Skyland Community Church, United Church of Christ, Santa Cruz Mountains, CA

  Skyland Church Council Report from November 15, 2021   The Church Council meeting went smoothly even though the new elevator is not, moving smoothly, that is. There is an issue with the door not closing automatically, it is being addressed with the installation and manufacturer’s team. Final payment is held up until the problems are resolved.   COVID guidelines were discussed. The playing of a flute was approved with the caution that an air cleaner be very nearby. Updating the sanctuary furnace to MERV-13 filtering standards to accommodate extra air filtering was discussed and will be researched by the Trustees.   The Finance Ministry Team will be creating policies and procedures for their work. In the process of coming to understand the unwritten guidelines, they have discovered that certain fiscal guidelines need to be in the Skyland Church Bylaws. That presentation will come before the Congregational Meeting early in 2022 for approval. In addition, as part of documenting the fisca

The results are in from the Vision and Assessment Team’s first survey regarding what you like and don’t like about the hybrid service and what might make the holiday service special for you and your family. We were very happy with the twenty-two thoughtful responses we received. Thank you all very much.   There was overwhelming approval for the hybrid service. The most common response was “I like having the option of going to the church or attending the service from home.” What most people missed about the hybrid service was the physical connection to those at home.  There were several other suggestions for improvements but none garnered more than one request each. These included: more hymnals for those at home, can’t always hear the announcements, a bigger camera in the sanctuary to see everyone there, more people in the sanctuary, a longer sermon, sermon length was good, more pauses/silence during prayer. Perhaps there are some tweaks that might make things a little bit better while

  SKYLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH FREE FOOD PANTRY The Food Pantry has been found.  Every day 5-10 families drive up and get that extra "cup or sugar" that their kind neighbors at Skyland Church have been offering over a year on the front porch.  Those items that we can give change every week. The meat, milk, eggs and cheese go most quickly.  We always have enough canned veggies, bread and staples like pasta, cereal and snacks.  Want to donate?  We always need chili, soups with pop tops and baking items like oil, flour, sugar and spices.  Hot drinks are nice to have during the winter too.  We are winter proofed from the wind, rain and critters, but we would love it if an elf showed up and painted those plywood boards and the cabinets with white paint:).  They will come back down when the rains subside.   We have lovely thank you flags that were added by pantry volunteer Jan Parker this week.  Thanks light, thanks water, thanks home, thanks food now grace the porch.  Thanks Jan:) Thi

  Note from your Treasurer for first five months of our ’21-‘22 fiscal year. Pledge income is $3,077 above budget. Offerings are $3,729 above budget. Expenses are $3,171 below budget.   We now have online “Donations” item on our website, “skylandchurch.com”, as a convenient way to support our mission outreach and operations. You may also mail your pledge and other donations to Skyland Community Church P.O. Box 245 Los Gatos, CA 95031-0245   Here is a summary of our operating finances as of Nov. 29 for our 2021-2022 fiscal year. Gerald Alonzo, Treasurer ___________________________________________________________ Skyland Community Church, United Church of Christ 25100 Skyland Road Los Gatos, CA 95033 phone: 408-353-1310 USPS mail: Skyland Church P.O. Box 245 Los Gatos, CA 95031-0245 Website   skylandchurch.com

For you shall go out in joy,      and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you      shall burst into song,      and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12 The season of Advent has arrived, and it is time to prepare the way for Christ's birth at Christmas.  Over the next several weeks, we will gather to worship in the decorated sanctuary and in our homes; we will live the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love; and we will light candles and tell stories and sing carols.  Our families and friends will put up a tree, exchange gifts, plan meals, and spend time together celebrating the joy that this time of year brings. We will gather each Sunday in the seasons of Advent and Christmas for hybrid worship at our usual time of 10:30.  There will be a few special services: At 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve, we will gather on Zoom only to hear stories and sing carols and welcome Jesus to the world as a newborn child once again.   At 10:30 AM on Sunday, De

SKYLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH GIVING TREE UPDATES Good News!   With the generosity of many kind Skyland Community Church and friends, we have raised the $4650 to  match last year's gift cards and give $300 per family (12) plus $50 a child (21). The 12 families who are eligible for free school lunches will get $100 gift cards to Target, Safeway and Grocery Outlet and the children will get $50 gift cards to buy toys or clothes.  By giving families gift cards they are able to buy items in the right size, color and style for their kids.  The school will distribute these cards anonymously.  Anyone interested in preparing the holiday cards in the coming week will be welcome to help.  We are still raising funds so that we can help the families/individuals who come to the Skyland Church Free Food Pantry.  We have kept a list of almost 50 names  Plus, there are so many new families finding us lately, so we might meet a few more families in December.  Gerald Alonzo will distribute the gift cards