First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael 

In this Enews

• Worship Service with prayers, special music, and service video
• Reminder – Sunday Zoom conversations at 11:00
• Roofless Church in September 
• Doing the Work: Confronting and Addressing Our Role in Systemic Racism 
• Green Team – Upcoming Environmental Forum on Rising Seas – Sept. 22
• Loving Our Neighbors –  Pedal for Protein & List of Organizations for donations
• Wednesday Zoom Study  –Bible Study on Revelation with Bob Hirni
• Women’s and Men’s Book Groups
• Zoom gathering instructions - Sundays 11 am, Wed 12 pm, Thurs 10 am
• Supporting our church’s ministry and mission

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Opening  Music     God of the Sparrow, Care for Us     by Craig Courtney
                                                                                        Lyrics by Jonathan Cook
                                Click here for video


Service Video – Welcome, Reading, Song, Scripture, Sermon
                            Click here for video on YouTube
                            Click here for video on Vimeo
                       
Welcome     Pastor Cynthia Cochran-Carney

Reading      “A Blessing with Roots”     read by Dave Berta

Tug at this blessing
and you will find
it is a thing
with roots.

This is a blessing
that has gone deep
into good soil,
into the sacred dark,
into the luminous hidden.

It has been months
since the ground
gathered the seed
of this blessing
into itself,
years since the earth
enfolded it.

Sometimes
that’s how long
a blessing takes.

And the fact
that this blessing
should finally show
its first fruits
on the day
you happened by—

well, perhaps we shall
simply call the timing
of this ripening
a mystery
and a sweet grace.

Take all you want
of this blessing.
Take every morsel
that you need for
the path ahead.
Let its fruits fall
into your hands;
gather them into
the basket of
your arms.

Let this blessing
be one place
where you are willing
to receive
in unmeasured portions,
to lay aside
for a moment
the way you ration
your delights.

Let yourself accept
its inexplicable plenitude;
allow it to give itself
to sustain you

not simply for yourself—
though on this bright day
I might be persuaded
to think that would
be enough—

but that you may
gather its seeds
into yourself
like the ground
where this blessing began

and wait
with the patience
of seasons
and of years

to bear forth
in the fullness of time
a stunning harvest,
a plenteous feast.

- by Jan Richardson, the paintedprayerbook.com 
 

Special Music     Foday Kabba – National Anthem of Gambia 
                             Daniel Berkman, Kora

Scripture verses    Jeremiah 17:7-8, Ephesians 3:17

Sermon     Spiritual Redwoods: Rooted and Grounded   Cynthia Cochran-Carney
                  Click here for PDF of sermon
                  (video link listed at top of service)

Song      Celtic Alleluia      by Fintan O'Carroll and Christopher Walker    
                                          John Steiner and Cynthia Cochran-Carney       

Refrain
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Now with the strength of your Word, send us to be your disciples, to bring all the world to the joy of your kindom. (Refrain)

Now make us steadfast in faith, joyful in hope of Christ's coming, 
and by unity let your love fill our lives. (Refrain)

Closing Words 
Love wholeheartedly. 
Be God’s people in our fragmented world.     
Live knowing you are rooted and grounded in love.
Go in peace. 
Amen. 

Postlude      Dona Nobis Pacem  
                     Click here for video

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Online Service Production Team
Martha Wall, John Steiner, Alan Choy and Cynthia Cochran-Carney
Filming & Video Production – Karyn Kleinman

Songs included in this service are covered by streaming copyright license
One License #A-706502

Sunday Zoom Coffee Hour and Conversation
Join us at 11:00 am -11:45 am every Sunday
Reflect on the sermon and service
Sharing joys and concerns

Zoom Info
Click on link (includes password)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/738258079pwd=Z3pKTXVYQU5TWTE4dXgxakd2dUtGZz09
or Click on link https://us04web.zoom.us/j/738258079
Password for the FPCSR Zoom room. 996359
Meeting ID: 738 258 079
Call in number 1-669-900-9128

Roofless Church in September

Roofless Church
Under the Redwoods in September
Sundays Sept. 6, 13 (Cancelled), 20 and 27
9:00 am – 9:45 am • Front patio of FPCSR 

Cancelled on September 13 because of poor air quality

Reservations required 
To reserve a space each week for upcoming Sunday worship service,
please email or call Susan Isler by Friday
susan.isler.sport@gmail.com • 415-272-2526
 Also please let Susan know if you can help with set up, take down or being a reader

Reminders for outdoor services
Wear your mask • Use chairs in marked spots
Enter from E Street side

Online services will continue 
E-News is sent out on Saturdays at 4 pm & Sundays at 8 am
Sunday Zoom gatherings at 11:00 am will continue 

Doing the Work: Confronting and Addressing Our Role in Systemic Racism - Resources

 

Video – The Little Problem I Had Renting A House – James A. White, Sr.  
A powerful story about the lived experience of “everyday racism” — and how it echoes today in the way he’s had to teach his grandchildren to interact with police. Click here for video

Dated List of our Enews Anti-Racism resources from are on the website and will be updated weekly. Click here for list.

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Green Team – Environmental Forum – Rising Seas – Sept. 22

The Environmental Forum of Marin presents, “Rising Seas, Resilience, and Retreat,” online on September 22, 2020 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM.

Seas are rising quickly and we must Act Now to protect our communities and ensure our environment is able to strategically adapt to changing shorelines.

This event covers both the science and the emotional experience of what it means “to lose a world in slow motion.” Elizabeth Rush, author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist book “Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore” reports from affected communities while Christina Toms and Bob Battalio contribute their expertise in nature-based adaptation strategies that build capacity for communities to become more resilient.

We can’t stop the sea from rising but we can take action to protect our communities and adapt to changing conditions.

The FPCSR Green Team strongly recommends this important program. 
Register at:  https://marinefm.org/event-3937584

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Loving Our Neighbors – The Mission Committee

Thank you for your donations to Sonoma families affected by the fires. A check for $1270 has been sent to Rev. Curran Reichert and the First Congregational Church in Sonoma for gift cards to help families with groceries and gas. Thank you for your generosity and caring!

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Pedal for Protein – P4P

Help Support Local Food Banks and Pop-Up Pantries in Northern CA in this time of great need  
Click here to read about how you can log miles and/or donate money to this important mission project.
Click here for video     
Click here to donate

List of Agencies for Donations – Suggested by Mission Committee 
On the Zoom gathering last Sunday, a few people asked about where people are donating funds to help with urgent current needs in our community and country.  The Mission Committee has put together a list of agencies they recommend. Click here for list.

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Wednesday Book Reflections on Zoom  
New – September Bible Study on Revelation with Rev. Bob Hirni

Although brimming with mysterious symbolism, Revelation is a book of hope that has sustained the oppressed through the ages. Whether you are a seasoned student of the Bible or new to its study, gain a deeper understanding of this often misunderstood but ultimately hopeful text.

Send your questions to Bob Hirni - rhirni@aol.com

Zoom Weekly Discussion – Wednesdays, 12:00 – 1:00 pm Pacific Time
Wednesday, September 16
Revelation 6

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Book Groups

Women’s Book Group

Our book for September is Astoria by Peter Stark. We will be meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, September 30 at 3:00 pm. All are welcome to join in the discussion. For more information contact Susan Isler susan.isler.sport@gmail.com

Men’s Book Group

We are meeting via Zoom at 8:30 am. September book - Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright
September 24, Chapters 17 - 17

All men are welcome.
For info contact Alan Pabst ajpabst@aol.com

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Zoom Info for all gatherings
Click on link (includes password)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/738258079?pwd=Z3pKTXVYQU5TWTE4dXgxakd2dUtGZz09
or Click on link https://us04web.zoom.us/j/738258079
Password for the FPCSR Zoom room. 996359
Meeting ID: 738 258 079
Call in number 1-669-900-9128

Zoom Sundays Today 11:00 am – 11:45  Coffee Hour and Conversation
+ Share responses to the sermon and service based on your personal experiences.

Wednesday Book Study 12:00 noon
Wednesday Reflections Bible study. All are welcome.

Centering Prayer Thursdays 10:00 am
Contact Kay Collette for information kaycollette25@gmail.com

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Financial Support

1) Send a check to the church
    First Presbyterian Church, 1510 5th Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901
2) Set up automatic payments through your bank
3) Give on line through our secure link - https://www.fpcsr.org/giving