The Lighthouse. Christ is Risen, Indeed! April A Spiritual Sanctuary for the Thinking Christian.

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1 The Lighthouse April 2012 THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) OF PACIFIC GROVE A Spiritual Sanctuary for the Thinking Christian. 442 Central Ave. Pacific Grove, CA Phone: (831) Fax: (831) Daniel Wm. Paul, MDiv. Pastor Church Website: Sunday Schedule: Worship Service 11:00 AM Fellowship After Worship In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity. Christ is Risen, Indeed!

2 Notes From the Lion s Den We were just sealing him safe and sound in the tomb, just making sure that the gravesite was tidy, just getting adjusted to life without him, just obeying the soldiers, just accommodating ourselves to death and defeat. Not waiting for dawn, Christ got up, rolled away the stone, strode forth shining before our fearful faces and commanded, Get up! He wouldn t stay anywhere long -- peripatetic, frenetic, rabbi on the run -- nor will he be deterred, even by death. I declare to you this Holy Week what I have learned in 40 years of ministry: The most curious quality of salvation by Jesus is his refusal to stay put. If we will worship him, be with him, we must go with him. We must be willing to relocate. All ministry in the name of Jesus is itinerant. Get up Will Willimon If Methodist Bishop Will Willimon is right, that Jesus does not stay put, then it is important for followers of Christ to check the spiritual GPS periodically to ask, Where are we? and then Where are we going? This Easter, as we celebrate a risen Christ that does not stay put, I feel one of those times of checking the spiritual compass coming on. I look at the photo that hangs in the hallway between Jones Hall and the Sanctuary that was taken a few years ago on Robin and Vince s last Sunday with us. We have changed. Most of you reading this don t know who Robin or Vince were, but I will tell you that the reason we have the Chalice Hymnals to enjoy each Sunday is because of a very generous gift from them in honor of their stillborn daughter Malia. Wonderful folks like Vince and Robin have moved on, but wonderful folks like you are here NOW. Some tenured, some new-on-theblock, Christ has brought us together in a mystical and exciting way. Christ does not stay put and at this time when we see who we are, who we have become as a unique manifestation of Christ on the Monterey Peninsula, I see the leadership of this congregation taking a hard look at our spiritual GPS and saying, We are feeling a sacred nudging that things are in place for us to consider the road before us that expects us to be vibrant and amazing. Let us say to one another this season, Christ is risen, indeed! and realize that we are suiting up to follow. Christ is risen! Dan

3 CHRISTIAN WOMENS FELLOWSHIP (CWF) General Meeting Thursday, April 19th at 10:30am Dining Room of Jones Hall Recycle Florescent Light Bulbs Our Blue Theology Mission Station purchased a special box that is located in our dining room that will allow us to recycle florescent light bulbs. If you have some burned out florescent bulbs, just put them in the box and we will be sure they get recycled properly. YOUR "SHARES" CARD? Your SHARES card credits each user with one point for every dollar spent for groceries you purchase at the SAVE MART, SMART FOODS, FOOD MAX AND LUCKY supermarkets. Easy Money: Did you know that if 20 individuals or families spent an average of $70.00 weekly using their Share Card, the church budget would have an extra $2,000 a year!!!! So, think SMART and do your part!! For more information and to get your card, see Jackie Burns!! Don t Forget to sign up! for Refreshments and Flowers!! Save your receipts for what you spend on refreshments, and you can be reimbursed!! Thanks for all your help.

4 April in the Church Offering Elders Serving Communion 1- Reuben Negron Mike Dremel 8- Nancy Bingaman Frances Weesner 15- Nancy Bingaman Lois Barker 22- Carole Bestor Sandi Ellis 29- Ed Kilgore Mike Dremel *Please swap with each other if needed Flowers Refreshments Worship Leaders 1- Barbara Brose Dawn Wilson & Ed Kilgore 8- McKluskey Family Easter Brunch 15- Dremel/Weesner 22- Joe Brown 29- Singspiration (Don't forget there is a fund that will reimburse you for your efforts. Simply render your receipt to Jean Saltsman or Jackie Burns). 1-Dawn Wilson 8-Gary McCluskey 15-Deborah Streeter 22-Lois Barker 29-Alex Pardi Deacon for the month: Lori Robinson Happy April Birthdays 2 Alexander Pardi 4 Lauren Perez 6- Brian Sheffield 18 Marc Bingaman 22- Jasmine Bixler 23- Lori Robinson Happy April Anniversary's 23- Mike Dremel and Frances Weesner

5 April 2012 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Palm Sunday Berwick 9 AM Baptism of Butch Albrecht 2 3 Trustees 7:30 4 Soup & Faith 6 Choir 7 5 Maundy Thursday Lunch 12 noon Bible 1pm Disciples 6 6 Good Friday 7 7 Paul Family to decorate Jones Hall 8 EASTER :10 Am 11 am Easter Brunch Stewardship & 7:30 Lunch 12 noon Bible 1pm Good Old Days Easter Egg Hunt am Good Old Days Administrative 7: :30 am. Lunch 12 noon Bible 1pm Annual Meeting Redwood City 22 10:10 am 11:00 am Annual Meeting Redwood City pm 26 12:00 Bible 1: :10 11:00 am 4 (our Church)

6 CHURCH'S OUTREACH FUND Our "Outreach Fund" is running short of funds. This Fund keeps our pantry full of food for the "Blessing Food Bags" we give to those in need of food. The Fund also is the source for our dinner supplies for the men of the I-HELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program). If you would like to help with this food ministry, just write "Outreach Fund" in the memo space on your check. Blessings! HEAR YE!! HEAR YE!! A message for anyone who uses the Church kitchen, dining room or Jones Hall. Please leave the kitchen completely clean. Remove all food from the counters. Dishes washed and put back in the cupboard. Clean the sinks and counters. Restore used supplies in the cupboards...utensil baskets full, plates, cups etc. Replace cups, cream, sugar, tea bags etc. used from the coffee table. Replace chairs at the tables in Jones Hall. Remove ALL GARBAGE to the cans outside. Take dirty dish towels and table cloths home to wash and return. And don't forget Jean's 5 Finger Building Check: 1. Stove Oven 2. Heater 3. windows Closed 4. Lights Off 5. Doors Locked This message is from your "Church Mouse" who has not been trained to do all of this.

7 A Lonely Journey (another writing from our beloved Betty Rose from last Easter. Let us remember her woods) Jesus had a long way to go, and Jesus had to go alone. We know that the disciples went with Jesus to Jerusalem, but they were unable to go with Jesus all the way to the cross. Even in the garden they failed Jesus. The disciples fell asleep (Matthew 26: 37-40) yet Jesus loved them. We all fall short; we all fall asleep. When we do fail Jesus, the glorious words from the cross are meant for all of us. We are forgiven. There are others around us making their own lonely journeys. We can give them a little company and a little comfort in Jesus name. In this way, perhaps we can hope to feel that Jesus didn t make his journey in vain. Though Good Friday is grief, Easter is Joy!! GOOD OLD DAYS!! April 14th and 15th...ALL Day Event!! Sign-up sheets are in Jones Hall It s a great weekend of fun working in the booth and meeting and networking with the people in our own community. This is a BIG FUNDRAISER for the year. We BBQ and sell Beef Sandwiches, the best in town along with baked goods and drinks. The meat is tritip sold to us at a discount price from our local Grove Market. You are encouraged to sign up for a 2 hour shift during the Good Old Days festival. We get VERY BUSY! We would like to have a full staff at all shifts. Volunteers are needed to help with the set-up on Friday night, the 13th at 5 and the tear down on Sunday at 5. Donated baked goods such as brownies, cookies, cakes, rice crispy treats, soda and water is greatly appreciated! And most of all, your smiling faces and helping hands are welcome!!

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9 News From Afar!! Helen and Carl Dallmeyer were married in this little church during the World War II years. In the years since, they have continued their association with and support of our congregation. They make a point of writing us once a year as they traveled between their Arizona and Iowa homes. Now, we won t be blessed with that visit, as they have sold their Iowa home and will be making their Sun City Arizona home their full time residence. We wish them the best of years, and as Helen so aptly wrote.. Thanks for the memories EASTER OFFERING From the doorsteps of your congregation to the ends of the earth, the General Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) resource congregations for mission. The 2012 Easter Offering provides 20-25% of the annual funding for General Ministries. The General Ministries serve on your behalf around the globe:...in Central America, the Church has long-term partnerships for theological education, and agricultural and medical training....in Africa, which is among our largest global presence, there are more members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo than in the US and Canada....In Southeast Asia, our missionaries operate after-school programs keeping children from being sold into the sex trade. These ministries and many more around the globe are dependent on your generosity. Your congregation connects daily to partners to provide education, medical, social and sustainable development resources in over 190 countries! Your Easter Offering gifts provide critical presence, meeting God's people at the place of deepest need. In the United States and Canada:...your financial support provides leadership to congregations seeking missional assessments and strategic planning....your gifts provide resources to bring together college students and young adults for leadership training and development where the students learn, but also help direct the future of the church through honest conversation about cultural and generational relevancy....your gifts provide supplemental pension payments to clergy who served in the mission field or small congregations and whose retirement benefits are insufficient to keep them above the poverty level....your gift provides a safe and stable environment for developmentally disabled adults and children in foster care transition....your gifts bring life and resource your congregation for mission! The General Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are YOUR partners in mission, resourcing and equipping congregations for ministry. YOUR gift to the Easter Offering provides vital support of a critical common witness! Together, we are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world!

10 Church Women United CWF - Christian Women's Fellowship is extending an invitation to participate in our church s NEW Outreach Project to HAMILTON HOUSE: An Emergency Shelter for displaced & battered women and their children (A PART OF SHELTER OUTREACH PLUS) Shelter Outreach Plus Funding has been drastically cut! WE CAN HELP! We will be supplying "HOUSEHOLD CLEANING" products for the "HOUSE"...like: Dishwashing Soap (Dawn) (not for a dishwasher) Laundry Detergent, Bleach, Dryer Sheets, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Floor Cleaner, All Purpose Cleaner. LOOK FOR THE BOX LABELED "HAMILTON HOUSE" To Deposit Your Items CWU will hold their next meeting on Friday, April 13th at the Marina Methodist Church Located at 281 Beach St in Marina. There will be a wellness talk by Dr. Terry (Tel) Franklin. A coffee/tea social will begin at 9:30 am ANNUAL MEETING April New location, Sofitel in Redwood City The Lighthouse c/o The Christian Church 442 Central Avenue Pacific Grove, CA Executive Committee and Staff Moderator: Neal Heckman Vice Moderator: Nancy Bingaman Board Secretary - Erin Farquhar Financial Secretary - Cindy Heckman Chief Financial Officer - Jackie Burns Church Clerk - Kathleen Kennedy Pastor - Dan Paul Seminary Intern Loma Eaves Church Secretary - Sandi Ellis Organist John Shykun