March 9 - 22, 2008
Cover Story

CELEBRATING GRANT HAGIYA FOR 8 GREAT YEARS
AS LOS ANGELES DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT!

Photos by Allan Walker.

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SPECIAL EASTER COFFEE HOUR - MARCH 23
Calling all bakers and shoppers! On Easter Sunday, the coffee hour will be hosted by the Church Council AND by you, the congregation. Be a part of the Easter celebration of hospitality by bringing something delicious to share. You may bring a lot or just a little, all donations will be gratefully accepted. Bake some cookies, make some sandwiches, bring some fruit or veggies, buy some nuts or donuts, and maybe inspire future coffee hours! Just bring your items to the kitchen by 9:30 am on March 23 OR drop it off (with a sign attached) in advance. Everyone in attendance that day, whether visitor or long-timer, will appreciate your generosity and hospitality. Be the Hope! Many Thanks, FUMC Church Council

NEW MEMBERS’ LUNCH
Sunday, March 9 @ 12: 15 pm
Calling new members! The Guidance & Outreach Committee is making sure that you have RSVPed for the lunch on March 9 and that you let the church office know if you need child care. Please do so ASAP!

MARCH MID-WEEK RECITAL
Wednesday, March 12 @ 12:10 pm
Ophelia Nanagyulyan, violin, is our featured artist on March 12 at 12:10 pm in the sanctuary. A reception will follow in the Fireside Room. All are invited to this free concert!

PALM SUNDAY EASTER EGG HUNT
Sunday, March 16 @ 11:30 am
The Children’s Ministry Council invites the entire congregation to the annual Palm Sunday Easter Egg Hunt & Lunch. Children are invited to make crafts in Rm 208 starting at 10:30 am, then lunch will begin at 11:30 am in Simkins Hall with the Hunt to follow in the courtyard and playgrounds. There may even be a visit from the Easter Bunny! $5 per person is the suggested donation for lunch. All are invited!

MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP
Thursday, March 20 @ 7:30 pm
We will offer our traditional Maundy Thursday Service with Holy Communion and Tenebrae on March 20 at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Tenebrae is Latin for “shadows” and is characterized by the gradual extinguishing of candles as the Passion narrative is read. This meaningful worship service is open to all.

GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER VIGIL
Friday, March 21, from 6 am - 12 am
Our Chapel will be open from 6 am to 12 am on Good Friday for our annual Prayer Vigil. This time of prayer is set aside for you to spend a part of that day remembering and reflecting on the events of that first Good Friday when Jesus was crucified. We symbolically watch with Jesus as he takes on the work of salvation and forgiveness on our behalf. One can use the time to pray, read the Bible or other readings, or just sit in silence gazing at the cross which will be veiled, but not hidden from view. Sign up for a 15 minute interval in the Narthex on Sunday morning (or at the church office during the week), or you may come anytime on Good Friday without signing up.

MARCH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TIPS
You may be on the road when a disaster happens. Do you have a kit in your car? If not, now is the time. You should include:

- Flashlight, extra batteries and maps
- First Aid Kit and handbook
- Flares/small fire extinguisher
- Tire repair kit, booster/jumper cables, pump and flares
- Small bills, quarters
- Bottled water (1 gallon) and non-perishable foods
- Seasonal supplies (blanket, hat, heavy shoes, gloves, shovel, sunscreen, umbrella)

You should also look into taking a class in First Aid and CPR if you are able. We had a class on February 9 and some of you were brought up to speed. For classes, consult your Red Cross or the American Heart Association for locations and times.

GRIEF SUPPORT
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one, family member or friend you may want to check out our videos or DVDs on grief. The topics range from coping with a dying loved one to working through your grief. There is also media on a child’s view of grief. The media is available in the church library in the Health Ministry section.

CRISIS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
- What it is
- How it affects us
- What we can do about it

The Social Concerns Council along with the Santa Monica Habitat Interfaith Partnership (overseeing the Habitat for Humanity build in Santa Monica in May) invite you to this informative discussion about affordable housing as we embark upon Santa Monica’s first Habitat project. The seminar will take place on Sunday, March 9, from 2 - 3 pm in Simkins Hall. All are welcome!

MARCH 30 - REV. FARRIS BOOK STUDY & POTLUCK
Our book for discussion will be To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Rabbi Jeff Marx will lead our discussion of Sacks’ (the Chief Rabbi of Britain) book on Jewish social ethics and the role of religion in alleviating the human condition through justice, charity, love-as-action, sanctifying God’s name, the ‘ways of peace’ and ‘mending the world.’ The book is on sale NOW in our church library. You won’t want to miss this challenging discussion.

CALLING ALL SURFERS! SIGN UP FOR VBS
It’s NOT too early to sign your children up for this summer’s Vacation Bible School taking place on August 4 - 8 from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. FUMC is again teaming up with Westwood UMC for this year’s event entitled “Beach Party: Surfin’ Through the Scriptures.” VBS is open to all children preK - 5th grade AND there are opportunities for youth and adults to participate as well! Brochures are now available in the church office. Register early as space is limited!

UNITED METHODIST FAMILY DODGER NIGHT
Mark your calendars now! The United Methodist Family Night at Dodger Stadium will be Friday, July 11, at 7:40 pm. The Los Angeles Dodgers will be playing the Florida Marlins. We have a new location for seats this year which will be located in the infield Reserve Level. Tickets are $17 ($28 value). More information coming soon!

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Some would say that it was inevitable. Dutton’s Books on San Vicente is closing April 30th. Unable to survive the onslaught of the chain stores and on-line purchasing and the pressures of re-development, the closure brings to an end over two decades of being a center of literary life and publishing in LA. No more book-browsing, discovering new treasures on the old musty shelves, comparing notes with fellow readers and staff.

I’m already grieving along with many other avid readers, writers and publishers. I rue the times I gave in to the temptation of Amazon and didn’t make the choice to support a local business that gives so much to our community. I felt the same way when the NuWilshire movie theater locked up its doors recently. At least I’ve been able to withstand my HMO’s pressure to switch to mail-order prescription service. I proudly shop only at Santa Monica’s Patton’s Pharmacy, owned by our member, Paul Leoni. I may pay a bit more, but the personal service is priceless, to say nothing of what I would call “ministry” caringly offered customers by the staff.

The developer who has new plans for the San Vicente bookstore described Doug Dutton as “an old-fashioned businessman who was out of touch with reality.” Seems to me that it depends on which “reality” we choose to acknowledge and value. Nothing is more “real” than true community, than personal relationships that span decades, than the fabric of life that sustains neighborhoods. Even our new Police Chief, Tim Jackman, says so, through the implementation of his new community policing plan for our city.

There are all kinds of choices to be made each day about what kind of community we want to live in and be part of. I am proud that FUMC continues to be a community hub, even more so now through the hospitality of our new Simkins Hall in The Shelby Center. I am thrilled that our facilities are in use day and night, seven days a week, by church and community groups. I am honored that people in town see us as a congregation that values our community, gives back to our community and stands for what is right in our community. And I whole-heartedly support the initiative of our Trustees and Business Administrator to move our church into becoming “green.”

Some years ago, the poet Wendell Berry admonished that it is incumbent upon us to “practice resurrection.” There is much we can do. Perhaps the first is to choose which “reality” we endorse. I believe that our God calls us to a new reality of life-overcoming-death, a new reality of transformation and renewal, a new reality of hope. Practice resurrection!

Easter blessings, Patricia Farris

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CONGRATULATIONS
Victoria Fausto, granddaughter of Don and Michele Danforth, was selected at the awards luncheon of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica on February 23 as the “Girl of the Month” for June 2007. She received a very nice placard recognizing her accomplishments during the past school year. The whole family is honored and enjoys the Boys and Girls Club organization. Congratulations, Victoria!

April McCollough, great-granddaughter of Barbara and Howard Hackett, granddaughter of Carol and Don Hackett and member of our youth group, has received a great honor in being chosen for the Elementary Honor Choir that performed in an American Choral Director Association (ACDA) Western Division convention in Anaheim at the beginning of this month. As part of the choir, April sang and rehearsed with students from all over the western US under the direction of well-known choral conductors. She was one of twelve chosen from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District who competed against students all over California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah to receive the honor. The ACDA is a nonprofit music education organization whose central purpose is to promote excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research and teaching. Congratulations, April!

CONDOLENCES
We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of:
-Don Collins, father of Joyce Landsverk and Jan Baird, who died on February 23.
-Alex Polamero’s grandmother.
-Carrie Holecek’s grandfather.
-Gloria Lee’s brother.
-Karen Grothe’s mother-in-law, Michael and David Grothe’s grandmother.

REACHING ACROSS THE MILES
A sermon by Rev. Patricia Farris on “Diversity” was telecast on WTTV in Chicago on March 2. You can find out more and even watch the video at www.30goodminutes.org.

Service

Upcoming Worship