October 28, 2010
C O N T A C T
THIS SUNDAY Rev. Beth BUCKINGHAM-BROWN, our newly-called interim pastor, will preach.
Message from Interim Pastor, Rev. Beth Buckingham-Brown
“Hello, Montclair Presbyterian Church!” It has been a bit odd coming in to the office this week BEFORE having been in Celebration with you! I look forward to being with you all on Sunday morning. My wife and I have invited several people to come to church that morning and they are coming filled with gratitude for your courage. The children have been invited to wear costumes and the communion table will be decorated for Dia De los Muertos (Day of the Dead), so we will have lots going on in the service. It’s no coincidence that my first Sunday is All Saints Eve. If you would like to bring a picture of one of the saints in your life to adorn the sanctuary, please do so. I still have my button of Chuck McLain from his 70th birthday party here and I plan on bringing it! In great anticipation, I will see you Sunday! Beth
YOUTH GROUP will not meet this Sunday Oct. 31. Happy Halloween.
CHILDREN may wear their Halloween costumes to class this Sunday since both classes will have parties.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Dear Friends (from Ken, Doris Herrick’s husband),
A little over a month ago, Doris came down with weakness, nausea and jaundice. Multiple tests led to the unfortunate diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. After further professional consultations and our personal consideration of the options — few as they were — Doris opted for what’s known as the Whipple procedure. Sometimes the surgeon, in consultation with a pathologist, finds that the cancer has spread or is too uncertain for removal. Unhappily such was the case with Doris: the cancer was found to be affecting the liver and lymph nodes. She is currently recovering at the California Pacific Medical Center in S.F. and we expect that she can come home sometime next week. Later she will have the option of commencing chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments.
Thank you to all who have sent their support; she is most appreciative. Doris’ spirits are good. As she has remarked, she’s “had a good run” of nearly 80 years. She would prefer no calls or visits, at least until she’s home and settled.
Elsie Cooper’s new address: 3600 E. Fulton Street, Apt A-106 Grand Rapids MI 49546
Rev. Beth Buckingham- Brown’s email address: revbeth@mpcfamily.org
COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS
The volunteers who pack groceries for the Children’s Food Baskets each week are in need of more brown paper grocery bags. Also, unfortunately, the white plastic bags from CVS are not large enough to hold and fit around the brown bags. We are pack and deliver 64 bags each week. Monetary contributions at the Food Basket table are also needed. Thanks to all of you for your help.
WHO ARE YOU? The Welcome & Family Life Committee would like to encourage you to wear your name tags. Wouldn’t it be nice for Beth Buckingham-Brown to know you by name on her first Sunday, Oct 31st? Don’t have a name tag? Let us know if you need one by filling out a white card and we’ll make sure you have one to wear the following Sunday. Debbie Fallehy, Welcome & Family Life Chair.
SUNDAY FAMILY HOUR BARISTAS NEEDED– The MPC “Barista Team” welcomes Linda Spencer as our newest member. More people are needed to help with the Sunday morning coffee hour. The job is not complicated and doesn’t take a lot of time. To volunteer or ask questions, come see me Sunday mornings at the coffee table. Debbie Fallehy – Kitchen Coordinator
It is time to sign up/renew your Safeway E-Scrip support which benefits MPC. Please see Marilynn Moore after Celebration in the Family Room the next two Sundays to sign up.
Fruitvale Ave. Presbyterian Churchi s asking for our help in serving a Thanksgiving dinner to 100 hungry and homeless people on Sunday, Nov. 21st, 12:30 PM. This is an annual project, but they can no longer do it alone. Sooo….anybody out there who would like to assist? There are several ways to help: bake a turkey (turkeys provided), make a side dish to feed 12-25 people, help serve, or help clean up. This may also be an opportunity for a family to contribute together to serve the needy. Also, you are invited to come eat and share the meal! Let Jean Gregory know if you’d like to help or if you have need of further information. Jeancgreg@gmail.com or 635-8838.
Thailand Orphanage Fundraiser Continues!! Entertainment Books for 2011 are nearly sold out. The Entertainment Book is full of hundreds of coupons with so many great choices for restaurants, theaters, travel, shopping, movies…just all kinds of ways to save money, have fun, and help Pastor Sirirat’s Orphanage. Great for gifts too and valid in other states and cities! Watch for the E-Books table in the Family Room. Want to reserve a book? Call Bill Neely (510) 531-1361.
HARTbeats___________________________________
In any organization tensions arise and sometimes these cause considerable stress. The Health and Reconciliation Team has been created for just such occasions. Therefore we (Peggy Alter, Eloise Gilland, Burt Rogers, Bob Roat and Stan Stevens) are at your service. Anyone who finds themselves distressed by some happening in our church family, please contact us. You can contact HART by calling the Church office 510-339-1131 and leaving a message for Stan Stevens, Chair.
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CHILDRENS FOOD BASKET: When you’re giving out treats, don’t forget our Food Basket kids, who live in neighborhoods where it’s not safe to enjoy Halloween. Many of them lack not only treats in a Halloween bag, but food in the refrigerator, cupboard and pantry. Please donate money generously at the Food Basket table in the Family Room this week and any other week to help us continue to deliver 64 bags of food every week to needy Oakland children.
ADULT EDUCATION
BIBLE STUDY: For Oct 31: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psalm 119: 137-144, Luke 19:1-10, 2; Thess. 1:1-4, 11-12. For Nov 7: Haggai 1:15b to 2:9; Psalm 98, Luke 20: 27-38.
Dancing class news: November 1 at 8 PM in the Family Room. If you have no partner to come with you, come alone. If you have two left feet and no ear for music, come anyway. If you used to know how, but forgot, come and start over. Marilynn is very good at showing the basics patiently and giving you enough courage to try and make it work. It’s fun. Have a “change of pace.” If you did not sign up, come and try it anyway.
Close to Home presents: Biodynamic: Beyond Organic with Rick Knoll and Alan Hawkins. Monday Nov 8 at 7:30pm. Family Room. Rick Knoll is a farmer in Brentwood whose Knoll Farms’ produce shows up in the best restaurants in the Bay Area. We all know that “organic” means grown without pesticides, but at Knoll Farms they have raised the bar to biodynamic. This includes a process of treating the soil with microbial compost in order to boost its ability to absorb nutrients and retard plant diseases. It also involves viewing the farm as an orchestration of elements that change and evolve. Alan Hawkins, beekeeper, will focus on how honey bee colonies are an integral part of the farm and of our lives as consumers of the bounty.
All Star Team for Spiritual Journey Class:With the addition of Joe Driskill, Professor of Spirituality at PSR, we have an all-star team of presenters for the Spiritual Journey class. Joe is author of Protestant Spiritual Exercises, describing ancient spiritual practices practical in today’s world. He joins the other members of the group who have been developing the class over the last several months: Peggy Alter, Stan Stevens, and Dolores Nice Siegenthaler. The 4-session class starts Sunday, Nov. 7 and finishes on the first day of Advent. Join us! Contact Phil Reagan, 842-8191 preagan@mindspring.com or Margaretha Derasary 339-2282 mderasary@sbcglobal.net
MPC Calendar:
http://www.mpcfamily.org/CalendarPrelim.htm
Blessings,
Christine Stickever- Peterson
Associate in Communications and Logistics
Montclair Presbyterian Church
5701 Thornhill Drive
Oakland, California 94611
510/339-1131
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MONTCLAIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Office Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9:00AM-4:00PM
Rev. Beth Buckingham-Brown: Office hours Mon-Weds 10:00-3:00 pm
Susan Hunn, Associate for Children & Youth: Office hours Tues-Thurs 9:30-2:30 pm
Christine Stickever- Peterson, Associate in Communications & Logistics: Office hours Tues. – Friday 9:00-4:00pm
Talitha Phillips, Children and Youth
Marcia Roy, Organist
Gil & Maria Chiguila, Caretakers
Rev. John Hadsell, Theologian in Residence
Rev. Kathy Ray, Parish Associate