LISTENING TO GOD AT
THE LEADERSHIP RETREAT
Twenty-five people gathered
at the Walnut Avenue U.M.C. on January 21, to listen to God and to each other
as we planned how to focus our work in the congregation for the next six
months. To help with the ‘listening to God’ part we tried a new technique –
every twenty minutes a timer went off and we would immediately stop all
conversation for a minute of silent prayer. We liked the way that it kept our
focus in the right direction.
The day began with a devotion
led by Lina Lobaton, and Bible study led
by Pastor Pam. After a brief “State of the Church” report and covering some
details about church structure, we worked with the Five Practices of
Fruitful Congregations to assess our congregation. By the end of the
afternoon, the group decided that for the next six months we will focus on
Intentional Faith Development and Risk-Taking Mission and Service. After
finishing up some details around action items in those two areas, we’ll give a
fuller report.
A big thanks to Florence Low
for a great continental breakfast and to all who attended for a delicious
potluck. It was a super day!
VITAL SIGNS REPORTING:
CARING FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR CONGREGATION
It’s January, and gyms are crowded with people
who have resolved to take better care of themselves in the coming year. Some of
the tools we use to measure our health are numerical – our weight, blood
pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
It’s the same with congregations. Numbers
aren’t the whole story, but they are one way we measure our health and
vitality.
All United Methodist churches are now
required to participate in Vital Signs in which we report our important numbers
online every week. Included are worship attendance, number of professions of
faith, participants in small groups, gifts and offerings, participants in
mission and giving to mission.
This isn’t just about reporting to someone
“higher up,” but the online charts and graphs will allow us to see how we are
doing and let us compare ourselves with other congregations. Included in the
reporting tools is a “testimony” area so that churches can verbally report what
is working well for them and learn from each other.
If you’d like a fuller understanding of
Vital Signs, you can visit: vitalsignsumc.org.
Although Pastor Pam will usually enter our
numbers, it would be good to have a back-up person to do this if she is away.
It is a simple process. If you would like to help, please talk to her.
SUPER BOWL OF CARING
Sunday, February 5
Maybe you can’t pass a football or make a
tackle, but you can do something even more important! You can help feed hungry
people in our community! The Contra Costa Food Bank is joining with other food
banks around the country in sponsoring the Souper Bowl of Caring on February 5th,
Super Bowl Sunday.
Please bring canned or packaged foods to
church that day for our church’s PICES donation. And consider making a generous
offering at the communion rail that day which will also go to PICES. Together
we can tackle hunger in 2012!
MANNA: BREAD FROM HEAVEN; FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY
On Wednesdays, Manna continues to serve those who are hungry
in the name of the Church and her Lord. As part of our organizational plan we
still seek a volunteer coordinator and purchaser but despite the lack of
these two positions we continue to work at fulfilling our goals. If you sense a
calling in these areas I hope you will speak up as God does not always require
that you wait to be asked.
As you may have heard, one of the conditions I had laid down
when Pastor Rochelle and I first discussed starting Manna was that I
would only be available for two to three years. So, for some months I have
considered when would be the time to step down and let another take up the
joy of directing Manna. Sunday, April 15th is the date. I have enjoyed working
with the many persons who have crossed paths with me in the last two years and
look forward to Manna's continued growth and reach.
Grace and Peace,
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IN REMEMBRANCE
OFELIA LOPEZ PETRINI
February 9, 19?? – December
25, 2011
(To quote Ofelia: How to stay young… find an age you like
and stick with it!)
Ofelia Lopez Petrini passed away peacefully
early Christmas morning, at home in the loving arms of her daughters, Allyse
and Lorene Petrini. She was the longest active member of PUMC. Ofelia was born in Los
Angeles and grew up in Pittsburg.
As an adult she was active in both church and community organizations holding
several offices and honored as “Homemaker of the Year” by the Pittsburg
Junior Women’s Club. She was also a
talented seamstress and crafter and enjoyed bowling, and traveling with her
late husband of 50 years, Ally Petrini. Also preceding her in death were her
parents, Ralph and Constance Lopez and her sister Armida Extrum.
Ofelia will be greatly missed by her
daughters, nieces, great nieces and sister-in-law, Diane Rose, and by her
church family. We were all blessed to have had her in our lives.
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ON THE PASTOR’S BOOKSHELF
Pastor’s love their books! Just take a
look at the crowded shelves in the pastor’s office. Some of them are mine, some
are Pastor Rochelle’s and we both have plenty more at home. Here’s what I’m
currently reading:
Culturally-Conscious Worship by Kathy Black is a great look at the differences
that make worship in a multi-cultural congregation so rewarding and so
challenging. The way we relate to space, sound and silence, time, prayer styles
and music, all of which are experienced differently depending on where we were
born and raised. It provides many opportunities for rich worship together, and
also many opportunities for misunderstanding. Of course, all of these
differences spill over into other activities we do, so this has been a
fascinating book to read. I’m almost finished with it and am happy to lend many
of the books on my shelf. If you’d like to read it, let me know.
Next book in line is Awaken Your Senses: Exercises for Exploring
the Wonder of God which explores ways to use all of our five senses as a
way to pray and experience God. I’ll let you know how it is!
A Concert in the
Spirit of Valentine’s Day
St. Ignatius of Antioch Church Music Series 2012
Saturday, February 18 – 7:30 p.m.
Carlo Mennotis – The
Telephone an Assorted Love Songs
The
Telephone is a delightful work about true love winning over everything
including the telephone. It will be a staged version that will leave you
laughing and humming the beautiful tunes.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
No operator assistance
is necessary. All lines are available 24 – 7
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When in
sorrow – Call John 14
When
people fail you – Call Psalm 27
When
you’ve sinned – Call Psalm 51
When
you’re worried – Call Matt 6:19-34
When
you’re in danger – Call Psalm 91
When God
seems distant – Call Psalm 139
When
you’re faith is weak – Call Hebrews 11
When
you’re lonely & fearful – Call Psalm 23
When
you’re unhappy or unfulfilled – Call
Colossions
3:12-17
When you
feel down & out – Call Rom 8:31
When you
need to lean on God – Call Is 55
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When you
need help & guidance – Call Ps 121
When you
need courage – Call Joshua 1
If you’re
depressed – Call Psalm 27
If you
have financial problems – Call Ps 37
When you
doubt God – Call Psalm 126
When you
need to remember God’s faithful
provision – Call Psalm 126
You’re
feeling selfish and ungrateful – Call
Psalm
67
When you
have a bad attitude –
Call Philippians 2: 5-11
For peace
& rest – Call Matthew 11:25-30
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