Friday, May 1, 2009

May 2009

A Letter from the Pastor

Dear Friends,

At the end of this month, I will be traveling to Geneva to celebrate John Calvin’s 500th birthday, and I suppose the occasion of my pilgrimage to that city on a hill above the place where the Rhone begins its journey from the Alps to Provence is as good a time as any to say what I like so much about John Calvin, a man remembered primarily for his stern demeanor and his commitment to the doctrine of predestination.


Calvin’s popular reputation is not without factual merit. Calvin is, after all, the man who used the weight of his spiritual authority to convince the Geneva city fathers to pass a law requiring bar patrons to say grace before having a drink; Calvin’s writing can be acerbic and obtuse, and many of his ideas have not withstood the test of time.

There is, however, another side to John Calvin, a side that often is forgotten in the public imagination and ignored by Calvin’s detractors. Calvin truly wanted the world to be a better, more just place. He believed that Christians had a responsibility to care for the poor and hem believed that governments should exist for the wellbeing of the people and not the other way around. This is obvious to us today because Calvinist ethics have permeated our society, but it was a novel idea five hundred years ago.

I also like John Calvin because he was a populist. Calvin’s then-radical notion was that everyone was equal before God, and that all faithful and honest work is equal before God, so that the craftsmanship of a bricklayer is just as important to God as the state craft of a president. These are ideas that are hard for a progressive like me to dislike!

But I am a fan of John Calvin for another reason, too: I love the fact that despite Calvin’s frequently crotchety demeanor, in his writings, Calvin has moments of profound beauty, particularly when, in the first chapters of the Institutes he celebrates the wonder and magnificence of the natural world. When a man so thoroughly grouchy as John Calvin is able to write with profound grace, then I have hope for most of us—people of generally amiable dispositions, who may like to work a little bit more beauty into our lives. If Calvin was capable of loveliness, than so are we, and from I sit, that’s reason to celebrate.

May God Bless You!

Ben

View Pastor Ben's sermons online.
...........................................................................................................................................................................~The The Life of a Seminary Student {on internship}
-Maxine Millender

When we forget about ourselves, we do things other will remember

-RBC Ministries

Last month I shared about the 13 year old who had shot himself. I had the opportunity to visit with him when he was in trauma ICU. He had had surgery, there was no brain damage, and he was on breathing treatments. His grandparents were in his room and they remembered me. They hugged me and I pulled a chair to sit close to the young man. I asked him if I could pray for him and read some scripture to him and he held up his thumb to signify ok. Because the policy is not to bring up an attempt, I read about forgiveness to them so that they now God loves them. I talked to him about how much everyone cares about him, how the Doctors worked very hard to make sure he would be ok, and that I loved him also. He help up his thumb and nodded his head yes. I told him to be good and continue to honor his grandparents. They legally adopted him. He was sent to a children’s hospital so that he would have good help from a psychiatric RN.

Sometimes it is so lonely walking the halls but I continue to do it. When we work the extended shift, we have to carry the primary pager. All calls after 4pm come through this page. We have to respond to all of them within a specific amount of time. All trauma related calls are within 5 minutes, no matter where you are in the hospital. Sometimes this is almost impossible so I have learned to prioritize my calls and let the RNs know I am working on a family crisis or will be there in so many minutes. This has worked so far.

Lately there has been an influx of suicide attempts, full arrests (heart stops), brain bleeds, and motorcycle accidents. Two weeks ago, a 17 year old girl was brought in because she had gone to a party with friends. They convinced her to take the drug ecstasy and she started to convulse. Now she has tremors throughout her entire body and shakes constantly. Believe it or not, when I went to visit with her, her friends were in her room. I was not able to have a good pastoral visit with her and left disappointed.

We had a young man (30’s) come to the ER by helicopter. He had gone outside to smoke or so he told his wife but when he took too long to come inside, she went out and found him hanging from a tree. She was able to cut him down, paramedics of the care flight crew fought to save his life and when he arrived in ER, he was barely alive. The doctors worked hard to save his life but he died. The cut and burn marks around his neck were horrible to look at. His wife informed us that this was not his first attempt at suicide! How scary is this? When we have deaths in ER, they are horrible for us Chaplains.

I am open to all situations and have no time to wish things were different. I constantly try to see the Light and be able to love those who are hurting and I try very hard to show hospitality and compassion but sometimes this is difficult. The other night a 37 year old woman came in by ambulance. When she arrived, one paramedic was on the gurney giving her CPR. The Doctors took over but her heart never started. Imagine the family arrived to the hospital (20 total) and I was the first one they saw. I invited them to the family room and they immediately took this to mean DEATH because I said I was the Chaplain. When I finally got them in the room, I explained that I could not share medical information but brought them in this room so that the Doctor and/or RN could come in and give them information as a family in privacy. When I came back with the Doctor, he informed them of the poor prognosis and her heart not starting but they were still trying. When I went back after 10 min, the Doctor pulled me aside to say she was practically dead and he wanted me to bring some of the family members in to discuss. They agreed with him and then it all started. There was crying, sobbing, dry heaving, and some passing out. They were very nasty to me at times but I kept being compassionate. In the midst of their grief, I have to get critical information and in this case, all information. Some of this information is the emergency contact, phone numbers, address, funeral home if they had one, and a primary Doctorr. In all ER deaths, we have to ask for primary Doctors and all deaths go to our Medical examiner. We have a group called Life Gift who we call to give death information and they let us know if the patient is a candidate for organ donation and they are the ones who call the families. A lot of times families will donate and sometimes they cringe at the thought of considering this for their loved one.

The most amazing thing for all of us is we are not alone in any of our crisis. We tend to our flock, we write reflectively about it, and we share it with each other to get feedback. This is an incredible tool for me; I am able to express my hurt, fears, and anger with my peers, get feedback and not get judged.

Many of us have been discerning about what it will look like at the end of August. One resident will remain for another year as a Chaplain but go to our mental illness hospital. She is Presbyterian, has not been able to pass one test, and cannot seek a call. She graduated from seminary two years ago. Our male resident (Catholic) will be ordained as a Deacon in September, our resident from Kenya will return in September and one intern interviewed for another year at Harris but was told no and she was devastated. I received my letter from the University of Texas at Austin and it was decided not to recommend me for admission to the social work school. It is interesting that I felt ok and at peace with this decision. Now I am in prayer about moving to Austin to attend seminary or remain in Ft Worth and attend Brite Divinity School. I have a few weeks before the deadline so I request prayers from you about where God will lead me. If I stay in Ft Worth, I can join organizations which support children who are abused and if I move to Austin, I can join organizations and also volunteer to work at the children’s hospital as a Chaplain.

I continue to press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus-Philippians 3:14

{I keep my eyes fixed on the prize}

~to be continued~


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The Preschool is having Fun
in May with 43 kids




*Academics*
· The kids are learning about the
letters “Q” “R” & numbers 17 & 18.

*Themes & Activities*

*Mothers*
5/4-5/7

· 5/4 Art: Mothers day Flower & card
Song: I Love Mommy
· 5/5 Learning the letter “Q”
· 5/6 Learning the number 17
· 5/7 Bring a picture of your mother



· 5/11 Art: Paper plate flower
Poem: Planting Time
· 5/12 Learning the letter *Q*
· 5/13 Learning the number 17
· 5/14 Bring flowers to plant

*Zoo Animals*
5/18-5/21

· 5/18Art: Tent
Song: A Camping We Will Go
· 5/19 Learning letter “R”
· 5/20 Learning number 18
· 5/21 Bring a camping thing




*Graduation/Picnic*
5/26-5/28
· 5/26 Art: Graduation Owl
Song: Graduation
· 5/26 Art: Ants at the picnic mural
Song: Picnic Packing
· 5/26 Learning letter “R”
· 5/27 Learning number 18
· 5/28 Graduation dress rehearsal



*Re-occurring Activities*







*Special Events*

Friday, May 1
St. Jude’s Hospital
Bike-A-Thon
&
Teacher Appreciation/
Silent Auction Evening







Thursday, May 7
Mother’s potluck lunch




Friday, May 15
Fieldtrip
Bounce-A-Rama


Friday, May 29
Preschool Graduation Program
'For



*Preschool Closed*
Monday, May 25
Memorial Day (observed)




*HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY*
Sunday, May 10

My mother kept a garden,
a garden of the heart,
She planted all the good things
that gave my life it's start.

She turned me to the sunshine
and encouraged me to dream,
Fostering and nurturing
the seeds of self-esteem...

And when the winds and rain came,
she protected me enough-
But not too much because she knew
I'd need to stand up strong and tough.

Her constant good example
always taught me right from wrong-
Markers for my pathway
that will last a lifetime long.

I am my Mother's garden.
I am her legacy-
And I hope today she feels the love
reflected back from me.
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The Semibreve
-Jay Jordana, Director of Music Ministries

MANY THANKS…


To Kraig Williams and Stevie White for the successful production of the American Recorder Orchestra of the West concert.



“THE GROUP FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE HP SYMPHONY”
Friday, May 15, 7:30 PM

Yes, they are in the process of changing their name. To what? Dunno yet, but we do know that they are coming to Foothill soon. Their program will feature small chamber works (to be announced), and the popular Dvorak Symphony No. 9 (New World).


RAGTIME AMERICANA!
Sunday, May 17, 3PM

All are cordially invited to attend a program of Ragtime Piano Music from the Past 100 Years, presented by Ragtime piano duo Jack and Chris Bradshaw. With a sparkle reminiscent of old-time piano rolls, Jack and Chris Bradshaw produce a crisp, colorful, varied sound, encompassing the magic of the entire keyboard. Program will feature Scott Joplin’s Cleopha, Joseph Lamb’s Bohemia Rag, Charles N. Daniels’ Margery, Charles L. Johnson’s Dill Pickles, Charlotte Blake’s Gravel Rag, Galen Wilkes’s Cakewalking through Kansas, and Harry P. Guy’s Pearl of the Harem. Travel back to a gentler time and enjoy works by ragtime’s most notable composers.

AUDIOVISUAL (AV) LIBRARY

People are actually checking stuff out! It’s good to know that some folks are using our AV library to check out CD, DVD, and VCR recordings. Let’s make our AV library more attractive. Interested in donating CD, DVD, VCR, and cassette recordings of films, music, and so on? Please drop them off in the box marked “Donations.” In the meantime, check out our AV library. Go ahead and sign stuff out. We’ve got some neat stuff!
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Have you run out of storage space? Are you tired of fumbling around all those extra items you just haven't gotten around to getting rid of? Chances are you have household items that are still in great shape that you just don't have use for anymore.

It's time to empty the closets, reorganize the cabinets, and clean out under the bed. Don't dust that unused item again! Donate it to the Spring Flea Market. Unclutter those cabinets and support your Buildings and Grounds Committee. Donated items will be accepted during office hours, Monday, May 18 through Friday, May 22. Call ahead if you need help unloading. (no clothing please)

But wait! What if you don't have any items to donate but still want to support Buildings and Grounds? Just volunteer to set up or tear down. Or plan to come out and work a table.

Want to rent a space to sell your things? You can do that too! Just a $10 donation gets you your very own flea market space for the entire day. Call the church office to request your space.

Donate, Participate, or just come out to shop! Don't miss the Spring Flea Market, Saturday, May 23 from 8AM to 2PM in the front parking lot.

Set up at 7:30AM.

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I hope you have marked your calendars and are planning to attend Foothill’s Fall Retreat the weekend of September 25th.

Sam Barry is providing our program this year. He is a musician, writer, and columnist Dave Barry’s brother. Sam will bring music and humor to the weekend. Ben is meeting with Sam soon to begin developing the program. I’m sure it will be a special weekend.

The location of the Fall Retreat is Happy Valley Conference Center in Santa Cruz. The center is located in the beautiful redwoods and each room has its own heater and bathroom. The food is good and plentiful. And the center will be filled with members of the Foothill Family! More information will follow.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thanks!

Martha Belz

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A Thank You Note from Marilyn Bahr


I wish to express my appreciation to Foothill Prayer Chain, and to all who offered their prayers and support during Larry's operation and time in the hospital. The operation was a success and eliminated the pain he had suffered for a long time. We know your prayers helped and made things easier for the doctors, as they did not have to face what they expected. God be praised!

Thank you

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Parish Concerns

Special Prayers

Roxie Banks, Linda Shadoe, Dee Daniel, Helen Klotz, Bobbie Stites, Shirley Schmidt, Mary Mints, Karen Withrow, Jack Stutz, Kitty Rugebregt, Glenda Parmentier, Joanne Reinecker, Charlie Klotz, Larry Bahr, Larry Martinez, Bob Nelson, Grace Takeda, and Maury Mitchell.

Lectionary Readings
Available in the Presbyterian Planning Calendar

Sunday, May 3
4th Sunday of Easter
Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23;
John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18

Sunday, May 10
5th Sunday of Easter
Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31
John 4:7-21; John 15:9-17

Sunday, May 17 6th Sunday of Easter
Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98
John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17

Sunday, May 24
7th Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19

Sunday, May 31
Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21, or Ezekiel 31:1-14; Psalm 104:24-34,35b
Romans 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21
John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
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NOTES FROM THE MINUTES OF SESSION AND VARIOUS COMMITTEES
-Darlene Ristrim, Clerk of Session

Session
  • Session approved John Moore’s request to move into Inquirer status as he continues to define his call. He recently met with the Presbytery Committee on the Preparation for Ministry and has been granted Inquirer status.
  • Sarah Glass has passed all ordination exams and once her other graduation requirements have been met she is ready to accept a call.
Buildings and Grounds
  • Ray Mignogna, Herb Miller, Jerry Siegfried and Jim Withrow volunteered over 240 hours working on the recent Sewer Repair Project.
Finance
  • The cost of various projects at Foothill, including the parking lot, sewer repair and tree removal grew to $55,750. We are grateful to Verizon for their generous contribution in assisting with costs.
Foothill Christian Preschool
  • As of March 17 a total of 45 children are enrolled, 29 full time and 16 part time.
  • The downturn in the economy is being felt, some parents have lost their jobs.
Worship
  • The members of the Worship Committee were very busy with preparations for Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Tasks included: order and arrange Easter lilies, Details relating to Maundy Thursday Simple Supper and Service, securing palms and hanging banners for Palm Sunday and serving coffee hour on Easter Sunday
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Sunday School
-John Belz

Ever wonder what our children do after they leave church each week following the children’s sermon? If they are in grades three through five, they attend a Sunday School class taught by Amanda Belz, Sharon Rowser or John Belz.

These three teachers rotate duties bi-weekly and teach using the Witness Curriculum from the Augsburg Fortress press. This is a rich program that offers Bible reading and discussions, weekly leaflets with puzzles and quizzes and an array of crafts and activities.

The activities include games and plays from this week’s Bible lesson (or sometimes a high energy game of Fruit Basket Upset! – ask one of the children what that is). The crafts tend to be making educational projects using paper, glue, twine and stickers. Rather than send the leaflets and crafts home each week we save them all for an open house the second weekend in June. We hope to see you there. Each week also includes a snack of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish. Did you know that there are six different flavors?

This picture is from Palm Sunday and includes some of the palm fronds that were carried up the aisle during the service. Clockwise from left are Grace , Samara , Katelyn , Nathania and Luke.

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'For

Christian Ed needs volunteers for vacation bible school.
VBS will be held August 10-14.

Contact Melissa Hill if you are able to volunteer for teaching, recreation, snacks, crafts, or music.

All Foothill kids, grandkids, and friends are welcome to attend. CE will need a commitment of both families attending and volunteers by May 17th. Help CE make this happen and sign up for VBS today!


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Testing

'A whole new way of doing mission'

Life-style changes at home benefit mission partners elsewhere, pastor finds

by Emily Enders Odom
Associate for Mission Communications
Reprinted from One in the Spirit


TENNENT, NJ - Although her two trips to Bolivia under the auspices of the Presbyterian Hunger Program were unquestionably life-changing, it was a visit here from a former mission worker to Bolivia that unexpectedly changed how the Rev. Phyllis Zoon lived.

In her unique, joint role as Hunger Action and Stewardship of Creation Enabler for Monmouth Presbytery, Zoon came to the conclusion that hunger and poverty cannot be effectively addressed without also engaging environmental issues.

To raise the presbytery's awareness of the dynamics and consequences of this intimate interrelationship, Zoon had invited former mission co-worker, Bob Dunsmore - who, with his wife Julie, served nine years in Bolivia until August 2008 - to speak during Mission Challenge '07, the highly successful initiative which sent 48 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) missionaries to visit 144 presbyteries in September 2007.

When Dunsmore began to explain that the glaciers in Bolivia that provide water for millions of people would be gone within ten years because of global warming, Zoon experienced a moment of remarkable insight and clarity.

"Bob told us that what we can do to help our brothers and sisters in Bolivia the most is not writing a check or even sending clothing or medicine," she said. "Their biggest request is that we drive less. Our partners in Bolivia say that what they most want is for us to change the way we live so that we can at least mitigate the effects of climate change. It's a whole new way of doing mission because it asks us not to give so they can live like us but to change, to transform our lives so they can live."

Zoon's perspective enriched and her spirit profoundly moved by the Bolivian partners' specific request, Zoon immediately set out to change her behavior. "Their appeal that we change ourselves changed me," she said. "I have started putting fewer pollutants into the air, I buy less stuff, and I've gotten more involved in local initiatives and in the environment than ever before. I'm preaching the message broadly throughout the presbytery that the small changes we can each make in our own lives can have a big impact."

One of the programs of the PC(USA)'s General Assembly Council on which Zoon has greatly relied for resources in both making and advocating lifestyle changes toward building more sustainable communities is Enough for Everyone.

She specifically cited Just Eating? Practicing Our Faith at the Table, a curriculum designed for high schoolers and adults that aims to bring into dialogue daily eating habits, the Christian faith and the "needs of the broader world," and The Presbyterian Coffee Project, which helps to ensure that more of Americans' "coffee dollar" goes to the farmers who do the work.

"This is something that people can do," Zoon said. "These are changes that we can make in our lives. We can give up the cup of coffee that we buy and make a gourmet cup of fair trade coffee at home. We can really do these things so that our lives will be changed, all while we learn the stories of the people behind the different projects."

Because hearing the stories that connect Presbyterians in mission is critical to Zoon's ministry as well as her own spiritual growth, she is currently working on again securing a mission worker to speak at Monmouth Presbytery during the 2009 World Mission Challenge, scheduled for Sept. 25-Oct. 18 this year.

She has also been a guiding force in planning and programming an upcoming May 30th symposium entitled "Out of Africa," jointly sponsored by the Hunger Action and Advocacy Programs of Monmouth and New Brunswick Presbyteries.

Its purpose is to lift up the exciting ministries that are currently taking place in Africa as well as the many connections that are shared with the congregations of both presbyteries.

"The symposium will also get people acquainted with important church-based advocacy efforts such as Publish What You Pay (PWYP), which calls for oil, gas, and mining companies to disclose what they pay governments for the extraction of natural resources, thereby holding them accountable," Zoon said, adding that billions of dollars are lost each year through government corruption.

The PC(USA) endorsed the campaign and joined the PWYP coalition by action of the 218th General Assembly (2008).

Zoon sees programs like Publish What You Pay and Joining Hands, another initiative of the Presbyterian Hunger Program, as being a critical part of creating long-term solutions toward healing the world.

"So often we give our money so people can be like us when they don't really want that," she said. "We think we can do things in the short term without changing our own long term behavior. But Jesus came into the world to change lives, starting with our own."

http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09342