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Save the Date!
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2/21 - 4/3/10: The Season of Lent
Sermon series: The Story
of God
Holy Week
3/28 - 4/3/10
3/28/10: Palm Sunday, 10:00 a.m.: Rev. Richard Corson preaching
4/1/10 6:30 p.m.: Holy (Maundy) Thursday
Supper
RSVP here
4/2/10 7:00 p.m.: Good Friday
Worship
4/3/10 7:00 p.m. - 7 a.m.: Holy
Saturday Vigil
Sign up here
4/4/10 Easter
7:00 a.m. Sunrise service and breakfast
10:00 a.m. Celebration!
4/11-5/22/10:
The Season of Easter
Sermon series & book study: A Conspiracy of Kindness
5/13-16/10: Annual Gathering of the Northern California Nevada
Conference of the UCC at Asilomar.
5/16/10: Ascension
Sunday
Nominations for Council and Officers
due
5/23/10: Pentecost
Sermon series begins: Servolution
6/6/10: Annual
Business Meeting
June-Sept: Pastor on
Sabbatical
9/19/10: Autumn begins
Series: Christianity for Grownups
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Campbell United Church of Christ
March 2010
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What makes Jesus followers different?
What distinguishes us in the world is not our habits -- our clothing or our eating. It's not our worldwide charitable activity (extensive) or the dimensions of our hope (eternal). At base, what distinguishes Jesus followers is our ongoing, passionate, fundamental experience of new life, and our faith in the One who makes that new life possible.
We believe that death precedes life -- not just bodily death, but the little and big deaths our souls face every day -- and that God can bring something amazing out of the worst the world can throw at us.
What makes our church different? We know that real life, new life, restored and resurrected life, emerges out of depth. Life comes from depth, and we are not afraid of the darkness. We know that Christ has been there, is there with us now, and will always lead us through the valley of death's shadow. Depth leads to life.
Nowhere in our tradition is the "depth that leads to life" more apparent than during Holy Week. During Holy Week, we companion Jesus as he faces the depths of human depravity in His betrayal and His death on a cross. During Holy Week, we travel with Him beyond the cross to the grave, where He confronts the depths of death and life as no one before or since. During those dark days, we allow our souls to go deep, to risk and to rest in His love and His humanity. And then we wait, somewhat patiently, for an outcome we know is coming: resurrection at Easter, for Jesus and for the whole world.
This year, for the first time, we're going all the way with Him. On the night after he was entombed, Jesus' women followers waited in the dark to anoint His body with the love and spices he had been denied. This year, on Holy Saturday, April 3, we will wait at the tomb with them in an overnight vigil.
I hope you join us for this and every night of this journey, and find the new life waiting for you.
Pastor Elane
P.S. Take a look at the articles below for other ways Christ is leading us into the depth that leads to life!
P.P.S. I will be going deeper into prayer in Taize, France, from March 18-29. See you Holy Week!
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 The Last Days of Jesus
Holy Week Events
Sunday, March 28 - Palm Sunday
Worship
Rev.
Richard Corson, preaching
Sanctuary,
10 a.m.
Thursday, April 1 - Holy
(Maundy) Thursday
The Supper
with Jesus: When God didn't pass over
Sanctuary,
6:30 p.m.
RSVP here, or call 408-378-4418.
Friday, April 2 - Good Friday
The
Way of the Cross: A
multimedia service of remembrance
Fireside
Room, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 3 - Holy
Saturday
Vigil
at His Tomb: An
overnight prayer vigil
Fireside
Room, 7 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Sign up here, or call 408-378-4418
Sunday, April 4 - Easter Sunday
Worship
"He
Is Not Here!": Sunrise worship
and breakfast
Fireside
Room, 7 a.m.
The
Story of God: New Creation: Easter Celebration!
Sanctuary,
10 a.m. |
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Church Council Stops Doing Business
Prayer and discernment now meeting focus
Some years ago, when we ditched Robert's Rules along with all the standing committees, Council began meeting twice a month. Once a month we met for prayer and study, learning from church experts and from Scripture. On the second Sunday of each month, we met for an official business meeting, with the discussion and voting and secularities associated with such things. This schedule worked, but it felt disjointed -- like once a month we were Oracle and once a month disciples. Plus, it tended to make us worry at details, when our charge is to build leaders, refine policy, and enable ministry.
We weren't modeling what we believed every church group should be: a deep community of Jesus followers living out his mission, grounded in prayer, fellowship, worship, study, action, and faith.
We weren't meeting the way we believe every church group should meet: drenched in the Holy Spirit, focused on following Jesus.
So in January we started living the story we speak. On the 2nd and 4th Sundays, from noon to 2, we meet as disciples for corporate prayer and reflection, considering the policy issues of the church from a deep sense of the Spirit. Most of the daily work of the church is already carried out by staff and the legal officers, under guidance by Council. Any details that must be considered by Council (usually for legal reasons) are distributed during a meeting, discussed over email (for a written record), and finalized or made official at a quarterly business meeting.
Since changing our method, our decisions have been more solidly grounded in faith, kindness, and hope. Our discussions, unrestrained by meeting time, have been more thorough and thoughtful. We have experienced healing of strained relationships, and an honesty we couldn't have predicted. What an amazing difference when God is the focus, rather than an occasional guest!
We welcome anyone who wants to attend these times of grace; bring your lunch and your Bible. If you're interested in the operational details of the church, our next quarterly business meeting is March 28 at noon.
Pastor Elane
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New Men's Covenant Groups
Seekers, sinners, and saints welcome!
Does the world tell you that you can't be a gay man and Christian at the same time?
Starting this month, Christian gay  men are coming together to talk about their lives, read Scripture,
and
support each other as gay men trying to live Christian lives in this world at this time. They meet the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Contact John Rodgers for more information.
Cocoa Connection is a group
of men of all ages who support each other in their spiritual journeys through
discussion, accountability and service. They meet one Monday a month.
Contact Rusty Winzenread or Ken Brown for more information. |
 News from the Women's Shelter
Our monthly dinner outreach to homeless women and their children
Valentine decorations of shiny, red heart garlands decorated the
dining room tables along with Valentine napkins.
The 20 women were treated to
heart shaped cookies while the 10 children enjoyed sugar-free, heart shaped
jello jigglers which Maureen Meyer had prepared. Decorated Valentine envelopes
for the children contained pencils, erasers, toothbrushes & Valentine cards
given by Linda Lucitt, Sharon Martin & Maureen.
Our dinner was special
as well. Mary Alice Edson, Linda Lucitt, Michaela Jenichen with classmate
Dustin Barbin & high schoolers Jimmy Hadley & Lauren Barrios provided
wonderful main courses. Bow tie pasta Kielbasa, Chile Rellenos complete with
chips & salsa, Meat Lasagna & Philly Cheese Steak Casserole were
served. Garlic bread was donated by Don Shortt, juices by Theresa Albers &
Gary Schapper prepared a spring greens salad.
In addition to our regular
monthly basket of small notions for the women, we distributed large containers
of fragrant shower gels & hand lotions given by Denise Spears, a new friend
of our congregation. Denise's daughter was married by Pastor Elane here at
Campbell UCC & she has has been reading with interest our monthly Shelter
Dinner reports. Denise & her husband attended worship recently &
brought many needed women's items that I shall be taking to the Shelter
throughout the year.
There is still room for your participation in March
& April-it's easy. Just contact me for more information or sign up on the
sheet in the foyer at the new Real Faith for
Real Life table.
Angie Jaggars
Shelter Dinner Coordinator
sicilyangel@yahoo.com
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Contact Us
Campbell United Church of Christ
400 W. Campbell Ave, Campbell, CA 95008
www.campbellucc.org
408.378.4418
Office open Tuesday and Thursday 11-1, 2-5; Saturday 9-2
Email church office
Pastor's office hours are Thursday noon-4 and by appt.
Email Pastor Elane
Provide website updates or broken links
Email webminister
Podcasts available on our website and through iTunes
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