Hillcrest Congregational Church

Transcription

1 Hillcrest Congregational Church HILLCREST ~ News ~ A Gathering Place for Faith and Action in the Community December 2018 DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR or MY FAVORITE OF RAY S TOP 10 Were you in church on November 25? There s no right answer to that question although that said, it s always great to have all of our Hillcrest family, including you, together for worship. Anyway, if you were here you may remember Rev. Ray s sermon titled Ray s Top Ten. Among those top ten I heard this: be a good listener. And that got me to thinking about all the listening that goes on during the Advent season. Mary listens to the Angel. And thank God she does. Imagine if she, like so many young people (and others!) in our world would be apt to do, held up her hand and stopped the Angel so that she (Mary) could take an incoming call or text, and then ran off to handle whatever the matter was? Zechariah listens too. And thank God he does. Imagine if he, like so many important professionals in our world (he was, after all, among the professional elites working in the religious and political headquarters in the capital city), would have attended only to the pressing business of the day? And we could go on and on. How about one more? The magi, or wise ones or whatever they were (perhaps they d be climatologists in our world) who either set aside their pressing work or even better, recognized that this new phenomenon and this new child had everything to do with who they were and what they were to be about. And isn t that the point? If we would, if we could God knows we should just stop. Pause. And listen. Listen for God. Listen for the Christ child waiting to be born, again, ever new, in our lives and in our world: Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, do you hear what I hear. A song, a song, high above the trees. with a voice as big as the sea Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, do you know what I know A Child, a Child shivers in the cold, let us bring Him silver and gold Said the king to the people everywhere, listen to what I say Pray for peace, people everywhere! Listen to what I say The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night will bring us goodness and light Are you listening? Do you hear what Mary, Zechariah, the Magi, the Shepherd boy and all the rest of them hear (including Joseph, who I think we re gonna hear from on Sunday Dec. 30 when Rev. Ray preaches again)? Please, for your sake and the world s, take the time to hear. Take the time to stop. Pause. And listen. Take the time to take in, and share, all the goodness and light that is ours in Christ. AMEN. Blessings this Advent and Christmas season, and every day you spend listening for God, Rev. Fred

2 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS December From The Hillcrest Social Justice Team In late October, Hillcrest was approached by our longtime partners at the Contra Costa Food Bank [Fun Fact: Hillcrest helped to found the Food Bank over 50 years ago]. Their concern regards a proposed national policy change which would punish immigrants who legally participate in programs like CalFresh which are vital to many whom our Outreach ministries serve. Meanwhile, the Multifaith Action Coalition of Contra Costa County as well as our national church body, the United Church of Christ (UCC), have also put out appeals asking us to respond to this proposed policy change and support immigrants who legally participate in programs that counter hunger and promote nutrition and health. Please read the Contra Costa Food Bank s statement below and consider taking the action requested On October 10 th the Department of Homeland Security published their proposed public charge regulation designed to scare immigrants away from programs like CalFresh that protect their health and the strength of our communities. It would punish immigrants by jeopardizing their ability to stay in the US if they legally receive food assistance to feed themselves and their children. This would have a disproportionate impact in CA, where nearly half of all children have at least one immigrant parent There are two simple and effective ways to voice opposition to the proposed changes. The Hillcrest Social Justice Team urges you to do both. Here s what to do and why: Go online to the UCC website page dedicated to this matter: There you will find a prepared statement. After filling in your information, you may simply click the button and send. Even better would be to read thru and personalize the statement before you hit Send. You statement will be directed by the UCC to your elected public officials, urging them to oppose the proposed policy change. Request a postcard from the Hillcrest Office, from Bill Cunningham, Chair of Outreach, or from Rev. Fred. These postcards have been prepared by the Multifaith Action Coalition and provide a space for you to fill in your statement. They are pre-addressed to the division of Homeland Security under which this proposed change falls. You may send it in on your own or, if you d like, we ll be sure it gets sent for you. As you prepare your statement, you may consider: What are your faith values that drive your concern? Why is protecting everyone s access to food without fear important? How might this proposed policy, if passed, negatively impact the work we do at Hillcrest (by creating a climate of fear, for example)? Please let us (the office, Bill, or Rev. Fred) know that you ve taken action. We d like to keep a count for our friends at the Contra Costa Food Bank and the Multifaith Action Coalition. THANK YOU.

3 December 2018 Hillcrest Church Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9:30 am Education/Activity Hour for Adults & Church School 10:30 am -Worship service *Childcare available both hours. 1 9 am Healing Touch (Engelbert home) 2 Communion Sunday & First Sunday of Advent 9:15 am Ext. Choir Reh. 9:30 am Education Hour 11:30 am Congregational Mtg. 1-4 Korean Church :00 Fell. of Prayer (R 9) 7 pm Board of Trustees (R 16) 5 9 am Meditation (Engelbert home) Office Closes at Noon 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal Many thanks, 6 8:30 a.m. Upper Room :15 am Ext. Choir Reh. 11:30 am Book Group (R16) 12 pm News articles due (Office) 1-4 p.m. Korean Church am Healing Touch appts (Engelbert home) 12:00 Fell. of Prayer (Parlor) 7 p.m. Council Mtg (R16) 12 8:30 a.m. Meditation (Engelbert home) Office Closes at Noon 7 pm Impact Forum on Homelessness (Sanc) 13 8:30 am Upper Room am Healing Touch (Engelbert home) 9-11:30 am Food & Clothing Rooms Open 16 9:15 am Ext. Choir Reh. 10:30 am Worship 17 5 pm Music & Worship mtg (Rm 16) pm Fell. Of Prayer (Parlor) 19 9 am Meditation ((Engelbert home) Office Closes at Noon 20 8:30 am Upper Room :15 am Ext.Choir Reh. 10:30 a.m. Worship 1-4 pm Korean Church *************** 30 First Sunday after Christmas 10:30 a.m. Worship 24 Christmas Eve 12 noon Office Closes 4 pm - Choir Reh. 5:30 pm Christmas Eve service Sanctuary ********** 31 New Year s Eve Office Closes at Noon 25 Christmas Day Office Closed 26 Office Closed 27 8:30 am Upper Room 28 29

4 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS December Silent Night, Holy Night is one of the best-loved moments of many a Christmas Eve. Something mystical happens when we light our candles and sing the hope of all is calm, all is bright peace and light for the world. This Advent season we will celebrate the carol s message as it teaches us who we are in the world and guides us to know Peace, Joy, Love and Hope all year long. Sunday Services 10:15a.m Carol Sing, 10:30a.m. Worship December 9: December 16: December 23: Glories Stream Joy Redeeming Grace Love Let us Sing Hope Christmas Eve Service & Children s Christmas Pageant December 24, 5:00p.m in the Sanctuary All children, grandchildren, and their friends are invited to participate. See details below. Families may bring infant clothing wrapped in white tissue to the service as an offering to the Baby Jesus. Gifts go to the Hillcrest Layette Program. Children and Family Activities December 9: December 9, 16 & 23: December 19: December 24: Sugarplum Workshop beginning during Worship and continuing afterwards Fellowship Hall Pageant Rehearsals During 9:30a.m. Sunday School and 10:30a.m. Worship Pageant Rehearsal (tentative) 6:00p.m. in the Sanctuary Children in Pageant arrive at 3:45 to dress, eat snacks & practice Hillcrest Congregational Church United Church of Christ 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill

5 ADVENT SPECIAL OFFERING Throughout Advent this year, we all have the opportunity to contribute to peace and light, calm and bright in the world by making some special donations. An envelope is provided for you to designate your special giving to one of four causes perhaps one per week! These are described below: Hillcrest Deacon s Fund This is a discretionary fund for the minister to provide emergency funds to those in need. Often these are walk-ins to the office who have special needs meeting utility bills, for example, so that they can stay in their homes. This fund has also been used for Hillcrest members at special times of need. Winter Nights Winter Nights Family Shelter is a program of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County (I4C). It serves our county and provides up to 30 homeless families with children a clean, safe, and warm shelter with bedding at night and a daytime services center. Faith congregations provide space, meals, and volunteers on a two-week rotating basis. Hillcrest members have served and supported this program for years, and one of our Hillcrest members serves on the Board of I4C. Multifaith Coalition Against Poverty (MFAC) MFAC was founded in part by the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County to work with faith communities, local and county-level government offices, and other civic organizations to alleviate poverty. It has a fund that is used directly to help formerly homeless gain their own housing (by helping with security deposits and credit checks, for example). Hillcrest members serve on its Steering Committee and Task Forces. Hillcrest Church Funds provided by the special offering will go to augment the General Fund, which supports Hillcrest staff, ministries, and the physical plant.

6 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS December CONCERNS Carol Albright Maureen Alison Ryan Anderson Stephen Baker Web Beadle Lynne Beller Mitsuka Bude Becky Bunnell Bob Cameron Debra Cass Kylie Chen Cara Clark Reva Dietz Nancy Goff Nancy Hammill Eldon Harwood Grant Hawkes Scarlett Henley Vicki Hernandez Norm and Adele Inkster Fran Johnke Soonhee Kim Charley Lamb Frank Laemmlen Sharon Lind Chuck Payne Cal Robie Alix Sahlin Jeanette Sahlin Dana Sparks Bob Wooldridge IN THE HILLCREST SPOTLIGHT We remember friends and members in residential and continual care: Barbara Cotton Marilyn Finson Betty MacKenzie Mary Rinehart Shirley Ronzone Jan Smiley Betty Soreide Martha Vivrette **Please help us keep these lists updated. If you do not see a name you expected to see, let us know. And, if you know of name(s) that can be removed, please contact us at the Church office. CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations to Vicki and Frank Hackett on the marriage of their son, Brandon to Kayla. The wedding was held October 31st in Cabo San Lucas. Congratulations and best wishes to the new couple. IN SYMPATHY Our deepest sympathy goes out to Saundra Grube and family on the death of Norm Grube. A memorial service will be held at Hillcrest on Saturday, December 15th at 11:00 a.m. Our sympathy and prayers are with Eileen Dahl and family. John Dahl passed away on October 25th. A memorial service was held at Hillcrest on November 30th with Rev. Fred Weidmann officiating. Sympathy and prayers are with Stephen Baker and family. His sister, Sheryl Baker, passed away recently. A memorial service was held at Hillcrest on November 17. Rev. Fred Weidmann officiated. ******************** Our happy birthday wishes go out to Rev. Ray Welles who is 89 years young! HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL Dennis Sasaki NEW ADDRESS Barbara Cotton is now receiving mail at the following address: 5501 Hessel Ave., Sebastopol, CA

7 EMERGENCY PREPARADNESS COMING TO HILLCREST. We have a brief update on our emergency preparedness plan at Hillcrest. We have placed Go Bags with emergency supplies in the classrooms, Office, Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. The AED (defibrillator) arrived and we have a training date lined up in January as well as training on how to use a fire extinguisher. And of course we all need to be a part of this safety net by saying something if you see something that does not look right. Be aware of your surroundings including where the EXIT signs are. Look around when you are in the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall and notice how you would exit calmly in the event of an emergency exit. We will practice that early in the new year. Stay safe during this beautiful Advent season. Kathy Flagstead, Sue LaPat, Rico Duran and Carolyn Mac Kenzie LAYETTE TREE AND WHITE GIFTS In Advent we await the birth of the Christ Child. Each day of the year parents in our county anticipate the birth of their baby, some born into circumstances quite as lowly as Jesus. Hillcrest has a tradition of helping such families, and honoring the Christ Child with the giving of a baby gift at Christmas. Please stop by the Giving Tree in Fellowship Hall and take a Christmas gift tag with a suggestion on it. You may return your gift wrapped in white tissue on Christmas Eve, adding it to the crèche; or if you can t attend that service, you may place your gift in the layette basket under the Giving Tree on any Sunday in Advent. CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday -Friday 9 a.m.-12 noon; 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (Closed for lunch 12-1 p.m.) The office is now closed at noon on Wednesdays. Church Office Phone (925) Website: Food Room Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 9 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. (925) No appointment needed. I.D. required. Clothing Room Hours: Mon., Wed. & Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. (no appointment needed) Jim Flagstead s Hours: Financial Secretary Mon. & Thurs. 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

8 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS United Church of Christ 404 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill, CA Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS December RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED MAILED: December 3, Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS December 2018 Hillcrest Book Group December Book Group Selection: The book selection for December is 4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie. This is a detective fiction story first published in In this classic mystery, a woman in one train witnesses a murder occurring in another train traveling alongside hers. She reports the incident and is promptly dismissed, leaving her to turn to her friend, the resourceful Miss Marple. Our next meeting is December 9th. Join us in Room 16 after the church service as we discuss and share our thoughts on this mystery. Upcoming Reading Selections Hillcrest Congregational Church United Church of Christ 404 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill, CA Phone: Website: Senior Minister: Rev. Dr. Fred Weidmann Pastoral Associate: David Kuechle Accompanist & Choir Dir. : Joshua Feltman Children & Youth Ministries: Mya Terry Nursery Coordinator: Shelby Pickett Worship Service schedule 10:30 Worship begins Deadline for the next NEWS is Sunday, January 13, 2019 at NOON. Please all articles to: hillcrestucc@att.net or put them in the news folder in the News office box include the source of the article and your phone number. January 13, 2019: Call the Nurse by Mary J. MacLeod