1. Art and Diseño

esbyterian
ess
710 Wilson Ave.,
P.O. Box 631,
Novato, CA 94948
Phone: 897-6152
Fax: 892-7691
www.PCNovato.org
KENT'S COMMENTS
The Christian faith
holds that God is one, and
that this one God is most
clearly seen and understood in the person of Jesus Christ, who is God’s
divine Word become flesh.
At the same time Jesus
clearly taught his followers
that our central ethical
challenge is to both love
God and our neighbors as
ourselves. That is a lofty
goal! This means as Christian we must balance our
concern for truth with an
ethic of kindness and love.
Charlie Hebdo.
fringe, and most religions
The third story was have extremists!
entitled “Debate grows
Second, though
within Islam on breaking
many people think the
from extremists.” It report- world’s religions have the
ed that Saudi Arabia’s top
same basic ethical teaching,
body of Muslim clerics
that is simply not true! A
quickly condemned the
case in point, there is a
above attack and said it
great deal of teaching in the
could have no acceptable
Quran in which Allah dejustification. However, just mands that Muslims engage
a few days later, a young
in violence to defend their
Saudi was whipped with 50 faith. If you examine the
lashes in the public square New Testament carefully
of the city of Jiddah, the
for any such clear teaching
first of 20 such weekly
endorsing the use of viorounds of lashes. He also
lence, you find none. Jesus,
A story on network received 10 years in prison along with the Apostles Pet.v. news within the past 2 from a Saudi Arabian court ter and Paul all rejected the
weeks caught my attention. for the crime of “insulting
use of violence. Sadly,
It was reported that a suiIslam” by criticizing promi- through the centuries some
cide bomber in a recent
nent Muslim clerics on his Christians have ignored
terrorist act was a young
blog!
such teaching (the Crugirl about 10 years of age!
I have a couple re- sades, the Spanish InquisiI was also struck by the
tion, Nazi Germany’s murflections about these sad
front section of the Sunday events. First, no world reli- der of 6 million Jews).
January 11 SF Chronicle. In gion is practiced
Our task as followthose 14 pages were 3 sto- “perfectly”. There is always
ers of Jesus is to love our
ries about terrorist acts
a gap between religious
neighbors whether they
committed by radical Mus- teaching (usually from
practice the Christian faith,
lims. One story came from scripture of some kind) and
Islam, another faith, or no
Lebanon, where in city of
religious practice by ordifaith at all. As Jesus taught
Tripoli (not Libya), a pair of nary believers. That is cerwe are also to pray for our
suicide bombers killed at
tainly true in the case of the enemies, and to reject violeast 7 people.
Christian faith! Think for a lence, especially when used
The second story
moment about the hateful by people who claim to be
was about thousands of
activities of the Westboro
those who are serving their
people who gathered in
Baptist Church of Topeka,
God.
Paris to show solidarity and KS, which are a denial of
sympathy with the murder Jesus’ gospel of love.
Your Friend in Christ,
of 17 staff members of the Therefore we can’t judge
satirical French weekly
any religion by its extremist Kent
February 2015
Inside this issue:
Amanda’s Corner
2
Christian Education
3
Programs & Fellowship
4
Missions
7
Misc.
7
Calendar
8
Submit ePresPress
contributions to
KaiLancaster@
Hotmail.com
No later than the 15th
of the previous month.
Page 2
AMANDA’S CORNER
A Lenten Thought and Devotional
Photo by Dave Bartruff
Lent is quickly upon us.
Yes we just celebrated
Christmas, ushered in the
New Year and will say
Happy Valentine’s Day
soon; and even with all
of those exciting events
in our lives in our Christian calendar the season
of Lent is drawing near.
Lent begins on Ash
Wednesday which is February 18th this year and
goes until Easter Sunday;
40 days minus Sundays.
Lent is a time where we
are invited to examine
our spiritual lives, our
relationships with God
and with one another
and to take inventory in
those things that are important for our spiritual
growth and faith. Lent
prompts reflection on
our lives and repentance
for our sins. It invites us
to go deeper in our spiritual journey and walk a
little closer to our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
While Advent is a season
of preparation for the
coming of Christ, Lent is a
season of repentance
and anticipation: repentance for the sin in our
lives and anticipation for
the Holy Week event. For
many, the Lenten tradition invites us to deny
ourselves some pleasure
so that we can make our
hearts open and ready
to receive God’s full
measure of grace and
mercy. Lent can also be
a time when we try to
once again the joy and
freedom we have in Christ
and to remember that the
things that often weigh us
down are worldly things
which are not life giving
things for the people of
God. I hope and pray that
you will consider taking
take on a new spiritual
practice to help us focus
our attention more on
Christ and our spiritual
growth. This year the
Lenten devotional will
be both practices in onebut with a twist. In each
daily reading I will invite
you to “give up” something like “guilt, doubt,
worry” and take on a
spiritual gift like
“freedom, love and
letting go.” The hope
for this study is for you
to begin to discover
this opportunity to grow
closer to Christ as we journey towards the cross and
Easter morning this Lenten
season.
Page 3
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Confirmation: 8th Graders-High School
We will be offering our
confirmation class once
again this coming spring.
It will be held once a
week from February to
May. We will meet on
Sunday afternoons from
4:30-6:00pm. Please contact Amanda if you have
a student who is interested in joining us this year.
We will have an Informational meeting on
February 8th with the
class beginning on February 22nd and ending on
May 10th (Mother’s Day)
when the students will
lead worship. If you have
any questions please contact Amanda. This is a
great way for students to
learn more about our
church, our church history and make decisions
about whether they wish
to become a member of
this particular congrega-
Youth Mission Used Book Sale
This summer our youth
will be going to the Dominican Republic for a
week long mission. To
help pay for the trip, the
kids will be holding a
used book sale. Our
goal is to sell 10,000
books! We are collecting
used books from all genres. Please box up your
books and either drop at
the Church Office, M-T,
9-4. 710 Wilson Ave,
Novato or email AssociatePastor@PCNovat
o.org for a pick up. If
you would like to support the mission,
please feel free to write
a check payable to
PCN and in the memo
section write 'youth
mission trip'.
Please forward to your
friends and family!
PRE-SALE EVENT –
first dibs at shopping!
$10 Entrance
Friday, March 6
6-9 p.m.
710 Wilson Ave, Novato
Free coffee
USED BOOK SALE
Saturday, March 7
9–3
710 Wilson Ave, Novato
Children
Power Hour
VBS Save the DATE!
Dates:
June 15-19th
nd
February 22
March 15th
April 19th
May 17th
Calling all adults and
youth. Plan on setting
aside June 16-20 to hang
out with kids from 4yrs5th grade. We need station leaders, crew leaders and more. Be on the
lookout in the next
couple of months
for more information on how you
can get involved.
Page 4
Attention Parents of All Seniors!!!
PCN wants to celebrate
with you and your graduating seniors (from high
school, college, masters
programs, etc.). Please
send a brief bio to Amanda with their name,
where they are graduating from, with what
degrees, any honors they
are receiving and where
they are heading in the
future. I need this information by May 1st so we
can include this in the June
PResPRess. We will celebrate our Seniors on Sunday morning May 10th at
both services so we hope
that you will mark your
calendar so we can give
them our congratulations.
Stop Hunger Now— Saturday, February 28th 1-3pm
Stop Hunger
Now is a program that
feeds the hungry. I have
participated in the program 5 times; my fifth
being last year with our
church while also participating in 30 Hour Famine. The cause is very
close to my heart and I
am pleased that we will
have another afternoon
to participate in this tangible way to help families
around the world.
The bags of dried
veggies, soy, and rice
with a vitamin flavor
packet feed up to 5 people and we will package
about 10,000 bags! That
means we have the opportunity to touch
50,000 lives. Often these
bags go to schools and
offer food to children
who would otherwise
not eat.
The process is
done in a simple assembly line style with different stations and tables.
We hope to have just as
many, or more, volunteers to make quick
work of the 10,000 bags!
As Jeff says, “Teamwork
doesn’t seem work when
it makes the dream
work.” Help the youth of
PCN make 50,000
dreams come true Saturday February 28th at 1pm
in Trevit Hall.
Sierra Mink
Page 5
PROGRAM & FELLOWSHIP
Congregational Dinner—Thank you!
Big Thank You to the
Flynn’s, Powell’s,
Winsor’s, Comb’s, Kinney’s and Revere’s for
once again hosting the
congregational dinner.
Thank you for making us
such a wonderful meal
and putting all that time
and energy into helping
our church family feel
like a wonderful community of friends.
Inquirer’s Class— Mar 12th at 7pm
Our next inquirer’s class
will be Thurs. March 12th
at 7pm. Come learn about
the church, it’s history,
how you can get involved
and how you can join.
Explorers
Feb. 22--Sunday Lunch at
noon at Tuscany Country
Grill, next to Wells Fargo,
1516 Grant, Novato. Please
rsvp to Marilyn and Rick Pfeffer at 897-1235 or email at
[email protected] by
Feb. 19. You can have separate checks. You all plan to
come to eat and enjoy the day.
Please RSVP to the
church by Tuesday March
10th so we can prepare
or cancel the class.
Page 6
5th Annual Easter Encounter
We will once again provide this opportunity during the week of Holy
Week for members of
our congregation and
greater community. The
Easter Encounter is designed for spiritual reflection and contemplation
as you walk through various scenes and moments
from Christ’s last week
on earth. Each scene has
a scripture reading and
some reflection or activity that helps you think
about and engage with
your faith in a deeper
way. Some activities
might be looking at a
painting or making a
palm frond cross, or
spending time answering
some poignant questions. Each scene is
different and allows the
learner to experience
their faith in a new way.
We hope that you will
carve out some time during Holy Week to go
through this encounter.
Easter Encounter Times: 5th Annual Easter Encounter
Sun March 29: 5:00-8:00pm
Mon March 30: 1-8pm
Tues March 31: 9-12 & 2-7 pm
Wed April 1: 1-5pm
Thurs April 2: 1-5pm
Good Friday April 18: 9am-2pm
Amanda is looking for
some folks to sit at a table for an hour or two
and welcome those who
are coming to the Encounter. All materials will
be provided for the
hosts. If you are available
during any of the times
that the Encounter is
open please contact
Amanda as soon as possible.
Palm Sunday Brunch
The Program and Fellowship Committee Invites YOU…
To join us on Sunday March 29th after both services for an all church brunch!
Sign up to Bring:
Heavenly Eggs
Fruit: mandarin oranges, grape bunches, &
strawberries
Sweet Breads or Pastries
Or sign up to help set up or clean up
Or contact- Amanda, Patty Bennett, or Michelle
Berlin
Signups begin after worship on March 1st!
Page 7
MISSIONS
Your mission committee wants to start the new year with thanks for all PCN has done through our community and
throughout the world this past year. Most recently, PCN enthusiastically participated in Marin Food Bank and
Novato Human Needs Center’s Holiday Share Program. We sent barrels full of food, trunks full of toys,
and numerous checks and cash for turkeys to support both organizations’ charitable efforts to the poor.
Also, in December, the Christmas Joy Offering was an unqualified success with $3,863.00 going from PCN to the
general assembly mission efforts. Your donations help support Christian leadership past, present, and future. Programs supported include pension supplements for PCUSA retirees, supplemental health care for current PCUSA
staff suffering catastrophic illness, and scholarships and expenses to Presbyterian supported Racial Ethnic Colleges
across the country.
Last, but not least, Novato Malaria Campaign 2014 from All Saints Lutheran Church has informed us that they have
now received just a little over $10,000 by year’s end. Each of the four African initiatives has received $2,500. As of
the end of the year, their balance is $744. They will make a final distribution shortly after the new year to the same
four initiatives, along with notice to them that the Novato Malaria Campaign 2014 is concluded. With gratitude,
please accept their thanks to everyone who has toiled through this Campaign. PCN has helped ASLC bring awareness to our community of a disease out in the wider world, and brought support, hope and financial help to four
Malaria initiatives.
MISC.
Higher Educational Assistance for Women
The Novato P.E.O. Chapter SS would like to publicize our low-interest loans/grants/scholarships for women who
have attended at least one year of college. There is no age limit. If you need assistance in obtaining your higher
educational degree, please go to peointernational.org; click on Helping Women Reach for the Stars; then click
Scholarships/information for students. Here, there is a complete chart on our projects and philanthropies.
There is also a Star Scholarship for high school senior girls ($2,500 based on merit). Please peruse this area and if
you think you qualify, Chapter SS of Novato is more than glad to assist you with the application. Please call either,
Lynn Wolff at 897-5731 or Nancy Gaines at 892-4191.
Job Opportunities
These are notices which are/will be posted on the kiosk in the Narthex. Please check out this resource if you are
interested.


Part Tine - Youth and Children Director - Healdsburg Community Church.
YWCA 50+ Employment Support Program for Women
February 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
Communion
Deacon’s Offering,
2-cents-a-meal offering
9:00 Adult Bible
Study
9:00 Contemporary
9:30 Kent’s Class
7:00 Kent’s Class
9:00 BSF Leaders
5:30 SEEkers
7:30am Stephen Ldrs
7:30am Men’s Group
9:30 BSF
10:00 Marian Stchrs
5:00 Mission
6:15 Worship
7:00 C.E
9:30 Women’s Bible
Study
2:00 Singles Coffee
Creekside
7:00 Choir
7—8:30 Missional
OFFICE CLOSED
Sun. School & Childcare
10:30 Traditional
4:30—8:00 Youth
Gps
8
9
10
11
12
13
9:00 Adult Bible
Study
9:00 Contemporary
9:30 Kent’s Class
7:00 Kent’s Class
9:00 BSF Leaders
5:30 SEEkers
7:30am Men’s Group
9:30 BSF
7:00 Deacon’s
9:30 Women’s Bible
Study
2:00 Singles Coffee
Creekside
7:00 Choir
7—8:30 Missional
OFFICE CLOSED
Sun. School & Childcare
10:30 Traditional
4:30—8:00 Youth Gps
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
9:00 Adult Bible
Study
9:00 Contemporary
Presidents Day
9:30 Women’s Bible
Study
2:00 Singles Coffee
Creekside
7:00 Choir
7—8:30 Missional
Happy Birthday
PCN
117 years today
9:30 NO Kent’s Class
7:00 NO Kent’s Class
Ash Wednesday
7:30am Men’s Group
8:00 Worship service
9:30 BSF
7:00 NO Bells
7:30 Worship service
OFFICE CLOSED
10:30 Traditional
1:30 Wrshp @
Creekwood
2:15 Wrshp @
Atria, Tam Crk
4:30—8:00 Youth Gps
9:00 BSF Leaders
5:30 SEEkers
7:00 Stephen
Supervision
Sun. School & Childcare
OFFICE CLOSED
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
9:00 Adult Bible
Study
9:00 Contemporary
9:30 Kent’s Class
7:00 Kent’s Class
9:00 BSF Leaders
1:00 PW Ruth Cr.
5:30 SEEkers
7:30am Men’s Group
9:30 BSF
6:00 PW Rachael Cr.
6:00 Session Dinner
6:30 Session meeting
7:00 Bells
9:30 Women’s Bible
Study
2:00 Singles Coffee
Creekside
7:00 Choir
7—8:30 Missional
OFFICE CLOSED
11:00 Presbyterian
Women joint meeting
& Luncheon
Sun. School & Childcare
10:30 Traditional
4:30—8:00 Youth Gps
30 Hour Famine
Stop Hunger Now!
Food packaging
1pm—3pm