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

The Pilgrim - December 20, 2009

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

 

Sunday Service, December 20 – 10 a.m.

Major Choral Works by Stephen Paulus
Canticum Novum, Three Nativity Carols and Hallelu!
Sanctuary Choir with Harp, Flute, Oboe and Percussion
Christmas Stories by Jerry Stinson and Libby Tigner
Followed by Wassail Reception in Patterson Hall

Christmas Eve Services

December 24 – 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service
With Children’s Pageant

Special Music by Charming Chimes,
All Seasons Choir, All Seasons Choir Continued, and Beloved Bells
Christmas Readings and Carols
The Christmas Stories
A Meditation by Libby Tigner
Children's Pageant:
"Matt and Lucy’s Version Births"
Followed by Birthday Party for Jesus
in Patterson Hall

December 24 – 9:30 p.m.
(NEW TIME!!!)
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Come at 9 to hear Avocation Augmented
sing carols in the entryway
Sermon: Christmas and the Pursuit of Perfection
Jerry Stinson, preaching
Christmas Readings and Carols
Two Anthems by Our Sanctuary Choir
Leland Vail and Carlos Carlos
Singing "Gesu Bambino"
Music by Bellissimo, Our Adult Bell Choir
The “Hallelujah” Chorus
Followed by Another Wassail Reception
in Patterson Hall

Music on Sunday

This Sunday is Advent IV, and the Sanctuary Choir will present the Christmas music of American composer Stephen Paulus. I have selected nine compositions which come from the Three Nativity Carols and Canticum Novum and an additional carol entitled “Hallelu!” These ten works are accompanied by harp, flute, oboe and percussion, with assistance from our fabulous organist, Marc Dickey. Once again, Ellie Choate is our harpist, Joe and Laura Stone will play the flute and oboe, respectively, and CSULB alumnus Eric Mellencamp will play a variety of percussion instruments. The texts of the carols are from various Medieval and Renaissance sources, and all tell of the birth of Jesus. These poems reflect the more traditional view of the birth and often reflect on the sacrifice of the cross and the redemption this sacrifice provides, which is common in Christmas texts of this past age.

Paulus’ music is challenging to say the least. The choir has worked diligently for over two months to present the carols to you. Paulus uses rich chords to color the diatonic harmonies and occasionally uses polytonality (two chords of different keys sound simultaneously – something Igor Stravinsky was famous for developing in the early 20th century) to add dissonance to the melodies. Yet he almost always resolves this dissonance into consonance, thus relieving the tension that he creates. We have enjoyed the struggle to prepare these pieces for you. I hope to see you all in church this Sunday to help us celebrate Christmas!

Below is a brief biography of Stephen Paulus taken from his webpage:

Stephen Paulus is a prolific composer of over 350 works. He is fluent in all genres, including orchestra, opera, chorus, chamber ensemble, solo voice, concert band, piano and organ. Born August 24, 1949 in Summit, New Jersey, Paulus has lived most of his life in Minnesota. He co-founded the American Composers Forum in 1973 and continues to work on behalf of his colleagues as the Symphony and Concert representative on the ASCAP Board of Directors. His music has been commissioned, recorded and performed by such varied performers as the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Washington Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Dale Warland Singers, VocalEssence, Doc Severinsen, Thomas Hampson and Deborah Voigt.

- Dr. Leland, Vail, Minister of Music

 

In Sunday School

Theme: Moving with Mary's Song
Scripture Focus: Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

 

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

We will conclude 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 Elves Needed!
By Libby Tigner

Part of the fun of Christmas at First Church is the two Wassail receptions – one after church on December 20 and the other after the 9:30 p.m. Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. We need a few elves to help contribute cookies, brownies and other holiday goodies to fill the plates at those receptions. And a few more elves are needed to help with set up and clean up.

Cookie Elves: Please bring three dozen cookies to church on December 20 and take them to Patterson Hall OR bring three dozen cookies to church on December 24 and put them in the Koinonia Kitchen.

Set-Up Elves: Please be in Patterson Hall at 9 a.m. on December 20 to help set up OR be in the Koinonia Room at 8:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Clean Up Elves: Please stay after either (or both!) reception to help clean and enable everyone to get out and home quickly.

If you have any questions, or are able to help, please let Libby know by either phone (562-436-2256, ext. 224) or email (ltigner@firstchurchlb.org). Thanks. And Merry Christmas!

 

Progressive Christians Uniting Gala Benefit
By Jerry Stinson

Progressive Christians Uniting will hold its Annual Gala Benefit on Monday, February 15 at 5 p.m. at the Center at Cathedral Plaza in Los Angeles. The theme of the benefit dinner will be “This Far by Faith: Cultivating Justice from the Roots.” The keynote speaker will be Dr. Diana Butler Bass, who is regarded as one of the most insightful and enthusiastic observers of progressive Christian practice and promise in America today. Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson will also be honored at the event.

It would be great if First Church could reserve a table for the event. But to do so, we would have to know in advance that will be able to fill the table – we cannot afford to absorb the cost of tickets we don’t sell. Each table seats ten people and costs $850. If you would like to attend and sit at a First Church table, please let me know by December 29 (revjstinson@verizon.net or 562-436-2256, ext. 230). If we get ten people willing to pay $85 each, then we will make the reservation. Otherwise, individuals can purchase individual tickets by January 15 at $90 each.

 

Dates for Women’s Spirituality Retreat Set
By Libby Tigner

The 2010 Women’s Spirituality Retreat will be Friday through Sunday, March 5-7. The retreat will be held at Pilgrim Pines camp again. Further details, including theme and cost, will be available mid-January.

 

New Member
By Jerry Stinson

In 1927, Ilse Schottelius was born in Hanover, Germany. Her parents traveled a great deal, so from the age of one until she was seven, she was raised in a Lutheran monastery. She was one of ten children in the monastery, children from all over the world. The nuns were very nice to her and she would sometimes get to spend weekends with her parents. Her father, who opposed the Nazis, had his business taken away from him by the Nazis.

So Ilsa and her family moved to Bremen-Bremerhaven where she was part of the Evangelish Lutherisch Kirche. She was eleven when the Second World War began in 1939. On September 23, 1943, the allies bombed her city and 63% of the buildings were destroyed. There was no warning, no air raid sirens. Some of her classmates were killed; she and her family managed to seek shelter in their basement which was the only part of their house that survived. They moved out of the city and lived on a farm for two years where there was at least plenty of milk and butter.

After the war, the family moved to Bremen where her father worked in a city office in the British-occupied zone. Ilsa was still in school but she did some translating for the British.

After finishing school, she went to Great Britain for training to be a nurse. She eventually became a registered nurse in Sudbury. She then returned to Germany for a while and then came to the United States, where she had a cousin, in 1964. She worked for a while developing photos in a photography studio and then switched to banking. She worked at Washington Mutual until she retired.

Ilsa has lived for 41 years in one of the high-rise buildings on Ocean Avenue, just a couple of blocks from the church. She loves the ocean and walks along it each day. She goes to Nifty After Fifty to exercise and goes to the senior studies program at Long Beach City College where she studies music.

She had been a member of the Unity Church in Long Beach, but began attending here three years ago. What she really likes about First Church is our openness to all people – she wants to be in a church where everyone is welcome.

 

Gifts to the Manger Delivery This Saturday

If you are interested in helping to assemble and/or deliver the holiday baskets to local needy families on Saturday, December 19, please contact Nancy Valencia at 562-234-2851.

 

Poinsettia Delivery This Sunday

Cards with names and addresses of church members who are elderly or homebound will be available in the narthex this Sunday. Please pick one up and deliver a poinsettia to someone near you.

 

Christmas Dinner Photos
Courtesy of Adreana Langston

Avocation Augmented

Santa (Custodian Carl Glover) and Peter Wright, 2009 Moderator

See more photos at http://classic.kodakgallery.com/adreanainlongbeach/adreanapics/fcclb_christmas_dinner_2009.

 

 

Advertise Your Business in
The Pilgrim!
By Heather Chambers

Reach out to others in the congregation and let them know what your business has to offer. The Pilgrim editor (Ruth Warkentin) will now publish advertising at the end of each online Pilgrim. Contact Ruth by email at office@firstchurchlb.org for rates and more information.

 

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.

 

 

Parish Concerns

Your thoughts and prayers are requested for Suzanne Wells Cauble (Bill Wells' sister); Michael Eagan (Dottie Wine's brother-in-law); Agnes Herbst; Donny Lara-Gagne upon the death of his mother; and Marlyn McMillin (David McMillin's sister-in-law).

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