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April 2001
From Nolan
New life
Dear Family in Christ,
I hope you are having a fruitful Lent. Daffodils, tulips and poppies
breaking through the ground, leaves bursting out, flowering trees and
lengthening days all point to the welcome presence of a new spring and the
promise that Easter is near.
Ann and I just returned from a week of continuing education. I needed
to take time out to prepare a curriculum for confirmation that focused on
discernment rather than catechism. Mission accomplished, I now have in
hand a six-week plan, for both adults and youth, which, I hope, will help
participants discover their unique ministry in response to the Baptismal
Covenant. As soon as I can find open calendar dates I will begin
scheduling the classes that will end before summer is fully upon us.
Catechism is still an important part of our preparation for our life in
Christ. Debbie Bishop has been working hard since last fall to put
together a catechism program for young people that will begin soon. The
Alpha Program, under the guidance of Susie Ferguson, is providing adults
with an excellent understanding of the basic teachings of Christianity. I
hope that this program will continue to grow in the years to come. The
only other piece that is missing is scheduling Inquirers Classes to teach
about the Episcopal Church in particular and I will be looking for time to
offer that before the Bishop's anticipated fall visitation.
I would love to have all of those who are confirmed or considering it
to participate in the discernment classes. And, when the Bishop next
visits we could have confirmations and reaffirmation of confirmation vows.
This approach is new, certainly to me, and to the best of my knowledge
most of the Episcopal Church.
May the remainder of this Lenten season help you prepare for an
incredible Easter celebration.
In Christ's love.
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Will you continue in the apostles' teaching
and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and,
whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons,
loving your neighbor as yourself?
Will you strive for justice and peace among
all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God's help.
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I have been put to death with Christ on his
cross, so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in
me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave his life for me.
Galatians 2: 19-20
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at The Episcopal Church in Almaden.
April 8 - Palm Sunday
10:10 a.m.: Walk through Holy Week.
April 12 - Maundy Thursday
6:30 p.m.: Dinner & Ministry of the Word _ Fellowship Hall.
7:15 p.m.: Holy Communion followed by Tenebrae - Sanctuary
April 13 - Good Friday
12 to 1 p.m.: Good Friday Service
2 to 3 p.m.: Silent meditation before the cross
April 15 - Easter Sunday
6:00 am: Sunrise Service, Mocking Bird Lane County Park
7:30 am: Feast of the Resurrection with organ
11:00 am: Feast of the Resurrection with choir and organ
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| Musical
Notes |
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Taizé Service schedule
Taizé services, which provide opportunity for peaceful prayer and
music in our candlelit sanctuary, will be held the 3rd Sunday of
alternating months at 7:00 p.m.:
May 20
July 15
September 16
November 18
Mark your calendar for rest of the year!
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Good Friday Music and Worship
featuring the Joint Venture Adult Choirs.
Friday, April 13 at 8:00 p.m. the adult choirs of AVUCC and ECA will
sing meditations on the seven last words of Christ, in A Service of
Darkness by Dale Wood. The music, sung in English, is hauntingly
powerful. The choirs will also sing beautiful music by Mozart and C. V.
Stanford. Guest organist Kyoko Kato will accompany. This will be an
opportunity for meditation and worship centered around the cross and
crucifixion of our Savior. Plan now to make this special service a part of
your Lenten/Easter journey.
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Organ Recital April 29
by Kvamme and Friends
Sunday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m., Margaret Kvamme will perform on our new
Phoenix organ, joined by trumpeter Karen Baccaro (principal trumpet, the
Women's Philharmonic and faculty, UC Santa Cruz) and Shirley Harned Kelley
(who has sung many roles with the San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego
Opera companies). Included will be works by Corelli, Mendelssohn, Vierne,
and the comedic King of Instruments for organ and narrator by William
Albright. This will truly be a concert for all ages and musical appetites.
Childcare will be provided; reception to follow. Suggested donation: $10
General, $5 students.
Thanks,
Margaret
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Illumined
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e-mail Prayer Group
Doesn't it seem sometimes like we spend our whole lives in front of the
computer monitor? Life could pass us by, and we wouldn't even know it
until we checked your homepage news summary. I have a suggestion to help
keep us connected during our crazy work week. Send me your name and e-mail
address, and any prayer request you would like to share within our
"on-line prayer group". I will put all e-mail prayer requests
into one message, and send that summary prayer request out to everyone on
the list.
This is a wonderful way to take only a few minutes out of all the
busy-ness of the day to pray for the needs of our community, in real time.
Again, just e-mail me your name and e-mail address.
- Ken Wratten
Phone: 223-7077
ken@kwratten.com
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| Joint
Venture |
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Sounding Good!
The audio system in the sanctuary has been rewired and improved.
Everyone can now be heard loud and clear throughout the sanctuary. A
special thanks goes to Ed Mueller, Kevin Haley, Tommy Haley, Andy
Kerr, Dennis Moran, and Terry Shoup. This remarkable team spent time
planning the new system and then spent considerable time on ladders to
make it happen. Kevin did the high-wiring act strapped into his mountain
climbing harness. This system has been underwritten by the Joint Venture
Council. Thanks to all for making it happen.
- Betsy Shoup
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Finally, brethren, whtever is true, whatever
is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything
worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
Phil. 4: 8
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Church Library
Our church library is useable again after a long season of neglect.
I've reorganized, labeled, discarded, straightened and, yes, even dusted;
and my hope is that the area is again welcoming for browsing and
borrowing. There is a sign-out sheet on the resource cart where you may
check out materials. Returns and donations may also be deposited there.
Now that I'm no longer working full-time, I have the time to make
available an inventory of the books and tapes in our library.
There are now lists of library holdings available on the small cart.
There is a list of adult books by category. And there is a separate list
for children's books. The books are arranged by author's last name under
the categories. Please take a list and become acquainted with our church
library. Notice that for each congregation there is a category and shelf
for books pertaining to the specific congregation. A new book just added
to the ECA shelf is A Brief History of the Episcopal Church
by Holmes.
During this time of year we will be featuring books about the season of
Lent and the celebration of Easter. Among the many titles we own by Henri
Nouwen is one called A Walk with Jesus: Stations of the Cross.
Displayed in the children's section is a new acquisition by Aileen Fisher
called The Story of Easter.
We have other exciting new donations in our library. Old Turtle
by Douglas Wood is a beautifully illustrated prize-winning picture book
about the impact of people on God's creation. In Circle of Days
watercolor collages celebrate nature and the seasons. A Child's Book
of Prayer in Art by Sister Wendy shows how looking at art can be a
way of discovering faith. A History of God by Karen
Armstrong describes the history of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This
is a book which cannot be read in a night or two, but was so fascinating
to so many people that it was on the bestseller list for months! Attitudes
of Gratitude by M. J. Ryan; Amazing Grace by
Kathleen Norris and The Best Christian Writing 2000 by
various authors are all books which do not need to be read cover to cover
by can be sampled as time or interest dictate. Reading just a few of the
positive meditations in Attitudes of Gratitude could make
one a little nicer to the world at large, I think! Kathleen Norris'
personal, but learned definitions of "prayer",
"belief", "silence, etc. I found interesting and thought
provoking. I read two essays in Best Christian Writing,
which I liked. "What Shall We Do With Mother?" discusses how we
treat our elderly citizens. Another essay deals with the faith of Abraham
Lincoln. It is called: "Abraham Lincoln and the Last Best Hope."
Last, but not least, we have a copy of the bestseller Tuesdays with
Morrie in which a famous sportswriter writes about the life and
death of his favorite teacher. Morrie's philosophy of life could be summed
up in the phrase "Love or perish"!
If you have any questions or comments about the library, please contact
me at 978-5477 or e-mail jjtthhoomm@worldnet.att.net. Also contact me if
you are interested in helping out in the library. I could use a helper or
two!
- Judy Thompson, AVUCC
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| Finance |
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We are running this letter again because in talking with some different
members at ECA we have found out that not everyone received this letter
and the 10 fish that was sent out last month to everyone.
If you didn't receive the letter with the 10 fish, please take the time
now to read the letter below, and then you may pick up you fish for the
remaining months in the narthex of the church.
If you accidentally tossed your fish and would like more, there are
some extra fish in the narthex of the church.
If you received your letter and the 10 fish but haven't put anything in
the fish bowl yet, don't worry you have 9 more months to do so. Please
fill out the fish and place it with your contribution in the fish bowl
anytime during the month.
If you received your letter and the 10 fish and have already placed
your March fish in the fish bowl - Thank You!!
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But whatever things were gain to me, those
things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I
count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord...
Phil 3:7-8
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Dear Fellow Members,
We have a minor problem and a major opportunity. The projected revenue
for 2001 is going to fall about $10,000 short of our 2001 Budget. The
problem is we might have to cut back several of our ministries. The
opportunity is to come up with a painless way to cover this shortfall.
ECA's theme for 2001 is centered around the word FISH so with that in
mind we have come up with a simple plan centered around a Fish Bowl. You
probably have seen one "floating" around the church in recent
weeks. Besides being in the Shape this letter has been mailed to each
family with 10 little paper fish enclosed, a fish for each remaining month
of this year. On each fish there is a month and place to write your name
and a dollar amount. The goal is to drop a fish and your contribution into
the fish bowl each month and by yearend we hopefully have covered our
shortfall.
We will be blessed with whatever you feel you can contribute. And if
you cannot contribute still put the fish in the fishbowl. At yearend we
will draw a name from the bowl and the winner will receive a very nice
prize. Your chances here are certainly better than with the State Lottery.
I think the Lord would approve of our plan.
Sincerely,
The Finance Committee
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| Prayer
Vine Corner |
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For we all with unveiled face beholding as in
a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image
from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Cor. 3:18
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Transformed by Grace
Did you know the Lord is in the business of transforming lives? That's
right. He wants to transform each one of us more and more into His
likeness during our lifetime. Only one problem, we must be willing to be
transformed? And that takes a little bit of effort. First, we must be open
to hear His beckoning or feel His nudging? Next, we must take that first
step as He calls and leads. Then, we must continue step by step with Him
in order to realize the plans He has for us. Exciting. Risky. Rewarding.
Are you up for a challenge? Why not try something for the next "40
days." (For Lent.) Let's pray daily for a transformation in our lives
and at Easter let's compare notes and see what happened.
For specific prayer requests of thanksgiving or needs, please call
Dorothy Willard @ 268-1212. Dorothy lovingly leads a group of ECA
parishioners devoted to intercessory prayer for you.
- Susie Ferguson
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April's Prayer
Soften my heart, Lord, that I might
recognize your spirit within me. Give me a desire to listen for your voice
and the courage to set forth as you lead me.
Amen.
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Happy
Birthday
and
Happy Anniversary
to those celebrating
in April |
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