Bay Shore Church - Sermons and News from Bay Shore Community Congregational Church in Belmont Shore, California.

On a normal Sunday, I may receive one or two comments about my sermon at the door. (I don’t know what this says about my sermons. I haven’t yet received the results from the 100 who responded to my performance review!) Nor am I fishing for false compliments, like the elderly gentleman in my first church who every Sunday told me, “Excellent sermon!” My balloon was deflated some six months later after the children’s Christmas pageant when he told me the same thing at the door.

But last Sunday I received dozens of comments at the door about the impact of my sermon paying tribute to the 4,082 American service men and women who have given up their lives in Iraq, and the 433 in Afghanistan. When I came into the office Tuesday morning, there were three more comments via e-mail and a phone call.

For me, knowing for some weeks what I intended to focus our worship on last Sunday, it made the events of Memorial Day more meaningful. I was moved by the sight of fluttering American flags on gravesites and roadways of several cemeteries I passed. I paid more attention to the National Memorial Day Concert broadcast from Washington, D.C. on Sunday evening. I read more intently the various articles in newspapers, telling the stories of some of those who sacrificed their lives, or how Americans observed this national holiday. And apparently you felt it too, judging from the silence during much of Sunday’s worship, and the comments I have received since my sermon.

A few days later, at a luncheon I attended, the presider invited each of those present to tell something about how some service person—living or dead, related or not—touched their life. We all have memories of family members who have served in the armed forces, and thankfully many of them returned home alive. But we are struck by the losses suffered by every family who lost a member while serving their country. We need to be especially concerned about their welfare, both currently and in years to come. And we need to be attentive to the needs of those who do make it home alive, scarred psycho-logically, if not physically. May God help us all, and may we continue to pray for peace to come.

Charlie Ensley
Senior Minister

As a benefit for Christian Outreach in Action, three local Golden Spoon frozen yogurt locations are donating a portion of their sales on Thursday, June 5 to COA.  Pick up a flyer at church this Sunday.  The locations are at Long Beach Marketplace, Los Altos Center, and 2014 E. Carson St. Bay Shore Church also benefits COA with a $200 giftcard to Smart & Final each month.  This is made possible by the 3% of your offerings that go to the Missions Commission.

On Friday, June 20, the Bay Shore Friends Club is having its third general meeting of 2008.  Even if you are not a member of the Bay Shore Friends, all members and friends of the church are invited to join us in our potluck and program meeting in the Concert Hall.  Our program features a member of our congregation, Hank Snapper, who will speak to us of his trip to Israel, where his family was honored as “Righteous Among Nations” for their courage and compassion in hiding from the Nazis a family of seven Jews.

We’re continuing our early start time, so if you are coming for the potluck, please have your food at the church by 5:45 p.m. Please call either Sydney Dooley or Janet Stiens to coordinate food assignments, and remember to bring your own table service.

If you are coming just for the program, please arrive by 7:00 p.m.

If someone in our church family is graduating from high school, college or graduate school, let us know in the office.  Give us their name, where they’re graduating from, where they’re going on to school, or, if completed, career plans.  We want to list them in the June 22nd Carillon.  Deadline is June 16.

Katy Collins has served the past ten weeks as interim office secretary, and overlapped two weeks with Jennifer Jordan to familiarize her with office operations.  Katy sent this note of thanks for her appreciation gifts:

Dear Bay Shore.
Thank you so much for your generous gifts of the gas card and Trader Joe’s.  These past weeks it was a pleasure to help in the church office.  Thank you for your support and patience!  God be with you.
Love, Katy

On June 1, the sacrament of communion will be served in the first half of the worship service so children may partici-pate, before they go to Sunday School.  That will be followed by the installation of our church’s new officers and commission members who were elected at our Annual Meeting on May 18.

JUNE 1st SUNDAY SCHOOL
All grade level students meet in the Louise Henry Youth Chapel after leaving communion for Promotion Sunday practice with your teachers.

JUNE 8th is PROMOTION SUNDAY
All children stay in church for Promotion Presentation. All church kids encouraged to do their very best to be here for this very special celebration.

SIX-2-EIGHT
Middle School kids meet in the Youth Center Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Come join us for fun and friendship!

May 29: Are you pulling your weight?
Life in God’s Service: Romans 12:3-8 and
The Spirit and Human Nature: Galatians 5:19-26
June 5: End of Season Pot Luck - 6’ Banana Split, Games Galore

Senior High Youth Fellowship
This Sunday, June 1 is our end-of-the-school year and final meeting with Amy and Kirsten.  Join them at the Youth Center Sunday, 5:30 p.m.

Youth Center Clean-Up
Saturday, June 7
Light and Heavy Assignments
Coffee, Juice and Donuts @ 9 a.m.
We have some groups using it as soon as school is out, and we need to spiffy it up!

JERUSALEM MARKETPLACE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL  IS COMING  AUGUST 11-15
PRE-REGISTRATION AND VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS
Join us for a tour of the Holy Land at our JERUSALEM MARKETPLACE VBS. On line sign-ups are available at: https://www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/BSCVBS2008 OR pick up paper applications at the Christian Education Information Table

BRIEF (show me your face and promise to be there) VOLUNTEER MEETING
SUNDAY JUNE 8TH at 11 am in the Odette Gulley Library. Or Email Laura Tschudin.

Class Lists Being Finalized
Comprehensive class lists for each grade level have been compiled in preparation for our PROMOTION SUNDAY.  We have listed each child by name, parents’ names, your contact information including email addresses, ages, birthdates and grades under each Sunday School Teacher heading.  The purpose is to provide Christian Education and your child’s teacher with the ability to communicate with you more effectively regarding events and activities, and for us to accurately assess class numbers for the fall semester.  Please take a moment during coffee hour after church to verify that your child’s information is included and accurate.  All children will be receiving promotion certificates during the ceremony on June 8th and we would like to make sure there are no hurt feelings if a child is inadvertently overlooked.

Exploring God Summer Sunday School Begins June 22
It’s that time of Year!  Our regular Sunday School Program takes a summer hiatus (and we give our year-round teachers a well deserved break).  We’ve got an awesome fun filled summer curriculum packed with games, activities and stories that weave faith into our kids’ daily lives.  All children preschool through 5th grade will meet in the youth center Sundays until the fall.  Middle and High School students, stay in worship, hang out and help with the younger kids, or volunteer for service hours if you partner up with a friend and commit to leading a session (See Laura T.)

Bay Shore Kids Need You!
Do you have a heart for the kids, enjoy being around them and want to help?  Adult Team Teachers needed for July and August dates.  Full preparation and outline provided.  Games, crafts, set up and ready to go.  We need responsible adults who are willing to spend a Sunday or two with our young members.  See Traci Reitz for information.

Scholarships Available
Again this year, the Bay Shore Friends are making $1,000 available as scholarships to students in the Bay Shore Church community.  Applications are available from Jennifer in the church office.  The deadline for applications is July 15.  Those eligible are persons of any age connected with Bay Shore Church, wishing to continue their post-high school education at a college, vocational school, or returning for specialized training to qualify for a new job.

Local author Laura Hillman; a Holocaust survivor was saved from death in a concentration camp by being on Oskar Schindler’s list. She will be our guest speaker in worship on June 15. Her book, I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree, is available at church for our cost of $6. Save June 15 on your calendar. Middle & High school students will remain in worship that day to hear this special speaker.

In 31 hours during 3 days, Hoon’s Painting Service water blasted, scraped, wire brush-ed, sanded and ground the exterior of Sky Forest Retreat’s house and shed in prepar-ation to painting.   Then a complete surface was prime coated, followed by the finish coat, which is slightly darker than the old green color, with the trim being off white (as it was).  The contractor was meticulous in preparations, which is important to a long lasting job.  They did their work all on ladders (they certainly don’t have a fear of heights!), using proper safety equipment throughout the job.  The sign above the entrance door was also removed from the house, refinished then replaced.  As previously reported, the old driveway and parking area were torn out and repaved.

Ron Gagliano, Sky Forest Chair

The Fellowship Club meets at the home of Phil and Charlene Bosl on Saturday, June 21 at 6:30 for our monthly potluck supper.  Call for food assignments.  Bring your own table service and beverage of choice.  Should be a fun evening at the edge of the bay.