May
20 - June 2, 2007
Cover
Story
THANK
YOU by Patricia Farris
After
seven years and ten days as our Associate Pastor, the Rev. Larry
Young is going to re-retire! He and Jean are looking forward to
a more flexible schedule with time for travel and other leisure
pursuits.
Coming
on our staff for a year or two after a year of retirement, we
quickly found that FUMC and Larry made a great match. Across his
more than seven years as one of our pastors, many people have
greatly appreciated Larry’s classes, sermons and pastoral
care. He has ministered to many of our homebound members and to
families at the time of a memorial service. In the office, Larry’s
experience and his calm demeanor have greatly contributed to our
common life. His passion for Mission has made him invaluable to
our Missions Council, the Social Concerns Council, our partnership
with the Iware District in Nigeria and our Gulf Coast Work Teams.
Jean
has also found a home at FUMC. Through her participation on the
Health Ministry Council, the Worship Renewal Team and most recently
as a Keiskamma Docent, Jean, too, has added much to the life of
our congregation.
Happily,
Larry and Jean have chosen FUMC as their on-going church home.
We’ll see them in worship (when they’re in town!)
and Larry is eager to take on some short-term classes and pastoral
care, time permitting.
We
will celebrate Larry and Jean’s time on staff in Coffee
Hour, Sunday, June 17. We also invite you to contribute to a Thank-You
gift for them which will assist them in fulfilling their travel
dreams. Please send your check to FUMC marked “Young Gift.”
Highlights
SUMMER
WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS
May 20 - Choir Recognition Sunday
Our Summer Sunday Worship Schedule resumes on May 20 with one
service at 10 am on Choir Recognition Sunday. Come pay your respects
to our wonderful Choirs that grace our sanctuary with beautiful
music each week. All of them will participate in this festive
musical service which includes the Chancel Choir, the Youth Choir,
the Children’s Choir, the Cherub Choir and the Youth and
Amadeus Handbell Choirs. Also come to greet those who normally
attend a different service than you the rest of the year. We will
worship at 10 am during the summer months through Labor Day weekend.
SOCIAL
CONCERNS FILM SERIES
Continues Sunday, May 20
On May 20 at 11:15 am in the Fireside Room, the Social Concerns
Council will show excerpts from the controversial film “Bowling
for Columbine” by Michael Moore, using this film to facilitate
a discussion focused on the ongoing theme of conflict resolution
and overcoming violence. All are welcome.
VENICE
ART WALK
May 20 @ Westminster School
The Venice Art Walk is the major fundraiser for the Venice Family
Clinic, the largest free clinic in the country. FUMC members can
obtain a free ticket to the event by volunteering to help close
the silent auction. Contact Jane Spiegel for more information
at (310) 315-0196.
Find
out more...
FOUNDATION
SCHOLARSHIPS
Deadline for Applications, May 20!
Applications for this year’s Methodist Foundation Scholarships
are available in the church office AND on the church website and
are due by May 20.
ALL-CHURCH
PICNIC
Sunday, May 27
The Fellowship & Events Committee invites EVERYONE to the
All-Church Picnic on May 27 for BBQ style food provided by the
bridge ($5 a plate), snowcones and popcorn provided by the youth
group and a variety of fun activities for all ages. Bring a friend
or a neighbor to worship and stay for the picnic!
MY
EVERYDAY SACRED
My Everyday Sacred photo project, sponsored by Spiritual Formation
Ministry, attempts to deepen our awareness of God’s presence
in our daily lives and allow us to share that with one another
through a display of photography and written description. The
deadline for submissions is May 27. A display of everyone’s
submissions will be on view during coffee hour on June 10. Project
descriptions and submission instructions as well as disposable
cameras (donations appreciated) are available during coffee hour
in Simkins Hall on Sunday morning as well as in the church office.
More information and instructions are also available on the church
website in the News & Events section. Email mysacred@santamonicaumc.org
if you have any questions.
A
FESTIVAL OF MUSIC: JUNE 3
Our Chancel Choir’s annual summer concert A Festival of
Music will be on June 3 at 7:30 pm. Music will include Requiem
Mass in C minor by Luigi Cherubini and Misa Tango by Luis Bacalov,
featuring the legendary Coco Trivisonno on Bandoneón. Misa
Tango is an exciting and compelling recent work for soloists,
chorus and orchestra, featuring the Argentine accordion, the “Bandoneón.”
The unique yet spiritual sound of this music makes this eclectic
Mass “an uplifting, life affirming work, yet full of the
nostalgia of tango.” Alongside our Chancel Choir, the Santa
Monica College Concert Chorale and the Los Angeles Concert Orchestra
will perform. For tickets, contact the church office.
NEW
SIMKINS HALL IN THE SHELBY CENTER - UPDATE
Where are we on the Simkins Hall renovation project? There is
much good news and many things happening! Decisions are being
finalized regarding the new audio visual and sound equipment as
well as the new lighting fixtures and overall lighting design.
We want to make sure that we are as energy efficient and as environmentally
friendly as we posssibly can be. All of these decisions must be
made before we begin the electrical work which is the next phase
of the project. Several electrical companies have submitted bids
and we are in the process of choosing the best for the project.
More Simkins Hall updates will follow very soon!
"MAY"
BOOK STUDY TO GATHER ON JUNE 10
Called to be Church: The Book of Acts for a New Day,
by Anthony B. Robinson and Robert W. Wall, is now for sale in
our Church Library. It’s an unusual book, co-written by
a biblical scholar and a pastor, friends for over thirty years.
This collaboration is a gift to the church. The perfect book to
be reading during Eastertide as we move towards Pentecost and
the birth of the church, the chapters alternate between careful
study of the early church in the Book of Acts and issues and challenges
facing the contemporary church. This puts so much of what we currently
wrestle with in context—issues of worship, mission, leadership,
conflict, growing pluralism and multi-culturalism. Get going on
your reading so that you’ll be ready for a great discussion
in June.
COME
HONOR OUR GRADUATING SENIORS
Every year our United Methodist Women honor our graduating high
school seniors with monetary awards that can be used for books
and other expenses associated with going to college or tech school.
The awards for seniors was established more than 25 years ago
by Ephie Stevenson in honor of her husband who was a teacher.
They wanted to reward the young people who participated in the
youth program and who had given time to the church in other ways.
The UMW will be recognizing the recipients and their families
at a luncheon in Simkins Hall on June 3 at 11:30 am and you’re
invited! Stay after the second worship service to fellowship with
your church family, then remain for lunch and show your support
of these important young people in our church who will be going
forth to further their educations. The luncheon will be a salad
potluck (or donation). All are welcome!
Horizons
by
Patricia Farris
Early summertime brings celebrations to many: Mother’s Day
and Father’s Day, graduations, weddings, births and baptisms
and the lure of vacation time. These have all been part of the
life of our congregation, including the incredible joy of the
100th birthdays of Polly Anderson and Marj Farrar.
The
days have brought losses as well—the difficult diagnosis
of serious illness to some, dreams left unfulfilled, and the loss
to death of dear saints we have loved.
There
is a sense as summer begins of life in all its fullness and mystery,
its promise and its pain. The seasons turn and the cycles of life
and death continue and in the midst of it all we strive to be
God’s faithful people, grounded in the assurance of God’s
abiding love.
In
gratitude for all of you and for the journey we share, I offer
this prayer, a prayer for seasons of turnings and changes, and
celebrations and setbacks, a prayer for every day and special
days and days when we do not know how to pray.
Jesus
our guide, we journey in faith to
resurrection, through failure, through success,
through whatever lies ahead; for You are the way, and life.
Ever-loving God, you alone can bring order to our unruly wills
and
affections. Give us grace to love what you command and desire
what you promise, that in all the changes and chances of this
uncertain world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are found.
God our ruler and our guide, when we come to the place where the
road divides, keep us true to the way of Christ, alive to present
opportunities, and confident of eternal life. Amen.
Patricia
Farris
Community
Births
We congratulate new parents Chelsea and Jim Kirtley and proud
grandmother Char Smith, on the birth of Gavin James on May 11.
Gavin was the most special Mother’s Day gift at 7 lbs 9
oz and 20 inches long. The entire family is doing well. Welcome,
Gavin!
Welcome
We welcome the new Interim Director of Upward Bound House, David
Snow, following the resignation of Andrew Parker. David is already
at work moving the Food Pantry and other projects forward to insure
a seamless transition and the continuation of the important work
being done through UBH for homeless families and seniors.
Happy
Birthday
We wish a very happy birthday to two of our long time members.
Polly Anderson turns 100 on May 14 and Marj Farrar turns 100 on
June 4! Congratulations, ladies!
Condolences
We extend our deepest sympathy to:
-the family and friends of Grace Munn who passed away on May 4.
A service for her is still to be announced.
-the family and friends of Jack Okuda who passed away on May 7.
A service will be held for him at FUMC on May 20 at 3 pm with
a reception following in the Fireside Room.
-the family and friends of Al Read who passed away on May 8. A
service was held for him on May 12.
Thanks
I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful card you sent
me. It came at a time when I was feeling low and cheered me up
immensely. I fell and broke bones in my wrist on Good Friday,
April 6. Everything seems to be healing and on target now. Thanks
for thinking of me and for your well wishes. I am surely blessed
to have caring people like yourselves in my life. - Carole Sumler
In
Memoriam
Recently I had the rare privilege of attending the annual FBI
Memorial Service. The service was MC’d by our member Larry
Wilson, retired field director of the FBI. The service remembers
agents who have fallen in the line of duty. It was also a time
of honoring all law enforcement personnel including members of
the Sheriff’s department and LA Police department. Many
thanks to Bob Hedges and Mary Crawford who rang bells as names
were read and again to Larry for his dedication. - Brad Beeman
