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September 22, 2010

Montclair Presbyterian Church…

The Community Organizes and

Orders Its Life Through the Flow of Information

September 22, 2010

GUEST PREACHERS
This Sunday – Sept. 26: Mark Smith. Oct. 3: Youth Group Mission Trip report.

There will be a congregational meeting THIS Sunday Sept 26 after church to elect the church nominating committee (those who will nominate the next session class) and also to act as a Board of Directors for the congregation in having the annual meeting of the Board of Directors (i.e. the congregation) of the Corporation. (This is a simple meeting at which we affirm the budget and formally meet to adhere to state corporation requirements)

CALLING ALL SINGERS!  CHESTNUT CHOIR SINGS THIS SUNDAY.  The Chestnut Choir will sing in Celebration this Sunday, September 26.  This group is MPC’s expanded, no-advance-rehearsal choir.  Whether you’re a seasoned Chestnutter or are interested in singing for the first time, all MPC members and friends are warmly invited to sing.  All ages are welcome–why not bring the whole family? Meet in the sanctuary at 9:15 AM.

YOUTH GROUP started the new year with a picnic at Lake Temescal last Sunday with 24 youth, many of whom were new to the group. It was a chance for the new members and their parents to hear from the long-time members what the group means to them, a time for fun, games and getting acquainted. THIS SUNDAY the meeting will be 7-9 PM in room 2 upstairs in the Ed Bldg. This will also be a chance to get to know each other better and look ahead at the plans for the year. All 7th through 12th graders are invited to join.

GODLY PLAY CLASS CHANGES: There will be changes in our age-grouping of classes this semester because of the age distribution of children. The Children and Youth Education Committee made this shift considering factors such as class size, child development and teacher availability. Godly Play is the kind of curriculum that can be used across a wide age-span. We will have 2 classes: Age 4 through grade 3 in room 4. Grades 4-6 in room 1 (same as before). Children age 3 will remain in the Nursery with our talented youth who can provide art projects and stories. We will be evaluating our changes as we go along.

Children in these 2 classes will begin in church and then be dismissed to class. On the first Sunday of each month we will have a Family Sunday where children remain in church with special ways to involve them and make the time meaningful. This is also the day to bring their food offering for the Children’s Food Bank. We are starting the year with canned Pork and Beans. On October 3 there will be a presentation by the Youth Group of their mission trip, communion celebrated, and special music by the children. Again this Sunday during the last part of class, they will be learning to play some new instruments with Kim to prepare for that day. These are Orff Instruments which are like xylophones of various sizes and easy to learn.

MPC Kicked off this year’s program year with a Chinese calendar themed pot-luck luncheon.  By sitting at tables representing each person’s Chinese calendar animal, everyone had an opportunity to meet, talk, & play games with old & new friends. Thank-you to all who participated, brought food, helped set up & helped clean up.  Special thanks go to George Summers, Cynthia Blumgart, Carrie, Megan & Hannah McKiernan, Donna Carruth, and Gil & Maria Chiguila for help & support before, during & after this wonderful event.  What a way to start our new program year!  Debbie Fallehy and the Welcome & Family Life Committee

Leonard’s ordination! Leonard Nielson is being ordained here at MPC on the afternoon of October 17.  We will celebrate in the Family Room after the official service. Debbie Fallehy will be coordinating the refreshments & would prefer monetary contributions to be used toward the purchase of the food (please mark checks “Reception Food”).  Just think, you won’t have to cook, but if you’d rather, plated food donations will also be graciously accepted. Questions – please contact Christine Peterson or Debbie Fallehy.

Gifts for Rebecca and Leonard: Rebecca is leaving, and Leonard is being ordained. This is a chance for us to let them know how much they mean to us.  If you would like to contribute toward gifts toward either or both of them, please send your check to the office, marked “gift for Rebecca,” or “gift for Leonard.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY

DELCYE BAILEY SMITH. A celebration of her life will be held at MPC this Sunday, September 26, 2:00PM.

CULTIVATING COMPASSION BRUNCH.Save the date, Sunday, October 24, a brunch to celebrate and hear Polly Johnson talk about her new book, Cultivating Compassion. 11:30 in the Thornhill Room.

HELLO FROM ZAMBIA: Ryan and I have been here in Kitwe, Zambia 22 days now, and are getting settled into our new life and work.  We are working with Theological Education by Extension in Zambia (TEEZ), an organization with a focus toward equipping lay leaders in the church by theological training throughout the country–bringing seminary education out into the villages.
Right now we are helping to prepare for an All-Africa Theological Education by Extension Association (AATEEA) conference which will be held in Ghana in October. We are fortunate to be able to accompany the Zambia delegation.  Also our director, Rev. Kangwa Mabuluki, is the General Secretary for AATEEA, so that is why we are helping with some of the plans for the conference.  Please keep in touch with us by following our blog (www.dowellbaumsinzambia.blogspot.com) or emailing molly.dowell.baum@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook.  We’d love to hear from you!  Peace, Molly

ADULT EDUCATION

Bible study will meet Wednesday from 1 to 2:30 in the Thornhill Room. Join us.

ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES FALL SCHEDULE 2010 is available online.

Hard copies available in the Family Room. REGISTER FOR CLASSES DURING FAMILY HOUR this Sunday.

Book Depot: We now have in stock the book written by Dunbar Ogden about his father who was the exceptional minister who helped integrate the schools in Little Rock by walking with the black students.

PACE E BENE ALL-DAY WORKSHOP SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16.  The cost will be $30, with lunch provided for an additional $5.  For more information or to register your interest, contact Mary Smith at – smithmcam@yahoo.com smithmcam@yahoo.com or (925) 943-4986.

COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Family Room Upgrade and Paint: The MPC Men’s Team is currently painting and upgrading the Family Room. The project was triggered by the upcoming Fri October 8 Social Justice Forum with ten mayoral candidates and lots of Oakland people expected. The Team prepped, taped, and painted most of the walls on Sat 9/18. Gil and Maria worked late that night to put on another coat and clean up for the Kick Off the next day (Thanks Gil and Maria!). Comments were that, even partially finished, the room looked good and people really liked the color! The project, when finished, will include fifteen wall-mounted tack panels to add interest and provide a convenient place for photos, information, etc. Still to do over the next two weeks: finish painting above the lights, paint the end cabinets (tan), complete the cloth-covered tack panels, and some detailed painting and touch up. We need a few more volunteers for the next two Saturday mornings. Contact Phil Reagan or Peck Drennan if you want to help.

Entertainment Books for 2011 are here and on sale. The Entertainment book is chock full of hundreds of coupons—you’ll have lots of choices for restaurants, theaters, travel, shopping, movies…just all kinds of ways to save money, have some fun, and help Pastor Sirirat’s Orphanage.  Watch for the E-Books table in the Family Room.  If you’d like to reserve a book, call Bill Neely (531-1361). Sponsored by the Global Concerns Committee

Come to our next Social Justice Forum, Stop the Violence! presented by the Community Connection Committee on Friday, October 8th at 6:45 PM.  The choir will stir up the energy for the 7 PM panel discussion on Oakland’s ballot Measure BB (formerly Measure Y Amendment) featuring a representative form the Police Department, Directors of Measure Y programs, and young men whose lives have been changed as a result of these crime reduction & prevention actions.  Our mayoral candidates will respond to the urgency of passing this measure (a two-thirds majority vote needed).  There will be refreshments and discussion following the presentation.  Childcare upon request. Contact Jean Gregory, (510) 635-8838 or jeancgreg@gmail.com

PRAYER LIST. We would like to start a Prayer List at our church that could be accessed by those who want either to ask for prayers or pray for those in need. It might be an email that is circulated to a group who asks to be included. It would not be an openly-accessible document such as Contact.

We welcome your ideas about how this might be handled. Please contact Christine@MPCFamily.org with your comments. We’ll let you know as soon as we set up the process. Thank you.

FAITH TRIO HARVEST DINNER, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16,  5:30 to 9:00 PM, the ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTER, 1433 Madison St., Oakland. (510) 832-7600 x1433.  MPC’ers, please bring desserts for 8-10 persons as part of our potluck contribution.  Between dinner and dessert, we’ll have an Interfaith Prayer Exchange in which a representative of each congregation will read a prayer (in English) of another tradition than its own to symbolize our solidarity with each other.  Hand-out sheets will facilitate following the prayers (and studying them afterward).  Also, we want to choose just the right hymn to represent us.  Give your hymn suggestions to Jean Mudge:  Jeanmudge@comcast.net.