May 6 - 19, 2007

Cover Story

SPIRIT QUEST 2007
by Rachel Eaton, Youth Counselor
photos by Rachel Eaton and Dan Stirling

Six youth and six counselors from FUMC took park in Spirit Quest 2007, a junior high youth retreat at Camp Colby on April 21-22. Our very own Katherine Stanfill and good friend Caroline Dawes organized the event which was for the entire Cal-Pac Conference. About 170 youth and adults attended the retreat. It was the first time that this sort of retreat was held at one of our Methodist Camps in the Cal-Pac Conference. It worked out well and the weather cooperated, making for a truly beautiful weekend.

The theme was “Jail Break,” which encompassed ideas of breaking free from the chains that hold us back in life. Through small groups discussions, large group activities, worship and music, the kids explored what elements in their lives hold them back from reaching their full potential and having a healthy relationship with God and with others. They also had the opportunity to meet and make lots of new friends and associate with a community of faithful peers and adults.

“A lot of the kids had never experienced this kind of worship and many of them had never heard the David Crowder music that the band (Ediolin) played. They really enjoyed the music and they came up to me asking what the names of the songs were, which I thought was awesome because praise music doesn’t get that much ‘praise’ in mainstream culture,” said Adam Guerrero, the “tech guy” for the weekend. Christian Wallace, one of our youth participants, said “Colby was really Fun! But I’m gonna miss my new friends. I’m already excited for next year!” Noel Eaton, small group leader and counselor, stated, “It was really cool watching kids from different churches, different backgrounds, even different cultures talk together, play together, eat together and worship together.” In looking back on the camp-wide game he said, “The kids started out the game as individuals, but soon found out that they had to work together to out-wit the adults!” Bram O’Bell, another of our youth participants, shared his experience saying, “It was so much fun! I would like to attend Spirit Quest again next year and would also want to go to Camp Colby for any other occasion.”

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Highlights

DONATE LIFE
Sunday, May 6 @ 11:45 am
Health Ministry, UMW and Social Concerns invite you to learn about organ donation and to hear from heart transplant recipient and One Legacy ambassador, Frank Field. FUMC supports organ and tissue donation in the spirit of love and generosity. Please call the church office to RSVP for this event held in the Fireside Room on May 6 at 11:45 am. Bring a potluck dish or $5. www.donatelifecalifornia.org www.onelegacy.org

MAY MID-WEEK RECITAL
The Last of the Season
Don’t miss our Mid-Week Recital on Wednesday, May 9, featuring our new church organist Christoph Bull at 12:10 pm in the sanctuary with a reception following in the Fireside Room. This will be our last Recital until fall.

FURTHERING EDUCATION
Methodist Foundation Scholarships
Applications for this year’s Methodist Foundation Scholarships are now available in the church office AND on the church website. Applications are due in the church office by May 20. The awards will be presented and the recipients recognized on Scholarship Sunday, June 17. Please contact Linda Burch in the church office if you have questions. PDF application

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS
May 20 - Choir Recognition
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.

ALL-CHURCH PICNIC
Sunday, May 27
Plan to stay after worship for food and fun for all ages. More details coming soon!

SUPPORT THE VENICE FAMILY CLINIC
The Venice Art Walk & Auctions is an annual celebration of art, architecture, music and fine cuisine benefiting Venice Family Clinic. More than 60 private artists’ studios, homes and special exhibits will be on view. The Silent Art Auction will feature more than 400 pieces of art, sculpture, photography, ceramics, cartoons and more. There will also be a silent auction of functional and fabulous items (Artful Living). A Food Faire will include cuisine from some of LA’s best restaurants, there will be lots of souvenirs and you won’t want to miss the live entertainment on the main stage. All of the proceeds for this event benefit Venice Family Clinic, the largest free clinic in the country, providing free, quality health care to nearly 22,000 people in need per year. It all takes place on May 20 from 11 am - 6 pm (studios open from 11:30 am - 4:30 pm) at Westminster School (1010 Abbot Kinney Road, Venice). To purchase tickets or for more information: (310) 392-9255 or vfcinfo@mednet.ucla.edu. For volunteer information call (310) 664-7940. Find out more...

MY EVERYDAY 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. My Everyday Sacred photo project, sponsored by Spiritual Formation Ministry, will attempt 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 mornings 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.

SUMMER CHANGES
This year the Summer Adventures! program will only run for three weeks in August (August 6 - 31) and will consist of Vacation Bible School (August 6 - 10, 9 am - 12:30 pm only) and a theater camp focused on the production of a musical (August 13 - 31, full day camp). There will be no extended or aftercare for either VBS or the theater camp. We will not be offering any summer programming for children in June or July. We apologize for the late nature of this announcement and are aware that this may pose some difficulty for some families. The church has gone through significant transitions this Spring and therefore we’ve had to make difficult decisions for summer 2007. However, be assured that planning has already begun for summer 2008! If you will be looking for other possibilities for your children for this summer, the City of Santa Monica, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, various other churches and other local organizations offer programs. Our Teen Adventures! program is still being discussed as well as the possibility of any sort of child care during June and July. At the printing of this Sentinel issue, nothing has been determined. If you have any suggestions or if you have questions about any of this, please feel free to call me in the church office. You are in my prayers as you look at this summer and the needs of your children and family. I will help where I can. -Rev. Brad Beeman

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Horizons

by Patricia Farris

Through this 50-day season of Eastertide, from Easter to the Ascension, we are exploring a variety of ways in which God’s resurrecting power is doing the work of transformation, making all things new. I could feel it as a new tree was planted in the front yard of the parsonage, a baby Hong Kong orchid tree, small but already proudly in bloom, claiming its place in the yard and pointing to a future bright with color and joy.

I could feel it as we gathered for the Church Council meeting this week, and council after council announced plans for programs—fellowship, service, ministry, celebration, study…all this at a time when we are one program staff-person short (with Char Smith having become Director of the Preschool). You’d never know it!

I could feel it as our junior high youth and counselors returned from their weekend “retreat”—though it’s hard to imagine anything involving nearly two hundred junior highs as a retreat from anything or anywhere! They looked exhausted but jazzed, having experienced something wondrous together that will surely help shape their faith journey ahead.

I could feel it in our excited and appreciative response to our new organist, Christoph Bull, who brings his own artistry and energy to our music family. He’s a master at improvisation and you won’t want to miss Sunday mornings when, in the Prelude, he works and reworks the hymns of the day. You’ll hear things you’ve never heard before and your soul and heart will rejoice.

I could feel it in our afternoon with the Confirmation Class, whose questions challenged us pastors to be honest about our faith and our vocation. Pray for them as they continue to prepare to be received into the membership of the church: Meadow Holman, Michael Hooper, Jessica Jones, Shelly McCammon, Carolan McCullough, Bram O’Bell, Sawyer Pascoe, Jimmy Scott, Molly Smith and Julia Wallace.

I could feel it as the new My Everyday Sacred photo project was launched, inviting faithful seekers and the seeking faithful to see God and the holy in the ordinariness of our daily life and to photograph it to share what we see with others.

You’ll want to add to this list, I know, with examples from the life of the congregation and examples from your own life and family. If you’re so inclined, send or email me your responses, and together we’ll create an FUMC litany of resurrecting joy and love.

Patricia Farris

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Community

Condolences
We extend our deepest sympathy to
-Tracy Edwards and his family in the death of his father.
-Holly Pitrago and her family in the death of her grandfather.
-Cheryl and JP Shanks and their family in the death of Cheryl’s aunt.

Prayer Quilt Thanks
I wanted to let you know that the prayer quilt is the most beautiful quilt I have ever seen, and one of the most sacred possessions I’ve ever had. I treasure it. I am blessed to have the quilt and the prayers. -Joanne Merghon

When I asked you all to make a prayer quilt for Marlene Iverson, I had no idea how much it would mean to her. Marlene is my daughter-in-law’s mother and the daughter of Wendell Miller, a noted Methodist minister (Don Shelby and Patricia both studied under him). She took it with her to the hospital many times, and it was always with her in bed at home. Don, her husband, said she found such comfort knowing your prayers surrounded her. It was with her when she died (in March). Thank you so much. - Janice Ruck

Thank you for the beautiful prayer quilt that I recently received. It comforted me during my first chemo appointment and will be with me throughout the rest of my treatment. It will be a cherished reminder of God’s love and all your prayers. - Melanie Gullett

Lost and Found
The church office is holding several nice pieces of jewelry that were found on church grounds in recent weeks. Call us if you’ve lost jewelry or anything else. Maybe we have it!

Missions Update

Upcoming Worship