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by Pastor Gen Heywood
As compassionate people, many of us feel pain as we consider the suffering in our world. The needs of the homeless and the hungry in Sunnyvale have caused Nancy Tivol to comment that we are now beyond sky rocketing.
Our costs for the food for our FISH closet have doubled and the need has equally grown. With the needs of FISH growing, churches have been asked to donate funds and to take on items from the packing list to give to the families in need. Our contribution is toilet paper, Cheerios Cereal, and creamy peanut butter. These can be brought in to share on Communion Sunday or anytime.
Sunday, September 20 and Sunday, September 27, we will hear from people involved with the charities we support. On Sunday, October 4, World Communion Sunday, we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis by having a charity fair where we consider which of the charities in our area we want to support more.
And on that Communion Sunday, we are invited to bring in pet food, newspapers, pet blankets, and pet toys to be given to the animal shelter. With the downturn in the economy, many pets are abandoned and the shelters over full.
Saint Francis lived mindful of caring for the least in our society. And he reminds us even today, that our caring must begin in silence and in prayer. There is much that must be done.
And we are where our feet are. Thus, we have begun several weeks of prayer which includes surrounding our church in prayer. The “Sisterhood of the Needle and Thread” have made rainbow prayer flags some of which are already flying around our church. Our hope is to surround the church with these prayer flags with our prayers written on them as well as to surround our lives more fully in prayer as we face the challenges and opportunities in the many places where our feet are.
Each Sunday a new prayer tool is given. If you miss a Sunday, no worries, extra prayer tools are available, even to be sent to family and friends.
So, join us in prayer wherever your feet are for this great task which requires that we, more fully then ever, lean on the Ever Lasting Arms.
Blessings, Pastor Gen
Making of the Prayer Flags
Grandma Sue enlists Henry and Hana
to cut and rip the fabric to the size of the flags.
The “Sisterhood of the Needle and Thread”
takes on the project.
Lee Lederer, Betsy Shoup, Sue Wilson,
and Mary Ruth Green in the picture.
Lois Dillon unable to attend on the day of this picture.
Betsy Shoup sews the flags onto twine.
Lee Lederer irons the colors and places them in order.
Sue Wilson sewing rainbows.
Surrounding the church in prayer
Join Pastor Gen in prayer
for our church
Tuesday mornings
from 9:00-9:30 am.
Take a few minutes for prayer wherever you are
to seek special guidance
for our church.
_______________________________
Needed:
Sunday School Teachers and Assistants
If you think you could possibly help,
please speak with Pastor Gen!
_______________________________
Returning on September 13:
OUR 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.
Update on the Sale
of Community Pre-School
by Markus Berber,
Chair of our Pre-School Board
The council signed a contract with one of the largest business broker companies in Northern California to assist us in selling the Community Pre-School. During the last 6 weeks we have spent quite a bit of time in preparing all documents for the broker's offering package.
By the time you read this, most offering packages will have gone out to those interested parties who have previously approached the Church. We anticipate to have the sale executed by February 2010, as we have previously said.
In August we ordered new toys (tricycles, water tables, etc.) for appr. $4,500. We replaced just about all toy sheds, invested in sprucing up the landscaping with new red bark and initiated a list of repairs. We hope that children, parents and staff will notice the improvements.
We are willing to invest in sprucing up the teacher lounge area as well but this may have to wait till the workload has settled down after the start of the academic year on September 1st. The Preschool Director will ask the staff for their preferences.
We're working hard to execute the sale process professionally and swiftly. If you have questions or inputs, please talk to Pastor Gen, Darryl or Markus or any other council member.
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!
COMMUNITY
PRE-SCHOOL NEWS
HELLO FROM
COMMUNITY PRE-SCHOOL
I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer.
August 27: School closed so teachers can get their classrooms ready for 2009-2010 school year.
September 1: School starts for the Full Time classes and the Pre-School classes.
September 16, 17: Back to School Night for parents.
The staff is continuing to work on getting the inventory of their classrooms done.
We have had some cancellations in our enrollment for 2009-2010. We are working to fill classes from our waiting list.
We have openings in our Tuesday, Thursday afternoon pre-school classes.
Two teachers have left the school for personal reasons.
We look forward to a new school year and are hopeful that an easy transition will occur once the Community Pre-School business has been sold.
Thank you,
Barbara Steinmetz
(Director, Community Pre-School)
The Rev. Geoffrey Black, who will become the General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ on October 1,
is coming to visit.
The Northern California Nevada Conference is the first stop on his "vision tour" of eight Conferences this September.
On Sunday, September 20,
you are most cordially invited
to meet with Geoffrey
2-4 p.m.
First Congregational UCC, Oakland
to learn of his vision
for the UCC
and to get acquainted
with him.
Rev. Black will be preaching at
First Congregational UCC, Palo Alto,
on Sunday morning, September 20, at 10 a.m.
This article from United Church News brought to our attention by Maxine Eggerth.
Change - let's make it for the better this year
Written by Edith Guffey
February - March 2009
During the inevitable "look backs" at 2008, I heard one commentator say that "change" was the predominant theme of the year. If that is true, then 2009 must be the year that the "change" really takes place. Change is always a reality for us, isn't it?
People and perspectives change (thank God), the times change. We change jobs, our families change with births, deaths and all kinds of transitions that are part of the ebb and flow of our lives and our world.
These kinds of changes are inevitable, but there's also something to be said for being proactive about change - making change rather than waiting for change.
I hope in 2009 we make change. In our personal lives, absolutely, I have a whole list of changes that would be in my best interest. You perhaps have a list of your own. But I hope we also make some changes in our corporate lives as well.
Too often churches (and denominations) are passive recipients of change, we sit by the sidelines and are swept away by it, drown in it or bemoan the inevitability of it. But there are other options!
We can be the initiators of change; we can actually seek out new ways of ministry and see change as an exciting time of new possibilities and challenges.
Given the financial markets, most, if not all, of our congregations are being forced into change. We are being forced into new ways of being the Still Speaking church with fewer resources, but an ever increasing need.
That alone doesn't mean that this can't be a time of rich possibilities. I am suggesting something more than making lemonade out of lemons. I am suggesting using this time to re-evaluate what is necessary and what is actually effective.
Maybe this is the time that we finally get out of the rut of "doing it this way because that's the way we've always done it." What changes might we intentionally make that will lead us into more effective ministry, even in a time of uncertainty?
Perhaps we might ask what we can do ecumenically and do it better and more effectively than continuing to work alone. Maybe this is a time to ask whether programs and dollars being used in a certain way is really making an impact and resulting in the transformational ministry that we had hoped. Maybe it's time to dust off those dreams that we said were too drastic, and take a look at what might really be an innovative way to use our building or to re-imagine what our particular communities really need and how we might be able to respond in new ways.
I admit that initiating change involves some risk, and to be honest, I'm not all that big of a risk taker. Sometimes I simply have to push myself and move forward in faith and not be afraid to fail.
I often tell myself that I have to take that risk because we simply can't do things the way we've always done them. The reality is that the world has already changed and continues to change.
The question for us is, will we continue to run to keep up or will we begin to lead the way?
Associate General Minister Edith Guffey is a member of the UCC's five-person Collegium of Officers.
THE SNEEZE
(Claimed to be a True Story from
the University of Maryland)
Submitted by Maxine Eggerth
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.
Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.
This class would NOT pray during the commencements ---- not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.
The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.
The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech received a standing ovation.
A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened.
All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!
The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, 'GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!' And he walked off stage...
The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.
Recipe Corner
This Month:
From Betsy Shoup’s Kitchen
- FIRE CRACKERS -
1 1/2 cups vegetable or canola oil
4 sleeves of saltine crackers
2 packages of Hidden Valley original buttermilk ranch dressing mix (dry powder)
2T crushed red peppers
Mix oil, salad dressing mix, and red peppers. Pour over crackers and seal package. Occasionally turn package over to or rotate so that the dressing reaches all the crackers.
Let sit at least one hour.
Serve and then try to restrain yourself from stuffing your face!
I usually make half of this recipe because I can’t control myself!
Monday, September 7:
Free Fishing Day!
Weekend September 12-13:
Church Camp Out
on Church Grounds
Tentative Schedule:
Sat, Sept. 12: 3 PM set up
5 PM supper, cook pigs in a blanket over the fire, make S’mores.
7:30 PM songs around campfire.
9 PM kids in sleeping bags.
Sun, Sept. 13: 8 AM breakfast.
9-10 AM special activity
10:30 AM Worship
Gathering
of the Waters
  
Please remember to bring the water you have brought home from your travels this summer for our “Gathering of the Waters” ceremony on Recovenanting Sunday, Sept. 13!
And please also let us have some digital pictures of your destinations for our slideshow!
Communicator Deadline
Deadline for the October 2009 edition of our Communicator is Thursday, September 24, 2009.
We accept submissions of texts, photos & graphics at our office, 1112 S. Bernardo Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 or via e-mail (conglchurch@earthlink.net).
Office Hours: Tuesdays - Fridays 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Gabriel’s Trumpet
10:30 a.m. for Sunday Worship Service and Sunday School
Children’s Sunday School begins after “Children’s Time” with the Pastor
11:30 a.m. – Fellowship (approximate time)
Chapel for Preschoolers Wednesday mornings 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Come join us!
Worship & Fellowship
Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
(nursery & childcare provided)
Adult Bible Study, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. --- returns September 9
Choir Rehearsal, Wednesdays at 7:45 p.m. --- returns September 2
Children’s Choir and Drum Choir, Sundays at 10:10 a.m. --- returns September 13
Monday, September 7
Free Fishing Day
Weekend September 12-13
Camp Out on Church Grounds
Sunday, September 13
Recovenanting Sunday with
“Gathering of the Waters” Ceremony
Monday, September 14, 5 PM
Pre-School Board Meeting (tentative)
Wednesday, September 16, 11 AM
Women’s Fellowship Meeting
Sunday, September 20, 12:30 PM
Worship & Community Board
Tuesday, September 22, 6:30 PM
Church Council Meeting
Wednesday, September 23, 1 PM
Staff Meeting
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