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by Pastor Gen Heywood
One of the many interesting things about hard times is that it is in the face of difficulties that we find out more about ourselves, our strengths and our weaknesses, than during times of comfort.
Consider the often quoted “God will never give you more than you can handle.” This actually is a misquote. The passage is 1 Corinthians 10:12-13:
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Paul’s concern is for temptation, that which takes us away from God. These are not just your average troubles. These are the troubles that make you wonder if there is a God and what it means to follow the way of this God.
For Paul the temptation for the Corinthians was the worship of idols. He tells them, “You - plural, not singular - can handle this together.” And that, “You - plural, as a community - will find a way with God that allows you together to stand up under the temptation.”
There are those within our church community who have lost their jobs. There are others who are uncertain if their job will still be here in January. Others among us are concerned for their homes or the homes of someone they love. We have the bail out plan for a boat that seems to be taking on more and more water. We have a president-elect who will inherit a downward spiraling economy, two wars, and a debt that will be passed on for what looks like generations to come.
And in all of this, we are to come together in Thanksgiving. In all of this, we can pause and say to God, “Thank you for this life. Thank you for this opportunity to know myself and my community better. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the plural ‘you’ and no longer just a singular ‘you.’ Thank you for the harvest. Thank you for the sunrise. Thank you for the community of faith that together can give us the strength to stand.”
Paul writes to the Romans 15:4-6:
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Blessings be with you (plural and singular) this Thanksgiving as we face the uncertainties ahead with prayer and hope and actively living our faith in Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Pastor Gen
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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.
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A NOTE ABOUT LEILANI FOSS
We had word about Leilani Foss recently through her son Bob. He said Leilani still likes to sing and would love to receive cards from our church family. Her address is:
725 Las Barrancas Drive
Danville, CA 94526
UCC 2008
HURRICANE RESPONSE
Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, and Ike, as well as Tropical Storm Hanna have left a swath of death and destruction across the nations of the Caribbean, throughout Florida, and across the Gulf Coast. The UCC has issued an appeal for $250,000 and 1001 Clean-Up Buckets to support emergency and long-term relief and rebuilding efforts. Find out more at the UCC website:
http://www.ucc.org/disaster/gulf-coast-hurricanes.html
about the hurricanes and the emergency response already carried out through your generous gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing.
As always 100% of your donations through OGHS for disaster relief go directly to that purpose. You can send checks, marked Hurricanes, to the NCNC Conference Office: 21425 Birch St., Hayward CA 94541. Or you can give online at the Hurricanes 2008 link above.
     
Gathering of the Waters
Recovenanting Sunday,
September 7, 2008
Waters were received from:
Morgan Hill
Lake Superior
Fairbanks, Alaska
American River
Jordan River
Kvai
Sea of Cortez
Pacific Ocean
Crater Lake Oregon
Amazon River, Peru
Pawan, California,
Solvang, California
Queen Charlotte Islands
Monterey Bay
Nevada City
Chico
Santa Rosa
Burlingame
San Mateo
Grass Valley
Oxnard, California
Kenai Fjord
Wonderlake at Denali, AK
Tokla River at Denali, AK
Chenna Hot Springs, Fairbanks
Merced River (Yosemite)
The waters have been filtered and purified and will be used for baptismal water over the course of the year.
Our Church in a Nutshell
At the NCNC Annual Meeting at Asilomar in May this year the theme was “Transformation - Walk the Talk”. Pastor Gen, with a little help from Mei and Ina, developed and delivered this one-minute statement of our church’s transformation:
On May 3, 1998, the prayer group at Congregational Community Church of Sunnyvale, UCC, asked for help in getting a new roof, new windows, and a new spirit in the church.
The next day at 4:30 pm, the church was hit by a tornado - twice.
Insurance bought our new roof and windows, after many “Divine Delays”. For building a structure is easy - souls take time.
We are now a vital congregation, going green with solar panels and participation in Sunnyvale Cool Cities.
We are a Red Cross Shelter, ready for people and their pets when the “big one” happens.
We have a small orange grove raising fresh fruit for our preschool and our FISH food bank.
We are from India, Chicago, Germany, Taiwan, Maine, Iowa, New York City, Boston, Connecticut, Russia and California.
We are straight, gay, lesbian, married, single, divorced, retired and looking for hire.
Most of all, we know when to be serious and we know how to have fun. We seek to never get in the way of the Holy Spirit.
News from our Women’s Fellowship - News from our Women’s Fellowship - News from our Women’s Fellowship - News from our Women’s Fellowship - News from our Women’s Fellowship
Rain or Shine
New Orleans 7th Ward
Community Garden
by Diana DeFrenza
Rain or Shine gives kids a chance to work together planting a garden in their own neighborhood. Volunteers teach planting and harvesting with the children doing most of the work. The two big raised beds are used for the Thursday afternoon garden education program and the five smaller beds are for individual families to plant whatever they want, with or without assistance. Each family has a key to the garden.
In addition, every Saturday afternoon kids come to the garden for arts and crafts and music. Instruments are items found in the neighborhood such as an old ironing board and an old radiator. Papa Frog teaches African drumming and is starting a percussion ensemble group.
The Women’s Fellowship of the Sunnyvale Congregational Church is sending Rain or Shine a donation to use to purchase needed new tools (a machete and a weedwacker), wood to repair raised beds, snacks and juice for children, and for printing new brochures. Additionally, a municipal water line is needed to provide an ongoing source of water. Presently the watering system uses rainwater from roofs collected in barrels. A portion of the donation will be designated as seed money for the cost of installation of a municipal water line.
Pumpkins are growing. The new growing season will see okra, green bell peppers and collard greens plants sprouting. Thank you ladies of the Women’s Fellowship for your caring about the garden in the 7th Ward.
To New Orleans 7th Ward Community Garden
c/o Alethia Picciola
Dear Alethia:
Enclosed please find our check in the amount of $1193 from our Women’s Fellowship. It represents the proceeds from a Spring Tea held in May, and the individual contributions from us and other church members anxious to help the cause.
Our members are so delighted to be able to make this donation and we ask that you allocate half the amount (approximately $550.00) to help start the fund for the water connection. We hope this will result in encouraging other contributions rapidly making the water connection a reality.
Our membership was sadly affected by Hurricane Katrina and our fervent hope is that more beneficial recovery will take place rapidly. We are indebted to Diana deFrenza for her enthusiasm and direction of our efforts to your cause.
Please convey our best wishes to the other leaders of the Garden.
Sincerely,
Maxine Eggerth
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For our September meeting, Women’s Fellowship gathered at the Carlson’s new home - thank you so much, Dorothy!
We were treated to a wonderful dessert, for which Dorothy kindly shared the recipe - here it is:
SKIER’S DELIGHT DATE CAKE
Recipe from Colorado Junior League Cookbook
6-8 servings (recipe can easily be doubled)
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Cream together butter, sugar and egg. Beat in flour and vanilla. set aside. In another bowl mix dates, boiling water and soda. Let stand 10 minutes. Add to first mixture. Stir in nuts. Pour into well greased 8 x 8 inch pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
News from our Women’s Fellowship - News from our Women’s Fellowship - News from our Women’s Fellowship - News from our Women’s Fellowship - News from our Women’s Fellowship
“One Love, Many Stories”
Church Camp Out
here on Church Grounds
Saturday, 9/6 to Sunday, 9/7
Recovenanting Sunday:
Special Guest Ron Buford
Dragonfly - Church of Hope
Painting Fish T-Shirts
 Looking Ahead
- Please Mark Your Calendars!
New On Sunday Mornings:
10:10 AM, right before Worship Service:
Children’s Choir and...
 Drum Choir!
Women’s Fellowship Annual Bake Sale
November 16, 2008 after Worship
This year Women’s Fellowship will have a small
White Elephant Sale
along with their Bake Sale.
Everyone in the congregation is encouraged to contribute to the Bake and the White Elephant Sale!
Please talk to Betsy Pfluger if you have any questions.
 Church
Thanksgiving Lunch
on Sunday,
November 23, 2008,
after Worship
Please, bring your friends, relatives, or neighbors who would not have a Thanksgiving without being invited by you to join us!
And please bring the dish that for you means “Thanksgiving Dinner” (for Pastor Gen it’s cranberry sauce...!).
Pumpkin Pie will be provided for dessert!
Please sign up in Shephard Hall!
Communicator Deadline
Deadline for the December/January 2008 edition of our Communicator is Friday, November 21, 2008.
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 Friday mornings 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Come join us!
Worship & Fellowship
Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
(nursery & childcare provided)
Bible Study Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal, Wednesdays at 7:45 p.m.
Sunday, November 16,
after Worship:
Women’s Fellowship
Annual Bake Sale
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Worship and Community Board Meeting
Monday, November 17
6:30 PM
Executive Church Council Meeting
Wednesday, November 19
11:00 AM
Women’s Fellowship
Sunday, November 23
after Worship:
Thanksgiving Lunch
Monday, November 24
6:30 PM
Church Council Meeting
Saturday, November 29
Faith in Action
Men’s Rotating Shelter Moves In
Sunday, November 30
First Sunday of Advent
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