Church of the Foothills

March 2020 Sower

Calendar

MARCH 2020 Every Sunday (8:30am) and every Friday (10am) - Book Study Every Wednesday (6:30pm) – Men’s Book Study

Sunday 1 Communion Sunday Sunday 8 Board & Committee Meetings after church Tuesday 10 Council Meeting, 7pm Tuesday 10 Men’s Breakfast, Danny’s Deli, 8am Saturday 14 Wilderness Wandering #2, 9-11:30am (see article on page 7) Friday 20 Game Night, Pizza Man Dan’s, 444 E. Santa Clara Street, 6pm Saturday 21 Ladies’ Lunch, Hill St. Café, 1050 S. Hill Road, 11:30am Saturday 21 Wilderness Wandering #3, 10am-12n (see article on page 7) Tuesday 24 Men’s Lunch, Main St. Steakhouse, noon

Church Office Hours:

Rev. John Forrest: Tues-Fri & Sunday pastor@foothillschurchinventura.com

Craig: Mon, Wed, Friday, 9am to 2pm admin@foothillschurchinventura.com

Marie: Tuesday – Friday, 9am to 11am

6279 Foothill Road, Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 644-3036

After-hour emergencies: (805) 228-4167

www.churchofthefoothills-ventura.org

Church Staff & Leadership

Rev. John Forrest Douglas Pastor Judi Balcerzak Moderator Rev. John Martin Pastor Emeritus Elizabeth Helms Music Director Karen MacConell Accompanist Craig Rhea Church Administrator Marie Stauffer Bookkeeper Lena Martinez Office Assistant Jim Harris Facilities Manager Johnny Martinez Facilities Assistant

Audio recordings of the weekly sermons are now available on our website:

https://www.churchofthefoothills-ventura.org/

under the “Church Life” tab.

You will find previous editions of the Sower there, as well.

Our Valentine churchwide potluck on February 9th was once again a

delectable event.

Thanks to the entire Special Events and Fellowship Teams!

Ventura County 2020 Census It is very important that everyone be counted!

Please look for 2020 census information starting April 1. The Census is important because every individual participant brings $2,000 per year ($20,000 over 10 years) for safety net services, which include health and medical services, educational resources, programs for

children, seniors, the disabled and much more, for example, local food banks.

More information is available at https://www.venturacountycounts.org.

Sower editor: Linda Marsi

Don’t forget to Spring Forward this Sunday,

March 8!

Dear Church,

As we enter the holy season of Lent, I pray that you have considered ways to observe this season with intention. Many people give up something during this season, but I really like the idea of taking on an additional practice. For the past few years, I have taken on the practice of taking a picture of something I come across during my day, writing a haiku (a Japanese form poem) about it, and posting it on my social media accounts. I love that this practice provides a built-in opportunity for me to reflect on my day. I wouldn't say any of my poems are very good, but they do give me an opportunity to be creative and in dialogue with others about what's going on in my life. If you'd like to follow along, please feel free to add me as a friend on Facebook. How do you reflect on your day/week with intention? Send me an email and tell me. I'd love to hear about it. As we walk with Jesus through the wilderness, I pray that you are able to take advantage of the many special opportunities we've planned for this season. By journeying together with intention, our celebration of Easter will be that much richer! Blessings John Forrest ____________ Holy Week Services Maundy Thursday, April 9, 6PM Dinner with Communion 7PM Service of Tenebrae Good Friday, April 10, 12 Noon Mediations on the Stations of the Cross Easter Sunday, April 12, Services at 9AM and 11AM

From Your Moderator Judi Balcerzak

THANK YOU! A big “Thank You” to my church family for your kindness during my recovery process! Knee replacement surgery is a BIG procedure with a challenging recovery period. Your kind cards, notes, texts, emails, and gifts of baked goods were so helpful in getting me through the first few weeks. I’m pleased to share that I’m making good progress. Thank you and Blessings to you!

Hill St. Café Sat., March 21

11:30am 1050 S. Hill Rd

Tsuru (Cranes) for Solidarity Sunday, March 15, in the Agora Room.

Stay tuned for more information. Linda Marsi’s parents & their families were incarcerated

during WWII. She will be leading a crane-folding session in support of Washington DC’s Pilgrimage to

Close the Camps, June 5-7.

DINING FOR WOMEN

We will enjoy our monthly meal at Nancy Merrick’s Wednesday, March 25th, 6pm

See Candace, Linda or Nancy for evite

Project Playground! On February 9th the playground committee gave a full informational presentation for our Capital Campaign to replace our long-missed playground. It was well received, and you could feel the excitement and positivity in the room, especially from our youth! It started with a virtual video “tour” and ended with the announcement of our goal of $55,000 to make this amazing project a reality. In our first two weeks of the campaign, we have received $1,450. This is a wonderful start, please keep those donations coming in. I am available most Sundays to collect donations, you can leave it in the office or you can also put your donation in the offering plate, just note “PLAYGROUND” on the memo line of your check. Sharon Groeneveld, Playground Committee Chair

Go to www.diningforwomen.org

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR

GUATEMALA SOLUTIONS (WINGS)

Reproductive Healthcare Expansion

Af r i c a n P e o p l e & W i l d l i f e

Women and Girls in Conservation – Driving

Sustainability

Tanzania

This is special double event month as March 8 is International Women’s Day.

A satellite event taking place in Santa Barbara’s Marjorie Luke Theatre, 2:15p

Consider a Gift to the Endowment Fund Ways to contribute to the

Church of the Foothills Endowment Fund

~ Gifts in Honor or In Memory of

Family or Friends ~ Gifts of Cash, Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate, or

Personal Property ~ A Bequest in your Will

~ Gifts of Life Insurance, a 401k, or an IRA

We have received a few gifts for

The Endowment Fund and are most appreciative. Please remember this Fund as we all move forward.

For additional information, contact Nancy Merrick, Sharon Groeneveld or Linda Marsi

Hello Congregation! The Open and Affirming Discernment Team has been formed to lead the church through the process of deciding whether or not to become an open and affirming congregation, a decision that would result in the development of a written covenant which would offer a specific welcome to persons of differing sexual orientation, sexual identity and/or sexual expression. The team has designed a congregational survey to gather data to aid us in framing the outreach and education process for the church. Please help our team move forward with this effort by taking the time to complete the survey. It can be found at the following link: https://forms.gle/CPCCRRWAibaw71Js5 Responses are due by Monday, March 30. The team will also be beginning one-on-one outreach to church members soon. Look for more information on upcoming ONA outreach activities in future Sowers and church bulletins.

What is Your Outreach and Benevolence Board Up To in 2020? Now that our budget has been approved, it’s time to share our plans for 2020. Drop by the Outreach and Benevolence table after services to get the answers:

Which organizations will be supported financially through our Benevolence Grants program? What additional donations are planned to support our communities’ growing homeless population? What exciting new Outreach initiatives are in the works for 2020, and why we are pursuing them? What other initiatives and volunteer opportunities are we engaging in to support our local community, and how can

you participate? The Outreach Table will be set up near wherever we serve coffee after services (except on Sundays on which we have Board meetings or Special Events). Or, contact one of your Outreach and Benevolence Board members: Wendell Allen, Denise Barr, Betsey Chess, Dr. Richard Deamer, Jeff Klemme, Scott Marsi, Nunila Mederos, Jan Osborne, Jane Van Daalwyck.

One Great Hour of Sharing **Special Mission Offering: One Great Hour of Sharing coming Sunday, March 22nd ** Our church is a “5 for 5” church which indicates our support to UCC’s Wider Mission and the four Special Mission Offerings – four areas where critical human needs exist. These offerings sponsor vital ministries that bring hope to people in the U.S. and around the world. One Great Hour of Sharing is one of those special mission offerings. This offering will be collected on Sunday, March 22nd during our regular offering time. One Great Hour of Sharing aids families around the world needing food, water, shelter, health care and comfort. Your gift can be placed in the special offering envelopes or you can write the name of the offering (OGHOS) in the memo line of your check. When you give through One Great Hour of Sharing to those who suffer from natural disasters, war, or systemic poverty, you let them know: You are here for them. Your gifts join others to lift people out of poverty, restore their dignity and fight injustice. Thank you for your generous heart toward those in need.

Are you interested in the connection between faith and issues of social justice?

A Social Justice team has been formed under the umbrella of Outreach and Benevolence. This team will learn about issues of fairness and equality (or lack thereof) for all our people and our planet. We'll look into programs and policies that are in existence to further social justice, but also explore areas that are in need of justice and reform. We will plan after-church forums, consider additional ways to share information with the congregation, and provide opportunities to act as individuals and as a community to make a difference.

If you are interested in joining the team or just want to learn more:

1. Attend future team meetings (dates to be determined). Church membership is not required. Meetings will be on Sundays after church (when boards do not meet). 2. If you’d like to receive information about the issues, sign up for our list by emailing the church office at admin@foothillschurchinventura.com 3. If you’d like more information, contact Marianne Norton: ma4mail@aol.com or 310-650-1785

Church of the Foothills in Uganda

Nancy Merrick

Gary and I are just back from Uganda with an update on projects our church has been instrumental in, and the news is good.

First, the toilet and shower facility on Myende Island in Lake Victoria continues in use – and, as hoped, other improvements are following. Our friends at Children of Conservation plan to improve the school and unused clinic, and the government has agreed to staff them. Other projects, including a community farm, are planned.

Second - In western Uganda where chimpanzee forests are often converted to crops, the grant from the O&B Committee has provided school fee assistance to 12 children in 10 forest-owning families, and three are now going on to secondary school – something that otherwise might have been unthinkable. Their family forests have remained standing and are now thicker. And a group of 36 chimpanzees that depends on those forests is grateful.

Overall, the project now protects 6 chimp groups, will distribute 1 million tree seedlings this year, helps many with school fees, improves water sources and women’s health, offers fuel-efficient stoves, and more. The people leading these projects send their gratitude to all at Church of the Foothills.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR ---TWICE!! ANNUAL WOMEN'S RETREAT

A planning meeting will take place in the form of a salad potluck luncheon at Cheryl Bruckner’s home on Saturday, March 14th. Come join us as we recap the 2019 retreat and posit ideas for topics as we plan for the 2020 retreat. Annually, about 20 to 25 women come together to deepen our relationship with our beloved God and forge new friendships as we gather and share our hearts.

This year we have been fortunate to reserve THE ONLY WEEKEND AVAILABLE at the lovely Mount Calvary Retreat Center in Santa Barbara--next door to the Santa Barbara Mission. Please plan to join us!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Saturday, March 14th, 11am at Cheryl Bruckner’s home, 1050 Fairway Dr., Camarillo. Please bring a salad to share.

The Retreat will take place the weekend of September 25-27 at lovely Mount Calvary Retreat Center in Santa Barbara. Please RSVP to Cheryl at 805-701-4653

Wilderness Wanderings at COTF! The first one was held Sat, February 29.

Wilderness Wandering #2, Sat, March 14, 9-11:30am

Come join Steve Treanor on a “Wandering” to the “Serra Cross” at Grant Park. All (meaning kids to seniors) can participate in some way in this event. Two activities are planned. Non-hikers can bring a folding chair (some will be provided). A short talk about our local wildness will be provided followed by time in personal meditation and enjoying the view. For the more adventurous, Steve will lead a hike over the Grant Park Trails and the upper Botanical Gardens. The “Wandering” will last about an hour and a half. The hike is easy to moderate and less than 2 miles. Sign-ups appreciated. Meet at the church at 8:30 AM to car-pool or just arrive at the Cross before 9:00. Should you get lost call Steve Treanor at 805 665-7847.

Wilderness Wandering #3, Sat, March 21, 10am-12noon

Meeting Place: Main St & River bike path parking

Come one come all to a “Wandering” of the Ventura River Delta at Emma Wood State Beach Group Camp. We will gather near the beach at the Bikeway Parking lot on Main Street next to the Ventura River. We will walk along the Ventura Bike Trail about one half mile to Emma Wood Group Camp. The walk will continue along the beach to the historic World War II gun emplacement which is currently in the surf line. It will be a chance to see and experience the power of the ocean and the ever-changing coastal landscape. Sturdy shoes are a must as once off the trail there are some very uneven surfaces. This is a hike suitable for children but might be challenging for those with mobility issues. Meet at the church at 9:00 AM to car-pool or just arrive at the parking lot at 10:00 AM. Should you get lost call Steve Treanor at 805 665-7847.