The Courier May 2015 First United Methodist Church of Canoga Park 22700 Sherman Way, West Hills, CA 91307-2396 Telephone: 818.340.2950; FAX: 818.340.2951; Preschool: 818.340.6639 fumccp@sbcglobal.net website: www.umccp.org Join us at church Sundays at 10:00 am Heart to Heart Our granddaughter will turn two soon. Lucy and her mama were talking about her birthday cake. Heather asked, What color do you want your icing to be? Pink, she said, and blue. What do you want your birthday cake to taste like? Lucy thought about it. Chicken, she said. There are many things about which Lucy has yet to learn chocolate cake, for one, and that people come in many wonderful colors, for another. P E N TE C O ST M AY 2 4 I talked about people in many colors with our preschoolers during chapel this week. This is how I did it. I showed them a big bag of candy. What is this? They chorused, M&Ms! I poured them into a bowl and held up M&Ms one at a time. What color is this? Red! Raise your hand if you like red M&Ms. What color is this? Blue! Raise your hand if you like blue M&Ms. What color is this? Yellow! Raise your hand if you like yellow M&Ms. What color is this? Green! Raise your hand if you like green M&Ms. What color is this? Orange! Raise your hand if you like orange M&Ms. What color is this? Brown! Raise your hand if you like brown M&Ms. The kids liked red and blue and yellow and green and orange and brown M&Ms. They liked them all. I said, I like all the colors, too. They are good very good. Then, I said, The Bible says God made people all kinds of people. God made red, brown, yellow, black and white people. God saw all the people that he had made. And God thought it was good, very good. The Bible also says Jesus loves people all kinds of people. There s a song about this called Jesus Loves the Little Children. We sang the song first repeating each phrase and then all together. Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world. Then, we prayed thanking God for making people in many colors. Pastor Lynn Westover Pastor Lynn Westover Preschool Director Wendy Finley Music Director/ Accompanist Paul Cady Christian Education Director Margaret Cates Administrative Assistant Rebecca Roe Courier Layout Sharon Mountford Resident Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño North District Superintendent Rev. Cedrick D. Bridgeforth, EdD
Birthdays 4 Robin Abernathy Jessie Satterlee 7 Kaye Hall Carolyn Lottman 9 Betty Allen 11 Irma DeGala 14 Joseph Buttemeier Wendy Finley Bill Satterlee Flora Wilhelm 15 Robert Connolly 17 Nancy Johnson 23 Garett Finley Linda Woods 25 Ginny Scannell 26 Diane Mountford 27 Lea del Rosario Mery Jane Santos Anniversaries 24 George and Irene Miller If your special day is missing, please contact the church office. 3 Open 10 Betty Allen in celebration of her 95th birthday 17 Open 24 George & Irene Miller in honor of their 35th wedding anniversary 31 Open May Calendar Weekly Activities Sunday Peace Evangelical Church, Hall, 9:30 am Hindi Urdu UMC, Sanctuary, 5:00 pm Monday Senior Exercise Class, Hall, 9:00 am Tuesday Shower Ministry, 8:30 am - noon Boy Scouts, Scout Room, 7:00 pm Wednesday Men s Stag AA meeting, Parlor, 7:00 pm Thursday Choir rehearsal, Choir Room, 7:30 pm Other Activities Saturday 2 Men s Fellowship Breakfast, Denny s, 8:30 am Topanga Canyon Blvd., just north of Roscoe Blvd. Pauline Hawley Memorial Service, 11:00 am Tuesday 5 Leisure Club, Lounge, 11:00 am Thursday 7 UMW Mission Team meeting, Room 10, 10:00 am Tuesday 12 Administrative Committee, Library, 7:00 pm Friday 15 Courier deadline for May issue Saturday 16 Rockchippers meeting, Lounge, 6:00 pm Tuesday 19 Prayer Shawl Ministry, Library, 10:00 am Wednesday 20 Home Town Buffet Fundraiser (see page 6 Thursday 21 UMW General Meeting, Lounge, 9:30 am May 24 Pentecost Wear red to symbolize the coming of the Spirit Monday 25 Memorial Day, church office closed Wednesday 27 Education Ministry, Library, 4:00 pm Upcoming in June Tuesday 2 Leisure Club, Lounge, 11:00 am Newton Task Force meeting, Library, 7:00 pm Saturday 6 Men s Fellowship Breakfast North District Conference May 2 Northridge UMC from 9:00 11:45 am immediately followed by a celebration honoring our out-going District Superintendent Doctor Cedrick Bridgeforth. Transportation Ministry If you need a ride to church, or if you are interested in becoming a driver for the transportation ministry, please contact JoAnn Chadwick-Ellis at 818-932-9724 or Mary Mackay at 818-346-5872. Church Office Hours Monday Friday: 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Quiet Work Time is everyday from 1:00 2:00 pm. Phone calls received during that time will be returned after 2:00 pm.
UMW Mission Team Meeting Thursday, May 7 10:00 am Room 10 UMW General Meeting Thursday, May 21 9:30 am Lounge Program is Prayer & Self Denial UMW Merritt Memorial Fund Each year this fund has provided scholarships for the youth to go to camp. This year, however, due to the shortage of funds in the Merritt Memorial Fund we can only pay 25% of the total cost of camp for each child. If anyone wishes to contribute to the UMW Merritt Memorial Fund please make checks payable to UNITED METHODIST WOMEN, designated for the Merritt Memorial Fund by May 4. This fund is maintained by United Methodist Women and is separate from the church funds. For details about the camperships please see Margaret Cates. General meeting on March 19 Bookends Thursday, May 14, 9:30 am Library Book: The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd Virgene Engberg, reviewer g UMW Circle Meetings g Faith, Hope & Love Wednesday, May 20 7:00 pm Home of Chandra Seeger, 6625 Maplegrove Oak Park Willie Foreman & Miriam Mason Scholarship Recipient, Sadie Mizisin-Cullumber, with Shirley Thomson at the Claremont School of Theology Scholarship Luncheon. Churches to remember in prayer May 3, 2015: Lompoc: First UMC, Gilbert Stones Big Pine: Community UMC, Matt McPhee May 10, 2015: Oxnard: St Paul s UMC, Anna Mulford Pasadena: St James UMC, Kun-Kap Cho May 17, 2015: Valencia: UMC, Debbie Sperry Glendale: First German UMC, Hans-Martin Steckel May 24, 2015: Santa Barbara: First, Mark Richardson, Alan Strout Piru: UMC, Chuck Mabry May 31, 2015: Santa Maria: Bethel Korean Mission, Kisung Nam Los Angeles: Immanuel UMC, Moo Keun Ham Sarah Circle Thursday, May 14 9:30 am Breakfast at Coco s
Laura Longman Memorial Scholarship Awards April 5, 2015 We, the Laura Longman Memorial Scholarship Committee and the Congregation of the First United Methodist Church of Canoga Park congratulate the following scholarship recipients on their accomplishments to date and look forward to hearing of their future successes. Scholarship awards were presented to these students before Worship on Easter Sunday, April 5th, 2015. This is the thirty-first year granting scholarship awards to well-qualified upper-class undergraduate students. With these seven awards presented for the year 2015, 107 scholarship grants have been awarded in Laura s memory to 85 different students for a grand total of $146,000. Laura s mother, Nancy Johnson, expresses her gratitude to the congregation for making contributions in memory/honor of their loved ones, enabling us to share so generously with deserving students. Recipients of the Laura Longman Memorial Scholarship and their families were photographed after Worship with the Easter Flower Cross. Cody Allman is a junior at Whittier College majoring in Business Administration. Katelynn Ann Amos is a senior at Western Michigan University majoring in Business Accounting. Taylor Brandli will be a senior this fall at the University of Arkansas, majoring in Nursing. Jennifer Hunter is a junior at Cornerstone University in Michigan, with a dual major in Bible and Creative Writing. Kelly Indermill is a senior at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Journalism. Emily Willauer is now a junior at the University of Alaska Southeast studying English Literature and Creative Writing. Lauren Zambello will be a senior next fall at the University of Cincinnati majoring in Dietetics. Shown are: (L to R) Pastor Lynn Westover, Don and Colleen Indermill with (recipient) Kelly Indermill, Roger & Nancy Johnson (Laura s Parents), Cheryl and John Willauer (representing recipient Emily Willauer), (recipient) Cody Allman with Karen Grengs, (his grandmother), Cynthia Allman, (his mother) and George Grengs (his grandfather), and Evelyn and Don Heim representing their grand daughter Lauren Zambello. Recipients receiving their awards by mail are: Kate Amos, Taylor Brandli, and Jennifer Hunter.
Leisure Club Tuesday, May 5 11 o clock, Lounge out west of town on Sherman Way. I still fondly remember Dr Wilkins who also sang in the church choir. I doubt there are many others left though that I would remember it s been too many years. I graduated from CPHS in 1963 and joined the Air Force in 1964. Our program will be Laughter Is The Best Weapon, featuring Bryon Walls of California Crimefight. Join us for this fun approach to crime. Bryon has been an opening act for Phyllis Diller, Mort Saul, New Christy Minstrels, Rosemary Clooney, Glen Yarbrough and the Limeliters. He will also be selling safety items for your home. Don t forget your food and non-food items for our Shower Ministry. Bring a pot luck dish to share and enjoy the fun. From the Mailbox Grace to you and peace from Jesus Christ You don t know me, but I used to be a member of the Canoga Park Methodist Church and every now and then I still browse through the church s website and read the newsletter just to see if there s a face or name that comes to mind. Besides, sometimes I just like to reminisce. I loved your story about coloring Easter Eggs with the family that was touching. I may share the idea with my own congregation. Then I read the story about Midge Herder and while I don t remember her directly (she would have been my folks age), but I knew and remember some that she would have known. You see my folks also moved to Canoga Park in 1956 and we began attending the Methodist Church on Jordan Ave. I don t remember who our church musician was, but he gave me piano lessons for a couple of years back then. I went through confirmation and was baptized in that old church by Rev. Bob Wierbach in 1958 and my dad was on the building committee for the new church when the congregation moved Every couple of years I get back to California to see my brother perhaps one day I ll just drop in and visit. Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane blessings to you and yours. Dale Rev Dale Durnell, Pastor, Dewey UMC Dewey, Oklahoma www.deweymc.com To the Courier, The Courier was a blessing to our mother and the late Pastor Willie s aunt. Our mother enjoyed reading the Courier until she was called home at her residence on 17 December 2014, at 103 years old. We, the family of the late Otis Roberts, will always be thankful for the joy the Courier brought to our mother. The Roberts Family Dear Church Friends, My heartfelt thanks for the cards and prayers during my back pain. I am doing better now and was able to attend the inspiring Easter service. It was such a beautiful program. Joan Kelley Dear Mr. & Mrs. Johnson, I want to thank the both of you, the Laura Longman Memorial Scholarship Committee and your congregation. It is wonderful that you have the opportunity to influence lives for the better. I am grateful for the blessing you have brought into my life. Best Wishes, Taylor Brandli To the Laura Longman Memorial Scholarship Committee, Thank you so very much for considering me for the Laura Longman Memorial Scholarship again! This scholarship has been such a tremendous blessing to me. Words cannot express my gratitude. Thank you for all the time, thought and prayers that went into this decision. God bless you all. Sincerely, Kate Amos
News from the Preschool We just had school pictures taken and finished all Parent/Teacher conferences. Spring semester is in full swing! We will be doing our Make-a-Plate project this month! Such a great gift for Mother s Day or Father s Day! We are also working on our end-of-the-year program. Enrollment is already going very well for Summer Session, which runs for 6 weeks, starting the last week of June. We are also enrolling new kids for Fall semester, which will start in August. We get a lot of our students from word of mouth, and are pleased that we do have a reputation for being such a good school. Let your friends and neighbors know! All of us at the Preschool want to thank you, our church family, for all the support throughout the year. Wendy Grant Proposals Since 2013, the Newton Task Force has awarded the following grants: Gospel Fest - $1500 for Advertising & Talent Laura Longman - $1500 grant to be added to working capital (principal); Elementary teacher funding for 2 years; and Youth Teacher funding through December 2014. The task force will meet June 2 at 7:00 pm to consider grant proposals for programs and events that will benefit church and/or community. Send grant requests no later than May 31 to Pastor Lynn at preachingbarefoot@att.net. Melinda Dodge Melinda served as Community Youth Minister at Canoga Park First Church for a time. She will be ordained this year at Annual Conference in Redlands. She called to share the good news and invite you to come to the ordination service on Saturday evening, June 20, at 7:30 pm at the University of Redlands. Website Since October of last year, the Administrative Committee has been working to give our website a facelift. The new site is up and running, although it is a work in progress. We thank Julius Lopez for his expertise, as well as Grant and Trish Simmons for their hard work to make it happen. We are excited to share that our church videos will now be available through the website. The Easter Cantata will soon be posted. The church family expresses gratitude to Doris Hood who developed and managed our website for over ten years. She studied a very thick manual to learn how to do it and made it happen. She demonstrated great wisdom in the categories and content to include. Well done, Doris! Visit Our Updated Website at umccp.org Save the date Tuesday, May 19 We are having a big fundraiser. Let s eat together at Home Town Buffet. We will be selling tickets for either lunch or dinner. The tickets for lunch are $12.00 and dinner $15.00. The price includes your beverage. The church receives $5.00 for each ticket sold. You will save money and the church will benefit. The lunch hours are 11-2 and dinner 5-8. All proceeds will go into the general fund to pay church expenses.
Erl Nelsen turns 100 Erl Nelsen celebrated his 100th birthday at church on April 12. Family members joined the congregation in wishing Erl a happy birthday and shared good wishes for his continued vitality. He received award certificates from President Obama, Mayor Eric Garcetti and our local Neighborhood Council. North District News The District Office has been relocated to a commercial office space in Northridge because the Erl with Dan Brin of the West Hills Neighborhood Chatsworth West UMC, where the Council. District Office had been located, needed to expand some ministries on its campus. Relocating the District Office at this time made more sense for that church and for the District. Rev. Jim Powell will assume the role of North District Superintendent, effective July 1. New North District Office & Superintendent 9003 Reseda Blvd. #206, Northridge, CA 91324 New Summer Camp Options There are many choices for summer camp this year, but the regular program at Camp Colby is not one of them. The regular programs will be at: Arroyo Grande, Cedar Glen, Lazy W, Wrightwood, and Sturtevant. All of the camp dates are in July. There are also several specialty camps. There is too much information for this article, so I urge parents to go to the camp website for a description of the programs. The website is www.calpaccamps.org. The tuition will increase after May 31, so please check out the website SOON. Our United Methodist Women will be able to donate about 25% of the tuition. There are also Cal-Pac Camperships available, and the application is on line. If you cannot find the information you need on the website, or have any questions, please call Margaret Cates at 818 919-9444. Rose Garden The rose garden is still looking for a new caregiver. For many years, Jasper Hood has maintained the rose garden in remarkable ways. The time has come to pass the torch. Jasper can no longer see well enough to prune (annually) and feed the bushes or to remove spent blossoms. Please contact the church office. The Shaw Family in the death of Paul Morrison The DeGies Family in the death of Tony DeGies (shower ministry) Hawley Family in the death of Pauline Hawley Ferrin Family in the death of Pat Ferrin Ted Stanwood Robin Abernathy Skyler Abernathy Irene Zelaya Pat Eaton Charyl Patterson Stan Dimmick Gabby Dimmick Jonathan Ferrin Ted Jiminez Hope Schmidt LaDean Owen Elvera & Walter Deonik Martin & Margaret Shuler MN To receive Prayer Chain e-mails, please contact Robin Abernathy at robingreenbird@yahoo.com
Congratulations, Eagle Scouts! An Eagle Scout Court of Honor was held for Troop 474 on March 28, 2015. Paul Crippin, Michael McCann and Matthew Company are FUMCP s newest Eagles. Each Eagle Scout spoke about his experience along the trail to becoming an Eagle. The road to Eagle Scout is a journey from boyhood to manhood and recognizes achievements and lessons learned. Fewer than 5% of all boys in the scouting program achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Presidents, astronauts and business leaders have credited their Eagle Scout experience as a major contributor to their success. Matthew Company, Paul Crippen, & Michael McCann The Courier will carry stories about the recent Eagle Scout projects in the next issue. FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF CANOGA PARK 22700 Sherman Way West Hills, CA 91307-2396 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D Canoga Park, CA Permit #1 Return Service Requested