may 2010 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

8/8/2019 May 2010 Stone Newsletter, Stone Church of Willow Glen

1/8

The STone newSSTone ChurChof willow Glen , PreSbyTerian uSa May 2010

THE STONE NEWS, PAG

Katie Henry, a sophomore at Cal Poly,

San Luis Obispo, was recently part of adelegation to El Salvador, sponsored by

the South Bay Sanctuary Covenant. Shewould like to thank the Stone Church

community for making it possible for her to

go on this trip.

Being part of the South Bay Sanctu-ary Covenant delegation to El Salvadorthis past March gave me and twenty-three other volunteers the opportunityto learn about the lives and hardshipsof the people of El Salvador directlyfrom them.

Proximity is the most powerful wayto understand cultures and prob-lems in other countries. Hearing theaccounts of the people of El Salvador,firsthand, made their problems come

to life. The stories they told had valuebeyond measure, and I am so gratefulthey were willing to share them with us.Their powerful messages will continueto make an impact on the way I viewmany issues now and in the future.

The delegation was in El Salvadorduring the 30th anniversary of the

assassination of Oscar Romero, thearchbishop who led a movement fornonviolent justice. After the assassina-tion of Romero, a civil war broke outbetween the left-wing FMLN party and

right-wing Arena party.Gloria, my host motherin the Bajo Lempa, beganfighting in a guerrilla armyfor the FMLN when she

was only thirteen. The hard-ships she faced during thewar included raising a baby,almost being killed multipletimes, andbeing lost inthe forest forthree months.

The headachesshe experienc-es today are areminder ofa bomb that

dropped from a planejust a few feet awayfrom her.

These experiences arenot uncommon in ElSalvador. Just like Gloria,everyone who fought inthe war went through

life-threatening experiences every dMeeting people like Gloria made mrealize the strength of her generatioThey have been through things I counever even dream of happening to m

here in the USA.Now that the FMLN party is power, with Mauricio Funes as predent, there appears to be hope the future of El Salvador. Howevdangerous situations still abound. Tstreets are lined with security forcand the police carry an overabundanof weapons. (continued on page

The Courage of

El Salvador

by Katie Henry


2/8

THE STONE NEWS, PAGE 2

Easter Egg Hunt: Peeps, Eggs, Fun!On the Saturday before Easter, the

Social Hall was filled with children,and their parents, singing, dancing,enjoying craft projects ... waiting...

waiting for the annual Deacon-spon-sored Easter Egg Hunt to begin!

There was even a very yellowPeepto help them find the over 200 hard-

boiled eggs decorated by the highschool group. It was a very wonder-ful way to share a lovely spring morn-ing with family and fellowship.

Vacation Church School 2010: GreenClean World for All Gods Children

This year, our Vacation ChurchSchool theme will be Green CleanWorld for All Gods Children.

Remembering the three Rs recycle, reduce, and reuse we willcreate a fun-filled week of games,crafts, and play time. During all ofour activities, we will hear Godsword about how to take care of thisprecious gift given to us Earth.

The dates and times for VCS areJune 21-25, from 9 am to 12 pm.

All children from kindergar-ten through sixth grade are wel-come to participate; older chil-

dren are invited to help with theyounger children. Adult volunteers are needed;

please contact Mary Jo (call thechurch office).We will start to collect recycled

items in May.Look for a collection box with

a list of items needed in theSocial Hall. And be sure to tell all of your

friends everyone is welcome!

Easter Eggs Have Been

Found! ... But More

Fun is Coming at VCSby Mary Jo Blazek,

Childrens Ministry Coordinator

StonesAnnualEasterEgg

Hunt:Peeps,Eggs,

Laughter,

andLotsof

Fun!


3/8THE STONE NEWS, PAG

Want some new ideas? Some interest-ing reading? Look for our new books both on the book cart in the SocialHall and in our two-room library in theLincoln House! And please considerjoining us as a volunteer.

- Sue Williams, Library Coordinator

New for our younger members:What Do You Say

When a MonkeyActs This Way? by

Jane Moncure(1st Bks Mon)

First-Grade FriendsForever! by Grace Mac-carone (1st Bks Mac)

The Secret Garden, AL i t t l ePrincess,and LittleLord Fauntleroy byFrances Hodgson Bur-

nett (YA Bur)Pear l sof Lutraby Brian

Jacques (YA Jac)ZAP Science: A Scien-

tific Playground in a Book

by John Cassidyet al (YA 500Cas)

New on our adult side:The Apocalyptic Jesus:

A Debate [Borg, Cros-san, D Allison, RMiller, S Patterson]ed. by Robert Miller(232.9 Mil)

Simple Acts of Faithby Norman Rockwell(242 Roc)

The Battle forGod: A History of

Fundamentalism byKaren Armstrong(291.2 Arm)

Women & Religion: AFeminist Sourcebook ofChristian Thought ed.by Elizabeth Clarkand Herbert Richard-son (261.8 Cla)

Egyptian Hiero- glyphs for Everyone:An Introduction to the

Writing of AncientEgypt by Joseph& Lenore Scott(411 Sco)

In our special sections:Science & Theolo

in Creative Interation, Three lecturby Robert RusseFeb. 2010, at Sto(DVD 44 ABC)

Science, Evolutioa n d

Creationism by theNational Academyof Sciences Institute

of Medicine (Ecol576 Nat), given byPat Magee

Circles of FriendPeople with Disabilit& Their Friends Enrithe Lives of One Anoer by Robert Pers

(Spec Needs 362.4Per), given by Ruth

McCreathThe Phantom ofthe Opera by GastonLeroux (F Ler)

A Severe MercySheldon Vanauk[ inc lud ing C. S. Lewis lette(B VANAUKENgiven by JoyRhodes

Stone Church provides stimulatingand varied Adult Education classesevery Sunday morning at 11:15 am inthe Fireside Room.

Please note that there are no classes onMay 16 (Congregational Meeting) or May23 (Salads of Summer Luncheon).

May 2: South Bay Sanctuary CovenantDelegation to El Salvador

The delegation, including four Stonemembers, reports on their trip (see thearticles on page 1 and page 4).

May 9: Faith Journeys atStone Church

Lynn Stutz will share her faith jour-ney with the class.

May 30: Faith Journeys atStone Church

Roland Neufeld will share his faithjourney with the class.

June 6: Raising Resilient Children ina Stressful World, presented byDawn Charron Predium

Parents need fine-tuned stress man-agement skills to successfully guidechildren through the rough waters ofchildhood and into their adult lives.

Dawn Charron Predium, for theHealth Ministries Committee, will dis-cuss techniques to support our childrenin learning appropriate and healthycoping skills to survive in todays hecticworld (see the article on page 5).

June 13: Planned Giving PresentatioStone Church members and oth

talk about making bequests to ochurch (see the article on page 6).

June 20 and 27: Social Justice andthe Prophets: Micah

This is the second in a series of sho

classes on the Old Testament prophand their call for social justice.

Micah proclaimed his prophetic msage after the Northern Kingdom hbeen destroyed, and Judah was a vasstate of Assyria (742 - 702 BC).

For more information about these clasor any others, please contact Pat Magchair, Adult Education Subcommittee.

Adult Ed Looks at El Salvador Trip, Raising Resilient Children, Mica

Library Adds Books on Monkeys, Hieroglyphs, Phantoms ... and More!


4/8THE STONE NEWS, PAGE 4

StoneWorks Heartwarming Mission Projects at Home and AbroadThe StoneWorks Committee shares

two stories of friendship and mission one here at home and one muchfarther away.

Bill and Renate Lytle Take OurRefugee Family to San Francisco

Sunday, March 21, was a special day for

the Lytles. We had the privilege of takingtwo young men from our refugee familyon their first trip to San Francisco.

Through Refugee Transitions, we hadacquired tickets to the California Acad-emy of Science, allowing us as sponsors toaccompany the two young men. We firsttook the opportunity to drive across theGolden Gate bridge and enjoy a picniclunch with picture-taking at Vista Point.We made a stop at Pier 39 and then

spent the rest of the afternoon at the Academy, walking through the rain

forest, enjoying the pen-guins at their play and wilderness scenes fromthroughout Africa. SueWilliams had let us knowbeforehand that it wasone of the young mensbirthday. What a joy to

celebrate that special timetogether! - Bill Lytle

El Salvador Delegationat Two Events, May 2

Stone Churchs partici-pants (pictured at right) inthe South Bay SanctuaryCovenants delegation to El Salvador inMarch look forward to sharing what theylearned and celebrated.

Come to the Fireside Room at the11:15 am Adult Education time, on

May 2, to hear themdescribe their supportof environmentalists ina mining dispute andtheir interviews with asupreme court justice,a top administrationleader, and village leadersand youth in a farmingcommunity. Video andslides will illustrate theirjourney, which focused

on the observance ofthe 30th anniversaryof the assassination ofArchbishop Romero.

Later that same Sunday, you are alinvited to join the entire 24-member degation and enjoy a Salvadoran dinnat the First Presbyterian Church of PaAlto. Here are the details:Romero Alive in His People on th30th Anniversary of His Martyrdo

Sunday, May 2, 4 pmFirst Presbyterian Church of PaloAlto, 1140 Cowper StreetSuggested donation: $20/adult an$15/student for program & dinne(no one turned away for lack of fundCall 650-494-8340 to RSVP

- Dale Brac

(continued from page 1)

While we were there, we visited thetomb of Oscar Romero in the centralsquare of San Salvador. This tomb is a

very peaceful place and a reminder ofthe hope for nonviolence in that country.Still, even at Romeros tomb, I saw police

walking around with guns. The one placein El Salvador that should not have hadanything to do with violence had guns allover it. Can you believe it?

One of leaders, Maria, expressed a simi-lar sentiment about Romeros efforts not

being honored. It would break Rome-ros heart to know that a homicide a dayoccurs within a one-block radius of wherehe is buried, let alone that there is anaverage of twelve homicides a day in SanSalvador.

Although the war is over, violence

is still very much a part of the lives ofSalvadorans. Even with the left wing inpower, crime rates have skyrocketed. Itwas difficult to see hope for this coun-try when we heard facts such as these,but the committed people we met mademe realize there is a strong force fightingagainst injustice. They havent lost theircourage.

I cannot by any means understand fullythe continuing struggle of the Salvadoranpeople. The hardships they have encoun-

tered in the past and still deal with inthe present are beyond my comprehen-sion. However, learning about their livesand their convictions was incrediblyempowering.

One thought that stuck with me wassomething said by Jorje Melendez, an ex-

guerrilla army leader. He told us that heis grateful for his problems because he isgrateful to be alive to fight for the well-being of his people.

The dedication of people like Gloriaand Jorje is a huge part of the spirit ofEl Salvador. Despite the turmoil theyvefaced, they still believe in peace. The cour-age I saw was inspiring and motivatingfor me. I hope that one day I, too, candemonstrate the kind of courage anddetermination that I saw in El Salvador.

The Courage of

El Salvador

by Katie Henry

Fred Groppuso reports that

April Food Donations forSacred Heart totalled 15 bagsof food weighing 91 pounds.


5/8

THE STONE NEWS, PAGE

Ah, the Merry Month of May! Whatmakes it so merry? It all depends on you,and what you do.

The newHealthy Women HealthyFamilies Mothers Day Project pro-vides funding for malaria preventionand treatment, obstetrical care, cancer

screening, andfamily health

education for women and

children in Africa. To support thisproject, look for Mothers Day cardson Sunday, May 2 (Mothers Day is

May 9). There isno actual charge foreach card; however,a donation of tendollars is suggested.

San Jos Presby-tery is hostingJonna,a mission worker

from one of the -stans of the MiddleEast (for her security, we have notbeen told which one). All are invitedto hear her speak about her work.

Here are the places and times:May 9 Saratoga PresbyterianChurch, 9 am and 10:30 amMay 12 San Jos FirstPresbyterian Church, 6 pmMay 16 WestminsterPresbyterian Church, 10:30 amMay 16 potluck at Los GatosPresbyterian Church, 6 pm

For more detail, see the Presbyterywebsite (www.sanjosepby.org).

Prayer partners for commissionersto the 219th (2010) General Assemblyof the PCUSA are needed. If you areinterested, please contact Diana Lim,and she will make arrangements.

Support for our schools by thecoupon savers and S.M.A.R.T. usershas been growing. Please keep upyour participation as it is even moreimportant in this time of cuts inschool funds. Our efforts help giveschools resources for events, as wellas supplies no longer covered by stateallocations. This month, we are tar-geting Chex and Cheerios cereals.

PW Schedule for May:Amethyst Circle, 1 pm, May 5

Church LibraryEmerald Circle, 9:30 am, May 6

Rhonda Lakatos homeSapphire Circle, 7:30 pm, May 10

Sally Magees homeLunch Bunch, 11:30 am, May 11

Taiwan Restaurant

Coordinating Team, 9:30 am, May 13Social Hall

Fair Trade Sales, 10:30 am, May 16Social Hall

Book Group II, 2:30 pm, May 17reading My Life in France by Julia ChildAlex Prudhomme, Nancy Weiss home

Book Group I, 1 pm, May 24Liz Shanderas home, reading Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

Focus Group, 9:30 am, May 26Liz Shanderas home

Prayer Shawl Ministry, 4 pm, May 27Fireside Room

Bible Study Rev. Marge Palmer ison vacation until August.

- Catherine Amos

The Mens Ministry of StoneChurch includes a mission work

team, a bookgroup, and aflying group.

For moreinformation about any of thesegroups, contact Parish AssociateDavid McCreath.

Mens Book Group SelectsSummer and Fall Books atTheir May Meeting

The Mens Book Group will meet Monday, May 17,

beginning at7:30 pm, with

Bill Lakatosas host.There will not

be a particularbook for discus-sion; the group

will select books for summer andfall reading.All men of the church are wel-

come to attend.- David McCreath

MensMinistry

Presbyterian

Women

Dawn Charron Predium will speakon Raising Resilient Children in aStressful World, on Sunday, June 6, atthe 11:15 am Adult Education time.

This class will provide strategies formanaging your familys stress level,as well as techniques for supporting your children as they learn healthyand appropriate skills for coping withtodays hectic world.As a parent (or grandparent), you

need fine-tuned stress managementskills to successfully guide your childrenthrough the rough waters of childhoodand into their adult lives. Our childrenare over-scheduled and over-stressedwith societys everyday requirements,

and they need techniques to mananot only their emotions, but also theability to interact in a healthy mannwith their peers.

Society over-stimulates our childrwith too many options and choices oa daily basis, which leads many of parents to wonder how to teach ochildren to make healthy choices.

Learn what you need to know to rahappy, healthy and well-balanced chdren no matter what life throws at yoAnd please invite friends and famwho might benefit from this class to

Sign-up during Coffee Fellowship oMay 16 and 23, to give us a headcoufor childcare. - Carrie Giorgiann

Marcus Borgreturns to StoneChurch in thefall as the nextHenrietta PerdueMemorial Lecturer.

His major talk on Friday night,Oct. 22, will be Speaking Christian:Redeeming Christian Language.Three lectures on Saturday, Oct. 23,

will expand and explore this topin detail, specifically (1) reclaiminChristian language from literalism(2) moving from Christian convetion to intention and practice, an(3) moving from cultural convention alternative values and community.

Detailed information on thlectures will be available in futuissues ofThe Stone News. - Pat Mag

Dawn Predium on Raising Resilient Children

Marcus Borg on Redeeming Christian Languag
http://www.sanjosepby.org/http://www.sanjosepby.org/


6/8

At its regular April 20 meeting, Ses-sion was read an email from Valley Med-ical Hospital Auxiliary, giving heartfeltthanks for prayer shawls received fromthe women of Stone Church.

Ken Henry shared with Session state-ments about pastoral care from theDirectory for Worship of the Bookof Order. The Christian communityoffers pastoral care to its members intheir personal and communal life ...

All Christians are called to care for oneanother in daily living ... This care isprimarily offered as the community offaith worships together. It is also pro-vided as people interact in community... The church offers pastoral care topeople in the special needs and crises

of their lives. Ken noted that MargePalmer carries a significant portion ofthe pastoral care of this congregation.

Session acted to form an exploratoryteam regarding the use of Stone Church

for emergency response with respect toitself and the community. Session alsoapproved the wording of a call for acontractor to write a comprehensivemanual of operations for the church. After considerable conversation

about the Christian Education needsof the church, and the importance ofnurturing the next generation, Sessionapproved adding $1,000 to the 2010CE budget, noting that these needsshould be considered in the 2011 bud-geting process. Comments included

the need for Session to consider tbudget as a planning, priority-settdocument, not just a set of number

David Jaffer reported on the auof Stones finances, with thanks to

Audit Team: Ida Raby, Carolyn Cldenning, Mel Goertz, John Ritchie aBill Lakatos.

Session learned that a computer been donated to the church office the use of the treasurer and financsecretary. - Alice Thorn, Clerk of Sess

THE STONE NEWS, PAGE 6

Session Discusses Pastoral Care, Emergency Response, CE Budget

After removal of several trees in thebackyard, plus moving stones and tiles toa new space, we are ready to continue our

backyard improvement.On May 8, from 9 am

to 3 pm, the Buildingsand Grounds Commit-tee will supervise the nextstage of our backyardplan pruning walnuttree branches, removingredwood tree shoots andhedges surrounding the

lawn, yearly outdoor spraying for termitesat Lincoln House and the church, andremoving other debris from the backyard.

Backyard renovation plans introducedlast year continue at a deliberately slowpace. Thus far, volunteers have assisted inall work. Soon, however, we will need tobreak up the asphalt and cement in thebackyard, relocate the shed, and removethe old sprinkler system. Heavy-duty jackhammers, as well as a dumpster, will beneeded. If you know of anyone with thistype of equipment who might loan it tous, please let Steve Nelson know. At the

workday on July 24, well complete the nextstage in the backyard renovation.We appreciate the continuing support

from the congregation and friends as wecomplete our re-design of the backyard.Please continue to volunteer ideas, timeand talents to this initiative.

Contact Steve Nelson for more information.

Church Workday onMay 8 for the Backyard Have you ever had a great idea

that needs some follow up, yetsomehow just doesnt get com-pleted? Many of us have the desireto include Stone Church in ourestate planning, but somehow,we dont seem to get around to

making it happen.Perhaps we think we need more

information and a chance to dis-cuss the process. We tell ourselveswell do it next year, or down theroad a bit.

It may surprise you to learn thatit is individuals ages 40-50, fol-lowed by individuals ages 50-60,who have the highest frequencyof bequests to charity.

If you are among those who want to find out more aboutthe process of planned giving toStone Church, youll be glad tolearn of an upcoming opportu-nity. Please join us in the Fire-

side Room, on June 13, at th11:15 am Adult Education time

where youll hear brief commentfrom members who have alreadmade gifts or bequests to Stone

Learn more about how establishing a bequest allows you t

maintain total control of youassets during your lifetime, yeact on your wish to give back anleave a lasting legacy.A bequest can be added to a

existing will/trust, or included ina new one. It provides the meanto make a bigger impact thayou might be able to accomplisduring your lifetime.

Come hear how others at Stonhave followed through on a greaidea. Join those who are enjoyin

the satisfaction of knowing thathe programs at Stone that theadmire can be continued intthe future. - Kathie Lloyd

Planned Giving Presentation, June 13

Plan to join your church family onSunday, May 23, from 11 am to 1 pmfor a potluck lunch on the churchpatio, sponsored by the Fellowship &Renewal Committee.

Just bring your favorite salad, andwell provide drinks and more.Fellowship & Renewal would also

like to remind you to mark on yourcalendar the Family Camping Trip to Big Basin, Aug. 13 - 15.

Salads of Summer Potluck, May 23

Important Notice from theBudget & Finance Committee:

Church-issued checks that remainuncashed after 90 days will be void


7/8

THE STONE NEWS, PAGE

WonderfulPhotos

from theRecent

FamilyPasta

Dinner


8/8THE STONE NEWS, PAGE 8

The Stone Church of Willow GlenPresbyterian Church (USA)

1937 Lincoln Avenue(corner of Clark Way & Lincoln)San Jos, CA 95125-3499www.stonechurch.org

Church Ofce:phone: 408-269-1593

fax: 408-269-8412

Rev. Dr. Ken Henry, PastorClaudia Hoagland, Ofce Manager

The Stone News Staff:

June Tablak, Editor Emeritus,Church Mouse

Emily Moak Meacham, EditorRhonda Lakatos, Pat Magee,Jody Meacham, Fred Oliver,Lizanne Oliver: Assistant Editors

Sylvia Snyder, Chief PhotographerMary Jo Blazek, Dale Bracey,

Claudia Hamm, Katie Henry,Bill Lytle, Dan Raby, Dan Willis,

Additional Photos

With this issue ofThe Stone News, wepresent a new column focused on stayingin touch with our college-age Stone Churchfamily. If you are a college kid, or knowof one, please send news or email addressesto the Editor ofThe Stone News.

From Dan Willis: Im majoring in

Environmental Economics and Policyand minoring in Conservation andResource Studies [at UC Berkeley],and I work as an intramural basketballreferee and as the student safety coordi-nator for intramural sports. I am plan-ning to study abroad in South Americain the spring of 2011 and am currentlylooking for a summer job, hopefullyin San Jos. I spent my spring breakin Yosemite with my girlfriend and agroup of friends from school 12 of usstayed in a yurt outside the park thatwas made for 6 a great time!

From Rachel Buckley: I miss StoneChurch! School is going really well. Iam a sophomore at Willamette Uni-versity in Salem, Oregon, and I loveit. I am a Politics Major with a Minor,and possibly soon to become anotherMajor, in Spanish.

I am a Community Service LearningCoordinator this year, which basicallymeans I help organize awareness eventsand community service opportunitiesfor our students.

Over spring break, I went on an alter-native spring break trip to Portland, where we learned about the issuesfacing LGBTQ youth experiencinghomelessness.

I am going to Quito, Ecuador, thiscoming fall to study Spanish and Poli-tics. I will get to live with a family thereand study at the University.

From Janna Minehart: The mostinteresting thing Ill be doing is a two-

week trip to India with a school group.Were going all around India, meetingdignitaries and seeing the sights.

Its finally becoming springtime hereat Colgate, so Im just trying to enjoythe weather in between my study ses-sions and classes!

From Katie Henry (see also herarticle on page 1): Thank you so muchfor including me in youth participationwith the church.

I know that I havent been at Stonevery much, but I want to try to stayconnected and participate as muchas I can.

I have a really busy quarter thSpring trying to balance school anextra-curricular activities. Im stickiwith my Communication Major aalso pursing a Spanish and PoliticScience Minor. I play for the Cal Po

womens lacrosse team, and were heaing to finals in two weeks, so that wbe exciting. I also sing in an a cappegroup called Show Me Dynamics awork for Events Staff on campus.

This quarter, Ive also taken oan internship with CASA (Cou Appointed Special Advocates) abused and neglected children. I wato work in establishing restorative jtice in the juvenile court system, so this one of the first steps in getting inthat field.

College Conundrums

The Presbyterian Women ofStone Church announce their15th year of college scholarshipsand other grants under theRuby M. Hudspeth Trust.July 15 is the deadline for

Stone Church youth apply-ing for college scholarships. Astudent may receive this assis-tance for up to four years. Tofind out more about assistancefor undergraduate students,

please get an application fromthe PW mailbox in the churchoffice.Also, throughout the year,

PW considers applicationsfrom individuals needing fundsfor training or educational pro-grams, retreats, conferences,etc., and also from groups inand outside of the church.Applications for these typesof aid are also available in thePW mailbox. - Sue Williams

Hudspeth TrustPW Scholarships

Lyn Johnson, Claudia Hamm and JeanetteRapp invite you to a reprise of the GalaOpening of the Patricia Mussell Collection

of paintings thatgrace the wallsof the ChurchOffice in theLincoln House.

This event willtake place Sunday,May 9, from

11 am until noon, in the Church Library of the

Lincoln House. Refreshments will be served.The collection of eight paintings wasgiven to Stone Church in the 1980s. PatriciaMussell painted several and collected othersfrom fellow artists and teachers.

Since the original Gala Opening lastNovember, two new paintings fromBarbara Gleichman and Vivian Shimmon have been added to the collection.As you enjoy the artwork, youll have a chance

to learn about the artists and the conservation ofthe paintings; how to support continued conser-vation; and how to care for your own fine art.

Gala Re-Opening ofStones Art Collection

Dan Willis and friends at Yosemite
http://www.stonechurch.org/http://www.stonechurch.org/

may 2010 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

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