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 do...

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 bet...

  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, t...

  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...

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 fam...

  Note from your Treasurer for first four months of our ’21-‘22 fiscal year. Pledge income is $1,498 above budget. Offerings are $4,968 above budget. Expenses are $1,086 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 Oct. 30 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

  Church Council Report from October 18, 2021 On October 18, the Skyland Church Council held an extended discussion about our COVID Guidelines. With rainy, colder weather approaching and COVID protocols continuing, the Council decided to revisit our guidelines and consider current and future concerns. A couple of weeks ago two four-stage HEPA air filters were acquired and set up in the church. Other than vaccines, masking, and distancing are the most effective means to prevent the spread of this dangerous virus. A close third is ventilation and air flow. Singing is also a higher risk activity; using masks when singing can reduce that risk significantly. Concerns about COVID in our community were magnified by the recent COVID cases in mountain schools. We will continue to remind each other to keep our masks over both nose and mouth. It was decided to procure a couple more air purifiers, especially since this brand is very effective and quiet. It was also agreed to keep the doors o...

  Trustees Update November 2021 In October our church received a notice of non-renewal for our Fire coverage due to the fire risk in our area.   Our current provider did offer to continue our Liability coverage separately for $3,300 and could only quote the California Fair Plan for fire coverage at $36,000 per year for a total of $39,300 per year for Liability and Fire coverage. After receiving copies of our current coverage from Gerald then Brian searched for companies that would provide coverage for our church. The choices that were found by internet searches and many phone calls are listed below: 1. Our current provider:  $39,300    Nov 15, 2021 to Nov 15, 2022 2. Quote from a major insurance carrier in business for close to 100 years and several billion dollars in premium income per year:         Liability & Fire        $11,045    Nov 15, 2021 to Nov 15, 2022  3.  Broker that...

"This is the day that the Lord has made;  let us rejoice and be glad in it." --Psalm 118:24 As the seasons shift once again and we turn toward cooler temperatures and even some rain, we turn too toward important days of celebration.  As we head toward Thanksgiving and Advent, let's spend some time thinking about all that we have to be grateful for.  Whenever I am feeling down or frustrated or just plain out of energy, I take a moment to list a few things I am genuinely grateful for.  I actually try to remember to do this every day, but I don't always remember.  I do remember when I am down, and turning to gratitude helps me to work through whatever is bothering me. So three things I am grateful for today (though I am not down...): 1. the miracle of gentle rain falling from the sky 2. joyful visits with members of the church this morning 3. sharing in ministry with all of you at SCC. What are you grateful for today? The above photograph was downloaded f...

Church Policies – what if there was a policy that required all members to read the newsletter??? That isn’t going to happen but now that I have your attention please be aware that in the coming months there will be policies generated for each Ministry Teams and other activities in the church. Jackie Seymour will be heading this effort and the work has already started. Written policies will help to keep us uniformly aware of what is expected and sometimes required.  Our insurance companies have asked for and required some of these policies. Jackie will send out information to each team as we begin their work. You can help by giving some thought to what you might like to see in a policy for a team or activity you are involved in.   Jackie Seymour ___________________________________________________________ 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 ...

  News from the Vision and Assessment Team You may be thinking “Whoa, I never heard of this Team before!” That is because it is a new Ministry Team set up in our bylaws that we passed last year. The goal of the team as stated there is “to improve the practice of ministry and to increase vitality in the congregation.” Duties for the team are also listed. Basically, this team asks for inputs from you, analyzes it and communicates results back to you that we, the church, can use to strengthen its ministry work. Part of the job of this team is to assess our ministry with the aim of improving it. Find out what is working well and what could use some course correction. This includes our minister but for the most part we will be looking at our combined ministry. The second part of the job is visioning. This too involves course correction work. From reVision we know that we want to work with and for our mountain community. We will be looking at ways that our current efforts are working o...

  Note from your Treasurer for first four months of our ’21-‘22 fiscal year. Pledge income is $1,498 above budget. Offerings are $4,968 above budget. Expenses are $1,086 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 Oct. 30 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

       Skyland  Church sponsors local families at CT English Middle School, Loma Prieta Elementary School and other families in need for the holiday season.  This year is especially important due to all the changes necessary during this pandemic. Can you dig a little deeper and help those neighbors in need? The felt Giving Tree in Whitaker Hall has been our way of showing the generosity of our church community and our neighbors.   Gift cards will be bought for children's gifts and for family meals for the holidays.   At Skyland Church in Whitaker Hall we decorate the tree with a felt ball to symbolize your gift of $50.  Money will be collected  November  14 - Nov 28th so our school families can shop for Christmas in advance. Last year, thanks to the generosity of our members, our mountain neighbors and a matching donor, we raised almost $5,000 for each of the 15 families we supported who got $100 Safeway, $100 Gr...