Nurturing Program

Knit Us Together 2012

Reminiscent of a quilting circle, women gather at VPC to work on their knitting, crocheting, or stitching projects and share their stories. Monthly (almost) evening gatherings - supper at 6:30 pm, crafting from 7-8 pm on the following dates:

Tuesday, January 3

Tuesday, February 7

Monday, March 5

Tuesday, April 10

Future dates to be scheduled.

Please RSVP by email to Karen Russell or phone at 650-851-8282 x104 by the day before.

Personal Discernment Workshop led by Wayne Chittenden

Wednesdays, Jan. 18 – Feb. 22, 2012 7:15-8:45 pm

Do you have a challenge in a relationship or organization that needs attention and action?  Start off 2012 by deciding to deal with it! This workshop will guide you through a discernment process to deliberately seek spiritual guidance in choosing your path forward. Opening yourself to listening for the Spirit requires commitment and divergence from your normal problem solving methods.  Personal biases, convictions, or fears can make this a difficult task. You will be using a process taught at San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) that has been adapted for this workshop. Wayne Chittenden is a graduate of the Spiritual Direction Program at SFTS.

For questions or to sign up, please email Wayne or phone: 650-594-1394 [Note – In these busy times, you may not be able to attend every session, but it is essential that you attend the first one on January 18.]

Classes begin each September -

Living a Surrendered Life

This bimonthly group is for those who long to live a more surrendered life—to trust, to let go, to love what is, and to serve from that orientation. Real freedom, genuine forgiveness, and healing are the gifts of ‘putting our minds in another room,’ not only in meditation, but in our daily lives, moment, by moment. The church calls it aligning with the will of God. The intent of Living a Surrendered Life is to support this kind of ongoing alignment; to live our lives as a prayer. It will provide a set of very specific skills to help you identify the things that keep you outside ‘the other room,’ how to let them go; and how to anchor against being reactive or living on “automatic pilot.”

Living a Surrendered Life is open to a limited number of participants from any previous gathering during this 11-year series. It will be an experiential and interactive group, and meet for two hours every other week for 10 meetings, begins the week of September 26. If you are interested, please email or call (650-854-2947) Anne Hillman soon, since it is already heavily subscribed. There is a donation (on a sliding scale).

Soul Work

Do you long for serenity in your life, inner nourishment, and repose? Do you need to find a better balance between work, family, community, and your own need for replenishment?

Soul Work restores you to greater awareness and helps you discern both meaning and direction for your life. Open to all those who seek what is most authentic in themselves, these small groups include instruction in meditation, a writing practice, wise discernment, and a chance to develop deep bonds with others.

Join the group for ten two-hour meetings every other week beginning the week of September 26 in a safe, supportive environment, in the beautiful surroundings of Valley Presbyterian Church.  If you are even tentatively interested in participating, please email or call (650-854-2947) Anne Hillman soon, for the group’s size is limited and there are very few places left this year. There is a donation (on a sliding scale).  

Click here to read comments from recent participants.

RISEN Listening Circle

• On alternating Wednesdays a small group gathers for one hour beginning at 7 am to pray and to listen and to share in a Quaker listening circle format.  For further information, contact:  Mary Jo Alderson at 650-851-8282, ext. 114.

Laying on of Hands Ministries

Love, compassion and faith provide a powerful opportunity for healing and restorative rest to take place.  Three new ministries have emerged with trained hands and loving hearts to care for us on our journey.

• Pilgrimage Integrative Healing Process: 

  Pilgrimage Integrative Healing Process-This unique process (featured in Prevention Magazine, March 2001) brings connection rather than isolation, joining together two trained members of the healing team and client.  The session includes non-invasive healing touch, presence, meditation and prayer. The Healing Partners are educated and skilled in the healing arts and committed to empowering self-care.  To schedule a session, contact Mary Jo Alderson by email or 650-851-8282 x114.

• Healing Massage: 

  Karen C. Russell holds an AA Degree in Massage Therapy from DeAnza College and has been practicing massage at her studio in Cupertino since 2005. She is also trained in CranialSacral Therapy and Egyptian Foot Reflexology.  Karen feels that each client holds an innate healing ability, and offers gentle modalities with light pressure that can penetrate and heal deeply, allowing for deep relaxation and a sense of peace and well-being.  She believes in working 'with' the body, not 'on' the body.  Karen offers a discounted rate to VPC members. To schedule a reflexology, cranialsacral, or massage session, contact Karen by email.

• Jin Shin Jyutsu Body Energy Work Treatments: 

  Experience a deep sense of well-being and emotional balance through an ancient Japanese healing art, called Jin Shin Jyutsu, that harmonizes the life energy of the body.

   While the principles and practices of this art are firmly rooted in ancient healing traditions, it is applicable to our modern stressful lives and is based on our innate ability to harmonize ourselves, to restore emotional equilibrium, relieve pain, and release the cause of acute and chronic conditions.

   Treatments are given on a massage table while you are fully clothed.  The practitioner places her hands gently on specific energy points allowing the vital life force (chi) to flow more freely.  This encourages the release of muscular tension, increase resistance to illness and promotes a longer, healthier and more vital life.

   Alice has been studying this healing art since 2005, has earned her Jin Shin Jyutsu certificate and now seeks to practice this art with her family and friends.  Sessions are complimentary to Valley Presbyterian Church members, and donations are encouraged to VPC Mission Program, for which Alice has a passion.

   Alice has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and has worked for IBM as software engineer for almost 30 years, has raised two children now in their 20’s, and lives in Ladera with her husband John Hurd, who is a Family and Individual therapist. 

To schedule a session, contact Alice.

Have a prayer request?  Email our Prayer Chain.

Exercise for Body,

Mind & Sprit

Yoga with Carla Germano

(650-851-0510)

Yoga with Leslie Peterson

(650-322-1772)

Please check the VPC calendar to confirm that Leslie's class is meeting as the group takes breaks during the year.