Friends,
As I look forward to summer at Foothill Presbyterian Church my mind always turns to the books we will read together for our summer reading gatherings. Each summer I propose two or three books for discussion, and, at the appointed times, we gather for dinner in the community garden to discuss the books over a shared meal of local and seasonal food.
Each summer I try to come up with a theme that unifies our reading list, and this summer I want us to read two books that are secular but that have the potential to form our faith in important ways.
The first book is Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton. Status Anxiety looks at the ways in which humans crave recognition, respect and, ultimately, love from our peers. It examines the emotional pain that accompanies the desire for elevated status, and it provides ideas for how we might escape from the sadness that attends a failure to achieve the status and recognition we desire. (I’m reading Status Anxiety right now, and I find it moving. I also is a fairly easy read). We’ll discuss Status Anxiety over dinner on Tuesday, July 10 and six P. M.
The second book is one that I read six or seven years ago. It is called In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed by Carl Honoré. In Praise of Slowness is a celebration of the movements that encourage people to slow down and to live life in a way that is humanizing and joyful. Interestingly, I started cooking meals for adult educations classes at Foothill because I was influenced by Slow Food—one of the movements Honoré profiles in his book. We’ll discuss In Praise of Slowness on Wednesday, August 15 at six P. M.
Both books are countercultural in the fast-paced, winner-take-all environment that is Silicon Valley. Both books have helped to correct toxic thinking in my life, and both books, I believe, are capable of leading us toward spiritual health.
Both books are available through Amazon—they can be had new or used in hardcover, paperback or electronic formats. Both books can be ordered from your favorite independent bookseller as well.
I look forward to the conversation.
Ben
RecalibrateAngie Carrillo
A year or so ago, my aunt gave me a message from her husband. She told me that Uncle Dan had asked her to deliver to me a one word message: recalibrate. She asked if I knew what he meant. Yes, I knew. Not just the meaning of the word, but what he was trying to tell me.
Recalibrate.
At the time we were busy doing chores around my house and although I heard what she said, I didn’t want to concentrate on the message. It was just another thing to put on my ever growing to do list.
Recalibrate.
Not an unusual word for a Silicon Valley computer guy like my uncle to use to so simply describe my life since my husband, John was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In fact I felt I was in a constant state of forced recalibration and I didn’t like it. So I tucked the advice away.
But that pesky word would pop up when I least expected it and I was to discover, when I most needed it.
This all became clear to me one day in our kitchen. John has the habit of leaving his chair out when getting up from the dining table. It is not because of his disease, he has always done it. And after almost a quarter of a century of marriage, it has become my habit to push the chair in.
But lately this little thing has begun to bug me. Really bug me. Every time I walk into the kitchen his chair is out. I asked him to please push his chair in, how much effort would it take? He looked at me a blinked, chair? He glanced around the kitchen and shrugged. He was standing at the counter no where near a chair. What was I talking about? I marched out of the room fuming. He continued making his lunch.
Later that afternoon as I carried clean laundry to the bedroom I passed through the kitchen and saw the chair out. Sighing I stood by it. My uncle’s word floated through my brain.
Recalibrate.
Okay, how was I going to view this and direct my thoughts in a different way? Touching the chair I prayed for a way to change how I felt. Standing there with my hand resting on the back, I thought about how this chair became positioned away from the table.
The simple answer brought tears of gratitude to my eyes. I would forevermore look at the chair pulled from the table with joy. It was because of John. It honored his presence in the kitchen; being well enough to feed himself, to be able to sit at our table and have a meal with me. John is changing in ways that we battle but can’t stop. It is my job to tune into those changes and try to find a way to make our time together easier for both of us.
Recalibrate. One day I will walk into this kitchen and yearn to see the chair pulled from the table.
Special Thanks
to all of Our Sunday School Volunteers
Jane Wallace
Bertha Nelson, Preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1 & 2 as needed
Yvonne and Darlene Siegfried, nursery and helper for preschool/kindergarten, grades 1 & 2 as needed
Malia Munoz, nursery and helper for preschool/kindergarten, grades 1 & 2 as needed
Barbara Ardrey, grades 1 and 2 when we have enough children
Jennifer Kim Rankin, grades 3 - 6
Sharon Rowser, grades 3 - 6
Nancy Rubio, substitute
Gay Southwell, substitute
Dana Marino, substitute
Special thanks to Bertha for holding this together, not to mention her 50 plus years of faithfully leading all of the young children!!!
Why Heritage Sunday Matters
Submitted by: Marilyn Kromrey
We encourage Presbyterian congregations to celebrate Heritage Sunday on May 20. Why is it important to celebrate your congregation’s heritage?
A congregation is a community of faith that transcends time, place, and space. It is more than a physical structure; it represents a gathering of individuals – past, present, and future – who have become a covenant Christian community. The local congregation is a product of its own history, shaped by the faithfulness, actions, and commitments of its members over time.
It is important to remember that a congregation is a living, dynamic entity that is continually shaped by the stewardship of those who have been part of the community, past and present. Congregations are encouraged to celebrate Heritage Sunday to remember all of the individuals whose unique gifts have and continue to shape the life of the congregation, providing models of Christian service to imitate in the present as well as to guide us into the future.
TAKE A MINUTE
…Excerpts from Session and Committee communication
- Foothill Fineries has donated $658 to the pay down the roof loan.
- Finance Committee will be making a $2500 payment to General Mission
- Community Garden – Session approved raising the garden deposit from $20 to $40. The water fee from $40 per large plot to $60 per year.
- Session will change their regular meeting date from the first Wednesday of the month to the second Wednesday of the month effective with the July 11 meeting.
- Our annual congregation meeting to receive reports will be July 15.
- The FPC Music Series Fund (donations received from those attending concerts) has received Session approval to purchase an Automatic Extended Defibrillator. Training is being arranged.
- Approximately 40% of the 2012-13 pledge cards have been submitted as of June 4.
The Semibreve
Jay Jordana, Director of Music Ministries
To all our Foothill musicians, music lovers, and supporters...
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your contributions of time and talent; for all the work that you’ve done for our music ministry during the past fiscal year. You came when you were happy, excited, pumped up. motivated, etc…but you also came when you were tired, having a bad day, were sick, not feeling well, had a lot on your mind, and on and on. Thank you for your dedication and generosity. The music ministry would not be where it is without you. THANK YOU!
Upcoming Concerts
Vivace Youth Concert
Tour Farewell Concert
Sunday, June 24, 3 PM
The Vivace Youth Chorus Tour Farewell Concert will feature singers from our Concert, Chamber and Teen Women's Ensemble. The singers will perform pieces from the tour repertoire along with pieces they have performed this year in concert. Singers will be participating in the 'Sing A Mile High' Festival in Denver, Colorado, from June 28th through July 2nd. Please join us for this musical send off!
Dixie Land Jazz
July 29, 10:30 AM
Remember last year when the Top of the Hill Dixieland jazz band came and played at the worship service, and then we had a sing-a-long after worship, and then we had a potluck after that? Well, we’re doing it again! Top of the Hill will be providing special music for the worship service on July 29th to be followed by a sing-a-long of ‘ole time hymn favorites. Then after that, we will be having a potluck in the Fellowship Hall where instead of a salad contest; we will be having a Refreshing (non-alcoholic) Summer Drink contest. Stay tuned for more info.
Don’t miss this event! And in the meantime, start thinking about that summer drink!
12th Annual Jazz on the Grass
Sunday, August 12th, 12:30 PM
Don’t miss it. There’ll be amazing bbq and fixin’s, the East Valley Artist art show, and the Stanford Blood Drive. Stay tuned for more info. In the meantime, mark your calendars. You won’t wanna miss this!
What's Up in the Hood?
Rising Notes is up and running! What is that anyway?
Rising Notes is a music class offered by the Vivace Youth Chorus that uses the Kodály approach and is designed for children ages 4-5. Children are introduced to the joys of singing and musical concepts through folk music and musical games. Being the only non-performing group with Vivace, the class is 45 minutes long and meets in 6-week sessions. Rising Notes (East) is taught here at Foothill on Tuesdays at 5:30 PM by our very own Anne Daniel. For more information about Rising Notes, ask Anne. You may also visit www.vivaceyouthchorus.org.
Summer MusicThank you to the following folks for providing special music during the summer while the choirs are on break:
June
June 10th – Joanne Reinecker
June 17th – Ronn Ealy
June 24th – Clayton and Grayson Sanchez
July
July 1st – The Peralta Consort
July 8th – Jennifer Cermak
July 15th – Carolyn Clark
July 22nd – Ronn Ealy
July 29th – Top of the Hill Dixieland Jazz Band
August
Stay tuned…
June Tidbit
The Yang quin is a type of ________, that has evolved into many different versions in many parts of the world.
Another Hint: What was it called when it came to Iran?
Please email me your complete response. If yours is correct, you get to choose the closing hymn of the final worship service this month. First one to let me know the correct answer gets the prize! Hurry!
The Spiritual Message for June is Patience
Psalm 37:7
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
A Special Thank You!
To Jay Jordana, Jerry Siegfried, Jan Miller and Tajea Allen from the San Jose Jazz Band for helping us make our graduation ceremony a success.
Special Days6/8 Inflatable Bounce House Day
6/14 Father’s Day Lunch
6/15 Popsicle Day
6/21 Wear Your Sunshades Day
6/22 Ice Cream Day
Kids Jazzercise in June.
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Free ‘Ukulele Lessons in June
Are you interested in learning how to play the ‘ukulele? Dawn is currently teaching free ‘ukulele classes at Foothill Presbyterian Church and at the First Presbyterian Church of San Jose.
‘Ukulele for Intermediate Beginners
(Soprano, Concert or Tenor ‘ukulele)
Tuesday June 12 @ 9:00 am
Tuesday June 19 @ 9:00 am
Tuesday June 26 @ 9:00 am
Location:
Foothill Presbyterian Church (Library)
5301 McKee Road
San Jose, CA 95127-2292
Baritone ‘Ukulele for Beginners
The Baritone ‘Ukulele is tuned differently from the other types of ‘ukuleles)
Wednesday June 6 @ 9:00 am
Wednesday June 13 @ 9:00 am
Wednesday June 27 @ 9:00 am
Location:
Foothill Presbyterian Church (Room TBA)
5301 McKee Road
San Jose, CA 95127-2292
‘Ukulele for Beginners
(Soprano, Concert or Tenor ‘ukulele)
Sunday June 3 5:00 PM
Sunday June 24 5:00 PM
Location:
First Presbyterian Church of San Jose (Social Hall)
49 N. 4th St.
San Jose, CA 95112
If you are interested in taking these free lessons at either location, please email Dawn at dawn_imada@yahoo.com
She can also tell you where to purchase an ‘ukulele or a baritone ‘ukulele if you don’t already have one.
