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

  Mission Board- May Report The rains have come and gone and the food pantry is off the church porch.  Now, all of the food is being taken away even quicker than before.  People are hungry and Skyland is helping those in need - all ages from children to elders who are the working poor.  The pandemic is still impacting folks in so many different ways.  The high cost of living here, along with gas and food prices going up. We are providing about 1,000 meals a month thanks to the 30 volunteers a month taking in the 3-5 deliveries a week on Weds, Thurs and Saturday.  We are providing the necessities of life and this is God's work.  West Valley Community Services is offering a time for mountain residents in 95033 to come and get other financial support services on the second Thursday of the month from 12 - 2 P.M. Lots of the foods we get would have gone to landfills.  Come visit us doing the work on a Wed. 11 A.M. - 1 P.M. and see how the job is d...

  Small but Mighty During the Pledge Drive we pledge our gifts—both our money and our time—to Skyland Church to be used to care for people and our employees, to increase our missional outreach to the community, as well as to maintain the buildings and grounds. This year as we emerge from the Pandemic, much needs to be done to maintain and upgrade our facility, as well as to increase Rev. Melanie’s salary and benefits according to the NCNC guidelines for fair and just compensation. Also included in our expenses are rising inflation costs for utilities and insurance.  For the 2021-2022 budget year, 28 pledges are supporting a budget of $166,000. Skyland Church is completely funded by our local membership and caring community members. Our local membership and volunteers from the community support the mission of the church through their untold number of hours of dedicated work in the Food Pantry and in other important community outreach such as Fire Safe County Roads. We...

  Spring Cleaning at Skyland Church The gutters in the back of the church were stopped up.  Jeremy Cole and Ken Chambers cleared out the gutters and then they realized that the nursery windows were leaking during the most recent rains.  Ken Chambers spent a day prepping window trim and day adding trim to the church to stop any future leaks. He will be replacing the smoke alarms in the coming week since they keep beeping once a week or so.  They are past their expiration dates. ___________________________________________________________ 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 Community Church Minutes of the Council Meeting on April 18, 2022 Attendees : Reverend Melanie Weiner, Reverend Patricia Wood, Anne Evans, Jackie Seymour, Gerald Alonzo, Jan Parker, Shannon Edwards, John Heyes Members not in attendance : John Conkle Call to order : Reverend Patricia opened the meeting at 8:33 a.m. Opening Prayer given by Reverend Melanie Behavioral Covenant read by Reverend Melanie Review and Approval of Minutes : One section in the Treasurer’s report of March 21, 2022, was amended to clarify the purpose of two special gifts. Gerald said that the $5,000 designated for Cambodia is available to the Missions Board. The other $5,000 gift is for the general fund. Patricia advised that Council meeting minutes should identify the persons proposing and seconding a motion to approve, along with the number of ayes, nays, and abstentions. (This information appears in these minutes and will be found in all future ones.) After the minutes of the March 21 meeting we...

Note from your Treasurer for ten months of our ’21-‘22 fiscal year. Pledge income is $4,644 above budget. Offerings are $14,056 above budget. Expenses are $4,368 more than budget.   A $2,000 Online donation to our Food Pantry has been received. A $250 gift of grocery supplies was also received this month.   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 Apr. 27 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

  Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. --Job 12:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. --1 Timothy 4:12 Happy Easter!  Easter is more than just one day of shouting "Alleluia!" hunting eggs, eating chocolate, and rejoicing at the once-again empty tomb.  Easter is a whole season, seven weeks to celebrate resurrection, new life, and new opportunities.   As we celebrate this season right alongside celebrating the cautious opening up of our society as the pandemic seems to wane, it is a great time to take a look at ourselves and at our congregation, at who is present and who isn't, at how to build connections between generations. Last Year's Soothing Series grew out of a desire for intergenerational connections.  Young women took time from work and family and home to teach and to learn from each other and feel a new kind of joyful connection....

  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. Expe...

  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 Ch...

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 F...

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 sanctuar...

  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 fr...

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 she...