October 24, 2007
Just a note to you all
to remind you to remind yourself
that God loves you! What difference does it make?
Try it and see. It has occurred to
me that our busy work, at home or at work or at church,
can be a distraction from paying
attention to our own feelings, especially the scary ones.
With faith that there is a sovereign
God, a gracious Spirit of life with force beyond all the dark spirits,
we can open up and become whole. We
internalize that loving Spirit and know joy and peace.
Then, even our work becomes more
productive and focused, and we can feel good when we take a break.
And, by the
grace of God, we can acknowledge and have fun with the spirits
that no longer have power over our
lives — by having a haunted house!
Come on down this Saturday, October
27 around dark to have fun being scared
and to meet and greet all the visitors. I'll see you there.
A few more items:
Todd Jolly , our
new music director, fellow M. Div. Student with me at SFTS,
will be preaching the Word November 4. Todd brings many gifts to the congregation of
St. John's —
come discover yet another. I will be down on the coast doing
yoga and reading theology.
I am taking five days for Continuing Education.
Pastor Max
a little biblical humor sent to me by
my sister
Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married
Ruth?
A. Ruthless.
Q. What do they call pastors in
Germany
?
A. German Shepherds.
Q. Who was the greatest financier in the
Bible?
A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was
in liquidation.
Q. Who was the greatest female financier in
the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the
Nile and drew out a little prophet.
Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the
Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury.
David's Triumph was heard
throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the
apostles were all in
one Accord.
Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought down the house.
Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children
for why he no longer lived in Eden
?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.
Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant
lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.
Q. Which area of
Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around
Jordan . The banks were always
overflowing.
Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in
the Bible?
A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.
Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.
Q. Why didn't they play cards on the
Ark ?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.
PS. Did you know it's a sin for a woman to
make coffee?
Yup, it's in the Bible. It says over and over,
"He-brews."
KEEP SMILING!!!!
____________________________________
St. John's Youth will host our Haunted House
and Pre-Halloween Family Party
Saturday, October 27 from 6:30 to 8:15pm. This is a popular community event
and brings many visitors to the church. We need the presence
of church members
to welcome our guests and share their love for the church.
Young people in grades
six and up and all participants in
St. John's youth and church school programs
are invited to come as early as 1:30pm to help build and
staff the Haunted House.
Please pick up flyers for posting.
______________________________________
A big thank you to all who have worked football parking and a request
for volunteers for the Nov. 10 game, from 3:30 to 6:30 and
6:30 to 9:30.
We've made over $2000 so far and should make over $2000
alone for the USC game!
Please let me know your availability! Thanks, Claudia
______________________________________
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), at 6:30pm. One film only for November 2, "In
the Valley of Elah," to be held in the Fireside Room. Please see the
movie, and come to share your response and ideas!
The Stewardship & Growth season is upon us . . .
Evangelism for St. John's is
the same as it was for St. Paul
— the spreading of the Good News of God's incredible love for all. In
other words, growing the church. The most important act of evangelism and
therefore of stewardship that you can do is to show up at church at 10am or
earlier. Those new or returning visitors will see you and respond! Those
visitors who show up and don't see you will also respond.
-- Martha Perdue, Stewardship & Growth
______________________________________
See Glenda and Stuart's Slides of Australian Outback
We invite
the St. John's
community to see our slides of the Australian outback. We will have a potluck
dinner on Sunday, November 18, at 6:00pm and slides at 8:00. Our address is
1127 Fresno Avenue ,
Berkeley . Let us know if you plan to come,
528-6238. (If you really want to see the slides but can't come on the 18th, we
are doing the same thing on Nov. 2nd and also on Nov. 3rd, and you are most
welcome to come then.)
______________________________________
More lively
events coming up:
The next
Centennial Concert is Nov. 18 with an outstanding artist, harpsichordist Jonathan Rhoades Lee. (The next Centennial Concert
Committee meeting will be Nov. 11 at 12 noon at King Yen.)
We've
had such a wonderful year at St. John 's
that the Deacons are sponsoring a Thanksgiving Supper after church on Nov. 25. We truly have much to be thankful
for this year with the successful Capital Campaign, the Centennial
Celebrations, new members, and many renewal and restoration projects completed
or in process. Plan your potluck contribution and come enjoy an afternoon of
thanksgiving.
______________________________________
The Deacons ask that you please wear your nametag at Sunday Worship.
You may find yours in the right hand closet in the Narthex
(or at home where you've left it.). If you don't have a nametag or can't find
yours, please call Barbara Taylor at
510-525-1017, and we'll see that you get one!
______________________________________
Sally Hussey's husband Ian reports that Sally's knee replacement
went well, routine according to the doctor, with normal
recovery expected.
______________________________________
Special
Events offered
by Prime Timers
On October
30 from 10am to noon the Berkeley Public Health Department will come to
St. John's to administer
flu shots. Everyone is welcome. There will be a donation of $2.00. On October
23 the Prime Timers will offer the first monthly bridge session. Irene and John Krones will organize the games and maybe give
us some tips. Everyone is welcome. The next session is tentatively set for
November 27.
______________________________________
November Prime Timers
Nov. 6
ELECTION
DAY
Nov. 13 10:30 Dr.
Helen Christensen will do blood pressure screening
11:00
"Let's Read" Marian Altman will read favorite stories
12:00 LUNCH
WILL BE SERVED. Birthdays celebrated.
Nov. 20 11:00 Linda Thaxterof
Nightingale Home Care will talk
about "How Humor
Reduces
Stress." Come prepared to laugh out loud with us and learn
how
to beat the blues with humor and joy.
Nov. 27 10:30 Bridge
with Robert and Irene
Krones. Everyone welcome.
12:00
LUNCH WILL BE SERVED
PRIME TIMERS
Tuesday Schedule
9:45-10:30 Exercise
9:30-12 Ceramics,
weaving, copper enameling.
11:00
Speakers, various programs
12:00
Lunch
12:45-2:15 Writing Class
2nd
Tues 10:30
Blood
pressure
Thursday Schedule
9:30-12:00 Tap
dancing, beginning and intermediate.
12:30-2:30 Ukulele
9:45-10:30 TAI
CHI with Lydia Shiozaki
"Seniors" over 50
are welcome. Classes are ongoing and always welcome new members. Tuesdays and Thursdays
at 9:30am, St. John's
Presbyterian Church, 2727 College
Avenue , Berkeley . Call
845-6830.