Contact: October 5, 2011
Montclair Presbyterian Church
Dear Friends,
What a wonderful day we had on Sunday as we celebrated World Communion Sunday, Rich Larsen’s 80th birthday, the youth Mission Trip to Portland last summer, and the other October birthdays! If you weren’t able to attend, you missed a delightful time for the community. Talitha and Marilee Bailey worked together to invite people to bake breads from their respective ancestral homelands and the feast was spectacular. Chris Singer, Phoebe Lett, Sara Littlefield and Stacy Canzoneri all agreed to be the “special guests” on the “Beth-Ellen show.” All four of them were articulate and thoughtful about their trip and what they learned and experienced. They have decided to build a community garden at MPC (in the strip of land next to the office) and invited the congregation to adopt plots. The idea is that individuals or families will maintain their plot and then give the fresh fruit or vegetables away to some different organizations in Oakland (researched and suggested by the youth) that are trying to help urban poor families eat healthier foods. In addition to the four youth above, Amanda Hughes also went on the trip and joined in the conversations along the way about how to bring their experience and learning home to the congregation. They will be in the family room again this coming Sunday to sign you up for your very own plot in our community garden!
After the service last Sunday, we had our Annual Congregational Meeting. Our one item of business was electing the church nominating committee (we do that every year). We elected the following slate: Vern Alexander, Dinah Darvas, Brad Hestir, Dot Cudaback and Rodney Chan. In addition, the 3 elders on the nominating committee are Hal Davis, Debbie Fallehy, and Sari Kulberg.
The Mission Study Team then made a short presentation and allowed time for questions and answers. There was some confusion afterward about the nominating committee and how it differs from the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC). The nominating committee that we elected Sunday is the group that finds people in our congregation to serve as Elders, Beacons, committee chairs (if they are asked for names), and they will also suggest the slate for the Pastor Nominating Committee. If the Mission Study Team is able to complete all of the information gathering by May of 2012, it is quite possible that the Pastor Nominating Committee will be established by late summer or early September. The congregation has to vote on the names given by the nominating committee and nominations are accepted from the floor. Another item of confusion on Sunday was the writing of the Mission Study Report and the writing of the Church Information Form (this gets sent out nationwide in an effort to attract pastoral candidates). The Mission Study Report has to be completed BEFORE the Church Information Form is written because it will heavily influence what is written in the Church Information Form. The Mission Study Team will do its best to write parts of the written report while the study is going on. November of 2012 is the date the team has chosen as the LAST POSSIBLE date by which we want to have the written Mission Study Report completed and fully approved by Presbytery. Our hope is it will be much sooner than that, but we are also trying to be realistic. To clarify further: May of 2012 is the chosen deadline for completing all of the information gathering and reporting back to the congregation. November of 2012 is the chosen final deadline for the entire written Mission Study Report to be completed and approved. Let’s all pray we finish sooner! The tricky part of any Mission Study is how to get the entire congregation to embrace and live out what is gleaned from the Mission Study. If the Pastor Nominating Committee is a different group than the Mission Study Team (there will only be one person from the MST on the PNC), how do we encourage the PNC to “own” the Mission Study? Our hope is that by communication and participation, the Mission Study will become something we all embrace and use in our community life. Thank you to all of you who attended the wonderful gathering on Sunday and for your open and honest participation!
Looking ahead a bit, the Personnel and Children and Youth Committees have been working hard to prepare and plan for Susan’s departure. Susan will retire at the end of 2011 and we are still working out the details regarding vacation and last day and most importantly, how we will celebrate Susan’s long ministry with this congregation. As soon as we have specific details, we will let you know! In the meantime, we wanted you to know that a job description for the full-time “Coordinator for Children, Youth, and Family Life” position has been approved and the job announcement will be sent out today. We will receive applications until October 25th. Round one interviews will be held the first two weeks of November and final interviews will be held the two weeks after Thanksgiving. Our hope is that an offer will be made and the new person will begin in early January. Our timeline is ambitious so stay tuned for updates! The search committee consists of: Tamara Lett, Linda Spencer, Leslie Louie, Jean Roggenkamp, Chris Singer, one other youth (soon to be named), Kevin Fallehy, Carrie McKiernan and Beth (ex-officio). If you know of anyone you think is qualified for the new position, please encourage them to apply before October 25th!
Amazed and delighted with all that is going on and feeling privileged to be in the middle of it with you,
Beth
CELEBRATION OF LIFE: You are invited to the Celebration of Life for Virginia Hadsell on Sunday, October 9th at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers you give to the Virginia Hadsell Memorial Fund. Checks may be made out to Montclair Presbyterian Church with “Virginia Hadsell” in the memo line. If you would like to donate finger food for the reception following the service, please contact Debbie Fallehy at debfal@sbcglobal.net.
LOOKING AHEAD AT CELEBRATION:
Sunday, October 9th: Rev. Beth will preach on Matthew 18:1-14 and we will focus on what we are teaching our children implicitly and explicitly. Why should anyone want to bring their children to church? Why do we spend time, energy and resources on our children?
SESSION NOTES FROM SUSANNE LEA, CLERK OF SESSION: Here are the highlights from the October 4, 2011 session meeting:
Coordinator for Children, Youth and Family Life position approved by session: Developed jointly by the Personnel and Children and Youth Committees, this full-time position combines responsibility for ensuring innovative educational programs for children, youth and adults with pastoral care duties as well as responsibility for developing an intergenerational community of faith. The job announcement will be distributed October 5 and the hiring timeline anticipates an early December decision and offer, with a January 1 start date. An email and letter announcement concerning this position will be sent to the congregation on October 7.
Pastor Beth’s contract renewed: Session also renewed Beth’s contract for one year, with no change in contract terms.
Tech Working Group offers to assist committees with advertising events: Our Tech Working Group has developed expertise in placing ads through Google AdWords and Facebook. Steve McKiernan has offered the team’s expertise to assist committees in advertising events within the church family as well as in the broader community. Fees for an advertising campaign typically range from $50 to $100. If your program or committee wants to explore this type of advertising, contact a member of the Tech Working Group: Linda Benson, Sarah Clark, Brad Hestir, Steve McKiernan or Talitha Phillips.
SUSAN’S SCOOP:
Edible Garden: This Sunday during Family Hour our Youth will continue taking sign-ups for adopting plots in the organic edible garden. You can also learn about other ways you can support this project. The garden will consist of raised beds that grow vegetables to donate to a local food distribution center serving low-income people. The intention is for this to be an intergenerational activity led by the youth group. The garden will be planned, designed and implemented by the youth and run by a youth-based steering committee. Families or groups within the church may sign up for a 4’x4’ plot, which they will maintain. They will not be required to pay anything and can keep a percentage of the food. Questions? Please talk to our youth at their table on Sunday or contact me at the church.
This Sunday, 10/9: The Youth Group will meet from 11:30 to 2:00 pm by the church office to begin preparing the ground for the garden. Bring gloves and garden tools if you have them. Sandwiches will be served. This takes the place of the Sunday eve meeting this week.
Children: All of the children are invited to sing in Celebration on Sunday, Oct. 30. They will learn the songs with Kim during the last part of class this Sunday, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Oct. 23. Children will also sing with the adult choir on Sunday, Dec. 4, as their Christmas presentation. Those rehearsals will be on Sundays Nov. 6, 13, 20 and Saturday, Dec. 3. Please mark your calendars.
TALITHA’S TAKE: A huge thanks to all of you who participated in World Communion Sunday! In no particular order and at the risk of leaving names out, I’ll offer thanks to: Jim Allardice, Saralinda Jackson, Karen Bowen, Megan McKiernan, Cathy Sharp, Rob & Dean Elia, Virginia Abascal, Margaretha Daresary, Peggy Alter, Rev. Izak Lattu, Diane Bessette, Eloise Gilland, Bill Neely, Linda Spencer, Sarah Clark, Sloan White, Stan & Bunny Stevens, and Jeanne Dunn…. who all baked or bought bread from various parts of the world. We represented many nations, from a traditional Assyrian Lavash to a very new, Californian, almond-butter-bread. Thanks to all!
NO TOPIC TOO SMALL SERIES:
Progressive Christians have been rightly skeptical of intercessory prayer that treats God as “a divine Gumball Machine in the Sky,” in the words of author Frederick W. Schmidt in his book “What God Wants for Your Life.” Instead, what if we think of prayer as an act of relationship between humans and God? We will list here each week a few ideas on how to pray one’s way through life.
1.) When you are not able to sleep, pray for each person you love by name. Slowly. This is not counting sheep, so much as counting connections.
2.) Shape something that you think is shaping you. Mortgage: take in a boarder? Problems with a son? Pray his name that he may learn to be kinder to you and you to him. Skin infection: pray for the joy of skin.
CHESTNUT CHOIR THIS SUNDAY! Come one, come all to sing in MPC’s drop-in, no-fault, no-rehearsal choir, the Chestnut Choir. The Chestnut Choir is a fun and low-key way to participate musically in Celebration. It’s also a great way to try choral singing if you’ve never tried it before. This week we’ll be singing Rodgers and Hammerstein. Show up on Sunday morning at 9:15 and join us–you’ll be glad you did!
CAMPAIGN AGAINST TORTURE: For the second time this year, hundreds of state prison inmates in California have undertaken a hunger strike to bring attention to inhumane prison conditions, including the use of prolonged solitary confinement. The National Religious Campaign Against Torture has sent out a call for people of faith to write letters and make phone calls to help the prisoners make their needs known to California legislators and the general public. During Family hour, please come to the table where you can pick up information on the “hunger strike.” We have addresses of legislators and prison officials, as well as paper and pens for you to use. Sponsored by CCC.
CHILDREN’S FOOD BASKET: Children’s Food Basket Volunteers Appreciation and Planning Brunch: This Sunday, October 9th, Thornhill Room, 11:30 a.m.
MARJORIE SULLIVAN: After suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for several years, Marjorie Sullivan died recently and her burial will be on Monday, October 10th in Half Moon Bay. Our condolences go to her daughter, Lelia Tokuyama. Marjorie joined the Montclair Church family in the early 1990’s after moving to Rossmoor.
NEXT TAIZÉ MEDITATION SERVICE: Save 7:00-8:00 p.m. on October 19 (3rd Wednesdays ongoing) in the sanctuary for the next Taizé meditation service. Those who find Taizé to be a powerful antidote to the pace of urban life and media bombardment would never miss one. If you think you’re too busy, it’s probably for you! Characterized by their simplicity and beauty, Taizé songs are short prayers that achieve a meditative nature through repetition, allowing us to drop into the stillness of our hearts and encounter the holy. For child care (available upon request), contact Talitha Phillips at the church office by October 14. Sponsored by the Spiritual Activists Committee.
CREATING A CULTURE OF PEACE: Our annual Peacemaking offering continues this Sunday. Contributions go to peacemaking efforts at all levels of the Presbyterian Church. Our portion will go to Destiny Arts Center, an Oakland-based violence prevention and arts education organization that has served youth for over 20 years. Our offering will allow additional at-risk Oakland youth to take part. Destiny offers programs in dance, theater and martial arts. Their mission is to end isolation, prejudice and violence in the lives of young people. Make checks to MPC and note “Peacemaking Offering” in the memo line.
INTERFAITH ART EXHIBIT CLOSING RECEPTION: The closing reception for “Diverse Visions of Harmony: An Interfaith Art Exhibit” will be on Sunday, October 16, 3 – 5 pm at the ICCNC at 1433 Madison Street in Oakland. There will be light refreshments and live music. We hope you can come, and please spread the word to others. Also, here are links to the press coverage about this exhibit:
http://oaklandnorth.net/2011/09/20/oaklands-islamic-cultural-center-hosts-interfaith-art-exhibit/
MISSION YEARBOOK OF PRAYER: PC(USA) is offering the Mission Yearbooks of Prayer again. A single copy bought directly will cost you $14.95 PLUS shipping and handling. The bulk price for each copy will now be $13.00. We need to order at least 25 to make this cut, so we’ll leave it up to you. If we get orders and payment for at least 25, we’ll order them. If not, we won’t and will return the checks. If you would like to buy a yearbook, contact Sherrill in the office for an order form or you can contact Dvorah at the Presbytery of San Francisco office at (510) 849-4393. Orders must be at the Presbytery office by October 7, 2011. Yearbooks will be available for pickup in November.
MEET THE NEW PRESIDENT OF SFTS: You are invited to meet the new president of San Francisco Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr. James L. McDonald. This reception is open to everyone – pastors, congregations, presbytery members, and people considering ministry. Hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Friday, October 14th, from 6-8 p.m.
Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church
49 Knox Drive
Lafayette, CA
Jim comes to SFTS having spent 13 years building a broad movement against hunger and poverty for Bread for the World, a faith-based advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University, a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary (N.Y.) and a PhD in International Relations from American University. With experience in pastoral ministry and as adjunct faculty at American and George Washington universities, Jim has shown a passion for education that makes a difference. In addition to balancing excellent scholarship and the excellent practice of ministry, Jim brings to SFTS a desire to move the seminary out into the world by teaching students how to deal with real-world situations, like power and conflict management, becoming community organizers, mediators and negotiators and involving the church in public policy at the local, state and national levels.
BARRELHOUSE JAZZ BAND: The band is playing for a showcase at the New Orleans Jazz Club of Northern California from 1PM – 5PM on October 16 at Champa Thai/Vietnamese Restaurant, El Sobrante, CA 3550 San Pablo Dam Rd., San Pablo (510) 222-1819. They will be putting on a 3 hour show. The event is open to the public with a small cover charge.
HURRY, HURRY, GET YOUR TICKETS! 20% off tickets to see Rita Moreno in Life Without Makeup at Berkeley Repertory Theatre! A fantastic show with rave reviews! This is Berkeley Rep’s best discount – AVAILABLE for Wednesday, October 26th @ 7:00pm, Thursday, October 27th @ 2:00 pm (this show includes a docent led talk about the production at 1:00pm) or Friday October 28th @ 8:00pm. You choose your seat and get 20% off your ticket! Discount tickets are available online only—not by phone or in person—by using the ROSITA code. For instructions on how to purchase ticket online, call Sherrill in the office and she will email them to you.
ROOMS FOR RENT: John Zoranovich and Gini Carter have rooms to rent in their beautiful old Laurel District home – above MacArthur and near Mills College. Please contact Sam Zoranovich for specifics – 408-499-5220.
Left to right:
Front Row: Kathleen Donnell, Kevin Newell, Dean Elia, Roberta Davis and Nora Bessette-Denwood.
Middle Row: Bob Faulkner, Jean Dormann, John Hadsell, Janice Kidd, Don Poulton, Peggy Alter, Rich Larsen, Cathy Spurgeon and Mira Spurgeon
Back Row: Brant Nicholas, Sue Davies, Helen Hutchinson, Tamara Lett, Sara Littlefield and Don Alter.
PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:
• For the life and memory of Virginia Hadsell, and for John and family in their grief.
• For safety and health for all those who are occupying Wall Street all over the country and for the impact they may have on our political leaders.
• For all those who are grieving due to loss of lives, relationships, meaning, employment, housing, abilities and health.
• For all those who care for a sick or ailing loved one.
• For continued healing for Serin Eggling.
• For the youth group as they plan and prepare their garden project.
• For 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
Susan Hunn, Associate for Education: Office hours, Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30-2:30 pm
Sherrill Figuera: Administrative Assistant, Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 pm
Talitha Phillips: Associate for Care and Congregational Life
Kim Rankin: Music Director
Marcia Roy: Organist
Gil & Maria Chiguila: Caretakers
Rev. John Hadsell: Theologian in Residence
Rev. Kathy Ray: Parish Associate