St. John’s
CALL
St. John’s Presbyterian Church
2727 College Ave • Berkeley CA 94705 510.845.6830 November 10, 2010
It’s Stewardship
Season —
an opportunity
to renew your relationship with your church, your world,
the brightest part of your own soul.
Ten Benefits of Generous Giving
1. You “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.” – Matthew 6:20
2. The acts of giving, caring and helping make us feel better emotionally and physically.
3. Clinging to what we have and feeling we need more, creates a cycle of anxiety and apprehension.
4. The book “Healthy Pleasures” by psychologist Robert Ornstein & physician David Sobel describes the “helper’s high” of volunteers as a warm glow in the chest and a sense of vitality that comes from helping others, which they compare to the “runner’s high” of endorphins.
5. Our love for God is demonstrated by our willingness to do with less for God’s sake and the sake of our neighbor.
6. Harvard researchers demonstrated that just watching someone else in the act of giving boosts the immune system. Students watching a film of Mother Teresa tending the sick got an increase in immune function, even those who said they disliked her.
7. A 10 year study by Michigan researchers of 2700 people found that men who performed regular volunteer work had lower death rates than those who did not (2½ times lower!)
8.
It allows us to be masters of our
money, rather than having our money control
our lives.
9. “The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6.
10. Giving to others allows us to realize and appreciate the abundance we have.
Ryan, MJ, Copyright 2000, “The Giving Hart,” Conari Press
Love,
Pastor Max
November is Stewardship month!
Come to church and hear what stewardship is all about at St. John’s. We will have Stewardship "Minute for Mission" three Sundays in November starting the 7th. Watch your mailbox for the annual stewardship letter and pledge card for making a financial pledge to St. John’s for the upcoming calendar year.
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Be sure to sign the letter below after Worship, guided by David McPhail. St. John’s is joining the PCUSA’s campaign of advocacy to achieve changes in the actions of USAID (US Agency for International Development), as it seeks to provide aid to Haitian farmers.
To: U.S. Agency for International Development
I write to urge you to stop further shipments of donated hybrid seeds to Haiti in the aftermath of the January, 2010, earthquake. While boosting local food production is essential to the recovery of Haiti’s troubled agricultural sector, thousands of small farmers say that they do not want to become dependent upon foreign assistance to plant crops and prefer to plant indigenous seeds that are resistant to local diseases and do not require chemical pesticides. Does USAID intend to continue shipping seeds despite these objections?
While USAID’s efforts to stabilize Haiti’s farming sector are worthy, sections within your August, 2010, report, USAID Seed System Security Assessment in Haiti, raise questions about the legitimacy of introducing new varieties of seeds during emergencies or crises since “improved varieties” of seed do not guarantee performance. It reasons that farmers may not have the needed technology at hand, or, the seeds may not be readily adaptable to local conditions. (pg. 89) It also states that there are no short-term emergency seed problems in Haiti, apart from the inability of poor farmers to afford seed. (pg. 8) Temporarily subsidizing hybrid seeds at prices below that of local seeds does not resolve the longer term problem of seed costs for small farmers. Does this not put the needs of U.S. seed companies above those of Haitian farmers who have available seed for sale? It was not long ago that our government undercut Haitian rice farmers by marketing cheaper U.S. rice. How do we be certain that we do not make similar mistakes again?
I believe Haitian farmers ought to decide what seeds best meet their needs for building a sustainable local food system. I urge USAID to cease further distribution of hybrid seeds in Haiti, such as those donated last spring by the Monsanto Corporation. Since hybrids do not reproduce multiple times, traditionally independent farmers will have to buy new seeds for each planting season. Small farmers then run the risk of slipping further into poverty and debt, while seed and farming supply merchants have new business opportunities. Further, since Haitians traditionally eat their seed, it seems risky to distribute fungicide-coated varieties in a chaotic time when precautionary education may be sporadic.
USAID can support small farmers in Haiti by working more closely with them, particularly with organizations that represent the voices of farmers, such as the Peasant Movement of Papay. Farmers are asking for support of sustainable agricultural practices, such as environmental rehabilitation, erosion control, soil conservation and seed banking. We urge you to listen to small farmers and to engage in a careful process of consultation before shipping additional varieties of hybrid seeds into the Haitian market, else we repeat mistakes of the past.
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The East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC)'s Annual Dinner
Sunday, Nov 14, 5:15pm at St. John's. Come to celebrate EBSC's Community Development, Education and Leadership Program, its outreach programs in Haiti and Guatemala, and the Refugee Rights Program, which has just won its 1260th political asylum case. All are welcome. Donations will be requested at the door.
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A Fair Trade word to socially conscious shoppers:
Make a list of those folks whom you regularly enjoy gifting during the holidays. Bring it to Chocolate Sunday and we will have some lovely little gift bags to help you put together a delightful assortment – be it small or large. Pick up a handful of organic chocolate bars, or some boxes of interesting tea to use as hostess gifts. (Remember, we are selling at wholesale prices, no profit for us, but huge benefits in additional sales for the producers of these high-quality goods.) And don't forget – who would want to entertain without some fabulous fair trade coffee and tea and chocolate? We'll even have a topnotch brownie recipe! See you on Chocolate Sunday! —Marilyn Chilcote
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BOCA (Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action) Meeting to Introduce Police Chief Michael Meehan to the Community —Glenda Pawsey
On October 14, I attended this BOCA Community Meeting at Ebenezer Baptist Church. There was a large turnout, including many clergy and city officials. Two subjects were addressed: the towing and impoundment of cars of immigrants and violence in the community.
1) Testimony from immigrants from St. Joseph’s shared what happens to a family when their car is towed (If a person is stopped for a violation and cannot produce a license, the car is towed – undocumented immigrants cannot get a driver’s licenses): they must pay hundreds of dollars to get it back, they can’t get to a job, the children can’t get to school, no job = no money, food becomes scarce, they lose housing... Both Oakland and San Jose have programs to address the problem of towing. Chief Meehan pointed out that Berkeley’s policy has changed so that persons whose cars get towed can retrieve them the same day and there will be no storage fees attached. He agreed to BOCA’s request to look into the programs of Oakland and San Jose. The City of Berkeley is considering a program called “Lifelines Initiative” to address violence in our community. This program was developed by Dr. James Marshall who was there to present it to us. It is a comprehensive strategy of data and crime analysis, strong collaboration among agencies, street workers and job development. Chief Meehan, representatives of the Mayor’s office, and a City Council representative all committed to finding resources for this program and to training staff.
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Youth ministry for grades 7-12 meets this Sunday Nov. 14 after the Simple Gospel. Plan for participation in the Christmas Pageant, use of money raised for homeless children at the haunted house, and a recreation activity for our group.
All children and youth of the church and parents are invited to a brief meeting in the Sproul room immediately after the worship service this Sunday, November 14 to discuss plans and preparation schedule for the Christmas Pageant to be presented at worship December 12.
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New opportunity for service at St. John's
A team of volunteer event managers is being organized to assist at the many concerts and special events held at St. John's. Enjoy concerts, meet and greet visitors, and save the church the expense of hiring extra staff. See or call Fred Harvey, at (510) 843-8469 to join the team.
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Women at the Well meets on Saturday, Nov. 27, at 8:30 am in the church office.
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Flick Flak will meet Friday, Dec. 3, for a potluck at 6:30pm. The films to see are "The Social Network" still at the UA Berkeley and the Cerrito and/or "Hereafter" at the Shattuck and the Grand Lake. Note the date change from our usual fourth Friday.
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More volunteers needed for the big game!
Big Game is Sat, Nov 20 at 12:30. We need two or three more helpers. One 10:30-12:45: one 12:30-2:45pm; one from 2:30-about 5:00 (1/2 hour after game ends). Please call me ASAP: cell 510-384-5777 (# in the directory is wrong). I will be out of town until two days before Big Game, but can be reached on my phone. Thank you, thank you! We'll also need three to four volunteers for Washington game, Sat, Nov. 27, after Thanksgiving. Game time has not yet been set. —Claudia Cate
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Prime Timers
Nov 16 10:30 Blood pressure screening by Roma Arellano
Nov 23 11:00 Shirley Pan will show her pictures of Northern Spain
Nov 30 11:00 Granville Coggs will speak.