Friends:

You did what you could until you knew better, and when you knew better, you did better. —Maya Angelou

 
Pentecost is this Sunday, June 8.  It is the Third High Feast Day of the Church Year.  Come prepared to celebrate the Spirit and the Baptism of Aiden.  WEAR RED!
First Friday Films – This Friday, June 6 at 6:30 pm  Moonrise Kingdom which promises to make you laugh and leave you with worthwhile reflections. Rated PG 13, so kids are welcome. The film focuses on middle-school aged kids, their parents and community. It is both comedic and soulful. Please invite anyone you think might enjoy it.
The Pacific Choir and Coelis Ensemble invite you to their performance of Mozart’s ‘Coronation Mass’ on Saturday, June 14 at 7:00 pm.  They are gifting Peace Members with 25 free tickets.  This joyful concert will create an outstanding evening that will enrich your soul.
Summertime Celebration – Midsommer Solstice Party!  It’s time to enjoy summer’s arrival on Saturday, June 21 at 5:00 pm.  Kick back and relax with a tasty BBQ prepared by Chuck Fisher, steel drums, great music and lots of friends.  Invite whomever you want to join us.
June 4 marks the 25^th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square when 19 year old Wang Weilin stopped the tanks while millions of people around the world watched.  Some of us are still watching.
Justice Advocacy Forum this Sunday.  Our Justice Deacons Ron and Linda Elsdon will share the results of our Justice Survey.  I hope you can participate in the conversation.
Pope Francis has invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to a day of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East on Sunday, June 8, 2014.   In prayer we elevate our thoughts and minds to a higher consciousness as we become aware that we are all children of the Divine Presence.  Could this become a model for confronting the issues of our day?
We will offer our prayers for the Middle East this Sunday too.    You may also decide to bless and light candles or arrange some flowers as a centerpiece of peace in your home.  Such a lovely display will bless all who visit you and remind you and your friends to strive for peace in all the affairs of life.  Or you may choose to gather around our Peace Pole and offer a prayer for peace.
As Pope Francis said in his invitation, “I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer.  All of us want peace.  Many people build it day by day through small gestures and acts; many of them are suffering, yet patiently persevere in their efforts to be peacemakers.   Building peace is difficult, but living without peace is a constant torment. The men and women of these lands and of the entire world ask us to bring before God their fervent hopes for peace.”
Keep in your prayers:  Gen, Greg, Jeanie, Layla, Mateo, William, Ryder, for peace in our time, and for  all those who pay the price for crying out for justice.
Gary invites you to “DAZZLE Broadway OUR WAY” by the SF Gay Men’s Chorus on June 25, 26, and 27 at 8:00 pm at the Nourse Theatre in San Francisco.  Want to carpool?
Thanks to our Sunday School Teachers Charlene McPherson, Pat Leong and Arlene Reed for their dedication to our children and the teaching of our faith!
Jack’s Eagle Scout Soccer Project:  Last Spring Jack O’Neil sent a variety of soccer equipment to our Partners at Lwamondo Parish in South Africa.  We recently received word from our friend Ndou Muthuphei that the sports equipment is attracting children in the neighborhood of Tshifulanani Congregation and working some wonders in increasing children’s attendance at worship.  Soccer matches are played every Saturday at 2 pm and it is getting kids off of the streets.  Photos to be sent soon.  How the Spirit works!  Way to go, Jack.
Clothing Free – Cycle!  Have clothes you have grown tired of or grown out of?  Between now and June 22, please bring unwanted men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags, knick-knacks, etc. to Peace on Sunday and they will have a chance for a second life with someone else.  Clothing must be in good condition, clean and free of stains or tears.  Also please deliver clothes to the church on hangers when possible.  Simply bring it in when you come to services (June 15 is ideal) and we’ll take care of the rest. On June 22, a changing room and mirror will be provided as well as a chair to try on shoes.
The conclusion of our 9^th Season of Jazz at Peace was remarkable.  Clairdee sang her heart out, Dmitri Matheny’s flugelhorn was mellifluous, the Pacific Youth Choir delighted the crowd, thanks to Gun Johnston for teaching Swedish to the Coelis Ensemble so they could sing “Håll mig kvar” by Malin Gavelin, and the finale with our Jazz at Peace Theme Song “Sing Out!” (composed by Clairdee and Ken French) rocked the house!  We also got to celebrate Ed the JazzCat and Libby Klitsch’s 30 years of coordinating Jazz Vespers around the country.  Thank you, Ed!
“There are unbearable things all around us – you have to look at them and for them; search carefully. Open your eyes and you will see. This is what I tell young people: If you spend a little time searching, you will find your reasons to engage in life. The worst attitude is indifference: ‘There’s nothing I can do; I will just get by’ — adopting this mindset will deprive you of one of the fundamental qualities of being human: outrage.  Our capacity for protest is indispensable, as is our freedom to engage.”  (Stephane Hessel,  WWII French Resistance Member)
Ascension Blessings,  Pr. Steve