A New Fall

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We are beginning a new fall at Foothill Covenant which in many ways feels like a new era. Over the past dozen years, we've seen many of our FCC retirees move outof the South Bay. The move of Bruce and Shirley Pruitt to Sacramento early in thesummer had something of the feeling of a culmination of this movement. Their farewell was a great time of celebration and blessing of an earlier era at Foothill, but with the sense that God is opening up a new era here at Foothill.

This feeling has been reinforced by the arrival of more new young couples duringthe past few months. It is almost as if we are reliving the planting of Foothill in itsearliest years when young couples and young families were being gathered to formthe core of a brand new congregation on the corner of Oak and Truman.

We've been praying for new families with children over the past couple years. They are now gathering by moving into the neighborhood and by birth. It presentsa wonderful challenge --the raising of a growing team of teachers and caregivers tonurture these young lives. If you've been hoping and praying for a new generationof children, you're prayers have been answered. Now is the time to step forwardand volunteer to become part of this new team.

Additionally, a constitutional review committee has been appointed by the Executive Committee out of the conviction expressed at our June annual meeting that the organizational structure that worked forty-five years ago may not work today. You will be invited to participate in a number of ways in helping form a revised or newgoverning structure for our congregation. A first "congregational conversation" on Sunday, Sept. 16th at 7 p.m. will start the process. Please plan on joining us.

God is doing a new thing among us. Our prayer is that it not only be a change in our external look or feel, but at the same time he will be writing his words on our heartsand leading us to new and fresh roles in ministry.

Even as we continue to seek to be "agents of transformation in our community", we invite God to transform our lives in ways that will enable us to serve him in ourcommunity.

Baby Brown Shower

You are all invited to a Baby Shower for Brenda, Perry and Baby Brown on Sunday,September 9 at 6:00 pm in the Ark. This will be a family potluck and you can sign up today. See Nancy Baldwinson or Ona Avent for more information.

If you are interested in joining with others to purchase a larger gift, they are registered foronly these items at BabiesRUs in San Jose at 865 Blossom Hill Road on the corner of Blossom Hill & Santa Theresa. Or you can shop on line at www.toysrus.com, tab to 'babies r us'.

We look forward to seeing you - men, women and children! -at this fun exciting event.

 

 

CELEBRATE! Grace Community Covenant Church celebrates its 9th anniversary on Sunday, September 16th. You are invited to celebrate with them at their campus in Palo Alto at a 1 p.m.lunch. If you would like to attend, please call the Grace church office (650.813.1241) andsign up by September 9th.

SEPTEMBER WORSHIP/PREACHING -We will begin the fall with a series on Paul'sshort and winsome letter to Philemon. It's a beautiful call to forgiveness, vulnerability,transformation, and acceptance within the family of God.

Sept. 2 Philemon 1-7 -"You are a (hu)Man..." -Jim G Sept. 9 Philemon 8-16 -"But You Can Change..." -Jim G Sept. 16 Philemon 17-25 -"If You Have To..." -Jim G Sept. 23 Rev. Jeff Budd

 

 

 

VISION TO ACTION

What's happening on our vision teams. We've laid some foundations over the past yearthat we'll build on in the coming year. We are looking forward to reactivating two of ourthree existing vision teams. There continues to be a feeling that we are being transformedeven as we seek ways to be agents of transformation in our communities.

Hospitality Points: The leadership core of the team has realigned itself with Mark Lied-strand as the point person. They headed up a great 3rd annual Neighborhood BBQ. They willbe reassembling the whole team in early September to talk about future focus and future events.

Mentor/Tutors: You'll be hearing from Lyle Bickley in the next couple weeks about opportunities to mentor and tutor in our local schools. The whole team gathered in July to lookback over the past year and talk about what worked and what didn't. Lyle has passed alongthose comments to Partner for New Generations which has received them gratefully. If youthink you'd like to try mentoring of high school students, talk to Lyle Bickley. Additionally,if you'd like to tutor middle school students at Graham Middle School on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m., talk to Jim Gaderlund.

Fourth Ministries: If you, as an individual, are engaged in a ministry in the community,we'd like to tell your story. We've told some stories already, but we want to tell more. If you're willing to have your story written up, talk to Jim Gaderlund.

 

THANKS

Dear Foothill Covenant Church, Thank you so much for your generous support toward my internship in L.A. this coming fall! I am excited -- and nervous! -- to be challenged in new ways in my understanding of God and his love for the poor and oppressed. Thank you for helping me to make this journey possible! May God be blessing your community this summer and beyond. Sincerely, Jenny Johnson (daughter of Doug & Carolyn Johnson)

Dear Foothill Covenant Church, Thank you again for letting us use the facilities of Foothill Covenant Church for the French VBS Camp. We had a total of 45 children, that is 26 families including 9 new families. There was much joy and activities going on. We trust God to be at work in the French community of the bay area. Looking forward to keeping using FCC for our outreach to the French people. In His Service

Vallierie Duvillier