the

March 23, 2014

CALLER
Issue 12

In This Issue
Pastors Corner/Statistics Remember in Prayer Spiritual Disciplines Wk Prayer Requests, March 16 Serving in the Military Pastoral Partners Summer Camp Senior Adults/ Book Club Soles for Souls Check in on FB Think Biblically Mission Trips Fair Trade Coffee Pathways CROP Walk Get on the Bus Lent & Easter Serving Sunday 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 7 7 7 8

Events March 23 March 30, 2014

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

March 23: Third Sunday in Lent 7:00 A.M. 3:00 P.M. Casa use Youth Room and Kitchen 8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN, Early Worship Service 9:00 A.M. - Church History Study, Chapman Lounge 10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER, Traditional Service 1:00 P.M. - Youth group 5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Casa de Oracin Service, Sanctuary & FH March 24: March 25: 6:30 P.M. - Bible Study @ Barrys 7:00 P.M. - Casa use Sanctuary and Chapman Lounge March 26: March 27: 5:00 A.M. - 6:00 A.M. Casa use Chapman Lounge for Prayer Time 1:00 P.M. Sr. Book Club at Leslie Becks March 28: 7:00 - 10:00 P.M. Casa use Sanctuary & Chapman Lounge March 29: 7:00 A.M. - All Church Work Day 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. AA use Fellowship Hall 5:00 P.M. - Get on the Bus Fundraiser @ St. Juliana 7:00 P.M. - Think Biblically About Homosexuality event in Sanctuary (sponsored by Biola Students. See article later in Caller.) March 30: Fourth Sunday in Lent 8:00 A.M. - REAWAKEN, Early Worship Service 9:00 A.M. - Church History Study, Chapman Lounge 9:30 A.M. - Choir Rehearsal 10:15 A.M. - REMEMBER, Traditional Service 11:30 A.M. Pastoral Partners Luncheon, Chapman Lounge 1:00 P.M. Youth group 5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Casa de Oracin Service, Sanctuary & FH April 1: 10:30 A.M. - Mary Circle visit Giving Children Hope facility. 6:30 P.M. - Bible Study @ Barrys 7:00 P.M. - Casa use Sanctuary and Chapman Lounge April 2: 5:30 P.M. - HMM, Team B 7:00 P.M. - Council of Elders Meeting, Chapman Lounge AA Groups: Sun. 8:00 P.M., Friday, 7:30 P.M., Sat. 8:30 P.M., NA Group, Tues., 7:30 P.M. 1

Once again, I invite you to consider a reflection by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan Priest and master of contemplative Christianity. Releasing our dualistic way of looking at things for the unitive consciousness Christ advocates empowers all of us to live into the faith we profess. Enjoy! Dualistic thinking, or the egoic operating system, as Cynthia Bourgeault calls it, is our way of reading reality from the position of my private ego. Whats in it for me? How will I look if I do this? This is our preferred way of seeing reality. It has become the hardware of almost all Western people, even those who think of themselves as Christians, because the language of institutional religion is largely dualistic itself. It is a way of teaching that has totally taken over in the last five hundred years. It has confused information with enlightenment, mind with soul, and thinking with experiencing. But they are two very different paths. The dualistic mind is essentially binary. It is either/or thinking. It knows by comparison, by opposition, by differentiation. It uses descriptive words like good/evil, pretty/ugly, intelligent/stupid, not realizing there may be 55 or 155 degrees between the two ends of each spectrum. It works well for the sake of simplification and conversation, but not for the sake of truth or even honest experience. Actually, you need your dualistic mind to function in everyday life: to do your job as a teacher, a doctor, or an engineer. It is great stuff as far as it goes, but it doesnt go far enough. The dualistic mind cannot process things like infinity, mystery, God, grace, suffering, death, or love. When it comes to unconditional love, the dualistic mind cant even begin to understand it. It pulls everything down into some kind of tit-for-tat system of worthiness and achievement, which is largely what fast food religion teaches, usually without even knowing it. Transformation is a different path than mere education. Someone can be highly educated and still be totally dualistic and arrogant about it, while an uneducated janitor or motel maid can be nondualistic because the suffering of life leads her or him into problems they cannot solve. Such people often tend to learn surrender to soul much more quickly and easily. Jesus says this in many ways. Look at the unbelievably sad and even hateful divide between liberals and conservatives in our church and in our country, and at both extremes I find totally dualistic thinking. You can be dualistic as a liberal, and you can be dualistic as a conservative. They are simply two different methods to be in control, two different ways to be right and two different ways to look down on other people. Dualistic or divided people live in a split and fragmented world. Usually, they cannot accept or forgive certain parts of their own destiny and experience. They cannot accept that God could objectively dwell within them, as Johns Gospel and Pauls letters say over and over again. This lack of forgiveness-of-reality-for-being-what-it-is takes the form of a tortured mind, a closed heart, or an inability to live calmly and proudly inside ones own body. The fragmented mind and the egoic mind see in parts, and usually antagonistic parts, but never in wholes, and then predictably create antagonism, reaction, fear, and resistancepush-backfrom other people. It is a double whammy of despair, and the saddest effect of all is that people living from this divided mind continue to do what makes them so unhappy. Sin and addiction have many of the same characteristics.

Sunday Statistics

March 16, 2014 8 (Reawaken Service) Weekly Giving: $3,012.30 Budget Goal: $3,979

115 (Remember Service) 84 (Casa 5 P.M. service) Missions: $334.70

Remember in Prayer

Continue to pray for: Sue Bacon, Dottie Bense, Harold Brickens, Sandra Brown, Linda Christman, Chris Collett, the family of Matt Davis, Lorna & Skip Farnum, Harold Horn, Anna Lou Horspool, Kevin Johnen, Carolyn Kenrick, Flora Miller, Sue Miller, Jim Piper, Norma Rill, Claudia Tammen, George & Dorothy Tanner, Connie Townsend and family, Anna Van Diest and Bob & Donna Vannoy. Please pray for the following PSWR Church: South Pasadena Christian Church 1316 Lyndon Street So. Pasadena, CA 91030 James Mariam, Pastor

Prayer Requests: March 16, 2014

John & Cyndi Cairns

Janice Whittington Lona Anderson Jamie Dorrough Debbie Bristol

Kerry, our neighbor, lost his mother on March 7 and had a stroke on March 10. He is in St. Jude. Harold Horn who is getting more frail every day. Daughter, Claudia Tammen. Uncle, Gene Graves and family. He has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Pauline Hudson that she may feel Gods presence, comfort and guidance as she struggles with her health.

Serving in the Military:

Readings and Prayer Concerns for Week of March 24 March 30, 2014

Monday, March 24: Reading: 1 Samuel 16: 1-7; pray for Week of Compassion and the support they provide around the world for those who have endured some kind of disaster. (See article elsewhere in the Caller.) Tuesday, March 25: Reading: 1 Samuel 16: 813; pray for Pathways of Hope Second Step project. (See article elsewhere in the Caller.) Congregational Prayer Day, March 26: Reading: John 9: 1-12 pray for Crittenton UCP school that meets in our building every day. Thursday, March 27: Reading: John 9:13-41; pray for the Casa and their prayer team meeting at 5:00 a.m. in Chapman Lounge. Friday, March 28: Reading: Ephesians 5: 8-14; pray for Global Ministries Missionaries, MaryJane and Don Westra in Honduras. Saturday, March 29: Reading: Psalm 23; pray for the All Church Work Day today beginning at 7:00 a.m. Come when you can. Sunday, March 30: Reading: Psalm 23; Fourth Sunday in Lent - pray for the Pastoral Partners luncheon being held in Chapman Lounge after the 10:15 service.

Adam Hawley, Deb Taylors nephew, is now home from Afghanistan and back at Ft. Bliss with his family. Lt. Cmdr. Patrick OConner, Betty Rollos grandson-in-law, serving in Guam. Lt. Patrick Rollo, Betty Rollos grandson. He is back at base in Hanford. PFC Brandon Vannoy, grandson of Bob & Donna Vannoy, is now stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Petty Officer Michael J. Borden, Nancy Geigers grandson, who is stationed in Guam for the next year.

It Is Spring Training March 30

Jodie and I invite you to a spring luncheon in Chapman Lounge following the 10:15 worship service Sunday, March 30. We welcome all pastoral partners, past and present, and offer an exciting ministry for anybody interested in this program. We truly do take the church out of the building by calling on our fellow members who are not able to make it to church regularly so we take the church to them. Following the luncheon, Darrell will show us how to implement this program and how to have a rewarding experience by doing so. I would ask all of you to stay for this because we welcome any feedback or suggestions you might have to enhance this wonderful ministry. Bill Martin 3

The Senior Adult Ministry Group met this past Tuesday, March 18 with 25 in attendance. Our speaker, Pastor Darrell McGowan shared with us his journey into the ministry and the many areas he has served until now. It was most interesting to hear the various ideas and plans he has for the future, some of which he has already put into motion. It was evident as he spoke that his creative mind is hard at work and it will be a great pleasure to see how his plans unfold. He assures us that we will hear from him from time to time but not for awhile after he leaves. We had lots of questions as I am sure you have, and he was forthright with the answers. I am sure he will be glad to answer yours as well. We want to thank you, Darrell, for your desire to start a Senior Ministry at FCC and for directing Ed Linberg to begin the task. We are all blessed for it. Next month our meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 15 at 12 noon in Chapman lounge. Our speaker for that meeting will be Nancy Gordon, Director for the Center for Spirituality and Aging at California Lutheran Homes. Be sure to join us.

Senior Adults Met Tues. March 18, 2014

With the renovation of Campbell Lodge and the addition of new trails and outdoor meeting areas, Loch Leven is looking better than ever! Theme for camps this year is: Come to the Table of Love. PSWR Scholarship applications are due on or before April 30. FCCF will pay ! of early bird registration. For forms and more information, see Debra Todd or check with Donna in the office. Here is the schedule: Wee Camp (adult/child) July 10 - 12; early bird registration deadline 6/2 - $200/pair Mini & Special Needs July 6 9; early bird registration deadline 6/2 - $260 Junior June 29 July 5; early bird registration deadline 5/26- $355 Chi Rho July 13 - 19; early bird registration deadline 6/9 - $355 CYF I July 20 - 26; early bird registration deadline 6/16 - $355 CYF II July 27 August 2 early bird registration deadline 6/23 - $355

Summer Camp is Coming!

We Need Your Shoes!

Senior Book Club

On Thursday, March 27, 2014, at 1 P.M., the Senior Book Club will meet at Leslie and Tom Becks home, 2989 Lakeview Way in Fullerton. We will be discussing Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Before you silence your cell phone before service, why not check in on your Facebook page that you are at First Christian Church, Fullerton. Some of our members already do this, but can you imagine the coverage we would get if we all checked in?

Check in!

Outreach Ministry has designated March as the month to collect used shoes for Soles 4 Souls. So, when you are doing your spring cleaning, please dont throw away those old shoes. Soles 4 Souls will refurbish them and distribute them to the needy wherever the need is greatest. In the past three years, FCCF has donated over 1,500 pairs of shoes to this worthy cause. Your discards may be someones first pair. A box is in the Narthex for your donations. Thank you! Outreach Ministry Team

Coffee Lovers, Tea Drinkers, Chocolate Eaters, Cocoa Sippers, Cookie Bakers!!!

Think Biblically About Homosexuality

Have we got a deal for you!! The Outreach Ministry Team has partnered with Equal Exchange to make available to you fairly traded, organic products that benefit small farmers and small producers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. That makes for one GREAT cup of coffee, terrific glass of tea, and delicious home made cookies. The Fair Trade and organic teas come from India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa; many blends are available for purchase at the table in the narthex after the 8:00 and 10:15 A.M. services. And for all you chocoholics we have a wide variety of dark and milk chocolate products that combine cacao from farmer coops in Latin America, sugar from co-ops in Paraguay, and fairly traded vanilla from Madagascar. We are selling products to benefit these small farmers, so stop by after service for a small nosh of coffee or a piece of chocolate. Check out the catalogue and see the tempting delicacies that are available for purchase. Purchasing these products benefits the small farmer, workers, and artisans by raising and stabilizing their incomes and allowing them to be in charge of their own future. By purchasing Fair Trade products, the small-scale farmer earns more and you get a better value for your money. Please consider stopping by our table to have a sample of coffee, look at the catalogue, and buy something that could make a huge difference in the lives of so many people. This is an on-going effort on the part of the Outreach Ministry, so we will always have an order form available to you. We appreciate your participate your participation in this worthy endeavor. Fair

You are invited to attend an event hosted by BQU on Saturday March 29, 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. here at First Christian Church Fullerton. Think Biblically About Homosexuality featuring guest speaker Justin Lee. Justin Lee is the founder of the Gay Christian Network and author of Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vsChristian Debate. He will speak about how you can be homosexual and a Christian. If youre wondering who BQU is, they are college students that attend Biola or other local Christian colleges. They are LGBT and allies who have formed an underground group, as their anonymity is extremely important. Part of their mission is to get the word out that you can be Christian and you can be homosexual and thats ok with God. Everyone is invited to come. Id love to see a show of support for these kids. Any questions email me at nabooher1@aol.com Nancy Booher

d Organic coffees are crafted

Trade an

On Sunday, we will be anxious to hear the stories of our members who've been on Mission Trips this week. Tom Beck, Dirk McCuen, Paige Richmond and Judi Smedley spent the week in Joplin, Missouri working with Rebuild Joplin, the local organization that has built over 100 homes for families who lost their homes during the 2011 tornado. At the beginning of the week they were dealing with a snowstorm, but our understanding is that the weather got better as the week unfolded. Tim Acquistapace and Phil Forbes represented us in the one-day Mexico Build with Project Mercy, just across the border at Otay Mesa, east of San Diego, on Saturday. Welcome home to these volunteers who represented FCC, Fullerton this past week and made a difference in the lives of people whom none of us knew before and will likely never know! They put their faith into action! 5

Welcome Home

Pathways of Hope Newsletter

We got a long letter, posted on our bulletin board, from Maria Mazzenga Avellaneda, Executive Director, Pathways of Hope. It told two stories. One story is about Cassandra Gray, a woman who was homeless several years ago. With the help of Pathways of Hope, then known as FIES, she survived and then thrived with the help of their Second Step Program (see article below for more details.) From her status as a homeless woman, Cassandra now has a college degree and a successful business. She has become a member of Pathways' Board of Directors. The second story, including a picture is about Jerry and Jackie Brown, two members of the FCC family. Both of them represented our congregation as members of Pathways' Board. We are most grateful to Jerry and Jackie for their years of faithful service to Pathways of Hope in the name of our congregation!

Pathways of Hope Second Step Program

Our friends at Pathways of Hope are nearing completion of eight new apartments in Fullerton to house new graduates from their New Vista Program which offers transitional housing for employable adults with dependent children. Guests are offered food and housing for up to 6 to 9 months pending completion of program milestones. Adults work side by side with their case managers to set goals. Support includes life skills class, budgeting, computer lab, career development, job search assistance, child care assistance and counseling. Guests are expected to obtain a full-time job within 30 days of entering program and be able to save 80% of adjusted income. The funds to construct these apartments came from generous donations from the local community, the State of California, the County of Orange, the City of Fullerton, and the Federal Home Loan Bank. These facilities will be used to house residents who will be part of what is being called Second Step which allows someone currently furthering their education the time to complete their studies and find a good paying job, guided by job search

professionals available through Pathways of Hope. Some are working to get their GED, and others are taking college or technical courses, looking forward to employment that can lead to advancement and success. Those who have accumulated debts will have a bit more time to clear them up. Second Step is part of the healing process that some of the families at New Vista need to get back on their feet financially and emotionally. Cassandra had these words to say about the program, "Through the opportunities of Second Step, you are changing the future for the families who will live there. You are providing the necessary foundation that will transform them and their children forever." The apartment buildings are paid for. But these eight apartments need to be completely furnished before the dedication on May 20 and families who have graduated from New Vista move in. This is where you can have a vital part in Second Step. At its meeting on Wednesday night, the Outreach Ministry decided to give the congregation the opportunity to participate in the effort to furnish these new apartments. During the first couple of weeks of May, we will provide you with the opportunity to make a gift, (checks made to FCC with Second Step in the memo line) in any amount, to help in furnishing Pathways of Hope's new apartments for their Second Step program. Here are examples of what our money will buy: a gift of $50 will provide a set of dishes, $100 a set of cookware, or $250 bed and bath linens for one apartment. $500 will supply a dinette set or $1,000 the beds for one apartment. If we raise $2,500, we could provide a living room, or $5,000 will furnish one whole apartment. Phil Forbes will be coordinating this project. Look for more information about this project in the coming weeks, specifically after Easter which falls on April 20 this year.

The 2014 Fullerton CROP Hunger Walk will be Sunday, April 27, the Sunday after Easter this year, at 1 P.M. Registration for this event, which will begin and end on the Plaza, begins at Noon. Threefourths of the funds generated by this annual event in our community will support the work of Church World Service around the world. The remaining fourth will stay in Fullerton to be used by Pathways of Hope in their on-going ministry to both hungry and homeless individuals and families in this area. If you'd like to be one of our walkers, you'll be able to get the forms you need in order to get started recruiting family members and friends to support your efforts from either Randy or Phil starting on Sunday, March 23. Who's in as a walker? Who's in as one who supports a walker, or multiple walkers? As soon as we know the names of walkers from our church, we'll list them in "The Caller," and we'll repeat that information every week leading up to the event on April 27. The Outreach Ministry

Crop Walk Set For April 27

Lent & Easter Activities:

March 23: Third Sunday in Lent

March 30: Fourth Sunday in Lent April 3: 3:30 P.M. Bible Study April 6: Fifth Sunday in Lent April 10: 3: 30 P.M. Bible Study April 13: Palm Sunday, Choir Cantata, Easter Week of Prayer begins Easter Offering April 17: Maundy Thursday Watch Caller for more details. Prayer Vigil (8:00 P.M. Thursday 7:00 P.M. Friday) April 18: Good Friday April 20: Easter Sunday Easter Offering Easter Egg Hunt after service

Get On The Bus!

I am hoping that some of you will join Barry and I in attending the Get On The Bus fundraiser which gives children and their guardian/caregivers from throughout the state of California the opportunity to visit their mothers and fathers in prison on Mothers Day and Fathers Day. The Congregational Church & St. Juliana Catholic Community are sponsoring a fundraiser event on March 29, 5:00 P.M. at St. Julianas to help raise money for the event. Tickets are $40 per person and includes a buffet dinner, the culinary talent of Chef Jon Sanders, a concert by renowned jazz pianist, Ron Kobayashi and friend, and silent auction. Please let me know by Mon., March 24 if you will join us so I can get the reservations in to Barbara Johnson. Donna

Its time to order Easter Lilies. They are $8.50 per lily Make checks payable to FCC with Easter Lilies in the memo line. Name of Donor __________________________________________ ___________No. of Lilies ______ In Memory or honor of __________________________________________ ________________________________________ 7

Easter Lilies

First Christian Church 109 E. Wilshire Avenue Fullerton, CA 92832 Reawaken (Early Worship Service) Sunday, 8:00 A.M. Church School for all ages: Sunday, 9:00 A.M. Remember (Traditional Worship Service) Sunday, 10:15 A.M. Youth Groups: Sunday, 1:00 P.M. & Wednesday, 3:30 5:15 P.M.

Serving March 23, 2014

Greeter: Nancy Knott Guest Book: Scott Brill Coffee Host: Hospitality Ministry Acolyte Parent: Angulo Sound: Clare Keech Video: PJ Vannoy Lay Leader: Lisa Parks Childrens Moment: Paige Richmond & Sherry Herrera Elders: Jodie Martin, Bill Martin, Phil Forbes Diaconate: McCuens Team Prepare: Dirk & Kelly McCuen Ushers: Kelly & Shawn McCuen Serve: Luanne Bailey, Dirk, Jan, Kelly and Shawn McCuen, Paul Robidoux Clean Up: Luanne Bailey, Beverly Reinke, Paul Robidoux

Serving March 30, 2014

Greeter: Youth Guest Book: Phil Forbes Coffee Host: Hospitality Ministry Acolyte Parent: Henke Sound: Kyle Fought Video: Clare Keech Lay Leader: Childrens Moment: Marguerite Beal Elders: Randy Langston, Kathy Robidoux, Craig Wallace Diaconate: McCuens Team Prepare: Dirk McCuen, Beverly Reinke Ushers: Nancy Malotte, Beverly Reinke Serve: Luanne Bailey, Cam & Nancy Malotte, Dirk, Kelly and Shawn McCuen Clean Up: Cam & Nancy Malotte, Beverly Reinke, Alternate 8