Wells for Malawi

Sunday, October 26, 2008, after worship in Fireside Room

Have you ever given your child a drink of water from a ditch or polluted stream? For many parents around the world, there is no other choice.

Bring a brown bag lunch and join Richard and Beverly Martin in the Fireside Room on October 26 after worship, when they will share how their church in Urbana, Illinois, began a sister church relationship with a Presbyterian church in Domasi, Malawi, and realized the need for clean water.

Over 30% of the people in Malawi do not have access to clean water, and one in five children dies before the age of five from water borne diseases. Where clean water is available, children's deaths from dysentery are almost eliminated. The Urbana and Domasi churches expanded a shallow water wells program from another area of Malawi, and now have built almost 400 shallow water wells in the Domasi area, with each well serving a village of 200-300 people. How can the wells be built for $350 each? Join us in the Fireside room and find out.

Richard and Beverly will show pictures of their visit in 1997 to initiate the relationship with the prayer house; the continuing joint project for building water wells in the region; construction of a new church building; and their joyous visit in June of this year. Join us for this unusual opportunity to learn about a firsthand mission service experience.

Between the Lines

Covenant's new book club meets on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room to discuss Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer Prize winning book Gilead. It's never too late to pick up a good book and gather with friends to discuss what the book is saying to you between the lines.

Confirmation Ice Cream Social

Sunday, October 26, 2008, 3:00 p.m. in Fireside Room

In 2009, we will offer confirmation for anyone older than 6th grade who would like to become a confirmed Covenant member. What does it mean to be confirmed? How do you get confirmed? Come to an introductory confirmation meeting on October 26, at 3:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room, to have all your questions answered. This meeting is for youth over 6th grade thinking about being confirmed, their parents, and any adult who would like to be confirmed. Join us for ice cream and an introduction to what it means to be confirmed as a Presbyterian.

Men's Breakfast Group

Saturday, October 18, 8:00 a.m.

The Men's Breakfast Group meets Saturday, October 18, 8:00 a.m., for their monthly get-together. Rudy Dyck will lead the discussion.

Coveknitters Resumes

Sunday, October 19, 2008, 4:00-6:00 p.m. in Fireside Room

Has your stack of mending piled up over the summer? Are you beginning to make Christmas presents? Or do you just want to chat over a lovely cup of tea? Join the Coveknitters on October 19, 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room for tea and handwork and chat.

Senior Chats for October

You are always welcome to join Senior Chat on the second and fourth Friday mornings each month at 10:00 a.m. Our friendly group shares refreshments and lively, stimulating discussion, led by presenters who are knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects. The Chats are truly an ecumenical experience, ur sessions. For more information, call Rev. Dona Smith-Powers.

• October 10: What to Do When Someone Dies
  Each of us faces this subject eventually when a loved one dies. It's good to know ahead of time just what to do, both legally and financially, and how to do it. If we have the information ahead of time, we will feel more confident and prepared. Evelyn Berk, a master tax specialist, will be our presenter.
• October 24: Tuina—Chinese Style Self-Massage and Exercise
  Sunny Chen will give us a way to keep the chi/energy flow in the body moving smoothly. If we know personal care for the body, we will learn how to relax and how to encourage our own personal health. Sunny will show us the meridians, accupressure points and the eight movements of Tuina.

Go Godspeed!

"Godspeed" is the new name we decided on for our youth church program because of what the word means.

First, "Godspeed" is something you say to someone taking a journey so that he or she will have a safe trip. Going through middle school and high school is like taking a journey—whether it's fun, or tough, through it all God travels with you. We hope that what you learn here helps you have a safe journey through your teenage years.

Second, Godspeed means that we don't follow the speed and pace of the world but that we move at a different speed— God's speed. We have different values from the world's and make different choices. We hope Godspeed will also help you move at God's speed and make the right choices.

Finally, we thought it sounded cool. Youth will stay for the entire worship service the first Sunday of each month, and then on other Sundays will be dismissed for Godspeed after the Children and Faith Moment. Welcome—and Godspeed!

Blessing of the Pets

Saturday, October 4, 2008, 11:00 a.m. Covenant's front lawn

Animals are a wonderful part of God's creation and often important members of our families. Join us at 11:00 a.m. on St. Francis Day, October 4, on the front lawn for a blessing of the pets. Bring your rabbits, snakes, iguanas, orangutans, dogs and cats along as we celebrate the special place of animals in our lives and our world.

Reserve Your Spot for the Men's Retreat

November 7-9, 2008 at Monterey Dunes

The Covenant Men's group holds its Annual Retreat November 7-9 at Monterey Dunes. Rev. John Kelso will lead our weekend discussion and study sessions.

In "Good God Questions," we will discuss some of the perplexing questions people of faith encounter as we live in our busy and complex times: Why Does God Allow Suffering? How Do I Find God's Will For My Life? What Does God's Forgiveness Mean? No advance preparation is required; just bring an open mind and a willingness to listen to others.

The cost for the weekend is $200; make checks payable to Covenant Presbyterian Church. Some scholarships are available. Please don't let cost stop you from sharing this fantastic time of fellowship. Contact Dick Davies or Frank Bernstein to sign up.

Music Director Welcomed

Covenant is pleased to welcome Donald Dillard as our new Interim Music Director. Mr. Dillard is already known to many of us for his fine music as a substitute organist on occasion.

A Philadelphia native, Mr. Dillard studied piano and voice at West Chester University and continued graduate studies in organ, conducting, and group vocal techniques at Westminster College at Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey.

He is also a composer of over 100 works for chorus, instruments, piano, organ, and voice, including cantatas, oratorios, a concerto, song cycles, and other orchestral works. His compositions have been performed throughout the United States and in several other countries, in recital halls, music educators' conventions, churches, and festivals. He has taught music on all levels and holds memberships in many musical professional organizations. He is married to pianist Yoko Nagashima-Dillard.

We are delighted to have Mr. Dillard with us for the next few months as organist and director of the sanctuary choir and handbell choir. He is looking forward to finding ways to increase involvement in our music programs. We hope you'll take a chance to get acquainted—and think about joining one of our choirs to help make some beautiful music happen at Covenant.

Fall Schedule Begins

Covenant returns to our regular worship hour beginning next Sunday, September 7, at 10:45 a.m. We look forward to welcoming everyone "home" to Covenant after a summer of travel, family visits, and Union Worship with our neighbors. We also hope you'll make an extra effort to invite a friend and welcome visitors who worship with us.

Sunday School Returns

Sunday School classes for children and youth resume at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, September 14. Children through 4th grade will gather in Room 5 with Jennifer Espinoza, Ellen Wunder, Esther Lee, and Cris Kerns. Children 5th grade and older will meet in the Fireside Room with José Espinoza, Diane Jones, and Ana Yañez.

Pastor Alison Harrington and Sunday School teachers are planning a new program for children and youth as they grow in their faith. See you in Sunday School!

Kickoff in the Back Yard

Some have traveled far away this summer while others enjoyed their own back yard. But September 7, we'll gather as a church family to gear up for all the exciting activities planned in the life of Covenant this fall.

Borrowing the theme of our summer Vacation Bible Camp, we'll focus on God's Big Back Yard and the call we have as Christians to serve one another. In worship we'll commission our Sunday School teachers and hear some music from Vacation Bible Camp. We'll read from the scriptures to learn about living as community in God's Big Back Yard and gather around the communion table. This service is planned for all ages, and we hope all the kids will stay through the service although child care will be provided if necessary.

After worship, join us in Fellowship Hall for God's Big Backyard Bar-B-Que—we can't get the whole family together and not light up the grill! Bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share, and we'll provide bar-b-que, drinks and paper products.

Senior Chat Returns

Senior Chat returns to Covenant in September with two excellent programs to begin the new season. We invite you to join us in the Fireside Room from 10:00-11:30 a.m. We are a friendly, interdenominational group who share stimulating discussions, light exercises, brief devotionals, and light refreshment on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. We welcome everyone, and no RSVP's are necessary. Join us!

• September 12: Knowing Children
  Rev. Dona Smith-Powers leads our discussion, and you are encouraged to relate how the children in your life bring you health and joy. We have been told that people live longer if they retain the gifts of wonder, spontaneity, and humor as they age. Being in the presence of children can encourage those qualities in our lives.
• September 26: Depression--a Human Experience
  Debby Hagenmaier, R.N., M.S.N., from El Camino Hospital, will share with us the signs, symptoms and intervention options for depression. Whether you or your loved ones have occasional low key depression clinical depression, there are practical ways to deal with it and to improve one's outlook on life.

For more information, contact Rev. Dona Smith-Powers.

From the Library: Read up on Borg and Brown, theologians

Recent church announcements distributed at union services included a notice that Marcus Borg will be the featured speaker at this year's Robert McAfee Brown Lectureship event at First Presbyterian Church, November. 7-9. Borg is Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University and a fellow of the Jesus Seminar. His book The Heart of Christianity; Rediscovering a Life of Faith will be studied at the seminar and is in Covenant's library. The front cover asks, "How we can be passionate believers today?" I read this book when I was reviewing it in 2006, and I like the way that Borg shows us how to rethink our faith in a changing world, a serious lesson but not too intense.

Our Covenant library also includes several of Robert McAfee Brown's books about the Bible and about applying our Christian faith to the world's problems, paperbacks about 150 pages long. Unexpected News; Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes and Saying Yes and Saying No; on Rendering to God and Caesar are easy reading but also quite stimulating. Brown's autobiography, Reflections Over the Long Haul; a Memoir, was completed by his family after his death and has wonderful accounts of civil rights movements he was in the middle of, just to mention one sort of thing you will find in this biography.
Rudy Dyck, Librarian

Book Study

Wanted: Good People who enjoy talking about Good Books. Plans are in development now for a midweek Book Study program. As soon as we survey which days are most available to interested readers, we'll gather with friends to discuss ideas and questions raised in some current works of fact (non-fiction) and fiction. Details will be available soon. Contact Pastor Alison if you are interested in a midweek afternoon book chat with others who love a good "read" and welcome the chance to talk about it.

Adult Education Programs Set

Two events are scheduled to focus on Adult Education in a new way this Fall.

• What Happened At General Assembly?They came, they voted, they left…so what happened? Join us in the Fireside Room after worship September 21 for a bag lunch discussion about what happened at the 218th General Assembly, a controversial one—but aren't they always?
  Pending ratification by local Presbyteries, ordination of gays and lesbians was approved for the first time. The Assembly also returned actions on other issues to local Presbyteries for discussion. Come and learn what went on while we were all busy volunteering. Bring your bag lunch and join us for a lively discussion.
• Coming in October…
  Join us after worship October 26 to learn about Beverly and Richard Martin's work with their Urbana church, which has helped dig wells in Africa so that communities can have access to clean water.

Movie Nights Return

During worship in September we will focus on the story of Moses. So we're taking a great opportunity to schedule our first "movie night," and we'll show the movie Prince of Egypt! We hope you'll join us September 12, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room for this wonderful depiction of the story of how God led Moses and the Hebrew people to freedom.

Covenant Men's Group

Gather all ye men! The Covenant Men's group resumes our monthly breakfasts in September. Note: Because of a Presbytery meeting on our usual third Saturday, we will meet instead this month on the second Saturday, September 13, at 8:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room.

We will continue our roaming through the various lessons in The Thoughtful Christian. If anyone would like to lead this month's session, please contact Frank Bernstein.

Let us retreat to go forward together!
The Covenant Men's group will have our Annual Retreat November 7-9 at Monterey Dunes, our usual stomping ground. We will dearly miss our beloved John Keith, but we know he will be with us—more than we know. John asked John Kelso to lead our retreat this year, and John Kelso has graciously agreed.

In "Good God Questions," we will discuss some of the perplexing questions people of faith encounter as we live in our busy and complex times: Why Does God Allow Suffering? How Do I Find God's Will For My Life? What Does God's Forgiveness Mean? No advance preparation is required; just bring an open mind and a willingness to listen to others.

Cost is $200; make checks payable to Covenant Presbyterian Church. Thanks to the generosity of the breakfast participants, some scholarships are available. Please don't let cost stop you from sharing this fantastic time of fellowship. Contact Dick Davies or Frank Bernstein to sign up.

Thanks for Vacation Bible Camp

God's Big Back Yard was full of excited children and lots of activity for our fifth Vacation Bible Camp in late July. We had 65 children participating in this joint effort of four churches: Covenant, First Christian, First Baptist, and, for the first time, i-Church.

We enjoyed the blessing of getting to know Ji-Yeon, in charge of Children's Ministries for i-Church, who served as a crew leader and brought five helpers for what we hope will be the first of more collaborations between our churches.

Pastor Alison and Cindy Prioste of First Christian Church were hilarious in improvised Bible dramas—sort of a Lucy and Ethel team, if you know who they are! Cris Kerns did an excellent job as craft leader, and two of Covenant's youngest members, Chloe Aaronson and Penny Sharp Alexander, participated.

We are thankful for all of our youth leaders and for the opportunity VBC affords them to develop leadership skills and to experience the satisfaction that comes from serving God.

This year's theme of service was highlighted by special speakers like Jane Bernstein, who shared stories of serving her family, especially her autistic son Peter. We also learned about serving our friends from a speaker from Green Pastures, the local home for disabled children; serving our neighbors, from a speaker from Almost Eden Garden, which provides produce for the Food Closet; serving our community, ject; and serving God, from Pastor Paula, who spoke about sharing the word of God and telling people about Jesus.

Other helpers included Natalia Tanojo, a crew leader who also brought her own children and four others dropped at her house so they could come; Diann Chethik, who provided lots of popular games; the Snack Crew of Lillian and Steve Quan, Janette Lee, Kelly Quan, and Esther Lee; Lizanne Reynolds, who shopped for groceries; and Teri Jara, who came to help the first day and stayed the rest of the week to help organize our paper work and do other jobs. The show-stopper was the arrival of the Good Humor Man, Charles Scott, who rang his bicycle bell and rolled in a cooler full of ice cream treats.

Even if you only dropped in for a moment, the energy and enthusiasm were apparent. The raves at the end of the week testified to the power of teaching children to work with each other and learn about God's world. Thanks, finally, to Jennifer Espinoza, whose creative energies and generous spirit radiates to children, youth helpers, and adults involved in the program. Can't wait to see what happens next year!

Kids Get Packs

Thanks to the generous response to the plea for backpacks and school supplies, Covenant, First Baptist, and First Presbyterian members donated and assembled about 40 backpacks for needy kids in time for distribution by the Interfaith Network for Community Help before school started.

Food Closet Needs You

While we were coming and going all summer, the South Palo Alto Food Closet's ministry to needy people in our neighborhood continued. As you've heard in the news, Food Closets and similar aid programs for the needy are finding the numbers of people they serve growing larger with the whimsies of the economy.

The Food Closet welcomes your donations year round: canned goods and dry staples, checks, a volunteer shift to serve clients or help with a monthly cleaning. In summer, they also welcome fresh produce if you have enthusiastic garden plants running rampant; call the Food Closet to check on how to donate fresh produce.

You can always leave canned goods in the Narthex basket, or drop a check in the offering plate or the office, payable to "Covenant Presbyterian Church," memo line, "South Palo Alto Food Closet."

For information about how to volunteer for a regular or substitute shift, call Jean Jones, about how you can help. She'll be glad to hear from you!

Senior Chat for July

Join us in the Fireside Room from 10:00-11:30 for speakers on timely subjects.

• July 11 - Single Payer Plan for California with Carol Dalrymple speaks on the latest information we need about health care plans.
• July 25 - Emergency Preparedness with Barbara Camino of the City of Palo Alto talks about practical, lifesaving changes in our "emergency kits."

Baseball Game

Monday, August 11, 7:00 p.m.

Take me out to the Ball Game! Covenant will be going to a San Jose Giants game on August 11th. We will be sitting in the VIP deck, which is well equipped with lots of food. Tickets are only $8 for kids and $10 for adults, so sign up in the Fellowship Hall after worship.

Library Browsing

Most of you have by now heard me talk about "preselected possible gems" from Pastor Isaiah's book donations of about a year ago, but thus far you've only seen one mentioned last month, When Corporations Rule the World. Now, we are shifting into high gear with four more titles from Isaiah added to the library.

• Reformed Spirituality; An Introduction for Believers, by Howard Rice, 1991, shelved at 248/R. Pastor Paula Kelso and I have discussed this book briefly, and I have read portions of it. In layman's terms, I would call this "spirituality from soup to nuts." That is, the reader finds out that there are a number of different aspects to reformed spirituality. I quickly found a few especially helpful sections.
• Reformed Confessions of the 16th Century," edited by Arthur Cochrane with an introduction by Jack get the urge to dig a little deeper into all those confessions that we have heard about from the first 50 years or so after the Reformation, this would be one place to start digging, because that is what most of the book is about. Jack Rogers is especially good at helping lay folks grapple with these kinds of complexities of our faith history and tradition.
• Documents for the Study of the Gospels, edited by D. Cartlidge and D. Dungan, 1994, 229/C. This book is for those who enjoy exploring non-canonical gospel-type writings of the New Testament era. Since we added a similar one about a year ago titled The Complete Gospels, it would be interesting to see how they compare. Any takers of this challenge?
• The Kingdom of the Cults, by Walter Martin, 1985, 291/M. I am glad to have this reference book in our library. Others on cults and sects that I have come across here have generally been quite dated, and I have the feeling about cults that they are often immature and still evolving, so timeliness is rather important. Ordinarily I would at least read a few sections at the front and at the back of a book I am commenting on, but not this time. However, I see that the last three chapter titles are quite catchy: "The Jesus of the Cults," "Cult-Evangelism – Mission Field on the Doorstep," and "The Road to Recovery."

Happy exploring.
Rudy Dyck, Librarian

News From Faith in Action

Many thanks for your generous gifts to the Pentecost Offering, totaling $1,182.70 to date. This PC(USA) sponsored offering goes in part to youth at risk programs.

Carol Holsinger notes that the Spring edition of the San Francisco Theological Seminary Chimes magazine features an item about Rev. Charles Tinsley, whose work with youth in the Contra Costa County juvenile detention system we have supported with our Alternative Christmas Gifts and other funds.

Rev. Tinsley has been selected as the 2008 Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian of the Year. Contra Costa County presents the award each year to individuals who embody the ideologies that Martin Luther King, Jr. taught —integrity, peace, justice, nonviolence, diversity, equality for all and community involvement.

It's not too late to add your gift to the Pentecost Offering, which supports programs like these. You can put a check, made out to Covenant Presbyterian Church, memo line "Pentecost Offering," in the offering plate or leave it in the Church Office.
Faith in Action

Celebrate Presbyterian Women

Covenant had a very special tea after worship on June 1, in honor of more than fifty years of Covenant's presence as part of the Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of San Jose.

After long and faithful service in missions and study, fellowship and worship, Covenant's Presbyterian Women will retire from active membership in the larger church women's association and programs.

For many years, Covenant's Presbyterian Women have met monthly for study and speakers, provided circle programs for discussion and prayer, managed Christmas Luncheons and Bazaar fundraisers and Sewing and Crafts activities. They have sewn toiletries bags for the Urban Ministry's homeless clients, collected box tops and soup labels for mission projects, and supported special missions like the Menaul School in New Mexico and others.

Antless Picnic Coming Up

Sunday, June 15 after worship in the Fellowship Hall and patio.

To celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, you're invited to give Dad a break from his summer barbecue duties on Father's Day and join us for the Second Annual Antless Picnic in Fellowship Hall on June 15, immediately after worship.

The Fearless Frankznburgers Jara and Bernstein will tend the grills, and hot dogs, burgers, drinks, and paper goods will be provided. Jasmine Jara has been tending the ants she won since last year's picnic. Who will get to take the critters home this year?

Join us for the fun and good food in this official Summer Kickoff event. Sign up after worship on June 1 or 8 to bring your favorite picnic salad, side dish, or dessert to share. And don't forget to invite a friend to share the fun.

Summer Worship

June 22-August 3, 2008

The week after we celebrate summer with our Antless Picnic, we will move to our Summer Worship schedule. a.m. each Sunday through August 3.

Also on June 22, members of Covenant and First Presbyterian will worship together at Covenant while some from both churches attend the Opening Worship service of the General Assembly in San Jose, also at 10:00 a.m.

General Assembly

San Jose plays host this month to the 218th General Assembly of the PC(USA). Local and national planners have worked for more than a year to be ready for this important biennial convening of church clergy and lay leaders to address policies and issues facing Presbyterians around the world.

Covenant will send several volunteer workers to San Jose to help welcome, direct, and host the delegates from across the country and around the world to the South Bay Area. Some will sing in the Opening Worship Choir, and others have offered to be Prayer Partners and host volunteer workers in their homes. There's still time to volunteer to help, and we'll report details about the great event in the next issue.

Pastor Nominating Committee

Last week, Covenant took an important step in determining the course God wants us to take next by commissioning the Pastor Nominating Committee members elected at the Annual Meeting May 18.

It's an impressive group of energetic Covenant members who agreed to serve our congregation in this special task. The newly elected PNC meets with Session on June 4 at the regular Session meeting and then will begin its own intense meeting schedule, with the help of Rev. David McCreath, our PNC liaison from the Presbytery's Committee on Ministry.

Here's a look at your newly elected Pastor Nominating Committee:

• Frank Bernstein retired from active Session service last spring, after six years on the Session. During that time, he served as Trustee and helped launch and complete the Leap of Faith Campaign. He is also active in the Men's Breakfast Group and shows up as pancake and sausage cook on almost any excuse.
• Matthew Fackler grew up at Covenant and is currently serving as a Youth Elder on the Session. He is a frequent worship assistant.
• Frank Jara has been a Covenant member for two years. Frank says he's currently a "rookie" Deacon, and has served on the Evangelism Committee and as an usher and greeter.
• Dick Liewer is one of the original "Covenant kids" and has served more than one term on the Session. He's one of our masterminds of Building and Grounds maintenance and Work Days, and has helped develop several outreach programs during his time on Session.
• Lizanne Reynolds came to Covenant eight years ago and has served previously as a Bible study teacher in the LOGOS program and one term as a Deacon, with one year as Moderator.
• Kristen Sheau came to Covenant a few years ago and made her presence known quickly as an expert in Covenant's bicycle brigades. We've heard her in the choir and as a clarinet soloist. She is currently serving her first term as a Deacon and is a favorite among the younger set for her active life style, leading hikes and Earth Day programs and bicycle outings with Geoff and other fans.
• Bruce Templeton is also an original "Covenant kid" and is serving his second term on a Pastor Nominating Committee. He is a longtime member of the choir and the Support Committee, and was one of the Big-Three-Honchos who led the successful Leap of Faith Campaign to refurbish the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary.
• Ellen Wunder has served as both an Elder and a Deacon, and has been a longtime member of the Handbell Choir. She has also helped with youth programs and Sunday School and has been part of the Evangelism committee this year. This is also Ellen's second term on a Pastor Nominating Committee, which she describes as a "challenging and rewarding" task.

New Officers

An Elder and three Deacons were also elected at the Annual Meeting May 18.

• Elder Carol Holsinger will complete the last year of George Van Hare's term and will act as Clerk of Session. She has served before as an Elder and Clerk of Session, has served many years on the Faith in Action committee, and worked in the LOGOS program.
• Diann Chethik is a former Deacon, Elder and Clerk of Session. She has served on a Pastor Nominating Committee and is a longtime choir member, Sunday School teacher, and member of the Support and Nominating Committees.
• Cris Kerns is a teenager who has grown up at Covenant. He's been active in the LOGOS program and Children's Choir, and he's helped with Sunday School and Vacation Bible Camp.
• Kathy Kerns has served before as both a Deacon and an Elder and recently became our financial secretary. She's a longtime choir member and has been active in the Faith in Action and Worship Committees, parents groups, and Coveknitters.

Senior Chats for June

Senior Chat offers a delightful variety of presentations with something for everyone! We meet every second and fourth Friday in the Fireside Room. We welcome you to join us and invite a friend. We begin at 10:00 a.m. and usually finish by 11:30, although some stay longer to visit with the presenters. For more information, call Rev. Dona Smith-Powers, Coordinator.

• June 13: Seasons of our Lives in Music - John Lehman has a collection of thousands of tunes from times past and will choose some to share with us. The music will reflect the yearly season as well as our life's seasons. He has been well received in our chats in the past, and we always are surprised at how many of the old singers and bands that we recognize. Nostalgia reigns!
• June 27: How to Shorten Your Life - How many stress points do you have? Debby Hagenmaier, R.N., M.S.N., will tell us how to cut that number and thus reduce our risk for disease, disability and early death. Resolving stress issues isn't just a simple matter of trying to have a calm exterior to the world. Rather, it involves the inner life and consideration of attitudes that influence our behavior.

Parents Meet in Park

Sunday, June 8, 2008 after worship in Mitchel Park

For our next Parents' Meeting on June 8, we'll take our sack lunches next door to Mitchell Park for a time of support, punctuated by a lot of laughter, as we continue discussions about nurturing our children's faith. We will focus on chapter 5 of Elizabeth Caldwell's book Making a Home for Faith.

Summer Summer Supper and Study

If you missed the popular Lenten Soup and Supper study series, fear not! We're doing it again with a program of fellowship, food, and Bible study for the whole family.

Our Summer Supper and Study, Eating and Drinking with Jesus, begins Wednesday, June 18, and continues through four more sessions on June 25 and July 9, 16, and 23 (skipping July 2).

We will gather at 6:30 p.m. for a light supper, followed by a time of study for youth and adults, and we will close with worship ending at 8:30 p.m. This summer study challenges us to "see the world through the eyes of Christ, so that we may be centered in this vision as we continue our lifelong peacemaking journey."

Vacation Bible Camp

Vacation Bible Camp comes to Covenant next month. But we're looking for volunteer helpers of all kinds right now.

Our Vacation Bible Camp—God's Big Back Yard—sets up camp in Fellowship Hall from July 28-August 1, 1:00-4:00 p.m. We're already taking registrations for this highly successful program for youngsters age 5 through grade 5.

Our most pressing need is for crew leaders of high school age or older who can lead a small group of children through each day's activities. Crew leaders will be assisted by a junior crew member.

There are also many other ways you can be involved, either by helping at camp or by helping behind the scenes with shopping, preparing snacks, assisting Cris Kerns, our craft leader, with crafts, loaning props for decorations or Bible dramas, and so on. Chuck Scott has already been typecast as the Good Humor Man and will be distributing ice cream bars for snacks on one of our camp days. But we have lots of other roles for you, too.

Bible Camp is so much fun! The program provides a great outreach to our community and gives our youth, as well as the rest of us, a chance to exercise our spiritual gifts.

We hope you'll join us and share the fun, the love, and the learning. Please talk to Jennifer Espinoza for more information or e-mail her at jennifer@espinoza.net.

Summer Reading

It's been a while since I have written a commentary on a work of fiction, so I felt challenged as I first thought about what to write about this first new addition, Christ the Lord; the Road to Cana" by Anne Rice (2007), donated by Joan Gielow.

First, I pondered how much of the book I might want to read. Well, I surprised myself and read all the not-quite-240 pages, and now I can recommend it. I did not know of Rice even though this is her 22nd book and she lives in California. Surprisingly, after making a name for herself writing vampire stories (!!), this is her second book of a series entitled "Christ the Lord," and she tells this story with Jesus speaking in the first person throughout(!!!). Readers can join the author in imagining what it was like to live in Judea in New Testament days. They can also imagine Jesus' thoughts over this short time that includes a local stoning of two boys; a minor uprising involving a march of irate men from Nazareth to Caesarea over a perceived Roman insult to their faith; Jesus' baptism by John at the Jordan; and the engagement and marriage of a close friend of Jesus' to a man whose family lives in Cana. This is a lot to imagine. Too much, really. But it is interesting to do so, and it does make one think about what one accepts or rejects as being plausible for this man Jesus, whom we often describe as 100% man and 100% God.

The second book going on the New Additions shelf this month is from Pastor Isaiah's donations last year: When Corporations Rule the World, by David Korten (1996), to be shelved at 322 (Corporations-- political aspects). First, I should point out that Isaiah was active on the Presbyterian board, Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI), hence his interest in a book like this. (For more information on MRTI see the "Church and Society" journal issue of Sept/Oct 2002 in our library.)

I only have a few comments about this book about the injustices resulting from recent globalization. The author taught business management in leading universities in America and at seminars around the world. One day he was troubled enough about these injustices to decide he had to do more to bring about change, so in the early '90s he and some of his friends started the PCD Forum (People-Centered Development Forum).

Together they focused their efforts on what he calls "seeking to transform the global so as to empower the local." He says, "An active propaganda machinery controlled by the largest corporations constantly reassures us that consumerism is the path to happiness, governmental restraint of market excess is the cause our distress, and economic globalization is both an historical inevitability and a boon to the species. In fact, these are all myths...." The book presents his view of the results of globalization and the reasons more of us should be working for change.

Our church library has a wide variety of books, fiction and nonfiction, on many subjects. Drop by for some summer browsing.
Rudy Dyck, Librarian

Earth Day Celebration

On a slightly breezy, but beautiful Saturday morning (April 19th) 5 youth and 8 adults from Covenant fanned out over Mitchell Park, our backyard, to pick up trash. We also found lots to recycle. After washing up thoroughly, we headed back for a picnic. Some played a very active game of frisbee led by champions Kristen and Geoff, while others relaxed, chatted and watched a mother and baby killdeer running around near us.

On Sunday join us as we continue to enjoy God’s creation by taking a hike in Foothill Park following worship. Bring your lunch and we will have a picnic before heading out on our hike.

Vacation Bible Camp

God's Big Backyard this summer at Covenant July 28 through August 1, 2008 - 1:00 to 4:00pm Kindergarten through 5th Grade Pre-registration required with $25 fee (scholarships available).

Vacation Bible Camp this summer will start in your own backyard and get bigger each day as kids take the love of Jesus into their neighborhoods and communities! Kids will participate in the large group excitement of Backyard Bash, experience God's Word at Backyard Bible Club, meet real-life servants at Community Corner, plus explore and create through fun-filled crafts, snacks, and games. Just step outside, take a look over your fence, and help kids discover how much fun they can have serving in God's Big Backyard!

Download and complete registration form and return to church office at 670 East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Questions: jennifer@espinoza.net

One Great Hour of Sharing Update

Thanks to all who made a gift to One Great Hour of Sharing. Covenant's offering on Palm Sunday raised $1,330 which will be used to aid relief of the current flooding in the Midwest and other disasters, hunger programs, and self-development projects.

You can still make a donation to this year's One Great Hour of Sharing offering by placing a check in the offering plate. Make your check payable to Covenant Presbyterian Church with OGHS on the memo line.

Senior Chat for April

One way to energize yourself is to join us at a Senior Chat. In less than two hours you will feel more energy to meet the days ahead! We find healing and stimulation for our bodies, minds and spirits. Join us on the second and fourth Fridays from 10:00-11:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room. Welcome! We are a diverse group of friendly folks. For more information, contact Rev. Dona Smith-Powers.

• April 11: Dealing With Change
  We will explore the inevitable transitions in life: past, present and future. What are the serious, wise, humorous approaches to dealing with change? Kim Smith-Nilsson and Sue Ann Yarbrough, UCC ministers, will take us through some reflective questions and sharing of experiences as we discover our unique ways of dealing with life's transitions.
• April 25: Harmonica for Health
  Dr. Victor Yun has found the harmonica to bring health and meaning into his life. He will share information about the history, the basics of playing the harmonica, and the health benefits gained from the experience. Learning to play a new musical instrument creates new neurons in the brain! If you have a harmonica, bring it to the session.

CROP Walk to Fight Hunger

Sunday, April 27, 1:00 p.m. at Hoover Middle School

The 31st Annual South Bay CROP Hunger Walk is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Hoover Middle School, 1635 Park Ave., San Jose. Walkers will have one or five mile options.

The CROP Walk brings neighbors together to raise awareness of hunger and supports both local and international relief and development through the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, Sacred Heart Community Service, Church World Service, and other international humanitarian agencies.

Covenant's Faith in Action Ministry Team is looking for someone to be our Walk coordinator to recruit walkers and provide them with information about securing sponsors and pledges. Please call Susan at the Church Office (494-1670) or Laura of the Faith in Action Ministry Team (856-3452) if you can help.

Earth Day Events

Join Covenant for two events to celebrate Earth Day, April 19-20.

On Saturday morning, we will gather to work on a local outdoor service project. On Sunday afternoon, we will go hiking at Arastradero Park.

All are welcome, and parents are encouraged to accompany their children. Details will be announced in upcoming worship bulletins. Contact Kristen or Geoff Sheau for further information at (650) 704-6195.

Offering of Letters

Sunday, April 6 after worship in Fellowship Hall

Plan some time on Sunday, April 6, after worship in Fellowship Hall to write a letter for Bread for the World's Offering of Letters. This year's Offering of Letters urges that the U.S. provide more and better poverty-focused development assistance for countries around the world in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of eradicating world poverty by 2015.

Halfway from 2000, when the goals were adopted, we have accomplished many things: more kids are in school, more people have clean water, fewer children are dying from preventable diseases, more AIDS victims are getting lifesaving medications. But there is much to do: people in extreme poverty, people going to bed hungry, children without schools and dying from preventable disease.

Write a letter to an elected official on April 6 and tell him or her we can do better!

Presbyterian Women Lunch

Tuesday, April 8, noon in the Fireside Room

Presbyterian Women will have a salad potluck lunch on Tuesday, April 8, in the Fireside Room, beginning at 12:00. Rolls and dessert will be provided.

The program begins at 1:00 p.m. Louise Claspill will talk about Ra Black, the wonderful artist crippled by polio, who designed the beautiful Sanctuary banners that change with the seasons and the liturgical calendar.

You can sign up for lunch on April 6 after worship in Fellowship Hall. Come for lunch, fellowship, and a glimpse of some of Covenant's history.

Parents Meeting

Sunday, April 27 after worship in Fireside Room

In order to support one another in the encouragement of our children's faith, parents at Covenant are meeting once a month after worship. The next meeting is scheduled for April 27 after worship.

During this time we will read excerpts from books, share with one another, and pray with one another. We hope that through this process of discernment we will hear God's voice leading us in a vision for how we should provide for the spiritual nurture of our kids. Please be in prayer for this gathering.