March 2005  

Holy Week and Easter at Old First

Easter Sunday, March 27
8:30 am - Removal of black Sanctuary shrouding and decorating the sanctuary with lilies
9 am - Pancake breakfast in Fellowship Hall
11 am – Worship Service of the Resurrection and Holy Communion in the Sanctuary; with the Old First Choir

Listening and Learning with Handel’s Messiah

Part I of Handel’s Messiah is a venerable Christmas institution, while often overlooked Parts II and III are reserved for Lenten study.

Engage your senses and join a Sunday morning study from the Kerygma series. Classes are held at 9:30 am, Sundays.  The six-part series began Feb. 20 and continues through March.

Spring Retreat Set for April 23

This year’s Annual Retreat, "Re-tooling for the Christian Journey," will be a single-day event, held at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University on Saturday, April 23, 2005, starting at 9:00 a.m.  Steve Johnson, Director of Character Education at the Markkula Center and a friend of our congregation who led many adult education programs over the past two years, will lead the retreat.

The focus of the retreat will be looking at connections between two important dimensions of the Christian journey — the inner spiritual experience and the social justice concerns in the world we live in.  There will be prayer and spiritual exercises, reflection and an opportunity to discuss how we shape the actions we take as Christians.  Steve is the Director of the Markkula Center, which develops a national agenda of ethical issues and hosts events for groups, so we should have a great retreat!

The retreat will start at 9:00 a.m. at Santa Clara University, with coffee, tea, and light continental breakfast fare.  There will be a morning session, lunch, an afternoon session, and supper.  After our concluding activity, we will return home at 8:00 p.m.  Arrangements for childcare and activities for children and youth are being planned, too. 

The estimated cost of the retreat is $30 per person. Please sign up for the retreat  in the Fellowship Hall after worship, starting March 13. 

Don’t Forget

Pentecost Sunday -- May 15

Old First’s 156th Anniversary Celebration -- May 22

Note from your friendly local transitional pastor

As the season of Lent progresses, and we continue to lean into the shadow, examining our individual and corporate lives so that the hidden places may be exposed to God’s healing and cleansing light, we learn more and more about God’s capacity for unconditional love.  Though we long for the joy of Easter, it is essential that we stay faithful in the present moment of honest vulnerability, in that difficult and distressing place of ‘un-comfortability’.

One might see this period of transition for Old First as that kind of place, in which efforts to find the right road ahead are mired down in the preparatory work of looking back and searching inward. Yet without that preparation, that grief work, that reflective perusal of where you have been, you will not have the perspective necessary to take the next step.  The important thing is to allow God to do God’s work in you, in God’s own time. The desire to skip this particular chapter in your congregation’s story is understandable, for we like to reach the conclusion of a book. Instead, immerse yourselves in the story; pay attention to the plot lines, the intricacies of relationships, the twists and turns and surprises. Notice your own part in the narrative, how you participate in it, your contributions to the health and welfare of the whole community. Once in a while, take a figurative step back from the situation, and allow yourself to analyze what you see and hear: what happened, and why? How do I feel about it? Who took part in it? What does it mean? Do we need to do something differently for the good of the community? What needs to be added, or subtracted? What works well, and what needs to change? How do I speak and act so as to add pain to the community, or to add healing and joy? When and where do I sense God’s presence, and absence?

There is no one right way to do what we are doing together. It is important that we all consciously engage in it, for we are connected and therefore affect one another and the whole faith community in this place.  This is a good time to identify how we feel called by God to contribute to the ongoing life and ministry of Old First, with our resources of time, money, energy, and skill.

Thomas Merton’s prayer (from Thoughts in Solitude, p 83, adapted, quoted from Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community, by Farnham, Gill, McLean , and Ward; Morehouse Publishing) may speak to us at this time. Meditate on it, and let it guide you during the remainder of this season of preparation for the feast of Easter.

“God, we have no idea where we are going. We do not see the road ahead of us. We cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do we really know ourselves, and the fact that we think we are following your will does not mean that we are actually doing so. But we believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing. We hope that we will never do anything apart from that desire. And we know that if we do this you will lead us by the right road, though we may know nothing about it. Therefore, we will trust you always though we may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. We will not fear, for you are ever with us, and you will never leave us to face our perils alone.”           

Peace to you and yours along the journey,

Jeffrey Cheifetz

Work Begins on the Columbarium

Construction progress is beginning to show!  The platform levelling out the upper level of the columbarium chapel has been constructed, together with the step down into the concerts office. 

Work is progressing on the wall between the upper level and the concerts office.  Shortly, framing for the niche wall, the wall between the upper and lower levels, and the framing for the dome will commence.

2005 Nominating Committee Named

Elected on Feb. 6  as congregational representatives to the nominating committee were Christopher Burt, Betsy Chiao, Esther Kim and Sally Spencer. They will join Deacon representative Linda Reyder and Session representatives Chuck Olson, who will serve as Moderator, and Roger Lindahl

Lectionary

Mar 6  - 1 Sam. 16:1-13; Ps. 23; Eph. 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

Mar 13  - Ezek. 37:1-14; Ps. 130; Rom. 8:6-11; John 11:1-45

Mar 20  - Passion/Palm Sunday 

 

Matt. 21:1-11; Ps. 118:1-2, 19-29; Isa. 50:4-9a;  Ps. 31:9-16; Phil. 2:5-11; Matt. 26:14-27:66 or Matt. 27:11-54

Mar 21 - Monday of Holy Week

Isa. 42:1-9; Ps. 36:5-11; Heb. 9:11-15;  John 12:1-11

Mar 22 - Tuesday of Holy Week

Isa. 49:1-7; Ps. 71:1-14; 1 Cor. 1:18-31;  John 12:20-36

Mar 23 - Wednesday of Holy Week

Isa. 50:4-9a; Ps. 70; Heb. 12:1-3; John 13:21-32

Mar 24 - Maundy Thursday 

Exod. 12:1-4 (5-10), 11-14; Ps. 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26;  John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Mar 25 - Good Friday

Isa. 52:13-53:12; Ps. 22; Heb. 10:16-25 or Heb. 4:14-16, 5: 7-9; John 18:1-19

Mar 26 - Great Vigil of Easter

Gen. 1:1-2:4a; Ps. 136:1-9, 23-26; Gen. 7:1-5, 11-18, 8:6-18, 9:8-13; Ps. 46; Gen. 22:1-18; Ps. 16; Exod. 14:10-31, 12:20-21; Exod. 15:1b-13, 17-18; Isa. 55:1-11; Isa. 12:2-6; Prov. 8:1-8, 12-21;  9:4b-6; Ps. 19; Ezek. 36:24-28; Ps. 42 and 43; Ezek. 37:1-14; Ps. 143; Zeph. 3:14-20; Ps. 98; Rom. 6:3-11; Ps. 114; Matt. 28:1-10

Mar 27 - Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34-43; or Jer. 31:1-6; Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24; Col. 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Matt. 28:1-10

Apr 3 - Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Ps. 16; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

A Request from Peace and Justice Committee

Are you a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm?  Or perhaps you have a conscientious objector background.  If so, you may be interested in participating in an educational forum at Old First.   If so, please contact Pat Devine of the Peace and Justice Committee @  pfcummings1@ msn.com or  925-945-6726 or talk to Pat after a Sunday service.

In Memory

Bruce Hutson died Feb. 6. Memorial service at Old First on Feb. 26

Polly Day died Feb. 12. Memorial service at Old First on March 6, 2 pm.

Tsunami Relief

Contributions for tsunami relief can be made out to Old First Presbyterian Church and designated “for tsunami assistance.”

Checks payable to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with reference to the account number “PDR Account #DR000167 (Asian tsunami relief) can be mailed directly to: Presby-terian Church (U.S.A.), Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.

Old First’s Officers

Elders

Class of 2005 - Rosemary Bledsoe - Co-Moderator,Congrega-tional Care; Gregory Free - Treasurer; Sidney Hollar; Jonathan Lee - Moderator, Christian Education; Leila MacDonald - Moderator, Finance Committee; Harriet MacLean; Jay Pierson.

Class of 2006 - Dana Nojima - Moderator, Mission Committee; Charles Olson - Moderator, Nominating Committee; Jean Olson - Moderator, Steward-ship Committee; Phillip Pollock - Moderator, Personnel Committee; Glen Potter - Co-Moderator, Congregational Care; Stephen Taber - Moderator, Building Renovations; Earl Wilson.

Class of 2007 - Cynthia Burt - Moderator, Worship Committee; Carol Carter - Clerk of Session; Barry Clagett; William Feister - Session Liaison to Deacons; Roger Lindahl - Moderator, Planning Committee.

Deacons

Class of 2005 - Tracy Clagett; Pat Devine-Cummings; Kristi Hoerauf, Memorial Receptions, Co-Moderator; Connie Johnson, Treasurer; Bryan Nichols; AnnieScott Rogers, Recorder.

Class of 2006 - Pamela Free, Coffee Hour; Craig Kehne;  Alfred Martin; Don Pender, Linda Reyder, Mary Russell, Co-Moderator; Oliver Spencer.

Class of 2007 - Nina Berg; Emmy Clausing, Transportation; Heather Losee.

2005 Leadership Retreat:

Seeking Health in God's Church

by Roger Lindahl, Planning Committee moderator

Old First's officers, our deacons and elders, gathered at the R.L. White Retreat in Mill Valley on the last weekend of January to take stock of our church family as we move into 2005, explore leadership needs and visions, and identify areas where we may develop our leadership and church life, God willing. Pastor Jeff Cheifetz facilitated the retreat, stretching us with movement as well as words. 

This time together helped us begin a "process of becoming better leaders and reconnecting with the congregation," as one participant said. Joyful leadership and clear, consistent communication emerged as themes. As Rev. Cheifetz put it, we need to remember that this is God's church. It is not the church of any one group or committee.

A major leadership goal for 2005 is to bring the congregation into a space where information is available for all, relationships are healthy, and our vision is shared. Communication involves not only letting the general membership know what is going on within the bodies of the church but to promote a church-wide vision.

Upon completion this year of our new Mission Vision report prior to the formation of a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) and the start of our search for a new permanent called pastor, the officers of the church will hold this vision up in front of the congregation continuously as we all seek to follow God's will.

As leaders of God's church on the corner of Van Ness and Sacramento , we also need to promote healthy ministries. This involves "cultivating sanity," paying attention to personal spiritual practices and setting boundaries. Increasing the joyfulness and spirituality of our church activities will strengthen existing leaders and encourage new members to become officers and active members.

The officers of Old First are eager to make our new members welcome and fully informed about opportunities for ministry. We need to articulate the various roles and activities within the church better, so that members and friends will know what our leaders are doing and new people will find ways to become involved.

We explored the history of Old First at our leadership retreat, particularly the relationship of our congregation to its pastors over time. It is important for us to be aware of the past, both light and dark, and to use that awareness in developing a healthy, supportive, and loving relationship with our next pastor. Our leadership will seek to lay the groundwork for this pastoral relationship as we support the future PNC in its search process.

We also explored ways to improve how committees and other group function within the church and will seek to promote effectiveness, spirituality and communication, both to new committee members and to the congregation at large. We discussed the need to be open to new structures as the Spirit leads us during this time of transition.

Finally, our officers talked about ways to diminish the idea of "in-groups" and "out-groups" within the congregation. We want to play and worship together as an inclusive church family. An initial step discussed would be to minimize "business" discussion during coffee hour and instead socialize with all members and visitors. That doesn't sound too hard.

December 2003,  November 2003, October 2003,  September 2003,  July/August 2003, June 2003, May 2003,  April 2003, March 2003, February 2003, January 2003

December 2002,  November 2002, October 2002, September 2002, July/August 2002, June 2002, May 2002, April 2002, March 2002, February 2002, January 2002

December 2001, Nov 2001, October 2001,  September 2001, July/August 2001, June 2001,  May 2001,  April 2001, March 2001, 
February 2001, January 2001 

December 2000, November 2000,October 2000, September 2000, July/August 2000, May/June 2000,April 2000, March 2000, February 2000