Month at a Glance:
Watch mppc.org for information on the current series. And feel free to send an email to ideas@mppc.org if you have a story to share about how God is working in your life.
Miss a sermon? Want to share a sermon or just want to hear it again? Check out our recent sermons online at mppc.org! You can also subscribe to our sermon podcast on iTunes or purchase individual audio CD's.
Stay on top of what's happening at Open Door Church Mountain View with our monthly Event Calendar! Paper copies of the calendar are available at church on Sundays. Pick one up and stick it on your fridge for easy reference.
For additional convenience, you can also view a copy of this month's ODCMV Activity Calendar online!
Did You Know?
Parking Etiquette
In the spirit of being considerate to others, here are some guidelines for ODCMV parking:
Special Needs: The spaces in the small parking lot on Cuesta are intended for those with handicaps and other mobility issues. Able bodied individuals are encouraged to park elsewhere.
Guest Parking: Parking can seem a daunting challenge if you are visiting a church for the first time. Please leave the "first time guest" spots available for our guests. (And if you can, consider parking on the street and getting a little exercise on the way to church, leaving the closer spaces to those who are new.)
If you have any questions or concerns about parking, please feel welcome to contact Judy Lovejoy, jlovejoy@mppc.org.
December Events:
Christmas Festival
Fellowship Hall
4:30 p.m.—Christmas Crafts and Activities
Create a festive seasonal item that can bring cheer and serve as a reminder, pointing back to the REAL gift of the Christmas season.
5:45 p.m.—Dinner
We’ll provide ham, drinks, rolls and salad, you bring a favorite side dish or dessert. A voluntary donation of $5 will be gratefully accepted to cover the cost of dinner.
Share in the spirit of giving: bring a “non-perishable food item” to donate, benefiting Community Services Agency, serving those in need within our local community.
6:30 p.m.—Christmas Carol Sing-Along
Raise your voice with other folks in singing songs of the season and reflecting on the wonder of Emmanuel - God with us!
Child-friendly event. Join us for the whole time, or drop in when you can. Contact Judy Lovejoy, jlovejoy@mppc.org.
Vantage Point: Africa
Sunday, December 2, 7:00 p.m.
Room 103
Come participate in a conversation with MPPC mission partners from Hope Enterprises, Ethiopia and Achungo Children’s Center, Kenya over coffee and dessert. African representatives from both organizations will join us to share how God is using their ministries to transform specific rural areas through education and community development. Both organizations will also share about past, present and future MPPC involvement. Be inspired by what God is doing in Africa through the efforts of MPPC and our African partners - and learn how you can be a part of it! Contact John Blaha, johnblaha@earthlink.net.
Middle School Trolleys | REGISTER
Saturday, December 8, 3:00-10:30 p.m.
(Optional Sleep-Over - see below)
Join us for our annual Christmas celebration in San Francisco! We will visit Pier 39 for dinner, ride trolleys around the city to see the Christmas lights, and end our evening at Ghirardelli Square for sweets before heading back to Menlo Park.
Cost: $50 (covers transportation); bring extra money for dinner and sweets.
NEW THIS YEAR: We will be offering students the chance to sleep over in Room 102/103 at the church after Trolleys and wake up ready for The Outlet the next morning! Your student can choose between either: JUST Trolleys, Dec. 8, 3:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. OR Trolleys + Sleep-Over, December 8, 3:00 p.m.-December 9, after church.
Register at mppc.org. Contact Zack Aumiller, zaumiller@mppc.org.
Cost: $50 (covers transportation); bring extra money for dinner and sweets.
NEW THIS YEAR: We will be offering students the chance to sleep over in Room 102/103 at the church after Trolleys and wake up ready for The Outlet the next morning! Your student can choose between either: JUST Trolleys, Dec. 8, 3:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. OR Trolleys + Sleep-Over, December 8, 3:00 p.m.-December 9, after church.
Register at mppc.org. Contact Zack Aumiller, zaumiller@mppc.org.
Open Table Brunches & LunchesSunday, December 9, after both services
Join us after church at a local restaurant to connect with others over a meal - no need to RSVP!
Open Table brunches will take place after the 9:00 a.m. service at Brian's Restaurant, on Fremont Ave., in Los Altos, and Open Table lunches will take place after the 10:30 a.m. service at Tied House, on Villa St., in downtown Mountain View. Pick up an Open Table information card at the Connection Center for more details.
Look for Open Table brunches/lunches on the 2nd Sunday of December, as well. Want to serve as a “host” for an Open Table meal? Contact Jane Sumner, JaneESumner@aol.com.
Thursday, December 13, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Fellowship Hall
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Monday, December 24, 4:00, 5:30 & 7:00 p.m.You are warmly invited to join us in celebrating Christmas Eve. And don't keep the joy to yourself! Grab an invitation - or several - and invite a friend to join us for a special service on the most beautiful night of the year.
Childcare will be available for children aged 4 and under during the 4:00 & 5:30 p.m. services. Contact Judy Lovejoy, jlovejoy@mppc.org.
Friday, December 28, 6:30 p.m.
High School Students are invited to join us for a fun evening of games, dinner, broom hockey, and hanging out as we prepare to ring in the New Year a few days early! This is a great time to bring your friends! Contact Zack Aumiller, zaumiller@mppc.org.
Sunday, December 30
The Outlet, for Middle School, and the Shepherd's Village Children’s programs for all ages will take a break for the holidays.
Children of all ages are welcome to join their parents in the services for worship.
Regular programming for children and youth, 3 months - Middle School, will resume on Sunday, January 6.
Giving and Serving in December:
Special Christmas Offering
Sundays in December
Special envelopes are available at church on Sundays for this year’s special Christmas offering, which will be received on Sundays in December. These special contributions will be invested in demonstrating the love of God and changing lives in our community through Compassion Weekend projects in April 2013.
Collection Dates: Sundays, December 2, 9 & 16
Pick up an ornament from our Christmas Giving Tree and shop for a child/youth served by one of our ministry Partners. See below for gifting ideas.
Foster youth served by Help One Child - $5 “Santa gifts” and $25 gift cards (Please bring on December 2nd, in time for their annual Christmas Party.)
For young adults (18+) transitioning out of foster care served by Jeremiah’s Promise, or teenage foster youth living in group homes, served by Help One Child – $25 gift cards
Elementary aged, at-risk youth served by Reach Potential Movement at their Tutoring Center - $10 gifts.
Contact Bridget McNiel, bridget_mcniel@hotmail.com.
Food Pantry Collection
Sundays in December
On Sundays in December we will be collecting donations of non-perishable food. Food contributions given by our congregation will be gathered together with contributions from First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View and donated to our local Community Services Agency. Your generosity will feed hungry families and individuals in our community during the holiday season. Contact Judy Lovejoy, jlovejoy@mppc.org.
Jail Ministry Cookie Collection
Sundays, December 9 & 16
Reach out to those who cannot be with their families at Christmas. Bake cookies and bring them to church with you in disposable containers with the number of cookies indicated on the outside of the container. (Please also note if the cookies have nuts.)
Home baked cookies are preferred. Deliver to cookie collection table at church on Sunday morning. Contact Tallis Blalack, 408.569.6910, tallis@gmail.com.
Saturday, December 24
Show God's love to our church family and guests on Christmas Eve by volunteering to: set-up, greet, usher, love on little ones while their parents enjoy the service, provide refreshment for musicians, etc. Contact Judy Lovejoy, jlovejoy@mppc.org, for more information on volunteer opportunities.
Bible Explorers!
Program: January 6-June 2, 2013
A
love and appreciation of God’s word is one of the greatest gifts we can
give our children! The Bible can be a difficult book for children to
read and understand. This exciting Bible learning program aims to help
children grasp, at their own level of understanding, the importance of
God’s word in their lives. Upon completion of the class each student
will receive his/her very own Bible at a special graduation ceremony.
All
4th and 5th graders, who have not previously taken Bible Explorers, are
encouraged to participate. Online registration will be available soon
at odcmv.org. Note that regular, on-time attendance is very important to ensure that
your child gains the full benefit of the class. For more information,
contact Chris Nicholson, cnicholson@mppc.org.
Stephen Ministry Training
January 2013
January 2013
Stephen
Ministers provide emotional and spiritual support and care to people who
are going through a difficult time, such as divorce, grief,
hospitalization, unemployment, terminal illness, relocation, chronic
illness, or loneliness. MPPC will be
training
another class of Stephen Ministers starting in January. Those with gifts for caring, encouragement,
and listening, are encouraged to attend. More
information available at
mppc.org or contact us at 650.330.7516, StephenMinistry@mppc.org.
January 25-26
Join the Bay Area fight against human trafficking! Register now for this MPPC-sponsored conference--learn how to raise community awareness, identify trafficking victims, and advocate for change through policy and consumer choices.
The Freedom Summit is a two-day biennial conference that serves as a catalytic event to bring Bay Area abolitionists, communities and organizations together around the issue of Human Trafficking. Learn more at mppc.org.
Ongoing:
Weekly Services & Programs
Worship Services—Sundays, 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.
Shepherd’s Village—Sundays, 9:00 (3 mo.-5th Gr.) & 10:30 a.m. (3 mo.-3rd Gr.)
The Outlet—Sundays, 9:00 a.m. (Middle School, includes 6th grade)
High School Home Group—Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (314 Martens Ave., Mountain View)
The Mix—One Wednesday, per month the High School group meets for “The Mix” in lieu of Home Group. Contact Zack, zaumiller@mppc.org, for details.
Mothers Together—Thursdays, 9:30-11:00 a.m. (See the Mothers Together section of our blog for more information.)
Varying times, dates and locations
You don't have to live your life alone! Small groups provide a safe place where you can be real about doubts, questions and troubles, experience true caring, and develop and deepen friendships. And, in the process, become more the person God created you to be.
Contact Martin Baynes, martin@baynesfamily.org.
Career Actions Ministry
Mountain View Campus, Fellowship Hall
Encouragement and practical resources to help you succeed in your job search. See the CAM section of this blog for more about this ministry. Contact Marcia Davis-Cannon, mdcannon@gmail.com.
Host Homes
Do you have a spare bedroom and bath you could offer for a few months to a Stanford Hospital patient and/or their family members? The Host Home program is looking for families and individuals willing to minister to those who travel from out of state by offering local housing during Stanford treatments. This is a chance to minister through practical means to families and/or individuals who are in need. Contact Sue Passailaigue, suepass@juno.com.
Deacons are ordained officers of the church, who foster connecting and caring within the church community. Their passion is to help connect members of the community with each other and to ministry. They also provide compassionate response to congregational needs not met by a member’s small group or fellowship group. They care for the community through in-person or over-the-phone prayer, visitation, and occasional help with practical needs (rides, meals). Contact ODCMV Deacons, 650-330-4540, deacons@odcmv.org.
Men Pursuing Purity is a healing ministry for single and married men who long for freedom from the darkness and shame that comes with sexual sin. We bring men to the cross, trusting the Lord to redeem hearts, minds, and souls. In him we find our true selves, loved, forgiven, and healed. In him we find grace and truth (John 1:14). For all men who have tried repeatedly to leave sin behind, there is hope for real liberation! Men Pursuing Purity is led by men who have experienced healing from sexual addictions, and who minister from compassion, integrity, and total dependence on God.
Contact Craig Lauchner, 650.279.2895, craig_lauchner@yahoo.com.
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