Church News (Page 6)
Notes on “In Everything”
We continue our 3-week series on gratitude called Our Hymn of Grateful Praise exploring the essential nature of gratitude in our lives and in our faith. The opening verse this week is, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Consider someone in your life who acts this way. Perhaps it’s someone who is always happy or always celebrating or always filled with joy. This doesn’t mean, even as we approach Thanksgiving, that there isn’t room for grief…
Notes on “Enter the Gates”
This week we begin a new 3-week series on gratitude called Our Hymn of Grateful Praise. Through these few weeks, we will explore the essential nature of gratitude in our lives and in our faith. This first Sunday, we begin with a psalm of thanks (at least according to the heading in my Bible). I think expressing gratitude is essential for us, and sometimes I wonder if we have lost that practice. I’m sure I’ve spoken before about how terrible…
Katherine Parker Biography
Katherine ParkerUMC Global Missionary to Nepal Katherine is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of TheUnited Methodist Church serving as a Health and Community TransformationAdvisor with the United Mission to Nepal (UMN). The UMN has been supportedby the Methodist Church since its founding 65 years ago. Native to California, Katherine comes from a family with deep roots in UnitedMethodism on the West Coast. Two grandfathers, a great-grandfather, an aunt,and several cousins have served as United Methodist clergy.…
Rummage Reimagined
Dear Friends, Margie and I have had a number of people ask about the status of the rummage sale. This annual event of 60+ years is indeed going to happen. However, we need your help to make it happen. The “Rummage Reimagined” Sale of 2024 will be on Saturday, March 9, 2024. This is a gigantic experiment for us. Instead of the normal, year-round preparation, we will be accepting rummage and setting up only the week before. (More details about…
“Our Money Story – Restore”
We all have a money story, whether we recognize it or not. The worship series “Our Money Story” invites us to discover and tell our money stories in light of God’s money story of liberation and justice. This series will encourage us to transform our stewardship practices into more full expressions of who we are and what we believe. Three weeks ago, we Remembered many things! We remembered the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples on World Communion Sunday.…
Katherine Parker Visit
MISSIONS & SOCIAL CONCERNSKatherine Parker VisitSupport for Mission to Nepal Missionary Katherine Parker returned to our church last Sunday and presented her sermon: Healing & Joy on Our Journey with God. We learned how the community transformation brought by the United Mission to Nepal has led to improvements in education, health, good governance and sustainable livelihoods. Katherine’s work in Nepal over more than a decade has been especially important for Nepali women and girls, but Nepali men have also benefited from the…
“Our Money Story – Reimagine”
We all have a money story, whether we recognize it or not. The worship series “Our Money Story” invites us to discover and tell our money stories in light of God’s money story of liberation and justice. This series will encourage us to transform our stewardship practices into more full expressions of who we are and what we believe. Two weeks ago, we Remembered many things! We remembered the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples on World Communion Sunday.…
“Our Money Story – Release”
We all have a money story, whether we recognize it or not. The worship series “Our Money Story” invites us to discover and tell our money stories in light of God’s money story of liberation and justice. This series will encourage us to transform our stewardship practices into more full expressions of who we are and what we believe. This stewardship season we are asked to: Remember (October 1st) Release (October 8th) Reimagine (October 15th) Restore (October 22nd) Renew (October…
MISSIONS & SOCIAL CONCERNS UPDATESchool Supplies for Migrant Children “Backpack Train” Sunday, October 1st Responding to a request from the Peace with Justice Task Force of the California Pacific Conference, Pastor Tara applied for and was granted an UMCOR Grant in the amount of $2,000 to provide school supplies to children and youth seeking asylum or refugee status at the border. A member of our congregation matched that dollar amount so we ended with $4,000 for this project. The supplies…
Book Talk Fall Season Information
Book Talk is excited to announce a new season, with new books, new presenters, and new ideas! First, we are sponsoring Rev. John Fanestil’s discussion of his newest book, American Heresy, immediately after church on September 24. Grab a cup of coffee and a snack and join us in Fellowship Hall for a fascinating conversation. Our regular monthly meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month, at 2:00pm, in the Fireside Library. This year, we open on October 4, with…
“Wrestling with Freedom”
This week we will read from the book of Exodus, the letter to the Romans, and the Gospel of Matthew. These texts wrestle with many things, but we will focus on the concept of “freedom” in both the ancient world and our modern lives: Exodus 12:1-4, 12-14 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month will be the first month; it will be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole…
“Wrestling with Pride”
Throughout August we have followed the Revised Common Lectionary. Every week our readings wrestle with a particular theme. This week we are still in the Book of Genesis, the letter to the Romans, and the Gospel of Matthew. These texts wrestle with many things, but we will focus on the concept of “pride” in both the ancient world and our modern lives: Genesis 45: 1-15 Joseph could no longer control himself in front of all his attendants, so he declared,…