Cover Story

FAMILY PANTRY
by Phyllis Johnson
More than $3,000 in food and monetary donations was raised during the recent food drive to benefit the new Family Pantry operation at Upward Bound House, as well as West Side Food Bank and the Imani Unidos AIDS food pantry at Faith UMC in Los Angeles. The food drive, which concluded November 19, drew together not only our church, but the heartfelt efforts of our Preschool and sister community churches St. Paul’s, St. Augustine’s and La Tijera in Los Angeles. The children and their parents at the school filled two large bins to overflowing during their week-long food drive. All totaled, these combined efforts have helped stock the shelves of Family Pantry with staple food items residents can use as they move toward self-sufficiency. Family Pantry is a collaborative effort of Upward Bound House and the Church and Community Committee, a subcommittee of the Social Concerns Council. C&C began discussions with UBH several months ago about what the church and the community at large could do to best assist the residents of the facility. UBH was already planning the pantry and asked for assistance with developing a plan for food distribution and ongoing management of the food bank. Residents of Family Place, which serves 22 formerly homeless families, will receive the bulk of their weekly grocery items from the pantry once it is in full operation. The money once spent on groceries will be added to the residents’ ongoing savings plans, so that they may become self-sufficient and move into homes of their own much quicker, opening space for other homeless families. Other organizations, schools and synagogues will be approached about holding drives in the New Year. Volunteers from our church, as well as other participating churches and organizations, will form a pool of workers who will assist with distribution once the pantry is open. The food drive for our church was made possible by the Missions Council, which graciously agreed to allow the C&C to participate in its annual Fall food drive. The C&C is currently developing an ongoing weekly distribution plan so that residents will receive food stocks in a timely and useful manner. Many volunteers will be needed. Prayerfully consider if you can spare some time to be a part of this effort. For more about the Upward Bound House visit their website at www.upwardboundhouse.org.

Highlights

A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
December 2 & 3 at 7:30 pm
It’s here, the musical Christmas Celebration you’ve all been waiting for! Tickets may be purchased at the door. Contact the church office for more information. More...

THE TIME HAS COME
On Consecration Sunday, November 19, financial pledges from members and friends, in support of the work of the church in 2007, were consecrated as part of our morning worship. If you were unable to return a pledge card, we hope you will do so as soon as possible. Your prayerful support is very much appreciated!

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS
Share the Spirit of Christmas
The Alternative Christmas fair will be open during coffee hour in Simkins Hall every Sunday in Advent. Stop by to learn more about and make your donation to any of the 12 mission projects in honor of a loved one. It’s the ultimate way to Share the Spirit of Christmas! More...

HOLIDAY TREE PROJECT
Return Your Gifts by December 10
If you signed up to provide one of the needed gifts from the tree, please bring it gift- wrapped to the church by December 10. There are still ornaments that have not been claimed. Contact the church office or stop by coffee hour for more information.

COME WALK THE LABYRINTH
Two Opportunities in December
The Labyrinth will be open for walks on December 10 and on New Year’s Eve. The Labyrinth provides a wonderful opportunity for prayer and meditation, something that can do wonders for the soul this time of year! See the calendar for walk times.

POINSETTIAS
Order by December 15!
Poinsettias will adorn the sanctuary on Christmas Eve Sunday and an insert in the Order of Worship will list the dedications. To reserve your flowers ($10 each), contact the church office by December 15.

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday, December 24
On Christmas Eve we will worship together in the morning at 10 am (one service only). That evening the Family Christmas Eve Service will begin at 4 pm. Please note this is a new time. And our traditional Candlelight Service will begin at 11 pm.

ADVENT AND US 2006
“Adventus” by Lauren Kay Shock
How shall I decorate my life for your coming - with baubles and garlands and wreaths? Rather, enlighten me with your Spirit, O God, that my being would shine with your light. Decorate my heart with kindness and love. Adorn my life with garlands of joy! And may your peace be a wreath upon my head that I might glorify you forever. (From Courageious Spirit: Voices from Women in Ministry, printed in Alive Now - November/December 2006 by the Upper Room)
There are countless opportunities at FUMC during the Advent season from music concerts to worship services to gift drives to labyrinth walks. Despite the fact that we involved with the church do our best to remember the reason for the season, we too often get caught up in all there is to DO. To help us really get into the SPIRIT of Christmas this year we are offering a wealth of resources to suit every need. Try out one of the devotional booklets for families and adults or the Alive Now supplement for November/December by the Upper Room, or take home an Advent Wreath that you can light each week in your own home. All of these resources are free and available for you during coffee hour on Sunday mornings in Simkins Hall.

SPIRIT-TENDING IN THE FAST LANE
Check it out! It’s our latest addition to the FUMC website, a monthly meditation beginning in December with an Advent theme. This online meditation offers the busy and stressed among us the opportunity to stop for a moment, breathe, and center. We hope it will be a useful tool for staying connected to Spirit in the midst of the busyness of life, to stop and remember who and what matters. This is being sponsored by the Spiritual Formation Ministry. Let us know what you think and how we might improve upon it. Email Mary Garbesi.

THE JOURNEY FOR 2006 ISN'T OVER
Thanksgiving is behind us, and it’s hard to believe that it’s almost Christmas. This year seemed to rush by. All of a sudden many people find that they’ve fallen behind in the pledge they made to the church. We need to honor the commitment we made to God and this church. There are times that things happen in life – and we can’t fulfill the commitments we made. Sometimes, we just need a reminder. This is that reminder! Your 2006 pledge is now due! All pledges must be received in the church office by 2 pm on January 2, in order to be recorded on your Annual Contribution Statement for 2006. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Bill Prescott in the church office.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
We welcome these new members who joined our congregation on October 29. Tom and Adriana Walsh, along with Tom III, Arielle and Barron, came this past spring thanks to an invitation from neighbor Joy Detmer. They bring a wonderful set of gifts and talents, a delightful set of triplets and a rich love of God and dedication to the work of the church. Andy Anagnos, who is married to FUMC member Karen Van Kirk and is the proud father of Nicholas and Abigail, brings a keen mind and deep sense of purpose. He also brings amazing consulting skills in organizational development and has already been invaluable to the Preschool. Cheryl Shanks has been active at FUMC for a long time now, so we’re thrilled that she made the step to join us in membership. Cheryl is the proud mother of JP who is very active in the youth group. Cheryl is Chairperson of The Fellowship and Events Coucil, has coordinated the Acolytes and Crucifers and supports the youth program in many ways. Robert Stamps is someone you see almost every Sunday in his blue usher’s shirt serving the church. Robert is a writer and poet. His ready smile and constant prayers add so much to our fellowship. As you see, each of these new members is already at work. It’s great to have them on board as they work to expand the ministry of FUMC. We extend a warm welcome and congratulations to them for joining FUMC which will only become stronger and more vital thanks to their membership.

Horizons

by Patricia Farris
Ready or not, Advent is here and Christmas is not far behind. How is it that it always comes earlier each year, catching us off guard and wondering where the time has gone? Another year past already? The December days are rushing up upon us like oncoming freeway headlights and we are a bit dazed and disoriented.

I’ve come to think that these feelings of surprise and disorientation are in fact central to the very meaning of Advent itself. The Gospel writers want us to have this same sense of urgency and speed and dismay. Christ is coming! And he will come again at the end of time to bring all things to completion. And God’s people are NEVER ready! We never expect it. We’re hunkered down just trying to manage our everyday lives, to get along, to cope.

Lift up your heads, the trumpets and the angels shout at us in Advent! Look up! Your king comes. A savior is born. Salvation is at hand.

Oh my. We should feel discombobulated! God is going to turn the world upside down and inside out and make all things new. And so the church, in all its ancient wisdom, sets aside four Sundays of Advent and demands that we pay attention and try and take it all in and get ourselves ready. Not our homes and our gifts and our decorations and all that—but ourselves, our hearts, our souls.

And so, let us pray:

Lord of earth and heaven, may we always be an Advent people, looking for the day of your ultimate reign. You fill the world with signs and wonders to give us confidence in the
strength of your love.

As you give us the gift of yourself, open our hearts and eyes to the joy of your presence. Touch our hearts and our world with your hope-filled words and saving hands.

You are our hope and our salvation. Bless us to hear your
Word wisely and build your kingdom of love. And in this
holy season of searching and longing, grant us courage
to be Christ for others.

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen

Community

Looking Out for Each Other
On October 14, 10 members, ushers, heads of ministry and staff took the CPR AED class and are now certified in case of an emergency. Congratulations to Wynn Battig, Sue Heffner, Phyllis Johnson, Char Smith, Margaret Gazey, Ellen Polamero, Al Mead, Chris Reagh, Kevin Sanger and Mary Jo Dalton. Everyone in a leadership role is encouraged to take a CPR class. The Red Cross offers them for free on occasion. If you are CPR trained (or become so in the future) and would like training on the Defibrillator, contact the church office.

Giving Thanks
The bridge young adult group of FUMC held its second annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Santa Monica College international students at the church on Thanksgiving Day. With almost 25 in attendance, a smorgasbord of traditional Thanksgiving foods, and lots of giving thanks, a fun time was had by all!

Condolences
We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of:
-Esther Neubauer who passed away on October 17 at the age of 93.
-Pauline Daws who passed away on November 24. A Memorial Service for Pauline will be held in the chapel on Friday, December 1 at 11:30 am.

Births
Congratulations to Jennifer and Charley Worley on the birth of Bethany Lee on Sunday, November 26 at 6 lbs 6 oz and 19 1/4 inches. The whole family is doing well! Welcome, Bethany!

Wonderful Things
It was a joyful occasion to find out that we set a record with 35 children attending church on Sunday morning November 12. What a great record to break! So, guess how astounded we were to find out that the following Sunday, November 19, proved another record-breaking number at 45 children! Praise God! The secret seems to be that the children are bringing their friends. Let this be a lesson for the rest of us.

Congratulations
-Congratulations to our Health Ministry Nurse, Mary Jo Dalton, who is the new President-Elect of the Health Ministries Association, Southern California Chapter.

Missions Update

NOTHING BUT NETS
The United Methodist Church has joined with the United Nations Foundation and Sports Illustrated magazine in a campaign to provide malaria nets for African families. Named “Nothing But Nets,” the campaign has already provided 150,000 nets in Nigeria. A $10 contribution provides a net that can cover a family of four as they sleep, and also pays for a community worker to educate the family on how to use the net. Since 75% of malaria victims are children, church school and youth groups are being urged to participate in the campaign. More information is available at the website www.nothingbutnets.net, and donations can be made through that site.

KATRINA AID TODAY
Katrina Aid Today, a consortium of 25 disaster recovery agencies anchored by UMCOR, has aided 30,112 families toward long-term recovery from Hurricane Katrina, and it plans to assist another 70,000 families over the next 11 months. Housing, job training, employment assistance and utility payments are the most pressing needs for these families. Over 1,400 full-time and volunteer recovery case managers are working in 32 states. For more information, visit www.katrinaaidtoday.org.

GULF COAST PARTNERSHIP REPORT
Contributions: From within FUMC $31,272
From other churches 22,342
From outside individuals and groups 7,748
Total income 61,362
Expense: Landscaping at Bethany UMC (inclusive) 42,526
Gifts to Bethany (chairs, Bibles, baptismal font, etc) 4.056
Misc. work supplies (paint, glass, gutting supplies) 1,322
Work Team expense (food, vans, insurance, etc) 4,703
Donation to host church 1,000
Fundraising costs 1,115
Total expense 54,722
(Note: Income and outgo for the Youth team’s own non-work expense is not included in the above figures.) Visit our Gulf Coast Partnership page for more about this project.

Upcoming Worship

December 3 , 2006
First Sunday of Advent
Sermon: "What Will the Future Bring?" by Rev. Patricia Farris
Scripture: Psalm 25:1-10; Luke 21:25-26

December 10 , 2006
Second Sunday of Advent
Sermon: “Good News for the Real World” by Rev. Patricia Farris
Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 3:1-6

More...