Concord United Methodist Church

1645 West Street, Concord, California, 94521

Phone: (925) 685-5260, E-mail: concordumc@sbcglobal.net,
Web-site: www.concordumc.org
February, 2019

The Concord Connection

Seeking God, Serving the Community, Supporting Each Other

Sunday
Worship
Schedule “One Body Communion Service”
8:00 a.m. Worship
in the Sanctuary
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Nursery Care
Available
9:00 a.m. Adult
Bible Study
9:00a.m. New Life
Celebration
Oglesby-Close Hall
10:30 a.m. Children
and Youth Sunday
Schools
10:30 a.m. Worship
in the Sanctuary
11:30 a.m. CUMC is implementing a once a month “One Body
Fellowship & Communion Service”.
refreshments in
Oglesby-Close Hall
It will be held on the 1st Sunday of each month at 9:30 AM
beginning March 3rd in the sanctuary.
Wednesday
Hour of Prayer On the 1st Sunday of each month there will be only ONE
6:30-7:30 p.m. service to bring all of CUMC together to worship and take
Chapel communion as a true Christian family.

Newsletter
Deadline
The deadline for
articles is on the
1ST TUESDAY, 10
AM of each month. March 6: Ash Wednesday–
No exceptions.
Please email articles 6:30 to 9AM Drive thru Ashes & Communion
when possible.
Thank you,
6:30 to 8PMDrop in Chapel service
Marilyn Robrecht –
Editor (Ashes & Communion)
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Pastor Lee
In the middle of disaster, we found hope through God’s Grace and the love of people!
When we heard that fire destroyed the whole town Paradise, we were all shocked. However, we
acted quickly as we did last time. When we heard that Bud and Babe Busick barely escaped from fire and
saved their lives, we collected offering and delivered it to them right away. It helped them to find the daily
necessities that they need immediately.
We collected gift cards and delivered them to Blake Busick, the District Superintendent in the area
twice (first $1,045, and then secondly $639). That was not the end of our response to the disaster.
Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Catholics decided to have a joint benefit concert to help the
victims of the fire.

(Joint Choir at the benefit concert)

We also decided to invite the pastors in the area. Rev. Bob Chicou from the Paradise UMC came
and shared his experience. He said that even though it was a horrible experience, he also found God’s
Grace and the love of people in the middle of tragedy. He said that he restored faith in God and in
goodness of humanity. Many people stepped up to help the victims in many ways possible.

(Left: Rev. Bob Chicou shared his experience)

(Right: Pastor Lee, Micheal Pope, Bob Chicou, and Betsy McLeod at the concert)

(Continued on page 3)
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These are two stories that Bob shared in his own words:

Statue Picture
As we drove up to see the remains of our home, we had been prepared for what
we would see, by the photo posted by Cal Fire. Our home was just a pile of ash.
Yet, as we pulled up to the site, our hearts sunk. Everything was gone dropped
down to one thin layer of ash. As we stood talking at the sight, two men from
Samaritan’s Purse came along. As we talked, one of them stopped the
conversation, asking us to look at the corner of the foundation of our home
behind us. There stood a little statue of Jesus cradling a lamb. The night light that
had been our daughter, Shelby’s, before she died 14 years previously. Since that
time our son Rob had always placed it in his room. The only thing saved, and
sitting almost untouched, overlooking the ash, was this reminder of the love that
Christ has for us…and the love of our sweet daughter. A clear message that
when nothing else remains, we are in the safe arms of Jesus Christ and love
survives.

Sanctuary Picture - The Glow of Hope and Peace

The morning of the Camp Fire, our church administrative assistant, had already begun working at the
church. Patty recalled that as she started to leave the church for evacuation, the fire was already traveling
up the back side of our church property. She and her husband tried to fight the flames, but soon decided
that is was time to flee. We were certain that our dear church had been lost, like most of our town.
However, over time, various photos came to us showing the buildings still standing. Many photos
indicated that there may be some fire damage, especially to our fellowship Charter Hall. Photos did
confirm that our playground had been destroyed and we had lost the sheds that contained our drive-thru
live nativity scenes (an annual highlight for the town of Paradise that we provided) On the day that we
were finally escorted up by the National Guard, for a 15 minute look at the church, we were anxious about
what we would find. We were, however, relieved to see that the damage to our church was minimal and
could be “cleaned up.” Without electricity, this photograph shows a brilliant light that filled the sanctuary
with peace and beauty. The brilliant, beautiful, peaceful, light is a reminder that Christ will continue to lead
us and be present as we move into the future. As God’s light continues to light up the Paradise United
Methodist Church, God will be glorified.
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Wednesday March 20, 2019
Business Meeting:10:00 am in Sherrill Hall
Program begins at 11 am.
Celebrating the 150th
Anniversary of UMW!!
Lunch: 12pm, Hosted by Abigail Circle
Guests are welcome!
You do not need to be UMW members.
Buy a Chair Campaign!
The Buy a Chair Campaign for the Oglesby-
Close Hall chairs has resulted in 190 chairs
sold! We still have 32 chairs for purchase!
Help us by buying a chair (or more!) 1 Chair -
$28 4 Chairs - $100
Checks can be made out to the church with
“Buy a Chair” in the memo line.
Ask a Trustee for more information!
GOOD TIMERS
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
12 noon, Sherrill Hall
Hosted by Dean and Pam Hall
Bring a friend.
Bring a sandwich,
drinks and dessert provided.
Please call Pam Hall: 777-9868 so she will
know how many will be attending!
In Our Prayers
The family of Connie La Coste following her
death on January 25. A memorial service will be
held at CUMC on March 2 at 11am.
Max Perez who is home now, following tests at
Kaiser.
Continued Prayers:
Eldonna Dayton, Mary Ginochio, Don Johnson,
Marge Boyer, Midge Sundsten, John & Connie La
Coste, Bill Shannon, Doug McLeod, Chuck &
Diane Rogers, Carole Engler, Lee Woods, Chris
Gregory.

FREE TAX RETURN PREPARATION

FREE FEDERAL AND CLAIFORNIA INCOME TAX RETURN PREPARATION will again be offered by
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the church (classrooms 1
& 2). The service, provided by IRS certified tax counselors, is available starting February 6, 2019
through April 11, 2019. Tax-Aide does not specify an income limit but the service targets low- and
moderate-income taxpayers of any age with special attention given to seniors 50+.
Beginning January 2, 2019, to make an appointment for Tax-Aide please call (925) 405-5234
(available 24hrs/everyday). For general information and other site locations, call: (925) 726-3199.
To complete your tax return, Tax-Aide will need you to bring to the appointment your:
 Social Security Card or ITIN letter and photo ID for all individuals to be listed on the return
 Photo ID
 All W-2s
 All 1098’s and 1099’s
 Other income and deduction records
 Your 2017 Tax Return and documents
 Covered California: All documents including forms 1095
 Tax Law Change: Although federal tax law changed, California tax law has not changed. If you
itemized deductions for 2017 be sure to bring related records for 2018.
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Winter Nights Coming Soon!

Winter Nights families will be visiting CUMC for two weeks beginning Monday, March 11, until March 25.
Good Shepherd Lutheran and St. Bonaventure’s Churches and Concord High School Key Club will be
working with us to make sure our guests feel comfortable, safe, and cared for, but we will still need lots of
help from CUMC members and friends.

Ways to help include .

 Set up (l0AM) Monday, March 11 and take down (10AM).Monday, March 25
 Breakfast setup and cleanup - (6 - 7 AM) weekdays
 Help prepare weekend breakfast (8 - 10AM) or lunch (12:30 - 1:30 PM)
 Daily coordinator (4:30 - 9 PM)
 Homework help and activities (5 - 8 PM) Monday thru Thursday
 Sleep over (9 PM - 6AM) nightly
 Weekend help during day wherever needed
 Laundry - Monday, March 18 and Monday, March 25
 Donations of money for food and supplies. Please mark contributions “CUMC’ -- Winter Nights” and
place in offering plate on Sundays. Any donation not needed for Winter Nights will be used for
monthly homeless shelter meals.
 Prayers that the families will soon find homes and get their lives back together.

Groups within our church can participate by preparing a meal or providing an activity (crafts, games,
sports) during the evening or on the weekends.

As of February 4th there were eight families, 13 adults and 15 children ages 17 months to sixteen in the
shelter. Two babies are expected in February and one in March. The families are housed in tents in
Oglesby-Close Hall. They arrive each evening at five and leave each morning at seven during the week.
The kids go to school and parents go to wherever they need to be during the day or to the Oasis in
Pittsburg where there are computers, counselors, showers, On weekends families may come and go as
they please.
There is always a paid Winter Nights supervisor at the site whenever families are here and we must also
have a church person around whenever families are here.

Winter Nights fills a great community need and you can participate right here at CUMC, so come take part,
make some new friends, and get a wonderful, warm feeling for doing good work. Signups began
Sunday February 3 and will continue until all jobs are filled.

Our next planning meeting will be Saturday, February 23, 9:30 AM in Susannah Wesley Room. All
are welcome.

Quiet Time of Prayer

Wednesdays 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Chapel is open for a weekly time of prayer.
We invite all who want to pray.
We feel that a quiet time of prayer will help those who are feeling down and don’t know how to get feeling
better. Prayer is a very powerful way to get us through times that are difficult, so please come and join us. You
need not be a member of our church community, just someone who needs a little extra prayer. God Bless
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Youth Happenings
Sundays: Youth Sunday School at 10:30 AM
Wednesdays: Mid-Week at 1 PM
Fridays: Youth Group at 6:30 PM
Want more info? Email James
youth@concordumc.org

The Concord Connection

Concord United Methodist Church
1645 West Street NON-PROFIT ORG.
Concord, CA 94521 U.S. POSTAGE
925/685-5260 PAID
PERMIT NO. 76
Return Service Requested CONCORD, CA 94521

Concord United
Methodist

Just a few of the gift cards we have on hand!!
Gift cards available to purchase from our
inventory of over 30 vendors that we keep on
hand.
Visit the Prosperity Table in Oglesby-Close Hall
after the 9 and 10:30 services
Gift cards available to purchase from our
inventory or to order from over 500 participating
vendors!
Concord United Methodist Church And
Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay
Invite Individuals living with memory loss and
their caregivers to a specially designed worship
service. Sing, worship and fellowship with
families that are coping with Alzheimer’s and
other forms of memory loss.
Every 4th Saturday from
2pm – 2:30pm, In the Chapel