[Parish] Special Meeting, Nonviolent Communication, Etc.

[Malcolm Young]

27 April 2009

Dear Parish Family,

We have so much going on it’s making my head spin.  Maybe this is  
what Pentecost felt like to those first disciples.  The Holy Spirit  
is so powerfully with us these days – upsetting us in some ways, but  
in so many others confirming the bonds of love we have in Christ for  
each other.

If you were at church on Sunday you heard our Senior Warden Steve  
Geisheker responding to the meetings that I discussed in my printed  
letter from Holy Week.  He let the congregation know that the vestry  
met with those people and others last Wednesday.  It wasn’t an  
official meeting – otherwise we would have given the whole parish  
notice.  Instead it was a kind of committee of the whole so that the  
rector, wardens and vestry could hear this group’s concerns.

This Sunday we’ll be having more excitement.  After the 8:00 a.m. and  
10:00 a.m. services we’ll be having open meetings so that everyone  
has the chance to speak for themselves about their own experience at  
Christ Church.  This will be in anticipation of a Town Hall Meeting  
on May 17 after the 10:00 a.m. service to talk about our planning  
process together.

So many people have been very kind in offering support for the church  
and for me lately.  One of the greatest blessings of my life these  
days has been these spontaneous expressions of kindness.  You should  
have seen it after church on Sunday.  Fritz Schneider acting as the  
day’s healing minister bent over me and gave me a wonderful  
blessing.  It was like Abraham or Moses or Isaiah or some other Old  
Testament prophet actually visited us.  As I said above, I felt the  
spirit so tangibly.

Anyway I also want to alert you to two great programs we have coming  
up.  You can read about them below.  As I said in church, this class  
on nonviolent communication seems perfectly timed for us right now.

Love,

Malcolm




Nonviolent Communication Introduction, Wednesday, April 29th 7-9pm





  Practice presence, connection, and centeredness in the midst of  
conflict

* Deepen skills of empathic listening, particularly in challenging  
situations

* Increase your ability to spontaneously translate judgments into  
need language with ease and naturalness

* Facilitate the transformative process of people hearing each  
other's needs

* Develop skills for making clear requests and creating collaborative  
solutions





This event is free and sponsored by Christ Episcopal Church

Please RSVP to ourgang at wills.org or call 650-428-1055.






















Attention All Women of Christ Church!!



You are invited to the upcoming Mother's Dinner on Wednesday, May  
6th. This will be a chance for all generations of women to come  
together and enjoy an inspirational evening of fellowship, food and  
fun!  This event is open to the community so please invite your  
family, friends and neighbors!  I hope you will join us.



2nd Annual Mother's Dinner.

Back 2 Me

"An evening to come together and remember who we are."

6:00 dinner, 7:00 presentation



As women we've defined ourselves through the roles in our many  
relationships. We were first a daughter, then a friend, girlfriend,  
wife, daughter-in-law, mother and caretaker...to name a few. But, who  
are YOU when unmasked of all of those roles? Imagine showing up today  
as your greatest self, in all your brilliance, and navigating through  
life's transitions with clarity and grace.



The evening will commence with a lively social at 6:00 with wine and  
cheese, followed by a lovely catered dinner, compliments in part by  
Whole Foods of Los Altos. After dinner sit back, relax and be  
prepared to be inspired and empowered with Life Coaches, Lisa  
Fairchild and Carol Satterlee, of Family on the Edge, as they  
facilitate an engaging presentation about the value and power of  
reconnecting with our authentic selves. Leave the evening feeling  
refreshed and renewed!







Cost:$10

Please RSVP elisamerrifield at yahoo.com or sign up in the Parish Hall.   
Childcare is available with advanced reservation, $5 per child.