Vol 23, #12 December Monthly Newsletter of St. Timothy s Episcopal Church. Dear Parish Family:

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1 Vol 23, #12 December 2014 Dear Parish Family: Monthly Newsletter of St. Timothy s Episcopal Church In a few short days we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus, our savior and brother. He comes to us in the midst of the shortest days of the year. A reminder that the light of Christ comes into the midst of the darkness and cannot be overcome. Indeed, it is in the dark places and moments of our lives that the light of God s love and mercy often shines most brightly. There is a poignant Christmas hymn that begins with the words In the bleak mid-winter which describes a wintery manger scene and the singular devotion of Mary. It is the last verse that is particularly meaningful for me: What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what can I give him give my heart. It is a haunting question, even as we spend time and money picking out the perfect gifts for those we love and with whom we will celebrate Christmas... yet what can I give him? What can we give to honor Jesus, Emmanuel God amongst us? Certainly our time and attention, our devotions and prayers. We can give of our resources for the work of the church and the needs of our community. We are a church which is devoted to caring for those in need, which is reflected in a poem by Teresa of Avila (born in the year 1515) entitled: Christ Has No Body Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours. Defined by more than what we might chose or do; we are in our very being Christ, and the ones who bring God s compassion on this world. What ever we touch, where ever we walk, whom ever we see Christ has no body now on earth but yours. This is the gift that we can give to Jesus, to be Christ where ever we go, with whom ever we meet. Christmas blessings to you and all of yours, Jeff+

2 SAINT LUCY GIRLS ON DECEMBER 21 This Sunday, December 21, at all three services there will be a visitation by our Saint Lucy Girls with the opportunity to receive a Lucy Bun, prepared by Arlene Grant. According to the traditional story, Lucy was born of rich and noble parents about the year 283. Her father was of Roman origin, but died when she was five years old, leaving Lucy and her mother without a protective guardian. Her mother's name Eutychia, seems to indicate that she came of Greek stock. Like many of the early martyrs, Lucy had consecrated her virginity to God, and she hoped to distribute her dowry to the poor. However, Eutychia, not knowing of Lucy's promise and suffering from a bleeding disorder feared for Lucy's future. She arranged Lucy's marriage to a young man of a wealthy pagan family. Saint Agatha had been martyred fifty-two years before during the Decian persecution. Her shrine at Catania, less than fifty miles from Syracuse attracted a number of pilgrims; many miracles were reported to have happened through her intercession. Eutychia was persuaded to make a pilgrimage to Catania, in hopes of a cure. While there, St. Agatha came to Lucy in a dream and told her that because of her faith her mother would be cured and that Lucy would be the glory of Syracuse, as she was of Catania. With her mother cured, Lucy took the opportunity to persuade her mother to allow her to distribute a great part of her riches among the poor. Euthychia suggested that the sums would make a good bequest, but Lucy countered, "...whatever you give away at death for the Lord's sake you give because you cannot take it with you. Give now to the true Savior, while you are healthy, whatever you intended to give away at your death." News that the patrimony and jewels were being distributed came to Lucy's betrothed, who denounced her to Paschasius, the Governor of Syracuse. Paschasius ordered her to burn a sacrifice to the emperor's image. When she refused Paschasius sentenced her to be defiled in a brothel. The Christian tradition states that when the guards came to take her away, they could not move her even when they hitched her to a team of oxen. Bundles of wood were then heaped about her and set on fire, but would not burn. Finally, she met her death by the sword. Absent in the early narratives and traditions, at least until the 15th century, is the story of Lucia tortured by eye-gouging. According to later accounts, before she died she foretold the punishment of Paschasius and the speedy end of the persecution, adding that Diocletian would reign no more, and Maximian would meet his end. This so angered Paschasius that he ordered the guards to remove her eyes. Another version has Lucy taking her own eyes out in order to discourage a persistent suitor who admired them. When her body was prepared for burial in the family mausoleum it was discovered that her eyes had been miraculously restored. GREENING OF THE CHURCH We will be greening the church in preparation for our celebration of Christmas this coming Sunday, December 21, immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Please come by or linger for a few moments around 12:00 noon if you are able to provide some assistance with moving ladders and hanging the greens which have been donated by Jim and Renie Pope. Our thanks for their generosity.

3 CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE Christmas Eve Worship 3:30pm Family Service with Narrated Christmas Story and Holy Communion 5:30pm Family Service with Walk-On Pageant and Holy Communion 9:00pm Music of the Season in the Sanctuary 9:30pm Celebration of the Nativity with Holy Communion Christmas Day Worship 10:00am Holy Communion L essons and Carols on December 28 We will have a special service of Lessons and Carols followed by Holy Communion on Sunday, December 28 at all three worship services. In addition, at the 9:00 a.m. service where will be the baptism of Henry Krause. Feast of the Epiphany Sunday, January 4, :00am Holy Communion OFFICE CLOSURES AND PASTORAL CARE The church offices will be closed on December 25-26, 31; and January 1 Clergy times away following Christmas: Terri+ December 29-30; plus continuing education, January 5-9 Jeff+ January 13-16, plus continuing education, January In case of a pastoral emergency you are encouraged to call either of our clergy directly based on the schedules shown above: Jeff+ (530) cell Terri+ (707) cell You are also welcome to call the church office any time it is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at (925) EPIPHANY SUNDAY ACTIVITIES On Epiphany Sunday, January 4, we will have one combined worship service at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Gratitude in the Parish Hall. This will be a special Coffee Hour with delicious snacks and special decorations, and the opportunity to recognize the gifts of our congregation for the benefit of the parish and community. If you would like to provide a finger food brunch item to share, please contact Doug Speck, Carol Lane, or Zoe Gil and let us know. Your help is greatly appreciated! If you would like to sign up online to help with set up or food: Please join us!

4 A TIDBIT ABOUT OUR WORSHIP SPACE Did you know that when our sanctuary was built it only had heating equipment? I think long time members will not so fondly remember worshipping on many extra warm summer mornings. A number of years after the church was built a parishioner decided we had all suffered enough and made a donation so air conditioning could be installed. Now on Sunday mornings we can enjoy warmth in winter and cool in summer. While keeping the space comfortable we also try to be energy conscious and to take into account the needs of the piano and organ in the church. Large fluctuations in temperature can cause them to need more frequent tuning and maintenance so we try to keep the temperature in the church in a relatively small range of temperatures; degrees when heating the space and when cooling it. You may also have noticed thermostats on both side walls of the church and wondered why two and that is because the church has two furnaces and air conditioning units, one serving the north side of the building and the other the south. The thermostats are programmed to keep the space at 60 degrees (when using heat) or 78 degrees (when using cooling) when no one is in the building. It is also programmed to warm up or cool down the space automatically on those days and times when people are normally in the building, e.g. Sunday mornings. Since the church's thermostats can control temperatures for each day of the week and hour of the day, we leave the church's thermostats on automatic mode all the time, unlike some of our other spaces, where we manually turn the thermostats on and off (the parish hall, the Education building and parts of Grace House) when heating or cooling is wanted. If more heat or cooling is wanted we just use the "up" and "down" buttons to adjust the temperature until the next scheduled automatic setting time comes along. So now you know a little bit more about St. Timothy's history and also what we are doing to be good stewards of our environment and facilities, while maintaining a pleasant place to worship in. Neal Matsunaga ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of the parish will take place on Sunday, January 25, immediately following a combined 10:00 a.m. service. At that time we will elect our new members to the Vestry, and our Delegates and Alternates who will represent our parish to diocesan and deanery activities throughout the coming year. If you are interested in serving on the Vestry you are invited to speak to any of the standing members and asked to complete a nomination form to be turned into the church office by January 5 (in time for publication for the January edition of the Tidings). Nomination forms can be picked up from the church office or downloaded online at the following link: Nomination-Form-2015.pdf VESTRY MEETING AND BUDGET PRESENTATION The next meeting of the Vestry will be on Thursday, January 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the Grace House Conference Room. At that time we will adopt a final draft of the proposed budget for There will be a special presentation and discussion about the 2015 budget on Saturday January 10, at 10:00am in the Grace House Conference Room in advance of the Annual Meeting. Your presence for conversation and reflection are appreciated and welcomed. ANNUAL REPORTS DUE Every organization and ministry in the parish is requested to submit a report of their activities for 2015 to be included in the Annual Report to the congregation. The deadline for submission is January 12, and can be dropped off at the church office or submitted to Bea via at parish@sainttimothysdanville.org

5 THE FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS is a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir music. The format was based on an Order drawn up by Edward Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury but at that time Bishop of Truro, in Cornwall, for use on Christmas Eve (24 December) Tradition says that he organized a 10:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve in a temporary wooden structure serving as his cathedral and that the purpose of the service was to keep men out of the pubs. The original liturgy has since been adapted and used by other churches all over the world. Lessons and Carols most often occur in Anglican churches. However, numerous Christian denominations have adopted this service, or a variation on this service, as part of their Christmas celebrations. In the UK, the service has become the standard format for schools' Christmas carol services. The best-known version is broadcast annually from King's College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve. It features carols sung by the famous Choir of King's College. Groton School of Groton, Massachusetts, has performed the festival longer than any institution other than King's, holding its first Lessons and Carols in Saint Timothy's has chosen six of the traditional nine readings for our service of Lessons and Carols held on the first Sunday after Christmas (Dec. 28th) at both the 7:30 AM and 11:00 AM services. Due to a baptism at the 9:00 service, we will use only four readings and carols at that service. LITURGY COMMISSION The Liturgy Leadership Quarterly meeting was held on November 19th. These quarterly meetings of the Worship Commission and are attended by each of the coordinators for all activities surrounding our worship along with our clergy, and other interested parties. The meetings are an opportunity to discuss potential changes and for planning of our worship services. Several things of note were discussed and addressed. 1. Advent started on November 30th and with it several important activities: a) St Nicholas cookies were distributed at the end of the December 7th service b) St. Lucia girls will distribute buns at the end of the December 21st service c) The purpose of placing straw in the manger as we enter for worship was defined to be helping prepare the manger for Christ s birth. This is a change from straw representing good deeds during the preceding week. This change was approved by a consensus vote of all present. d) Advent candles will be lit by the acolytes this year to avoid the sense of favoring specific families. 2. The 9:30 pm Christmas Eve Service will conclude with each person having a candle and Silent Night being sung by all. 3. Epiphany will be celebrated with a single service on the on Jan 4th. The epiphany cupcakes will be part of the celebration following the service. We continue to use the discussions at these and other meeting as well as feedback from other venues to enable our church to grow and increase worship attendance.

6 REFLECTIONS ON CONSULTANT PROCESS As most of you know, your Rector, Vestry, and some members of our parish family have begun working on some issues toward strengthening parish leadership, organization, and communication. Since it seemed worthwhile to bring in some expertise to facilitate this work, Jeff+ and the Vestry have engaged a consultant, the Rev. Edward "Ted" Thompson. You will be receiving a second letter soon that offers more details on the what and why. Here, though, I want to share with you something of my experience of the process thus far. I will start by saying that Ted Thompson truly has a gift for his ministry in reconciliation. He is extremely good at helping us to figure out what we are really saying, and making space for everyone s voices. Ted has also made me really think about how I feel about things. I have given a lot of thought to questions that Ted has asked me, and it has provided some real moments of clarity. I think that I am going to grow as a person as a result of this. I think the biggest theme so far has been speaking the truth in love. It is not easy to speak the truth in love when we are really concerned, but the results are truly deepened relationships. This does not mean that the concerns go away, but they are conveyed in a way that is safe for everyone. I have often struggled with telling people things that I fear may hurt their feelings, but I am getting better at it. I have intentionally kept my life conflict free, picking my battles carefully to have peace in my life. I am now learning that conflict is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when it is handled in a loving way with absolute truth. Conflict, handled properly, can lead to positive outcomes for our parish family. This is also a very prayerful process. I know that there are a lot of people praying for our parish family right now. Thank you so much for all of the prayers. For myself, I am making prayer a priority, and it has helped me immensely to trust in this process and know that God will guide us through. I am realizing how important it is that we really care for each other right now. Our whole parish family is so important to me and I feel that we can emerge from this stronger and more aware of where we need to be. I wish everyone a blessed Christmas. Sian Suter, Rector s Warden UPDATE ON STEWARDSHIP AND BUDGETING Our thanks to everyone who participated in our Fall Stewardship appeal God has given me everything: This is my response. At our December Vestry meeting there was a review of the current numbers in preparation of finalizing at our January meeting the proposed budget to be presented to the Annual Meeting of the parish on January 25. Since the December meeting there have been several more pledges received for a current total of 175 pledges for a total amount of $656,216. It is still not too late to make a pledge for You can pick up a form from the church office or find by using the following link: Sttim-2015-pledge-card.pdf and return it to our Treasurer, Carleen Carns. Thank you for your continued generosity and support of Saint Timothy s.

7 BIOGRAPHY ON OUR CONSULTANT The Rev. "Ted" Thompson, a priest of the Diocese of California since 1997, has over 14 years of experience as senior pastor in Episcopal congregations. He was raised in Rockville, Maryland, in the vicinity of Washington, D.C., and found a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church as a young adult. Having lived and worked in Japan prior to seminary, Rev. Thompson served from 1997 to 2002 as vicar of Christ Church, Sei Ko Kai-- the San Francisco-based mission for Japanese and Japanese-Americans in the Bay Area. In 2002, he became longterm interim, then rector of Christ Church, Alameda. With an increasing sense of call to help the Episcopal Church enhance its ministry of reconciliation, he left Christ Church in 2009 with a fellowship from the Episcopal Church Foundation to re-enter full time studies at George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution in Arlington, Virginia. Rev. Thompson completed his studies toward a Ph.D. in 2012 while also training in a variety of conflict resolution methodologies. Having returned to Alameda with his family, Rev. Thompson continues his doctoral research for the Episcopal Church and now serves as consultant and process facilitator in conflict settings for the Diocese of California. He lives with his wife Mary and nine-year old son William in Alameda. WHAT S UP WITH ANNA HOREN? The St. Timothy s discernment committee that has been working with Anna Horen is pleased to announce that she is making great progress toward ordination. Anna had to put her studies on hold last year after her breast cancer diagnosis. But her treatment is now complete, she is cancer-free (thanks be to God!) and she s just about to wrap up her final semester at CDSP (Church Divinity School of the Pacific) in Berkeley. She has her last finals this month and then dives into 3 days of the General Ordination Exams in early January. Anna then hopes to locate a parish to perform her field work, which will last for about a year. Applying for candidacy in the spring will begin the final step in the diocesan process for ordination. The committee members, Sally and John Jess, James Vila, Father Jeff Frost and myself, have been thrilled and honored to walk with Anna on this path and we re so pleased she s doing so well. Anna would be so grateful for all your good thoughts and prayers as she winds down this exciting chapter and moves on to the next part of her journey. Blessings, Tori Nelson BIBLE STUDY Mondays, 12:00 Conference Room will resume on January 5, 2015: On recess in December, the Bible study of The Acts of the Apostles and how its narrative applies to us as a 21 st century Christians will resume on January 5, If you have any questions please contact Gil Jardine gil@leadercompetency.com or DELVING INTO THE WORD Our weekly Bible Study, Delving into the Word which normally meets on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. will be taking time off for the holidays and resume on January 7. For further details or any questions contact: The Rev. Terri Hobart thobart@sainttimothysdanville.org

8 NOAH'S NEWS December is upon us and we are enjoying the energy and sounds of the season. Our classrooms are full of excited children as we play and learn together. Advent is a very special time to share in stories, songs and create wonderful gifts for our families. Noah's Ark is so full of gratitude to our families who so willingly shared food for the Adopt A Family. We are thrilled to have filled 4 boxes and donate 4 paper bags of additional food. We truly honor the message of caring and community as our young children learn from these values. A big thank you for supporting our school by donating and purchasing items through our Mixed Bag fundraiser. This was a first time with Mixed Bags and we had so much fun. Please know our hearts are full of thankfulness and all proceeds will go directly back into our program! "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving." Mother Teresa Wishing you a wonderful holiday season from the entire Noah's Ark family! Cynthia Chavez, Preschool Director New Student Parish Member Registration January 5-9, 2015 Please pick-up enrollment form in the preschool office between 8 and 12 noon, Monday through Friday or download from the church website, Noah s Ark link. Return completed form to the preschool office by noon on Friday, January 9. If you would like to do a tour, please call the preschool at Tours are done on Tuesday and Friday at 9 am. BOOK CLUB NEWS! St. Timothy's Book Club meets the third Sunday of the month at 12:30 in Grace House Library. We discuss current bestsellers and old favorites. There's usually some tasty treats and always an interesting discussion! Our January selection is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Louisa and Will, two people on completely different paths, converge. A love story and a family story that brings to life two people who couldn't have less in common and asks the question, what do you do when making the person you love happy, also means breaking your own heart? This book is above all, a story of the bravery and sustained effort needed to redirect the path of a life once it's been pushed off course. (Publisher) We're back! The Book Cart will be selling gently used books beginning January 18, We will roll out the cart on the third Sunday of each month - $1.00 for paperbacks; $2.00 for hard covers. All proceeds will go to Outreach. Please contact Mae Warren at maewarr@gmail.com if you are interested in donating your used books to us. We will have a collection day in the new future.

9 LITURGICAL ART FOR EPIPHANY 2014 From the darkness of Advent, we have entered into a season of great light at Epiphany. Over the altar, the contemporary white banner with an exploding star represents the significance of Christmas. The sparkling center leaves no doubt that one of the most important events in our lives has occurred. We are receiving the light of Christ with all the wonder, glory and love that one can imagine. While creating this, the cross in the star just evolved. I was laying the sticks in the center to see where to cut them and the cross became apparent. I feel that this piece symbolizes both the birth and death of Christ. I hope that you will have your own interpretation and that these works of art will enhance your experience of worship during this holy season. The white banner was made in In 2013, a three dimensional star/cross was added to the front, and this year even more glittering twigs and mirrors were added to the center. It was necessary to use these to get some sparkle from such a distance and with the low light in the church. When you view it from the front it can appear flat, but if you look at the banner from an angle you can see the three dimensional quality. The white sheer drapery and stars behind the cross were also added this year so that there would be a relationship between the banner above and the cross behind the altar; and to the Advent piece that was just removed. The sheer drapery has been used as a table decoration at an earlier St. Timothy s event. The larger stars are silver plated and came from earlier liturgical art works that were hung in I believe in repurposing materials because new artworks can cost as much as $400 in materials. Special thanks to Kathy Wills for her input and help, and to Charlie Wills, Dick Firth, and others for helping to hang the work. Leslie Firth EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EVENT AT SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS This Sunday, December 21, following the 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. services there will be the opportunity to receive an Emergency Preparedness toke (a bottle of water to remind all of us to have an emergency supply in our homes) and a label with your neighborhood group number or letter. We are asking individuals and families to get better acquainted with your nearby neighbors from Saint Timothy s as a part of our Coffee Hour activities. TAIZE JANUARY 5 TH A NEW YEAR IN OUR WALK WITH THE DIVINE As God becomes manifest in our lives with the Epiphany, let the Holy Spirit bring comfort and renewal. Listen to the cry within you for new beginnings and in silence hear the roar of the Spirit s fire. Candlelight Taize will help you find that place which has no words. Monday January 5 th 7PM

10 OUTREACH 2014 St. Timothy s has a long tradition of sharing our bounty. A portion of Stewardship monies, $27,000, is budgeted for Outreach grants. The Fruits of the Harvest fundraiser then raises funds to supplement the amount. This year $32,000 was added from FOTH proceeds. Earlier this month the following non-profits received grants from St. Timothy s to support their incredible work. Each of these organizations has a parishioner acting as liaison and volunteer. God s Hands activities support these organizations so that we are offering our time and treasure. Refer to the God s Hands bulletin board for upcoming opportunities to serve. Everyone is welcome to become a member of the Outreach committee. It is a great way to do God s work and meet wonderful people. For additional information about these organizations, links to their websites, and the church liaison, go to our website at Agency Grant Bay Area Crisis Nursery $5000 Contra Costa Interfaith Housing $5000 Discovery Counseling Center $3000 Global Aids Interfaith Alliance $4000 The Gretta Foundation $7000 Loaves & Fishes $6000 Monument Crisis Center $6000 Options Recovery $5000 PFLAG $ 400 The Respite Inn $1500 The Seamen s Institute $1200 Shelter Inc. $5000 Stop Hunger Now $2000* Trinity Center $7500 Church Divinity School $1325** Interfaith Council of C.C. County $1325*** School for Deacons $1325** * Funds set aside as seed money for Stop Hunger Now event at St. Timothy s on Sept. 19, ** Episcopalian educational institutions that provide spiritual education for future priests and deacons. *** A council of 107 faith organizations in Contra Costa County that provide chaplaincy, advocates for social justice, provides youth leadership, health assistance for the poor, and more.

11 ADOPT-A-FAMILY 2014 WE DID IT AGAIN! St Timothy s families with the help of Boy Scout Troop 36, Noah s Ark and UPS delivered almost 240 boxes of food to Monument Crisis Center on Saturday, December 6 th. December 6 th capped a week of intensive activity for Adopt-A-Family. It started with volunteers from the Holy Mischief Makers, the Wells family and others filling and transporting 100 boxes from the Safeway in Alamo to St. Timothy s parish hall on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Funds to fill these boxes were pledged by sponsor families. If you shop at the Safeway in Alamo, please be sure to thank them for helping us by ordering the food and letting us use their conference room to organize and fill the boxes. On Sunday, November 30 th, boxes of food filled by individual families starting arriving at the parish hall in spite of the rain. More volunteers checked in the boxes, added rice and beans and marked the boxes with 5 so we knew they were ready for delivery. We had more boxes arrive on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. On Saturday morning, December 6 th more boxes arrived along with the Scouts. They organized the process of adding the rice and beans bagged by the Sunday School and others in mid-november to the 100 boxes filled at Safeway and moving all the boxes out to the back of the breeze-way to await the arrival of the UPS truck. Donna Fernandez arrived with the largest UPS delivery truck she could find at the San Ramon yard and helpers to load our boxes for transport to Monument Crisis Center in Concord. Seeing the line of people feeding the boxes into the truck was truly impressive. We were done in record time and by 11:30 am we had delivered the boxes to the Center and helped them unload them onto pallets. Your efforts filled a whole UPS truck and almost 7 pallets of boxes in the Monument Crisis Center warehouse area with food that will help make the holiday season a more joyful time. Every recipient family will also receive $20 in grocery cards so they can add fresh meat, vegetables and fruit to their box of food. This project would not have been possible without the help of every sponsor family and the volunteers who recruited sponsors, filled bags with rice and beans, filled boxes, moved boxes and helped clean up. My special thanks to the Wells family, Joanne Oliver, Helen and Jim Coleman, Gina Hodgson, Lori Robinson, Father Jeff, Troop 36, Donna Fernandez and her friends, the Holy Mischief Makers and everyone else who make this project a joy and so rewarding. I will be ing a tax receipt this week to every sponsor family. There are printed versions of the receipt in the Adopt-A-Family box in the office and with me on Sundays. Thank you again everyone! Well done. Sally Shea Potts

12 WINTER NIGHTS SHELTER 2015 January 26 - February 9 Save the Date Sign-ups will start after Christmas St. Timothy's and Beth Chaim Congregation are once again co-hosting the Winter Nights Shelter from Monday, January 26 through Monday, February 9. St. Timothy's parishioners will be responsible for the first week and Beth Chaim will take the second week. Set-up and break-down of the Shelter will be a joint effort among Beth Chaim and St. Timothy's volunteers. The Shelter, which will be located in the Parish Hall, is for the most vulnerable in our community - homeless families with children. Please help us to support them by finding a way to get involved. There are so many different ways to participate, from donating much needed food, supplies, and monetary contributions to being a member of a meal team that provides a hot, nutritious meal. Sign up as a family, volunteer with friends, or sign-up individually and meet new people. Together, we can provide a warm, safe haven for struggling families right here in Contra Costa County. For more information contact Joann Oliver at or joannoliver@sbcglobal.net SHELTER, INC. THANKS YOU. Many thanks for the elves who helped wrap Christmas gifts for the SHELTER, Inc. (largest provider of homelessness prevention in Contra Costa County) Adopt-A-Family program. We appreciate Barbara Monsler, Carol Lane, Sharon Skaggs, Jane Butterfield and Leslie Firth for helping wrap a portion of gifts in the giant effort to give 800 families a brighter Christmas. Saint Timothy's just granted SHELTER, Inc. $5,000 from our annual Outreach grant program funded by the Outreach budget and our annual Fruits of the Harvest auction proceeds. We also support 11 other organizations with grants and with volunteers. WARM HEARTS FOR WARM FEET SOCK DRIVE This time of year, warmth is a prime need for the homeless. Trinity Center is in desperate need of socks, to ease this problem, St. Timothy s is holding a sock drive. What we need are new athletic socks in white or black, such as you can buy at Target, Costco or Big 5. Since the guests at Trinity Center are both men (60%) and women, a range of sizes are needed. A box is placed by the food barrels in the foyer of the parish hall and outside the church office. If you have any questions, please contact: Steve Mason at stevemason200@gmail.com or

13 THE BEST FIRST AID IS YOU Sometimes first aid isn t a bandage, or CPR, or the Heimlich, or calling 911. Sometimes first aid is YOU! Someone you know could be experiencing a mental health issue or crisis. You can help them. You are more likely to encounter someone friend, family member, neighbor, or member of the community in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack. Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people with the signs and symptoms of a mental health issue or in a crisis, and to connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self- help care. Anyone can take the 8- hour Mental Health First Aid course first responders, college students, teachers, Leaders of faith communities, parents, grandparents and caring citizens. Sometimes the best first aid is you. Take the course. Strengthen your community. January 23rd & January 30th, :00AM to 12:30PM (two-day training) South Conference Room San Ramon Regional Medical Center 6001 Norris Canyon Road San Ramon, CA REGISTRATION To register, please the information below to kathychiverton@discoveryctr.net or mail this completed form to: Discovery Counseling Center Attn: Kathy Chiverton 115A Town & Country Drive Danville, CA Name Phone number address Occupation and employer name Brief description of why you re enrolling in the course: This course is being offered without charge, thanks to a grant from St. Timothy s Episcopal Church.

14 ST. TIMOTHY S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1550 Diablo Road Danville, CA A D D R E S S S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D TELEPHONE: (925) FAX: (925) hour access to voice mail (925) address: parish@sainttimothysdanville.org web site: SaintTimothysDanville.org Clergy and Staff Contact Information Rector The Rev. Jeffrey L. Frost x14 JFrost@SaintTimothysDanville.org Associate Rector The Rev. Terri Hobart X13 THobart@SaintTimothysDanville.org Associate Priest The Rev. Kurt Levensaler Kurt.levensaler@gmail.com Associate for Family Ministry Lori Robinson x23 LRobinson@SaintTimothysDanville.org Associate for Music Ministry Pat Parr x15 PatParr@SaintTimothysDanville.org Facilities Bev Matsunaga x11 BKMats@aol.com Noah s Ark Director Cynthia Chavez (925) NoahsArk@SaintTimothysDanville.org Secretary Beatriz Pussman x10 Parish@SaintTimothysDanville.org Treasurer Carleen Carns Treasurer@SaintTimothysDanville.org Intercessory Prayer Prayers@SaintTimothysDanville.org