May 2025
1989.
On October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m., the Loma Prieta earthquake occurred on the Central Coast of California. The 6.9 magnitude shock was centered approximately 10 miles northeast of Santa Cruz on a section of the San Andreas Fault. The shock was responsible for 63 deaths and 3,757 injuries. Damage was heavy in Santa Cruz County and well to the north into the San Francisco Bay Area and Oakland. Because the 1989 World Series was taking place between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics at Candlestick Park, the rush hour traffic on the freeways was much lighter than normal; it may have prevented a larger loss of life. Several of the Bay Area’s major transportation structures suffered catastrophic failures. The collapse of a section of the double-deck Nimitz Freeway in Oakland collapsed and one 50 foot section of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge collapsed. The earthquake was a devastating tragedy that tested the strength and resilience of the San Francisco Bay Area, but through the efforts of state and local agencies, local governments and community unity, they rebuilt and recovered.
March 14, 1989 Session Minutes.
Elders present: Gerry Warren, Ellen Peckham. Ella Haden, Joe Haden, Jeanne Han, and Cynthia Brock. Moderator Mark Hollingsworth.
Elders absent: Tom Wicks and Mike O’Kane.
Observer: Nancy Hollingsworth.
Ella Haden opened with prayer.
Pastor Mark spoke on guidance for the church.
Forgiveness of sins, setting people free from sin.
Start afresh as a session.
Costs - visitation, etc.
Benefits - peace of mind, etc.
Committees:
Nurture - Bring us together, living and eating together, potlucks.
Visitation - Listening to others.
Worship - Ways to announce the good news using as many people to do that.
Nominating - Recruit members for that goal.
Stewardship - Making us as a church, a giving people with an eye on mission.
As a Session:
Let each other know each other better, where we are struggling, practice to be forgiving and forgiven. Work at honesty, confrontation, once it’s out. God can heal it and forgive it.
Benefits - forgiving made new gives meaning. Worth the effort.
Church and community will benefit.
Our Goal - to spread the news for pain or need and not numbers.
Bibles for the Food Closet.
Discussion on door-to-door.
Dealing with us first, opening.
A motion by Joe Haden for the baptism of Oliver Hayes on March 19, 1989. Second by Ellen Peckham. Carried.
Evaluation - Pastor Mark is willing to stay longer as a full session.
Respectfully submitted by Cynthia Brock for Tom Wicks.
May 31, 1989. New Members Session Meeting.
Members present: Ellen Peckham, Gerry Warren, Tom Wicks and Mike O’Kane.
Meeting opened with prayer by Pastor Mark Hollingsworth.
Lucille Cummings, Helen Keller and Harlan Asher were present and each gave the session some insight about why they wanted to become members of the church. They were all coming to the church through reaffirmation of faith.
There was a motion by Mark to accept them as members of the church. Motion was seconded by Ellen, motion carried. They will be joining our church on the next Sunday during our regular service. Meeting was closed by Mark with a reading from the bible and a prayer.
Respectfully submitted, Tom Wicks, Clerk of Session.
July 11, 1989. Session Minutes.
Building Repairs - discussion, motions made by Mark:
Have sealers put on stairs and walkways, second by Ellen. Carried.
Replace awning over the stairs, motion by Tom, second by Ellen. Carried.
Paint front porch of manse, motion by Ellen, second by Tom. Carried.
Paint manse bathroom, paint donated by Ellen.
Mark requested vacation time, 2 days in July, 3 days in August. Motion by Ellen, second by Cindy. Carried. Mark requested study leave for October 18 - 20, 1989. Motion by Ellen to grant, second by Cindy. Carried.
Respectfully submitted, Tom Wicks, Clerk of Session.
September 12, 1989. Session Minutes.
Worship Committee. Mark will be at the Guinda church on Sunday, October 8, 1989. This is the every other month program we had last year. Ellen will handle the service on that Sunday.
Old Business: Melissa Mast requested the use of the church social hall for a Wednesday Pre-School. Motion made by Gerry to accept, second by Ellen. Motion carried. Wednesday school will continue as before.
Update on repair work - A sealer has been put on the stairs and walkways of the Christian Ed building. Other repairs will be done on a work day. Joe will schedule.
Ella and Joe will be our church representatives to the Presbytery.
New Business - A request for use of the social hall for Jeanne and Ken Han’s anniversary party, September 25th from 2 - 5 pm. Motion made by Gerry. Motion carried.
Mark would like to do something to recognize Dolores Stephens for her faithful service to the church. Mark will follow up on this.
Mark has been requested to do a wedding on September 23, 1989. Motion made by Joe, second by Gerry. Motion carried.
The meeting was closed with a group prayer.
March 13, 1990. Session Minutes.
A request by Pastor Mark to baptize Zebulum Middleton on March 25, 1990. Motion by Cindy, second by Ellen. Motion carried.
Vacation Bible School will be August 13 - 17, 1990.
Esparto, Guinda and Winters churches will be having a retreat on July 13 - 15, 1990.
Mark Riley and Linda Mitchell have agreed to do a Pastor evaluation.
A potluck is being planned for March 18th. “Let the Men Serve” to honor Don Warren.
Jean Wanshop’s piano will be moved to the church and another piano at the church will be moved to Helen Keller’s. Motion made by Joe for the church to pay for the moving. Second by Ellen. Motion carried.
A donation of $25 each for Alice Marsh, Rose Russell and Helene Rominger has been given by the Women’s Auxiliary to the church flower fund.
For Easter Week there will be a Maundy Thursday service, a Tenebrae service, a Sunrise service, breakfast at Guinda, and a regular service in Esparto with communion and baptism.
Meeting closed with prayer.
March 25, 1990. Special Session Meeting.
Purpose: To discuss the piano moving.
Elders present: Ella Haden, Joe Haden, Cindy Brock, Tom Wick, Mike O’Kane, Ellen Peckham.
The meeting opened with prayer by Pastor Mark Hollingsworth.
A motion by Joe to pay for the moving of a piano from Helen Keller’s to the church. Cost: $85-$100. Second by Mike. Motion carried. A piano from the Christian Education upstairs room will be moved to Helen’s house. The piano in the social hall will go back to Dolores Stephens’ house and the Mast piano will go into the social hall. Motion was made by Ellen and second by Cindy. Motion carried.
Meeting was closed with a prayer.
