The Redwoods LOG January / February 2022
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The Redwoods LOG
January / February 2022
Grace and Peace to Redwoods Presbyterian Church!
As we head into the New Year, we are still overshadowed by the twists and turns of this
lingering virus. We thought we were approaching normalcy, or some semblance of it,
and now that seems farther away (again). Our fellowship/coffee hour after Sunday
services is back on hold. Many meetings are sticking with zoom and even some of our
local churches are going back to zoom worship. By the time this goes to print, health
protocols and mask mandates may have changed again, in which direction I cannot
foresee.
How do we stay present and peaceful when our plans and expectations are constantly
interrupted by deviations and fluctuations? How do we keep hope alive in the midst of
collective trauma and disappointments?
I am grateful for the Flight 2022 Instructions I was sent by Deacon Diane Forster, which
was shared at a recent Sunday service. It is worth sharing again:
Good morning and welcome to Flight 2022.
We are prepared to take off into the New Year.
Please make sure your Positive Attitude and Gratitude are secured and locked in the
upright position. All self-destruct devices: pity, anger, selfishness, pride and
resentment should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt, and discouragement
should be put away.
Should you lose your Positive Attitude under pressure during this flight, reach up and
pull down a prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your Faith
is activated, you can assist other passengers who are of little faith.
There will be NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight.
God, our Captain, has cleared us for take-off. Destination—GREATNESS!
Wishing you a New Year filled with new Hope, new Joy and new Beginnings!
Stay Blessed! And welcome in 2022.
Like these instructions, Jesus reminds us that God is always with us and that our faith
allows us to persevere with confidence through troubling times. God will see us through.
Blessings,
Stephanie
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
- 1The time is always right to do what is right. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Souper Bowl of Caring – Feb. 13, 2022
As of the publishing of this newsletter, the San Francisco 49ers are in the running to play
at the 56th annual Superbowl in Los Angeles. (Some people are still talking about the
Raiders, formerly of Oakland and currently of Las Vegas, losing the Wild Card game by
just one play after an unbelievable run in 2021.) We feel the propinquity of the coming
event and are likely to root for our local team. (Go 9ers!) Feb. 13 will also be the date of
our Annual Congregational Meeting at Redwoods. In years past we have celebrated
after the meeting with a fabulous salad potluck, and sometimes, in honor of the Souper
Bowl of Caring, lentil soup. Again this year we are limited in our social contact due to
Covid-19 and will not gather in Fellowship Hall for the potluck and soup. (We hope to
have a salad potluck in the not too distant future.) But we can still recall that the
Souper Bowl of Caring empowers people to unite and tackle hunger using the energy of
the Big Game. The vision is to transform the Big Game into a way to eliminate hunger.
Since 1990, churches and other groups have raised over $170,000,000 for local food
banks across the country. Redwoods has participated in this fund-raising for many
years, hence the soup. Our donations have been forwarded to the SF/Marin food bank.
Like the Superbowl, there is a local aspect to food insecurity – 1 in 5 Marin residents are
at risk of food insecurity. Please donate, if you are able, to the SF/Marin Food Bank,
every dollar helps. (If you prefer, include an extra donation with your pledge to
Redwoods and we will forward the funds.) Even though I can’t be in the kitchen to cook
for you, I’m including my recipe below. This recipe is vegan, or you can add a mix of
Spicy and Mild Italian Sausage, just sauté before adding them to the pot.
Peace – Jan Salas
Lentil Soup
3 Tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped 1 celery rib, finely chopped
1 ¼ cups French Green Lentils 6 cups vegetable stock
1 ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not
smoking, then sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 6 minutes.
Add carrots & celery, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add lentils, water, salt &
pepper & bring to a boil, then reduce heat to moderate & cook, covered, until lentils are
tender, about 30 minutes. Serve with balsamic vinegar as a condiment.
- 2Deacons’ Corner
Happy New Year to you! We Deacons are gearing up for 2022 and are excited to do
God’s work. We are here for you, and if you need help with something, have concerns,
or just want to chat, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us. Also, if you have ideas
about how we might better serve the congregation, please do share. We are blessed to
have such a wonderful church family and hope to magnify God’s love through the
congregation that it may radiate out into the world. Peace be with you, Bonnie, Diane,
Gabriele, Ginger, Maisie, Polly, Sara, Sharon, Stephanie and Tani.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter. -
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Some personal thoughts from Polly Gorder
It’s been the tradition at Redwoods to celebrate Communion on the first
Sunday of the month. All of us join in the celebration using the symbols of
bread and wine to remember the amazing sacrifice of Christ - a very solemn
affair. Then came Covid bringing the Covid Communion challenge. Now
we’re presented with a small funny looking plastic cup upon arriving for
church. During the communion service we hear again the words spoken by
Jesus as he shared a meal with his disciples – again, very solemn. Then
comes the not so solemn time as we engage with those little cups and first
try to separate the very thin plastic to free the tiny white (tastes like paper)
wafer and even more of a challenge, open the juice area without spilling it
all down one’s front. We’re all together with this struggle and I admit to
hearing some shuffling, and even a nervous giggle (mine) from time to time.
Because we’re still in the throes of Covid I realize that we’ll need to continue
with those little cups for the foreseeable future but it doesn’t lessen the fact
that we are celebrating together the very core of our faith.
I feel very blest to be sharing in this celebration with the caring and loving
Redwoods family.
Editor’s Note: We are blest to have Polly with us to share these thoughts.
- 3Music Notes
As this new year commences, I focus thoughts on creativity and wonder
what will be manifested this year. The spontaneity of ideas is exciting.
Putting ideas into action is the next step. In relation to how music will
evolve at Redwoods, I have some ideas. I hope we may see a bell recital in
the sanctuary before the summer. I hope our Christmas program ‘Carols by
Candlelight’ may return in December. I hope that we are able to mark the
125th birthday of the church with much music, revelry and gratitude,
indulge in a tour of those 125 years with more historical anecdotes coming
forth from members, inviting previous members to share stories, and
perhaps having a presentation in a breakfast format. I would like to repeat
my cabaret show at the Redwoods this year. I hope we may include the
‘Godspell’ theme once again in service, bless again our beloved animals,
and introduce new themes for service as we continue to hope that the
world finds ways to repair itself and we within it. We need to keep looking at
the big picture while taking each day one at a time, as we have been doing,
and remaining secure in our belief that all will be well.
Helen would love us to all say: It is Well with my Soul!
Peace,
Denise
*Denise and Liam’s wonderful production of hymns, available now on
CD! See Denise to obtain a copy. Suggested donation: $20.
- 4● Welcome and congratulations to our newly installed Officers – Elders - Dan
MacQuarrie, Clay Wiens and Bill Ryder, and Deacons – Sharon MacQuarrie,
Polly Gorder and Gabrielle Putzi. We appreciate their leadership. We also
send our prayers and gratitude to Marian McNaughton who has completed
her term as Elder.
● Our newest member Mark Chambers served as liturgist on the same day he
joined Redwoods. We are delighted to have him become part of our family.
● We also extend a warm welcome to Vanessa Reid, our new Office
Administrator, who joined us just before Christmas. She is currently in the
office Tues – Thurs from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and periodically on Sundays to run
the live-stream of the worship service. Please make sure to say hi!
● Polly reported that Joyce Wells is doing well and sounds like herself in her
new assisted-living center in Bend, Oregon. She holds Redwoods in her
heart, and she is always with us in spirit.
● Diane Forster’s daughter Pam Rosa joined us for worship recently and we
were all delighted to see her with mom!
● Dan MacQuarrie has started a monthly Men’s gathering on the third
Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. (as he says triple “T”). They will be
meeting at the Farm House Local in Larkspur. Fun Fact: The Farm House Local is
the former location of Dexter’s TV, the shop owned by our long time
member Oakley Dexter!
Annual Congregational Meeting
On February 13, immediately following worship, we will meet to receive the
Annual Report and 2022 Budget, approve the Nominating Committee, and
approve the Pastor’s terms of call. The annual report will be sent to all members
prior to the meeting via e-mail. If you would prefer a paper copy and/or would
also like a copy of the year-end financials and 2022 budget, please contact the
church office. Our Office Administrator Vanessa will arrange to send the
document(s) via US mail or set a time for pick up at the office.
- 5Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive
out hate: only love can do that. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
As we prepare this January/February edition of the Log, we have just celebrated the Martin
Luther King Day holiday. The holiday was enacted into law in 1983 and was first observed
in 1986. Throughout the years there have been various changes to the name of the
holiday, the most recent being to name it the National Day of Service. This change was co-
authored by the late, great, Congressman John Lewis, The federal legislation challenges
Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action volunteer service in
honor of King.
We are also about to begin the month of February, which is Black History Month. The first
celebration of Black History Month took place in 1970 at Kent State University. Six years
later, Black History Month was being celebrated all across the country. President Gerald
Ford recognized Black History Month, during the celebration of the United States
Bicentennial. He urged Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected
accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history"
We are open for in-person worship Sundays at 10am! Masks and social distancing
are required.
For those unable to attend, the livestream link is:
YouTube Live Stream worship link - Sundays at 9:55am
Click here for YouTube live stream
Or go to
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjCj20jYb9Dk3nnFyNGncXg/live
Bible study meets on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. via zoom. Contact the church office at
office@redwoodpres.org to inquire about joining the study. All are welcome!
Calendar Notes:
Jan.25 – Mission/Outreach Committee Meeting 10 a.m.
Feb. 6 – Deacons’ Meeting after worship
Feb. 8 – Session Meeting 4 p.m.
Feb. 13 – Annual Congregational Meeting after worship
Feb. 17 – Men’s Group 10 a.m.
Birthdays
Jan. 1 – Bill Ryder Jan. 8 – Zach Paulson Jan. 11 – Rory Little
Jan. 19 – Clay Wiens Jan 23 – Elein Phipps Jan 25 – Molly Rademacher
Feb. 3 – Conrad Williams Feb. 5 – Anna Barnett Feb. 5 – Whitney McNaughton
Feb. 6 – Andrea Little Feb. 9 – Ben Girton Feb. 12 – Hunter Newton
Feb. 14 – Jim Gorder Feb. 15– Dick Kohler _Feb. 18 – Mark Chambers
A Message from Redwoods Presbytery
- 6“What is the Per Capita apportionment?
Each year the Presbyterian Church (USA) establishes a per capita
apportionment. When we pay our per capita, we are helping to support the structures
that support us as a congregation: the Presbytery, the Synod, and the General
Assembly. These councils of the church consult with our elders and pastor/s on all
aspects of church life, bring us together with other congregations to grow in faith and do
mission, sponsor projects to show Jesus’ love all over the world, and help us manage
our programs, finances, and buildings. In 2022, each congregation in Redwoods
Presbytery will receive a bill charging $34.00 for each active member. Of that amount,
$8.98 goes to the General Assembly, $5.22 to the Synod of the Pacific, and $19.80 to
the Presbytery of the Redwoods. If you are able, please prayerfully consider paying this
per capita apportionment in addition to your regular giving. It will help with our budget!”
We at Redwoods Presbyterian Church are members of the Presbytery of the
Redwoods, which stretches from the Oregon border to the Golden Gate Bridge and
includes 48 congregations and over 5,000 congregational members. The Presbytery
provides vital support to all the member churches and pastors, as well as participating in
mission work. The Presbytery is continually working to assist congregations, recruiting,
training and supporting new members of the ministry, working to reduce food
insecurities and many other functions that help maintain our churches as vital
congregations. If you have made a pledge Redwoods, we are grateful, but it does not
include the “Per Capita”, which is a separate contribution as described above. If you
are able, please forward your Per Capita of $34 to help cover this expense. If you
would like more information about Per Capita please feel free to speak with Rev.
Stephanie Ryder or Jan Salas (new member of the Presbytery Mission Finance
Committee).
With a sad heart, we bring you the news that the Rev. Frank Hamilton passed away New Year's
Eve, in Napa. Frank was an honorably retired minister member of the Redwoods
Presbytery. He served as Pastor here at Redwoods Church from 1962-1970, when growth of
the church hit its peak at 468 members. Plans for a memorial service will be shared at a later
time.
Condolences can be sent to:
Cynthia Hamilton (Frank’s daughter)
18120 Vasser Court
Sonoma, CA 95476
Lyn Hamilton (Frank’s sister)
2670 Spring Street
St. Helena, CA 94574
THANK YOU
- 7“On behalf of the staff at Redwoods, we thank the congregation for the generous
Christmas bonuses. We are all grateful to be a part of this loving, caring
congregation.” Rev. Stephanie Ryder and the Staff at Redwoods
As always, we are grateful for our worship leaders and musicians - Denise
Wharmby, Colton Berger and the Bell Choir – Jim and Polly Gorder, Sara Laureyns,
Nancy Rademacher, Gabrielle Putzi and Diane Forster. In December we also
thank our Ushers (who also do Greeter duties) – Bonnie Kaiser, John Girton and
Ginger Gmhaling, and our liturgists Tani Girton and Nancy Rademacher. We also
had special music on Christmas Eve with Steve Murillo (saxophone, flute), Devon
Lawrence (vocals, piano), Liam Wallace (trombone, drums and piano), and George
Wallace (vocals, baritone and horn) led by our Music Director Denise Wharmby.
Under the guidance and spirt of our pastor, Rev. Stephanie Ryder we continue to
worship joyfully together.
We appreciate those who keep things running during these challenging times –
Jim and Polly Gorder, Vanessa Reid in the office, Committee Chairs and other
leaders who prepared their annual reports, and everyone who participates in the
family of Redwoods.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere. – Martin Luther King, Jr
The Redwoods Log
110 Magnolia Ave.,
Larkspur, CA 94939
415-924-4832
www.redwoodspres.org
Log Editor – Jan C. Salas
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