From the Pastor

Solid energy moving through St. John’s these days!

Great thanks to Sarah Williams, Todd, and all of Troop 6 for the exceptional participation of the Boy Scouts this morning.

                   We have the Snow trip this weekend and both Karen and I will be hard at work in Tahoe, praying for snow.  I will be sorry to miss worship which promises to be wonderful, We have the privilege of having Reverend Etienne Indedi (I’m unsure about the spelling of his name) from the Egliese Franco American (I am sure this spelling is wrong) or the French African Church.  He is newly ordained and stepping in as pastor after Rev. Patrice.  You can be sure with his charismatic strength, he will preach the Good News.  Thanks to Bob and Marilyn for their trustworthy pastoral volunteer work.  They will help out with the liturgy. 

                   Dixieland Jazz on Feb. 12 and new members joining.  Sunday Forum that day will be a tape from the Sabeel Conference held here at St. John’s a few years ago; “Christian Zionism and the Theology of Empire”. This explores the relationship of conservative Christians with Israel.  Some believe that before Christ returns, the temple must be built.  Therefore they promote the most extreme actions of settlers and Israeli policy. 

Feb 19 we will focus on God’s Word in relation to global warming.

Feb 25 we will have our annual meeting.  All are welcome even if you don’t have a contribution to the potluck!  This is a meeting where we review 2011 in the life of St. John’s, and approve the pastor’s terms of call. 

Lent is coming up.  I have been wrestling with something to get pumped up to preach.  A surprising number of people ask about Hell!  So I have been having a fun time reading about Hell, Satan, the Devil, etc… in preparation for a series of sermons.  I don’t think I have ever heard a progressive Christian preacher speaking on Hell and the Devil.  I can’t wait to see what I might be lucky enough to come up with!

On a totally different plane, I will also be leading a book study of Barbara Brown Taylor’s book “An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith” (HarperOne 2009 and HarperAudio 2010. New York Times Bestseller:

"With calm confidence and hard won humility, Barbara Brown Taylor continues to serve our recovery of a whole faith, a performed faith, a lifesaving and life-giving faith. With a delightfully deft touch, she replaces a wide array of false dichotomies with true coherencies. The heart of her matter—and of ours—is finally a recovery of genuine prayer, the prayer of a heart awakened to God’s Presence—here, and now, and ever."

                                                                                                            —Scott Cairns

Author of “Short Trip to the Edge: Where Earth Meets Heaven—A Pilgrimage”

                  Barbara is probably the most quoted preacher in America.  She has an incredible gift of story, which expresses a deep and yet simple faith. I review many well known preachers in preparation for my own work each week.  Of all of them, this is the preacher I would most hope to emulate.  Apparently I am not alone.  If you join the group and read, I am sure you will join my hope.  Keep your ears peeled for options of time for the class. 

Think Sequoia!  Youth Mission Trip coming up!

                                                                                                                                                 Love, Pastor Max

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Save the date! for St. John's ALL-CHURCH RETREAT May 18-20! at Redwood Glen, just outside Pescadero.  Handicapped accessible, our own fire pit, big swimming pool, beautiful setting!  Anyone who wants to go, will go! More details to follow!

                                                                                          —Martha Perdue, Christian Education Commission

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Horizons Bible Study, Thursday, February 3, 2012, noon to 2pm.  Bring your lunch and your Bible.  Marietta Harvey, 510-843-8469.  Lesson 6: Matthew 5:8; Psalm 24; Psalm 51:1-12. Greatly Honored Are The Pure in Heart!  Jesus upholds those who, with genuine hearts, wrestle with God, are changed, and live in a way that strengthens the whole people of God.

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Where have all the pledge envelopes gone?  Our shipment of new pledge envelopes has gone missing (or perhaps wasn't ordered this year).  If you know your pledge number from last year, kindly write it in the memo section of your check.  You may either fold your check in half and place in the offering plate or use a blank envelope of your choice.  If you don't remember your pledge number, don't worry!  Elisay, our fine Financial Secretary, will find your number as she processes the collection.  You can speak to Lynne Royer or Elisay Digiuseppe if you forget your pledge number.  Many members have requested no envelopes in recent years.  Perhaps this is an opportunity for us to go without and not order in the future.  If you do prefer envelopes, please let Lynne or Elisay know.  _______________________________________________________

Flick Flak will meet for a potluck at 6:30pm on Friday, Feb. 3, in the Campbell Recep-tion Room.  The film to see is "The Iron Lady" playing at the Albany and the Grand Lake.

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St. John's member William Harvey will be featured soloist with the Oakland East Bay Symphony at the Paramount Theater at 8:00pm Friday, February 24 performing Mieczslaw Weinberg's 1967 Trumpet Concerto. William has arranged for a block of discounted tickets which may be ordered by contacting Marietta or Fred Harvey at (510) 843-8469. Also on the program are Suite for Chamber Orchestra by Erwin Schulhoff and Beethoven's Third Symphony "Eroica."

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The Literature Club's next meeting will be on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 2:30pm in the Fireside Room.  We will discuss "A River Runs Through It” and other stories by Norman Maclean,  All are welcome.

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Women at the Well will meet on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 8:30am in the Church Office.

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A pat on the back for Marietta, for ardently promoting an important cause

I’ve been inspired by watching Marietta Harvey over the years. I'm particularly impressed by her tenacity in working for single-payer healthcare. The idea is simple: medical bills all get submitted to the same place. Usually that would be a government, and Marietta has been working with lots of other people for more than 30 years to get such a bill passed in California.

                  I sit with her on the Mission and Justice Commission and she is frequently reminding us that up to 30% of our medical costs now go to insurance companies, those who administer them and those who invest in them. Under a single-payer program, Medicare for example, administrative costs are reduced to 3-5%. Similar programs are in place all over Europe.  The quality of medical care in the United States falls far short of most of the rest of the developed world. This is a fact! And Marietta doesn't let us forget it.

                  It's good to have a nurse in our corner; she doesn't let us give up hope. This is one of those causes whose time has come and I hope we can all get behind Marietta Harvey to work for better, and less expensive medical care for our brothers and sisters.

                                                                                                            —Marilyn Chilcote

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What is the Deacon’s Fund, for which St. John’s asks contributions?  The first Sunday of every month which does not request a different offering, we hope you will place a contribution to the Deacon’s Fund in one of those little green envelopes in the pews.  Donations provide emergency support for people who come to our church seeking help.  (You should know that whenever possible, Pastor Max asks some work from them in exchange, but we hope not to turn down someone in great distress for immediate financial assistance. )

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What groups receive financial support from the Mission and Justice Commission of St. John’s?  Near the end of last year Mission and Justice sent “benevolence” checks to 19 groups and organizations in the Bay area, in recognition and support of their work alleviating poverty, improving health and life prospects, promoting justice.  In coming issues, The CALL will describe those recipients to you so you can see how your pledges and contributions to our church help to meet needs and carry the love of God into the world—and just down the block.

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Do you know who your deacon is?  You are especially cared for, and prayed for, by someone at St. John’s especially commissioned to participate in your well-being!  If you don’t know who that person is, call Gail Peterson (510.527.3863) for better connection to the “on-site angel” looking out for you!

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A Just Peace In Israel / Palestine, March 23-24, 2012

A Regional Conference Sponsored by the North American Friends of Sabeel

at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

If you care about peace, if you are looking for an opportunity to get first-hand information about life in Palestine, if you want to hear experts discuss the latest proposals for Palestinian statehood, attend this conference! No matter how much or how little you already know, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to learn and get involved in peace initiatives.

                  Friends of Sabeel - North America (FOSNA) is a non-profit Christian ecumenical organization seeking justice and peace in the Holy Land through non-violence and education. FOSNA works in the U.S. and Canada to support the vision of Sabeel, cultivating the support of American churches through co-sponsored regional educational conference, alternative pilgrimage, witness trips, and international gatherings in the Holy Land. Sabeel is an international peace movement initiated by Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land, who seek a just end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.

                  Register online on the FOSNA website: www.fosna.org/content/sunnyvale-ca-conference-march-23-24-2012   For more information about the conference, speakers, and workshop titles, check out the conference website at:www.barriers-conference.org

See the following page for information about a class by Ann Wire at Calvary Presbyterian...