august 2007 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

8/8/2019 August 2007 Stone Newsletter, Stone Church of Willow Glen

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Vacation Church School was full of unexpected and magical moments like being in a boat right here on the Stone Church lawn!

On Wednesday of this week,the San Jose Mercury News quoteda local vendor of frozen yogurt in

Willow Glen. Apparently, withthe mist lightly fall-

ing, as well as his sales,he looked up at the darkrolling clouds overhead and com-mented: I thought the world wascoming to an end. Albeit, this wasthe first time in recorded historythat it rained on July 18 in San Jose a record-busting one-hundredthof an inch of rain but still, I thinkhis comments are worthy of pasto-ral reflection.

Indeed, if you conduct a wordsearch on clouds in the biblical texts,

Old and New, whenever a puffycumulous shows up, God isnt far

behind. Just ask Moses or Noah.Now, from my perspective, arecent transplant from Oregon,

when I looked up to see thosedark, depressing, shadowy beautiesstumbling across the Santa Cruzmountains, I rolled down my car

window and shouted, Hallelujah!... yet I realize, its all a matter ofperspective.As I complete my first month as

pastor at Stone Church of WillowGlen, in truth, I have come to

appreciate the soul-soaking rainfallpouring forth from a very differentkind of cloud. Paul or the authorof Hebrews would call it, the greatcloud of witnesses. (Heb. 12:1.)This cloud has fed me, warmly wel-comed me, brought cookies to myplace at El Sombroso Oaks, let meswim in its pool, and even providedme with a couch. However, I amnot the only one at Stone Church

who has benefited. This cloud foldsbulletins, answers phones during

the week, graciously sings unfamiar hymns on Sunday mornings (I

work on that), visits church members in the hospital, and joyfulsupports the mission and ministrwe share together.

Dont get me wrong. I enjoy thsunny days of summer, but I havehunch this great Presbyterian clouof witnesses hovering overthe corner of Lincoln andClark is here to stay.

Thank you

A day worth marking on your

calendar:On Sunday, Sept. 9, at 3 pm

the Presbytery of San Jose will fomally install me as Pastor at StonChurch. Rev. David Beamer, PastoEmeritus, will preach, Rev. Dr. BoBowles will give a charge to the cogregation, Rev. Marge Palmer wiask me constitutional questionRev. Mark Burnham will charge mas your pastor, and several othepastors and friends of Stone wiattend. Hope to see you there.

The STone newSSTone ChurChof willow Glen, PreSbyTerian uSa auGuST 2007

THE STONE NEWS, PAGE

Pastors Column

Clouds inSan Jose? Noproblem forthis pastorby The Reverend Doctor Ken Henry


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THE STONE NEWS, PAGE 2

This month, we offer reviews of justthree of our many interesting books.

Visit our book cart in the SocialHall, or drop by the Church Libraryon Sunday after worship, or any timethe church office is open duringthe week. Let us know what kindof books youd like! - Sue Williams,

Library Coordinator

Working Frog by Nancy WinslowParker (JF PAR)

This is an interesting little bookthat explainshow Winston,

a bullfrog, was capturedand takento the zoosreptile houseand eventu-ally became a

working frog.Its a goodr e a d - a l o u d

book or book for young readers.- Reviewed by Sue Evans

From Map to Museum by JoanAnderson (J975.8 AND)

This book is a behind-the-scenesaccount of a museum collection.The storystarts withDr. DavidT h o m a s ,curator ofanthropol-ogy in New

York City,who travelsto St. Cath-erine Island

in Georgiato study the possibility of buried mis-sions.

The reader learns about how and why anthropologists dig and whathappens to the items found. Middle-schoolers should be able to read andunderstand this book, with the helpof the glossary that explains certainterms used throughout. (Adults willlike this book, too!)

- Reviewed by Sue Evans

A Prayer for Owen Meany by JohnIrving (Fic Irv)

This novel relates the story of thefriendship between the narrator, John Wheelwright, and the diminutiv

Owen MeanyThis is a storyabout religionand findingGod. Owenthe only childof a NewH a m p s h i r egranite quarrier, believe

he is an instrument of GodThe story start

with a bang: Owen kills Johnnymother with an errant foul ball. Fromthere the story evolves with some finetwists and turns.

The town and the times are vividlyrecreated, and the characters are weldeveloped. This is an excellent choicto read on long, hot summer days.

- Reviewed by Ruth White

The series of Sunday morning dropin Adult Study classes with a common

theme, Serious Answers to Hard Questions, continues through August.

Life presents us with a lot ohard questions. In the presentation

videos, ten Christian and Jewishtheologians, world experts in theirrespective fields, address issues thaare obstacles to faith for many, bothin and outside of the church.

August 5 - ResurrectionAugust 12 - The Gnostic Gos-pels

August 26 - The God of the

Old TestamentStone Church provides discussion-based

Adult Study classes on most Sundays from 11 am to noon, in the FiresidRoom. There is no Adult Study on Augus19 (church picnic)

- Pat Magee, Christian Education

Adult Study Classes

Continue to Answe

Hard Questions

Book Reviews for Good Summer Reading from Our Library

Twenty-four Stone Church members (just some are in thepicture) attended the recent Zephyr Experience 2007, atwhich our own Pat Magee was Dean. Many people said itwas the best year ever! Congratulations, Pat, on a job well-done and on volunteering to serve again as Dean for 2008!


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Parent Time: Finding Balance in YourBusy Life

Stress and multi-tasking are taking their toll on us and on our children. We always seemto be going somewhere in a hurry, but dowe know where we are going or why were insuch a rush to get there? In our busy lives ofjuggling careers, kids, and carpools, it is easyto run on automatic, and miss a sense of real

connection to ourselves and to our family.Author and psychotherapist Denise Roy

shares practices and tools that will help usmove out of overwhelm and into a place ofrelaxing into our lives as parents. We willlearn how to call upon our own wisdom andhumor and understanding of what it is weneed and what our children need. We willalso learn how to teach these sanity-saving

strategies to our children so that they mighbe happier and more resilient.

The lecture/discussion will be held onSunday, September 16, from 11 am to 1 pmin the Sanctuary. The cost is $5. Tickets canbe purchased in the social hall on Sundaysin the church office, or at the door.

Denise Roy, LMFT, M.Div., is an author, psychotherapist, popular speaker, and mother. Denis

speaks to thousands of people each year at schoolschurches, and community organizations nationwide on parenting, spirituality, peacemaking anwomens issues. She is the author ofMomfulnessMothering with Mindfulness, Compassionand Grace (Jossey-Bass, 2007) and My Monastery Is a Minivan (Loyola, 2001). She previouslled a Parenting Class based on the latter at Stonin April 2006.

Denise Roy

Comes Back

to Stone in

September

If you have ever considered joining Stones ChancelChoir, this fall would be the perfect time to do it!

Nancy Kromm, Stones outstanding choir director, wouldlike to invite you to consider joining the choir for themonth of September, when, she says, We will do rela-tively easy anthems. This way, you can actually try outthe choir, without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated.You would also be encouraged to come to the fall choir

retreat (which will be on a Saturday in September).

This is a great opportunity to experience the choir first-hand and to enjoy the camaraderie of this fun group!

Have you ever been curious about trying handbellsWould you like to try ringing without a long-term commitment? Then come and check it out a music background is desired, but not required.

Middle school youth who read music, high schoolers, and adults are all invited to come and try out thehandbells!We meet Thursday evenings at 7 pm in room 6 (in

the basement). Please contact Jean Raby if you would

like to come, so we know how many will attend.Warning: This can be addictive!

Calling All Singers ... ... and Ringers!

The Handbell Choir recently performed for the rst time at Stone Church andreceived stellar reviews! Here they are at their dress rehearsal immediately precedingthe service. They repeated their performance at First Pres, downtown, the next week.

Stone Church Choirs: Looking for a Few Good Men & Women!


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The Church & World Committeecontinues to offer us compassionateand caring ways to help our world,our environment, and our commu-nity.

The Greening of Stone Church

This summer we started to learnhow Stone Church could reduce ourenvironmental impact and perhaps

qualify to be a GreenBusiness in SantaClara County. A PG&E repre-

sentative visited anddid an energy audit

of our facility. The recently upgrad-ed rooms are fine (except LincolnHouse, which needs attic insulation),but there are changes that could bemade in the heating and lighting ofthe original building and in the sup-

plies we purchase for printing, yardcare, and cleaning.

The new efficient heater that theBuilding & Grounds Committeeis purchasing will replace two inef-ficient models and go a long waytoward reducing our heating bill and

getting us a rebate, as well. RightLights, a lighting contractor thatworks in California to upgrade busi-ness lighting and issue large rebates,also did a walkthrough downstairsand will issue a proposal for B&Gsinformation soon.

For now, members can rememberto turn off room lights (just like yourmother said), recycle your bulletins,

wash full loads in the dishwasher, anddrink tap water rather than bottled.

If youd like to be a part of a church

team to work on the Greening Proj-ect, please contact Rhonda Lakatos.

Clothes for Kids! An Act of Faithand Compassion!

This October you will have theopportunity to reach out and directlyhelp children from EHCs emergencyfamily shelter. Up to 40 school-age

children will be

driven by StoneChurch volunteers to Mervynin order toshop for winteclothes early

on a Saturday. We will need manyvolunteers both to help drive andto help shop. Sign-ups will beginin September with more details tofollow. Please contact Alice McNeliif you are interested.

- Carrie Moncrief, C&W Moderator, with Rhonda Lakatos and AlicMcNelis

Church & World Helps Children in Need and the Environment

He has told you, O mortal, what isgood; and what does the Lord require ofyou but to do justice, to love kindness andto walk humbly with your God? (Micah6:8, NRSV)

- theme of 218th General Assembly

Its never too early to mark yourcalendar for upcoming big events. Avery bigevent is coming to San Josenext summer. The 218th meeting ofthe General Assembly of the Presby-terian Church (USA) will congregatein San Jose, June 21-28, 2008.

This is the first time the Presbyteryof San Jose has hosted this event.Church leaders and activists fromacross the country and around the

world will come to San Jose to discussour churchs issues and agendas.

A number of Stone Church mem-bers will be providing leadership:Fred Oliver will be the local coordi-nator for the daily worship services,including music. Marcia Ludwig willbe organizing local Bay Area tours.Mel Goertz and Diana Lim will beon COLA (Committee on Local

Arrangements), which is respon-sible for volunteer recruitment andmanagement. Rev. Dr. Bob Bowles,Stones former pastor, will serve asleader of all local arrangements.

Most meetings are open to every-one, at least to observe, so you cansee our church in action. The firstworship service, which sets thetone for the restof the week, will

be held at theActivity Centerat San Jose Stateon Sunday, June22. You wont

want to missc o m m u n i o n

with thousandsof other Presbyterians, the soundsof a large ensemble choir from manyBay Area churches, and feeling thepower of our collective church as wegather together in His name.

So plan your other summer eventsaround this one, and dont be sur-prised if youre asked to help!

- Fred Oliver

Note: Just prior to GA, there willbe a six-week Sunday morning AdultStudy series, An Introduction to theGeneral Assembly, so Stone memberscan understand the mechanics ofGA, follow key overtures, and enjoyattending the various GA sessionsand activities. - Pat Magee

At the 217th GA (2006)Elder commissionerDiana Lim rom San Joprays beore Thursdayclosing business sessio(photo, Joseph William

General Assembly in San Jose, June 2008

Judi Kaiser and Fred Oliverappear to be enjoying therecent Summer Cookout onthe patio after worship!Everyone seemed to enjoy theday, which included delicioussalads, as well as carved toorder gourmet sausages.


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There was no Session meeting inJuly, but all Elders now have theircommittee assignments. If you

are interested in

being on any ofthese committees(except Nomi-nating and Per-

sonnel & Administration, whosemembers are selected in a specificmanner), please contact the appro-priate Elder.

Budget & Finance: Mel Goertz,moderator; Ruth McCreath

Buildings & Grounds: Judi Kaiser,moderator; David Moncrief

Christian Education: Bill Ribblemoderator; Rick James

Church & World: Carrie Giorgianni, moderator; Ann Pierce

Membership & Evangelism: EllenSpringer, moderator; Bill DownesNominating: Catherine Amos

moderator; Suzanne WolfPersonnel & Administration: Jody

Meacham, moderator; Bob LowryStewardship: Derk Johnson, mod

erator; Bea GroppusoWorship: Deborah Crim, mod

erator; Donald Foster, CathyMarshall

The dog days of summer arent they

wonderful? Just dont get too comfort-able in that hammock with your iced teaor lemonade, because we are going to begearing up for next years activities.

The big event for us is the annual AugustBrunch to be held on Saturday, August25, in the social hall. Our topic this yearis presented by Ms. Elizabeth Sholes ofIMPACT, the political watchdog of theCalifornia Council of Churches. Shewill be speaking on Unveiling CaliforniaHealth Care. Senate Bill SB8 and Assem-bly Bill SB480 deal with this matter. TheGovernors Plan for Health Care is also inthe offing.Your friends and neighbors both men

and women are cordially invited. Yourquestions will be welcome.We shall be accepting childrens new

underwear and your used costume jew-elry for the families at Emmaus House inHollister.

Reservations may be made at the churchoffice (269-1593) or by contacting HazelJames by August 22: reservations for child

care must be made two weeks prior tothe 25th. A five dollar ($5) donation isrequested.

Reminder: Be sure to keep September15 open to attend the overview of thisyears Bible Study led by the author. Theevent will be held at the San FranciscoTheological Seminary, and carpooling isencouraged.

PW Schedule for August:Focus Group, 9:30 am, August 6, at

Elizabeth Shanderas homeLunch Bunch, 11:30 am, August 14,

Taiwan Restaurant, Lincoln AvenueFair Trade coffee and teawill be soldat the church picnic on Sunday, August 19,in History Park.

Knitting Group, 4:30 pm, August 23,Fireside RoomAugust Brunch, 9:30 to 11:30 am,

August 25, Social Hall (program will befirst)

Please note there are no circle or bookgroup meetings this month.

- Catherine Amos


News

from PW

SessionNews

The Board of Deacons has startedits caring ministry for 2007-2008.

Della Smith is thenew Moderatorof Deacons, andhere are the otherassignments for

this hard-working group.

Mary Jo Blazek, Parents DayOut CoordinatorMary Breuleux, Greeter/Guest-book CoordinatorMike Breuleux, NominatingCommittee Representative

Rachel Buckley, Youth DeaconSteve Buckley, Prayer ChainAssistantDon DAngelo, Vice moderatorAndrew Edwards, YoungFamily Event CoordinatorGreg Edwards, Young FamilyEvent Assistant

Janice Goertz, Memorials CoordinatorSara Holtzapple, MemorialsAssistantJane Martin, Ripples AssistantNancy McClaran, Winter TeaCoordinatorPauline Moore, MembershipSupportKathleen Oliver, Spring PicnicCoordinatorClaire Ribble, SecretaryDebbie Roach, Grief SupportLiaison

Walter Roach, Prayer Chain

CoordinatorHilda Salazar, Ripples Coordi-natorKaren Scott, FlowersTom Scott, Special ProjectsKen Stutz, VisitationRuth White, Deacon/ElderRetreat

DeaconNews

Correction: In Julys The Stone News, Ruth White was incorrectlyidentied as LaVonne Fraboni in the picture, above. The Stone Newssincerely apologizes or our lapse in identication skills! Ruth is the lovelylady on the right; Fern Swanson was correctly identied on the let.


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The Mens Mission Team will behosting an informal coffee on August18, from 3 to 4:30 pm, to discussthe Westminster Woods playgroundproject. We plan to invite the menfrom other churches in the Presby-tery. For more detail, please contactDave McCreath or Leland Wong.

Remember that the Team has aZephyr trip in September, the West-minster Woods playground projectin October, and our regular trip tothe Woods in November.

Mission Team Coffee

Just a reminder ... Greg Edwardwill be working on his Eagle Scou

Service Project at Stone Church onSaturday, August 18, from 9 am to 6pm, and Sunday, August 19, from 11am to 6 pm.

Greg will need youth and adultvolunteers. Lunch will be providedon both days, and additional fooddonations would be appreciated.

For questions, please contact Gregor Catherine Edwards.

Lincoln House

Landscaping

Charlotte Dickson recently joined StoneChurch and wrote this autobiography atthe request of The Stone News. Just eight years ago, I moved to

the Villages in San Jose. I had spenttwenty-three interesting, fun, andchallenging years in a variety of teach-ing positions in Modesto, includingspecial education of the learning

handicapped, regular third and fifthgrades, and tutoring reading. From1966-1972, I had the privilege of serv-ing Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church asits Director of Christian Education. Iserved the Multnomah United Pres-byterian Church in Portland, Oregon,from 1963-1966, in the same capac-ity.

I am a graduate of Long Beach StateCollege in Physical Education andof San Francisco Theological Semi-nary in Christian Education, and I

earned my credential for teaching theLearning Handicapped at Santa ClaraUniversity.

My interests and activities includeRVing, playing golf, movies, dinner

and conversations with friends, poli-tics and religion (oh no!), reading sto-ries that delight (The Mitford Series byJan Karon and The Cat Who ... booksby Lilian Jackson Braun), the news-paper, and nonfiction. Im currentlyexploring mythology and finding it tobe a fascinating reflection of humanbehavior.

Several years ago I was open to a newworship experience and through thatdoor came Maureen Ryan, a neighborand golfer. She couldnt say enoughgreat things about Stone Church, andshe invited me to the Taize servicesduring Holy Week. From there, ofcourse, Sunday worship was the nextstep for me to take. Id known aboutStone Church for many years even

worshipped here a few times in thedistant past so it did not feel like Iwas coming to an unknown place.

As a new member, I am looking for-ward to ways of joining the very manyvolunteers in their ministry to thiscongregation, to the community andworld, and the wider Church.

Welcome,New Member,

Charlotte Dickson!

NOW, its ocial! In the traditional Presbyterian ritual o the handing over othe key, our beloved Marge Palmer ormally kicks of the ministry o Ken Henry.


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THE STONE NEWS, PAGE


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The Stone Church of Willow GlenPresbyterian USA1937 Lincoln Avenue(corner of Clark & Lincoln)San Jose, CA 95125-3499

Website:

www.stonechurch.org

Church Ofce:Phone: 408-269-1593Fax: 408-269-8412

Pastor:The Reverend Doctor Ken Henry

Ofce Manager:Claudia Hoagland

The Stone News Staff

Editor:Emily Moak Meacham

Assistant Editors:Pat Magee, Fred Oliver,Lizanne Oliver, Jody MeachamChief Photographer:Sylvia Snyder

Additional Photos:Tina Luebcke, Ruth McCreath,Dan RabyProduction:

Catherine Amos, Fred Gardner,Dulcie Janzen, Jan Keifer,Jerry Keifer, Sylvia Snyder

Ken Henry with the children on a Sunday morning


Its Time for the Always Fabulous

Stone Church Picnic!The annual gathering of the Stone

Church family at History Park (locatedat the south end of Kelley Park) forworship, food, and fun will take placeon Sunday, August 19.

Worship will start at 10 am and willbe immediately followed by a classicsummertime picnic. Hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, and veggie burgers willbe provided hot off the grill. Bring

your favorite picnic potluck side dishesand desserts to share.

There will be lots of games and activi-ties for kids ... and for adults who liketo get in on the action!

This is a great way to introduce peopleto Stone in a casual atmosphere, so besure to invite your friends.

Sign-up in the social hall the nextfew Sundays tell us how many arecoming, preference for hamburger, hotdog, chicken, or veggie, and what youare bringing to share.

Here are basic directions to the parkfrom the church (maps will also be avail-able). History Park is on the corner ofSenter and Phelan (1650 Senter Road).There is FREE parking in the lot onPhelan behind History Park.

Go South on Lincoln to

Curtner.Turn Left (west) on Curtner(which becomes Tully).Turn Left (north) on Senter, andcontinue to Phelan.

Holy Water Balloon Toss -- always thehit of the church picnic! (photo from the2006 picnic)
http://www.stonechurch.org/http://www.stonechurch.org/

august 2007 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

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