Where Religion Meets Politics -
Dr. King at the Riverside Church
Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
Weekly Happenings at SHPC    
April 27 , 2017
Where Religion Meets Politics:
Report from Washington, D.C.

     Many of us avoid conflict by avoiding certain topics with folks, especially family members, with whom we disagree.  How many times have you heard someone say, "We get along fine, we just don't talk about religion and politics"? But  National Women's March co-chair Tamika Mallory has this challenge for us: White folks can make nice and avoid intense conversations about religion and politics, because they aren't the ones getting separated from their families by incarceration and deportation. Black and brown folks don't have that luxury.  She calls on people of faith to check our privilege and renew our calling to protect the most vulnerable through political action and advocacy, beginning with getting out of our comfort zones and marching into the hot topics.  

     This Sunday, April 30, 2017, at 9:30 a.m., Pastor Bev will bring back stories from Church World Service's annual DC gathering of 1,000 Christian leaders who went up to Capitol Hill to lobby our Congress to adopt a moral budget.  Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34). Let's talk about where religion meets politics!
In This Issue
Quick Links
Bev piano
A Note From 
Pastor Bev

Finances are certainly a hot topic which can lead to conflict, so it takes courage to try to have a healthy discussion about money.  Our Session and the past 20 years of Finance Elders are boldly leading the church into education and discussion about this church's financial resiliency starting Sat. May 6 from 9 a.m. - noon. For those who can't make that one, or want more, we have  Let's Talk about Church Financial Resiliency set for Thursday, May 18 from 7:30 -8:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 21 after the service.  Please try to make at least one of these sessions, to learn, ask questions, and contribute to the discussion.

Whatever your state of information might be, please try to come with an open mind. As your pastor, I am dedicated to the Presbyterian process of gathering with open minds, respectfully listening, and discerning together with the help of the Holy Spirit what is the best way forward for the church.  The church decides the way forward AFTER doing the hard work of gathering information and listening.  Let's all be a positive part of this process by maintaining open-mindedness, respect, creativity, and faithfulness, and making plenty of room for God to be in this process.  After all, this is God's house!  

In peace, 
Bev


April/May Calendar
Friday, Apr. 27th
                    NOON 
                    5:00 p.m.

Bible Study
Yoga
Saturday, Apr. 28th
Marin Youth Climate Change Summit at Terra Linda H.S. 
Sunday, April 30th  
                   9:30 a.m.
                  10:30 a.m

YOUTH SUNDAY and CHURCH PICNIC
Where Religion and Politics Meet - DC
Church Picnic at Samuel P. Taylor Park-
immediately following the service
SATURDAY, MAY 6 - 9-NOON
CHURCH FINANCE RETREAT-
ALL INVITED!
SUNDAY, MAY 7 - ALL CHURCH TLC (formerly known as WORK) DAY
AND FEAST BY THE DEACONS

Bible Study April 28 at NOON - Luke 12:13-34
Please Remember in Your Prayers

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;
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;
The people of Syria, suffering greatly, for intervention which will bring relief to the greatest number; and all those impacted by the US deploying a mega bomb in Afghanistan;
The hungry, especially all those depending on the US government for food aid here and abroad;
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, for health, respect, open-mindedness, maturity, and Christian love in our financial discussions ahead.

Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
     
Share the Word - Invite Teens - Youth Climate Change Summit - Sat. April 29 at 9:30 a.m. at Terra Linda High School  
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 are welcome for the 
All Church Picnic
April 30 
YOUTH GROUP AND SANDRA WILL BE THERE!
Right after church
FAITH POTLUCK - BYO LUNCH ITEM TO SHARE
Stay until 2 p.m. or all day
Fun for ALL ages and fitness levels
Redwood Grove at 
Samuel P. Taylor State Park 
(We think the first dozen cars or so get free day pass/parking)

earth helping
Thank you, Green Team, for a great Earth Sunday!

Our Green Team and the Rev. Will Scott, Program Director of California Interfaith Power & Light, led us in a great celebration of Earth Sunday last week. Thank you to Judy Ford, Doug Eisinger, Robin Holway Abu Aly, Ethan Russell, Michael Durphy, Sharon Hamilton, Charlotte Phillips, and Stephen Iverson!  The announcement that we've reached GOAL on our solar panels was a great uplift! 

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.

Thanks to Sandra and the youth group who hid the eggs  for the younger kids' egg hunt!  
Egg-cellent time was had by all at the egg hunt!
Thank you to Koren Grubb!
 
Thank you to Peg Maclise and the Flower Guild for the beautiful Easter Liturgical Art and Flower Arrangements 



 


Thank you to all who celebrated Earth Day in the Justice Garden!


 Report from Your Clerk of Session 

On Wed. April 19th, the Session meeting consisted of  OFFICER TRAINING on BOOK OF ORDER, and committee business which will be reported in next week's newsletter.  We opened with the newly adopted Belhar Confession, and then Pastor Bev reviewed and refreshed us on our constitution and polity, to augment the on-the-job training we do at each meeting. Each week's newsletter will highlight 2 key points of Presbyterian polity.  See item below for the second two. 

Also, ALL ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND at least one of these:
Saturday May 6, 9 a.m. - noon, Church Financial Resiliency Retreat,
Let's Talk about Church Financial Resiliency
Thursday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 21 after the service

Dennis Latta
Clerk of Session 
Presbyterian Polity Highlights 

 Presbyters are commissioners, not delegates. Whether we are serving on our congregation's session or as a commissioner to presbytery, synod, or General Assembly, we seek to "find and represent the will of Christ," (F-3.0204) not those who elected us. While their opinions and positions inform us, they do not bind us. When we gather together we pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, listen to discussion and debate and vote as we are led by the Spirit.

When presbyters are gathered as deliberative bodies, decisions are made by voting. After opportunity for discussion and discernment, "a majority shall govern" (F-3.0205). We use the most recent edition of "Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised" (RRONR) as our parliamentary authority (G-3.0105). RRONR is a tool that helps us determine the will of the body. It should never be used as a means of exercising power at the exclusion of fairness. We can understand this by keeping in mind three parliamentary principles which are identified in Marianne Wolfe's booklet, "Parliamentary Procedures in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)":
     The rights and the unity of the body shall be preserved;
     The will of the majority shall prevail;
     The rights of the minority shall be protected.
We bear in mind that Christ is the head of the church (F-1.02) and all of the business we conduct should be done in a way that builds up the body of Christ.

Mexico Mission 

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
 YOGA THIS  FRIDAY 
See you on April 28th at 5 p.m.

Join us for our Friday flow, FRIDAY APRIL 28, 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

Thank you, Women's REST volunteers!
  
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
 
Looking good!

Thank you so much to the Rock Garden Team for prettying up for Easter:  Koren, Sharon, Scott, and Owen Hamilton, and Katie Rice!

Thank you to Alison and Michael for prettying up the front yard!

 
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: 
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
 

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