From Pastor Ben
Dear Friends,
Usually, when I write for the Messenger, I do so looking forward to the next month, but this time I want to reflect on the month that has just slipped away, February, which, to my mind must be the bravest month, at least in California.
February is a winter month. It’s still cold, it still gets dark early, and, this year it rained an awful lot. Non the less, the blossoms on my back-yard peach tree have already come out. I’m starting to see faint traces of green on some of the deciduous trees in my neighborhood. The first wildflowers are popping up on the hills. The tarragon, oregano, thyme and parsley in my patio herb garden are all really healthy, so is the arugula and the chard. Not only that, but Major League pitchers and catchers have reported for Spring training.
Spring is still more than three weeks away. The winter Olympics are still happening in British Columbia. New England is about to get hit by another major blizzard, but in California February, though still wintry and cold (by our standards) is infused with the promise of Spring.
February in California is a good metaphor for the season of Lent. During lent we remember our shortcomings and our mortality. It is a penitential season, a time of fasting and discipline, but for all of its penitence and discipline, all of it’s acknowledgment of sin and its remembrance of mortality, Lent is infused with the promise of Easter.
It seems to me that we all could use a little bit of California February in our lives, because all of us, from time to time go though winter-like seasons, times of emotional darkness and frigidity. In such time God’s spirit comes to us as February in California. Winter may not be over yet, but somehow, the peach blossoms still bloom, and the wildflowers peek up on hills. It is s promise. The winter won’t last forever. Soon springtime arrive in full force and, on its heels, summer will enter our lives with warmth and joy.
God’s Peace,
Ben
February is a winter month. It’s still cold, it still gets dark early, and, this year it rained an awful lot. Non the less, the blossoms on my back-yard peach tree have already come out. I’m starting to see faint traces of green on some of the deciduous trees in my neighborhood. The first wildflowers are popping up on the hills. The tarragon, oregano, thyme and parsley in my patio herb garden are all really healthy, so is the arugula and the chard. Not only that, but Major League pitchers and catchers have reported for Spring training.
Spring is still more than three weeks away. The winter Olympics are still happening in British Columbia. New England is about to get hit by another major blizzard, but in California February, though still wintry and cold (by our standards) is infused with the promise of Spring.
February in California is a good metaphor for the season of Lent. During lent we remember our shortcomings and our mortality. It is a penitential season, a time of fasting and discipline, but for all of its penitence and discipline, all of it’s acknowledgment of sin and its remembrance of mortality, Lent is infused with the promise of Easter.
It seems to me that we all could use a little bit of California February in our lives, because all of us, from time to time go though winter-like seasons, times of emotional darkness and frigidity. In such time God’s spirit comes to us as February in California. Winter may not be over yet, but somehow, the peach blossoms still bloom, and the wildflowers peek up on hills. It is s promise. The winter won’t last forever. Soon springtime arrive in full force and, on its heels, summer will enter our lives with warmth and joy.
God’s Peace,
Ben
________________________________________
ON THIS DAY
Glenda Parmentier
On this day when women gathered for food and fellowship,
We talked of worthy goals and how to help others out there…
Challenge projects, beyond our borders and maybe in a distant land.
But one, quietly in our midst, without fanfare or discussion,
Filled a plate with brunch- type special morsels, pulled up a chair,
And with fork from plate to mouth gently fed the one who could
No longer lift her hands….one woman’s journey changed by disease.
Yet she brought out the best in one of us without even leaving the room.
A little update on Mission giving
What a generous and caring group Foothill Presbyterian Church is. We have struggled with a very tight budget this year and yet, we have also been successful finding ways to stretch and support worthy causes. What a blessed group of givers we have. I wanted to share some of the mission activities I have noticed since the beginning of our fiscal year:
Local mission giving
Through a couple of dedicated members and our Deacons, we have raised $16,037 to help support specific needs of several families known to our members.
We have assisted the Lord’s Pantry, a local food bank, with both monetary support and with donations of food, clothing and gifts.
Our Foothill Fineries group has helped support the Linus Project with hand-made blankets for distribution to children in hospitals as well as assisting a local school with warm handmade items for their children. In addition, the group committed their Holiday Boutique fundraiser to beef up the General Mission giving of the church.
Our Men’s Breakfast group raises funds for supporting the local San Jose Shelter.
Farther reaching mission giving
Through congregational giving, the assistance provided for other programs include:
Haitian Disaster relief fund $ 2,720
Haitian personal hygiene kits 539
General mission (budgeted) 1,842
General mission (unbudgeted) 2,025 (Thank you committees for finding expenses you could squeeze this year to help us support General mission giving!)
General mission 1,000 (Thank you Foothill Fineries!)
Please consider writing an article for the next newsletter describing additional mission activities that you want the congregation to know about. There is so much good going on at Foothill Presbyterian Church that it’s easy to miss activities and accomplishments. We celebrate the generosity during these troubled times and thank God we have the abundance to share. Keep up the good works! It is a pleasure to be a part of this loving and giving community.
Local mission giving
Through a couple of dedicated members and our Deacons, we have raised $16,037 to help support specific needs of several families known to our members.
We have assisted the Lord’s Pantry, a local food bank, with both monetary support and with donations of food, clothing and gifts.
Our Foothill Fineries group has helped support the Linus Project with hand-made blankets for distribution to children in hospitals as well as assisting a local school with warm handmade items for their children. In addition, the group committed their Holiday Boutique fundraiser to beef up the General Mission giving of the church.
Our Men’s Breakfast group raises funds for supporting the local San Jose Shelter.
Farther reaching mission giving
Through congregational giving, the assistance provided for other programs include:
Haitian Disaster relief fund $ 2,720
Haitian personal hygiene kits 539
General mission (budgeted) 1,842
General mission (unbudgeted) 2,025 (Thank you committees for finding expenses you could squeeze this year to help us support General mission giving!)
General mission 1,000 (Thank you Foothill Fineries!)
Please consider writing an article for the next newsletter describing additional mission activities that you want the congregation to know about. There is so much good going on at Foothill Presbyterian Church that it’s easy to miss activities and accomplishments. We celebrate the generosity during these troubled times and thank God we have the abundance to share. Keep up the good works! It is a pleasure to be a part of this loving and giving community.
Sue Williams
Treasurer
The following is taken from the PCUSA website http://www.pcusa.org/oghs/One Great Hour of Sharing: sharing resources, changing lives
Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God’s love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives and work together to strengthen their families and communities.
Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, we respond with gifts that help our sisters and brothers around the world find the hope for a brighter future.
We will be dedicating our One Great Hour of Sharing offerings on Palm Sunday.
Buildings & Grounds
Buildings and Grounds have scheduled March 20th as a Spring All Church Service day. We will have sign ups and a list of needed projects around the church campus. The Community Gardeners will also participate.March 14th begins day light savings.
Set your clocks ahead 1 hour.
Thanks to all who donated funds for the Redwood Trees. They were planted on a rainy Tuesday, Feb 23rd. Pastor Ben will dedicate the trees on Sunday, March 7th, following worship service.
(left to right: Fred Kromrey, Jerry Siegfried, Herb Miller, and Ray Mignogna.
Photo Credit: Nancy Leonard)
________________________________________
SOUPER SOUP LUNCH! -Nancy Leonard
More than 60 Foothill family and friends gathered to enjoy a soup lunch in Fellowship Hall after church on February 28. A variety of soups were enjoyed to the bottom of the pots along with ever enjoyable fellowship.
A special thank you goes to the volunteers who brought the delicious variety of soups and breads, and to the Geezers for the set up and take down and to Darleen Ristrim for her help.
As an event sponsored by Membership/Outreach, we would like to have a repeat of this after church meal every couple of months. Another soup lunch is scheduled for April 25. However, we need one or two people to volunteer as the coordinators(s). This is a super easy job and, if you are a newer member, a great way to get to know people. I'm glad to assist any volunteers. If you are interested, please let me know.
Choose your interest and let the Moderator listed below know you are interested. You will be welcomed!
Buildings/Ground: Kathy Havis-Faler (falerjk@comcast.net)
Christian Ed/Preschool: Nancy Rubio (nancyjrubio@yahoo.com)
Finance: Harvey LeValley (hlacura1@aol.com)
Membership/Outreach: Nancy Leonard (neleonard@aol.com)
Mission: Greg Gatzke (greg@zagtech.com)
Personnel: Gene Hewitt (hewrow@comcast.net)
Stewardship: Greg Gatzke (greg@zagtech.com)
Worship: Joyce Banks (oaksi@yahoo.com)
______________________________________
A special thank you goes to the volunteers who brought the delicious variety of soups and breads, and to the Geezers for the set up and take down and to Darleen Ristrim for her help.
As an event sponsored by Membership/Outreach, we would like to have a repeat of this after church meal every couple of months. Another soup lunch is scheduled for April 25. However, we need one or two people to volunteer as the coordinators(s). This is a super easy job and, if you are a newer member, a great way to get to know people. I'm glad to assist any volunteers. If you are interested, please let me know.
__________________________________________________
CONGREGATION MEMBERS NEEDED
TO PARTICIPATE IN CHURCH COMMITTEES
Do you have an interest in Mission giving, Sunday School procedures, Membership activities, keeping the church beautiful and in good repair, or in the financial matters of the church? If so, please consider joining one of the church committees. Being good Presbyterians, the Church is run by committee in many areas and the best committees include a good representation of the congregation, and there is always a need for more participation. CONGREGATION MEMBERS NEEDED
TO PARTICIPATE IN CHURCH COMMITTEES
Choose your interest and let the Moderator listed below know you are interested. You will be welcomed!
Buildings/Ground: Kathy Havis-Faler (falerjk@comcast.net)
Christian Ed/Preschool: Nancy Rubio (nancyjrubio@yahoo.com)
Finance: Harvey LeValley (hlacura1@aol.com)
Membership/Outreach: Nancy Leonard (neleonard@aol.com)
Mission: Greg Gatzke (greg@zagtech.com)
Personnel: Gene Hewitt (hewrow@comcast.net)
Stewardship: Greg Gatzke (greg@zagtech.com)
Worship: Joyce Banks (oaksi@yahoo.com)
______________________________________
Bible Lesson
Wednesday, March 3
Chapel Day with Pastor Ben
Spiritual Message: Honesty
While your honesty level is a reflection of your character, it is also a way to show your faith. In the Bible, God made honesty one of his commandments. Since God cannot lie, He sets the example for all of His people. It is God's desire that we follow that example in all that we do.
The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.
Psalm 119:160
Psalm 119:160
~Special Thank You~To Clarissa Moore for teaching the kids about the African Culture. The kids had a great time making African bracelets.
*Academics*
The kids are learning about Letters “M” & “N” Numbers:13 & 14
*Themes & Activities*
*Family*3/1-35
·3/1 Art: Mini Family
Poem: My Family
·2/2 Learning the letter M
·3/3 Learning the number 13
·3/4 Bring a family picture for our family board.
·3/5 Share Day & Movie Day
*Time- Clocks & Watches*
3/8-3/12
Bring valentine cards for your friends·3/8 Art: Clock
Poem: Hickory Dickory Dock
·3/9 Learning the letter M
·3/10 Learning the number 13
·3/11 Question & Answer: What time is your bedtime?
·3/12 Share Day & Movie Day
*St. Patrick' Days*
3/15-3/19
·3/15 Art: Shamrocks
Poem: St Patrick’s Day is Here
·3/16 Learning the letter L
·3/17 Learning number 14
·3/18 Wear green day
·3/19 Share Day & Movie Day
*Multicultural*
3/22-3/26
·3/22 Art: Hawaiian puppet
Song: We are just like crayons
·3/23 Learning the letter N
·3/24 Learning the number 14
·3/25 Food from around the word
·3/26 It’s Hawaiian Leis day
*Easter*·3/29-4/2
·3/29 Art: Easter Basket
Song: Doesn’t Have a Tail at All
·3/30 letters review day- M & N/ Egg Dye Day
·3/31 numbers review day 13 & 14
·4/1 Easter Egg Hunt
·4/2 Good Friday- Preschool Closed
________________________________________
The Semibreve
-Jay Jordana, Director of Music Ministries
Many thanks…
to John Belz, Melissa and Greg Hill, Ray Mignogna, Peg Nickl, Patty Potter, Jerry Siegfried, and Kraig Williams for all the help at the Flauti Dolci & Amici, South Bay Philharmonic, and Judith Linsenberg/Katherine Heater Music Series concerts.
Disaster Relief Concert
Tuesday, March 10th, 7 PM
Want to hear some great music for a great cause? Check out this concert.
Our line-up of musicians includes:
* Sopranos Anne Marie Daniel and Libby Moore
* Amaranth – an a cappella jazz sextet under the San Jose Choral Productions. Members are sopranos Jay Jordana and Claire Paul, alto Barbara Kaplan, tenor Rob Sequiera, baritone Wil Mathews, and bass John Rae-Grant.
* Jazz Trio (working title) – Comprised of Jay on vocals, Jon Roblin on keys, and Randy Barber on bass. Jon Roblin is a composer, drummer, and keyboard player, whose musical history includes playing keys on cruise ships and writing jingles. He also teaches music in the Alum Rock School District. Randy Barber is an accomplished bass player who played bass in Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show band. He also teaches in the Alum Rock School District.
Suggested Donation: materials for the Baby, Hygiene, and School Kits (see addendum). It’ll be a great after-dinner treat!
Oops! We’re moving…
the date of the ABC soup recital of sopranos Anne Marie Daniel and Jay Jordana to Sunday, May 2nd at 3 PM. Ms. Daniel and Ms. Jordana’s musical offerings will run the gamete - Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary eras – a little something for everyone. Featured are works by Bellini, Brahms, Debussy, Handel, Mozart, Paulus, Puccini, Purcell, Schumann, Strauss, and Wolf.
* Amaranth – an a cappella jazz sextet under the San Jose Choral Productions. Members are sopranos Jay Jordana and Claire Paul, alto Barbara Kaplan, tenor Rob Sequiera, baritone Wil Mathews, and bass John Rae-Grant.
* Jazz Trio (working title) – Comprised of Jay on vocals, Jon Roblin on keys, and Randy Barber on bass. Jon Roblin is a composer, drummer, and keyboard player, whose musical history includes playing keys on cruise ships and writing jingles. He also teaches music in the Alum Rock School District. Randy Barber is an accomplished bass player who played bass in Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show band. He also teaches in the Alum Rock School District.
Suggested Donation: materials for the Baby, Hygiene, and School Kits (see addendum). It’ll be a great after-dinner treat!
Oops! We’re moving…
the date of the ABC soup recital of sopranos Anne Marie Daniel and Jay Jordana to Sunday, May 2nd at 3 PM. Ms. Daniel and Ms. Jordana’s musical offerings will run the gamete - Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary eras – a little something for everyone. Featured are works by Bellini, Brahms, Debussy, Handel, Mozart, Paulus, Puccini, Purcell, Schumann, Strauss, and Wolf.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:CanVonier The Garden Enclosed: Medieval Music of Celebration and Revelry
Saturday, March 13th, 7:30 PM
Anne Bauer and Tim Rayborn present a program of virtuosic medieval works from the 13th and 14th centuries of Italy, France, Spain, and England. www.canconier.com
American Recorder Orchestra of the West (AROW)
Garden of Delights: A Musical Experience Beyond Eden
Sunday, March 28th, 3 PM
Featuring works by Brahms, Debussy, Hovhaness, Mozart, Offenbach, Poulenc, Satie, Schubert, and Shostakovich. www.arowmusic.org
Suggested Donation: $10 per person per concert
_________________________________
A Note of Thanks from Carol GoeddeI got a call from Nicole, my granddaughter, last night after she had received all the generous donations that the Foothill Family made to the Goedde Family Fund. The fund was created after Nicole became paralyzed from the neck down due to injuries suffered in a car accident last August.
She is very grateful for all the support given and the use of the Fellowship Hall for her Fund Raiser. She and her husband were hoping to buy a van so she could get out and not be trapped in her house, but the money is being used for caregivers and medical supplies.
Her condition will be ongoing and the expenses will never stop. She did say that she is starting to feel some muscles in her arms and is starting to get an appetite. She and her family are trying very hard to deal with this terrible situation on a daily basis to the best of their ability.
Again thank you so very much for your prayers, donations, and support at this time.
Sincerely,
Goedde Family and the Weisbarth Family
________________________________________She is very grateful for all the support given and the use of the Fellowship Hall for her Fund Raiser. She and her husband were hoping to buy a van so she could get out and not be trapped in her house, but the money is being used for caregivers and medical supplies.
Her condition will be ongoing and the expenses will never stop. She did say that she is starting to feel some muscles in her arms and is starting to get an appetite. She and her family are trying very hard to deal with this terrible situation on a daily basis to the best of their ability.
Again thank you so very much for your prayers, donations, and support at this time.
Sincerely,
Goedde Family and the Weisbarth Family
ONE COAT TO SHARE-Darlene Ristrim
Foothill's "One Coat to Share" project has come to a close. Over 200 jackets were donated to Inn Vision since November 2009. The exact number of jackets was revealed at the Soup Luncheon on February 28. Once again Foothill folks have responded with enthusaism to a local mission project. On behalf of Inn Vision I want to thank everyone for their support.
________________________________________
Recipe Corner
Do you have a favorite recipe that you'd like to share? Send it to foothillpc@gmail.com or drop it off at the church office.
Irish Soda Bread Submitted by Peg Nickl.
3 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 TBS baking powder
1 TSP baking soda
1 TSP salt
1-1/2 cups raisins
2 eggs beaten
1-1/3 to 2 cups buttermilk
2 TBS melted butter
Sift together dry ingredients. Stir in raisins. Combine wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients. Mix well until all raisins are wet. Prepare a 5x9 loaf pan with non stick baking spray (or grease and flour). Bake at 350 degrees about an hour until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Serve bread warm from the oven with generous amounts of butter.
The Life of a Seminary Student & Chaplain
-Maxine Millender
The risen Christ will come from heaven to take HIS own to heaven-Unknown author
It was an interesting night when the New Year was sounded for us at work. On this night I had several level one traumas, a fire victim who succumbed to death, and some GSW’s (gun shot wounds).
As I made rounds in ER/trauma, my pager went off to inform me that a level one was rolling in. The person brought in was a male of 16 yrs and Hispanic. He had been in a gang fight, was stabbed several times, and his cousin and some friends brought him in but they did not want to talk. For all gang related traumas, we call the gang police and after the call, they arrived in full force. {Most gang members have tattoos with names or numbers as their identification} When I was finally able to connect with his Mother, she had been given directions to the wrong hospital but upon arrival smiled when I said I would take her to see him.
The second level one was a stab victim in his late 20’s and also Hispanic. He had served some time in prison for gang related activity and when I walked into his room, he cried and told me he was tired of living this way. I had already called the gang police and when they arrived, they recognized him but gave me time to spend with him.
A man, his wife, and sister were brought in because of an altercation at a New Year’s party. They had gone to this party to celebrate with family and some friends when the man’s sister was jumped by a family member. She was stabbed and cut. The brother jumped this person to beat him, was cut himself and his wife started fighting. All three were cut badly but nothing life threatening.
The saddest trauma for me on this night was a full arrest that came in. He was sleep walking in his house and apparently put something in the microwave which caught fire. He went back to bed and his daughter yelled out fire. The man was pulled out by the fire department, rushed to the hospital, but was given CPR the entire time in the ambulance. When he arrived in the hospital’s ER/trauma bay, a paramedic was on top of him pumping his chest trying to save his life. His stomach was burned badly and when they suctioned him, he had soot still coming from his lungs. This young man turned 30 on New Year’s Day, was engaged to be married in April, and had been living with his fiancée for almost one year. They rushed him to Trauma-ICU and family members arrived to spend time with him. When his fiancée arrived, she was devastated, smelled like smoke, and had been detained by the fire department to answer questions. Their daughter (8 yrs) had inhaled some smoke and was treated in the medicine area. I was glad the family got to spend time with him before he died. {The house was totally burned}
Just this week I had a terrible death. A young man had come home from Iraq, was not able to find a job, he and his wife were fighting a lot, and he had already decided he was going back to Iraq (per his wife). The details why he really shot himself were unclear but he shot himself in the right side of his head and it exited the other side. It was lethal, self-inflicted, and he was basically dead when he arrived in our ER. Although efforts to save this young man were being done in the helicopter, he was basically dead but breathing because of life support. When his wife, her sister and Mother arrived, I went into the family room to meet them, her cell phone rang and it was his Mother. She said, “He is dead” and hung up the phone. She immediately fell to the floor sobbing. After a while I excused myself to find the Doctor to inform him what had happened. He had informed the Mother of the patient but asked her not to say anything because he wanted to be the one to tell the wife-well it didn’t happen this way and sometimes this happens, unfortunately!
I had another baby die due to the Mother’s substance abuse. She was 23.5 weeks pregnant, took cocaine three days prior and was rushed to the hospital. {She informed the Doctor she had been taking for some time} The Doctors could not find a heartbeat and delivered the baby, which was a little girl. The Doctor baptized her because he did not know how long the little girl would live. When I arrived he shared what happened but did not judge her. This is my second death of a baby to die from substance abuse and other causes and they are my most difficult to handle. I thank God for the strength and courage to walk into the room and be an agent of God to the Mother. The Mothers usually do not share about drug abuse in their lives.
I am one of the Chaplains who spend a lot of time on our Palliative care unit. We have anywhere from nine to 15 patients at a given time and many deaths. One morning I wanted to visit our oldest patient who was 102. His daughter left the room and I mentioned that I wanted to go in and recite the Lord’s Prayer with him. She hesitated and then said ok, you can go. I was reciting the Lord’s Prayer to him when he died. I called the RN and then ran to get his daughter. God is truly amazing and brings us where we need to be, all the time.
Seminary status
I have two classes this semester which are Early Christian Ethics and History of Christianity, Part 2. It is much better and I am handling the vast amount of reading and working on the papers without many problems. They are usually 6-8 page pagers and double spaced. I really enjoy these classes and glad to get a better understanding about our early Christian writers.
~ to be continued
________________________________________
It was an interesting night when the New Year was sounded for us at work. On this night I had several level one traumas, a fire victim who succumbed to death, and some GSW’s (gun shot wounds).
As I made rounds in ER/trauma, my pager went off to inform me that a level one was rolling in. The person brought in was a male of 16 yrs and Hispanic. He had been in a gang fight, was stabbed several times, and his cousin and some friends brought him in but they did not want to talk. For all gang related traumas, we call the gang police and after the call, they arrived in full force. {Most gang members have tattoos with names or numbers as their identification} When I was finally able to connect with his Mother, she had been given directions to the wrong hospital but upon arrival smiled when I said I would take her to see him.
The second level one was a stab victim in his late 20’s and also Hispanic. He had served some time in prison for gang related activity and when I walked into his room, he cried and told me he was tired of living this way. I had already called the gang police and when they arrived, they recognized him but gave me time to spend with him.
A man, his wife, and sister were brought in because of an altercation at a New Year’s party. They had gone to this party to celebrate with family and some friends when the man’s sister was jumped by a family member. She was stabbed and cut. The brother jumped this person to beat him, was cut himself and his wife started fighting. All three were cut badly but nothing life threatening.
The saddest trauma for me on this night was a full arrest that came in. He was sleep walking in his house and apparently put something in the microwave which caught fire. He went back to bed and his daughter yelled out fire. The man was pulled out by the fire department, rushed to the hospital, but was given CPR the entire time in the ambulance. When he arrived in the hospital’s ER/trauma bay, a paramedic was on top of him pumping his chest trying to save his life. His stomach was burned badly and when they suctioned him, he had soot still coming from his lungs. This young man turned 30 on New Year’s Day, was engaged to be married in April, and had been living with his fiancée for almost one year. They rushed him to Trauma-ICU and family members arrived to spend time with him. When his fiancée arrived, she was devastated, smelled like smoke, and had been detained by the fire department to answer questions. Their daughter (8 yrs) had inhaled some smoke and was treated in the medicine area. I was glad the family got to spend time with him before he died. {The house was totally burned}
Just this week I had a terrible death. A young man had come home from Iraq, was not able to find a job, he and his wife were fighting a lot, and he had already decided he was going back to Iraq (per his wife). The details why he really shot himself were unclear but he shot himself in the right side of his head and it exited the other side. It was lethal, self-inflicted, and he was basically dead when he arrived in our ER. Although efforts to save this young man were being done in the helicopter, he was basically dead but breathing because of life support. When his wife, her sister and Mother arrived, I went into the family room to meet them, her cell phone rang and it was his Mother. She said, “He is dead” and hung up the phone. She immediately fell to the floor sobbing. After a while I excused myself to find the Doctor to inform him what had happened. He had informed the Mother of the patient but asked her not to say anything because he wanted to be the one to tell the wife-well it didn’t happen this way and sometimes this happens, unfortunately!
I had another baby die due to the Mother’s substance abuse. She was 23.5 weeks pregnant, took cocaine three days prior and was rushed to the hospital. {She informed the Doctor she had been taking for some time} The Doctors could not find a heartbeat and delivered the baby, which was a little girl. The Doctor baptized her because he did not know how long the little girl would live. When I arrived he shared what happened but did not judge her. This is my second death of a baby to die from substance abuse and other causes and they are my most difficult to handle. I thank God for the strength and courage to walk into the room and be an agent of God to the Mother. The Mothers usually do not share about drug abuse in their lives.
I am one of the Chaplains who spend a lot of time on our Palliative care unit. We have anywhere from nine to 15 patients at a given time and many deaths. One morning I wanted to visit our oldest patient who was 102. His daughter left the room and I mentioned that I wanted to go in and recite the Lord’s Prayer with him. She hesitated and then said ok, you can go. I was reciting the Lord’s Prayer to him when he died. I called the RN and then ran to get his daughter. God is truly amazing and brings us where we need to be, all the time.
Seminary status
I have two classes this semester which are Early Christian Ethics and History of Christianity, Part 2. It is much better and I am handling the vast amount of reading and working on the papers without many problems. They are usually 6-8 page pagers and double spaced. I really enjoy these classes and glad to get a better understanding about our early Christian writers.
~ to be continued
________________________________________
Foothill Fellowship Lunch
Wednesday, March 31st
11:30AM @ Denny's
Capitol Ave & Berryessa Road
Wednesday, March 31st
11:30AM @ Denny's
Capitol Ave & Berryessa Road
Fiber Arts Group
meets every 1st & 2nd Saturday at 10AM.
All are welcome.
Saturday, March 6th
8:30AM in Fellowship Hall
