TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

3-Week Fundraising Campaign Begins

Commitment Sunday, October 1

Anonymous Donor to Match $250k


Piedmont Community Church has been pledged a substantial anonymous gift, restricted to capital improvements. 


A portion of this gift, $250,000, will be used in a dollar-for-dollar match of all donations made in support of the NextGen Ministry.


With this match, the ministry will have $500,000 to continue renovating the Christian Education Building.


Members of our Board of Trustees have already personally committed $70,000 to help this campaign reach a $250,000 goal.


Expected building renovations include deferred maintenance, installation of new windows using safety glass, roof repairs and upgrading of other safety equipment.


On Sunday, October 1, the congregation will be asked to make a one-time financial commitment in support of our NextGen Ministry.


Alternatively, donors can click the button below to donate online, or use Venmo on their mobile device. If using Venmo, please indicate ‘NextGen’ in the notes field.

DONATE
WATCH VIDEO

Fair, Volunteer Recognition, Sunday

This Sunday, September 17, the Ministry Fair returns to the Courtyard after worship. It’s a great opportunity for the various ministry groups and teams to share information about what they do at and through Piedmont Church and for folks to sign up and get involved. 


If your ministry group would like to have a table, please let Don Ashburn know at [email protected] 


Also that day during worship, we will recognize and thank the folks who volunteered this past year in all sorts of ways to move the ministry and mission of our church forward.

Family Day At Piedmont Park

Parents, head over to Piedmont Park after service on Sunday, September 17, from 12-1pm and meet by the playground. We'll hang out and let the kids play.

Life Groups Return September 28

Life Groups are small groups that gather weekly on Thursday evenings from September 28 through November 2.  


We start with dinner at 6:15pm in the Guild Hall. Then, we get together in groups meeting in various rooms at the church at 7pm for sharing, support and study. Any adult is invited to be part of a group, whether you’ve attended in the past or not. 


You can sign up to be part of a Life Group in the Courtyard after Sunday worship beginning on September 10, or contact Don Ashburn at [email protected]

Don't Bring A Second Tunic

and other wisdom from the Camino

A Visual Chat with

Suzie Skugstad


On Thursday, September 21, Suzie Skugstad will speak about her spiritual trek across Northern Spain on The Camino de Santiago.


The event starts at 7pm in the C.E. Building Chapel.


The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is an ancient spiritual pilgrimage in Northern Spain that each year attracts thousands of people from all over the world. Church member Suzie Skugstad recently walked the Camino (500 miles over 35 days) with her brother and sister and together they experienced a time to unplug, reset and open up to God’s many gifts on this ancient pilgrimage.  Come and listen to Suzie as she shares about this life-transforming spiritual journey.

Family BBQ

NextGen parents are invited for a night of fellowship and a delicious BBQ in the Courtyard from 6-7:30pm on Thursday, September 14. Click to register by September 13.

REGISTER

WORSHIP

September 10 Worship Media

From Last Sunday - It's Homecoming Sunday! Steve Schibsted preaches. NextGen is blessed and our fabulous choir returns. Communion is served.

WATCH & LISTEN

Coming Up This Sunday - Steve Schibsted preaches, Ministry Fair after worship, Refreshments in the Courtyard

Little Free Spirit Library

Have you ever read a book that broadened your thinking on a topic, helped change your mind entirely, or even transformed your life and faith? Then that same book spent the next several years collecting dust on your shelf?


Well, now’s a great time to share your spiritually enriching books with our faith community and find yourself a new good read in our Little Free Spirit Library. Come browse our table before and after worship service.


No book donation is required. Contact Suzie Skugstad at [email protected]

Flowers For Worship

Flowers, as a means of praising and thanking God, are an integral part of the Sunday worship experience. Flowers are also an expression of honoring or remembering persons or events that have meaning in our lives.


If you would like to donate flowers to enhance the Chancel for Sunday worship, please consider making a monetary donation for flowers or a donation of blooms from your garden. There are church members who are experienced in arranging the flowers that you graciously provide. These flowers would be available after worship for you to take with you or to be donated to someone unable to attend worship in person.


Each Sunday, there is a Flower Notebook in the Courtyard where you can enter the pertinent information for your flower donation. Or, contact Dottie Hutch at [email protected]


Thank you in advance for adding to the beauty of the Chancel and thereby making a more meaningful worship experience for the congregation.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Sunday Morning Class

Starting on October 1, Don Ashburn will teach a 5-week class on “How to Read the Bible.” The class will meet each Sunday following worship in the Kettlewell Room for one hour, starting at 11:15 am. Anyone is invited to attend this class, whether you’ve been studying the Bible for years or are just curious about what this ancient book has to do with your life today.


Topics to be discussed include: What is the Bible?; How did it come to be?; How should we study it?; and; What relevance does it have for us today? To guide the discussion, class participants will use a short book called “Your Bible: The Study Begins.”


To order a copy, please contact Don Ashburn no later than September 20. There is a suggested donation of $20 for the book. For more info, or to order a workbook, contact Don at [email protected]

Online Bible Study Mondays

Whether or not you’ve ever studied the Bible before, you’re invited to a weekly online study led by Don Ashburn. 


Each Monday from 10 - 11am, a group of 8-12 people will get together to study scripture in light of their own lives. The focus continues to be on the Gospel of John. After a summer break, the group will pick up with Chapter 17.


Contact Don at [email protected].


Here is the Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83767472723

Making Space For Grace

On Saturday, October 14, Rev. Shannon Coon will lead a workshop on spiritual practices. It’s important not to teach spiritual practices as the end goal, or just things we can “do,” to make us “more Christian.” Rather, since God’s grace is available to us in a myriad of ways, certain practices can position us to receive God’s grace. The workshop will start at 10 am and end at noon and will take place in the Chapel in Christian Education Building.  Rev. Coon is Associate Pastor of Adult Ministries at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, CA.  She served for many years with Steve Schibsted at Bidwell Presbyterian in Chico.  


The workshop will start at 10 am and end at noon and will take place in the Chapel in C.E. Building. Contact Don Ashburn at [email protected] 

Cultural Captivity: A Pathway To Freedom

This Fall, Piedmont Community Church is pleased to team up with an online learning community called ReWire to offer an in-depth course in spiritual formation.


Starting on Tuesday, October 17, the online class will meet from 5 to 6:30 pm for 10 weeks. Participants will come from all over the country and beyond, to learn how to authentically follow Jesus in a loving, serving community within a cultural context that promotes consumerism, conflict and isolation.  


Each week will consist of one group class session, along with daily rhythms of prayer, learning, and action, according to ReWire’s “Inward, Outward, Together” discipleship process. Both Steve Schibsted and Don Ashburn have participated in ReWire classes in the past, and are friends of this class’ facilitator, JD Ward. Don Ashburn will be participating in (not leading) the class as well.


There is no cost to joining for participants, though there is a deadline to sign up by September 25.  To do so, contact Don Ashburn at [email protected] 

Enneagram Workshop

On October 27 and 28, Kim Watson will offer an introductory course on the spiritual dynamics of Enneagram personality type for those who were not able to attend the course she led last spring.


To sign up, or for more information, please contact Don Ashburn at [email protected] 

PARISH REGISTER

Memorial Services Planned

Tom Lister - Saturday, September 23, 2pm

Ray Plock - Friday, October 6, 11am. 

Receptions following both in Guild Hall

SERVICE

Hygiene Items For CityTeam

CityTeam is soliciting travel-sized hygiene supplies, including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, moisturizers, razors, and socks, given by the hotels and airlines - as well as regular sizes - for the unhoused people in our community.  


Boxes will be placed outside both doors of the Sanctuary each Sunday in September to collect your donation. Thank you for your invaluable support to this program.

Beach Cleanup September 23

As part of the California Coastal Cleanup on September 23, we will participate in a beach cleanup at Crown Memorial Beach in Alameda from 9am -12pm. Bring water, sunscreen and maybe a lunch to enjoy on the beach afterwards. We will provide gloves, clean up tools and trash bags. 


The event will be open to all who are interested, but will be particularly family friendly. 


To sign up, click here: https://piedmontcommunitychurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1899287


You can also signup after worship. Contact Mike Bandrowski at [email protected]

New Board of Mission

At our Annual Meeting last June, the congregation voted to establish a Board of Mission at Piedmont Church. This was in recognition of the importance that mission — serving, giving, and reaching out to those beyond our congregation — plays in our life together.


We are interested in representation from all groups in our congregation including high schoolers, new members, and especially parents of young children.


If you are interested in becoming a member of the Board, or if you’d like more information, please get in touch with either the Board’s Chair, Mike Bandrowski at [email protected], or Don Ashburn at [email protected]

CHURCH BUSINESS

Nursery Help Needed

We are looking for individuals to work in our nursery on Sunday mornings. This is an hourly paid position. The nursery is open on Sundays from 9:45am to end of worship services (11-11:15am). 


Children in the nursery are between the ages of 4 months and 4 years. For a complete job description and more information, contact Leslie Quantz [email protected]

For your convenience, we now accept Venmo mobile for making donations using your phone. We are @PiedmontChurch

CLASSES

Parenting with Positive Discipline

Begins September 26

Piedmont Church warmly invites you to this 7-week series to spend time learning positive discipline with like-minded parents. Together, we’ll turn your parenting challenges into social and life skills for success – or at least take leaps and bounds in that direction!


Facilitator Lisa Fuller, MSW, CPCC, is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Positive Discipline Trainer, Daring Way™ and Wild Writing™


Classes are held Tuesdays beginning September 26 through November 7, 7-8:30pm in the Christian Education Building (C.E.) Chapel.



Cost is $50 per person, registration required.

REGISTER

'Breathe' Wednesdays, 1:30pm

Just Breathe has moved to the middle of the day over the summer months. Join with others who seek the refreshment of meditation and the opportunity to enhance their spiritual growth through the concept of sangha or sitting in silence within a group.


We encourage and support each other as we release tension while staying in the moment. We will have guest leaders from our congregation along with the guidance of Steve Main and Sara Hirsch. Sit tall, take a breath and find your path.


Contact Sara Hirsch at [email protected]

FELLOWSHIP

Beer Brewing This Friday 

We will meet in the Courtyard and help our brewmaster, Wayne Marzolf, brew two types of beer that will be consumed at our Oktoberfest event. All you have to bring is your enthusiasm for fun and brewing. We will begin this Friday at 10am and should be done by 2pm. Contact Bob Wright at [email protected] if you can help.

Oktoberfest, Piedmont Church Style 

Our Oktoberfest event will be held in the Courtyard or Guild Hall beginning at 5pm Saturday, October 21. Brats, potato salad, red cabbage, sauerkraut and, of course, our homemade beer. Sign up after worship beginning October 1.

Seniors Gathering Opportunity

Seniors Seeking Conversation and Coffee meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month in Guild Parlor, 9:30-11am.


Contact Ann Chandler at (510) 444-0280

Pickleball Sundays 1-3pm

If you've ever wondered who plays pickleball each Sunday or why they play the game, this short film by Michael Barber sheds light on a sport that brings people together in a whole new way.

WATCH SHORT FILM

'MESSENGER' & BULLETIN DEADLINE

The Messenger

Piedmont Church’s online newsletter, The Messenger, is the primary source of communication. The Messenger is published digitally and distributed via email weekly.


Deadline for articles to appear in The Messenger is 12 noon each Tuesday. Articles submitted after deadline will be considered for the following week.


Michael Barber edits copy and designs the layout of each Messenger with careful consideration of article placement. Placement is determined based on relevance to the congregation and the wider community. 

 

Sunday Bulletin

Sunday bulletin and worship announcements are decided by Michael based on Tuesday discussions with Staff and lay leadership.


Print deadline for Sunday Bulletin is Tuesday, 12pm.

MEDIA STATS

809 Views, 205 Hours in 30 Days

427 Subscribers


Subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Be the first to see worship services and special video features. As a subscriber, you'll be notified the minute new content is available. PLEASE HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON!

SUBSCRIBE

How To Watch Church On Your TV


It’s easy to watch church videos on your big screen television. If you have a SmartTV, ROKU, AppleTV or Amazon Fire TV, simply:


1 - Go to the YouTube app on your SmartTV (or attached device)

2 - Search ‘piedmont community church.’ 

MISSION STUDY
DOWNLOAD REPORT
GIVING
Please consider making an online offering by clicking below, or give while watching Sunday services on our website.
ONLINE OFFERING
Phone: (510) 547-5700  
Follow Us on Social Media
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  
VISIT CHURCH WEBSITE