Homecoming Sunday Launches CGSLC's 40th Anniversary Celebration

CGSLC’s 40th Anniversary kicked off Sunday, September 18 with Homecoming Sunday. The festivities began with a wonderful worship service that included a procession of stoles from some of our former pastors. Lunch was catered by Just Catering, allowing time for everyone to visit and reflect. Children of all ages also enjoyed the face painting. A short program followed that included a quiz show on CGS trivia and a slideshow of pictures representing CGSLC through the years. Among our special guests were Louise Carlson, daughter of Pastor Carlson; Marti Lundin and family, wife of Pastor Lundin; Pastor & Mrs. Roy Hoch, former Campus Minister at SJSU; Warren & Terttu Gilbert, building architect.

Thank you to everyone that made Homecoming Sunday a great start to our anniversary celebration! In particular: Pastor Bea, Laura Rinde, Marty Olson, Suzanne Barnes, Cherle Stephenson, Dio Dandoy, Rey Lambatin, Janet Keeley, Jean Hope, Esther Rechenmacher, Joan Byron, David Simi, Dorothy Simi, Shirley Woods, Steve Weirauch, Phil Boyer, Laurie Gaumer and Lois Hagebusch. In addition, a special word of thanks to Pete Moen for designing the 40th anniversary logo. For additional information on the logo, see below.

CGS History Night

December 2011 Good News, Marty O

An eventful Potluck of the Decades and CGS Living History Night!

As people arrived with food for the potluck at CGS History Night November 12, Suzanne greeted and directed them to the Great Hall. In addition to some recipes found in old recipe files or cookbooks, a few people found old wigs and clothing of the 1970’s era. Music of the decades, engineered by Dio, was playing as the final setup was happening, as we ate, and as we dismissed to go home or go to the kitchen for clean-up.

The evening opened with the hymn “Evening Has Broken” followed by the common prayer “Come Lord Jesus.” Then the buffet of appetizers: fried kale, smoked salmon, French onion dip/crackers, guacamole/chips, spam cheese ball/wheat thins recipe from the 1970’s, Vienna sausage wrapped in bacon, Vietnamese spring rolls; Salads: 7-layered salad, spinach salad from a recipe used at CGS potlucks in 1980’s, pasta salad, Jell-O salad recipe from 1973; Entrees: turkey lasagna, sausage, stuffed manicotti, chicken/almond casserole, butternut squash soup; warm French bread, and a variety of beverages.

After the meal, Theo led us in a CGS quiz show. Winners if the 3 prizes were Sally Hope, Jean Hope and Joan Byron. Pastor Bea had us line up by oldest to newest members of CGS. We found out that there is a gap of 10 years in the membership. We were then guided by Pastor Bea to work the CGS timeline milestones, and hopes and dreams for the future. Annual Reports, church directories, and church records were all pulled to be resources for the homework time. We divided into decade groups for the homework portion and it was amazing to see people research the church records for family milestones such as baptisms, weddings and membership dates.

Dessert of pumpkin bread, brownies, blueberry streusel, and cake were enjoyed during the Q&A session.

Hymns or camp songs like “I am the Resurrection and the Life” and “The Church Within Us” were sung throughout the evening and were led by Randy at the piano, Jean at the guitar and Chris as the lead singer. “Pass It On” was the closing hymn.

Rick Rechenmacher served as the photographer for the evening. I wonder what interesting candid pictures he captured of the event for our future history.

Special thanks to: Contributors--Laurie Gaumer, Janet Keeley, Noriko Thomas, Jean Hope, Laura Rinde; Volunteers--Shirley Woods, Sophie Jobe, Rich Rechenmacher, Randy Presuhn, Jean Hope, Chris Collins, Dio Dandoy; Event Committee—Suzanne Barnes, Pastor Bea, Theo Olson, Marty Olson (Event Lead). Thank you to all the CGS Cooks! FYI-a cookbook of recipes from the night has been requested.

The next 40th Anniversary Event is the International Potluck and Festival of Nations on January 14, 2012.

Marty O

About the logo

A special word of thanks to Pete Moen for designing the 40th anniversary logo. The committee selected this concept based on how the text not only completes the shape of the heart, but also provides the image of a shepherd’s staff connecting it to our congregation. We also see a question mark in the text which connects to our “wrestling with the word”, yet also raises questions about our future and how we see God Shaping and Building us in the decades to come.