Sunday Morning Schedule Choir Practice 9:00 -- Worship 10:00

Coffee Hour at 11:00

The Monthly Newsletter of the

First Congregational Church of Oroville, California

Informing you of our Ministry - Inviting you to Worship with us - Welcoming you always

September 2017

Solar Eclipse 21 August 2017

Photo by John Zenor

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The Monthly Newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Oroville

Dolores Devol - editor

The CHIMES The CHIMES

First Congregational Church of Oroville 1715 Bird Street, Oroville, California

A great place to grow in Faith, Hope, and Love.

Worship Leaders

Jerry Hambleton — Pastor

John Zenor — Organist

Regina Jensen—Choir Director

Our Sunday Schedule

9:00 am Choir Practice Chapel

10:00 am Sunday Service Sanctuary

11:00 am Coffee & Fellowship Social Hall

First Tuesday of the month

9:30 am Women’s Fellowship Social Hall

Every Tuesday

1:00 pm Sewing Group Youth Room

Every Thursday

5:00 pm Choir Practice Chapel

Administrative Asst./Bookkeeper

Sandy Bolt

Church Office Hours

Monday thru Friday 8:00-12:00

(530) 533-2483

Website www.fccoroville.org

Greetings to all.

There are two topics I want to address in this article.

First: The Pastoral Search Committee. After I announced my retirement at the end of 2017, the Council ap-

pointed the Pastoral Search committee composed of Jerry Davis

(Chair), Carolyn Lindsay, RoseAnn Oliveira, Shirley Quackenbush,

and John Zenor. I met with them at their first meeting and gave the

chair the contact numbers for the UCC Conference which will assist

them in their search. I then left the meeting as I ethically can't be en-

gaged in the process. I did offer to give moral support if needed. They

have an important undertaking that will address the pastoral needs of

the congregation into the near future.

Inherent to the process is the committee furnishing the Conference

with a profile of the congregation, including demographics of the

Oroville community and the congregation, financial resources, job de-

scription, and the type of pastoral leadership they are seeking.

Also the terms of salary, benefits and time commitments. Pastoral

leadership can come in a variety of configurations: full time, 3/4 time,

1/2 time or other part time arrangements such as merely pulpit supply.

Finances are part and partial of this process. Some folks are sincere

in their concern that there is not enough money to pay for a pastor. I

appreciate the stewardship concerns of our leadership but I also know

the Gospel command to stretch ourselves into the future. ''Go therefore

and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the

Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...and remember, I am

with you always to the end of the age.'' (Matthew 28:19)

That is the purpose of Christ's Church. If we don't use available

funds we have been given by the faithful in the past what is the pur-

pose of the church? When, and if the church closes in the future, what

is the purpose of having those considerable funds in investments. Ac-

cording to our Constitution, the funds and property go to non-profit

organizations in the Oroville area. This would be an extension of the

WORDS FROM THE PASTOR

ministry of the church, and is good in itself, if it comes to that. Howev-

er, does it need to come to that?

I suggest that prayers of discernment be an integral part of this search

process and to open ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God

only knows what he wants for his Church. It is his Church, after all,

not ours! One thing to remember is that when I leave that frees up the salary

you are paying me. I sit in on the Endowment meetings and know that

the church has considerable available funds if we really want to fund

another pastor and exciting new ministries. There are ethical and me-

morial reasons to keep faith with the donor's requests of the past, but

they are in the past. We have to look to the future. Please support your

Search Committee.

Now that I have stepped on some tender toes I'll go on to the next

topic.

Second: Pastor Davena Jones, UCC Conference Search and Call

Minister, will be in our pulpit on Sunday, 9/10 and will meet with the

Search Committee after fellowship time. She will be available for ques-

tions and answers at that time.

Third: ''There is a disturbance in the force.'' If you are, or were, a

Star Wars fan you know what this means. Our ''disturbance''/

''opportunity'' is a new missional transformation that could take place at

First Congregational Church. This could involve innovative plans of

action that will be relevant to us as we move beyond 160 years of min-

istry as Christ's Church in this place.

On 8/6 we had a guest minister from Jordon's Crossing Church in the

pulpit. After the service we had a lunch, provided by Jordon's Crossing,

followed by a question and answer period. All this centered around the

proposal of the Jordon's Crossing Church ''nesting'' at our congregation

for a period of time into the future. They are looking for their own facil-

ity but are committed to leave their present location by the end of Sep-

tember 2017. There are many details to work out but we, as a congrega-

tion, need to make a decision of ''Yes'' or ''No'' to proceed to the next

step. Our Trustees and their Board have met. I have had meetings with

Pastor Billie Speer and have attended their worship services at Open

Door Church. They have attended our services.

I'm writing this on 8/12, before a vital fact. The fact is that on Sun-

day, 8/27/2017, after worship, we will have a Special Congregational

Meeting, in accordance with Article 3, Section 3 (c) ''Meetings'' of our

The CHIMES

By-Laws. The only agenda item of this meeting will be to decide ''Yes''

or ''No'' to this proposal. This will be after discussion. We'll see where

we go from there. I encourage all members of the church to be present

and voting.

Please keep all these important issues in your prayers.

Blessing to you all,

Pastor Jerry

The CHIMES

REPORTS

Council...

Al1 those who were able to attend Vinita Barwick's birthday luncheon had

an especially joyful time. Our social hall was jam-packed. The salads were

sensational, and Vinita was in great spirits as she welcomed so many well-

wishers. A special thanks is offered to all those who made the celebration

such a success. We all appreciate the many things Vinita has done to help

maintain our churches historic and dynamic mission in Oroville.

Another important event in the life of our church occurred this past month

when our congregation unanimously passed a motion authorizing the Trus-

tees to pursue a mutually-agreeable contract with Jordan's Crossing Church

to use some of our facilities on a trial basis at times that will not conflict

with YMCA or our church schedules. Another church meeting will be

called to approve or amend the contract sometime in September.

Despite the hot weather, we have had a busy summer and look forward to a

dedicated and eventful season ahead. So, if you cannot keep cool, keep your

cool!

Jim Lenhoff,

Moderator

Diaconate...

Summer is over (at least it should be) and we will be in our regular routine.

Our next joint meeting with the council will be on Monday, September 25th.

We have been busy all summer with only 3 members (Kathy Hardy, Jerry

Davis and Shirley Quackenbush). We are still looking for regular mem-

bers. We do have a lot of members who help us out every Sunday but no

one who wants to commit to being a regular member.

We will have a lot of work to do with all the possible changes at the church.

Nothing has been decided but we need to look at the changes and anything

we can do to help make everything run smoothly,

The CHIMES

We are not looking forward to the retirement of Pastor Jerry. We are cer-

tainly going to miss him and Ginger. They have both added so much to our

church and church members. Hope they stay healthy and have a wonderful

retirement. An extra big thank you to Ginger who has been assisting the

diaconate by straightening out the pews after service, keeping them orga-

nized and keeping all our pencils sharpened. Every little bit helps the 3

regular diaconate members.

As you know there is always room for more and we would welcome your

help.

Shirley Quackenbush

Women’s Fellowship…

Women’s Fellowship will resume meetings September 5th. at 9:30 am.

Kathy Hardy

Music Committee...

The Music Committee is looking for ideas for concerts at the church this

fall.

Kathy Hardy

*******************************

The CHIMES

Where’s Melvin?

Church mouse Melvin is hiding somewhere in the pages of the

Chimes. Can you find him?

A Huge Thank You

To everyone who was part of my 94th birthday party. It was beautiful in every way.

Words can not express what is in my heart. Love you all.

Vinita

PARKING Sunday and evening parking for church attendees is available at the following locations by agreement between the Church and

the owners of the lots.

Lot behind the Cal Oro Manufacturing building on the NE corner of Bird and Oak Streets.

Department of Education lot on the SW corner of Lincoln & Bird.

The CHIMES

“Here are the Five Rules for Men to Follow for a Happy Life that

Russell J. Larsen had inscribed on his headstone in Logan, Utah. He

died not knowing that he would win the “Coolest Headstone” contest.

FIVE RULES FOR MEN TO FOLLOW FOR A HAPPY LIFE:

1. It’s important to have a woman who helps at home, cooks from

time to time, cleans up, and has a job.

2. It’s important to have a woman who can make you laugh.

3. It’s important to have a woman who you can trust, and doesn’t lie

to you.

4. It’s important to have a woman who is good in bed, and likes to be

with you.

5. It’s very, very important that these four women do not know each

other or you could end up dead like me.”

(Editor’s note: While the real headstone of Larson’s has a provocative

inscription on it, this is not it.

This story has been blended with a good joke and a ‘photo of the man

himself’ and is doing the email rounds. As Larson himself might have

said: ‘If a story’s worth telling, it’s worth enhancing!’)

The CHIMES

The CHIMES

The CHIMES

Eclipse Monday, 21 August 2017 200mm with 2x doubler

Church organist John Zenor traveled to McMinnville, Oregon to capture

the following pictures of the recent solar eclipse.

The CHIMES

Things to Ponder If you attempt to rob a bank you won't have any trouble with rent/

food bills for the next 10 years, whether your successful or not.

Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned?

What if my dog only brings back my ball because he thinks I like

throwing it?

If poison expires, is it more poisonous or is it no longer poisonous?

Which letter is silent in the word Scent -- the S or the C?

Why is the letter W, in English, called double U? Shouldn't it be

called double V?

Maybe oxygen is slowly killing you and it just takes 75-100 years

to fully work.

Every time you clean something, you just make something else

dirty.

The word “swims” upside-down is still “swims.”

Intentionally losing a game of rock, paper, scissors is just as hard as

trying to win.

100 years ago everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars.

Today everyone has cars and only the rich own horses.

Your future self is watching you right now through memories.

The doctors, that told Stephen Hawking he had two years to live in

1953, are probably dead.

If you replace W with T in What, Where and When, you get the

answer to each of them.

Many animals probably need glasses, but nobody knows it.

If you rip a hole in a net, there are actually fewer holes in it than

there were before.

If 2/2/22 falls on a Tuesday, we'll just call it 2's Day. (By the way,

it does fall on a Tuesday)

Submitted by Jeannie Maes

Where’s Melvin?

Church mouse Melvin is hiding somewhere in the pages of the

Chimes. Can you find him?

The CHIMES

Chimes Deadline will be Tues. Sept. 26 Articles may be left in the Chimes box at the church office

or e-mail to adevol@comcast.net

BIRTHDAYS

3 June Seim

13 Melinda Scholten

23 Richard Warmack

24 Jeannie Maes

26 Art Devol

27 Jane Warmack

ANNIVERSARIES

None

The CHIMES The CHIMES

Monthly Financial Update

For the Month of August

Approved annual budget for 2017–2018 $ 94,750.00

Budget needs for each week: $ 1,822.12

Budget needs each month: $ 7,895.83

_________________________________________________

Income for the month:

Pledges, gifts & tithes: $ 5,234.94

Organ Maintenance $ 50.00

Rental $ 20.00

Gardening $ 50.00

Refund $ 205.07

TOTAL INCOME FOR THE MONTH: $ 5,560.01