Join Us!
INTERGENERATIONAL
DRUMMING CHOIR

Drumming and Children's Choir rehearse each Sunday at 10:10 AM with Worship at 10:30 AM - and we welcome all to join us at 10:10 AM.

.
COMMUNITY

PRE-SCHOOL NEWS

HELLO FROM
COMMUNITY PRE-SCHOOL

The school had Parent Night on September 16, 17.  The parents were able to meet and talk to the teachers, and meet other parents.  Each classroom gave a presentation giving details about their program.  As I visited each classroom, I experienced  the dedication and professional manner of the staff,  and could see through their communication with the parents how dedicated they all were to the Child Care field.  

A few days after the Parent Nights,  I did receive some inquiries about what the church is doing about the sale of the school.  I have repeatedly reassured parents about the smooth transition that we hope to see happen when the school is sold.  I have been told that the Council plans on sending out an update.  This will be helpful in easing the uncertainty that many parents feel.

We are continuing to take new registrations for our child care and preschool classes.  We have given tours on a daily basis, many are referrals from other parents who have children at our school.   We also have a wait list for all of our various programs.  The afternoon classes are the hardest to fill.  We, as a staff are working on ways to increase the afternoon enrollment. 

Wednesday chapel started the first week of
school.  We had 12 children who went.  Pastor Gen introduced the children to the various things that were in the church.  We currently have 16 children that are going to  chapel on a regular basis.  The children have  enjoyed singing songs about the Bible, and hearing Bible stories and reciting some prayers. 

October 13-16 Life Touch Pre-School portrait studio will be taking pictures of the children.  This is a service that the school has been offering for many years.  The parents appreciate the convenience and the personal touch that the portrait studio offers.

Have a wonderful Autumn and Happy Halloween.

Barbara Steinmetz
(Director, Community Pre-School)



Sunnyvale FISH, our Food and Clothes Closet, at this time especially asks for donations of peanut butter, cheerios and toilet paper - or money. THANK YOU!

And
Coming Up on Nov. 7:
32nd Annual Junque Sale
for Sunnyvale FISH.
Please, see the fliers in the back of the church and the announcement on the bulletin board in Shephard Hall to learn what, when and where to donate

Saturday, October 24 is International Day for Climate Change.  In recognition that we need to act with awareness in our use of the planet earth's resources, we ask that you bring cans and bottles with CRV (California Redemption Value) to church on the Sundays before this date.  I will take these items to the Sunnyvale SMART Station and collect the refund money. The money will then be given to the Sunday School children to go to their Heifer Fund.

Already church members have asked if this can be a continuing practice rather than a one time event.  If you bring the CRV items I will take them to the recycle center.  It is best if you bring them on Sundays so I can take them home right away and not clutter up the office, although Ina has said that she will keep a box in her office for any week day drop offs.

The Sisterhood of the Needle and Thread is making cloth shopping bags and giving them to church members.  The challenge is to remember to take them with you when you go shopping.  When I empty mine at home, I put it on the door handle so I remember to put it back in my car.  I have to place it on the front seat of my car so I remember to take it into the store.  Let us know if you have other "memory joggers."

The number one trash item found in Guadalupe Creek Clean-Up was plastic shopping bags.  You are helping the environment in a number of ways when you use and reuse cloth shopping bags.

A couple of years ago our church and preschool installed solar panels to reduce our use of fossil fuels.  While the solar panels do not supply all the electricity we use, they have substantially reduced the amount of electricity supplied by PG&E, lowering our utility bill as well.  We have also planted some fruit trees on the Bernardo street side of our preschool and some drought resistant plants in the Memorial Garden.  

We are continuing to look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint.  You can assess your carbon footprint at www.safeclimate.net.

October 2009
by our Treasurer Bonnie Harvey

We have completed three months, June, July and August, in our new budget.  Revenues and expenses are mostly consistent with budget.  An exception is higher than anticipated costs for gardening.  This includes $225 for clearing branches on a maple tree outside the pastor’s office that were interfering with electrical wiring, $2,600 for removing junipers and other shrubs on our grounds following a recommendation by the vector control inspector, and double mowing and now scheduled regular mowing of the grassy area used by the Top Educational Institute for a children’s playground.  A new lease has been signed with the Top Educational Institute.  They are growing and need more space.  They will be using Shephard Hall part time and paying a higher lease rate.

The church council voted to use part of the surplus of the Fiscal Year 2008/2009, to buy some needed items and to refresh the bathrooms.  You may have noticed the improvements completed in the bathrooms.  We have a new piano bench, new padded chairs for meetings, new cushions for Shephard Hall furniture, a new media cart, and new wall cabinets and dishes for the kitchenette area of the meeting room.  

Our building maintenance fund, to which we contribute monthly, has been used to repave and stripe the parking lots.
Year-to-date net income at three months is ($21,149.25).  This was expected as the Preschool does not contribute to the church in the months of July and August  and this year, like last year, we decided to pay our obligations such as our contribution to the conference on a quarterly basis rather than in an end of fiscal year lump sum.  Last year's year to date net income at three months was ($17,966,42)  By December 2008 the year-to-date net income was $24,555.27,  and, as of May 31, 2009 (our fiscal year end), we showed net income of $43,884.84.

The treasurer’s concern is all money of the church, and we continue to bear the burden of high legal costs as we negotiate a labor contract with the Preschool teachers.  This cost is deducted from preschool profits. 

Church Day In Modesto

Saturday, October 3, from 9 AM to 4 PM,
College Avenue United Church of Christ
_______________________________

Biblical Self Defense Workshop

Too often, the religious right misuses a few passages from the Bible to justify the oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Too often, young people do not know how to respond to these texts or what they really mean and their contexts. As a result, any conversation with the religious right, be it in person or in society, can become an invitation to LGBT persons to feel poorly about themselves. This workshop analyzes each of the so-called “slammer passages” in detail, removing the fear they sometimes can instill. Included will be examination of contexts and translations. The workshop also addresses the combination of being LGBT and a person of faith, by looking at other passages from both testaments as well.