Message from Reverend Kevin Omi

Dear friends: 

As we prepare to move towards Thanksgiving, I am mindful that it takes courage to “keep our mind on Jesus”, during a time there is so much in our country and the world that is hard to witness. Jesus gave people hope even in the midst of oppression and fear, for  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) 

Here at Skyland, light shines from the food pantry, as some imagine how we could feed even more hungry people, and others delivered multiple carloads of needed clothing. Light shines as old friends return, differences not forgotten, but in recognition that we are stronger together than separate – especially as we pray and serve. There’s a tangible sense of energy and hope as the Spirit’s light shines ever more brightly.

We are moving forward with both interim ministry tasks and  re Vision. The map in Whitaker Hall helps us visualize where our congregation lives and we will spend time appreciating our collective assets as a congregation on November 18. Our core team and small group guides will soon begin preparing for our 90-day Journey in January. Thank you to Anne Evans, Jackie Seymour, Deana Arnold, Jan Swayze, Marcia Rollins, and Jeremy Cole for your commitment of time, love, and hope. 

I am grateful to God for so many people and the spirit of abundance and service I have encountered here! You are a congregation that cares deeply about our special community in the mountains. Many of you have existing spiritual practices that prepare you to go out into the world with a spirit of love and hope.

In 1620 forebears of the United Church of Christ prepared to leave Europe for the New World. We know them as the Pilgrims. Their pastor, John Robinson, said "God has yet more light and truth to break forth out of his holy Word." I see this same spirit here at Skyland, for which I give God thanks and praise!

Love and blessings,

Rev. Kevin Omi

  Skyland Community Church Website

LITANY THROUGHOUT THE INTERIM PERIOD

For God’s holy presence amidst change, we pray. 

For comfort because loss is part of change, we pray. 

For Christ-like steadfastness during the challenges of transition and seasons of faith, we pray. 

For reassurance through frailty and failings, we pray. 

For the abundant creativity the Spirit provides, we pray. 

For our loved ones in this community of faith, we pray. 

For God’s children beyond this community, we pray.

To learn more about the Interim period at Skyland please visit the Transitions page: http://skylandchurch.com/ transitions/

Church Council News

++++++++++++++++++++++

The Church Council met on October 28 downstairs in Whitaker Hall. Larry Lopp gave an update on the process of updating our facilities agreement, saying the process is ongoing and will rely on our past practices as a general guide to determine appropriate rates to charge. We want to provide a meeting space for the community, while ensuring that doing so does not generate too much work (e.g., coordination and clean-up) for the church. More information will be presented at the November Council meeting. 

The Religious Education Board is planning an Advent workshop on the first day of Advent (December 2) after our worship service. Volunteers to help plan the pageant are being requested. If you have an interest, please contact Patricia Wood at  [email protected] .

The Transition Team supporting Rev. Omi reported having had a first meeting (Oct. 17) and planning to meet on a monthly basis hereafter. The members of the Transitiion Team are Deana Arnold, Jeremy Cole, John Heyes, Glenda McCalla, and Mary Ellen McTamaney.

Other items discussed were the wheelchair elevator for Whitaker Hall and a project to install audio-visual equipment upstairs in Whitaker Hall.

Rev. Omi presented a consolidated timeline for the Interim Period listing the usual church events, ReVision tasks, and Interim tasks on a month-by-month basis. This is very helpful in understanding how all of these activities will fit together over the next year and onward.

The Council also received information highlighting the next steps in the  reVision  process, including a leader training session next Saturday, November 3. With both both Rev. Daniel Ross-Jones and Rev. Omi as coaches, the small group leaders (Deana Arnold, Jeremy Cole, Anne Evans, Marcia Rollins, Jackie Seymour, and Jan Swayne) will learn small group processes and theology in preparation for the 90-day journey beginning in January. Additional information was also provided about the discernment, spiritual practices, and generation of ideas that will occur in the small groups.

The next Council meeting will be on November 25 at noon.

Respectfully Submitted,

Deana Arnold, Moderator

Choir Festival and Business Meeting

of the

Santa Clara Association

of

Northern California Nevada Conference (UCC)

On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 4, the Fall Meeting of the Santa Clara Association (that's us) will be held at Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula, 4590 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. with the business meeting. You are invited to come to the business meeting and then enjoy choral music and fellowship from 3 to 5 pm.

Simultaneously, our choral director for the gathering, Cheryl Anderson, from Santa Cruz, will rehearse with a mass choir made up from our many SCA church choirs. You are invited, if you would like, to sing with the mass choir, rehearsing beginning at 2 p.m.

There will be a carpool leaving after worship from the Skyland parking lot.

Flowers for the Altar



Several Sundays during November are open for floral gifts. Please sign up on the calendar in Whitaker Hall. You can check the calendar in the links at the end of this newsletter.

MEDITATION MOMENT

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

New International Version

Advent Begins December 2,

but the Giving Tree starts November 27th

The Skyland Church Women's Group will again sponsor local families at CT English and Loma Prieta Schools for the holiday season. Children will receive Target gift cards. Each family will receive grocery store gift cards.

The felt Giving Tree in Whitaker Hall is our way of showing the generosity of our church community and our neighbors.  Add a felt ball to symbolize your gift. We will collect money during and after church during Advent. 

If you want to give and can't make it to church on Sunday, please email Shannon Edwards at:  [email protected]  or Deana Arnold at:  [email protected]  and we'll include your contribution.

Food Pantry Update

Thank you again for your generous donations to our food pantry. Currently, most of the food is going to the Davenport Resource Center as the pantry is being 

lightly used. This pattern may change during the winter months.  

"Expired" Food

Please be sure that donations of staples (canned goods, grain products, peanut butter, etc.) have an expiration or "best by" date of at least 6 months in the future, and that individual snack bars such as Nutrigrain and Clif have a date of at least  3 months. If single bars are unmarked, please put them in a bag with the expiration date noted. We are not distributing food that has expired.

Peace,

Julie V.