News and Announcements

July/August 2000

Pastor Nominating Committee Chosen

At a Congregational Meeting on July 9, Old First members accepted the Nominating Committee's proposed slate of five Pastor Nominating Committee members from the congregation: Andy Cheng, Pat Cifor, Wilson Hardcastle, Roger Lindahl and Rose Marie Springer.

They will join the Session's representatives -- Pam Byers, Sidney Hollar and Esther Kim -- and Deacons' delegate Bill Wunsch to look for Old First's next pastor.

Also elected at this meeting were two Elders to fill unexpired terms: Dick Bobb and Marilyn Campbell, and one Deacon: Mary Lou Geppinger.

Mission Vision Study Adopted by Session

At their May 21 meeting, our Session of Elders adopted the Mission Vision Team's much-anticipated study. After an intensive process of information-gathering, the Team composed a document that describes Old First today, its most critical issues, and recommendations for actions to address these issues.

When the Presbytery of San Francisco subsequently approved the document, the way was cleared for the formation of our Pastor Nominating Committee. The research that went into the study will aid the PNC in their first task, the preparation of a Church Information Form.

-----------------------

Letter from Susan Young

"As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, 'Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is not nearly over.' So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight." - Luke 24:28-31

As I reflect upon my nearly two years at Old First, the story of the disciples walking with the Risen Christ on the Emmaus road comes to mind. The Emmaus journey was the theme for the national urban ministry conference that first brought me to Old First in September, 1998. And, in many ways, my journey with this faith community has been like the Emmaus journey.

The story of the disciples walking with Jesus shortly after his resurrection has always been an important one for me. As the disciples share their grief about the death of Jesus of Nazareth to a stranger, Jesus himself, the stranger provides words of wisdom, reminding them of the lessons of the Old Testament. As the three approach Emmaus, the disciples invite this friendly stranger to their home for the evening. Over the breaking of the bread, their eyes are opened and they recognize the stranger for who he is -- the Risen Lord.

The disciples in Emmaus took a risk that night, inviting a total stranger into their home. And, in response to their risk of hospitality, their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus, the Christ. Among the many lessons from the Emmaus story, the one that is most important to me is this lesson to take our call to Christian hospitality seriously because it is only in taking the risk of offering ourselves and what we have to others that we come to know Christ.

Over the last two years, our community ministry efforts have been about welcoming the strangers in our midst. These strangers include the men and women of our Senior Center, the children of our tutorial program, and homeless people who find sanctuary from the streets in our Welcome Center. As I leave Old First, I offer a final thank-you to all the people who have volunteered in these various ministry efforts for their dedication to loving God and our neighbors. I know that each of you has had your own Emmaus road experiences, and I thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey.

I would also like to thank the staff and Session. Your hospitality to me and your willingness to try new things has helped me grow in so many ways. As I say my final farewell, I offer my prayers for the future of this church, and I invite you to continue to take the risk of hospitality seriously so that your eyes may be opened and you will recognize him.

Grace and Peace,

Susan Young

Kathy McAdams to be Interim Director of Homeless Ministry

The drive to keep our Homeless Ministry going until we can find outside funding has raised enough to hire an Interim Director to succeed Susan Young.

She is Kathy McAdams, who recently received her Master of Divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion. Kathy has an excellent background in pastoral and social work, including chaplaincy work at Alta Bates Medical Center. She will assume her new duties on July 23. The church staff and Welcome Center volunteers will keep things going until then.

New Pew Cushions !!??

Have our long-awaited and desperately-needed new pew cushions actually arrived? Well, yes and no.

Even though we didn't have enough funds on hand to pay for cushions for the whole main floor and balcony, we did have enough to purchase all the material and to make about one-half of the cushions. After waiting for so many years, half the cushions seemed better than no cushions.

Once the cushions were made, there was the question of which lucky pews would receive them. That was solved with the good Presbyterian compromise of placing them in alternate pews, with the bedraggled, spotted and buttonless old cushions in between.

Now what? Will we have to spend the rest of the twenty-first century deciding whether to sit in a pew with new cushions or in one with old cushions so we can see the new ones when the people in the row ahead of us stand up.

The answer to this dilemma is 4,500 dollars in American money. So far about $18,000 has been contributed to purchase the fabric and pay for the cushion manufacture. We're so close! Please think about chipping in to help finish the job!

The 212th General Assembly

Dear Friends--

I have owed all of you a report on G.A. and apologize that you're only getting it now. I know many of you followed the G.A. on-line, and several of us had a chance to discuss it after church last Sunday, when Bill Mo

Summer Adult Education - 9:30 am, Munro Room

A different theological question each week, with short responses from interesting and challenging theologians and church leaders, then time to share our own ideas.

August 6 Visitors Lunch

Although we are the oldest Protestant congregation in California, we are continually being renewed by newcomers and visitors. If you'd like to know more about Old First Church, we invite you to attend our Visitors Lunch on Sunday, August 6, after the worship service.

Notes of Thanks

Thanks to everyone who helped make my recovery from foot surgery more bearable. While I was laid up at home, I really appreciated all the cards, calls, gifts and concern. I especially want to thank my deacon, AnnieScott Rogers. - Glen Potter

To our Extended Family at Old First - James was home using only a cane 9 days after his recent double knee replacement surgery. We have been overwhelmed by your prayers, kindness, friendship and love. Until it happens to you, one never realizes that OFPC can also stand for "Others - Family - People ....... Care!" A huge heartfelt Thank-you for helping us through this interesting learning experience. James is exercising faithfully to get back able to do the Highland Fling again. We have been truly blessed. Lang may your lum reek! - James and Mary Lou Wilson

Access our news archives: May/June 2000, April 2000, March 2000, February 2000

Home About Us Calendar News Worship Education History

ss and Susan Ashton and I shared our observations.

What I want to lift up to you all is that, while there were some VERY disappointing votes in the closing hours of G.A., it was on the whole a very good week for Presbyterians who care about the things we do. It was also a good week specifically for two organizations whose national leadership includes Old First elders.

Starting with the disappointment (to many though not to all Old Firsters): As everyone knows by now, the Assembly very narrowly passed and sent out to the presbyteries a proposed amendment to the Directory of Worship that would totally prohibit pastors from performing or sessions from permitting blessings of covenental relationships between same-gender couples. Most of us think this is tragically wrong on theological, pastoral, and polity grounds.

I want to point out that before taking effect, the amendment would need to be confirmed by a majority of the 173 presbyteries. Similar measures have been voted down twice in recent history. A proposed ban on holy unions died in the General Assembly in 1993; another such overture failed to pass the presbyteries in 1994. Needless to say, both Covenant Network and More Light Presbyterians, with other allies, will be vigorously organizing to defeat this amendment all across the country this fall and winter.

That vote, though, was not the only thing that happened at G.A. The church took many actions that we can celebrate, including:

* Election of the first Asian-American Moderator, the Rev. Syngman Rhee. Rhee has been involved in the church's worldwide mission activities for decades and is by his own self-description a liberal.

* Confirmation of full funding for the (embattled) National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches. This action leaves the PC(USA) as by far the largest supporter of these crucial ecumenical bodies.

* Approval of a study report calling for developing inclusive language for the persons of the Trinity. (We are very used at Old First to inclusive language with respect to God as well as people, but many pastors and congregations need help here.)

* Overwhelming disapproval of a proposal to give Scripture a higher authority than Jesus Christ (!)

* Approval of the strongly positive review of the Women's Ministry Program Area

* Approval of new initiatives to expand ministries to racial and ethnic communities

* Approval of San Francisco Presbytery's overture to develop resources for ministry to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members

I am happy to say that the overture some of you may have heard about during the spring, asking the church to recognize an "irreconcilable impasse" and move toward splitting, was defeated by an 85% vote.

Indeed, with the exception of the holy union overture and a couple of others, almost all the votes, in committees and on the floor, went "our" way. That vote and one fairly minor procedural matter are the only two of the Layman's "Top Ten" issues that they won. The church voted in a way that reflects its traditional progressive, engaged stance on virtually everything else. I am sad that the proposed holy union ban, coming as it did right at the end, may threaten to overshadow all the rest that happened.

Parochially, Covenant Network had a marvelous, sold-out luncheon with a great speech you can find on our website. MLP's dinner was a similar success. CovNet hosted numbers of other events, and Susan Ashton charmed hundreds of Presbyterians who came by our booth, as she applied the new CovNet Celtic cross "tattoos." (Ask her or me if you want one! Old First, as the founding congregation of CovNet, gets a little special treatment here!)

As always, there was outstanding worship, non-stop meetings with friends and colleagues, late-night organizing, and no sleep. I came back from G.A. even more committed to the PC(USA) (and even more grateful for Old First).

Pam Byers

Fun and Profitable Silent Auction on June 11

by Ted Chiao

After a magnificent Pentecost worship service, Old First members and friends came to the Fellowship Hall and participated in an Almost-Silent Auction. We enjoyed food and entertainment, participated in brisk bidding for a beautiful handmade quilt donated by the Senior Center, opened our pocketbooks, bid and bought many goods and services we needed (or did not really need, in some cases).

We have grossed around $7,500 for this year's General Fund, meeting and exceeding our goal of $7,000!

In Memory

Frieda Rogers died on May 25. A memorial service was held on June 3 at Noe Valley Ministry.

Thomas Hill died on May 27.

Gloria Barbre died in Iowa on June 7.

Session News

Roger Lindahl has resigned from Session.

As of July 1, Ted Chiao is turning over the chair of the Stewardship Committee to Amelia Kaymen. His business commitments in China require him to be out of the country at the time of the fall Stewardship Campaign.