FOOTHILL FOCUS

Number 1 JANUARY 2008 Volume 16

The Essentials of Discipline

With so many new and inexperienced parents in our congregation, we thought it would be an ideal time to offer some classes in parenting. And, as we did a couple of years ago, we will be offering these seminars to our community.

The series which will begin in late January or early February (date TBA) will be based on a curriculum developed by Focus on the Family aroundessentials of discipline. The main teacher is Dr. James Dobson who is a well-known and respected authority in parenting.

Videos of Dr. Dobson's practical teaching will be the core of each evening. Parents will then be involved in smaller group discussion lead by experienced parents from our congregation.

We'll be sending out over a thousand postcards to families with youngchildren within about a two mile radius of the church. Post card invitations will also be available for you to share with friends and neighbors.

The seminars are sponsored by our Community Connections team. You can still join the larger hospitality team for this event. Talk to Brenda Brown or Mark Liedstrand to find out where help is still needed.

JANUARY WORSHIP/PREACHING -Who was the baby born in Bethlehem? Light ofthe World, Lamb of God, Son of Man, master teacher? Matthew answers these questions inthe early chapters of his gospel with some of the first stories of Jesus' life. We will be looking at these stories during the season of Epiphany to find our own answers.

Jan. 6 - Matthew 2.13-23 - "Refugee Child" - Jim GJan. 13 - Matthew 3.13-16 - "Baptized Holy One" - Marian EJan. 20 - John 1.29-34 - "Lamb of God" - Jim G Jan. 27 - Matthew 4.12-23 - "Compelling Leader" - Jim G

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Pam and I would like to thank you for the many kindnesses that you have shown us during thisChristmas season. It's great to get cards and Christmas letters even from those who live close and inwhose lives we're very involved. Also, many thanks for your prayers and concern during recoveryfrom eye surgery. Your goodness to us is always encouraging.

Jim & Pam Gaderlund

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A special thanks to the Mary Jane Lykke and her team for leading usin our most recent Christmas Caring Project. The social workers who received the gifts, food, and household items were again overwhelmedby your generosity and we've already received some word back from ourfamilies at how special their Christmases were because of your gifts.

Thanks also to the Genesis small group for their work in creating abeautiful sanctuary for our Advent and Christmas services.

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Sympathy Another one of our Foothill friends has gone to be with the Lord.Agnes Stockhaus passed away on Sunday December 2, 2007. You can send a card to her husband, Harold, at:

Harold Stockhaus, The Samarkand 2550 Treasure Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93105-1892

"Islam and Us"

Rev. Nerses Balabanian, pastor of Calvary Armenian Congregational Church in San Francisco, grew up in the Middle East and recently ministered for twenty years in Lebanon. Outof his experience, he will share with the Men's Breakfast on Saturday, January 19th, his insights into the relationship between Islam and Christianity. Come at 8 a.m. to the Fireside Room to gain a better understanding of this increasingly important subject and to share agood breakfast and fellowship.

Sallman's Head of Christ

Many are familiar with a brown-toned portrait of Christ that was popular in the 40's, 50's, and60's. It appeared in Bibles, on prayer card/calendars, and in many homes. It was originallypainted by Warner Sallman, a Chicago Covenanter, as a cover for the Covenant Companionmagazine. It became the most popular portrayal of Christ in the world for a time. Recently anexhibition of Sallman's work was organized for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Center atWheaton College, IL. A local PBS station did a short video about the exhibit. You can see it online by going to http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=28,7,6. Pastor Jim also has a recent biography of Warner Sallman if you are interested in reading more about him.

Help One Child

Are you interested in becoming a licensed foster parent and/or adopting a child from SantaClara County or providing respite for those who do? Peninsula Bible Church Palo Alto ishosting the Santa Clara County PRIDE training. This is a unique opportunity to attend classesconveniently located in your area. Classes will be held every Tuesday from 6-9 PM startingJanuary 15 through March 18 at Peninsula Bible Church, 3505 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto.To register for PRIDE, call (408) 299-KIDS. Low-cost childcare can be reserved in advanceby calling Help One Child at (888) KID-HOPE.

Women's Bible Study

Class continues on Wednesday mornings at 9:45 am in the Fireside Room. Marian Ecklund will be leading us through the Book of Joshua. Her lessons are always challenging and class is a lot of fun. We'll see you

January 9, 2008.

Women's Lunch Bunch

We usually meet at the Country Gourmet in Sunnyvale for lunch on the first Thursday of each month, but we will NOT be meeting on January 3rd as so many of us will be gone for the holidays. Please call Ona Avent (408-984-7625) for more information.

Stretch Yoga Class

We continue our Stretch Yoga class on Wednesdays at Noon during the winter. Please join us on January 9th and thereafter. Call Kay Roberts (408-255-7817) for more information.

Men's Breakfast

Men's Breakfast: Come on January 19th at 8:00 a.m. to the Fireside Room. Rev. Nerses Balabanian, pastor of Calvary Armenian Congregational Church in San Francisco, will be sharing with us. There will be a hearty breakfast and good fellowship. Don't miss it.

Per, Doug, Lyle and Stan

Men's Lunch

Men of Foothill, please join us for lunch and informal conversation on Thursday, January 3 at Noon at Dinah's in Palo Alto. Please call Jim Gaderlund at 650.967.7447 with any questions.

MISSION SPRINGS Winter/Spring 2008 CAMP/RETREAT BROCHURES ARE AVAILABLE!

Find out what's going on this summer at Mission Springs for children and youth at FrontierRanch and Wild Oak and for families. You'll get your questions answered and find registration information and forms. The brochures are available in the lobby and office.

MISSION SPRINGS Camps & Retreats

Mothers & Daughters February 8-10, 200850 Plus March 9-12, 2008 Men's Conference March 8-30, 2008 Dads & Daughters Weekend April 25-27, 2008

Detailed brochures and registrations information are available online at www.missionsprings.com.

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the feast

You are invited to a multi-ethnic, intergenerational, spiritual life conference for the entireCovenant family. It's The Feast! There will be great speakers, worship, seminars, and recreation for all ages. It will be held at Green Lake Conference Center in central Wisconsin. June21-24, 2008. See the lobby table for registration brochures.

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Part of a Larger Family

Keep 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. Or to have news sent to you, subscribe to Newswire by going to the home page on theCovenant web site and look for the link on the right side of the screen.