Hi all, lots going on:

The church in the Mission can use your prayers.  We are searching for a pastor and they have been without one for a year now and the leadership is getting tired.  We were not able to get an interim because there are not enough candidates who speak Spanish, and taking one for interim would eliminate one of the candidates.

         Pray for the Presbyterian Church USA as we begin our General Assembly late this week.  See issues inside The CALL.

 Upcoming Sundays

June 15: Installation of Deacons and Elders. Adult Forum: water issues seen in the movie "Thirst"

June 29  Staff Appreciation Sunday. Adult Forum: General Assembly reflections

July 6    Bolivian minister Rolando preaching

 
New book discussion group

"Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts On Faith" by Anne Lamott

Newsweek writes, “Lamott writes about subjects that begin with capital letters (Alcoholism, Motherhood, Jesus).  But armed with self-effacing humor and ruthless honesty – call it a lower case approach to life’s Big Questions – she converts potential op-ed boilerplate into enchantment.”

            Anne grows up with secular intellectual parents of Berkeley, goes through some tough times and stumbles upon a funky little Presbyterian church in Marin City.  Soon she feels as if God is straggling along behind her like a cat, and eventually she lets him in.  This is great stuff; fun, smart easy reading. 

            Buy the book just about anywhere and join us at Max’s house Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00pm.  June 18 Sections 1.  July 9  Sections 2, 3 and 4.  July 23  Sections 5,6,7.

                                                                                Pastor Max

Top Ten List of Issues before the 218th General Assembly (2008)
Before each General Assembly, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly shares what he considers to be the top ten issues coming to the assembly, based primarily on overtures that have been submitted and his travels and conversations with Presbyterians across the church. Here is the Clerk’s non-prioritized list for 2008.

A revised Form of Government
 The Form of Government Task Force was created by the 217th General Assembly (2006) to propose a revised polity that would be more flexible, foundational and appropriate for a missional Reformed church in the 21st century. The task force is bringing a revised Form of Government for adoption by the assembly and recommendation to the presbyteries.

Partnership in World Mission
 The 217th General Assembly called for a consultation between the General Assembly Council World Mission program and a variety of mission initiators in the PC(USA). The fruits of that consultation will be before this assembly in a call for an “Expanding Partnership in God’s Mission” that involves a wide variety of groups working together for the renewal of PC(USA) World Mission.

PC(USA) ecumenical stance and covenants
 The 218th General Assembly will take action on a number of ecumenical items, including a proposed new policy on the ecumenical stance of the PC(USA) and covenant agreements with four different churches: the Korean Presbyterian Church in America, the Episcopal Church, the Catholic Church and the Moravian Church.

Peace, unity and purity of the PC(USA)
 Several proposals concerning the peace, unity and purity of the church will be before this year’s assembly, including fresh ways to use discernment in our life together, reconsideration of some or all of the actions of the previous assembly in this area and proposals to change the constitutional standards for ordination.

The Belhar Confession
 This assembly will be asked to act on a proposal to take the first step toward adding the Belhar Confession to The Book of Confessions. This confession grows out of the experience of Christians in South Africa and is an affirmation of the biblical call to Christian unity and racial reconciliation.

Middle East concerns
 Before this General Assembly will be a variety of overtures and advocacy committee proposals to strengthen the PC(USA)’s witness to peace with justice in relation to both Israel/Palestine and Iraq.

Elections
A Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) will be elected to a two-year term, and a new Stated Clerk of the General Assembly will be elected to a four-year term.

Growing God’s Church Deep and Wide
 The General Assembly Council challenges the whole church to adopt a two-year commitment to grow in membership, discipleship and diversity. 

Domestic social justice concerns
 This assembly will address a large number of social justice concerns, including the adoption of a new Social Creed, as well as the adoption of major policy papers on serious mental illness, energy and global warming, pay equity for women, homelessness and electoral reform.

A church for future generations 
One assembly committee will do generative thinking as it focuses on the church’s ministry to and with youth to ensure a church for future generations.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

The Traer family invites you . . .

to a picnic at Cordinices Park, Berkeley, from 2:00-5:00pm on Saturday, June 21.

Hey, Volunteers!  Camp Elmwood is coming right up!

Volunteers are needed to help with Camp Elmwood, our summer outreach program to children and youth of the community. See Fred Harvey to talk about what you can do. Also spread the word that space and camperships are available. Pick up flyers and applications in the narthex. Camp Elmwood for ages 5-13 and teen counselors is July 28-August 1, Camp Elmwood's Teen Leadership Camp for our teen counselors is July 21-25.

Flick Flack meets Friday, June 27. . .

at 6:30pm in the Campbell Reception Room for potluck and discussion of "Young at Heart" and "The Counterfeiters." For encouragement to join this vivacious group of movie lovers, or answers to questions, call our all-purpose at-your-service providers, Barbara Taylor or Martha Perdue!

Women at the Well meets Saturday, June 28. . .
from 8:30 to 10:30am in the church office, for a time of sharing and encouragement among the women of St John's.

 “My Father Said Yes: 
A White Pastor in Little Rock School Integration,” by Dunbar Ogden

Dunbar’s father, The Reverend Dunbar Ogden, Jr., was the much loved Associate Pastor at St. John’s beginning in 1977.  This book is the untold story of his role as the pro-integration leader of the white community of Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957 who led nine African American students through a hostile mob to enroll at Central High School. The book is available at Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Avenue in Berkeley.

218^th General Assembly (2008) in San Jose

Are you planning to attend the Sunday service, June 22, 10:00am?

Joan S. Gray, preaching.  Joan is the Moderator of the 217th General Assembly (2007).  This simultaneous service in two locations will feature communion, the commissioning of mission personnel, and recognition of military chaplains.  Thousands of Presbyterians from San Jose and the Bay area will join assembly attendees for this special service. Location (for us): San Jose State Event Center.  How to get there, call Gail Peterson; for a ride, call Glenda Pawsey.

July Prime Timers

1                 Helen still gone. Any program ideas?  LUNCH WILL BE SERVED

8                 10:30 Roma Arellano will do blood pressure screening

                   11:00 Shirley Pan will show slides of her trip to the Balkans

15               10:30 Bridge with Irene and Robert. Everyone welcome

                   LUNCH WILL BE SERVED. July birthdays celebrated.

22               CAMP ELMWOOD will be in session. Prime Timers will meet

29               CAMP ELMWOOD – no Prime Timers