Whatever things are
think on these things
Vol. 58, No. 3 February 6, 2009
In God’s Name
After the events of September 11, 2001 French
filmmakers, Jules and Gedeon Naudet, asked
themselves: “Where was God that day?” In
searching for answers to this and many other trou-
bling questions of our time, these two young men
asked twelve spiritual leaders to talk to them
about violence and hatred, sacrifice and doubt,
tolerance and peace, and many other issues con-
fronting our world. These leaders were inter-
viewed in their own homes and places of worship
in India, Japan, Russia, England, Egypt, Lebanon,
Israel, and the United States. The result is a com-
pelling film in which Hindu, Christian, Muslim,
Shinto, Sikh, Buddhist and Jewish voices address
the brokenness of the twenty-first century world.
During Lent we will view this 2008 video over
three Thursdays: March 3, March 19, and April
2. The film divides quite easily into three sec-
tions. After watching approximately thirty min-
utes of the film, we will take an hour to discuss
these same questions among ourselves and weigh
the answers of these thoughtful religious figures.
You are invited
to take part in the
conversation
from 7:30 to
9:00 p.m. in the
Fireside Room.
Please mark your
calendars today.
- Pam Shortridge
Barbara Strader Editor
Lent Begins
“For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” so
God informs Adam in Genesis as Adam comes to
full consciousness of his own mortality. With his
expulsion from the garden, Adam falls into history
and gains an awareness of suffering, conflicting
choices, and uncertainty. His first act is to name
his wife “Eve, the mother of all living.” Thus, the
first humans are confronted not only with their own
mortality, but with the unfolding of life within the
reality of time. This is the human condition.
Lent takes seriously the human condition and the
journey to new birth amid the dust of everyday liv-
ing. On Ash Wednesday, we begin our journey
through Lent by bringing to conscious awareness
those anxieties, distractions, addictions that choke
the very life out of us. Then, for the next six
weeks, we invite the divine energy to liberate us
from inertia, fear, and confusion and create us
anew, so that we may come to Easter freed and for-
given. .
Begin the journey at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday,
February 25, with a simple worship service of dust
and fire, silence and reflection, prayer and com-
munion in the Fireside Room.
In This Issue
Homeless Shelter Needs Supplies 2
Directory Updates 2
Board Report 3
Men’s Lunch Changes 3
Life on the East Coast 3
MOC Leader Speaks at CCMV 4
Triple C Lunch and Program 4
News from Keneth 5
Calendar of Events 6
 • Cough Drops
Homeless Shelter • Cold/Flu remedies
• Combs/Brushes
Needs Supplies • Feminine Hygiene
Here is a list of items that people staying at the • Large (33-39 gal) Garbage Bags
temporary winter homeless shelter could use. • Neon Duct Tape (Green and Pink--for sorting
Chris Highland, the shelter coordinator, says that bags for guests)
donations can be left at Helen Vine Detox Center Your generous donations of time, money and sup-
(301 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael). Chris High- plies have been a huge comfort to our homeless
land can be contacted at 415/491-9787. neighbors. Thank you for your help.
Please note: County funding for the temporary win- - Linda Xiques
ter shelter at the Armory will end February 15 and
it will close. Some of the churches in the county
are attempting to find a way to provide needed Directory Updates
shelter from mid-February until the end of March.
Details will be reported later. People are on the move! Please update your church
Priority Items: directories to include the following changes.
• Sleeping Bags (or donations to purchase sleep-
ing bags and mats) Russ Wallace
• Camping Mats
100 Thorndale Dr. #350
• Clean Blankets
San Rafael CA 94903
• Laundry Facilities (Ritter Center has limited
415/492-2550
capacity)
• Paper Towels
Mike & Laura Webber
• Toilet Paper
5355 Anza
• Paper Cups for hot drinks
San Francisco CA 94121
• Paper Bowls
• Coffee packets
Madeline Armstrong
• Tea bags
400 Canal Street, Apt. 329
• Hot Chocolate packets
San Rafael CA 94901
• Equal packets
madmad1944@yahoo.com
• Sugar packets
(Cell) 415/419-6337

The Community Church of Mill Valley

United Church of Christ
An Open & Affirming Congregation
8 Olive Street, Mill Valley , CA 94941
Phone 415/388-5540
Fax 415/388-1678
e-mail CCMVUCC@comcast.net
www.millvalleyucc.org
Pastor: Pam Shortridge Sunday Morning:
Minister Emeritus: Jack Bartlett 9:00 a.m. “The Unexpected Word” Class, Foster Room
Parish Associate of Mission: Dora Ford 10:00 a.m. Worship Service, Sanctuary
Minister in Covenant: Jacquie Hoffman Nursery Care for Infants & Toddlers, Nursery
Seminarian In-Care: Arn Lou Mutia Program for Children in Preschool through Third
Seminarian In-Care: James Christie Grade, Children gather in the Chapel
Director of Music: Esther Archer 11:15 a.m. Coffee Hour in the Tamalpais Hall
Executive Editor: Barbara Strader
Facility Operations Manager: Aaron Young Of Good Report is published on the second and fourth Monday of each
month. Deadline for submissions is the previous Monday at noon.
2
2
 Board Report
The full board met at a regular board meeting in the
chapel on Tuesday, January 27. We reviewed
budget figures and account information; all looks
well. We’re asking two congregational members to
review our accounts with Vanguard in light of cur-
rent economic times. Continuing discussion about
the 5 year renewal of the lease with Old Firehouse
School renewed our feelings that the school is a
good tenant and we are good landlords. On the ad-
vertising front: some details of the website,
www.millvalleyucc.org, were discussed.
In our role of final approver of nominees to the
Board of Directors of the Redwoods Retirement
Center, we were pleased to approve the Nomina-
tion Committee’s proposal of lawyer John Adler.
President Mike Webber reported a good meeting
with the new president of the Redwoods Board,
John Levinson.
Get ready! During February the board will be pre-
paring a budget for fiscal year 2009-10. After in-
forming the church about the budget, the board will
present it to the congregation for a vote in a con-
gregational meeting after church on March 29.
Following that meeting, Jamie Clever, Vice Presi-
dent of the church, will write letters to church sup-
porters. The board is looking forward to the oppor-
tunity of visiting with every member and friend
and, incidentally, bringing back sealed envelopes
containing pledges. May 10 marks the end of the
effort to get financial commitments to support the
church’s expenses.
Pastor Pam presented her report and urged us to go
to the Retreat, Feb. 20-21. Some board members
have already signed up. We hope you will join us!
Respectfully submitted,
- Betsy Bikle, Secretary
Men’s Lunch Changes
The men have changed their lunch to the 2nd
Wednesday of each month. Always at Moylan’s.
The first lunch will be February 11, 2009. Please
mark your calendars for March 11, April 8,
May 13, June 10 etc.
3
Life on the East Coast
It's been months now living here on the east coast.
I have widened our network here. It is normal
now driving distances such as from Richmond VA
to Virginia Beach and vice versa or to Baltimore,
MD where my brother stays and also where the
Fil-Am diaspora organizations are far developed.
I have served a Fil-Am church in Virginia Beach
for the last 5 months but have to stop short after
church support was not firmed up. Organizing a
church is a challenging task especially when more
than half of your members are from other denomi-
nations especially Roman Catholics and not accus-
tomed to our polity and even theological under-
standing. I have a nice conversation and support
from the local Southern Virginia association
through their associate conference minister, Rev.
Drew Morris. Rev. Morris has been very helpful to
me and my family.
At present, I am going back temporarily to my
technical work on websites. I am partly working
for my brother by maintaining their computer serv-
ers. This has sustained me for a while as I am
hoping to receive some feedback on my applica-
tion to different churches. So far, our UCC office
in Cleveland OH sent out my profile and applica-
tions and they update me on the churches they
send it to. Meanwhile, I am active in organizing
my Diaspora through different churches here in the
East Coast. My MOC experience and the work-
shops that I have attended helped me in my work. I
am helping now organize Filipino Americans spe-
cially and connecting them to our churches. These
are Filipinos that I have reached out to during the
national electoral campaign in Virginia. Aside
from my networking and advocacy work, I am
finding time to enjoy the climate here too.
Last week, in my plan to attend a Fil-Am initiated
picket rally in front of Washington D.C.'s Philip-
pine Embassy with the main theme as "Bye-Bye
Bush Bring Gloria attended by Filipinos as far as
New York and New Jersey I ended up enjoying the
snow in Baltimore. While driving to Baltimore to
pick up my brother it snowed hard which made it
impossible to go back to Washington D.C. Missing
the rally, it was the first time that my family ex
“Life on the East Coast” continued on page 4…

MOC Leader
Speaks at
Community Church
On Sunday, February 1, Anna Eng, lead organizer
for Marin Organizing Committee (MOC), took part
in a dialogue with Pam Shortridge as part of the
worship service.
Anna grew up in Portland, Oregon, in a conserva-
tive Baptist congregation. She has been a profes-
sional organizer for seven years, primarily in the
Los Angeles area, and recently, for the past eight
months, in Marin. Since working in Marin, she’s
been struck by how easy it is to become isolated in
in our county. People come here to get away from
the stresses of city life, and then they can forget to
participate in community life as well.
One of MOC’s goals is to build relationships
among members of the community and between the
community and it’s elected officials. Strengthening
personal relationships within a church congregation
is a first step toward greater community involve-
ment. Initiating contact between other local con-
gregations is the next step. As people of different
faiths learn of their shared problems and concerns,
they can form a base of support for taking those
concerns to local politicians. Anna pointed out that
building relationships simply means talking with
each other, sharing personal histories, revealing our
lives. She noted that we all have a “teleprompter
speech” which we resort to when asked about our-
Anna Eng speaks at Community Church.
4
selves. The goal of conversation is to get beyond
automatic responses to a real sharing of what makes
us tick. From sharing comes friendship, close rela-
tionships, and ultimately community action — to-
gether - for the common good. That is MOC’s ulti-
mate goal.
The collection this Sunday was designated for
MOC. It will go toward our annual contribution of
support for the organization. If you missed the
Sunday program, donations may be sent to the
church office. Please write “MOC” in the memo
section of your check.
- Linda Xiques
Triple C Luncheon
Triple C is putting on another terrific program on
Wednesday, March 4. A slide show, Our Country,
Images from the Edges to the Heartland, is being
prepared by artist John Norall. Appropriate in this
year of new visioning for our country, wouldn't
you say?
It gets better: for only $6 you can have a prepared
lunch starting shortly after noon. Give yourself a
treat, bring a friend and join the gathering. Follow-
ing lunch, the program will begin at 1 p.m. Call Pat
Stephenson now (388-5650) to ask for a lunch res-
ervation and/or carpooling arrangements. You can
always call her again later if friends will be joining
you.
- Betsy Bikle
“Life on the East Coast” continued from page 3
perienced snow. My kids and their mom kept sing-
ing Let it snow, let it snow" while I was concentrat-
ing on driving. Paolo made a snowman ;Pia and
Patricia tasted it. While I missed the protest in
Washington D.C. my family enjoyed our trip.
We are waiting for Spring now: to see the flowers
in our garden bloom again with bees and birds fly-
ing again, kids running around the backyard,
Tessa and me go jogging in the park and visiting a
nice beach in Newport News. Most of all we thank
God for the surprises He has given us, the wonder-
ful opportunities, the learning and the hope and en-
during love. Indeed God acts in mysterious ways.
- Arn Lou Mutia

News from Keneth
It has been 3 months since Keneth left us to return
home. In that time he has been very busy. At the
beginning of December, Keneth along with 2
friends, Patrick and Geofrey, embarked on a mis-
sion to Masaka-Rakai. They visited the homes and
schools throughout this rural community and were
able to spend time with the children, and any adults
who were interested. Addressing basic hygiene and
basic education, they distributed toothbrushes,
toothpaste, school supplies and soccer balls. The
focus was on each individual child's responsibility
within their own community. The team got the
kids involved with cleaning the village wells to
help improve the quality of the water as well as
teaching hygiene, English, forming soccer and net-
ball teams and teaching the word of God. Keneth
and his friends arranged a Christmas party for over
200 children. All the children ate, played games
and sang. Prizes were given to best academic per-
formers as well as best sportsmen and women. All
of this was accomplished with $110.
can Children Ministries but there is great joy in the
unfolding process. Knowing what Keneth and his
team are doing for these children makes all the
challenges worthwhile. There are plenty of
"starfish" in this story and so many are getting a
fighting chance through the support of this commu-
nity and the determination of this young man.
"Thank you so much for your continued support
towards Hope For African Children ministries now
we believe that "yes we can" to change African
communities by working together through reach-
ing out to help the children and may Lord God
Bless you all.
Yours faithfully,
-Keneth Kiyija
http://www.hfacm.blogspot.com/

2009 began with the process of registering his min-

istry. Keneth has established a team of 5 Elders
from the community and together with his friend
Patrick, they formed Hope for African Children
Ministries. With the help of these community eld-
ers, the detailed process of registration has begun.
The requirements include submission of an annual
budget, annual work plan, and recommendation
5
letters from the Authorities in the community and
the district. Most of these requirements need a law-
Keneth reads a story to the children.
yer but with the help of the NGO contacts, they are
getting through it. Keneth has met with people
from THETA-Uganda, AIDS Initiative-Uganda and
Youth for Christ-Uganda.

Keneth has selected 30 children as part of an "adopt

an orphan" project. For $30 an individual can sup-
port the child's education, medical and community
development projects. With the help of Harriet
Kostic and a friend from Dominican University,
KC, Keneth hopes to get funding for these 30 and
more. The first set of school supplies, financed by
the ministry and your donations to the Giving Tree
at Christmas will be distributed to 30 of the 200
children in early February.
There are many challenges ahead for Hope for Afri- Some children in the “adopt an orphan” project.
5
The Community Church of Mill Valley NONPROFIT ORG.
United Church of Christ U. S. POSTAGE
8 Olive Street PAID
Mill Valley, CA 94941 Permit # 24
Mill Valley, CA
Return Service Requested

Upcoming Church Events

Sunday
8:30 a.m. Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 a.m. “Unexpected Word” Bible discussion, Foster Room
10:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary
Child care in the Nursery
11:15 a.m. Coffee and Conversation, Tamalpais Hall
All are invited.

This Week
Mon., Feb. 16, Presidents’ Day, Office Closed
12 Noon Of Good Report newsletter deadline
Wed., Feb. 18 7:30 p.m. Executive Committee Meeting, Pastor’s Office
Fri.-Sat., Feb. 20-21, Adult Faith Retreat, Enchanted Hills Camp

Coming
Sun., Feb. 22, 10:00 a.m. Guest Preacher, Evelyn Vigil, Chaplain, Santa Clara County
Jail & leader of spirituality group with mentally ill men &
women, San Francisco City Jail
Tue., Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. Board of Directors, Chapel
Wed., Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service, Fireside Room