This Week at CCLA - January 31, 2019

A Letter from the Rector

Dear friends in Christ,

Thank you to all those who attended our Annual Gathering on Sunday, in person or in the Spirit. What a joyful, inspiring, engaging afternoon! I am so grateful to share in the life and leadership of this beautiful community of faith. More information on the gathering, including links to the Annual Report and my verbal comments, can be found below.

I'm writing today to let you know that my husband and I will be visiting his family in Pakistan for the last two weeks of February. This will be the first time they will meet our children, Safina and Soren, and just my second time meeting them as well. We are looking forward to the adventure before us.

This means I will be out of the country and out of contact from Wednesday, February 13th through Wednesday, February 27th. The Rev. John Buenz will be on call for pastoral emergencies during that time. I will also miss worshipping with you on Sundays February 17th and 24th, and have arranged for supply clergy in my absence. I'm working with the parish and school staff to make arrangements for my various upcoming commitments and anticipate that everything will go smoothly in the offices while we are away. Bob Stanfield, our Senior Warden, will also be on hand to answer questions for the staff or address any issues that come up.

We will very much welcome your prayers and we prepare for the trip and travel. (And yes, I plan to bring back lots of stories and even more pictures!)

with love,
Claire +

Upcoming Events

Parish Potluck and Presentation from Parishioner Sukey Bryan - Tomorrow!

This Friday, February 1, parishioner Sukey Bryan will present a program on her installation art, some of which we have been privileged to enjoy on our campus (see photos at right and read about her current installation in the church in the Announcements below). Sukey was the 2018 Artist-In-Residence at Grace Cathedral. We will gather in the Parish Hall at 5:30 p.m. for a social time, followed by a potluck dinner at 6:00, and Sukey's presentation at 7:00 p.m. Please bring a main dish, salad, dessert, wine or appetizers to share.

Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Service Event
Join members of the Christ Church and Ventana School community on Saturday, February 9, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. as we package meals to serve an impoverish

ed community through Rise Against Hunger, an international aid organization. Last year this proved to be a fun, energizing and inspiring event as we came together to make a positive impact and provide food for over 10,000 families. This is a family-friendly service opportunity and children of all ages (see photos from last year) are encouraged to participate - there is something for everyone to do. Your RSVP will help us to plan for the correct number of packaging stations and to ensure we have enough snacks and supplies for everyone. Please click here to register to take part in this community event.

Scout Sunday Pancake Breakfast

To celebrate Scout Sunday, and to say thank you to our parish for the support we provide, Boy Scout Troop 30 will be serving a pancake breakfast on Sunday, February 10, 9:00-10:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall. The 9:00 Forum is cancelled for this Sunday. Stay after the 8:00 a.m. service or come early for the 10:15 a.m. service and enjoy a hot breakfast!

Evensong Celebrating Those Married or Partnered 50+ Years
On Sunday afternoon, February 10, Grace Cathedral and The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of California, invite couples who have been married or partnered for 50 years or more to celebrate their years together. This festal Choral Evensong will be sung by the Cathedral Camerata. Couples are invited to renew their vows to each other during the service, and the bishop will pronounce God's blessing. For more information and to receive an invitation, please click here.

Men's Group Fellowship and Dinner
The Christ Church Men’s Group will be having their next dinner on Tuesday, February 12, at 6:00 p.m. Mark your calendars and plan to be there for a great dinner, fellowship and our guest speaker, Rev. Claire -- Who is that Woman Behind the Collar: Rev. Claire Tells All. Meal donations of $10 are suggested. All are welcome!. For planning purposes, please RSVP to Bob Stanfield (kasras@aol.com).

Still I Rise: A Program for International Women's Day

The next offering in our Living Harmony: Arts at Christ Episcopal Church concert series will be on Saturday, March 9 at 4:00 p.m. Celebrate international Women's Day in song and story with the uplifting and virtuosic voices of Convivium. Inspired by Maya Angelou's beloved poem "Still I Rise," the program weaves together music by some of today's leading female composers with poetry by women of color. The music includes Melissa Dunphy's powerful reflection on the immigrant experience, American DREAMers; Anna Thorvaldsdottir's stunning setting of an old Icelandic psalm; and works by Meredith Monk, Rosephanye Powell, Elizabeth Alexander, and Ysaÿe M. Barnwell.

Cantabile Youth Singers' Northern Lights Gala Concert
As many of you may be aware, we have begun a relationship with the Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley. They are using our parish hall for rehearsals on Monday and Thursday evenings, and Eric Tuan, our music director, has composed a piece for them which they will premier at an upcoming choral convention. Cantabile will be holding its annual Gala Concert, Dinner and Fundraising Auction on Saturday, March 9, at 6:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

CSA Empty Bowls Soup Supper XXVIII
Homelessness affects many people in our community. Empty Bowls Soup Supper provides a unique and cost-effective opportunity for us to help. O

n Sunday, March 10, Community Services Agency (CSA) will be hosting the 2019 Empty Bowls Soup Supper. Join us for soup, salad, cake and beverage and take home an original handcrafted ceramic bowl! This popular community event will be held at the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1425 Springer Road, Mountain View. New this year, there will be two seatings, 3:00-4:30 p.m. and 5:00-6:30 p.m. Early bird ticket rates through February 28 (prices increase $5 on March 1): $25 for seniors; $35 adults and teens 12+; $10 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased here. Funds raised benefit CSA’s Homeless Prevention Services Program.

Why Christian?
A one-of-a-kind gathering of pastors, practitioners, artists, dreamers and doubters around one question: Why Christian? Hosted by Nadia Bolz-Weber and Rachel Held Evans, the Why Christian 2019 Conference will be held at Grace Cathedral, April 5-6, 2019. Given the conference location in San Francisco, we wanted to make you aware of this opportunity to hear courageous storytelling and testimony from a wide range of speakers all exploring the question - why, in the wake of centuries of corruption, hypocrisy, crusades, televangelists, and puppet ministries do we continue to follow Jesus? Why Christian?

Save The Date - Upcoming Events

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Monday, 9:15 a.m. Yoga in the Church Narthax
Monday, 4:45 p.m. Cantabile Youth Singers in the Parish Hall and Star Room
Monday, 8:00 p.m. AA Men’s Group in the Chapel
Thursday, 5:00 p.m. Meditation Group with Rev. Claire in the Chapel
Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Cantabile Youth Singers in the Parish Hall and Star Room
Thursday, 7:00 p.m. AA Meditation Group in the Chapel
Thursday, 7:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal in the Church
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing in the Parish Hall
Saturday, 6:00 p.m. Pack 103 Blue & Gold Dinner in the Parish Hall
Saturday, 7:00 p.m. AA Meditation Group in the Chapel

Missed Church Last Sunday? You can watch and/or read the sermon online here.

Donations for Ventana's Toy Hack-a-Thon
Ventana is collecting used and broken toys, in any condition, to provide the raw material for its annual Toy Hack-a-Thon where students create new toys. Donations can be dropped off through Sunday, Feb. 3, in the collection bin outside the school office behind the whiteboard. The Ventana School office is at the end of the lower parking lot.

Annual Gathering Follow Up
Last Sunday, following the 10:15am service, the parish gathered in the Parish Hall to take council on behalf of the Church and to enjoy a delightful meal provided by the Ventana Parent's Association. Verbal reports were offered by Karen Gordon, Ventana's Director of Communications, and also several students from our 5th grade class; Bob Bylin, Chair of the Finance Committee; and the Rev. Claire Dietrich Ranna, Rector. Bob Stanfield celebrated the outgoing vestry members in the absence of Senior Warden Susan Want, and Rev. Claire also announced that he would be serving as Senior Warden in the year ahead. There was much merriment and laughter, music and table conversation, with the proposed slate of vestry candidates and delegates to the Peninsula Deanery voted into their new roles unanimously. The new vestry also met immediately following the gathering and elected Patti White as our new Junior Warden.

If you missed the Annual Report and would like to read it, copies will be available in the back of the Church on Sunday or can be accessed online here. Rev. Claire's verbal comments are also available online and can be found here. Finally, THANK YOU to everyone who helped bring the gathering together.

Table Conversation Notes
About ten minutes of the Annual Gathering was devoted to some structured table conversation with vestry members and other volunteers taking notes. We've assembled those comments and will be posting the cards themselves on the board outside the Parish Hall. Each week for the next several weeks we will also be sharing the responses to one of the four questions asked. If these conversations sparked other ideas please feel free to reach out to Rev. Claire or another member of the vestry - we would love to hear from you!

What do you find transformative about your time at Christ Church?

I get up earlier because I feel I should get here
Most important is to be in fellowship with Christian community on a regular basis
Incredible music (2)
Vibrancy of Ventana School
Claire’s genuine spirit - the connection with Eric is magical!
8 oclockers (at this table) love being in the Church for worship
Wonderful people, sense of community
No dissension or faction
Openness to all ways of thinking and human life
Integrating spiritual and secular
Sense of family (2)
Our parish is warm and welcoming
A real community of people - we are encouraged to give more
Claire’s giftedness as a speaker and leader - “she just knows how to say it”
Consistently warm and charming
The YouTube videos (of the sermons) are wonderful
A safe place, honest, accepting and authentic

Weeknight Services/Events Timing
As we plan for Ash Wednesday and Holy Week services, we are asking for you input on timing. We want weeknight (Monday-Friday) services and parish events to be timed to accommodate the most parishioners possible. If you/your family are likely to attend a weeknight service (Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday) or a weeknight parish event (Lenten Soup Studies, Parish Potlucks with speakers, Summer BBQs), please provide feedback on the timing that works best in your schedule here.

Stewardship of our Stained Glass Windows
As we have shared over the past two weeks, we have contracted with Nzilani Glass Conservation Inc., to do an intensive survey on the physical condition of the stained-glass walls in the church. Last week they examined every inch of the windows, visually documenting their condition for a comprehensive printed report. We’re hoping for a good bill of health, but if they do find areas of concern, the Survey report will help us pinpoint them and prepare for future restoration. Thank you to those of you who have responded to our ask for contributions of any amount to help offset the remaining $6,000 project cost following the initial $10,000 donation from a parish family. If the Windows and their future are important to you and your worship among us, please feel free to contribute any amount – large or small – to help us meet our goal. Contributions to “Windows Survey” can be made online (credit/debit card or bank account) or via check in the Sunday plate or mailed to the office (Windows Survey on the memo line). For more information on this conservation project, please contact Lauren Arnold at laurenarnold@cs.com.

Catholic Charities House Sharing Program
As we all well know, affordable housing is a significant local issue and one of increasing concern. Many solutions are being proposed and worked on across the Bay Area. One that can happen right now is house sharing. House Sharing is when two or more unrelated people share a home. This could be a homeowner renting out vacant bedrooms, or two or more people renting a home together. In the right situation this can be beneficial for the renter as well as for the owner. Catholic Charities is operating a House Sharing Program in Santa Clara County. We wanted to make this information available in case you or someone you know is looking to share a house, or looking for an affordable housing option.

Epiphany Art Installation in the Church

We are thrilled to have a new art installation from parishioner Sukey Bryan in the church through the Season of Epiphany. The installation is called

"Sky Banners" and it is oil on canvas, 120 x 29" each (see photo to left).

Sukey also has two large scale outdoor installations about sky as part of the "Sheltering Sky" group show at the Palo Alto Art Center, January 19 - April 7, 2019. Her pieces are "Sky Front" on the front of the building (photo to right) and "Sky Windows" in the sculpture courtyard.

Give a Ride/Need a Ride to Sunday Services

The Vestry is aware that we have parishioners who are not able to get here for Sunday services on their own. If you would be able to provide Sunday rides, or know someone who needs a ride, please contact Deanne in the office (office@ccla.us).

Announcements Next Week at Christ Church (see the full church calendar here)

Announcements
Next Week at Christ Church (see the full church calendar here)