THE ROCK HE ALONE IS MY ROCK AND MY SALVATION, I SHALL NEVER BE SHAKEN PS 62:2 March, 2016 Volume 51 - Number 3 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) 2050 Ironwood Avenue P.O. Box 537 Morro Bay CA 93441 Phone: (805) 772-2996 www.firstchristianmorrobay.org morrobayfcc@gmail.com, Rev. Richard Kurrasch, Pastor
From the Pastor s Study First Christian Church, Morro Bay The Rock March 2016 From the Pastor s Study At three times the size of Alaska, it would seemingly be easy to find it on the map. Just picture one Alaska, multiply by three, close one eye, and there it is. Perhaps we should point out that its 1.4 or so million square miles is water and that the part that is inhabitable for its 100,000 citizens would fit in a space the size of New York City. Even knowing that, the island nation of Kiribati, located halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, is difficult to find and will become even more so as the 21 st century unfolds, for as the climate warms and sea levels rise, its limited land will largely vanish from view, possibly disappearing altogether, and its arable land will become subject to increased soil salinization. People arrived 3,000 years ago by canoe and today are leaving on jet planes, environmental refugees establishing new communities for a displaced people. Though the reason is new, theirs is not an isolated tale. DNA analysis points to human origins in Africa, but from there, we can trace fascinating migrations of people into all corners of the world. By definition, nomadic people are ever on the move, and all of us move as necessary to sustain our families, tribes and even whole nations. As we continue our Lenten journey toward Easter, the story of Kiribati is also something of a metaphor for the resurrection. The tragedy notwithstanding, the anticipated death of a nation propels the people to establish a new life in another place a snapshot of our resurrection hope. Without such pictures, we could not speak of that which is otherwise inexplicable (Paul s no eye has seen, no ear heard, what God has prepared for those who love him 1 Cor. 2.9). Surprise, shock, wonder, joy, fear, hope the whole range of emotions accompanied the first Easter, and still does today, for Easter directs us to contemplate new horizons, life on a different plane, casting aside the old so as to embrace the new. We are all nomads, and birth and death and resurrection are the vehicles by which we understand what Teilhard de Chardin means when he says we are not human beings having a spiritual experience but spiritual beings having a human experience. Easter joys,
Splinters from the Board We would like to inform the congregation about the formation of a worship task force made up of Worship chair Kay, Ron, Betty, the Elders and the Pastor. A newspaper article will be published in the Morro Bay Life for the March issue highlighting our church. An advertisement will accompany the article. IMPORTANT UPCOMING CHURCH DATES FOR 2016 March 2 March 6-20 March 19 April 4 & 5 May 8-15 May 22 June 5-12 June 6 & 7 July 24 August 1 & 2 September 17 October 3&4 November 12 December 5&6 December 11 December 24 Crafts resume - 10am Paper goods Shower Pot Luck Dinner (French theme) - 5pm Blanket Sunday Salad Luncheon (following worship) Women s Shelter Drive Camp Fund BBQ (following worship) Church Pot Luck 5pm Church Bazaar Christmas Dinner & Talent Show 5pm Christmas Eve Service
Tidbits from the Pews Birthdays Anniversaries Ethel Girard 4 Joe & Betty Salas 19 Richard Girard 8 Ed & Twila Riley 25 Judy Hardt 13 Kathleen Yerks 18 Kris Davis 20 Ed Riley 22 Ozzie Camuso 24 Gayle Woods 28 Betty Salas 28 HEALING PRAYERS FOR: Izabel Stuart Betty Mahoney Brian Diana Gayle Jackie PRAYERS FOR: Cage Stokovich Military of our Church Slater Foster Josh French Josh Bigbee Nathan McAdams Refugees Kay s Sunday School Class
CWF News Paper Products Drive The CWF will hold its annual Paper Products Drive March 6 th thru 20 th. Please bring your items to the table in the entryway. We need: Paper towels Toilet paper Napkins Cups for hot drinks We thank you for your donation. Crafts resume Crafts will resume Wednesday, March 2 nd, 10am to 2 pm. Please attend our first meeting so we can discuss changes and plans for the upcoming year. All are welcome. We make items to sell at the Holiday Bazaar and price items for the rummage area. Everyone enjoys lunch together. The money we earn goes to local charities. JOIN THE FUN! French Pot Luck Dinner A fun evening is planned for Saturday, March 19 th at 5 pm with a French themed Pot Luck Dinner. Bring a French food item to share and even dress like the French.
Opening Doors of Interfaith Understanding Meeting Series April 11 June 13 August 8: Experience a Taste of Ramadan, 7:30 p.m. The Mosque of Nasreen 1136 Walnut Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Experience a Taste of Shavout, 7:30 p.m. The Synagogue of Congregation Beth David 10180 Los Osos Valley Road San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 Content to be determined, 7:30 p.m. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
March, 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday.. 1 Prayer 2 3 4 5 Group 9:30 Crafts resume 10:00 Birthday Sunday Elder Mtg. 12:15 Paper Drive 6 th -20 th Food Collection Daylight Savings begins Paper Drive 6 th -20 th 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Prayer Group 9:30 Crafts 10:00 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Prayer 9:30 St. Patrick s French Crafts Day Pot Luck 10:00 Dinner Choir 5:00 Practice 3:00 pm 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Prayer Palm Sunday 9:30 Crafts Maundy Good Friday Board Mtg. 10:00 Thursday 12:15 Choir Paper Drive 6 th -20 th Practice 3:00 pm 27 28 29 30 31.. EASTER.......