march 2007 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

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

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At a recentChurch andWorld-sponsoredSave The Bayworkday, StoneChurch membersand friendsplanted hundredsof native barleyseedlings andblue-eyed grass tohelp restore thewetlands.

March Events

3/10 Confirmation Retreat

Morgan Hill Ranch

3/16 - 18 Mens Mission Team

Westminster Woods Page

3/23 - 25 Womens Retreat

San Juan Bautista page

Every active Elder is issued anElders Notebook, which contains allthe policies of our Church. On thefirst page is the Mission Statementof Stone Church, which reads,Our mission is to live our faith asa congregation, inspired by JesusChrist as individuals and as a cor-porate body, and to move forwardin our mission of peace within our

church, our community, and theworld. This is followed by eightpoints by which we covenant tocarry out this mission: 1. Providefor the regular worship of God inaccord with Presbyterian preceptsand traditions. 2. Develop stronglay leadership. 3. Be stewards ofGods Word and Actions. 4. BeChristian Educators in all facetsof our lives. 5. Teach our childrenthe basics of the Christian faith. 6.Welcome diversity. 7. Expand our

services to the community and theworld through mission outreach.

8. Support each other in living ourfaith at home and in our work inthe world.

This statement is not somethingthat most of us, if any, tack onour bulletin boards, put on ourrefrigerator doors, or think aboutoften. But it is important to con-sider our Mission Statement fromtime to time to help ground us asa congregation. I would suggestthat this is a good time to do so,for two reasons: First, we are now

in the Season of Lent, a time forintrospection, prayer, meditation; atime to discern Gods will for us asindividuals and as a congregationin the light of Christs ministry,his death on the cross, and his res-urrection. Second, our intrepid,hardworking Pastor NominatingCommittee will soon present acandidate for consideration asyour new Installed Minister of theWord and Sacrament. It would begood to keep in mind the Mission

Statement and the eight points ayou enter into a new and excitin

era at Stone Church, which wiimpact, in a positive way Im surevery member of the church. Thhas been a long journey for StonChurch, but just as Lent ended inew life, so for us, there is lighat the end of the tunnel. A newday is dawning! As you go througthe forty days of Lent, may you bguided by our Mission Statemenand more importantly by Goddirection and grace as we worshitogether; listening to Gods Word

praying, singing Gods praises, anloving one another.Faithfully yours, Marg

THE STONE NEWSSTONE CHURCHOF WILLOW GLEN, PRESBYTERIAN USA MARCH 2007

THE STONE NEWS, PAG

Marges Column

May Gods Direction and GraceGuide You During Lent


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Friends: If my February focus wasLove and Soup, Marchs focus is Fishand Stones! Its certainly the love wereceive from God and seek to share

with others that motivates our

use of the One Great Hour ofSharingFish Banks (picturedat left) with our church schoolstudents. On March 4, they

will begin to receive banksand a calendar pointing them

to the needs in our world. The FishBanks are to be returned in worshipon Palm Sunday, April 1, as part ofthe students palm procession.

In addition, students, as well asadults, will each receive a Stone as

a reminder of their commitment toreflect during Lent on their relation-ship to God and on how they shareGods love with others. They will beinvited to join in a Stone Soup Supperon Maundy Thursday, ending inCommunion. Both of these effortscan assist parents in using Lent

to teach their students importantaspects of the Christian faith.

Students in Grades 1-3 and theirparents will have a special opportu-nity to participate in a new FaithStepping Stone: Communion Train-ing. They are invited to meet onPalm Sunday, April 1, from 11 amto noon. Then, as families, they canshare Communion with new mean-ing on Maundy Thursday, April 5,and/or on Easter, April 8.

God bless you and your familyduring this important time ofFishand Stones.

Miriam Kishi,Christian Education Associate

PS: Please save these dates:

March 11: Focus in churchschool on One Great Hourof Sharingand WestminsterWoods summer camp. Stu-dents will hear about summerfun, and parents can meet thecamp representative after wor-ship. Check out camp details atwww.westminsterwoods.org.June 18 - 22: Vacation ChurchSchool The theme will beannounced soon!

Miriams ColumnFish and Stones

THE STONE NEWS, PAGE 2

Look for new church library bookson the book cart in the Social Hall!

And visit the library on Sundaysafter worship; a volunteer will beavailable March 11 and 25 untilat least 11 am.

- Sue Williams, Library Coordinator

Mini-Review by Sue Evans:TheFive People You Meet in HeavenBecause I read Tuesdays with Morrie

and cried buckets, I wasnt goingto read The Five People You Meet inHeaven by Mitch Albom (813 ALB).However, this book kept leaping outat me, so I decidedto give it a try. Itsa different take onhow people usu-ally imagine heaven.Eddie is an aged war

veteran embitteredat his lot in life whodies in an accident.His experience with life in heavenis most interesting as he meets unex-pected characters, either loved ones orstrangers, who tell him why and howthey connected. The reader will appre-ciate the well-written stories and thefinal glimpse of heaven itself. When

you have read this book, please tell mewhat you thought.

Library Adds Books on Diverse Subjects: Heaven, Turtles,Parties, Cosmic Christ, Education as Freedom, Blue Shoes

Ting-a-ling!by SiobhanDodds (1stBooks Dod),given by VivianShimmon

Hide and Sleepby MelanieWalsh (1stBooks Wal),given by VivianShimmon

Old Turtleby Douglas

Wood (JWoo), givenby Mary-AnnHudson

Beauty & TheBeast: The PerfectParty by RonaldKidd (J Kid),given by the vanDiggelen family

The Coming ofthe Cosmic Christby MatthewFox (230 Fox),given by RebeccaKuiken

Blue Shoe byAnne Lamott(813.54 Lam)

The Last Week: A Day-by-Day Account of JesussFinal Week in Jerusalemby Marcus Borg &John Dominic Cros-san (232.9 Bor), givenby Pat Magee

Teaching to Trans-gress: Education as

the Practice of Free-dom by Bell Hooks(370 Hoo), givenby Kate Williams

New Books for Young Folks: New Books for Adults:


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4/8

Many of you have come to know

Tony Muiruri since he started wor-shiping here this past summer. Anative of Nairobi, Kenya, Tony left hishome because he was being subjectedto extortion, came to California, andthis past November was approved bya US judge for asylum, which permitshim to work. He works at Frys Elec-tronics and eventually wants to workin computer networking, for whichhe had training and work experiencein Kenya. He lives at InnVision, but

would like to have a room in a pri-

vate home and someday would liketo share an apartment.Over the past years, a number of

other refugees have been settled withthe help of Stone Church members.Early on, Alex and Paula Koot arrivedfrom Indonesia via Holland. TheKoots had two sons and two daugh-ters. Alex died recently, but Paula stilllives in Willow Glen.About 1980, Phat Yin (last name

uncertain), his wife, and their newbaby, born in a refugee camp, arrived

from Cambodia, along with four

others from his family. Huot Yeanfrom Cambodia is a brother of StoneChurch member, Cham Yean. Huot

who had severe health problems whenhe arrived about 1989, came into thiscountry with his wife Chun MeanYean, two daughters, and three sonsaged 4 to 19, with the help of Presbyterian Resettlement Service.

Melaku Woldemeskel, his wifeand their young daughter came fromEthiopia in the late 1990s and movedto Virginia about three years later.

These resettled refugees are butthe tip of the iceberg. About 15 million men, women, and children livein refugee camps in countries suchas Afghanistan, Burma, BurundiCongo, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Liberia, Portugal, Sierra Leone, SomaliaSudan, and Vietnam.

The worlds refugee problem isgrave, and it is good that StoneChurch has been doing our part inworking toward a solution.

- Bill Palmer, C&W

Stones Proud History of Helping Refugees


For a number of years, Stone Churchhas held a unique prayer service onselected Tuesday nights. During Lent,the services are weekly and consist ofmeditative prayer, musical chants andsilence, in the candlelit sanctuary.

These services are patterned afterthose held in a monastic communityin Taiz, in the Burgundy region ofFrance. The Taiz community wasfounded during World War II byRoger Schutz (pictured at right), the25-year-old son of a Swiss Reformedpastor. He acquired a house, shelter-

ing political refugees, mostly Jews flee-ing the Nazis. From the beginning, helinked the search for God to a com-mitment to serve human suffering. Asothers joined, the community slowlygrew as an ecumenical entity builton a lifetime commitment to sharinggoods, celibacy, and Brother Rogersleadership. A structured prayer sched-ule undergirded community life.

The modern Taiz communityattracts many young people. In theChristian Century (Sept. 20, 2005),Lukas Vischer said, The influenceof this small group of monks has beenand continues to be immense. InTaiz, young people experience Chris-tian community across the boundariesof the confessions.

Ironically, after a lifetime of workingfor peace, Brother Roger, at age 90,

was stabbed to death by a mentalldisturbed woman as he celebrateevening prayers with young pilgrims

The Stone Church services featurthe basic elements of the Taiz community worship. Music is led by Barbara Roberts, cantor; Karen Johnsonpianist; and Laraine Pitcher, flutistChaired by Hilleguus Faber, a Wor

ship subcommittee takes care of otheelements of the service: members othis group light candles, usher, reascripture, and facilitate the service.

Lenten Taiz Services: February 27March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3. Musibegins 6:30; service begins 6:45 pm.

- Alice Thorn, for the Taiz sub-committee

Taiz Services To Be Held Every Week During Lenten Season

At its February 13

meeting, Session adopt-ed a set of agreementsfor how members wantto work together.

There was extensive discussionabout using risers in the Sanctuary.The choir has increased in size, butthe choir loft has not, and the risersare an attempt to meet the needto pull the choir together for goodsound and to help them see DirectorNancy Kromm.

Session discussed other importantfactors: the difference between musicas worship and music as performance;the centrality of the Communiontable in Reformed theology and theneed to keep sight lines open to it;the needs of the Taiz service forspace at the foot of the stairs; safetyconcerns for anyone using the stairs;use of the stairs for the childrenssermon. Michael Donald (Buildings& Grounds) and Deborah Crim(Worship) will co-chair a committee,

consulting with the pastor, to con-sider a long-term solution. Meantime,the risers will be used Palm Sunday,but removed for Taiz and Easter ser-vices.

Session also discussed churchbasement space use. To address thisissue, a space allocation group will beformed with delegates from Worship(including Taiz, choir), ChristianEducation (including church librar-ian), Buildings & Grounds, Person-nel & Administration, Presbyterian

Women, Clerk/Historians, MJ Nes-bitt, Miriam Kishi, Marge Palmer, andanyone with a stake in the issues.

Jody Meacham (P&A) said a changein Rev. Palmers compensation, retro-active to Jan. 1, will be presented asapto a special Congregation meeting.

Rosaleen Zisch (CE) reported onConfirmation Class (see article, pg 3).A Mens Book Group Book Exchangewas approved for 4/22 (see article,page 6). - Alice Thorn, Clerk of Session

SessionBeat


5/8

A recent gathering o the Presbyterian Women Lunch Bunch at the Taiwan Restaurant indowntown Willow Glen ound Marge Palmer, Carolyn Clendenning (partially obscured), SallyMagee, Claudia Hamm, Catherine Amos, and Pauline Moore engaged in lively conversation.

Consider joining the Lunch Bunch on the second Tuesday o every month. Wed love to have yo

(There are even more photos on page 7 o this lively group!)

One Great Hour of SharingAs Presbyterian Churches (USA)

often partner with others to carry outtheir ministries, so do the One GreatHour of Sharing(OGHS)special offering ben-eficiaries: PresbyterianHunger Program, Self-Development of People,and Presbyterian Disas-

ter Assistance.This years theme,Who is my neighbor?includes anyone inneed and anyone whocan help address theneed, or minister toneeds, that is, anyone who can shareand make tangible the love of God inJesus Christ.

The partners of these OGHS orga-nizations include Church WorldService, Churches Together Interna-

tional, and the Coptic EvangelicalOrganization for Social Services inEgypt. These partnerships reach com-munities in parts of the world thatwould be otherwise inaccessible.

OGHS inserts and envelopes willbe in the March Sunday bulletins,and your offering will be received onPalm Sunday and Easter. Through

your gifts to OGHS, new life is offeredto individuals and communities whoare our neighbors!

CROP Walk We still need a chairperson fo

the CROP Walk on April 29. DerkJohnson has done it for several yearand would be willing to assist youThis is the SouthBay CROP Walks30th anniversary,and Stone Churchis 4th in the top 12

in funds raised, and6th in the top 12 innumber of walkers.The monies raisedserve Second HarvestFood Bank, SacredHeart Community Service locallyand Church World Service globallyContact Derk Johnson or Bea Groppuso to help.

Church & World CommitteeYou hear from us each month abou

what we are doing and how you cansupport our many activities. If youwould like to join us, we would bhappy to hear from you:

Bea GroppusoSuzanne WolfAlice McNelisKathie LloydRhonda LakatosDale BraceyBill Palmer

- Bea Groppuso

March is coming in like a lion hunting down all the activities we

have in store.Gifts of Women Sunday is March 4,

and we are blessed to have the Rev.Stephanie Lutz Allen as our guestpreacher. Come and celebrate thecontinuing use of our gifts.

On March 17 (Happy St. PatricksDay!), well explore Walking Togeth-er ... Hand in Hand with our sis-ters in the Presbytery as we gather atSunnyvale Presbyterian Church tolearn more about the PW Missionprogram. Well have hands-on mis-

sion projects, such as prayer shawls,baby caps and blankets: please bring

your knitting needles, crochet hooks,tatting shuttles, etc. Also, well haveplastic toy storage boxes purchasedfor Emmaus House in Hollister:contributions toward their cost arewelcome. Lunch will be provided.

As March goes out like a lamb,remember to save April 21 for ourPWP Spiritual Nurture Retreat.(More about that next month.)

Here are PWs March activities:Emerald Circle, 9:30 am, Thurs-

day, March 1, Diana Lims homeAmethyst Circle, 1 pm, Wednes-

day, March 7, Library/ConferenceRoom

Sapphire Circle, 7:30 pm, Monday,March 12, Ida Rabys home

Focus Group, 9:30 am, Tues-day, March 6, Elizabeth Shanderashome

Book Group 1, 1 pm, Monday,

March 5, Elizabeth Shanderas home(Warriors Dont Cry by Melba Beals)Book Group 2: contact Claudia

HammLunch Bunch, 11:30 am, Tuesday,

March 13, Taiwan RestaurantPrayer Shawl Group 1, 6:30 pm,

Tuesday, March 27, Fireside RoomPrayer Shawl Group 2, 4 pm, Thurs-

day, March 29, Fireside RoomBible Study with Rev. Marge, 9:30

am, Thursday, March 22, Library/Conference Room. - Catherine Amos


Newsfrom PW

Church & World Highlights OGHS, CROP


6/8

Above, many StoneChurch membersenjoyed the wonderfulskiing at beautifulLake Tahoe.

Left, on Saturdaynight, everyone alsoenjoyed some indooractivities, like playingcard and board

games, as well as justhaving a chance to betogether!

Dont forget the Womens Retreat, coming up March 23 - 25, in beautiful San Juan BautistaContact Jan Keifer to register. Pictured below are the ladies gathered at last years retreat.

The Mens Book Group announcesplans to hold a Book Exchange twice ayear - the inaugural event is April 22.

The group realized they have manybooks to share and felt other churchmembers might be in the same boat.

Heres how it works: Everyone bringsup to five paperback or hardback bookto share. For each book you take, you pay$1 for a paperback or $3 for a hardbackwith funds raised benefitting the HighSchool Mission Trip, the Mens MissionTeam, and other mission activities, suchas the solar heating project.

So, start setting aside some books forthis very worthy project!

Book Exchange ...Mens Book Group

The next meeting of the Mens BookGroup is 7:30 pm, March 19, at the Holthome; the book is Skinny Dip by CarHiassen. From amazon.com: Youve goto hand it to Hiaasen: Hes perfecteda formula for crisply written, satiricacrime fiction that makes the best use oimaginatively repulsive villains, as welas less thoroughly venal scoundrels and

victims who ultimately overcome theiantagonists, all while stumping for thpreservation of Floridas environment

particularly the Everglades.Contact Bill Ribble for more informatio

about either the Book Exchange or the MenBook Group.

... and Next MeetingStone Church Snow Trip



7/8

Flowers in the Sanctuary on Sundayare given in memory of loved ones orto honor a special occasion. If you

would like to give flowers one Sundayto add to our Worship experience,please let us know. The flower arrange-ments may be from your garden orfrom a florist, and you may take themhome after the service. Please fill outthe form and give it to Mary Johnson,put it in the offering plate, or drop itby the church office.

Id like to provide flowersfor a Sunday.

Name: ____________________Memory of: ________________Honor of: _________________

Date of Sunday in 2007:1st choice__________________2nd choice_________________

Consider Providing Flowers for any Sunday


The Deacons will again purchasespecial flowers for the Sanctuary onEaster Sunday, April 8. After EasteWorship, the f lowers will be deliveredto our always-grateful shut-ins.

This provides an opportunity foyou to make a donation in memoror in honor of a loved one (and helpto offset the cost). Please complete theform found in the March 18, 25, o

April 1 bulletin, and put it in the offering plate or church office by April 1.

... or for Easter Sunday

More photosfrom the PWLunch Bunch (seepage 5 for detailsabout the lunch).

The Rev. MargePalmer andCarolyn Clen-denning share asmile ...

... whileMaureenSearing andCatherineEdwardsenjoy theirdelicioussoup.


8/8

The Stone Church of Willow GlenPresbyterian USA1937 Lincoln AvenueSan Jose, CA 95125-3499

Website: www.stonechurch.orgPhone: 408-269-1593

Fax: 408-269-8412

The Reverend Marge Palmer, Interim PastorMiriam Kishi, Christian Education AssociateMary Jane (MJ) Nesbitt, Office Manager

The Stone News Staff:Emily Moak Meacham, EditorPat Magee, Fred Oliver, Lizanne Oliver,

Jody Meacham: Assistant EditorsSylvia Snyder, Chief PhotographerCatherine Edwards, Dan Raby,Rhonda Lakatos: Additional PhotosCatherine Amos, Fred Gardner,Dulcie Janzen, Jan Keifer, Jerry Keifer,Sylvia Snyder: Production

Its not too late to join the handbellchoir! New ringers will be joiningeach Thursday, so if you are inter-ested, come and give it a try! If yourenot sure, just come and listen.We are open to adults and high

school youth, music reading pre-ferred, but not required, and middleschool age that do read music.

Rehearsal is Thursday evenings,from 7 to 8:30 pm. For more infor-mation, contact Jean Raby.

Come and Ring! Save Your Labelsto Help Schools

We are all aware of the great needsof our schools for additional resourc-es. Now Presbyterian Women andthe Church & World Committee arejoining hands to ask you to save yourCampbell soup labels and GeneralMills Coupons for Education to assisttwo local Title One schools withsuch resources. We know from longexperience what can be done with theCampbell labels. The General Millscoupons, found on cereal boxes,Kleenex, and many other products,

can be redeemed by the schools at tencents each: this money can be usedfor extra books, classroom visual aids,and field trips. (See the complete liston the PW bulletin board)

Each Sunday, a box will be on thebook cart in the Social Hall where youcan deposit the labels and coupons.And Menaul School will not be for-

gotten; it will receive an annual dona-tion from the Ruby Hudspeth Fund.

- Catherine Amos, PW

Mens Mission Team

Plans Work Trip to

Westminster Woods

The Mens Mission Team is planning a trip to Westminster Woodsthe weekend of March 16 - 18.

They will be building a handicapramp and finishing up some stairs.

Groups will be leaving Friday morning, after work Friday, and Saturdaymorning.

If you are interested, please contactLeland Wong.

Recent Photosfrom Coffee Hour

Lea Lawrence,Nancy McClaran,and Ruth Craw-

ford share alaugh with theirmorning coffee.

Bill Ribble andAnne Storer chatwith Suzanne

Wolf. (JuneTablak is in thebackground.)


march 2007 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

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