Hi, Everybody. Happy Friday the 13th!
This Sunday, September 15, 2024, is the 17th Sunday after Pentecost and Fill the Food Barrel Sunday. The schedule is as usual except that there is an HTLC Council Meeting at noon in the Activity Room. As always, you are invited to voice your opinion (as long as you are on Zoom and on mute).
Next Sunday, September 22, There will be a Hospitality Meeting in the Activity Room after church to plan for upcoming events such as Oktoberfest and Trunk-or-Treat. Find out how you can help.
The first Jesus and Justice Collective event of the fall is a conversation on Wednesday evening, September 25, at 5 pm PDT with author and public theologian Curtis Chang about his new book, The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics. Hosted by The Flourish Collective’s Faith & Justice team, this event will be held on Zoom (to register, click here), with an in-person “watch party” at a home in Danville (to register click here). Curtis’s book reframes political identity away from specific political positions and toward a political identity reflective of one’s faith, outside of the partisan divide. Curtis will help us learn how to engage with others across political differences and how to build relationships with one another before moving into political discussion. (can’t we all just get along?)
Lots of stuff is coming up in October. Here’s the run-down (which is how you’ll feel after October):
October 6 is our annual Animal Blessing Sunday. Bring your toy stuffed animals to worship service to receive a blessing during Children’s Time. Then, join us on the patio at noon with your pets for a Blessing of the Live Animals – a short ceremony and blessing for those animal companions who give us so much (and I’m not talking about that hairball your cat thoughtfully left for you).
Save the date! Oktoberfest is planned for Saturday October 12 from 4 pm to 8 pm (less than a month away!). There’ll be Bavarian-inspired food and drink, kids’ activities, raffles, karaoke and fun! More details and sign-up sheets for attending and for helping out will be coming soon to a Media Table near you.
October 22 is Children’s Sabbath, when we celebrate children and renew our promise to help them. Some of our youth will be helping with the service. (if it’s called Children’s “Sabbath” – a day of rest – why are we asking them to work? A good question for discussion in Sunday School and Confirmation. You’re welcome!)
Reformation Sunday will be on October 29. This Sunday commemorates Martin Luther’s nailing of his 95 theses to a church door in 1517 Germany, sparking the Reformation movement (more on this another time). It’s one of the two Sundays of the year we get to use the red paraments and we ask people to also wear red to church (the other Sunday is the Day of Pentecost). The actual Reformation Day is traditionally on October 31. Speaking of witch which…
Trunk or Treat is coming up on Thursday, October 31 (Halloween), from 5:30 pm to 8 pm. Decorate your car (or a parking spot), dress up, and bring candy to hand out. Nachos and hot dogs will be available for a freewill offering. It’s a free, fun, safe way for kids to trick-or-treat! Watch for sign-ups in the upcoming weeks.
After that, we have All Saints Sunday, Thanksgiving/Christ the King Sunday, Advent 1, Advent 2, Advent 3 (Pageant?), Advent 4 (Sermon in Song?), Christmas Eve, and the Service of Poems and Carols. Then you may collapse.
– Keith
your friendly Parish Life Coordinator