January 9, 2008
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Wishing you a blessed and beautiful new year.
Let Your Light Shine!
Elders, as you may know, are those folks you elect for three-year terms to
govern the affairs of the church. In doing so, they operate commissions with
responsibility for different aspects of St. John's life: maintenance,
stewardship and finances, worship, administration, outreach ministries,
and education. In addition, each takes a turn during the year being the
Point person during an assigned month. This includes being responsible for
seeing that communion is served, serving as liturgist once in that month,
greeting any visitors before and after the church service, and most importantly,
taking any concerns you express back to the Session. The Session meets on
the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. The elder of the month prepares a
short contemplativeopening and prayer for the meeting.
Elder for the Month of January is Linda Bostjanick, and she says. . .
Surprisingly, I have been a member of St.John's now for 30 years. Over
those thirty years, I have had times of activity at the Church and times of
moving in and out of the area. The good news is that I always migrated back
to St. Johns.
We first found this church when we moved into the block above Emerson School
on Forest Avenue. I thought it would be great to find a church we could walk
to and having been raised Presbyterian, St. John's was perfect. My two
children, whom many of you know, were baptized here by Rev. McKenzie in
August of 1979. Christopher and Lisa, are now through college and out on
their own but spent their early years with Fred Harvey, Kathy Pratt, and Don
Rising in the Sunday School.
I spent many years buying clothing and then furniture for many of our Bay
Area department stores and companies. I loved this work because I was able
to travel around the world so much. I now have a small company that sells
furniture to contract accounts, mainly senior communities. Our goal is to
make senior communities feel like home. It is enriching to see people in
happy environments as they live out their lives. I am one of the over the hillers
from Lafayette. That does not make it as convenient to make
meetings at the church all the time but 30 years of friendships always wins
out!
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David McPhail invites you to participate in a unique travel experience
I am looking for a few good men and women who are adventurous, can live in a
strange culture, relate well to people with a different world view and are
open to learning how the rest of the world sees our country we love. I am
looking for folks interested in a truly alternative travel experience and
could invest two weeks next May for a trip to Bolivia.
Orientation classes start the end of January. No experience necessary, but
knowledge of Spanish is very helpful. Open to all ages. Cost is
approximately $2,000 dollars. There is help but we need for you to generate
some of your own. Results unknown and beware . . . it could be life
changing. The spirit of the Pachamama may touch your life.
You will be in the hands of UMAVIDA (Joining Hands for Life) and Julie and
Bob Dunsmore, Presbyterian Mission personnel in Bolivia. Please speak to
David McPhail, if you want more information.
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New Year Opportunities at St. John's
Women's Bible Study
God's Most Petulant Prophet? Read Jonah 4 (Lesson5 in our study book) and
come to the Campbell Reception Room on Thursday, January 10, noon to 2:00pm.
Bring your Bible and your lunch. Call Barbara Taylor for more information.
Walking and nature group
meets at 10am on Jan. 19 in the church parking lot. Bring comfortable shoes
or hiking boots, binoculars, lunch, and water. Rain cancels. Destination to
be determined! For information call Karma Dewitt. We're usually back by
1:30pm.
Our notorious movie club Flick Flack . . .
will meet once again on January 25 (4th Friday) at 6:30pm in the Campbell
Reception Hall for potluck and discussion of "The Bucket List" (starring
Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson,) about two cranky guys at death's door,
who want to do a bunch of daring things before they "kick the bucket." And
"The Savages" (starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney) about a
brother and sister who have to collaborate on caring for their father, who
has Alzheimer's and who is not a very likeable guy. Also! "The Kite Runner"!
Any questions? Barbara Taylor or Martha Perdue.
Women at the Well
Share your concerns, joys, hopes with your SaintJohn's women friends on
Saturday, January 26, 8:30 to 10:30am in the church office.
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From Pastor Bob McKenzie, looking forward
Thanks to all you "Jesus Freaks" who took time after worship to look at what
each of the Gospels has to say about Jesus' advent into history and what
each of the writers was trying to say about what that means. For me, it was
a time to re-think what Christmas is all about. Should there be anyinterest,
we might want to look at the end of these four stories during Lent
to discover how it all comes out. There's a rumor that a tragic ending was
somehow reversed and that this reversal has made a colossal difference in
human history for two millennia. As with the beginning of the story, the end
is interpreted very differently by the four writers of the Gospels. Stay
tuned!!
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Interested in reading The Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell?
(the source of a recent Max Lynn sermon?) Please talk to Pastor Max. Easy
reading and faith affirming, Rob Bell talks about some of the basics of
faith -- Great for newer Christians or those considering Christianity. We
will begin in February, probably on Thursday evenings, every other week.
More information to come!
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Berkeley-Albany Church Women United
will meet at St. John's on Friday, February 1, 9:30-11:30am, in the Fireside
Room. The focus of the meeting will be the Bible Study in preparation for
the annual World Day of Prayer on March 7 at McGee Avenue Baptist Church.
Rev. Naomi Southard, pastor of Berkeley Methodist United Church, will lead
the study. All are welcome!
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Communion will be celebrated on the first Sunday
of the month starting January 6. Worship, Music & Arts felt this change
(from the second Sunday of the month) was a good one, based on the
liturgical calendar.
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Childcare needed for Sunday, January 20, and Sunday, January 27: Margarita
Alonza, our childcare provider, will be away on January 20 and January 27.
We need a volunteer for each Sunday to provide childcare in The Ark from
9:30 to 11:30am. Usually we have from one to three children up to the age of
six. Please contact Claudia Cate if you would be available to
help out. Also! Consider serving a half-day as an office volunteer. We
particularly need people on Mondays and Fridays. You can use a computer as
you wish, while answering telephone calls!
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Sign Up for St. John's Snow Trip!
Family Fun for All Ages!
Winter fun awaits you and your family on the St. John's family snow trip!
We'll stay in a cabin in Tahoe and enjoy sledding, snow forts, board games,
laughter, conversation, and a lot of hot chocolate! Children of all ages are
welcome, along with parents; children in 5th grade or older can come with or
without parents! Come have fun! Leaving from St. John's on Friday, Jan. 25,
6pm, and back in Berkeley on Sunday, Jan. 27, 5:30pm. Cost $30 per person.
Scholarships available; submit registration forms and checks to the office
by Sunday, Jan. 14. Contact Pastor Max for information, encouragement. What
to bring: snow fun stuff, a sleeping bag, pillow, blanket; board games,
cards, healthy snacks to share.
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"Evangelism" is not a dirty word.
It means sharing the Good News of God's Incredible Love for All. What
message could be more beautiful than that? Jesus said, "Wherever two or more
are gathered in His name, I am there also."
Let's not allow extremists to co-opt the language or mission of our church.
Bring a friend or family member to church!
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January PrimeTimers
Welcome Back! Happy New Year
Jan. 8 10:30 Roma Arellano will do bloodpressure screening
Noon LUNCH WILL BE SERVED! Birthdays Celebrated
Jan, 15 11:00 Let's Talk about the upcoming election. No experts expected
but we can share our ideas.
Jan. 22 10:30 Bridge. Everyone welcome
11:30 Welcome to 2008 Potluck lunch.
Bring a dish and a friend.
We'll povide rotisserie chickens; you bring the rest! Sign up at front table.
Jan, 29 11:00 Connie Anderson will share her doll collection with us.
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St. John's Presbyterian Church
S I N C E 1 9 0 7
2727 College Avenue, Berkeley 94705
(510) 845-6830
HYPERLINK
"http://stjohns.presbychurch.net/"http://stjohns.presbychurch.net/
"Seek Peace, and pursue it."
--Psalm 34:14
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