[ ÄÄvÜxáà VÉÇzÜxztà ÉÇtÄ V{âÜv{ HILLCREST ~ News ~ You are Welcome at Hillcrest! www.hillcrestucc.org January 2014 FOLLOW THAT STAR Tis the season to be talking about stars. For preachers anyway. But for some reason maybe it s because we re having trouble with ours I m thinking about cars. And I m thinking about all those movies and TV shows and cartoon where some character, usually in hot pursuit of another character, says, Follow that car! And then what happens? Well, all kinds of things. Everyone from the Marx Brothers to Daffy Duck has done a parody of the Follow that Car theme. Even in serious dramas and cop shows, all kinds of things go wrong when your try to follow that car. You get stuck in traffic. You start following a different car that (you think) looks the same. You run out of gas. You miss an exit. Well, you get the idea. For me, the best is still Daffy Duck. He runs up to the cab and calls into the open window, while pointing ahead Follow that car. Which, the cabbie dutifully does and speeds off leaving Daffy Duck still standing there. Well, what s my point in all this? When it comes to real life, and daily life, and the stuff and complications and the mess of life, following anything car or star can be difficult. You get pushed off track. Or you lose track. Or you forget to keep track. Or, if you re like Daffy Duck, for all your efforts you never seem to get anywhere. And yet, the promise remains follow that star! That one. That one, there, see it? The one with your name on it. The one through which God is calling you. The one that lights your way. The one, the same one, that s been with you all along even when you haven t noticed it. God is with you! God s truth is with you! I know it can be really hard to see sometimes. Believe me, I know. More importantly, so does Jesus. After all, how many of Jesus parables boil down to the idea that seeing and following God s light can be hard in the real world. It s true. But then again, that s the whole point, isn t it? It s true. So, Follow that star! And don t forget to use the GPS, map, and compass of Prayer. And don t forget to stop by the service station the Church. And don t forget that you ve got lots of wise men and women here to help you along the way. Follow that Star! God s Blessings this Epiphany Season and this New Year, Rev. Fred
2 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS January2014 I Love Logos Especially my own! An artist friend of mine drew these decades ago; they ve served me well! Some times as a book plate: This book is My friend also created a logo for a memoir I hope to write someday: Sightings and Footprints It raises questions: Has Ray seen anything I need to look at? Are those footprints safe to follow? Is Ray dancing on his skateboard? Or crashing Then there is our Hillcrest logo: What does it say about our congregation? That we have an attractive, worshipful sanctuary? Is that all!? Take another look. Then answer my question: That sun, is it rising.. or setting. I can t answer that question..only you can! So, I close with the question we re grown tired of hearing on TV: What s in Your Wallet? RLW
3 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS January 2014 WOMEN S FELLOWSHIP JOYS No meeting is planned in January but plans are underway for a busy month of February. On February 9 th we will have a pre-valentine Bake sale after church. Contributions are appreciated. On February 13 th at 10 a.m. there will be a Board meeting in Room 16. At 11:30 a.m. there will be a general meeting followed by a soup lunch. The cost of the luncheon is $8.00. Instead of a speaker we are each to bring a family item that has history and a story about it. The item may be large or small, truly historical, family historical, serious, funny, cute or beautiful. Should be fun!! WOMEN S FELLOWSHIP UPDATE We are most thankful for the joyous music that the White Horse Youth Chorale sang for us at the December Women s Fellowship music program. We have not heard a children s chorus in our Sanctuary for a long time and those angelic voices were a real blessing! Also, thanks to all the helpers at the Christmas luncheon! We so appreciate the time and effort that so many women put into all our luncheons and with all hands and hearts joining in made it a successful and a joyous day! Watch for notices about the next Board meeting in 2014. CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday -Friday 8:30 a.m.-12 noon; 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (Closed for lunch 12-1 p.m.) Church Office Phone (925) 689-8260 Website: www.hillcrestucc.org Food Room Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri. 9 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. (925) 686-3663 No appointment needed. I.D. required. Clothing Room Hours: Mon., Wed. & Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. (no appointment needed) Call (925) 689-0550 any time and leave message on answering machine. Jim Flagstead s Hours: Financial Secretary Mon. & Thurs. 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
4 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS January2014 IN THE HILLCREST SPOTLIGHT CONCERNS Ryan Anderson David Asdourian Jim Barton Lynne Beller Brooke Bettis Mitsuka Bude Bob Cameron Debra Cass Kylie Chen Cara Clark William Coleman Richard Commins Phyllis Conley Rich Daugherty John Duley Rollin Forbes Maggie Friend Ann Gannon Elizabeth Gellately Dan Gobba Nancy Hammill Pat Hartman Grant Hawkes Linda Hernandez Robert Hess Candyce Hornsby Brian Husler Barbara Lee Jackson Debbie Johnston John Jost Barbara Kaprielian Laurie Keating Jessica Kelly John Kelly Soonhee Kim Charley Lamb Sharon Lind Shirley Malcolm Bobbie Mims Ron Morisawa Jerri Murphy Leanne Myers Terri Myers Bob Netherly Mike Nicholson Lindsy Noeth Lyle Palmer Bill Pantaleo Alice Peek Gene Pierson Roger Rasmussen Helen Reeks Jackie Rich Arlene Riedel Alex Sadowsky Alix Sahlin Kate Sheller Patrick Swanson Krista Sweet Liz Thomashefsky-Adams Marjorie Tovey Richard Wagner Rev. Joe Walker Ron Watkins John Weaver Katie Weidmann Tim Weidmann Barbara Welles All military personnel & families We remember friends and members in residential and continual care: Linda Auzenne Frank Como Bev Earl Paula Fritz Jean Hambleton Jane Hipple Bettie Ryan Phyllis Scholl Jan Smiley Agnes Smythe HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL Jean Hambleton Sharon Lind Kurt Pfeiffer Shirley Ronzone John Sahlin THANK YOU Dear Hillcrest Family, It is impossible to thank each and every one of you for your love and prayers these last four months. Your support was palpable and I am eternally grateful. Thank you for all the cards, phone calls, visits and flowers. They brought so much joy into my days. The Prayer group, Care Ministry, Healing Hands and Women s Fellowship all deserve special blessings for their continued caring. Once again, thank you all for your concern and may God bless you. IN SYMPATHY Our sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Claire Miller who passed away on December 6th. A memorial service was held at Hillcrest on December 19th with Rev. Fred Weidmann officiating. Our sympathy also goes out to Phyllis Sheller and family. Phyllis s grandson, Derrick, passed away on December 16th.
Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS 5United Church of Christ 404 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS January 2014 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED MAILED: Janaury 3, 2014 8 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS January 2014 Hillcrest Book Club We start this new year with the novel "Night Road" by Kristin Hannah. For a mother, life comes down to a series of choices, to hold on, to let go, to forget or to forgive. Which road will you take? This is a story of pain and forgiveness, not only for others but for one's self. Our next meeting will be January 12th in Room 16 to discuss the "roads" taken by the characters in this story. Hillcrest Congregational Church United Church of Christ 404 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Phone: 925-689-8260 Website: www.hillcrestucc.org Senior Minister: Rev. Dr. Fred Weidmann Eldering Ministries: Rev. Dr. Ray Welles Children s Ministries: Mya Guitron Youth Ministries: Charlie Guitron Worship Service: 9:30 a.m. Education Hour 10:30 a.m. Worship and Church School Childcare available beginning at 9:30 a.m. Deadline for the next NEWS is Sunday, January 9, 2014 at NOON. Please e-mail 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.