Cover Story

From top, left to right: Janet McCreight, Children's Ministry Council; Cheryl Shanks, Fellowship & Events Council; Tracy Edwards, Finance Committee; Brad Beeman, Lay Leadership Committee; Carol Greenwood, Library Committee; Shannon Sturges, Preschool Committee; Ken Rasmussen, Social Concerns Council; Fernanda Gray, Spiritual Formation Council; Bee Campbell, Staff Parish Relations Committee; John Youngman, Trustees; Ron Theile, Youth Ministry Council

Not pictured:
Jack Fry - Chair, Church Council
Berneice Southcott - Chair, Communion Stewards
Carol Reich and Donna Shands - Co-Chairs, Guidance & Outreach
TBA - Health Ministry Council
Marilyn Hedges - Chair, Historical Records
Jeff Pelton - Co-Chair, Lay Leadership
Ben Ing - Chair, Loans and Scholarships
John Stutsman - President, Methodist Foundation
Helen Hewit and Paul Smith - Co-Chairs, Missions Council
Chuck Kearsley - Chair, Parking Lot Committee
Mike Eskridge - Chair, Seasonal Displays
Mira Pak and Phyllis Johnson - Co-Chairs, Church & Community
Bernice de Leon and Helen Hewitt - Co-Presidents, UMW
Booker Pearson - President, Upward Bound House Board of Directors

For a full list of our clergy and staff and for contact information for the church office and individuals, visit our Contact page.

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Highlights

THE TIME HAS COME
Wrapping Up and Gearing Up
2007 is officially here! If you haven’t already completed your 2006 pledge, please do so as soon as possible. The time is now! Also, if you haven’t already turned in your pledge card for 2007, that is also due to the office as soon as possible. Thank you and Happy New Year!

JANUARY BOOK STUDY
January 28 @ 12 noon, Fireside Room
Dr. Marjorie Suchocki will be our Guest Leader for our discussion of her book Divinity and Diversity: A Christian Affirmation of Religious Pluralism (now available for sale in the Church Library). Dr. Suchocki, now retired from the Claremont School of Theology, is a renowned author and speaker on the subject of process theology. This book is a readable and fascinating introduction to a theology of interreligious dialogue as a gift from God—rather than as a forum for confrontation or debate. Read the book! Come to share your reflections. And bring all your process theology questions. There’s no one better able to clarify, challenge and inspire our thinking and our living than Dr. Suchocki.

NEW MINISTRY IS LAUNCHED
Communion Servers Get Ready
Our new Communion Server Ministry will begin with training sessions scheduled for January 14 and 21, with commissioning in worship on January 28. The trained servers will take the elements to those who cannot be with us on February 4, following communion. Currently, we have about a dozen individuals who are planning to participate in the training. Please pray for this ministry as we move forward in its planning and implementation.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE
To Sign Up For These Great Classes
If you are interested in “After the Apple” led by Mary Garbesi (beginning on January 14) or the Disciple Bible Study focusing on John and Revelation led by Brad Beeman (beginning on January 22), visit the church website for more information and contact the church office to sign up.

DONNING A NEW HAT
Bill Prescott, our Accounting Manager for the past year, has been named as our new Business Administrator (which will encompass the Accounting work of the church as well), upon recommendation of the Search Committee and the SPRC. Bill brings extensive experience in both the profit and non-profit sectors as well as a love of the church. He is an active member of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Woodland Hills. Bill is deeply committed to the people, staff and mission of FUMC and eager to work to help us accomplish our goals and dreams. We are most fortunate to welcome him to these new responsibilities.

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES ABOUND
FUMC is now subscribing to both the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide and Alive Now. The cost for the Upper Room is $1.00. The Upper Room Large Print is $1.50. Alive Now is $2.00. The prices are posted wherever the publications are available. We appreciate your attention to this as we attempt to keep our costs under control in the coming year.

YOU'RE INVITED
The Shareringers invite all who are interested to attend their next meeting on January 18 in the Fireside Room at 7 pm to hear a special speaker on the topic of his dissertation: “Links Between the Kyrgyz Hero Manas and the Biblical Tribe Manasseh.” The topic of his dissertation comes from his time spent in Kyrgyzstan. He listened to Kyrgyz oral history and began to come to the belief that these people could be one of the lost tribes of Israel. Those who have had the blessing of hearing him speak will know how enthusiastic and engaging he can be. So come one and all for a very enlightening evening. Dessert will be served. Contact the church office for more information. Shareringers

MANY THANKS
Thanks to Matt Crawford, Todd Erlandson, Ben Ing, Michael McCreight, Sam Payne and Jon Ward for setting up our crèche in the courtyard of the church this year. We also thank Chuck Kearsley, Dennis Payne, Sam Payne, Charleen Smith and Dan Stirling for setting up the FUMC crèche as part of the Palisades Nativity Scenes, and the Davanzo family, Maritza, Eddie and especially Andrew and Karina, who arranged all the sheep in the scene.

KEEPING THE MEMORIES
Do you remember the wonderful Shelby Showcase that was presented back in October? Well, you can for many years to come with a video of the program, now available for $20 from Audrey Rogers. Contact her at (310) 828-4768 or email. Proceeds from the sale of these videos will be contributed to the fund for the new Simkins Hall in The Shelby Center

SEEKING PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR
FUMC is seeking a full-time Director for its Preschool. FUMC's Preschool is currently one of the most respected in the region. Qualified applicants will be current with California State Director Licensing requirements, will have extensive experience as a preschool or early childhood education director, will have considerable experience leading and directing a large staff, have an understanding of the differences between developmental and academic based programs, and have a significant love for children. In addition, because of the nature and demographics of the surrounding community, experience with placement in both public and private schools would be beneficial. We are looking for a leader with skills in management, clear communication, staff support and development, current early childhood educational research and practices, along with budgeting and finance. Faith-based experience is also very important. Salary is negotiable based on experience within a range of $42 - 55,000. Full benefits are provided. Please send a cover letter and resume addressed to Preschool Director Search Committee via: fax (310-393-8842), email, or mail (First United Methodist Church, 1008 Eleventh Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403). Deadline for submitting is January 25, 2007.
FUMC Preschool

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Horizons

by Patricia Farris
Since the death of President Gerald Ford on December 26th, the country has mourned, has held his family in prayer and has reflected on the contributions of his short time in office. He was a man who never aspired to higher office, yet found himself in a position to serve his country during the very critical time following Watergate and President Nixon’s subsequent resignation. At a time when our country needed healing and perspective, President Ford pardoned Nixon against the advice of all his closest advisors. He was clear then and in the years that followed that he truly felt the pardon to be essential to the country’s healing. Hindsight reveals, of course, that he stuck to this course at great expense to his own further political career, being defeated in the next presidential election by Jimmy Carter.

The several prayer and funeral services following his passing have revealed a man and a family of deep personal faith. The Ford family worshipped weekly in the Episcopal church. He was sustained by its prayers and its clergy, by Holy Scripture and his faith in God to guide and direct him. At this time when personal faith and worship attendance have become litmus tests for politicians, it was refreshing and revealing to commemorate his life in the very worship that had regularly and “unremarkably” sustained him through life and political office.

Many commentators have remarked upon his commitment to work “across the aisle” and to develop relationships and friendships with people whose positions and perspectives differed from his own. His pastor of many years revealed in his sermon at the National Cathedral that Pres. Ford had been deeply concerned about the possibility of schism in the Episcopal Church and had felt very keenly that church-dividing issues of human sexuality and women’s ordination should not be cause for division or separation. He had stated clearly that these matters were instead all subsumed under the commandment to love God and love neighbor.

His Christmas greeting of 2006 reveals his theology and his philosophy: “May the New Year bring more wisdom in the way we look at the world and more love to the way we live in it.”

What wise words to ponder as this New Year begins! As we give thanks for all who have gone before, we re-dedicate ourselves to the needs of the present moment and set our sights on the future we work to create. May God bless us with a fuller measure of both wisdom and love.

*Rev. Patricia Farris is now one of three co-editors of the on-line Circuit Rider Book Reviews. You may find them here: Circuit Rider Reviews

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Community

On The Airwaves and In Our Hearts
Our own Mary Garbesi, Director of Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation Ministry, was interviewed about FUMC’s Labyrinth Ministry and the labyrinth in general. The interview will air on Public Access Channel 77 on January 14 at 6:30 pm. Good job, Mary, for getting the word out about this great offering in the life of our church!

On the morning of December 31, New Year’s Eve, about a dozen elementary age children of FUMC walked the labyrinth and worked on crafts related to the labyrinth. Later in the day upwards of 60 participants from our congregation and community participated in the labyrinth as part of their ringing in of the New Year. Overall it was a very successful day for the Labyrinth Ministry. You may find out more about the labyrinth by visiting the church website. Look for “Spiritual Growth.” Labyrinth

Congratulations
Congratulations to Victoria Fausto (5th grader) who won an award from the Boys and Girls Club for being the best example of what the Boys and Girls Club stands for. Way to go, Victoria!

Congratulations to Jeff Gundlach for being named Morningstar’s Fixed-Income Manager of the Year. Jeff runs TCW Total Return Bond Fund and is considered an expert in valuing mortgage-backed securities. Great job, Jeff!

Condolences
We extend our deepest condolences to Jim Dodd and Art Dodd and their family in the death of Frank Dodd, Art’s brother and Jim’s uncle, on Christmas day in Middletown, NY. Our thoughts are with you.

Prayer Quilt Thanks
Thank you for including my husband and myself in your ministry. When Mary Lois told me she was praying for us and that each one of you that tied a knot would say a prayer on our behalf, we knew God was showing us his love through you. Looking at the pictures in your bulletin, I can tell you have a very active church. Thanks for the token of Christian love.
-Bobbi and Hersh, Mary Lois Roney’s cousins
Our Prayer Quilt Ministry