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

The Pilgrim - May 23, 2010

This Sunday Is Confirmation Sunday!

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

This Sunday will be a joyous day in the life of congregation as we confirm five young people into full adult membership. These teenagers have completed an extensive study program, taught by Libby Tigner and me. In those classes they explored theology, ethical decision-making, world religions, the history of our denomination and the meaning of church membership.

The Rite of Confirmation is an important rite of passage for them, and we hope you will be in church to celebrate this day with them and their families.

We will also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion on this Pentecost Sunday and will have special music from Una Voce, our chant choir. Libby and I will share the sermon time talking about “Being Confirmed – Beginning a Journey.”

On May 30, the Rev. Jerry Stinson’s sermon will be titled “A Room Called Remembrance.”

 

Music on Sunday

This week the Sanctuary Choir will be singing "O Nata Lux" by Morten Lauridsen. In his words, "'O Nata Lux' is the central movement from my Lux Aeterna for chorus and orchestra or organ premiered by the Los Angeles Master Chorale under the direction of Paul Salamunovich at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on April 13, 1997." If I'm not mistaken, I believe Pam Chapin was a member of the Chorale at that time and part of that exciting musical experience. Back in December, the choir performed Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium." His works, like this serene eight-part motet filled with lush harmonies, truly showcase the talents and abilities of our choir. And as we welcome our confirmands during the service, I hope the music provides a time of reflection and peace for each of them, their families and our whole church family.

- Tracy Halter-Balin, Interim Director of Music

 

In Sunday School

Theme: Gathered and Scattered
Scripture Focus: Acts 2:1-21

 

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

Libby Tigner is leading a nine-week class on religious literacy based on Stephen Prothero’s book, Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn’t. This Sunday will be a brief history of religion in America. As always, there will be coffee waiting for you, and you are more than welcome to bring your breakfast. And a friend! Please join us for learning, conversation and community building this Sunday at 8:30 a.m. You’ll be glad you did!

 

 

Important Forum after the Service This Sunday
By Jerry Stinson

May has been designated as Mental Health month, and so there will be a forum about mental illness in the Klar Rooms this Sunday from 11:45 until 12:30.

The forum was to be presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health Speakers' Bureau. But that didn’t work out, so now one of our members, Jerry Kulhavy, will lead the forum.

Jerry wrote: “As Robert Stapp and Linda Silas were speaking last Sunday about why they were going to march in the Pride Parade, I was struck by the similarities between being gay and being mentally ill. Both spoke about the fear of rejection by family and friends, and they also addressed the fact that they couldn't explain why they are the way they are. The mentally ill can't explain why they are the way they are, they just are. You might say we all bear the stigma that human society places on those they cast out of the mainstream. I'm not aiming for acceptance, but breaking down a barrier or two and moving closer to understanding would indeed be nice.”

This forum will provide an opportunity to perhaps break down some of those barriers and increase our understanding of mental illness. Please try to attend this forum.

 

Don't Forget! Church Picnic Is Sunday, July 11!

This year we'll be at Signal Hill Park, at the corner of Cherry and Hill Street. There is plenty of parking (including handicapped). We have open space and shelters reserved. More information including maps and sign-ups to come!

Martha Duncan
Chair, Board of Parish Life

 

The Drop-In-Center Needs Volunteers
By Brad Lara-Gagne

It’s that time of year again. We are very fortunate to have a terrific group of CSULB students who arrive in packs throughout the school year to help us out; however, school is done for this semester. Our volunteer ranks will be a little slim for the next four weeks before we take our yearly break during July. If you would like to join us some Sunday afternoon, we would love to have your help. If you haven’t been with us for awhile, welcome back - you have been missed! If you have never joined us, please come and check us out. It’s more fun than you think. You need not come for the entire day – come for a couple hours: 12:30 to 2:30 or 2 to 4 p.m. perhaps? If you have any questions feel free to contact Brad Lara-Gagne (562-607-4006 or bradg63@aol.com).

 

Special Sunday Services - Mark Your Calendar Now!

June 6	Recognition of school teachers and youth leaders	Gwynne Guibord
June 13	Honoring our graduates and announcing scholarship recipients
June 20	Guest preacher – Canon Gwynne Guibord, Consultant for Interfaith Relations for the Episcopal Church USA
July 4	Special music by Jack Brown, UCC composer and folk singer
July 18	Immigration Sunday with former Conference Minister and Immigration Attorney Dan Romero preaching and leading a forum	Dan Romero
July 25	Special service celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
August 8	Peace Cranes in the sanctuary for a service remembering the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
September 12	Homecoming Sunday

How did it come to be that most people in the world today
associate this picture with the United States of America?

Please take some time out of your busy schedule to better understand this
critical issue, as we screen

“Ending U.S.-Sponsored Torture Forever”

Sunday, June 6, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

First Congregational Church of Long Beach
United Church of Christ
241 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach (corner of Third & Cedar)

Contact Clay Bosler (claytonbosler@me.com), Jane Affonso (jgaffonso@gmail.com) or Jerry Stinson (revjstinson@verizon.net) for more information.

Event sponsored by:
South Coast Interfaith Council
First Congregational Church of Long Beach
Pacific Unitarian Church
National Religious Campaign Against Torture

 

The Peace Cranes Are Coming ... in August
By Bob Kalayjian

After church next Sunday at 11:45, all those interested in helping with the Peace Cranes of August and the End of War forum on August 15 are invited to a pizza lunch (location to be announced).

The cranes will fly in the sanctuary on Sunday, August 1. We need crane makers, teachers to help others make cranes after church on Sundays in July, crane hangers, help with an evening service for Nagasaki and Hiroshima around the 6th and 9th of August, help with a forum on the 15th, promotion of the forum, etc., etc., etc. Many of these jobs are small, take little time and can be very gratifying.

Come and be engaged in creating a sanctuary of peace for the month of August that many in our church community and the wider Long Beach community can experience.

Peace Cranes in the Sanctuary, August 2009

 

Join GMOC in Their Global Work
By Bob Stiles

The Global Mission Organizing Committee (GMOC) is seeking members and friends of the church to be part of the effort to create a Global Mission Church. If you are passionate about global ministries, or what used to be termed international missions, please come along with eight others to help in their work of trailblazing this new concept of how to do mission work in newer ways. There is no mythology about the church being involved in global missions - it has always been there since Pentecost - but the concept has grown to naming the church as a Global Mission Church, where local churches can connect with partner organzations around the world more easily. The United Church of Christ has a full program of "Neighbor to Neighbor" visits to mission stations, education and missionary opportunities, and missionary sponsorship and visits. Now we have the ability to email many people in the Majority World, which is very exciting. If you are interested, bring those interests to the monthly meeting in June (date not set as yet) or call Bob Stiles at 562-923-3722 or email him at stiles.bob@gmail.com or call Cathy or Don Clay at 310-548-1887. We are also looking for people who are outside the church or members of other churches and of different religions.

 

Baby Shower for the Motas on June 12
By Heather Chambers

A baby shower’s in the works for Jennifer and Brian.
Their baby Steven Harold Mota we’ll be certifyin’.
(And maybe we can hold him for a bit…till he starts cryin’!) 
            Everyone’s invited!
            We hope you are excited!
The party will be gathered at the home of Carol Welsh,
At two o’clock the afternoon of Saturday the twelfth.
Please bring a gift for baby Steven, and enjoy yourself.
            If you're planning to attend,
            An e-mail notice you should send!
(Details listed just below are things that you will need to know.)

Hostesses:  Carol Welsh and Lisa Bode Heard
Date/Time:  Saturday, June 12, 2 p.m.
Place:  Carol Welsh's home, 5716 Lunada Lane, Long Beach 90803 (Maps will be available)
RSVP:  Carol's phone 562-985-1003  (Carol will be away from home till May 27)
           Carol's email carol.welsh@gmail.com
Ideas:  Books, toys, clothing size 6 months and over  (Steven's birth day was April 2, and we hear he's growing fast)
Note:  For everyone's safety and sanity, please do not bring children younger than 5 years old.

 

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.

 

 

The Church Mouse has heard ...

... Jerry Stinson is one of twenty religious leaders chosen to serve on the Los Angeles Interfaith Leadership Council to End Homelessness. Jerry was one of the speakers at a recent symposium in which members of the Leadership Council were joined by 250 other people, representing more than 50 faith organizations, in signing a covenant to end homelessness.

 

Parish Concerns

Your thoughts and prayers are requested for Bob Cole (Eddie Nazarro's friend); Margaret Jones' stepfather; Jeff Stamps (Margaret Jones' stepbrother).

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.

 

To place an ad in this newsletter, please contact Ruth Warkentin in the church office.

 

Please reply to this email to be removed from our mailing list.

 

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