Number 9 SEPTEMBER 2011 Volume 19

Dear Friends at Foothill,

We were overjoyed to hear the news yesterday of the Church's vote and we accept whole-heartedly, sensing very much God's work in our lives and your lives as he brought us to-gether.

I am in the midst of informing Community Covenant of our departure, and we still need to discuss that date with the leadership here.

As I mentioned to several of you, pending the outcome of those discussions I should be able to start some time in mid-to late October, if that is acceptable to Foothill.

In the nex weeks I will be in touch as necessary, beginning transition planning with Tim and with the Executive Committee, and to continue conversations with Steve and Grace.

We owe the Search Team a hearty Thank You for all their hard work over the last many months!

Please keep us in your prayers as we begin the move over the hill, for our baby on the way, and for Community Covenant as they receive this news. We have been praying and con-tinue to pray for Foothill and our future together.

PeaceHans-Erik

Are you tired of Transition yet?

Change occurs long before transition is complete. Pastor Jim retired 18 months ago. That change was in motion prior to his departure by his alert of his retirement. The transition at Foothill gained momentum until Pastor Tim settled into the interim role. Foothill gained momentum with inviting Grace to come to the campus. In June, the interns arrived and the summer was a wild (interns were a bit crazy, just like we like them) delight. Investing in Sunday School, Worship, community ministries, youth ministries and inviting the neighbor-

Foothill Focus SEPTEMBER 2011 PAGE 2hood to a Wednesday evening summer long block party…and a real party it was…fantastic activites for kids and parents from 1st time soccer players to new friends and conversations. On the heels of a healthy summer came the Candidate week and the culmination of Hans-Erik Nelson being asked to be the next pastor of Foothill Covenant Church. We celebrate his saying 'yes' to God and to Foothill.

Now the change has happened but the transition enters a new phase of getting Hans-Erik here (mid to late October), getting to know each other, worshipping together, having some meetings, allowing the Nelsons to welcome their second child to the family (Christmas time), getting to know each other, worshipping together, having some meetings, settling in, getting to know one another, and then through all these steps a 'New Beginning' slowly be-gins to show up.

It still takes time to complete transition. It sure is nice to be at the part that we have looked forward to for a couple years.

Pastor Tim

Mark your calendar!

On Friday and Saturday, November 11 & 12, Foothill and Grace will be hosting a seminar entitled, “Unwrapping the Gift of Forgiveness.” Forgiveness Ministries will facilitate and pro-vide materials. It will be open to both the larger community of churches in the South Bay and your friends and neighbors. Cost: $25.00 per person or $40.00 per family. Contact the church office at info@foothillcov.org to reserve a slot. Information about Forgiveness Minis-tries is at http://www.forgivenessministries.com/pdshop/shop/ This two-day seminar will help us become communities of forgiveness rather than merely communities of the forgiven. So what is a "Community of Forgiveness?"

A community of forgiveness is a group of people who have come to embrace as a life-style the reality of God's forgiveness for all people in all relationships. A community of forgiveness can be a family, a small group or an entire church or other organization.

A community of forgiveness does more than just receive God's forgiveness. A com-munity of forgiveness also practices forgiving one another and asking each other for forgive-ness. They demonstrate forgiveness by loving each other and by loving their enemies. They demonstrate and proclaim the message of forgiveness enthusiastically to the world.

Foothill Focus SEPTEMBER 2011 PAGE 3 A community of forgiveness feels secure in God's love. They know that God sees in-comprehensible value in every person in spite of his or her sin. A community of forgiveness is filled with people drawing near to God without fear. There is no fear in love because fear involves punishment. They know that God will not punish someone for whom Jesus was al-ready punished. They know that God is safe and trustworthy.

A community of forgiveness is sensitive, empathetic and understanding. A community of forgiveness is quick to comfort and validate a wounded brother or sister. They are protec-tive of the weak and oppressed.

A community of forgiveness is bold and caring. A community of forgiveness is quick to lovingly confront an offending brother or sister with the goal of bringing about live-saving re-pentance and true reconciliation.

A community of forgiveness is honest. They are unafraid to deal with sins openly and honestly. They know that truth spoken in love is the only way to bring about healing and res-toration.

A community of forgiveness is inviting. A community of forgiveness is safe because eve-ryone is welcome and no one is condemned. A community of forgiveness is full of hope be-cause God can heal broken people. A community of forgiveness is exciting because it is filled with people who are becoming more and more like Jesus.

Your fellow recipient of His grace…  Brian Smith

A Tale of Two QuiltsThe Deaconesses are planning to make  a lap quilt for Marky Randall, one of our beloved members, is moving to Pacifica to be closer to family.We need your help in completing the quilt and are asking you to make a square (or more than one) Marky has been involved in the nursery, a two term deaconess , volunteering in the church office and in charge of the telephone Prayer Chain.

“In Stitches” is making the Anniversary Foothill Covenant Church Quilt. Please see insert for details.

Celebrating 50 Years of Church Life at FCCAs In Stitches plans for our celebration quilt, we'd like to encourage representation of a wide selection of the events and people who have made Foothill a place to celebrate. We've come up with a list of suggestions which should by no means limit your memories and creativity. It would be greatly appreciated if you would let us know of subjects you have chosen in order to avoid duplication. Defining dates would also be very helpful. We will try our best to make sure that all areas of church life are well represented. We hope this list will jog special memories for you.Please email or call Diane Detig ( dianedetig@yahoo.com, 650-625-9063) with the topic of your square. Happy stitching, painting, drawing, and printing!Church History Annual Eventso First Sanctuary ground breaking - June 30, 1963 o Harvest Festivalso Dedication of First Sanctuary - January 26, 1964 o Lucia celebrationso Covenant House purchased - 1966 o All-church picnics at Mission Springso Second Sanctuary ground breaking - 1976 o All-church retreats at Mission Springso Dedication of Second Sanctuary - May 8, 1977 o Christmas caring projecto Mortgage burning - o Children's Christmas programsMemories of Pastors o Easter breakfasts/bruncheso John & Miriam Notehelfer - 1962 - 1969 o Summer Day Camp/VBSo John & Nina Bergman - 1969 - 1981 o Mexicali Tripso Paul & Jean Siwek - 1982 - 1991 o Summer House Boatso Jim & Pam Gaderlund - 1992 - 2010 o Drama Presentations - Passion plays 1983, 1984

& 1987Worship Services Missionaries who have gone out from uso Themes: “Speaking the truth in love…”, etc. o Dale & Sara Lusk - Merge Ministrieso Communion o Andy & Emily Eatough - Wycliffeo Share and prayer time o Laura (Chew) & Raj Avera - Asiao Coffee fellowship time o Tom & Megan(Mihm) Langsdorf-AIM (Africa In

land Mission)o Baby dedications and baptisms o Kreig & Karen (Matthews) Ecklund - Mercy Shipso Adult baptisms o Ryan & Isabel Klint - Wycliffeo Children's sermon oLaurie (Danielson) Cornell-Pastor of PasdenaCov.Children's Ministries Youth Ministers/Associate Pastorso Nursery care o Paul & Caroline Carlsono Sunday school o Scott & Jean Oaso Iwana/Adventure Club o Steve Johnsono Youth ministries o Russ & Cindy BlakeActivities o John & Elizabeth (Pruitt) Johnsono Women's Bible Study & Prayer o Sean Cherryo Men's luncheons o Robert & Priscilla Kronbergo Men's Saturday breakfasts o Eric & Carol Newbergo Covenant Groups o Kurt & Tammy Notehelfero Saturday Work Days Music Ministryo Weddings o Barbara Tom & Church musicianso Memorial services o Worship teamso Confirmation o Choir Leaders - Evelyn, Duane, Cheryl & otheso CPC Showers and Walks o Accompanists - Hazel,Bonnie & Blakeo Prayer Chain o Special programs:Tenebrae service, Good Friday

Foothill Focus SEPTEMBER 2011 PAGE 5

Women's Bible StudyOur weekly Women's Bible Study will start again on Wednesday September 21 at 9:45 a.m. We are studying Ephesians. Be sure to mark your calendars.

Women's Lunch Bunch

We will be meeting next month on Thursday October 6 at 11:30 a.m. at the Country Gourmet in Sunnyvale. We look forward to lunching together. Please call Ona Avent (408-984-7625) for more information.

Stretch Yoga ClassWe will resume our weekly Stretch Yoga class on Wednesday September 21st at Noon. Call Kay Roberts (408-255-7817) for more information.

Men's LunchWe will be meeting on Thursday, October 6 at Noon. We'll be looking for you at Brian's Restaurant in Los Altos in the Rancho Shopping Center on Foothill and Magdalena. Please call Stan Ecklund at 650.967.7447 with any questions.

Men's BreakfastPlease join us on Saturday September 17 at 8:00 a.m. for our Men's Breakfast. The topic is planned to be interesting. A good breakfast and strong coffee will be served. Bring a friend, neighbor or coworker! Talk to Per Fernqvist or Stan Ecklund if you have any questions.

Foothill Focus SEPTEMBER 2011 PAGE 6

August answers to 'Getting to Know You' questions: Who is a fully 3rd generation Californian? Betty Norlander Who has a PhD from Cal tech? Stan Ecklund Who is a father of 6 and as 9 grandchildren? Del Herfurth Who proposed to her husband? (Hint: same answer as #1 above)

Part of a Larger FamilyKeep up to date on what God is doing in our larger church family. Visit the web sites for our Pacific Southwest Conference at www.pswc.org and for the Evangelical Covenant at www.covchurch.org. Each site has current news in churches and ministries around the Covenant. To have the news sent to you, sub-scribe to Newswire by going to the home page on the Covenant web site and look-ing for the link on the right side of the screen.

Mailed in Los Altos September 4, 2011

1555 Oak AvenueLos Altos, CA 94024650/967-7447website: www.foothillcov.org

The FOCUS is a monthly publication ofFOOTHILL COVENANT CHURCH.

Its purpose is to tell the story of our church family, motivate participa-tion, and help promote the spiritual growth of its readers.

We welcome your comments.SUNDAY SCHEDULE

10:30 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICETim Sandquist, Transition Pastor

Barbara Tom, AccompanistCarmen Collins, Office Secretary