6:00 p.m. Fellowship Dinners are small group gatherings of 6-10 from Hillside who meet informally for fellowship. Different members of the church volunteer to act as host. Great way to meet new members of the congregation and to get to know one another better. Dinners are potluck with the host providing beverages and arranging the menu with guests. If you'd like to be a host or a guest, sign up at the Information Counter or contact Laura Roy at 934-1110, ext. 15 or laura@hillsidecovenant.org.

We will make lunches for the Walnut Creek homeless today in the upstairs kitchen at Hillside, 12:15-1:15. For more information, contact Tom Roy at troyt@astound.net or 785-4556.

Hillside Men's Fellowship Breakfast: "Preparing for Easter." 8:00-10:00 a.m., Multi-Purpose Room. Suggested donation: $5.00. Sign up at the Information Counter.

Cap Knitting Project: Join us one Sunday a month beginning today, 1:00-3:00, in Classroom 1, as we gather to knit baby and child caps. These caps will travel to a Romanian orphanage with World Vision later this year and to the children of Lesotho, South Africa with Hillside's own mission group in Sept. No experience needed. All ages welcome. What to bring: Knitters: needles size 6 or 8; crochet needles: size H or I. Contact Jackie Torres at 969-7740 or jacquelineella@gmail.com for more information.

Concord Young Life Fundraising Banquet: You're invited to come taste and see what Young Life is all about, hear the good news that is shared with the kids, and be touched by personal stories of kids and their leaders. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Christ Community Church of the Nazarene, 1650 Ashbury Dr., Concord. For more info, call Donna at 925-708-1011. RSVP to Frank at a59fran@netscape.net.

Beth Moore's newly updated "Breaking Free: The Journey, the Stories": Tuesday evenings, March 23-June 1, 7-9 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room. Beth will lead us through a study of the Scriptures to discover the transforming power of Christian freedom. Based on Isaiah 61:1-4, this in-depth Bible study draws parallels between the captive Israelites and today's believers. She explains that anything that hinders us from the benefits of knowing God is bondage. "Breaking Free" is Beth's life message that she wants to share with you. RSVP to Jane Rutledge at jane@hillsidecovenant.org or 930-2310.

Women's Silent Retreat: 8:30-4:00, at the home of Paul & Laura Ackerman in Alamo. $20 includes lunch and snack. If you're interested in attending, please contact Gloria at gloria@hillsidecovenant.org or 934-1110, ext. 11.

Men's Weekend at Mission Springs Conference Center: Speaker - Sherwood Carthen. Music - "The View." For more information and registration forms, please contact Mission Springs at 1-800-683-9133 or www.missionsprings.com.

Hillside Community Retreat: If you'd like to help plan the Hillside Community Retreat, there will be a planning meeting today at 12:15 p.m. in Bergesen Hall.

Lunches for Homeless: We will make lunches for the Walnut Creek homeless in the upstairs kitchen at Hillside today, 12:15-1:15. For more information, contact Tom Roy at troyt@astound.net or 785-4556.

Living Hope Gallery: Today is the deadline for submissions for the Living Hope Gallery so we can open the display on Easter Sunday. Calling all Hillsiders of all ages who love to express themselves through art in any medium: Consider allowing us to publicly display something you have created during the Easter Season. We are going to turn the Information Area into The Living Hope Gallery on Easter Sunday, displaying original artwork of the members of the Hillside community.

We are hoping to see paintings, drawings, colorings, sketches, photography, poetry, short (1 page) prose pieces, fabric designs, quilts, sculptures, models, flower arrangements, pottery, jewelry, arts and crafts of all kinds.

We believe that art is a beautiful witness to the resurrection. Just as Jesus' life swallowed up death, so art can be an echo of such a victory, as form and beauty arise out of and take the place of chaos, randomness, and disorder. We welcome artistic contributions from persons of all ages. This is not a competition. This is an act of community, sharing our creativity in witness to the power of Easter and the encouragement of hope among us all.

Call Michele with questions at 934-1110, ext. 17.

Spring Adult Christian Education Classes:

Deeper: Living Into the Reality of God's Love: A study of deepening the Christian life through a study of Psalm 139: Sundays, April 11-June 27, 9:30 a.m., Bergesen Hall. Led by Floyd Roseberry

"Blue Parakeet": Sundays, April 11-June 8, 9:30 a.m., Student Center. Led by Jane DeYoung

"I had a pet parakeet when I was young - Tuffy, we called him." We kept him in a cage and taught him how to talk and sometimes let him out. It was only when we tried to get him back in the cage that we realized we hadn't tamed him at all! Many of us try to do the same thing with the Bible - we try to tame it, to get it to do what we want it to do, to say what we want it to say, to stay in the cage we have built for it."

Scot McKnight, professor at North Park in Chicago, thinks it's time to stop tyring to tame the Bible and to let it speak for itself. In this 8-week class, we will be guided by McKnight's popular new book, The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible. He calls his approach "the third way" - a path that walks confidently between theological extremes. Taught by Jane DeYoung, Covenant pastor and member of Hillside for the past fifteen years.

Some of teh questions we will address: Do we pick and choose from the Bible? Do we choose what's comfortable and ignore what isn't? Can we explain why we pick this, ignore that, and modify something else?

"Just Walk Across the Room": Sundays, April 11-June 27, 11:00 a.m., Bergesen Hall. Led by the Parkmead Team.

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers): You're invited to our annual fashion show to be held at 9:15 a.m. at Hillside. (Drop off kids at 9:00.) Join us as we enjoy a fabulous brunch and see MOPS moms turn into models for the day! We will feature the latest styles from Erica Rae's Unique Boutique in Walnut Creek, a silent auction, and special guest speaker, Susanna Aughtmon, author of All I Need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans. If you would like to donate to our auction, please contact Kate Canova at 415-297-8337 or katecanova@hotmail.com. Free loving childcare provided (infant to age 5). Regular meetings are the first and third Thursdays of each month in Kids' Connection Hall, 9:15-11:30 a.m. Contact Heather Peters or Angela House at hillsidemops@gmail.com to RSVP for the fashion show or for more information.

Come hear Shaunti Feldhahn, best-selling author, share insights into male and female perspectives within the marriage relationship. 7:00-9:00 p.m., Parkmead Elementary School (Parkmead Community event.) Based on national surveys and personal interviews with thousands of men and women, she'll share eye-opening revelations that will help you understand and love your spouse on a deeper level. Tickets on sale by contacting Gloria at gloria@hillsidecovenant.org or 934-1110, ext. 11. . $7 per ticket or $10 for two tickets. Shaunti is the author of For Men Only and co-author of For Women Only. For additional information about the speaker, visit www.shaunti.com.

Community Work Day: Mark your calendar, as we will be spending the day (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) serving alongside the Parkmead Elementary School and Community and at homes throughout the area! Lunches will once again be provided by the Boy Scouts for those who sign up in advance.

Unpacking Your Marriage Vows: Join us as we take a closer look at the language of the traditional wedding vow, and seek greater understanding of the depths of the promises we made when we married, with the aim of revitalizing our commitment to living up to those promises with joy. This will unfold over a series of three Friday evenings for dinner and study. We will provide the main dish and we'll potluck the rest. Connect with Michele Miller (michele@hillsidecovenant.org or 934-1110, ext. 17) or Mary Beth Gibson (gibsonmb@astound.net or 945-7968) to sign up or find out more about it!

Hillside Community Retreat: Save this weekend for a wonderful opportunity to pray, play and worship together as a church family at Mission Springs Conference Center in Scotts Valley. Don't miss this weekend away to relax and unwind, experience fun, intergenerational times, enjoy delicious food and great conversations. The theme this year is "Overflow." The retreat will begin with dinner Friday night and conclude with worship and lunch on Sunday. In between, there will be lots of fun and laughter, singing and worship, small groups and free time to enjoy each other's company. Registration will be available online and a payment plan and scholarships are available. For more information and to register, please see the brochures on the Information Counter. There are many areas to get involved in, such as program, children and student programs, recreation and enrichment, registration and more! Questions? Contact Laura Roy at laura@hillsidecovenant.org or 934-1110, ext. 15. Note: there will be worship services at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 16.

Renewal of Vows: Join us tonight for a celebration of our marriage vows. This will be an evening of renewal and refreshment. There will be an opportunity for you to renew your marriage vows with dessert and fellowship following. All couples are welcome! For more information, contact Mary Beth Gibson at gibsonmb@astound.net or 945-7968.

Save the date for our Annual Women's Ministry Fellowship Breakfast. Back by popular demand, our annual fellowship breakfast will be held in individual homes of gracious women. If you're interested in being a hostess or would like more info, call or email Loretta Swanson at 672-9525 or loretta@hillsidecovenant.org, or Rosylyn Stenzel at 283-6722 or stenzel917@gmail.com.

Interested in a short-term prison ministry trip to Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola? We expect to have opportunities to visit with inmates in their cells, participate in worship services in the prison chapel, visit the Bible College, and tour this infamous prison and learn its history. We will also be ministering in the women's prison on this trip. Room and board are paid by the prison, so the trip cost is very reasonable. If you are interested in going or just want more information, please contact Randy Fischback (fischback@dow.com) or Judith Gabie (judith@hillsidecovenant.org). An informational meeting will be held in April.