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Each New Day Dawns - Bringing Hope for Peace
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Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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Weekly Happenings at SHPC
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December 1, 2016
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Second Sunday of Advent - Peace
We Welcome the Islamic Center of North Marin
This Sunday, December 4, 2016, at 9:30 a.m., we have invited the Islamic Center of North Marin (Novato) to join us for worship and fellowship. Muslims, Christians, and Jews share the Great Commandment to love God and to love neighbor as self. When we live this teaching, we are God's blessed peacemakers (Mt. 5:9). Please invite your family and friends of all ages to be part of this blessed Day of Peace! All are welcome!
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A Note From
Pastor Bev
Advent is such a special time in the life of the church. It feels like a tender new shoot growing from the redwood burl in our wreath (thank you, Merle!) and like the evocative art on our sanctuary windows (thank you, Jody!). It's like that almost-awake dream space where we are relaxed and see possibilities and potential. This is our time for spiritual re-birth and new growth. This is the time for the blessings of peace to calm our inner ocean, bringing us a deep sense of equanimity.
I just spoke with Mubarack Muthalif, the leader of the Islamic Center of North Marin, and he told me how much his congregation appreciates our invitation to worship and fellowship together this Sunday. We've planned a very special service of peace, and you are welcome to bring family, friends, and neighbors of all ages who want to practice peace.
Each of us has such an important role to play in the future of our world. We can sit back, or we can step forward and stand up for human dignity for all people. Jesus revealed a God who calls us to stand up in solidarity with the vulnerable and marginalized. What a blessing to be called by the God of Peace to bring peace to the world!
In peace,
Bev
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Friday, December 2nd
Noon
5:00 -7 p.m.
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Bible Study
Advent Art and Pizza downstairs for artists of all ages, and Yoga (in the sanctuary) |
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Sunday, December 4th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
3-5 p.m.
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SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT-PEACE
We Welcome the Islamic Ctr.- No. Marin
Tea and Fellowship - All are Welcome!
GARDEN WORK PARTY
Youth cook for REST
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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.
4:00 p.m.
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THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT-LOVE
CHILDREN AND YOUTH PAGEANT
Coffee and Fellowship -- All are Welcome!
Holiday Music Fest
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Wednesday, December 14th
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 16th
Noon
5:00 p.m.
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Bible Study
Yoga
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Sunday, December 18th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT-JOY
Celestial Music with Guest Orchestral Harp
Coffee and Fellowship -- All are Welcome!
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Wednesday, December 21st
7:30 p.m.
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SHPC Singers rehearse - All are welcome!
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Friday, December 23rd
Noon
5:00 p.m.
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Bible Study
Yoga - "Om for the holidays"
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Saturday, December 24th
7:00 p.m.
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Candlelit Christmas Eve Service |
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Sunday, December 25th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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Christmas Morning Service of Joy
Coffee and Fellowship -- All are Welcome!
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Advent/Christmas Season of Peace
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Advent Wreath designed by
Merle Ongaro |
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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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Bible Study - Friday, Dec. 2 at NOON -
Isa. 2:1-4, Mt. 5:9, Jn. 14:27, and the Great Commandment in Three Faiths
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Please Remember in Your Prayers
Rev. J. Bentley Stewart
as he travels to Standing Rock, N.D. to serve as a chaplain for the 2200 veterans who will be there from Sunday through next Wednesday serving as human shields for the native American protesters;
Our Muslim neighbors, subject to Islamophobia and hate crimes;
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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Pledge News
Good news! In honor of Giving Tuesday, a small group of SHPC families has volunteered to match the next $2,100 in pledges received by the church. These families had already pledged, but they are willing to do more to help SHPC meet our 2017 pledge goal. Just click on
Doug
to pledge with double impact with this match, or to increase your pledge by email. We'll send you a confirming pledge card in the mail for your records. Pledges in any amount are very much appreciated.
Thank you to all of you who have already pledged to support the church in 2017. We have received 42 pledges in the amount of $111,545. towards our goal of $148,000. The church is self-supporting and depends on all of you to maintain our many life-giving ministries, our youth and music programs, our facilities, and our staff.
Thank you so much for your support of the church!
With gratitude,
Doug, Finance Elder and Stewardship Chair
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FAMILY MINISTRIES
CALLING ALL KIDS!
- Fri. Dec 2nd - 5 -7 p.m. for ARTISTS OF ALL AGES!!! Friday night pizza and Xmas art project - wear your painting clothes! We're creating the creatures for the Peaceful Kingdom!
- Sun. Dec 4th - 3-5 p.m. for ages 10 and up - Youth Rest Cooking - harvesting and cooking two dishes for the REST dinners.
- Sun. Dec 11th - 9:00 a.m. for costuming - Youth Lead Our Christmas Pageant!
- Sun Dec 11th 2-4pm Youth planting day
Questions: contact
Janel Stewart
, Family Ministries Elder
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Youth 10 & Up - Join Our Rest Chefs Cooking from the Garden!
More Food 4 Good - Sun. Dec. 4, 3-5 p.m.
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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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From Compassion Peace and Justice Ministries--Rev. Rebecca Barnes
Compassion, Peace, and Justice ministries of the PC(USA)'s Presbyterian Mission Agency has 4 priorities, and this week we are focusing on
Environmental Justice and Climate
Rebecca Barnes is the
Presbyterian Hunger Program Associate for Environmental Ministries
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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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Call on the President to act now for a just peace in Palestine and Israel
"...let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an overflowing stream." Amos 5:24
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9
Urge President Obama in his final weeks in office to take clear and decisive action for a just and lasting peace that will benefit Palestinians and Israelis in the months and years ahead.
Ask him to
support Palestine at the UN and take firm action to stop Israeli settlements.
Click here to send a message today!
Support Palestine at the UN:
More than five years ago, Palestine applied to become a full member of the United Nations. That application, which was forwarded to the Security Council, remains in one of its committees, even though the General Assembly accorded Palestine observer state status in 2012. Current circumstances provide an opportunity for the Obama Administration to allow Palestine's application for full membership to move forward. The U.S. could vote affirmatively or abstain on a Security Council recommendation to the General Assembly for member status for Palestine. As more than a majority of UN member states recognize Palestine, it will almost certainly be approved as a member state. Furthermore, admission to member status would become virtually permanent as no country has ever been expelled from the United Nations.
Ask President Obama to support Palestine's full membership in the UN.
Act to stop settlements:
Israel continues to expand settlements, illegal under international law, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. As settlements grow, the space for Palestinians to live shrinks, the West Bank is carved up, and daily life for Palestinians is crippled. Continued settlement expansion harms the prospects for peace and undermines security for both Palestinians and Israelis. The U.S. government has repeatedly spoken out against settlements but it can and should do more. Let President Obama know that he has your support for decisive action to end the expansion of Israeli settlements.
Click here to call on the president today to ask him to act now for a just peace in Palestine and Israel.
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U.S. Veterans to Form Human Shield
at Dakota Pipeline Protest
On Friday (12/2), Rev. Bentley Stewart
will be going to Standing Rock, N.D. to serve as a trauma chaplain for the veterans who plan to be there from Sunday through next Wednesday serving as human shields for protesters. We stand with him in prayer as he stands with those who have served our country and those who stand for clean water.
For background, the New York Times reports 11/30/16:
CANNON BALL, N.D. - More than 2,000 U.S. military veterans plan to form a human shield to protect protesters of a pipeline project near a Native American reservation in North Dakota, organizers said, just ahead of a federal deadline for activists to leave the camp they have been occupying.
It comes as North Dakota law enforcement backed away from a previous plan to cut off supplies to the camp - an idea quickly abandoned after an outcry and with law enforcement's treatment of Dakota Access Pipeline protesters increasingly under the microscope.
The protesters have spent months rallying against plans to route the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline beneath a lake near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, saying it poses a threat to water resources and sacred Native American sites.
To read the rest of the article,
click here.
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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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Many of my associates are staggered by the unwavering "hope" and conviction I have for the projects and activities I believe in. For me, hope is exciting. It creates expectations. It not only generates determination, but it enables me to be patient and measured as I tackle and drive things to the finish line.
Having hope is much more than an earthly ambition and plan. It's a belief that you're not alone. That God truly is your partner - as that sinks in, that's a WOW by anyone's standards. It changes what we hope for, it changes what is possible, and leads us to hope for things "beyond our imaginations".
Adversity will naturally rear its head as we put this "hope" to the test. However, going through adversity forces us to connect with God in unusual ways. It allows us to remain steady and calm in the middle of a disaster or unusually tough circumstances.
Psalm 50:15 states "Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you"; Psalm 34:17 reminds us, "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of their troubles." Psalm 33:18 states, "The eyes of the Lord are on those whose hope is in His unfailing love."
A wise person once said "Let your hopes not your hurts shape your future." I believe this is the gateway to turning difficult "misfortunes" into "opportunities." In Jeremiah 29:11 the Lord reassures us, "For I know the plans I have for you ... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
God is with you in every challenge and difficult time you navigate. Believe me, I've been there. I speak from experience. You can feel safe. You can smile. You can be steadfast. For our hope is in the Lord, and the Bible reassures us that "things which are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27). That's the kind of hope that excites me. And that's why I believe so in the projects and tasks before me. I hope you will too.
Keep smiling, you are loved ... I'm on the east coast for several days ... so will stay in touch from here.
As always ... your friend, 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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Women's Weekend ~ January 20th-22nd, 2017
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Time for Healing
Are the times or your loved ones or life causing you stress or suffering? 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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