vol. cxlii, no. 10 November 2017

Transcription

1 vol. cxlii, no. 10 November 2017 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH of SANTA MONICA SENTINEL HORIZONS "Now thank we all our God..." Living in a sprawling metropolitan area, we are far from the natural rhythms of land and harvest. Still, November turns our thoughts to harvest and gratitude. We'll gather 'round the table for a Thanksgiving meal shared with family and friends, giving thanks for God's mercies, bounty, and love. We'll gather November 19 for our annual Church Charge Conference with our District Superintendent, Mark Nakagawa, to give an accounting of our mission and ministry and our stewardship of all the amazing resources God has entrusted to us at First UMC. And we will reflect on our own personal stewardship of all the gifts God has given as we grow in generosity through giving in our "Say YES!" financial campaign. "For all that has been thanks! For all that will be yes!" as Dag Hammarskjöld, former Secretary General of the United Nations, put it. So let us gather. Let us give thanks. And let us commit ourselves anew to the future with hope God has in store for the whole creation. Senior Minister Church Charge Conference Join First UMC for the annual Church Charge Conference! We will engage in a joyful and worshipful celebration of this year s accomplishments. The agenda includes reports on the ministries and missions of First UMC, financial items, membership matters, and election of officers and council members for the coming year. We welcome back West District Superintendent Rev. Mark Nakagawa! Lunch will be served and child care will be provided in Room 204. Sunday November 19: 11 a.m. after worship, Simkins Hall in The Shelby Center West District Superintendent Rev. Mark Nakagawa during worship. Last year's Church Charge Conference.

2 NOVEMBER Calendar Friday, November 3 7 p.m. Shareringer Monthly Dinner, Fireside Room Saturday, November 4 4:30 p.m. Messy Church, Chapel/Simkins Hall *Daylight Saving Time ends - Set your clocks back 1 hr* Sunday, November 5 - All Saints Sunday Holy Communion Saturday, November 11 - Veterans Day 10 a.m. DanceFit, Fireside Room 7 p.m. CAST presents A Family Reunion to Die For, Simkins Hall Sunday, November 12 - Consecration Sunday 11 a.m. UMW Holiday Bazaar, UMW Workroom 1 p.m. CAST presents A Family Reunion to Die For, Simkins Hall 6:15 p.m. simple church Haiti Information Potluck, Fireside Room Thursday, November 16 5:30 p.m. Community Meal with Family Place, Off-site Saturday, November 18 9:30 a.m. Prayer Quilt Workparty, Room 300 Sunday, November 19 - Thanksgiving Sunday Church Charge Conference Children's Church 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cakes For a Cause, Alcove 11 a.m. Church Charge Conference, Simkins Hall Thursday thru Saturday, November Church Office Closed for Thanksgiving Sunday, November a.m. Angel Tree Ministry, Simkins Hall 11 a.m. Boy Scout Wreath Sales, Simkins Hall 11:30 a.m. Loving God with Our Minds Book Study/Potluck, FR Tuesday, November 28 - UMC Giving Tuesday COMMITTEE MEETINGS Tuesday, November 7 6 p.m. Staff-Parish Relations Committee Meeting, CR-A Wednesday, November 8 7 p.m. Methodist Foundation & Investment Committee Meeting, CR-A Sunday, November 19 9 a.m. Staff-Parish Relations Committee, CR-A WEEKLY or BIMONTHLY AT FIRST UMC: Mondays: Church Office Closed Tuesdays: 7 a.m. Men s Breakfast Bible Study, Fireside Room Wednesdays: 9 a.m. UMW Workparty/Lunch, Workroom Thursdays: 7:40 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room SUNDAYS-AT-A-GLANCE 9 a.m. Lectionary Scripture Discussion, Fireside Room 9 a.m. Partnership with God Sunday School, Room a.m. Nursery Care, Room 204 9:30 a.m. Chancel Choir Warmup, Choir Room 10 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary 10:10 a.m. Sunday School, Education Bldg. 11a.m. Fellowship, Simkins Hall in The Shelby Center 5 p.m. simple church, Chapel 6 p.m. United Methodist Youth Fellowship, Youth Lounge 6 p.m. Youth Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room Shareringers Monthly Dinner Shareringers is a caring, sharing group of mostly retired folks, and we always welcome new people to join our monthly dinner program. We alternate religious programs with travel, book sharing, and topics-of-current programs. This month we welcome guest speaker Anne Premer, First UMC Congregation Care Visitor. Friday, November 3: 7 p.m. in the Fireside Room Messy Church Messy Church is an intergenerational worship experience where we learn about God s love through crafts, activities, story and a shared meal. At Messy Church we grow in our relationship with God and with one another. Invite your friends and family to this church community. Be ready to get messy! November Theme: The story of Moses. Saturday, November 4: 4:30-6 p.m. Simkins Hall/Chapel. November DanceFit Dance your way to fitness with First UMC member Whitney Hagan, licensed Zumba instructor. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring a towel and water. Sponsored by the Health Ministry Council, the class is a great way to start your weekend! No charge. Saturday, November 11: a.m. in the Fireside Room CAST presents... Children's After School Theater's 6th-12th graders present A Family Reunion to Die For, a murder mystery comedy with audience interaction. It s time for the Knotting Family Reunion, and newlywed Christine Franklin is eager to show off her husband Freddie to the family she hasn t seen in years. The joyful reunion quickly turns sour though when there's a murder. To make matters worse, a terrible storm has trapped all of the guests inside. Complete with a hilarious chase scene, interaction with the audience, and a few surprising plot twists, this show is not to be missed! Tickets: $10 adults/$5 child. Purchase tickets: or at the door. Saturday, November 11: 7 p.m. Sunday, November 12: 1 p.m. Simkins Hall in The Shelby Center simple church Haiti Information Potluck The 2018 Haiti Trip is coming up February If you are interested in finding out more, come to simple church on November 12 and stay for a potluck afterwards. The potluck will be a simple, casual dinner (bring a dish to share) and a time of information and Q & A with Haiti team leaders and some past participants. Sunday, November 12: 5-6 p.m. simple church in the Chapel. Potluck to follow in the Fireside Room.

3 Community Meal with Family Place Family Place Community Meal potluck is an opportunity to help feed about adults & children, served buffet style. Attending the potluck not only provides a delicious meal for the families and allows the parents an evening free from cooking dinner but is a way for all who attend to be a part of a warm and accepting community. This month, we'll have a Thanksgivinginspired meal. meal@santamonicaumc.org to participate. Thursday, November 16: 5:30 p.m. Family Place ( th St. Santa Monica) UMYF: Cakes For a Cause While you re attending the Church Charge Conference, be sure to support our youth as they sell Cakes for a Cause. This annual event was started by the youth seven years ago to raise money for a mission project serving the poor in different parts of the world. The youth bake and decorate delicious cakes and cupcakes available for purchase, with all of the funds raised going to support a cause. This year's cause will be disaster relief for the recent hurricanes that have impacted our country. Sunday, November 19: 11 a.m. in the Alcove Boy Scouts Wreaths It s time to order your holiday wreaths and greenery from Boy Scout Troop 67. Orders will be taken: Sunday, November 26, 11 a.m., Alcove Angel Tree Project The Angel Tree Project begins Sunday November 26. First UMC is supporting Family Place of Upward Bound House with household items for the families and their apartments. Stop by the Angel Tree table during Coffee Fellowship on Sunday mornings in Simkins Hall to choose a gift. Then return the wrapped gift back to the church office by Sunday December 17. For questions, contact Chris Ruud: chr10is@yahoo.com. UMC Giving Tuesday On November 28, United Methodists will once again come together to support the work of Advance missionaries and projects on UMC #GivingTuesday. Consider supporting a project in an area you care about, such as food and agriculture, church development, disaster response and relief, education, health, economic empowerment, social justice, WASH/Water and Sanitation, women and children, and mission personnel. For a complete list of projects, visit: Flower Orders: Available dates at press time: November 12/26. Please contact the church office to order flowers for one of these dates. November Book-of-the-Month Study & Potluck The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More Than Our "Correct" Beliefs by Peter Enns Peter Enns, Professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University, asks: "When the dust clears, and in the quiet of your own heart, what kind of God do you believe in, really? And why?" As we look towards the season of Advent and the mystery and promise of the Incarnation, Enns uses biblical scholarship, personal experience, reason, and humor to invite us into examining our most basic beliefs about God. Where did they come from? Do we believe them? How do we grow into a deeper trust in a loving and compassionate God? We'll gather November 26 for Thanksgiving left-overs and a frank, open, honest, and freeing conversation. Read on! Book available online, and at the Sunday Hospitality Table. Bring a dish to share. Sunday, November 26: 11:30 a.m., Fireside Room LOOKING FORWARD A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 7:30 PM An Evening of Carols, Etc. Featuring Gerald Finzi s Magnificat The Chancel Choir Ty Woodward, organ The Mark Twain Ringers Chamber Orchestra Patricia Farris, spoken words James E. Smith, conductor Suggested donation at the door: $10.00 Seniors and Children under 12: $5.00

4 Big & small Art & Animal Blessings What a Day! by Shalimar Carducci, First UMC Communications Coordinator If you were in attendance, I hope you would agree that Blessing of the Animals was very special this year. Not only did we have the many dogs and a rabbit blessed by Rev. Patricia Farris and church member, Patty Hedges, but we also opened a new Fireside Room Art exhibit titled: Big & small: Animal art to promote love for all God s creatures, in all sizes. I released a call-out for submissions of animal art, in any medium, to the congregation in mid-summer and come September I was overwhelmed with not only the submissions but the excitement of those participating! Art came from members of the congregation, preschool families, friends of the church and even the local community. I even had a few pieces I was not able to show due to the shortage of space! But don t worry, folks. This category for an exhibit is a keeper and I m happy to tell you that we will bring the animal art exhibit back to the Fireside Room next year! So, get out your paint brushes, clay, cameras, pencils, or what-have-you ready and get creative! You have about a year before the call-out. Lastly, I must thank the following wonderful people for their much-appreciated help in making the exhibit and the day itself very special: ALL THE ARTISTS, of course, plus my BFF Georgia Vestakis, Lisa Goldfarb, Anne Premer, Javier Espinosa, Victoria Fausto and Tina Gage for their help with hanging all that art! It s not that simple when there s so many and in different sizes. Thank you, Allan Walker, and Joyce and David Landsverk for working with me on the variety of species represented. The Blessing of the Animals volunteers Karen Hopkins, Joy Peterman, Sandra Jones, Katherine Olsen, Nancy Perov, Allan Walker for photography, food sponsor Karen Furnas and Patty Hedges for assisting with the animal blessings! Also, Fabian Lewkowicz of Santa Monica Close-Up, who recorded and created a short video of the blessings. You can find it on our website: santamonicaumc.org/photos or on the church s Facebook Fan Page: facebook.com/santamonicaumc. Shalimar with artist and volunteer Lisa Goldfarb. Joyce and David Landsverk in front of one of Joyce s pieces. Rev. Patricia Farris blessing a rabbit. Artist Jenn Zappia with dog Sadie, under painting of Sadie. Joy Peterman s dog Rooney, with Quinlyn Kirtley. Congratulations! FIRST UMC COMMUNITY To Tricia and Adam Guerrero on their wedding held October 8 in Sisterdale, Texas. Tricia is First UMC Director of Children & Youth Ministry, and Adam is a First UMC member and has been a Youth Ministry Counselor for 13 years. Baptism Amelia Grace English was baptized October 21 by Rev. Patricia Farris, Bishop Grant Hagiya, Rev. Steve Huber and her parents, Revs. Robert and Allison English. In Gratitude Dear Flu clinic supporters, Thanks SO much for your efforts to prepare and carry out the October 18 Flu Clinic! From the planning with the Public Health Department, to signage, the set up, the creation and implementation of the children/ family area, administration of 121 vaccinations, clean up, and everything in between, it was tremendous! I have never seen so many people actually come to ANY event in LA in my fifty years of planning such events! Thanks SO much for your support of the First UMC Health Council Ministry. - Debi Jenkinson Wong & Dorothy Williams (Health Minstry co-chairs)

5 Be the Hope by Todd Erlandson, First UMC Church Member You may have noticed the new Be the Hope pylon sign in front of Simkins Hall on 11th Street. The two feet square, six feet high sign glows like a beacon, proclaiming a hopeful message to our congregation and community. The idea for the new pylon sign came about during discussions between my architecture office, March Studio, Reverend Patricia Farris and members of the Trustees and church staff. We reviewed the old directional sign that previously stood on the site...what did it do? What should a new sign say? Does it need to be directional? How can it welcome the public in other ways? Can it simply be inspirational? We unanimously decided that a new sign could be a message of hope, marking and ushering people into our complex of buildings by its light, and we set out to make it just that. We all agreed that a sign reflecting the vision of the First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica, with a message that supports our mission in the community and world, was a noble and uplifting direction. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) used the phrase Be the Hope in the first response to New Orleans Hurricane Katrina in In a quote from her book, Reverend Farris describes how our congregation, after Hurricane Katrina, had adopted the theme Be the Hope. It had happened gradually. Early on it was a way to galvanize our fundraising and missional outreach to the people of New Orleans. But gradually, we saw that it spoke truth in more and more situations. Those three words Be the Hope began to define us, and how we thought of God, and how we saw ourselves as God s faithful ones. She goes on to recall a story from Pastor Jim Boline of St. Paul s Lutheran Church about a neighborhood walk that he d taken with his confirmation class. It seems the thing that made the biggest impression on them was the Be the Hope banner in our Simkins Hall courtyard. He related that the class had a long discussion about what the phrase meant to them. To our team, it felt like the perfect message for the new sign. First UMC Library Book Drive by Annika Dodd Hi Church friends, it s Annika Dodd and I m currently working on my Girl Scout Silver project. It is a literary project for the First UMC Preschoolers and Church to have a better functioning library. So far I have organized all of the books that are currently in the library. But we need your help to give these children a better library. By going to this link you can give a gift of a new book. See here for link: Thank you so much for your help! The layout of the message was developed in collaboration with First UMC in-house graphic designer Tina Gage, and was inspired by signs designed for Los Angeles Grand Park by our personal heroes Deborah Sussman and Paul Prejza (of Big Blue Bus and 84 Olympics fame). The pattern of Be The Hope statements is spelled out in a type font called Neutra, named after the acclaimed California mid-century modern architect Richard Neutra, and consistent with the style of our buildings built during that age. After preliminary reviews with the City of Santa Monica regarding size and location, and some brainstorming with Jeff Gruen and his team at Custom Quick Sign, our sign fabricator, we had a workable concept. The completed pylon sign is built of a durable and translucent Lexan material with welded edges, and anchored solidly to a new fifteen-inch deep concrete footing. It is wrapped with a digitally printed vinyl, and the outer skin is protected by an antigraffiti coating. We are eager to know what the sign will mean to our congregation and community. Let us know what you think. Share your stories. We hope that it reminds us of God s love and his call for us all to Be The Hope in our neighborhood and our world! The Be the Hope sign on campus, and at night. We honor the First UMC church members who have reached the 50-year mark this year: Barbara Parker Tomi Matsunaga Bruce Wagner

6 Faith Upheld: The History of Our Church by Ron Theile Our story as a community of faith lies in the past. It holds clues as to where we should take our community in the future. This series is meant to inform and inspire for, truly, it is the story of hope, perseverance and love. Ron Theile Part 2: A Move and A Bigger Challenge At this point in our history in 1875, the Reverend Crum had preached for the first time followed by guest Rev. Hough. The members, under the direction of Rev. Crum, had acquired land and built the first standing church in Santa Monica at 6th Street and Arizona. Rev. Crum was moved and Rev. Russell was named pastor for one year. After that, only periodic pastors came and went. The membership was dropping. At the end of this three year period, only three members remained. Expo Blue line runs on this right of way today,) and a wharf out into the bay. In the church records that I reviewed, a long time member (thank you Marilyn Hedges) mentioned that with the connection of the railroad to Los Angeles, members of this era sought opportunities in Los Angeles. This may be true. However, I believe it was the lack of a constant spiritual leader that advanced the declining numbers of this early congregation. To move on, a new pastor was sent here in , Rev. J. B. Howard, who was to find these three resident members of the church. He nevertheless succeeded in gathering a number of new members and strengthened the church by changing the location. The lots on Sixth Street were sold and the building was moved to Fourth Street and Arizona Avenue which was more central to this new city. This move, as well as the effort put out by Rev. Howard, resulted in an increase in membership. Revs. Crum & Hough First Church location - 2nd Floor of Mr. Brady s hardware store Fourth and Arizona I tried to search for a reason for this drop in membership. I found that in Santa Monica, cycles of boom and bust followed in the decade after the city s founding. The first commercial buildings appeared on Second Street in the 1870s and 1880s and moved up to Third Street by the early 1890s. In 1886 the city of Santa Monica was incorporated. By 1887, a rate war between the Southern Pacific and Sante Fe Railroads brought floods of people to Southern California, setting off a real estate boom. Much of Santa Monica was agricultural at this time, with flower barley and bean fields. John P. Jones built the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad, which connected Santa Monica and Los Angeles (our current In the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 11, verse 14, we read, Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety. These first spiritual leaders were the first to guide a people in establishing the first church in this very young city. It sends a signal from the past that the spiritual leaders of the church back then, and now, are to be valued as a blessing to the congregation. From Rev. Crum to Rev. Farris, we have been led by people of God, sent to lead His people in worship and make disciples for Jesus Christ. From these spiritual leaders, to the members of this congregation who have been before us, we are what we are today because of their leadership and unending faith. Next Month: The Arrival of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Rindge Preschool Corner PRESCHOOL EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER November 6-12: Preschool Book Fair November 10: Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences November 13: Chumash Storyteller November 23-24: School Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday The Preschool classes toured the Big & Small art exhibit. Preschool student Mae Jones poses in front of her wood art piece, Froggie.

7 October Happenings at First UMC Baptism of Amelia Grace English, with Bishop Grant Hagiya and parents Revs. Robert and Allison English. Rev. Patricia Farris with Rev. Stephen Huber from All Saints Episcopal Church. Third World Handarts Presentation of 4th Grade Bibles. United Methodist Youth Fellowship together with the Shareringer Group for Game Night. Photobooth fun at the First UMC Wedding Shower for Tricia and Adam Guerrero.

8 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH of SANTA MONICA 1008 Eleventh Street Santa Monica, CA Church Office Hours: Tues - Fri, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Chapel Open for Prayer: Tues - Fri, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. WORSHIP SUNDAYS IN NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 5 10 a.m. Sanctuary Worship Holy Communion Homily by Rev. Patricia Farris 5 p.m. simple church simple church theme: on Beatitudes and saints NOVEMBER a.m. Sanctuary Worship Sermon by Rev. Patricia Farris 5 p.m. simple church simple church theme: on spiritual awakening and being right here NOVEMBER a.m. Sanctuary Worship Sermon by Rev. Patricia Farris 5 p.m. simple church simple church theme: on fear, freedom and being your true imperfect self NOVEMBER a.m. Sanctuary Worship Sermon by Rev. Robert English 5 p.m. simple church simple church theme: what we mean when we say Jesus is Lord On the Website As the season of giving thanks draws near, why not pay it forward by giving your time? Check out the volunteer page to discover what opportunities are available to you through First UMC of Santa Monica.