Chinese Choir
Chinese Sermon
English Sermon - "The Unfolding of New Possibilities", Mark 16;1-8, Pastor Emily
Monday, April 9, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Upcoming News and Events for 4-8-12
*Great thanks to all for a wonderfully fun and (hopefully) meaningful Children's Easter Party last Sunday! Let us continue to pray for opportunities to connect.
*LMUMC Food Pantry Work Day - You are invited to "practice resurrection" by pitching in next Saturday, Apr. 14th from 9:45 - 1:00 p.m. To learn more or sign up, please connect with Jane Yin.
*Making Sense of Scriptures, Part II - Our Adult Christian Education (ACE) hour will return to David Lose's invitation to "make sense of scriptures." The upcoming 8 sessions will help participants begin to utilize and try on various tools for deepening understanding of the Bible. Please connect with Charlie Ho to learn more. ACE begins at 9:30 promptly in the Annex each Sunday.
*Living Our Welcome - Ushers and greeters (and any interested in welcoming ministries) are invited to gather for a time of reflection and learning about practicing "radical hospitality" next Sunday, Apr. 15th, at 12:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Ben.
*An Important Transition - At the end of March, our beloved Lay Leader and EMC Chair of the past 10 years, Derek Lang, handed the mantle to Steve Chan and Becky Wong. We lift our deepest appreciations for the great love and steadfast commitment with which Derek lead and extend our blessings to Steve and Becky.
*Please note: Pastor Emily will be out of the office on Tuesday and Wednesday (Apr. 10th and 11th). For pastoral emergencies, please call her cell phone.
*LMUMC Food Pantry Work Day - You are invited to "practice resurrection" by pitching in next Saturday, Apr. 14th from 9:45 - 1:00 p.m. To learn more or sign up, please connect with Jane Yin.
*Making Sense of Scriptures, Part II - Our Adult Christian Education (ACE) hour will return to David Lose's invitation to "make sense of scriptures." The upcoming 8 sessions will help participants begin to utilize and try on various tools for deepening understanding of the Bible. Please connect with Charlie Ho to learn more. ACE begins at 9:30 promptly in the Annex each Sunday.
*Living Our Welcome - Ushers and greeters (and any interested in welcoming ministries) are invited to gather for a time of reflection and learning about practicing "radical hospitality" next Sunday, Apr. 15th, at 12:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Ben.
*An Important Transition - At the end of March, our beloved Lay Leader and EMC Chair of the past 10 years, Derek Lang, handed the mantle to Steve Chan and Becky Wong. We lift our deepest appreciations for the great love and steadfast commitment with which Derek lead and extend our blessings to Steve and Becky.
*Please note: Pastor Emily will be out of the office on Tuesday and Wednesday (Apr. 10th and 11th). For pastoral emergencies, please call her cell phone.
Joyous Easter Greetings, Beloved Community!
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Today, we celebrate the ways in which death does not have the last word.
Today, we celebrate how nothing but nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Today, we celebrate how there is nothing so lost or so mangled as to be unredeemable.
Today, we celebrate that all the tombs of life are gateways to resurrection.
Today, we celebrate that there is life after death.
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
As we begin this new season – Easter or the Great Fifty Days – I invite you to post this affirmation somewhere visible as a daily reminder of all that we have to celebrate!
We believe in an Easter God,
who transforms darkness into light,
hatred into tolerance,
despair into hope.
We believe God
is always working for good,
changing every Good Friday nightmare
into an Easter dream of new possibility.
We believe in the risen Christ,
who befriends us on our roads of searching and worry;
who touches us through song and silence, word and gesture;
who calls us by name to enter the dance of life.
We believe in the Spirit,
the hidden presence behind every resurrection,
who beckons us to leave tomblike safety
and trust the gracious invitation to live joyfully.
We believe the Spirit
is always renewing the church
and making us a people who practice kindness,
encourage beauty and work for justice and freedom.
We believe we are an Easter people,
a sign that with God all things are possible.
May this affirmation mark a new beginning for us as we embark on the practice of being and living as Easter people once again. And may it guide the ways we consider building community, forming covenants, making commitments, and walking alongside one another as spiritual companions on the Way.
Today, we celebrate the ways in which death does not have the last word.
Today, we celebrate how nothing but nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Today, we celebrate how there is nothing so lost or so mangled as to be unredeemable.
Today, we celebrate that all the tombs of life are gateways to resurrection.
Today, we celebrate that there is life after death.
Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
As we begin this new season – Easter or the Great Fifty Days – I invite you to post this affirmation somewhere visible as a daily reminder of all that we have to celebrate!
We believe in an Easter God,
who transforms darkness into light,
hatred into tolerance,
despair into hope.
We believe God
is always working for good,
changing every Good Friday nightmare
into an Easter dream of new possibility.
We believe in the risen Christ,
who befriends us on our roads of searching and worry;
who touches us through song and silence, word and gesture;
who calls us by name to enter the dance of life.
We believe in the Spirit,
the hidden presence behind every resurrection,
who beckons us to leave tomblike safety
and trust the gracious invitation to live joyfully.
We believe the Spirit
is always renewing the church
and making us a people who practice kindness,
encourage beauty and work for justice and freedom.
We believe we are an Easter people,
a sign that with God all things are possible.
May this affirmation mark a new beginning for us as we embark on the practice of being and living as Easter people once again. And may it guide the ways we consider building community, forming covenants, making commitments, and walking alongside one another as spiritual companions on the Way.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Videos for 4-1-12
Chinese Choir
Chinese Sermon
English Sermon - "Hosanna! Save Us!", Mark 11:1-11, Pastor Emily
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Upcoming News and Events for 4-1-12
*SOUP Finale! Today we celebrate our final Sunday in Lent...and our final gathering of SOUP. Great thanks to our wonderful chef's and bread-bringer as well as each participant. I pray that our time of silence, sharing, and praying together has been rich and nourishing to your spirit.
*Children's Easter Party! We will begin to set-up immediately after SOUP (approximately 1:30 p.m.) You presence and pitching in is greatly appreciated. The party will begin at 2:30 p.m.
*Flowers, flower, and more flowers - are you able to contribute cut flowers for our resurrection practice of "flowering the cross"? If so, please see Pastor Emily today!
*Holy Week Invites - All are welcome! Invite friends, family and neighbors.
Maundy Thursday Worship, Apr. 5th, at 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday Worship, Apr. 6th, at 7:30 p.m.
Easter Sunrise Worship, Apr. 8th, at 7:30 a.m.
Easter Worship Celebration, Apr. 8th, at 11:00 a.m.
*Did You Know?! Last Sunday, we met and then surpassed our Mission Exchange Fundraising Goal ($7,000)! This is a miracle of grace! Great thanks to God and to the generosity of those here and beyond. Please hold Silver and Grace in prayer as they travel to Kampala in the coming weeks to apply for their visitor visas.
*LMUMC Food Pantry Work Day - You are warmly invited to sign up and pitch in on the 2nd Sunday (Apr. 14th) ministry. Please connect with Jane for more info.
*Usher & Greeters' Gathering - We will be catching up and sharing about our welcoming ministry. Please RSVP to Ben today.
*Children's Easter Party! We will begin to set-up immediately after SOUP (approximately 1:30 p.m.) You presence and pitching in is greatly appreciated. The party will begin at 2:30 p.m.
*Flowers, flower, and more flowers - are you able to contribute cut flowers for our resurrection practice of "flowering the cross"? If so, please see Pastor Emily today!
*Holy Week Invites - All are welcome! Invite friends, family and neighbors.
Maundy Thursday Worship, Apr. 5th, at 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday Worship, Apr. 6th, at 7:30 p.m.
Easter Sunrise Worship, Apr. 8th, at 7:30 a.m.
Easter Worship Celebration, Apr. 8th, at 11:00 a.m.
*Did You Know?! Last Sunday, we met and then surpassed our Mission Exchange Fundraising Goal ($7,000)! This is a miracle of grace! Great thanks to God and to the generosity of those here and beyond. Please hold Silver and Grace in prayer as they travel to Kampala in the coming weeks to apply for their visitor visas.
*LMUMC Food Pantry Work Day - You are warmly invited to sign up and pitch in on the 2nd Sunday (Apr. 14th) ministry. Please connect with Jane for more info.
*Usher & Greeters' Gathering - We will be catching up and sharing about our welcoming ministry. Please RSVP to Ben today.
The Practice of Encountering Others: Building Community through Covenant, Commitment, and Companionship
By Brenda Wong
As our four children grew up, I had my share of worries and concerns. At each stage of their lives came new challenges and hurdles to cross. Were they eating well, staying healthy, hanging out with the right friends, getting good grades in school, making wise choices and setting priorities? Were they ready to get a driver’s license, getting into the right college, choosing the right major, landing the best job, relationships and choosing the right mate? Will they have healthy pregnancies and deliveries when grandchildren come? What about their spiritual health and were they seeking God’s will for their lives?
In 1996, our oldest daughter was going off to graduate school, our second daughter was already in college, our son was a senior in high school and about to head to college, and my youngest was in middle school becoming a teenager. They were so far away from home and worries for them just multiplied. In my head I knew what the scriptures said, “Do not be anxious about anything...” We are to pray presenting our requests to God. I had to let go and let God! I had to trust God to watch over and protect our children who had “flown” away, testing wings of their own. I prayed for them daily but somehow I was still worried and anxious.
Then a friend invited me to a prayer group in Castro Valley called Moms in Touch, a gathering of moms in the community who had children in school and met each week to pray for each other, their children, their teachers and schools. I soon realized I was not praying alone but with a group of powerful praying moms. I thought I had faith but not like these women who taught me how to pray. At first I sat in awe, mostly listening to the humble prayers of my sisters as they specifically raised up their concerns for each child, and others would pray in one accord bathing the child in prayer. Over and over again I was reminded that we must pray and believe without seeing or knowing the outcome, to an awesome God who loves our children more than we do, and can do the impossible. I learned to turn over my worries to God who is omnipresent. Prayers were not always answered the way we thought and God often had surprises and turned down our requests, only to open doors to our children in even better ways. His ways are higher than our ways and he wants the best for our family.
God led me to a special mom in Moms in Touch 17 years ago and we are still praying together. We both have three girls and 1 boy in the same birth orders. We met when her second daughter and my youngest were in middle school. When our girls went off to college, we formed a new prayer group Moms in Prayer, a blessed companionship which included praying for our kids in college and beyond. We’ve prayed for the right colleges and grad schools, study abroad programs, landing first jobs, the right marriage partners, weddings and now for the grandchildren to come. With other moms, we are committed to pray for one another each week for an hour, forming a covenant of trust, encouraging one another in our faith journeys. We help each other through trials and rejoice with one another as God answers prayers and builds our faith.
In 1996, our oldest daughter was going off to graduate school, our second daughter was already in college, our son was a senior in high school and about to head to college, and my youngest was in middle school becoming a teenager. They were so far away from home and worries for them just multiplied. In my head I knew what the scriptures said, “Do not be anxious about anything...” We are to pray presenting our requests to God. I had to let go and let God! I had to trust God to watch over and protect our children who had “flown” away, testing wings of their own. I prayed for them daily but somehow I was still worried and anxious.
Then a friend invited me to a prayer group in Castro Valley called Moms in Touch, a gathering of moms in the community who had children in school and met each week to pray for each other, their children, their teachers and schools. I soon realized I was not praying alone but with a group of powerful praying moms. I thought I had faith but not like these women who taught me how to pray. At first I sat in awe, mostly listening to the humble prayers of my sisters as they specifically raised up their concerns for each child, and others would pray in one accord bathing the child in prayer. Over and over again I was reminded that we must pray and believe without seeing or knowing the outcome, to an awesome God who loves our children more than we do, and can do the impossible. I learned to turn over my worries to God who is omnipresent. Prayers were not always answered the way we thought and God often had surprises and turned down our requests, only to open doors to our children in even better ways. His ways are higher than our ways and he wants the best for our family.
God led me to a special mom in Moms in Touch 17 years ago and we are still praying together. We both have three girls and 1 boy in the same birth orders. We met when her second daughter and my youngest were in middle school. When our girls went off to college, we formed a new prayer group Moms in Prayer, a blessed companionship which included praying for our kids in college and beyond. We’ve prayed for the right colleges and grad schools, study abroad programs, landing first jobs, the right marriage partners, weddings and now for the grandchildren to come. With other moms, we are committed to pray for one another each week for an hour, forming a covenant of trust, encouraging one another in our faith journeys. We help each other through trials and rejoice with one another as God answers prayers and builds our faith.
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