The Prince of Peace

On Sunday, December 20, under the direction of Elisa Lane, children and adults presented "The Prince of Peace." This is a photo of the participants.

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Sermon: Unexpected Journeys

Preacher: The Rev. Laura Krauss

Sermon Text: Matthew 2 “The Flight to Egypt”
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." 16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more." 19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

Question to Ponder: On this first Sunday after Christmas we will be looking at “The Flight to Egypt” and other long journeys in others and our lives. Come and be renewed and refreshed for the coming of a New Year.

Marriage of Evelyn & Bill Chidsey's Daughter

Marla Chidsey Roeser and her husband are shown in Washington D.C. on the steps of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, where they were married by Bill on November 28, 2009.

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Homily: A Little Child Shall Lead You

Preacher: The Rev. Reinhard Krauss

Sermon Text: Isaiah 9: 2b, 6-7
2 Those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.

Question to Ponder: In their Christmas pageant this Sunday, our children will share with us the story of God’s coming into our world as a child. Who are the children through whom God is present in your life?

Mass to St. Anthony - Dec.13

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, December 13, 2009
Third Sunday of Advent
Sermon: Mass to St. Anthony by Lou Harrison

Preacher: The Rev. Laura Krauss

Question to Ponder: This Sunday the Kyrie, Gloria in excelsis, Creed, Sanctus (and Benedictus), and Agnus Dei will be those of the MASS TO ST. ANTHONY of California composer, Lou Harrison (1917-2003), and will be sung by the Kirk Choir accompanied by the Chamber Ensemble. We gratefully acknowledge that this special offering of music for the season of Advent is made possible by the Richard and Fay Chang Fund for Classical Music at St. Luke's, and is offered to the Glory of God and to the uplifting of us all.

Mass to St. Anthony - Sunday, Dec.13, 2009

St. Luke's Presbyterian church invites everyone to a liturgical performance of the Mass to St. Anthony by Lou Harrison during its 9:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, December 13, 2009. This composition was a response in 1939 to Hitler's invasion of Poland in September of that year. It is an expression of outrage and hope with a dark Kyrie with visions of Nazi troops, but also a hopeful Gloria. Harrison was greatly influenced by Asian music, such as Cantonese opera and the Indonesian gamelan. With John Cage, he presented percussion concerts in San Francisco in the late 1930's. To read more about him click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Harrison

Learn more about the Mass to St. Anthony, Harrison and his other works by clicking:
http://www.andante.com/article/article.cfm?id=22048

Christmas Contrast

(A poem shared by Mary Yu in her Christmas message)

Christmas Contrast
1995
Written by Wilma Rowe

This year, pine wreaths and twinkle lights abound
And snow obliges, blanketing the ground
Exquisite music lifts the heart on high
And glowing Christmas trees regale the eye.

My thoughts swing back to just the year before:
An epileptic’s daughter at the door.
“My mother has no food that she can eat,
No pills to keep from falling in the street.”

Hoping to help, I follow to a hovel in the slums;
And I learn, amid the squalor, that the Christmas spirit
Comes
Not in any place or custom; not in light or song or art,
But where Jesus finds a birthplace in a single human
Heart.

Wassail Party

Wonderful Wassail Party! Next year everyone really should come. We had a wonderful night. Mary and Ellen did great crafts for the kids, the greens got hung by Mark and Garret and Janet and all the kids, the tree decorated by Mike and John and more, everyone brought wonderful food for dinner. Beth and Lydia A and Lydia K and Anna led carol singing. Les made a fabulous plum pudding with hard sauce. It was a lovely evening. Thank you.

Collection of photos.

If photos interest you, this is a fantastic Website. I got it from John Chase. Frank

 

 

http://shorpy.com/

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, December 6, 2009
Second Sunday of Advent
Sermon: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Preacher: The Rev. Reinhard Krauss

Sermon Text: Isaiah 65: 17-25
17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord— and their descendants as well. 24 Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent—its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.

Question to Ponder: In this text, the writer of the book of Isaiah envisions the future as a world radically transformed. The ‘golden age’ is not the beginning but the goal of God’s creation. Do you share Isaiah’s conviction that the best is yet to come - or do you look to the past as a more perfect time than the present? What are your hopes and expectations for the future?

Please note: Brunch will not be served after worship, we are focusing all of our culinary efforts on the Wassail Party in the evening, we invite you to bring a dish

Project Needs Casserole

This month for our Project Needs Casserole we are making meat loaf. Make your own recipe, use 2 and a half pounds of meat, so it will be a big one, and bring to church freezer by Sunday December 20. Or bring unthawed by Tuesday, December 22 at noon. Thanks for your tireless willingness to help those who are in need.

Muslim response to FT. Hood

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online.

For the past few years there have been numerous acts of violence in the US and other parts of the world. The common characteristic of most of these events is that Muslims were involved Below is anofficial Muslim response to the recent FT. Hood trajedy. This response is similar to those after the Jewish temple shooting and previous events. What is your reaction to this statement and what do you think should be done in addition to these apologies? I will post my opinion next week.
Bill Keck
PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCE:
Reps. Carson & Ellison to Join MPAC, ISNA & American Muslim Armed Forces & Veterans Affairs Council in Responding to Fort Hood Shootings
(Washington, DC - 11/5/09) -- The Muslim Public Affairs Council, Islamic Society of North America, and the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council will hold a press conference on Friday morning in response to the fatal shootings at Fort Hood Army Base in Texas. Congressmen Andre Carson (D-IN) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) will join the organizations at the press conference, which will be held at the United Methodist Building in Washington, DC.
The organizations today expressed their shock and condemnation of the senseless and appalling act of violence. All three organizations unequivocally denounce the incident in the strongest terms possible and offer their deepest condolences and prayers to the victims and their loved ones.
WHAT: National Muslim American Organizations To Denounce Shooting At Fort Hood
WHEN: Friday, November 6, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: ISNA Interfaith, United Methodist Building 110 Maryland Ave, NE Suite 304, Washington, DC 20002
WHO: Congressman Andre Carson (D-IN) Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) American Muslim Armed Forces & Veterans Affairs Council Alejandro Beutel, MPAC Government Liaison Islamic Society of North America
CONTACTS: Abdul-Rashid Abdullah, 703-638-8219, islamicendorser@amafandvac.org Alejandro Beutel, 202-547-7701 or 732-513-3701, alejandro@mpac.org
How Does MPAC Help Muslims & Islam in America?
As a matter of policy, MPAC DOES NOT accept any funding from foreign governments. The political and financial independence of MPAC will sustain the future of Islam in America. MPAC relies on your financial support to sustain its activities and represent the sentiments and interests of American Muslims not foreign governments.
This email was sent to krauss@jps.net. To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. manage your preferences opt out using TrueRemove®.Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
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Taizé

Taizé Service - Music Meditation - Free
SUZIE WOOLDRIDGE and LIZ BARLAK sopranos
BILL BARLAK tenor and guitar
MERCEDE SHAMLO viola, MIKE WOOLDRIDGE piano

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - 8:00PM
(First Wednesday of every month)
St. Finbar Catholic Church
2010 W. Olive Ave.
Burbank CA
[SanFernandoValley][Free]
For a Google map, click
http://tinyurl.com/38nmhz

Taizé is an ecumenical (all-faith) music-based service from the
monastic community called Taizé founded in the 1940s in
Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. The Taizé service provides for quiet
meditation, reflection, and music. There is no sermon or communion
during a Taizé service.

Free and open to all. For information, call (818) 846-6251 x554.

In Palos Verdes:

Advent Taizé at St. Francis Church, Palos Verdes
2200 Via Rosa
Palos Verdes Estates, Ca 90274
Tuesdays, December 1, 8, 15, 22
Join us at 7 PM for sung contemplative prayer, accompanied by guitar and flute, in the tradition of the Taizé community. Be renewed in the beauty of hundreds of votive candles in our Tuscan Chapel Church then enjoy fellowship afterwards at a wine and cheese reception.

Sunday, November 29, 2009
First Sunday of Advent
Sermon: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Preacher: The Rev. Laura Krauss

Sermon Text: Luke 1: 1-7
1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. 5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Question to Ponder: What is your Christmas wish this year?

Wassail Party

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Gratitude Sunday

Sermon: The Power of ‘Thank-you’

Preacher: The Rev. Reinhard Krauss

Sermon Text: Luke 17: 11-19
11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Question to Ponder: In your daily life, how often are you being thanked? How often do you say ‘thank you’ to someone?

A Building Built on a Dream - PVPNews Thursday, 19 Nov'09

An article by the Rev. Dr. Reinhard Krauss accompanied with a picture by John Chase dominated the Religion page of the Palos Verdes Peninsula News on Thursday, November 19, 2009. A reformatted version and the picture are shown below.

A building built on a dream

On the last Sunday in October, St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church celebrated the realization of a long-held dream. The dedication of a new learning center and greatly enhanced church facility marked a major milestone in the congregation’s history.

St. Luke’s started from humble beginnings 52 years ago as one of the first churches on the Peninsula. After meeting at Dapplegray School for several years, the congregation acquired land at its current location on 26825 Rolling Hills Road in Rolling Hills Estates, and soon completed a new sanctuary as a more permanent home. Sunday School classes were held in an adjacent building, a remodeled residential home the church had acquired with the property. From the beginning, it was clear that ‘Westminster House,’ as the building was renamed in traditional Presbyterian fashion, could only be a temporary solution. The dream was to replace the aging structure with a new facility that could adequately serve the church’s education program and be available as a meeting space for community groups. However, sometimes bridge-gap measures turn into enduring fixtures. Year after year, the children of the church gathered in Westminster House for their weekly Sunday School lessons, and eventually even shared their class rooms with a week-day preschool.

Yet as years turned into decades, the founders’ dream never died. Over the course of a half century, the church launched several attempts to make the dream come true. But the momentum would never be quite enough - until about 9 years ago. An informal dinner with several church board members and the pre-school leadership ignited the initial spark. Before long, another church member took up the cause. He was soon joined by a small, dedicated team of others who offered their time, talents, and energy to explore the project’s feasibility. From the beginning, the key question was not about design or financial resources. Rather, it was the more fundamental question of whether a new building was essential for the congregation to live out its core calling to be a welcoming community of faith and to serve others after the example of Jesus. A congregational study process identified two primary areas in which the church’s physical facility was an impediment to this core calling: an inadequate learning environment for the young, and lack of full accessibility for those with physical challenges. In a successful capital campaign, the congregation responded with a resounding ‘yes’ to address these issues with a building project that would create inviting new classrooms and full handicap access for the church. These twin objectives remained the guiding principles throughout the entire project from the first architectural sketches, through the construction, to the completion of the project.

Gathering on October 25 for the dedication provided an opportunity for the congregation to celebrate the realization of its long held dream. By God’s grace and the love and labor of many, the mission has been accomplished: a new building with bright, attractive class rooms to serve the church’s Sunday School; a place of welcome and hospitality for the many community groups, such as AA, Al-Anon, and Adult Education classes who each week use the classrooms as well; newly designed drop-off parking and a church facility which is handicap accessible throughout; an inviting new front entrance to the church.

The morning worship service focused on gratitude and the church’s calling to be a place of welcome, hospitality, and service. The celebration continued with an afternoon program which included a slideshow down the memory lane of the construction process as well as a recognition of the dedicated team of church volunteers which guided the project from the first beginnings all the way to its fruition. Special guests included architect Bruce Biesman-Simmons and contractor Ernest Magana and several of his staff members. Official greetings on behalf of St. Luke’s’ 51 Presbyterian sister churches in the Los Angeles area were offered by the Rev. Linda Culbertson, General Presbyter of the Presbytery of the Pacific. Congratulations and well-wishes also were extended by Dr. Bob Rothman on behalf of the Dawn Interfaith Group, and Mr. Khalil Momand of the Islamic Center of South Bay. After a building dedication ceremony led by the Rev. Laura Krauss, the day’s celebration concluded with a festive candlelight dinner.

Fw: Geography of a recession

 Fascinating in a horrible sort of way. Frank

----- Original Message -----

From: Chuck Berman

To: Recipient list suppressed:

Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:20 AM

Subject: FW: Geography of a recession

 
   Check out this map of unemployment over time. Scary stuff. It looks just like one of those maps the CDC uses when they plan for an epidemic.

http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html

 

Ethics and the Death Penalty

Let's continue the discussion online that started at tonight's Adult Education event led by Art Auerbach and Pastor Reinhard. Does the death penalty deter criminals? Does it make society safer? Is it applied disproportionately on poor people and people of color? What are the ethical concerns of the state putting someone to death? What about the families of victims -- do they deserve to see a killer put to death? Can we square our beliefs as Christians with the death penalty? What are your thoughts?

Mormon Temple Square in 360 degrees AWESOME

Well worth a look but it is a time waster. Frank

----- Original Message -----

From: Lloyd Olson

 

 

-                   Mormon Temple Square in 360 degrees AWESOME This is amazing photography of Temple (Mormon) Square. I have never seen photography at this level before.  I have seen 360 shoots, but not like this.  Look all the way up and all the way down and you don't get any decrease in the shot. You can't even see where the camera equipment is, it's like it's not even there. Use your mouse to move around. It takes practice.  ENJOY ! ! ! http://www.utah3d.net/GalleryTempleSquare.html       No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.38/2467 - Release Date: 10/29/09 07:38:00

 

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sermon: “Praises Sung To a Harp” The Psalms

Preacher: The Rev. Laura Krauss

Sermon Text: Psalm 66
Come and see the works of God!
God’s awesome deeds among us.
Come and hear, all who revere God!
God’s still speaking voice in our weary world
Come and touch the sacred, extraordinary in the ordinary!
God’s presence in water, bread and wine.

Question to Ponder:
Do the Psalms have a place in your devotional life? If so, what is your spiritual practice?

Palos Verdes Teens and Religion

The Thursday, August 20, 2009 edition of the Palos Verdes Peninsula News presented a sample insight into the views of the local youth on religion. It would be prudent for St. Luke's and other peninsula religious establishments to ponder the ramifications of those views. Consider the results of the following survey.

Some elements of the survey raise questions about the poll itself. For example, are there really no Muslims or religious Jews on the peninsula? In question #1 I would have included a category for Agnostics. Nevertheless, there is certainly significant information here.

Associated with the survey was an article by a local teen author. Attending church when her father insisted, and taking confirmation classes, she still does not anticipate participation in formal religion. She is a firm believer in the ethics of the church, but can not accept its other dogmas. The survey shows that she is hardly unique.

What does this mean for the future of St. Luke's and other traditional faiths? What should our response be? I have some thoughts on the subject, but would like to hear what the faithful and leaders of St. Luke's have to say. It was surprising and disappointing to see such a muted response from the readers of the paper.

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sermon: The Mystery of Jesus

Preacher: The Rev. Reinhard Krauss

I danced in the morning
when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon
and the stars and the sun,
and I came down from heaven
and I danced on the earth,
at Bethlehem
I had my birth.

Question to Ponder: Throughout Christian history, Jesus has been described in many ways such as Savior, Social Revolutionary, Prince of Peace, Founder of Christianity, Son of God, Friend of Sinners, Ruler of the World. How do you understand his role? Why?

Building Dedication (25Oct'09) - Palos Verdes Peninsula News, Thursday 5 Nov'09

Original Civil War Photographs

You have probably seen all or most of these before but it is a fine resource. I added the website to my favorites. Frank

----- Original Message -----

From: Harry S

 

 

These are fantastic pictures of the Civil War and in the surrounding countryside during that period.  Every history buff will want to see these pictures. 
 Most of them will tell you what they are when you lay the curser on them, and you can enlarge the ones you want by clicking on them.
 
Click here: Original Civil War photographs

 

Some Dedication Pictures (25 Oct'09)

The Rev. Laura Greig Krauss addressing the attendees.


The following are more pictures taken and prepared by John Chase for submission to the PVPNews.

Fw: A Think Test....

I got 17 Natalie got 18 and one person, so far, got 16. Good luck.

----- Original Message -----

From: Natalie

CLICK ON THE BELOW LINK AND TAKE THE TEST. THE AVERAGE RATE IS 7 OUT OF 25 CORRECT. GOOD LUCK! http://oldjoeblack.0nyx.com/thinktst.htm

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.27/2452 - Release Date: 10/25/09 19:57:00

God and dog

---

From: faychang23@yahoo.com
To: aandehoy@aol.com
Sent: 11/2/2009 9:32:40 P.M. Pacific Standard Time
Subj: Fw: Fwd: God and dog

Cat lovers included. Add this to divine buzz. I have yet to log in.
Fay

-------Original Message------- From: Ernesto Elizondo Subject: FW: Fwd: God and dog If you are a dog lover you have to hear this song… I think it is very nice… Blessings to all

St. Luke's New Building Video

Fw: Car safety

Funny, I never felt scared at the time. Frank

----- Original Message -----

From: muzzy2121

To: Frank Kline

Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 12:28 PM

Subject: Fw: Car safety

 

-----

---

Wow! Pretty amazing how far they have come. 

 

 

 

St. Luke's Staff - Palos Verdes Peninsula News (Th 22 Oct'09)

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, October 25, 2009
Building Dedication Sunday

Sermon: St. Luke’s Service Station

Preacher: The Rev. Reinhard Krauss

Sermon Text: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30, 41-43
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. 23 He said, "O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! 28 Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; 29 that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, "My name shall be there,' that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive. 41 "Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name 42 —for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, 43 then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.

Question to Ponder:
The passage from 1 Kings describes King Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the first temple in Jerusalem. As we dedicate our new building this Sunday, what is our prayer for its purpose?

Francesca's Baby

Healthcare discussion

Last week, Frank Kline led a discussion of healthcare reform in America. There were a number of provocative questions raised during the discussion:

• What can be done to help the tens of millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans?
• Does society have a moral responsibility to provide healthcare?
• What is the government's responsibility? business? individuals?
• Do healthy individuals have a right to "opt out" of healthcare?
• Would you pay more for healthcare (or receive reduced services) in exchange for more people being covered by healthcare?
• What about inefficiencies in the system -- would reforming the procedural end of healthcare lead to a more affordable system?
• How much do lawsuits and  court judgements aggravate the problem?

Here is an opportunity to continue the discussion -- 

Useful Healthcare Websites

 See;

www.c-span.org/healthcare

www.kff.org

www.webmd.com

Old Blogs

Should we go back and delete our old blogs? I have been deleting my old ones.

Building Dedication Dinner Deadline

Photos for Oct. 25 Dedication

Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Sermon: Joy in Singing: Hymns by Jane Parker Huber

Preacher: The Rev. Laura Krauss

Question to Ponder:
Come and enjoy the hymns of Jane Parker Huber, a “Grandma Moses” of hymn writing.

Fw: Piano Stair Case

 Great fun and a very good idea. Frank

----- Original Message -----

From: Bunny Anderson

To: Richard Anderson ; Debi Birnie ; Teri Green

Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 9:48 PM

Subject: Fw: Piano Stair Case

 

 

 

 

--- I really  like this theory! Check out this video clip from Stockholm, Sweden.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw&feature=player_embedded

Fw: Oameni

A very nice collection of pictures. I couldn't find any that I had seen before. Frank

----- Original Message -----

From: Bunny Anderson

 

DON'T OPEN THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME REAL LEISURE TIME...I SPENT 2 MIN JUST STUDYING SEVERAL OF THESE REMARKABLE PHOTOS TO ABSORB THEIR DETAILS

 

 

 

 

+

 

 

Exceptional photos!  Thanks Rasilia in Nepal.

 

Love,

 

Delta

 

----- Original Message -----

Subject: Oameni

Nice foto shoots, plz have the look.

 

Rasila Shankhadev
The Explore Nepal P. Ltd.
www.xplorenepal.com
Please consider the environment before printing this email.

 

 

 

 

Fw: AHIP - plan would increase costs for individuals and families

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Frank M Kline

To: Frank M Kline 673

Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 12:21 PM

Subject: Fw: AHIP - plan would increase costs for individuals and families

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Don McCanne

To: Quote-of-the-Day

Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 10:33 AM

Subject: qotd: AHIP - plan would increase costs for individuals and families

The Washington Post

October 12, 2009

New Bill Would Raise Rates, Says Insurance Group

By Ceci Connolly

After months of collaboration on President Obama's attempt to overhaul the nation's health-care system, the insurance industry plans to strike out against the effort on Monday with a report warning that the typical family premium in 2019 could cost $4,000 more than projected.

Administration officials, who spent much of the spring and summer wooing the insurers, questioned the timing and authorship of the report, which was paid for by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), an industry trade group.

"The report makes clear that several major provisions in the current legislative proposal will cause health care costs to increase far faster and higher than they would under the current system," Karen Ignagni, AHIP's president and chief executive, wrote to board members Sunday. "Between 2010 and 2019 the cumulative increases in the cost of a typical family policy under this reform proposal will be approximately $20,700 more than it would be under the current system."

"Now that health-care reform grows ever closer, these health insurers are breaking out the same, tired playbook of deception to prevent millions of Americans from getting the affordable, accessible care they need," said Finance Committee spokesman Scott Mulhauser. "It's a health insurance company hatchet job, plain and simple."

"Those guys specialize in tax shelters," said Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform. "Clearly this is not their area of expertise."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/11/AR2009101102207.html?hpid=topnews

And...

PriceWaterhouseCoopers

October 2009

Potential Impact of Health Reform on the Cost of Private Health Insurance Coverage

There are four provisions included in the Senate Finance Committee proposal that could increase private health insurance premiums above the levels projected under current law:

* Insurance market reforms coupled with a weak coverage requirement,

* A new tax on high-cost health care plans,

* Cost-shifting as a result of cuts to Medicare, and

* New taxes on several health care sectors.

This analysis shows that the cost of the average family coverage is approximately $12,300 today and could be expected to increase to approximately: $21,900 in 2019 under current law and to $25,900 if these provisions are implemented.

This analysis shows that the cost of the average single coverage is $4,600 today and could be expected to increase to: $8,200 in 2019 under current law and to $9,700 if these provisions are implemented.

By 2019 the cost of single coverage is expected to increase by $1,500 more than it would under the current system and the cost of family coverage is expected to increase by $4,000 more than it would under the current system. This amounts to an additional 18 percent increase in premiums by 2019. The overall 18 percent increase is a composite of increases by market segment as follows:

* 49% increase for the non-group (individual) market;

* 28% increase for small employers (those firms with fewer than 50 employees);

* 11% increase for large employers with insured coverage; and,

* 9% increase for self-insured employers.

http://www.politico.com/static/PPM116_pwc2.html

Comment:  Although Congress and the administration frown on this new report released by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), in it the insurance industry has confirmed what we have been saying all along - insurance costs will "increase far faster and higher than they would under the current system."

The insurance industry got virtually everything they wanted (since they basically wrote the bill). The problem was that the the numbers would not compute. To prevent any deficits and to avoid obvious explicit tax increases, Congress had to manipulate the numbers. Since the tax credits would not be adequate, Congress had to exempt those middle-income individuals and families who could not afford the premiums. With guaranteed issue, adverse selection is then inevitable, driving up premiums for those covered by the plans.

Since much of the reform effort centers around the severe deficiencies of the individual market, it is important to note the impact on these plans. The individual market already provides the worst value in health insurance, and the Senate Finance proposal would drive those premiums up by an extra 49 percent over the next decade, according to the PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) analysis. Contrast that to the large employers who self-insure through their own risk pools. The excess increase would be only 9 percent.

One important lesson in this report is that separating the health care funds from the insurance industry partially insulates them from the nefarious behavior of the insurers. The greatest problem that self-insured employers still face is that they have almost no control over systemic health care cost increases. 

Imagine if we insulated all risk pools from the insurers, and spread the risk as widely as possible through a single, universal risk pool. That would create our own monopsony wherein we could demand greater value for our health care purchases. If we did that then we wouldn't even need the egregiously wasteful administrative excesses of the private insurance industry.

Instead of acknowledging the problem, Congress and the administration are attacking the messengers - PWC and AHIP. But it was Congress and the administration that decided that they wanted to get into bed with AHIP in the first place. Surely no one accuses Karen Ignagni of singing the siren songs of Lorelei, but she might as well have since our elected leaders are steering the ship of reform onto the rocks.

Time for a song. Let us sing to the health reform ship manned by AHIP, Congress and the Obama administration. Lorelei can lead our chorus. Then, with a fresh start, we will have a solid rock to serve as our foundation for reform.

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Come Worship with Us!

Sunday, October 11, 2009
Sermon: By Gracious Powers so Wonderfully Sheltered

Preacher: The Rev. Reinhard Krauss

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,
and confidently waiting come what may,
we know that God is with us night and morning,
and never fails to greet us each new day.

Question to Ponder:
These words were penned by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his prison cell on New Year’s Eve 1944. How is God present (or absent) in the midst of the circumstances in which you find yourself?

Adult Education / Health Care Forum - Sun 11 Oct'09

Fishing - Sunday, 11 Oct'09

Scripture Tree

When the tree comes up....click on any flower,close that one and click on another. Have a blessed day. Click on link below:

http://home.att.net/~sheryl4/ST/Christian-Tree-1.html

Where is there Good Live Music?

To find live performances of chamber music click below:

http://SundaysLive.org

This sends you to the website of the Los Angeles Museum of Art for the listings of its free Sunday 6pm chamber-music concerts. More importantly, by clicking on the Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter from the South Bay in the left-hand column of options you get listings of dozens of local performances. Convenient clickable links for each performance provide information on locations, musical groups, artist biographies, venues, and costs. A search tool permits finding events by specific smaller geographical areas. Each summer the St. Luke's Garden Concerts are listed.

RADIANT BEAMS by Fay Chang

Radiant Beams

by Fay Chang

Our God who art here and now, hallowed be thy name. Thy loving kindness come; thy tender mercies be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily health and forgive us our anxieties as we forgive that which causes our anxieties. And lead us not into disease but deliver us from destruction. For thine is the love and the joy and the peace forever. Amen

Packed with gentle silence, the parish hall exuded the God-likeness of the attendees: thirty-six women and four men. We had come to share in centering prayer to be played out in three periods of twenty minutes of silence each. In between those seated sessions, we quietly walked about indoors and out, observed and lit candles, considered photos and words celebrating the theme of Sacred Darkness and Light. One hymn especially amplified this theme:

Holy Darkness, blessed night

Heaven's answer, hidden from our sight.

Chris and Sue Hagen alternately read scriptures and played meditative music. Absent from her usual facilitator role was Evie McGreevy who had just begun her chemotherapy. Even then she had meticulously prepared the program offered by the Contemplative Outreach of North San Diego County.

This half-day 2009 midsummer retreat held at St. Thomas More Church in Oceanside included a liturgical dance by Elena Andrews. Her movements poetically mimed the sadness of crouching in darkness and then the joy of opening to the light. The centerpiece displayed on the floor was a quilt of radiating batik pieces in colors ranging from somber to bright from the center to the borders. We were asked to picture some form of light like a star shining above and around the quilt. I pictured a constellation of holy lights emanating from each participant.

In my usual navigationally challenged manner, I got lost driving to this retreat. I circumnavigated the hills of Vista for twenty minutes. Then because of insomnia the night before, I fell asleep during each of the prayer periods. With only momentary doubt, I decided that relaxation was part of the blessing. Toward the end of the morning, as I struggled to open a plastic bottle of water, the gentleman sitting next to me extended his hand for the bottle and twisted the cap. I was struck with the simplicity of the act. Yet it resonated with these words from Matthew 25:35:

I was thirsty and you gave me drink.

The ambiance at this retreat is best described by Isaiah 30:15:

In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.