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Sunday, January 29, 2017
Sunday, January 22, 2017
English Ministry News and Notes 2017-1-22
- We Lift Up and Celebrate the Laity of CCUMC! Gratitude to each of you for all the ways you are the church here in this place and in your daily lives. Thank you for being the body of Christ, extending the love and welcome of Jesus, and working to build the kingdom of God.
- Grab some lunch then bring a friend to hear Dr. Russell Jeung talk about his spiritual memoir, At Home in Exile. We will gather in the sanctuary at 2:00 p.m.
- Our First Ever 5th Sunday Working Worship is Next Sunday, Jan. 29th
- Worship begins at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary with praise, prayer, and preparation. It is followed in the Annex with all hands on deck and closes back in the sanctuary with gratitude and blessing! Please come with open hearts to worship God and connect with brothers and sisters.
- Looking Ahead - Let's bring in the (lunar) new year together on Sunday, Feb. 5th. Parallel worship will begin at 9:30 a.m followed by a fellowship potluck meal. You are invited to bring your favorite new year main dish or side delicacy. The church will gladly provide dessert!
A Closer Look at Laity Sunday
History of
Laity Sunday
-Methodism, in all its roots, has a long history celebrating and recognizing
the ministry of the laity.
In
the early days of American Methodism, the laity served and maintained congregations
between visits of the circuit riders. Today, lay people are the front line of
daily ministry at the workplace, in the home and within the community.
The Early Days - Archives
suggest the earliest plans for a Laity Sunday beginning in 1928. The first
recorded observance of "Laymen's Day" was in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South in 1929. By 1930 the Evangelical Church had begun celebrating the
work of laity at the culmination of each annual men’s retreat. (Reflecting the
times, these early celebrations focused only on the ministry of men.)
Once
the factions of the Methodist Episcopal Church merged in 1939, the joint
General Board of Lay Activities approved Laymen's Day and designated February
23, 1941, as the first UMC observance. The January issue of The Methodist
Layman enthusiastically reports the aim of Laymen's Day as "...to emphasize
the place that lay members have in the total life and work of the church."
Laity
Sunday is a time to recognize the work and mission of all laity — not only
within the walls of the church but in everyday lives.
The
excitement about this day of recognition grew. The January 1942 issue of The
Methodist Layman includes this entreaty: Think what this could mean to the
church! Forty thousand laymen - lawyers, physicians, teachers, bankers, businessmen,
mechanics, farmers and others - speaking on The World Mission of the Church!
The whole Methodist Church will be moved and stirred to action by such a
message. ...There are vast possibilities for good in Laymen's Day. It is the
prayer of the General Board that every Conference, District, Associate
District, Charge and Church Lay Leader and every District Superintendent and
Pastor will give wholehearted cooperation to make the day significant in the
life of The Methodist Church.
In
October 1942 The Methodist Layman recommends the last Sunday of February
"be fixed as Laymen's Day throughout the Church" and calls for "serious
preparation for this day and...[for] Pastors to give active cooperation."
Mid-20th
Century to Today - Laymen's Day is first mentioned in the 1944 Book of Discipline (¶ 1483), where its
direction is placed under the auspices of the General Board of Lay Activities.
In
the 1964 edition of the Book of
Discipline, Laymen's Day is designated as the second Sunday of October. (¶
1499.3) The 1968 Book of Discipline
(¶ 1202) expounds on the day's larger purpose:
...shall
be to interpret the role of the laity in the world and to provide laymen with
opportunity to witness to their faith in Jesus Christ and their commitment to
his mission in the world.
By
the 1972 edition of the Book of Discipline,
Laymen's Day was renamed the gender-neutral Laity Sunday (¶ 163) but was often
referred to as Laity Day until 1977.
We
need the whole Body of Christ as we seek to become more vital congregations who
make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!
Sunday, January 15, 2017
English Ministry News and Notes 2017-1-15
- We Welcome Ken Schoon as Preacher Today! Ken is the Site Coordinator at the Waller Center, a United Methodist urban retreat and community center in San Francisco. He is a certified candidate, deacon track, pursuing ordained ministry in our Annual Conference.
- English Ministry Retreat, Part 2—Turn our “What If’s” into concrete realityies! Gather to be inspired and challenged by Rev. Sam Yoon and to get connected to the powerful “Why?” behind all that we do. We will gather at Twin Towers UMC in Alameda, Saturday, January 21st, 9am—2pm. Your presence is vital!
- Let's Celebrate You! Next Sunday, Jan. 22nd, we will mark Laity Sunday, recognize the many ways each serves and leads, and affirm our call to transform the world. In addition to the sharing by our lay leader, Becky, you are each invited to come ready to share about how you sense God is calling us forward as a community and what stirs your spirit the most.
- Our First Working Worship is Around the Corner - If you haven't already, please pitch in and bring needed items to complete 160 care packages for unhoused neighbors on Sunday, Jan. 29th. Worship will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary!
- Looking Ahead - Let's bring in the (lunar) new year together on Sunday, Feb. 5th. Parallel worship will begin at 9:30 a.m followed by a fellowship potluck meal. You are invited to bring your favorite new year main dish or side delicacy. The church will gladly provide dessert!
- At Home in Exile, a Spiritual Memoir - We're so excited to welcome Dr. Russell Jeung to CCUMC on Sunday, Jan. 22nd at 2:00 p.m. He will share from his newest book and talk with us about community and solidarity with the poor, ethnic identity and Jesus, family, vocation, and social justice Asian American culture.
Human Relations Day
Today, we celebrate
Human Relations Day, one of 6 Special Sundays in the United Methodist
Church. Your generosity today enables the UMC to nurture at-risk youth,
strengthen communities’ self-improvement efforts and advocate for those on the
margins.
Here’s but one of many stories of the impact of your giving
-
As 85-year-old Emma Wooten’s home began to fall apart around
her, she turned to God for help. Her house was in dire need of repair. She had
tried to insulate her water-damaged walls with cereal boxes. Ceilings buckled
under a leaky roof. Electrical wiring was unsafe. She jotted down her prayers
and placed them in her Bible. She prayed over the list and asked God to
provide.
Thanks to Partners in Ministry (PIM), her prayers were
answered. A team from Canaan UMC in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, showed up at
her doorstep with the tools and time needed to repair her dilapidated home.
While God answered the octogenarian’s prayers, the PIM
mission team also benefited. “The team and our coordinators were extremely
blessed by Emma’s love, thankfulness and faith in God,” said the Rev. Anna
Troy, outreach coordinator for Partners in Ministry, a Human Relations Day
Sunday Grant recipient.
In addition to helping with home repairs for the elderly,
disabled and others in need, the ministry sows community gardens, provides
after-school programs for at-risk youth and serves as a resource center for
families in the Scotland, Robeson and Richmond areas of North Carolina.
“Within each of these ministries, education is a key
component,” said Troy, “so that the person (or persons) in the programs are
better equipped to work their way out of difficult situations.”
PIM’s after-school program focuses on STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum and offers instruction and
activities to enhance learning. As part of the group’s YES (Youth Empowered to
Succeed) program, at-risk high school students take part in work experiences
and classes to help prepare them for full-time jobs, secondary education or the
military after graduation, Troy said. “The assistance the children and youth
receive will equip them with necessary skills to improve their lives as well as
that of their families and communities,” she said.
In 2015-16, PIM mentored more than 300 children, fed over
4,000 families and provided urgent home repairs to more than 40 families.
In addition to meeting physical needs in the community, the
ministry also is molding spiritual needs. “Each person on staff sees their job
as a ministry....
With Christ’s light showing through each of them, those who
come through the doors are immediately engaged in conversation, receiving hope
and love in their time of need,” Troy said.
“We recognize that while we will not know the exact thoughts and changes
that happen within a person and their relationship with God, we are there to
help nurture that relationship so that others may see God through them, too.” Troy
says the resources that PIM received from Human Relations Day Sunday have
helped to sustain the ministry, allowing them to increase services to those in need.
“God’s vision is being fulfilled in the lives of those needs in the community.
We are here to connect with the people through being disciples of Jesus Christ in
spreading God’s work throughout our communities.”Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Sunday, January 8, 2017
English Ministry News and Notes 2017-1-8
- Pick It Up Canceled Due to Weather! Apologies for those who have come ready to pitch in. We are hoping to join the effort again next month. Stay tuned.
- 5th Sundays Working Worship Launches - We launch a new ministry that enables us to worship through the work of our hands and serve the world God so loves. Our first effort will be creating care packages for unhoused neighbors. You are invited to sign up to donate needed items for our 1st 5th Sunday (Jan. 29th) today! Great thanks for your generosity!
- Human Relations Sunday - Next Sunday, Jan. 15th, we celebrate our ability to make a difference in the world through through our Community Developers, the United Methodist Voluntary Services and the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program. Your generosity is celebrated. On this special Sunday, we welcome Ken Schoon, a candidate for ordination as a Deacon and the Site Coordinator for the Waller Center in San Francisco, a UMC urban retreat space, to share the message.
- Mark the Inauguration at the Interfaith Muslim Solidarity Dinner - Jan. 20th at 7:00 p.m. Our Circuit along with others are hosting a special dinner to fundraise for Wadi Foquin's Community Development Project as well as scholarships for the upcoming pilgrimage. Please come out and support! Tickets are $50 (sliding scale). Please RSVP with Pastor Emily.
- At Home in Exile, a Spiritual Memoir - We're so excited to welcome Dr. Russell Jeung to CCUMC on Sunday, Jan. 22nd at 2:00 p.m. He will share from his newest book and talk with us about community and solidarity with the poor, ethnic identity and Jesus, family, vocation, and social justice Asian American style. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity and please, invite friends!
"What If?" Dreams
Back in October, we got together for our first ministry
retreat in a loooong time. Our time together was centered in dreams – listening
for God’s dreams, paying attention to our own dreams, and making space for our
shared dreams for our beloved faith community. We asked a central question,
“What if?,” inspired by a short message (just 9 minutes) by Pastor Erwin
MacManus that can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P17lK-mS-lU.
(Please do take a watch – for the first time or as re-inspiration! It’s
powerful !) And this is what came up – not just from one person, but
collectively. These 6 dreams noted below or “what if’s?” contain pieces of what
each of us gathered together long and hope for as we journey together as a
community with God. These dreams inspire us, energize us, and excite us. These
are the dreams we want to put into action, to give some legs to, to move
forward with our very best. We’re not quite there yet....and so we ask you to
commit to lifting these in prayer. We recognize that some of these dreams might
feel like “old dreams,” dreams that we’ve had for some time, dreams that we say
are important but that we don’t seem to follow through on. You’re invited to bring
all your feelings – be they disappointment, frustration, helplessness, as well
as longing, hope, and excitement – before God. Ask God if these are God’s
dreams for us. Invite God to shape the dreams and to shape us. Make space to
listen for God’s prayer in you and for us. Please put this in a place that will
remind you to pray today, tomorrow, and every day so that we are empowered to
do far more than just dream, but to live into God’s wondrous, joy-filled dreams
for us!
CCUMC English Ministry’s Shared “What
If?” Dreams:
What if CCUMC
related intergenerationally to youth and young adults?
What if CCUMC
were a large, active presence; powerful resource; ally and partner in Oakland
Chinatown?
What if CCUMC
were collaborative between EM and CM?
What if we
opened our building for the community to use?
What if God
gave us the tools to powerfully celebrate and practice God’s extravagant and
radical love and acceptance?
What if we
release our financial resources extravagantly in order to realize God’s
purposes for CCUMC to build God’s kingdom?
Sunday, January 1, 2017
English Ministry News and Notes 2017-1-1
- 5th Sundays Worship @ Work Launches - We launch a new ministry that enables us to worship through the work of our hands and serve the world God so loves. Please see more info on insert. You are invited to sign up to donate needed items for our 1st 5th Sunday (Jan. 29th) today! Great thanks for your generosity!
- AO Circuit Pilgrimage Invite - Please do note that your down payment for the trip is due on Jan. 5th. For full info, please connect with Pastor Emily.
- English Ministry Retreat, Part 2 - We want to turn our "What If's" into concrete realities! Gather to be inspired and challenged by Rev. Sam Yoon and to get connected to the powerful "Why?" behind all that we do. We will gather at Twin Towers UMC in Alameda, Saturday, Jan. 21st, from 9:00 - 2:00p.m. Your presence is vital!
- Please Mark Your Calendars For These Special Dates in Jan. -
- Snow Retreat Faith Sharing in worship, 1.8.17 followed by "Pick It Up Chinatown", 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
- Human Relations Sunday with Ken Schoon preaching, 1.15.17
- Interfaith Muslim Solidarity Dinner, 1.20.17 at 7:00 p.m. benefiting Wadi Foquin Community Development Project and AO Circuit Holy Land Pilgrimage Scholarships (Lake Merritt UMC)
- Laity Sunday, 1.22.17 followed by book talk by Dr. Russell Jeung at 2:00 p.m.
- First 5th Sunday Worship @ Work, 1.29.17
Happy, Happy New Year!
We step into a brand new calendar year today.
As we do so, I invite you to be intentional – intentional
about noticing all the ways God is already present in your life, intentional
about allowing your deepest longings for God to surface and be named,
intentional about your relationships and priorities, intentional about your
time and the way you use your gifts, intentional about staying connected to joy
and hope.
My prayer for the year ahead for each of us – individually
and collectively – is that we experience a revival of God in our midst, and
that we discern with a united clarity the ways that God is calling us into the
future. Will you join in me in this prayer?
Grace & Peace,
Emily
Spiritually Literate
New Year’s Resolutions
Revs. Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
- I will live in the present moment. I will not obsess about the past or worry about the future.
- I will cultivate the art of making connections. I will pay attention to how my life is intimately related to all life on the planet.
- I will be thankful for all the blessings in my life. I will spell out my days with a grammar of gratitude.
- I will practice hospitality in a world where too often strangers are feared, enemies are hated, and the "other" is shunned. I will welcome guests and alien ideas with graciousness.
- I will seek liberty and justice for all. I will work for a free and a fair world.
- I will add to the planet's fund of good will by practicing little acts of kindness, brief words of encouragement, and manifold expressions of courtesy.
- I will cultivate the skill of deep listening. I will remember that all things in the world want to be heard, as do the many voices inside me.
- I will practice reverence for life by seeing the sacred in, with, and under all things of the world.
- I will give up trying to hide, deny, or escape from my imperfections. I will listen to what my shadow side has to say to me.
- I will be willing to learn from the spiritual teachers all around me, however unlikely or unlike me they may be.
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