Dear Friends,
This year the space between the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Lent is a short one and, because of its brevity, it seems a perfect time both to reflect on Christmas and to anticipate the coming season of Lent. As I look back on the Advent and Christmas seasons at Foothill Presbyterian Church I am struck by the incredible generosity of our congregation. It is a mere fact and no exaggeration that we sent pickup truckloads of food to local hunger programs including the Lord’s Pantry and the Sacred Heart Community Center. We gathered barrels of lightly-used coats and jackets to provide warmth for the homeless in San Jose (as I write this in the middle of a rainstorm I am confident that dozens and dozens of people are happier and more comfortable because of our generosity). A good number of us went in person to help in local hunger programs. The Foothill Fineries Christmas Boutique raised money for mission. We collected several Christmas-tree’s worth of toys for needy children.
The generosity hasn’t abated. We are collecting money and supplies for Presbyterian Disaster Relief’s ongoing effort in Haiti and all this leads me to believe that our congregation is responding faithfully to God’s call as we are led to address issues of poverty in our community and around the world. It makes me very happy and proud to be your pastor.
As we prepare for Easter, the spiritual journey helps us to remember that what was born at Christmas is resurrected at Easter and the Easter resurrection is a rebirth into life that is eternal—much bigger and stronger than that which is born at Christmas. I hope that the generosity born in us at Christmas will be reborn stronger and bigger and more powerful at Easter. I’m excited to see what God will do with us and how the generosity and faithfulness of our congregation will grow and be given new life as Easter approaches.
Here’s the coming seasons of Lent and Easter.
I Bid You Peace,
Ben
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*Academics*
The kids are learning about
Letters “K” “L” Numbers:11 & 12
*Themes & Activities*
*Feelings* 2/1-2/5· 2/1 Art: Face expressions
Poem: Feelings Spider
· 2/2 Learning the letter K
· 2/3 Learning the number 11
· 2/4 Bring something that makes you smile
· 2/5 Share Day & Movie Day
Art: Valentine bag
*Valentines* 2/8-2/12· 2/8 Art: Valentine Crown
Song: A hug from you
· 2/9 Learning the letter K
· 2/10 Learning the number 11
· 2/11 Bring Valentine cards for your friends
· 2/12 Share Day & Movie Day
*Presidents* 2/15-2/19
· 2/15 preschool closed
· 2/16 Art: Paper plate penny
Poem: Honest Abe
Learning the letter L
· 2/17 Learning the number 12
· 2/18 Bring picture of a president (past or present)
· 2/19 Share Day & Movie Day
*Disney* 2/22-2/26 · 2/22 Art: Aladdin
Song: Poo Bear, Poo Bear
· 2/23 Learning the letter L
· 2/24 Learning the number 12
· 2/25 Bring a Disney character
· 2/26 Field trip- Disney on Ice
*Bible Lesson*
Spiritual Message: Love
Chapel Day with Pastor Ben
Wednesday, January 3
*Preschool Closed*
Presidents Day
Monday, February 15
*Special Event*Disney on Ice
Friday, February 26
A Valentine for Jesus
By Ms. Tricia
What will you say to Jesus
On this special Valentine’s Day?
You can tell Him that you love Him,
And will follow Him everyday.
How can you show that you need Him,
If it’s not visible on your face?
You can read the Bible,
And thank Him for his sacrifice,
Love and grace.
The best Valentines you can give Him,
Is the promise of never being apart.
You can give Him what He wants the most,
He’ll gladly except your heart.
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Upcoming Music Series Concerts
Flauti Dolci and Amici I
Saturday, February 6, 3 PM
Some of the Bay Area’s most skilled and talented recorder consorts and mixed ensembles: Baroque Etc… Ministriles, SDQ, Ensemble Sonoma, and others come together to perform early music as well as recent compositions.
South Bay Philharmonic
Friday, February 26, 7:30 PM
Featuring excerpts from Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 1 de Falla: Three Cornered Hat
Judith Linsenberg & Katherine Heater
Sunday, February 28, 3 PM
Recorder virtuoso Judith Linsenberg and harpsichordist Katherine Heater will feature recorder and continuo music from the 16th through the 20th centuries including works by Bach, Sammartini, Bassano, Pete Rose, and others. www. Linsenberg.com
Suggested Donation: $10 per person per concert
Foothill Presbyterian Church 5301 McKee Road, San Jose, CA 95127 Contact: Jay Jordana, (408) 258-8133x105 www.foothillpc.org
Saturday February 6, 2010 - 3:00 PM
Flauti Dolci & Amici I
Some of the Bay Area's most skilled and talented recorder consorts and mixed ensembles. Baroque Etc., Ministriles, SDQ, Ensemble Sonoma and others come together to perform early music as well as recent compositions.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 - 3:00 PM
Judith Linsenberg & Katherine Heater
Recorder virtuoso Judith Linsenberg (www.Linsenberg.com) and harpsichordist Katherine Heather; featuring recorder and continuo music from the 16th -20th centuries, including works by Bach, Sammartini, Bassano, Pete Rose, and others.
Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 7:30 PM
Canconier
The Garden Enclosed: Medieval Music of Celebration and Revelry; Annette Bauer and Tim Payborn present a program of virtuosic medieval works for the 13th & 14th centuries from Italy, France, Spain, and England. www.conconier.com
Sunday, March 28th, 2010 - 3:00 PM
AROW
Garden of Delights; a musical experience beyond Eden; The American Recorder Orchestra of the West, featuring works by Brahms, Debussy, Hovhaness, Mozart, ffenbach, Poulenc, Satie, Schubert, and Shostakovich. www.arowmusic.org
Tuesday May 18, 2010 - 7:30 PM
Monteverdi Brass Quintet
Richard Roper & Robert Wilkins (trumpets), Don Benham, Frank Bunger, Mike Cushing (trombones) share their passion for chamber music and glorious works for the Renaissance. Program includes music by Palestrina, Shein, Isaac, and Victoria.
Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 3:00 PM
Flauti Dolci & Amici II
Some of the Bay Area's most skilled and talented recorder consorts and mixed ensembles. The Belmont Consort, The Cupertino Crones, Recorder Journey, and others come together to perform early music as well as recent compositions.
Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 3:00 PM
MPRO
Directed by Fred Palmer, the Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra preforms imaginative arrangements of orchestral music. www. sfems.org/mpro/
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Recycle Sunday
We are looking for volunteers to help with CRV recycling. We need people to sort and take the CRV in to the redemption center. If you are able to help, please contact the church office at 480-258-8133 or foothillpc@gmail.com
Help make our volunteers job easier, don't forget to pre-sort your CRV.
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S.H.A.R.E.S Cards
Supporting Foothill by Grocery Shopping
To all who have been using your SaveMart SHARES cards, Thank You! Foothill received a check for $734 for the last quarter of 2009. We’ve earned $2,605 since we started the program in December 2008.
Please use your SHARES card every time you shop at SaveMart. If you need a card please pick one up in the Narthex or stop by the church office.
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FOOTHILL FELLOWSHIP … SOUP LUNCHEONFEBRUARY 28 12 NOON FELLOWSHIP HAL
Please mark your calendars for our first fellowship gathering of 2010. Sign-up sheets will be available on February 14. More information to follow.
Sponsored by the Membership Committee
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The Life of a Seminary Student & Chaplain
-Maxine Millender
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps-Proverbs 16:9
I continue to enjoy being a Chaplain and working two nights a week. What makes my nights different is many patients are asleep, staff is available, and our ER and trauma floors are always in need of a Chaplin. For the patients who are awake at night, I get to spend more time with them unless I am called away for an emergency.
I have mentioned several times how difficult it is when I have to visit our Labor & Delivery (L&D) or Neo-natal floors, but I trust in God to guide and lead me. Last week a young lady (34 yrs) was brought to L&D because her 25 week old baby had stopped moving; the baby was dead. When she shared with the RN what had really happened, I was appalled when the RN shared it with me.
She was separated from her husband who lives in GA, met a man in Ft Worth, and got pregnant. He did not believe the baby was his so she took a drug to try and abort the baby and then took cocaine two days before she called 911. The Doctor highly suggested a vaginal delivery and when I was called to spend time with the mother, I was given this assessment before I entered the room. When I entered I saw a young Mother tenderly holding her baby, tears in her eyes, and then she asked me to bless her baby. I silently prayed to God to help me with this visit. I ended up praying, reading scripture, and then asking God to take care and watch over her baby. When I had to explain to her that she had to select a funeral home to bury her baby, she was in a state of shock. She said to me” You mean I have to bury this child?” I said yes and in order for me to leave said I would give her some privacy. So many negative thoughts came to mind and I had to give it to God and ask for forgiveness for the negative thoughts I had. She said that she did not want to keep her two yr old daughter because she was once again dependent on chemical drugs. All I could think of was the many women who come in, deliver, and lose their babies because they can’t carry them to full term or their bodies reject them. I also thought about the many women who decide to use in-vitro as a way to try and have a baby and sometimes it doesn’t work. I was grateful that one of the staff Chaplains followed-up with this patient for me.
We have a young man (30 yrs) who is a frequent flyer to the hospital. He overdoses on Tylenol and alcohol but this time he only used Tylenol. The Chaplains did not want to go visit with him but I did. He remembered me and I listened as he shared what happened to cause him to overdose this time. He told me he had been going to AA meetings but could not deal with the use of the word Higher Power so he quit. He said he wants to quit but does not know what to do. I asked questions that would help him to think about what he should do and he said he would contact some agencies to get help. I asked him to pray and he did. He is intelligent and we have had some very good conversations each time he is admitted.
A sad one for me is a patient (52 yrs) who has been in the hospital for a little over a month and his wife has been here each day with him. They have been married for many years and she cannot let him go. He has lung cancer which has spread too many areas of his body; he weighs about 70#, and looks so bad. She believes God will perform a miracle and cure him even though the Doctors have informed her that his health is declining. I spent some time with her to talk about her well being but she told me she has plenty of support from her church and many people are praying for him. She wants the Doctors to do everything for him. He is a full code which means if his heart stops, they will do CPR on him. I asked if she would consider palliative care but she told me no because she believes he will get better.
During my nights I also visit with staff (RNs, PCTs, and Doctors) and have general conversations about their well being. Sometimes I find RNs who are asleep, sometimes they are playing games on the computers, and sometimes they are sitting around talking. They tell me when their work is completed for a specific time, they relax.
I really love being a Chaplain and continue to be thankful for this job while I am in school. As the New Year approaches, I will work on Thursday and Saturday nights and work three days a week (4 hrs each) to keep my 32 hrs/week. My visits are always interesting and I don’t ever know what my visit will entail but I continue to trust in God to lead and guide me.
My school status:
I have completed my first semester at Brite Divinity with three classes behind me. I received a B+ in History of Christianity, Part 1, B in Evangelism, and a B in Congregational Leadership. Next semester I will take History of Christianity, Part 2 and History of Ethics. I decided that with so much reading, I will have more time to devote and focus on reading and writing the exams which will be take home for both classes. Lord, may I continue to have a servant’s heart in all that I say and do.
~to be continued~
Lectionary Readings
Available in the Presbyterian Planning Calendar
Sunday, February 7
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13); Psalm 138;
1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11
Sunday, February 14
Transfiguration of the Lord
Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)
Wednesday, February 17
Ash Wednesday
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12;
Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Sunday, February 21
1st Sunday in Lent
Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16;
Romans 10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13
Sunday, February 28
Second Sunday in Lent
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27;
Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35
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