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

The Pilgrim - July 11, 2010

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

My sermon this Sunday will consider some wise advice from the biblical figure Jethro to his son-in-law Moses. And I will talk about how that advice made its way into the theology and structuring of the earliest American Congregational churches in New England and how it still shapes what we do in the UCC today.

SERMON: The UCC – Church as a Team Sport
The Rev. Jerry Stinson
READING: Exodus 18 (selections)
LITURGIST: Mr. Jim Segura

On July 18 Jerry Stinson’s sermon will be "Biblical and Theological Affirmations in Relation to Immigration."

 

Music on Sunday

On this second Sunday in July, the choir will sing “Sun of My Soul,” an arrangement of the hymn tune Hursley LM by Rhonda Sandberg, based on Luke 24:29. The tune is a simple one that grows with excitement as each new verse modulates to the next higher key. This piece was just published in 2004 and is only one of many wonderful pieces by Sandberg that the choir has performed.

As for special music this week, we welcome back Dale Whitney and his group “The Rutabaga Ramblers.” They will be performing “I’ve Got a Mansion Just over the Hilltop” by Ira Stamphill. Come and enjoy our musical offerings!

- Tracy Halter-Balin, Interim Director of Music

 

In Sunday School

Theme: Caring Neighbors
Scripture Focus: Luke 10:25-37

 

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

Jerry Stinson’s five-week course on “The Heart of Islam” continues this Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. Those who have the book for the course are encouraged to read pages 55-112. If you would like to purchase the book, it is available from Jerry for $12.

 

 

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED! TIME FOR THE ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC!
******* FUN! ******* FOOD! *******GAMES! *******

Date: This Sunday, July 11
Time: 11:30 - 3
Where: Signal Hill Park, Cherry Ave. & Hill St.
Cost: $8 adults, $4 children, plus either a side dish or dessert (one per family)
Provided: hamburgers/hot dogs/veggie burgers/Greek-style chicken sandwich

Never fear - you can purchase tickets AT the picnic.

Martha Duncan
Chair, Board of Parish Life

 

Search Committee Ready to Receive Applications
By Jerry Stinson

Under the leadership of Pam Chapin, the Search Committee looking for a new Director of Music is now ready to begin receiving applications for the position. Anyone interested in that position can go the church’s website (www.firstchurchlb.org) and at the top right-hand corner, click on “Position Open: Director of Music.” That link will connect with a page containing information about how to apply for the position, a flyer about the position and the job description itself.

 

Summer Update from the Board of Christian Education

Thank you to everyone who is volunteering to help cover in the Nursery and Sunday School this summer while our Director of Children and Youth Ministries, Wally Hoeger, is off. (Wally’s job was reduced to three-quarters time last year; she is at the church full-time for the school year.) It really does take a village. REALLY! Due to our budget cutbacks, the board has decided to take a summer off from offering Vacation Church School in hopes of re-evaluating what type of program we can offer in the future. Thank you!

Lisa Bode Heard and Dorothy King

 

Patt Morrison and Farmers' Markets
By Jerry Stinson

Along with what is now the South Coast Interfaith Council, our congregation helped create the Harbor Area Farmers’ Markets. Those markets allow small farmers to survive in a world dominated by large, impersonal corporations, and they allow those on limited incomes, even those using government debit cards, access to fresh, affordable food.

Despite the growing number of stores and farmers’ markets supplying healthy foods, food deserts - where the only option within miles may be a fast food restaurant or a corner store stocked with processed foods and liquor - remain a reality for many Southlanders. Join KPCC’s Patt Morrison on Thursday, July 15, as she spends an hour with those on the front lines of food justice to explore L.A.’s food deserts and the efforts to attract more grocery stores, farmers’ markets and community gardens into these under-served, and often forgotten, communities. This is a free event, but reservations are required. To learn more about this event, or to RSVP, visit scpr.org/forum.

 

Filming Church Activities
By Jerry Stinson

Our Worship and Arts Ministry Team is planning a very special service on Homecoming Sunday, September 12. Instead of a sermon that day, four five-minute videos will focus on different aspects of “Traveling Our Journeys Together” at First Church.

Thus, this summer you are apt to see cameras recording church events, including the Sunday services, and filmmakers interviewing church members. The four filmmakers who are collaborating on the Homecoming Sunday service are Tom Penner, Jose Sanchez-H., Kathryn Boyd-Batstone and Adreana Langston.

 

Summer Day Camp Update
By Nancy Valencia
Chair, Downtown Associated Youth Services (DAYS) Committee

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill

Downtown Associated Youth Services Summer Camp 2010 is off and running! We opened our doors on Monday, July 2, celebrating our fortieth year of providing a safe, enriching, engaging summer, welcoming children and youth from the community. Over the years, DAYS has reached hundreds of children and youth because of the support from members of First Church.

In addition to our regular program, we are including several special activities this summer: Fitness-4-All, a running program sponsored by The Neighborhood UMC; a nutritional and fitness program geared for 5-7 year olds provided by the Make a Leap Foundation; and the State of the Art Project Storytelling through Photography program.

Several years ago we created a Counselor-in-Training program for our 15 and older graduated campers who continue to be the backbone of summer camp. They help prepare breakfast and lunch, clean up, supervise the younger campers, prepare activities, and offer assistance as needed. They are evolving into our future leaders, and we are very proud and honored that they continue to return to camp every summer. The importance of the DAYS program was expressed so clearly by a Counselor-in-Training during kitchen clean-up when he said that he liked summer camp “better than Christmas” and looks forward to coming back year after year. Young people often have a difficult time transitioning from childhood to adolescence, so thank you to First Church for supporting the DAYS effort to help create a bridge for our children and youth.

 

CLUE Activities in Long Beach
By Jerry Stinson

For the last several years, I have been actively involved with the activities of CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice). I am part of a group of South Bay clergy that meets monthly to explore ways we can work for justice for those who work in the Long Beach hotels and for the truck drivers who serve the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. In the past I have spoken in sermons about these justice issues, and we have had both a hotel worker and a truck driver speak during our service. We recently had the hotel workers’ Hope Quilt displayed in the sanctuary and we have engaged in letter writing campaigns related to these justice issues.

If you would like to know more about CLUE, this is their website: http://cluela.org. At that website you can find out more about their various campaigns.

There are two things CLUE is currently asking people in Long Beach to do:

1. Participate in a protest on Thursday, July 22 at 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Hotel in Long Beach (Pine Avenue and Shoreline Drive). The Hyatt is one of the worst hotel chains in terms of how they pay and treat their workers. In addition, Doug Manchester, owner of the Manchester San Diego Hyatt, was one of the primary money suppliers for the “Yes on Prop 8” campaign. I will be at that protest.
2. If you live in Representative Laura Richardson’s congressional district, CLUE would like you to thank her for turning up the heat at the congressional hearing on port trucking. Ms. Richardson dared to ask tough questions. While the trucking industry insists on putting profits over people, Congressmember Richardson stood in support of clean air and good jobs at our nation’s ports. To find an email letter you can send and to find more information about this effort, follow this link:
   https://secure3.convio.net/ctw/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=158

 

Progressive Christians Uniting in Orange County Event Announcements

July Event on Immigration
IMMIGRATION: Continuing the Conversation with Julia Thorne
Sunday, July 18, 4 to 6 p.m.
Tustin Presbyterian Church, 225 West Main Street, Tustin, CA 92780-4319

Julia Thorne is an attorney who serves the National Presbyterian Church as Manager of Immigration Issues. Those who have heard her before will know that she is both wise and clear in speaking about a complicated topic that affects all of us. This event is free. Light refreshments will be served. For more information call Tustin Presbyterian Church at 714-544-7070 (www.tustinpresbyterian.org).

August Fundraising Event
Annual Fundraiser to benefit the National Farm Worker Ministry
Sunday, August 1
Social hour and silent auction begin at 5 p.m.
Dinner at 6 p.m. and program at 7 p.m
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach

The Orange County Interfaith Committee to Aid Farm Workers is pleased to have Felix Garcia, President of the National Farm Worker Ministry, speak at the event. Mr. Garcia is a former farm worker and now Head Librarian at the University of Louisville. He will tell his story and discuss some exciting current farm labor issues. $20 prepaid and $25 at the door. Checks should be made out to the NFWM and sent to Suzanne Darweesh, 2104 Hilltop Court, Fullerton, CA 92831. For more info, email Suzanne at sdarweesh@aol.com.

 

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 ...

... Jim Lumen will be traveling to New Orleans for two weeks to volunteer in responding to the BP oil spill.

... Cynde Soto was chosen as one of twenty nationwide to help develop curriculum which will educate state mobility managers about the transportation needs of people with disabilities.

 

Parish Concerns

Your thoughts and prayers are requested for Emily and Nick Melzian (Deanna Melzian's children) upon the death of their father; Neil Weikle (Joe Ernst's friend); Tim Bolton upon the death of his dear friend, Tom; Aaron Palmer's father; Judy Robbinson (Perry Ellwood's co-worker); Ben Rockwell; and Robert Stapp upon the death of his father.

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