St John's Call
June 3, 2010
Hi Folks, I want to share with you the exciting new energy
being generated by your Session.
We have begun conducting all our business in a a half-hour, then we use the next hour and a half to discuss and ask guidance for where God is calling us to go for the future. The format alone is refreshing. I will be leading a group of people to El Salvador and Guatemala for the second half of June. We will be visiting Feliciana's home and the clinic in Xicauic.
There were some problems there and they lost their nurse. But the two teenage girls who had been working with the nurse began to open and serve the community themselves! So we will go and reaffirm St. John's commitment to a nurse and the clinic. We are also considering funding education for the girls in nursing school. John McEntyre, Rebeca Harrison and the McKenzies will be leading worship while I am away.
We had a wonderful retreat down in Aptos last weekend. I want to thank Linda Bostjanick and David McPhail for their work, and Bob and Marilyn for leading worship while we (including Todd) were away.
Your Pastor would like to encourage all of you to attend the forum following worship on June 13. Christians and non-Jews in general simply do not understand the depth of racism both historically and culturally and how it affects Jewish people. As we pray and work for peace in Palestine and Israel, and as we interrelate with Jews in our community, it is important that we inform ourselves about words and perspectives we might consider harmless or “simple Christianity” but which carry historical baggage that makes the Jewish community uneasy.
June 13 Sunday Forum, following the church service, Fireside Room, 11:30am: "The system of anti-Semitism: how anti-Jewish oppression serves power" We'll explore the system of anti-Semitism, paying particular attention to the struggle for peace and justice in Israel/Palestine. How does this system support the status quo? How can gentile allies help end it? About the speaker . . . Glen Hauer is a long-time activist for Peace and Justice in the Middle East. He has participated in several international Healing from War workshops in Warsaw and the former death camps at Auschwitz and Birkinau, Poland. He now serves as country coordinator of that event for the western United States. He worked for fifteen years as civil rights attorney, and is an active member of his San Francisco synagogue.
Pastor Max
Some Highlights from Session's (new and improved) meeting May 18:
1. Diane Morrison was welcomed into membership of St. John's by certificate of transfer.
2. Current membership: Active - 136; Inactive - 3; Baptized - 7.
Montclair Church hosts forum on global land grab Anuradha Mittal, internationally known activist and speaker on food and economics, will talk about Oakland Institute's new report "(Mis)Investment in Agriculture: The Role of the International Finance Corporation in the Global Land Grab" at Montclair Presbyterian Church on Friday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m. The event is open to public.
Land grabs, the purchase or lease of vast tracts of land from poor, developing countries by wealthier nations and private investors, has led to the acquisition of nearly 50 million hectares of farmland. Rising food prices, demand for biofuels, and investors seeking quick returns have been cited as the principal drivers of this activity. However, the World Bank's private lending arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC) has been key in promoting this trend. The result in economically vulnerable countries is the undermining of independent small farming and increased hunger in local populations. Mittal's talk will also address what can be done to combat these takeovers.
Mittal established the Oakland Institute, a progressive policy think tank, in 2004. She is author of numerous books and articles and opinion pieces published in major newspapers. She regularly appears on television and radio shows around the world. Mittal was named as the 2008 Most Valuable Progressive Thinker by the Nation magazine.
Women’s Bible Study, Thursday, June 10, 2010, noon to 2 pm. Lesson 9: The Challenge of God’s Covenant.. Read Joshua 23:14-24:28. Just as God called Joshua and the Israelites to covenant relationships, we, too are responsible for cultivating faithful relationships with God and all creation.
Bring your lunch and your Bible. Also, please bring your ideas for this lesson; in my first reading I found it confusing, will bring some other ideas for our time together
—Marietta Harvey, 510.843.8469.
Flick Flak will meet on Friday, June 25, at 6:30 pm, for a potluck, in the Campbell Reception Room. The films to see are "The Secret in Their Eyes" currently at the Albany and "Doctors Without Borders" coming to the Elmwood.
Please let family. friends, and neighbors know that space and camperships as needed are available for Camp Elmwood August 9-13. Please pick up flyers to post and applications in the narthex.
Outdoor BBQ on July 25th! We need volunteers to coordinate the BBQ, buy meat and stuff to grill, buns for hamburgers/ hotdogs/ veggieburgers, paper products, ketchup, mustard, relish etcAlso someone to do the BBQing! The rest will be a salad & dessers potluck. It's never to early to plan ahead! Contact Lois Andiloro with your enthusiastic desire to do stuff!
Please let family. friends, and neighbors know that space and camperships as needed are available for Camp Elmwood August 9-13. Please pick up flyers to post and applications in the narthex.
Prime Timers for June
8 10:30 Blood pressure screening by Roma Arellano
12:00 Lunch will be served. Birthdays celebrated
15
11:00 Diana
Bohn will show a video of Maria Martinez making pottery
in New Mexico
22 11:00 Shirley Pan will show pictures of her recent trip to Guatemala.
29 To Be Announced!
St. John's Presbyterian Church
2727
College Avenue
Berkeley,
California 94705