April
22 - May 5, 2007
Cover
Story
PALM
SUNDAY AND EASTER AT FUMC
click on photos for larger images
Palm
Sunday and Easter 2007
proved to be a joyful time at FUMC!
Photos
by Howard Hackett, Janet McCreight, Chris Stanfill,
Dan Stirling and Allan Walker. Photo of Fucsia flowers from
our Covenant Missionaries in Guatemala.
Highlights
APRIL
BOOK STUDY & POTLUCK
Sunday, April 22 @ 12 noon
The book Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense by N.
T. Wright will be the topic of discussion. Join Rev. Patricia
Farris for this enlightening book study and potluck lunch in the
Fireside Room at 12 noon.
CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
Social Concerns Seminar
On Sunday, April 29 at 11:45 am in the Fireside Room, the Social
Concerns Council will sponsor a seminar with guest speaker Laraine
Mestman, who is a Mediator and Facilitator for Centinela Youth
Services in Hawthorne. She will talk about the widely respected
center that works with disadvantaged youth and communities to
stem the tide of violence, and to promote mediation, conflict
resolution, and restorative justice. She will also lead us in
a discussion of how dedicated individuals can be “peacebuilders”
in families, in their communities and in the world. All are welcome.
PRESCHOOL
SPRING FAIR
Saturday, May 5
The Preschool will be holding its annual Spring Fair Fundraising
Gala on May 5. The theme will be a Luau and there will be activities,
food and fun for children of every age. Come join in the fun and
help raise money for this award-winning and so very important
Preschool that is part of our church.
COME
WALK THE LABYRINTH
Saturday, May 6
The Labyrinth will be open on May 6 from 10:30 am - 12 noon (last
entry at 11:15 am) and 2 - 4:30 pm (last entry at 3:45 pm). Come
renew your spirit!
GOODBYE,
PAULA
It is with regret and sadness that we accept the resignation of
Paula Catling. Paula has resigned, effective immediately, due
to health concerns. Paula has been an administrative assistant
at FUMC since 1999, and her decision to leave was not an easy
one.
Let all of us keep Paula in our prayers. Let us be thankful for
her years of service. Let us be hopeful that as she takes care
of herself and enjoys this period of rest, that she will also
find peace and wellness.
Thank you, Paula. Your presence in the office will truly be missed.
BIG
"WEEKEND" - APRIL 28 & 29
We encourage you to join FUMC, members of the bridge young adult
group and members of our UMYF on Saturday, April 28, from 9 am
to 1 pm as we build, repair, paint, and plant at Inside Out Community
Arts located at Venice UMC (project #0503). Families with smaller
children may be interested in the beach cleanup project at Bay
Street Beach taking place on Sunday, April 29 from 1 - 3 pm (project
#0562). To participate in either of these projects, please go
to www.bigsunday.org and sign up using the project # you prefer.
In addition, FUMC will be collecting all kinds of clothing, both
new and gently-used, on Sunday, April 22 through Friday, April
27. Beyond that date we will not be accepting donations. Join
us in living the motto: No matter who you are, where you live,
or what you do, everyone has some way they can help someone else.
For more information, contact the church office.
MY
EVERDAY SACRED
Where/how do you see and/or experience God, the Sacred, the Holy
in your daily life? God is always present and manifest around
us. All we need do is open our eyes, hearts and minds.
You are invited to participate in a photo project that seeks to
help us all become more aware of the sacred. Through this project
we will attempt to deepen our awareness of God’s presence
in our daily lives and share that with one another through a display
of photography and written description. This is not a contest.
The photos will not be judged. No photography experience or expertise
is needed. Just accept the challenge, have fun taking pictures
and write a brief narrative about your photographs, including
where/how you see God in those pictures. Your photos may be any
size (minimum of 4x6) and your accompanying text may be any length.
You may submit your materials in a variety of ways, whatever is
most comfortable and convenient for you. We begin this project
on April 22 and deadline for submissions will be May 27 with a
display being planned for June 10. A hand-out with the project
description and submissions instructions as well as disposable
cameras (donations appreciated) will be available during coffee
hour in Simkins Hall beginning on April 22. You may also request
more information by sending an email to mysacred@santamonicaumc.org.
We hope this will be an enjoyable way to increase our awareness
of God’s presence in our lives and through sharing our vision
of My Everyday Sacred we will all be enriched. Give it a shot!
GIVE
YOUR KIDS A NEW ALTITUDE!
Vacation Bible School is on the way! FUMC is teaming up with Westwood
UMC and inviting other churches in the community to participate
in this year’s event being held from August 6 - 10 (9 am
- 12:30 pm each day). The theme is “Lift Off: Soaring to
New Heights with God.” The recommended donation is $50 per
child with a maximum of $80 for families. Camperships are available.
Children ages 3 through 5th grade won’t want to miss this
fun annual summer event. Be sure to mark your calendars! For more
information contact Claudia Flanders at (310) 393-2002.
Horizons
by
Patricia Farris
Tax Time
As
this issue of the Sentinel goes out, I’m sure some among
you will have just squeezed those extra two days to get your tax
returns in for every possible minute of additional time to procrastinate!
You know who you are!
I
don’t suppose there are many among us who look forward to
paying our taxes. Most people who get their returns in early seem
to be anticipating a refund. But it got me thinking about taxes
and what they can do and how they might be directed. What we fund
with our taxes and what we’re willing to pay in taxes reflect
our basic priorities and values as a people.
When I was in France recently, the 90+ year-old aunt in the family
was receiving “at home hospitalization” fully paid
for by taxes. She is visited at home twice a day by a doctor,
three times a day by a nurse/attendant who monitors her medication,
prepares her meals, bathes her, etc. She has all the equipment
she needs—a hospital bed, special chair, chair for the bath
tub and so forth. All this allows her one remaining family member
to care for her at home. She receives excellent fresh, home-cooked
meals. She remains part of the neighborhood network of friends
of all ages who come to visit her still in the house where she
was born. She can watch the Mass every Sunday on television and
stay connected to the faith that sustains her and gives meaning
to her living and her dying.
So,
with special blessings upon all you CPAs, financial advisors and
tax preparers out there who are ready for a bit of well-deserved
time off, let’s all say a prayer for what our taxes could
make possible for children, for seniors, for all those in great
need. Here is a prayer of intercession from the Lutheran Book
of Worship:
“O
Lord, our governor, your glory shines throughout the world. Bless
the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among
ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth. Help us
elect trustworthy leaders and give to all in authority the wisdom
and strength to know your will and to do it. Help them remember
that they are called to serve the people as lovers of truth and
justice. And help us to contribute to wise decisions for the general
welfare, and thus serve you faithfully in our generation to the
honor of your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Patricia
Farris
Community
Prayer
Quilt and Square Thanks
-I want to thank you with all my heart for your thoughts and prayers
you all covered the prayer quilt with. My grandparents: Connie
and Carmen Casillas are very wonderful people and without them
I would not have received such a wonderful gift during this hard
time in my life. Always - Brooke Phillips
-I wanted to thank the entire congregation for all of their support
during my recent hospitalization and recuperation. What a blessing
it is to be a part of this congregation and to be cared for with
your food, prayers, baby-sitting, cards, calls and love. I know
that I owe my speedy recovery to your faith and support. A special
thank you to the Prayer Quilt Ministry for my prayer square and
prayer quilt. The quilt never left me and it provided comfort
to my boys as well as to me. With profound gratitude, Shannon
Sturges
McCurdy
School Thanks
A big thank you to all who collected and turned in your food product
labels for the Education Program for McCurdy School in New Mexico,
a mission of the General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC.
So much good has come out of these labels - a van, 20 computers,
playground equipment, etc... Recently we sent 1500 labels plus
535 General Mills box tops which will buy books for the children.
Please continue to save and turn in (to a member of UMW or the
church office) your labels from Campbell soups, beans and juices;
Franco American Spaghetti; Pepperidge Farms; Swanson; V-8 and
Prego products. All are appreciated. If you have questions or
for more information, contact Ellen Wise at (310) 828-3382.
Alternative
Thanks
Thank you so much for letting us stay in the church this week!
It has been a trip we will never forget. Please send our thanks
to all of the Santa Monica FUMC community as well! Take care,
Northwestern University Alternative Student Breaks
Condolences
We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of member
Esther Shaw who passed away on April 4.
April
22, 2007 Easter Three