March 9, 2011
Montclair Presbyterian Church
Dear Friends,
Sometimes I feel as if I have stepped on to Mrs. Toad’s wild ride at Disneyland! What a full and gratifying week it has been since I last wrote. A week ago today the Session met to discuss two subjects. One was how we can better structure ourselves as a session so that we can be more involved in and supportive of the various ministries of the congregation. The second was the scope and timing of the Interim period. The outgoing and incoming elders all participated in the discussion and after 3 hours and a great deal of thoughtful and insightful comments and questions, consensus had been reached on both subjects. We will continue the work as we meet for a Retreat on March 19th with committee chairs and coordinators. In addition, a small group of people (Jim Allardice, Sari Kulberg, Saralinda Jackson and Tamara Lett) will work with me on developing an Interim timeline to use as a guide.
Last Wednesday the Personnel committee met to continue conversations about how we can be more effective and efficient in our staffing configuration. We have identified some holes in staffing and will be addressing ways to meet those needs. My experience of the Personnel committee is that they are thoughtful, compassionate, fair, experienced, open, and committed to learning from the past. As you may or may not know, the Personnel committee takes matters relating to personnel to the session for approval. Rest assured that we will keep you up to date as much as possible, particularly when session has acted.
On Sunday, after Celebration, I attended the Storytellers brunch and was astounded to hear the stories that were written and read by our very own members. Some were lighthearted and entertaining with chances to laugh out loud from the belly and some were moving and sad or poignant. After I heard each one, I felt as if a small window had been opened to me into that person’s life. What a gift to give each other and it is a gift I will treasure. If you have not been able to attend one of the Storyteller’s events, I highly recommend you do so and receive the gifts of our talented friends. When I left, I confess I wanted to go home and write!
Later on Sunday I had dinner at Piedmont Gardens and then spoke at their chapel service. Since we have several members who live there, I realized I needed to prepare a different sermon than the one I preached on Sunday morning. As I thought about what to say to that wise and life-experienced group, I realized how little we talk about death and what comes after death. We are doing our oldest members and ourselves a huge disservice when we pretend as though none of us are thinking about it. Why not talk about it with each other? When I was in my late teens I met a couple who ended up having a big impact on my life. They were in their late sixties at the time and Ken, the husband, used to talk about his longing to “go home” so he could have long conversations with Jesus. By talking about his desire and his picture of what came next, he helped me loosen my grip on my own fear of death. Maybe if we would talk (or write) about our ideas of what comes next and how our ideas have changed over the years we would help each other walk more gently into that good night.
Yesterday I was invited to lunch at the Salem Lutheran Home with four of our dear members/friends. Being with them was a reminder to me of how we have to continue to explore how we can walk alongside our members who are lonely, less able to get around, grieving for their loved ones who have died, and struggling with physical limitations for which they did not ask. They are precious to us and they need us. Talitha and I will be working on a visiting schedule so if you know of someone who needs to be visited in their home, please let one of us know.
As we travel through Lenten together, there is no one I would rather be on the journey with than you.
Beth
CHANGING OF THE ELDERS: The ordination and installation of our newly elected elders will take place during the Celebration service this Sunday, March 13th. The new elders are Robert Elia, Leslie Louie, Carrie McKiernan, Brant Nicholas, and Bob Saltz. Thank you to our outgoing elders who served us magnificently: Marge Nicholson, Art Paull, Liam Gray, Frank Dauby and Shelley Kelly.
TALITHA’S VIBE:
- Relationships: Youth Group had a great time last week, exploring gender stereotypes and discussing the negative and positive messages we get from the media. We are beginning to focus on ourselves and relationships as we prepare for our retreat with the theme “love, sex, and relationship status: it’s complicated.”
- Youth Group: We will meet this week Mar 13th, 7-9 as usual. Checks and Consent forms are due that night, for our 3/25-27 Tahoe retreat.
SUSAN’S JIVE:
- Vacation: I will be back from vacation on March 15th. If you have any questions about children or youth programs, please contact Talitha at Talitha@mpcfamily.org
Front Row, from left: Claire Kelly, Marilynn Moore, Rachel Dauby, Kenna Klop-Packel, Jane VanderVeer, Ray Ponce.
Back Row, from left: Leslie Louie, Brad Hestir, Megan McKiernan, Mary Jame Holmes, Charlie Boije, Mark Smith, Allen Todd
FOOD BASKET BRUNCH REMINDER: Food Basket volunteers – Come be thanked and give your input on the program this Sunday, March 13, at 11:30 am in the Thornhill Room. Delicious food awaits and we would appreciate your thoughts. – Ruthann & Jan
TWO TENORS IN TUXEDOS: Barbara Miller and Bill Neely invite you to a wonderful “free
concert” of Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass performed in the beautiful Cathedral of Christ the Light by Lake Merritt. Hear the 140 voice Oakland Symphony Chorus, the incredible cathedral organ,
and four amazing soloists under the direction of Dr. Lynn Morrow, this Saturday, March 12 at 8:00PM.
AEROBICS CLASS: Ruth Fassett has started her lively aerobics class again. It is on Tuesday and Thursday, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, in the Family Room. Bring a mat or towel. Last class is on April 14. Fee: $30 for 13 classes or $3 per class. Contact Ruth at 531-3837 or at rwfassett@aol.com or the church at 339-1131 or at office@mpcfamily.org.
JOIN OCO ACTION TO STAND UP TO BIG BANKS: Join an action to stand up to the big banks and stand for social and economic justice! Oakland Community Organizations is organizing a rally on Saturday, March 19th, 10:00 a.m. to noon at St. Louis Bertrand Church, 1410 100th Ave., that will call upon local officials and state legislators to:
- enforce the law that fines banks for vacant, blighted properties;
- stop preventable foreclosures and ensure fair modifications for homeowners;
- reward banks with strong commitments to local investment;
- demand banks finally show borrowers who owns their mortgages.
Community Connection Committee members will attend this event. For more information, contact Jean Gregory, jeancgreg@gmail.com or (510) 635-8838.
“SEX, DRUGS & ROCK ‘N ROLL” AT THE OAKLAND ART MUSEUM? O yes! On SUNDAY, MARCH 20th, Marge Nicholson & Jane Vander Veer will lead a docent tour with juicy California art and historical information. We will carpool from the church parking lot at 11:40 am. We will then have lunch at 12:00 pm at the Museum Café. The tour will start at 1:00 pm. Pre-ordered salad box lunch, $10.00; chicken salad sandwich box lunch, $12.50. Please pay Jane or Marge by Sunday, March 13. (Or you can bring your own lunch or buy a la carte.) The museum entrance fee is $12.00; $9.00 for seniors. Parking is $1/hr in the garage (validated) or free on the street on Sundays. Please RSVP to Jane Vander Veer if you can join this Art Gang excursion. 510-482-0505. Email:janevanderveer@yahoo.com
CANDLELIT TAIZÉ PRAYER SERVICE, MARCH 30: If you seek a Lenten experience of peace and tranquility, come to a Candlelit Prayer Service featuring Taizé Songs the evening of March 30 in the sanctuary. The service’s theme will be “Wilderness Journey.” At 7:00 p.m., an informative meeting about the unique Taizé community and aspects of the service will be held in the Thornhill Room, followed by the service itself from 7:30-8:30 pm. Refreshments will be available afterwards. Taizé is the name of a village in France where an ecumenical monastic community was founded in 1940, based on the message of reconciliation. Characterized by their simplicity and beauty, Taizé songs are short prayers that achieve a meditative nature through chant-like repetition. For child care (available upon request), contact Talitha Phillips, talitha@mpcfamily.org, by March 23. The evening is sponsored by the Spiritual Activists Committee.
“BEHIND THE SCENES ZOO TOUR”: If you signed up for the zoo tour, please note that the date has been changed from May 1 to May 15. If you have any questions, contact Sloan White at (510) 339-8728.
CALLING ALL OF YOU: No, seriously. This will take a minute. If you have a facebook account, MPC NEEDS YOU to visit http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Montclair-Presbyterian-Church/133926043339703 and click “like.” We are moving over from a “personal” page to a “public” page for the MPC facebook presence. Right now both are active, but we only have fifteen “fans” on the public page. Our statisticians have looked at this figure, and through advanced analysis have come to the conclusion: we can do better. If you have TWO minutes to spare, first “like” the page, and then “share” it so your friends will see it too!
KAIROS PALESTINE STUDY GROUP and INTERESTED OTHERS: As has been MPC’s tradition for at least two years, we continue to spread the word of the Palestinians’ plight, especially that of Christian Palestinians, in Israel today. Our principal sources are two pamphlets used in our February class: KAIROS PALESTINE, based on a confession and call for support of that name by an ecumenical group of Palestinian Christians, and STEADFAST HOPE, written by American Jews, Christians and Muslims. Published by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the PC(USA), both pamphlets are on order for the Book Depot. The first will be available sooner than the second, which is now being updated. Meanwhile, take up this issue at home, MPC, and workplace as well as through your social network. Please remember a vital fact: Many Jewish groups around the world, including America, oppose what Israel is doing to Palestinians. Eighteen of these groups even endorse the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for such actions on all products entering Israel for military purposes. Six pro-BDS groups are in Israel itself! So this is not at all a Christian vs. Jewish matter. Questions? Ask Jean Mudge at church or via Jeanmudge@comcast.net.
A BIG THANK YOU FROM CAROL PEACOCK: Carol is back at home now. She wants to make sure you all know she is grateful for every letter, card and telephone call she received while she was rehabilitating in Walnut Creek.
HOUSING NEEDED: My daughter, Cynthia Cudaback, her husband and 8 year old son will be visiting here in mid-July to mid-August. They are looking for a house-sit or rental for that period. Please call if you can help (510)531-0757, thanks Dot Cudaback.
WALKING FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS: Hi, my name is Erika Black and I am Debbie Fallehy’s niece. I have a friend that has a new born baby girl just diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. I am doing a walk in her honor on April 16th 2011 @ 9 am. I am looking for donations please.
This is the link to the web site or go to CFF.org and click in the left hand side making strides link and search for walker Erika Black. https://www.cff.org/great_strides/GenericDonation/?GSAppealCode=CASFGS0211&idUI=447385&idVolunteer=2407777&walkid=7180
DEADLINES: To submit announcements for the bulletin and Contact, please send them to office@mpcfamily.org. The deadline for Contact is Tuesdays at 3 pm and the deadline for the bulletin is Wednesdays at 12 pm. 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
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am-3:30pm
Rev. Beth Buckingham-Brown, Office hours Monday-Wednesday, 10:00-3:00 pm
Susan Hunn, Associate for Children & Youth: Office hours, Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30-2:30 pm
Sherrill Figuera: Administrative Assistant: Office hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9:00-3:30 pm
Talitha Phillips: Coordinator for Children and Youth
Kim Rankin: Associate in Music
Marcia Roy: Organist
Gil & Maria Chiguila: Caretakers
Rev. John Hadsell: Theologian in Residence
Rev. Kathy Ray: Parish Associate
Ajit Abraham: International Partner in Residence
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