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

The Pilgrim - March 21, 2010

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

This Sunday’s service will include special music by Lisa Bode Heard and a Moment of Concern by the Board of Outreach concerning the situation in Darfur.

In a lecture each year to her second-year medical students, Rachel Ramen asks them to find an image that symbolizes what the practice of medicine means to them personally. She then guides them in discussing what really matters in life. In my sermon, I will look at the response she got from one particular student.

SERMON: A Centurion’s Servant, A Well in the Midwest and Beethoven’s Third Symphony
The Rev. Jerry Stinson
READINGS: Matthew 8:1-3, 5-7, 14-15
LITURGIST: The Rev. Bob Stiles

On March 28, Rev. Jerry Stinson’s sermon will be entitled: “Get a Life – a Real Life.”

 

Music on Sunday

This fifth Sunday of Lent, the Sanctuary choir will sing “Goin’ Home” based on the Largo of the symphony “From the New World,” Op. 95 by Anton Dvořák (1841-1904). The words, which were never a part of the symphony, were written by his pupil William Arms Fisher and adapted to the Largo theme and published in 1922. This is what Mr. Fischer has to say about his work:

“The Largo, with its haunting English horn solo, is the outpouring of Dvořák’s own home longing, with something of the loneliness of far-off prairie horizons, the faint memory of the red man’s bygone days, and a sense of the tragedy of the black man as it sings in his “spirituals.” Deeper still, it is a moving expression of that nostalgia of the soul all human beings feel. That the lyric opening theme of the Largo should spontaneously suggest the words, “goin’ home, goin’ home,” is natural enough, and that the lines that follow the melody should take the form of a Negro spiritual, accords with the genesis of the symphony.”

- Dr. Leland, Vail, Minister of Music

 

In Sunday School

Theme: Something New
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 43:16-21

 

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

As part of our ongoing spiritual walk at First Congregational Church, the Adult Education class will continue to look at various definitions or explanations of God/the divine this week and to pursue a conversation about our own notions of God. We will try to give particular attention this week to questions like: Have you had a personal experience of the divine? What are experiences or times when you became more consciously aware of God, rather than accepting a socially imposed vision? What is your understanding of God? Where is God? Is God a who? If so, who is she/he/it? I hope you will join us at 8:30 during the next two Sundays to share what is most important to you about your own spiritual journey.

The information that I will present to the class in this final week is "The Tao and Spinoza’s God."

If you have any questions, or if you plan to attend, please let me know (chcagc@yahoo.com); I will email material to you ahead of time so you can be thinking about it before Sunday. In any case, come and help expand this spiritual journey we take together by contributing your insights, experiences and point of view. 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!

 

 

Interfaith Service This Sunday at 4 PM
By Jerry Stinson

This Sunday, March 21, we will be hosting an Interfaith Service Celebrating Our Diversity and Sending a Message of Hope and Solidarity to the Immigrants Who Live In Our Community.

Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists and people from other faith traditions will share their teachings, prayers, music, dance and food. The choir from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach will sing. There will be a combined choir from two Samoan congregations. The Rev. Art Cribbs from the San Marino Congregational United Church of Christ will deliver the sermon.

Spanish and Khmer translations will be available and free childcare will be provided.

The service is sponsored by the following organizations: Centro CHA, Centro Shalom, Clergy and La-ity United for Economic Justice, First Congregational Church of Long Beach, Greater Long Beach In-terfaith Community Organization (ICO), Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition, Peace and Justice Committee of St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church of Newport Beach, Orange County Steering Committee of Progressive Christians Uniting, Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, Social Concerns Committee of the South Coast Interfaith Council, Southern California Ecumenical Council and Trinity Lutheran Church, Long Beach.

 

Easter Bonnet Tea Party March 28
By Nancy Valencia

Please join us in the Koinonia Room at 12 noon on Sunday, March 28 for the Easter Bonnet Tea Party sponsored by the Downtown Associated Youth Services (DAYS). We have a full menu of delights planned, and you will have a chance to show off your Easter bonnet. Everyone who shows up wearing an Easter bonnet will be entered into a drawing to win a wonderful prize. We have a special menu planned at no cost for the children.

The cost to attend the Easter Bonnet Tea Party is $25 per adult. 100% of the money raised by the Easter Bonnet Tea Party will go towards our free Summer Day Camp. If you are interested, hippity hoppity yourself over to the DAYS table and purchase your ticket this Sunday. This event is going to be a lot of fun!

 

Lenten Book Discussion March 31
By Libby Tigner

It’s not too late to plan to join in the Lenten book discussion, which will be on March 31. Many of us are reading the book Making Rounds with Oscar. Part of the inside jacket reads, “Oscar is a welcome distraction for the residents of Steere House, many of whom are living with Alzheimer’s. But he never spends much time with them – until they are in their last hours. Then, as if this were his job, Oscar strides purposely into a patient’s room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil. Oscar provides comfort and companionship when people need him most. And his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know that it’s time to say goodbye. Oscar’s gift is a tender mercy. He teaches by example: embracing moments of life that so many of us shy away from.”

A very readable and heartfelt book, Making Rounds with Oscar is readily available from most booksellers and many libraries. Join us for a conversation that will lead us into a discussion about caring and compassion, end of life decisions, and the gift of presence. We will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31 in the Pownall Room.

 

Getting to Know You Groups Starting in April
By Aaron Palmer

Sign up for a Getting To Know You Group beginning in April. There are three new groups, starting on April 11, 14, and 18. This is a good way to spend time with other churchgoers. Sign up boards will be posted after church somewhere in the direction of the coffee and conversation area.

 

Support Free Elections in Sudan
By Ben Rockwell, from the Board of Outreach

On Sunday March 21, we will have postcards to fill in requesting President Obama to oppose the elections in Sudan as not being free and fair. Some of the issues include:

• Continuing instability in Darfur, where it will be impossible to conduct credible elections without a cessation of hostilities and a sustained improvement in the security situation;
• Increasing violence in South Sudan;
• The Sudanese government’s insistence on using the results of the 2008 census, which has been widely criticized for its general lack of transparency;
• The inability of the government and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement to agree on the demarcation of the north-south border, which has hindered the delineation of constituency boundaries for state-level legislative and local elections;
• The lack of a political environment conducive to open competition and credible elections, notably because of the unwillingness of the government of Sudan to (1) reform the National Security Act which allows the intelligence services to act with impunity against political dissidents; (2) end press censorship and allow equal access to the media for all political parties; (3) ensure freedom of movement and association to allow proper campaigning by all parties; and (4) allow for the transparent monitoring of the campaign including campaign spending to prevent the improper use of government resources for campaign purposes.

These issues have not been addressed, thus the proper electoral environment has not been created, so the international community, led by the United States, needs to make clear that the elections must be postponed until at least ninety days after these conditions have been met.
One US official has said that Sudan's upcoming elections must be as transparent as possible to prepare for a referendum on independence for the oil-rich south in 2011.

A few more facts on Sudan
Sudan is Africa’s largest country, located just south of Egypt on the eastern edge of the Sahara desert. The Darfur region is a drought-prone area of western Sudan. By area, Darfur is roughly the size of Texas and is divided into three states that had a collective population of approximately 6 million people before the crisis in Darfur began in 2003. Darfurians exist largely on subsistence farming or nomadic herding. There are between 40 and 80 ethnic groups in Darfur. Most villages are multi-ethnic and, despite ethnic differences, there is a history of peaceful coexistence. Local languages include Arabic, Fur and Massalit.

The conflict in Darfur began in the spring of 2003 when two Darfuri rebel movements – the Sudan Liberation Movement and Justice and Equality Movement – launched attacks against government military installations as part of a campaign to fight against the historic political and economic marginalization of Darfur. The Sudanese government, at the time engaged in tense negotiations with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army to end a three decades long civil war between North and South Sudan, responded swiftly and viciously to extinguish the insurgency. Through coordinated military raids with government-armed militia (collectively known as the janjaweed), the Sudanese military specifically targeted ethnic groups from which the rebels received much of their support. The civilian casualties were immense. Over 400 villages were completely destroyed and millions of civilians were forced to flee their homes.

An immense humanitarian crisis resulted from the mass displacement of these civilians. From direct attacks and the deterioration of living conditions, many experts estimate that as many as 300,000 people lost their lives between 2003 and 2005. Despite the world’s growing outcry, the violence continued in Darfur and the number of dead and displaced increased considerably.

 

Becoming a Global Mission Church

Bob Stiles would like to see our congregation become a UCC Global Mission Church. He hopes several people who are “passionate about global ministries” will help him in this effort. If you are interested, contact Bob at 562-923-3722 or by email at stiles.bob@gmail.com.

 

Email Scam

Several of our church members and friends have received emails that seem to be from people they know, telling a story about being overseas and needing money in a hurry. These emails are fake; please do not respond to them. Here is a sample fake email:

Hope you get this on time? Sorry I didn't inform you about my trip to UK for a program, and am having some difficulties here because i misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were. presently my passport and my things are been held down by the hotel management pending when i make payment.

I need you to help me with a loan of 2,450 Dollars to pay my hotel bills and to get myself back home. I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with, I will return the money back to you as soon as i return, let me know if you can be of any help? ASAP. I don't have a phone where i can be reached. I am so confused right now. please let me know immediately.

 

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.

 

 

In Memoriam

We ask your prayers for the Drury-Dziobecki family following the death of Gracia Drury on March 13.

We also ask that you remember the family of Erma Baldwin, a member of First Church since 1936, who died on March 11.

 

The Church Mouse has heard ...

... Daniele Ware, Karen Miller’s granddaughter, has returned home safely from being deployed in Iraq. Hooray!

 

Parish Concerns

Your thoughts and prayers are requested for Iris Wells.

In the armed forces: 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