Vikki gave birth to baby Athena on Sunday, Aug. 28th around 8:00 a.m. Baby Athena weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs. 1 oz. and is 20 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well. We pray God blessing on this new little life and the Siu family! Many, many joyful congratulations.
*You're invited! Come out and cheer on our fabulous Homework Club summer program participants as they sing their heart out for God. Today at 3:00 p.m.
*Getting Ready for Street Fest! There are many ways to serve. Please
prayerfully pitch in - on Saturday (stuffing bags from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.) and on Sunday (beginning with worship at 9:30 a.m.) Sign up sheets are posted in the social hall.
*Celebrating Missions! On September 4th, we will hear from Aeri about her time in Uganda. Worship will be followed by a delicious lunch Uganda style and a special report-back. You are invited to come to celebrate God's work in the world and amongst our brothers and sisters a continent away. You are also invited to come to learn more about YCVM, their ministry, and hear updates of the orphans, school building project and more. This is a great place to bring your questions!
*Rally Day - Sept. 11th! Summer is winding down and the Fall is about to begin. We'll mark this beginning by kicking off a new season of Sunday School (children/youth and adults) as well as Small Groups. You are encouraged to take a new step: if you haven't been attending Sunday School, consider participating; if you haven't been a part of small groups, consider joining. These are important ways that we nurture growth together!
*Please Note: Pastor Emily will be at a Residence in Ministry Retreat from Aug. 21st - 24th. She will be reachable by email only during this time. Please hold her formation and ordination process in your prayers.
* Support our YCVM Benefit Dinner by donating new "desirable" items, or gift certificates of any kind (services or goods) to the Silent Auction! The benefit dinner will be held on October 7th. Items may be brought to church beginning September 25th, but you can pledge your donation now by connecting with Becky Wong.
Lichee Moments by Donna Chan Chu
I had a lichee moment. I'm sure man of you have had these moments. What is a moment? First what is lichee? Lichee is a little fruit that has hard, pokey skin. The skin is so hard and pokey that I would be afraid to be hit with one. It's also a little tricky to open. When you do get it open, it's so juicy that it gets messy. But once you get past the skin, the flesh is white and sweet tasting.
A lichee moment is to be around someone that makes you uncomfortable. Maybe in some way they offend you, they are so different than you or cause you to become afraid. Then you think about the lichee, peel away the outer layer-all the parts that make you uncomfortable and reveal the inside-the part that is good.
Riding public transportation gives me many opportunities to have a lichee moment. This week I made room for a man to sit down who smelled of weeks without a shower. I tried to have a conversation with him, but he was already in conversation with himself. I silently said a prayer for him. An African American male asked to change his five dollar bill. I knew I didn't have five ones, so I said no. To expose that I had any money on me is pretty scary. I knew I had at least two ones, so those two I offered to him. He looked confused, because why would he give me a five for two. I just gave him the two ones and
said he could help someone out later.
Lichee moments happen every day. I have to confess that I do not always act on my lichee moments. They slip away and I pray for them and for forgiveness in not being salt nor light.
Matthew 5:13-16
Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers,
you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand-shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By
opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
The mission of the United Methodist Church is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” In our Small Group Ministry, we have been practicing the discipline of sharing where we experience God in our lives. I have invited some of our congregation members to take the next step by answering the following question: "What is one thing you wish could be changed in the life of a specific person you know (you can keep the person anonymous) or the lives of a local group of people by that person or group experiencing the love of God or having faith in God?" The following article is another in our series. I pray that as we envision how wondrous it is to have God in our lives that we will be emboldened to share God with others because God can be that wonderful in their lives too.
By Leily Chew
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
I have a friend who is very nice and helpful to everyone she meets. She would cook things for people or give them money to buy food. Whenever someone tells her that they need money to buy things, she would give money to them even though she does not make much money, and may not even have enough money for herself. I would really like to help her myself. Sometimes she has family problems. Her son-in-law is always mad at her and he does not appreciate what she does for him and his family. She helps them by cleaning the house and taking care of their children. Once, she got very sick and did not know what to do. She said her life was filled with trouble. When she does not have anyone else to talk to, she calls me by phone and we talk for a long time. She would cry, but I would keep telling her to keep praying and that the Lord will always be with her. Things will work out even though we do not know how it will work out. Jesus loves us and will help to keep our family together.
One day, she called me and told me that when she needed to talk to someone, I was always there for her. She thinks that praying is really helping her and that the Lord will provide some one to help her ease her problems. The Lord will look out for her. She told me that Jesus will help us and He will answer our prayers, even though sometimes we don’t notice that our prayers were answered. The Lord insulates us so that we do not have to worry about things.
Looking back over this experience, I felt wonderful. I felt the power of God upon us and witnessed how God transforms suffering into peace. We continue talking to each other and I am glad that I can help her. She is really my friend. I thank the Lord that I can help my friend and make her feel good. I also feel good when I see her happy. Things are slowly working out..
By Arlene Lang
"This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life." Psalm 119:50
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying hdeavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
My friend of 38 years lost her son about 6 years ago. He was found at his home by friends when he did not show up for an outing. His cause of death was never told to use and we never asked but hints of "I knew he was in trouble and I didn't know how to help him" lead one to believe he died of accidental drug overdose. He was in the entertainment world managing rock groups. He was a care free spirit, full of life and had a great personality to meet people and you would like him immediately.
After 6 years my friend is still struggling with health issues, taking medication for depression, and going to therapy. One cannot know how she can endure something as tragic as losing a child, how she can cope with everyday living. Once an organized person, keeping a clean house, full of life and laughter, she is now losing her memory, becoming negative about a lot of things and her home is full of clutter.
I have talked to her about returning to her Catholic faith to find the comfort of knowing that God will help, but she responds only by shrugging her shoulders. I pray every day and every moment that she will find comfort in knowing that I pray and care for her and that God is with her without her knowing. I pray that she can once again find a meaning to her life, find the comfort that God can bring to your life knowing that He is always there for you in your darkest moments.
