April 6 - 19, 2008
Cover Story

CARING FOR CREATION by Bill Prescott, Business Administrator

“All Creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s Creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings. God has granted us stewardship of Creation. We should meet these stewardship duties through acts of loving care and respect.” (United Methodist Social Principles, Paragraph 160, Book of Discipline 2004.)

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join 140 Christian environmentalists at Mount Sequoyah United Methodist Retreat Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas for the First Annual Caring for Creation Conference sponsored by Interfaith Power & Light.

We learned about U.S. consumption, starting a green team at church, rain gardens, compost, ecological footprints, recycling, community food initiatives, political advocacy and the biblical basis for creation care. We were challenged as people of faith to move beyond the environmental wake-up call and to “get out of bed and start moving. Take action!” Environmental care is not just for “tree huggers,” but also “Jesus Huggers.”

There are four motivations for all Christians to take action NOW:

1) Stewardship / responsibility for Nature;
2) Social justice for the “least of these” who are most affected by         environmental degradation;
3) The inter-connection of our behaviors to cultures and environments; and
4) Spiritual affirmation that all of creation is a gift from God.

We need to move from sustenance to sustainability – not just getting by and preventing worse conditions, but actually contributing as a community of believers to making things better. It is our responsibility to care for God’s Creation. We are called to participate not only in the redemption of individuals and all of humanity, but in the healing of Creation itself. People of faith must speak out on this important issue. We must lead the way.

Join us in an exciting new ministry – the “Greening” of FUMC. For more information please contact me in the church office, (310) 393-8258 or by email. I will be speaking about the Greening of FUMC at the UMW Luncheon on April 10, at 12 noon in the Fireside Room. All are invited!

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Saturday, April 19, 9 am-12 noon
Numerous organizations will be represented including: Heal the Bay, Tree People, Interfaith Power & Light, Edison Company, Sierra Club, California Native Plant Society, and the City of Santa Monica. There will be many Earth Day and environmental resources available, plus storytelling, videos and crafts for children.  Sections of the new documentary RENEWAL, produced by Interfaith Power & Light will be screened. RENEWAL tells stories of work being done by the faith community in the area of environment sustainability. This will be the West Coast Premiere of this documentary and we hope to schedule a complete showing in the near future. In addition – everyone who drops by will receive a special earthy-friendly gift! For more information, contact the church office.

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MEMBERSHIP INFO MEETINGS
Sunday, April 6 - After Each Service
If you’re interested in FUMC membership or have questions about the church and its ministries, we’re offering two information meetings on April 6. The first will follow the 9 am worship service with Rev. Brad Beeman. The second will follow the 10:30 am service with Rev. Patricia Farris. Both will be held in the Fireside Room. All are welcome to attend.

APRIL MID-WEEK RECITAL
Wednesday, April 9 @ 12:10 pm
All are invited to our April Mid-Week Recital with Mark Robson on the piano. The monthly free concert is offered to all in our sanctuary and is designed to fit into your lunch hour from 12:10 - 12:40 pm. You’re invited to the reception afterwards in the Fireside Room. See you there!

camp C. A. S. T.
Registration Forms In Church Office
Camp C. A. S. T. is a summer program of FUMC’s Children’s After School Theater. The program for children K - 5th grade will be held from June 23 through August 2 from 8 am to 5 pm (Mon - Fri). Extended care for an hour before and an hour after will also be available. The camp will culminate with a production of the musical Honk! on August 1 & 2. There is very limited enrollment. Please register early! Visit the camp C. A. S. T. webpage.

UMC GENERAL CONFERENCE
April 23 - May 2, 2008
A Future with Hope is this year’s theme for General Conference. Our own Patricia Farris is one of 5 elected clergy from our Cal-Pac Annual Conference who will serve as a delegate. The conference revises The Book of Discipline (book of church law) and Social Principles and adopts resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs for the next four years. Please hold the entire Conference and all its participants in prayer. Find out more by going to the General Conference webpage.

“HOW TO BE AN EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY CHRISTIAN”
On Sunday, April 27, Mark Baker, PhD, will speak on the topic “How to be an emotionally healthy Christian” at 9 am in Room 101. Dr. Baker is both an ordained minister and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and the Executive Director of the La Vie Christian Counseling Centers with offices in Pasadena and Santa Monica, which has been serving the Los Angeles area for over twenty-eight years. Dr. Baker is a frequent lecturer on the topics of spirituality and emotional heath on radio, television and in churches, and his best-selling book Jesus- The Greatest Therapist Who Ever Lived has been published in several languages around the world. This event is sponsored by Partnership with God Sunday School Class and Social Concerns Council. All are welcome.

APRIL PREPAREDNESS TIPS - FIRE PRECAUTIONS

-Know the escape routes & how you would exit quickly in case of fire.
-Draw a floor plan of your home and mark two escapes for each room.
-Pick a safe place outside to meet after escaping from a fire.
-Conduct a home fire drill at least twice a year with family members.
Inside House
-Install smoke detectors. Test and change batteries biannually.
-Repair and replace unsafe appliances and wiring.
-Keep fire extinguisher near stove (A, B, C type). Train family
members on how to use them and test them often.
-Remove toxic and flammable materials from home and yard.
Outside
-If you live in an at-risk area, create “a defensible space” outside at least 30 feet by removing brush around house.
-Mark water sources or hydrant & maintain easy firefighter access.
-Plant fire-resistant plants.
-Request branches cleared from power lines.

DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN CPR
You will have another chance to take the CPR/Defibrillator class on Saturday, April 26, 10 am to 4 pm given by the Red Cross America Corps Volunteers. This free class will be held in the Simkins Hall alcove. Lunch will be provided. For reservations, call Mary Jo Dalton in the church office at (310) 393-8258 x110.

PERMANENT LABYRINTH TO BE DEDICATED
Our new permanent labyrinth will be dedicated at the 10:00 am Coffee Hour on Sunday, April 27. Come and participate in this special ritual of recognizing and honoring our use of this ancient meditation tool. Our “old,” portable labyrinth had earned a place in the hearts of many in the congregation and the community. The new one has been embraced by all those who have walked it since its installation. A dedication will be offered in the afternoon as well at the regular monthly open walk.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT UPWARD BOUND
UBH is delighted to announce a new Volunteer Coordinator - Tracy Chin. Tracy is already busy designing a lot of new volunteer ideas and programs. Upward Bound House is very excited to announce the start of many new programs and events over the next few months. On March 28, residents from Senior Villa will be embarking on a trip to Pepperdine University to attend a Senior Prom. Dinner will kick off the evening followed by a night of dancing. UBH will also be working with a group of volunteers who have graciously offered to teach weekly Life Skills classes for the parents at Family Place as well as hold activities classes for the kids. Starting in April, the classes will be comprised of information ranging from job training to parenting to computer skills. An MTV Networks Community Service Day is another exciting volunteer-driven event that is happening on April 16. This event will involve a group of 50+ MTV employees devoting their time to work on various projects throughout UBH (i.e. repainting rooms, gardening, painting a mural, etc.). These are just some of the many volunteer-based programs/events that are starting at UBH. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Tracy Chin at (310) 458-7779 x 215.

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Horizon’s – it’s the perfect title. As we now approach this time of transition, my hope and prayer is that we might all see this as a time of new possibilities, a new day in the life of this church, and a time when we sense that God’s hand is soundly preparing all of us as we look ahead at a new horizon. I have to admit that your responses last Sunday were overwhelming. Your tears, your hugs, your applause, your excitement for us, and your words of gratitude and encouragement were deeply felt. Yet there were two conversations that may have moved us most. As strange as it may sound, they were not with either Dorothy or me. Mind you, those were wonderful, but these others were so defining of you as a congregation. The ones we watched with rapt attention were conversations that two of you had with Cora, our ten year old. You both approached her at different times that morning. You both asked a very similar question. It was simply, “Cora, how are you holding up in this time of change?” It wasn’t just that you approached her. That was sensitive enough. It was that you then stopped and listened with pastoral concern as she talked through the plethora of emotions she was feeling. That friends, was one example of what we will miss most about living and serving here. Cora responded with the word that seems to best describe how it is for all of us. She said she was “a bit confused.” There are so many emotions jumbled up in times like these. Time will help us all sort them out. At this point I need to simply say, you have been a gift to us, on so many levels. Our four years here have been some of the best of our lives. Know that we will carry you gently and safely in our hearts as we move back to the Pacific Northwest. Also know that even now, God is preparing your next pastor for their time with you. They will bring a new energy, new ideas, and the potential for wonderful relationships to First Church. It’s a new horizon. You will continue in our prayers. May God help all of us see the time ahead as fraught with new possibilities as the movement of the Spirit strengthens and empowers all that you do. You are truly a blessing to us, to this community, this country and the world. With love and gratitude from all of the Beeman family. God Bless You All!

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CONDOLENCES
Rev. Dale Smith, our conference coordinator for missionary support, sent us information regarding our Covenant Missionaries Eunice Arias and Luis Aramayo who work in Guatemala. He informed us that Eunice and Luis’ 21-year-old son recently had a stroke and died in South America. As a result of this Eunice and Luis will not be in Southern California until April 12. They were scheduled to have dinner with our Missions Council and other members of the church on March 30. We extend our deepest condolences to Eunice and Luis, their entire family and everyone who knew their son. Please keep them in your prayers during this difficult time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LIBBIE!
Karen Pinney, Mary Lois Roney, Robin Henning, Carl Rogers and Dorothy Williams (not pictured) helped our dear member Libbie Ranslem celebrate her 101st birthday on March 26. With over 101 personally signed birthday cards from church members and friends, a beautifully decorated and tasty cake, party hats and all, it was a grand occasion. Happy Birthday, Libbie! We love you!

COMMUNION MINISTRY CELEBRATES ONE YEAR
The Communion Server Ministry has just celebrated it’s one year anniversary. We are pleased to offer Communion to those who can’t be in worship due to health and/or mobility reasons. We welcome information regarding those who might desire participation in this ministry either through receiving or by becoming a Communion Server. Contact the church office for more information.

Service

Upcoming Worship