Friends of FCC,

Three years ago we purchased the site at Polk and Bush Streets.  We have spent a lot of time to envision our new church. The  Building 5 Committee, members and friends of the church did a good job.  Maybe you ask yourselves, “What should a new church on Polk and Bush Streets look like?”  Some people picture a huge cathedral, others can see a steepled building in New England,  others think of it as an inner city storefront meeting place.  I have seen churches in old factory buildings, or a church with a hamburger shop.

When the Bible uses the expression “church,” however, it never refers to a building or a place.  It is used, rather, to refer to a body of people who, because of their relationship to Christ, share a relationship with one another.  The Bible describes the church in both local and universal terms.

The universal ( the Greek word is “catholic”) church or the invisible church, the body of Christ, is a spiritual entity that had its beginning at Pentecost.  An invisible church is a spiritual body of believers in God whose head is Jesus Christ.  Its membership, which includes everybody, no matter what gender, age, background, sexual orientation, education, 
ethnicity, without any distinction at all, is growing day by day as a group of people who are brought into faith in Christ.

A local, visible church, on the other hand, is a group of Christians in a specific location, which congregates for worship, prayer, education and fellowship.  This is also the main idea of a Congregational Church that comes together under the word of God.  This body has tremendous importance in the life of a Christian  to experience spiritual strength and growth in Christ.

In the book of Acts we can read how the first Christian believers devoted themselves  “...to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common … Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.”  (Acts 2:42-46)

You may find a great deal of fault with the organized church today; you might be bored or unhappy with the sermons you heard, and you might be able to convince yourself that you can grow spiritually through a walk in nature or your own Bible study.  You may think that a prayer without belonging to a family of believers of Christ at a local setting is OK.  But it is not God's desire for believers to be loners.  I heard the sentence in a that no believer should be “home-less.”   Yes, every believer should identify with, attend and support a local church, where she or he can grow in Christ and serve God.  Yes, no believer should be homeless.  if a believer bypasses the local church, he or she deprives himself or herself of benefits that can be found nowhere else.  An excellent example is celebrating and receiving the Lord's supper or having fellowship together.

If you don't have a Christian church that you call home, I invite you. Or if you know a friend, co-worker or neighbor, invite them ot join us in worship and fellowship at First Congregational Church.  We congregate as a caring family in Christ who wants to share the love of Christ with others.  We are looking forward to a bright future, to being a church with opportunities to touch the lives of others.  Our decision to build our new church at the corner of Polk and Bush Streets is a sign of our commitment to Jesus Christ, San Francisco and to the 21st Century. 

Grace and Peace,

          Wilfried 
          Rev. Wilfried Glabach
          minister@sanfranciscoucc.org

The Fall Meeting of the Congregation will be held on Sunday, October 10th at 1302 Polk Street, at 12:45 PM, following the Pot-Luck lunch. The major item on the agenda will be the discussion and vote to accept the Revised Constitution/By-Laws;  additional items on will be the updates on our new building at 1300-1312 Polk Street and our move from St. Mark's Lutheran Church and the Urban Life Center.  In addition, after the meeting, the most recent plans of our new building will be on display. 

The Constitution/By Laws Committee has worked very hard and spent many hours from May until now. This document reflects our current thinking on how best First Congregational Church of San Francisco can function now and into our future. You have been kept informed of our progress and your ideas and comments have been gratefully accepted and worked into the document.  We have advertised and have had two 'Town Hall Meetings for discussion, and have welcomed all suggestions and comments. Unless significant changes develop at, or after, the second Town Hall Meeting on September 26th, we plan to use the September 16th draft at the Fall Meeting, which has been available since September 19th.  This document has also been sent out for legal advice and counsel. 

At the Fall Meeting, we plan to vote by written ballot - first on Article VII, section 2, on the Pastor and the Steering Committee. Once this is done, and there are no other issues that have come before the committee and not been accepted by consensus for incorporation at the Town Hall Meeting on September 26, we then plan to vote by written ballot on the document in toto.  Once the Revised Constitution/Bylaws has been adopted, we shall open a ballot for the Steering Committee and have plans in place for that election to take place at a Special Meeting of the Membership early in November when the transition will be completed. 

 Nancy H. McManus
Lucille Dean
Herb Lilly
David  Farmer, 
Constitution/Bylaws Committee 
    and ex officio:  Rev. Wilfried  Glabach

In addition to routine business,  we will vote on the new Constitution.   Bring a pot luck dish to share and participate in this very important event in the life of our church. 
 

Recently we received word that long-time member Virginia Gerritsen died  in July of Alzheimer's disease. 

A member of First Congregational Church for over 50 years, she joined in March, 1951.  She was very active for most of those years, serving on many committees, including at least five years as Chair of the Women's Fellowship.   She also did extensive work for the Northern California Nevada Conference, and hand-made a quilt for the Conference AIDS Ministry. 

Even after moving to Boulder, Colorado in 1998, both Virginia and her late husband Maury maintained membership in our church. 

She is survived by her sister, Evelyn  Carroll; two sons, Greg and Jim; and six grandchildren.

 
Living Compassion, a non-profit organization working to create a “more conscious, compassionate world,” is sponsoring a Day of Meditation and Prayer for Peace on Saturday, October 23rd from 10 AM to 5 PM at Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason.   (Former FCC Adjunct Ministers Penny Sarvis and Mickey Williamson are members of Living Compassion.)

This day- long event will include guided meditations, visual imagery, a peace chant by the Threshold Choir, a labyrinth and an African body prayer. There will also be a place for silent meditation and prayer. 

Speakers include Cheri Huber, Zen Monastery founder, teacher and author of many books including There is Nothing Wrong with You, When You're Falling, Dive and How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be;  Sylvia Boorstein, Spirit Rock Meditation Center co-founder and teacher, and author of It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness; That's Funny You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist;  Michael Lerner, Rev. Grace O'Brian and Lakota Hardin.

A vegetarian lunch will be available at a minimal cost.  Admission is FREE, however, registration REQUIRED:
http://www.LivingCompassion.org/peace.html.  It would be great to have a group from First Congregational go together.  See Joy-Susan Karyl or call the church office if interested.

Living Compassion is also sponsoring A Golden Gate Bridge Walk on Sunday October 24th to benefit one of their projects, the African Vulnerable Children Project.  Gather at the Crissy Field Amphitheatre 12 Noon to 5 PM.  Activities include Bridge Walk, vegetarian lunch, outdoor games and prize drawing.  Adults: $35; Adults accompanied by children, $25; children: $15.
http:// www.livingcompassion.org/bridgewalk.html

Tickets:  $50 and $150 include hors d'oeuvres, buffet dinner and beverages.

• 6:30 to 8 PM.: silent auction & hors d'oeuvres
• 8 PM:  dinner, music and live auction

Choosing to reduce my counseling hours was a long and prayerful decision, but it seems to be working well.  We are serving a population with ever more acute needs and I can focus my energy where it is most needed.  It also allows me to offer more time and support to staff, and I am seeing this pay off in good resident care from others.

I will continue to coordinate our volunteers, and am praying that someone will be able to carry on Herb Lilly's ministry.  He will continue to collect clothing but will no longer lead the Employment Resources Group after October. 

I look forward to sharing worship and communion with you on October 3rd. 

Love, 

     Dora
     Rev. Dora 

THURSDAY CIRCLE
Thursday Circle will meet at 11:45 AM on October 7th in the Third Floor Meeting Room.  Please bring a sandwich or lunch; coffee, tea and a light dessert will be served. Contact Rev. Wilfried if you have any questions:  (415) 441-8901.  E-mail:  minister@sanfranciscoucc.org

SENIOR SERVICES FOR OCTOBER
   October 6th:     Bridge Point:  1601 19th Avenue  3 PM
   October 12th:   Coventry Park:   1550 Sutter Street 11 AM 
   October 13th:  Eden Villa:   2750 Geary Boulevard. 3 PM

All are welcome to attend. For further information, contact Rev. Wilfried at (415) 441-8901 or e-mail:  minister@sanfranciscoucc.org
 

CHURCH COUNCIL
Council will meet at 12:30 PM on Sunday, October 17th at 1300 Polk Street. Contact Moderator Nancy McManus to place items on the agenda.

ST. MARKS/FCC JOINT FORUM
To celebrate Reformation Sunday, the Revs. Wilfried Glabach and Elizabeth Ekdale of St. Mark's will teach a joint class on the Reformation on Sunday, October 31st from 10 to 10:45 AM in the Fireside Room at the Urban Life Center. 

For further information, contact Rev. Wilfried at (415) 441-8901 or e-mail:  minister@sanfranciscoucc.org

WORSHIP AT POLK STREET
We  now worship at 1302 Polk Street EVERY Sunday.  Join us at 11 AM.
 

3rd:  EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF PENTECOST/WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
         Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM Dora Ford Preaching

6th:  Bridge Point Service -- 1601 19th Avenue 3 PM

7th:  Thursday Circle -- Urban Life Center Third Floor 11:45 AM

10th:  NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST/NEIGHBORS IN NEED SPECIAL OFFERING SUNDAY
          Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM  Wilfried Glabach Preaching
          Fall Meeting --  1302 Polk Street 12:45 PM 
          Rainbow Fellowship -- Ken and Richard's 6:30 PM

11th:  Lower Polk Neighbors -- 3 PM

12th:  Coventry Park Service -- 1550 Sutter Street 3 PM 

13th:  Eden Villa Service -- 2750 Geary Boulevard 3 PM

15th:  Columns DEADLINE 

15th to 24th:   Wilfried vacation

17th:  TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
          Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM  Wilfried Glabach Preaching
          Council Meeting --  1300 Polk Street 12:30 PM 

24th:  TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
          Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM  Carolyn Woodson Preaching

30th:   Turn Clocks BACK!  End of Daylight Savings Time
    
31st: REFORMATION SUNDAY
          Standard Time Begins
          St. Mark’s/FCC Joint Forum --  Fireside Room 10 AM
          Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM  Christian Jennert Preaching
          Halloween