January 2016 HILLCREST ~ News ~ A Gathering Place for Faith and Acon in the Community www.hillcrestucc.org The Season for the Reason No, that’s not a misprint. We all, most of us anyway, know the saying about “the reason for the season.” And there is wisdom in that saying, of course. In the crush and stress of preparing for Christmas and—let’s face it— the blatant and thoughtless consumerism that pervades our whole economic system and certainly the Christmas shopping season, reminding ourselves of the “reason for the season” can be important. Even powerful. But that’s not what I want to talk about now. What I want to offer now is the Season for the Reason. And that’s powerful! We all know, at least I hope and pray we do, who and what “the reason” is: Jesus, of course. Jesus is the very embodiment of God’s love for us. And what Jesus embodies is the creative impulse and aspect of God that calls us to life, that calls us 1) to love who we are (by the way, how is that for anti-consumerist? If we really loved who we are and who God made us to be, how many shamelessly shallow and narcissistic and even harmful products would find no buyers?) 2) to love others and the whole of God’s creation. And here’s the thing—it’s what comes after Christmas that is the Season for the Reason. The season of Epiphany is all about the rest of our lives. It offers us, and invites us into, the spreading of the light. The spreading of the light of Christ into your life. Epiphany is the time to ask yourself: Where and how do I not love myself, the me that God made me to be? And then ask, What does the light of Christ have to say about that? And Epiphany offer us, and invites us into, the spreading of the light beyond ourselves to others and our world. Epiphany is God’s offer --and promise (!)—to us to live in, and live out, the light of Christ. That’s why I say that Epiphany is the Season for the Reason. It is the season to really explore, and experience, God’s love for yourself and the world. And that’s why Epiphany is so important—it’s all about living our lives as God created us to live them: as ones filled with the light of Christ, as reflections of God’s light. So, celebrate the Season for the Reason. More so, live into the Season for the Reason. God Bless you the Epiphany season! Rev. Fred Hillcrest Congregational Church Naons Shall Walk By Your Light
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January 2016
HILLCREST
~ News ~ A Gathering Place for Faith and Action in the Community
www.hillcrestucc.org
The Season for the Reason
No, that’s not a misprint. We all, most of us anyway, know the saying about “the reason for the season.” And
there is wisdom in that saying, of course. In the crush and stress of preparing for Christmas and—let’s face it—
the blatant and thoughtless consumerism that pervades our whole economic system and certainly the Christmas
shopping season, reminding ourselves of the “reason for the season” can be important. Even powerful.
But that’s not what I want to talk about now. What I want to offer now is the Season for the Reason. And that’s
powerful!
We all know, at least I hope and pray we do, who and what “the reason” is: Jesus, of course. Jesus is the very
embodiment of God’s love for us. And what Jesus embodies is the creative impulse and aspect of God that calls
us to life, that calls us
1) to love who we are (by the way, how is that for anti-consumerist? If we really loved
who we are and who God made us to be, how many shamelessly shallow and narcissistic and even
harmful products would find no buyers?)
2) to love others and the whole of God’s creation.
And here’s the thing—it’s what comes after Christmas that is the Season for the Reason. The season of
Epiphany is all about the rest of our lives. It offers us, and invites us into, the spreading of the light. The
spreading of the light of Christ into your life. Epiphany is the time to ask yourself: Where and how do I not
love myself, the me that God made me to be? And then ask, What does the light of Christ have to say about
that? And Epiphany offer us, and invites us into, the spreading of the light beyond ourselves to others and our
world. Epiphany is God’s offer --and promise (!)—to us to live in, and live out, the light of Christ.
That’s why I say that Epiphany is the Season for the Reason. It is the season to really explore, and experience,
God’s love for yourself and the world. And that’s why Epiphany is so important—it’s all about living our lives
as God created us to live them: as ones filled with the light of Christ, as reflections of God’s light.
So, celebrate the Season for the Reason. More so, live into the Season for the Reason.
God Bless you the Epiphany season!
Rev. Fred
Hillcrest Congregational
Church
Nations Shall Walk By Your Light
2 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS January 2016
CHRISTMAS EVE PHOTOS
December 24, 2015
Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS January 2016 3
Want to listen to some GREAT stories?
We all have a “life story” to tell. Imagine if no one was there to listen?
As a Caring Hands volunteer, YOU have the opportunity to help someone who has a LIFETIME of stories to
tell. The heart of our program is connecting a senior to an appropriate volunteer so you really get the chance
to know each other well. As a Caring Hands volunteer you make a significant impact on dispelling the lone-
liness and isolation that affects so many seniors.
Volunteer hours are flexible. We do our best to find a senior who lives close to you and who meets your day
and time requirements. John Muir Health offers comprehensive training and ongoing support so you feel
prepared to be a volunteer.
For more information about volunteering for this unique Caring Hands Volunteer Program, call Linda
Groobin at 925-952-2999 or visit our website www.johnmuirhealth.com/caringhands.
We have trainings scheduled: Friday January 29, 2016 in Brentwood and Friday March 25, 2016 in Concord.
Hope you will consider joining us!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ANNUAL COUNT
OF HOMELESS PERSONS
Contra Costa County will conduct its annual count of homeless persons on Thursday, January 28th and
Friday, January 29th. The count depends on volunteers to visit assigned locations to interview members of
our community. A required training will be provided on January 24th. Please contact Doug Leach at
Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS United Church of Christ
404 Gregory Lane
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
MAILED: January, 7 2016
8 Hillcrest Congregational Church NEWS January 2016
Hillcrest Book Club
Our January book is "Buried In A Bog" by Sheila Connolly, a novel set in Coun-ty Clare, Ireland. It is a story with a mys-tery involving family, discovering your roots along with interesting characters, history and culture of Ireland. The selection for February is "How Starbucks Saved My Life" by Michael Gates Gill. This is a riches-to-rags true story of an advertising executive who lost it all--and was finally redeemed by his new job and his twenty-eight year old boss, at Starbucks. Book selections are posted on the Bulletin Boards in the Office and Fellowship Hall. Do you enjoy reading, talking a bout books? Drop in on our lively discussion, we meet on the second Sunday of the month, after church, in Room 16. January 10 "Buried In A Bog" February 14 "How Starbucks Saved My Life"