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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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Weekly Happenings at SHPC
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November 24, 2016
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First Sunday of Advent - Hope
A Little Child Shall Lead Us
This Sunday, November 27, 2016, at 9:30 a.m., a new church year begins with the Holy Season of Advent. We gather at the darkest time of the year to express our yearning for Light in prayer and song. Our theme is from Isaiah 11:1-9, the Peaceful Kingdom,
A Little Child Shall Lead Us. Bring your longings, hopes, and dreams and let's be the church, living in hope, peace, love, and joy.
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A Note From
Pastor Bev
Grace and peace to you, and blessings to each and every one of you on this beautiful Thanksgiving day!
What a great blessing it is to be the church, this inclusive, caring community, where we are guided, energized, and powered by God to bring more love and justice to the world.
This Sunday, Hope Sunday, we are turning from the bounty of fall to the quiet reflection of Advent, a time for praying, singing, and filling our spirits with hope, peace, love, and joy. Our theme --
A Little Child Shall Lead Us -- invites us all to experience life through a child's eyes, with freshness, wonder, and delight.
The following Sunday, Dec. 4, Peace Sunday, we welcome the Islamic Center of North Marin to worship and fellowship in an interfaith service of peacemaking. Sadly, the Marin Muslim community is experiencing a very real increase in Islamophobia. We are called to be God's peacemakers.
I am so grateful to be your pastor, and I am so grateful for the love and support you bring to the church and its life-affirming ministries.
Thank you all for being you! Thank God for Sleepy Hollow church!
In hope,
Bev
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November/December Calendar
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Thursday, Nov. 24th
Friday, November 25th
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BLESSED THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
NO BIBLE STUDY - Holiday Break
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Sunday, November 27th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT - HOPE
Introduction to The Peaceful Kingdom
Coffee and Fellowship -- All are Welcome! |
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Wednesday, November 30th
6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
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Holiday Hand Chimes
SHPC Singers rehearse - All are welcome! |
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Friday, December 2nd
Noon
5:00 p.m.
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Bible Study
Yoga |
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Sunday, December 4th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT-PEACE
We Welcome the Islamic Ctr.- No. Marin
Tea and Fellowship - All are Welcome!
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Wednesday, December 7th
6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
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Holiday Hand Chimes
SHPC Singers rehearse - All are welcome! |
Friday, December 9th
Noon
5:00 p.m.
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Bible Study
Yoga
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Sunday, December 11th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT-LOVE
CHILDREN AND YOUTH PAGEANT
Coffee and Fellowship -- All are Welcome!
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Advent/Christmas Season of Peace
Season of Peace - Advent and Christmas Season Start Sunday, November 27 at 9:30 a.m.
Make Music! Holiday Hand Chimes Weds. at 6:30 p.m. and Singers at 7:30 p.m.
Youth Christmas Pageant - Sunday, December 11 at 9:30 a.m. - The Lion, the Lamb, and the Christmas Story
Holiday Music Fest - Sunday, December 11 at 4:00pm
Celestial Music with Guest Orchestral Harp - Sunday, December 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Candlelit Christmas Eve - Saturday, December 24 at 7 p.m.
Christmas Morning Service of Joy - Sunday, December 25 at 9:30 a.m.
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No Bible Study this week. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Please Remember in Your Prayers
Those who are hungry for food, basics, and for love, on a day when so many celebrate their bounty;
Our country,
for deep healing, and for a way forward where we live our values of justice and equality for all people;
The world's poor, all who suffer from disruptive climate change, and our planet;
The refugees and displaced, almost 1 out of 100 people in the world today, for safety, homes, and the basics of life;
Laurie O'Hara and her family, for God's loving presence and comfort in mourning the loss of her mother, Carolyn;
The family and friends of Chancellor and Lancelot Argall and Chance Maurer, killed in a car accident on Sir Francis Drake, for support, love, and comfort in their grief;
Kelsey Lopin, for healing and full recovery from complications of Lyme disease, and for God's abiding presence, comfort, and love;
Steve Derr's Father, for recovery from stroke, and God's presence, and for the family, God's comfort;
Ryan Burk
s,
son of
Warren and Jackie Burks, for healing, and for strength and hope for his family;
Andrea Proster, sister of Nancy Elberg, for complete healing, and for Nancy for continued strength in companioning her;
Betty Swalberg, for God's presence and peace, and
Wil Swalberg, for God's comfort and community support;
Paul Lambert's Mom, blessed assurance of God's constant presence;
The PC(USA), as it strives to speak up effectively for justice for all people, especially the vulnerable and marginalized;
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 a dark world.
Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
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Tuesday, Nov. 29 is Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday has become a national milestone to support our communities. If you have already given SHPC a pledge of support for 2017, thanks so much for your help. If you haven't had time to pledge yet, please use Giving Tuesday as your opportunity to ensure SHPC has the resources to succeed this coming year. Last year, the average pledge was about $2,500 from 55 pledgers; so far this year, we have 45 pledges in hand and have raised about $110,000. We have about $38,000 more to raise to reach our goal.
Please give whatever you are able - every donation, regardless of amount, is appreciated.
If you no longer have your pledge letter, or didn't get one, have no fear!
Simply email your pledge amount directly to Doug Eisinger, SHPC Finance Elder, at [email protected]. I will make sure you receive a pledge card and envelope in the mail.
On behalf of a grateful congregation, thanks,
Doug
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FAMILY MINISTRIES
CALLING ALL KIDS!
- Fri. Dec 2nd - 5 -6:30 p.m. for ARTISTS OF ALL AGES!!! Friday night pizza and Xmas art project - wear your painting clothes!
- Sun. Dec 4th - 4 - 6 p.m. for ages 10 and up - Youth Rest Cooking - harvesting and cooking two dishes for the REST dinners.
- Sun. Dec 11th - 9 a.m. for costuming - Youth Lead Our Christmas Pageant!
- Sun Dec 11th 3-5pm Youth planting day
Questions: contact
Janel Stewart
, Family Ministries Elder
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Youth 10 + - Join Our Rest Chefs Cooking from the Garden!
More Food 4 Good - Sun. Dec. 4, 4-6 p.m.
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Our Mission Partner Short School Had a Great Field Trip
Many thanks to Supervisor Katie Rice for making Short School kids Supervisors for the day (below right)! And to Marin Sanitary for the earth care education! And to Patti Vance for organizing!
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Friday Yoga with
Karen Baigrie
December 2, 9, & 16
Join me for a class where we will breathe, root ourselves on mother earth and take the time to process and heal, in order to step out and walk in the light and be those whose words and actions make the world a place we want to live in.
Staring at 5pm, we will chant, we will breathe and we will move as much as you need to. If child's pose is all you can muster this week, that
can
be your practice and if you need to sweat, that can be yours too!
(i.e. Come with your funky shoulders, ribs or knees and we will find a practice for you.) Arrive early if you are new or have things you want to work around so we can discuss it before class. I will be there from around 4:45pm.
Kids who are happy to read or hang out quietly in Bev's office are welcome to come along.
Karen x
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GARDEN WORK PARTY
CALLING ALL GARDENERS
Sunday, Dec. 4th at 11:30 (after Our Gathering with the Islamic Center)
Bring work gloves - we're taking out the tomato plants and preparing for winter
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| Pastor Bev w/ ACSWP |
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For Love of Country
A Statement by ACSWP in Response to the US 2016 Elections
Grace and Peace in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We write you at a time of great national tension. The recent campaign has exposed deep divisions in our national life. We are like a family that has been through a terrible quarrel. Threats were made, insults were hurled, and people are rightfully alarmed, angry, and suspicious. We have major work to do to heal our national divisions, to ensure every person is respected, and to protect the public life of the nation. Now is the time for Presbyterians to recover the virtues of Christian citizenship and engage in the ministry of reconciliation.
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Our Presbyterian forbearers held that political communities were covenantal. They believed the lives of the peoples in a nation were bound together, for good or for ill ("covenant" means "to bind"). Hence, we must treat one another with respect. We should not slander or insult our covenant partners or disenfranchise our political opponents. Rather we should engage each other as co-equal partners in the covenant and work together to solve our problems. Covenantal communities are not maintained by law alone, but require what the Bible calls hesed; that is, steadfast love and empathy. The affective ties that bind any union need periodic renewal.
The hostility of this election may tempt us to go to our corners and find consolation among our own like-minded tribes. But the covenantal ideal pulls us back to rebuild our political community, to find a bigger and more gracious sense of our national identity.
The idea that our lives are bound together calls us to listen to one another. We need to hear the alarm of those who have been threatened and fear they will be treated as second-class citizens. We need to hear the pain of the people who feel overlooked by Republican and Democratic Party elites. We need to hear the despair of those impacted by globalization and other manufacturing trends. We need to hear the anxiety of those alarmed by campaign rhetoric that dismissed constitutional norms and democratic values. We need to hear how name-calling and heated rhetoric hurt people and damaged our political life. We must not only listen to our political allies, but we must hear the ones we want to write off, the ones with whom we most disagree.
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From Compassion Peace and Justice Ministries--Alonzo Johnson
Compassion, Peace, and Justice ministries of the PC(USA)'s Presbyterian Mission Agency has 4 priorities, and this week we are focussing on HUMAN DIGNITY.
Rev. Alonzo Johnson heads up our Louisville/national Self Development of People program, including Educate a Child, Transform the World.
Read more
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 Monthly Session Report
from Clerk of Session
Dennis Latta
At its November 16 meeting, the Session met with the Manse and Capital Improvement Study Team, Luke Argilla, Sharon Adams, Mark Sarkisian, Carolyn Goodman, and Peg Maclise. The team presented its work to date. Finance Elder Doug Eisinger presented an overview of church finance - including budget, operating expense, resiliency, and future.
Going forward,
the Session will be focussing on budget in December (as usual). In January, Session will be approving the budget, with the benefit of year-end financial statements. Congregational education on finances will probably be undertaken in January prior to the Annual Meeting, where the congregation reviews the budget. The manse and the church's overall financial resiliency and future will be discussed thoroughly.
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REST Program Needs You
Thanks to the many volunteers who make it possible for our unhoused neighbors to sleep in a safe location with delicious food in their bellies!
We will continue to host meals through April. To
read more information about REST and to sign-up online, please click on this link:
SHPC
will continue to organize Middle and High School students to contribute to REST -- this year youth will prepare soup and bread for our REST guests. For more info, contact Jennifer Gauna at [email protected]
If you have questions, please contact Shannon Mong at
[email protected]
(phone is 415-279-2402).
In advance - thanks for your support of this year's REST evenings!
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Do You Love to Sing?
Do you Love to Ring?
Join SHPC Singers for the Season
The Choir is preparing three wonderful Christmas songs and all they're missing is YOU! Join SHPC Singers for good cheer and great company
Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Holiday Hand Chimes 6:30 p.m.
You can do both!
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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!
And thank him for his faithful and continuing FOOD BARREL MINISTRY.
MOST RECENT DONATION TOTAL:
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WE ALL LOVE FELLOWSHIP--
PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP OUT
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 are in need of greeters to sign up through the signup genius website.
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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Being Able to Make Big Changes is a Big Deal
Its an amazing fact that we each have God's DNA in us. That implies we are capable of moving beyond ourselves and actually embracing divine qualities in ways we hadn't imagined.
You and I actually have the ability to become our own architects for change. The power of God within us allows us to create, design, and do things that exceed our expectations.
We have the ability to make "Big Changes" in our behavior, add patience and tolerance to our impatient personalities, become wiser in our dealings with insurmountable circumstances, and love in a way that is beyond our natural temperament.
Being able to make big changes is a big deal.
I watch people who would like to change but really don't know how. God is an agent of change like no other. If you're stuck and want to make "Big Changes" you can. Ask God to give you a transfusion of the divine qualities you need to make the "Big Change" you really want. Are you too stubborn, short tempered, uncaring, too set in your ways or just bored? You can change.
Even in times of outward decline, there can be inward renewal. I am thrilled to see people change -- and many have. You can too. Set your sites on change and then, with God's very DNA move forward.
This is exciting stuff. Don't stay stuck being a "never changing" person. Make changes. Pivot to where God intended you to be. Remember, "Greater is He that is in your than he that is in the world" I John 4:4.
Have a wonderful week ... Paul
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Paul Lambert is a member of SHPC who travels extensively for his career as a producer of Broadway-bound musicals. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute who studies the Bible daily and attends our Bible Study whenever he's in town. He posts this blog each week no matter where he is, to the delight and comfort of many. SHPC thanks you, Paul.
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Friday, Dec 9, 8:00 pm
Saturday, Dec 10,
3:00 pm
& 8:00 pm
New!
This year there will be a Matinee on Saturday.
 There is no show on Sunday.
Marin Center Showcase Theatre
10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael
Artistic Director - Mark Penn
Asst. Dir/ Accompanist - David Manley
Stage Director - Sandy V. Weldon
Ticket prices: $20 General
$15 Senior and Student (13-18)
$5 Children 12 and under
Tickets available at the door for all performances
Advance Tickets: Marin Center Box Office 415-473-6800
The 60-voice chorus, with soloists and ensembles, presents traditional and contemporary songs of stirring beauty, intriguing lyrics and soaring harmonies, all backed by an instrumental combo. Narration, staging and a few playful musical selections enliven the program.
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Cook's Cozy Corner - Green Tomatoes
With our garden beginning its winter nap (I'm hoping it will still dream of chard and lettuce), we will need to start our tidying and re-arranging. As part of that we will be bringing in the green tomatoes starting this weekend. A lot of the pleasure of cooking for me is figuring out what to do with ingredients that come my way, and green tomatoes are definitely coming. They have their own flavor, different from red, and add a nice tart zing to lots of dishes. My grandmother used to make a German veal stew, with lots of added lemon. Since the Germans like sweet-sour a lot, she would balance the lemon with a touch of sugar. You could get the same effect by cooking green tomatoes in the stew; they have a tart-sweet quality that goes well with stewed or braised meats (lamb especially). And I can't think of a better first course at a Thanksgiving dinner than fried green tomatoes. To start you off, here are some recipes and ideas.
--Michael Durphy
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Pedal For Protein Update
Pedal for Protein raises $39,655 for protein food for food pantries. We are very happy to report a very successful ride exceeding the goal of $35,000 for this year. A few more donations have arrived so perhaps with a little more blessing we will crest $40,000. Thank you to all participating and supporting congregations. You all helped make this happen! So far over the three years of the Pedal for Protein we raised nearly $100,000. That purchases a whole lot of peanut butter, canned tuna and other high protein food for hungry people in our Presbytery and a little beyond.
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Marin ICC
If the holidays are stressing you out, consider the
ICC, with its many compassionate counselors and spiritual directors.
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church
100 Tarry Road
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Katie Brendler,
Editor
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