CHURCH EVENTS

The Spire

The SPIRE is the monthly newsletter of First Baptist Church of Palo Alto.

May Issue of The Spire (pdf)

If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the Spire, you may either pick one up at the church or ask Oleta to mail you one. If you would like to be added to the list of those who regularly receive their SPIRE by mail, please submit your request to Oleta, including your name and current mailing address.

Please note that due to programming restraints and responsibilities, the submission deadline for the monthly SPIRE is the Friday BEFORE the last Friday of each month. Last minute materials will not be included. Thank you for your cooperation.

Deadline for June Spire is Friday, May 24.

office hours

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS:

• Tuesday-Friday, 1:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Church offices will be closed for Memorial Day holiday
on Monday, May 27.

ADULT spiritual formation

We hope you'll join us after our service of worship at 11:30 in the parlor for this time to share and learn together.

• May 19: “Sin Boldly,” the second session of a three week study of Cathleen Falsani’s book of the same title.   In this book Falsani explores the meaning and experience of grace through story and song, quotations and photos.  “Justice is getting what you deserve.  Mercy is not getting what you deserve.  And grace is getting what you absolutely don’t deserve.”
• May 26: “Sin Boldly,” the final session of a three week study of Cathleen Falsani’s book of the same title.
• June 2: Cathleen Falsani
  Join us on June 2 as we welcome author and religion journalist Cathleen Falsani. She will be with us in worship and following worship during the Adult Spiritual Formation hour. She is an award-winning religion journalist and the new Faith & Values columnist for the Orange County Register in Southern California. She is author of the critically acclaimed The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People, Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace, The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers, BELIEBER: Fame, Faith and the Heart of Justin Bieber, and the forthcoming Disquiet Time: A Devotional for Ordinary Skeptics (edited with co-author Jennifer Grant and published by Jericho Books, fall 2014.)

Faith Formation & Family Life:
Rev. Tripp Hudgins

March was full to o'er flowing with opportunities for fellowship and prayer (sometimes the two together). I hope you found a way to include yourself in the goings on in Lent. There was much to be enjoyed. The kids put together a little Passion play. Their were many, many prayer services with Covenant Presbyterian Church. We were a busy group of people! To that end, however, I'd love to hear from you. What's working for you in what we offer? What could be different? Send me an e-mail at tripp@anglobaptist.org. I would love to know what you would like to see happen here. I'd especially like to know what times of the week are best for you. Don't me shy! Send me a list!

Pastor Tripp

Read more on the Faith Formation & Family Life page.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY

Bible study will be at the home of Thelma Parodi, 543 South El Monte Avenue, Los Altos, Tuesdays at 10:30 AM. Let Pastor Rick know if you need a ride.

CHOIR REHEARSAL

The Choir has resumed its weekly rehearsals Thursdays at 7:30 PM in the Parlor. Come join us in joyful song!

NO CHOIR REHEARSAL the next two weeks.
We will resume on Thursday, May 23

upcoming church meetings

• Church Council, Thursday, May 23, 1:30 PM in the Parlor.

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Every first and third Wednesday, (May 15) 8:00 am, at Hobee’s Restaurant, 4224 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. All the men from our church family are welcome.

WOMEN'S BRUNCH

The Women's Brunch meets on May 30 at 10 AM. All women of our church community are invited. Note a new location! Please join us at Country Gourmet Restaurant, corner of Fremont and Mary Avenue in Sunnyvale. Call the church if you need a ride.

fire at innvision

INNVISION SHELTER NETWORK recently experienced a devastating fire at one of the family shelters, displacing 50 homeless women and children. Thankfully none of the residents or staff were hurt, but over 50% of the facility suffered significant damage. They are asking for your financial support to help the fire victims and aid in our recovery. Your gift will aid the families affected by the fire and the staff working to support them while the shelter is renovated. While our insurance will cover most of the construction costs, donations are need to cover emergency supplies, clinical services, specialized staff, bus passes, food, and other unfunded expenses. More information in the church office or entryway. Donations may be made to the church marked for InnVision fire relief.

may mission offering:
Baptist peace Fellowship

The special mission offering for May is our annual offering for the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America. We are one of the original congregational partners of BPFNA, generously supporting their important work over the years. The mission of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America is to gather, equip and mobilize Baptists to build a culture of peace rooted in justice.

As the largest network of Baptist peacemakers in the world, BPFNA celebrates and supports the peacemaking work done by Baptist churches in Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico by raising the visibility of these efforts; bringing peacemakers together in regional and international gatherings; and providing resources, speakers and training to our members. BPFNA also actively connects with peacemakers from other traditions, faith‐based and secular, to build alliances and work together toward our common goal of a more just and peaceful world.

Copies of BPFNA’s award winning magazine, Baptist Peacemaker, along with other literature, information on this summer’s “Peace Camp” and a brochure for individual membership is available in the church entry way or from the office. For further information, see the website at bpfna.org.

Please give generously.
To date we have given $141 toward our goal of $500.

april mission offering:
ABSW scholarships

Our goal of $750 for the April Mission Offering for scholarships at ABSW will be matched by the ABC Home Mission Society up to $750. We encourage you to give generously and continue the long-standing support to students by First Baptist Church, Palo Alto.

To date we have received $947 toward our goal of $750.

SENIOR CHAT

More and more, the senior chats are appealing to people of all ages. We have subjects which are of interest to everyone, whether a senior or not. Our ecumenical gatherings each month are creating friendships across denominational lines, which is so important, as Christians are pulling together to bring about God's reign. We meet on the second and fourth Fridays at 10:00 in the Fireside Room of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Please join us ‐ no RSVP is necessary.

• Friday, May 10, 10:00 AM: Physical Issues of Aging
  With physical therapist, Janis Thomas, an in-home therapist working with Kaiser. Jan will give us some information about how diet, exercise, and fluid intake affect urinary incontinence, daily endurance level, and mood. We will all learn something helpful.

For information call Rev. Dona Smith-Powers, Coordinator,
650-494- 3093.

From EHP (Ecumenical Housing Project)

Dear Faith Communities, blessings on this sunny day! Below is a list of emergency needs for our appointment closet at EHP. As you may know, our volunteers take several appointments per day with EHP clients to provide clothing, footwear, house wares, and linens.

The appointment closet is almost out of, or totally out of the following items:

• Linens
  Queen Sheet sets Queen/Full/King blankets
• Toddler Clothing
  Girls - all clothing sizes 2x - 6x
• Youth Clothing
  Girls and Boys - pants sizes 7-14
  especially boys size 7
• Men's Clothing
  Jeans - all sizes (especially 34, 36, 38)
  Shirts - long sleeve and short sleeve sizes 2x, 3x
• Shoes
  Children’s sizes 1-13.5 Any
  and all sizes of tennis shoe

Although these are our emergency needs, any and all contributions are welcome. As you do your spring cleaning and closet purging, please keep EHP in mind! We take new and gently used items.

Donations may be left at our collection center outside Pastor Rick’s office.

neighborhood news

An Opportunity sent to us by Old Palo Alto Neighborhood Association (OPANA) urges everyone to sign up on the Santa Clara County AlertSCC system with cell phone numbers, e-mail addresses as well as any unlisted land line numbers. The AlertSCC provides local and regional law enforcement and safety personnel the capability to notify the public of an emergency or other event. It uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology for cell and landlines, as well as email and text messages.

Register your cell phone at www.AlertSCC.com. Charles Cullen, Technical Services Director Palo Alto Police Department 275 Forest Ave , Palo Alto, CA 94301 Ph: 650-329-2331 Cell: 650-743-9943

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS

Check the latest news updates from our wider American Baptist family at the ABC/USA website.

The American Baptist Biennial is being called the 2013 Mission Summit/Biennial and will be held on June 21-23 in Overland Park, near Kansas City. A new registration policy will make it easier for individuals to attend. Churches are invited to register based on average worship attendance and once a church has registered, an unlimited number of members from that church may register to attend at a reduced rate. For information about the 2013 Mission Summit/ Biennial, see the web site at www.americanbaptists2013.org.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS UNITED AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE
The American Baptist Home Mission Society (ABHMS) continued its gun control advocacy as they joined other faith-based organizations in a press conference in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, the event marked release of a letter to President Obama and Congress signed by 47 religious leaders, including ABHMS Executive Director Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III. Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence is a coalition of denominations and faith-based organizations united to confront America’s gun violence epidemic and to rally support for policies that reduce death and injury from gunfire. Its formation announced on Martin Luther King Day 2011, the coalition has grown to 40 groups representing millions of Americans in faith communities across the United States. See a video by ABHMS Executive Director Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS ELSEWHERE

Summer Peace Conference

Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Summer Conference 2013
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" Hebrews 13:2
July 15-20, 2013 | Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

The word hospitality often brings to mind images of domestic tidiness but the gospel calls us to be radical in our welcome: to welcome the least of these as we would Christ; to seek the outcasts, the marginalized, the disempowered, the overlooked, the other; and to create community together. This year at summer conference you can look forward to exciting speakers and dynamic workshops that explore topics of hospitality, inclusion and justice. We look forward to sharing spirit-filled worship with hundreds of peacemakers as we look for ways to grow, support, and encourage each other. Participants of all ages will have opportunities for learning and for playing in community. We hope you will join us!

hospice volunteers needed

Have you received hope, comfort, and love at a time in your life when you have neede it most? Do you feel it's time to pass on to others the blessings you have received?

There are hospice patients in your area that would benefit greatly from your companionship and encouragement. As a VITAS volunteer you would be trained in how to work with hospice patients and their families. Your assignments would suit your schedule and your location.

Find out more about our amazing team of VITAS volunteers by calling Steve Maraccini at VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of SF Bay Area at 650-650-1835. www.VITAS.com

interfaith volunteers Needed

The Spiritual Care Service at Stanford Hospital and Clinics has a great need for Interfaith Volunteers to visit with patients and families. These volunteers will be given 8 training sessions – 5 classroom sessions and 3 mentoring sessions - each lasting 2 hours. Once training is complete, the volunteers should be willing and able to commit 2 hours a week for at least a year.

In addition there also volunteer opportunities in the No One Dies Alone Program and the Advanced Directive Preparedness Program. Please call (650) 723-5101 for an application. More information on the church bulletin board.

Peninsula Peace
and Justice Center

If you would like to know more about programs relating to peace and justice issues locally, you may sign for a mailing list at: ppjc@peaceandjustice.org.

Mission Prayer Call

You may join a mailing list to receive a weekly prayer call for missionaries which is available at: GlobalPrayerCall.

LIBRARY HOME CONNECTION

is a service of the Palo Alto City Library that provides a visit and delivery of materials to people who cannot get to the library because of an extended illness or long-term disability. The Library is seeking two things – individuals who could use this service, and individuals who would like to volunteer. For more information contact: Anita Delaney, Volunteer and Connection Coordinator, (650) 617-3100 ext. 3215 or anita.delaney@cityofpaloalto.org