March 2012 Cornerstone

Irvington Presbyterian Church Fremont, CA March, 2012

Sundays

Worship 10:15 a.m.

(Nursery and Children Sun-

day School During Service)

J.O.Y. Bible Study: 9:00

a.m.

Irvington Chinese

Presbyterian Service:

10:15 a.m.

Weekdays at IPC 9

Communion and Prayer

Church Directory

Bible Studies

Inside this issue:

Deacons Update 2

Missions Update 3

Session News & Notes 4

Youth Ministry 5

Children’s Ministry 6

Activities Update 7

Congregation News 8

Your Congregation 10

March Calendar 11

Mailing 12

Foothold on the FutureFoothold on the Future Our Lord is, I believe, smiling on Irvington Presbyterian Church right now.

He has brought us to a good place and opened up a

brilliant future for us. We have a great team of both new

and seasoned leadership in the deacons and elders.

God has blessed us by using IPC folk in some powerful

ministries of service in the neighborhood. If IPC went

out of business, hundreds of people in the Fremont

community would be very disappointed. We also have a strong and growing

commitment to the mission work of bringing the good news to all creation.

Coming out of our Church Officers Retreat on February 11th we envisage a

growth both in spiritual depth and in numbers for IPC this year. To grow in

the love of Christ, the six week series “The Life You’ve Always Wanted”

based on the book and videos by John Ortberg of Menlo Park Presbyterian

has inspired many of us. The worship leadership of Alishan Merjanian, our

new Worship Director, leads us into a sense of God’s presence in worship. A

course and class on spiritual gifts will follow later this year.

In the last three years attendance at IPC worship has been slightly declining.

This is the year to turn that around, and this year the elders and deacons set

a goal of ten percent net increase in attendance over last year. We plan to

have regular meetings to track our progress and to do what it takes.

To help our church grow we need to welcome newcomers and to encourage

those who have drifted away. Follow-up on those who worship with us a

couple of times is vital. Over the past five years we have built a very positive

relationship with Hirsch Elementary school, a block from our campus. Most

of the students in our children’s programs attend Hirsch. This is a strong

connection to people in our local community.

The harvest is ripe, and God has positioned us well this year to be part of the

harvest team. For the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we use our minds,

our hearts and our strength to be the light of Christ to give hope to our world.

Yours in the love of Christ, Pastor Michael

Irvington Presbyterian Church page 2 March, 2012

- Peggy Handono DEACONS NEWS

This monthly meeting held on Tuesday February 21, was opened with prayer by Pastor Michael. A

devotional, “Sowing Seeds of Kindness,” was presented by Karen Jaycox.

Minutes from the January meeting were approved as presented by secretary

Kathy Flenniken. The Board resumed discussion of some items left over from the

January agenda. The monthly financial report presented by Treasurer Deloris

Anderson showed a positive balance. Karen Jaycox reported on the January

Session meeting that she attended and Deloris Anderson was selected to be the

Deacons representative at the March Session meeting.

Deacon Lisa Young is planning a mother’s night out potluck in the Social Hall. Check your Sunday

worship bulletin for details.

A baby shower is being planned for new member, Jeanette Santo. Contact Lisa Young for additional

information.

Each month, the “Act of Kindness” program recognizes members of the congregation for

providing a service or doing something good. Dawn Lunn was the February recipient for

her outstanding contributions to BLAST and other IPC programs.

Elder Russ Pennelly, Chair of the Church Alive Program, shared some of the upcoming social events

planned for the congregation:

A St. Patrick’s Day corned beef, cabbage and karaoke event will be held March 17th at 6:30pm.

Admission is $3.00, 10 cookies and a friend or neighbor.

There will be a “Picture Day” to take new pictures that will be used to update the IPC membership

booklet. Details will follow in the Sunday worship bulletin.

The meeting was closed with prayer by Pastor Michael. There was special concern and prayers for

Mary Wolfe, Greg Burn and Phyllis Parker.

EASTER LILIES EASTER LILIES -- Shirley Murray

In keeping with the Deacons’ annual tradition of celebrating the resurrection of Christ, Easter lilies to

decorate the sanctuary on April 8, will be available for purchase. You may sign up

with Shirley Murray during the social hour on Sunday, March 11 and March 18.

Glorify the season by giving a lily in memory of a loved one or as a tribute. After

the Easter morning service, you may take your lily to enjoy at home or plant out-

doors.

The cost for each lily plant is $8.75. Should you miss one of the signups, you may

call Shirley Murray at 408-269-1516 to place an order.

Pray for our Deacons as they carry out their responsibilities rendering service and caring for

the IPC congregation.


MissionS Update

Donate to IPC Donate to IPC - Editors

Who are the Dalits?

Dalits, meaning oppressed or crushed, (Untouchables) are outcasts because of their birth outside

India’s Caste System. Scattered throughout India, today they make up nearly one quarter of India’s

1.2 billion society, with population estimates of 300 million people. Abused and

despised, they have been forced into wretchedness and grinding poverty. For

centuries they have survived at the whim of those in the caste system by doing

all the dirtiest work of the society by hand, like scraping out latrines and collect-

ing garbage. Without religion, education, and a way to join the rest of India’s

population, they remain dehumanized and isolated.

Rev. Philip Prasad lived life at its worst through Untouchable stench and horror. By the grace of

God he attended Presbyterian schools and colleges. He completed his seminary education at the

University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa. “My life-long ambition to get back to my people to help

them find exodus from Untouchability as I had, became a reality in December 1983 when I returned

to bicycle through the villages I knew. This was the moment that everything I had done in life came

together.” The result is Witnessing Ministries of Christ (WMC) was formed to minister to the

Untouchables to find a path to salvation in Jesus Christ. There is powerful religious

opposition and persecution against preaching the Gospel among the Untouchables

because it exposes the contradiction between what the Indian government says it

stands for as a democracy and what is widely practiced in a caste-based society.

Today WMC funds are used to build schools, educate children, train teachers, train village elders

and provide worship and leadership training for men and women among the Untouchables. WMC

works closely with and empowers the Exodus Christian Presbyterian Church – India, bringing

exodus from Untouchability to more than a million believers.

Your generous contribution to Missions have helped fund the wonderful work Witnessing Ministries

of Christ is doing by giving faith and hope to people who have been neglected by society in India.

Your Mission Team invites you to join us on Sunday May 20, when Rev. Philip Prasad will

preach at Worship. This will be followed by an Indian themed lunch in the Social Hall during

which Rev. Prasad and his wife Elizabeth will share the work of their Ministry.

Witnessing Ministries of Christ Witnessing Ministries of Christ -- Editors

This month Cornerstone contains a special envelope in which you can make your tax deductible

donation to IPC. You may select from the list provided or specify a Mission (new or existing) or

project that you would like to see funded. Beginning in May 2012, we will launch our Building Fund

that will be used to repair/upgrade our existing buildings on the church campus. This envelope can

also be used to donate to the Building Fund.

This does not replace your pledge envelope. Your donation will be used for the activity you specify.

Dalit home


Session News & Notes - Ron Fong

Finance

General Giving for the period of January to mid

February is very close to the budgeted amount.

At the end of February, finances are on track.

Financing for the Social Hall roof replacement

was established with 58% coming from the City

of Fremont. Elder Don Carson leads Finance.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee for 2012 is now de-

fined and its first meeting is scheduled for April.

Elder Joe DiMaggio leads this committee.

Building and Grounds

Dave Wegener is the Elder who leads B and G.

The first task is to complete the reroofing of the

Social Hall by March 5.

Stewardship

Jeff Jaycox is the Elder who leads Stewardship.

Beginning with March Cornerstone, Steward-

ship will work with the editors of the newsletter

to include envelopes for readers who want to

make a special donation to IPC.

Stewardship is also planning “One Great Hour

of Sharing” in early April.

Worship Committee

Pat Jeffries is the Elder who leads the Worship

Committee and has installed the first 60” TV

monitor to replace the projector and screen in

the sanctuary. A new Keyboard and stand was

purchased. There is now a regular monthly

worship planning meeting with Pastor, Worship

Director and Worship Elder. The Youth Group

will usher on Communion Sundays.

Church Alive

Under the direction of Elder Russ Pennelly,

Church Alive held its first meeting February 3.

The committee’s objectives for 2012 include:

Strengthen the interpersonal relations for the

congregation through social events; keep better

track of the congregation and new members; work

with Christian Equipping to develop programs to

grow in faith.

Clerk Actions

The Congregational Meeting on February 5 elect-

ed Shirley Murray to Board of Deacons class 2013

The Congregational Meeting of February 12,

received the Annual Report; elected Corporation

Board Officers: Don Carson President, Ron Fong

Secretary, Dave Wegener Treasurer; reaffirmed

the Call of Rev. Michael Boyland as Pastor; and

elected Ken Ariathurai, Peter Bade and Mary Ellen

McKowen to the Nominating Committee.

An amendment to the IPC By-Laws to elect three

members to Nom Com was added to the agenda.

Because no formal notice of this agenda item was

given, Session agreed this was done in error and

will correct at a subsequent meeting.

Session authorized Joan Fong and two additional

Elder Commissioners to the March 13, Presbytery

meeting in Newark, CA. Elder Joan Fong was

elected a San Francisco Presbytery representative

to the 220th G A June 30 – July 7 in Pittsburg, PA.

Pastor’s Report

The Officers retreat on February 11, went very

well. From this emerged our goals of increased

spiritual depth in the congregation and 10% net

increase in attendance over 2011. The Officers

retreats will now be scheduled quarterly rather

than annually.

Bi-weekly staff meetings with Jeanette Beland,

Anh Truong, and Alishan Merjanian have started.

There are plans for Maundy Thursday service at

Centerville Presbyterian on April 5 and a special

Good Friday Service at IPC on April 6.


Youth Ministry - Anh Truong

12 Stones Student Ministries:12 Stones Student Ministries:

The goal of 12 Stones Ministry at IPC is to

prepare students 7th grade through college to

accept Christ. The investment, dedication and

prayers of IPC 12 Stones Ministry is to help

insure Christ is known, living and constantly

influencing the lives of our youth.

12 SM: Youth Fellowship:12 SM: Youth Fellowship:

Just as a stone is a piece of rock that has been

refined through the course of its life, people

also need to be refined by Christ to be part of

His Kingdom.

12 Stones Youth Fellowship, therefore, set out

to challenge students with life-changing deci-

sions. The truth needs to be told, heard and

lived. We do not want to change who you are

and He does not want to either. Come as you

are - Broken, Happy, Sad, Hardened, Failure,

Powerful or anything else and join us on Fri-

days at 7:45 in room #3. Visit us on Facebook

“12Stones Fellowship” for more information.

12 SM: Sunday Youth Service12 SM: Sunday Youth Service

The point of Sunday morning service is more

than just waking up early and learning about

Christ. It’s about being with the church body as

one and worshiping. We use an array of teach-

ing tools to get God’s word known and under-

stood. Join us Sunday morning at 10:15 am in

the Sanctuary and in room #3 after worship.

12Stones Student Ministries News:12Stones Student Ministries News:

Sunday Youth Worship is devoted to helping

our students solve problems as they go through

different stages of awareness of what Christ

means to them.

Praise God for providing the means for IPC to continue reaching young people for Jesus.

Reconnecting Families at MealtimeReconnecting Families at Mealtime

One of the best ways to reconnect with our fami-

lies is to share family meals. Family gathered

around the table with a simple, wholesome meal

allows for the opportunity to love and nurture

each other and renew connections while

strengthening the family unit. Breaking bread

with others is a way to pray together, learn about

each other’s day and have face-to-face conver-

sations. It’s a time to share worries or concerns,

dreams, talk about acceptance and express grat-

itude for one another and life’s many blessings.

Much of Jesus’ ministry was spent at the table,

serving food, or at parties where people were

eating and drinking together. The word “ate”

shows up about 22 times just in the Gospels

alone. Jesus understood that one of the best

ways to invest in others required the involvement

of food.

We all have a basic need to eat. When that

need is filled, it opens the door to fill our need for

family fellowship and community.

IPC Youth will be going on a Spring Retreat to

a Planet Wisdom Conference on April 28-29,

2012, in Brentwood, CA. This Conference

promises to be a paradigm-shifting event that

invites teens to view their world from God's per-

spective. Students will be trained to:

Articulate the evidence for the credibility of

Scripture.

Understand the basic structure of the Bible.

Use three approaches to studying the Bible on

their own.

Laughing, Learning, Worship, and Biblical Teaching


Children’s Ministry

What Is Your Spiritual Legacy? What Is Your Spiritual Legacy? -- Jeanette Beland

Did you play a sport when you were in school? Are you still involved on a softball team for work or

bowl with friends regularly? One of the first things you learn when introduced to a sport is that

practice is what trains your muscles to hit a ball, roll a strike, catch a pass. The same happens as we

spiritually parent. Even though our children are grown and raising children of their own, we still have

an opportunity to plant spiritual seeds into our children, grand/great grandchildren’s lives. Not sure

where to begin or feel like you need a brush up – check out the article below written by my friends at

Heritage Builders.


Activities Update

IPC Ladies Lunch IPC Ladies Lunch -- Eleanor Conwell

Our February fellowship lunch gathering was held at La Casita with 12 ladies in attendance. All en-

joyed a delicious meal and a great hour of camaraderie, renewing old friendships and building new

ones. In March and April, we will be trying some new restaurants. Our next lunch gathering will be

at 11:30 on Thursday, March 15 at Bijan Restaurant, 39935 Mission

Boulevard, Fremont. This is a Persian restaurant located in the strip

mall on the corner of Las Palmas and Mission Boulevard. Contact

Jeane Garett at 796-8873 to reserve your place. We look forward to

seeing you there.

(A ‘heads up’ for April: An Italian Bistro on Central Avenue in Newark has been selected.)

“The Life You’ve Always Wanted” “The Life You’ve Always Wanted” -- update

This six-week program started January 15, has now been completed. Each week, Pastor Michael

preached a sermon on one aspect of life. Groups then met weekly to view John Ortberg’s video

presentation and discuss the aspect of life preached. The general consensus is that this program

enhanced the lives of those who participated and gave more spiritual meaning to the series of

sermons by Pastor Michael. One of the groups led by Mary Ellen McKowen is using some of the

concepts learned to meditate on scriptures. Each person was provided an opportunity for a solitary

3-hour period to read scriptures, contemplate its meaning and apply it to his or her life. This was

followed by review, discussion, fellowship and a delicious home-cooked meal generously provided

by Mary Ellen. The initial outcome was so enriching that the group will continue allocating a solitary

3-hour period every six weeks to read scriptures and meditate.

During Lent as we think ahead to the glorious celebration of our

Lord Jesus Christ’s victory over death with his resurrection, IPC

will have a special service of worship to remember our Lord's

great love and the gift of his life for us on Good Friday, April 6,

beginning at 7 PM.

Maundy Thursday service will be at Centerville Presbyterian Church Thursday April 5, at 7:30 PM.

Special Worship Services Special Worship Services - Pastor Michael

Church Alive Event Church Alive Event -- Russ Pennelly

On St. Patrick’s Day, March 7, Church Alive will hold an IPC con-

gregation get together beginning at 6 PM. The evening promises

to be fun with karaoke singing and a corned beef and cabbage

dinner. Admission per person is $3, 10 cookies and a neighbor or

friend. No friend or neighbor, be prepared to do a lot of singing!.

Congregation News


Ken Ariathurai

Doug Blizel

Linda DeStigter

Rebecca Doran

Ed Kalin

Flo Krone

Nick Look

Dawn Lunn

Nick McClure

Darlene Neesham

Jim Putler

Bob Reavis

Worship Committee Worship Committee - Editors

After our Task Force completed its objectives, the Worship Team was formed to execute the plans to enhance your worship experience at IPC. This team, chaired by Worship Elder Pat Jeffries, held its first meeting Thursday March 1. Some changes in worship that were agreed to during the Task Force meetings were reviewed.

Changes already taking place include:

Alishan Merjanian was hired as the Worship Director.

The projector and screen were replaced by a 60” TV.

“Sharing of the Peace” during worship now requires the congregation to remain in the pews.

Other planned changes are:

Monthly meeting for the Worship Committee on the first Thursday of each month, in the McKowen Room at 7 PM

Sharing of the Peace will be at the end of the first song.

Share with the congregation when changes are being made and the reason for those changes.

Youths will usher on Communion Sundays.

Immediately following World War II, Protestant

churches in the U.S. made appeals for the relief

and construction of areas devastated by war,

primarily Europe and Asia. In 1949, the leaders

of several denominations formed a committee to

organize an appeal to support their churches’

separate campaigns.

A program called One Great Hour was broadcast

on March 26, 1949, over major networks and

many independent stations. The broadcast

closed with a request that listeners attend their

church the following morning and make a sacrifi-

cial contribution. No exact measure of receipts

was possible, but it was estimated that more

than 75,000 churches participated.

The next year, the offering was repeated using

the name “One Great Hour of Sharing” for the

first time. At times, “One Great Hour of Sharing”

was coordinated with both the Roman Catholic

Bishops’ Fund Appeal for Overseas Aid and the

Jewish Passover Appeal. Free time and space

were donated to this joint appeal through the

Advertising Council.

From the beginning, this has been an ecumeni-

cal effort. As denominations changed and

merged, “One Great Hour of Sharing” has varied

from eight to twenty-nine participating commun-

ions. While each denomination allocates it gifts

differently, all use their funds for ministry of dis-

aster relief, refugee assistance and development

aid. Today, projects supported by “One Great

Hour of Sharing” are under way in more than 100

countries, including the United States and

Canada. In recent years Presbyterians have

given about $10 million annually.

>> Collection at IPC will be in early April <<

“One Great Hour of Sharing” “One Great Hour of Sharing” -- Jeff Jaycox

John Tyler born to

Jeanette and Michael Santo

March 5, 2012

Anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ and has been baptized is welcome to partake of

the Lord’s Supper in our church. It is a gift from God for us who do not deserve it,

but who gratefully receive his love and his cleansing power. We prepare to receive

the bread and cup by confessing our sins and doing our utmost to patch up any

differences with other people. At IPC we celebrate communion on the first Sunday

of each month, and on Thursday mornings at 7:30 am in the Sanctuary.

Communion Communion —— Pastor BoylandPastor Boyland


Pastor: Rev. Michael Boyland

Chinese Pastor: Dick Hwang

Youth Ministries Director : Anh Truong

Children Ministries Director: Jeanette Beland

Music Director: Alishan Merjanian

Organist: Daniel Khuc

Office Manager; Frankie Cabral

Men’s Bible Study - Men meet with Pastor Michael at Bay Street Coffee Roasting Friday

mornings from 8 am to 9 am to discuss selected Bible sections. All men are welcomed.

Women's Bible Study - Topical Bible study will resume on Monday, March 5, 9:30-11am, in

the McKowen Room. We will be working on Chapter 6, Beatitudes, in our study book. Each chapter

is complete in itself; and new members are welcome to join us at any time.

Home Bible Study - Regularly scheduled bi-weekly Bible Classes will resume on Monday

March 12 at 7:00 pm at Mary Ellen’s house. We will be studying 1John.

Weekdays at IPC

Address: 4181 Irvington Avenue

P.O. Box 1336,

Fremont, CA 94538

Phone: (510) 657 3133

Email: [email protected]

Office Hours:

8:00 am —12:00 pm, Monday – Friday

Church DirectoryChurch Directory

Bible StudiesBible Studies

Irvington Presbyterian Church March, 2012

- Editors

Jeanette Ollison has passion and talent for working with young children. This she has pursued by

pioneering the establishment of the Hirsch Homework Club in 2006; and along with Harbor Light

Church, the Hirsch Kids Club in 2009. These clubs are housed at nearby Hirsch Elementary

School; and are two of our significant and successful children’s outreach ministries at IPC. When

she is not tutoring at the Homework Club or Kids Club, Jeanette recruits and trains other volun-

teers to work with the children at Hirsch.

Jeanette was born in Chicago IL, and moved to California with her husband, Greg, in 1984. She

worked in the health club industry for about 10 years; then joined her husband to start a family-run

commercial cleaning service in 1991. Jeanette honed her people skills

by undertaking the administrative functions of the business, making

sales calls and supervising employees. She describes this as “a true

family business” and remembers the joyful celebrations the family

shared as each new job contract was sold. Greg experienced serious

health problems in 2000 and while he recovered from surgery, Maisha

and Greg Jr., their two children, helped with operating the business.

Since Greg’s passing in 2004, the business continues to thrive under Jeanette’s watchful eye,

compassionate heart, and with help from Greg Jr. and Maisha.

Maisha graduated from UC Davis in 2008 and received a teaching credential from Cal Poly in

2011. During college, Maisha went on a two-month mission trip to Santa Monica to share her

faith. She also attended the first-ever Campus Crusade for Christ World Mission Conference held

in South Korea. She led many college Bible studies and discipled other students. By God’s provi-

dence, Maisha landed her first teaching job in the San Luis Obispo school district. While hiking

she saw a family taking pictures of one another and offered to take pictures of the whole family

together. After talking with the family for a while, she discovered that the father was the Superin-

tendent of the San Luis Obispo School District. Clearly impressed, he invited her to interview.

This chance meeting resulted in her acceptance of an offer to teach third grade in Morro Bay.

Greg Jr. studied business and economics at De Anza College. Jeanette is very grateful for his

continuing help in the family business, especially with the daily workload and heavy-duty projects.

Greg enjoys weight training, movies, music, and cooking.

Jeanette was baptized at age 9 when she was first brought to church. She received her confirma-

tion at age 14. The first time she felt true confirmation of her faith in Christ, however, was around

age 40. It was during a period of hardship fueled by her husband’s failing health and the stress of

running the family business. Jeanette came to IPC in 2004 where she was greeted by Murray’s

charming smile and winning personality as she entered the front door. Here she found a warm

and welcoming IPC faith family and felt right at home.

In addition to her ministries at Hirsch Elementary School, Jeanette served at IPC as stewardship

elder and deacon. She presently fills the role of Church Accountant and Office Manager relief.

Jeanette has found great fulfillment as well as spiritual growth through all of her work at IPC.

Knowing Your Congregation

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IRVINGTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

4181 Irvington Avenue

P.O. Box 1366

Fremont, CA 94538-0133

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Organization

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 52

Fremont, CA

Please Note: March 26 is the deadline for our April issue.

All articles are to be delivered in writing to the church office or by email to:

[email protected]. Cornerstone is the medium to keep your current

and past congregation members informed of all activities at IPC. Your

timely submissions are important to everyone.

We do appreciate the time and dedication of all We do appreciate the time and dedication of all

who submitted articles and provided information who submitted articles and provided information

for March. for March.

You play a significant role as we work together You play a significant role as we work together

in the name of Christ.in the name of Christ.

Kamroon and MustaphaKamroon and Mustapha

Your EditorsYour Editors

This month’s Cornerstone pictures This month’s Cornerstone pictures

were provided courtesy of were provided courtesy of Johnny Johnny

Handono, Peggy Handono and Handono, Peggy Handono and

Jeanette Ollison.Jeanette Ollison.

Color printing provided by Color printing provided by

Ken Ariathurai.Ken Ariathurai.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

March 2012 Cornerstone

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Transcript of March 2012 Cornerstone