• The church has three major revenue sources: member contributions, rentals and preschool. By May, the preschool has a solid projection of what the enrollment will be for the new preschool year which begins in fall. The change of fiscal year allows the church council to more accurately create the preschool budget in June as opposed to creating the budget in December when enrollment is only a projection.
• Currently, the finance committee and council are required to create a budget in November and December as the current year is coming to a close. This is a very busy season with Thanksgiving and Christmas. A July to June fiscal year allows budgeting to occur in May and June, a much less busy time of year in the church.
• Currently, the annual budget is approved (at the annual meeting) in late January or February for the fiscal year. This is 4 to 6 weeks after the fiscal year has begun. This causes extra work for the bookkeeper and is not a good practice to approve a budget so late. With a July to June fiscal year, the annual meeting/budget approval could be held in late June, prior to the beginning of the fiscal year.

The plan is to make this change effective July 1. Thus, we are in the process of making a new budget. We don’t anticipate major changes from our current budget. We will present the budget to the congregation on June 20 and have a congregational meeting after church on June 27 to approve the new budget.

Change of Stewardship Year
As mentioned above, member contributions are a major revenue source for the church. Our past stewardship season has been in the fall and members pledge’s are in effect from January to December. With the change of the fiscal year, the church council requests that members continue with their current pledge through June of 2011 (as opposed to December of 2010). Our next stewardship season will be in May of next year. Our stewardship to the church is an essential piece of our relationship with God and our community. We pray that these changes will best serve the work of the Lord.
Please contact Steve Kilgore, Chris Rutter or Suzanne Harris if you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes.

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice.

Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father.

Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support.

Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children’s lives.

Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their stepchildren’s love and respect.

Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own

Let us praise those men who have “fathered” us in their role as mentors and guides.

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children. And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.

We’re celebrating graduations and transitions of all kinds, everything from preschool to high school (David Fong and Woudnish Yilma) college (Whitney Wu-Chu) to Master’s degrees, from new roles (Beth Rogers) to new adventures (Rev. Sally).  We will celebrate not only the graduates, but those in transition, and also their parents and loved ones.

Come and join us if you can, and spread the word to other “graduates” and invite them too!

Graduates – bring your parents and friends! We will honor you early in the service and during fellowship hour!

We will include a list of:

Your name
Your parents
Where/what you graduated from, degree info
What you are graduating into

Examples:

Graduate: Whitney Wu-Chu
Parents (if appropriate): Stella
School/degree: UC Berkeley, BA
Future plans?

Please send to Chrysalis at the office. Email here!

See videos of a recent trip to “our” school in Sierra Leone:

Sierra Leone I – Freetown to the Bush

Sierra Leone II – Village Life

Sierra Leone III – Music and Dancing

We commend the artists who participated in this special show, revealing more of themselves to us and the public, and further uplifting and enhancing our sanctuary with their beautiful work. Our artists in this show are quite diverse — ranging from a college student’s usage of recycled materials; an architect; a photographer who is also an ordained minister; to teachers and healthcare providers who are also artists.

Please enjoy this collection of photos (taken by Chris Nelson) of those in attendance at our opening reception, which was held on a beautiful afternoon Saturday, February 6th.

Warm Regards,
Reverend Laurie Manning

Artists currently exhibiting at Skyline:

Dave Byrens
Alexandra Childs
Ginger Grove
Sheila Helms
Barbara Harris
Joan Monroe
Catherine Moore
Chris Nelson
Nila Oakes
Bruce Prescott
Katherine Rutter
Laureen Sheldon
Lee Winslow
Beth Wolinsky

Sunday, Feb 21 11:00 a.m., Sanctuary

Directly following worship in the Sanctuary, a Congregational Meeting will be held which will include the 2010 budget vote.

All Ages/members welcome.
Childcare will be provided.

Lunch will be provided. Cost: Free

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
YOUR VOTE & VOICE COUNTS!

7 pm

Ash Wednesday will be marked with a powerful multimedia service of healing and repentance for the journey through Lent.

The service will be led by seminarian Beth Rogers, asking us to reflect and take a moment to pause in our busy lives, seeking our way in the wilderness. Music, candlelight, reflections, and the imposition of ashes will all be part of the evening.

WED Evenings, 6-8 PM, 2/24 – 3/24

Reclaiming the ancient religious practices of music, candlelight, meditation, mind/body prayer, and chant, we invite you to a special series of services each Wednesday throughout Lent. Join us for a special evening of the above practices, along with walking the labyrinth, followed by a potluck meal.

Please bring a pair of socks to wear for our indoor mind/body prayer. All are welcome; flexible if you miss a week.

This event is open to the community at large, so please invite friends!

The labyrinth is regarded as a metaphor for life. It is a contemplative walk, requiring no previous knowledge, skill, or experience. Facilitators will be present during the Lenten series, “From Darkness to Light,” if you have questions or concerns, or simply want to share your experience. Many find this a way to relieve stress, pray, be open, connect with God, and/or their own deepest core.

This is a new way to experience your own journey, no matter where you are. Welcome!

A Community Gathered - Art Show featuring the talents of several local artists.

The show will run from January 30th through February 27th and will displayed in the beautiful Skyline Sanctuary. Works of art will be for sale as well as for exhibit only. The room will be open to the public on Sundays from 11 am to 1pm and by request during the week. You are also welcome to join us for our 10am worship service.

Please join us for the Artists’ Reception on Saturday, February 6th at 3pm.

Wine and cheese reception, $10 optional donation.
All proceeds from the reception will go to support local youth art.

Come enjoy our beautiful photographs, paintings, and textures!
Delightful images lifting the spirit and bringing memory & pleasure.

Official Sunday Show Exhibit Dates:
01/30, 2/07, 2/14, 2/21, & 2/27
11 AM  – 1 PM
(Or join us first for Sunday service at 10 am.)

For more information please contact the Skyline office at 510-531-8212. We hope to see you there!

Pray the Devil Back to Hell

Friday, December 11th, 7 pm – 9 pm

“Uplifting, disheartening, inspiring, — the mind reels while watching the documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell”
– New York Times

“A MARVELOUS DOCUMENTARY” – LA Times

“Relates a powerful story with intelligence, concision and a minimum of distracting stylistic flourishes.” – Hollywood Reporter

Pastor Laurie, Jean Siciliano, Sentho Kilgore and other members attended a Mills College showing of Pray the Devil Back to Hell, a story of courageous Liberian women (Christian & Muslim) who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. The Skyline Church group was so impressed by the film, they planned a Movie Night for Friday, December 11th, 7 pm, here at Skyline!

Pray the Devil is the winner of 7 film festival awards, including Movies That Matter, Gabriel Award for Best Documentary, Best Documentary Tribeca Film Festival, and a number of others.