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A few Odds and Ends
• Our after-school program is off and running with energy and enthusiasm. Each week it has grown by a couple. of kids. My eternal gratitude goes out to Don Rising.
• This Sunday is World Communion Sunday. We will be celebrating our unity in Spirit with breads and dress from around the world. Also, we will have with us Julie Dunsmore, PC USA Mission Representative in Peru .
• Immediately after worship I will be heading over to Mission Presbyterian Church to preach and administer communion. I am the Committee on Ministry liaison for the congregation and am helping them out while they are without a pastor.
• On October 14 we will be receiving new members in worship. Come and enjoy the celebration!
• Thankfully, we are making our budget. Thank you all for your faithful giving. It is the time of year that we prepare for next year's budget. Start planning your giving now. This is a great church and I give thanks and praise to God that She has called you into this amazing ministry.
• See Charlie' Dewitt’s article on Grounds and Facilities, inside. That commission has a long list of projects they are slowly making progress on.
A Reflection on Home Visits
I want to give a shout to those folks who are unable to make it to worship. The last two weeks we took communion to Bob and Alexa Kubick, Mary Bert, Mary Scales, Margo Wonder, Louise and Tom Sperb, Dick and Betty Hall, Helene Nixon, Kathryn Oberlander, and Virginia Keilch. Also always in our prayers are Roger Bales, Marian Combs (moved to San Jose), Vic Decker (in Santa Rosa), Don Dod (moved near his other daughter on East Coast), Mary Rarick, Margaret Emmington, Frances Ann Hamblin, Florence Stevenson, Mary Williams, Shirley McGinnis (Washington), Olga Leino, Lorraine Knight, Donna Eadie, Lynne Davisson (Oregon).
What strikes me as I visit with folks is how different everyone is. How magnificent is God that we receive this gift of such amazing diversity. One person has a thing for flowers, another for poetry. One is a faithful Bears fan while another is an artist with paintings that help you see the world with new eyes. A couple shares tender love that is all the more beautiful given the difficulties of aging. A blown-up home picture of the Sierra tells the story of scouting and family trips.
It is a gift to enter someone's home. Each person's place says something about our unique personalities, about our spirit. I am not talking about clutter. I don't go to see people hoping they are not humans without bodies or bathrooms or stuff. Actually, I love the way a certain person places their newspapers on the kitchen table, the stack of books on the dresser, the smell of a certain kind of soap or cleaning solution, the grandchild's toy in the corner. The loveseat whose beauty and memory outweighs the lack of comfort, the lounge chair whose comfort outweighs its looks, the folding chair I get to pull out of the closet. I love that you love cards or birds, National Geographic or biography. I like to try and anticipate how I will find you. More than happy or sad, enthusiastic or tired. I know that since I am dropping in you might not be in the best of moods or even awake. No big deal, I can come back.
More than those feelings, I like to anticipate your own personality's responses and feelings, where you will be and what you will be doing. Margo likes to sit in her wheelchair and watch soap operas or game shows, and she has a group of ducks that waddle by her window. It takes her eyes four or five seconds to relay who this unusual figure is at the door, and then I get to see that smile that is all Margo. Bob is at the desk down the hall where he stashes the newspaper so nobody else will snag it. Helene likes to cook, play piano, or sit on her back porch under the giant cedar and watch the flowers and birds. Louise and Tom share a house but each has a favorite spot. I know their house by the multicolored rocks that make up their patio foundation. I know that if I come to the door and can see that Tom is not in his chair with his feet on the couch, they are probably not home, or not in a position in which they want to be bothered. I love the way Alexa speaks Russian, and Bob holds her hand.
Sometimes I feel what is missing in spaces, or what the space is not. A husband no longer sits in HIS chair, but the chair still holds him. The stuffed bear doesn't quite fit in the new place. I love how you shape new space; how after the anxiety of moving into a place and saying goodbye to another, the new space slowly starts to reflect who you are. The picture of Dick Hall running in Greece . Don's dinky patio was soon billowing over with orchids, watered by a retracting controlled nozzle sprayer. On the other side of town, the small ornate pieces of art from around the world, placed just so, just like they were at home, reveal a vision neatly, at times nervously contained, but also deep and compassionate.
I love your feistiness, your tenacity, the way you bitch and moan in your own personal way. I love the way you change the subject, and the subject you change it to. When someone comes with me I love to see the difference in the greetings we receive. As a pastor I usually get an extra dose of reverence or respect, with the common (what I take as a compliment) reminder that I am more "down to earth" than most ministers, so people feel free to be less reverential or respectful. Certainly I get to experience the kind of joy and anticipation that parents have as they watch their children grow, struggle and thrive. I feel you rooting for me and the church. And I have seen a few of you go through a thing or two in these last few years, so there is that connection of building trust and love. The expression you have for my fellow visitor often tells a history, of things unknown to me. I love that I get to hop onboard your story, the story of St. John's , of family and friendship, tribulation and triumph, coffee hours, Session meetings and youth group car pools. You have been through wars and discovery, building campaigns and People's Park. You have raised kids together and helped each other in loss. You have been annoyed with one another and loved still. You have seen ministers come and go. You remain the Church.
Eternally yours, Pastor Max
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From St. John 's Grounds and Facilities Commission: Charlie Dewitt
Big things
are happening with the Grounds and Facilities at
St. John's ! We have several centennial
projects that are being discussed. Among these, the kitchen renovation,
fire alarm system, and sound system upgrades are shaping up to be some
of the biggest projects we've seen in years. We are also
discussing the installation of new doors for the fireside room and
elsewhere around the exterior of the building. Anyone with suggestions for
the kitchen renovation, or other projects is encouraged to give us input.
Let us know what you think while we are still in the early phase
of this exciting process! Costs and priorities need to be
set before we move forward. Anyone who would like to give
suggestions is encouraged to drop a note in the church office to
the attention of Grounds and Facilities.
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Women’s Bible Study. Read Jonah Chapter 1. . .
in which the prophet Jonah disobeys God, takes a ship going in the opposite direction from the wicked city of Nineveh (to which he's been assigned), is caught in a violent storm, thrown overboard by reluctant pagan sailors at his own request in order to stop the storm, and ends up safe inside a large fish for three days. Thursday, October 11, 2007, noon to 2pm. Bring your Bible, your September/October Horizons Magazine and your lunch. Marietta Harvey , 510-843-8469.
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Remember your Name Tag? Suggestion from Women at the Well: Help new people and those of us who have trouble remembering names by wearing your name tag for Sunday Services. If you need a new one, please let the office know.
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Flick Flak is changing dates for the next couple of months.
No get-together during October. Instead, this ever-popular film discussion potluck will meet on Friday, November 2 and Friday, November 30 (one of those long months), 6:30pm in the Campbell Reception Room. One film only for November 2, "In the Valley of Elah." Please see, and come to share your response and ideas!
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Love Bridge? Here's a great chance to play again!
Irene and Robert Krones are starting a once-a-month bridge club meeting at St. John's Senior Center ! (Check the Prime Timers schedule on the reverse.) For more information, contact Irene.
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David McPhail invites you to a very special party on Oct. 20 at 7pm
This is a fundraiser for the School of the Americas Watch, East Bay . The party will be at the Uptown Body Shop, 401 26th St. , between Telegraph and Broadway in Oakland .
"I remember a time many moons ago when my wife Irene and I had a fundraiser at our house for Walter Mondale during one of the presidential debates. It was suggested that we invite ten friends and ask them for $50, but knowing our friends we asked 50 to bring $10. And that is what SOAWatch is doing with this event. There will be food and music and dancing, a silent auction and very few speeches. There will also be good fellowship with a lot of workers for peace and justice. I count you in that number and hope you can join us."
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Update on pledge income...
August year-to-date pledge monies (regular pledge not including capital campaign) received total $131,900. Our full year budget for pledge income is $190,000 so we are mostly on track to make our budget. Pledge statements were distributed last month. If you are behind on your pledge, please do what you can to catch up and fulfill your pledge amount by year-end. Our balanced budget is depending on you!
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Stewardship season is upon us!
You will be hearing from Martha Perdue and Lynne Royer over the next month about stewardship. Martha would like to emphasize being present in worship as a form of stewardship. Stewardship letters will be in the mail soon and Stewardship Sunday is November 11, when we will commit our 2008 financial pledges. (These are our regular financial pledges, separate from the Capital Campaign.)
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An update on the Capital Campaign
New pledges are still trickling in and the total amount pledged for the 3-year campaign is now $934,615! We have actually received $500,203 as of the end of August. The rest of the money will come in over the 3-year campaign period ending in March 2010. Feel free to pay your full pledge sooner if you are able. Thank you again for your faithful commitment to ensuring that St. John's thrives for another 100 years!!
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For a wonderful experience in literature, largely Shakespeare. . .
join Virginia Anderson's ongoing Literature Seminar, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2:30-4:30pm in The Ark. Continuing a look at Hamlet, a Christian play about revenge, according to Virginia !
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Volunteer from 2:30 to 4:30pm in the office!
Your time and help are needed to answer phones and greet visitors. We have a computer available with internet access and if you don't have email access, this is the opportunity for you. We can set you up with for a free yahoo or hotmail account and show you how to use the internet, too. There is a fabulous Google-Wiki world waiting for you! If Friday afternoon doesn't fit into your schedule, how about Friday (10:30am to 12:30pm) or Thursday afternoon (2:30pm to 4:30pm)? Contact Nelly Coplan in the church office with your joy in service! 510.845.6830.
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St. John's Youth and Camp Elmwood
dare you to attend their
Haunted House
AND PRE-HALLOWEEN PARTY!
Sat., Oct. 27, 2007, 6:30 - 8:15 pm
St. John’s Church 2727 College Ave. , Berkeley
Meet the Coffin Monster . . .Drink from the Witch’s Cauldron . . .
Hob Nob with Wizards . . . Follow the Phantom of the Elmwood
in search for the Ghost of Halloween Past.
For all ages. Everyone invited.
Adjustable scariness. Bring friends and families. Wear Costumes.
Admission: A book, food item, toy, or treat for a hungry or homeless child, or a donation in any amount.
If you survive the Haunted House, be ready to share Halloween games, jokes, stories, and songs at our Family Halloween Party in the Fireside Room.
Everyone in grades 6-12 is invited to come at 3:00 PM to help build and staff the Haunted House and to stay for our clean up party with music, dancing and games from 8:15 to 9:30 pm.
St. John’s Haunted House and Pre-Halloween Party is a community service project of St. John’s Presbyterian Church.
For information, call (510) 845-6830.
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October Prime Timers
2 11;00 Margaret Winslow will do a Show and Tell: My Creative Life
9 10:30 Dr. Helen Christensen will do blood pressure screening
11:00 The Writing Class will read from recent works
12:00 LUNCH WILL BE SERVED!
16 11:00 Margaret Pratley, Peace Corps retiree, will talk about her experiences in foreign lands.
23 10:30-12:00 BRIDGE! Irene and Robert Krones have volunteered to help start a bridge group. Please come and let us know if you are interested.
12:00 LUNCH WILL BE SERVED
30 10:00-12:00 FLU SHOTS by the Berkeley Public Health Department. $2.00
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