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

The Pilgrim - February 14, 2010

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

This Sunday is the last Sunday of the season of Epiphany. We will be observing a rather obscure Christian holiday called Quinquagesima Sunday. This Sunday is fifty days before Easter and the last Sunday before the more somber season of Lent. So Quinquagesima Sunday, like Mardi Gras, focuses on joy and celebration before Lent begins.

The music for this service will be especially joyful. We will have a jazz and Dixieland band, the Blue Cat Express, leading us in our hymns. They will also be accompanying Lisa Bode Heard’s solo. The choral anthem will also be particularly upbeat.

In my sermon, I will be using Chimamanda Adichie’s novel, Purple Hibiscus, as a way to talk about joy in Christianity.

SERMON: The Purple Hibiscus and the Litmus Test
The Rev. Jerry Stinson, preaching
READINGS: II Samuel 6:14-17, 20-21; Luke 7:31-35
LITURGIST: The Rev. Linda Silas

Jerry Stinson’s sermon on February 21 will be titled “Amazing Grace and Moral Outrage.”

 

Music on Sunday

It’s Mardi Gras Season again! The Bluecat Music Entertainment group will provide a Dixieland-style band to play for us! We will sing some of the old gospel hymns and let our hair down. It’s time to clap your hands, stomp your feet and sing with a healthy and hearty voice! The Sanctuary Choir will sing “Elijah Rock” as arranged by the late American choral conductor and composer/arranger Moses Hogan. Lisa Bode Heard will sing “God’s Eye Is on the Sparrow,” arranged by Curtis Heard. You do not want to miss this Sunday. See you in church!

- Dr. Leland, Vail, Minister of Music

 

In Sunday School

Theme: Astounding Glory
Scripture Focus: Luke9:28-36, (37-43)

 

In Adult Education: The Existential Philosophy of Paul Tillich
Sundays at 8:30 am in the Klar Rooms, upstairs in Pilgrim Hall

Dr. Ed Bloomfield, Minister of Visitation at First Church and Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Cerritos College, will teach a two-week class on the life and thought of Paul Tillich on February 7 and 14 at 8:30 a.m. in the Klar Rooms. Ed had the privilege of studying under Tillich at Harvard Divinity School in 1960-1962.

Paul Tillich (1886-1965) was a German-American theologian and Christian existentialist philosopher. He is best known for his works The Courage to Be (1952) and Dynamics of Faith (1957), which introduced issues of theology and modern culture to a general readership. Theologically, he is best known for his major three-volume work, Systematic Theology (1951-1963), in which he developed his “method of correlation”: an approach of exploring the symbols of Christian revelation as answers to the problems of human existence raised by contemporary existential philosophical analysis.
Tillich is brilliant, exciting, controversial, challenging and frustrating. Plan to join us for what promised to be a very educational dialogue about one of the twentieth century’s most influential Protestant theologians. If you have any questions, give Ed a call at 562-865-1503.

 

Parent Book Study Continues

The Parent Book Study meets Sundays at 9 a.m. in the Pownall Room to discuss Making a Home for Faith: Nurturing the Faith of Your Child, by Elizabeth Caldwell. The book study will meet each week through February 21. All parents and those interested in children's faith are invited. Childcare provided in the nursery.

 

 

Baked Potato Lunch This Sunday!
By Martha Duncan

Forget the roses for Valentine's Day - go to the Dining Room after the service and for only $5 you'll get baked potatoes with all the fixings plus salad and beverage. And, since it's Valentine's Day, we'll have SWEET potatoes, too! This is a Board of Parish Life fundraiser.

 

First Congregational Church
Annual Meeting
Sunday, February 21, After the Service
Patterson Hall

Please come celebrate another year with all of your First Church friends.
A light lunch will be served, suggested donation of $6.

 

The Season of Lent
By Libby Tigner

The liturgical season of Lent is the 40-day period that precedes Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year is February 17, and ends on Easter Sunday. Lent is traditionally a time of prayer, fasting and contemplation. Some Christian traditions have asked people to give up something during Lent – a small sacrifice to help us focus on our spiritual selves. During this season we are also encouraged to contemplate our mortality and our responsibilities to ourselves and one another and to re-examine our values and our priorities. The joyous season of Easter and the promise of resurrected living has deeper meaning if we’ve honestly faced the challenges of Lent.

This year First Congregational Church will provide you with several opportunities to nurture your spirit during the Lenten season. Please don’t hesitate to contact anyone in the church office or look to the church website for more information.

Ash Wednesday Service, February 17 at 7 p.m.
The traditional imposition of ashes, with a brief meditation by Libby and music by Una Voce, our chant choir. This service will be held in the sanctuary.

Writing the Sacred, February 27 at 10 a.m.
A 2 ½ hour workshop in journaling, poetry and psalm writing with author Ray McGinnins. The cost is $15. Please register by February 25 (562-436-2256, ext. 221 or office@firstchurchlb.org).

Women’s Spirituality Retreat, March 5-7
A weekend of reflection and spiritual renewal, with the theme of “Remembering Your Story: Creating Your Own Spiritual Autobiography.” The retreat is held at Pilgrim Pines camp in the San Bernardino mountains, and the cost is $125. As of February 8, there are still six spots available. Please contact Libby for more details or to register (562-436-2256, ext. 224; ltigner@firstchurchlb.org)

Book Discussion of Making Rounds with Oscar, March 31, 7 p.m.
This book, which is about a cat in a facility for persons with Alzheimer’s, will lead us into a conversation about death and dying, companionship, grieving and end-of-life choices. Copies of the book are available from Libby for $15. The group will meet in the Pownall Room.

Maundy Thursday Services, April 1
Foot Washing, 6 p.m. in Sacred Space. In some Christian communities, the sacrament of communion is only held in conjunction with the ritual of foot washing. A re-enactment of Jesus’ act of servant hood to his disciples, foot washing is a lesson in the humility of both giving and receiving service to a fellow sojourner. It is a surprisingly moving experience.
Service of Tenebrae, 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This traditional service of shadows follows the stories of the last night of Jesus’ life, and ends with silence in a darkened sanctuary. The sanctuary choir will sing, and we will participate in the sacrament of communion.

 

Feeling Friendly? Join Team Aloha!
By Alison Mitchell, Moderator

We are a group of people who want to make ourselves visible and available to folks visiting the church who may have questions. You don't need to be a fountain of knowledge, just have a willingness to talk with people who may want to know a bit more about the church (and perhaps need to know where the bathrooms are!). There are two steps to becoming an Aloha Team member: First, bring a Hawaiian lei from home to wear, or don one from our handy dandy bag o' leis stored in the umbrella cabinet in the entry way of the church at the corner of Third and Cedar. Second, after worship service, make yourself conspicuously available to visitors. Hang out for a while in the narthex, or circulate in the Kilsby courtyard and in Patterson Hall using that special visitor vision with which lei-wearing has gifted you. Aloha!

 

New Members
By Jerry Stinson

NICOL AND RAY HEDGPETH both grew up in Long Beach. They met each other during high school. Ray attended Millikan High School and Nicol was at Lakewood High School. They both went on to study at Cal State Long Beach where Ray received his teaching credential and Nicol earned a Master’s degree in nursing. Nicol works as a nurse practitioner in oncology and Ray is a sixth grade teacher in Bellflower.

As a child, Nicol attended Bethany Lutheran School and was active in the Lutheran Church. Ray’s background is in the Assemblies of God religious tradition.. After they were married, they attended an Assemblies of God church together. Ray is a musician who writes music and plays the guitar and banjo. He provided music for many of the programs at that church. But eventually they found that theology did not work for them. They loved the people at that church and so it was a long process for them to leave. They wandered for a while seeking another church and Nicol found the website for First Church. They have been coming here for three years and feel like this is the right faith community for their family.

Nicol and Ray have been married for sixteen years and have two children: Eli who is seven and Zoe who is five. Nicol loves to read and Ray spends time on his music. As a family they enjoy traveling and just returned from an extensive trip to Japan where they visited Nicol’s sister. They also enjoy riding bicycles and going to museums with their children.

 

First Church and Friends Book Club
By Mary Ellen Kilsby

Our novel book club meets monthly either at an appropriate restaurant or at a home. Nancy Himel shepherds us and we have read wonderful literature. Call Nancy at 562-436-5759 if you are interested in giving us a try.

 

Save These Dates - Put Them in Your Calendar Right Now!
By Jerry Stinson

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 …
Our Sunday Service on February 28 will focus on peace. Jerry Leggett, a former Southern California resident who now lives in Hawaii, is coming to the U.S. mainland to tell the story of his amazing two-year peace journey in an aluminum bubble. Jerry Leggett is a singer, composer and UCC minister. With the help of friends and a national network of peace lovers, he acquired a vintage-style tear-dropped trailer he dubbed “The Peace Bubble.” As Jerry zigzagged 100,000 miles across the United States, the Peace Bubble became a listening post for him to ask thousands of people the question, “What does peace look like for you?” He videotaped 7,000 of their responses for broadcast on youtube.com.
Jerry will:
      • lead us in peace-oriented folks songs during the service,
      • do a sermon in song about peace,
      • and lead a forum after church about his amazing trip.
You won’t want to miss this Sunday!

FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 23 and SATURDAY, APRIL 24 …
The First Annual Romero Lectures will be held at our church. This event is presented by Centro Romero, a ministry of the United Church of Christ’s Justice and Witness Ministries and the Southern California Nevada Conference of the UCC. The focus will be on “The Politics of Crossing Borders: Borderlands, Culture and Tradition.” The keynote speaker will be Dr. Robert Orr, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations for Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination.

SUNDAY, APRIL 25 …
Aziza Hasan, Director of Interfaith Relations for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, will be our guest preacher. She will tell her own faith story during the Sunday Service. At a forum after the service, she will speak of the group she co-directs, New Ground: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change.

 

 

The Senior Minister's Discretionary Fund
By Jerry Stinson

It was a little over two and a half years ago that I made my last appeal for donations to the Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund. Now the fund has dropped to a low level and I hope some of you will want to help replenish it.

The Senior Minister’s Discretionary Fund is used for two things. Its primary purpose has been assisting people in need – both our own members and those who simply come to the church hoping we can help them. Now that we have a special new fund for helping our own members in need, my discretionary fund will primarily assist others who turn to us for help.

Here are some examples of how I have used the fund recently:

• I helped a very hungry homeless couple.
• A social service agency asked if I could join them – each of us contributing half of the price for a pair or orthopedic shoes for a homeless woman.
• I helped a man travel back to Mexico for some needed medical treatment.
• I assisted a church member who has children pay her rent after she lost her job.
• A couple of years ago, I helped a man buy the textbook he needed to complete his training in embalming. He did successfully finish the program but has not found a full-time job. He, his wife and their child were going to be evicted for being behind on their rent so I helped them pay their rent.
• I helped a church member travel to see his dying mother.
• I gave an elderly homeless woman some money for food.
• I helped a homeless couple – both developmentally disabled – with money for food and a motel room while they sought long-term assistance from social service agencies.
• I helped a church member make a mortgage payment when it looked like that member might face foreclosure.
• I helped another church member with his rent payment.
• A young single mother was homeless with a six-year-old child. She refused to go to a shelter with her child. She had just found a new job. She sold her car to get money to rent a motel room until she got paid. I helped her with money for food and for bus fare to and from work.
• I helped another single mother with rent money so her family could avoid being evicted from their home.

The other use for the Discretionary Fund is to support justice organizations not covered in the church budget or the budget of our Board of Outreach. Using this fund, I have provided small donations to groups like the Center for Progressive Christianity, Bread for the World, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Farm Worker Ministry, and People of Faith Working Against the Death Penalty. It purchases our annual membership in the Children’s Defense Fund and the Human Rights Campaign. It provides assistance to Sabeel in its work for justice in Palestine and to the House of Mary Magdalene with its work with street prostitutes in Los Angeles. It supports the peace efforts of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Sabeel and Interfaith Peace Builders.

I want to thank those who have made generous donations to this discretionary fund in the past. If you can help build the fund back up, I would deeply appreciate it. Write your checks to First Congregational Church, marking them “discretionary fund.”

 

Don't Ignore the Little Red Book
By Adreana Langston, Diaconate Board Member

At the Diaconate meeting on February 7, I was surprised to see the Diaconate Board Chair Marion Nguli listed as having been absent from Sunday service nine times from September through December 2009. Was Marion only showing up after the service in order to enjoy chats with me? As if! No, Marion was there at most of the services all right; she was just so caught up in her Diaconate duties that she forgot to sign the pew pad. It is by tabulating the pew pads that First Church administration keeps up on who is attending and who is absent. As a church family we want to know when congregants are continually absent because it might be an indication that they’re in need of our concern and care. One of Diaconate’s duties is to call on those who have been absent just to check up on them. Most of the time the absences are explained by something simple like work schedules changing or an extended vacation. Even so, the person getting the call expresses appreciation that someone from church took the time to check in on them. Sometimes there have been no absences and the congregant is wondering why he or she is being given a call at all seeing as how they’ve been attending regularly. In those instances it is usually a case of pants-in-the-pews-but-no-pens-on-the-pew-pad-paper.

The information provided on the pew pads is strictly used for tabulating attendance and updating contact information. First Church does not share the contact information given on the pew pads with outside organizations.

So please remember to sign the pew pads. While you are signing the pad you can look at the other names to see if you read the name of a visitor in your row or even a First Church member with whom you are not too familiar. If you do read the name of someone new or new to you, be sure to greet them after the service ends. If you forget to sign the pew pad during the service, you can always go to the Narthex right after the postlude and sign one of the pew pads collected by a Diaconate member. Accurate information regarding attendance is very important in assisting the First Church boards and Church Council in making a variety of decisions regarding the life of the church.

 

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.

 

 

Thank You, First Church!

Two notes from our mail ...

Thank you all the people of the church for cards and calls on the phone. My love for the people of the church is more like love for my family of the church. I hope to get back to see everyone in person someday soon.

Ernest Fowler

Thank you for your generous contribution of the large room in support of the Thomas Fleming Rhodes Memorial Holiday Party. Because of support from the community, we have sponsored parties for approximately 300 of these children for 21 straight years. This year was no different...

Every year, there are compelling stories which express far better than I could the meaning of our parties. This year the story came from an unexpected place. A Friends Outside Toy Drive Coordinator, Sherry, made the annual appeal to her church congregation, asking them to remember children with incarcerated parents during the December holidays. A woman we shall call "Anna" spoke after Sherry finished. Anna had grown up in this church which had participated in the toy drive for many years. She never felt comfortable disclosing that she had once been a guest at two Friends Outside holiday parties. Anna is now a mother of three small children. She shared how important the parties had been in her life. In fact she looked back at the gifts from Friends Outside as the most meaningful gifts she had ever received during the holidays. Anna shared that although her incarcerated father had been absent from most of her life, that the gifts represented a connection to him. We will never know how important that one gift is to a child with a loved one in prison. As revealed in Anna's story the gift can truly be life-changing.
We could not do our work without your support. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Mary Weaver
Executive Director, Friends Outside

 

Memorial Service for Don Donan's Mother

A memorial service for Don Donan's mother will be Saturday, February 13 at 2 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church (5225 Hayter Avenue, Lakewood), where she was a charter member.

 

The Church Mouse has heard ...

... The family of Lowell Johnson has generously given the church a sofa and love seat from Lowell’s living room. This furniture has replaced the broken sofa under the portraits of the Bixbys in the Koinonia Room.

 

Parish Concerns

Your thoughts and prayers are requested for Dorothy (Oma) Carr (relative of Matt and Tracy Balin); Tabetha Faux (Todd Faux's sister); Marcia Hoffman, a UCC minister, upon the death of her husband; the McMillin family upon the death of their sister-in-law, Marlyn McMillin; Harold Sutherland's mother, aunt and greataunt; Art Brewster (Teri Brewster's husband); Elaine and André Condon (Pat Kalayjian's sister & brother-in-law); Louise Wiggins (Yvonne SaMarion's aunt); and Veronica Wiggins (Yvonne SaMarion's cousin).

In the armed forces: Daniele Ware (Karen Miller’s granddaughter, stationed in Iraq) and Laura Anderson (Kathy Young's niece, stationed in Bahrain).

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.

 

The following information is paid advertising. To place an ad in this newsletter, please contact Ruth Warkentin in the church office.

 

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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