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

  Our return to hybrid service has given us the opportunity to gather together after Sunday service to talk and share a warm drink and a simple treat. We welcome your help with hosting on the Sunday(s) that work for you. As host, you would arrive about 10:00 to set up the table and put out the mugs/teas/cookies. There is a paper  near the coffee supplies in the kitchen that suggests what needs to be done. You don't need to bake or buy anything as there is food in Whitaker that can be used. Plug in the coffee and the water before the service and make sure that things are cleaned up and put away afterwards and, just like that, you have offered hospitality to Skyland people. If this opportunity is calling to you, and we hope it is, please contact Jan Parker, 408 761 0634,  janetlparker@gmail.com , to volunteer your help.    Thank you. The Deacons

  Skyland Community Church Minutes of the Council Meeting on March 21, 2022 Attendees: Reverend Melanie Weiner, John Conkle, Patricia Wood, Anne Evans, Gerald Alonso, Jan Parker. Shannon Edwards, John Heyes Members not in attendance: Jackie Seymour Opening Prayer given by Reverend Melanie The Behavioral Covenant read by Shannon Approval of Minutes: After Patricia reviewed the minutes, they were approved unanimously. Reports : Gerald gave the monthly Treasurer’s Report: Income Pledges will surpass the budgeted amount, but they are currently short of the revised budget. Many member are current with their pledges, but others may plan to pay a lump sum toward the end of the fiscal year. The COVID pandemic has meant no hall rental fees. A few in-kind donations have been received. Expenses Facilty insurance has increased because of fire danger. Because of rising deductibles, Skyland Church now has its own earthquake insurance. The trustees allocate $7,000 annually for this expense. Expenses

  Note from your Treasurer for first nine months of our ’21-‘22 fiscal year. Pledge income is $5,560 above budget. Offerings are $13,001 above budget. Expenses are $6,402 below budget. Please remember to support our conference Mission Outreach One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) at next Sunday's special offering or by clicking on  Lenten Offering   (which will take you directly to that donation page).   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 95031-02445 Here is a summary of our operating finances as of Mar. 27 for our 2021-2022 fiscal year. Your Treasurer, Gerald Alonzo ___________________________________________________________ Skyland Community Church, United Church of Christ 25100 Skyland Road Los Gatos, CA 95033 phone: 408-353-1310 USPS mail: Skyland Church

Hello Skyland Missions Board and Congregants,   We are so pleased to let you know the five students you will be sponsoring this 2022 school year on Kadavu Island, Fiji.   Ulaiasi Vuniwaqa, Form 3 (grade 8), son of Vilikesa and Emele Vuniwaqa of Tiliva Village. Ulaiasi will be attending Kadavu Provincial Secondary School.   Litia Siva, Form 3   (grade 8) , daughter of Inoke and Emelini Siva of Matasawalevu Village. Kadavu Provincial Secondary School.   Lusi Tabuya, Form 4   (grade 9) , daughter of Jiuta and Lisi Tabuya of Tiliva Village. Kadavu Provincial Secondary School.  Dundee Hicks, Form 5   (grade 10) , daughter of Glen and Losana Hicks of Lagalevu Village. Kadavu Provincial Secondary School.   Seru Tabusakia, Form 3   (grade 8) , son of Isei and Alovi Tabusakia of Tavuki Village. Vunisea Secondary School.   Your generous donation of US$800 provided FJ$1,487.06. Each family will receive FJ$250 for school fees. The remaining FJ$237.06 will be for our partner there, Vilisi Nairogo.

What do an unexpected spring mountain snowfall in the Sierras, the deed to the Skyland Church property from 1891 and the first set of Skyland Community Church Bylaws from 1956 have in common?   I was recently surprised by all three. I experienced awe in the power of nature and warmth from shelter during the snowstorm. I also experienced connection to the people who formed Skyland Church and made the choices that have led us to this moment.   People have been a “church” in this place since 1891 and a UCC local church since 1956.   As we begin the pledge drive and contemplate stewardship, we pledge both our time and money in the coming year to care for our neighbors.   We as a congregation financially support the work of our church, including people who guide and support that work like Rev. Melanie, Glenda McCalla and Will Barclay, our custodian, and their well-being.   Let’s discern what we can give in time and treasure to make Skyland into a sanctuary and welcoming place fo

  Holy Week Schedule April 10, 10:30 AM--Hybrid Palm Sunday worship at 10:30 with coat drive April 14, 7:00 PM--Zoom Maundy Thursday worship with communion April 15, 9:00-11:00 AM--Good Friday drop-in quiet prayer, reflection, and meditation in the sanctuary April 17, 10:30 AM--Hybrid Easter worship celebrating resurrection -- Rev. Melanie Weiner Senior Minister Skyland Community Church

"When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’  A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’  He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep." --John 21:15-17 I was speaking with a friend last week who grew up near Skyland Church.  She now lives near me in the valley, but she still has many friends and a part-time job in the mountain community.  She spends a lot of time helping her childhood friends and others she has met over the years.  A few months ago when she was helping out a friend, the friend sent her

Missions Team Report for April 2022 We have such wonderful Food  Pantry  volunteers.  Skyland Community Church gives a BIG THANK YOU to all of them for their great help each week!  It takes a mountain.  There are almost 30 of us and we have names for over 100 individuals and families that we are feeding This month we have some new learning to do.  And we have a potential wonderful new opportunity from West Valley Community Services to get more financial support for our mountain families using the  pantry . All food handling volunteers are completing the new  Second Harvest Food Bank   online food handling training  on their website   by April 10th.   Anyone interested?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz9gv705BB   And now all of our refrigerators and freezers have new temperature logs and we are checking the temperatures on a daily basis.   Skyland Church now will maintain a client sign-up sheet  in the  pantry  area.  A big thanks to Cheryl Clifford for keeping that list up to date on

Harvest Festival Survey – The results are in!   Seventy-three percent of you responded (28 of 38). Wow!!! The Vision and Assessment team thanks everyone who participated. Your input will guide our leadership and council going forward.   Here are the results: 1.     Are you in favor of having a Harvest Festival? Yes overall. Four had concerns – Yes if it is smaller/more limited and if it is safe. 2.     Two things you love about Harvest Festival – Nearly everyone said they loved the gathering together of the community/friends with the folks at Skyland (95%). Half liked the Jams/Jellies/Pickles.   A third liked the books. A fourth of the respondents liked plants. Other things mentioned were produce, affordable items, toys, talks by experts, and treasures/gifts.   3.     What are two things you would be willing to be involved in? Three-fourths of respondents were willing to help in some way. A fourth were willing to help prepare for the event – mostly setting up and lunch. A cou