Pastor's Notes:
We enjoyed a wonderful Advent and Christmas celebration. We thank all the decorators, the smorgasbord volunteers, and also all who helped make our Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion worship so inspiring. This includes all of our musicians David Chaidez, Marilyn Perry, our Sanctuary and Bell choirs, Brent Haag. Katherine Leyva, soprano, and John Caredio, trumpet.
For many of us Christmas is a busy, yet wonderful time with family and friends, and so many traditions such as the Christmas tree, the Christmas meal, Christmas gifts, Christmas Eve at church and those moments of spiritual awe that draw us closer to God.
Christmas day I had two guests from Asia with no previous experience of the Christmas celebration or why baby Jesus' birth is important. Christmas is so pervasive for most of us, it is difficult to imagine there are people who have never experienced Christmas or its meaning. Just where does one start? ... with the story of Jesus' birth, the Christmas Tree, the foods, the story of Santa Claus, the music, the movies "It's a Wonderful Life", "Miracle in 34th Street", "A Christmas Carol"; or Christmas in the Park in downtown San Jose.
I found this challenge interesting especially as the great significance of Jesus' birth quickly gets lost as we try to decide if the tree is straight in the stand, if the menu is right, or if the gifts have been wrapped.
It is important to keep front and center that in the birth of Christ God is doing a new thing, something foreshadowed by the prophets. This babe is God's declaration that the fierce demands of God's law and justice are made possible by a transformation of our hearts by trusting the love and mercy of Christ.
This is so radical that starting with the Epiphany (Jan. 6), the day we commemorate Jesus’ Baptism (and others celebrate the arrival of the Wise visitors from the East) we have a whole season just to contemplate that the Son of God, Jesus, really has come to be in our midst and to change our hearts.
The season of Epiphany is one of my favorite seasons of the church year! It is a season of "light" and "joy" as the Gospel lessons reveal Jesus in people’s lives. Thus, God engages us with light, grace and truth as radiant epiphanies in own lives.
Through 2011 where the People of HOPE continued to make strong donations to benevolences and it preliminary looks like that offerings were on target while expenditures under budget.
Regardless, the People of HOPE will continue to be a place of worship that lives through the Love of Christ who is our true HOPE.
2012 looks to be a rich and full year as we hear news of "Bringing Hope" donations in Rwanda and El Salvador; and as we pray for our youth going to the ELCA National Youth Gathering and much more.
A Happy and Blessed New Year!
John Sullivan, Pastor
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FROM OUR CONGREGATION PRESIDENT -
As a New Year dawns bright, we look forward to an energetic year that we can see God in our community and those around us.
We are looking forward to our Annual Congregational Meeting on Saturday, February 4th: 9:00 a.m. for breakfast with the meeting at 10:00 a.m. The council will be providing the breakfast.
Please remember those in need of shelter, heat, or food during these colder months. Remember our soldiers far from their families fighting for peace and justice.
Please remember our church leaders as they continue to be guided by God’s will. We lpray the God will be with our church members as we daily continue to be God’s hands and feet in our community.
Blessings and peace,
Colette Krinock
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SPEAKER SERIES
Tuesday, January 31, 7:30 p.m.
Speaker: Thorsteinn Adalsteinsson
“Nanotechnology - What is it? What does it mean to us?”
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres. Quantum mechanical effects are important at this quantum-realm scale.
Nanotechnology is very diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional device physics to completely new approaches based upon molecular self-assembly, from developing new materials with dimensions on the nanoscale to investigating whether we can directly control matter on the atomic scale.
Nanotechnology entails the application of fields of science as diverse as surface science, organic chemistry, molecular biology, semiconductor physics, micro fabrication, etc.
There is much debate on the future implications of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology may be able to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of applications, such as in medicine, electronics, biomaterials and energy production. On the other hand, nanotechnology raises many of the same issues as any new technology, including concerns about the toxicity and environmental impact of nanomaterials, and their potential effects on global economics, as well as speculation about various doomsday scenarios. These concerns have led to a debate among advocacy groups and governments on whether special regulation of nanotechnology is warranted.
Come and hear how nanotechnology is used in our lives. Bring your questions!
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Men’s Breakfast
The Men’s Breakfast group will meet on Saturday, January 14th, 8:00AM at Sara’s Kitchen in Santa Clara.
This group of men enjoy a wonderful breakfast and great fellowship.
Sara’s Kitchen was a featured restaurant in one of last month’s Santa Clara Weekly newspapers and was praised their wonderful food and service.
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The Busy Bee’s gather January 10th & 14th
If you have always wanted to learn to crochet or knit, start your new year out by joining our Busy Bees group.
They will be more than happy to teach you how! This group meets in the conference room.
You may make something for yourself or work on a group project. There is plenty of yarn to pick from. Just bring your own needles.
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We Thank Our Hope Helpers!
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS:
Betty Zacharisen (6, 13 & 20)
Jackie Quick (27th)
Doris Skow (6th, 13th)
Sherri Heim (20 & 27)
Sue Speed (all)
FLOWERS *** see below
Nov. 6 - Colette Krinock in honor of the Birthday of her son, Brad
Nov.13 - Delores Harding & Bob Ohe in memory of ther mother
Nov.20 - Al & Janie Haag in honor of their 35th anniversary
Nov.27 - Paul & Lois Steiner
ASSISTING MINISTERS
Jan. 1 - Gail Stevens
Jan. 8 - Rosemary McElherne
Jan. 15 - Debbie Elrick
Jan. 22 - Brenda Schmahl
Jan. 29 - Paul Lusk
LECTORS
Jan. 1 - Andrew Heim
Jan. 8 - Mark Greiner
Jan. 15 - Marilyn Sall
Jan. 22 - Jean McGill
Jan. 29 - Marilyn Perry
GREETER - Celeste Knutsen
USHERS:
Rob Leeper
Jim Moore
COUNTERS:
Paul Lusk & Brenda Schmahl
SUNDAY REFRESHMENTS
Jan. 8 - Birthday Sunday
Jan. 15 - Leftover Christmas Cookies & Goodies
Jan. 22 - Volunteers?
Jan. 29 - Volunteers?