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June 2, 2013
CALLER
Issue 22
In This Issue
Pastors Corner Statistics Remember in Prayer Spiritual Disciplines Wk Prayer Requests, May 26 Serving in the Military Hot Meal Ministry Womens events Summer Camp PSWR Play/Save Dates Graduates MMC Concert Sr. Events Letters Mission Trip? Clean Up Buckets PSWR Meeting Week of Compassion Serving Sunday 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 7 7 8
is published weekly (Deadline Wednesday at Noon) by First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 109 E. Wilshire Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832 714.525.5525
email: fullerton1stcc@gmail.com www.fullertonfirstchristian.org
The Caller
Senior Pastor: Rev. Darrell McGowan Associate Pastor: Rev. Debra Todd Editor: Donna Woodbridge
June 2: 8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN, Early Worship Service 9:00 A.M. - Old Testament Bible Study in Chapman Lounge 10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER, Traditional Service 11:30 A.M. - DW/CWF Meeting, Chapman Lounge 5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Casa de Oracin Service, Sanctuary & FH 7:30 P.M. - REFRESH, Emergent Service June 3: Debra on vacation through June 8 7:00 P.M. - Alzheimers Support Group, Chapman Lounge June 4: 11:30 A.M. - Mary Circle Potluck, Chapman Lounge 6:30 P.M. - Mens Bible Study at Barry Woodbridges 7:00 P.M. - Meeting with Susan Gonzales-Dewey to discuss new Regional Ministry Program 7:00 P.M. - Casa de Oracin uses Sanctuary, Chapman Lounge and childrens classrooms June 5: 5:30 P.M. - Hot Meal Ministry, Team A 7:00 P.M. - Becoming a Global Missions Church meeting, CL June 6: Tri-Tip at Downtown Market 6:30 P.M. - Bell Choir; 7:30 P.M. Choir June 7: 6:00 P.M. - Fullerton Art Walk, Narthex June 8: 8:30 A.M. - Greek Class @ Woodbridges June 9: 8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN, Early Worship Service 9:00 A.M. - Old Testament Bible Study in Chapman Lounge 10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER, Traditional Service, Youth Sunday 5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Casa de Oracin Service, Sanctuary & FH 7:30 P.M. - REFRESH, Emergent Service June 10: 7:00 A.M. - 9:30 P.M. - Chapel on Wheels Fundraiser @ Pollys June 11: 9:00 A.M. - Pathways of Hope Executive Committee 6:30 P.M. - Mens Bible Study at Barry Woodbridges 7:00 P.M. - Casa de Oracin uses Sanctuary, Chapman Lounge and childrens classrooms AA Groups Sun. 8:00 P.M., Monday, 7:30 P.M. Friday, 7:30 P.M., Sat. 8:30 P.M., NA Group, Tues., 7:30 P.M. 1
The following excerpt is from an article written by Gordon Lynch, the Michael Ramsey professor of modern theology at the University of Kent. I think it could easily have been written by any number of great Disciples writers, since it addresses our denominations uneasiness with creeds and casts a vision for post-creedal Christianity. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Is there an alternative to creedal Christianity? Is there another way of imagining religious faith that would be an alternative to seeing faith as fundamentally an act of assenting to certain religious doctrines? I would like briefly now to try to dream about what that alternative might look like. First of all, I believe that a post-creedal Christianity is fundamentally mystical in character. At the heart of this form of faith is an awareness that we live in the presence of mystery and truth and that we have been invited to take part in a reality that extends beyond our individual lives. This mystical awareness might also extend to a profound sense that our existence is lived in a wider context of love and grace. An intrinsic part of this mystical awareness, however, is the sheer inexpressibility of these truths. In theological terms, this has been referred to as the apophatic tradition of Christian mysticism, or the via negativa; the belief that God ultimately lies beyond any formulas or doctrines, hidden in a cloud of unknowing which can only be pierced by the darts of love. In addition to this mystical awareness, the post-creedal Christianity I am dreaming about is one that is committed to the pursuit of well being, healing and meaning in this life. It is characterized by its desire to be effect transformation in the world. Now one of the most astonishing revisions of the gospel narratives in the history of the Church is the shift from the proclamation of the arrival of the Kingdom of God by Jesus of Nazareth to the notion that Christianity is fundamentally about adhering to a correct set of doctrines. Jesus understood his mission as being one of being a witness to the reign of God that he saw breaking into the world. And when Jesus saw signs of this reign taking shape here on earth, he saw it in particular moments of transformation. Yet the gradual institutionalization of the movement that Jesus set in progress has seen His emphasis on transformation in this world sometimes forgotten at the expense of that institutions desire for people to assent to its own particular way of thinking about the world. The kind of post-creedal Christianity that excites me, then, is one that maintains a mystical humility in the face of any attempt to make claims about God and the nature of our existence, recognizing the ultimate inexpressibility of these truths. Yet it would also recognize the value of the poetic in attempting to express the meaning of our lives, as well as disciplines such as contemplative prayer and meditation, which seek to draw us into the silence at the heart of God. As well as being a mystical movement, this form of Christianity would also take seriously life in this world, in all its beauty, horror, joy, sadness and irreducible complexity. Such a movement would seek to be transformative, reflecting on how healing, authenticity and well-being can be promoted in the world, celebrating whenever and wherever such transformation takes place, and sitting beside those who long for it but cannot yet experience it. Such a movement would find much common ground with artists, filmmakers, musicians and writers who seek through their work to explore what helps or hinders human wholeness, and who attempt to give us a greater vision of what authentic human existence means at our point in history. Furthermore such a movement would offer a far more promising bridge to those spiritual seekers who are not interested in following the dictates of religious authorities, but who retain a profound sense of the mystery of our existence and the need for transformation in their own lives and in the world more generally.
Sunday Statistics
May 26 13 73 (Remember Service) 4 (Reawaken Service) 10 (Refresh Service) Weekly Giving: $1,748.70 Mission: $194.30 Budget Goal: $3,881 CWS (Oklahoma): $75 Downtown Market: $1097 (5/30) WOC (Oklahoma): $220 2
Remember in Prayer
Continue to pray for: the family of Donna Bagley, Dottie Bense, Harold Brickens, Mary Brill, Betty Ruth Buchanan, Linda Christman, Chris Collett, Dean Echols, Lorna & Skip Farnum, Anna Lou Horspool, Kevin & Linda Johnen, Carolyn Kenrick, Lowenn Land, Mariette Linberg, Flora Miller, Sue Miller, Denise Olson and family, Jim Piper, John & Marj Schwenker, Julie Stuart, Claudia Tammen, Dorothy Tanner, Jack Townsend, Gil Tucker and family, and Bob Vannoy. Please pray for the following church in the Pacific Southwest Region: Mission Hills Christian Church 14941 Devonshire Street Mission Hills, CA 91345 Kenneth Keene, Pastor
Sammie Adams
The people of Moore, OK Fast healing for Reid Richmond, who broke his ankle. Continued prayers for Jim, the brother of our daughterin-law, Julie, who has leukemia. He is experiencing complications from the chemo treatments
Mary Circle
Mary Circle is meeting on Tuesday, June 4, at 11:30 a.m. in Chapman Lounge for their annual salad luncheon. Connie and Phyllis are hostesses and Connie has devotions. Bring paper towels for Pathways of Hope.
We Get Letters . . .
Saundra Bryant, Executive Director of All Peoples Community Center, located on East 20th Street in Los Angeles, sends this letter of thanks: "On behalf of All Peoples Community Center staff, volunteers and program participants, I would like to thank you for your generous contribution and support. It is such a wonderful feeling to know that there are people like you that care about our community. Through your donations, we are providing services and programs that enable our community to grow and gain selfconfidence in themselves." Saundra's full letter is posted on the bulletin board. You are encouraged to read it at your convenience. Our gift, sent in during April, amounted to $187.50.
likelihood, the Emergency Clean-Up Buckets that will be used in Oklahoma will come from the supply of buckets that Church World Service had on hand at the time of that disaster. However, our project will help CWS replenish its stock of Emergency Clean-Up Buckets for use when the next disaster strikes our nation. Since disasters occur somewhere in our country almost every month, there is a continuing need for CWS to have an ample supply these buckets on hand at all times. Whenever and wherever "our buckets" get used they will make a difference. If you want to make a faster response to the victims in Moore, Oklahoma, make a gift to our church, in any amount, and designate it for Week of Compassion. Funds from WOC are already at work in Oklahoma, maybe even some of the dollars we gave as part of our 2013 Week of Compassion Offering three months ago. List of items that are to go into each of the Emergency Cleanup Buckets: Must be new items. Bring and deposit in the appropriate bucket any of the next five Sundays! All liquids must be in NEW, UNOPENED plastic bottles. 1. Five scouring pads 2. Seven sponges, assorted sizes 3. One scrub brush 4. Eighteen cleaning towels (reusable like Easy Wipes) 5. One 50 oz. bottle of liquid laundry detergent (like Tide) 6. One 12 oz. bottle of liquid concentrated household cleaner (like Lysol) 7. One 25 oz bottle of liquid disinfectant dish soap (like Dawn) 8. One package of 48-50 clothespins 9. Clothesline, two 50 ft., or one 100 ft. 10. Five dust masks 11. Two pairs of latex gloves (like Playtex) 12. One pair of work gloves 13. 28 bag roll of heavy-duty trash bags (30 to 45 gallon size) 14. One 6-9 oz. bottle of insect repellent (pump, drops or lotion, NOT aerosol.)
Transfer of Possessions
Check this column each week to see what is new. Available: Ultimate Sweater manual knitting machine, its table, instruction CD, pattern book, accessories. It has never been used, and is in its original box. $125.00 3-drawer Work Bench with Vise $100 White, glass-top, wrought iron patio table with four matching chairs, excellent condition, $200.00 FAX Machine In Need of: Good working used lawnmower Good used violin Piano Bench
The dust is still settling in Oklahoma. Massive tornados struck several communities, large and small, on May 19th and 20th, and the damage has been devastating. Through your partnership with Week of Compassion, you have been there. Your generosity has already provided support to families who have been displaced, provided cleanup and other supplies to folks whose neighborhoods have been destroyed, and is bolstering the formation of long term recovery groups across the area. This week, staff from Week of Compassion joined Disciples Volunteering, the Disaster Ministry of the United Church of Christ, General Minister and President Sharon Watkins, Transitional Regional Minister Dean Phelps, and UCC Conference Minister Edith Guffey in Oklahoma City. Together we have been on the ground checking in with those affected, identifying potential partners and resources, and imagining along with the community what recovery and a post-tornado "new normal" might look like. Along with touring the damage, the delegation was able to meet with a group of 65 pastors and church leaders from Oklahoma Disciples churches, a group of interfaith leaders convened by local UCC pastors, representatives from FEMA, and visit with the pastoral staff of First Christian Church, Moore, which--though not damaged by the storm--has been at the forefront of caring for the community, providing care and resources to those affected. As Josh Baird, director of Disciples Volunteering, noted, "From the stories that were shared and the things that we witnessed, it is clear that folks do not need bottled water (cases are dropped on the sidewalk for passersby on nearly every block in some communities), nor are they ready for 'spontaneous volunteers' (one affected community of 650 people had 1,000 folks show up to help last Sunday alone). They do need prayers, financial gifts, and patient partnering as they look toward a recovery that will last several years." Conversation after conversation was marked by an infectious hope. "Just you watch," one pastor reflected. "We're going to recover." It will take prayers, resources, coordination, the work of many volunteers, and right now, patience and time for these communities to recover. With the support of so many who want to put their Compassion into Action, we will be able to do more than just watch. We will be able to bring healing and hope over the long haul.