Tributaries

I want to spring forward by looking back at the

presentation by Rev. Nicole Lamarche who was

our guest preacher in February. Rev. Nicole is the

Organizing Pastor and Spiritual Entrepreneur of a

new United Church of Christ congregation, Silicon

Valley Progressive Faith Community.

Rev. Nicole opened her presentation by saying that

our content in the UCC is good, but we need to

change the delivery system. I experience this in so

many ways, the least of which is when I go to our

so-called New Century Hymnal and find that

most of the songs were written in the 1800’s. Our

music is just one part of our delivery system that is

out-of-date.

Here are my notes on Nicole’s presentation of the

lessons that her faith community has learned in

beginning their new church.

1) Innovation. The foolish idea becomes the coolest

thing to do. Be ready to take risks, look foolish,

and dance like no one is watching.

2) Failure is an essential part of innovation, but it’s

only a failure if you didn’t learn something.

Try something and then take the time to reflect on

how it went, who came, test assumptions,

and receive feedback.

3) MVP: Minimum Viable Product. What is the

simplest thing you can do that will have the

greatest impact? This requires research and

innovation: Who lives here? What are they looking

for that you have to offer? Where are the people

already gathered? Be there as the church.

Volume 35 Issue 4 April 2016 Rev. Alan Claassen, Interim Minister

The Grapevine

Newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Sonoma

United Church of Christ

An example: If you had an information table set up at

the Farmers Market in the Plaza you would be able to

tell your story to hundreds of people.

4) Vision needs a soul picture. The soul never thinks

without a picture. What image do you have that

creatively conveys who you are and where you want

to be? What are the visuals that come through your

landscape, your buildings, and your worship service?

5) Vehicles are not God. Place, structures,

personalities, and your programs are not who or what

you worship. What was once innovative becomes

status quo. Be willing to let go of things that no

longer serve the spirit that is alive.

6) You make the road by walking. You make it up and

mess it up as you go: wandering, discovering,

remembering, laughing, crying, forgiving, trusting,

resting, looking, walking the way of peace. Be a

church on the move!

Every Sunday morning

we hear the words,

“Whoever and wherever

you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”

Those words assume that you are indeed on a

journey, indeed going somewhere.

This message from Rev. Nicole is timely for this

congregation as you prepare to call a new minister

and renovate the sanctuary. May love and open-

hearted sharing continue as you keep making history

here along the Camino de Sonoma.

Fare forward, voyagers,

-- Pastor Alan

Sanctuary Renovation Committee

Our goal is to build for our future and honor our past by

creating a welcoming, sacred place that enhances the w

worship experience for all. That’s a pretty tall order!

I am very happy to report that this committee has been

working diligently and creatively to make that happen.

We’ve consulted with experts in church space design,

acoustics, lighting, construction, windows, church

furniture, and fixtures. You name it, we’ve talked to

someone.

As in any remodel or renovation, one decision begets

another. In the end there is a clear path of choices that

led from this one to the next one; you started here and

ended up there.

I’m the newbie on the committee and I’m pretty darn

excited. Helen, Nancy, Diane, Joan, Terry, Alan, Kathleen,

and Brian deserve huge thanks for the untold hours

contributed to this project over the last several years.

We hope to be able to present a plan to the congregation

in the relatively near future.

-- Mary Evelyn Arnold

From the Church Office

I notice and appreciate the effort you are making to

provide workable and timely Grapevine and

Announcement submissions. Here are a couple of

clarifications for your church-related submissions:

Worship Bulletin Announcements

- Due by 9:00 a.m. on the preceding Thursday.

- Can be sent in the body of an email or in a Word doc.

- Strive for a 55-word limit.

- When requesting a change to a previously submitted

entry, resubmit the entire entry rather than requesting

to change a line, a name, etc.

Grapevine

- Please submit by the due date provided each month.

- Can be sent in the body of an email or in a Word doc.

- Limit entries to a half-page.

- When requesting a change to a previously submitted

entry, resubmit the entire entry rather than requesting

to change a line, a name, etc.

Thank you very much! Angela Ljung

COMMITTEE NEWS Pastoral Search Committee

Your Pastoral Search Committee has been meeting a bit

more frequently during the past month as our

discernment process moves into another phase.

To date we have reviewed 48 candidate profiles and

developed a list of finalists that we are interviewing and

observing in “Neutral Pulpits” as guest preachers in area

churches.

The qualifications of each prospective pastor we meet

are remarkable, and place in high relief the

characteristics, strengths and experience you have told

us are important in your new minister. This is no small

task since no candidate has ALL of the aspects of an

ideal pastor in equal measure! Our search is informed

by the question:

Where will our choice of pastor

lead the First Congregational Church

in the next five to ten years?

Please continue to keep the Pastoral Search Committee

in your prayers, as well as the candidates who are

looking for a new church home.

-- Ellen LaBruce

Outreach

Thank you for your generous collection of $540 for this

year’s One Great Hour of Sharing!

CROP Walk - Outreach has donated to the Sonoma

CROP Hunger Walk, which this year takes place on

April 24. CROP Hunger Walks are community-wide

events sponsored by Church World Service and

organized by local congregations or groups to raise

funds to end hunger at home and around the world.

We also have donated to End World Hunger 2030, and

plan to participate in the DINE OUT on Wednesday,

April 27. Several restaurants in Sonoma are donating up

to 20% of their revenues this day to support grassroots

efforts to end world hunger.

-- Janice Mattison

Endowment Committee

During the last meeting Winston Vaughan was

elected chairperson. Items discussed included past

activities, the current Vanguard Social Index Fund,

current list of Legacy Group members and applicable

bylaws / policies. We reviewed and confirmed the

existing Investment Policy Statement that guides our

committee. We all agreed that any action of the

Endowment Committee will be the result of

unanimous votes. Plans of the Committee include:

Annual Legacy Brunch planning and a redo of “The

Gift That Keeps on Giving” flyer.

Legacy Brunch

Sunday, July 10, at 12:30 p.m.

350 Church St, Sonoma

We initiated plans for an annual brunch for Legacy

members and hopefully new Legacy members who are

willing to list FCC in their wills and/or trusts. Call

Winston at 415-640-3808 for details.

Please contact anyone on the Endowment Committee

for assistance with any of the above, or for

information on adding FCC to your will or trust.

Yours always on life’s journey together -

Mary Evelyn Arnold, Rudy Doorman, and Winston

Vaughan, chair.

-- Winston Vaughan

Earth Care

FCC “Earth Care Festival”

Sunday, April 17, 12 noon - 3 p.m. on FCC campus

For 2016 Earth Day week, the ECC is planning a

community-wide “Earth Care Festival” on April 17.

Partnering to host this Festival with the Earth Care

Committee are Congregation Shir Shalom, Transition

Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Ecology Center, Crop Walk &

End World Hunger. The Festival will offer many Earth

Care information tables/exhibits: including “green”

cleaning products, irrigation and solar options for

residences, eat local, organic options, master

gardening tips, a bio-char demonstration, TED talk

videos, the FCC Sonoma Advocates for Earth Care,

and others. The ECC welcomes your suggestions

and invites your help to share this FCC outreach to

our community.

-- John Donnelly

Church Directory Updates

March 2016 directory changes

Kim Pack’s telephone number is 415-385-9691.

Gitte Cochrane’s address is 1445 Mission, Sonoma.

Ellen LaBruce’s email address is elabruce@sonic.net.

Church Photo Book

The Photo Book is almost completed! If you haven’t

had your photo taken by Kathy Aanestad, please do

so immediately. Email her (by clicking the word

Email) or call her at 935-6690.

Earth Care Nature Walkers at the end of the Shinrin-

Yoku (“Forest Therapy”). This Walk was guided by

Virginia Bertelsen at Sugarloaf State Park on March 14.

• Next Earth Care Nature Walk •

Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve, Sonoma

Monday, April 11, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

This is a 163 acre Preserve of gently sloping

grasslands and oak savannah, with over 250 species

of common and rare wildflowers, now managed by

the Sonoma Ecology Center. We have obtained

special access to the Preserve for this walk. If you

have not visited the Preserve, this is a wonderful

opportunity to do so. Our walk, rated easy, passes

directly through the mostly level grassland meadows,

crosses small creeks, and climbs a few gentle hills.

Rain will cancel.

RSVP: Space is limited to 18 participants. To confirm

your place email John Donnelly at

donnellyj63@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Thanks and Praise

Regarding the “Of One Soul” gathering held

March 13:

Dear FCC Sonoma,

We are still on a high from Sunday’s gathering,

which brought together so many caring and loving

people, to stand in support of our Muslim sisters and

brothers. Thank you so much for your support. We

look forward to our coming together again soon to

build on what we started in what we pray will

become a movement sweeping our land.

In solidarity and peace,

Rev. David Parks-Ramage

Santa Rosa UCC

Regarding the “Love Springs Eternal” concert held

March 20:

Dear Members:

We hope you didn’t miss the Palm Sunday concert in

our Sanctuary. It was terrific.

Taras Lumiere gathered a group of musicians,

including our own Patty Noel; Keith Ridenhour on

the sax and flute; Alan Claassen on the guitar; Carol

Emanuel, harpist and singer; and Robert Young on

drums. They performed a great selection of songs.

Taras, our multi-talented new member, sang and

played the guitar and violin. But the real treat was

the selection of music which combined spiritual

messages, current issues, and love.

The event culminated with “When the Spirit Moves

You, You’ve Gotta Move!” And folks got up and

moved! I overheard a guest say, “You never know

what you’ll find in this church!” To which we said

“Amen!”

--Helen Rowntree

Make a Note

Moment of Mission: Water Crisis in Flint, MI Sunday, April 3

On April 3, we will ask for your personal support to

augment a $200 donation pledged by the Outreach

Committee to assist our sister church, UCC Woodside

in Flint, MI, with their efforts to help citizens affected

by the lead concentration in the water supply in Flint.

UCC Woodside, led by the efforts of Pastor Deb

Conrad, has turned their church into a water supply

station for the inner city of Flint to provide clean

water to combat the effects of lead poisoning currently

impacting 40 percent of the city. UCC Woodside is

working with activists on the front lines of the water

issue and they need our help. Please consider giving a

donation, no matter how small, to assist their efforts.

20th Anniversary Community Passover Seder Saturday, April 23, 5:30 p.m., Burlingame Hall

All are welcome to the Congregation Shir Shalom

Passover Seder led by Rabbi Steve. A family-style

dinner, home-baked desserts, and coffee and tea will

be served. The last day to purchase tickets is Saturday,

April 9. Special price for FCC members is $55 for

adults, $25 for children under 12. Contact Lynn at

415-999-6259 or ethelynn@aol.com for questions and

to reserve your spot. Visit their website at www.shir-

shalom.org for more details.

Poetry Group Resumes Spring has sprung and poetry comes alive!

The Poetry Group will start anew on Monday,

April 25, at 4 p.m. with user-friendly poetry by the

likes of Billy Collins, Mary Oliver and more to open

the heart. The book we'll use is Roger Housden's "Ten

Poems to Last a Lifetime." We read only one poem a

week, with some commentary, and the focus of

conversation as a group is how the poems relate to our

own lives, loves and spiritual quests. All are welcome,

whether you've been with the group before or not. The

book is available online.

Direct your questions to Janet Volkman at 939-8339 or

jgv2@comcast.net.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 8:00 am CR Meditation

2 8:00 am - 1:00 pm Old Adobe School Rummage Sale

3 F.I.S.H. Sunday 10:30 am Worship Todd Evans preaching

4 4:00 pm CR Poetry Group

5 4:00 pm CR Jam Session 7:00 pm S Choir

6 7:00 pm CR Pastoral Search Committee

7 3:30/4:15 pm CR Bells 7:00 pm CR Church Council

8 8:00 am CR Meditation 7:00 pm BH Congregation Shir Shalom Shabbat

9 9:00 am - S and CR Congregation Shir Shalom Service

10 9:00 am CR Practicing Presence 10:30 am Worship 1:30 pm CR Pastoral Search Committee

11 7:00 pm S Sanctuary Renovation Committee 7:00 pm CR Seekers

12 11:30 am CR Women’s Fellowship 5:00 pm CR Earth Care Committee 7:00 pm S Choir

13 12:30 pm CR Caring Friends 7:00 pm CR Pastoral Search Committee

14 3:30/4:15 pm CR Bells

15 8:00 am CR Meditation

16 5:30 pm CR Earth Care Committee

17

10:30 am Worship Earth Care Festival - campus wide

18

19 1:00 pm CR Property and Finance Comm. 4:00 pm CR Jam Session 7:00 pm S Choir 7:00 pm S Choir

20 7:00 pm CR Pastoral Search Committee

21 3:30/4:15 pm CR Bells 7:00 pm S Worship Committee

22 8:00 am CR Meditation

23 Congregation Shir Shalom - BH Seder

24 9:00 am CR Practicing Presence 10:30 am Worship 10:00 am BH C.R.O.P. Walk

25 4:00 pm CR Poetry Group 7:00 pm S Sanctuary Renovation Committee 7:00 pm CR Seekers

26 7:00 pm S Choir

27 7:00 pm CR Pastoral Search Committee World Hunger Awareness - Dine Out Day

28 3:30/4:15 pm CR Bells

29 8:00 am CR Meditation

5:00 pm CR+ S Congregation Shir Shalom Shabbat

30

S = Sanctuary

CR = Community Room

BH = Burlingame Hall

First Congregational Church of Sonoma 252 West Spain St., Sonoma, CA 95476 707- 996-1328 · contact@sonomaucc.org · www.sonomaucc.org Office Hours: Wednesday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Worship Service and Sunday School: 10:30 a.m., Sunday

We are an Open and Affirming Earth Care Church Interim Minister: Alan Claassen, alan@sonomaucc.org

Music Director: Terry Lezama-Jensen

Pianist: Sondra Cooper

Sunday School Teacher: Emily Webber

Childcare Providers: Anna DeSmet and Natalie Baker

Office & Event Manager: Angela Ljung

Facilities Manager: Steve Cook

Pastor Emeritus: David McCracken

West Spain Thrift Shop Store Hours: Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Donation drop-off hours: Regular store hours, and Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Happy April Birthday!

7 - Renee Serota

7 - Lori Barron

14 - Jeffrey Sallot

17 - Jim Nelson

23 - John Schafer

Liturgist Deacon Ushers Flowers Coffee Hour April 3 Jaime Love Joan Howarth David McFarland and Winston Vaughan Women’s Fellowship Mary Evelyn Arnold and Jeffrey Sallot April 10 Bob Rowntree Elizabeth Palmer John and Sara Donnelly Janet Volkman Caring Friends April 17 John Donnelly Joan Howarth Randy and Linda States Earth Care April 24 Elizabeth Griego Tim Boeve Janet Engelbrecht

In memory of those we love...

Carol Knope

Elinor Newmarker