AVUCC Newsletter for the Almaden Valley KALOS United Church of Christ Pastor Kevin’s Corner: Space for Grace August Nancy and I decided to step out of the car culture of Los Angeles for a day. 2006 It was the middle of our vacation of “books, the beach and baseball” and we had had enough of endless freeway driving. Stepping out of our hotel, we trekked over a couple of blocks to the Pershing Metro Subway stop and de- scended underground into the bowels of the City of Angels. In this issue Before our subway train arrived we spent a few short moments appreciating the mosaic tile artwork on the walls of the subway platform. The colorful Pastor Kevin’s Corner—1, 2 tiles were arranged in beautiful multicolored patterns and they told the story of the Latino people’s settlement of California and the struggle they con- Moderator’s Notes—2, 3 fronted in their efforts to live decent and safe lives. The story told of their struggle with the mission system of the church and the way in which the Council Notes—3, 4 “Padres” persecuted those who would not, or could not, buy into the new world the Padres were trying to bring to masses. In the seemingly insignifi- JV Board Notes—4, 5 cant decision Nancy and I had made to take the subway that day, through the grace of God, we learned something new about our new home state. It was People in the Pews—5 — 8, not a happy tale, but it was meaningful story of a measure of respect the La- tino people won through struggle. We learned something new and experi- Outreach and Caring—8, 9 enced the grace of God. Events— 9, 10 Our train arrived and we hopped on. Even in this mid-morning time under- ground there were no two seats together, so Nancy and I sat on the aisle seats Music—10, 11 opposite one another. I just happened to sit next to this young gentleman. Youth—11, 12 KALOS Calendar—13, 14 Monthly Newsletter Almaden Valley United Church of Christ August Lectionary—15 6581 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95120 (408) 268-0243; Fax: (408) 268-4207 Visit our website: www.avucc.org Editors, Sue Scaff (448-3038) Kelly Yamanishi (997-3373) Kalos email: [email protected] Pastor Kevin’s Corner, cont. Pastor Kevin’s Corner, cont. He was clean shaven with close cropped crew cut hope so; I pray so. hair. He wore a charcoal gray suit with a security company’s emblem on the front. We didn’t talk at We all need Sabbath rests. Remember the Sabbath first. At the next stop a gentlemen stepped on the day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and train who I was thinking looked remarkably like do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath Jimi Hendrix, the 60’s guitar and song artist who to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work… died a tragic death from a drug overdose. This These sentences from Exodus 20:8-10b, the Deca- Hendrix look-alike middle aged man was also trou- logue or the Ten Commandments, are not so much a bled by something, perhaps mental illness, perhaps command to worship God every seven days as they high on something, perhaps both. As the silent se- are God telling us that we need to step out of our curity guard sitting next to me and I looked upon daily routines regularly in order to experience the this gentlemen, I could physically sense my seat benefits of Sabbath rest. Stepping out of our rou- partner begin to slump and become heavy with tines by taking vacations, getting away, taking time some emotional burden. The guard spoke to me. away from work and home chores, even if just for a “What do you think he’s on?” he asked me. I mut- day, allows God to enter into those spaces that too tered something like “I’m not sure anything, but often crowd out perception and acknowledgment of perhaps downers,” noting the Hendrix-like gentle- God’s grace. We need to give space for God’s man’s inability to focus and lethargic movements. grace to happen. Often when we allow time and The young security guard then crossed himself space for the grace of God to be revealed we can whispering a silent “Hail Mary.” He then began to experience the “city of angels” writing messages on tell me how he had spent nine years addicted to our hearts even when we are no where near LA. drugs. He took anything he could get his hands on. During your days, or if you must, even once a week, He once spent $40,000 in one month to feed his ad- make a space for grace to happen for you. It can diction. He lost everything, he said. I asked him bring you closer to God. It can open your life up to what saved him and how he got clean. “My Dad,” possibilities you can’t imagine. It can make mean- he said. “My Dad saved me. My Dad did not give ing in your heart. It can help your neighbor. Amen. up on me. He loved me.” Two strangers sitting side-by-side in a metal car rumbling underneath the Pastor Kevin City of Angels and both our eyes welled up with tears. “He, your Dad, he gave you unconditional Moderator’s Notes love. His unconditional love saved you,” I told my young traveling companion beside me. The young security guard nodded and bowed his head. We It’s been happening for a few years now: we look were silent sitting there together rumbling through a forward to a long lazy summer with some downtime hole in the earth. The next stop came and my young from work, relaxing by the beach or pool, maybe a friend got up out of his seat next to me, turned family vacation…and then stuff happens. Mostly around and gave me a deep long look in the eyes good stuff, but relaxing? Forget it. It’s my own and put out his hand to shake. We shook hands and fault, of course - I chose to take on those extra pro- he said “Good to talk with you,” and headed out the jects at work, serve on Council, Cub Scouts, partici- sliding subway car door. We made connection. We pate in a play, go on an overseas family vacation, had experienced—both of us—the grace of God. I etc. Overcommitment is a way of life here in Sili- couldn’t help but wonder as Nancy and I got off at con Valley. And so it is in Council meetings: we our stop if “Mr. Hendrix” would find that uncondi- typically get through about two-thirds of the agenda tional love of God that works through each of us. I items because 1) we start with too many, and 2) 2 Moderator’s Notes, cont. Moderator’s Notes, cont. each one tends to take much longer than we antici- usually the second Tuesday of the month. Just pate. This sometimes causes things to drag on way show up, or let us know ahead of time if there is an too long. issue you would like to put on the agenda. Every- one is welcome! During the semi-annual Congregational meeting on Steven Coutinho June 25, we gave an overview of the topics that Moderator have kept us busy so far this year. The one we have spent the most time on has been the Communication Church Council Notes Guidelines document, so we went into some detail about why and how it was created. We also asked Moderator: Steve Coutinho for feedback from the congregation – do you think Vice-Moderator: Kelly Yamanishi this would be a useful document, in its present form Treasurer: Jay Caturay or modified, and why or why not? If you think it is Recorder: Carolyn Dingman useful, how do you think it should be implemented? At-Large Members: Dot Allfrey, Sue Hamilton, We have already received a number of responses, Al Nieders, Janey Sanders, and Bart Smith both in favor and against, but we encourage every- Pastor Kevin Smith, ex officio one of you to tell us what you think. Feel free to write a note or email to any Council member, or if July’s Council meeting was postponed until July you prefer to remain anonymous, drop a note into 25th, and minutes will be published in the September the collection box set up for this purpose. Kalos. Summarized below are minutes from the semiannual meeting of the congregation held on One of the things that took way too long was re- June 25, 2006. sponding to a proposed revision to the JV Bylaws. The proposed new version addresses major issues Treasurer’s Report such as authority and responsibility of hiring and Financial statements showed cash balances in the firing of JV personnel, contracts for usage of the church’s regular and endowment funds: Joint Venture facilities, legal definitions, as well as General Fund $ 47,191 the tying up of a number of loose ends in the current Short Term Funds 13,273 version. We finally compiled all Council members’ Long Term Funds 85,282 input into a single document and presented this to $145,746 the Review Committee and the JV Board. Endowment Fund Market Value: $59,564 In our effort to tackle what appeared to be the main and pressing issues, we often didn’t leave enough Based on estimates of income and costs for the re- time to hear and discuss all committee reports.