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From CGS council member Jean Hope:At CGS, our mission statement is to Proclaim the good news, Welcome all, and Serve the community and the world with Christ’s love and compassion. When we called Pastor Kris, we were looking for (and found) a spiritual leader who would help guide us into a future that encouraged and expanded that mission. We are currently involved in serving the community in several ways. For two months each year, we participate in the Safe Car Park program with other churches in the area. This program provides a safe place for those living in their vehicles to park at night. We provide our guests with a hospitality suite which is stocked with snacks, a refrigerator for their uses, tables to share meals, and an air conditioned environment opened 24 hours when the weather is too hot to stay in their vehicles. We prepare and share meals with our guests and help them to feel welcome and valued. Volunteer opportunities are available through Sarah Janigian. We also participate in two separate Shelter Cooking programs. Once a month, one of our three teams of cooks prepares a healthy meal of their choice for delivery to the LGBTQ+ New Haven Shelter or the Julian Street Shelter, where the opportunity to serve the meal and interact with the guests is also available. Volunteers are always welcome to join one of the cooking teams through Phil Boyer. There are also many one-time events throughout the year that utilize volunteers from the congregation as well as committees such as God’s Work Our Hands Sunday, Worship and Music Committee, Altar Guild, Care Committee, and Coffee Service. Speak to Pastor Kris if any of these areas appeals to you.
Our most recent opportunity to serve the broader community is the Silicon Valley Sponsoring Committee. This is a coalition of religious congregations, non-profit groups, and dedicated individuals who want to show up to support local community needs through action and the power of many voices. CGS is a founding member of this committee and the official launch is on November 3rd at the Santa Clara Convention Center where our bishop, Jeff Johnson, as well as other bishops and church and community leaders will gather to celebrate this important work. SVSC has already taken action to provide improved lighting for the Cadillac-Winchester neighborhood of San Jose, where residents were at risk at night and needed tree-trimming and improved street lights to increase safety. We also got a stop sign installed where a child was killed while crossing the street. This was accomplished through community actions, inviting participation of elected officials, and convincing the Vice Mayor to allocate funding for these needs. The power of many voices (and voters) accomplished this much needed improvement. Talk to Rebecca Thomas, Chuck Witschorik, Adolfo Ramirez, Jean Hope or Pastor Kris about how you can make a difference through your presence. CGS is an active, vibrant community of believers. There is always the opportunity to pray for any or all of our activities. See if there is any area where you would like to make a difference and join in the satisfaction and fun of sharing the good news.
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The titles below were added to our CGS Library over the past few months and are now available to all. Some were gifts to the library, some were requests, and some you may blame on me. They may be found on the new book shelf (top shelf of the book truck) or are already on the shelves. Please note that we use a modified form of the Dewey Decimal classification system, and the books are arranged on our shelves by that system. The numbers following each title (e.g. 277.3082 Alb) are the Dewey numbers you can use to locate the books on the shelves. If you have any questions (we have a library? Where is the library?, What is a book truck?, etc.), your friendly librarian (that’s me) will be happy to help you.
Recent Additions to the CGS Library – March-July 2024 Becker, Amy Julia. To be made well : an invitation to wholeness, healing, and hope. Hereld Press, 2022. 248.4 Bec “Timely, practical, and full of hope, To Be Made Well is a beautiful offering for our weary, splintered, and hurting world. Amy Julia Becker skillfully addresses our personal and collective need for healing through examples from the Bible, from her own life, and from a diverse range of trusted leaders. These pages hold timeless lessons and helpful application. Highly recommend!” -- Vivian Mabuni, author of Open Hands, Willing Heart, and founder and podcast host of Someday Is Here for AAPI women leaders. “Amy Julia Becker has written a beautiful book, grounded in the person of Jesus and the healing he brings. This is not a book with a before-and-after story of miraculous healing; it is a book about how we live in a fractured world with bodies that bear on and in them the brokenness of living. It is a book about how we see Jesus, how he sees us, and how his love heals us just a little bit more each day.” -- Lore Ferguson Wilbert, author of A Curious Life: The Questions God Asks, and Handle with Care: How Jesus Redeems the Power of Touch in Life and Ministry [Bible. English. NSRV. 2021] SBL Study Bible : including apocryphal / deterocanomical books. New Rev. Standard Version, updated ed. N.Y. : HarperOne, 2021. 220.5 NSRV 2021 Supported by the largest and most respected academic association of Bible scholars, The Society of Biblical Literature, The SBL Study Bible is the landmark general reference Bible that offers the full text of the New Revised Standard Version. Caldwell, Taylor. The Listener. N.Y. : Doubleday, 1960. 813.52 Cal Who was the mysterious listener? And what strange power did he offer to fifteen people on a desperate quest? John Godfrey, retired lawyer in a large midwestern city, erects a beautiful marble sanctum as a monument to his late wife. Inside, behind an electronic screen that hides him from each visitor, is the unknown one who sits. . .and listens. Carter, Jimmy. Living faith. N.Y. : Times Books, 1996. 225.95 Car For President Carter, faith finds its deepest expression in a life of compassion, reconciliation, and service to others. Living Faith is filled with stories of people whose lives have touched his--some from the world stage, more from modest walks of life. We see how President Carter learned about other faiths from Prime Minister Menachim Begin and President Anwar Sadat; learned a lesson in forgiveness from a clash with commentator George Will; how he was inspired by the simple theology of preacher Ely Cruz, "Love God and the person in front of you"; and how the cheerful strength of family friend Annie Mae Rhodes taught him the meaning of "patient faith." Carter, Warren. The Roman Empire and the New Testament : an essential guide. Nashville : Abingdon, 2006. 225.95 Car An indispensable introduction to Roman society, culture, law, politics, religion, and daily life as they relate to the study of the New Testament. The Roman Empire formed the central context in which the New Testament was written. Brief in presentation yet broad in scope, this book will introduce students to the information and ideas essential to coming to grips with the world in which early Christianity was born. Erikson, Erik. Young man Luther : a study in psychoanalysis and history. N.Y. : Norton, 1962, c1958. 268.2 Erik Full of wise observations not only about Luther but also about human life … -- W.H. Auden A very profound study … this book will be very rewarding – Reinhold Niebuhr. Floyd, Wayne Whitson. The wisdom and witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer : meditations by Wayne Whitson Floyd on texts from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2000. 267.55 Flo Gecan, Michael. Effective organizing for congregational renewal. Acta, 2008. 255.3 Gre “I highly recommend this to all my best friends” – Kris Rhude. Jacobsen, Douglas. Global gospel : an introduction to Christianity on five continents. Grand Rapids : Baker Academic, 2015. 270 Jac "Douglas Jacobsen has provided a succinct, well-organized, and clearly written historical account of contemporary Christianity as a truly global religion. Broad coverage of geographical regions and theological traditions--including very helpful graphs, charts, and bibliography--underscores the book's emphasis on diversity. For a Christian world that is continuing to change with unprecedented speed, Global Gospel offers unusually perceptive guidance." -- Mark A. Noll, University of Notre Dame. Keller, Timothy. Hope in time of fear : the Resurrection and the meaning of Easter. N.Y. : Penguin, 2022. 232.927 Kel Hope in the Time of Fear is a book that unlocks the meaning of Jesus's resurrection. Easter is a time of spiritual rebirth and a time of celebrating the physical rebirth of Jesus after three days in the tomb. For his devoted followers, nothing could prepare them for the moment they met the resurrected Jesus. Each failed to recognize him. All of them physically saw him and yet did not spiritually truly see him. It was only when Jesus reached out and invited them to see who he truly was that their eyes were opened. Here the central message of the Christian faith is revealed in a way only Timothy Keller could do it--filled with unshakable belief, piercing insight, and a profound new way to look at a story you think you know. Lagerkvist, Pär. Barabbas. N.Y. : Vintage Books, 1955, c1951. 837.7372 Lag Barabbas is the acquitted; the man whose life was exchanged for that of Jesus of Nazareth, crucified upon the hill of Golgotha. Barabbas is a man condemned to have no god. "Christos Iesus" is carved on the disk suspended from his neck, but he cannot affirm his faith. He cannot pray. He can only say, "I want to believe." Lagerkvist won the 1951 Nobel Prize for Literature Mattes, Mark. The Augsburg Confession : a guide for the perplexed. Irvine : 1517 Publishing, 2022. 265.5 Mat This booklet (26 p.) introduces readers to the Augsburg Confession, one of the most important charters of Christian liberty. From the time of its appearance in the sixteenth century to this day, the Augsburg Confession connects back to the first Christians and shows how the Bible can be read and Christian life can be lived today. You will see how the gospel enlivens all aspects of the life of faith and the mission of the church. Nhat Hanh, Thich. Love in action : writings on nonviolent social change. Foreword by Daniel Barrigan. Berkeley : Parallax, 1993. 294.33 Nha This book, introduced by Daniel Berrigan, collects over twenty years of Nhat Hanh’s influential writings on nonviolence, peace, and reconciliation. He introduces the reader to methods of looking deeply to discover the roots of war in ourselves, in our destructive patterns of living, and in greed and deluded self-interest on a global scale. Niebuhr, H. Richard. Christ and culture. N.Y. : Harper Torchbacks, 1975. 50th anniversary ed., with a new introd. by Martin Marty; a new preface by James Gustafson, and a new essay by the author. 261 Nie "This is without any doubt the one outstanding book in the field of basic Christian social ethics."--Paul Ramsey in the "Journal Of Religion" ; "A superb piece of analytical writing in tackling what is just about the toughest problem face by Christians. The problem: In what way, or degree, is Christ relevant to the situation in which the Christian must live....Mr. Niebuhr distinguishes five typical answers to the Christian's problem of setting the relation between the Christ he calls Lord and the culture which holds him as the sea holds its fish."--Paul Hutchinson in "The New York Times Book Review" Niebuhr, H. Richard. Irony of American history. University of Chicago, 2008. With a new introd. by Andrew Basevich. 973.91 Nie “[Niebuhr] is one of my favorite philosophers. I take away [from his works] the compelling idea that there’s serious evil in the world, and hardship and pain. And we should be humble and modest in our belief we can eliminate those things. But we shouldn’t use that as an excuse for cynicism and inaction. I take away . . . the sense we have to make these efforts knowing they are hard.”—President Barack Obama Roseberry, David H. Psalm on the cross : a journey to the heart of Jesus through Psalm 22. Anglican Compass, 2021. 232.4 Ros As he hung dying on the cross at Calvary, Jesus spoke these haunting words from the opening verse of Psalm 22, a psalm written by King David over a thousand years prior. While the words depict the anguish of suffering, Jesus knew that the complete psalm was one of triumph and hope. The moment that began in darkness and despair eventually ends with a proclamation of confidence and victory. Childrens’ Books Carlson, Natalie. The family under the bridge. N.Y. : Harper Collins, 2019, c1993. J [Fic] Car A Newberry Award Winner. Armand, an old man living on the streets of Paris, relishes his solitary life. Then one day just before Christmas, Armand returns to his favorite spot beneath the bridge to find three cold and hungry children. Although he has no interest in children, Armand soon finds himself caring for the small family. It does not take Armand very long to realize that he must do whatever it takes to get them a real home. Children will treasure this warm and funny adventure of family, freedom, and Santa Claus. Suitable for children 7-11. Dee, Jodi. Dirt girl. Jodi Dee Publishing, 2023. J [Fic] Dee “This book really surprised me, I absolutely loved it! It's about a girl who goes to a new school and really doesn't fit in. She often had dirt on her clothes and flowers in her hair and liked to play with bugs. One day she invited people from school to her birthday party and they decided to go out of curiosity. They had to see how this weird girl lived and to their amazement, they discovered she lived very much in harmony with nature. Her house was so different from theirs and so wonderful. After that they never teased her again. One quote in the book I found really powerful and I really must share with you. ‘Many people are afraid of what is different than them, Zafera thought. But hold true to who you are, and others will eventually see your light. Being different is what makes each of us special!’ " -- Children's Bookshelf, 5 Star. For children 4-8. Henson, Taraji P. You can be a good friend (no matter what!). Zonderkidz, 2024. J [Fic] Hen From award-winning actress and mental-health advocate Taraji P. Henson, You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) shows kids the great things that can happen when we approach others and ourselves with empathy, patience, and love. This book is designed to help children ages 4-8 to overcome anxieties and embrace what makes them unique . Jean, Orion. Race to kindness. Zonderkidz, 2024. J 242.66 Jean Orion Jean was named TIME Magazine’s 2021 Kid of the Year. His amazing accomplishments include donating over half a million books to children, and collecting over 100,000 meals for the food insecure. From giving meaningful compliments to sharing your snack to donating used clothes, there are so many ways to be kind that it can be tough to know where to start! Luckily, author and fellow kid Orion Jean has some simple steps we can all take to make the world a better place. For children ages 4-8. Salati, Doug. Hot Dog. Knopf, 2022. J [Fic] Sal 2023 Caldecott Award Winner. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Publishers Weekly • Kirkus Reviews • New York Public Library “An utter joy from beginning to end!” — Sophie Blackall, two-time Caldecott Medal winner. This hot dog has had enough of summer in the city! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people's feet right in his face. When he plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, his owner endeavors to get him the breath of fresh air he needs. She hails a taxi, hops a train, and ferries out to the beach. Williams, Vera B. Chair for my mother. Greenwillow Books, 2007. J [Fic] Wil A Caldecott Honor Award Winner (A Reading Rainbow book) "A tender knockout. It's rare to find much vitality, spontaneity, and depth of feeling in such a simple, young book."--Kirkus Reviews http://main.acsevents.org/goto/PMenard I am honored to be participating in Relay for Life of Cambrian again for the 11th year with my team, Team Awesome. This year is the 15th annual Cambrian Relay for Life and I am not only a participant, but I am also part of the Event Leadership Team. I am one of several volunteers working to make the event great. Our goal is not only to raise funds for American Cancer Society but also to gathering our local community to bring awareness about cancer, enjoy good food, entertainment and celebrate many years of success. If you are local, I hope you will consider coming out the event April 26th @ 6pm to April 27th @ 4pm at Dartmouth Middle School. There will be a lot to see at the event. I hope you will consider donating to this worthy cause once again. American Cancer Society is the leading organization working to help people facing cancer, fund research, and advocate for equitable access to care. You can donate at the link listed. If you want to honor a Cancer Survivor, remember someone lost to cancer or recognize a cancer caregiver, so can also select Luminaria on the web page and one will be created and displayed at the event. This year I will also be raffling off a quilt that I made for the event. If you would like to be entered into the raffle indicate in your message or send me an email and I will include you in the raffle. I truly appreciate your support and good thoughts for the success of the event. With your help, I hope that soon we will see an end to this terrible disease. “CGS Lunch Bunch”
Name: Community, Gathering for, Socialization: Lunch Bunch Description: The CGS Lunch Bunch is a monthly gathering hosted by CGS’s care team], designed to bring together individuals who might feel isolated or disconnected from the community. Our mission is to provide a warm, inviting atmosphere where everyone can share a meal, engage in meaningful conversations, and form lasting friendships. Whether you’re new in town, going through a tough time, or simply seeking fellowship, the CGS Lunch Bunch is here to welcome you with open arms. How It Works: • Frequency: Once a month, details on the specific date and time will be shared in advance. • Location: Held at Sophie Jobe’s houseproviding an accessible and comfortable setting. • Activities: Each gathering will include a shared meal, possibly themed potlucks or meals provided by local sponsors, followed by various social activities. Activities might include guest speakers, games, music, or small group discussions centered around themes of hope, friendship, and community support. • Open To: All are welcome. While aimed at those feeling isolated, we encourage anyone seeking fellowship or wishing to support their fellow community members. • Social Media: Regular updates, including dates and themes, will be posted on the church’s social media platforms. • Word of Mouth: Church members are encouraged to personally invite someone who might benefit from the CGS Lunch Bunch, making it a community effort. The CGS Lunch Bunch aims to break down the barriers of isolation by offering a space where individuals can come together, share a meal, and build connections. It’s more than just a monthly meeting; it’s an opportunity to create a community that supports and uplifts each other. Join us in making a difference, one lunch at a time. - Sophie Jobe -Sunday School here at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is called Godly Play You may be wondering: What is Godly Play, and what are some benefits for the children? Godly Play is a distinctive approach to Christian ministry with children, both innovative and deeply grounded in our spiritual tradition. It is a form of the Montessori style of teaching. We meet on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. Godly Play helps to re-sacralize the everyday things of the world, such as bread, wine, candles, oil, wood, linens, and clay. It reintroduces a sacramental worldview in an often practical and materialistic society, reminding us that the ordinary can be infused with the divine. In a culture that often values noise and busyness, Godly Play teaches children and adults the value of quiet contemplation and deliberate engagement. It offers a counter-cultural message in a comforting and consistent manner, inviting participants to slow down and reflect amidst the rush of modern life. By providing sensorial materials within a safe and stimulating environment, Godly Play integrates language and play, offering children multiple avenues for exploration and understanding. This holistic approach acknowledges that each child learns differently and seeks to engage the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. Unlike traditional teaching methods, Godly Play is not about rote memorization or passive learning. Instead, it fosters discovery and personal meaning-making, allowing children to actively engage with sacred stories and parables in a way that resonates with their individual thoughts and feelings. Craft activities in Godly Play serve as opportunities for creative expression rather than predetermined outcomes. Each child is encouraged to respond authentically to the stories they've encountered, fostering a deeper connection and understanding of their faith journey. Teachers in a Godly Play classroom benefit from a stable setup and routine, allowing them to focus on facilitating meaningful experiences rather than constantly planning new activities. This consistency creates a supportive environment where both teachers and children can fully immerse themselves in the exploration of scripture and spirituality. At its core, Godly Play teaches reliance on a gracious and accessible God, shifting focus away from transient worldly distractions towards enduring spiritual truths. It cultivates respect for oneself, others, and the world around us, fostering a sense of care, patience, and interconnectedness. By embracing the rhythm of action, reflection, engagement, and prayer, Godly Play encourages participants to develop a spiritual rule of life modeled after the biblical principles of living in community and relationship with God. Through its rituals and organizational structure, Godly Play instills kindness, mutuality, and respect for others—a living embodiment of the biblical ethic of communal living and love. As a contemporary adaptation of lectio divina, Godly Play invites children to engage with scripture in a meaningful and personal way, moving beyond mere intellectual understanding to a deeper encounter with God's word. Ultimately, Godly Play affirms the holiness inherent in all of creation and invites participants to recognize the sacredness of every moment and encounter. It offers a glimpse into kairos time, where the presence of God transcends the limitations of clock time, inviting us to dwell in the eternal now and reflect on the deeper purpose of our existence. - Sophie Jobe (Dedicated To Christy, the medical teams of Veterans Affairs, Marin County Health, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, San Jose, Washington DC, Reno, Davis, Essen-Werden, Duesseldorf Hospitals, and all our CGS nurses) I am writing this to honor our dear friend Christy’s memory who passed away in October. She was only 49. A large portion of Christy's career was spent as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Stanford Children's. If you asked her kids what their mom did, they said, "She saves babies." She was one of the most selfless, compassionate, and tireless people I know. May God guide me and let the right words flow from my heart to my pen, to pay tribute to her life of service and countless contributions. She fought her cancer with so much courage, this was during COVID and her relentless determination brought her home to her daughter Aubrey and her son Cole. Aubrey and Andre met at Carden in pre-K and have been besties since. I remember them laughing, singing, dancing, and playing in our very CGS backyard. We were so thankful to the Lord and hoped after many brutal chemotherapies that she would be cancer-free. In August a tumor was found in her brain. Again, she fought like a lion and went through surgery with one single thought in mind. Make it to celebrate her 50th birthday with her loved ones. She passed away a few weeks before and is now smiling at all of us from above and continuing her work as the true nurturing angel that she was, is, and always will be. I admire her capacity to live in the present moment and to be the best mother she could be, despite some days under the harsh reality that she could not save all those in her care. Because she always led with her heart, she was able to make such a profound impact. Her impact lives through the lives she touched, the many lives she saved, and the many nurses she mentored. Amazing ICU nurses saved Remy’s life after his multiple-trauma motorcycle accident, then Ansgar's after his, and gave it all to the 10 friends and family that passed away last year many young and from terminal cancer. To all the nurses who cared for our loved ones: We see you; we need you; we feel you. Most of all we love you, to be interpreted in angel speak “We see God in you”. God is Light. God is Love. Love is God. Love is Service. Through your dedication and compassion, you are both Love and Light to every soul under your care. Thank you for being the special You that you are. Thank you for letting that little light of yours shine and melt our hearts. Thank you for the warm welcome and the many words of solace that made such a difference to brighten our days and overcome some of our grief. We are forever grateful for your loving kindness and critical care. “Essential worker” is not doing justice to the selfless giving and caring nurses do day in and day out in the front line. Their skills truly matter to save lives and when it’s not possible they provide the comfort, solace, and human dignity needed to overcome the fear of the last hour and to appease the grief of those left behind. This write-up is to inspire, fill their cups, and remind them of their "Why" in terms they don't always hear. To help them feel great about what they do and touch all their hearts. Nursing’s most extraordinary gift to humanity—they give, give, and give, —yet they never ask for anything in return. In a world that often values recognition and fame, nurses stand as shining examples of humility and service. They are the compassionate souls who tirelessly give of themselves each day without expecting or anticipating anything in return. Their quiet dedication speaks volumes, inspiring us all to strive for more humility and meaning in our lives. We should acknowledge all nurses do that affirm our value, relevance, and importance, not just as patients, but as human beings. Nurses are the beacon of hope, the reminder that no random act of kindness goes unnoticed and that genuine care matters. They are the motivation boost to help us not only recover but also to be the best we can be to reflect God’s Grace more perfectly. Educated by the Salesian sisters, St Francis of Assisi is one of my role models, and the excerpt below from one of his famous prayers is a good summary of what nurses do. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, where there is injury, pardon, where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light, and where there is sadness, joy.”
I am deeply humbled by the miracles you perform every day. By the not-so-little light that keeps shining from your soul. You touched our hearts but mostly the souls of our loved ones who went on to meet the Great Light. You brightened their last days and made the last hours more bearable. You told them there was no shame in being afraid and in asking for help to better manage their pain. You were the nurturing angels down below connected in your heart and soul to the ones from above. God gives grace to the humble and those who pour their heart and soul into giving. We are so blessed to have all of you gifted nurses in our midst. With deepest gratitude, Isabelle Coste-Fürst CGS Council Member & Deacon To honor Christy's long career as a nurse and her love of children, we have chosen to support St. Jude's. through this special fund. Everything they do is centered around finding cures and saving children. They do so much to support families when a cure is not possible. Should you prefer donating to CGS, feel free to do so. Our family has found in this amazing community the support to recharge our dead batteries, overcome the overwhelming grief wave, keep the Light shining in our souls on the dimmest and darkest days, and most of all to help us realize that grief, is Love enduring and that Universal Love is ubiquitous, even in the most painful of circumstances. - Isabelle Coste Dear CGS Folks, I so enjoyed your February choral concert, and I talked briefly to Sarah about these orchestral concerts at FCC. I wanted to share with your whole congregation details about these two concerts, this Sunday afternoon and next Friday night. We are launching a community concert series at First Congregational Church, starting with two orchestras that have performed here in the past. We are calling the series Concerts on the Corner and hope to grow it into a significant arts contribution to our local community. I hope that members of your congregation, as part of our community, will be interested in attending these concerts, and many more in the future. I hope you will share this information in whatever way is convenient. I realize this notice is a little late and we'll get you the information earlier in the future. We will also be glad to promote music events at your church to our congregation. Harmonia California Inaugurates Concerts on the Corner Chamber Orchestra Concert at First Congregational Church of San Jose - March 17 Harmonia California, the talented Bay Area chamber orchestra returns to the First Congregational Church of San Jose, under the direction of Kristin Turner Link on March 17 at 3 PM. The concert will feature the world premiere of 3 Meditations for String Orchestra and Harp by Bay Area composer Ron Miller. It will also feature piano soloist Barbara Sunseri performing Bloch’s Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano. The performance will be at First Congregational Church of San Jose, 1980 Hamilton Ave., San Jose, 3:00 PM, Sunday, March 17, 2024. Tickets are available at the door, $15 per person. Children 10 and under are free. South Bay Philharmonic Graces Concerts on the Corner Orchestra Concert at First Congregational Church of San Jose - March 22 South Bay Philharmonic will present the SBP Eras Tour (four centuries of symphonic music) at the First Congregational Church of San Jose, under the direction of George Yefchak on March 22 at 7:30 PM. The concert will feature Rossini: Introduction, Theme, and Variations, featuring clarinet soloist Tina Tsai; Actor: Meditation, featuring violin soloist Gene Huang; Haydn: Symphony No. 94 ("Surprise"); and Sibelius: Valse triste. The performance will be at First Congregational Church of San Jose, 1980 Hamilton Ave., San Jose, 7:30 PM, Friday, March 22, 2024. Tickets are $20 per person at www.southbayphilharmonic.org. Children 12 and under are free. Peace, Brian
- The titles below have been added to our CGS Library over the past few months and are now available in the Library. Those of you who were fortunate enough to attend Pastor Kris’ adult education classes on Christian Nationalism or the Apocrypha may find them useful for some additional reading. They may be found on the new book shelf (top shelf) of the book truck or are already on the book shelves. Please note that we use a modified form of the Dewey Decimal classification system, and the books are arranged on our shelves by that system. The numbers following each title (e.g. 277.3082 Alb) are the Dewey numbers you can use to locate the books on the shelves. If you need any help (what library? Where is the library?, what is a book truck?, etc.), your friendly librarian (that’s me) will be happy to show you his wicked plan. Alberta, Tim. The kingdom, the power, and the glory: American evangelicals in an age of extremism. N.Y. : Harper, 2023. 277.3082 Alb “Alberta adeptly illustrates how Christian nationalism is 'destroying the evangelical church' on a big-picture level, as well as how it’s justified individually, framed scripturally, and blared over pulpits in support of hyper-conservative political candidates. While he suggests a 'true Christianity' might still be salvageable, Alberta’s own evidence reveals how deep the rot has already spread. It’s an incisive, unsparing look at a movement in crisis" — Publishers Weekly Brueggemann, Walter. A way other than our own : devotions for Lent / compiled by Richard Floyd. Louisville, KY : Westminster John Knox Press, 2017. 242.34 Bru “God has always called people out of their safe, walled cities into uncomfortable places, revealing paths they would never have chosen. Despite our culture of self-indulgence, we too are called to walk an alternative path – one of humility, justice, and peace. Walter Bruggemann’s thought-provoking reflections for the season of Lent invite us to consider the challenging, beautiful life that comes with walking the way of grace” – Back cover. Chacour, Elias, with David Hazard; foreword by James Baker. Blood brothers: the dramatic story of a Palestinian Christian working for peace in Israel. Grand Rapids, MI : Baker Books, 2022, c1984. 956.945 Cha “From my perspective, both as a believer and as a diplomat, I take hope and comfort in knowing that amid all the hatred, destruction, and death, Father Chacour continues his patient work, softening one heart at a time”—James Baker III, U.S. Secretary of State, 1989-1992. Curtice, Kaitlin B. Living resistance : an indigenous vision for seeking wholeness every day. Grand Rapids, MI : Brazos Press, 2023. 204.408 Cur “Curtice fiercely yet gently calls us home to care about our souls and our bodies, about each other and Mother Earth. It’s a timely and timeless call to live resistance every day as we build the world we want together”—Jacque Lewis, senior minister, Middle Church. Gathercole, Simon, editor. The Apocryphal gospels. Harmondsworth : Penguin Books, 2022. 229 Gat “In the early years of Christianity, several groups produced "hidden" or "apocryphal" gospels, alternative versions of the story of Christ. Sometimes these texts complemented the four canonical gospels, sometimes they subverted them and often they were completely different. Often kept secret by their readers and frequently attacked by their detractors, these gospels shine a fascinating light on the early Christian Church and its surprising manifestations”—Back cover Gupta, Nijay. Strange religion: how the first Christians were weird, dangerous, and compelling. Grand Rapids, MI : Brazos Press, 2024. 270.1 Gup “In the 21st Century, when Christianity has been dominant for so long, it is hard to imagine a context in which the Christian faith was viewed as out of the ordinary and in some respects dangerously weird. This book packs a punch and is well worth reading”—Paula Gooder, canon chancellor, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. “Nijay paints vivid pictures of life in the ancient Roman world and identifies the beliefs and practices that made the earliest Christians stand out in contrast. It left me considering how the church today might recapture some of the weirdness and beauty that made such a mark on the ancient world. If you ever wondered how a tiny Jewish sect, worshipping a crucified Messiah, could ever turn the Roman empire upside down, then this book is for you”—Mike Erre, teaching pastor, Journey church. Isaac, Munther. The other side of the wall: a Palestinian Christian narrative of lament and hope. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 2020. 275.694 Isa “Isaac’s deeply moving [book] tells his story as a Christian growing up in the Palestinian town of Bethlehem over decades of violence, war, and occupation. The reading of Isaac’s Palestinian narrative in no way negates Jewish ties to the land but rather tells an often unheard side of the story”—Mae Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace. Khalidi, Rashid. Hundred years’ war on Palestine. N.Y. : Picador, 2021. 956.9405 Kha "Informed and passionate . . . Khalidi's is an elegy for the Palestinians, for their dispossession, for their failure to resist conquest"―The Guardian "The Hundred Years’ War is one of the best-researched general surveys of 20th and early 21st century Palestinian life, but it’s also a deeply personal work. . . . For a people whose history is all but criminalized, this act of retelling is itself a form of resistance"―The Nation "Rigorous and lucid . . . Rashid Khalidi, the intellectual heir to Edward Said, has written one of the great books on the Israeli-Palestinian question"―Financial Times King, Karen. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the first woman apostle. Polebridge Press, 2003. 229.75 King “This is a rich, rewarding, and eye-opening review of how the only gospel written in the name of a woman can reveal the depth and diversity of the early Christian community. Strongly recommended-- Library Journal Leloup, Jean-Yves. The Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Inner Tradition, 2002. 229.75 Lel “Found in 1945 at Nag Hammadi in the Egyptian desert, it is a short but complex Coptic text that appears to render the voice of Mary Magdalene. This volume contains English translations of Leloup's French version of the original and Leloup's extensive commentary, which discloses the theology that inspired the lost gospel”--Booklist (American Library Association) Mack, Burton. The lost gospel: the Book of Q and Christian origins. New York : Harper One, 1994. 226.066 Ma “A masterful analysis of the entire Q tradition.... Its scope is large and its argument compelling"-- Bible Review "Serious discussion of Q, a collection of Jesus' sayings, has taken place mostly in academic circles. There is nothing substandard about Mack's scholarship, but this treatment has the added advantage of being accessible to average readers. Mack's thesis is that Q is the best record available for the first forty years of the various Jesus movements"-- Booklist Nittle, Nadra. bell hooks’ spiritual vision: Buddhist, Christian, and feminist. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2023. 305.42 Nit “This carefully researched and beautifully written look at the spiritual life of one of our finest writers and intellectuals is a complex and valuable addition to writing about the inimitable bell hooks”—Silas House, author of Lark Ascending. Pagels, Elaine. The Gnostic gospels. New York : Vintage Books, 1989. 229 Pa “...[D]enounced as heretical by the early church, Gnosticism proposed a revealed knowledge of God held as a secret tradition of the apostles. Elaine Pagels suggests that Christianity could have developed quite differently if Gnostic texts had become part of the Christian canon. Without a doubt: Gnosticism celebrates God as both Mother and Father, shows a very human Jesus's relationship to Mary Magdalene, suggests the Resurrection is better understood symbolically, and speaks to self-knowledge as the route to union with God. Pagels argues that Christian orthodoxy grew out of the political considerations of the day, serving to legitimize and consolidate early church leadership. Her contrast of that developing orthodoxy with Gnostic teachings presents an intriguing trajectory on a world faith as it "might have become." The Gnostic Gospels provides engaging reading for those seeking a broader perspective on the early development of Christianity. --F. Hall (Amazon.com) Robinson, James M., General Editor. The Nag Hammadi Library. 3rd rev. ed. Translated and introduced by members of the Coptic Gnostic Library Project of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity. San Francisco : HarperOne, 1988. 299.932 Nag This revised, expanded, and updated edition of The Nag Hammadi Library is the only complete, one-volume, modern language version of the renowned library of fourth-century manuscripts discovered in Egypt in 1945. Shanks, Hershel. The brother of Jesus : the dramatic story and meaning of the first archaeological link to Jesus and his family. N.Y. : HarperOne, 2003. 232.933 Sha “[In 2003] biblical archaeologists stunned the world with news that a limestone ossuary with the inscription "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" had surfaced in Palestine and may have once contained the bones of James, the early church leader and brother of Jesus of Nazareth. … Numerous scholars who have examined the ossuary now vouch for its first-century origins, if not its theological significance. … The opening chapters tell of the box's discovery and authentication, while the later chapters discuss its potential relevance and describe what is at stake if the ossuary is genuine. Particularly interesting is the book's discussion of what the ossuary does for Jewish-Christian relations: James, the bishop of Jerusalem, was known for encouraging Christians to retain aspects of their Jewish heritage instead of jettisoning that heritage as Paul had. This engaging book invites readers to ponder the numerous questions and possibilities raised by the ossuary's discovery”--Publisher’s Weekly Trobisch, David. On the origin of Christian scripture: the evolution of the New Testament canon in the second century. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2023. 225.1 Tro “Provocateur and poet, historian and hermeneut, Trobisch has drawn for us more a map than a monograph, and one that promises to guide future quests of an ancient history and help plot the tellings of this fascinating story of the Bible’s real beginnings”—Rob Wall, Seattle-Pacific University. Wright, Jacob L. Why the Bible began: an alternative history of scripture and its origins. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2023. 220.9 Wri “By one of the brightest minds in the field, this is a book on the bible that all will want to read: an exquisitely written and innovative tribute to the nameless scribes who responded to destruction and defeat by building a powerful new form of community that no army could conquer. Venturing beyond the Bible’s religious teachings to its political and social dimensions, Wright’s tour de force demonstrated why this body of literature still matters for us today”—Tamara Cohn Eskenazi, Professor Emerita of Biblical Literature and History, Hebrew Union College. Children’s books Caruso, Joe. In the image of God: a story of identity and value. Caruso, 2021. J 248.4 Car “Filled with rhymes of affirmation and charming illustrations, In the Image of God is a beautiful reminder that our identity of found in Him. Children will be inspired to see themselves just as God made them, full of creativity, wisdom, power and love”—Back cover. - Paul T We are thrilled to extend a heartfelt invitation to our beloved church community
for a special fundraising musical gathering that aims to support Safe Car Park, a ministry dedicated to assisting individuals who find themselves living in their cars. This event promises to be an uplifting and memorable experience, filled with music that revolves around the theme of love. Our concert will feature a diverse array of musical performances, all centered around the powerful theme of love. From soulful ballads to joyous anthems, our talented musicians and vocalists will weave a musical tapestry that celebrates the universal language of love. This concert is to raise funds in support of CGS’ Safe Car Park Ministry. This invaluable ministry works tirelessly to provide assistance and support to those who are living in their cars, offering a safe haven and necessary resources to help them navigate through challenging times. We encourage you to participate in this cause by attending the event and making a contribution towards our fundraising efforts. No need to purchase tickets to see the concert, but we will be collecting free-will donations during the event. Your generous donations will go directly towards supporting CGS’ Safe Car Park Ministry and making a positive impact on the lives of those in need. Let us come together as a community to spread love and make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. Your presence and support at this musical concert will contribute to the success of our fundraising initiative and, more importantly, help Safe Car Park Ministry continue their vital work. We look forward to seeing you there for an afternoon filled with beautiful music and the warmth of community spirit. February is just around the corner, and with it the Safe Car Park program will be back at CGS. Help is needed to welcome the guests to our church site. For those unfamiliar with the program, CGS is a member of the Silicon Valley Safe Car Park network. We participate in hosting single adults and families sleeping in their vehicles to have a safe place to stay. Our church community has been very welcoming to Safe Car Park guests. Planning for the February visit is in full swing. Volunteers are needed for evening check-in (6:30 p.m.) and morning check-out (7:30 a.m.). We host a community meal on Tuesday nights during the month. Please use the sign-up sheet if you would like to prepare one of those meals. Donations of restaurant/grocery gift cards and gasoline gift cards are also always needed. In addition, donations of non-perishable snacks will be gladly accepted. (Please, all snacks individually wrapped.) We have set up an Amazon wish list link, to make it easy for you to donate and have it delivered to the church. The current link for instructions and volunteers to sign-up is below: SIGN UP sheet on Sign Up Genius INSTRUCTIONS for volunteers We look forward to welcoming Safe Car Park guests to CGS, and providing them a warm and welcoming place. Please feel free to contact anyone on the team if you have any questions. Sarah Janigian Rachel Visscher Kevin Visscher Chelsea Byom Susan Duran |
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