CHURCH EVENTS

The Spire

June Issue of The Spire (pdf)

CHOIR REHEARSAL

There will be CHOIR REHEARSAL Thursday night, June 4, at 7:30 PM in the parlor. This will be our last rehearsal for the season.

ADULT FORUM

Meets at 11:15 am on Sundays

• Sunday, June 14: Wwe will start a book study and discussion of Diana Butler Bass’s Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith, meeting in the parlor after worship. The book is widely available and we have a couple of copies in our church library. This is an opportunity to look at what is working in some mainline Protestant churches like ours.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY

Adult Bible Study meets in the Parlor, Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am. We will be studying the lectionary texts for the following Sunday. Everyone is welcome to join us for this lively exploration of biblical texts.

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Men's Breakfast will meet Wednesday, June 17, 8:00 am at Dinah’s Poolside Café. All the men from our Church family are welcome.

SENIOR CHATs

Senior Chats are one of the best things going for our ecumenical connections. We have folks from five churches visiting the chats and the discussion is always stimulating. Sometimes our brains and bodies are really challenged by the presenters, who are professionals in their fields. Please join us on the second and fourth Fridays at Covenant Presbyterian Church in the Fireside Room. No RSVP is necessary.

For information call Rev. Dona Smith-Powers 650-494- 3093

• June 12 -  Identity Theft and Scams
  We will have Bill Bauriedel with us to share on the topic.  Bill has been in the field of Information Security for Stanford for 33 years and has studied our topic extensively.  We all need to know the basics on protecting ourselves, in a world where our resources are increasingly at risk.  Elders are particularly vulnerable.
• June 26 - Tai Chi and Balance 
  Winslow Rouse, a Senior Care Manager, will share his expertise on this subject, also giving us some clues on "how to fall" if that is about to happen.  Many of us, when we have a balance issue, have fallen and broken a wrist or leg bone and there are proven ways to help to prevent the event and to minimize the impact.

JUNE MISSION OUTREACH OFFERING

One Great Hour of Sharing

Did you know?  This offering began more than fifty-five years ago in response to the devastation of World War II.  In March 1949, a national broadcast on a Saturday evening asked Americans to give generously the next morning in their churches.  A remarkable assembly of national leaders and celebrities gave their efforts to the broadcast, and more that 75,000 churches responded the next day.

Today, One Great Hour of Sharing serves people in over 80 countries around the world.  Sponsored by nine Christian U.S. denominations and Church World Service, One Great Hour of Sharing makes sure that we can respond to needs as soon as they happen and that tens of thousands of people receive support for ongoing relief, rehabilitation, and development.

The World Relief Committee of the American Baptist General Board reviews each development request for funding from the One Great Hour of Sharing offering received from American Baptists.  Gifts reach the ministries and people in need through a network of regional and international partnerships with the following:

• American Baptist International Ministries
• American Baptists National Ministries
• Baptist World Aid - the compassionate arm of the Baptist World Alliance, supporting three areas of ministry: relief, development, and support of national partners.
• Church World Service - Founded in 1946, church World Service is a relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry supported by 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations in the United States.  Working in partnership with indigenous organizations in more than 80 countries, CWS works to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world.

To date we have received $350 toward our goal of $1200.

FAITHZONE

• FAITHZONE – DAY IN THE CITY (SF) FaithZone will be taking a day trip to San Francisco. Saturday, June 20, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm. There is no charge and we will be going to the Exploratorium. RSVP Mike soon.
• Don't forget to check the FaithZone page!

habitat for humanity

Habitat Greater San Francisco has entered into a groundbreaking new partnership with the city of Menlo Park, which is investing an additional $500,000 in the program. With this combined initial investment of $1.0 million, Habitat plans to acquire and rehabilitate five vacant bank-owned properties in the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park, with a possible program expansion following the initial pilot phase.

Habitat hopes to expand the program to other areas hard-hit by the foreclosure crisis."I have seen first-hand the impact of foreclosures on Menlo Park and know that we must take immediate action to address the problem" said Heyward Robinson, Mayor of Menlo Park.  FBCPA will be helping with this project on August 1, 2009.                                                                           

Youth Fund

A YOUTH DESIGNATED FUND is available for those who would like to make special gifts to our Children and Youth ministries.  If you wish to do so please designate it on your giving envelope.  Thank you for your support.

OUTREACH TASK TEAM EVENTS

• Sunday, July 5, from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
  OLD FASHIONED PICNIC on the church lawn, featuring a “4 in 1” Jump, lawn games, delicious picnic foods, pop corn, and snow cones! Please plan on being with us and invite your family and friends.
• Saturday, August 1.
  2ND ANNUAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WORK DAY  We will join with other local congregations to work on a house in East Menlo Park that is being re-furbished. A great opportunity to help a neighbor, meet friends old and new and enjoy a fabulous lunch provided by FBCPA.
• Sunday, September 13 Save the date! 
  HOMECOMING SUNDAY Special Music, Special Guest, Great Memories! We will welcome back friends and family of FBCPA in a special service followed by a delicious meal and ample opportunity to remember and celebrate our life together.

Tutankhamun Exhibit

The de Young Museum San Francisco will be featuring a display of artifacts from Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs from June 27, 2009–March 28, 2010. FBCPA would like to sponsor a group trip to see these treasures. Contact the office for details.

Gardeners Wanted

We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to help plant and maintain flowers around our building. Please let the church office know if you would like to help keep our facility beautiful.

LET’S PLAY BASKETBALL!!

FBCPA is the proud owner of a new Portable Basketball Backboard. The new equipment is located in the Fellowship Hall and everyone (young, middle age, mature) is invited to have fun with it. The Fellowship Hall will be opened most afternoons from 2 pm to 4:15 pm for shooting baskets. We will be inviting our neighborhood children and youth to join us for some hoop happiness. Come and have fun!

ANNUAL report 2009

The Annual Business Meeting was held on Sunday morning, January 25, 2009 immediately following the Worship Service. A copy of the Annual Report is available here (pdf).

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS

Check the latest news updates from our wider American Baptist family at the ABC/USA website.

new piano

A big, big thank you to Marylea McLean who made it possible for us to have a fine Yamaha baby grand piano in our sanctuary. We learned of the instrument’s availability from Christine Shin at New Mozart. The owners were trying to move it quickly. Both Mike and Jan played it and thought it was in excellent shape. The price was too good to pass up, so Marylea donated the money for the purchase, moving and tuning as a memorial to her late husband, John. It was a delight to hear Jan play it so beautifully Sunday. It is a lovely and lasting gift that promises much beautiful music to come.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
LETTER CAMPAIGN

Join us in collecting letters to President Obama urging him to end America's affordable housing and homelessness crisis by building public housing, increasing section 8 vouchers, funding the National Housing Trust Fund, and stopping foreclosures. The "Letters to Obama" campaign has collected over 900 letters with stories and photos. Visit their blog to read the letters. Everyone who believes in ending homelessness is encouraged to participate. Photos and personal stories make the message most effective. Council of Churches of Santa Clara County - 1710 Moorpark Avenue - San Jose - CA 95128 - (408) 297-2660 Co-Executive Directors: Rev. Margo Tenold and Rev. Dr. Diana Gibson

ABC BIENNIAL IN PASADENA

At the ABCUSA Biennial in Pasadena, June 26-28, along with music, speakers, and workshops, one important item of business will be conducted – a vote on by-law changes. The ABC General Board and the General Executive Council have worked hard for three years to bring changes. The large “overlapping/ interlocking” General Board (whose members also are members of the national program boards) will be disbanded. A new smaller Board of General Ministries will oversee the Office of the General Secretary and its budget, see that our common ministry and identity are attended to, and carry out the tasks of the Mission Summit and Mission Table. Each Region will have a representative and for Evergreen, this will be Rev. Perla Belo. The Boards of National Ministries and International Ministries will also have smaller boards, in an attempt to economize and work in new ways.
(Excerpts from “Biennial Corner” in Evergreen’s newsletter, by Rev. Dr. Marcia Patton.)

A.Roy Medley, Gen. Secretary of ABC, writes “ …we believe the proposed structure does provide us the best way forward and maximizes our opportunities for fidelity to our New Testament charter, for growth and for strength , as movement/denomination we pursue our focus statement..: American Baptist Churches are “Healthy missional churches that nurture devoted disciples of Jesus Christ who live their lives in mission and ministry for the healing of the world through the love of God. ”
(From American Baptist Quarterly, Winter 2008, from “My Position and Perspective”, A. Roy Medley)

Reported by Lynn Hunwick, FBCPA representative to Evergreen Region

Torture is a Moral Issue
Panel & Conference

The Santa Clara County Council of Churches joins with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Network for Spiritual Progressives, Amnesty International, No2Torture, California Council of Churches, and other organizations to present this powerful and important event. Special speakers for event: Ray McGovern, a CIA analyst for 27 years; Jean Maria Arrigo PhD, social psychologist and independent scholar; Ben Daniel, pastor of Foothill Presbyterian Church in San Jose; and David DeCosse, Director of Campus Ethics Programs for the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University.

PANEL: Friday, June 26, 7:30 pm, First Presbyterian Church 1140 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, 94301

CONFERENCE: Saturday, June 27, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto

If you are able, join us for the Saturday conference featuring: Terrence Karney - former Army Interrogator; Rev. Carol Wickersham - founder of No2Torture; Janet Alexander - Stanford Law School Professor; Banafsheh Akhalghi - Amnesty International; Center for Survivors of Torture Speaker

BPFNA Summer Conference 2009

Our 2009 Summer Conference is being built around the theme "When There Is Justice, Then Peace Will Come." The July 20-25 gathering at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, is part of BPFNA's 25th Anniversary celebration. Affectionately known as "Peace Camp," our conference regularly inspires attendees with a new vision for the work of peace and equips them with new skills with which to do that work. Ken Sehested, Rita Nakashima Brock, Paul Dekar and Kate Campbell are just a few of the outstanding leaders scheduled for the week.

LIBRARY HOME CONNECTION

is a service of the Palo Alto City Library that provides a visit and delivery of materials to people who cannot get to the library because of an extended illness or long-term disability. The Library is seeking two things – individuals who could use this service, and individuals who would like to volunteer. For more information contact: Anita Delaney, Volunteer and Connection Coordinator, (650) 617-3100 ext. 3215 or anita.delaney@cityofpaloalto.org