Monthly Newsletter of Faith United Methodist Church 3600 J Street, Sacramento CA 95816 faith36andj@sbcglobal.net www.faithumcsacramento.org

Vol. 14.8 February 2013

Faith Witness “Expanding a Christian community by empowering, transforming

and enriching lives through Christian love and service.”

President’s Day (Observed) ~ February 18 Words from Two Presidents of the Past

A Congressman’s Prayer Almighty Father! look in mercy down: Oh! grant me virtue, to perform my part— The patriot’s fervour, and the statesman’s art In thought, word, deed, preserve me from thy frown. Direct me to the paths of bright renown— Guide my frail bark, by truth’s unerring chart, Inspire my soul, and purify my heart; And with success my stedfast purpose crown. My country’s weal—be that my polar star— Justice, thou Rock of Ages, is thy law— And when thy summons calls me to thy bar, Be this my plea, thy gracious smile to draw— That all my ways to justice were inclin’d— And all my aims—the blessing of mankind. John Quincy Adams

Our Deepest Prayers Before all else, we seek, upon our common labor as a nation, the favor of Almighty God. And the hopes in our hearts fashion the deepest prayers of our people. May we pursue the right—without self-righteousness. May we know unity—without conformity. May we grow in strength—without pride of self. May we, in our dealings with all people of the earth, ever speak the truth and serve justice. May the light of freedom, coming to all darkened lands, flame brightly—until at last the darkness is no more. May the turbulence of our age yield to a true time of peace, when men and nations shall share a life that honors the dignity of each, the brotherhood of all. Dwight D. Eisenhower

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To those with a birthday in February

1- Lori Monson Jan Ramsey 2- Leslie Stanton-Stockdale 3- Todd Saylor 5- Carolyn Novick 11- Karen Baker 13- Dick Schmidt 15- Susette Nordlander Erica Randall 17- Daniel Sexton 18- Lynn Vann 19- Rebecca Malekian 23- Brenda Brantley 25- Doug DeBolt Alexandra Goodman 26- Todd Buckendorf

February 2013

Faith Family, The church office is currently working on the 2013 Faith Church Directory. We want everyone included in the directory along with their addresses and “email” addresses, as well as phone numbers. Please let the office know of any changes in your information. I have been contacting folks as to their desire to have (or not have) their email address published in the directory. This became a bigger job than anticipated. If you have not yet been contacted and would like your email address published in the director, please let the church office know. I look forward to hearing from you regarding any changes. Thank you, Naomi Schmidt

Note from Church Office

Secretary

Salsa Dancer

An Exciting New Venture Begins Saturday, February 2 Every Saturday from 1 pm-2 pm in Albright Hall

Facilitated by Sue Slagell

“ZUMBA” is dance exercise to Latin rhythms Give it a try…you’ll like it!

The hour will begin with a few minutes of study in a book titled “Made to Crave; Satisfying Deepest Desire with God, Not Food”

(Pre-Order the book from Sue Slagell by January 27)

Want a Fun Way to Stay Fit? Try “ZUMBA”

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February 2013

Paul E. Miller Memorial Library

Watch the library shelves for the volumes listed below to appear… some you are sure to find good reading!

A Season of Angels by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer. Adele Morgan has made a few mistakes in her life. After a serious medical scare, she realizes her greatest regret is that she idly sat by while a petty dispute tore her family apart. Adele’s arrival at Angel Island brings little delight to her family. It will take a miracle to unite her family. Luckily for Adele, miracles can happen at the Inn at Angel Island. Another visitor (graduate student Jonathan Butler) comes on a research mission that he is determined will debunk Angel Island’s legend. While researching at the Historical Society, he meets Tess Wyler, a local under-graduate student who helps him. He comes under the spell of the Island and another miracle happens at Angel Island.

Christmas at Holly Hill by Martha Rogers. It is October 1898. Clayton Barlow has just returned home after serving time in prison for his part in a bank robbery. His family welcomes him, but the townspeople are skeptical. He goes to work for his father, hoping to regain the town’s trust. Clayton recognizes the schoolteacher at the local school as his childhood friend and his old feelings surface. He doubts he could ever get Merry Lee Warner to love him. As the townspeople prepare for Christmas, their suspicions about Clayton lead to trouble. Will the trusting heart of an unlikely new friend be enough to restore Clayton’s relationships with his neighbors and reunite him with God and Merry?

This UMW Book Corner highlights

books from the 2013 UMW Reading Program list. These books will appear on the UMW Library Cart as soon as possible, so watch for them. This Will be Remembered of Her…Stories of Women Reshaping the World by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co…In This Will be Remembered of Her three strands—stories from Scripture, stories of select women from around the globe and stories from religious folk and wisdom traditions’ worldwide—are woven into one strong braid showing how life can be made more compelling, communal and just for all people. In the end the book asks: How will you be remembered? Love in a Headscarf by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed…When Shelina Zahra Janmohamed opted for the traditional arranged route to finding a marriage partner; she never suspected it would be the journey of her life. During 10 long years of matchmaking aunties, countless mismatches and outrageous dating disasters, Ms. Janmohamed discovers more about herself and her faith—including the fact that sometimes being true to her religion means challenging tradition. Everyone is invited to read the books on the UMW Library cart and to be a participant in the UMW Reading Program. See Sue Slagell if you have any questions.

UMW Book Corner

Hey Readers! Please take me

home with you!

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February 2013

Pastor’s Reflections

January 2013 – the start of a New Year! “Blessings for your New Year!” A time to reflect on what was, and to look to the New Year with joyous anticipation of what is yet to be. God is creating ALL things new! It is also the time to close the door to past hurts done to you. We often stay stuck in the past, as chains of bitterness and anger prevent us from moving to the new life Christ has in store for all of us. Jesus came to break those chains, freeing us from the past and leading us into the future. We thank God for the group of Fijian brothers and sisters who have come to Faith Church and have officially joined the church: Watisoni Qereqeretabua (their pastor), Lavenia Kikau, Nemani Kikau, Taufa Qereqeretabua, Peniasi Uluiviti, Jona Vakatawa, Salote Vakatawa, Mosese Veremalumu, Sainimere Veremalumu, and Ofa Waqabaca. We also have three other new members: Braxton and Hazel Sheehy and David Stover. Praise God for how He is increasing our numbers! In order to help EVERYONE know each others’ names, EVERYONE will be wearing a name tag. John and I are printing them up, so they will look good. I know there are many who don’t know the names of everyone; and our new members don’t know the names of those who have been here for a while. This also helps guests know who they are sitting next to. Additionally, we have started using the attendance pads as a way of keeping track of who has been in worship. With more people attending and more new faces, this will help our Membership Secretary! I thank you ahead for your cooperation! We must show extravagant hospitality! Remember the song for the TV show “Cheers” – “a place where everyone knows your name.”

Most of us make resolutions at the start of the year. Sometimes we are good in keeping them through the year; a lot of times, we don’t follow through. Well, congregations need to make resolutions, too! People try to better themselves, so should congregations! After all, congregations are made up of people. In 2013, can we strive to be more like Christ? Can we treat others like we would like to be treated? As our Advent study has taught us, we do not live for ourselves; we live for others in serving God.

In closing, I would like to share a prayer, written by Ruth C. Duck, found in The Westminster Collection of Christian Prayers, compiled by Dorothy M. Stewart: “Now that the mad rush is over, O center of stillness and peace: Now that the needles are falling from the tree, we thank you that you are still God-with-us. As we face the year ahead, help us to accept the difficult parts of our lives; help us to make the changes we must make; bring us to new places of openness and love toward you and the people around us; help us to overcome the fears which keep us from fullness of life. As the frigid days of January and February draw near, help us to keep warm places alive within us, where in secret the bulbs of springtime tulips are nurtured. As we face the year ahead, we thank you for one another and for your grace in Jesus Christ. Help us individually and as a congregation to be signs of your compassion, hope, joy, and unity in this world you love in Jesus our Christ. Amen.” Blessings for the New Year,

Rev. Barbara

Blessings for Your New Year

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February 2013

Our pastor, Rev. Barbara Horikoshi-Firebaugh, makes available [in Faith Witness] the Scriptures and themes for worship. This gives all of us the opportunity to prepare in advance for worship

February 3: March 10: Fourth Sunday in Lent 1 Corinthians 13-1-13 Gospel Lesson: Matthew 27:45-52 “I Am Nothing” “My god, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

February 10: Gospel Lesson: Luke 9:28-43a March 17: Fifth Sunday in Lent “Seeing is Believing?” Gospel Lesson: John 19:28-29 “I Thirst” February 13: Ash Wednesday March 24: Passion/Palm Sunday Lent 2013: Final Words from the Cross* Gospel Lesson: John 19:30, Luke 23:44-49 “It is Finished…Into Your Hands February 17: First Sunday in Lent I Commit My Spirit” Gospel Lesson: Luke 23:26, 33-34a “Father, Forgive Them” March 29: Good Friday February 24: Second Sunday in Lent March 31: Easter Gospel Lesson: Luke 23:32, 39-43 Gospel Lesson: Luke 24:1-35 “Today You Will Be with Me in Paradise” “The Lord Has Risen Indeed” March 3: Third Sunday in Lent Gospel Lesson: John 19:25-27 “Behold Your Son, Behold Your Mother” *from the book by the same name by Rev. Adam Hamilton (our study for Lent)

February and Lent Worship

Themes and Scriptures

5:00 pm ~ Soup Supper

5:30 pm ~ Ash Wednesday Worship EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THE SOUP SUPER

AND ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP

Board of Trustees will meet at 6:00 pm following Ash Wednesday Worship

Ash Wednesday – February 13, 2013

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February 2013

Please remember those listed below in your prayers…

1. Lee Ramsey…peace and comfort as she grieves the death of her husband, Bob 2. Erica Randall…wellness from a cold so she can continue chemotherapy 3. Carol and Ron Saylor…prayers for healing, encouragement and strength 4. Betty and Rev. Chinn…continuing prayers for strength 5. Jim and Joan Miller…prayers for healing and strength 6. Norman Jonson…prayers for strength and peace 7. Jan Ramsey…has asked for prayer as she is still grieving the death of her brother, Bob. 8. Rev. Barbara…as she leads our congregation to deeper commitment in its Christian journey 9. All of our New Members…as all of us grow in fellowship together 10. Teresa Urkofsky-Collins…recovery from complications of surgery

A number of members of the Faith family are confined to their homes or live in a medical facility because of their health. They are rarely able to be in worship. As their “Christian Family,” let us remember them and their families in our prayers each day:

Vivian Bischoff, Betty and Rev. Chinn, Kay Connell, Helen Hutchison, Norman Jonson, Joan and Jim Miller, Mary Miller, Erica Randall, Ron and Carol Saylor, Phyllis Wilborn

1. “Opening Ourselves to Grace” by Mark Purushotham Two Sessions: Sundays at 9:15 am and Tuesdays at 10:00 am January 20 through February 12 “Opening Ourselves to Grace” is a study on the Means of Grace in the Wesleyan tradition exploring the basic practices of the Christian faith and life from a Wesleyan perspective…understanding the transforming power of grace. 2. “Final Words from the Cross” by Adam Hamilton Two Sessions: Sundays at 9:15 am and Tuesdays at 10:00 am February 17 through March 26 Biblical accounts followed by first-person story as might have been told from the viewpoints of one of the characters at the cross and the meaning of Jesus’ dying words for our lives today. If you are interested in this Lenten study, the church office needs to know of that interest so that sufficient study books may be ordered for all participants. Let the office know as soon as possible since it does take time to order and receive the books in time for the beginning of the story.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE STUDIES!

New Short Term Bible Studies

FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3600 J Street Sacramento, CA 95816 Phone: (916) 452-7637 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

TIME DATED MATERIAL ARE YOU MOVING? BE SURE TO LET US KNOW

Pastor ~ Rev. Barbara Horikoshi-Firebaugh Faith Witness Editor ~ Naomi Schmidt

SUBMISSTION DEADLINE OF ITEMS FOR PUBLICATION IS THE 10TH DAY OF EACH MONTH. THANK YOU

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Permit #635

Sacramento, CA

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I slowly moved nearer the window to get a clearer view,

And there it was within my hands—my valentine from you. The delicate lacy edging had turned to yellow from age, And with hands that were surely trembling, I opened the single page. A beautiful scarlet satin heart was gently pressed inside. And I read the little printed verse as I opened the card up wide. There they were so carefully scrawled, those precious words so few That you sent to me so long ago, “Darling, I love just you.”

Though ‘twas written so long ago, the meaning is still the same Because the words were written by you, and beneath, you lovingly signed your name.

God is Love!

My Valentine

I was rummaging in the attic when something caught my eye; ‘Twas just a tattered envelope that could have been easily passed by. The color of white was faded from the ages of time that passed; And I quickly took the contents out, but the lantern a shadow cast.

Written by Ruth H. Underhill