October 7 - 20, 2007

Cover Story

WORSHIP RENEWAL WEEKEND by Patricia Farris, photos by David Bremer

Undeterred by wind, rain, floods, thunder and lighting, a group of interested FUMC folk recently spent a Saturday with Dr. Thomas Thangaraj of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University exploring the topic “Negotiating Diversity: Crossing Bound-aries as a Spiritual Practice.”

Diversity has always been with us, Dr. Thangaraj observed, but now, due to both the extension and compression of globalization, we are very aware of it. We are constantly challenged to cross boundaries of culture, religion, language and generation and to negotiate those crossings in both our external behaviors as well as within the internal life of our spirit.

As Dr. Thangaraj helped us see and experience, such boundary crossings are moments of spiritual formation. And we can move back and forth across those boundaries without fear, knowing that except for God, everything is negotiable. In fact, he maintains, crossing cultural and other forms of boundaries opens us and puts us in touch with God.

All this gives us much to reflect on in our travels and in our interactions with people of other faiths, cultures and languages right here in our community and congregation. He closed our Book Study on Sunday with 1 Peter 3:15-16: “…in your hearts, sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” That is, be strong in faith. And when others ask you about the hope that is within you, be prepared to share it with them in gentleness and with reverence for who they are and what they believe.

Thank you, Dr. Thangaraj, for a beautiful, challenging and joy-filled Worship Renewal Weekend.

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Highlights

THIRD WORLD HANDARTS
Sunday, October 14 - Coffee Hour
FUMC will be hosting the Third World Handarts fair on October 14 in Simkins Hall after both worship services. This annual event sponsored by Missions Council serves as a non-profit marketing source for impoverished artisans worldwide. They bring items for us to purchase that are perfect gifts and keepsakes for all occasions. Come see beautiful artistry and craftsmanship from around the world AND help the artists by doing a little shopping!

SOCIAL CONCERNS SEMINAR
Sunday, October 14 @ 11:45 am
The Social Concerns Council will host a speaker from Women Against Gun Violence. Our speaker Leah Barrett is herself a victim of gun violence and a leader in this organization. She will lead us in a discussion on what can be effectively done about this scourge in the Fireside Room begining at 11:45 am. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

NEW MID-WEEK RECITAL SERIES BEGINS
Resumes Wednesday, October 10
The Mid-Week Recital Series is back! The 2007-2008 series will begin on Wednesday, October 10, at 12:10 pm in the sanctuary with featured artist Dorothy Spafard Hull, pianist. All are invited to this free concert, followed by a reception. The full season schedule will be available soon.

CHURCH CHARGE CONFERENCE
Sunday, November 11 - After Church
The Church Charge Conference 2007 will be held on Sunday, November 11. Church committees and councils will have lunch together at 11:45 and our District Superintendent Grant Hagiya will convene the Charge Conference at 12:30 pm in Simkins Hall. Mark your calendars and be prepared to join us for reports from our church leaders about the happenings of FUMC. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate.

CHILDREN’S SABBATH - OCTOBER 14
Luke 18:15-16 - “People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.’” In a rebuke to his disciples, Jesus made it clear the importance that children have in God’s kingdom. As followers of Christ, we are required to love and care for the children of this world. In celebrating Children’s Sabbath during worship on October 14, we join other religious congregations of all faiths across the nation to focus on a common concern for children both locally and globally. It allows us to think about what we are doing as a congregation to help improve the lives of children and work towards justice for those abused and exploited. The hope would be that we take what God puts upon our hearts on Children’s Sabbath beyond the walls of this sanctuary and into our everyday lives – in our prayers, in our actions, in our choices, and in our service to God.

MISSIONS- LAITY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21
Laity Sunday and Missions Sunday are being combined this year to create very meaningful worship services for everyone. In the spirit of “how we put our faith into action” we will hear from a variety of church members who “live their faith” in their daily lives. We will also commission our adult Gulf Coast Work Team V which will be leaving for New Orleans the following week. You won’t want to miss this special Sunday sponsored by the Missions Council in partnership with our Lay Leaders.

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN BEGINS OCTOBER 21
I think back on this year gone by and carry some of the most profound memories of quality stewardship of my ministerial career. My feelings of admiration and deep respect for you, Santa Monica First United Methodist Church, have blossomed and grown. You have consistently stepped up when places of need were put before you. You have taken up opportunity after opportunity every time they have presented themselves in front of you. You have very literally lived out the scripture that has become our focus for this upcoming stewardship campaign. What a privilege to be serving as one of your pastors. We now let’s look back for just a moment as we look forward toward another year of God’s challenges and God’s opportunities for First Church. An introduction of this year’s scriptural focus is in order.

Not a whole lot of us spend time in the First Letter of Peter. It’s toward the end of the Bible, and is one of those short books that gets very little attention. It is true that large gifts sometimes come in small packages. I Peter is certainly one of those. Look at these words and particularly now as we head into this renewed focus on stewardship. Peter writes, “Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, be hospitable to one another without complaining. Whatever gifts each of you may have received, use them in service to others, like good stewards dispensing the grace of God in its varied forms.” This out of I Peter 4:8-10.

This past year has been one of various food and clothing drives, multiple mission trips to the Gulf Coast, a renewed relationship with Upward Bound House, various dialogues and discussions on difficult topics, continued outreach to the community in a variety of forms, hundreds of volunteer hours spent presenting the Keiskamma to a very interested community, continued work with homeless persons, sewing kits sent to needed areas around the world, the refurbishing and renovation of Simkins Hall, more worship renewal, scholarships given to a wide array of committed individuals, classes, book studies, ministries to children and youth, some major transitions including the various ministries that continue to unfold in and around us through our two new Parish Associates. It has been a time of great abundance and quality work. As I said, we are very literally “dispensing God’s grace in a variety of forms.” And now we look ahead toward another year of service to God, and we look with great anticipation.

As we head toward this upcoming stewardship campaign let’s covenant to pray for each other, to “love one another at full strength,” be hospitable to each other and to those in the community and world that surrounds us. Let’s gather our gifts, and move into the future together as sisters and brothers united in faith and God’s work. Amen? Amen!

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TIP FOR OCTOBER
Emergency Lighting: Don’t be left in the dark! With the days getting shorter a lot of people are coming home in the dark. Be sure the walkways are clear and lit to prevent falls. Use your emergency flashlight (from your car kit) if necessary. Make sure all the bedrooms are equipped with flashlights and extra batteries. Now is the time to find the electrical service panel to your home or apartment and be sure you know how to turn off the electricity. Conduct family drills if warranted to test family skills in turning off the electricity.

Safety Tip: Large and even moderate aftershocks that usually accompany damaging earthquakes can topple items and cause fire. Do not use candles, hurricane lamps, lanterns and other objects that rely on an open flame to produce light. Items with open flames also can trigger explosions by igniting leaking gas.

HUNGERWALK - OCTOBER 28
FUMC has formed a Hungerwalk team and you’re invited to participate. The Hungerwalk is an annual event that raises needed funds for the Westside Food Bank with whom our congregation has a long-standing relationship. FUMC has been the largest supporter of the Hungerwalk in the past; help us to continue that tradition this year! You may sign up with the team on Sunday mornings during coffee hour. Look for Russ Whittenburg and the homemade Hungerwalk t-shirt quilt. You may also conveniently sign up on the Westside Food Bank website at www.westsidefoodbankca.org where you may select the FUMC team. The roughly three-mile walk will begin at Santa Monica High School at 12:30 pm on Sunday, October 28. All walkers are welcome, adults, kids, stroller moms, dogs on leashes - it’s a fun event for all! Enjoy food and drink, games and activities, a moonbounce, great raffle prizes and entertainment.

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by Patricia Farris

My first ministry appointment was to the Ecumenical Campus Ministry at the University of Delaware. It was housed in a little yellow house at the edge of campus, surrounded by lovely grass and tall trees whose leaves turned all the colors of gold and red each Fall. Bedrooms had been converted into offices. The living room and kitchen became a student lounge. The dining room had been made over into a small art gallery with frequent shows by faculty, students and community artists.

One of the best things about it for me was that my dog, a beautiful Shetland sheepdog, could come to work with me each day. Each time we’d drive up to the house, she’d hop out of the car and, with typical Sheltie exuberance, leap and bark and run around the yard notifying all squirrels and so forth of her presence.

It soon became apparent to me that she was an integral part of my ministry. Many students would come by to pet her, take her for a walk, or play with her. And especially those that found it hard to put their needs and concerns into words with me could find in her a trusted and ever-listening friend.

I know many of you have a similar soft spot in your hearts for your pets. They are companions and friends, a source of companionship, love and joy. I don’t know if God made people into two kinds of people—animal-lovers and others—but I’m definitely one. I grew up with two Cocker spaniels who were my best friends. And along the way, I’ve had parakeets, goldfish, a chameleon (he didn’t last too long), a cat and a horse. These days I have on-going conversations with the blue jays and squirrels in our backyard. And if I ever get accused of being a bit soft in the head for talking with creatures of various kinds, I’ll just have to throw myself on the mercy of St. Francis who long ago understood that every living thing is brother/sister to us.

And so I pray that our long-awaited Blessing of the Animals will be a blessing to the animals and to all the humans as well. And that our hearts will be “strangely warmed,” as Wesley might have said, in sharing our joy with others and with the animals they love.

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Community

CONGRATS TO OUR UMW UNIT
Our FUMC United Methodist Women Unit has been recognized with two awards recently. One for completing the requirements to become a “Mission Today Unit 2007” and another for contributing the largest financial amount to mission in the Los Angeles District. Our UMW deserve a huge pat on the back. Nice work, ladies!

ANNIVERSARY CONGRATS
-We congratulate and celebrate with Carmen and Connie Casillas on their 67th wedding anniversary.
-We also congratulate and celebrate with Archie and Dorothy Kleingartner on their 50th wedding anniversary.

BIRTHDAYS
-We wish very happy 90th birthdays to Mary Shackelford on October 22, Harriet Sharp on October 29 and Lahoma Caldwell on October 31.
-And, we wish a very happy birthday to Rev. Paul Woudenberg who recently celebrated his 80th birthday.

CONGRATULATIONS
We congratulate our long-time members Fred McNairy and Dr. Robert Moore for being honored at the Santa Monica YMCA’s first Past Presidents Luncheon on October 14. The McNairys will be joining us in church that morning from Napa, CA, where they live near their son, daughter-in-law and grand-children. Congrats to both Fred and Robert for being recognized!

KNOTS AND PRAYERS OF HOPE
As of Sunday, September 30, 300 prayer quilts were made, knotted and prayed over since the Prayer Quilt Ministry began at FUMC four years ago. Keep the artwork and the prayers coming! Time and time again we are reminded of how meaningful the ministry is to those in need.

Service Update

Upcoming Worship