Go Tell It On The Mountain
Monthly Newsletter
Skyland Community Church, United Church of Christ
Minister: Rev. Kevin Omi
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Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
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June 2019 to July 16 Church Calendar
Sunday, June 2
10:30 am Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
12:00 pm Philanthropy Team
3:00 pm A Musical Offering by the Students of Lorna Kohler
Wednesday, June 5
10:30 am Loma Prieta Club
Thursday, June 6
9:45 am Bible Study Downstairs
Saturday, June 8
11:00 am Jan Geist Celebration of Life
Sunday, June 9
Pentecost Sunday
Strengthen the Church Offering
10:30 am Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
12:00 pm Deacons and Trustees
Thursday, June 13
9:45 am Bible Study Downstairs
Sunday, June 16
10:30 am Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
Thursday, June 20
9:45 am Bible Study Downstairs
Sunday, June 23
10:30 am Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
12:00 pm Church Council
Thursday, June 27
9:45 am Bible Study Downstairs
Sunday, June 30
10:30 am Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
Wednesday, July 3
10:30 am Loma Prieta Club
Thursday, July 4
9:45 am Bible Study Downstairs
Sunday, July 7
10:30 am Picnic Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
Thursday, July 11
9:45 am Bible Study Downstairs
Sunday, July 14
10:30 am Worship Service with Rev. Kevin Omi
Regularly Scheduled Events in Whitaker Hall
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mondays
:
Alcoholics Anonymous 8:00 p.m.
Tuesdays
:
Qigong
8:30-10:00 a.m. with Teacher Marcy Reynolds
Thursday
:
Qigong students only from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Thursday
:
Yoga 7:00 p.m.
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Message from Reverend Kevin Omi
Increasing Connections
In Matthew 12:48 Jesus asks, “who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” In Luke 10:29 the young man asks Jesus, “who is my neighbor?” Said differently, to whom am I connected, and to what other organizations is our church connected?
An important task of interim time is to review ways in which our church and its members are connected to others.
As we move into June, our reVision proposal teams are working diligently to think through how we can be better connected to our community. In addition to 95033, we both have members and an interest in helping those in Soquel, Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, Davenport, and other nearby towns and cities. We are already performing important acts of service in some of these places and now have opportunities to share in the ministries of Mountain Bible Church and Christ Child Church, including their feeding programs, prison ministries, etc. Rev. Patricia Wood has been leading
Mountain Neighbors Helping Neighbors
for years as well. Additionally, planning has begun for the Harvest Festival, which is an important way we can connect to our mountain neighbors and beyond.
Getting connected with others is an important way in which we can collectively help bring the realm of God closer, through helping others know they are loved by us and by God.
In addition our church and its members are in covenant with the Santa Clara Association, the Northern California Nevada Conference (NCNC), and the wider United Church of Christ. The
United Church of Christ
describes itself as a united
and
uniting church. Our motto is
"That they may all be one".
The UCC is a multi-cultural, multi-lingual church, especially in the Santa Clara Association, in which 1/3 of the churches are Pacific Islander and Asian American (
PAAM
) churches. Several of you have attended gatherings of the Santa Clara Association, NCNC, and have attended
General Synod
in years past. Ruth Dawkins was previously involved in a variety of capacities beyond Skyland. Some of our churches, such as the City of Refuge are also associated with the
Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
. Just last year we entered into full communion with the
United Church of Canada
; and we have been in partnership with the
Disciples of Christ
(the Christian Church) in
global ministries
for decades. We are blessed to be in covenant with a very large and diverse family!
The NCNC helped Skyland Community Church before, during, and after Rev. Stephen Glauz-Todrank’s retirement. Our Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Diane Weible, was personally involved in helping to creatively find Jean Jeffress, who ministered among you last summer. Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Daniel Ross-Jones was invaluable in helping church leadership pursue, plan, and implement our reVision process; as well as helping Church Council review candidates and hire me as your Interim Senior Minister. Daniel will also meet with the Search Committee, which will be formed this fall. An important part of our budget each year is to provide financial support to the Conference and we support several special offerings of the UCC and NCNC each year. We live out our covenant well!
Part of my ministry, as described in my contract, is to serve beyond our local church. In June I will attend meetings of the Committee on Ministry, Annual Gathering, the United Church Board and General Synod.
I am a member of Section B of NCNC’s Committee on Ministry, which meets with ordained ministers to help them feel connected to the wider church. I am completing my six-year term as a member of the United Church Board in June at General Synod, serving on the Audit, Finance and Budget Committees. Early in my term I helped to craft a behavioral covenant for the Board itself. It won’t surprise you to hear that it is read by the Board at each of its meetings. I am also part of the UCC’s Innovation Task Force.
I will work with our Co-Moderators, Jackie Seymour and Anne Evans, to schedule time this summer to provide information about our Association, Conference, and the national setting of the UCC. I am likely to prevail upon Rev. Carol Barriger, who previously taught UCC history, polity, and ethos at the Pacific School of Religion for several years.
Our connections are wide, strong, and faithful. Thanks be to God!
Rev. Kevin Omi
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Surprise Birthday Party for Gerald
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Earlier in May with the help of Gerald's family & Skyland members we were able to surprise him with a wonderful party and cake.
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Renee, Gerald and Jackie getting ready to cut the cake.
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Gerald getting ready to enjoy the delicious chocolate cake.
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reVision Proposal Teams get started
What amazing creative ideas, proposal visions and strategies were submitted to the reVision core leadership on May 26! The five proposal teams have been busy developing their strategies to reach out to the mountain community. One proposal team has already sponsored a field trip to the MAH
(
Museum of Art & History)
please see photo above
, in Santa Cruz,
https://santacruzmah.org/, where we interacted with the exhibits, saw intimate stories about seniors in Santa Cruz, and discussed social isolation afterwards in the cafe on the first floor.
We continue to be impressed by the ongoing work of the proposal teams and the inspiration of the Spirit.
the reVision team: reVision@skylandchurch.com
Anne Evans
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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.
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Church Council News
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The annual Congregation Budget Approval Meeting was held on Sunday, May 26. Gerald Alonzo presented both the current treasurer’s report and the proposed budget. The members approved the proposed 2019-2020 budget unanimously. However it is anticipated that changes may be necessary that will need further approval due to both reVision projects to be identified and voted on later in the summer and the possibility of unexpected search for and settled pastor’s expenses.
Also at the meeting Deana Arnold and Shannon Edwards presented their plans for the 2019 Harvest Festival. They proposed that the date be changed to the second Saturday as opposed to the usual third Saturday date. The new date of September 14 was approved unanimously. Deana and Shannon reviewed the planned booths and organization with those present and had a great discussion. They will update the plan and send it out to everyone. They will also be circulating a sign-up sheet for those are moved to join in the fun!
Your co-moderators,
Jackie Seymour and Anne Evans
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Flowers for the Altar
Several Sundays during May and June 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.
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Amaryllis buds
burst open--at last!--each bloom
a scarlet tuba
.
--haiku by John Heyes
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MEDITATION MOMENT
A reflection on listening, silence, longing, and God’s presence
A tree rose there. What pure arising.
Oh, Orpheus sings! Now I can hear the tree.
Then all went silence. But even in the silence
was signal, beginning, change.
Out of the stillness of the unbound forest,
animals came forth from dens and nests.
And it was not fear or cunning
that made them be so quiet,
but the desire to listen. Every cry, howl, roar
was stilled within them. And where
not even a hut stood
or the scantest shelter
to contain their ineffable longing,
you made them, from their listening, a temple.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Rev. Kevin Omi
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MISSION BOARD REPORT: June 2019
LOCAL AID:
The Mission Board will focus on collecting for the Harvest Festival during the summer. Please help us with lightly used or new items to donate such as: jewelry, clothes, books, housewares, treasures, workshop items and tools, treasures and children's toys. We do not have room to store large items or furniture. Please make sure that everything you donate is in good working order. We do not have a repair team. Any items that are not sold at the Harvest Festival on Sat. Sept. 14th will go to Davenport Resource Center
https://cabinc.org/
, MHCAN
(
Mental Health Client Action Network)
http://www.mhcan.org/
and other local non-profits.
Questions?
Loma Prieta School and CT English are on summer vacation so we will not be collecting snacks until September.
GLOBAL SUPPORT:
The Mission's committee decided to take a hiatus this year for the Africa Library Project so that we can put our efforts into reVision and the upcoming Harvest Festival.
Shannon Edwards
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Our Food Pantry
Loma Prieta School and CT English are on summer vacation so we will not be collecting snacks until September.
Blessings,
Julie Victorine
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NOTE From Your Treasurer
Big drop in Pledge income this month. Fiscal year pledges received are $6,845 less than commitment.
Due to reduced expenses our fiscal year, June-May, operating net is +$13,423 which is $12,908 more than planned.
$1,825 has been received for One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) and mailed to NCNC-UCC to help with their special relief efforts.
We are able to accept credit card payments for pledge, general and special offerings if that is more convenient than check or cash. See either Jan or myself after service for these transactions.
Here is our operating finances as of May 27 for our 2018-19 fiscal year.
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Respectfully
Gerald Alonzo, Treasurer
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Skyland Community Church, United Church of Christ
25100 Skyland Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033
phone: 408-353-1310
USPS mail: Skyland Church
P.O. Box 245
Los Gatos, CA 95031-0245
Website
http://skylandchurch.com
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