The Messenger Corona United Methodist Church 2880 California Avenue, Corona, CA

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1 The Messenger Corona United Methodist Church 2880 California Avenue, Corona, CA July 6, 2018 Events in Review Saturday, July 7 10a Ed Luekemeyer s Memorial Service Sunday, July 8 Christian Education Service 11:30a Security System Training Monday, July 9 6p Christian Education Committee Tuesday, July 10 6p Trustees 7p - Finance Wednesday, July 11 7:30a Weds. Morning Bible Study Saturday, July 14 Sunday, July 15 Sending for SSP to San Diego Mission Trip through July 20th Christian Education Service 11:30a Security System Training Noon VBS Training Session Tuesday, July 17 5:45p Staff Parish 6:30p Joint COM & Administrative Board Committees Wednesday, July 18 7:30a Weds. Morning Bible Study

2 Page 2 The Messenger Saturday, July 21 8a All Church Campus Clean-up Sunday, July 22 SSP Sunday Christian Education Service 11:15a New Members Class Our Attendance Sunday, June 17, am: 105 Sunday, June 24, am: 115 Sunday, July 1, am: 113 Scripture Readings Week of July 8 Mark 6: Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Psalm 48 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Week of July 15 Mark 6: Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 Psalm 24 Ephesians 1:3-14 Our Vision We are a church of blessings, changing the world through words and deeds of grace, showing others how to follow Jesus Christ. Pastor s Paragraph Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:36 (CEB) These have been difficult weeks. We have been inundated by images of children crying for their parents, ceaseless news coverage of the immigration crisis, administration officials and experts sharing their views, and a tidal wave of social media posts, videos and positions. The United Methodist Church has received a formal charge against Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a United Methodist from Alabama, for the misuse of Scripture to defend the egregious zero tolerance act of our government. Judgement. Condemnation. Shame. There are a lot of things flying around. We are a people who are coming together with a heart of war, quoting Bishop Hagiya. We re focused inwardly, on our rights, opinions, positions and desires. So much so, we ve lost sight of some important things. We ALL are God s creatures. It doesn t matter where we were born. It doesn t matter what language we speak or what color our skin is. It doesn t matter whether we are rich or poor. We all fall short. We all need God s grace. Jesus didn t come to earth with a heart of war. He came to show us a new way, following a heart of peace. People with peace in their heart are focused outwardly. They look to the needs of others first. They are people with empathy and compassion. Luke records Jesus words. We are to be people of compassion. But it goes beyond that. We are to love our enemies, do good, and act the way children of the Most High act. (Luke 6:35) There s a time for advocacy and there s a time for reconciliation. It s time for a pause. Turn off the TV. Take a sabbatical from Facebook. Do something unexpected for someone else. Be kind to a stranger. Above all, perhaps it s time to open a Bible, pray and find out what Jesus really says. It can transform the world. Don t judge, and you won t be judged. Don t condemn, and you won t be condemned. Forgive, and you will forgiven. (Luke 6:37) Forgive us Lord ~ Pastor Eric

3 Page 3 The Messenger Can You Help? Nikki Cater, who attends our church is looking for extra work! She does work such as cleaning, organizing, decluttering, etc. She is available weekday evenings from 6pm to 8pm, and anytime on Saturday & Sunday after 1pm. If you need some help, please call Nikki at Nikki is also looking for a room, 2 rooms or a small house to rent for herself and her 13 year old daughter. If you know of anyone who lives in the Corona-Norco school district area (Letha Raney Intermediate School & Corona High School area) and has a place to rent, please call Nikki at , or nikki@faxonautolit.com Our Church Staff Eric Schmidt, Pastor umcpastorschmidt@gmail.com Jeanne Cadiente, Pianist/Organist Diane Encino, Church Secretary Among Our Family With great sadness we report the passing of two of our longtime church members and friends. Ed Luekemeyer passed away on Friday, June 22. Ed s service will be here on Saturday, July 7 th at 10am. Edie Kirkegaard passed away on Saturday, June 23. Please keep both Ed and Edie s families in prayer. Mary Ann Ebert and family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, phone calls, cards & visits during the difficult time of Ken s passing. We received the following note from our missionary, Mozart Adevu: Dear Friends of Corona UMC This is a short note of gratitude for your kindness and generosity during my visit of December 2017 in the company of my son, Toni. We cannot thank you enough. I also wish to acknowledge your gifts of Thanks also to the Faxons for their very generous support to cover the travel expenses of my children during our visit. Gratitude to Pastor Eric and the entire congregation of Corona UMC! Blessings - Mozart Sue Thomas has a new address: Stardrift Drive, Bend, OR Mission & Outreach Team News Thanks to everyone in the congregation that filled out the Mission Survey! We show an interest in the homeless lunch program and continuing to make health kits for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). Other mission opportunities are: The Corona Public Library is looking for adults to help with their reading assistance program. Office Hours Monday Wednesday: 8:30am to 3:00pm (Closed for lunch noon to 1pm) Thursday: 8:30am to noon We will be collecting school supplies during July. Settlement House s Childspree will be in August. If you can help take a child shopping for school clothes, please see Sally Carlson. We continue to support our missionary Mozart Adevu in Ghana see the Mission bulletin board located in the hallway for more information. We continue to bring food for Settlement House, and we can use more people to pack lunches for the homeless.

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5 Page 5 The Messenger United Methodist Women s Book Reader s Club In May this book group read and discussed 50 Women Every Christian Should Know by Michelle DeRusha. At least we each read most of the book! It was so full of inspiration and unknown information and facts that it was captivating and time consuming to read. This book is a short biography of 50 women beginning with Hildegard of Bingen who was born in The book continues through the years to our current time concluding with Flannery O Connor who lived from 1925 until All of these women began their lives as ordinary women, some were educated and some were not, some became well-known and some did not, some became saints but most did not. Each woman s life is brilliantly summarized in three to six pages. The author captures the essence of each person and how their Christian beliefs and subsequent actions shaped our world. Each woman had an impact on the course of history, especially as our history and our lives relate to Christianity. It is an absorbing book to read and full of interesting women and obscure facts. There are many books available in the church library; this is just one of them. I hope you will check out the selection of books in the church entryway and inside the church office hallway. Alone in a Crowded Pew Anonymous Margaret Turner ~ Book Coordinator I went alone to church one day And sat is a crowded pew There were people all around me, Lord Waiting to hear about You The preacher talked about love And the things a Christian should do It was a wonderful sermon but I was alone, in a crowded pew. It was a beautiful building, Lord A masterpiece so fair It did inspire your children, Lord Even those in deep despair. I went in lonely, lost, and afraid Seeking love and comfort from You But Your children did not see my needs I sat alone, in a crowded pew. And Lord, I ll never forget the fear As I sat in the crowded pew With tears in my eyes and a trembling heart Desperately needing a friend like You I looked at the people sitting there And wondered what to do For none of them seemed to care that I Was alone in that crowded pew. You were there, as I knew You would be, Lord And I felt joy I could never explain. You saw my needs as I sat alone And You understood my pain. For You gently touched another heart Who seemed to sense my strife And smiled with an outstretched hand Then a new friend entered my life. Somewhere out in that crowded room You sent someone who would care That beautiful building came alive As light shines through dark despair Those close by did not see it, Lord And I doubt if they even knew But then, I guess they ve never been Alone in a crowded pew. Please make me aware of others, Lord As I sit in a crowded pew. Send me the help to guide them, And show me what to do To help lift their heavy burden And I know that I understand too Lord, let me love them until they know No one s alone in a pew with You.

6 Page 6 --The Messenger June July 2018 August 1 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Independence 5:30p Bad Girls Day! Office Women s Closed 10a Communion Worship 10a Ed Luekemeyer s Memorial Service 11:15a New Members Class 8 11:30a Security System Training 9 6p Christian Education Com :30a Weds. Morning Bible 6p Trustees Study 7p - Finance SSP Mission Team to San Diego through 7/20 11:30a Security System Training :45p SPRC 6:30p Joint COM & Admin. Board 18 7:30a Weds. Morning Bible Study 19 10a Seams of Faith a All Church Campus Clean-up Noon VBS Training 22 SSP Sunday :30a Vacation 8:30a Vacation Bible School Bible School 25 8:30a Vacation Bible School 26 8:30a Vacation Bible School 27 8:30a Vacation Bible School 28 11:15a New Members Class 29 VBS Sunday p Leadership Team 7p Midweek Gathering 11a Zyanya Pirtle s Birthday Party 11:15a New Members Class