Faith Witness. Life Lessons By Joann Fuchs. June 2018

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1 FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3600 J Street Sacramento, CA Phone (916) ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit #635 Sacramento, CA Faith Witness We, as disciples of Jesus Christ, live by faith to worship and witness for Jesus through Christian love, fellowship and service. Vol Faith United Methodist Church Monthly Newsletter June 2018 June 2018 TIME DATED MATERIALS ARE YOU MOVING? BE SURE TO LET US KNOW Life Lessons By Joann Fuchs You May have thought I didn t see, Or that I hadn t heard, Life lessons that you taught to me, But I got every word. Pastor: Rev. Barbara Horikoshi-Firebaugh Vakatawa: Watisoni Qereqeretabua The Sunday School Announces Its OPEN HOUSE Sunday June 10, 2018 immediately following morning worship PLAN TO COME AND SEE! We have been very busy this Spring with our Bible studies. Please come upstairs to see our memory work, our study projects, and our art work. We hope that you can and will come. Jeremy Matalita Victoria Perhaps you thought I missed it all, And that we d grown apart, But Dad, I picked up everything, It s written on my heart. Without you, Dad, I wouldn t be The person I am today; You built a strong foundation No one can take away. I ve grown up with your values, And I m very glad I did; So here s to you, dear father, From your forever grateful kid.

2 The Flag Meanings by Carrie Bonebrake Simpson What does the flag mean to you? Is it simply a strip of glorified bunting, beautiful in itself, but nothing more? Each person creates his own flag, and if his nature is cheap and tawdry, his flag is the same. If his nature is exalted and reverential, he sees in the flag those qualities which make it precious to him. To every person who loves and honors the flag of his country it has a peculiar significance which is for him alone. To one it means personal freedom from a harsh ruler, to another it means freedom of achievement, to still another it is intellectual or religious liberty. One man sees in the flag the pageant of history, the upward struggle of the common man, the promise of the day when there shall dawn the glorious realization of equality of opportunity. These and thousands of other concepts are woven into the flag if one cares to see them. Beyond these things is that elusive something which moves our hearts and kindles ideals of human service. That something is the incredible sacrifice which has been made that the human spirit may indeed be free. Filled with the Holy Spirit On the eve of the day of Pentecost (May 20 th ), I am reflecting on my life in Christ and others that make up Faith Church. Are we filled with the Holy Spirit? Do our lives witness to the Spirit s active presence? Does it make a difference in your life that the Spirit is within you? If you have been baptized, you received the Holy Spirit. It identifies us spiritually with the death and resurrection of Christ, uniting us with Him. Baptism in the Holy Spirit joins us to the body of Christ, and identifies us as united with other believers. Does the passion of the Spirit flow through your veins? Are you ALIVE with the Spirit? For without the Spirit actively working in our lives, we can do NOTHING for God! And there is much work that needs to be done at Faith. We will be starting a time of challenging people to use the Spirit that is in them to do the work of Christ at and for Faith. The Spirit has given you spiritual gifts for the building up of the body of Christ at Faith. What are your spiritual gifts; and more importantly, are you using them? I do have the Spiritual Gifts Inventory, if you would like to find out what your gifts are. Some of us took it a number of years ago; maybe it is time to take it again. (continued next page) Lay Servants Preaching at Faith As part of the requirements for renewal of their Lay Servants Certificate, individuals need to preach at least once during the year. Here is the schedule. We pray that you will come and support them! Additionally, the men will do the worship on Father s Day and the women will do July 8 th. They enjoyed doing Mother s Day, and wanted to do worship again. They will also help support Lina when she preaches on August 19 th. June 3 rd - June 10 th - June 17 th - June 24 th - July 1 st - July 8 th - July 15 th - July 22 nd - July 29 th - Rev. Barbara Horikoshi-Firebaugh Watisoni Qereqeretabua Men will do Veronica Qarau Rev. Barbara Horikoshi-Firebaugh Women to do Margaret Vokulu Sara Zeigler Peni Qarau August 5 th - Rev. Barbara Horikoshi-Firebaugh August 12 th - Watisoni Qereqeretabua August 19 th - Emeline (Lina) Niumataiwalu August 26 th - Rev. Barbara Horikoshi-Firebaugh Since each speaker will select their own scriptures and theme, there will not be a list of scriptures in this and next month s Newsletters. Again, please come and support them as they give the Word of the Lord. I know you will be blessed.

3 Filled with the Holy Spirit (continued from previou A collection drive for the Annual Conference Special offering for Puerto Rico Relief is currently under way. Sunday, June 3, is the last day of the collection drive. Faith s Lay Member, Sara Zeigler, will carry the offering that has been received to the Conference session. The Annual Conference will be in session June in Modesto, California. EVERYONE is invited to participate in this special offering collection drive for Puerto Rico Relief which was so devastated by a hurricane during the summer of TOGETHER LET US LEND A HELPING HAND! 1. Pat Tolley Dan Catlin Prayers of praise as Pat and Don are both able to again be in worship 2. Jim & Joan Miller continuing prayer for healing and strength 4. Mary Dess healing and strength 5. Carol Saylor continuing prayer for peace and encouragement 6. Celia Garcia comfort and encouragement 7. Barbara Granum strength and Encouragement 8. Rev. Barbara and the Church Council 9. Worship Services new ways of worshiping are happening as we are led in worship by our Fijian Ministry A number of members of the Faith family are not able to attend worship. Please remember them in your prayers: Barbara Campbell, Mary Dess Celia Garcia, Barbara Granum, Joan & Jim Miller Jan Ramsey, Carol Saylor We need the Holy Spirit to empower our ministries and expand our ministries so that we can truly make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world; so that renewal and revitalization can take place in our midst. What can happen if we let the Spirit rule our lives, for the Spirit can help us to do more than we ever thought possible. Would you allow that to happen? What are you willing to do for Christ in making disciples, in transforming the world? More importantly - Will you become an active disciple for Christ? We have committed people, even if it is a remnant of the people of God. Remnant is a biblical term, especially used in the Hebrew Scriptures. It referred to the faithful, dedicated people of God who were obedient to God, even when they were captives in a foreign land. We may not be in a foreign land; but, society at times seems to be a foreign land, for their values and priorities often clash with that of God s. God used His faithful remnant, even though they were small in number, to build up the nation of Israel. God can build us up, too!!! Faithful, obedient, committed, generous God can use us all! What is it that matters to God? I would suggest that what matters to God is each individual person in our community and on this earth. God wants us to help those in need, those who are lonely, those who feel neglected and to share with them the love of God. God would want us to share Christ with them in very tangible ways. God would want us to make disciples of them, so that they will go out and share Christ with others. As I m about to start my tenth year at Faith, I give my life to God and to Faith. I ask that you, too, dedicate your life to God s control for the ministry here at Faith and for the broader community. Let s be intentional in growing in faith, spiritually becoming more committed to the work of Christ for this time and place. God is working behind the scenes and we need everyone s help to bring renewal to Faith Church. What will you do for Christ? Blessings always, Rev. Barbara

4 1- Teresa Urkofsky 2. Vickie Berg 13- Ainsley Urkofsky-Reyes 19- Chris DeBolt 21. Timothy Sexton 25- James Nenow 26- Lena Buckendorf 28- Jerry Nakayama 29- James T. Nenow Reapi Raqauqau 30- Celia Garcia

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