Contact: January 5, 2012
Montclair Presbyterian Church
Rev. Beth is on vacation. She will return and preach this Sunday, January 8th.
FROM THE MISSION STUDY TEAM: The next congregational meeting will be Sunday, January 22 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. The Team will lead participants in a lively, creative exercise exploring the question, “Who Are We (MPC)?” Lunch on the 22nd: You can pre-order and pay for a box lunch at a table in Family Hour the next two Sundays (1/8 and 1/15) or bring your own lunch. Mark your calendar and plan to attend!
YULE FEAST 2012 IS UPON US: Festivities begin at 5:00 pm this Saturday. Auction preview will be at 4:30 pm. Dinner will be enjoyed Renaissance style with your fingers, but you will need to bring your own cup if you wish to enjoy Wassail, Spiced Cider, Juice, or Wine. Drink hail! – Wassail! – But only with your own cup! See you there!
LOOKING AHEAD AT CELEBRATION:
Sunday, January 8th: Rev. Beth will be preaching and the Pacific Boy Choir Academy will provide music. Communion will be served as well.
JOING HANDS NEWSLETTER: Joining Hands, a world-wide mission initiative of the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PC(USA), Louiville, KY), publishes a newsletter. The most recent issue has several feature articles about our own partner network, UMAVIDA in Bolivia. San Francisco Presbytery shares this relationship with Bolivia with Cascades Presbytery in Oregon. Check it out! http://www.relufa.org/partners/jhnewsletter.htm.
“WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN: The Celebration Committee needs your help on Sunday, January 8, after Celebration to “undecorate” the sanctuary and Family Room. See Sloan White on Sunday if you’d like to help.” Sloan.
ADULT ED: Conversations Around Death and Dying. Different cultures and different people handle nearing the end of life differently. Some people have fear, some suffer loneliness and some find acceptance. Classes will be led by Rodney Chan, Carol Miles, Reverend Beth, and Stan Stevens.
Course title: “Conversations Around Death and Dying”
Time and Place: Sundays in January: 8, 15, 22, & 29, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, Thornhill Room.
Convener: Marjorie Moser, 510-632-9868.
Fee: $15
Class Size: no limit
CHILDREN OF UGANDA: We are excited to welcome the Children of Uganda on Jan 15th at 7:00 pm. Children of Uganda is an organization that cares for hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda, and the group performing will be their ambassadors, a select group of talented dancers, singers, and drummers from 10 years old through college students. They will perform traditional music and dance, and will sing Ugandan songs with our choir. A reception and party in the Family Room will follow the performance; we request that MPC folks bring snacks or finger food to share. The performance is free to all thanks to MPC’s External Giving Grant which has supported Children of Uganda in the preparations for this tour.
FOOD DONATIONS NEEDED FOR CHILDREN OF UGANDA PERFORMANCE: Donations of loaf cake (plain, unfrosted), bananas, oranges, apples and other fruit are needed for the 20 children before their performance, Sunday, January 15. Please call or email Roberta Davis if you would like to donate, 510 919-0037; halrob3@yahoo.com.
CLOSE TO HOME: The Once and Future Parklands. Come hear Amazing Stories from Robert E. Doyle on Monday, Jan 9, 2012 at 7:30 pm in the Family Room of Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland.
Bob Doyle was head of land acquisition for the East Bay Regional Park District for 25 years. “Straight-talking,” “fair” and “extremely tenacious” are descriptors often heard about him. Come hear about how the owner of Round Valley met Bob with a rifle and a tough question, as well as other marvelous stories.
With State Parks being closed up and down California, Bob Doyle, now park district general manager, will also share his perspective on the role our regional park district can play as the largest and oldest such agency in the country. He feels opportunities to preserve land and protect wildlife have never been so abundant. http://www.close-to-home.org/flyer.htm
PRIME TIME: Genetically Modified Organism? This is a growing concern in our country. Europe will not allow G.M.O. in their country. How is G.M.O. affecting our farmers? The question also is how might it be affecting our lives? Charlie and Hope Boije have attended many meetings regarding genetically modified seeds and food. They are eager to share their information and answer questions. Join us on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 10 A.M in the Thornhill Room for conversation and coffee.
SERIN EGGLING CELEBRATION OF LIFE:
Deeply loving selfless mom,
devoted daughter, sister,
sage friend,
luminous spirit,
…all that is beautiful.
~Serin Eggling~
6.28.1943 — 12.3.2011
Serin Eggling, my beautiful mom, took her last breath in my arms on December 3, 2011. She turned 68 this year in June.
I was her only child. She was my only parent. Our bond was one that grew stronger daily like the roots of an old indigenous tree. And yet her capacity to love allowed her to share herself and care for others far beyond me. Her heart had the reach of the sun and so, so many have been warmed by her light.
A celebration of mom’s luminous life will be held Sunday, January 29, 2012, 2:00pm at MPC. A remembrance reception will follow in the Family Room.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to one of the following, or a cause of your choosing.
–Prescott Circus Theatre:
Online: http://tinyurl.com/SerinPrescottCircus (Donate button on bottom of page)
Mail: Prescott Circus Theatre, 2425 East 28th Street, Oakland, CA, 94601.
–Montclair Presbyterian Church:
Online: http://www.mpcfamily.org/ (Donate button on right of page).
Mail: MPC 5701 Thornhill Drive, Oakland, CA, 94611.
For my mom, every day was a new opportunity to find joy and give love. My mom didn’t lose her battle with brain cancer, she won by never ceasing to live life fully, appreciating her family, her community, her life, and finding light wherever she was at the moment.
As we start a fresh new year, I hope all those she touched can hold on to the belief that her spirit and vibrant energy live forever in each of us, in memories, sunrises, sunsets, birds, song, and all that is beautiful.
With loving gratitude,
Vanessa Hammack
Special Request: If you have any photos of my mom, from all the many years of friendship and church family special times please send them to me in the next few weeks. I’m putting together photos and written memories for her service. You can email sfvanna@yahoo.com, or mail to 4606 Dolores Ave. Oakland, 94602. I would be so grateful. Thank you for loving and holding my mom through her life at MPC.
WOMEN OF ALL AGES: Join us on a journey within and across generations. Save Saturday, March 10, 9-3 for a low cost one day women’s retreat. Childcare will be available upon request. Please register during February. Stay tuned for additional information.
DUKE ROBINSON’S BOOKS: If you ordered a copy of Duke Robinson’s book and haven’t picked it up, it is being held for you at the Book Depot. There are also copies still available for those who have not yet purchased one.
PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:
- Cathy Sharp and family as they care for Cathy’s mom.
- Ann Fisher as she recovers now at home from a mild heart attack.
- Don Alter who is still in the hospital and Peggy as she cares for him and herself.
- Paul Underhill and family as they grieve the death of Pat Underhill.
- Those who are lonely.
- Those who are still traveling.
- Those who are missing family and friends who have recently died.
- The concerns of our hearts that don’t always get shared aloud.
DEADLINES: To submit announcements for the bulletin and Contact, please send them to office@mpcfamily.org. The deadline for Contact is Tuesdays at 3 pm, and the deadline for the bulletin is Wednesdays at 12 noon.
MPC Calendar:
http://www.mpcfamily.org/getting-involved/calendar/
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MONTCLAIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5701 Thornhill Drive, Oakland, California 94611, (510)339-1131
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
Rev. Beth Buckingham-Brown, Office hours Monday-Wednesday, 10:00-4:00 pm
Sherrill Figuera: Administrative Assistant, Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 pm
Kim Rankin: Music Director
Marcia Roy: Organist
Gil & Maria Chiguila: Caretakers
Rev. John Hadsell: Theologian in Residence
Rev. Kathy Ray: Parish Associate
George Somers, Artist in Residence