Newsletter - Coastside Lutheran Church

J u n e / j u ly 2 0 1 5
COASTSIDE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Concern and care for the body of Christ within our congregation:
The
apostle Paul writes, "God has put the body together in such a way ...so there is
no division in the body, but all its different parts have the same concern for one
another. If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it; if one
part is praised, all the other parts share its happiness." (1Cor 12:24a, 25-26
Good News Bible Translation--GNT)
Or better yet, here's Eugene Peterson's translation from The Message:
“The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives
together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we
mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one
part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one
part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. You are Christ’s
body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this.”(1 Cor 12:25-27).
C
heck us out!: Great pictures!!
1) Pastor’s Letter
2) April Treasurer’s Reports
2nd Mile Giving & readers
wanted for Moon Ridge
3) Bereavement resources, ministries
and opportunities for giving
4) Our 2015 Graduates
5) Music director and Council Corner
6) June Calendar of Events
7) July Calendar and con.t’d council
Have you ever wondered why it is important to gather as a
congregation to be the body of Christ? One can hear comments such as "Why
bother?!" Or perhaps worse, "The Church is filled with hypocrites!" Why
waste time committing to or being engaged with something one can do on one's own. ANYONE can worship God…
Higher Power….The Great Mystery Beyond, or whatever you may name that which is greater than one's self. Just taking
a walk along the California coast, one is often awestruck and humbled by the magnificence of creation and the beauty of
it all. Therefore, why not just go it alone?! Why try to be with others to worship, serve, or grow in faith and
understanding of God, self, neighbor, or call?!
Because, going it alone only takes us so far! Have you ever found yourself confronted with a problem and stuck
in trying to solve it? Or, have you ever been in the midst of creating something either by word, thought, or design and
found yourself blocked? Or, have you ever been unable to resolve feelings or reactions or a situation that leaves you
tossing and turning and unable to experience peace? What about when you pick up the Bible or another important text
and read something that disturbs or confuses you and find yourself unable to go further in your studies alone? We've all
had such moments.
How WERE you able to get unstuck, or grow in your understanding in situations like these? Usually, it's because
we seek input from outside of ourselves; and, with time and patience, our experience of being blocked vanishes. Sure,
we had to weed through some unwelcome input. Not all input serves us well, but it all helps, even if it totally differs
from our final resolution. I've benefited as much from the stuff I set aside as from the stuff I embraced
We cannot do it all on our own, no matter how much we try! Being a part of a congregation allows us to gather
intentionally with others seeking to understand the power and possibility of love, mercy, justice and peace within and
beyond ourselves. Together we practice what it means to be disciples of One who walked among us to reveal just how
expansive and inclusive the love of God is. We learn to not only honor our differences, but to value and uplift them as
an intricate and necessary part of the whole. We learn that a collective resolution of any problem is often better, and our
understanding more expansive than our own would have been simply because of the varied experiences, insights and
gifts of others. That doesn't mean it's easy to deal with one another or to stay in touch. But, stay in touch we must. We
need each other and what better way to experience that gift than within a congregation as disciples of the love revealed
in Jesus Christ!!
Many are travelling this summer. I will be with family in Thailand for 3 weeks experiencing the cultural heritage
of my niece and 2 nephews. Many others are traveling as well, while others will remain here at home. Let us look out
for one another as a congregation and hold one another in prayer. Keep an eye out for those who live alone, and/or our
seniors, and for those who are suffering in any way. Never underestimate the power of a loving gesture such as a card or
a phone call! Help out at the community breakfast if you have a free Wed. or Th. morning. Come early to church on
Sundays and see if there's anything you can do to help set up. Greet people you do not know or haven't had a chance to
get to know yet. Listen to each other, and be willing to share who you are too when asked, allowing for a new deeper
connection. As the body of Christ and as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13, the gift of love "never fails". Amen! PD…..
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April Treasurer’s Report
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Giving in April 2015 was $17,854.68 compared to April 2014 giving of $17,959.53. April 2014 and April 2015 had 4 Sundays.
Contributions per week in 2015 were up from 2014 and ahead of what we budgeted due to givers giving their entire 2015 giving in
January. If we account for this then we are $1,003.09 behind our budget for contributions this year.
April Expenses look high because of a $3,776.00 liability insurance payment that was budgeted for March.
The mortgage as of the last statement was down to $27,454.93.
April’s Second Mile Giving goes to the
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in
Berkeley, CA. The PLTS develops leaders
for the church by deepening faith in Christ;
expanding the heart; challenging the mind;
and energizing for mission. Pastor Dawn
attended this seminary. It is a part of the
Graduate Theological Union which consists
of 9 seminaries + religious institutions.
Do you have 2 hrs. on Tuesday afternoons to
help a child read?
Volunteers are needed to read with children
grades 2 & 3 at Moonridge. Program is sponsored by San Mateo County Sheriff’s Activity
League. The program continues through the
summer and there is a lot of need for volunteers during the summer
months. Please contact Jan Forslund at [email protected] for information if you can help.
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CLC June/July 2015
Night Ministry Open House
The volunteers and staff of the San Francisco Night
Ministry invite you to attend their annual Open House on
Sunday, June 14, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at St. Mark's
Lutheran Church, 1111 O'Farrell, between Gough and
Franklin Streets.
The Open House provides a time to learn more about
Night Ministry in general, and more about the specific programs that are offered. It is also a good time to
explore opportunities to volunteer with us, either as a Crisis Line Counselor or a member of our Daytime
Volunteer Corps. Meet members of the Night Ministry staff, Governing Board members, and current
volunteers. Light refreshments will be served.
This event will be followed immediately by a fundraising event (musical variety show) to benefit the
Friendship Line, part of the Center for Elder Suicide Prevention and a valuable program of the Institute on
Aging.
Visit our website for more of how Night Ministry serves.
www.sfnightministry.org
Mission Hospice and Home Care in San Mateo offer bereavement
support groups that are open to the community:
Bereavement Support Groups:
Tuesday evenings, drop-in group, 6-7:30 pm: Roby Newman,
LCSW Facilitator
1st and 3rd Saturday mornings, 10-11:30 am, Tracie Pyers,
MSW, Facilitator
Location: 1670 South Amphlett Blvd., suite 300 San Mateo
For further information please call (650) 554-1000
Help is Always Needed, no time
limits, no expirations!
The ELCA and Lutheran World Relief are always there, on the ground, wherever disaster
strikes. They are committed to being there for as long as it takes. For example, in Liberia,
they are committed to staying there until Liberia is Ebola free. “Tenacity, determination
and faith “– that's how the Rev. Andrea L. Walker described members and leaders of the
Lutheran Church in Liberia, as well as people of the West Africa country, in response to
their efforts to become Ebola-free. Walker is the ELCA's area program director for Madagascar, West and Central Africa.
If, at any time, you want to respond to any disaster, be it the Nepal earthquakes, the
Malaria campaign, Texas flooding, etc. you can always just write a check to Coastside Lutheran Church, with the particular campaign/relief effort noted in the memo line. Be
assured that 100% of your dollars go directly to that relief effort.
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CLC June/July 2015
Congratulations to all our 2015 Graduates
Julie Barwick: In May, I gr aduated fr om the San Fr ancisco Conser vator y of Music, with a Master s in Music in
composition. While at the conservatory, I studied composition with Dan Becker, and David Garner. This summer I
have plans to attend the Walden School of Creative Musicians Retreat and then the Atlantic Music Festival Institute
in Maine. Afterwards, I will continue to teach private piano lessons in the San Francisco area.
Kayla Strom: Gr aduated with a degr ee in Kinesiology fr om Sonoma State Univer sity. She has no definite
plans as yet, but intends to stay working at Rohnert Park Gymnastics for the summer.
Jenna Casey: Gr aduated fr om Humboldt State Univer sity with a degr ee in Economics. J enna intends to find
work in her field in the Bay Area.
Lena Lowman: Gr aduated fr om Ber keley with a degr ee in Psychology. After fur ther study in gr aduate
school, Lena plans to pursue a career in counseling or therapy.
Matthew Young: Gr aduated fr om Skyline College with an AA degr ee in Mechanics.
Francis Young: Gr aduated fr om Palo Alto Univer sity with a BA in Psychology.
Dana Walker: Gr aduated fr om High School in Boulder and will attend The Univer sity of Denver in the Fall.
Rachel Walker: Gr aduated fr om Santa Clar a Univer sity with a degr ee in Psychology, and plans to wor k as a
lab manager for a year before pursuing further studies in graduate school.
Gabe Carhart: Gr aduated fr om Santa Clar a Univer sity with a degr ee in Political Science.
Kayla Strom
Jenna Casey
Lena Lowman
Julie Barwick
Matthew, Kathy and Franny Young
Wishing all our graduates the very best in
whatever they do!
Rachel Walker and Gabe Carhart
Dana Walker
See next page for Dustin Shafae!
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CLC June/July 2015
May Council meeting opened with stories of gratitude for gifts of four legged creatures, for character building challenges, for beloved partners, family, and friends, and stories of recovery,
acceptance and the value goodness plays in our lives. Inspirations found in the courage of
children and the sermons of others. Pastor gave a report on her weeklong continuing education
experience at the Festival of Homiletics in May. “It was great on all levels!” Pastor was personally engaged by
varied, wide ranging topics. 1000 pastors from many denoninations attended. Some of the highlights were sermons
by Pastors Nadia Bolts-Weber, Walter Bruggeman, Barbara Lundblad, and Brian McClaren. Pastor also had
opportunity to renew old acquaintances, and make new friends. It was just what she needed for renewal--an answer
to prayer. She is very grateful for the opportunity. con.t’d pg. 7
Council
Corner
Introducing Our New Music Director here at Coastside:
Liesl McPherrin
I have been part of the San Francisco Bay Area community since returning from New
Jersey, where I completed my Masters of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance
at Westminster Choir College in May of 2014.
As a solo performer, I frequently perform at Northern California churches, and with
opera companies. I am an active recitalist and I offered a voice recital as part of the
concert series at Church of the Advent, Christ the King in San Francisco. This May
and June I will be performing the title role in My Fair Galatea at San Francisco's
Pocket Opera, and attending SongFest at the Colburn School in Los Angeles as part
of the Singing Teacher's Professional Development program.
As well as directing the choir here at Coastside I also direct the Junior Choir at St.
Matthew’s Episcopal Day School in San Mateo, and teach early childhood music
classes and elementary general music in San Mateo. I also give private voice lessons
at my studio in San Mateo and Half Moon Bay.
As a member of the prestigious Westminster Symphonic Choir, I had the chance to perform in such locations as the
Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and Carnegie Hall in New York City, working under such conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, and Gustavo Dudamel. As an active member of the Bay Area's thriving performing
arts community, I have sung with choruses of the San Francisco Lyric Opera, Urban Opera, and Golden Gate Opera.
While at Coastside Lutheran, I hope to build a strong choral program. Though we currently have a small number of
choral singers, we are constantly growing in size, as well as musicality and consistency. I like bringing in a wide
array of music from different cultures and traditions, to truly embrace the culture of our church. We are all brethren
in Christ, and our music shall reflect that. As the children of our congregation grow and learn, I hope to initiate a
music program for them to encourage our youth to participate in the church through liturgical song, dance, and
theater.
Another 2015 graduate:
Congratulations to Dustin
Shafae who graduated with an
MBA from the University of
San Francisco.
Pictured here with his brother
Darren, and Betty and Charles
Shafae.
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Bill Nelson gets the
Blues on Pentecost
Sunday.
Remember, “you don’t
need an enormous IQ, or
graduate from Theological
U, just get down on your
knees and ask Jesus
please, is it true, that He
loves you……you got the
blues, you got the
blues….You got the lowdown guilty, convicted
by the Holy Ghost blues.”
CLC June/July 2015
June 2015
But as for me, I am filled
with power, with the Spirit
of the LORD, …
Micah 3:8 (NRSV)
Sun
Mon
1
Tue
2
Wed
3
6:30am Men’s Group
No power
@ CUMC
9:30-1pm
PG&E changing 7-9 am Comm Brkfst
out Transformer 10 am Hope Class
7:00— 8:30 pm
Evening Adult Bible
Study, West Wing
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8 am Service
9 am Spark Time
Last day of this year
10 am Service with
Coastside Chorale &
MaryAnne Fiene on
cello
8
11 am - 1:00 Head
Start Parent Meeting
9
2:30— 4 pm
Women’s Daytime
Bible Study
3-4 pm Cleaning
10
6:30am Men’s Group
@ CUMC
7-9 am Community
Breakfast
10 am Hope Class
Thu
4
7-9am Comm Bkfst
10 am Hope Cooking
1:30 pm Hope— Art
7:30– 8:30
Confirmation
Fri
5
7 pm Iglesia del Mar
Service
11
7-9am Comm Bkfst
10 am Hope Cooking
1:30 pm Hope— Art
7:30– 8:30
Confirmation
8 pm Open AA
15
12
8 am Service
3-4 pm Cleaning
10 am Service
8 pm Open AA
End of Year Festival
follows with blessing of
graduates &
jumphouse for kids.
Potluck: food to share
Summer program
schedule begins
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22
7 pm Iglesia del Mar
Service
3-4 pm Cleaning
2 pm Iglesia del Mar
8 pm Open AA
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8 am Service
10 am Service
with Pastor Peter
Garrisson
2 pm Iglesia del Mar



3:30-5 pm Head
Start Parent Meeting
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18
19
7-9 am Comm. Bkfst.
10 am Hope to 1:30 pm
6-10 pm Set up &
7:30 pm Coastside
Chorale Concert
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7:30 am Open AA
1:30 pm Hope— Art
7:00— 8:30 pm
Evening Adult Bible
Study, West Wing
7 pm Iglesia del Mar
Service
9 pm Cleaning
23
8 am Service
10 am Service
with Pastor Gwen
Hermanson-Schaefer
Pastor Dawn gone til
July 19th
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6:30 am Men’s Group
@ CUMC
7-9 am Community
Breakfast
10 am Hope Class
13
7:30 am Open AA
9 pm Cleaning
16
7:30 am Open AA
9pm Cleaning
2 pm Iglesia del Mar
14
Sat
6
7- 9:00 pm Church
Council Meeting
West Wing
24
6:30 am Men’s Group
@ CUMC
7– 9 am Community
Breakfast
10 am Hope Cooking
Class
25
26
7-9 am Comm. Bkfst.
10 am Hope Cooking/Art
27
7:30 am Open AA
7 pm Iglesia del Mar
Service
9 pm Cleaning
30
Ireland says “yes” to marriage equality enshrined in the
constitution. First country to hold a national referendum!
3-4 pm Cleaning
8 pm Open AA
June 7th, Coastside Chorale singing at 10 am accompanied by Mary Anne Fiene
on cello; and a Spark Time Appreciation Lunch for all teachers at the Jeff’s.
June 13th : Coastside Chorale Concert at 7:30 pm.
June 14th, End of Year Festival and blessing of Graduates. Potluck;
jumphouse for kids. Bring food to share.
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CLC June/July 2015
… Council Corner, continued.
Patricia and Charles Hoelzel will be attending the annual Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly on May 29-May 31 in Sacramento with Pastor Dawn. Patricia is our voting delegate and Charles is attending as our guest. Pastor Peter Garrison will be our supply preacher/presider that day. Thank you all 3 for your participation. attended. Some of the highlights were sermons by Pastors Nadia Bolts-Weber, Walter Bruggeman, Barbara Lundblad, and Brian McClaren.
Pastor also had opportunity to renew old acquaintances, and make new friends. It was just what she needed for renewal--an answer to prayer. She is very grateful for the opportunity.
Patricia and Charles Hoelzel will be attending the annual Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly on May 29-May 31 in Sacramento with Pastor Dawn. Patricia is our voting delegate and Charles is attending as our guest. Pastor Peter Garrison will be our supply preacher/presider that day. Thank you all 3 for your participation.
Pastor will be gone for a 4 week vacation/continuing education opportunity. She will be going to Thailand the last
week in June and the first two weeks in July. Pastor Gwen Hermanson-Schaefer will supply preach for 3 of the
Sundays and Pastor Peter Garrison for 1. They are both looking forward to being here. They enjoy you all very
much.
Liesl was approved by council to be on leave for 6 weeks. Her last Sunday is May 24 and she will be returning July
12. We will miss each other. The choir will take a summer hiatus. Julie Barwick will also be away for 2 months this
summer. She will be engaging in two different continuing education opportunities. Let us hold Pastor, Liesl, Julie
and ALL who are traveling this summer in our hearts and prayers.
Finally, upon recommendation by the personnel committee and Pastor, the council approved giving Julie Barwick 2
weeks paid vacation. She has been working at CLC for 10 years. When told, she was very surprised and appreciative. Musicians often do not get such benefits. It's great to be a part of a congregation that would so honor our pianist!
Next Meeting is June 16, 2015. Rebecca has snacks and closing prayer. ……….Pastor Dawn from May Council Minutes
July Calendar Highlights:
July follows all the regularly scheduled events on our monthly
calendars including

Wed morning Mens’ group at CUMC at 6:30.

Community breakfasts: Wednesdays and Thursday mornings at 7:30

Hope classes, Wednesdays at 10 am.

Iglesia del Mar services at 2 pm every Sunday.

Iglesia cleans church 9 pm on Fridays.

The following is a list of special events in July:

July 1, 15 & 30, the Adult bible study continues in West Wing: 7-8:30
using the Serendipity Bible and looking at the Gospel of John.

July 5th and 12th, supply pastor will be Pastor Gwen Hermanson-Schaefer

July 12th: Rebecca Jeffs returns.

July 12th Liesl McPherrin returns.
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CLC June/July2015
Organization Name
OUR CALL
“I am God. I have called you to live right and well. I have taken responsibility for you, kept you
safe.
I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the
nations, to make a start at bringing people into the open, into light:...
Is. 42:6, The Message
OUR MISSION
Coastside Lutheran Church celebrates the grace of God through Jesus Christ by worshipping
together, serving the community, and providing a spiritual harbor where all are welcome.
SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
8:00am Meditative Worship/Communion
10:00am Worship/Communion, followed by Fellowship Hour
Website: coastsidelutheran.org Phone: 650.726.9293
Email: [email protected]
COASTSIDE LUTHERAN CHURCH
900 N. Cabrillo Hwy
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
June/July 2015 Newsletter
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