​On Sunday, CGS had a congregational meeting. Here's what happened: 

• We updated our constitution with 2 new bylaws and a new continuing resolution. To see the updated constitution click here. We also held the initial vote on two new provisions. In January we will hold a ratifying vote on the provisions from September & November's meeting. We will publish that comprehensive list in the next couple of weeks. The full governing document can be found here.
• The Beyond the Building team has re-evaluated our plans going forward.  Our dreams are big, but the potential funding is limited, so we determined for now,  it would be prudent to focus our efforts on the critical areas – the bathrooms and kitchen.  We are searching for a design/build firm who can handle both creating plans and doing construction.  This has been a bit more challenging than anticipated.  CGS is considered a commercial space and therefore, we must comply with a number of regulations not required for a residential project.  We have been in contact with a few companies, but they all do mostly residential work so they did not work out.  If anyone has suggestions of potential firms, please let anyone on the committee know.
• Council reported that the survey about what we should do with the parsonage received 21 votes for renting it out, 4 votes for selling it, and a number of suggestions for what else to do including but not limited to: use it for an after school program, use it to house people in need, and put our pastor in it. Jerry Clark is continuing to gather ideas for research. Email your input to him by clicking here.  
• Council reported that they will ask the congregation to form a call committee in 2019 for the purpose of calling a minister of word and service (deacon). This conversation will continue in 2020 at the next congregational meeting. In the meantime, if you are interested to know more or be involved, email the council by clicking here. 
• A report of the 2019 finances was presented and can be found here. 
• Rachel Visscher, Jean Hope and Petra Menard were elected to council. Laurie Gaumer was re-elected as treasurer.
• A budget for 2020 was proposed and can be found here. This budget will be voted upon at the January 26th meeting. If you have changes, concerns, or questions please email the council by clicking here. 
• Council reported that our shift to Breeze is almost complete. For this fiscal year the Financial Secretary has been learning the new system and dutifully doing double entry. The new tools have so far proven successful. 
• The treasurer asked for volunteers who were willing to serve on the Finance Committee. This team is responsible for the financial strategy and execution at CGS. If you would be willing to serve on this committee that will begin meeting once per month in January, please email our treasurer here. 

Dear fellow CGSers,

I am honored to present this most worthy Christmas project.  Your generosity these past years have been overwhelming!  

This year the project will be in support of the LGBTQ Youth Space, a safe space for youth in downtown San Jose, and Encompass Ministry for the homeless in Santa Clara County. The Biology Department at Stanford University will again be partnering with us in this project. These two organizations are thrilled with what we are able to give them.

There is a Giving Tree in the Narthex that have tags on it so you can choose one or both organizations to donate to.  If you donate to both organizations please place them in separate bags or boxes.  Please return your donation back the Narthex and place them around the tree.

Here are some ideas for the Youth Space:

• Individually packaged, non-perishable microwave meals ex. pasta, ramen and noodle soups, cans of soup, oatmeal cups, macaroni & cheese cups, etc... 
• Food bars ex. Clif Bars, protein bars, granola bars, fruit bars, etc. 
• Individually packaged snacks ex. crackers, seaweed, trail mix, dried fruit, etc... 
• Sneakers feminine (especially in sizes 9-12), masculine, and neutral styles.

Here are some ideas for the Encompass Homeless Ministries:
Travel size preferred, all sizes used: 

• shampoo
• conditioner
• deodorant
• razors
• body lotion
• hand lotion
• chapstick
• hand wipes
• hand sanitizer
• toothpaste
• toothbrushes
• floss
• combs/brushes
• hair bands
• make up
• feminine hygiene products
• nail polish
• socks
• underwear
• winter gloves/mittens
• toilet paper
• diapers

These donations are used throughout the year by these organization, so having your gifts turned in before Christmas is not a must. 

If you would like to give a check please make the check out to The Youth Space or Encompass Homeless Ministries. They will send you back an acknowledgement of your check.  Please turn checks into me or Laura Rinde.

Please if you have any questions do not hesitate to call me or email me!
408-373-9825 {cell}
 
Peace and love,
Joe Shackelford
​

By Daniel Thomas, Church Musician

Another year is rolling up to its close, and once again we prepare our hearts and minds for the anticipation Advent and the coming joy of Christmas. And once again, we prepare our ears and voices for the abundance of music that the season provides.

What does music mean to you? What role does it play in your life, both inside and outside of worship? Whether we recognize it or not, music is an omnipresent part of the human experience. It is a universal language, and even the smallest snippet of music can trigger the strongest emotions. Music can simultaneously represent the shared experience of all humankind and the most personal experience of one individual. One cannot imagine a world without music any more than a world without color, or smell, or taste.

Within both the spiritual and secular Western traditions, Advent and Christmas are the most celebrated seasons and holidays of the year. Within them you find the most ritualized social practices, and they are the time, more than any other, when people at least give voice to our shared humanity and our wishes for peace, love, and unity. So it is no coincidence that music – the one performing art that can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, anytime, that can be both celebratory and introspective, that can give voice to the individual while still embracing the whole of humanity – plays such an important role in these seasons.

It is also no coincidence that the music of the season – both religious and secular – brims with those same themes – peace, love, and unity. As we move through Advent and Christmas, I hope we all can reflect on music’s power and beauty – not just the art form itself, but the role it plays in nourishing our minds, our bodies, and our souls. And if your favorite Christmas song comes on the radio, don’t be afraid to sing along!

MEANWHILE, in my last article I wrote about the skill for self-promotion that most artists must possess to be a success in their field, and mentioned that I am a reluctant participant in that area. So naturally, this month I’m going to do some shameless self-promotion.

Rebecca and I will be performing with two of our dear friends as The MistleTones at the Gateway Theatre in San Francisco on December 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 at 7:30 PM. What are The MistleTones, you might ask? It’s a little tricky, but here goes:

We’re a vocal quartet who plays handbells doing holiday-themed parodies of classic rock and pop songs.

It’s a niche market, I know.

So, what can you expect from The MistleTones? Music, laughs, and holiday spirit for the whole family. Four-part harmony and handbells. New takes on songs by everyone from The Beatles to Styx to Lady Gaga. A five-minute version of the Claymation classic “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” And some lovely versions of actual Christmas songs as well.

So if you’re up for a jaunt to the city, come check us out! Tickets are just $25 and available at www.42ndstmoon.org.
​
(end shameless plug)

By Rey Lambatin, Choir Director

The season of Boos and Trick or Treats have passed, and before we know it, the Thanks and Gobble Gobbles will be gone, and then it’s time for Ho Ho Hos and Hallelujahs.

In the past few years here at CGS, it has been part of our Christmas celebration to help spread the spirit of the season with a concert. Traditionally, the event, while showcasing the rich and diverse talents with which our church has been blessed, also helps raise funds for a church ministry or an organization that we believe carries or in line with our church’s mission. It is, additionally, an opportunity for us to invite people in our surrounding community to our church, and share the good news of our Savior’s birth in a setting that’s different from our usual worship service.

I’m specially excited about this year’s concert. Not only we will hear performances from our own Keynote Vocal Group, CGS Mixed Choir, CGS Band, duet and solo singers, but also from the Monte Vista High School Choir, Variations. You will hear favorites like Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Silver Bells, and O Come All Ye Faithful, and some new melodies that, I’m sure, will soon be added to your “good” list.

​This year’s concert will be held on December 7, Saturday, 7:00 PM, in our church sanctuary. There are no tickets to purchase to see the show, but free-will donations will be collected to benefit the Mt. Cross Ministries. I hope that you’ll come, and bring friends and family, to our event for a worthy cause, while celebrating the joy of the season with music!

​One of the joys of my vocation is that I get to walk with each of you through your own faith. While there are many similarities between each of the people who worship and serve at CGS, you each have your own baggage, gifts, and (best of all) quirks. It really is my pleasure to hear your pains and fears and share your joys. Most of all though, I love discovering and questioning with you. 
 
I wish that I had the infinite bandwidth to sit with each of you on a regular basis and dive into scripture, or untangle holy mysteries. I long for more time to listen to your thoughts and untangle your ideas about God. But alas, I too am human and not all is possible. This is why I struggle to know what I can do when a season like Advent approaches. 
 
In my ideal world, I would take time to walk with each of you through this holy season while you sit in the pregnant pause before Christmas and wonder what it means for God to be in your life. Since that's not possible, this year I'm going to try the next best thing. I want to set you up with the resources and tools that I and others have found helpful. 
 
Attempting to practice a regular spiritual discipline in a liturgical season is a gift that keeps on giving. In my own spiritual life I have balked at the idea that prayer, or reading, or focused practice could have a meaningful effect on my day to day life. When I was challenged to try anyway, it turns out that I was (yet again) wrong. Daily practice of my faith has shaped my mood and my life over time. 
 
I want to share the same challenge with you that was once given to me. I want to encourage you to attempt a regular practice for the season of Advent. Or Christmas. Or both. Since I can't do this with each of you personally, I hope that you'll let me make some suggestions. 
 
Please click here to tell me what kind of resource would be helpful to you. I will sift through my many resources and get back to you with a couple suggestions. Then, you can attempt them, or save them for another year when your heart is ready. Either way, Jesus is coming to be in your life. Blessed Advent preparation whatever form it might take! 
 
-Pastor Manda

GIVING AT CGS
For many years I was known as being cheap.  Just ask John Haselden.  I still am a bit, but not as much.  I have always tried not to be that way with my Church Community.  My parents always gave their 10% to the Catholic Church where my family attended.  There were many special projects at the church that needed extra funding beyond the 10% as well.  My parents gave till it hurt sometimes (their words not mine).  As a child I did not have a good concept of money except for what I made cutting neighborhood’s lawns and delivering the local newspaper.  

When I was a young teen my mother died and after that my dad had large amount of medical bills that needed paid, he also made sure the church got their share of his salary.  At that time my Dad told me if I wanted to continue at my Catholic High School where I was a freshman, I would need to get a part time job to pay for my tuition.  I still don’t know if it was because of money being tight or dad didn’t want me goofing around after class unsupervised because mom wasn’t around.  I learned a lot about the value of money during that time.

In my 20s and most of my 30s I didn’t go to church with any regularity.  When I did maybe a couple of bucks was given as an offering.  John and I started to go to the Metropolitan Community Church, (MCC). I loved the church and eventually was giving my 10% and then some.  They, like CGS were living on a couple large gift funds that people had left to the church.  Of course, people gave but not nearly the amount needed.  We lasted that way for about 8 years until we had to shut the doors it was a very sad day and I pray I will never have to repeat.

Here at CGS I fear we could be going in the same direction as MCC. We are different because there are a number of households at CGS that have the financial ability to give enough money to sustain the mission and the ministry of our church. We each just have to make the decision to give; to sustain with our dollars what we say we want in our church. 

For example, I love that we want to remodel the men’s bathroom and make the kitchen more usable. However, I believe we should not begin a large project until we have the dollars to do so.  In my opinion we have become too complacent with the funds we have.  If we continue the way we are going, we could end up like MCC.

Please try giving more. You can try the 10%, if it hurts too much at first, start with a smaller percentage and maybe gradually work yourself up to 10%, or as my mom and dad would say “until it hurts.” 

Or if you are already giving as much personal income as you can, maybe you can help us figure out ways to generate revenue with our valuable property. We have inherited a wonderful gift of property and facilities from God and our founders for generations to come, it can’t stop with us.  With this wondrous gift comes daunting responsibility.  I know I am very willing to help where I can, are you?  To continue our mission, CGS needs each of us to contribute. With your and God’s help we will.

In God’s blessings
Joe Shackelford