April 2016

710 Wilson Ave., P.O.

Box 631, Novato, CA

94948

Phone: 415-897-6152

Fax: 415-892-7691

“Speak the truth in love . . .”

* The Apostle Paul at Ephesians 4:15

Paul’s wise counsel to a group of congregations in Asia Minor was “to speak the truth in love.” He advo-cates honest and open communication done in a kind and loving manner. If all human speech could meet these two criteria, think of all the untruth and hurt feelings and unneces-sary anger which could be avoided!

I mention the above pas-sage because on three con-secutive Monday evenings – April 11, 18, and 25, our Stephen Leaders (Ruth Haas, Kay Acosta, Kathy Botko, Sandi Class, Alan Dunham and Gail Penfield), will be sponsoring a class which gets its title from the book “Speaking the Truth in Love; How to Be an As-sertive Christian” written by the founder of Stephen Ministries, the Rev. Ken-neth C. Haugk and Ruth N. Koch. Stephen Ministry is distinctly Christian caregiv-ing. It emphasizes the im-portance of careful listen-ing and offers approximate-ly sixty hours of training to those who wish to be offi-cially commissioned as Ste-

phen Ministers. It’s a won-derfully helpful ministry which is used in thousands of Christian Churches in a wide variety of different denominations.

I will teach the first of these three sessions, while the

Rev. Annette Rankin, a Dea-con serving the Episcopal Church of the Saviour in Mill Valley will lead the latter two sessions. Annette is an experienced Stephen Ministry trainer and was formerly active at nearby St. Francis of Asissi Episco-pal Church here in Novato. She is now an ordained Deacon and working to-ward being ordained as a Priest in the Episcopal Church.

This class will not only help you consider this important

Inside this issue:

Letter from Ariel 2

Christian Education 3-7

Programs &

Fellowship

8

Missions 9

Calendar 10

esbyterian ess

KENT'S COMMENTS

subject for your life which can effect all your rela-tionships, but will also give you a taste of the kind of topic Stephen Ministry training focuses upon. We hope to offer the full se-ries of caregiving training early in 2017. For those of you who have taken Ste-phen Ministry training al-ready, this short three-week class might be a helpful refresher.

Our text will be the book I mentioned above. We are requesting a donation of $16.50 to cover that cost, but if this is a hardship for anyone we’ll gladly waive the cost and provide you with a book free of charge. You may register for the class by signing up following Sunday worship or by phoning the Church Office.

I’ll hope to see many of you in class!

Warmly in Christ,

Kent

Letter from Ariel

ers. This important mid-week program allows children and adults alike to develop relationships with one another and with Christ as they en-gage in study, fellowship, and worship together as well as participating in some local mission activi-ties.

I am very pleased to announce that Sal-ly Carbonaro has been hired to become the new Director of Children’s Ministries. This is a new role for PCN; it incorpo-rates leadership of our Seeker’s program, over-sight of our Sun-day School, and sup-porting our week-long Vacation Bible School. We are thankful for the hard work and effort of the Search Committee: Mary Contreras, Car-olyn Gerrans, Todd Pad-

dack, Sharon Nebb, and Bethany Stahley. Please congratulate Sally when you see her.

If you haven’t had an opportunity to experi-ence Seekers, I would urge you to come and visit. There are plenty of opportunities available to suit a wide array of gifts and talents. And, if you have elementary school aged children in your life, please consider inviting them to join us on Tues-day nights for Seek-

with the same title as the course, written by Ruth N. Koch and Stephen Ministry founder Kenneth C. Haugk. This topic should be of help to each of us in life!

is the title of a 3-week Monday even-ing course our Ste-phen Ministry Lead-ers will offer on April 11, 18, 25. Mark your calendars for this 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm class, in which we will use a book

"Speaking the Truth in Love; How to be an Assertive Christian"

Women’s Bible Study

Come and see what the Lord might have for you in this study that can transform you more and more into his likeness.

We meet every Thursday from 9:30-11am in the Christianson room.You are welcome to join us for occasional meetings or become a regular. We love having new friends.

Carol Dacquisto, Judy Snyder and Elaine Lay-port-Harris

We are very excited about our new study on the book of Luke that began March 3rd in our Woman's Bible Study. Jesus is our Lord, the per-son who shows us what God is like. And it is him that we are to emulate.

Knowing as much as we can about him and following him is what it means to be his disciple. And as he finished his ministry on earth he asked all of his followers, that includes us, to make disciples also "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Matthew 28:20

Luke says of his writings they are an or-derly account of those handed down by eyewit-nesses and he had care-fully investigated every-thing from the beginning. Jesus most often uses Son of Man when speak-ing of himself and this particular gospel has a strong focus on ordinary men and women.

As we look at Jesus, 2 Corinthians 3:18 says we reflect the Lords glory and "are being trans-formed into his likeness".

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

ship God with me. Please call, text or e-mail me with questions and for information regarding registration. I would love to share some of my ex-periences with anyone interested.

Judy Snyder

415-320-5826

jsnyderca@gmail.com

In the early church pray-er was most often experi-enced in a body of believ-ers praying together. His-torically great move-ments of God began with a praying group of believ-ers. There is tremendous power in prayer. More than anything prayer is our most heartfelt way to worship our God and we pray simply because God is worthy of our praise.

There is a wonderful opportunity for women to gather to worship God

in prayer and experience God's intimate presence at a Prayer Summit with Strategic Renewal in Menlo Park October 16-18 2016. Registration is open now and space is limited to only 100 par-ticipants.

Having now attended 5 different summits and seeing God speak to my heart very specifically and differently each time I encourage everyone who can to come with me in October and wor-

Women’s Prayer Summit SAVE THE DATE

Kent’s Winter Class

“The Meaning of Jesus” has begun and continues through March 21st . Monday mornings from 9:30 – 11 a.m. and Mon-day evenings, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Join the over 100 others and sign up by talking with Kent

Hebrews 4:14 But Jesus the Son of God is our great High Priest who has gone to heave itself to help us; therefore let us never stop trusting him. 16 So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need. TLB

byterian Church.

Please RSVP to Carol Dacquisto by April 23. 415-892-2070

Lunch $10.

Join us Saturday, April 30th, at PCN for the Spring Gathering. Of the Presbyterian Women of the Redwoods Presby-tery.

The Rev. Beverly Brewster will be the fea-tured speaker. She will

come prepared to tell us about her experiences at the Church World Service Ecumenical Advocacy Days Conference 2016. The theme of the confer-ence is Lift Every Voice -Racism, Class and Power. Rev. Brewster is Pastor of the Sleepy Hollow Pres-

Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering—April 30

PCN Kids

Summer Sunday School

It iisn’t too early to begin to think about becoming one of our Summer Sun-day School teachers. We have Sunday school each week during our one hour Sunday worship schedule

for kids 3yr-1st grade and 2nd-5th. Think about help-ing out for a Sunday or two beginning at the end of June.

to make a change in our world, we will inspire our children to do the same. They will be the change we all hope to see in a world that desperately needs each and every one of them to make a differ-ence. > > Blessings to all! > > Miss Sally

> Change happens each and every day to each one of us. If we're open, we grow and learn with the change. We meet new people, read new books, try new foods, go to new places, and if we're lucky, get new clothes! And yet some-how, change gets a bad reputation for being diffi-cult, unwanted, and invol-untary. > > I have had the privilege of directing the Seekers program since January 1st. I have been thor-oughly amazed at our volunteers. They faithful-ly commit their Tuesday nights to serving our chil-dren. Whatever that may mean on a given night, they are up for it. On behalf of the children I thank you for your sup-port and am awed by your generosity. > > The children are incred-ible. They share whatever is on their mind; their joys, their hurts and their worries. Seekers is a safe place where learning about their hearts and God's heart is safe, re-

warding and life chang-ing. > > I am excited to be working with the children and families on a perma-nent basis, as the Director of Children's Ministries. To integrate learning and teaching with Jeff, Ariel and Kent. To incorporate our values as a church and align our programs with our entire congrega-tion. To focus on inter-generational experiences and relationships that benefit each and every one of us. To be the place new families want to be. Where they are welcomed, embraced, and can feel our church is different from the mo-ment they arrive. And most importantly, learn what it means to know, love and follow our amazing God. > > Our kids are the experts at change. To them it can be exciting, it's new and it means good things. Sometimes it's about po-sitioning. As we embrace and look forward to change, so will our chil-dren. And as we set out

‘Changes’ from Miss Sally

Vacation Bible School—Save the Date and Volunteer!

FOLLOWING JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

MONDAY, JUNE 13 THROUGH FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 9:00AM TO NOON

VOLUNTEER RECRUITING AND STUDENT REGISTRATION BEGINS THIS MONTH.

3 WAYS TO GET INOLVED:

GO TO pcnovato.org and FIND ALL YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE. LOOK FOR OUR VBS TABLE EVERY SUNDAY AFTER BOTH SERVICES. ALL NECESSARY FORMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE CHURCH OFFICE, MON-

THURS.

VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES NEEDED: Positions are open in all stations: MUSIC, GAMES, MISSION, SNACK, CRAFTS, VIDEO, DRAMA, AND PRESCHOOL. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME DURING THE WEEK OF VBS, PLEASE SIGN UP BY ANY OF THE ABOVE METHODS. FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS, CONTACT CAROLYN GERRANS AT 4150897-1504 OR grace624@comcast.net

POTENTIAL STUDENSTS: Sign up early and ask your friends. Space is limited. Preschool: age 4 & 5 (before kinder-garten), and Elementary: Kindergarten through the completion of 5th grade.

BOTH VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE IT’S A UNIQUELY SPECIAL WEEK, ONE YOU WON’T SOON FORGET!

Experiencing the Easter Encounter

Youth Mission Fundraiser

PROGRAMS & FELLOWSHIP

Monday Morning Prayer

9—9:30 a.m

In the library (room 1). Everyone is welcome for a quiet time of prayer and fellowship. Drop in when you can.

The PCN Men’s Group is a Bible study group for men of all ages. Come join us for study and fel-lowship. We meet every Wednesday at 7:30am in the Christensen Room. Contact Phil Dougherty for more information.

Chancel Choir meets at 7:00pm each Thursday in the music room. Easter Music rehearsals are di-rectly after second ser-vice. Snacks.

Bells meet Wednesday afternoons at 4:00pm. We have room for you! Call Katy 897-6239.

Musical Notes

PCN Men’s Group

Our Daily Bread Devotional

Pick up your new copy of Our Daily Bread. Copies availa-ble in the narthgex and the church office.

Explorers

Fri., April 22, 6pm. Join us for the Novato Music Assoc. Spring Concert and inside Picnic at Unity Church. Reserv. Required. Please send checks (made out to Ruth) ASAP to Ruth Jankowski, 34 Drakewood, Novato, 94947 or give to Janalee. $16.50pp. Bring your own picnic, wine/drink. Sharing OK, too. Always a fun evening--join us.

After four years, Kai Lancaster is leaving the position of PresPress Editor to dedicate more time to the youth pro-gram. This means that we are in need of someone to take over the task of creating the monthly newsletter. If interested, please contact Ariel or Kai at

Ariel_Mink@Gallup.com or KaiLancaster@hotmail.com

PresPress Editor Needed

MISSIONS

Mothers Matter 2016

Building Families, Building Community

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary

201 Seminary Drive, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Dinner, dessert by Flour Chylde, and Guest Speaker, former Kansas City Royals baseball player, Dr. Randy Marshall. Visit www.Gileadhouse.org/events to RSVP.

Exciting things are happening in Middletown and you are needed to help keep things going!

Applications for construction teams are now being accepted for June 12-18 and September 18-30, 2016. The June team will accept youth as young a twelve, the minimum age limit for the September team is sixteen. Sev-eral homes will be in progressive stages of construction at any time. This will allow volunteers to work meaningfully at any skill level. In addition to construc-tions, volunteers are needed in support roles such as food ser-vice and transportation. Contact Bill Walker – 415-883-5780 or walkerb2@comcast.net for fur-ther information, if you would like just periodic updates. The dates in June are proposed for youth at Santa Rosa UMC. They are for information only. The Middletown volunteer sched-ule is wide open now but will quickly fill as teams respond.

Mission Trip – Middletown Fire Recovery Project

The King replied, Truly I tell you, what-ever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for

me.

Matthew 25:40