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

The Pilgrim - February 28, 2010

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

This Sunday we will have a joyful celebration of God’s love and the possibilities for global peace.

The service will include the introduction of our second confirmation student (Madison Solem-Kuehl), a solo by Megan O’Toole, and greetings from the national offices of the United Church of Christ by the Rev. Nelson Murphy, Director of Investment Development at United Church Funds.

The peace celebration will include a litany growing out of a poem written by Tina Datsko de Sánchez, special visual elements created by the Worship and Arts Ministry Team and a Call to Celebration led by Libby Tigner that will include the presentation of some unique peace symbols.

We will be singing three hymns that are tied to the peace movement in the 1960s: “Blowing in the Wind,” “Let It Be” and “If I Had a Hammer.”

The Rev. Jerry Leggett, a singer and songwriter from Hawaii, will be lead the hymns and will do a “Sermon in Song.” He will tell the story of his amazing two-year peace journey in an aluminum bubble. In January 2007, he departed from Carlsbad, California on a mission to sing out for peace each day at noon. 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 he 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.

Rev. Leggett's sermon and the forum after the service will include his original tunes, tales from the road and a treasure-trove of images and video interviews that gather thoughts about peace from around the nation. Rev. Leggett’s 45-state, 240-stop travels included interviews at Ground Zero; Wounded Knee, South Dakota; the Katrina Memorial in Biloxi, Mississippi; the international border near Nogales, Arizona; and twenty US national parks and landmarks.

SERMON: A Sermon in Song
The Rev. Jerry Leggett
LITURGISTS: The Rev. Jerry Stinson and the Rev. Libby Tigner

On March 7, the Rev. Jerry Stinson’s sermon will be titled
“The Kind of Sharing in Which We Can Take Pride.”

 

Music on Sunday

This Sunday the Choir will sing “The Road Home” by composer Stephen Paulus. You will remember that we performed several of his compositions during the December 20 Advent service. Paulus has based his arrangement on the Southern Harmony tune “Prospect” (1835). It is a simple four-part setting with a soprano obligato on the final stanza. The text is by Michael Dennis Brown.

- Dr. Leland, Vail, Minister of Music

 

In Sunday School

Theme: Strong and Tender
Scripture Focus: Luke 13:31-35

 

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

We will conclude our exploration of “Eight Points of Progressive Christianity.” Using a study guide from The Center for Progressive Christianity, we are fleshing out what each of these points might mean for us as individuals and as a congregation.

The class meets at 8:30 a.m. in the Klar classrooms. Coffee is provided, child care is available, and you are welcome to bring your breakfast and a friend!

 

Parent Book Study Concludes

This Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Pownall Room the Parent Book Study will finish discussion of Making a Home for Faith: Nurturing the Faith of Your Child, by Elizabeth Caldwell. All parents and those interested in children's faith are invited. Childcare provided in the nursery.

 

Writing the Sacred - This Saturday, February 27
By Libby Tigner

A 2 ½ hour workshop in journaling, poetry and psalm writing with author Ray McGinnins. The cost is $15. The deadline to register is 12 noon this Thursday, February 25 (562-436-2256, ext. 221 or office@firstchurchlb.org).

Come play with words. Come and discover ways to unlock your creativity and give expression to your own spiritual journey through writing. At a Writing the Sacred workshop, author Ray McGinnis will show you some of the timeless poetic forms present in the Hebrew Psalms. Alongside the Psalms, he’ll draw from a splendid range of spiritual seekers who wrote poetry from St. Francis of Assisi to Rumi to Mary Oliver. He’ll offer selected Psalms, poems and journal writing exercises as prompts to help you to express your own longings and experiences of the sacred in the ordinary on paper.

In an open and hospitable setting, Ray invites you to bring to God what is on your heart: whether gratitude, lament, trust, wisdom, vision, forgiveness, loving-kindness or other emotions in your unfolding relationship with the God. Whether you are a seasoned writer or have never put pen to paper, you'll be expertly guided, step-by-step, to a place where you'll emerge with your own new psalms/sacred poems. You'll emerge from this workshop with ideas for how to use poem-making as a tool to write your own new psalms - as a companion on your own spiritual journey
or for enriching the life of your congregation. Signed copies of Writing the Sacred will also be available for purchase at this workshop for $20, cash or check.

Ray McGinnis is a poet and has written in journals all his life. He has taught over 9,000 people how to write prayers, poetry, and autobiographies, all the while guiding them to bring their whole heart, mind, and spirit to the process. Writing the Sacred is in its third printing. He lives in Vancouver and attends Canadian Memorial United Church. For more information about his workshop and book visit www.writetotheheart.com.

 

Two New Members
By Jerry Stinson

Bill and Carole Yochum became new members of First Church on February 21.

Bill was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and was immediately assigned to Edwards Air Force Base here in California. After three years as an instrumentation engineer, he joined Alcoa in human resources/labor relations in Vernon, California.
Carole was born in Montevideo, Minnesota and moved to California at the age of three. She graduated from UCLA, and both Carole and Bill hold Industrial Relations Certificates from UCLA. Carole worked for US Steel, Alcoa and Kelly Manufacturing as a personnel/labor relations manager.

Carole and Bill met in 1969 while both were employed at Alcoa. It took some time, but eighteen years later they were married on 9/11/1987, an anniversary date neither of them will ever forget. They were then members of Los Altos United Church of Christ and remained there until last year.
After their marriage, they lived in Marina Pacifica for thirteen years. In 1991 Bill retired from Alcoa and moved to Nissan Motor Corporation as Employee Relations/Labor Relations Manager. In 1992 Carole formed her own management training firm. Bill retired from Nissan in 1997 and Carole sold her firm and retired in 2000.

In 2001 they moved to Signal Hill, where they live today. Bill is an only son who has an only son and became a grandfather five years ago. Carole has an only son, two granddaughters and a great-grandson.

They have a one-year-old springer spaniel, aptly named Diable (Devil) who has several First Congregational members as his aunties. Having found several of their friends in Signal Hill as members of First Church, they are thrilled to become members of what they feel is their spiritual home.

 

57th South Coast Interfaith Council Annual Assembly

Monday, March 8, 6 - 9 p.m. (Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.)
St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church
25511 Eshelman Avenue
Lomita, CA 90717
Dinner, Spotlight Awards, Celebration, Elections
Deadline for making reservations: March 1
Tickets: $25
Please contact the SCIC at 562-983-1665 or scic@charterinternet.com.

 

 

Drop-In Center Recognizes Community Partnerships
By Brad Lara-Gagne

On March 13 the Drop-In Center will hold a fundraiser with live entertainment, a cocktail reception and a sit-down dinner. In addition to honoring Patricia Benoit, the DIC will recognize two additional organizations for their partnership with the Drop-In Center.

For the past two years the students of the CSULB President’s Scholars program have been an integral part of our volunteer work force during the school year. They come in two-hour shifts (8-10, 12-2 and 2-4), digging in and doing the work with responsibility and enthusiasm. The President’s Scholars have afforded us the chance to use all the produce generously donated by the vendors at the Farmers Market. This affects the quality of the meals we serve and help defray our food cost each week.

We will also recognize Temple Israel, who open our doors on Christmas Day, allowing us to have the day with our families, and in the spirit of the Drop-In Center provide a place of respite from the streets on this holiday. Temple Israel and its congregants have a long history with the First Congregational Church of Long Beach, and they continue that tradition with the DIC. Whenever we have reached out they have been there for us, most recently by honoring us as a recipient of their attention on Mitzvah Day. Many came to volunteer and also provided hygiene kits for more than 300 of our guests.

Please join us for a good meal and a good time while we honor these deserving community partners. Tickets are $35 per person. A gourmet dinner will be served by Bootstrap Catering. If you are interested in attending, please contact Brad Lara-Gagne at bradg63@aol.com or call 562-607-4006 or go to the Urban Community Outreach website (www.urbancommunityoutreach.org) and click on the word "fundraiser."

Check out our opportunity drawing offering at coffee and conversation after church. You can also inquire about tickets.

 

Go to the Long Beach Gay Pride Festival for Free!
By Brad Lara-Gagne

If you would like to go to the Long Beach Gay Pride festival for free, just volunteer on behalf of the Drop-In Center. All you need to do is sign up for a four-hour shift on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Many different jobs are available: security, wrist-banding at the front gate, helping with vendors for load in, parade monitors, main stage help and more. After your shift you may attend the festival for free. (If you work a later shift or a shift later in the weekend, all you need to do is buy a ticket when you go and they will reimburse you after your shift.)

For every volunteer hour you put in the DIC will get paid for your work. The more people who volunteer the more money the DIC makes. You can have fun go to the festival and get a free t-shirt, all while earning money for the Drop-In Center – It’s a win win win!

There will be sign-up sheets in the courtyard after church, or see Brad Lara-Gagne for more information.

 

Annual Meeting Recap
By Libby Tigner

This past Sunday, we celebrated the challenges and the accomplishments of 2009 at our Annual Meeting and Luncheon in Patterson Hall. Over 100 people enjoyed a delicious soup and salad lunch, prepared by Karen Cannon, topped off with warm apple cobbler. The Charming Chimes, the youngest of our musical groups, entertained us with a demonstration of their chimes, followed by a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” with shout-outs to both the Dodgers and the Angels.

Our Treasurer, Pam Chapin, reported that due to the work of the Deficit Reduction Committee and the cuts that were made to staff last year, we were able to reduce our deficit by over $100,000 in 2009, and that we have an increased number of pledging households for 2010. Tim Bolton reported on the Getting to Know You Groups and encouraged everyone to participate in a group in 2010. Our Moderator, Alison Mitchell, in her inimitable style, congratulated Cathy Chambers for her outstanding work on the Craft Fair and thanked the Un-Committee for cleaning, polishing, planting, digging and painting their way to a spiffier building. She led us in cleaning cloth and whirly-gig salutes – it was a hoot!

The clergy recognized and thanked the Congregational Care Committee, honored the new members who joined in 2009 and led us in remembering the members who died last year.

The finale of the meeting was the announcing of the recipient of the Ralph Pillsbury Award for 2009, who was Teri Brewster. Teri was honored for her many years of dedicated service in virtually every aspect of the life of the church (she has served as Assistant Treasurer, has been on six different boards, several committees, sings in the choir and plays in Bellissimo) and particularly for her work this past year with the Sunday Drop-In Center and Urban Community Outreach, which has included cooking and serving food, recruiting volunteers, writing grants and designing UCO’s website.

The Annual Meeting and Luncheon is held each year in February. It is a wonderful, festive event. Make a mental note now to be sure to be in attendance next February when we will celebrate the work that we are doing in 2010.

 

Service Responding to Bigotry
By Jerry Stinson

Approximately 450 people attended a special interfaith service at Temple Israel while the hate-filled members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas stood outside with signs reading “Jews Killed Jesus” and “God Hates Fags.” I was honored to be one of the speakers at that service and was delighted to see more than 40 of our members in attendance.

 

Lenten Resources

A handout with resources for observing Lent is available in the narthex and on our website: click here for the pdf file.

 

An Act of Terrorism?
By Jerry Stinson

On February 18 in Austin, Texas, Andrew Joseph Stack committed a carefully planned suicide attack on a building filled with US government employees. He had prepared a lengthy, anti-government “manifesto” and left it on his website. He deliberately flew an airplane into a building, willing to kill himself along with a number of innocent people in order to get back at the American government.

Now I was fascinated when Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo refused to classify this action as terrorism. The FBI handled the case “as a criminal matter of an assault on a federal officer” and said that it was not being considered as an act of terror. Then the Department of Homeland Security said it did not believe the crash was an act of terrorism.

Does this mean that in the eyes of law enforcement that only Muslims can be considered terrorists? Is that how we in an Islamophobic society now define terrorism? Had Mr. Stack been a Muslim, would law enforcement officials have defined his action in a different way?

“Whenever an individual or group attacks civilians in order to make a political statement, that is an act of terror,” said the Council on American Islamic Relations’ National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “Terrorism is terrorism, regardless of the faith, race or ethnicity of the perpetrator or the victims.”

 

How to Cheat at Book Club
By Adreana Langston

If you want to participate in Steve Lopez’s visit to First Church March 3 at 7 p.m. but you don’t know where you are going to find the time to actually read The Soloist beforehand, why not have The Soloist read to you instead? If you visit the First Church lending library by the conference table in the Koinonia Room, you’ll find on the shelf a black and white gift bag. Inside that bag are four copies of the unabridged audiobook The Soloist for you to borrow.

In a little lavender and white gift bag right next to The Soloist are three unabridged copies of the audiobook Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, a popular movie release starring Leonardo DiCaprio. And in a few weeks there will be a third bag with copies of the audiobook Making the Rounds with Oscar by David Dosa.

The audiobooks come as MP3 files on USB flash drives. Just plug the flash drives into your computer, download the MP3 files to your hard drive, then transfer the files to your iPod, iPhone or any type of digital audio player. Take the book with you to the gym, on your commute or while you’re gardening. Your friends will be amazed at what a speed reader you seem to be. Or you can simply listen to the audiobooks from your computer speakers right there at your desk.

 

New Electronic Keycards
By Ruth Warkentin

In order to improve security, we will be issuing new electronic keycards for the church. All existing keycards will stop working after Monday, March 8. To turn in your old card and get a new one, please contact Ruth in the office: office@firstchurchlb.org or 562-436-2256 ext 221.

 

Donations for Haiti

A total of $5979.37 has been donated for relief efforts in Haiti through First Church, including $279.37 from the Souper Bowl of Caring.

 

Thanks, First Church!

I would like to thank everyone for keeping me in their thoughts and prayers. Knowing that my First Church family has been with me in spirit helped to make my stay in the hospital a little easier. It was a blessing to receive your visits, phone calls, cards and messages. I am extremely grateful to those of you who have consistently been there to offer comfort and support to my wonderful sister, Mary. While she would never allow me to see her agonizing over my pain, I know that it has been as much a struggle for her and the rest of my family to stand by helplessly as I have fought to recover. Thank you, Mary, for your constant love and support. You are the most amazing big sister. I look forward to seeing you all in the near future. Thank you so much.

With love and gratitude,

Cathy Flynn

What wonderful people you are! A little note in The Pilgrim and the mail comes in and a telegram or two. Thank you sincerely for your thoughtfulness. You heard that the doctor wanted me not to live alone any more because of having fallen a few times. But other than that I was in such good shape that he didn't want me to go to a convalescent home. So my daughter Phyllis and her husband Dr. Charles Graham said, "Please come and live with us." How wonderful it has been.

Love,

Rev. Ernest Fowler

 

An Educational Workshop on Current Financial and Legal Challenges Facing the Gay and Lesbian Community

Wednesday, March 24, 7 - 9 p.rn. or Saturday, March 27, 1 - 3 p.rn. in the Klar Rooms

Marriage Equality… No Marriage Equality… What does it all mean to you? Topics of discussion will include:

• The importance of working with an advisory team who understands the needs of our community
• Ensuring that your assets will pass to the people you choose
• Reducing federal, estate and inheritance taxes
• An overview of other key financial challenges faced by our community
• The legal implications of the California Marriage Act
• The importance of establishing a proper estate plan
• Changes in the law for couples to consider
• Revocable living trusts vs. wills, health care documents and powers of attorney

This event is hosted by Wells Fargo Advisors and sponsored by Metlife, The Hartford and Dreyfus. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited. RSVP to Steven W. Schmitt at 973-564-6997 or steven.schmitt@wellsfargoadvisors.com, Kyle D. Young at 973-564-6983 or kyle.young@wellsfargoadvisors.com or Philip J. Hoskins at 310-209-8080 or phlaw@sbcglobal.net.

 

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. Submissions may simply be included in the text of your email.

 

 

March Birthdays

1 Frances Holand
3 Louise Lawler
4 Matthew Chavis, Jeff Gholson, Randel King
6 Erica Sears
7 Megan Monaghan
8 Richard Grauman
9 Lisa Davis, Brian Dumont, Julie Gholson
10 Kelly Hanna, Curtis Heard, Roy King, Dottie Wine
12 Connor Bush, Bill Gamble, Chloe Haynes, David Travis-Bourassa
13 Mitchell Earl-Itoga, Alison Mitchell
15 Jerry Cannon, Tracy Halter-Balin, Wayne Hester
18 Melanie Hiller
19 Teri Brewster, Jonathan Kelewae
21 Michelle AmirArdalan, Christine Rhoads
23 Shelby Johnson, Tim Mountain, Janet Wiscombe
24 Randall Goddard, Jerry Mitchell
25 Jacob Cook, J. J. Halter, Erin O'Keefe
26 Maria Alarcon, David Cartwright, Jordan Cook, Margaret Jacoby
28 Marion Hinze, Miriam McKenna
29 Douglas Emslie
30 Akiko Dohi, Bob Phibbs

 

March Anniversaries

3 Lisa and Curtis Heard, 20 years
4 Jim Watson and Daniel Bell, 33 years
6 Gayle Connell and Margaret Jacoby, 17 years
9 Carol and George Welsh, 42 years
10 Jeff and Julie Gholson, 31 years
18 Michelle and Reza AmirArdalan, 4 years
28 Jeff and Paul Miller, 2 years

 

The Church Mouse has heard ...

... After a year and a half with the staff of "Jersey Boys" (which closed in January) and a wonderful month-long break, Dan Brink is thrilled to have been asked to join the wardrobe staff of the soon-to-open production of "Billy Elliot," which has a projected two-year run in Chicago.

 

Parish Concerns

Your thoughts and prayers are requested for Tabetha and Tristan Faux (Todd Faux's relatives); Cathy Flynn; Dave & Vickie Lunden (Ed & Judy Reeves' friends); Lisa Pryor (Aida Porteneuve's friend); and Cindy Ross (Marion Hinze's friend). Lisa Pryor (Aida Porteneuve's friend); Cindy Ross (Marion Hinze's friend); Art Brewster (Teri Brester's husband); Johnny Cheng; and Ed Reeves.

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 the 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