First Presbyterian Church of Richmond 3415 Barrett Avenue Drive-In Worship Center Richmond, CA 94805 Appian 80 Shopping Center (510) 234-0954 E-mail: [email protected] Web page: www.pcrichmond.org or www.Facebook.com/firstpresbyterianchurchrichmondca

The Connection The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Richmond October 2013 Vol. 112 No 10

October 1 – 29 Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:45 PM Family style dinner, Bible Study and activities for all age groups

FROM THE PASTOR Dear Fellow Ministers, The month of October has Columbus Day, and whether you call it “Día de la Raza” or “Native American Day,” chances are you won’t get it as a holiday. We don’t even get Halloween off. But regardless of what the government and our culture say, we have the ability and creativity to make any day a holy day…. Which brings me to the idea that came to Lynda and me. We would like to declare October to be “Appreciation Month.” It’s not that we don’t appreciate people year round, but we want to take the month of October to intentionally appreciate and thank specific people in specific ways. Would you join us in this adventure? Think about the people in your life. Has anyone done anything for you lately? Have you noticed anyone serving unselfishly? Who has done a good job at something? Find a way to say “Thanks!” Write a note. Send and email. Post on their Facebook wall. Call them on the phone. Bake them some cookies. Give them a gift card to their favorite coffee/tea shop. Take them some flowers. Take them to lunch. Or you could just say, “Thanks! Great job!” Get creative and have fun. Maybe if we practice saying and being thankful for a month, our hearts and minds might be in shape to celebrate Thanksgiving for real next month! Whenever people choose to be thankful, the atmosphere around them brightens. Everybody I know feels better after they have received genuine appreciation. The people who express their thankfulness also find themselves feeling better. They tend to have more energy. They are less grumpy, greedy, or grouchy. As Madame Blueberry in one of Trinity’s favorite Veggie Tale movies learned, “A thankful heart is a happy heart!” Try it for a month. Choose thankfulness and appreciation, and let’s transform our ordinary days into happy, healthy, and even holy days! Blessings,

Pastor Jim

Become more than a Sunday Christian by participating in our campaign this October: DON’T JUST GO TO CHURCH… BE THE CHURCH!  Attend Sunday worship.  Join a Bible study  Use the take-home material during the week with your family/friends. Get ready to celebrate on Nov. 3!

10:30 AM SERMONS September 29, 2013 Galatians 1:1-4, 6:18 It’s All About Grace! October 6, 2013 Galatians 1:1-10 It’s All About Reputation October 13, 2013 Galatians 2:1-21 It’s All About Really Living October 20, 2013 Galatians 3:23-4:11 It’s All About Belonging October 27, 2013 Galatians 5:13-26 It’s All About What We Produce November 3, 2013 Galatians 6:1-10 It’s All About Caring

Family News Women: Come Retreat with us! Women please save April 4-5, 2014 for a wonderful retreat at the church. This retreat will feature a Friday evening dessert social, with a service craft and a full, varied program all day Saturday, including music, food, fun and talks by Carol Johnson of Stephen’s Ministries. PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR RETREAT Please join us on October 13, following the 10:30 services. Call Brenda Motomura (222-4311)orLynda Wheeler (222-5838) for more information.

Congratulations to Parents, Lais & Thiago Oliveira, and to grandparents, Alcenir & Míria Oliveira! On the birth of Kelsey Santos Oliveira Born at 2:02 pm, Sunday, September 23 8 lbs. 0 oz. 20.5 inches black hair dark eyes

Condolences To the families of Eileen Goodenough who passed away on August 28th, Genie Spooncer who passed away on September 8th and Jack MacPhee who passed away on September 16th. Services for Eileen happened on Sept. 8, services for Genie will be Oct. 5 in Sacramento and services for Jack were held at our church on Sept. 28.

The Connection is a monthly publication of First Presbyterian Church of Richmond, 3415 Barrett Ave., Richmond, California, 94805,and (510)234-0954. Editor: Emily Niccolls; Mailing Team: Emily Niccolls. Joe Green and Lynda Wheeler. Copy deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month's publication. Jim Wheeler, Pastor Alcenir Oliveira, Pastor to Portuguese-language Ministry Khamside Keola, CLP to Khmu Ministry Phoebe Chen, Pastor to Mandarin-language Ministry Steven R. Niccolls, Lay Preacher Drive-In Ministry Barbara Lockie-Brown, Director of Music Ministries Emily Niccolls, Administrative Assistant Cathy Nance, CLP to Youth and Their Families Mike Jefferson, Custodian Chanthong Vilaysak, Gardener

DRIVE-IN MINISTRY Dear Friends The end of October is one of my favorite times of the year. No, I don’t get dressed up in some costume and knock on doors with a pillow case trying to get candy. However, All Hollow’s Eve does play a part of why I enjoy the end of the month. For those of you who do not know, it was on All Hollow’s Eve in 1517 that a German monk named Martin Luther posted a document known as the 95 Thesis on the chapel door in Wittenberg Germany. This event sent in motion the events that are known as the Protestant Reformation. So for those of you who are history buffs, may I challenge you to think about the impact the posting of the 95 Thesis had on the church universal. This year there is another reason to be excited for October. This church will be doing a church wide study on the book of Galatians. The theme behind this study is “Don’t just go to church. Be the church!” We need to go out and be the church to West Contra Costa County. I am excited about the sermon series and the U – Nite Bible Study that is going along with the sermon series. Looking forward to seeing you at the Shopping Center, Steve

Quote of the Month “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” Martin Luther

October Scripture Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27

Galatians 1:1-10 Galatians 2: 1-21 Galatians 3:23-4:11 Galatians 5: 13-26

Deacons’ Ministry… Last year the Board of Deacons sponsored two lectures regarding End of Life Issues. The lectures included information on preparing for our older years and provided information on how to be a family caregiver. On Saturday, October 26, 2013 the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette, is hosting a day of workshops entitled, “Walking the Tightrope of Elder Care and Aging.” The workshops will be coordinated by Eldercare Services and include a variety of issues related to elder care and aging such as dementia, long term care, planning for costs of long term care, and questions relating to needed legal tools. Registration is required. If interested, you can register online at http://tinyurl.com/lpk4tlg. Any questions you might have can be directed to Eldercare Services at (925) 937-2018 or [email protected]. There is no charge for the program and lunch will be provided. To obtain a brochure with more detailed information, please contact Claudine Hughes (510) 222-5404. Every Friday of the month six bags of food are distributed to needy families in the Richmond community. The following are some of items that make up a bag of groceries for the needy: canned fruit, breakfast cereal, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti, pasta sauce, canned soup and cups of soup, tuna, packages of pasta or macaroni and cheese, canned meat, rice, beans, and honey. Items can be brought to the church office during office hours. Tom Welton is our deacon in charge of the pantry. He does all the preparation of the bags each week and distributes them on Friday morning. If you have any questions regarding this loving ministry ask a deacon. Flower Calendar The flower calendar for 2013 is available just outside the church office. Please consider donating flowers to celebrate important events such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. Flowers are now $60.00 (tax included). Miría Oliveira is the deacon to contact regarding flower orders. She will be sending reminders to each person donating flowers. Deacons on Call for October– contact office for phone numbers

September 29 – October 5 October 6 – 12 October 13 – 19 October 20 – 26 October 27 – November 2

Norm Waldron & Claudine Hughes Lidia Andueza & Miría Oliveira Tom Welton & Nona Pepino Sarah Obasi & Rob Henderson Peggy Williams & Ebube Nwosibe

Drive-In October

Elder: Joe Green Sound: Don Landis Driver: Bennie Wilson Greeters: Cliff Williams & Alice Strain Communion: Joe Green

October October October October

Coffee Hour October

6: Sydney & Marli /Angela 13: Luzia & Lynda 20: Joy Ojeh 27: Carol Mathis

December 13 and 14

This is our church family’s Christmas party for our neighbors. Why not make it your family’s Christmas party also with a day to serve and a day to play? Come and help out one day – Friday or Saturday, and the other day bring your family, your friends, your neighbors, and enjoy the music and color and celebration of our faith. There are many ways to serve - set or up take down decorations or sets, help with crafts or in the kitchen, dress up as a Magi for the manger or a shepherd with the animals or a craftsperson for the village, or take a speaking part in the dramas or read a story. Come to the Back to Bethlehem kick off day on November 3 and sign up where you fit best.

Session Notes - September 23, 2013

Meeting opened with prayer at 7:15pm by Weldon Miles. Listening to God’s Word: Galatians 1:1-5; 6:18. Grace and peace. Grace is free. Get it without working for it; God’s love; Grace is amazing; Peace means no anxiety. New Member Interview: Tim Condon gave his story to session. MSC to accept Tim as a new member of FPCR. Public recognition will be during the 10:30am service on October 13, 2013. Good News Items: Prayer, Care, Share Workshop; new member; picnic in Hercules; Louvorzao a success; new baby for Thiago and Lais Oliviera. Study/Brainstorm: almost everyone in church family are involved in some way in church life; encouraging every member to tithe or give $5 more a week in regular offering. Looking Ahead: U-Night Sept.29- Nov. 3. All-church clean-up day – Oct. 5; Congregational meeting after 10:30am service on Oct. 27; Session Prayer Retreat Nov 2. Next stated meeting: Monday October 28 7:00 pm. Closed in prayer at 9:20 pm.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

October Prayer List

Weldon & Pat Miles Adeline Miller Scott & Hepsey Mitchell Ray & Rey Monson Erma Morgan Rev. David & Nadia Mote Brenda Motomura Mason & Jackie Motomura, Aliana Raksha Motomura, Maya, Makoto & Jordan 10. Willard Motomura 11. Moeketsi & Carol Mphenyeke, Ofentze & Kabisane 12. Rev. Don & Sherrie Mulford 13. Karel Murdoch 14. Ed & JoAnn Nance 15. Jeremy Nance 16. Mark & Cathy Nance, Hayley

17. David & Gigi Nathan, Gianna 18. Rev. Paul & Sally Nelson 19. Steve & MaryAnne Nelson 20. Bob & LaVonne Niccolls 21. Sarah Niccolls 22. Steve & Emily Niccolls, 23. Susan Niccolls 24. Carl & Ruth Nolte 25. Boun Nompraserth, Pheng & Nancy 26. Marcelino Nuño & Lourdes Rodriquez, Citlaly Salazar 27. Ebube & Vivian Nwosibe, Myra, Joseph & Gregory 28. Hannah Nwosibe 29. Hannah Obasi 30. Mary Obasi 31. Obasi & Sarah Obasi, Sarah & Joy

If you would like to contact the prayer chain or put a request or praise in the bulletin please contact Emily at the church office 234-0954 or [email protected]. Prayer requests can also be left on the church website, www.pcrichmond.org

Current Operating Funds ~ FINANCIAL STATEMENT For year ending August 31, 2013 *Receipts $206,639 Disbursements 208,498 Over/Under Expenses 7/12 of 2013 Budget $234,941

*Current receipts do not include $60,840.55 transferred from other funds to cover a previous deficit.