* Welcome Becca Cramer! She will be sharing God's words with us today and several more times in the weeks to come! Becca has served as the Christian Education Director and Youth Minister at several United Methodist Churches. Most recently, she served as the Associate Pastor at the First United Methodist Church of Loomis. Becca is taking a year off of pastoral ministry to spend additional time in discernment about with which vocation God is calling her to use her gifts and passions. In her free time, Becca is an avid hiker and karaoke singer. She can often be found reading a novel while cuddling her cat.
* Thanks to all who showed up to lend their muscles for our church spiff upday yesterday!
*LMUMC food pantry work day! Saturday, September 14th from 9am to 1pm. Connect with Charlie to volunteer!
* World Communion Sunday is on October 6th. If you would like to bring a pot of soup to share during our luncheon following service, please let Peggy know!
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Renewal: Inside and Out by Pastor Emily
A young person recently came by my office and described just how "full" his life had become. There was classes and all the attendant homework, a part-time job, and a large plate of family obligations. As he recounted all this, he commented, "It sucks to be an adult!" He then asked, "Is there always so much stuff to juggle? Is it always so stressful and overwhelming?"
I confess, at that particular moment, given my own looming to-do list, I was tempted to respond in the affirmative: "Yes! There are always a million and one things to juggle. And yes! It is always stressful and overwhelming."
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, however, I felt sad. While I am certain every last one of us can relate to the sentiment of this young person - of being overwhelmed and stressed by all that there is to do - I am also certain that every last one of us wishes it could be different, that life could be full of joy, ease, and moments to savor. We long for a pace of life that leaves us feeling whole, and enough space in our lives so that we stand in balance. Yet, I venture to guess that almost none of us know how to get there. How do we live like that? How do we move beyond the cycles of stress and overwhelm and dwell instead in the rhythms of joy and grace?
Wayne Muller, a minister, therapist, writer, and community advocate, writes in Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives, "In the relentless busyness of modern life, we have lost the rhythm between action and rest. When action is universally prescribed as more useful than rest, we inevitably lose our way. We bypass the nourishment that would give us succour, and we reject the quiet that would give us wisdom. Poisoned by this hypnotic belief that good things come only through unceasing striving and tireless effort, we can never truly rest. And for want of rest, our lives are in danger."
Over the next 3 months, we will explore the concept of rest and renewal during worship and ask what they have to offer us as individuals and as a community. There will be two parts of this theme, "Renewal: Inside and Out." The first will explore renewal "inside", that is renewal for us as individuals. We have invited Becca Cramer, a gifted preacher and designer of worship, to be with us. She will not only make a case for renewal, but invite us into practicing different aspects of renewal in our lives: through listening to God, and through renewing the image of God in us. Burt, one of CCUMC's certified Lay Servants, will wrap up the series with a closer look at the practice of Sabbath, or holy rest.
During the second half, we will hear from a dynamic group of preachers who will crack open our imaginations to rethink what church might be all about. This is the "Out" part of our theme. They will each complete the sentence, "What if church were..." to prod us in exploring renewal as a community of faith.
I am excited for us as we embark together on this journey of renewal. I so look forward to returning in December to hear about how the Spirit has made inroads into your life and sharing the same with you. This journey of renewal is important work, and it begins with stopping for long enough - whether it be for a few hours, a few days, or even a few months - to remember who we are, what we know, and to taste the amazing gifts of Spirit and eternity. For life is far too precious to be spent getting lost in the busyness and being stressed and overwhelmed.
May God hold us close through the process of being made new, and may we find ourselves surprised by joy even as we are transformed.
I confess, at that particular moment, given my own looming to-do list, I was tempted to respond in the affirmative: "Yes! There are always a million and one things to juggle. And yes! It is always stressful and overwhelming."
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, however, I felt sad. While I am certain every last one of us can relate to the sentiment of this young person - of being overwhelmed and stressed by all that there is to do - I am also certain that every last one of us wishes it could be different, that life could be full of joy, ease, and moments to savor. We long for a pace of life that leaves us feeling whole, and enough space in our lives so that we stand in balance. Yet, I venture to guess that almost none of us know how to get there. How do we live like that? How do we move beyond the cycles of stress and overwhelm and dwell instead in the rhythms of joy and grace?
Wayne Muller, a minister, therapist, writer, and community advocate, writes in Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives, "In the relentless busyness of modern life, we have lost the rhythm between action and rest. When action is universally prescribed as more useful than rest, we inevitably lose our way. We bypass the nourishment that would give us succour, and we reject the quiet that would give us wisdom. Poisoned by this hypnotic belief that good things come only through unceasing striving and tireless effort, we can never truly rest. And for want of rest, our lives are in danger."
Over the next 3 months, we will explore the concept of rest and renewal during worship and ask what they have to offer us as individuals and as a community. There will be two parts of this theme, "Renewal: Inside and Out." The first will explore renewal "inside", that is renewal for us as individuals. We have invited Becca Cramer, a gifted preacher and designer of worship, to be with us. She will not only make a case for renewal, but invite us into practicing different aspects of renewal in our lives: through listening to God, and through renewing the image of God in us. Burt, one of CCUMC's certified Lay Servants, will wrap up the series with a closer look at the practice of Sabbath, or holy rest.
During the second half, we will hear from a dynamic group of preachers who will crack open our imaginations to rethink what church might be all about. This is the "Out" part of our theme. They will each complete the sentence, "What if church were..." to prod us in exploring renewal as a community of faith.
I am excited for us as we embark together on this journey of renewal. I so look forward to returning in December to hear about how the Spirit has made inroads into your life and sharing the same with you. This journey of renewal is important work, and it begins with stopping for long enough - whether it be for a few hours, a few days, or even a few months - to remember who we are, what we know, and to taste the amazing gifts of Spirit and eternity. For life is far too precious to be spent getting lost in the busyness and being stressed and overwhelmed.
May God hold us close through the process of being made new, and may we find ourselves surprised by joy even as we are transformed.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Pastor Vathanak Heang Cambodia VIM presentation
Pastor Vathanak Heang co-led a VIM team to Cambodia this past summer. He shared his experiences, and brought the amazing news that the team is on the road to buying property and starting a local UMC in Cambodia!
Monday, September 2, 2013
Videos for 9-1-2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013
English Ministry News and Notes 9-1-13
*Great Thanks for all who pitched in for Street Fest Sunday! Some reckless sowing of seeds was surely going on. Let us continue to pray that some of those seeds found good ground to grow in!
*A New Season of Learning Kicks Off Today! - Both our children and youth as well as adult Sunday School begin anew today. Great thanks to our teaching ministry team headed up by Charlie: Gloria, Donna, Steve, Laura, Anita, Leily, and Richard. Let us hold this faithful, bold team in prayer each week.
*Coming Up in Adult Sunday School:
Visioning a New Season (9/1 & 9/8) : The English Ministry Council will share their discernment of how God might be leading us in the time ahead. Your input is so important!
24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life: Aeri will lead us in a 4 week series beginning on 9/15 exploring the question of how we find rest in a 24/7 world. Come and learn how holy rest can transform our lives.
*Missions in Cambodia - Come and hear about Pastor Vathanak Heang's recent Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trip to Cambodia, Sept. 4th, at 6:00 p.m. Please sign up on the clip board during fellowship time!
*All Church Work Day - Please pitch in and spiff up the church building on Saturday, Sept. 7th, any time between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Your presence is needed!
*Small Groups Start Up Anew - CCUMC's Small Group Ministry (SGM) will officially launch a new season during the 3rd week of September. Small Groups will meet regularly in Castro Valley, Union City, and at church. You are strongly encouraged to be a part a group that can keep your faith vital, dynamic, and strong. Please connect with SG facilitators to get involved: Burt, Jane, Brenda, Becky, Charlie, Steve.
*Subscribe to the Upper Room Daily Devotion - The Upper Room is a wonderful resource to connect with God through scripture, prayer, and inspiration daily. A 1 year subscription is just $6 and you will receive 6 issues (2 months each) in total. Large print is available. To subscribe, connect with Charlie.
*A New Season of Learning Kicks Off Today! - Both our children and youth as well as adult Sunday School begin anew today. Great thanks to our teaching ministry team headed up by Charlie: Gloria, Donna, Steve, Laura, Anita, Leily, and Richard. Let us hold this faithful, bold team in prayer each week.
*Coming Up in Adult Sunday School:
Visioning a New Season (9/1 & 9/8) : The English Ministry Council will share their discernment of how God might be leading us in the time ahead. Your input is so important!
24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life: Aeri will lead us in a 4 week series beginning on 9/15 exploring the question of how we find rest in a 24/7 world. Come and learn how holy rest can transform our lives.
*Missions in Cambodia - Come and hear about Pastor Vathanak Heang's recent Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trip to Cambodia, Sept. 4th, at 6:00 p.m. Please sign up on the clip board during fellowship time!
*All Church Work Day - Please pitch in and spiff up the church building on Saturday, Sept. 7th, any time between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Your presence is needed!
*Small Groups Start Up Anew - CCUMC's Small Group Ministry (SGM) will officially launch a new season during the 3rd week of September. Small Groups will meet regularly in Castro Valley, Union City, and at church. You are strongly encouraged to be a part a group that can keep your faith vital, dynamic, and strong. Please connect with SG facilitators to get involved: Burt, Jane, Brenda, Becky, Charlie, Steve.
*Subscribe to the Upper Room Daily Devotion - The Upper Room is a wonderful resource to connect with God through scripture, prayer, and inspiration daily. A 1 year subscription is just $6 and you will receive 6 issues (2 months each) in total. Large print is available. To subscribe, connect with Charlie.
And.....I'm Off!
Dear Beloved Community –
It is with much anticipation that I begin my renewal leave tomorrow, Sept. 2nd. I will be away from CCUMC for 3 months and return on Nov. 29th. I give great thanks for the generosity of the church for allowing me this time to rest, to reconnect with family and friends, to renew my spirit and listen again for God’s call on my life. What a gift! I am incredibly grateful.
Many people have asked me what I will do during this time and whether I will be in the area. There is so much I want to do: learn the ukulele, hike the trails all over the Bay, visit my family in New York and Chicago, move into our newly renovated house, take weekend trips, connect with a spiritual director, go on retreat, and more. I will be both travelling and staying put.
CCUMC has always had strong lay leaders. This is one of the amazing assets of this church. During my renewal leave, you can be assured that this community will stand together, pitch in wherever needed, and that all will run smoothly. And should there be bumps along the way, we can get through it together. Here are a few connections that I think will be important:
During my renewal leave, SPRB’s Renewal Leave Task Force helped to put into place wonderful systems and protocols for responding to possible issues and concerns. Please know that our Minister of Discipleship, Meina Ko, stands ready to be of service even as her main focus will be with the Chinese Ministry. You are
encouraged to connect with Meina through any of the 4 leaders named above.
As a side note, I will not be checking email or responding to phone messages throughout my renewal leave. I would appreciate it if you might hold onto any emails and send them upon my return. This will assure that I see and can respond to your email in a timely manner.
Each of you plays an important part to sustaining and growing this faithful community. I urge you to be in unity during this time, to practice extravagant generosity with one another, and to hold the church and our leadership in daily prayer. I also covet your prayers for myself. Please pray with me as I seek to nurture a
more grounded, more balanced, more whole, and more connected rhythm in my daily life. And I will certainly hold you in God’s great light.
Until we meet again, may God’s bubbling joy and far-fetched grace surround you and keep you.
It is with much anticipation that I begin my renewal leave tomorrow, Sept. 2nd. I will be away from CCUMC for 3 months and return on Nov. 29th. I give great thanks for the generosity of the church for allowing me this time to rest, to reconnect with family and friends, to renew my spirit and listen again for God’s call on my life. What a gift! I am incredibly grateful.
Many people have asked me what I will do during this time and whether I will be in the area. There is so much I want to do: learn the ukulele, hike the trails all over the Bay, visit my family in New York and Chicago, move into our newly renovated house, take weekend trips, connect with a spiritual director, go on retreat, and more. I will be both travelling and staying put.
CCUMC has always had strong lay leaders. This is one of the amazing assets of this church. During my renewal leave, you can be assured that this community will stand together, pitch in wherever needed, and that all will run smoothly. And should there be bumps along the way, we can get through it together. Here are a few connections that I think will be important:
- For all pastoral care issues and needs, please connect with Jane (janepyin@gmail.com / 510.582.4368) and Aeri (aeriaeri@yahoo.com / 408.499.7779). We also give thanks to our caring shepherds: Jane, Donna, Ed, and Brenda who can offer presence and accompaniment. Finally, we have a great team of clergy colleagues on standby ready to respond to and address any issue that may arise.
- For all ministry related queries and concerns, please contact our co-Lay Leaders, Becky (rebeccawong8@gmail.com / 510.889.8509) and Steve (chanfam6@gmail.com / 925.937.9618). They can help problem solve or provide direction for ministry related issues.
During my renewal leave, SPRB’s Renewal Leave Task Force helped to put into place wonderful systems and protocols for responding to possible issues and concerns. Please know that our Minister of Discipleship, Meina Ko, stands ready to be of service even as her main focus will be with the Chinese Ministry. You are
encouraged to connect with Meina through any of the 4 leaders named above.
As a side note, I will not be checking email or responding to phone messages throughout my renewal leave. I would appreciate it if you might hold onto any emails and send them upon my return. This will assure that I see and can respond to your email in a timely manner.
Each of you plays an important part to sustaining and growing this faithful community. I urge you to be in unity during this time, to practice extravagant generosity with one another, and to hold the church and our leadership in daily prayer. I also covet your prayers for myself. Please pray with me as I seek to nurture a
more grounded, more balanced, more whole, and more connected rhythm in my daily life. And I will certainly hold you in God’s great light.
Until we meet again, may God’s bubbling joy and far-fetched grace surround you and keep you.
Peace, Emily
Sunday, August 25, 2013
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