Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve.
You don't need a college degree to serve.
You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace.
 A soul generated by love.
    - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Have you ever felt helpless?  Have you ever felt that there is just so much chaos and pain in the world that you just don't know what to do?  Ever asked the question, "God, where  are you?"  These are some of the feelings and questions that many of felt and asked the last few weeks.

Floods and devastation in New Orleans leaving thousands of people dead, homeless and without the basic needs; who is still counting the people who are losing their lives in Iraq?  Are we still aware of the hunger catastrophes in Niger or other countries in Africa?

Ever felt helpless?  Ever asked, "What can I do?"  Ever wondered, "God, where are you?"

As a pastor of this congregation I have reflected on these questions with other members and colleagues.  We know that the only way that we can make a difference and create a change in this world is by taking up the mission of Christ and becoming the hands, feet, mouth, heart of Jesus now - in the midst of the chaos and pain.

It seems that praying is an important task.  Our prayers will help to bring a sense of hope and peace in the midst of the crisis.

Donating money is another important action.  Many prominent organizations help to shoulder tremendous responsibility for rescue and recovery.  In the month of October we ask you to support Neighbors in Need, which this year will especially help our brothers and sisters in New Orleans.  They suffer not only physical devastation, but emotional and spiritual devastation as well.  Please make your checks payable to our church, with "Neighbors in Need" on the memo line.  We will forward your donations to the Northern California Nevada Conference.

Other giving opportunities include: 

• The Golden Gate Hunger (CROP) Walk on Sunday, October 23rd.  Sponsored by Church World Service, proceeds benefit the San Francisco Food Bank, disaster relief in the U.S.  And development efforts in Africa.
• The Human Rights Campaign recommends LGBT and allied people donate to the Rainbow World Fund (http://www.rainbowworldfund.org), which donates contributions to causes outside of the gay rights movement.  Donations  to Rainbow World Fund for Hurricane Katrina will be passed on to America's Second Harvest, a food bank serving hurricane victims.  It also helps victims of the famine in Niger.
• The American Red Cross is also an important organization for rescue and recovery:  http://www.redcross.org.

Ever felt helpless?  Ever asked, "What can I do?"  Ever wondered, "God, where are you?" Well, we need not feel helpless when there are so many opportunities to create a difference by giving something, big or small, to relieve suffering.  We can do so much through prayer, praying for those who are in the midst of those affected, like firefighters, police, relief agencies and nurses.  We can use our relationship with  God to motivate us and make real the presence of God in the world today.  Too many people of faith forget that in the gift of "free-will", God calls us to become the presence of God and to be in partnership with God to bring order out of chaos.

Grace and Peace,

          Wilfried 
          Rev. Wilfried Glabach
          minister@sanfranciscoucc.org

Sunday, August 28th began a new era in our First Congregational Church UCC music program, as Jonathan Russell assumed the position of Interim Music Director, following the departure of Kelly Crandell.

Jonathan is active in the Bay Area as a composer, clarinetist and conductor. He received his Masters degree in music composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and his B.A. in music from Harvard University. His composition teachers have included Dan Becker, Elinor Armer, John Stewart, Eric Sawyer, and Eric Ewazen.

His compositions have been performed by the Berkeley Symphony, SFCM Symphony, SFCM New Music Ensemble, Harvard-Radcliff Orchestra, Woodstock (NY) Chamber Orchestra, and other ensembles. He has performed locally on clarinet and bass clarinet with the Marin Symphony and Parallèle Ensemble, and has appeared as soloist with Harvard's Bach Society Orchestra, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, and the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra. He is also on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Jonathan invites everyone interested in joining the choir to see him. He is also asking for those in the church who play an instrument and would like to play for an offertory, prelude or postlude to see him.

 
The Welcome Ministry needs volunteers to help with the Monthly Drop-In Ministry for the homeless. The clinic is held each month on the second Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Old First Presbyterian church.

Help is needed between 4:30 to 7:00 PM. Duties would include helping with prep work for the meal, arranging gift bags, clothing distribution, job search, hair cuts, Bible study, and counseling. Interested in ministries to the homeless in our neighborhood?  FCC needs a representative on the Welcome Ministry board. This position is open since Herb left San Francisco to care for his mother.  If interested, please call Megan Rohrer at 415-776-5552 x310.

WHERE WILL WE WORSHIP?  (PART 2)       
Following the Information Meeting on September 11th on future worship meeting locations, the Steering Committee voted to continue discussions with Old First Presbyterian Church on details of using their basement space. We are projecting a date of no later than January 1, 2006 to begin meeting there.

We must vacate our 1302 Polk Street location before February 15th by city law, and are not sure at this time when building and demolition permits and contracts will be finalized for construction of our new building. So it is possible that we may need to move earlier. Stay tuned.

SENIOR SERVICES FOR OCTOBER
   October 5th:  Eden Villa:   2750 Geary Boulevard. 3 PM
                         (entrance on Wood Street)
   October 13th:  Coventry Park   1550 Sutter Street 11 AM 
   October 19th:  Sunrise 1601 19th Avenue  3 PM
                         (formerly Bridge Point) 

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