CHURCH EVENTS

The Spire

September 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.

office hours

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS:

• Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Church office CLOSED Monday, September 6 for Labor Day Holiday

To All Church Volunteers, Activists, Staff and Contractors

Your salary for services to the church or reimbursement for purchases made on behalf of the church can now be automatically deposited to your personal checking account via Direct Pay through Wells Fargo Bank in lieu of a traditional paper check. If you wish to enroll in the Direct Deposit option, please pick up a Direct Deposit Authorization form from the church outer office or download one from the Wells Fargo website and return the completed form along with a voided blank check or photo copy of check marked “Voided” to the Treasurer’s cubby.

ADULT FORUM

Adult Forum meets in the Parlor on Sundays after worship.

We're in recess during the months of June, July and August. Be sure to check our listing again in the fall.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY

Our First Baptist Church Tuesday Bible Study is changing times. As of now it will be on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 am in the church parlor. Anyone interested in studying the lectionary texts for the following Sunday is welcome to attend.

CHOIR REHEARSAL

Choir rehearsals will begin on Thursday, September 16 at 7:30 pm in the parlor. Jan looks forward to welcoming back our dedicated group and maybe seeing some new faces.

SENIOR CHAT

TIle Senior Chat is back on the scene in September. We invite people of all ages to enjoy the great presenters who will be coming to share with us. No RSVP is necessary and we meet in the Fireside Room at 10:00 am on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. We have light refreshments, light exercise and a light "thought for the day" before the presenter. Join us and bring your friends.

Senior Chat meets twice a month at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 670 E. Meadow Drive, in the Fireside Room. Sessions are from 10:00- 11:30 am every second and fourth Fridays of the month. We welcome newcomers to our friendly gathering and always have light refreshments and light exercises in addition to excellent presentations.

• September 10: Stroke Prevention
  Our speaker, JJ Baumann, RN, currently works with the Stanford Stroke Center and has had experience with working with stroke victims as an EMT firefighter. JJ will give us prevention information as well as what k> do if we think we are experiencing a stroke. The latest research on diminishing the effects of stroke will be shared.
• September 24: Keeping Your Brain in Tip Top Shape
  Secrets to achieving this will be shared by Judith London, psychologist at Stanford Research Center. She recently presented at our Chat on her book Connecting the Dots, about communicating with people with Alzheimer's disease. She knows much about how to keep our brains sharp and will share her knowledge with us .

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

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Every first and third Wednesday, (September 15) 8:00 am, at Dinah’s Poolside Restaurant, 4261 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. All the men from our church family are welcome.

Mission Team

The Mission Team meeting is slated for Friday, September 3 at 10:30 am

Church Council

The next Church Council meetings are scheduled for Friday, September 10 at 1:00 pm and Wednesday, October 13 at 1:00 pm

Quarterly Business Meeting

The next Quarterly Business Meeting will be on Sunday, October 17, after church.

September mission offering:
opportunity services center

September is the month when our special offering is designated for the Opportunity Services Center located in Palo Alto . The center functions as a service to the wider community by providing a creative response to home-less related problems and offering opportunities for the community to respond to those needs. Its provision of a positive and caring environment that respects the dignity of every person is of the highest concern.

The center provides several different types of services to meet the needs of the homeless and those at-risk in the Mid-Peninsula area. The Adult Services Center for singles provides a wide range of services from laundry and lockers to computers and counseling. The Bredt Family Center serves families with small children by providing help with basic human needs and enabling people to find stability and housing. The Opportunity Health Center provides primary care, mental health care, case management, and other support services to both adults and children. The Clothing Closet, Money Management Program, and Emergency Assistance Program are also available through the Opportunity Services Center . The center has a computer lab and classroom making it possible to hold adult education classes, workshops and community meetings throughout the day and early evening.

As winter approaches, the center is collecting warm clothing items. Items needed are: sleeping bags, jackets, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, men’s jeans, and any other warm clothing. They are also having a Can Drive of protein foods such as: tuna, chicken, spam, or sausages. No dry beans or rice, and fresh vegetables are provided by Trader Joe’s. There will be a box marked Opportunity Services Center in the Narthex if you would like to drop items off at the church during the month of September.

Please give generously to help those in our community that are in need. Our goal for this offering is $750.

August Mission offering:
Habitat for humanity

Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is committed to making the dream of homeownership a reality for families with low incomes in Marin, San Francisco and the Peninsula. This year they celebrate their 20th anniversary and launch a new campaign to build 100 homes in five years.

To date we have surpassed our goal of $750 by $204.

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS

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

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

BAPTISTS LUNCHING TOGETHER

“The Chinese Way of Doing Things,” featuring Dr. James Chuck, pastor emeritus, First Chinese Baptist Church, San Francisco and PCBA President. Wednesday, September 8, Noon, at Grand Lake Gardens, 401 Santa Clara Avenue, Oakland.

9/11 Interfaith dinner

The 9/11 Interfaith Dinner, Prayer and Conversations, will be hosted by Campbell United Methodist Church, 1675 Winchester Boulevard, Campbell, CA 95008 on Saturday, September 11 from 6:30 to 9 :00 pm. The dinner will be vegetarian, halal and kosher. This is the fifth year in which Campbell church has invited muslims and other people of faith to join in conversations on 9/11 to reflect on issues relating to the muslim and interfaith communities. Reservations are required, so please call the church office at (408) 378-3472 and provide names and phone numbers for all persons attending.

installation service at Covenant Presbyterian

Dr. Margaret Boles will be installed as pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 12 at 2:00 pm, 670 East Meadow in Palo Alto.

Build a World of Peace:
An Interfaith &
Intergenerational Event

Sunday, Sept. 19, 3-5pm, Heritage Park & St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Homer & Waverley in Palo Alto. Celebrate the U.N. International Day of Peace! Experience the World Peace Village inviting children and adults to learn prayers for peace from diverse faith traditions. Hear people from Jewish, Muslim and Christian traditions, U.S., Iraqi & Afghans, who are working to build a world of peace. Join in songs, prayers and activities. Contemplate the Quakers' Cost of War banners. We'll begin at 3pm in the park and at 4pm process to the church for speakers (with storytelling for children). Sponsored by Multifaith Voices for Peace & justice. For more information see www.multifaithpeace.org/ or call 650-569-3416.

Quaker Conference
to End Torture

Friday-Sunday, September 24-26 Quaker Retreat Center in Ben Lomond HEAR Scott Horton, human rights attorney and investigative journalist on issues of torture & accountability, and Fr. Roy Bourgeois, founder of School of the Americas Watch. All are welcome, but registration is required. Come for Saturday only and still get to hear both Horton and Bourgeois. Go to www.quit-torture-now.org/ for more information and to register.

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