A Thanksgiving Shout Out

Our annual Thanksgiving luncheon may have looked a little different this year, but it was still filled with laughter, fun, and gratitude. We had 2 showers running, 2 vans transporting, 3 scissors cutting, 2 pews full of clothes and shoes, and 3 tables full of delicious food. We estimate 50 people, including 12 FCCV members, 3 hairstylists, 11 outside volunteers, and of course our guests, young and old, from the community who took showers, got new hairdos, and ate a wonderful lunch!

Going into the lunch, I must admit my own biases. I assumed that our neighbors would be downtrodden and lonely. Many of the people who came, came with their chosen families who they live with everyday. They were able to sit at a fancy decorated table and feast with those they love. They were all so grateful to us and full of love for each other, it was really heart warming to witness. One man was so tickled that he was allowed to eat more than one slice of pie, that he had one of each and then seconds of all of it! 

So I wanted to give a big thanks to everyone from FCCV who came and helped, who cooked, who cleaned, who dined, and who served. Special thanks to:

-Rev. Renae Earl, Jeffrey Ishmael, and Kelly Ghilarducci who diligently cut hair all day.
-Zack and Sage, Jeffrey’s kids, who spent their Saturday with us helping in any way they could.
-Buttercup Kitchen who donated 4 pies to the event!
-Vallejo Peace Project who donated tons of shoes, clothing, and toiletries.
-Lighthouse Covenant Fellowship in Benicia for bringing and managing the mobile showers.
-Vallejo Together volunteers who maintained the showers throughout the day, and transported people back and forth from the encampments.

After all is said and done, I am really grateful for this church and our mission work. We really are living the word we preach. Thank you to you all!

-Allison Mezzera, Mission Action Coordinator

Celebrate Advent at FCCV!

 Can you believe that Advent is just around the corner—starting December 3rd?!
    
Our theme for Advent this year is “Reclaim Joy!!” Together, we will be looking for ways to reclaim a child’s wonder and joy of Christmas as we prepare for Christ to be born and transform our lives and our world.  
    
As part of our reclaiming joy, we will be decorating the Christmas tree with ornaments that we each provide, something that will make the tree special and significant to each one of us. We would also invite you to bring other decorations, such as nativities, that can be placed on the windowsills and elsewhere in the Sanctuary. Please bring your ornaments and decorations on the 3rd ready to decorate the Sanctuary. If you aren’t able to come on the 3rd, additional ornaments are joyfully accepted all season!

Week 1—Dec. 3— Hope/Prepare
Week 2—Dec. 10— Peace/Waiting
Week 3—Dec. 13— Joy/Anticipation
Week 4—Dec. 24— Love/Adoration – this will be a service of Lessons and Carols
Week 5—Dec. 31— Journey – What? Five weeks of Christmas? This is a 5th Sunday, look forward to something different and special!
    
Also, please mark your calendars now for the Blue Christmas Service, which will take place on the longest night of the year, Thursday, December 21, at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.