Post on 20-Jun-2020
Volume XXXVIII Number 3
Table of contents Page Rev. Toms Message 2 Special Gifts . . .Grants 2 Spire Dates 2 United Disciples Fellowship 3 “Horton Hears a Who” 3 Acknowledgments 3 Women’s Fellowship 4 Reflections - Hot Lunch Program 4 Rebuilding Together 4 Staff Office Hours 4 New Friends Lunch 5 Adult Forums 5 Soul Collage 5 On Going Weekly Events 5 Board / Committee Meetings 5 Volunteer Opportunities 6 Youth & Children 7 CareGivers 8 Women of Faith 8 In Our Thoughts & Prayers 8 Council Highlights 8 Birthdays & Anniversaries 9 FCCSJ Help Wanted 9 Bereavement Group 9 Spire Happenings 10 Women’s Interfaith Dialogue 11
Church Office: (408) 377-7121 www.firstccsj.org
First Congregational Church of San Jose • UCC In partnership with United Disciples Fellowship
The Spire • March 2017 Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017
To begin our observation of Lent, First Congregational Church of San Jose will offer sessions of mindful, heal-ing and creative programs on Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
Church members, friends and visitors are invited to participate in healing programs led by members of our Healing Ministry Team during the afternoon of Ash Wednesday.
Please consider participating in one or more of these activities:
Zentangle®: a meditative, calming art form that unlocks your creative potential and encour-ages mindfulness.
Soul Collage: a creative process that uses collage for self-discovery and building community ($5 ma-terials fee).
Labyrinth walk: group walks that may allow for insight to begin your Lent observation.
Healing Touch: private 20-30 minute sessions of a heart centered therapy to clear and relax your energy system. Healing Touch, which is full.
These healing ministries will begin at 4:30 p.m. and again at 5:45 p.m. Sessions will conclude by 6:45 p.m. so
participants can attend the Ash Wednesday service to begin 7:00 p.m. All programs are free of charge, ex-
cept for the $5 materials fee for the Soul Collage workshop. If you missed signing up for these activities,
come anyway. Sincerely, Your Healing Ministries Team: Nancy Domnauer, Margaret Gainer, Martha Guth-
rie, Mary Mathai, and Jamie Schweizer
Dominoes**Monopoly**Bunco**Bridge
Chutes & Ladders**FISH**Pictionary**Bingo
EVERYONE IS INVITED !!
Game Night & Potluck Dinner
Saturday, March 25
Join in GAME fun with your family and Church friends!!
The Fellowship Board is planning a Game Night, starting with a Potluck Dinner
on Saturday, March 25 in the Church Fellowship Hall.
Bring your favorite food dish to share, to the 6:00 p.m. potluck dinner---salad,
main dish, vegetables and desserts. Drinks and table settings will be provided.
Playing games will follow from approximately 7-8:30 p.m.
Bring your favorite game to play after dinner, or play another game that is
available.
To help plan for the set up for dinner and game playing, please sign up for
Game Night after worship on Sundays, February 26 and March 5, 12 and 19.
Be sure to SAVE THE DATE for Game Night!!
Page 2 Volume XXXVIII Number 3
Dear Friends,
When I was in my early teens, and our extended family would gather for a Thanksgiving or a Christmas meal, the table grace was general-ly left in the capable hands of my younger sister and our cousin, who would craft something ap-propriate and meaningful with which to christen the meal. That stopped the year I entered semi-nary when, with-out consultation, I was appointed priest at family gatherings (I was also apparently rendered fit for weddings and baptisms). I imag-ine it’s how dermatologists must feel under similar circumstances, always being asked to interpret this bump or that rash.
Still, on a predictably regular basis I find myself engaged with some-one in a conversation about pray-er. It stands to reason, of course, that people would be interested in my professional perspective on praying, and prayer itself, but in-creasingly the conversation has had less to do with what I believe, and more to do with how I can believe it. There are certain histor-ical and ecclesiastical artifacts, with regard to prayer, that create a general baseline for those con-versations. It revolves around effi-cacy, around the notion that pray-er does something, or doesn’t. Perhaps the most interesting and persistent notion is that prayer has the effect of convincing the Divine to do, or not do, some-thing.
This creates a very interesting condition in, and for, believers in this day and age, where the tsu-nami of rationality and scientific verifiability comes crashing over the rocks of hope and faith. Does prayer work? Will prayer change anything? Is prayer answered? Are
Special Gifts and Endowment Grants Background: Any established
Board, Committee or Ministry
Team of the Church may com-
plete an application for a grant
from the Special Gifts and En-
dowment Fund Annual Grants,
funded by a portion of the inter-
est income earned on endow-
ment funds. Grants are awarded
for one-time projects not in-
cluded in the Church’s operat-
ing budget. Subsidizing ex-
penses normally included in the
Church’s operating budget are
not eligible for this purpose.
Purpose: Grants are awarded
to projects which best accomplish
one or more of the following
items:
Enable the Church’s focus or other priority program.
Demonstrate an innovative ministry for a trial period.
Extend our outreach activities.
Improve our facilities or grounds.
Time line: Grant applications
must be received at the Church
Office by April 22, 2017. Applica-
tions received after the deadline
may not be considered.
some people better equipped for effective prayer than others? The questions are nearly endless; the hopes are nearly boundless; the suspicions are nearly paralyzing.
Despite this, some concept of prayer is foundational to most faith traditions. So, as the season
of Lent is soon upon us, we are going to tackle one small corner of this much larg-er conversation. We will do this in several different ways. We are go-ing to let the com-monly called
Lord’s Prayer guide our reflections this season. Our Lenten worship services will be tuned to various aspects of the prayer itself, de-constructing it in a way, in an ef-fort to think more deeply about it.
On the Wednesday evenings of the Lenten season (March 08 to April 12) those who may be inter-ested are invited to gather in the Friendship room at 6:30 p.m. for a discussion of the Lord’s Prayer in its ancient Aramaic form. You will have the opportunity to learn the prayer in Aramaic, but more inter-estingly, to reflect on the signifi-cant differences in meaning be-tween the Aramaic version and the one we think we know so well.
Finally, as the Easter Adult Educa-tion Forum this year I will lead a general discussion about prayer in the post-modern world, what we believe, why we believe it, and, more personally, what I think prayer can and cannot do.
I hope you will find that these conversations during the Lenten season stimulate your own think-ing and imagination. The subject of prayer is definitely something not best left to the professionals.
Pastor Tom
2017 SPIRE DATES
Month Deadline Mailing
January Mon. Dec. 19 Dec. 28
February Mon. Jan. 16 Jan. 25
March Mon. Feb. 20 Feb. 28
April Mon. Mar. 20 Mar. 29
May Mon. Apr. 17 Apr. 26
June Mon. May 15 May 24
July Mon. June 19 June 28
August Mon. July 17 July 26
September Mon. Aug. 21 Aug. 30
October Mon. Sept. 18 Sept. 27
November Mon. Oct. 16 Oct. 25
December Mon. Nov. 20 Nov. 29
January 2018 Mon. Dec. 18 Dec. 27
Wednesday evenings . . . .
(March 08 to April 12) those
who may be interested are in-
vited to gather in the Friend-
ship room at 6:30 p.m. for a
discussion of the Lord’s Prayer
in its ancient Aramaic form.
Rev. Tom’s Message
Volume XXXVIII Number 3 Page 3
Top O’ The Month, to you! Can you
believe that it is March already?! I
sure can’t. As we progress through
this year and assess all the changes
around us, I thought it would be
fitting to deepen our knowledge
about some of things that give us
strength as we sojourn through our
“every-days”.
Back in February, I ended a sermon
with a portion of the poem, “All the
Places You Will Go”, by Dr. Seuss.
This was well received as many
folks in the congregation agreed
that the writings by this writer were
not just for kids, but were meant
for adults as well. When choosing
the poem, I did some research on it
and on Dr. Seuss, himself. I was
disheartened by some of the things
that I found out about one of
America’s most celebrated writers.
However, I still chose to include
one of his pieces despite having
some inner tossing about it. So, for
this month’s Spire article, I chose to
share with you all some of the
things that I learned and why I still
made the decision to continue
supporting the latter work of Dr.
Seuss.
Apparently, Dr. Seuss, who’s real
name was Theodor Seuss Geisel,
was not always a very friendly guy
to those who were different from
him. He is documented as being a
“supremacist” and unapologetic
“racist”. There are many direct
quotes and a sickening amount of
cartoons drawn by Dr. Seuss, under
that pen name, depicting people of
Japanese, African, and German
decent in very abominable ways. I
was personally jaw-dropped by this
realization and was very tempted to
begin my personal crusade against
Dr. Seuss writings. Then, I
continued to dig. Evidently, after a
series of personal events, Dr. Seuss
began to feel remorse and spent
the later years of his life using his
pen to attempt to bring together
the same people that he earlier
helped to split apart.
Fun Fact: “Horton Hears A Who”,
one of his most famous stories, was
actually a piece he did in response
to his earlier anti-Japanese
depictions. He traveled to the
country after the bombing of
Hiroshima and was able to see just
how horrific the after effects were
for their people. He subsequently
dedicated the book to a Japanese
gentleman, Mr. Mitsugi Nakamura,
dean of Doshisha University in
Kyoto, whom he had become close
with during his visit to the country.
So, to make a long story short, Dr.
Seuss did some horrible things that
can’t be erased. Additionally, he
knew that he had done some “not-
so-great” deeds and spent the rest
of his life trying to do the right
thing. Not trying to pretend those
earlier things didn’t exist, but
acknowledging them and moving
forward. This is why I choose to still
respect him as a writer and a
human being. I can’t begin to tell
you how truly hurtful it was to see
some of the cartoons and words he
was responsible for against people
who look just like me and those
who don’t look like me. Yet, this
also shows Dr. Seuss’ inescapability
to be human. He was talented, he
was flawed, he was him. And at the
end of the day, that’s what we all
are in our own ways. We are all
blessed with talents and gifts
beyond measure. We are also
infinitely capable of mucking up
(Continued on page 7)
“Horton Hears A Who” United Disciples Fellowship
Saturday, March 4, 2017
6:00 p.m.
Alan Cole and David Elliott will talk with us about the well-reviewed bestseller book Hillbilly Elegy, in which J.D. Vance writes about his “people”: the white lower class to whom Mr. Trump has so appealed. Please join us for what is sure to be a riveting discussion!
Hosts: Dave & Pat Elliott’s 1160 Cochrane Rd. #206 Morgan Hill
Acknowledgments & Celebrations
♣ Rev. Shernell Edney-Stilley for sharing her aunt, the Rev. Yvonne Delk, who delivered a powerful message on 1/22/2017, and to the Revs. Edney and Gough for their moving sermons in January.
♣ Tara Everton and Nicole Link for their presentation about this summer’s Youth Service Trip at the Annual Meeting potluck.
♣ Kristin Link for leading the choir in their enthusiastic an-thems for Rev. Delk’s visit.
♣ The office volunteers for their work in getting the Annual Re-port published.
♣ Church Council for their thank you card for Mark Knudsen’s work on the land lease with Carden School.
♣ The Women’s Retreat commit-tee for planning and organizing a successful retreat.
Deborah Circle will meet in the
Friendship room on Wednesday,
March 1st at 10:00 a.m.
Ray Lubow will do one of his ex-
cellent travel programs for us.
Hostesses are Barbara Kilburn and
Betsey Woodward. We hope to
see you all on Wednesday.
Staff Office Hours Rev. Tom is in the office Saturday — Wednesday & takes Thursday & Friday off.
Rev. Shernell is in her office Sunday — Thursday & takes, Friday & Saturday off.
Kristin’s hours are Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday 9:00 a.m.-noon.
Marlie’s hours are Sunday, Tuesday — Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
Cindy’s (Office manager) hours are Monday — Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Reflections on the Drop In Center Hot Lunch Program
I want to make this experience of serving lunch to homeless kids per-
sonal, for me and for my friends who are mostly enjoying good fortune
and not living on the streets. This experience would help all of us un-
derstand their world better, and help get rid of our fear and build a
bridge. Three of us served hot lunch (sloppy Joe's, salad, and brownie)
to about 20 young adults and two preschool kids and 4 staff members.
We were introduced to each other by names. I remembered a few
names, John, Cliff, Mike, but forgot most ... Most of them are the age
of my own sons, Dylan (19) and Tommy (17). I feel they are just the
friends of my children, yet I don't know them. I hope I will know them
better and help them more in the future as I would not want to my chil-
dren or my friend’s children living on the street. Among the young
adults, there were three young ladies, one is a single mom with a 4 year
old boy, one is recovering from drug addiction, and one is also with a
preschool age girl but also with her boyfriend/hubby. As to the young
men, most of them are just teenagers. I would not be able tell they are
living on streets if I saw them outside the center. Several of them just
come for lunch, and several of them are hanging out at the facility, tak-
ing a shower, playing basketball, having a quiet time listening to music
or watching video on their phone or device. Or talking to friends. One
man stood out as he already missed all his front teeth. All of them
were respectful to staff members and grateful for food. There are some
rules that they have to follow at the center. But it seems they either get
used to it or well trained. I didn't have any fear or uneasiness among
them as I had anticipated. One of the staff members did mention that
she learned how to work with them, but she can't trust them (not sure
in what aspects).
Two of the staff members are middle age gentlemen, two are young
ladies in the mid or late twenties. They are really nice people. The cen-
ter has staffed counselors, shower facilities and a place to sleep tempo-
rarily for over night. It is beautifully maintained.
I really think it is a positive experience for me. I am looking forward to
getting more involved and making some positive impact to their lives.
Other than serving hot lunch, I don't know what else can be done to
make an impact. But I am eager to figure it out.
Sally Guan, Community Service Ministry Team
Deborah Circle Volume XXXVIII Number 3 Page 4
SAVE THE DATE!!
Our next Rebuilding Together
Silicon Valley project is
scheduled for Saturday, April 22,
2017! Bring your hearts and your
energy and volunteer for this
worthwhile event. Rebuilding
Together brings communities and
volunteers together to rehabilitate
the homes of low income
homeowners, particularly the
elderly and disabled, so that they
may live in warmth, safety, and
independence. Past projects have
not only brought joy and
happiness to the homeowner but
have also left our volunteers with a
sense of accomplishment and
feelings of gratification knowing
that they have helped someone
who is truly in need. Mark your
calendars and watch for future
announcements and RTSV emails
for more information.
Contact: Liz Carey
princessbasia@yahoo.com or
408-364-6186
BOARD/COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Church Council 1st Tues. 7:30 pm Friendship Rm Children’s Ministries 1st Sun. 11:30 am Youth Center Youth Ministries 2nd Sun. 11:30 am Youth Center Common Ground 3rd Tues 6:30 pm Friendship Rm
Diaconate 3rd Tues. 7:30 pm Tom’s. Office Outreach 3rd Tues. 7:30 pm Office Mtg. Rm Trustees 3rd Tues. 7:30 pm Friendship Rm Fellowship 3rd Tues. 7:30 pm Room 14
Stewardship As Needed Adult Learning As Needed See Events Calendar Special Gifts As Needed for dates and time. Pastoral Relations As Needed Personnel Policies As Needed
ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS.
Sun. 10:00 am FCC Worship Sanctuary 11:00 am FCC Fellowship Fellowship Hall 11:30 am Adult Forum Friendship Room 2:00 pm Bible 101 (check calendar) Friendship Room 6:30 p.m. Faith Group (check calendar) Friendship Room Mon. 12:15 pm Dream Group Friendship Room 7:30 pm Bell Rehearsal Sanctuary Tues. 10:00 a.m. Bereavement Group Friendship Room 3:30 pm Wake Up & Knit Friendship Room Wed. 10:00 am Staff Meeting Rv. Tom’s Office 12:30 pm Spiritual Practice Rv. Tom’s Office Wed.—Sat. 10:00 am Organ Practice Sanctuary Thur. 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal Choir Room
Volume XXXVIII Number 3 Page 5
Beyond Evil: Theodicy in the work of Walter Wink
One of the best known among 20th century theologians, Walter Wink is especially identified with his work toward understanding power struc-tures, institutions, and their susceptibility to systemic evil. Wink was a devout pacifist, and a long time professor of the New Testament at both Union Seminary and Auburn Seminary in New York. As our Lenten season begins this March, Rev. Tom will lead us in a series of three dis-cussions about Wink’s work, focused largely on Wink’s best known tril-ogy, Naming the Powers; Unmasking the Powers; and Engaging the Powers. We will look at how Wink understood evil, a perspective deeply anchored in his understanding of the biblical story, and very much pre-sent in contemporary institutional structures (including the Church). Wink’s thoughtful perspective has profound currency for the world in which we find ourselves, and is highly instructive (and cautionary) for a church trying to wend a loving path through this world.
March 5th Forum: We will look at scripture and what Wink sees there in the story of powers and principalities.
March 12th Forum: We will examine these powers and principalities in the context of our own world.
March 19th Forum: We will allow Wink to guide us in thinking about how we navigate these same waters in contemporary society.
Come join us for any or all of these Forum conversations.
“The failure of churches to continue Jesus' struggle to overcome domina-tion is one of the most damning apostasies in its history. With some thrilling exceptions, the churches of the world have never yet decided that domination is wrong.” Walter Wink, When the Powers Fall: Reconcilia-tion in the Healing of Nations
Adult Forums
Are you relatively new to attend-
ing worship services or ministry
programs at First Congregational
Church of San Jose? Would you
like to meet a few more curious
folk? Share a meal and some sto-
ries? Learn a little more about us
and have some questions an-
swered? We will be hosting a New
Friends Luncheon on Sunday
March 26 at 1:00 PM (in the Choir
Room – off the Fellowship Hall),
with an opportunity for all this
and more. No obligation, just
lunch and conversation.
If you do happen to be consider-
ing joining our congregation as a
member, we anticipate bringing in
new members on Easter morning,
April 16, during worship.
Interested? Please contact Rev.
Tom at revtom@firstccsj.org so
we can save you a seat.
New Friends Luncheon
SoulCollage Come join us for a SoulCollage play date in the Friendship Room at FCCSJ. SoulCollage is a creative process
that uses collage for self-discovery and building community. Each person makes their own cards to represent
aspects of their personality, people/pets/places dear to them, archetypes, and Spirit. There will be time for
introductions/check-ins, explanation of the process, making cards, and "reading" what the cards have to tell
us. No artistic background is necessary...just a willingness to have fun and explore! Please bring a jour-
nal. Images, glue sticks, cards, and scissors will be provided...but you can bring your own if you have special
ones you like. $5 materials fee. March 10th at 10:00 a.m. in the Friendship Room. For questions or more
information, please contact Mary Mathai at: mathaima712@live.com.
Bread for the World's Offering of Letters Your Outreach Board is working with Bread for the
World, a collective Christian voice urging our na-
tion’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Bread for
the World's Offering of Letters aims to realize a world in which all peo-
ple are fed. Our goal is to create political will by writing our policy mak-
ers and urging them to create pathways out of hunger and poverty. Join
the Outreach Board on Sunday, March 12th during Coffee Fellowship as
we turn our faith into action by writing postcards to our members of
Congress. For more information about Offering of Letters, go to:
http://www.bread.org/2017-offering-letters
Many of us have had the incon-
venience of misplacing our read-
ing glasses, or losing them alto-
gether. The fix is simple: pop
down to the drug store or the dol-
lar store and pick up a new pair.
Not so for the men and women in
Elmwood Jail. When they lose or
break their glasses, there are no
ready replacements, and the con-
sequences can be significant. They
cannot read court papers regard-
ing their cases. They can be ham-
pered in participating in rehabili-
tative classes and activities.
Women’s Fellowship is working
with Margaret Gainer to address
this need through our annual Ma-
terial Aid campaign this year. We
will be collecting reading glasses
during March for the men and
women of Elmwood. The glasses
should be:
Non-prescription readers in all
strengths (the kind the Dollar
Tree carries are fine)
Men’s and women’s styles
Plastic lenses and plastic
frames; no wire frames or wire
embedded in the frames
NOT red or blue. Those colors
cannot be used because of
gang issues
The last time we had a glasses
drive, you donated over 200 pairs
of glasses! Each pair was of vital
importance to the recipient, and
may have changed a few lives.
This is our opportunity to change
lives again.
March 12th
Second Harvest Food Distribution
at Campbell United Methodist
church is being coordinated by Ju-
dy Stevens. Sign up with Judy to
participate on a rotating basis. We
have committed to providing 4 vol-
unteers on one Wednesday each
month. It is a 3-hour commitment.
Village House Warming Centers
for 15 medically fragile homeless
women. Ellen Cook has participat-
ed in this ministry. The program
moves from church to church,
changing each month. Currently
Good Samaritan Episcopal Church
is hosting these women from 7am-
7pm 3 days per week. They have a
much smaller membership than
FCCSJ and really need help. There
are 3 volunteers required at all
times and each has a 2 hour shift
(you can do more than 1 shift). All
you do is be there to provide car-
ing support. The clients I have spo-
ken with are very interesting peo-
ple, from a variety of backgrounds.
Warming Centers also need volun-
teers to provide lunch. See Ellen to
learn more. You can sign up online
at: https://signup.com/
group/814619180052
Dignity on Wheels is a ministry
that provides showers and clothes
laundering for homeless adults.
They have 2 giant trucks that con-
tain the facilities. They provide a
supervisor, but volunteers are
needed to sign in clients and to
provide caring support. The truck is
driven to various locations around
Santa Clara County, most of which
are churches. Ellen volunteered at
Almaden Hills United Methodist
Church on Blossom Hill near Alma-
den Expressway. They have various
locations in San Jose and Palo Alto.
You can find all the locations and
schedules online at http://
www.dignityonwheels.org/ . Sign
up there to volunteer. See Ellen to
learn more about her experience.
None of these activities are particu-
larly taxing. Food distribution re-
quires standing for about 3 hours
and may be either indoors or out-
doors (under shelter). Warming
Centers are entirely indoors and no
standing is required. Dignity on
Wheels combines seated and stand-
ing activities and is outdoors (under
shelter).
Volunteer Opportunities The Community Service Ministry Team encourages you to minister to
the poor and the homeless through the following organizations
Volume XXXVIIi Number 3
Glasses for Elmwood Page 6
Volume XXXVIIi Number 3
YOUTH MINISTRIES This past month the senior high
youth were scheduled to attend
Feb Camp, a weekend long camp
in the Santa Cruz redwoods. Un-
fortunately, due to the storms, the
camp was postponed and a bunch
of kids were left pretty disap-
pointed. Since I can’t stand to see
their sad little faces – and I was
fairly bummed about camp myself
– we offered our San Jose youth
(and some of their friends) a
chance to come for an old-
fashioned lock-in at the church.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
I didn’t have anything planned,
just a lot of snacks, a video game
hookup, and tables full of board
games. But if there is one thing
you can count on, it’s that these
kids can have fun with very little.
The hours flew by as they played
Telestrations, the hilarious combi-
nation of Pictionary and Tele-
phone, ate snack after snack, col-
ored Celtic designs, rocked out on
Guitar Hero, and simply spent
time with one another. As I
watched them, I couldn’t help but
think that, in this time of struggle,
uncertainty, and so much fear, we
all could use a night where we
were just together. Time where we
rest, rejuvenate and renew our
energy for the road ahead.
I hope that we follow the lead of
these kids and take the time to
enjoy each other’s company. We
can only be the stronger for it.
Blessings,
Marlie Heberling,
Director of Youth Ministry
Robert W. Porter Scholarship Fund
The Robert W. Porter Scholarship
Fund was established in 1980 in
memory of its namesake who for
many years served as this church
school’s senior high teacher and
advisor to the Pilgrim Fellowship.
This fund began with proceeds
from the Pilgrim Fellowship’s pa-
per shed and donations from in-
dividuals and groups within our
church. The fund is now endowed
with the interest available for
scholarships.
Award(s) may be made annually
at the discretion of the Special
Gifts and Endowment Committee
using the following guidelines.
Preference will be given to
high school seniors who are
members of the First Congrega-
tional Church of San Jose, United
Church of Christ, and who are in-
tending a career in a helping pro-
fession.
Applications may be picked
up in the church office or request-
ed my mail from the office and
must be received in the church
office by April 22, 2017.
CHILDRENS’ MINISTRIES OFFERED PROGRAMS
NURSERY (Age 2 and under) Sunday, 10:00 - 11:15 AM Childcare is provided for all kids under 2 years old. Kids may be dropped off before worship or after the Children’s Moment.
ROOM 6 (Ages 3-6) Sunday, 10:00 - 11:15 AM After the Children’s Moment, kids age 3-6 join a storyteller and door greeter for our Godly Play curriculum, which includes a story, discussion, individual activity time, and a snack. All children must be picked up by a guardian at 11:15.
ROOM 14 (Grades 1-5) Sunday, 10:00 - 11:15 AM After the Children’s Moment, kids in grades 1-5 join a storyteller and door greeter for our Godly Play curriculum, which includes a story, discussion, individ-ual activity time, and a snack. All children in grade 3 and under must be picked up by a guardian at 11:15. Older children will be released to the Fellowship Hall.
Contact: Marlie Heberling, youthdirector@firstccsj.org
408.250.9937 (Call or Text)
Page 7
and making a sure mess of things
if we are not grounded in
knowing who we are and WHOSE
we are.
Overall, the lesson here is that we
need each other. We need each
other to be strong, we need each
other to persist, and we
need each other to forgive.
Thank You, Dr. Seuss, for
showing us these lessons in
the best way you knew how.
We hear your, “Who”.
Rev. Shernell
“Horton Hears A Who” (Continued from page 3)
YOUTH MINISTRIES OFFERED PROGRAMS
AXIS (Grades 6-12) Sunday, 10:00 - 11:15 AM Youth leave after the sermon time. (No AXIS on the first Sunday of the month)
VORTEX (Grades 6-8) Sunday, 5:00 - 7:00 PM Youth meet in the Youth Center. Dinner is included.
FLUX (Grades 9-12) Sunday, 6:00 - 8:30 PM Youth meet in the Youth Center. Dinner is included.
FOUNDATIONS (Grades 9-12) October-May, Sundays or Wednesdays
The FOUNDATIONS class offers commu-nication and leadership training, in-depth faith formation and reflection study, ser-vice projects, and more. This class will fulfill the Confirmation requirements. For more information, contact Marlie.
UPCOMING EVENTS Cupcake Wars Friday, March 31, 6 PM – 9:30 PM Let the baking battle begin! Come join us for a competition of the highest caliber as we bake and decorate cupcakes to compete for the grand prize! Dinner will be included. Please visit firstccsj.org/youthevents to register for all upcoming events.
All women are invited to attend
our Women of Faith Groups. We
meet monthly for discussion of a
theme and loving support for one
another. You are welcome to join
either or both groups.
Morning Women of Faith
Meets the 4th Monday at 10:00
a.m. each month. Our next meet-
ing is March 27, 2017 .
Evening Women of Faith
We will be participating in the
Wednesday evening Lenten pro-
gram in lieu of our regular meet-
ing on March 22, 2017 at 6:00
p.m. All women are invited. Con-
tact Ellen Cook with questions.
Our next meeting is March 18,
2017 noon - 2:00 p.m. in the
Friendship Room. If you are in
the position of being a caregiver
or support person (long distance,
or nearby), and would like to con-
nect with others experiencing the
same kind of challenges, this is
the group for you. Whether you
are caring for a parent or a
spouse, sibling or neighbor, you
are welcome to join us. We meet
on the third Saturday of each
month. Each meeting we have a
time of check in, and then explore
a topic related to caregiving.
Bring a dish to share for our
monthly potluck.
Sustainability Task Force:
Karen Armor reported that:
Initial planning is complete, and
the Task Force is ready to enlist
help from the other Boards and
Committees.
They have begun contacting
community resources about
participation.
They are taking advantage of
local groups’ networks for pub-
licity, and plan to keep the
event within the local communi-
ty.
They plan to have 2 – 3 food
trucks as part of the event.
They plan to create a web site in
support of the event.
Children’s Ministry Vision:
Rev. Shernell Edney-Stilley report-
ed that:
There is more interest in volun-
teering to help with Church
School.
She is developing a curriculum
development team with the
goal of:
integrating Godly Play with
more structured follow-up
activities.
building on the success of
the Advent kits.
incorporating science, social
studies, etc. into the curricu-
lum.
coordinating Church School
themes with those explored
during worship.
If you would like a full copy of the Church Council Minutes please email: office@firstccsj.org or call the office: 408-377-7121.
Volume XXXVIII Number 3 Page 8
Council Highlights
In Our Thoughts & Prayers
Billie Cole as she recovers at home.
Eleanor Tibbits
Karen Armstrong recover-ing from a broken leg.
Lynn Haydis recovering from a fall.
Brenda Eberle recovering at home.
The Weidmann Family mourning the passing of Albert Weidmann.
All those who are recipients of hospice care.
The women at Elmwood Jail.
All Military active duty and all Veterans; May we be a welcoming congregation for all those who have served (and their families)
One More
Valentine! It is almost Valentine's Day, and I
have some belated things that I
want to say. They come from my
heart. Thank you, thank you,
thank you for all the nice things
you have done for me. The phone
calls, cards, transportation, parties,
and visits are greatly appreciated.
No one knows how much being
remembered
means when
you feel that
you are alone in
the world.
Happy
Valentine's Day!
Love,
Eleanor Tibbetts
Miranda Jane Caton 3/2
Shirley Moore 3/2
Luna Punsal 3/2
Zoë Campbell-Eby 3/3
Joanne Domingue 3/4
Michal Stachnick 3/4
John Weidmann 3/4
Tom Boyce 3/5
Kitty Nesbitt 3/6
Markus Rystrom 3/7
Bob Glaser 3/9
Betsey Woodward 3/10
Debbie Grijalva 3/15
Lynn Haydis 3/16
Bonnie Hunt 3/19
Mark Rystrom 3/19
Megan Hardesty 3/20
Rebecca Hendricks 3/20
Erin Sgarlato 3/22
Ken Durbin 3/23
Leta Shattuck 3/23
Patty Ebner 3/24
Paul Punsal 3/24
James Berge 3/26
Nicole Link 3/26
Thomas Schweizer 3/26
David Proulx 3/27
Colin Domnauer 3/29
Happy March Anniversary!
John and Teri Heberling 3/13
Lynn and Alan Cole 3/15
Carol and Lowell Berge 3/23
Volume XXXVII Number 3 Page 9
Bereavement Group “Moving Through Major Life Changes”
2nd & 4th Tuesdays: 10-11:15am This group is designed to support all those grappling with major chang-
es or losses that have a major life impact of self-identity, self-direction,
self-motivation. Each session offers practical life giving tools designed to
support participants to move through these changes with dignity, cour-
age, and grace. For more information and to register, please call: Rev.
T’Shala, Bereavement Coordinator, (408) 450-7850 ext 130
DIACONATE BOARD
Works with the Ministers to sup-
port the spiritual growth, renewal
and well-being of the congrega-
tion. Duties include assistance in
offering the Sacraments, extending
ministry to members with special
needs, supporting the Director of
Music.
Needed: Two people to fill 3-year
terms
Contact: Karen Winchester, Chair
BOARD OF OUTREACH
Researches and recommends local
partnerships with non-profit
groups for Church involvement and
funding related to our ministry to
the wider community. Seeks out
ways to focus the Church’s ener-
gies to uplift, engage and support
the social, spiritual and economic
needs of our world. For example:
the upcoming Sustainability Fair.
Needed: Three people to fill 3-
year terms
Contact: Karen Armor or Jennifer
Howden, Co-chairs
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
Educates the Church about the
meaning and importance of Chris-
tian stewardship. Plans and carries
out a yearly financial pledge drive
to raise funds for the operation of
the Church and its programs. You
are not required to make direct,
personal appeals for financial do-
nations.
Needed: One person to fill a 1-
year term and one person to fill a
2-year term
Contact: Jennifer Busam, Chair
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES BOARD
Please contact Rev. Shernell Edney
if you would like to support our
ministry program for the children
of our Church.
YOUTH MINISTRIES COMMITTEE
Please contact Marlie Heberling,
director of Youth Ministries, if you
would like to support our Church’s
youth program.
FCCSJ Help Wanted At FCCSJ, the Boards, Committees and Ministry Teams are the wings
that make our Church fly. Below is a list of volunteer positions that are
still open for 2017. Please consider sharing your time and talents by
filling one of these positions. And, encourage others to do the same.
For more information about the group or to volunteer, please contact
the individual listed with each group. You must be a Church member to
join a Board or Committee.
If you are the chairperson of a board, standing committee or ministry
team with an open position, please contact the Moderator or a Member
-at-Large to include an “ad” in next month’s listing.
Church member Gloria Bordeaux-Pacholec plays the part of Pastor Laura in the play
Volume XXXVIII Number 3 Page 10
Volume XXXVIII Number 3
March 2017 Wednesday 1 10:00 am Circle Meeting Friendship Room
1 4:30 pm Ash Wednesday Program --Narthex, Friendship Rm, Choir Rm, Labyrinth
1 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday Service Sanctuary
Saturday 4 10:00 am Sustainability FairMeeting Rev. Tom’s Office
4 6:00 pm United Disciple Fellowship Meeting Friendship Room
Sunday 5 11:30 am Adult Forum — Walter Wink Friendship Room
5 2:00 pm Bible 101 Friendship Room
5 6:30 pm Faith Group Friendship Room
Monday 6 11:30 am Dreamer’s Choice Lunch Friendship Room
Tuesday 7 7:30 pm Church Council Friendship Room
Wednesday 8 6:30 pm Lenten Workshop Friendship Room
Saturday 11 1:30 pm Women of Peace Gathering Fellowship Hall
Sunday 12 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS
12 11:30 am Adult Forum — Walter Wink Friendship Room
Tuesday 14 10:00 am Bereavement Support Group Friendship Room
Wednesday 15 6:30 pm Lenten Workshop Friendship Room
Saturday 18 12:00 pm Care Givers Support Group Friendship Room
Sunday 19 11:30 am Adult Forum — Walter Wink Friendship Room
19 2:00 pm Bible 101 Friendship Room
19 6:30 pm Faith Group Friendship Room
Monday 20 Spire Articles Due Church Office
20 10:30 am Calling Ministry Team Rev. Tom’s Office
Tuesday 21 6:30 pm Common Ground Meeting Friendship Room
Wednesday 22 10:00 am Women’s Fellowship Cabinet Meeting Friendship Room
22 6:30 pm Lenten Workshop Friendship Room
22 7:00 pm Evening Women of Faith Off Site
Saturday 25 10:00 am Soul Collage Friendship Room
25 4:00 pm Labyrinth Walk Labyrinth
25 6:00 pm Church Potluck & Game Night Fellowship Hall
Sunday 26 2:00 pm Bible 101 Friendship Room
Monday 27 10:00 am Morning Women of Faith Friendship Room
Tuesday 28 9:00 am Spire Folding Church Office
28 10:00 am Bereavement Support Group Friendship Room
Wednesday 29 6:30 pm Lenten Workshop Friendship Room
29 7:00 pm Sacred Spaces Sanctuary
Page 11
Mission Statement: To understand and live out Jesus' vision for a just and loving world.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS WORSHIP TIME - SUNDAY AT 10:00 A.M. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday—Wednesday) Children’s Church School and 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Thursday—Friday) Nursery Care are available
We are an Open and Affirming Congregation!
1980 Hamilton Avenue • San Jose • CA • 95125-5638
Breaking Bread; Building Bridges
FCCSJ will host a Women's Interfaith Dialogue on March 11th from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This
will be the 3rd session with a theme of Breaking Bread; Building Bridges and our conversation will focus on,
Creating Actions Consistent with our Faith and Values. Our last conversation was about exploring our values.
This time we will talk about what actions we can take that are consistent with our faith and values and help us
build bridges of understanding.
We live in a polarized and divided society. We are finding it increasingly difficult to be in conversation with
people who hold different views and opinions. The goal of the women’s
interfaith dialogue series, Breaking Bread and Building Bridges, is to
create bridges of communication by breaking bread together and en-
hancing our understanding of each other’s values and faith. We commit
to use our shared faith based values for the betterment of our families
and communities. We want to find ways to bridge the gaps that are di-
viding us and enhance our understanding of each other so we can hold
our views and positions but are open to listening to others, be in con-
versation with each other in a civil manner and embrace the diversity of
faith, race, color, and ethnicities in our communities.
This Interfaith Dialogue group was founded by the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community in Milpitas.
Women's Interfaith Dialogue
Some women of Women's Interfaith Dialogue. The picture was taken at the last meeting