FOOTHILL FOCUSNumber 1 JANUARY 2009 Volume 17Refresh, Refocus Back in November, I met with our Pastoral-Congregational Review team for our annual conversation. Among our subjects was the feeling that we need to refresh oursense of congregational vision by taking time to focus on our kingdom mission. A few years ago, we generated a great deal of energy thinking about our future as acongregation and taking specific steps to move towards that future. The biggest decision we made was to very deliberately focus on ministries outside our doors aimedat blessing people in the surrounding communities. We got involved with some existing programs like the mentoring and tutoring efforts in the MV-LA schools. We created some outreach events like the HUNT and our neighborhood BBQ as well as other one time events like Yvonne Olivier's birthday party. We highlighted and encouraged what we came to call 4th ministries done by individuals. We reallyopened ourselves up to our surrounding communities in substantial ways andadopted a mindset that honors God's kingdom work inside and outside our doors. A phrase that rose out of this time was "being God's agents of transformation in ourcommunities". However, as with any new activity that is carried out successfully, after a while the heightened energy needed to launch the activity becomes a balance energy that cansustain the activity. Some of the early emotion and focus can be lost. What I hope to do in January and February is refresh and refocus our commitmentto our mission by taking a fresh look at our core values: Worship, Connection, Training, Nurture, Multiplication, and Prayer (See the January sermon schedule).For some who are newer, it will be an introduction to the Foothill Covenant "bigpicture." It will be a chance for us all to come together in a time of fresh commitment to God's call on our life together. INDOOR PARKA couple of our young families live near a wonderful toddlers' park in Mountain View. During the summer they've spent many hours watching their kids play with other kids and engaging in conversation with other moms and dads. Now that the weather is cold and sometimes wet, a warm, dry gathering place is needed. That place is our nursery. Moms and their toddlers are invited to come to the Foothill Covenant nursery every Thursday morning from11 am to Noon just to hang around that play and talk. If you know of any young moms whowould like this kind of a shared play time, please invite them. If you have questions, talk toSarah Cerrona. SEMI-ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING You are invited to our Semi-Annual Congregational meeting on January 25th at 5:30 p.m. We'll do some reporting in of activities and finances. We'll tell some stories of what God hasbeen doing in our midst. Our major focus will be to review what we have done so far in thediscussions of our constitution and by-laws revisions. Plan on coming and being part of theconversation. CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL BY-LAWS had another installment on November 23 when the subject of the Ministry Teams was discussed. We got some valuable response and recommendations about various ministry teamquestions. Our next conversation will be on January 11th at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Come and give insights into Articles 5 & 6 - Standing committees and congregationalmeetings. JANUARY WORSHIP/PREACHING -For six weeks beginning on January 4th, we willbe taking a fresh look at our vision for ministry at FCC by working through the six core values that we adopted some time ago. The overarching theme will be “Transformed Lives -Inside and Out”. The main idea is our willingness to be God’s agents of transformation inour communities. Each week we'll look at a scripture that will help us think about how acore value affects that commitment Jan. 4 - Ps. 32 -"Transforming Lives through Worship" - Jim G. Jan. 11 - Eph. 4.16 -"Transforming Lives through Connection" - Jim G. Jan. 18 - Phil. 4.8-9 -"Transforming Lives through Training" - Jim G. Jan. 25 - 1 Cor. 14 -"Transforming Lives through Nurture" - Jim G. Thank you!Christmas Thanks! Many thanks to Mary Jane Lykke and her team for leading us in ourChristmas Caring Project. Again this year, the social workers were overwhelmed by yourgenerosity. See the lobby bulletin board for thank you's from one of the families and the social workers. And to Genesis small group who provided the core of the team which decorated the sanctuaryfor Advent and Christmas. And to Ona Avent who headed up a great team which put on our Christmas program on December 14th, "A Candle in the Window" And to our Deaconesses who organized and prepared a wonderful Santa Lucia smorgasbordon December 21st. And to Marilyn Smith on flute and Barbara Tom on keyboards who were the week-to-weekfoundation of much beautiful Advent and Christmas music. Women's Bible StudyWomen's Bible Study is on Wednesday mornings at 9:45 am. We are studying Hebrews this year, ably lead by Marian Ecklund and supported by Nancy Baldwinson. We hope we will see you on January 7 to start off the new year prayerfully. Women's Lunch BunchWe will not be meeting in January, but we'll look forward to seeing you at the Country Gourmet in Sunnyvale on February 5 at 11:30 am. Please call Ona Avent (408-984-7625) for more information. Stretch Yoga ClassWe continue our Stretch Yoga class on Wednesdays at Noon during the winter. Call Kay Roberts (408-255-7817) for more information. Men's Lunch We won't meet in January, but will resume on February. 5th. We'll be looking for you at Brian's Restaurant in Los Altos in the Rancho Shopping Center on Foothill and Magdalena. Please call Jim Gaderlund at 650.967.7447 with any questions. From our PastorPam and I want to thank everyone for your outpouring of love for us during the past fewmonths and particularly now at Christmas time. It was almost overwhelming to be caredfor in the way that you cared for us. We have appreciated the many cards and kindnessesthat you've sent. We share with you the good news that my last CT scan was clear and theeven better news that through his Son, Jesus Christ, God has given us eternal healing andwholeness. Jim Gaderlund + + + COVENANT WORLD RELIEF"Low overhead, thoughtful collaboration, and income from long-invested funds have enabled Covenant World Relief to distribute 95 cents of every dollar to the poorest of the poor. That overhead isfar less than many other organizations." CWR actually functions similar to our Foothill Covenant Love Offering. The funds it gives to needypeople are extended in Christ's name, as often as possible through local churches in the regions affected. Working with international partners who operate in areas served by CWR has helped to keep costslow and dollars to be used more effectively. We are blessed to be able to give $1,042 to Covenant World Relief this year. Thanks for your generosity. + + + Part of a Larger FamilyKeep 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. To have the news sent to you, subscribe to Newswire by going to the home page on the Covenant web site and looking for the link on the right side of the screen.
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