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From Pastor Molly: after General Conference
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You may have seen news stories about our United Methodist Church's General Conference in St. Louis this past week. I believe we chose the wrong path forward, and I am sorry for the hurt we have continued to cause to people who are LGBTQ and who love them. In attempting to find a way through our divisions in understanding of human sexuality, we chose not only to reaffirm our judgments and exclusions, but we adopted a narrow, punitive and graceless way of enforcing them.
Please know: this does not change my commitment to following the call of God to affirm and include all people, including LGBTQ persons. I believe that the plan we approved will be thrown out after its reviewed by our Judicial Council--much and perhaps all of what we did was unconstitutional (and we knew that even as we approved it). Additionally, in our Western Jurisdiction our leaders and Bishops have already declared that we will continue to include all people in the life of the church, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Nonetheless, I am disturbed by what we've done, and I am sorry for the message it has sent the world and the pain it has caused anyone.
I have long treasured that our United Methodist Church is one where people are welcome, and where people are given space to hold different ideas and understandings of scripture. I have been willing to live in the tension of a system where our denominational rules have officially barred gay and lesbian people from ministry, knowing that our region has been more welcoming and made space for inclusion. What I find more disturbing than before, though, is that in adopting this "Traditionalist Plan," we have reduced our understanding of righteousness to one issue (and worse: one on which there is deep disagreement), on which we would demand strict accountability. There is dangerous hypocrisy in making the exclusion of whole groups of people from ministry and marriage seem as if it were more important than the rest of the work we are called to--as if it were more critical than all other holiness we are called to exhibit. This is not the good news of Jesus Christ!
I want you to know that I am grateful to be a part of this church community as it includes all people, including gay and lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight. I am sorry for the message of judgment and exclusion that our denomination sent out this week. I, like the leadership in our Annual Conference and our Western Jurisdiction, am committed to continue our work of preaching a gospel that includes all people, and that believes we all have a part of play in the sharing of grace and love with a world in need.
Grace and peace,
There will be a special worship service this Sunday evening at 6pm, at Pasadena First UMC, following this General Conference meeting. More info and a link to the livestream will be available. I also invite you to join me for an open conversation about what this means for our church, in Epworth Lounge this Sunday at 9:30am.
Also: Saturday is our spring Rummage Sale! Please come support the UMW as they raise funds for meaningful missions. Sunday at 10:30 will be our next Composer Sunday. And there's a potluck, too!
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Sunday, March 3
"The Greatness of God"
Rev. Molly Vetter, preaching
Luke 9:28-43a
Luke 9:28 About a week after Yeshua said these things, he took Kefa, Yochanan and Ya`akov with him and went up to the hill country to pray.
29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed; and his clothing became gleaming white.
30 Suddenly there were two men talking with him -- Moshe and Eliyahu!
31 They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke of his exodus, which he was soon to accomplish in Yerushalayim.
32 Kefa and those with him had been sound asleep; but on becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
33 As the men were leaving Yeshua, Kefa said to him, not knowing what he was saying, "It's good that we're here, Rabbi! Let's put up three shelters -- one for you, one for Moshe and one for Eliyahu."
34 As he spoke, a cloud came and enveloped them. They were frightened as they entered the cloud;
35 and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!"
36 When the voice spoke, Yeshua was alone once more. They kept quiet -- at that time they told no one anything of what they had seen.
37 The next day, as they were coming down out of the hill country, a large crowd met him.
38 Suddenly a man in the crowd shouted, "Rabbi! Look at my son, I beg you, because he's my only child!
39 What happens is this: a spirit seizes him, and suddenly it lets out a shriek and throws him into convulsions with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty will it leave him. It's destroying him!
40 I asked your talmidim to drive the spirit out, but they couldn't."
41 "Perverted people, without any trust!" Yeshua answered, "How long do I have to be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."
42 Even as the boy was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground and threw him into a fit. But Yeshua rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
43All were struck with amazement at the greatness of God. While they were all marvelling at everything Yeshua was doing, he said to his talmidim, (Complete Jewish Bible).
Luke 9:28-43a
Verse 28
[28] And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
Verse 31
[31] Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
In glory — Like Christ with whom they talked.
Verse 32
[32] But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
They saw his glory — The very same expression in which it is described by St. John, John 1:14; and by St. Peter, 2 Peter 1:16.
Verse 34
[34] While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
A cloud came and overshadowed them all. And they, the apostles, feared, while they (Moses and Elijah) entered into the cloud, which took them away.
Verse 37
[37] And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
8:30am in Epworth Lounge
10:30am in the Sanctuary
Special Music at 10:30: Composer Sunday with Ken Neufeld
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The Lay looker will return in a couple weeks. Bob is doing well and appreciates all the prayers coming his way!
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*** 9:00AM - 3:00PM ***
BE HERE THIS SATURDAY to discover new treasures in our
RUMMAGE and BOUTIQUE rooms!!
Enjoy homemade soups, sandwiches,
taco salad and tasty treats in NAOMI'S CAFE!
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Next Potluck Lunch: Sunday, March 3
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We invite you to join us for a potluck lunch on the first Sunday of the month all through this school year.
We hope you'll plan to join us for our next potluck lunch on Sunday, March 3 after the 10:30 service.
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March 3 Composer Sunday: Ken Neufeld
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We are pleased to welcome Kenneth Neufeld to help lead worship music on Sunday, March 3, as a part of our ongoing Composer Sunday series. Throughout our 10:30am sanctuary service, original music composed by Ken will give form to our congregational worship.
Ken is an award-winning composer/arranger, with well over 300 works to his credit. These include choral/vocal settings, keyboard and instrumental pieces, as well as full-scale musical theatre. His music has been performed worldwide, including renowned venues in Europe, the Antipodes, and across the States. They have also won local, national and international awards and honors. More recently, he even began his own online publishing company: Kensington Choralworks. Read more online.
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Conversation: What Does this General Conference Mean for Us?
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Pastor Molly invites you to join her on Sunday at 9:30am in Epworth Lounge for an informal conversation about the impact for our church of last week's denominational gathering, and what we can do together.
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Baja Trip Registration Open Now
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It's time to consider if you will attend Baja 2019. Registration is now open online!
Early-bird registration is $549. Our church has a deal, though. If you pay your $100 deposit, the church tries to raise the rest of the funds together. (The trip is open to youth and adults.)
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Get Your Tickets!
Tickets for The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe are available online now!
Saturday, March 23 at 7pm
Sunday, March 24 at 12:30pm
A meal option is available
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Advertise in the Printed Program!
Space is available in the printed program for the show! Sponsoring an ad helps fund the show.
This is available for local businesses, or families who wish to celebrate their performers.
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Last Call to be in Narnia!
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FUMCRB is thrilled to be presenting The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe this Spring!
Rehearsals are well underway, but children and others are still needed for smaller roles during a climatic struggle between Aslan and the White Witch.
Can you help us tell this timeless tale?
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Borrow Your Christmas Tree?
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Can we borrow your artificial tree for the production of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe?
We'd like to use them to decorate. We're hoping to gather about a dozen.
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We have two special opportunities for you on Ash Wednesday, to share in the traditional beginning of the season of Lent:
Prayers and Ashes
in the Sanctuary from 3:30-5:30pm
Stop by the sanctuary to receive the imposition of ashes and share in prayer. Several prayer stations will be available, for people of all ages.
Community Worship
at Torrance First UMC at 7:30pm
Join with other area congregations in an Ash Wednesday worship service, with prayer, ashes, singing and sermon. Members of our choir are invited to join the mass choir, and all are welcome at the service. Torrance First UMC is at 1551 El Prado Ave, Torrance CA 90501
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Like the ancient story of the Exodus, Lent is a journey from captivity to freedom.
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Lent: From Captivity to Freedom
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From Ash Wednesday on March 6 to Holy Saturday (not including Sundays, "mini-Easters" anticipating the big day!), the 40 days of Lent are set aside to help us increase the freedom in our lives. To tell the truth about ourselves and our world, to change our hearts and our ways, and to participate in God's work of breaking chains of injustice, apathy, violence, despair - even the chains of death itself!
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Save the Date: UMW Celebrating 150 Years!
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The Redondo Beach First UMW
invite you to
United Methodist Women's 150th Birthday Tea
Saturday, March 23
11:30am – 2:00pm
in Fellowship Hall
All women of the church are welcome!
Please RSVP to your circle leaders by March 17:
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Men's Breakfast: Our next breakfast is Monday, March 4, at 7AM. Coco's Restaurant, 18120 Hawthorne Blvd. (Hawthorne and 182nd). All men of the church and their friends are welcome to join us for fellowship.
Prayer Quilt Ministry: Join us for our monthly quilting workshop Friday, March 8, starting at 10am. There's something for everyone to do to help. Even if you haven't tried quilt-making before, this is a great way to begin. Know someone in need of prayer? Anyone can sponsor a free prayer quilt. The Quilt Request Formis online or in the church office.
Meals and More: Did you know that we have a ministry that organizes meals and other assistance for church folks in times of need? In the past, we've helped arrange rides to medical appointments, meals for people recovering from surgery, and more. Leila Grantz coordinates this ministry, using online sign-up tools. If you want to be a part of the group that she emails when there is an opportunity to help, or if you know someone who's in need of a little help, please contact the church office or Leila.
Book Club: Our Tuesday Night Book Club will meet on March 19 in the May Day Parlor at 7 pm. Kathy McCandless has chosen “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry,” by Fredrik Backman, as our book for March. She will lead discussion and provide refreshments. Helen will assist with beverages. . Please join us. For more information, contact Ann Gallagher.
Help Wanted: Sound Board Operators: We are looking for 8-10+ people to volunteer to be part of a rotation of sound board operators. There are no requirements other than a desire to help out. Volunteers should either stop by the sound booth after church or send Matt Parker an email.
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This Week: Children, Youth & Adults
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Nursery (6 weeks+): The Nursery is open during both services, for ages 6 weeks to 5 yrs old. Located right off of the parking lot across from Epworth Lounge. Please know that children of any age are always welcome in worship. Any questions email the Nursery Coordinator: Adriana Hwang
Children's Ministry (age 3 - 2nd Grade): We're continuing to laugh and learn about the Bible with Holy Moly! Kids can be signed in by a grown up as early as 10:20, then we'll join our families in worship for Holy Communion.
Church R Us (Grades 3-5): CRU begins at 10:30 every week, in the Sunday School room above the nursery. We're very excited to be using Connect to learn about the Bible and God's plans for us! When Sunday School is over, we'll head to worship to participate in Holy Communion with our families.
-Middle School (6th-8th grades) Sunday School (10:30am)? Oh yes.
-Youth Group(11:45-12:30pm on Sundays)? The youth are definitely hanging out at this time, doing 4,000 projects around church. Come hang out with us!
Young Adults (19-not very specific):
We get together erratically. But we'd love you to be there the next time we do so! Contact Stephen for more details!
Monday Small Group:
Starting January 13, our Monday afternoon small group will meet at the church at 4:45 and study the Bible using an engaging study called Animate: Bible. Email Dawn Kirkemo for information. RSVP to order a journal/workbook ($15) for the study, and for childcare!
Tuesday Night Online Disciple Bible Study: Join us for the Disciple Bible Study Fast Track online via Zoom from 8-9:30pm. Email Pastor Molly to sign up.
Adult Sunday School: Bible Study and Discussion in May Day Parlor. Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15am. Led by Helen Stockwell. All are welcome.
Thursday Disciple New Testament Bible Study: Meets from 10:30am to noon! Email Pastor Molly to sign up.
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United Methodist News & Events
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First United Methodist Church of Redondo Beach
243 South Broadway
Redondo Beach, California 90277, United States
(310)372-8445 main
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Free Meal on Wednesday Nights
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Offering food and friendship to those in need, every Wednesday night since 1992. More info here.
Shared Bread always accepts donations of the following: new underwear- men's and women's, all sizes; Sweatpants/sweatshirts-L/XL (hooded, zip up, dark colors); Men’s jeans waist sizes 32- 34; Men’s new socks, white or grey only- all sizes; Men’s tennis shoes - especially sizes 9.5 to 11.5; new or used brown paper bags with handles.
Please bring them to church on Sunday, or to the office during the week.
DESSERTS FOR SHARED BREAD
Homemade treats are treasured by our guests – but purchased treats would be wonderful, as well. Please wrap desserts tightly and mark for Shared Bread. Deliver Sunday (when you come for church) through Wednesday to the church kitchen (or the office if kitchen is closed.) Wednesday deliveries
should be here by 4:00pm to help us plan our meal better. THANK YOU!
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Pick up a care kit in the church office!
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Kits with shelf stable foods and hygiene items are available in the office. These bags are easily kept in the car and can make a big difference to those in need you might encounter while you're out and about.
Pick a few up during office hours or on Sunday Morning!
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This week we continue our Composer Sunday series by featuring the music of Ken Neufeld. Ken has been a friend and colleague for more than 30 years and sings (tenor) as well as he writes. This last Christmas the Master Chorale sang an arrangement of his of What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve which brought down the house and dazzled the other arrangers in the room (including me). I’ve been singing his music for years, and it’s a particular pleasure for me to be able to showcase his stuff here this week.
Kenneth Neufeld has been soloist and ensemble singer in groups ranging from trios to large massed choirs, professionally and otherwise, covering classical, jazz, sacred, secular, and even comic repertoire. He has sung and acted nationally and internationally on stage, screen and television. He has appeared in sit-coms, musicals, and dramatic works---including those of Shakespeare. ...
Thursday, 28 February 2019 - Music Notes
Jim Raycroft
Music Director, Jim Raycroft, will
share upcoming worship music
selections and a little bit of history, too. by Jim Raycroft
Kenneth Neufeld has been soloist and ensemble singer in groups ranging from trios to large massed choirs, professionally and otherwise, covering classical, jazz, sacred, secular, and even comic repertoire. He has sung and acted nationally and internationally on stage, screen and television. He has appeared in sit-coms, musicals, and dramatic works---including those of Shakespeare.
In addition, Ken is an award-winning composer/arranger, with well over 300 works to his credit. These include choral/vocal settings, keyboard and instrumental pieces, as well as full-scale musical theatre. His music has been performed worldwide, including renowned venues in Europe, the Antipodes, and across the States. They have also won local, national and international awards and honors. Over the years, he’s been published by nearly a dozen well-known publishers. More recently, he even began his own online publishing company: Kensington Choralworks.
Mr. Neufeld received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Long Beach, studying with Frank Pooler (Choral) and John Prince (Jazz). Previously, he studied 20th Century Techniques with Rodger Vaughan (at Cal State Fullerton), and Theory with Williametta Spencer (at Rio Hondo College).
Be Thou My Vision is an old favorite hymn that has its roots in 6th century Ireland. The original Old Irish text - Rop tú mo Baile – is often attributed to Saint Dallan Forgaill in the 6th century. The prayer was an Irish monastic tradition for centuries before being set to music. There are two manuscripts of the text in the National Library of Ireland, both dating back to the 10th century. It was first translated from the Old Irish into English by Mary Elizabeth Byrne in 1905, and then re-written into singable verse by Eleanor Hull in 1912, which is the text most commonly used. In 1919, it was set to the Irish folk tune Slane, named after the town of Slane in County Meath, where, on Slane Hill in 433, Saint Patrick defied a royal edict by the High King of Ireland and got himself into trouble (it wasn’t about snakes, it was about a bonfire). The tune first shows up published as With My Love on the Road in Patrick Joyce's Old Irish Folk Music and Songs in 1909. The 1919 edition of the Irish Church Hymnal is where we first find the song we sing today.
Bless The Beasts and The Children is a Stanley Kramer movie, released in 1971, written by Glendon Swarthout from his novel of the same name, and starring Bill Mumy, who we all remember as Will Robinson from the 1960’s TV series Lost in Space. The movie featured an instrumental, which was originally slated to be the theme song, called Cotton’s Dream. It went on to be the theme for The Young And The Restless, starting in 1973, and in 1976 the ABC Wide World of Sports created a montage of routines by Nadia Comăneci at the 1976 Olympics (where she became the first gymnast in history to score a perfect 10) using Cotton’s Dream. In honor of this, the composers renamed it Nadia’s Theme. The actual theme song from the movie, however, was a song written by the composer, Barry De Vorzon, titled (cunningly) Bless The Beasts And The Children and was sung by the Carpenters. The song was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song (but lost to Isaac Hayes’ Theme from Shaft) and ultimately reached at #28 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart in 1972.
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What is the role of ushers in the church?
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Ushers today provide an invaluable service to the church. A church usher is a person who helps ensure a smoothly running church service and who ministers to people in a variety of practical ways. The duties here at Redondo First usually include greeting people as they arrive for the service and assisting people with special needs. They are responsible to take up the church offering and make sure it is put in the proper place. With a goal of minimizing distractions during the music and sermon, ushers stand ready to assist anyone in the congregation who might need help, to aid latecomers in finding a seat, and to inform those in the sanctuary of any urgent matters. If you would like to be a part of this vital church ministry, please contact Don Jones. Email Don Jones
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Looking for a Way to Volunteer?
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The Welcome Team is looking for volunteers who can help about once a month between the two services and/or immediately after the 10:30 service. Go to our "Want to Help" page to learn more about this awesome ministry, as well as several other current ways you can lend a hand in ministry.
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Our UMW circles meet at the following times:
Circle Meeting Time
Naomi Circle 2nd Tuesday @ 10:00am
Hannah Circle 2nd Thursday @ 1:00pm
Mary Circle 4th Monday @ 7:00pm
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United Methodist Women’s Reading Program: There are many titles to choose from with new ones added every year! Books are available in the UMW library located in May Day Parlor. Any one can read the books and our own local UMW unit will get credit! click here for information about the program.
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Support missions through recycling!
Bring your plastic bottles, aluminum cans AND CRV glass bottles to church every Sunday. By recycling we can support Corazon, Crop Walk, Habitat for Humanity and some of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) programs: Syrian refugee relief, eradicating hunger, clean water, ending malaria and fighting HIV/AIDS. We appreciate all recycling donations,but the blue recycling bins are only for CA RV or CRV. We don't get any funds from milk cartons, or other plastics that are not CRV.
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We have many spots to fill for liturgists on Sunday mornings. The following link will take you the sign up. Please check it out.
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Campus WiFi network is: First UMC Guests; Password is: openhearts
Parking Reminder: If you are able, we encourage you to park at the Wells Fargo bank on Sunday mornings, and walk across the street, reserving the parking lot for those with mobility challenges or for new visitors. We also have a bike rack on the patio. Thanks for your consideration.
Hearing Assistance Devices are available on Sunday mornings. Just ask for one at the audio/video booth in the sanctuary.
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