St. John’s CALL St. John’s Presbyterian Church 2727 College Ave • Berkeley CA 94705 510.845.6830  • May 5, 2010 http://stjohnsberkeley.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Mother’s Day this coming Sunday! And that means:  Men bring the food for coffee hour!  Also bring (if not to church on Sunday, before to the office) items for Berkeley's Women's Daytime Shelter: toiletries, $10 gift cards to Target, Trader Joe's, Safeway.  No clothing this time. For information, go to www.womensdropin.org.

 

     About the immigration issues escalating in the news:

Several of us went over to the old city hall for a rally for comprehensive immigration reform.  I have studied and lived issues surrounding immigration for many years and learned that immigration concerns run in cycles.  About every ten or fifteen years reform is needed.  Now is one such time.  One of the ministers, Rev. Leslie White of St. Paul AME, shared the fact that if we are not Indians, we are all immigrants.  He shared the poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, which is found on the Statue of Liberty. On this Memorial Day, may we remember those who have worked and died for our nation, and more importantly, the ideals which make her great:

 

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

 

Work Day at St. John's Saturday, May 8.  Come for breakfast goodies and stay to help out as needed or able! 9:30am-1:00pm. (Bring your own tools.)

 

The ever-popular Flick Flak will meet on Friday, May 28, at 6:30 pm, for a potluck, in the Campbell Reception Room.  "The Ghost Writer" is the film to see for discussion, playing at the Shattuck.  If you haven't seen the movie, come anyway!

 

Women at the Well will meet Saturday, May 29, 8:30-10:30am in the church office. Come for friendship, comfort and support for your concerns, hopes or dreams!

 

Our own Charles Lee, attorney and accomplished concert pianist,
will perform Tuesday evening, May 11, 8:00pm at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek (1/2 block east of Rossmoor entrance)

 

Bach       Prelude, E-flat minor

Shostakovich    Prelude, E--flat minor

Rachmaninoff    Prelude, G minor

Chopin          Prelude, F# major

Debussy    Prelude (Book 2), la terrasse

Debussy    Prelude (Book 2), feux d'artifice

 

Charles will also accompany Sara Couden, onetime teen at St. John's, in songs by DuParc and Vivaldi.

 

Presbyterians Today

Be sure to pick up both the April and May magazines in the narthex, or on the table outside the office.

     The April issue talks about ways that the church helps with health issues, including parish nurses, good health prevention for young people, and being with those of us who need care.

     The May issue covers world mission in Pakistan, Columbia, Armenia and Vietnam, along with the history and philosophy of present day Missions.  Be sure to read comments by Vernon Boyles III on Israel/Palestine relations. 

     Reminder: Women’s Bible Study, Thursday, May 13, 2010, noon to 2:00pm Lesson 7: “God’s Concern for Justice: The Cities of Refuge.” Read Joshua 20:1-9; 21:13-41, in which scripture shows us that justice is a mandate from God for all who wish to live faithful lives. We’ll learn about “asylum cities,” and discuss jealousy and revenge. Bring your lunch and your Bible.

     Starting next September!  “Journeys Through Revelation:  Apocalyptic Hope for Today.”  You are invited to join us at Women’s Bible Study to study about Revelation.   I hope there are some of you who are available in the daytime to come for this excellent study.  If you are unable to be with us, but would like to study the Horizons material on your own, please let me know so that I can include you in the order for materials.  Here is the description of the study:

In recent years, an enormous prophesy industry has marketed frightening images and interpretations of the book of Revelation, leaving many Christians intimidated by this amazing, often misunderstood book.  Although brimming with mysterious symbolism, Revelation ultimately is a book of hope that sustains those who are oppressed.  In the nine lessons of this study we will be led to a renewed creation in which God comes to live with us on earth.  This hope-filled vision speaks to us in the midst of the urgent crises of our day.  In a time when all creation stands at a turning point, Revelation can help guide the choices we make as we seek to live into the renewal that God promises for our world.      

                                 —Call Marietta Harvey,

 

Even though, Spring and Summer certainly call us outdoors

Make that special effort to fill your place in the pews (and with a friend) so as not to miss a beautiful service and a chance to support other attendees! Upcoming sermons, events, Sunday Forums:

May 9     Free-trade Chocolate Sunday (also coffee/tea)!  A last-minute gift for     Mom which supports small farm cooperatives across the world.

May 16    Play: "Leaps and Bounds – Faith, Ecology and the Global Economy"
          by Tevyn East—an exciting one-woman show, not to be missed!

          St. John’s Car Wash following Worship

May 23    All-church retreat!  John McEntyre will preach at St. John’s

May 30    “Is Jesus the only way?”

June 6    “Love of self and love of other, strong identity vs.

          relativism, how do we find a balance?”

June 13   “What about sex?!!!!”

 

Unless you feel your eternal life has already kicked in: Consider an Advance Directive (also known as a Living Will) to advise your loved ones on your wishes. You can spare your family confusion and heartache by specifying how you would like to be treated in any event that might prolong or end your life against your will. See this website for a downloadable California form, and start the conversation with your folks now:  Download Your State's Advance Directives.  

 

Martha and Howard Perdue have a new phone number: (510) 647-9232

 

Please help St. John’s honor your presence by paying your own per capita tax:  $28 per member. 60% goes to operating costs of the SF Presbytery; 22% to General Assembly; 18% to the Synod of the Pacific. Please mark “per capita tax” on your check and drop it in the offering plate or mail it to the church office.  Thank you!

 

Retraction! It has been brought to the attention of your CALL editor that the advice recently printed for a presumed heart attack/stroke (cough, cough) is not a good idea, after all!  So if you're feeling symptoms, call 911, sit down and be quiet till help arrives.

 

Prime Timers for May

4    12:00     Lunch will be served. Birthdays celebrated.

11   10:30     Blood pressure screening by Roma Arellano

     11:00     Book Talk: Hideko Winans and Helen Betts will discuss their recently             published books

18   11:00     Diana Bohn’s video

25        To Be Announced