CALLSt. John’s Presbyterian Church2727 College Ave • Berkeley CA 94705 510.845.6830January 28, 2010
2010 at St John’s: VisionMay the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you o Lord, our rock and redeemer.Discernment calls for prayer and study. Where have we come from? Where are we now? Where are we going? Clearly we as a congregation, as the Presbyterian Church, as citizens and a nation, as a species on planet earth, we are in a time of transition. Economic upheaval, health care, the earthquake in Haiti, two wars have made it tough for a new president to get his footing. Over the last year and a half a large number of our young families moved, following jobs or cheaper housing. A tremendous effort was exerted responding to emergencies in the facility, and to preparing for the incoming Maybeck High School. Great work was accomplished; the school is in and doing great. We have a balanced budget approved for 2010. Thank you for your faithfulness to the spiritual home and mission ministry of your church. Personal health issues have been significant, as some beloved have joined with the Spirit of heaven and some have fought back for another blessed round. Kids have grown up, bringing with them a beautiful new style of energy and challenges. Where is God and to where is God calling us now? So what are we to say about all this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Lent: Starting Ash Wed, Feb. 17 and every Wednesday through Lent we will share together the introspective, scriptural meditation practice of Lectio Divina. Jason Guy, intern, and David McPhail leading. We will share soup and bread together. Yum!The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle. (Early) Morning Book Study, Friday March 5, 12, 19, featuring fruit, pastry and good discussion about life, history, and the Church. 8am in the Pastor’s Study. This is a brief overview of multiple social and cultural changes in our era, their relation and similarities to previous paradigm shifts like the Reformation, and their impact on the North American Church. Tickle, a journalist, historian and Christian does an amazing job of painting a big picture with few words. I would hope that even those who cannot pull themselves out of bed so early may pick up the book and read it themselves. There is much to be learned about the historical context of the Protestant Reformation and our current emerging church. Who does God call you and us to be in this context, in this church?Work Day: Saturday, Feb. 6 at 9:30amAnnual Meeting: Feb. 21 after Church for the purpose of receiving the 2009 annual report and approving the pastor’s Call. Pot Luck. We need a saint to volunteer to receive information and type it. Talk to pastor Max if you feel so inspired. January 31 deadline for submissions.Love,Pastor MaxMark your calendars! May 21-22-23 for our all-church retreat! This year we will have our retreat at a new location—Monte Toyon in Aptos. It’s a lovely retreat center, only 4 miles from the ocean but in the redwoods. The facilities appear to be very appropriate for all of us (entirely accessible) and very beautiful. Watch for more details throughout the spring!!!!!
Women at the Well will meet Saturday, January 30, 8:30am in the church office. If you haven’t enjoyed this get-together, get started! The depth and height of shared experiences will warm and encourage you in your own. Energize your new year!You can help just by taking a walk You’re invited to participate in an organizational meeting next Tuesday, Feb 2, 7:00-8:00 pm at Berkeley United Methodist Church 1710 Carlton Ave. (below ML King Jr. for the…
First annual Berkeley CROP Hunger Walk
Sunday afternoon (2 pm), April 25, 2010
A 5 K walk starting at YEAH Shelter/ Lutheran Church of the Cross and stopping by Berkeley sites where the community is serving the homeless.
To benefit hungry people throughout the world through Church World Service,
and locally YEAH and Dorothy Day House (25% of the funds raised).More info at: http://www.crophungerwalks.org/berkeley/
Walk goal: 20 congregations/organizations/ 200 walkers, $20,000 raised!
The English Literature Seminar will discuss the first half of Willa Cather's Nebraska novel, "My Antonia," at the February meeting, which will be held on the first Thursday of the month (Feb 4) at 2:30pm in the Campbell Reception Room. All are welcome, especially former Nebraskans!
Church Women United, Berkeley Albany Unit. . .
will meet at St. John's, Friday, February 5, 9:30 a.m., in the Fireside Room. The program will be the Bible Study preparation for World Day of Prayer, to be held March 5, at McGee Avenue Baptist Church. Pastor Sarah Isakson of Lutheran Church of the Cross will lead the Bible Study.The next Water Into Wine will be held on Saturday, February 20, 5- 8pm at the home of Martha and Howard Perdue! “Be there or be square!” Questions/RSVP or not: Howard and Martha
All youth of the church are invited to join a youth chorus to present an anthem as part of the Easter Service. There will be four half-hour rehearsals with Todd Jolly after church, 11:30 to 12:00, February 14, 28 and March 14, 28 in the choir room.Flick Flak will meet on Friday, February 26, at 6;30pm for a potluck (somewhere at present unknown in the church!) The movies to see and develop opinions on for sharing are "The White Ribbon" currently at the Albany, and "Invictus" playing at the Oaks and United Artists Emery Bay.
Women’s Worship Service will be held on Sunday, March 7. Would you like to help plan or participate? Please let me or Claudia Cate know. We have material from Horizons Magazine to use, and some ideas already. Here’s a chance to try drama or other arts in worship. Marietta Harvey and Claudia Cate
Youth of the church are planning a sleepover at the church. . .Saturday March 13 through Sunday Morning March 14. Come any time after 5:00pm Saturday and plan to stay through church on Sunday morning. This sleepover is for all youth of the church through grade 12. For information see Fred Harvey or Kathy Pratt.
Inform yourself,
learn the facts transform your thinking, prepare for action
A Time for Truth, A Time for Action: Palestine/Israel & the U.S.
at the Crossroads,
a Major Regional Conference, March 5-6, 2010,
First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo, 72 Kensington Road, San Anselmo
Sponsored by Bay Area Friends of Sabeel
Sabeel, Arabic for The Way, is an international peace movement initiated by Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land. Sabeel seeks a just peace for Palestinians in Palestine/Israel and promotes the theological, moral, and legal principles set forth in the Jerusalem Sabeel Document, which may be reviewed at www.fosna.org. Friends of Sabeel-North America (FOSNA) works in the United States and Canada to support the vision of Sabeel. For more information—speakers and workshops, cost—contact FOSNA at friends@fosna.org or 503.653.6625. Bay Area Friends of Sabeel is an affiliate of FOSNA. To participate in this important event, once held at St. John’s, contact Glenda Pawsey or Fred Goff.
From your editor: many, many thanks, with love, for all the kind words and wishes for a speedy recovery. Speedy probably isn’t advisable, but I’m getting there on the wings of many sweet people!
Upcoming Sunday ForumsFeb 7 Report from Sarah and Xahil about the Environmental Youth Congress in Bolivia.
Feb 14 A new 3-part series on the Psalms led by Pastor Max
Feb 21 St. John’s Annual Meeting
Feb 28 Psalms series continues
Mar 14 3-part series on the Atonement by Dr. Bruce Willats.
New for Lenten preparation: 2 weekday classes
(1) An early morning book study (see CALL cover)
(2) The other class begins on Ash Wednesday at 5:30 prior to the service at 6:30 and continues the next five Wednesdays from 6-7 pm. This class will be based on an ancient Christian form of meditation using scripture: six passages from the gospel readings during Lent. The class will be led by Jason Guy and David McPhail.
Want to help out right now? Remember you always have the opportunity of helping with the purchasing, preparing and serving of a dinner to 50+ folks on the last Thursday of the month at the GRIP Family Shelter in Richmond. Contact David McPhail.
It's not too early
to make summer plans!
Camp Elmwood offers
Teen Leadership Camp
for ages 13-18 will be August 2-6.
Camp Elmwood for ages 5-13
and Teen Counselors
ages 13-18 will be August 9-13