KCC Notes and News for the week of October 10, 2016

Dear KCC Members and Friends,

Didn't we have a fine time last Sunday?  A beautiful fall day, a meaningful worship service, welcoming new friends to church, and a really special potluck.  We are so fortunate.  Jim's sermon was on gratitude, and this is a place that makes one grateful.  Thank you each and every one for what you bring to our community--this special place called Kenwood Community Church.

On the calendar-- 

TOMORROW, October 13, the Board of Deacons will meet at Dorothy Green's home at 11 a.m.

THIS SUNDAY, October 16, we will celebrate regular worship at 10:30 a.m.

Monday, October 17, Bible study will be held at Dorothy Green's home at 10 a.m.

Wednesday, October 19, Women of the World (WOW) will hold their first meeting of the 2016-2017 season.  Ladies, please join us at 9:30 a.m. at the church for a labyrinth walk at Westerbeke Ranch, followed by lunch back at the church.  

Sunday, October 23, we will celebrate regular worship at 10:30 a.m.  Charlie Ensley delivers the stewardship sermon: "Bountiful Blessings, Bountiful Giving."

Monday, October 24, Bible study will be held at Dorothy's home at 10 a.m.

Wednesday, October 26, the Board of Trustees will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 30, we will celebrate regular worship at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 6, is Communion Sunday and we will celebrate worship at 10:30 a.m.  This is also the day that Standard Time begins, so don't forget to set your clocks back!

Sunday, November 13, is Stewardship Sunday and we will celebrate worship at 10:30 a.m.  Our annual Harvest Luncheon will follow the service.  More details on this soon.

Saturday, December 3, 2-4 p.m. SAVE THE DATE for our annual Gingerbread Extravaganza.  More details to follow.


Birthdays--
Happy Birthday to our members and friends with birthdays coming up (or just past):

October 15 - Penny
October 15 - Brandon
October 19 - Janet
October 22 - Bob
October 26 - Pat
October 27 - Bruce


Other news of the church--
Please remember the following church members and friends in your prayers:

Jay 
Josie 
Ceal 
Donna
Bruce 
Mary Alice
Donna 
Donna 
Donna and family

A prayer for recovery from sickness:
Almighty and merciful God, you are the only source of health and healing; you alone can bring calmness and peace. Grant to us, your children, an awareness of your presence and a strong confidence in you. In our pain, our weariness, and our anxiety, surround us with your care, protect us by your loving might, and permit us once more to enjoy health and strength and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.


Happening now (or recently)--


From the Moderator
Well, I have some good news to share. For most of us of a certain age, we have not yet been totally sucked into the vacuum of social media, reaching out and responding to thousands with brief sound bites and surface emotions at the sacrifice of deep conversations and meaningful experiences. As Andrew Sullivan put it in New York Magazine recently, “By rapidly substituting virtual reality for reality, we are diminishing the scope of intimate interaction even as we multiply the numbers of people with whom we interact.” David Brooks adds, “At saturation level, social media reduces the amount of time people spend in uninterrupted solitude, the time when people can excavate and process their internal states.”

So, what to do if you are looking for both meaningful interaction and contemplative solitude? You know the answer already, right? Come to church, worship, and engage. There are very few institutions in our world today that offer both. We are blessed that we have each in abundance.

Gratefully,
Tim
​--
Timothy Dorman
Moderator


From the Pastor

Living Word

There is a Monday morning Bible study underway again.  This is the 5th time that members and friends have joined together for four sessions of study and reflection.  Interest seems to be high.  Two days ago 22 people attended.

"The Bible," one of our resource teachers says, "is the most important book in western civilization."  It has shaped the ethics and commonly held values of the western world more than any other book.  More copies have been sold than the next many books combined.

Our Monday Bible study group reaffirms a basic conviction: The Bible is a 'Living Word' and not a dead one.  It is not a collection of documents of interest only to those who study ancient history.  On the contrary, our Monday morning meetings demonstrate just how 'living' the Bible is.  

'Living Word' means, among other things, that the Bible wake us up, delights us, confounds us and irritates us.  When reading it, the stories jump off the page, demand our attention, bring a smile to our face, or, a scowl.   It demonstrates, often without us even knowing it, that we have just met a collection of 66 books filled with endless surprises, the message of Jesus, and life changing love. 

Our study and delight continues, as it has for centuries.

Bless you all,
Pastor Jim
--
Jim Fish
Pastor


Bible Study continues next week
The first four Mondays in October, at the Green's home, our next study opportunity will be led by Jim Fish.  This fifth in our Bible study series is titled "New Approaches to Discovering Jesus."  The motto of the group is: "There are no dumb questions!"  Please join us. Participants will be asked to bring a Bible.

Many of you cannot attend a weekday morning class.  Pastor Jim says he would be happy to teach this class twice every week -- Monday morning and another time in the week that works for you.  If you find four people or more who would like their own class, at a time and place when they can meet, please tell Dorothy Green or Pastor Jim.


A word on Stewardship
The theme for the 2017 Stewardship drive is "Bountiful Blessings, Bountiful Giving”.

When we look at our picturesque valley, our friendly village and our welcoming little church, we are indeed blessed with bountiful blessings. And we should remember that we must all participate in maintaining the fiscal heath for our little church.

To maintain our continued support and commitment, we will be kicking off our Stewardship Drive in October with Stewardship Moments on Sundays, a Stewardship sermon by Charlie Ensley on October 23, the Stewardship letter to all members the week of October 24 and, following the submission of our pledges, the Pledge Dedication and Luncheon on Sunday, November 13, 2016.  

Don Green, Chair
Stewardship Committee


Women of the World labyrinth walk on October 19
Our WOW meditative walk on the labyrinth at Westerbeke Ranch can give you the opportunity to reflect, look within, pray, give thanks, negotiate new behavior, explore your relationship with the Divine.   Ask a question, listen for guidance. Enter with an open heart and open mind.  Experience the experience. Breathe deeply. Release tensions, resentments, bad attitudes. Enjoy.  (Gleaned from "The Sacred Path Companion" by Lauren Artress at Grace Cathedral.)


Have a wonderful week, and we hope to see you in church soon.


Jim Fish
Pastor

Timothy Dorman
Moderator

Linda Salomon
Contributing Member

Cathy Valerga
Church Secretary