Montclair Presbyterian Church

Montclair Presbyterian Church

Dear Friends,

By now most of you should have heard about Susan Hunn’s decision to retire this year. Susan has had an incredibly rich ministry here with the Montclair Church family for a very long time. She has had specific responsibility for the Children and Youth programs for the past 32 years, but the reality is that she has also touched many of you in the process. Some of you know her because of her relationship with your children or grandchildren; some of you know her because you have attended family camp; some of you know her because of the spirituality retreat she led recently; some of you know her because you have worked on the Children and Youth Committee, worked with Godly Play, or worked with the youth group; some of you know her because all of the above are true! Susan has been a consistent part of the church family longer than any other staff member. All of you will celebrate Susan’s decision to take time for herself and her grandchildren as she retires and some of you will deeply grieve Susan’s leaving as the Coordinator for Children and Youth. Some of you might find yourself grieving an entire era again – the era when Duke Robinson was pastor and Susan was Coordinator for Children and Youth. Whatever your feelings, let them come and be sure to feel them. Grieving is healthy and natural. Some of you have shared that you continue to grieve Karen’s leaving so this grief might be in addition to that grief. Remember that sometimes when we feel grief about one thing (Susan’s leaving), we might also feel grief about something else in our lives (a parent’s death, a divorce, or a move, for example). My hope is that we will be able to be honest and open with one another in this process and supportive of a variety of feelings related to the ending of Susan’s ministry.

The Personnel Committee has also just received Susan’s news and will soon be meeting to discuss timing and staffing issues. Susan will be included in the discussion related to her end date. The Personnel Committee is clear about the fact that whoever is hired to fill the position will be hired on a temporary basis so the new pastor will have some say in whether that person continues or a new person is hired. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to talk with me or someone on the Personnel Committee (Jim Allardice, Leslie Louie, Marge Nicholson and Jean Roggenkamp) or with any of the current Session members. We want Susan’s leaving to focus on the incredible ministry she has had in the past 32 years.

Committed to walking with you through this time,
Beth

SUSAN’S SCOOP:

Vacation: I am on vacation for a week following our wonderful and productive mission trip and return to church this Sunday, August 14. Watch for more about the trip in the next Contact and our slides in the fall.

Youth Group Alums: All of them are invited to a Picnic on Sun., Aug. 28, 11 am at Seth and Shelly Hamalian’s house (changed from our original Temescal plan). Their address is 1051 Oak Knoll Rd., Lafayette 94549. Bring meat to BBQ, drinks, plates, etc. and salad or dessert to share. We will provide charcoal, mustard, and ketchup. Spouses, partners, kids invited and there will be swimming too. Many alums received this by email or Facebook, but be sure your Youth Group Alum knows about this event.

TALITHA’S TAKE:
ALL ARE WELCOME! The details are in for the August 20th farm trip!
When: 10 AM meet at church to carpool.
Where: Soil Born Farms, Rancho Cordova CA (near Sacramento).
What: A mix of harvest activities, including some indoor work if it’s too hot.
Bring: Lunch, work clothes & gloves, water bottles, & energy!
RSVP: To Talitha. Grownups are invited too! This is a great way to learn a lot about sustainable agriculture.

Susan’s note for the youth group: instead of camping after the farm trip, we’ll go to SunSplash Water Park! Bring a swimsuit & towel, $18 for the water park admission and $8 or so for dinner.

SESSION NOTES FROM SUSANNE LEA, CLERK OF SESSION: Here are the highlights of the meeting:
Announcement from Susan Hunn: Meeting on August 9 for the first time since June, the first docket item was Susan Hunn’s announcement that she planned to retire by March 2012. Wow! Session members expressed heart-felt thanks and appreciation for Susan’s incredible 32-year ministry and service to our church family, and especially our youth and children. As Susan explained, there will be plenty of time to work out staffing and strategy details for the Children and Youth Program, and the Child and Youth Education Committee will assume a strong leadership role in our programs during the transition. You all will hear directly from Susan this week, by email or letter. We look forward to formally celebrating Susan and her ministry in the coming months.

Also of note: Session agreed to be a signatory to a letter to Governor Brown, along with other groups and organizations, asking that he pledge to promote and protect public water systems in our state, and choose tap water over bottled water in all state buildings. Our own SPLASH Team has sponsored this pledge effort, working with Corporate Accountability International on their Think outside the Bottle campaign for over two years. Thank you SPLASH Team!

The Beacon Program is on track. Significant work has been undertaken to map geographical pods of church family members and friends, and recommendations and self-nominations have been received for potential Beacons. If you are interested in serving as a Beacon, or have in mind someone you want to recommend, please contact Carrie McKiernan or Don Alter, the Session Liaisons for the Beacon Program, or our session representatives on the Nominating Committee: Hal Davis, Debbie Fallehy and Sari Kulberg. We have planned a Beacon training session for September 11, and plan to launch the Beacon Pods at Kick-off Sunday, September 18.

“WHO DO YOU EAT WITH?” In the spirit of Talitha’s twin messages on Sunday, July 31, (“Take only what you need” and “share food with strangers”) we’d like to update you on the Children’s Food Basket status this summer. By giving of our own extra food (whether it be canned goods or money with which to buy food) to strangers (school children who live in East Oakland), we can move toward a world where everyone has enough to eat. Although we do not provide bags of groceries during the summer school break, we do collect funds and imperishable food because we cannot count on enough donations during the school year. So please see us to make a donation! Also, we have had so many generous donations of plastic and paper bags that we can’t currently store any more, so please hold off bringing any more in until about November. Thank you for your ongoing generosity – Janet Mulshine and Ruthann Taylor.

WHY MPC? Please Share Your Story: The MPC Tech Team is looking for “Why I go to MPC” stories/statements that can be added to the MPC website. Could you write one for us? Your statement wouldn’t have to be long — 100 to 250 words only, please — and it could really help bring new people here on Sunday. Is it the community? The music? The preaching? Was there a special experience that keeps you coming back? Just send your statement/story to whympc@mpcfamily.org. Have questions, please contact Steve McKiernan at spmckiernan@gmail.com, or any member of the MPC Tech Team. Thanks for sharing!

TAIZE SERVICES: Spiritual Activists & Peacemakers To Discuss Taize Services at MPC. Have you attended a Taize service? Would you like to have more Taize at our church? The Peacemakers & Spiritual Activists will discuss the possibility of organizing regular Taize services for MPC at a meeting this Monday, August 15th, at 7:00 PM, in Rm 1 in the Education Building. All are welcome to join our discussion! Taize is a different kind of worship service which features the chanting of Psalms, silent meditation and singing ancient responsive prayers such as “Alleluia” and “Kyrie Eleison.” When we organized a Taize service with Talitha during Lent, many people expressed gratitude for experiencing peace and beauty through the music, meditation and lovely candlelight. At our meeting, we will also take time to brainstorm and discuss other goals and plans for this coming program year. For questions, contact Barbara Peters, 510-654-9677, barbxpeters@gmail.com or Eloise Gilland, 510-547-4838, eloise@eeri.org.

BIBLE STUDY: Bible Study with Rev. Beth on Wednesdays from 1-2:30pm will resume next Wednesday, August 17th. It will be in the Thornhill Room.

PLAY FOR GROWNUPS: The Art Gang invites you to our annual Create in Clay event. This year will be on 2 Saturdays, September 10th and 17th, 10:00AM to 1:30PM. Return later for glazing when creations are fired. Instructors are Ann Fisher, Jane VanderVeer and Dot Cudaback. Location is Dot Cudaback’s home, 6639 Longwalk Dr., Oakland. Bring a lunch; we provide drinks, also coffee and sweets on arrival. We have room for 13 people. Dress for outside. NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED; BRING ONLY ENTHUSIASM. Sign up and receive info. Flyer at coffee hour this Sunday and next or call Dot (510) 531-0757.

VIA THE FAITH TRIO: AN INVITATION TO SPEND CHRISTMAS 2011 IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL. Polly and David Johnson, members of the Israel Palestine Mission Network and veterans of the Keep Hope Alive Olive project, are leading a trip to Israel/Palestine to experience the Orthodox Church celebration of Christmas. The group will visit with Israeli and Palestinian peace groups and spend time in Nazareth, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron and on the Mediterranean Coast. They will leave on January 2nd and return on the 10th. The cost of the trip from Louisville, KY will be approximately $2500, which includes lodging, 2 meals a day, entrance fees and gratuities. They will fly from Newark to Tel Aviv. If you would like more information about the trip, please give them a call at 502-473-8435. THANKS! Jean

THANK YOU! The Celebration Committee, along with Rev. Beth and Lisa Larges, would like to extend a big thank you to Debbie Fallehy for her hard work in preparing the delicious barbecue lunch after church last Sunday. Whatever else you can say about MPC, we certainly eat well thanks to Debbie!

VOICE RECITAL: On Sunday, August 14, at 1 pm, there will be a Vocal Recital by Madeleine Blumgart in the Sanctuary. All are invited to enjoy a selection of classical and jazz songs. Donations appreciated.

BIONEERS CONFERENCE: The fabulous Bioneers Conference is coming up October 14 to 16. Discounted rates are available until August 15. If the world situation looks depressing, you will have an opportunity to learn of a variety of things that are going on from an amazing variety of visionary people from all walks of life–scientists, inventors, social activists, artists, chefs and their exciting ideas and inspiring deeds that are very uplifting. I hope you decide to join us. For information go to www.bioneers.org/conference or call Sari Kulberg 653-6432 before August 13 or Jean Gregory 635-8838.

ART GANG MEMBERS: Mark the date, Saturday, August 27, for the Photo Shoot at Dillon Beach. Contact Pat Schwinn or Elsa Wollenweber for details.

MPC WRITERS: The deadline for submissions for this year’s anthology is Sunday, August 28. Contributions should be copy-ready, signed, and unstapled on 8 ½” x 11” white paper. Children who missed our writing Sunday are encouraged to send their drawings and writings as well. Submit to Margaret Irvin, 510-243-1114.

JUSTICE BEGINS WITH SEEDS: On September 16 & 17, the California Biosafety Alliance is sponsoring an important conference about the future of seeds. Speakers include Vandana Shiva and our Friend from the Oakland Institute, Annuradha Mittal. For information see: http://www.biosafetyalliance.org/ Several people from Montclair Presbyterian Church are beginning to plan attending the conference. If you are interested in the conference and would like to be part of this group, contact Brad Hestir to coordinate.

TIE A STRING AROUND YOUR FINGER: The Women’s Fall retreat will be Friday, October 28th through Sunday the 30th. This year it will be held at the Westminster Retreat Manor in Alamo. Rev. Beth will be our facilitator. Registration will begin August 28th.

RECYCLE LOCATION FOR LIGHT BULBS: Need to know where to recycle the energy saving light bulbs? One place is Ace Hardware 2145 University Ave., Berkeley. Hours: Monday through Friday 9 to 6, Sunday 10 to 5. Questions Sari Kulberg 510-653-6432

        

Front Row, left to right: Talitha Phillips, Tinka Larsen, Anita Allardice, Rosanne Nocerino
Rear Row, left to right: Sharon Noteboom, Ann Fisher, Dolores Nice-Siegenthaler, Al Peters

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:
• Kini York as she is having a long and uncomfortable recovery from her recent surgery.
• Tracy Livezey, who has been ill for a month with a severe infection.
• The Mission Study Team as they continue their reading and begin their weekly meetings.
• All those on hunger strike in California prisons. California has 3,259 prisoners in SHUs (solitary confinement), and thousands of prisoners are striking in solidarity with the Pelican Bay SHU inmates who demand more humane conditions. More information at www.prisons.org/hungerstrike.htm.
• Healing for Burt, Jan Stites’ husband, who had successful back surgery last week and rest for Jan as she cares for him.

DEADLINES: To submit announcements for the bulletin and Contact, please send them to office@mpcfamily.org. The deadline for Contact is every other Tuesday at 3 pm, starting June 28th, and the deadline for the bulletin is Wednesdays at 12 noon. This is a change for all of us, so let’s try to remind each other!

MPC Calendar:
http://www.mpcfamily.org/getting-involved/calendar/
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MONTCLAIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5701 Thornhill Drive, Oakland, California 94611, (510)339-1131
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
Rev. Beth Buckingham-Brown, Office hours Monday-Wednesday, 10:00-4:00 pm
Susan Hunn, Associate for Education: Office hours, Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30-2:30 pm
Sherrill Figuera: Administrative Assistant, Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 pm
Talitha Phillips: Associate for Congregational Care and Life
Kim Rankin: Music Director
Marcia Roy: Organist
Gil & Maria Chiguila: Caretakers
Rev. John Hadsell: Theologian in Residence
Rev. Kathy Ray: Parish Associate