StressBusters

We've been having a great, low-stress study of the healthy rhythms of the life of faith using the model that David describes in Psalm 23. Many have expressed their appreciation for the themes introduced in worship, the daily readings, and the small group discussions. We're planning on giving everyone an opportunity to share what the 40 days with the shepherd has meant to them with the whole congregation on Sunday, November 23rd.

Covenant World Relief 2008

You could almost say that Covenant World Relief (CWR) has become an anticipated habit of the heart for us each fall. We can take for granted that soup can banks will appear in church and will be collected in late November. However, the gifts gathered in those banks is never taken for granted by the ultimate recipients of those gifts. For most of them, the gifts are the difference between life and death whether from a monsoon flood or a sub-Saharan drought; from grinding poverty or arid wells. The funds are used for projects from aid in emergencies to economic development in failed nation states around the world. Please don't take for granted this opportunity to "make a difference and make a change."

Thanksgiving Dinner - November 23rd

Our brothers and sisters from Church of God's Love have invited us to Thanksgiving dinner after our worship on November 23rd. Look for sign ups starting November 9th and let's accept this gracious invitation from these friends with whom we share our campus.

Seafarers

Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate is a local Bay area ministry to a forgotten group ofpeople. It reaches out to seafarers who come into the various ports in the San Francisco Bay area. Over the years we've had a visit from its director, Rev. Jim Lindgren, a Covenant pastor, and we've sewn ditty bags which hold small toiletries and gifts given to seafarers aroundChristmas. During a November worship service we'll take a closer look at the ministrythrough a "News from the Field" DVD. The following is a story about this important ministrywhich provides advocacy and works for justice:

"Last week I met with Rico, a middle-aged cabin steward working on a cruiseship. Rico has been working for the same company for 13 years and has an excellentrecord of service. Recently he suffered a head injury in rough seas. The doctor on board treated his cut and gave him aspirin for his headache. The headaches persisted.he asked the doctor if he could see another doctor for a second opinion. His requestwas denied. What should he do? If he continued to complain, he could be sent home,with no compensation. This has happened to other crew members, on his ship, whocomplained of injuries. Cruise ships are floating sweat shops. Basic pay for cabinstewards is $40.00 per month plus tips. They work more than twelve hours every daywith no days off! While the ship was in dry dock, the crew continued tow work withno tips. They were paid $2.00 a day!

I was able to help Rico. We determined that his ship had a union contract, andI was able to get him in touch with the local representative who is following through.There is no guarantee that he will find a fair resolution. Justice for seafarers is not a sure thing.

Advocacy is just one of many facets of our ministry. Though advocacy is notan everyday occurrence, it is a part of our job which we must do more often than wewould like. The everyday part of our ministry on your behalf is hospitality, welcoming the strangers in our port in the name of Christ. This is a s biblical ministry rootedin the Old Testament and commanded by Jesus in Matthew 25, where we are called towelcome the stranger and visit those who are imprisoned. Seafarers are often literallyimprisoned on their ships, either because they don't have visas or because they don'thave the time to go ashore. When they can go ashore, we provide the services theyneed to make their very short stay enjoyable.

NOVEMBER WORSHIP/PREACHING -We will finish our 40 day study series of the23rd Psalm and begin the Season of Advent.

Nov. 2 - Psalm 23.3b -"The Secret to Success" - Jim G Nov. 9 - Psalm 23.4 -"The Secret to Courage" - Jim GNov. 16 - Psalm 23.5-6 -"The Secret to Confidence" - Marian Ecklund Nov. 23 - Psalm 23 -"A Time of Sharing about the 40 Days" - Jim GNov. 30 - 1st Sunday in Advent

Save the Date! Harvest Soup Supper Saturday November 8 at 6:00pm Good fun, fellowship and food!

CONGREGATIONAL CONVERSATIONS ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL BY-LAWS

have begun with a conversation on October 19th about Article 1 - Membership. Our next twoconversations will focus on Articles 2 & 3 which outline the Leadership Team and the Ministry Teams. They will take place on November 9 & 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room.Look for a bulletin insert on the 9th that identifies "live" questions we have about certainitems in those articles. Also, please be prepared to bring your own questions and suggestions,. Our goal is to fine tune the by-laws document in time for it to be "read into the minutes" ninety days before the 2008-09 Congregational Annual Meeting. Hard copies of the ByLaws are available in the narthex and soft copies are available on the church website.

BOOK LOVERS GROUP

Our Book Lovers were greeted at Kay Robert's home by jack-o-lanterns and colorful fallflowers everywhere, inside and out. After Kay enticed us with her homemade pecan pie andapple cider, we settled down to do what we enjoy most - sharing and talking books. Would you believe we read over 25 books over the summer - at home, in airports, in the air or at thebeach. We always have a book along! Here is a brief sampling of what our page-turners have read. "The Shack" by william P. Young, #1 on the National Bestseller lists; a man searchingfor answers after tragedy strikes his family and he asks 'Where is God in aworld full of unspeakable sadness?'. "Lincoln Lawyer" by Michael Connelly; an attorney who actually works out of his car (a Lincoln) and islooking for an innocent man. "Astrid and Veronica" by Linda Olsson(translated from the Swedish); two women forge a friendship over timeand one is harboring a secret that will shock you. "Little Heathens" by Mildred Kalish, who incidentally is a resident at the Forum (a retirementfacility in Cupertino); a story of hard times and high spirits on an Iowa farm during The GreatDepression, a Bay Area Bestseller. "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed", a biography by actorAlan Alda; who was the son of burlesque performers and grew up living above the theater."Never East Your Heart Out", a biography by Judith Moore; a social history of her life as shereminisces while cooking. "Whispers" by one of our favorite authors, Belva Plain; the tragedy of domestic violence and how it can progress in a family - but keep reading, it has ahappy ending.

"The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith, a National Bestseller thatseveral have read. This series takes place in Africa and is the story of Precious Ramotswewho owns the only female detective agency. Her cunning, tenacity and intuition solves her cases. The Wall Street Journal calls the series "one of the most entrancing literary treats ofmany a year." "Light on Snow" by National Bestselling author, Anita Shreve; what happensin the life of a widowed father and his 12-year-old daughter, themselves suffering a tragicloss, when they discover a wailing abandoned baby in the snow. New Hampshire in wintermakes the perfect setting.

I trust this list will tempt you to join us next time we meet with some of your suggestions.

Ruth Magnuson

Women's Bible Study

Women's Bible Study is on Wednesday mornings at 9:45am. We are studying Hebrews this year, ably lead by Marian Ecklund and supported by Nancy Baldwinson. We will not be meeting on November 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Women's Lunch Bunch

We will meet at the Country Gourmet in Sunnyvale for lunch on the first Thursday of each month at 11:30 am, November 6, 2008. Please call Ona Avent (408-984-7625) for more information.

Stretch Yoga Class

We continue our Stretch Yoga class on Wednesdays at Noon during the autumn, except we'll be taking a break on November 5 and 12 and 26. Call Kay Roberts (408-255-7817) for more information.

Men's Lunch

Men of Foothill, please join us for lunch and informal conversation onThursday, November 6 at Noon. However be aware that we've moved from our old meeting place in Palo Alto to Brian's Restaurant in Los

Altos in the Rancho Shopping Center on Foothill and Magdalena.. Please call Jim Gaderlund at 650.967.7447 with any questions.

Welcome to Marissa McLaughlin our new regular nursery helper. Marissa is familiar to many of us from having grown up here at Foothill. She is the daughter of Dave & Tracy. She is a student at The King's Academy and a soccer player in the fall. She will be opening the nursery on Sunday mornings, caring for our children during worship, and taking care of cleaning and closing. Please stick your head

in the nursery and greet her or say hello if she is still in worship during our greeting time. We continue to be blessed by all our new babies and are especially pleased that Marissa will be helping care for them.