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with a very unique opportunity to view the culture through the eyes of those who live there. For the first portion of the trip we visited Feliciana’s family on the South Coast. Then for the second portion we traveled way up into the highlands to visit our friends in Xicaquic and celebrate the inauguration of the health clinic we helped fund.

The trip to Feliciana’s house is a tough adventure. We left for the airport at 9:30pm Friday night, flew to Houston for a three-and-a-half hour layover, then on to Guatemala City by 11:30 Saturday morning. Then we took a taxi to the bus station, and a bus to a point on the Pan American highway at the base of the mountains. Then we jumped into the back of Feliciana’s father’s pickup (with 12 people) for an hour long ride down a dirt road to the ocean. There we participated in the memorial service for Feliciana’s grandmother (3 hours). Finally, we walked a kilometer to the river, waded 300 yards through the river and walked another kilometer through banana trees to get to Feliciana’s house by 10:30pm Saturday night. I got in a little surfing, but mainly we lay around in hammocks waiting for mangoes to fall off the trees so we could eat them.

The inauguration was wonderful. The whole town came, all dressed in their finest handwoven clothing. We had five hours of worship, 2 ½ for the Catholics and 2 ½ for the Evangelicals. If was nice to see the cooperation and support from the whole community. We had a big meal, fireworks and piñatas to round out the celebration.

The next step is to find a nurse, preferably one who speaks Quiche. Mission and Justice and the Quiche Clinic Committee will be working in conjunction with the committee down there to check several possibilities and leads. More down the line on this great mission project of
St. John’s.

Great thanks to David McPhail for preaching, to Todd and Bob McConnell for holding down the church while we were gone. Bob McC, by the way, arrives at 8:30 with me every Sunday morning to help me open and set up for worship. This is a great service for me and for the church.

By the time you get this we will have had our retreat down in Asilomar. We have a nice group, 49 people who will be attending. I still will miss the rest of you and wish you would have the opportunity to retreat in such a beautiful place. Thanks to Linda Bostjanick for her work setting it all up. Also, the grant proposal Linda organized was accepted, so we will have two more retreats in the next year and a half. The focus of the grant is worship renewal, so we will be doing several things to get ourselves informed and passionate about worshipping God.

General Assembly worship, June 22: We hope to take as many people to worship as possible. Karma Dewitt will be arranging car pools. Also, stay tuned for important and interesting discussions and debates. Most overtures will go to committee before arriving on the floor. The open discussion takes place Tuesday and Wednesday, I think, while Thursday and Friday will see most of the action on the floor. Floor debates should be open to listen to and can be very interesting. Of particular interest may be the resolution for divestment from Caterpillar and Motorola for their continued contribution to occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and various resolutions relating to inclusion of Gays and Lesbians. We can pray that all business be handled with grace and move us ever closer to the will of God.

You are invited to attend the wedding of Lori Christen Schenderlein and Charles Duncan Dewitt on Saturday, May 17 at 10:30am at St. John's. There will be a brunch following the ceremony.

Plan to come and enjoy the next "Water Into Wine" event, Saturday, May 17. . .

5-8pm at the home of Norma and Garth Watson Call Norma, if need be for directions! This is a wonderful way to just plain socialize with church members and spouses who may not be church members, as well as a great way to support the efforts of new members (like Norma)!

The Intermediates from San Francisco Boys Chorus
will be singing in St. John's worship on May 18. . .

under the direction of Margaret Clark, my old boss and the Training Chorus Director. Our own chancel choir will join the group, as will Kevin and Nick Lynn on percussion, accompanied by Leon Chisholm.

There will be a very short congregational meeting after worship on May 18, for the purpose of electing a new slate of Elders and Deacons offered by St. John's Nominating Committee.

Plan on attending "Flick Flak," St. John's fun-filled film discussion group, Friday, May 23 at 6:30pm in the Campbell Reception Room. Go see the movie "The Visitor," then come to our internationally known potluck and discussion! For more: Barbara or Martha .

to the Gay and Lesbian community. The idea behind the name "More Light": God hasn't finished sending his Word, but continues to bring truth in context to different cultures and different times. Max and our ordained Lesbian elders Karla and Molly will lead worship.

Women at the Well meets Saturday, May 31, from 8:30 to 10:30am in the church office, for a time of sharing an encouragement among the women of St John's.

A note of gratitude to St. John's

Dear Friends at St. John's,

Thanks so much to all of you for your generosity and kindness at the time of Dorothy Couden's memorial service. We appreciated Nelly Coplan's help with the logistics and the wonderful coordination of the reception by Barbara Taylor and the Deacons, as well as Max's overseeing the service. Dorothy felt a definite connection with St. John's. She would have greatly appreciated the way the people of St. John's put themselves out for her.

Sincerely, Priscilla and Henry Couden for the Couden Family

Our Mission and Justice Commission asks the congregation to participate in our Mother's Day drive for the Women's Daytime Drop-In Center

(We had a sock drive for them at Christmas). The Center is currently in particular need of sheets (twin-sized especially), blankets, towels, toothpaste, deodorant, and socks. A complete "Wish List" is available at the Center's website: http://www.womensdropin.org/wishlist.htm. Please bring your items to church; they will be delivered to the Center. On May 25 Susie Carter from the Women's Daytime Drop-In Center will present the adult education forum.

"We encourage every one of our 30,000 members to spend at least one day in San Jose at General Assembly June 20-28!"

Help represent St. John's at this exciting nearby General Assembly! Access to myriad GA opportunities is easy through the San Francisco Presbytery website www.sfpby.org On the opening page right up front you'll find volunteer opportunities. Just click on it and you are into the GA volunteer signup website – simple! Please do check it out; even if only to volunteer your prayers! (a real request!)

PrimeTimers Schedule for May

May 27 11:00 League of Women Voters representatives will discuss ballot propositions

Adult volunteers are needed for Camp Elmwood July 28 to August 1.

No special skills are required. There is something everyone who likes children can do. See Fred Harvey if you will have some free time during our camp week. Everyone in the congregation is invited to our closing barbeque and program Friday evening, August 1. We need more campers and teen counselors. Pick up applications and spread the word.