April 2, 2008

Commissioned to represent St. John's on a journey of celebration and dedication of the new medical clinic, towards which we've put our hearts and financial help, our little band will soon return with reports and stories of their experiences — which, God bless, will no doubt prove inspiring to our own journeys. Please continue praying for their joyful participation, their well-being, and the work of God through their presence there —
and home again.

Spread the word to friends and neighbors that space is available in Camp Elmwood for campers ages 5-13 and teen counselors ages 13-18. Camp for all is July 28-August 1. Teen Leadership Camp is July 21-25.

We'll watch this special film, which lasts about 20 minutes, and afterwards Molly McNamara will lead a discussion. The film explores the expansion of Israeli settlements, the perspective of Palestinians whose land has been confiscated, and the limited access to the sacred spaces of Bethlehem. The narrator is Peter Nagle, a graduate of Yale's Divinity School.

It's nearby this year! Our General Assembly comes to San Jose June 21-28, and therefore presents an excellent chance to participate in and witness the workings of the national Presbyterian Church.

It’s time to start getting actively involved. Go to the COLA (Committee on Local Arrangements for GA) website - www.pcusa-ga08.org for a complete, easy-to-use list of job descriptions and for the easy signup procedure. You can also sign up with your Local Church Contact (Gail Peterson) or call the COLA office at (408) 286-0927.

Most shifts are 4 hours and opportunities are available 8am to 8pm every day. You may sign up for multiple jobs or shifts. There are 1,500 spots that need to be filled! Choose something that looks right for you. There are all sorts of jobs available which require various amounts of time and different skills. Examples: serving communion at the big Sunday worship service, setting up before the event, serving as an "ask me" person giving out information, greeting at the airport, working in a booth, etc.

Besides all there is to do and learn at General Assembly, if you volunteer you get to attend GA anytime (with your volunteer name tag) and not have to pay the $20 registration fee. Sign up today!

The Hymn Society of the United States & Canada is holding its 2008 summer conference in Berkeley. An Arts and Crafts fair and sale, held the first day of the five-day conference, will support this year's theme: "Congregational Song and the Arts: Gifts for Worship and Ministry." The fair and sale will be on Sunday, July 13, 2008, 2:00-7:00 pm (artists' set-up: 1:00-2:00pm/ breakdown: 7:00-8:00pm) at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way (Large Assembly). Artists will each get one 6 foot x 30 inch table, fee: $15 per table.

Eligibility: Artists, crafts-persons, and musicians whose work has a spiritual or liturgical quality. This is an art sale, not a gallery exhibit. All items must be easily displayed in using the 6-foot space and all items must be for sale. Those artists who work by commission or who do custom work can display samples and take orders.

Application Process: Submit your name, address, phone number, email, a description of the items you would like to sell, and 2-6 digital photos (jpg format) of your work or a website that displays your artwork. Submissions and questions should be sent via email to joysarts@aol.com. A committee will select up to 24 artists based on quality of art, appeal to conference attendees, and originality of artwork while making sure that a wide variety of items will be available.

Julio Cun Calel and Ronnie Gaddis will be training for the next few weeks with Eathen and Baron. If you see them in the building, please ask them to introduce themselves and offer them a warm welcome.

will meet at 2:30pm on Thursday, April 3, in the Ark Annex to discuss the first half of E.M. Forster's novel, "Howards End." Virginia Anderson, who is presently reading Forster's biography, has discovered that Howards End was a real house (though it had a different name) and that Forster lived there as a boy. Virginia will bring this and other bits of information to the April meeting, but really, the novel is the focus for discussion.

"Escape from Egypt" is the story of Moses and the Exodus and will be performed during worship on Passover Sunday, April 20. Participants should come to the sanctuary at 8:50am on pageant Sunday for final preparations. Be sure to attend this latest wonder from the Christian Education commission in celebration of St. John's young people, and, as always, the amazing output of Fred Harvey!

Can you think of someone in our congregation who would be an excellent candidate for a new class of deacons and elders? Someone who would be a happy participant, glad for the chance to serve our church, and able to give time and heart to her needs? (How about you yourself?) Please put on your thinking caps and, right away, call Martha Perdue, Nominating Committee chair.

For Women's Bible Study read Ruth 3 (lesson 8 in our study book) and come to the Campbell Reception Room on Thursday, April 10, noon-2pm. Bring a Bible and lunch.

meets Friday, April 25, at 6:30pm, in the Campbell Reception Room for potluck and discussion of "Flawless" and "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day." Call Martha Perdue or Barbara Taylor for information.

Women at the Well, a St. John's gathering. . .

which convenes to nurture, support, and encourage its participants — and to which you are always invited, meets Saturday, April 26, from 8:30-10:30am in the church office.

at Sunday Worship. Visitors, new members and old will appreciate this. If you don't find your tag in the right-hand closet in the Narthex, call Barbara Taylor.

Sarah Harling, Max Lynn, Lolita Triplette, Kimberly Satterfield, Fred Goff, Nicholas Lynn, Paulette Paul, Betty Ramseier, Patty Dunlap, Victor Decker, and Tom Swaney.

22 11:00 Bob Nozik , M.D. will speak on ‘Happiness: If Not Now, When?’ He is Professor Emeritus from the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco. His first book on happiness, Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It, was published in 2004 and will be available at this meeting. Called, Dr. Happy by some, Bob conducts happiness seminars throughout the Bay Area. He founded and leads the Diablo Valley Happiness Club which meets monthly at the Lafayette Senior Center and co-runs the San Francisco Happiness Club.