A Note from Pastor Ben
Friends,
I started writing this in the church kitchen while waiting for tomato sauce to thicken. It was the end of a good week of Vacation Bible School at Foothill Presbyterian Church, and for the last day we were cooking pasta. Later in the morning Carol Tillman made spaghetti from scratch and we ate together—kids, parents, adult volunteers and church staff—under the big tree out behind the Fellowship Hall.
It struck me, as, after sending the kids home and washing up the dishes, that we pulled off something remarkable with the VBS program. For the second year in a row we have had a vacation Bible school program that was entirely organic to our congregation. I’m pretty sure this is a rare thing. Usually, when churches put on a VBS program they go out and buy a slick, pre-made, corporately produced, expensive, one-size-fits-all curriculum. There’s always a theme to these prepackaged VBS productions, perhaps some kind of adventure vibe—not unlike “Dora the Explorer meets Indiana Jones”—only instead of heading out into the jungle the kids bushwhack their way through the Bible. Volunteers are encouraged to wear pith helmets. There’s a lot of Kaki involved.
And it’s good. There’s nothing wrong with letting someone else plan your VBS, but for the last two years, I’ve been thrilled with how well our congregation has done by coming up with something that reflects who we are as a community and not what some publishing house in Waco Texas imagines we ought to be. It feels like we’re fulfilling our baptismal vows—doing the work of training kids to be persons of vital and living faith—and communicating God’s love to them in ways we and they can understand.
A lot of people worked together to make our VBS happen this summer: Nancy Rubio, Carol Goedde, Susan Andersen, Gay Southwell, Bertha Nelson, Laura Roberston, Toni Ann Gatzke, Carol Tillman, René Banks, Nancy Leonard, Anne Daniel, Jane Wallace; but most of all it was Peg Nickl, our office administrator who made VBS work by organizing us and getting us moving. Thanks to everyone.
We’ll do it again next year!
Peace,
Ben
-------------------------------------------------------
A Message from Sandra Rasmussen
Hello Foothill Family,
I would like to extend my appreciation to everyone who has send me their well wishes and their support during my journey with cancer. It has meant so much to me to have you all behind me. Your prayers are welcomed and it gives me a great deal of strength.
Thanks again for everything. My chemo treatment will begin the first week in August and will be given over a 4 month period. Thanks again so much to everyone.
Regards, Sandra
-----------------------------------------------------------
Chapel Day with Pastor Ben
Wednesday, August 4
Spiritual Theme: Obedience
1 Peter 1:22
*Special Events in August*
-Lunch on the lawn Fridays
-VBS August 9-13
-Outdoor Celebration, Friday, August 20
Marking the end to our summer fun with
Hotdogs, Face Painting, & an Inflatable Bouncer
--------------------------------------------------------
S.H.A.R.E.S. UpdateThanks to all of you who are using the S.H.A.R.E.S. cards at SaveMart and Lucky stores.
We just received our quarterly payment of $675.67 for the months of April, May and June! This small chain of grocery stores has pledged to give back to the community 4.5 million dollars in 2010.
By using your S.H.A.R.E.S. card every time you shop in these stores, you are making a
painless donation to Foothill – as you can see, this is currently amounting to in excess of
$3,000 annually. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
If you do not have a S.H.A.R.E.S. card and would like one, they are available in the
church office.
---------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
The Life of a Seminary Student & Chaplain
-Maxine Millender
You can’t control the length of your life, but you can control its depth-Gustafson
During this month of June, I have enjoyed working as a Chaplain and reading books other than those that are based on Theology or History. Although I really like Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, James Patterson, and John Grisham, I have read most of Beverly Lewis’ books. As I continue to read, I am also thinking of working on my Theology of Ministry paper. I have many thoughts but have yet to put them on paper. Maybe during this month I will write a few pages.
Our crisis calls are high now because it’s summertime. We are seeing more motor vehicle collisions and motor cycle accidents and I still find it incredible that many drive motor cycles without a helmet. Even with a helmet there is a probability of a collision. Three weeks ago, a young man who is 30 yrs old had been to a bar drinking with a few friends and decided he was ready to go home. He left the bar, got on his motorcycle, and when he was about to make a right turn, was hit by a driver going pretty fast. He did have a helmet but when the car hit him, he rolled to protect himself and ended up being scrapped pretty bad on his right side and his head hit the pavement. He was fortunate and told me his Dad had always told him to protect himself. I was surprised to see the policeman but he told me he wanted to make sure the young mans was not drunk while driving or he would have a DUI. When I introduced myself as the Chaplain to the driver, he asked if he was dying. I had to suppressed my smile but told him he was not dying but would be kept overnight so that RNs and Doctor could observe him due to some bleeding in his head. I thank God it was nothing serious. I called his brother, friend, and girlfriend.
At 3:30 one Friday morning, a young man who is 23 yrs old came into the hospital as a transfer from another hospital. He had been stabbed with a pitchfork in his left side. He was sitting up talking on his cell phone and told me he had already contacted his girlfriend and did not need anything else. I let him know I was available if he did need something spiritual.
I am not sure if domestic violence is on the rise but a young woman who is 23 yrs old came in because her Mom beat her with a cordless phone. She had phone marks on her face. She was able to go to her neighbor’s house, call the police, a report was filed, and she was rushed to the hospital. I spoke to her, listened to her tell me about the abuse from her Mom’s boyfriend, and how she did not want to live this way. She has two children (2,4 yrs) and needed protection for them. I called the crisis hotline, spoke to the counselor, and with permission, shared some of the information. They approved her and I was happy. They explained it is a 30 day program but they would help her and I was glad she agreed to go with them. {I was glad she pressed charges}
A young man (20 yrs) and his girlfriend (18 yrs) were involved in an accident. Another person driving rear ended them and they ended up in emergency. The young lady’s Mom came right away but I called several times to get his Mom but we believe she was asleep and her phone was turned off. He was scared and I stayed with him a long time to provide comfort and her relatives came in to help also. His tests came back negative but he was very sore. She had a slight concussion and her Mom said as long as she is going to make it, she was ok.
A young man of 19 yrs drank to forget and ended up in emergency. When I asked why he drank he explained that his daughter died two years ago, his girlfriend left him for someone else, and his parents don’t listen to him so he drinks on the anniversary of his daughter’s death. I facilitated the conversation to guide him to think of a better way and he shared that he wanted to get back in church because he felt better when he attended. I was happy about this and his decision about church and God. The Doctor let him sleep for a few hours and I gave him a prayer book and some prayer beads which he was thankful that someone would do this for him.
When a code blue is announced overhead, we rush to the room. Early Friday morning (6/25), I rushed to our Neuro- ICU floor where a young lady’s (50 yrs) blood pressure had dropped so low the Doctor could not hear it. Her husband was outside the room crying and after introducing myself to him, he told me he was also a Chaplain with the fire department but worked in the field as a first responder. He told me he hurt because it was his wife, they have been married 27 yrs and something like this is not supposed to happen to him. He asked if I could begin prayer with him and of course, I did. His wife had been sick but would not go to the Doctor and when her symptoms seemed worse, he brought her to emergency and she was admitted. After the Doctors left and she was stabilized, I remained in her room with him a while longer, prayed, and left.
When I came to work later that Friday night, he was still there and had not been home. I convinced him to eat some food and the RNs convinced him to go home. The doctors had informed him she was critical and may not make it the next few days but she was stable. His neighbor had driven to get him and take him home. Early Saturday morning, she coded again, I was finally able to get him on the phone for the Doctor to speak with him. The Doctor told him she would not make it much longer and to get to the hospital. I spoke with his neighbor to drive him, which they did. He was able to spend time with her before she died and he sat on the floor holding her hand saying, “what will I do without her.” He was distraught and a few days later called the Chaplains’ office to speak with me. He did not want to speak with another Chaplain. I was glad to be of some assistance to him, when he needed it most.
Seminary status
As I enjoy my time from seminary reading non-seminary type books and walking, I am also enjoying reading the Bible each day and meditating on the words of God.
~ to be continued
Worry is pulling tomorrow’s CLOUDS over today’s SUNSHINE-Adrian Rogers
Our crisis calls are high now because it’s summertime. We are seeing more motor vehicle collisions and motor cycle accidents and I still find it incredible that many drive motor cycles without a helmet. Even with a helmet there is a probability of a collision. Three weeks ago, a young man who is 30 yrs old had been to a bar drinking with a few friends and decided he was ready to go home. He left the bar, got on his motorcycle, and when he was about to make a right turn, was hit by a driver going pretty fast. He did have a helmet but when the car hit him, he rolled to protect himself and ended up being scrapped pretty bad on his right side and his head hit the pavement. He was fortunate and told me his Dad had always told him to protect himself. I was surprised to see the policeman but he told me he wanted to make sure the young mans was not drunk while driving or he would have a DUI. When I introduced myself as the Chaplain to the driver, he asked if he was dying. I had to suppressed my smile but told him he was not dying but would be kept overnight so that RNs and Doctor could observe him due to some bleeding in his head. I thank God it was nothing serious. I called his brother, friend, and girlfriend.
At 3:30 one Friday morning, a young man who is 23 yrs old came into the hospital as a transfer from another hospital. He had been stabbed with a pitchfork in his left side. He was sitting up talking on his cell phone and told me he had already contacted his girlfriend and did not need anything else. I let him know I was available if he did need something spiritual.
I am not sure if domestic violence is on the rise but a young woman who is 23 yrs old came in because her Mom beat her with a cordless phone. She had phone marks on her face. She was able to go to her neighbor’s house, call the police, a report was filed, and she was rushed to the hospital. I spoke to her, listened to her tell me about the abuse from her Mom’s boyfriend, and how she did not want to live this way. She has two children (2,4 yrs) and needed protection for them. I called the crisis hotline, spoke to the counselor, and with permission, shared some of the information. They approved her and I was happy. They explained it is a 30 day program but they would help her and I was glad she agreed to go with them. {I was glad she pressed charges}
A young man (20 yrs) and his girlfriend (18 yrs) were involved in an accident. Another person driving rear ended them and they ended up in emergency. The young lady’s Mom came right away but I called several times to get his Mom but we believe she was asleep and her phone was turned off. He was scared and I stayed with him a long time to provide comfort and her relatives came in to help also. His tests came back negative but he was very sore. She had a slight concussion and her Mom said as long as she is going to make it, she was ok.
A young man of 19 yrs drank to forget and ended up in emergency. When I asked why he drank he explained that his daughter died two years ago, his girlfriend left him for someone else, and his parents don’t listen to him so he drinks on the anniversary of his daughter’s death. I facilitated the conversation to guide him to think of a better way and he shared that he wanted to get back in church because he felt better when he attended. I was happy about this and his decision about church and God. The Doctor let him sleep for a few hours and I gave him a prayer book and some prayer beads which he was thankful that someone would do this for him.
When a code blue is announced overhead, we rush to the room. Early Friday morning (6/25), I rushed to our Neuro- ICU floor where a young lady’s (50 yrs) blood pressure had dropped so low the Doctor could not hear it. Her husband was outside the room crying and after introducing myself to him, he told me he was also a Chaplain with the fire department but worked in the field as a first responder. He told me he hurt because it was his wife, they have been married 27 yrs and something like this is not supposed to happen to him. He asked if I could begin prayer with him and of course, I did. His wife had been sick but would not go to the Doctor and when her symptoms seemed worse, he brought her to emergency and she was admitted. After the Doctors left and she was stabilized, I remained in her room with him a while longer, prayed, and left.
When I came to work later that Friday night, he was still there and had not been home. I convinced him to eat some food and the RNs convinced him to go home. The doctors had informed him she was critical and may not make it the next few days but she was stable. His neighbor had driven to get him and take him home. Early Saturday morning, she coded again, I was finally able to get him on the phone for the Doctor to speak with him. The Doctor told him she would not make it much longer and to get to the hospital. I spoke with his neighbor to drive him, which they did. He was able to spend time with her before she died and he sat on the floor holding her hand saying, “what will I do without her.” He was distraught and a few days later called the Chaplains’ office to speak with me. He did not want to speak with another Chaplain. I was glad to be of some assistance to him, when he needed it most.
Seminary status
As I enjoy my time from seminary reading non-seminary type books and walking, I am also enjoying reading the Bible each day and meditating on the words of God.
~ to be continued
Worry is pulling tomorrow’s CLOUDS over today’s SUNSHINE-Adrian Rogers
----------------------------------------------------------
Stanford Blood Center Blood Drive
Sunday, August 25, 2010, Room 9
Foothill Fellowship Lunch
Wednesday, August 25th
11:30AM @ Denny's
Capitol Ave & Berryessa Road
Fiber Arts Group
meets every 1st & 2nd Saturday
in Room 9 at 10AM.
All are welcome.
Men's Breakfast
Saturday, August 7th
8:30AM in Fellowship Hall
