Friends in Faith:
This Sunday, November 26, we are trying something new! For the past two years, I have been invited to serve as a guest preacher at a new ministry in Stockton: "Vietnamese Evangelistic Outreach" (VEO). In working with Pastor Trinh, this small community has formed a fellowship and is being supported by a few grants from our Presbytery. Their worship time is about the same time as our own, so I've always had to decline their invitation, but this year, I decided we'd try to caravan down to Stockton to worship with VEO. We want to support this new ministry and enjoy an opportunity to worship together as sisters and brothers in Christ. So this Sunday, all are invited to join us in Stockton for this special morning of worship (followed by a delicious luncheon of Vietnamese food). The service begins at 10 a.m. and I'd assume will complete by around 1:30 p.m.?
The address is for VEO is: 7743 N. West Lane Ste. C1-2, Stockton, CA 95210
I also understand if this trip may be a too much for some of our church family, so rest assured that Jim Guida will be leading worship at Bethany and Natalya will be present to play. Natalya begins playing our “gathering music” at 10:20 a.m. You can also join virtually here: Facebook Live. More details about worship can be found here.
All are invited to help us "deck the halls" for Advent and Christmas this Saturday, November 25 at 9 a.m. Jim Guida has promised to provide donuts! Join us for this fun tradition.
HOT COCOA MINISTRY: On Tuesday morning, Bethany provided cookies, cake and freshly baked brownies to the several dozen SSIP Food Closet volunteers. Howard McMackin made coffee and tea, and the Medina boys (Alex and Jaxon), with Grandma Cathy Sapunor, helped make cocoa. Many thanks to Jackie Sneed for helping prep and serve and to Sammi Fernandez and Kathy Frank for donating goodies and cocoa! SSIP Director Simon reported that over 760 families were served by the Food Closet on Monday.
A special thanks to the wonderful crew who gave all the pews a deep cleaning and even restained/finished all of the woodwork! The sanctuary looks fantastic! Though there were several volunteers, Nga, Manh, and Marcie were key to organizing the project and completing it. Thank you!
Next two sessions of the 4-week class on "Spiritual Gifts" will be held in the Social Hall at 10 a.m. on December 4 and December 18. A free lunch is served after our time of discussion—join us!
As a church family, we are a community that is committed to caring for one another. One of the ways that we can support one another, loved ones and strangers, near and far, is to offer our prayers on their behalf. We share our prayers because we care for one another, and we know that God listens and cares for all of God's children. If you have a joy or concern to share, please let me know; and if it is a confidential matter, please be sure to let them know. And don't forget that we have a prayer team who is committed to praying for any and all prayer concerns that come forward. You can reach out to Barbara Greene with your prayer concerns and she'll share them with the prayer team.
Hear our prayers, O Lord!
Peace to all.
—Jesse
