Epiphany!
Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church Newsletter
Weekly Happenings at SHPC    
January 5, 2017
Celebration of Epiphany
Awakening to the Light

     Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 9:30 a.m., we celebrate Epiphany, the amazing day when we wake up and see everything in a new light.  Come as you are and leave with a fresh perspective!
In This Issue
Quick Links
Bev piano
A Note From 
Pastor Bev

Epiphany is one of the best celebrations in the church year.  We remember the magi, and the great joy they experienced when the saw the long-awaited Star of Bethlehem. Finally they found their guiding light, and they headed off, knowing they were traveling in the right direction.  

God shines that light into our lives, too.  When we really open our eyes to it, we see everything anew.  Our problems don't disappear, but they look different, more manageable, and we feel different, stronger, more resilient, less alone.  
We even laugh more!  

So I hope to see you on Sunday for this great celebration!

With joy,
Bev


January Calendar

Friday, January 6th - Noon

BIBLE STUDY with Pastor Bev
Sunday, January 8th
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.


CELEBRATION OF EPIPHANY!
Coffee and Fellowship -- All are Welcome!
Wednesday, Jan. 11th
                 
                  7:30 p.m.



SHPC Singers rehearse
Friday, Jan. 13th - Noon
                   

Sunday, Jan. 15th
                    9:30 a.m.
                   10:30 a.m.
Bible Study with Pastor Bev


MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SUNDAY
Civil War, Civil Rights, and Nation Divided
Coffee and Fellowship -- All are Welcome!

Bible Study -  Friday, Jan. 6 - Noon
Isaiah 60, Matthew 5:14-16
Please Remember in Your Prayers

The family and loved ones of Betty Swalberg, who passed away last Friday, may God comfort our dear Wil and all of them in their bereavement;
Those for whom addiction, dependence and/or abuse on/of alcohol and other drugs is destructive to health and relationships, and for their loved ones;
Those who are in financial uncertainty and stress;
Our Muslim neighbors, subject to Islamophobia and hate crimes;
Our country,  for deep healing, and for a way forward where we live our values of justice and equality for all people;
The world's poor, all who suffer from disruptive climate change, and our planet;
The refugees and displaced, almost 1 out of 100 people in the world today, for safety, homes, and the basics of life;
Laurie O'Hara and her family, for God's loving presence and comfort in mourning the loss of her mother, Carolyn;
Kelsey Lopin, for healing and full recovery from complications of Lyme disease, and for God's abiding presence, comfort, and love;
Steve Derr's Father, for recovery from stroke, and God's presence, and for the family, God's comfort;
Praying Hands
Andrea Proster, sister of Nancy Elberg, for complete healing, and for Nancy for continued strength in companioning her;
Paul Lambert's Mom, blessed assurance of God's constant presence; 
The PC(USA), as it strives to speak up effectively for justice for all people, especially the vulnerable and marginalized;
Dr. Doug Tilton, our PC(USA) mission co-worker in Southern Africa;
Our church community, renew us and grant us fortitude to continue to bring light to a dark world.

Please take time this week to pray for those on our list.
     
Thank You to all Who Pledged!



Thank you to 54 pledgers for pledging $136,913 to the life of church in 2017! 

With gratitude,
Doug, Finance Elder and Stewardship Chair
   pcusa   Session Report  from Clerk of Session for January 4, 2017 Meeting

The Session passed a balanced Budget for 2017 based on $136,913 in pledges. 
The Budget will be formally presented to the congregation at the Annual Meeting of the Congregation to be held Sunday, February 12, 2017 immediately following the service.  Copies will be available in advance of the meeting in print and via this newsletter.  -- Dennis Latta, Clerk
Volunteer Now - to Help the Kids at Short School 

                              
The adorable kids at the Short School in San Rafael are a community at risk - both because they are mostly living in poverty, and because they come from a community where fear of deportation runs high.  NOW IS THE TIME TO HELP!

Our own Jody Brockett is now coordinating the After School Enrichment on Wednesdays, and she needs:

Cooking help - Wed. 2:15-3:15

Gardening help - Wed. 4:00 - 5:00
 (please a few gardeners)

Just click here to email Jody.

                              
On January 20, 2017 the Trump administration begins, and we know the impending danger that means for immigrant and refugee communities. To protect the rights and dignity of immigrants and refugees, to keep their families intact, and to make the United States into a welcoming place for ALL migrants will require every ounce of energy, creativity, and collaboration we can muster. We cannot wait to see what the Trump administration will do. We must be proactive and continue to build a powerful movement that is driven locally and organized across states. 
 
So, on January 9 from 4-6 pm EST we invite you to a new kind of webinar.  And  please RSVP so that we know you will be joining us!
 
To join the webinar, go to  http://join.me/faith4immigration and follow the directions for audio and visual. For audio only call, dial +1.202.602.1295, Access Code: 354-977-836#.

Here is how this will work:
 
We want you to meet together regionally by teams.
 
If you are part of a local coalition or network, then let us know so we can direct folks in your area to you.
 
If you are an individual or part of a small team and looking for a local group to connect with, let us know and we will connect you!
 
The first part of the call will be updates about what to expect in the coming weeks and months with some national opportunities for you and your team to take part in.
 
The next part will be conversations between you and other folks in your state to connect and talk about strategies that make the most sense for your specific context, policy makers, etc.
 
The last part - the BEST part! - will be for us to hear from the different teams talk about what plans were made!
 
Only together, those of us in DC and those of you in all parts of the United States, will we be able to protect our immigrant and refugee sisters and brothers and keep families together.
 
So, gather your networks together and let's plan and strategize and work together!
Patty Kuehn Wins the Deacons' Fellowship Volunteer Thank You Gift Basket

                              
A Big Thank You to all who made Fellowship Time so enjoyable in 2016!

Congratulations Patty Kuehn for being the winner  of our "Thank You Gift Basket"!

We thank all of you who have helped 
so much with Fellowship this past year.  
We could not do it without you!

Happy New Year from Kit, Frankie, Nancy, Marie, Nance, and Robin, your Deacons
REST Program Needs You

(L to R) James, Wil, Carolyn, Flynn, Lucas Karen, Rowan, Jan, and Richard

SHPC served and broke bread with 22 REST guests last Monday.  A nutritious and delicious meal of pulled pork, green salad, sweet potatoes, fruit salad, and warm chocolate chip cookies were enjoyed by all.  It was a chilly and rainy night; our unhoused neighbors deeply appreciated the hospitality and shelter from the storm.

We will continue to host meals through April. To  read more information about REST and to sign-up online, please click on this link:   

SHPC  will continue to organize Middle and High School students to contribute to REST -- this year youth will prepare soup and bread for our REST guests. For more info, contact Jennifer Gauna at jen.gauna@gmail.com

If you have questions, please contact Shannon Mong at  shannon@In-SightAssociates.com (phone is 415-279-2402).  

In advance - thanks for your support of this year's REST evenings!

Wil LOVES an invite for lunch or dinner!


Thank you and bless you to all who have reached out to invite him over for a meal.  You are lighting up his life!


And thank him for his faithful and continuing FOOD BARREL MINISTRY.
WE ALL LOVE FELLOWSHIP-- PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP OUT


Fellowship time is organized by your Deacons. We need everyone to sign-up about 3-4 times a year. 
Click below to sign up: 

January:   Robin's Parish
Sign up now and keep the hospitality
 going!

Don't be shy, Greeting is a Treat!
 
We are in need of greeters to sign up through the signup genius website. 

Help with our ministry of hospitality by signing up to be a greeter! All you have to do is get to church by 9:15, light the candles, and hand out bulletins with a smile. Thank you to all who have signed up so far!

Thank you all for your continued support,

Jody Brockett, 
Worship Elder
"Someday Becomes Somehow"

Moving forward in 2017 gives us the opportunity to evaluate the possibility and the probability of accomplishing what we believe to be God's will for the year ahead.

In some instances we need to stare down the odds and move forward with certainty. In other instances, we need to accept that we will be forced to enter a season of waiting.

 "Outlook determines outcome" and "attitude determines action" (Warren Wiersbe). Our outlook is determined by our experiences and perspective; and a winning attitude is shaped by persistence and patience.

Calvin Coolidge said, "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; genius will not; education will not; however, persistence and determination are omnipotent. Press on! has solved more problems than I can count."

Our journey is a unique one, and our calling is a brave one. 

Each of us has the opportunity to create a path that is an outgrowth of our relationship with God. It is more than adopting doctrine or beliefs. It is a way of life, a response to circumstances, and an understanding that whatever comes our way - good or bad - we have the opportunity to take pause, yield and meditate on the scripture, "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

This means to take comfort that we are in the presence of God, and realize that there are times when one's personal initiative is no substitute for complete reliance on God. I don't know the outcome of several things that are going to happen in 2017. But someday, the "somehow" will be revealed to me. Our job is to set our affection on things above, pray continually, in everything give thanks, hate what is evil, bear one another's burdens and never grow weary doing good.

I love what Reba McEntire once said, "In order to get ahead you need a wishbone, backbone, and a funny bone".

I want to give credit to Alan Menkin and Jack Feldman who penned the phrase "Someday Becomes Somehow" in their song "Seize the Day" for the Broadway Musical NEWSIES. Wouldn't you know my first blog in 2017 would reach out to a showstopper for its spine.

Onward, Your friend ... Paul

*********************************************************
Paul Lambert is a member of SHPC who travels extensively for his career as a producer of Broadway-bound musicals.  He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute who studies the Bible daily and attends our Bible Study whenever he's in town. He posts this blog each week no matter where he is, to the delight and comfort of many.  SHPC thanks you, Paul.
 

SYLVESTRIS QUARTET
The Good Song: Gabriel  Fauré  in the 1890s
Michael Seregow, piano
Piano Quintet in D minor
Harry Baechtel, baritone

La Bonne Chanson & Cinq Melodies
 8 pm Saturday, January 7
First Presbyterian Church San Anselmo
72 Kensington Rd 94960


Silvestris Quartet: Anna Washburn, Tyler Lewis, violins, Aaron Westman, viola, and Gretchen Claassen, cello 
 
Women's Weekend ~ January 20th-22nd, 2017
Click here for more information and registration
 

From our own Jen Boynton:
Come hear the music play!  Come to the Cabaret!

Enjoy an evening of Broadway song and dance by MMTC performers and other outstanding members of the Marin theater community while raising funds for our wonderful Playhouse and MMTC!  

The evening includes wine & beer, appetizers, raffle prizes, and a fabulous silent auction. Auction items include airline tickets, Disneyland passes, dinner parties, a private tour of Pixar, ballet and theater tickets, and more! 

Doors open at 7pm, performance at 8pm
Sleepy Hollow Presbyterian Church
100 Tarry Road
San Anselmo, CA  94960
Katie Brendler,  Editor
E-mail us at shpchurch@comcast.net or call us at 415-453-8221