Presbyterian understanding of mission. Jesus fed the hungry and told his disciples to do the same. Yet, we know that hunger is an extremely complex phenomenon with economic, political and social causes.

We approach hunger holistically with 5 tools:
  • Direct Food Relief combined with Root Cause Work
  • Sustainable Development
  • Advocacy
  • Intentional and Sustainable Living
  • Education
Employing these tools alongside congregations, partners and local communities, together we can end hunger.

PHA takes action to alleviate hunger and the systemic causes of poverty so all
may be fed.  To learn more about PHP, check out their  website .

Self-Development of People (SDOP) receives 32% of funds raised in One Great Hour of Sharing.
 
Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People is a ministry that affirms God's concern for humankind.  We are Presbyterians and ecumenical partners dissatisfied with poverty and oppression, united in faith and action through sharing, confronting, and enabling by participating in the empowerment of economically poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged people, seeking to change the structures that perpetuate poverty, oppression and injustice.

SDOP Core Strategies:                  
  • Promote Justice
  • Build stronger communities
  • Seek economic equity
Self-Development is not charity. Rather, it is a ministry in which people join together to share and use the human and material resources God has provided. Self-Development is the freeing of a person to be the kind of person God intended, because all humanity was created in God's image. It is human dignity and worth; it is justice; it is spiritual, social, political and cultural freedom. It partners with those oppressed by poverty, who have decided what they will do to change their situation. It is the Church in action made possible by the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.

SDOP invests in communities responding to their experiences of racism, oppression, poverty  and injustice and educates Presbyterians about the impact of these societal ills. To learn more about SDOP, check out their website.

THANKS FOR A GREAT REST SEASON



Thank you to all who have helped throughout the season! 

REST will return in the fall; see you then!





If you have questions, please contact Shannon Mong at 
shannon@In-SightAssociates.com (phone is 415-279-2402).  
YOUTH REST COOKING - FOOD4GOOD 
 
Thanks to all our youth who helped cook last weekend for the last REST of the season!

To celebrate and fellowship together, we'll be hiking and getting ice-cream next month, Sunday May 7th, 4-5:30 at Fawn Dr Trailhead/Three Twins Ice Cream  Click here to sign up!

Thanks to all who have joined us this year!

Food 4 Good - Sleepy Hollow's Youth Cooking Program will return to cooking in the fall when the REST program starts up again.

If you have questions, contact 
    Judy Ford or  Jen Gauna
Thank you to our REST Coordinator - Shannon Mong!

 
As this year's REST season comes to a close, we'd like to send a big thank you to our faithful REST coordinator, Shannon Mong. Thank you for your time, energy, and love in helping us help and love our un-sheltered neighbors. We greatly appreciate your dedication in your service and your ministry.

As we look to the next REST season in the fall, our wonderful REST Coordinator Shannon is looking to pass the baton onto the next person. Please consider becoming next year's REST Coordinator and helping this wonderful ministry continue in our church, and if you are interested, please contact Patti Vance, Mission Elder by clicking here.

 YOGA THIS  FRIDAY 
April 7th & 21st

Join us for our Friday flow, FRIDAY APRIL 7, 5-6pm 
upstairs at Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian.


We will move our bodies mindfully,  
winding down our week while lighting up our spirits.

Come as you are, yoga has a place for everyone.
Our class is mixed-level and donation based $10 suggested.

We have extras if you don't have a mat, arrive in comfortable clothes you can move in.

Karen x

Youth Climate Change Summit Sat. April 29
 
Cynthia Scharf will be one of the featured speakers at the summit.
Our own Patti Vance and Ethan Russell are bringing their many gifts to facilitating Marin young environmental leaders in planning and leading the first annual Marin Youth Summit on Climate Change! This event will bring together students, their videos, speeches and projects with global leaders in Climate Change. It will serve as a place where students can learn the tools and science to help spur action in their communities. We hope to inspire and give weight to the idea that youth can create real change, not just in the future, but now.

For more information, visit the website here
or  click here to monetarily support the event.
or contact Patti Vance
 

All Church Family Picnic
April 30 
Right after church
Fun for ALL
Redwood Grove at 
Samuel P. Taylor State Park 

 
Wil LOVES an invite for lunch or dinner!

Thank you and bless you to all who have reached out to invite him over for a meal.  You are lighting up his life!

Sunday our dear Wil, took a small fall during the Marin Hunger/CROP Walk. Determined to finish the 3 mile walk, even after the fall (refusing our request to drive him the rest of the way), Will ended up at the hospital with a lot of pain in his right hand. Except for a bad right hand sprain and a scraped left hand, he is fine.
However, he can't really cook and shouldn't drive probably for at least a week. Therefore, if anyone can make and bring him some meals this week, it would be of great help to Wil. Click here to sign up to bring him a meal.

And we thank him for his faithful and continuing FOOD BARREL MINISTRY.
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: 
April:   Nance's Parish
Sign up now and keep the hospitality
 going!

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
 











  Dear Friends-

Thanks to overwhelming numbers of calls, FAX transmittals, visits, and email, all three of the bills upholding the protections and rights for immigrants have passed.

YOU did this.  Your witness for Muslims, for all immigrants, for due process and legal assistance, all have passed.

SB 6, SB 31, and SB 54 all passed in the Senate where we seriously doubted they could.  We would not have convinced the "worried middle" Senators had you not spoken out so clearly.

Thank you for all you did on behalf of embattled and at-risk populations.  It matters.

Now we will have a breather.  The legislature goes on Spring Break starting Thursday April 6 through Easter Sunday.  As soon as they come back, our work shifts to the other house, the Assembly, and we will let you know what are our "next steps" on this and other concerns.

Thank you for your presence on behalf of humanity.  We are grateful beyond words for your care.
 

It's not too late to sign up for a great lakeside summer treat!


Join us at ZE!


"The best lakefront experience ever"


"Great classes"


"Awesome bike rides"


"Food was not bad and plentiful"


Guess who said which -

Dennis Latta,

Michael Durphy,

Pastor Bev 


Hope to see you there!


To learn more or to register for the event
check out their website:

 
 
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 -
·        6pm-10am in Marin 415-499-0400
·       10am-6pm - SF Central Office (415) 674-1821 (they will refer Marin callers to Marin resources)

Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church
100 Tarry Road
San Anselmo, CA  94960
Katie Brendler,  Editor
E-mail us at shpchurch@comcast.net or call us at 415-453-8221