I often compare the election campaign with the campaigns in Germany.  In some ways they are different.  Speeches in the U.S. often carry religious overtones, personal biographies become more important than programs for the future.  Politicians make promises, but no new administration can deliver friendship, peace of mind, individual personal integrity or a sense of self-worth.  Finding the qualities that make life worth living, integrating them into our daily lives, passing them to others, will continue to be our personal responsibility, regardless of who controls City Hall, Congress or the White House. Voting is an important right, but there are many other ways that we can exercise power in our lives, or influence the world in which we live for the better.  We have to start with ourselves, in our home, in our congregation:  with how I treat my neighbor, relate to my family, care for the community, how I work and how I play.  Let us hope that our future depends less on who gets elected than on our ability to exercise our own power for peace and justice in the world.

  Grace and peace,

Rev. Wilfried 
 minister@sanfranciscoucc.org

Under this new Constitution, a Steering Committee of seven voting members, and the pastor as a non-voting member, will replace the current Council and Board of Trustees.  After members elect the Steering Committee at a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, November 7th, the Steering Committee will immediately elect amongst themselves the Executive Officers:  Moderator, who shall act as the President of the Corporation; Clerk, who shall act as Secretary; Treasurer, who will also Chair meetings of the Steering Committee and congregational meetings in the absence of the Moderator.   The Steering Committee shall also decide amongst themselves who will execute various tasks as the need arises.

There are now only two categories of membership, active and Friends of the Church.   An active member is now defined as voting member. The categories of inactive, associate member and emeritus member under the old Constitution have been eliminated; but those who wish to remain associated with the church will be Friends of the Church.

An informational letter and nomination form have been mailed.  All active voting members who wish to stand for election should return the form to the church office by Wednesday, November 3rd.   The names of all those submitting the form by that date will appear on the election ballot.  Nominations will also be accepted at the meeting. 

Those elected will serve until the next Annual Meeting in June, 2005, when the new Steering Committee members for the fiscal year 2005-2006 will be elected.  For questions or further information, contact Moderator Nancy McManus, or Constitutional Committee members: Lucille Dean, David Farmer, Herb Lilly, or the Rev. Wilfried Glabach.
 
 
 

On Sunday, November 21st this year's observance of the Night Ministry's 40th Anniversary will culminate with a Service of Thanksgiving to God for the San Francisco Night Ministry's 40 years of service.  The service will take place at Grace Cathedral at 3 p.m.  Special features of the service include recognition of those who have served during the past four decades as Night Ministers, volunteer telephone Crisis Line Counselors and Governing Board members.  Incidents of ministry on-the-street and over-the-crisis-line drawn from the last 40 years will be performed by San Francisco actors. Leaders of Bay Area jurisdictions of the ten denominations that have been involved with the Ministry will help lead worship; singers from some of the local San Francisco supporting congregations will form a combined choir. 

The Rev. Don Fox, the Night Minister in charge of the Night Ministry, says, “I hope many members of First Congregational Church will come to the 40th  Anniversary Service on November 21st.  First Congregational Church has had a long and continuously supportive relationship with 
the Night Ministry.  The Night Ministry's current and former Night Ministers, volunteer telephone Crisis Line Counselors and Governing Board members are especially grateful to First Congregational for providing the Ministry with office space for almost 37 of its 40 years.” 

The Night Ministry invites church leaders to process down the Cathedral aisle behind the church's banner, carried by a member of the church.  Officers who can attend and process, please contact Rev. Wilfried. 

It would be wonderful if we can have a strong delegation from First Congregational in support of the Night Ministry on this important milestone of its ministry.   The Night Ministry needs to advise the caterer of the number of people attending.  Please let Rev. Wilfried know as soon as possible if you are attending, whether you process or not.

Those processing need to be at the Cathedral at 2:30 PM.   A reception will follow the service.

In addition to Diane, workshop leaders include Teresa Hahn, also co-founder of Skyline Harvest; Carol Manahan, a doctoral candidate in Environmental Ethics at the Graduate Theological Seminary; Todd Evans, a member of the NCNC Earth Stewards Committee and founder of “Seeds of Learning,” an organization for improving education in Nicaragua and El Salvador by building schools, and Hugo Steensma, also a member of the NCNC Earth Stewards Committee.  He is with Sustainable Asset Management USA, Inc., which invests in companies that are economically, environmentally and socially progressive.

Registration, including gourmet lunch, is $10.  RSVP required.  Contact the Rev. Kyle Lovett by Friday, November 5th:  (415) 731-9333, fax: (415) 731-9367, e-mail:   golden.gate.association@mindspring.com.

Please indicate if you would like a vegetarian lunch.  The schedule is:
 - Registration:  10:45 AM
 - Worship: 11:00 AM
 - Lunch:  12 noon

Dorothee Vogt will be our official delegate (FCC Sonoma is the church where Dorothee and Eric Alatorre will be married next year).  The Rev. Wilfried Glabach will also attend.  If interested in attending, contact Rev. Wilfried or the church office: (415) 441-8901 or e-mail:
minister@sanfranciscoucc.org.

Please bring clothing donations to the office during the week, or to Polk Street on Sundays.

While you're scurrying around preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, please keep the San Francisco Food Bank in mind, and their clients, many of them AIDS patients.  A few extra non-perishable items, such as canned goods, rice, pasta, cereal, etc. for the Food Bank would be greatly appreciated.

BUILDING 5 COMMITTEE
The Building 5 Committee will meet at 7 PM on Thursday, November 4th and Thursday, November 18th in Heritage Hall in St. Mark's. 

WORSHIP AUF DEUTSCH
 In honor of Rev. Wilfried's birthday on Sunday, November 7th, we will celebrate with a German service.  Come and wish Wilfried “Alles Gute zum Geburtstag.”

Then stay for the Special Congregational Meeting to elect the Steering Committee afterward.

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

WELCOME
On Sunday, November 14th we will welcome Megan Roher as our guest preacher.  Megan heads Old First Presbyterian's Welcome ministry for the homeless.  Herb Lilly is a volunteer with the Welcome ministry.  Come and learn more about it.

RAINBOW FELLOWSHIP
 Rainbow will meet at 6:30 PM at 1300 Polk Street on Sunday, November 14th.  Bring a pot luck dish to share.  Contact Rev. Wilfried for further information

IT'S A BIG DAY
We will have a lot going on Sunday, November 21st.   During the service we will install the new Steering Committee and receive Kirk Thomas as a member of  our church family.

Though we do not have facilities to cook a Thanksgiving dinner as in the past, we will have a Pilgrim Sunday celebration.  Contact Lucille Dean to help with refreshments.

We will also attend the Night Ministry's 40th Anniversary celebration at Grace Cathedral at 3 PM.   Come and celebrate the Night Ministry's wonderful work and our long association with them.  If you are in the procession, be at the Cathedral at 2:30 PM.

ST. MARK's, FCC JOINT FORUM
The Rev. Wilfried Glabach will again teach on the Book of Revelation on  Sunday, November 28th from 10 to 10:45 AM in the Fireside Room in the Urban Life Center.

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

4th:   Thursday Circle -- Urban Life Center Third Floor 11:45 AM
        Building 5 Committee -- Heritage Hall 7 PM
   
7th:   TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST/GERMAN SERVICE
   Adult Forum --  Third Floor Wilfried's Office 10 AM Prayer and Worship
   Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM   Wilfried Glabach Preaching
   Coffee Hour -- 1302 Polk Street 12:05 PM
   Special Congregational Meeting -- 1302 Polk Street  12:45 PM

8th:  Lower Polk Neighbors -- 3 PM 

10th:  Bridge Point Service -- 1601 19th Avenue 3 PM

11th:  Veteran's Day
          Coventry Park Service -- 1550 Sutter Street 3 PM 

13th:  Golden Gate Association Fall Meeting.  -- First Congregational Church of Sonoma 11 AM 

14th:  TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
   Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM   Megan Rohrer Preaching
   Coffee Hour -- 1302 Polk Street  12:05 PM
   Rainbow Fellowship -- 1302 Polk Street  6:30 PM 

15th:  Columns DEADLINE

17th:  Eden Villa Service -- 2750 Geary Boulevard 3 PM

18th:  Building 5 Committee -- Urban Life Center 7:00 PM

21st:  TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST/THANKSGIVING-PILGRIM SUNDAY
   Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM   Wilfried Glabach Preaching
                      Installation of Steering Committee/Welcome of New Member
   Thanksgiving Desserts at Coffee Hour -- 1302 Polk Street  12:05 PM
   Night Ministry 40th Anniversary -- Grace Cathedral 3 PM

25th:  Thanksgiving -- Office closed

26th:  Holiday -- Office closed 

28th:  FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
   Joint Adult Forum -- Urban Life Center Fireside Room 10 AM
   Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM   Wilfried Glabach Preaching
   Coffee Hour -- 1300 Polk Street 12:05 PM