may 2008 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

8/8/2019 May 2008 Stone Newsletter, Stone Church of Willow Glen

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This seems to be a frequent ques-tion posed to me these days. Ofcourse, when I hear this question,I immediately think: which one?Theres my living situation at ElSombroso Oaks, another home inEugene, OR, and the mysterioushouse, apartment, or condo yet tobe discovered in the San Jose area.As many of you know, the first

house refers to my current livingsituation in a Presbyterian retire-ment community (El SombrosoOaks), nestled in the foothills of

Los Gatos. I look out my windoweach day to see ordained clergy andtheir spouses everywhere. Some areeven clergy couples! One washes hiscar, while others talk presidentialpolitics on the sidewalk, and stillanother punctually walks by every

day at 7 am, out for her brisk walkto a local coffee shop.This first house has served as my

home for about ten months, andI appreciate The Board of Pensions(PCUSA) letting me rent a smallplace to live among ... well ... suchtheologically reformed giants in thePresbyterian Church. I think youmay even know some of them.

The second house may be a bitproblematic for many of you, sinceno one from Stone Church has actu-

ally seen it or sat on the frontporch. This house is the one

my wife, Heather, has beenmethodically and prayer-fully stewing over thesepast few months. Heathersbeen getting it ready to sellor rent and ... who knows?By the time you read this,

we may be celebrating a suc-cessful real estate deal.

If you would like to lookinside, go to BigBrick.com,plug in Eugene, OR, then lookfor 5210 Miramar Street. The time-line for my familys arrival in San

Jose is partially dependent on thesale of this home, but were also

waiting for Katie, our oldestdaughter, to walk across thegraduation stage on June 14.Katie will work as a lifeguardthis summer in Eugene andthen attend Cal Poly this fall.

The third house continuesto be dependent on manythings: how much we can

afford, the sale of the Eugenehouse, shared equity, themarket, etc. Add to all thesefactors, the question of whereour daughter, Madeline,

will attend 8th gradenext school year, and you cansee why its hard to pinpointan exact location right now.

Thank you for your manysuggestions, house flyers, toursof schools, walks throughneighborhoods, advice, and

prayers. Really, its been greatto get a sense of the area. FredOliver deserves special thanks;

whenever Ive called him, hehas dropped everything toanswer questions or to show the newpastor (Am I still new?) a potentialhouse in the Rose Garden, WillowGlen, Naglee, or other neighbor-hoods. As you know, house-huntingcan be exciting, but also nail-biting.

In the end, hopefully sooner thanlater, all these houses will converge

into one house and one famdwelling. Still, in the midst of tanother house remains right whit is: Stone Church of Willow Gcontinues to serve as a spiritual rdence for many of us who have mor are in the process of making, tsitions just like the Henry familyessence, this Presbyterian Chuat 1937 Lincoln Avenue is hoThus, wherever our travels leadmay we find ourselves coming bhome again. And so, for new

old members, friends and visitstrangers and others on Sunmornings - let me be the first to

Welcome home.

Therefore whoever hears these sayof Mine, and does them, I will liken to a wise man who built his house onrock: and the rain descended, the flocame, and the winds blew and beathat house; and it did not fall, for it

founded on the rock.- Matthew 7:24-25 (NK

The STone newSSTone ChurChof willow Glen, PreSbyTerian uSa May 2008

THE STONE NEWS, PAG

Hows the House?

by The Reverend Doctor Ken Henry

David & Ruth McCreath at Kens El Sombroso Home

The Henry Familys Home in Eugene, Orego

Lincoln House, The Home Where Ken Wor
http://www.bigbrick.com/http://www.bigbrick.com/


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THE STONE NEWS, PAGE 2

Whether youre thinking of Moth-ers Day, Pentecost, or the upcomingGeneral Assembly, youll find interest-ing new books in our library. Come byafter church or during the week whenthe church office is open.

- Sue Williams, Library Coordinator

New books for younger members:A Color of His Own

by Leo Lionni (1stBks Lio)

Get Crafty Toys &Games by VivienneBolton (J 745 Bol)

Your Mother Was aNeanderthal by Jon Sci-eszka (YA Sci)

Adorable Dogs ed.by Helen Exley (J 590Exl), given by LoganDoherty

With the General Assembly comingto San Jose in June, Adult Study isproviding many rich opportunities tolearn about this important event inthe life of the Presbyterian Church.

May 4 - June 15: Introduction to the

2008 General AssemblyEvery General Assembly is signifi-

cant in the life of the PCUSA, andthe 218th GA in San Jose on June21-28 will be no exception. Two hon-orably retired pastors who worship atStone, Bill Lytle (former moderator ofGA) and David Zuverink, will discussthe Ins and Out of a GA meeting andhelp us understand how key issuesprogress from committee debate tovote by the full GA. The series willinclude discussion of the modera-torial candidates and their electionprocess, the election of a new StatedClerk, a recommended total revision

of the Book of Order, the ordinationstatus of gays and lesbians, and othermajor justice issues to be consideredat GA. Volunteer opportunities toassist at GA will also be presented.

The class will be held at the 11:15am Adult Study time, May 4 June

15 (excluding May 18, which is theannual Congregational Meeting), andon consecutive Sunday evenings, May11 June 15, at 7:30 pm. Membersof the other churches in the Presby-tery have been invited to attend theevening classes.

June 22: Worship at GeneralAssembly - No Adult Study class

June 29: General Assembly Reviewand Debriefing

Contact Pat Magee, Adult Educationcoordinator, if you have any questions.

Adult Study Focuses on General Assembly

Discover Fascinating Books for All Ages and Interests in our LibraMomfulness: Mother-

ing with Mindfulness,Compassion, and Graceby Denise Roy (Fam-Par 204 Roy), given byBill & Marge Palmer

The Woman WWorks, the PareWho Cares by SirgSanger and JohKelly (Fam-Par 6San)

The Womans Book ofSoul: Meditations for Cour-age, Confidence & Spiritby Sue Patton Thoele(Women 242 Tho), givenby Betty Moran

In Her Image: T

Unhealed Daughters Sear for Her Motherby KathCarlson (Women 306Car), given by LinHagan

E m b o d i e dLove: Sensuality

and Relationship as FeministValues edby Paula Cooeyet al (Women 305.4 Coo)

Beloved by Toni Morrison(F Mor)

Additions to our adult side:Beyond the Passion:

Rethinking the Death andLife of Jesus by StephenPatterson (232.9 Pat)

The Holy

Sp i r i t &P r e a c h i n g by JamesForbes (251 For), givenby Rebecca Kuiken

Gods Pol-itics: Whythe Right

Gets It Wrong and theLeft Doesnt Get It by JimWallis (261.7 Wal), givenby Bea Groppuso

Reforming Protestantism:

Christian Commitment inTodays World by DouglasOttati (280 Ott)

New toour specialsections:

The Rapture Exposed,lectures by Dr. BarbaraRossing, Feb. 2008 atStone Church (DVDs40A& 40B)

Art Holtz and Bill Lakatosign up volunteers for GenerAssembly 2008 on a recen

Sunday after Worship.

(Please see the related storyon page 8.)


3/8


4/8


The Stone Works Committee wasthrilled to hear of the birth of IsaacBenjamin Brooks Miller, on April 5,to Suzy Brooks and Jonathan Miller.We cant wait to welcome baby Isaacto our group.Mens Mission Team Works!

The Mens Mission Team went toWestminster Woods for a weekend

worktrip in early April.During their traditionalFriday night spaghettidinner, made by LawrenceSummers, they surprised

Leland Wong with a celebration of the10th anniversary of the worktrips witha roast of him!

On Saturday, the team framed twodecks and stairway steps and shov-eled a ton of gravel behind the newly

installed retaining wall. The Westmin-ster Woods staff was grateful for whatwas accomplished. Anyone interestedin participating in future trips, pleasetalk to Leland or David McCreath.

The team is working on different pro-grams to accommodate busy scheduleswhile still accomplishing their goals.

They hope to see some new faces onfuture adventures ... no constructionskills required.

From the proceeds of the Crab Feedheld in February, the team presentedthe Session with a check for $110 to gointo the Building Fund. Thanks very

much, gentlemen!Torture Awareness Month

June 2008 has been designatedTorture Awareness Month. During the

month of June, StoneChurch will join con-gregations across theUnited States in publicwitness against torture

by displaying a banner outside ourchurch. You can learn more aboutthis effort by visiting the NationalReligious Campaign Against Torturewebsite (nrcat.org).Food and Other Donations AlwaysNeeded for Sacred Heart

Please remember to bring yourfood donations on the first Sunday(Communion Sunday) of each month.During this economic downturn, socialservice agencies are facing a huge chal-

lenge to meet the needs of our commnity. You can turn in your food receip

to Sally Magto get credfor your dontions.

On May 4, lets try to beat the

pounds collected in April!We are also still collecting suppl

for Sacred Hearts Survival Sacks aHygiene Kits. Check out the list items needed, which is posted at tDonation Center.One Great Hour of Sharing

Stone Church members were onagain generous in their response to t

One Great Hour of Shingoffering collecton Palm Sunda$4,364.89, whiincluded $155.from the childrendonations, will go

the Presbyterian Hunger Program, tSelf-Development of People, and Prbyterian Disaster Assistance.

- Carrie Giorgianni,Stone Works Modera

Stone Works works on Mission, Anti-Torture, Sacred Heart

Suzanne Wol, rom Stones El Salvador delegation,took this photo o a youth group dramatization o thehealth care crisis in that country, entitled Pay or Die.

Art Holtz and Gary Weiss have the sawdust fyingon the recent Mens Mission Worktrip, where theyhelped construct small decks at WestminsterWoods.

Rod Thorn took this photo while, in his words,

dodging that sawdust.

Stone Works Photo Gallery
http://www.nrcat.org/http://www.nrcat.org/


5/8

Come join the Stone Church menin one of their always-interesting andfun-filled groups.

Here is the latest on all of theiractivities.

Mens Book Group

The Mens Book Group will meeton May 19, beginning at 7:30 pm. BobJames will be our host.

Books will be chosen for summerreading, so come with good sugges-tions. All men of the church are wel-come.

Spring Book SaleThe Spring Book Sale, sponsored

by the Mens Ministry, will be heldon May 4. It will be in the Social Hall(or on the Patio if weather permits)

following morning worship.This is a good time to choose booksfor summer reading, so bring yourshopping bags.

The proceeds from the sale are usedto support the various projects of theMens Ministry.

To contribute books to the sale,please bring them to the church byFriday, May 2.

Dad n Me CampThe Mens Ministry sponsored

Dad n Me Camp at WestminsterWoods on April 26 - 27. Under theleadership of Ken Henry and DavidMcCreath, it promised to be a fun andinspiring event. (Editors Note: This

event was occurring at press time: wehope to have pictures next month.)

Future EventsThe Mens Ministry is setting up

several Stone Day @ Habitat projectsin August and also in the fall.

Stay tuned: these dates will beannounced shortly.

- David McCreath andLeland Wong

Ah, the Merry Month of May! Doesanyone remember dancing aroundthe Maypole? Never mind, just the

idea brings mentalimages to us. Weshall, however, enjoythe warmer days and

watching the myriadof new blossoms

that appear.The Pantry Part-

ners have been hardat work in coop-eration with theMembership and

Evangelism Committee. They reportthat the kitchen is shining and orga-nized: they implore us all to care forit and leave it in this condition whenwe work there.

Gifts of Women Sunday is May 4. TheRev. Sharon Stanley, from the FresnoInterfaith Refugee Ministry (FIRM),will lead worship. This years recipi-

ents ofHonorary Life Memberships willbe honored during the service.

This month, the coupons we are tar-geting are Nature Valley Granola bars.Keep up the wonderful response forthese and all the other coupons - theschools really appreciate our efforts.(Please look at the list on the PWbulletin board or take a list from the

library cart found in the Social Halleach Sunday.)Here is the PW Schedule for May:

Amethyst Circle, Wednesday, May 7,1 pm, Church Library

Emerald Circle, Thursday, May 1,9:30 am. Contact Rhonda Lakatos forlocation.

Sapphire Circle, Monday, May12, 7:30 pm, hosted by Sue Evansin Church Library (note change ofvenue)

Lunch Bunch, Tuesday, May 13 at

11:30 am, Taiwan Restaurant, LincolnAvenue

Fair Trade Coffee (and other products) sales after Worship, May 18

Book Group I, Monday, May 5, pm, at Liz Shanderas home, readinThe Distant Land of My Fatherby BCaldwell.

Book Group II, Monday, May 192:30 pm, at Ruth Crawfords homereading The Worst Hard Time by Timo

thy EganFocus Group Tuesday, May 20, 9:3

am, at Elizabeth Shanderas homePrayer Shawl Group, Thursday

May 22, 4 pm, Fireside Room (kniting and other handwork). JanicGoertz emphasizes that this activity not gender specific. Dont know howto knit? Come and learn from greateachers.

Alas, there will be no Bible Studby the Rev. Marge in May. We looforward to being with her again iAugust.

- Catherine Amo

THE STONE NEWS, PAGE

News

from PW

Mens Ministry - Book Group, Book Sale, Mission Trip and Mor

The Mens Mission Team on their recent Westminster Woods trip: David McCreath,Bill Lakatos, Gabriel Faber, Art Holtz, Rod Thorn, Lawrence Summers, Gary Weiss,Michael Donald, Bruce Raby and Leland Wong. Bill Palmer also participated, but isnot in the photo. For more about the trip, see the Stone Works article on page 4.


6/8


Have you ever wondered whatStephen Ministers actually do forthe congregation? Health Ministryis exploring the possibility of bring-ing Stephen Ministry back to StoneChurch. This article, reprinted fromthe Stephen Ministries, will answer

your questions about the role of aStephen Minister.

Stephen Ministers: The AfterPeople

Frequently, friends will ask, I knowyoure involved in Stephen Ministry.Can you tell me exactly what a Ste-phen Minister is? I like to explainthat Stephen Ministers are AfterPeople.

- after youve washed and returnedthe last casserole dish.

- after the divorce papers have beenserved, and the bottom falls out ofyour life.

- after the last child honks the horn,waves, and drives away to college or ajob in a distant city.

- after you arrive home following thefuneral and the emotions youve heldat bay come crashing in on you.

- after the relationship has ended,but the wounds are still bleeding andpainful.

- after the doctors have said, Theres

nothing more we can do.- after the door has slammed shut,

for the very last time.- after the phone call youd always

hoped youd never receive.- after you realize the hands on the

gold watch you received at your retire-ment party move more slowly thanyou ever imagined.

- after the nursing home directorshakes your hand and says, Welcometo your new home.

- after the gavel goes down, thehandcuffs go on and your loved oneis led away.

- after the baby has arrived, puttingmore demands on you than you everdreamed possible.

- after you find the pink slip inserted

with what is now your final paycheck- after your family and friends hav

heard your story one too many timesbut you still need to talk it out.

Stephen Ministers are the AftePeople. We are ready to come alongside you - or your friends, neighbors

coworkers, or relatives - and providcomfort and support for as lonafter as we are needed.1

The Health Ministry Committe will conduct a brief survey of thcongregation in the coming weeks toassess the interest in having StephenMinistry return to Stone Church.

The confidential survey will ask foa response to three items: (1) I wouldlike to be a Stephen Minister; (2)

would like to have a Stephen Ministeror (3) I dont need Stephen Ministrybut I think it is a valuable program fothe congregation. -Jan Keife

1 2003 Stephen Ministries, St. LouisMO. Used by permission.

Health Ministry to Explore Possibility of Restoring Stephen Ministry

The Deacons FirstAnnual Easter

Egg Hunt wasa resoundingsuccess! Lots ofcolorful char-acters were on

hand to help out,and everyone had

a great time!


7/8

THE STONE NEWS, PAGE

Blake Kaempfer Tablak & Sarah Smwho are engaged.

Blake: I born May 1976, in N

Jersey moved to Cfornia in 19I attended C

Long Beach1994, moveGeorgia in 2

and returned to California in early 2007I am a grandchild of Ed and June Ta

and have one brother (Derek, 12 years yoer) and one sister (Juliet, 2 years olde

work for a company called M3Pod that bureally cool systems for home automationhome media applications. Being engageSarah is perhaps the greatest accomplishmof my life to date.

Sarah: I was born March 5, 1979Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. I moto Calgary, in 1998 to pursue my speedsing career & education. I graduated fthe Univ. of Calgary in 2004 with a BSKinesiology. I was a member of the CanaNational Speed Skating Team for 4 yecompeting internationally in World CupWorld Championships.

I moved to California in 2007 to pursDoctor of Chiropractic degree. I will grate in June 2010. I have two sisters Em(26) and Kate (21). My parents still resid

Medicine Hat; my father is a lawyer andmother is a former city council member all-around professional volunteer.

Carole Brandt: Born in St. Louis,Missouri, I moved to Willow Glen

during high school into the first housebuilt on an isolatedblock in a pruneorchard when Book-sin was a dirt path!

During and after

college, I worked inmusical theatre whereI met my husband on

road show. After Dr. Purdue mar-ied us, we took our act to New York

City, Miami and cruise ship stages.Our son was born five years later, butoon outgrew his car seat where henoozed offstage.Strongly guided by a spiritual force,returned with my son to San Josend earned a Masters Degree in

Education Infancy through Adoles-

ence. Fifteen years with high-riskeens and running a large child caregency in Palo Alto was most reward-ng. Blessed with opportunities andnergy, I took what I had learned to

De Anza College where I taught for1 years, returning each day to my

many rescued creatures bearing scales,eathers, hair or fur predators andrey living in harmony in one safe,pecial world.I recently retired to my Santa Clara

arden, to a book-in-progress, and tomy precious companions, seeking mynext path.

Here are more autobiographies of our newest members. Introduce yourself to them the next time you see them at church!

Charlotte Pizzo: The eldest of fouriblings, I grew up in a rural area just

outside Huntington, WV. My childhood was like MayberryRFD: I knew everyonein the community andlived a childhood ofplaying in the creeks,

building forts in thewoods, and investigat-ing everything in myenvironment.

Being born in the geographic south, Iwas expected to be a lady in every pos-ible way. However, I was a great disap-

pointment in that area. I was the worldsbiggest tomboy, and my greatest joys werebeing with my dad on some kind of farmquipment. My father encouraged myutrageous behavior, and I was driving aractor pulling a hay baler by the time I

was 10. Every night I prayed that Godwould be merciful and turn me into aboy! Thankfully, he did not answer thatprayer. Somewhere in junior high thingschanged, and I became a lady and neverregretted it!

My spiritual formation began at mybirth in a fundamental Baptist Church.My continued journey has been one of

change. And although I am no longera fundamental Baptist, I am eternallygrateful for the scriptural foundation Ireceived in those years. My spiritual life,my ministries and everything that makesme who I am is included in Pauls wordsto the Philippians: I want to knowChrist and the power of his resurrectionand the fellowship of his suffering bybecoming like him ... Knowing Christhas been part and parcel of my spiritualjourney.

In my professional career, I have been

a secondary school teacher, propmanager, national sales trainer, propturnover specialist, and administrending that part of my life as a Corate Trainer.

Educationally, I have degrees in lish from San Jose State Universityfour years of seminary. After seminhowever, it became clear my call to

istry was not to be a call to a churchtorate. Instead, I was called to the wof social justice, which I have purfor the last four years. I have workethe Director of a non-profit and am an organizer for CLUE-CA (ClergyLaity United for Economic JusticeSan Mateo County and to some dein Santa Clara County.

I am the mother of two and the grmother of two. I enjoy change, bactive and involved, cooking, reaand music.

Larry Olmstead: I am pleased to haveofficially joined Stone Church after five

years of attending as aregular visitor. I amprobably best knownat Stone as the fatherof Nia and JordanOlmstead, both of

whom have been active

in the youth group;and as the husbandof Michele Chandler,

who also recently joined the church.I grew up in the Bronx, NY, and

attended college at George Washing-ton University in Washington, DC. Mycareer as a journalist and media compa-ny executive has kept us on the move; Ihave lived in Baltimore; Detroit; Harare,Zimbabwe; back to Detroit; Montclair,NJ; Miami, and finally here in San Jose.We hope to stay here awhile.

Ive had an interesting spiritual jour-ney as well. I was raised in a black Jewishcongregation before finally embracingPresbyterianism while in Detroit. I wasordained an elder at Miami Shores Pres-byterian Church.

I came to San Jose to work for KnightRidder, the media company that wassold to McClatchy in 2006. Since then,Ive run my own consulting firm, Lead-ing Edge Associates. We do manage-ment training, organizational change

and diversity work.I play a lot of tennis and enjoy read-ing, chess, and watching sports.


8/8

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

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

Website:stonechurch.org

The Reverend Doctor Ken Henry, PastorClaudia Hoagland, Ofce Manager

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

Jody Meacham: Assistant EditorsSylvia Snyder, Chief PhotographerSuzanne Wolf, Rod Thorn, Ken Henry,Dan Raby, Catherine Amos,

Jonathan Miller: Additional PhotosCatherine Amos, Fred Gardner,Dulcie Janzen, Jan Keifer, Jerry Keifer,Sylvia Snyder: Production


Bike to Church

on May 18th!

Deacons Senior

Tea and BarbequeCome celebrate the spring renewa

of life and good friendships at theDeacons Senior Spring Tea and Barbeque on May 4, from 2 to 4 pm, inthe Social Hall.

Entertainment will be provided byour own Jerry Keifer and AlexandraBowers. The Deacons will supplygreat food - you just need to bringgood conversation and fellowship!

Unlike some stores and restaurants, there is no specific age forsenior - just join us if you want to!

Please RSVP by May 1 to Kathleen Oliver. Include the numberin your party and if you will needtransportation.

Come one, come all, come youngand old - bicycling is for everyone!

To encourage you to go green andget healthy, Stone Works wants you

to get out of yourcar, get on yourbike, and ride tochurch on Bike toChurch Day, Sunday,May 18.

If your bike needsbearings checked,

new tires, or just aroutine tune-up, bring it to WillowGlen Bicycles on Willow St. for aninspection on Sat., May 10 (theresa small fee for this service).

Stone Works will provide bikemaps to help plot your route andbagels for the hearty souls who findalternate ways to get to church onthe 18th! If you would like to help,or need more information, pleasecontact Jonathan Miller.

With over 1,500 job slots to befilled, your interests and skill setsare needed to help the nationwidePresbyterianfamily reunion , also knowas General Assembly, go smoothlyfrom June 21-28.

For an alphabeticallist of the 54 job titles tochoose from or a hard-copy sign-up form, or ifyou can house an out-of-area fellow volunteer,

see Bill Lakatos, Stones Local ChurchContact in the Social Hall after wor-ship on Sundays through May.

If you have internet access, visitStones website (stonechurch.org) forthe modified link to the GA volun-teer sign-up site to get registered andchoose your job(s).

The BONUS is if you volunteeryou can attend GA any time (with your volunteer name tag) and nothave to pay the $20 registration fee.

GA Still Needs

Volunteers

Rev. Ken Henry and Rev. Bill Palmeron a sunny Sunday morning.
http://www.stonechurch.org/http://www.stonechurch.org/http://www.stonechurch.org/http://www.stonechurch.org/

may 2008 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

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