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Nyhetsbrev från Svenska kyrkan San Francisco, december 2024
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Var med och stötta kyrkans arbete genom att teckna medlemskap eller lämna en donation. Du kan enkelt göra detta genom Paypal eller att skicka in en check. Mer info här.
Då utlandssvenskar inte betalar någon kyrkoskatt i Sverige är detta ett sätt att stödja vår församling i San Francisco när det ekonomiska stödet från Sverige på sikt minskar.
Enbart genom ett starkt lokalt engagemang och ekonomiskt stöd kan Svenska kyrkan San Francisco fortsätta sitt arbete i norra Kalifornien och finnas här som stöd för bosatta och besökade svenskar.
Ett enkelt sätt att göra detta är att bli månadsgivare och på så sätt ge församlingen en stabilare ekonomi. Man kan välja vilken summa man vill och sätta upp direkt betalning varje månad. På så sätt behöver man ej oroa sig för att förnya sitt medlemskap.
Du kan även betala in genom att skicka en check till kyrkan: Church of Sweden SF, 2454 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. |
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Välkommen på svensk gudstjänst i San Francisco söndagen den 8:e december kl 11.00 i kyrkan på 2454 Hyde Street, då vi också firar lucia och andra advent.
Fredrik Ollila, kyrkoherde i New York, är präst och Therese Brewitz musiker. Tillsammans sjunger vi kända adventspsalmer.
Vi får höra luciakören under ledning av Karin Gaensler sjunga klassiska lucia och julsånger.
Agendan och delar av gudstjänsten är på engelska så ta gärna med engelsktalande familjemedlemmar och vänner.
Efteråt samlas vi till juligt kyrkkaffe med lussekatter, pepparkakor och gemenskap. Hör av dig till Kristin om du vill bidra med något till kaffebordet.
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Vi bjuder in till adventsgudstjänst i Los Altos lördag den 21:a december kl 15.00.
Gudstjänsten leds av Brandon Peck. Vi firar fjärde advent. I gudstjänsten medverkar kören Zaida Singers som sjunger julsånger och luciatåg med barn och ungdomar från Svenska skolan Silicon Valley.
Tillsammans sjunger vi svenska advents och julpsalmer.
Efteråt samlas vi till juligt kyrkkaffe och gemenskap. Det finns alltid mycket gott svenskt fikabröd på kaffebordet. Hör av dig om du vill bidra med något. Det kommer finnas julpyssel för barn.
Vid kyrkan finns en stor parkeringsplats och lekplats för barn.
Adress 460 S El Monte Ave, Los Altos
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Välkommen till en stämningsfull julkonsert med kören " Sacred and Profane" som kommer sjunga musik från nordiska kompositörer.
"The winter holiday season is one of celebration and joy in Europe’s Nordic countries – the new white snow reflects the moonlight and everyone lights candles to brighten homes and create a feeling of warmth and relief from the long, dark nights. Scandinavian holidays always include choral music. Come celebrate with Sacred and Profane as we sing enticing arrangements of familiar traditional gems alongside exciting new music from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland by composers Edvard Grieg, Jean Sibelius, Otto Olsson, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Jón Leifs, Frida Johansson, and others."
Inträde $20 som kan betalas på plats eller via Paypal. |
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Kom till kyrkan och träffa andra skandinaviska ungdomar och ät svensk/norskt julbord. Detta blir en mysigt kväll med glögg, traditionell julmat och julstämning.
För studenter, au pairer och andra unga vuxna. Perfekt om du vill knyta nya kontakter och uppleva genuin julstämning och hemkänsla.
Pris $10 som du kan betala på plats. Anmälan via epost.
Varmt välkomna! |
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Barn med föräldrar, far/morfäräldrar, aupairer och så vidare är välkomna på barnsång i kyrkan på Hyde Street varannan fredag. Vi sjunger svenska och norska barnvisor tillsammans.
Vi börjar med sångstund med rörelser med och för barnen. Sedan tänder vi ljus innan vi går upp till övervåningen för fika, samtal, lek och gemenskap.
Nu i december sjunger vi klassiska jul och luciasånger och har juligt fika.
Vill du komma - hör av dig till kristin.hamren@svenskakyrkan.se.
Träffar 6:e och 20:e december.
Varmt välkomna! |
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På julafton samlas vi i kyrkan kl 11.00 för en enklare gudstjänst med samling vid krubban för barn och många vackra jul och adventspsalmer. Präst är Brandon Peck. Vi får lyssna på julevangeliet och vacker musik. |
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Kom och prata böcker med andra litteraturintresserade svenskar. Just nu läser vi romanen "Kapten Nemos Bibliotek" av Per Olov Enquist.
Vi ses i januari och samtalar om boken. Alla välkomna! Hör av dig till Kristin om du vill vara med eller har några frågor.
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Under våren startar vi upp konfirmationsundervisning för ungdomar mellan 14-18 år på västkusten i USA. Undervisningen sker mest via zoom och med en avslutande lägerhelg i kyrkan, under ledning av präst Joakim Schröder som har lång erfarenhet av att arbeta med ungdomar. Lärandet sker på ett utforskande och nyfiket sätt, med mycket utrymme för diskussion och samtal.
Är du intresserad eller har frågor, hör av dig till Kristin. Vi kommer ha en informationsträff på zoom den 2:a december kl 18.00 och startar undervisningen i januari. Konfirmationsgudstjänst den 25:e maj. |
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by Karl Mettinger
- How Studies in Paris Led to Marriage, Family and USA Career
- Faith is a way to give you a sense of purpose, and ……
- to focus on something bigger than yourself.
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Anna is a board Member in SWEA SF
Member of Zaida Singers & Church of Sweden SF |
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Anna Michaud is a fixture in our monthly services in Loa Altos. She is a board member in the Lutheran Church, where we rent space. She grew up in Viken just north of Helsingborg and graduated from Nicolaiskolan where I graduated 60 years ago, which we celebrated last year. She is a member of our book club, a member of Zaida singers who regularly performs in our services, and the last year she has also served as a board member of SWEA, SF. She also has two talented children, which I met in church last year, when they were home from their schools on the East Coast. Time has finally come to make an interview and learn more about this interesting family who live by Anna’s motto: Enjoy the best of three worlds: USA, France, and Sweden!
Where were you born and where did you grow up? Tell us briefly about your family (van Rijswijk sounds Dutch to me!
Yes, My Dutch ancestors arrived in Stockholm in 1809 to start a restaurant.
I was born in Stockholm but grew up in Viken 15 km north of Helsingborg, until I was 18. I went to high school at Nicolai school (like Karl) and studied Political Science and French in Lund for a few years before moving to Paris to study International Relations at the Institute of Political Science (IEP Paris).
I would say, what I studied did not really prepare me for the career I have had, but I guess I learned how to learn, and critical thinking to analyze and solve problems. I have been fortunate to gain experiences, that I have been able to build upon.
How did you meet your husband? Did you live in France? When and how did you arrive in Silicon Valley? What have you been working with?.
My husband Bertrand, who is French, also studied at IEP Paris, and we met a few years after graduating, at an alumni cocktail party hosted in the beautiful Senate building next to the Luxemburg garden in Paris. We got married in 2000, and have 2 wonderful children, Axel (24) and Clara (21)
After a few early career roles in insurance and sales of credit insurance and political risk insurance (in Paris) I was fortunate to get a job at Cisco in Amsterdam, in their Accounts Receivable department, where one of my responsibilities was to manage credit risk. A few years later, we moved back from the Netherlands to Paris.
With Cisco, I held multiple roles over 15+ years, mostly in service operations, new product introduction and M&A integration. I had the opportunity to travel to Silicon Valley (San Jose) multiple times, and eventually sold them on the idea to relocate here, which we did in 2007.
Six years after relocating, I was laid off by Cisco, just three months after securing a green card for my entire family. Following this, I held several positions at different tech companies and even returned to Cisco as a consultant for two years. I then joined Slalom Consulting, where I have been working for almost six years as a Senior Consultant in the NorCal market. In this role, I support clients across various industries, including Tech, Healthcare, Lifesciences, and Public Sector, with program/project management, change management, and more, to help deliver strategic initiatives. Slalom is a great place to work.
Tell us about your faith journey. What were your fist encounters with the church in Sweden? How long have you served on board of the Lutheran church in Los Altos? How did you discover the Church of Sweden in SF?
Thinking back on my faith journey, a few memories come to mind.
My parents were Christians, but we did not go to church very often when I was a child. I have strong memories of my grandfather, who was very musical, playing the piano and singing hymns beautifully. He would sing at many church events in their town of Avesta. From my childhood and youth, I have fond memories of going to a Christian youth group with a fantastic leader.
After Confirmation, for many years, my faith was not very active. When we lived in Paris, our children went to a catholic school, and I realized then that I did not really feel at home in the catholic service. When we moved here, it felt natural to find a church to go to for holidays and for community. We started going to Los Altos Lutheran Church in 2009, and both of my children did their first communion and confirmation there. Living abroad far from family, the church community feels like family. Faith is a way to give you a sense of purpose, and to be there with you to focus on something bigger than yourself.
I have been part of the Los Altos Lutheran council for 2 mandates, but must admit, I enjoy serving as an Assisting Minister, Lector or Choir singer more than being part of the council.
When I started singing with Zaida Singers in 2009, I discovered the Church of Sweden and the beautiful location on Hyde street, and with the monthly services in Los Altos, the connection has become stronger. Thinking about it, I also went to Church of Sweden in Paris, where Axel participated in a children’s program, and his first Lucia.
Tell us about your children, your hobbies, and your thoughts on life.
After a few years as” empty nesters”, Axel recently graduated from college (Virginia Tech) and moved back home while looking for a job in Data Science.
Clara is in her senior year at UMAss Amherst, double majoring in Environmental Science and Dance. Before we know it, perhaps the house will be fully populated again! Nothing is more fun than having the whole family together. During their time in school here, I really enjoyed volunteering for group with activities they were involved in such as the boy scout sand girl scouts – I learned so much about their outdoor activities, and got to meet some great families.
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The whole family having received Kitsune branded clothes.
from my sister in Paris, Christmas 2023
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My hobbies include hiking and exploring nature, cooking, reading, singing in a choir, travelling, camping (not doing enough of that!) and of course, volunteering with SWEA, which has been amazing this first year as a board member.
I think of myself as a Servant Leader, looking for ways to have a positive impact on my communities, at work and privately. My motto is: Enjoying the best of 3 worlds, Sweden ,France and the US.
How can we better collaborate with SWEA and its network of Swedish families in Silicon Valley? Children and family activities outdoors when we have services during spring and autumn before winter sets in….
I firmly believe there are benefits in all the Swedish / Scandinavian organizations working together vs competing. For the church, there are opportunities at bigger holidays like Christmas and Easter, where we have been very successful, but the question is how you get families to church more than once or twice a year. It feels like the church is successful doing activities with younger families in SF, so the question is, what are the demographics down here in the South Bay, and what would be ways to attract these families. Typically, young families are very busy with sports and various activities, so I think there needs to be something in addition to the benefits of church. Perhaps a children’s story time (in Swedish) during the service, so that parents can get a quiet moment, while children get to learn something too (in Swedish) These activities could happen outside at the picnic tables and playground.
Our Lutheran Church here used to have a children’s message in the beginning of the service, then kids would go off to their Sunday school activities, and come back for communion. Something to think about.
Thank You Anna, it has been great to get to know you listen to your ideas!
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Happy hour in Santa Cruz after a day of hiking & picnic
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Sunday December 8th, 11 am, Church service with lucia and church coffee.
Thursday December 12th, 6 pm, Young in SF Christmas dinner
Sunday December 15th, 2 pm, Christmas concert with the choir "Sacred and Profane". $20
Saturday December 21st, 3 pm, Christmas service in Los Altos with lucia, Zaida singers and church coffee.
Tuesday, December 24th, 11 am, Christmas Eve Service in San Francisco
Children's sing a long every other Friday 10.30 am. Dec 6th and 15th.
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