FOCUS - lopc.org · Baldwin at [email protected]. First Friday Forum By The First Friday Forum Team First Friday Forum is very sorry to have canceled its scheduled speakers for April,

F O C U SM O N T H LY N E W S L E T T E R

Alive!In Christ... in the World

JUNE 2020 LAFAYETTE-ORINDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Pastors: Peter Whitelock, Head of Staff • Gerald Chinen, Care Lauren Gully, Mission & Spiritual Formation • Jaime Polson, Families & Executive Leadership

LAFAYETTE-ORINDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH JUNE 2020- 1 -

LOPC is Alive! In Christ...In the World

By Lauren Gully - Pastor, Mission & Spiritual Formation

JUNE 2020

of covid-19

the

defining momentContents

Community ........................2

Mission ................................3

Community ........................2

CNC ......................................5

Foundation .........................6

Journey of Faith ...............7

Children & Youth ..............8

Stock Investing .................9

Financial Update ........... 10

For many years people have been worried about the future of the church. They would ask: What will the church look like in 10 years? Will there

be enough people? Will my children ever come back to church? For so long, the church seemed stagnant in fear and in tradition, but then came coronavirus.

For all the literal ills of this pandemic—and it has brought many tragic things—it has forced the church to change.

They are forced out of their sanctuaries and into the public of the internet, into places like Facebook Live. Perhaps now, more than ever, the church is accessible to people who would never set foot inside an actual church. They can check it out with the click of a button.

What is great about this time, if one can say that, the church is being forced to think more creatively about addressing the spiritual needs of their communities, even beyond their members. They are thinking of creative ways to engage people where they are, from the other side of a screen.

During shelter-in-place, God is on the loose—and definitely on the internet.

At the start of our shelter-in-place, I started our daily devotional project online and enlisted the help of our staff. These videos are being shared on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. We bolstered our church’s online presence, more than doubling our Instagram followers. We have added 600 followers to our Facebook page; 130 people are subscribed to the daily devotionals through email; The Daily Devotional page on our website has over 4,000 views since its creation, and our first video on Facebook has over 800 views. Moreover, I know you are sharing these videos on social media with family and friends who might need a word of encouragement and a word of faith—even if they do not belong to a faith community.

Maybe this is the start of the Future Church. I think these videos are trending because people are interested in what faith can offer in our new reality. As people of faith, we know there will be resurrection and new life out of this virus—this message works for everyone who loves church, and even for people who haven’t made up their minds about it yet – or set foot in an actual church.

49 Knox Drive | Lafayette, CA 94549 (925) 283-8722 | lopc.org

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Where everyone is welcome, no one is perfect, and anything is possible with God.

community

Exciting and fun things are happening for Community Life. Welcome to our brand-new Community Life Zoom Groups! Going on now, we have a series of varied groups for fun and fellowship. Things are always changing, so be sure to check the website for additions and details about these groups!

YogaMondays at 8:00 a.m.with yoga instructor, Beverly Jane Peatross

Men w/Young Families and ProfessionalsMondays at 6:30 p.m.with Chris Baldwin

Family Game NightThursdays at 7:00 p.m.with the O’Haver/Liu Family

Visit lopc.org/community-zoom-groups to sign up!

Elder OrphansThursday, June 25, 7:00 p.m. or Friday, June 26, 10:30 a.m.

Are you over 65 without a partner, children, or close relatives? This workshop will empower your ideas and give you suggestions on how to live life your way, while at the same time having peace of mind that you have a plan for the “what ifs” of a longer life. You will learn what resources there are for you, what housing options to think about, and how to find an advocate to make decisions for you, when or if you can’t. We will also talk about how to communicate your values to your designated agent.

Linda Fodrini-Johnson will host this Zoom class twice to accommodate your schedule. Linda is an Elder at LOPC, a licensed family therapist, and has been a geriatric care manager, working with older adults and their families since 1981.

Visit the Online Ministry page at lopc.org to sign up.

Virtual Membership Class!

Sundays, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., May 31, June 7, and June 14.

We’re offering a membership class virtually! Join us for three consecutive Sundays to explore everything about LOPC. Learn about our vision, programs, and how to have a meaningful membership! This class is designed for everyone, whether you are new to LOPC or have attended for years. We welcome you as you take this next step in your faith journey by joining our community. Get to know new folks like you, learn about LOPC, and get activated into community life!

For more information and to register, email Chris Baldwin at [email protected].

First Friday ForumBy The First Friday Forum Team

First Friday Forum is very sorry to have canceled its scheduled speakers for April, May, and now June as well. It is entirely possible that we may be able to reschedule them to speak during our program in the coming year. We fully expect to resume programming on January 8, 2021, and hope to see you all then!



Contact Julie Peterson, [email protected], or Clarita Wooldridge, [email protected], for more information.

Thursday Fellowship has been on hiatus since early March. Our volunteers and guests have had to

shelter-in-place, and though we are all in contact, we miss gathering together to enjoy craft activity, lunch, and entertainment.

Above is a photo recap of the some of the highlights from our 2019-2020 program year. As the pictures demonstrate, our Thursdays were full of activity. We gathered for crafts and were served tasty lunches on beautifully decorated tables. Holidays and birthdays were celebrated, and great entertainment filled our afternoons.

Though we cannot predict when it can happen, we all look forward to being able to engage face-to-face. We long to get back to our meetings and will keep everyone informed via email and phone calls. Our primary concern continues to be for the safety of our guests and volunteers.

A program of Senior Care Ministries

communityAn Update from Primera Pres

Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana

(Primera Pres.) continues to face serious economic issues in the midst of COVID-19. This church was planted to serve the Hispanic community of Oakland. The community is bounded by I-680 to the south, I-580 to the north, and the Coliseum to the west. Their ZIP code, 94601, remains one of the most challenged per capita in Oakland. Every “Oaklander” was asked to observe shelter-in-place, observe social distancing, frequent washing of hands, and for their family, provide childcare, elder care, meals, and home schooling.

Given the crowded conditions, these directives are difficult to comply with. To that milieu, add the closure of business and restaurants on International Blvd., no-longer-needed hospitality and personal services, reduced public transportation, closed construction sites, and the shutting down of informal daily work. This leaves three-fourths of the congregants unemployed, and prospects particularly dire for the families whose very survival is suddenly uncertain. In spite of these difficult challenges, there have been no deaths from the virus in the congregation.

Primera is desperately working with agencies and individuals to keep food on the table for their congregants. Primera is grateful for the support and community leadership. LOPC has contributed financially, and some LOPC members have contributed food to be distributed to families. To learn more or help, please contact LOPC members Don and Mary Kay Atherton, who serve as Primera Pres Liaisons at 510.410.8419 or [email protected].

When asked how they are doing: “We have been through hard times, we will get through this, and God will continue to see us through!”

mission


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Congo Update

The LOPC Congo Mission team recently had a Zoom call with Jeff and Christi Boyd, PC(USA)

mission co-workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They are sheltering in place in Kinshasa, the capital of 11 million people. Congo Mission co-workers, Larry and Inge Sthreshley, are also in Kinshasa.

LOPC financially supports the Boyds. They are instrumental in implementing the Build Congo School projects (Jeff) as well as the trauma-healing curriculum for children, Healing Hearts (Christi). The Boyds are fine (as are the Sthreshleys), but they miss the face-to-face interactions, as we all do.

The government has shut down all transportation except for essentials. There is enough food in the capital, although financial resources are stretched thin (an ongoing problem in the DRC). At the same time, the country does not have the medical resources to battle an onslaught of the virus.

In light of the pandemic, the planned next round of training of new Healing Hearts facilitators has been put off until, hopefully, later in the year. So far, cases of the coronavirus in the rural areas are relatively few, but time will tell what happens there.

Christi Boyd requested we pray for the children in Kinshasa orphanages, and that processes be put in place for them to return to their family communities where they will have more care and attention.

Monument Crisis Center At the Epicenter

Long-time LOPC mission partner, Monument Crisis Center (MCC), has been at the epicenter of need

during the Covid-19 crisis. The demand for food at the Center has tripled since the first shelter-in-place order. Lines wrap around the building with people waiting to receive a bag of groceries to feed their families. “My heart breaks for these people. Really. For everybody. Everybody going through this. This is devastating. People who were clients before are now in further need, and people who didn’t need us before now need us too,” said Executive Director Sandra Scherer.

In order to keep up with demand, MCC is asking for donations of non-perishable food items; especially in demand are cereal, peanut butter, beans, rice and pasta. LOPC is a drop-off location for donations. Barrels are located by the Ministry Center and donations are taken to MCC twice a week. So far, LOPC has donated 800 pounds of food, but much more is needed.

As you are doing your shopping, please be mindful of the need that exists for food and buy an extra item or two for MCC and place them in one of the LOPC barrels. It can be a box of cereal or a jar of peanut butter, but collectively we can make a difference in the lives of those that need it now.

To learn more about MCC or to donate without leaving home, go to monumentcrisiscenter.org



church nominating committeeNominations accepted through June 30

One of the cornerstones of our Presbyterian heritage is election by the congregation of church

officers to provide leadership for the church as well as loving support for those in the church community. Each year we elect officers to serve for the following year, drawn from nominations from the congregation. We are now in the process of selecting new officers and leaders for terms beginning January 2021. It is a privilege and responsibility to nominate members to serve as elected lay leaders. It is also necessary for us to participate in the essential process that will influence our church in the near future. The primary qualifications for nominees are:

• Strong commitment to Jesus Christ and the church’s Mission Statement.

• Active participation in worship and in other ministries at LOPC.

• Stewardship commitment of time, talent, and financial resources.

• Leadership ability and organizational skills.

• Compassion in human relationships.

• An open-minded approach to ideas and problems.

• Spiritual depth and maturity.

• Ability to equip people for ministry and work in a team-based leadership role.

Elders, together with the pastors, lead and direct the ministry of the church. They are persons of faith, dedication, and good judgment. Elders serve on Session, the governing body of the church. They also chair various church teams through which all ministries are conducted. Eight elders are ordained annually to serve three-year terms.

Deacons, as set forth in Scripture, are leaders who serve as the caring, compassionate arm of the church. They provide loving support to all those in need within the church community. The primary area of Deacon service is care of members. Ten deacons are ordained annually to serve a three-year term and two deacons of high-school age to serve a one-year term. The Congregation Nominating Committee (CNC) members receive and renew nominations for church officers. They select candidates to present to the congregation. They are elected for a one-year term. Foundation Trustees serve on the LOPC Foundation. This nine-member foundation receives gifts in various forms and designations, manages investments, and provides funding for LOPC needs that cannot be accommodated in the church’s annual operating budget. Trustees serve an initial term of four years and are eligible to be re-elected for one three-year term. Members who have served in the past can be nominated for a two-year term. Nomination forms may be submitted online atlopc.org/news/cnc-nominations-needed-for-2020/Or send them via email to [email protected]. We need your nominations, so please fill out and submit at least one nomination form.

For more information, contact a CNC member: David MacKenzie (Chair), Paul Koenig (Clerk of Session), Jeff Patton, Ann Loar, Richard Courtney, Marsha McDonagh, Linda Kinrade (Deacon Representative), Peter Whitelock, and Gerald Chinen. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

We are looking forward to hearing from each of you.


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Life in the VillageBy Dara Youngdale, Foundation Trustee

In January, my husband Steve and I had the unique opportunity of

visiting our daughter, Grace, in Rwanda for a second time. She was serving through the Peace Corps as a health worker in the small village of Hanika, in the Western Province of the country. We had visited her the

year before, spending time in the capital city of Kigali, hiking to see the gorillas in the northern province, staying at a picturesque pole-house lodge on Lake Kivu, and visiting her village and Health Care Center for one day. This trip, we decided to stay in her village for a week to experience her daily life, meet her friends, co-workers, and community-center health volunteers, visit the local schools and shops, and share meals, prayers, and masses with her family of nuns and priests. Our visit was timed so we could attend her baptism, which was a magical all-day experience. It started with an hour of community greetings outside the church, a three-hour mass with three choirs, a welcoming dance, an afternoon party, and meal for 150 guests, which had the attributes of a wedding, followed by an after-party with the priest, nuns, and local dignitaries.

That may have been the highlight of our trip, but the special moment for me was our first walk from her house to the Health Care Center. Making our way down the dirt road, between the village houses and boutiques, and onto the main paved road, passing the bus stop, and then up the steep dirt road to the Health Care Center, everyone greeted us. “GRA – SAY,” they shouted, clapping one hand to an arm while taking her hand in another, and offering a modified hug or European-style pair of kisses. She in turn greeted them by name. (I never fully got the hang of the physical greeting but did learn to greet everyone with “Muraho,” understanding that this is Good Culture.) As Grace spoke with the bus-stop fruit vendor in Kinyarwanda,

the old woman jumped up smiling and exclaimed, “AHHHH, “PAPA – GRA – SAY”, and “AHHH, MAMA - GRA – SAY.” And that is how we became known throughout our stay.

How are we known?

I think of this often now—as a professional, as a member of a large family and circle of friends, as a resident of Contra Costa Country, as a member of LOPC, and as a Christian. LOPC is my village—it is our village - and like in any village, we greet one another (by name, if we can), participate in worship, and support one another within our village and around the world through friendships, spiritual practice, and mission. We are known, I hope, by our sharing of Christ’s love.

Water is intermittent in Grace’s village, and there was no running water at her house when we arrived and the next few days. To say this made me a bit anxious would be an understatement. “Bibaho, Mom,” Grace said. It happens. And before I knew it, two men arrived from the Health Center, each carrying two jerrycans of water, weighing about 40 pounds apiece. That is life in the village.

Whose jerrycan are we carrying?

We each give in our own ways, based on our strengths and circumstances. I will not be carrying 40 pounds of water to my neighbor, but I am committing a legacy gift to the LOPC Foundation. By doing so, I am making a statement of my faith and providing water for the life of our LOPC village well into the future.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Friend of the Foundation to support LOPC, please contact one of the Trustees: Jim Beckemeyer, Lois Boyd, Jen Crocker, Jerry Ducey, Kristi Haigh, Staci Johnston, Phil Placier, Mike Ross or Dara Youngdale.

lopc foundation

Dara Youngdale



By Bobbie Dodson-Nielsen, LOPC member

When Debbie Andrews was asked how LOPC

had enhanced her faith journey, she had many things to share. “LOPC has helped me to stay rooted in the heavy winds of life. Words from the pulpit inspire me to create, to open, and to go deeper. Prayer Teams have carried my loved ones and me through turmoil. The old

hymns feed my soul, as the new ones get me dancing. The liturgy grounds me. Pastoral counseling brought me to a place of forgiveness and gratitude for my early marriage. Being on Session showed me the importance of inclusiveness, forgiveness, and financial stability. Having been recently installed as a Deacon, I was given the privilege of offering home communion, which felt like I’ve come full circle.”

However, she did have a strong basis for her faith journey. One was the influence of her grandparents. “One of my earliest memories is of summer nature strolls with my grandparents, where I learned the creative genius of God. Granddaddy was an Episcopal minister, who, when studying under a tree on campus for his final exams in forestry, realized he’d been ‘studying the wrong side of the tree.’ So, I cherished this special time, learning the names, and often, biblical uses for, every flower, bush, tree, or bird I pointed to on the pathway.” Debbie continues, “When I was 10, the son of an old family friend came from Wales to spend July at our Lake Tahoe summer cabin. A seminary graduate, he was awaiting his first call. Often, he’d treat us kids to an afternoon walk along the dusty High-Sierra trails. We’d sit at his feet as he shared Bible stories. It was here I first felt what it might have been like to be a disciple of Jesus….”

“My senior year in high school I was injured in the SF Chinatown New Year’s gang riots, resulting in the loss of use to my right leg. My parents were told I’d never walk again. I knew deep in my heart that Jesus was healing me in His time and that He would use this experience for His good. I heard only, ‘Fear not, for I am with you… I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:10) ‘All things are possible with me. Believe.’ (Mark 9:23).”

“The week before my graduation, I was on crutches in the kitchen while my mom was cooking dinner. I heard, ‘It is time,’ and I said, ‘Mom, I’m going to walk to you.’ And I did – I dropped my crutches and walked for the first time. ‘How long have you been able to do this?’ Mom exclaimed. I answered, ‘I didn’t know I could, but Jesus told me to. So, I did.’”

Out of this experience, Debbie recalls late January of her freshman year in college. “I found myself being held in the penetrating warmth and love of my Lord, looking down at my body lying motionless on my dorm room bed. The depth of acceptance and permission I was experiencing sent me back to the long hours Jesus sat by my side, comforting and assuring me the previous year. My life mattered, but the choice was mine. I chose life and have lived in gratitude ever since. What I felt whispered into my heart was, ‘I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to me for I will never leave you’ (Genesis 28:15).”

Concludes Debbie: “This odyssey called life is one that Jesus and I walk together. My faith is deep and very personal. I serve where Jesus leads me, one day at a time. I prefer to live by example than to preach. That said, my life is an open book for those who might find strength from my stories.”

journey of

FAITH

Debbie Andrews


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Check out the Children’s Ministry Blog:

lopc.org/category/childrens-ministry for the latest resources we’re creating for your kids, including a weekly Sunday school lesson from Ryan, simple spiritual practices to do at home from Lori, and Adventures with Susan. We’ll also be reposting videos from The Fantastic Project, a series for kids on the values of kindness, justice, and mercy.

Children’s Ministry Resources

As we journey together through this very weird time, the Children’s Ministry at LOPC is more committed

than ever to partnering with you. We’re hard at work creating resources for you to share with your kids at home, not just to continue to invest in them spiritually, but to give them outlets to talk about how they’re feeling and opportunities to find God in the midst of all of this.

Please email Director of Children’s Ministry Ryan Timpte at [email protected] for more resources, pastoral care, and FaceTime chats with your kids.

• BTW (high school): Sundays 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.• Alumni: Mondays 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.• YOW (5th - 8th grade): Wednesdays 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

connect withlopc youth on zoom!



we giveto lopcSTOCK

By Doug Bontemps, LOPC Member

When Stephanie and I pledge each year, we always complete our pledge with a donation of stock. It

makes much more sense for us than cash. Our situation may not be the same as yours, so you might want to talk to a tax professional; however, let me tell you the advantage in our case.

We have some stock that we got many years ago, and it has gone up nicely over time. When we sell that stock, we will have to pay tax on the increase in the stock’s value. For most of us that capital gains tax is 15% or 20%, depending on our tax bracket.

However, if I donate that stock to LOPC, we don’t have to pay that tax, and LOPC doesn’t either. What’s more, the donation is at the stock’s current value. I get the donation tax deduction at that higher price as well.

Here’s an example of the savings. Say, I have pledged $1,000 to LOPC, and I have stock currently worth $1,000, which I bought a several years ago for $600. If I sell the stock, I would need to pay tax of $74 ($400 gain x 20% tax rate = $74). It would be better to give the stock to LOPC. LOPC would sell the stock for $1,000, and together we saved $74! However, I get the $1,000 tax deduction for something I paid $600.

How do you donate stock?

Step One: TTransfer the stock from your brokerage account to LOPC’s Schwab account. You can either do this online from your brokerage account, or by calling your brokerage firm. Either way, this is what your broker needs:

• How many shares of which stock you wish to donate; and

• Transfer information:

Charles SchwabDTC#: 0164Acct#: 5320-8343Acct Name: Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian ChurchYour name

Step Two: Send LOPC bookkeeper, Lidia Jesionek, an email at [email protected] to let her know it’s on its way. My email would say, “Lidia, I am sending [# shares] of [stock name] to your Schwab account. Please use this to pay my 2020 pledge”

Donating stock Is easy to do and will save you money!Contact Doug Bontemps at (925) 451-4857 for more information.


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With April behind us, we look towards the next eight months that have a great deal of

uncertainty to them. The LOPC staff working with Finance has been taking this very seriously and has started to map various outcomes for both spending and income that we can use based upon on how the events play out.

Thanks to a strong close to 2019 and unusually high 2020 prepaid pledges, it is difficult to see the real impact that COVID-19 is having on giving, but we have seen some decline in giving over the past month-and-a -half, which may continue over the remainder of the year as impacted families and members make changes to their 2020 giving.

YTD April total Congregational Giving of $1,010,925 was $29,813 lower than budget and at 36% of the total annual budget. The percent of the total budget is better than 2019, which was 32%, but lower than 2018, which was 40%. We closed Seedlings early and lost the tuition for both April and May, but we paid the teachers through the end of the school year. We let parents know they could contribute to offsetting the salary expense of teachers, and received $20,000, which is showing in the Other Income category. Other Sources of Income include $18,549 for the employee retention credit allowed under the CARES Act. We are eligible for some relief every pay period up to $5,000 for each employee.

YTD April Expenses are $1,102,451, which is $24,169 lower than budget. There are some higher expenses in Personnel for consulting help related to navigating employee benefits related to federal relief, but overall favorability is due to programs being cancelled or greatly reduced due to the campus closure.

The result is a net deficit of $71,518 YTD April, which is $12,297 favorable to budget.

The key thing we need to be looking at for the remainder of the year is the Congregational Giving trends. There has been a great deal of disruption in the economy and it will impact the giving of families and members. The Finance Team is working with Peter and the staff to position the church in the best way to continue the high-quality services that are needed even more in times like this. As you can imagine in these tough times, some members and families find themselves unable to give to the church as they had hoped. How can you help? If you have already given, thank you, and please consider increasing your pledge. If you have not made a pledge, please consider doing so now.

Thank you for the gifts of your time, talent and treasure to support LOPC’s ministry in serving more people today than ever before .

financial update

January to April 2020 Actual Budget

Pledge Income 837,586 888,000Non-Pledge, Loose Offerings, & Other Giving

139,237 128,866

Mission & Other Special Gifts 30,843 22,667Faith Component 3,259

1,010,9251,205

1,040,738

User FeesEmployee Retention Credit

Other Sources

Congregational Giving

1,45918,549

2,067- 0

Total Income

Total Congregational Giving

1,030,933 1,042,805Expenses (1,102,451) (1,126,620)Net Surplus (Deficit) (71,518) (83,815)$

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$

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PLEASE DELIVERBEFORE 6/1/20

Thank you!

PASTORAL STAFFPeter Whitelock, Head of StaffGerald Chinen, Congregational CareLauren Gully, Mission & Spiritual FormationJaime Polson, Families & Executive Leadership

WORSHIP & MUSICBrett Strader, Director Stewart Scharch, Organist

TREASURERChar Casella

MINISTRY DIRECTORSChris Baldwin, Ministries Associate for Community LifeKeris Dahlkamp & Allison Kunz, YouthColeen Moulton, Seedlings PreschoolRyan Timpte, Children

FOCUS NEWSLETTERJon Corry, Communications

Editors: Dick James, Lexi Morrissey, & Renée Wigginton

Thank you to all who contribute to each issue!

Monthly FOCUS Newsletter Deadline: June 1 for the July issue.Email items to [email protected].

Weekly CONNECTIONS Deadline: Every Monday by 5 p.m. for the following Sunday’s issue.Submit items at:lopc.org/submission-for-connections

We’re all in thisTOGETHER!Join us for worship online

Sundays at 9 a.m.or any time you wish!

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Documents

FOCUS - lopc.org · Baldwin at [email protected]. First Friday Forum By The First Friday Forum Team First Friday Forum is very sorry to have canceled its scheduled speakers for April,