A Liberal Church, Welcoming of All, Passionately Committed to Social Justice

The Pilgrim - December 6, 2009

Sunday Celebration Notes from Jerry Stinson
Celebrating God’s Love Every Sunday at 10 am.

The second Sunday of Advent will include another procession with banners, the acolytes in their new Advent robes, more lanterns and the magnificent new Advent choral introit. Some of this happens in the prelude which often begins at 9:50 or 9:55. So come to church early, especially during Advent.

Our service will also include the installation of new officers and board members and special music by the Beloved Bells.

My sermon will look at the advent emphasis on waiting—looking at a sense of active waiting captured by the Arabic word "sumud."

This will be the first Sunday of the month, so the First Church Café will be open and several of our church boards will meet after lunch. It is also when there will be a Winterfest Concert and our Sparkling Reception, beginning at 4 p.m. All the tickets for the concert and reception have been sold, and those who made reservations can pick up their tickets at will call before the concert.

SERMON: A Season of Waiting
The Rev. Jerry Stinson, preaching
READING: Luke 1:26-56
LITURGISTS: The Rev. Libby Tigner and Ms. Dottie Wine

Next week Jerry Stinson’s sermon will be titled “Bringing Shug’s God to Church.”

 

Music on Sunday

For the Second Sunday in Advent, the Sanctuary Choir will sing “The Holy Infant’s Lullaby” by Italian-born composer Norman Dello Joio (1913-2008), which has a lovely accompaniment for piano. Since our Steinway is on the chancel for the Winter Festival Concert, I thought this would be the time to do this beautiful work. See you in church!

Below is some interesting biographical information taken from Dello Joio’s official webpage:

“The distinguished musical career of Norman Dello Joio began for him at age fourteen when he became a church organist and choir director of the Star of the Sea Church on City Island, New York. A descendant of Italian church organists, he was born January 24, 1913 in New York. His father was an organist, pianist, singer, and vocal coach. Dello Joio recalls that his father was working with singers from the Metropolitan Opera who used to arrive in their Rolls Royce’s, and that his childhood was surrounded with musicians and music in the home. Dello Joio’s father taught him the piano at age four, and in his teens he began studying organ with his godfather, Pietro Yon, organist at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. In 1939, he was accepted as a scholarship student at the Juilliard School, and studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar.

“As a graduate student at Juilliard, while he was organist at St. Anne’s Church in New York, he arrived at the conclusion that he did not want to spend his life in a church choir loft, as composition began to envelop all of his interest. In 1941, he began studies with Paul Hindemith, the man who profoundly influenced his compositional style, at Tanglewood and Yale. It was Hindemith who told Dello Joio, ‘Your music is lyrical by nature, don’t ever forget that.’ Dello Joio states that, although he did not completely understand at the time, he now knows what he meant: ‘Don’t sacrifice necessarily to a system, go to yourself, what you hear. If it’s valid, and it’s good, put it down in your mind. Don’t say I have to do this because the system tells me to. No, that’s a mistake.’

In the latter part of the forties, Dello Joio was considered one of America’s leading composers, and by the fifties had gained international recognition. He received numerous awards and grants including the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Award, the Town Hall Composition Award, two Guggenheim Fellowships, and a grant from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He won the New York Music Critics’ Circle Award in 1948, and again in 1962. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1957 for Meditations on Ecclesiastes for string orchestra, and an Emmy Award for his music in the television special Scenes from the Louvre. In 1958, CBS featured him in a one-hour television special, ‘Profile of a Composer.’

“A prolific composer, the partial list of Dello Joio’s compositions include over forty-five choral works, close to thirty works for orchestra and ten for band, approximately twenty-five pieces for solo voice, twenty chamber works, concertos for piano, flute, harp, a Concertante for Clarinet, and a Concertino for Harmonica. His stage works include three operas (one written for television and revised for the stage) and eight ballets. “Additionally, he has written nine television scores and three compositions for organ. His published solo piano works include three sonatas, two nocturnes, two preludes, two suites, two "Songs Without Words", a Capriccio, Introduction and Fantasies on a Chorale Tune, Diversions, Short Intervallic Etudes, and Concert Variants. Dello Joio has one published work for piano and orchestra, the Fantasy and Variations for Piano and Orchestra. He has also written a number of pedagogical pieces for both two and four hands. Also included are works for four hands and two pianos.

“Dello Joio taught at Sarah Lawrence College, the Mannes College of Music, and was Professor of Music and Dean of the Fine and Applied Arts School of Boston University. From 1959 until 1973, he directed the Ford Foundation’s Contemporary Music Project, which placed young composers in high schools who were salaried to compose music for school ensembles and programs. The project placed about ninety composers, many who successfully continued their careers. In 1999, at the age of 86, Dello Joio continues to compose with no signs of retiring. He is frequently being commissioned, as his music remains in constant demand.”

Dr. Leland, Vail, Minister of Music

 

In Sunday School

Theme: Make Ready
Scripture Focus: Luke 3:1-6

 

In Adult Education
Sundays at 8:30 am in the Klar Rooms, upstairs in Pilgrim Hall

We will continue our discussion of “First Light,” a DVD-based series featuring scholars Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan which examines the beginnings of the Jesus movement. Filmed in and around Jerusalem and the Galilee, the course discusses life in first-century Palestine and the social and cultural world into which Jesus was born and on which his teachings made such a deep and lasting impact. Reading materials prepared by John Dominic Crossan, including study questions, and are available for $1. You can pick up your copy on any Sunday morning in class.

 

 

Christmas Dinner - Saturday, December 12
By Cheryl Fisher

Parish Life invites everyone and their friends to join us downstairs for the annual Christmas dinner. The date is December 12 with the reception in the Koinonia Room at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 in the Dining Room. We have kept the cost to $8 for adults and $4 for kids. Planned events include Avocation and Friends caroling, a visit from Santa, pictures at the fireplace and of course lots of time to socialize with your church friends. We would love for you to come.

 

When Christmas Isn't Merry
Blue Christmas Observation December 13
By Libby Tigner

The holidays are “supposed” to be a time of merry-making, gift-giving, and cheerful gatherings with friends and family. But not all of us experience them in that way. Many have lost a loved one in the last year, and this will be the first Christmas without them. Some of us are far away from family, and won’t be able to spend time with those we love. Still others feel busy, pushed, stressed and turned off by all of the emphasis on spending.

There are many reasons why Christmas may not be merry for you. Experiencing the fullness of our humanity includes sitting with the things that are difficult – including feelings of discomfort, pain or loss during the holiday period. Our “Blue Christmas” observation is designed to allow you to do just that. Held in Sacred Space at 11:45 a.m. on December 13, “Blue Christmas” is a time to sit with others, listen to music, acknowledge the difficulties of the season, and find fresh ways to have peace during the holiday period. The service will last about forty minutes.

 

2010 Communion Sundays
By Jerry Stinson

Being present on the Sundays when we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion is important to a number of our members. Here is a schedule of the Communion Sundays in 2010 so people can put them on their calendars.

January 3: New Year’s Sunday
February 21: First Sunday of Lent
March 28: Palm Sunday
April 1: Maundy Thursday
May 23: Pentecost
June 27: A Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 1: A Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 12: Homecoming Sunday
October 3: World Communion Sunday
October 31: All Saints Sunday
November 21: Thanksgiving Sunday

 

New Member
By Jerry Stinson

Richard Tamayo, who goes by Rico, grew up in the Rio Grande Valley in the southern-most tip of Texas, right by the US-Mexico border. His mother was a teacher and his father a banker. His sister is currently teaching religion and philosophy at Santa Clara University.

His family was Roman Catholic and so he served as an altar boy and attended Catholic schools. He began his university studies at Princeton, but then transferred to Stanford where he majored in English and fell in love with California. While at Stanford he did a summer project with at-risk kids, and that’s when he discovered that he wanted to be a teacher.

He came to southern California and began teaching at a bilingual kindergarten class in Compton while he completed a master’s degree at the Claremont Graduate University. He has taught all grades K-5 in Compton and in the El Rancho Unified School District, which is in Pico Rivera, California. He is currently serving as the president of the El Rancho Federation of Teachers. He says he feels he was born to do union work, which is all about relationships and trust.

Rico was in a committed relationship for ten years but he is now single. When that relationship ended he started on a spiritual journey. He remembered First Church from when he sang with the South Coast Chorale and they rehearsed here. He sang with the chorale for eight years. Bob Phibbs, the chorale director who was a member here, invited Rico to attend a Christmas Eve service, and that’s when the seed was planted. So he started attending and knew this was the church for him.

Rico, who lives in Signal Hill, likes to write and was part of a creative writing group for a while. He also likes to draw and has illustrated two children’s books. He loves to go to bookstores and libraries since he really enjoys reading. He also likes to have dinner at the homes of his friends. In the future, he intends to take classes in writing and improvisation at the Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles. He would also like to recognize his parents Ed and Edna Tamayo who are visiting from Texas and made it a priority to be in church when he joined on November 29 to show their love and support.

 

Treasurer's Corner

The 2010 "What if...?" stewardship campaign currently has 141 members pledging $433,973 to underwrite next year's budget. We've made a great start, and your commitment will help us continue to offer the Sunday services and church programs that enrich our lives. Currently, the 100 Club is comprised of the following levels of giving:

14 Guardian Angels pledging $1 per week for a total of $3,190
32 Sojourners pledging $10 per week for a total of $31,220
43 Truth Seekers pledging $25 per week for a total of $78,807
27 Prophets pledging $50 per week for a total of $101,380
25 Archangels pledging $100+ per week for a total of $219,376

For those of you who have not yet made the commitment, there is still time to join the 100 Club by sending in your pledge card. Please take the time to do so this week. If you are unable to pledge at this time, we are requesting that you still return your pledge card and forms as there are multiple ways to support First Church through volunteer opportunities.

Beginning the week of December 7, members of Stewardship and Finance will be contacting members who have not returned their pledge cards/forms.

Over the next couple of weeks, a confirmation letter will be sent to each member verifying the amount pledged to ensure our records are accurate. If our records are incorrect, please contact Ruth Warkentin in the office.

Thank you for your continuing support of First Church.

Pamela Chapin
Treasurer

 

My Experience at Cal State
By Jerry Stinson

A couple of weeks ago, I joined Bob Kalayjian, Paul DuNard, Tina Datsko, Jose Sanchez-H. and Dane Navarro at a Practicing Peace event at California State University at Long Beach (CSULB). Bob had set up a great display table about our church and about the World Peace March. I was there for two hours, and during that time three students came up to me and said, “I know about your church. I am often there on Sundays volunteering at the Drop-In-Center. It’s a great church.” Last Sunday we had more than a dozen volunteers from the Cal State President’s Honor Society to help serve food. We have volunteers from several CSULB fraternities, sororities and other campus groups. We also have volunteers from Long Beach City College.

Sometimes we find ourselves asking, how can we better advertise the church and its programs? How can we get students and faculty at CSULB interested in our congregation? I think Bob Kalayjian is doing a fantastic job of linking with students and faculty on a variety of peace issues, and I think the Drop-In-Center with its ministry to the homeless is reaching many students.

Maybe if we truly live our mandate to work for justice and peace, folks will find us more by what we do than what we say and write about ourselves.

 

Gifts to the Manger

Just a friendly reminder that the Downtown Associated Youth Services (DAYS) Committee in conjunction with the Board of Outreach is collecting food, toys and gift certificates for holiday gift baskets to families in downtown Long Beach.

The Outreach Board and DAYS still needs your help. Please bring any of the following items:

• Canned fruit and vegetables, tomato sauce and soup
• Non-perishable grain items (pasta, rice, flour, breakfast cereal, oatmeal, Bisquick, etc.)
• Non-perishable protein (canned or dried beans, canned tuna or chicken, peanut butter, nuts, etc.)
• Suggested items for children and youth: puzzles, games, art and school supplies; gift cards to local stores and the movies make great gifts for the older children.

Gifts to the Manger will take place on Sunday, December 13, during the morning service. Please bring your unwrapped toys and checks on December 13 and join us in celebrating the holiday season. Items collected on November 29 and December 6 may be left in baskets in the Narthex. Items brought on December 13 for Gifts to the Manger will be dedicated during worship, but please feel free to bring items on any Sunday when it is convenient for you.

If you are interested in helping to assemble and/or delivering the baskets, contact Nancy Valencia at 562-234-2851. Please give only what you can and together we can make a difference in a child’s life.

Happy holidays and thank you.

The Board of Outreach and the Downtown Associated Youth Services Committee

 

A Note from the Rev. Dr. Mary Ellen Kilsby

Terri Pagels was a pillar at First Church. So was her family. They moved to Santa Barbara in retirement. This message is from her son Chris, who was more than a pillar for Dorothy Baker and the DAYS programs for many years:

"Early Saturday morning my mother died peacefully at her home. She was 69 years old. She was ailing from cancer diagnosed in January. The memorial service will be Saturday, December 5 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 305 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101."

 

Special Thanks

I would like to take a moment to give some extra special thanks to the people who worked hard to make Advent Workshop possible.  The Dining Room was completely transformed into a Christmas craft extravaganza, and that doesn’t happen without lots and lots of helpers! Thanks go to Karen Cannon and Pat Green, who served up tasty sandwiches for everyone, and to our crew of craft workers:  Alison Mitchell, Heather Chambers, Debbie Bond, Terry McKiernan, Eve Handen, Kim Marshall, Dorothy King, Nancy Valencia, Sue Johnson, and all the youth who helped set up that day. 

Wally Hoeger

 

Christmas Caroling on December 20

Mark your calendars for December 20! We have once again been awarded a charter bus by Supervisor Don Knabe’s office to go caroling in style. Sign-ups are available after church. We will meet at the church on December 20 at 3:45 p.m.; please be sure to be on time. Afterwards we will return to the church for dinner together and be done by 7 p.m. Great event for all ages! You can also reserve a place on the bus by contacting Wally Hoeger at whoeger@firstchurchlb.org or 562-436-2256, ext. 226.

 

Pilgrim Deadline

The deadline for submitting items for inclusion in the newsletter is Friday at 12 noon for the email going out the following week. Due to the new email format, it is no longer necessary that items be submitted as attachments; they may simply be included in the text of your email.

 

 

The Church Mouse has heard ...

... Harold Sutherland's potter friends from Las Vegas, who have donated pottery in which he has planted succulents for silent auctions and fundraisers at First Church, will be at the Fullerton Arboretum, December 4 to 6 for the Orange County Cactus and Succulent Society Winter Show and Sale. The sale runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info see www.occss.org.

 

Parish Concerns

Your thoughts and prayers are requested for Phil (Debbie Byrne's father); Mary Ellen Kilsby's son-in-law; Doris Sutherland (Harold Sutherland's mother); Jeff Ford; Janet Rhodes; Katy Philips (Cynde Soto's mother); David (Jon Rodgers' boyfriend); Donny Taylor (Jon Rodgers' friend); and Jann Winn (Yvonne SaMarion's friend); David Bourassa; Lowell Johnson; Bryce King; James McMaster; and Harley Rubenstein (Jerry Kulhavy's friend).

In the armed forces: Daniele Ware (Karen Miller’s granddaughter, stationed in Iraq).

Names on the Parish Concerns list appear in two consecutive editions of the newsletter. Those in the armed forces serving in combat zones are listed until they come home. To put someone on either list, put a note on the Parish Concerns board on the Third Street landing or contact Ruth Warkentin in the church office.

 

Becoming a Member of First Church

Whether you have been attending for a few weeks, a few months or several years, we would like you to consider becoming a member of First Church. When you are ready to take that step, please call or email Rev. Jerry Stinson at 562-436-2256, ext 230 or revjstinson@verizon.net.

 

Online Calendar

Don’t miss out! Check the online church calendar at www.firstchurchlb.org/calendar.html for details about all church events. You can use the online calendar to email invitations to friends to church events and to set up emailed reminders to yourself. Just click on any event to see information about it.

 

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First Congregational Church - 241 Cedar Avenue - Long Beach, California 90802
562-436-2256 - Fax: 562-436-3018 - E-mail: office@firstchurchlb.org