English Ministry News and Notes 11-25-12

*Stewardship Response Cards - If you were unable to return and offer up your card today, please do make every effort to return them - through the offering - by next Sunday.  Great thanks!

*Advent Begins!  The new year of the church begins next Sunday, Dec. 2nd.  In preparation, you are invited to gather and prepare the space on Saturday, Dec. 1st, beginning at 10:30am. We'll be hanging the greens and putting up the tree as well  as other things.  This coincides with our monthly work day.  That will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. (You are invited to come for any portion of time.)  Our Advent theme this year is:  ´The Meaning is in the Waiting ."

*Advent Sunday School Series - Beginning Dec. 2nd, our adult Sunday School class will move into a new year with a new book. The book is titled, "The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach about the Birth of Jesus." Over six sessions, we'll peel away all that has built up around the birth of Jesus during the last 2,000 years and consider the question, "What do these stories really mean?" Sunday School begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. Your attention to time enables us to have a focused class.

*LMUMC Food Pantry Work Day  - Saturday, Dec. 8th, 2012, from 9:00 -1:00 p.m.

*Charge Conference @ CCUMC - Please plan to be a part of this important gathering, Sunday, Dec. 9th, at 1:30 p.m. A simple lunch will be provided prior to our meeting.  In preparation for Charge Conference, all ministry leaders are gently reminded to turn in their ministry reports and forms for the year no later than Nov. 20th. Thank you!

The Prayer of Thanksgiving by Howard Thurman

Today, I make my Sacrament of Thanksgiving.
I begin with the simple things of my days:
Fresh air to breathe, cool water to drink, the taste of food,
The protection of houses and clothes, the comforts of home.
For all these I make an act of Thanksgiving this day!

I bring to mind all the warmth of humankind that I have known:
My mother's arms, the strength of my father, the playmates of my childhood,
The wonderful stories brought to me from the lives of many who talked of days gone by when fairies and giants and all kinds of magic held sway;
The tears I have shed, the tears I have seen;
The excitement of laughter and the twinkle in the
Eye with its reminder that life is good.
For all these I make an act of Thanksgiving this day.

I finger one by one the messages of hope that awaited me at the crossroads:
The smile of approval from those who held in their hands the reins of my security;
The tightening of the grip in a simple handshake when I
Feared the step before me in darkness;
The whisper in my heart when the temptation was fiercest
And the claims of appetite were not to be denied;
The crucial word said, the simple sentence from an open
Page when my decision hung in the balance.
For all these I make an act of Thanksgiving this day.

I pass before me the main springs of my heritage:
The fruits of labors of countless generations who lived before me,
Without whom my own life would have no meaning;
The seers who saw visions and dreamed dreams;
The prophets who sensed a truth greater than the mind could grasp
And whose words would only find fulfillment
In the years which they would never see;
The workers whose sweat has watered the trees,
The leaves of which are for the healing of the nations;
The pilgrims who set their sails for lands beyond all horizons,
Whose courage made paths into new worlds and far off places;
The saviors whose blood was shed with a recklessness that only a dream
Could inspire and God could command.
For all this I make an act of Thanksgiving this day.

I linger over the meaning of my own life and the commitment
To which I give the loyalty of my heart and mind:
The little purposes in which I have shared my loves, my desires, my gifts;
The restlessness which bottoms all I do with its stark insistence
That I have never done my best, I have never dared
To reach for the highest;

The big hope that never quite deserts me, that I and my kind
Will study war no more, that love and tenderness and all the
inner graces of Almighty affection will cover the life of the
children of God as the waters cover the sea.

All these and more than mind can think and heart can feel,
I make as my sacrament of Thanksgiving to Thee,
Our Father, in humbleness of mind and simplicity of heart.

Videos for 11-18-12

Chinese Choir

Chinese Sermon

English Sermon - "Extravagant Generosity - The Heart of Giving (IV)" John 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 8:24, Pastor Emily

Membership Welcome: Gloria Gee

We celebrate the membership reception

of Gloria Gee!

Becoming an intentional, active disciple here at CCUMC is in many ways a coming of full circle for Gloria.  She has many ties at this church through her participation in the Methodist Youth Fellowship way back when.  She was also married by the Rev. Edwar Lee (one of the early pastors here).  Gloria has two children (Julie and Michael) and four grandchildren.

Gloria spent years teaching in elementary school in Hayward and then Oakland, and later, as reading specialist with the Active Reading Center in Walnut Creek.  There, she learned to teach through games and fun activities, skills that she brings to her Sunday School teaching here at CCUMC.

Gloria loves tap dancing, an activity she took up about four years ago.  She now dances with three groups: the Wa Sung Tappers, the Grant Avenue Follies, and Ballet Etc.  In addition, Gloria is active in many clubs including Wa Sung here in Oakland, as well as Diablo Valley Chinese Cultural Association.  “When I become a member, I don’t sit back,” Gloria affirms, “I get involved!”  When asked what is a little known fact about her, she replied, “I am a poker player!”  She has been playing with “the same girls” for 38 years!

Since becoming a part of CCUMC, Gloria has served through the children’s Sunday School program as well as this past summer’s Adventures in Faith program.  She is also a part of the Oakland Small Group.

We welcome Gloria Gee as a part of this faith community!

Praise God!

Today, Yvonne lead our choir and church out to the street, raising funds for those who struggle to recover from Hurricane Sandy.

We give great thanks to God that Chinatown was once again so generous.

In 2 short hours, we were able to raise $1,400.

We will forward this money to the Red Cross.

We also give thanks that we are able to use our gifts, time, and energy to do what matters to God and to share God's great love and compassion with others - be it to those we met on the street or those all the way on the East Coast.

Special thanks to Yvonne, Meina, Dale, Ben, Aeri, Burt, and Jane for their part in the day.

Also special thanks to our lovely choir!

Let us continue to tirelessly do what matters to God!

Peace,

Emily

English Ministry News and Notes 11-18-12

*Advent Sunday School Series - Beginning Dec. 2nd, our adult Sunday School class will move into a new year with a new book. The book is titled, "The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach about the Birth of Jesus." Over six sessions, we'll peel away all that has built up around the birth of Jesus during the last 2,000 years and consider the question, "What do these stories really mean?" Sunday School begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. Your attention to time enables us to have a focused class.

*Next CCUMC Work Day - You are invited to pitch in on Saturday, Dec. 1st, any time between 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This is one way you can care for the church! For more info, please connect with Al.

*Special Offering for Hurricane Sandy Recovery - Today we'll be taking a special offering for recovery work in Sandy's aftermath. We recognize the massive destruction experienced by many, including  those on the East Coast as well as in Haiti (the poorest nation in the western hemisphere) and other portions of the Caribbean. Your generous offering today will go to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Thank you!

*Celebrating Thanksgiving - We wish everyone a most wonderful and warm Thanksgiving celebration this week. We will cap off the festivities with a celebration of our own next Sunday, Nov. 25th. Please remember that worship will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the annex (please come on time and leave your potluck items in the "blue room.") Our worship will be followed by a potluck. During worship, we will receive a new intentional and active disciple into membership: Gloria Gee! Let us hold her in our prayers this week.

*Thanksgiving @ LMUMC - LMUMC is holding its annual Thanksgiving Community Luncheon on Thanksgiving day. More than 300 people are served a delicious, homemade meal. You are welcome at the feast - as diner or volunteer. Volunteers are particularly needed for the clean up (from 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.) If you'd like to pitch in, please send an email to Stephen Ford (srford1@aol.com) today. Thank you!

*Stewardship Response Cards - Please bring back your completed stewardship response cards next Sunday, Nov. 25th. We will be offering these to God during worship. Stewardship response cards are  not only important spiritual practices for each of us, they also enable the church to better plan for the coming year. Your prayerful preparation is invited.

*Charge Conference @ CCUMC - Please plan to be a part of this important gathering, Sunday, Dec. 9th, at 1:30 p.m. A simple lunch will be provided prior to our meeting.

Extravagant Generosity: Ed Lang and Laura Chan

Today we mark the 4rd Sunday in our Season of Generosity. During this season, we explore the path and practice of generosity and consider the call to extravagant generosity.  Together, we’ll wrestle with how our lives as disciples of Jesus are shaped and transformed through this practice and how we might live this practice out.  Each week, we will celebrate stories of generosity – both God’s and one another’s.  This week we lift up the sharing of Ed Lang and Laura Chan.

Ed Lang
“God so loved the world that he gave his only son to us.” John 3:16
God’s love is priceless! 
My giving is so little compared to what I have received from God. I will continue to give in whatever way God directs me. Stewardship and generosity is one of the ways that I can give.
I would like to express my testimony of the ways that God has helped me through out my life. God has always been generous to me. He watches over me all the time. He picks me up when I fall and encourages me when I feel discouraged. He gives me courage to face all problems without hesitation. He keeps me safe and in good health, I have had some life threatening situations throughout my life and He came to my rescue. He blessed me with a good wife (my partner) and a wonderful family. He forgave me of all my many transgressions; He gave me the hope of eternal life. God is always giving to me and I in return have given what little talent I have to serve. I try to treat everyone with love and respect and to have the courage to spread the good news of God. Try to love and forgive others, to help and pray for those in need. I am still a work in progress to do God’s work.

Choosing Love / Laura Chan 
Giving is an expression of my love for God as a response in realization of what He has done for me...freed me for eternal glory by the self sacrifice of His son Jesus.  God made the first move and waited for my response.  I find that God is gentle in his dealings with me showing me how I can return that love. Overcoming challenges to things that need to be transformed in my life, finance was one of them.  It started early in my faith journey as a youth...now it is a practice.
One can surely in theory say we believe in God but when not put into action, faith is dead.  We had 3 groups, faith, fellowship & action.  I had been exposed to Christianity & its teaching at VBS (Salvation Army) & Cameron House in SF as a child.  Amazing since my parents weren't Christians.  But it wasn't till I came to CCUMC's Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) and met Mrs. Wong that I finally got it.  The group I picked to be part of was faith, so that meant bible studies.  I noticed many of bible verses refer to giving and about tithing.
Should I take this step of faith?  Do I really trust God to provide for my needs?  By giving away the "first fruits of the harvest" I am saying that without God I would not have the harvest.  It is an acknowledgement that I trust God that He is in control of all...even to things I hold dear, $$$.  Perhaps it was by watching my mother when visitors came during CNY with goodies. They never went home without something in return. And I can admit that I did not grow up in middle class household.  As a tangible sign of love she gave back something tangible.  I saw and developed an attitude of gratitude.  It was a step by step process for me in the beginning, testing & tasting that the Lord is good and I was not worst off.  Then I was "all in" becoming more serious & consistent.  It is a powerful feeling of joy & accomplishment knowing I had this one area of faith fulfilled. Being able to return to God what is His is one of the ways of showing God I love Him and that He is in control.
I see for some life can be become difficult in a flash, beyond their control.  The recent Sandy storm that affected so many in New York & New Jersey, one day they were living in a relatively comfortable lifestyle with a roof over their head, food in the pantry & fridge, a warm shelter to come home to and electricity to see at night.  In the beginning, the news showed people in distress & despair wondering where their help would come from as their lives were turned upside down and many losing their home and belongings with flooding.  Their faces said it all & I cannot imagine what that would be like.  But more recently I hear stories of generosity where people from New Orleans were there to reciprocate the help they received from all over the US.  A busload of church people drove from S Carolina to help homeowners remove their damaged walls to start the rebuilding.  The despair turned into hope.  While I cannot be there with helping hands, I can donate our money to provide for the temporary shelters, food, clothing, and personnel to provide help that is there on the ground.  I can be a witness with giving so that God can use that to comfort and provide what is truly needed.  I cannot fathom the devastation and why it happened but I can act in compassionate by giving of our abundance and being Jesus with hands.
Here it is stewardship month and we are talking about extravagant generosity.  I pray that we as individuals and as a church we trust God in this area and I know He will return the love.