The Chimes. Reflections

Transcription

1 The Chimes April 11, 2017 Volume 17 Number 8 Modesto Church of the Brethren 2301 Woodland Avenue, Modesto, CA (209) fax: ! info@modcob.org! web site: Pastor: Erin Matteson Continuing the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together. Reflections Have you met Tera Thayer yet? Initially, she wasn t meant to be our only outreach staff person. It just worked out that way (for a bit). Before Erin delivered her resignation, the Board had envisioned and requested a part-time, temporary Children, Youth and Family Ministries Coordinator to provide some relief to our overworked primary pastor and to ensure that our children, youth and families were getting the attention and support that they deserved. It was a way to look ahead and be innovative as we planned for the vitality of our congregation. Those who attended the church council meeting agreed and voted to hire someone. After a few applicants just didn t fit the vision, the job announcement was sent out a second time and luckily Tera applied. She was hired just weeks before Erin s last day with us. The hiring committee and the Christian Education commission are confident that she has the abilities and energy to help us be creative and forward-thinking. She will fit in well as the primary Youth leader, with Megan Mizuno and Joshua Gilstrap-Katen as coleaders. Also impressive are Tera s natural courage and her outgoing personality that will keep her moving ahead, while a full-time pastor is found. Tera applied to be our CYF Coordinator because of her desire to move away from her full-time job in the loan industry into something that would give her the chance to begin helping people in more positive ways. She has returned to school in human services, and wanted to work part-time doing something that enhances people s lives and self-images. An added benefit to finding our job advertisement for a 15 hour week position that fit those current dreams, was realizing that other people in her family attend here! You can make that your first question to ask her to get to know her, if you don t already know who her relatives are. Tera is looking forward to getting to know all the families in our church. Please watch for her and give her some Brethren hospitality! She will be at Sunday service often. Her office is at the other end of the hall from Jill s. Her is tera@modcob.org and you can leave her a phone message at Bonnie Munson

2 Invitations to Worship April 16-Easter Sunday Resurrected into New Beginnings Scripture selections from Genesis 12, Genesis 28, and Mark 16. Hospice Chaplain Travis Clarke, a member of our congregation, will be bringing the Easter Celebration message reminding us of new life, new beginnings. MCoB is also transitioning into new beginnings. May the Easter message encourage the church in a time of change. April 23 Jesus the Bread of Life: Work for Him John 6:25-40 will be the scripture selection as Reverend Barbara Avent looks forward to bringing the message about Jesus. Barbara is a member of the Prince of Peace COB, Sacramento. Reverend Barbara is also a member of On Earth Peace (OEP) board, which is an agency of the COB advocating for teaching Peace and Justice, Conflict Resolution and Transformation and commits to social justice advocacy. She is looking forward to seeing members and friends at the Modesto COB. Holy Week Happening April 13 6:30p Maundy Thursday Love Feast April 14 7:30p Good Friday Candlelight Tenebrae Service College Ave. UCC April 16 9:30aEaster Breakfast - Youth serve 10:00 Egg hunt 11:00 Worship Celebration Love Feast We encourage all to attend Love Feast Thursday, April 13th, starting at 6:30. We will begin by having a short worship led by John Katonah, moving into a foot and hand washing for those who so choose. We will then proceed to the Gathering Place for our traditional meal of meat and broth served over bread. (A vegetarian version is available.) We will conclude with communion. Love Feast is an important aspect of Brethren religious beliefs. All are invited to attend and participate or observe. Hold in the Light Fred Switzer April 3, 2016 To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. Thomas Campbell Joys of new life as Cosners celebrate the birth of their first great granddaughter and Galts welcome their third granddaughter. Joy and thanksgiving for healing, returning to health and just feeling better as we welcomed Barbara Switzer, Tom Deal and Maryco Graff back into our midst. Prayers for comfort and strength for the Hunt family, former student of Luella Cole at the death of their son, Grantley. Also for the family of Mimsie Farrar s coworker whose partner was shot and killed last week. Remember those dealing with health issues of all kinds and those making life changing decisions. Pray for the discernment of this congregation as we work with Stan Dueck on the Vital Ministry Journey and search for an interim pastor. Help us all to be faithful followers of the Jesus way. Out of the deepest despair and the darkness of death, you bring new life and light and hope. May we be bearers of your life and light in the world, so that others may see your life in us, and know that you love them, that we love them and we pray for them. A prayer based on John 3:16 by Lisa Krieg Deacon on call for the month of April is Stephen Reddy.

3 In the Days Ahead Lighting in Sanctuary For the next month or two the Worship Committee will be carrying on an experiment with the lighting on Sunday mornings. We encourage your thoughts and opinions regarding the amount of light in the sanctuary during worship services, especially as it affects your ability to read text on the screen. Please talk to Nancy Bupp, Elaine Forcier, Jolinda or Stephen Reddy or Shelby Clarke. Faith Bites at 6:00 on Wednesdays On April 12th Deborah Roberts Gowans will be our guest chef and she will be preparing an Italian dinner with a twist as she puts it, come join us and see what that's all about. Good food and good fellowship. What else could you ask for? Sue Messamer Easter Sunday Breakfast Reminder Sign up sheets are currently in the narthex awaiting your name if you plan to attend Easter Breakfast. A donation of $5 per person or $15 per family is suggested. That will cover the cost of food, and everything for the kiddies egg hunt. IF there is money over from these costs, it will be go to the Youth fund for their conferences. Breakfast is from 9:30-10:30, ending promptly to allow clean up so everyone involved with preparing and serving can make it to the Celebration Easter Worship. The egg hunt for the kiddies is from 10:00 11:00. Gather in the narthex promptly at 10:00 for that. There is also a sign up sheet for the egg hunt. Both breakfast and egg hunt are high-energy, labor intensive undertakings and we appreciate all the cooperation you can give us! Fellowship and Recreation Committee Calling all Youth! Are YOU planning to be at Easter breakfast? Can you be part of a shift of Youth serving and helping clean up? Monies above the cost of the breakfast will help us go to upcoming Youth Conferences! So come one and come all able to lend a helping hand! Contact Tera (our new Children, Youth, Family Ministry Coordinator) at tera@modcob.org or Josh or Megan to let them know you are IN! Ladies Night Out Friends, Here we are in April - already! We'll have our April gathering on Thursday, April 20th, 5:00 at Beijing Restaurant on McHenry. Please note that we're trying a new time - 5:00. As always, please let me know if you'll be there for some excellent Chinese cuisine and conversation, so we can have a place ready for you. Linda Owen Retreat Reminder Registration deadline for the all church retreat led by Stan Dueck is April 21st! If you are interested in finding out more about accommodations, times, theme, and other information, pick up a brochure from the wooden table in the main entryway. It's time for another Family Enrichment Night! Join us on April 21st from 6:30-8pm as we explore the theme of awareness. It's entitled Awareness of Ourselves and Our Earth. Dinner will be provided. There will be games, crafts, fun, family and enrichment! Family Enrichment Nights provide families opportunities to play and eat and "think big thoughts" together. We would love to welcome more families and include more volunteer helpers! Call the Church office or Bonnie Munson to sign up.

4 Senior Ministries Trip to Cuba Come to a $7 lunch on Thursday, April 27th at 12pm in the Gathering Place and learn of Cuba, a land of contrasts. It s a very interesting and enjoyable place to visit with much to see. Dave and Sharon Froba will give us an insight into Cuba s people, culture, music, and economy based on their trip there in Don t miss it! WHAT ARE THE FINDINGS? Sunday, April 30, following worship and after a meal prepared by Sue Messamer, Stan Dueck will share with us the results of our VMJ study. We already anticipate more of a leadership role in our community based on the positive feed back we received from the Community Forum. The report meeting with Stan on April 30th will be a time to learn what we as a congregation said about ourselves and areas in which we feel we could be working. Plan to be there to hear the complete report. Felton Daniels, Chair, VMJ Team Coming Soon! FRIENDLY BIBLE STUDY Friendly Bible Study comes to us from the Quakers, hence the name, Friendly Bible Study. Margaret Johnson was introduced to it through an On Earth Peace session, at the Church of the Brethren annual conference, in Some of the core ideas are: -Recognition of personal experience as a central part of our spiritual lives -Equality of all believers in the study process -Availability of continuing revelation of God in our spiritual lives -Affirming the connection of the Biblical witness to our lives, in our present world We are offering a Friendly Bible Study to be held in Room 1 on Sundays, May 14, 21, 28 and June 4. Each session is designed to last one hour. Plan to arrive by 9:20 for some housekeeping," so the actual session can begin, promptly, at 9:30, and end by 10:30. Ideally, one should commit to being present all four Sundays. Participants need to bring a Bible in the version of choice. There will be times of silence, writing, listening and sharing, within a structured setting. Consider joining us. Margaret Johnson, Steve Reddy and the Worship and Spiritual Life Commission Items to Note From the Stewards Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. I Corinthians 4:1-2, NRSV Found Faithful has been chosen as our Stewardship theme for We will be using materials form Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation an ecumenical magazine, of which the Church of the Brethren is a part. We will be sharing ideas on practical and theological understandings of generous giving and faithful stewardship throughout the year. Currently, you can check out our financial giving chart on the bulletin board, in the hallway, outside the kitchen. It is kept up monthly. Margaret Johnson, Stewardship co-chair A Letter to all from Erin Matteson Dear friends in Christ: How can I even begin to express my joy and thanksgiving at 182 of you coming to share with me in community in a full, wonderful day of worship, being at table together, and a lovely, lovely program. I did not have neighbors, colleagues or special personal friends there. It was all YOU, the beauty-full church, walking and celebrating with me a last bittersweet day together as pastor and congregation. It was incredible, from start to finish. The music, written prayers and invitation to give by David leading worship, interludes of card and special gifts before and after church, the INCREDIBLE

5 cooking and service of all the helpers behind the scenes, flower and table arrangements, and what could I begin to say about the program? So many lovely expressions of heartfelt appreciation and love, celebration and grief, joy and thanksgiving through music, poetry, jokes, simple sharing, and a myriad of unique and meaningful gifts because they were each so personal and thoughtful in nature. What we have shared in the fullness of life over these years is really beyond words. It is such holy ground. I thank you again for the privilege of being your pastor, and getting to share in the mystery and grace of a mutual growing and becoming over time. Blessings on the continued journey, Erin Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Our April 1st All Church Work Day was a great success. Thanks to all who came out and helped ( see picture). Fences got fixed, solar panels cleaned, new entry lights put up, closets got cleaned, walkways were power washed, roof leaks fixed, and our parking lots got a lot of new paint, including speed bumps. All of this was topped off with a great lunch provided by Karleen Daniels and Nancy Deal. Our back field will be mowed by Bill Strohm by the end of the month. This was a good "spruce up" weekend. Our next All Church Work Day will be in early October. It s only three hours of work and fun. Look for the sign up board again in September. Thanks again, Building and Grounds Commission Announcement Loop Slides Those wanting a slide made for the announcement loop: information is due to NancyB, by the Wednesday before the you want the slide shown. Note SLIDE FOR LOOP in the subject line, then to: chimes@modcob.org Articles and photos for the next issue of Chimes are due by Thursday, April 20. Use article name in the subject line and to: chimes@modcob.org. The Editor thanks you. The Condensed Calendar Tuesday- 8:30a-4pThe Quiet Place open in Rm. 5 11a Sr. Fitness Wednesday- 6p Faith Bites 7:00p Choir Thursday- 6:30p Maundy Thursday Love Feast Friday- 7:30pm Candlelight Tenebrae Service College Ave. UCC Saturday- Next Sunday April 16 th Easter 9:30a Easter Breakfast Youth serve 10:00a Egg Hunt kids meet in narthex 11a Worship Celebration IN THE NEAR FUTURE April 20 5p Ladies Night Out Beijing Restaurant RSVP L. Owen April 23 Camp Peaceful Pines Fundraiser Chicken Fly-by April 26 6p Special Faith Bites Fundraiser for Kheth Khun April 27 12p Sr. Ministries Event Cuba April 30 12:15p Vital Ministry Journey lunch and celebration MARK YOUR CALENDAR May 4 Prayer Supper May 5-7 Church Retreat Registration ends April 21 st. May 7 3p Recital and reception Linda Bustle, Barbara Bort May Hosting Family Promise May 21 12:15p Youth set-up Family Promise and lunch - focus on service