Hi Everyone,

This Sunday Pastor Goligher will preach for both services.  Jonathan and Maddie Bartlett are completing their visit to Hughson, CA where Jonathan is a candidate for the open pulpit of our sister congregation, Sovereign Grace OPC.

At its recent meeting, the session approved receiving the Tsiliacos family by letter of transfer from New Covenant OPC, South San Francisco.

Reminder to all: Please use cups/bottles with lids when in the Worship Hall or nursery.

Hi Everyone,

We are planning a service on Christmas eve, Saturday, 24 December. After the service some of us will do some caroling in the neighborhood. To prepare, we will practice in the Fellowship Hall on the following Sundays (including tomorrow):

4:00 pm 6 Nov
4:00 pm 13 Nov
4:00 pm 11 Dec
3:30 pm 18 Dec

Please join us if you can!

Hi Everyone,

This Sunday Pastor Goligher will preach for both services.  Jonathan and Maddie Bartlett are visiting Hughson, CA this week.  Jonathan has been invited to candidate for the open pulpit of our sister congregation, Sovereign Grace OPC.

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper this Sunday.  An offering for the work of the deacons will be received during the singing of the closing hymn.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Dear Ladies,

We will have a Women's Wine & Cheese movie night on Friday, Nov 11, 2022, 7 pm, at Melissa Harvey's home. We will watch "Come & See: Tips for Hospitality and Sabbath Dinners" and fellowship over some wine (if you wish), cheese and other appetizers.

Please let us know if you can make it. If you would like, you can also bring a favorite wine/beverage, cheese, appetizer/fruit to share. RSVP to Joy Loh or the Ladies' Signal Group if you can make it.

Melissa's address is: 6893 Elwood Road San Jose 95120.

Greetings,

This message is for the teens and those who will be driving, with a few more details about this Friday’s game night.  

Jonathan, Maddie, Calvin, and I will be hosting from 6pm-9pm, at 
21 Talmadge Ave, San Jose, 95127.  

Please plan to drop off and pick up accordingly.  Hopefully it’s not too far of a trek.

Dear Congregation,

The Mercy Ministry Team would like to bless a member and family with a basket filled with their preferences.  In October/November we are collecting items for Jim and Mical Brenzel. We would especially like to encourage Jim as it is difficult for him with his ongoing serious medical issues and to encourage Mical who is his only caregiver at home.  Please see the list below and donate to the basket if you are able.  Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Items for Blessing Basket for the Brenzel family

1. Cookies (especially shortbread and oatmeal raisin – Mical loves these.)

2. Chocolate (Jim loves See’s Chocolate)

3. Coffee (Deep Roasted)

4. Tea (Mical loves Chai Tea)

5. Favorite lotion/soap – (Mical enjoys citrus, coconut, and winter spice scents)

6. Hobbies/interests – read about politics/economics, travel to places of scenic beauty and historical interest.

7. Favorite reading material – Jim reads the WSJ (on paper) and Investors Business Daily (on paper, weekly). Mical enjoys reading a mix of books (currently it is C.S. Lewis), newspapers (Epoch Times, WSJ, and podcasts/electronic newsletters (The Daily Wire, Our Daily Bread).

8. Favorite flower/plants – Jim loves rhododendrons and azaleas.

9. Favorite music – classical music (chamber music, orchestral, choral – not operatic).

10. Since they both like to travel, a VISA gift card would be appreciated so they can use it at restaurants or for other travel expenses.

Hi Everyone,

This Sunday Pastor Goligher will preach in the morning service and Pastoral Intern Bartlett will preach in the evening service.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

This Sunday Phoebe Olivia Bartlett will be baptized during the morning worship service.

Following this week’s morning service will be the Fellowship Lunch. 

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Dear Congregation,

The Mercy Ministry Team would like to bless a member and family with a basket filled with their preferences.  In October/November we are collecting items for Jim and Mical Brenzel. We would especially like to encourage Jim as it is difficult for him with his ongoing serious medical issues and to encourage Mical who is his only caregiver at home.  Please see the list below and donate to the basket if you are able.  Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Items for Blessing Basket for the Brenzel family

1. Cookies (especially shortbread and oatmeal raisin – Mical loves these.)

2. Chocolate (Jim loves See’s Chocolate)

3. Coffee (Deep Roasted)

4. Tea (Mical loves Chai Tea)

5. Favorite lotion/soap – (Mical enjoys citrus, coconut, and winter spice scents)

6. Hobbies/interests – read about politics/economics, travel to places of scenic beauty and historical interest.

7. Favorite reading material – Jim reads the WSJ (on paper) and Investors Business Daily (on paper, weekly). Mical enjoys reading a mix of books (currently it is C.S. Lewis), newspapers (Epoch Times, WSJ, and podcasts/electronic newsletters (The Daily Wire, Our Daily Bread).

8. Favorite flower/plants – Jim loves rhododendrons and azaleas.

9. Favorite music – classical music (chamber music, orchestral, choral – not operatic).

10. Since they both like to travel, a VISA gift card would be appreciated so they can use it at restaurants or for other travel expenses.

Hi Everyone,

This Sunday Dr. Jonathan Master will teach Sunday school and preach in both the morning and evening worship services.  Dr. Master is this year’s Women’s Retreat speaker.  He is the president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a minister in the PCA. 

Pastor Goligher recently provided to the session a report of a large range of activities that he accomplished during his sabbatical (I suspect he may provide a summary in his January report to the congregation).  One of his writing projects was a brief article for Reformation21 on the word “Abomination” (29 August).

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

Pastoral Intern Bartlett will preach this week in the morning service and Pastor Goligher will preach in the evening. 

Next Sunday, Dr. Jonathan Master, the Women’s Retreat speaker and President of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, will teach Sunday School and will fill our pulpit in both the morning and evening services.

Finally, the following note is from Elena Hernandez:

Hi Everyone,

Pastor Goligher will be preaching during both services this Sunday. We will observe the Lord’s Supper during the morning service.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

On Wednesday evening Pastor Goligher considered the first verses of Romans chapter 12.  In this passage the Apostle Paul urges us not to yearn to fit in with the world, but rather to devote the whole of our lives, minds, and bodies to learn and do God’s will.  In this way, we are to live as priests, offering ourselves every day as a sacrifice to God.

Please keep the Bartletts in prayer.  It seems likely that Maddie will deliver their baby soon.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

Pastor Goligher will preach on Sunday morning and he will begin a new series from 1 Kings.  Mr. Jonathan Bartlett is scheduled to preach during the evening services for the two Sundays, but this could change depending on when Miss Baby Bartlett arrives.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

The Lord’s Day

Sunday school is at 9:45 am. In adult Sunday school class we are looking at the history of the Presbyterian church in America.

The children’s Sunday school begins the autumn schedule this week with two classes, both using Great Commissions Publications curricula.

The morning service is at 11:00 am. The sermon will be "What God Loves" from James 5:12-20.

Hi Everyone,

Plan to join us for Adult Sunday School class this week.  Pastor Goligher will provide a report of his and his family’s activities in Northern Ireland this summer.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

Last Wednesday evening, Pastoral Intern Jonathan Bartlett had us consider Romans chapter 10, which reminds us that when we have believing hearts, we will confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord.  And we must pray for the proclamation of God’s word that others may believe: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”  Let us pray that God will give us ears to hear God’s word preached this Lord’s Day, and where needed, that His Spirit will soften hardened hearts.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi All,

Debbie Hernandez is going to be with Andres at Kaiser Hospital in San Jose (250 Hospital Pkwy, San Jose, CA) until Monday. Debbie has been spending the nights in the hospital with Andres since Thursday.

The Mercy Committee has set up two meal train links to serve Debbie and Andres in hospital.

One is for meals: https://mealtrain.com/mmoo16

Hi Everyone,

For those of you who were not able to be a part of VBS this year, there is a great video that Pastor Goligher made and put up on our church Youtube channel that will give you a sense of some of the activities:  VBS_video

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

A big “thank you” to all the VBS volunteers!  We had a great week with about 60 children.  It was good to see relationships grow among the children and with the adult volunteers.  We pray that our VBS week will be a continuing spiritual blessing to the children and their families.

We will observe the Lord’s Supper this Sunday during the morning worship service.  And we will receive an offering for the work of the Deacons during the singing of the final hymn.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

Mr. Jonathan Bartlett reminded us on Wednesday night of our need for humility in light of God’s sovereign prerogative in choosing some and not others.  God chose Jacob the younger, rather than Esau, his older twin, to be the object of his grace and to continue the covenant line, not because of merit, but only on the basis of His good pleasure (Romans 9:10-13).  May this encourage us to live in faith by His Spirit and also to be witnesses of His grace to others.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi All,

Next week our congregation will host VBS during the mornings of Monday through Friday.  This year's theme is "Space Probe" and the students will be Astronauts.  There will times for Bible lessons, singing, crafts, and games. 

We have 60(!) students signed up to participate.

Please pray for VBS, namely,

Hi Everyone,

The Goligher family is scheduled to fly home from Northern Ireland next Friday.  Pastor Goligher remains on Sabbatical until the end of September, during which time he plans to engage in additional reading and study.  Pastoral Intern Jonathan Bartlett will continue to preach for the morning and evening services.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

Because of sin we experience sufferings in the present day.  We learn from Romans chapter 8 that even creation is groaning and awaiting a future.  Thankfully, we can live in hope because of God’s promise for the future, relying on the Spirit in our weaknesses, and praying to grow into greater conformity to Christ.

This Sunday morning our pulpit is filled by our former pastor, retired OPC minister Donald Buchanan.  We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper during the morning service.  Jonathan Bartlett is preaching during the evening service.

Plan to be present for our monthly Fellowship lunch following the morning service.  Please bring a main dish and a salad or dessert to share.

Hi Everyone,

-- This is a resend. Sorry if you are getting this a second time. I made an "operator error" when I sent this earlier.

In Romans 8 we learn about the privilege and blessing of God’s gracious act to adopt us as his sons, making us joint heirs with Christ.  We are given in a new love for God, we are given bold access to our heavenly Father in prayer, and we have a new love and concern for His church.

Next Saturday, 23 July there will be a memorial service for Sam Moncrieff at 1 pm at the church.  Sam’s obituary is included at the end of this announcement.

Hi Everyone,

We have postponed our monthly Fellowship Lunch by one week to 24 July. Our former pastor, Donald Buchanan, will participate in the memorial service for Sam Moncrieff on Saturday, 23 July and Pastor Buchanan will fill our pulpit on the morning of 24 July (and he will administer the Lord's Supper). Delaying the Fellowship Lunch by one week will afford an extended time of fellowship with Don and his wife, Anne.

I will send a note to the July Fellowship Lunch Cleanup teams later this week.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

On Wednesday Jonathan Bartlett taught from Romans 8 which gives a wonderful description of the benefits of justification – Christ’s death frees us from the guilt of and the power of sin.  And in sanctification, those who are redeemed walk according to the Spirit.

VBS is only five weeks away!  The theme this year is Space Probe, and the mission for the student “astronauts” will be to seek out the Lord of the Universe.  The VBS material will especially feature Genesis, chapters 1 to 9.  We still need volunteers.  Please speak to Julie Lemen or Joy Loh if you are able to help.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

On Wednesday we considered Romans 7 where the Apostle Paul expresses the profound conflict that every Christian finds inherent in his life in Christ, namely, sin dwells in us, but we are thankful that Christ also dwells in us. “Thanks be to God through Christ our Lord!”

Jeff and Lydia Bergman will soon move to Dayton, OH, so you will want to say “goodbye” to them this Sunday or next.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

We will recognize the announcement of the Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs case this Sunday as we gather for our Fellowship Lunch, and during our hymn and Psalm singing before the evening worship service.  Furthermore, during the evening service, Jonathan Bartlett intends to preach from Psalm 146.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi everyone,

I hope camp was a good week for everyone who went. I heard that Jonathan was playing the banjo. 

It is cloudy and windy here, and it rains almost every day. Quite a contrast from home.

We had a great trip to the Netherlands last week. Joanne's Oma is turning 90 later this year, and she is in good form. She and a few other relatives joined us for Joanne's birthday last Thursday. We really enjoyed spending the Lord's Day with the van Houdt family. In their town, everyone is closed for Sunday and the only activity is going to church morning and evening. The church has been there since missionaries displaced a site of pagan worship about 1000AD. The oldest part of the current building is from 1300AD. The church followed the local lord in joining the reformation, and it is still going! I appreciated the Psalms they sang, because that (and the benediction) was the only part of the service that I could decipher. 

We had car trouble back in Northern Ireland, which ended up with us buying another car this week. There is nothing like a complication to help you make friends. We had people all over Northern Ireland that we don’t know trying to come up with a car for us. We are glad for those friendships, but we also hope this car will make it until the end of our trip. 

I got to bring greetings from the OPC to the EPC presbytery meeting on Tuesday. It was a pleasure to meet about 30 ministers and elders. Halfway through the meeting, the moderator said: “it’s a good time to put the kettle on for tea,” and a few minutes later we took a break for tea and biscuits! A lot of the churches here are small, but the denomination is closely knit. 

Next week, I will join their ministers' fraternal, and give a presentation on biblical sexual ethics. The following week is the start of two youth camps. These are an important and a beloved ministry—a lot of the adults in the church grew up attending these in the summer. Alie is excited to go the younger kids' camp, and I am speaking to the older kids each day for a week. About half of the kids attending will be from unchurched backgrounds. I will be speaking on the I AM statements in John.

My parents arrived in Northern Ireland last week, and we met up with them the night that we got back from the Netherlands (they kindly picked us up from the bus stop). Dad was preaching through the week at a church in Magherafelt (about an hour’s drive west of where we are living near Hillsborough). With our new car all sorted, we attended yesterday evening. It was great to have a chance to hear my dad preach. We also got to join for tea afterwards! The service started at 8pm, and it was after 11 when we finished tea, but it was actually still a little bit light outside. 

That’s a little update from us. We miss everyone there, and hope you enjoy God's blessings on your worship and fellowship tomorrow. 

Pastor Calvin Goligher

Hi Everyone,

This week we welcome to our pulpit our former pastor, Dr. Ryan McGraw, Professor of Systematic Theology, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper during the AM service and an offering for the work of the Deacons will be taken during the singing of the closing hymn.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

On Wednesday we considered in Romans 7 how God’s permanent moral law, which is summed up in the Ten Commandments, reveals our sin and therefore our need for Christ, the Savior of sinners.  But conviction of sin is not enough.  It is not conversion.  But when we are saved, as redeemed people we are released from the condemnation of the law, and when we obey God’s law, we bear spiritual fruit.

Our Pastoral Intern, Mr. Jonathan Bartlett, is preaching this Sunday.  Next Sunday, 19 June, our former pastor, Prof. Ryan McGraw, will fill the pulpit and we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper during the AM service.  An offering for the work of the Deacons will be taken during the AM service.

Sincerely,
Elder Lemen

Hi Everyone,

On Wednesday we considered how Paul explains in Romans 6 that everyone is either a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness – there are only these two options.  If we are slaves of sin, the only reward that we can anticipate is death.  But if we are slaves to righteousness, this brings greater sanctification and the gift of eternal life. As we contemplate our life in Christ, may we be eager to bear fruit in Christian service. 

Our Pastoral Intern, Mr. Jonathan Bartlett, will preach on Sunday morning.  Please pray that Jonathan and Maddie will quickly adjust to Sunnyvale life.

In the evening, Mr. Ben Ciavolella will fill our pulpit.  He is the pastoral intern of Delta Oaks, Pittsburgh, CA.

Hi Everyone,

We are happy to report that the Goligher family arrived safely in Northern Ireland last Tuesday.  They will spend the next two months visiting family and Pastor Goligher will fill a vacant pulpit of a congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Northern Ireland.

Pray for Jonathan and Maddie Bartlett as they travel next week to Sunnyvale.  Jonathan will fill our pulpit next Sunday morning, 5 June 2022 and he will regularly fill our pulpit during Pastor Goligher’s sabbatical. 

On the evening of 5 June 2022, Mr. Ben Ciavolella will fill our pulpit.  You may recall that Mr. Ciavolella filled our pulpit one Sunday evening last December.  He is the pastoral intern of Delta Oaks, Pittsburgh, CA.

The Lord’s Day

Sunday school is at 9:45am. This week, in adult Sunday school class, we will continue to learn about the Presbyterian church in Ireland.

The morning service is at 11:00am. The sermon will be "Boasting in the Cross," from Galatians 6:11-18.

The evening service is at 5:00pm. The sermon will be "Heaven Opened" from Acts 7:54-60. 

The Lord’s Day

Sunday school is at 9:45am. This week, in adult Sunday school class, Pastor Goligher will give an overview of Irish church history.

The morning service is at 11:00am. The sermon will be “Sowing and Reaping,” from Galatians 6:6-10.

The evening service is at 5:00pm. The sermon will be “Resisting the Holy Spirit” from Acts 7:20-53.

Hi everyone,

In Romans 3:23-26, Paul explains the Gospel. God sent Jesus to redeem us from sin by dying in our place, so that we can be freely forgiven and accepted by trusting in him.

In verses 27-31, Paul applies the Gospel by showing that it excludes boasting. The Gospel is all about a free gift of grace, so boasting is "against the rules." The Gospel's "rules" are different from the rules that unbelieving Israelites thought they were living by.

They thought the Bible was a "law of works"—perfect obedience deserves a prize, and winners can boast in their success. Actually, the message of the Bible is a "law of faith" that tells us to trust in Christ, and humbly thank him for everything we have.

Short on time? Go straight to the registration page. Otherwise, read the whole invitation:

Who is invited?

All kids, from ages 4 to 12.

Hi everyone,

At prayer meeting this week, we looked at Romans 3:21-26. This is the break of dawn after two long chapters describing the sins of the whole world.

The first truth in this text is that God is righteous. This is good news, because it means that the terrible moral and spiritual darkness of our world is not the whole story. It also seems to be bad news, though, since we ourselves are part of the problem. God, being righteous, will not fail to condemn our sin.

The second truth is that God forgives sins. Through the whole Old Testament, God was showing “divine forbearance” by “passing over” many sins. He continues to do this now, because offers to justify sinners by his grace as a gift.

Hi everyone,

I neglected to announce yesterday that at 5pm on Saturday (April 30) at there will be a music recital at the church. Our very own Chara Liao will be playing the cello! Everyone is welcome to come.

Also, Joy Loh has information about a couple of short-term missionary opportunities this summer hosting Joni & Friends family retreats for families affected by disability. If you or anyone you know would like more information about these opportunities, you should speak to Joy.

Sincerely,

Hi everyone,

This week at prayer meeting, we looked at Romans 3:9-20. These are grim verses that show the problem of human sin in stark reality. We learn that:

1. Sin is a universal problem.

Sin affects everyone. The Jews sinned against God’s law written in the Bible. The Greeks have sinned against God’s law written on their hearts. “None is righteous, no not one.”

Hi everyone,

Happy Easter weekend! Tomorrow we will gather to honor our risen Lord Jesus Christ. We do this every week, but we are thankful for extra encouragement to praise and thank him for his resurrection life.

Here are a few Scripture texts for you to consider today.

At Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus told the mourners to trust in him:

Hi everyone,

At prayer meeting this week, we looked at Romans 2:17-29. Paul summarizes the whole passage in his description of a “true Jew” (we could just as well say “true Christian”) at the very end of the chapter: “His praise is not from man but from God.”

Rather than expand on this point myself, I will share an article, entitled “Seminary Faithfulness.” The author is Dr. Jonathan Master, president of Greenville Seminary. He gives good guidance about how the Church should pray and work for long-term faithfulness, so that we will have the praise of God.

The article is a good reminder to pray for Greenville Seminary too. Our former pastor Ryan McGraw teaches there. Jonathan Bartlett, our returning pastoral intern, is there as well. He is expecting to graduate in just a few weeks, before traveling here to begin his internship.

Hi everyone,

This evening at prayer meeting, we looked at Romans 2:12-16. This passage shows us two groups of people, and their relationship to God’s law.

First, some people sin without knowing God’s law. Paul talks about people “who have sinned without the law.” Greeks and Romans and Babylonians never had the law of Moses, but they still sinned. Today, many don’t have a Bible or a knowledge of God’s law, but they still sin.

Second, some people sin even though they know God’s law. Paul says that some “have sinned under the law.” This would include the Jewish people before Christ, and all those since Christ’s time who have grown up in the Church or heard God’s word preached or explained to them.

Hi everyone,

This week at prayer meeting we read Romans 2:6-10, a passage that teaches about the final judgement. We considered a few points:

First, God will judge “according to works.” That does not mean that God will give everyone exactly what they deserve. If that were the case, everyone would be condemned. Rather, it means that there is a real difference in the works of Christians and non-Christians, and that our works will be considered in God’s judgement of us all.

This leads Paul to give a basic description of Christians and non-Christians. Christians are marked by “patience in well-doing.” They don’t give up our good works, and this is because we are motivated to seek “for glory and honor and immortality.” More simply, they are people who “do good.” On the other hand, unbelievers “are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness.” More simply, they are people who “do evil.”

Hi everyone,

At prayer meeting this week, we read Romans 2:1-5. This passage shows us how sinners always get things backwards.

First, we get our own judgement backwards. We pass judgement on others in order excuse ourselves, but then we actually condemn ourselves, because we do the very same things (v.2).

Second, we get God’s judgement backwards. We don’t let anyone escape our judgement, but somehow we think we will escape God’s judgement (v.3).