July2020,Volume3,Issue7CelebratingourGraduates

ForourJune14thworship,CyndiChin-Leecreatedaslideshowofour2020graduates,mostofwhomarepicturedbelow:

AkaneIrish(elementaryschool,daughterofJeffIrish,granddaughterofPattyIrish)MichaelCooley(middleschool,grandsonofEvanHughes)AngelaBeaumont(highschool,daughterofCarolBeaumont)JoshuaChing(highschool,sonofCynthiaChin-LeeandPeterChing)SuuleyHachard(highschool,grandsonofEvelynWong)EliasDaltonThornton(highschool,grandsonofCathyDalton)LailaThompsonWainerandThompsonHolifield(highschool,grandchildrenofEdandGailThompson)AprilHealy(college,daughterofEllenHartog)MatthewKeller(college,sonofBethandRickKeller)AlexMerkle-Raymond(college,daughterofKathyandLeeMerkle-Raymond)AnitaSilver(college,daughterofJimandSusanPhinneySilver)AlysonMelzer(doctorate)

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VirtualChoirAnthem Thechoirhadcontinuedtomeetaftertheshelterinplacecameintoeffect.Wehadtriedmanydifferentthingsatourzoomrehearsals:wesangeasysongswithindividualmembersmuted,wehadamonthlong"musicschool"witheachweekhavingadifferenttopic-sight-singing,theoryetc.Thenitbecameclearthatthechoir,andmyselfincluded,wasgettingalittlefrustratedwithnotbeingabletosingaregularpieceofchoralmusic!Wehadallseenandcommentedonvirtualchoirrecordings-howamazingmanywereandhowafewchoirmembershadsunginavirtualchoir.Imadethedecisionthatwewouldmakeithappen.Ispentadaytryingtofindappropriatechoralanthemsthatwouldwork.Achoirrehearsalwasspentreadingthroughtheseanthemsandwealldecidedtostartwithaneasieranthemthatwehadsunginchurch.TheverynextdayIreceivedanemailfromEmilyBrewerofthePresbyterianPeaceFellowship.SheaskedifFirstPreswouldliketopresentavirtualchoralanthemforthePeaceFellowshipBreakfastatGeneralAssemblyonJune24.Theanthemwouldbeaspeciallywritten5-versetextaboutpeace,sungtothetuneofJoyful,Joyful!Ipresentedthisideatothechoirandeveryoneagreedtotheproject.WehadadeadlineofJune17sowehadtogetbusy-wehadalittleovertwoweekstofinish! AndyChislett Hereissomeinfoaboutthetechnicalprocess.First,Andycreatedelectronicbasetracksthatplayedeachpart(soprano,alto,tenor,bass)separatelyforustolistento.WehadthechoirmemberslistentothetracksusingheadphoneswhiletheytookvideosofthemselvessingingtheirpartofthesonginsyncwithAndy'strackssowewouldallenduptogether.Somememberssubmittedmultiplevideosofthemselvessingingdifferentparts(e.g.sopranoandaltoortenorandbass)sothatwewouldhavemorevoicesforthefinishedproject.Thatwasonefunadvantageofrecordingseparatelyandeditingthevideostogetherandalsowhyyouseesome"twins"inthevideo.IeditedthevideostogetherintothefinalproductwithDaVinciResolve.FirstIlookedathowmanyIreceivedandplannedhowtofiteveryoneintothescreen.ThenItookonevideoatatime,shrunkitdownsoitwouldfitwiththeothers,andmanuallylinedupthesingingsoitmatchedwiththeothervideos.Iusedanaudiowaveformthatshoweduponthevideotohelpmelineitup,butalsodiditbywhatsoundedright.Ialsoadjustedthevolumeonthetrackssothateachpersonwouldbeaboutthesamevolume.Iwantedtomakesureallofthepartssoundedbalancedattheend.Attheend,Iappliedsomeaudioeffects(reverbandcompression)tomakethesoundqualityalittlenicersincewhatyouhearfromamicrophoneisdifferentthanwhatyouhearinarealspacewhenyou'relisteningtoaperformance.ThiswasmyfirsttimedoingthissoIhadtofigureoutquiteafewthingsalongtheway,butitwasreallycooltohearhowitevolvedasIaddedallthevoices.HereisalinktotheversionthatincludesAndyplayingtheorgan:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1twCZm5-hdZHewS818IHM1_0u-nRpIbT-/view?usp=sharing KarenHuddleston

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VirtualFarewelltoGeoffBrowning

Aftertwenty-fiveyearsatFPCPAGeoffBrowninghasmovedtoLacey,WA,tobeginthenextchapterofhislifewithhisfiancéeJanice.HegavethepromptingatourJune21Zoomservice,andafterthatwecelebratedhisyearswithus.Weweredelightedthathischildren,afewrelativesandacoupleofformerFPCPApastorswereabletojoinus.HerearesomeofthemanywaysinwhichGeoffhastouchedourlives:

Hecounseledseveral“generations”ofyoungpeopleonconscientiousobjection–JayHendersonandJeremyMineau,AlexandChrisIyer,andJoshuaChin-Lee.Theyoungpeopleandtheirparentsareverygratefulforthatexperience.Hetaughtbothpre-schoolandhighschoolSundayschool.Theformerusedadinosaur-basedcurriculumandthelatterusedpopcultureasaspringboardfortalkingaboutfollowingJesus.Healsoco-ledseveralconfirmationclasses.HewasafaithfulmemberoftheSocialJusticeMinistryandpushedustodeepenourviewsaboutPalestinianissuesandbecomingaPeaceChurch.HewentontheBorderLinkstripin2019andattendedvariouseventsinsupportofimmigrantfamilies.He’sbeenafriendofCoolPlanetandespeciallyhelpfulwithourGAoverturesforDivestmentfromFossilFuels.GeoffservedasthePeacemakingAdvocateforSanJoséPresbyteryandisthelastpersoninthePC(USA)inthatposition.HealsoservedformanyyearsatStanfordasCampusMinisterforUCCM,teachingclassesinLiberationTheology,leadingtripstoCentralAmerica,hostingpotlucks,andevendressingupasDarthVadarataJohnYooprotest.MostrecentlyhehasservedasaParishAssociateatFPCPA,helpingBruceduringhisfirstyearwithus.We’llmissGeoffalot,butinthisnewworldwelivein,wehopethathe’llcontinuetojoinusforworshipservices,smallgroupandcommitteemeetings,sothatwehardlyknowthathe’smoved.

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SocialJusticeMinistryHoteldeZinkbeginsJuly1stJoanRoyhasbeenmanagingsignupsandalmostalloftheslotsarefilled.Thankstoallwhohavesignedup.Togetinonthefun,gotohttps://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/336987608653600083/false-/invitation.WehaveonceagainaskedCovenanttojoinusinprovidingsomeofthemeals.WehavefiguredoutthelogisticsforsettingupFellowshipHallforindividuallivingspacesandnoaccesstothekitchen,andJoySleizerhasbeenfollowingwhathasworkedwellattheotherchurcheswhohaverecentlyhostedHoteldeZink.AccompanimentTeamUpdateWehavehadacoupleofteammeetings,talkedwithourliaisontoIM4HIandhavedecidedtoendourformalaccompanimentasoftheendofAugust.Teresoisstilloutofhisrestaurantjobs,buthehasrecentlyhadafewdaysofworkwithaconstructioncrew.InMarch,AprilandMaytheteamcollected~$300eachmonthforhimtosupporthisfamilyhereandinGuatemala.Theteamandafewindividualswhocontactedtheteamcontributed.Wehavecommittedtocontinuetogivehim$300amonthforJune,JulyandAugustandhaveaskedthelargercongregationtocontributetothat.Ifwereceivemorethan$900,wewillgivetheexcesstoInterfaithMovementforHumanIntegrity(IM4HI.)CheckscanbemadeouttoandsenttoOscarRosenbloomoryoucanusePayPaltosendmoneytoMargaret’saccount(margaret_rosenbloom@hotmail.com.) Ifyouneedataxdeduction,thenyoushouldsendmoneydirectlytoIM4HI.ContactPatKinneyfordetails. PoorPeople’sCampaignMassGatheringandFPCPAWatchPartyOnSaturday,June20at7am,aboutadozenpeoplefromFPCPAwatchedthevirtualPoorPeople'sCampaignEvent.WehadsomediscussionduringandafterduringaZoomWatchParty, andwewanttocontinuethatconversationwiththecongregationsoon.Staytunedfordetails. LetterWritingwithVOTEForwardMelissaKirvenandPatKinneyhaveagreedtobeco-TeamCaptainsforaVoteForwardGOTV(GetOuttheVote)campaign.WebothfeelthatvotingisaveryimportantwaytostandupforSocialJustice,andthatletter-writingfromhomeissomethingwecandorightnow.Wehavecommittedtoreceivinganddistributing1000lettersforpeopletowriteathomebyAugust15,providingtheirownpostageandenvelopes.Stampsareavailableonlinefromwww.usps.com.Thissoundsdaunting,butitisonly25peoplewriting40letterseach;weeachusedtowrite20lettersatthepartiesthatweheldinFellowshipHall.Wemayhostsomevirtualletterwritingpartiestohelpmotivatepeople.PleasecontactMelissa(mkirvenbrooks@gmail.com)orPat(pkinney@ix.netcom.com)ifyouareinterested,andwewillarrangedeliveryorpickup.Thisinfoisalsoavailableatwww.fprespa.org/get-out-the-vote/.Feelfreetoenlistfriendsandneighbors!

PatKinney

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SessionHighlightsSessionmetonJune17viaZoomwithPastorBruceReyes-Chowmoderatingandtookthefollowingactions:

• AuthorizedbyunanimousvotetheformationofaPandemicTaskForcechargedtoexplore,monitor,andrecommendtoSessionon-goingCOVID-19responsesconcerningStaffScheduling,BuildingUse,SafetyProcedures,andCongregationalGatherings;andappointedScottBrenneman(chair,fromFacilities),EvelynWong(fromPersonnel),andHollyTabor(healthprofessional)toserveonthePandemicTaskForcethroughMay2021.

• ApprovedbyconsenttheappointmentoftheEVChargingandSolarWorkingGroup:MargaretRosenbloom(chair),JanetCox,TrishHallenbeck,andPaulJones.

• Approved(7for,4abstentions)themotiontosupportthePeaceChurchdefinitionastheworkoftheCompassion,Peace&JusticeMinistryofthePresbyterianChurch(USA)andthePeaceChurchWorkingGroupofthePresbyterianPeaceFellowshipwithoutadoptingthisdefinitionasareplacementforthePeaceChurchstatementoftheFirstPresbyterianChurchofPaloAlto.

• EndorsedthedecisionoftheEVChargingandSolarWorkingGrouptoproceedimmediatelytoinvestigatetheinstallationofchargingstations.(InaccordancewiththeSession-approvedmandate,adetailedproposalcoveringallthefinancialandoperationalaspectsofanEVchargingprogramshouldcometoSessionbeforeproceedingtosolicitbids,etc.)

• ApprovedtheplanoftheSocialJusticeMinistrytosolicitcontributionsfromthecongregationtocontributetoTereso’sexpensesastheaccompanimentteamendsitsformalaccompanimentattheendofAugust.ChecksmaybesenttoOscarRosenbloom.Ifmorethan$900isreceived,theexcesswillbegiventotheInterfaithMovementforHumanIntegrity.

• AcknowledgedwithgratitudeCyndiChin-Lee’sworktocollectmaterialsfortheannualobservanceofgraduates;SallyNordlund’songoingworktomaintainchurchschoolconnectionswithchildrenandparents;KarenHuddleston’scoordinationoftherecordingofthechoir’s“virtualanthem”forthePeaceBreakfastatGeneralAssemblyonJune24;HarveyWolfson’slovelypianomusicfortheJune14service;andAlysonMelzer’scontributionstotheStaffingTaskForce.

Sessiondiscussedthefollowing:• TentativeplansforjointZoomserviceswithValleyPresbyterianChurch,withValleytohostonJuly12and

FirstPrestohostonAugust9.• Facilities’planforreplacingtheroofontheYouthHouseatanestimatedcostof$15,867,plusaddedcosts

foranyrequiredroofrepairs.FullcopiesoftheapprovedminutesareavailablefromLelaNoble,ClerkofSession,atlnoble@sbcglobal.net

FacilitiesUpdate

AlthoughtheHVACupgradingofourheatingplantisthemajorfocusofAlecHendersonandJavierHernandez,someprogressisbeingmadeonotherfacilitiesprojects.PreparationsforHoteldeZinkarenearingcompletion,withcarefulattentiontodisinfectingFellowshipHalleachdayandkeepingthebathroomscleanandfunctioning.JavierhasselectedacontractortoreplacetheleakingroofontheYouthHouse,andwehopethatacontractorwillsoonbeselectedtoinsulatetheAdministrationBuilding,Classrooms1-3,FellowshipHall,andtheMusicroom.TheManseisstillexperiencingdifficulties,withtermitesthelatestvillain.ItislikelythattheMansewillneedtobetentedtoeliminatetheproblem.

PaulJones

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FinanceMinistryReport

WecontinuetocloselymonitorourfinancialsituationresultingfromthecurrentCOVID-19changesanduncertainties,includingSession’sdecisiontocloseourcampustoallworshipandotherlargegroupmeetingsthroughtheendof2020duetothecurrentpandemic,aswellastheevolvingimpactsofthecurrenteconomicdownturn.Totalincomeforthefirst5months(includingcongregationalgivingandfacilitiesusage)issofarontrack.ThefederalCovid19PPPfundingwillhelpcounteractongoingimpactsofthepandemicandresultingeconomicslowdownthatcontinuetoevolve.Belowisasummaryfinancialreportasof5/31/20.

SusanPhinneySilver

SummaryFinancialReport,end-May2020(5months)

Actual Budget Difference NotesINCOME

PledgesandDonations $205,887 $187,292 $18,595 Includespre-paidpledgesFacilityusage $142,410 $143,485 $(1,075) SlightlydownOther $801 $833 $(32) TOTALINCOME $349,098 $331,610 $17,488 ExcludesLegacyFunddraw

EXPENSES Staffing $196,614 $198,191 $(1,577) Facilities(inclWH&manse) $68,335 $88,616 $(20,281) Expenseswilloccurlaterin2020ChurchGiving&SJ $28,902 $16,958 $11,944 Sessiongave$15KforCOVID-19aidAllOtherMinistries $12,140 $18,733 $(6,593) AdminandOther $27,552 $17,787 $9,765 $5KfortechnologyforZoomactivitiesTOTALEXPENSES $333,543 $340,285 $(6,742) TOTALNETINCOME $15,555 $(8,675) $24,230LEGACYDRAWYTD $- $27,712 $(27,712)

RecentWorshipAttendance(allbyZoom,figuresareestimates)

EarlyChurch 10amService NOTES5/31 17 129 Pentecost6/7 12 107 6/14 15 110 CelebratedGraduates6/21 13 104 CelebratedGeoffBrowning

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MonthlyCalendar

Seealsohttps://www.fprespa.org/calendar-of-events/

ONJULY12WEWILLPARTICIPATEINAWORSHIPEXCHANGEWITHVALLEYPRESBYTERIAN.DETAILSTOCOME!

WEWILLBEHOSTINGHOTELDEZINKINFELLOWSHIPHALLFORTHEENTIREMONTHOFJULY.SundayWorshipusingZoom

8:30am EarlyChurch:https://stanford.zoom.us/j/571119282610:00am CommunityWorship:(1-timeRegistrationRequired)https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMld-uurDgr_Ss_LQaamMHTYrWR5mhyYAJoinusforthefollowingPastor-ledZoomseries:Tuesdays@8:30pm Breathe:WeeklyTimeforCenteringandPrayerhttps://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpUld-2gqD8ibaadXT3ThQNML8yQnHkXUgThursdays@8pm BeverageswithBrucehttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/331633446?pwd=b0ZDeG85NGpORTlNOGdRMlFETkM4QT09MeetingsoverZoom–ContactthenamelistedbyeachonefortheZoomlinkWeeklyMeetingsTuesdays,10:00am StaffMeeting:CatherineCloverThursdays,7:00pm ChoirRehearsalMeet-up:AndyChislettMonthlyMeetingsWednesday,July1,noon WorshipandMusic:MarthaMarisWednesday,July1,2pm AdultEducation:EvanHughesSunday,July5,11:45am CoolPlanet:ShirleyEglingtonWednesday,July15,7pm Session:LelaNobleTBD SocialJustice:PatKinneySaturday,July25,9:30am Communications:CyndiChin-LeeSmallGroupMeetingsMonday,July13,7:00pm IntersectionalBookReadsGroup:BruceReyes-ChowThursdays,3:00pm ThursdayBookStudyGroup:DaveThorntonSaturday,July11,7:00pm PeacefulPresenceService:www.multifaithpeace.orgSaturday,July18,10:30am FilmGroup:EllenForbes;JustMercyVirtualOfficeHours-July

PleasenotethatmanyofthestaffwillbetakingsometimeofftheweekofJuly6–12.Pleasecontactstaffmembersduringthistimeofcampusclosurebyusingthecontactinfolistedonthechurchwebsite:https://www.fprespa.org/contact-us/

SmallGroups

TheFaithIssuesinFilmgroupwillmeetoverZoomonSaturday,July18,at10:30am,todiscussthe2019filmJustMercy.ThemovietellsthetruestoryofoneofBryanStevenson’s(MichaelB.Jordan)firstcasesasayounglawyer.In1989,hetraveledtoMonroeville,Alabama,inhopesofoverturningthewrongfulconvictionofWalterMcMillian(JamieFoxx),aninnocentblackmanwhospentsixyearsondeathrow.

ThisfilmisavailableforfreethroughoutthemonthofJuneonvariousplatforms,includingYouTube,GooglePlay,Amazon,Vudu, FandangoNOW and Apple TV.Formoreinfo,gotohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stream-just-mercy-free-june-180975044/.Wearealwaysopentonewmembers,butpleasewatchthefilmbeforethemeetingsothatyoucanparticipateinthediscussion.Withthetimelinessofthisfilm,wehopethatmanynewpeoplewilljoinus.ContactEllenForbes(eforbes820@att.net) fordetails.

TheIntersectionalReadsmonthlybookgroupwilltakeplaceoverZoomonMonday,July13,at7pm.Pleaseseewww.fprespa.org/events/intersectional-reads-book-group-3/formoreinformation.WewilldiscussUnsettlingTruths:TheOngoing,DehumanizingLegacyoftheDoctrineofDiscoverybyMarkCharlesandSoong-ChanRah.Youcanpurchaseitat:https://shop.reachandteach.com/book/9780830845255.

1140CowperStreetPaloAlto,CA94301650.325.5659

VisitusontheWeb:www.fprespa.org