First United Methodist Church of Orange

The Forum Volume 84 issue #1 February 2015

Volume 82 issue #14 August 2013

Where God’s love is touching the earth

February 18, 2015 7:00 PM

Sanctuary

The Sweethearts Bash 2015 . . . . . . Celebrating FUMCO Seniors!

Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.

Dress to impress in black and red (and your dancing shoes) and then come on out for an evening of talent, dance, food and the enjoyment of a jazz ensemble. This fabulous evening will once again be hosted by our very own Sanctuary Choir. In addition to the amazing entertainment, there will also be a raffle of items donated by the choir and local businesses. Bring your children and invite your family and friends as this is sure to be a fun evening for families, singles and couples. Get you tickets today: $15 adults, $25 couples, $5 children 6-14, 5 and under are free.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

-Matthew 9:16-17- I don’t know why, but lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the passage of time, and whether we are able to faithfully adapt as our world changes. Here is a little perspective on the passing of time: it has now been 75 years since the outbreak of World War II in Europe, and next year will bring the 75th anniversary of the attack on pearl harbor. Now we would all agree that 75 years is a long time, but its altogether sobering for me to realize that the World War II was itself 75 years distant from the Civil War; that you and I are now as far removed in history from Pearl Harbor as that “greatest generation” was removed from Gettysburg. It would have been unthinkable for the military strategists of World War II to respond to our national threat with “Civil War” technology…with telegrams, cavalry, sabers, and horse-drawn caissons. Instead they employed the very best advancements that had been achieved during the first half of the twentieth century: telephones, radios, automobiles, armored vehicles, powered flight, rockets…and by the end of conflict even jet motors and the splitting of the atom. The leaders of that day decided that “modern” threats deserved an equally modern response…and they were right. And yet 75 years later, despite living in a world of stunning inventions and achievements that no one in middle of the 20th century could have ever conceived, we find a huge cross section of the United Methodist Church trying to execute its God-given mission using WWII-era strategies, tactics, and technologies. In light of our ever-changing world, and of Jesus’ teaching on wineskins and unshrunk cloth, one must conclude that it’s far past the time to explore new approaches to our mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ. But “new approaches” is another way of saying “we need to change”…and change is difficult. Author and leadership expert John Maxwell notes a common perception in churches that “the pastor is the only one who seems to like change,” but goes on to say that in reality “the pastor only likes change when its his or her idea.” In other words, when change is hard, its hard for all of us…and not so much because it doesn't make sense, but because it usually doesn't “feel” right. It feels weird and unfamiliar. Actually getting up and going with Jesus when he says “follow me” often leads us to weird and unfamiliar territory, but, if we are truly following Christ, then we also have the assurance that we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” On February 21st your Leadership Team will be taking a retreat day to listen for God’s fresh call to FUMCO. It will be a day of pondering change, of looking at new pieces of “unshrunk cloth”, and tasting the “new wine” of disciple-making in the 21st century. It will be a hard day, and a wonderful day, and they need your prayers to sustain them in their faithful work. As we begin our Lent journey together, please join me in upholding our church and its leaders through the discipline of prayer…and share your new ideas for our church with me. I promise that so long as I’m your pastor none of them will be judged as “weird”! Meanwhile, I’ll see you in church! Pastor Bill

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SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS & FAITH FORMATION SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS AND FAITH FORMATION

We are entering the Lenten season this month, and I wanted to reflect on why this season is so important in our faith walks. It’s not like we jump up and down for joy, and circle this on our calendars like we do with Christmas. Let me explain. Most of us have favorite holiday seasons. For some it's Christmas, with the family get-togethers and presents. For others it's the Fourth of July and summer, filled by a sense of national pride and beach vacations to boot. But each year at just about this time, it strikes me that very few of us would pick Lent, a season that seems to most of us as grim as the weather that usually attends it.

Think about it: crossing off days on the calendar until Ash Wednesday; leaving work just a little early, saying "I've got to get my Lenten shopping done;" advertisements on television saying "only 12 more days 'til the day of Ashes;" or little kids going to bed, asking their parents, "How much longer 'till Lent is here?" It just doesn't happen. These words don’t jump out at us and scream joy: penitence. sacrifice. contemplation. fasting. atonement. repentance. humility. self-denial. But these are the powerful words that are brought up in the season of Lent.

I mean, even among those traditions that do honor the season, rarely is there the same kind of enthusiasm or expectancy which greets Advent. However, Lent is just as important as the season of Advent. Just maybe I need a time (is 40 days really enough?) to help clear my head of the distractions which any involved life in this world will necessarily bring and re-orient myself towards the Maker of all that was given for my pleasure and which I have let become merely distracting.

Maybe I need the opportunity (and perhaps deep down I crave the chance!) to clear my eyes of the glaze of indifference and apathy which comes from situation after situation where I feel nearly helpless so that I can fasten my eyes once more on the almost unbearable revelation of the God who loves God's children enough to take the form of a man hanging on a tree.

And maybe, just maybe -- and this takes the greatest amount of imagination of them all -- just maybe Lent really isn't mine to do with whatever I please. Maybe Lent is God's. Maybe Lent is God's gift to a people starved for meaning, for courage, for comfort, for life.

If it is, if we can imagine that Lent is not ours at all but is wholly God's, then maybe we'll also begin to recall, at first vaguely but then more strongly, that we, too, are not ours at all, but are wholly God's -- God's own possession and treasure.

Seen this way, Lent reminds us of whose we are. The "sacrifices," the disciplines, these are not intended as good works offered by us to God; rather, they are God's gifts to us to remind us who we are, God's adopted daughters and sons, God's treasure, so priceless that God was willing to go to any length -- or, more appropriately, to any depth -- to tell us that we are loved, that we have value, that we have purpose.

Yes. I need Lent. I need an absence of gifts so that I might acknowledge the Gift. I need a time to be quiet and still, a time to crane my neck and lift my head, straining to hear again what was promised me at Baptism: "You are mine! I love you! I am with you!"

I need Lent, finally, to remind me of who I am -- God's heir and Christ's co-heir -- so that, come Easter, I can rejoice and celebrate with all the joy, all the revelry, all the anticipation, of a true heir to the throne.

And so yes, I need Lent. And to tell you the truth, I suspect that you do, too. You see, we are so busy trying to make or keep or save our lives that we fail to notice that God has already saved us and has already freed us to live with each other and for each other all the rest of our days. And so we have Lent, a gift of the church, the season during which God prepares us to behold God's own great sacrifice for us, with the hope and prayer that, come Good Friday and Easter, we may be immersed once again into God's mercy and perceive more fully God's great love for us and all the world and in this way find the peace and hope and freedom that we so often lack.

. . . Continued on page 8

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The next Confirmation class takes place on Sunday, February 22nd, from 4:45to 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Cellar. The evening’s topic will be: Prepare for New Life - Lent.

“The God Squad” Youth Fellowship for 6th – 12th grades

February 8th at 4:00 p.m. Starbucks & Concert

February 22nd at 5:30 p.m. Car Scavenger Hunt

Bring a friend ~ Join the excitement

Peter Joseph: Director of Faith Formation Email: peter@fumco.org Cell: 714-473-8086 Office: 714-532-6363 x203

YOUTH & CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for the outpouring of love, support, and encouragement you have shown the Joseph family with the addition of Noah Liam. We greatly appreciate the gifts, cards, and cute outfits that we received for Noah. We feel truly blessed to be in this place. With Love, Peter, Bonnie, and Big Sis Julia

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LENT & EASTER 2015

Lent Opportunities February 18 7:00 PM Ash Wednesday Worship Sanctuary

February 25 6:30 PM Soup Supper and Lent Study Messenger Hall

March 4 6:30 PM Soup Supper and Lent Study Messenger Hall

March 11 6:30 PM Soup Supper and Lent Study Messenger Hall

March 18 6:30 PM Soup Supper and Lent Study Messenger Hall

March 25 6:30 PM Soup Supper and Lent Study Messenger Hall

March 29 10:30 AM Palm Sunday Worship with Procession

March 30 - April 3 7:00 PM Holy Week Nightly Worship

Monday: Rev. Donna Nelson Preaching

Tuesday: Peter Joseph Preaching

Wednesday: Wayne Nash Preaching

Thursday: Communion

Friday: Choir Cantata

Easter Sunday April 5 6:30 AM Sunrise Service with Communion

10:30 AM Easter Celebration Sanctuary

Childcare is available - please contact the church office to make arrangements. phone: 714) 532-6363 e-mail: peter@fumco.org

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OUTREACH OPPOETUNITIES

Lunchbags for the Homeless Thanks to your generous donations our lunch bag program is doing great! The word has gotten out and we are serving more people than ever. Items needed to fill the bags include: Vienna sausage, Beanie Weenie, granola bars, individual applesauce/fruit cups, small boxes of raisins, cheese & crackers, peanut butter & crackers or any other item that would fit nicely into a sack lunch. All donations, large and small, are greatly appreciated. Please place your donated items in the specially marked collection bins in the Narthex on Sunday mornings.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH for FRIENDLY CENTER’S EASTER FUN DAY

Once again it is time to support our communities’ children by helping fill Easter Baskets for Friendly Center’s Easter Fun Day. This will be an All Church Project sponsored by the United Methodist Women. We will be filling the baskets on March 17th at 7:00 p.m. in Messenger Hall. We need your help to make it happen. Our goal this year is to make at least 100 baskets (last year we filled 108 baskets). Please help by bringing any of the following items and putting them in the basket that is located in the Narthex. Items needed are: large chocolate Easter rabbits, wrapped candy, jelly beans, sidewalk chalk, a hygiene item (toothpaste, shampoo, combs, etc.), a small toy or book (cars, small stuffed animals, etc.) and anything else you think might delight a child. (We do not need: baskets, grass, cellophane, ribbon, large stuffed bunnies, peeps or any candy that is not individually wrapped.) Thank you!

If you have any questions please call Joyce Claussen (714) 633-4934 or Helen Huston (714) 322-2886.

TEENS COLLECTING JEANS

Jeans are being collected by the UMW. Any size, any color, new or used to be donated to homeless families. Please bring your donations to the church on February 8th or the UMW meeting on February 12th. Call Rosemary Meek, 714-612-9473, for more information or for a pick up!

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UNITED METHODIST WOMEN WOMEN’S RETREAT

Feb. 27 – Mar. 1, 2015

Make plans to join us on Feb. 28 – Mar 2, 2014 at Aldersgate Retreat Center in Pacific Palisades. We are excited to have as our retreat leader Dr. Julia ‘Judy’ Johnson. Judy’s theme is “Ordinary Women – Extraordinary Faith”: Re-igniting the power of faith in our lives (Hebrews 10:23). Judy was appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger as the Licensed Educational Psychologist member to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences in August 2005 and reappointed for a 2nd term by Gov. Jerry Brown. She has been in private practice for over 20 years assisting parents, community agencies, universities and school district with educational planning. She is currently on faculty at the University of Redlands. Judy has led multiple women’s and leadership retreats throughout the conference, is on the conference crisis response team, and serves on the Lift Ministries Board of Directions. Retreat is a wonderful time for us to develop deeper relationships with Judy and each other, and to be inspired by Judy’s wonderful leadership.

The cost for retreat is $200.00; partial scholarships are available. Come enjoy a wonderful time away from daily routines and responsibilities, and connect with the other ladies at FUMCO. We sing, study, share, and, most importantly, play together and enjoy excellent meals prepared for us by the Aldersgate staff. We urge you to give yourself the gift of this fantastic weekend. Applications are available on the courtyard. For more information, contact Joyce Claussen or Sandy Wilson.

FEBRUARY LUNCHEON MEETING

February 12, 2015, 11:30 am

Our February meeting will be blessed by two events. Pastor Bill will share with us about his life, background and family. Then, Betsy Ross-Miale and Kay Johnstone will lead us in our annual Prayer & Self-Denial program. The focus this year is Gratitude and Welcome. This is an annual observance encouraging United Methodist Women to grow and reach out in missions. We will reflect on the gospel of Christ and make an offering to missions from our abundance and sacrifice in response to the needs of women, children and youth around the world. One hundred percent of the offering goes directly to missions.

Plan now to join us on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 at 11:30 am, in Messenger Hall. All ladies are welcome.

RUTH CIRCLE MEETING

The February meeting of Ruth Circle will be held on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Julie Wakefield with Sandy Wilson as co-hostess and Donna Nash giving devotions. The program will be given by Charlotte Halsell Gradshaw. She will be reviewing her very own book, “He Leadeth Me.” Everyone welcome!

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN READING PROGRAM

As always, Shaundell Lentz has replenished our reading cart with some new books being featured for 2015. Please take time to stop by the reading cart and take a look at the new additions. Below is a review of two of the new books:

In Leadership Development, This Girl is Different, a novel by J.J. Johnson. Evie is different. Not just her upbringing, but her mindset. She’s smart, independent, confident, opinionated and ready to take on a new challenge. This is an easy to read book with a great message.

Under Education for Mission, Good God, Lousy World and Me, by Holly Burkhalter. The improbable journey of a human rights activist from unbelief to faith.

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"We had a blast at our first Newcomer's Fellowship meeting last month and you won't want to miss out on February's meeting presented by the Adult Sunday School! Join us on Saturday, February 28th at 6pm in Messenger Hall for dinner and music, with delightful conversation and company! RSVP to the church of-fice by Monday the 23rd. Contact Bonnie Joseph for more details (bejoseph@att.net). See you there!" x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x

Please join us on Thursday, February 19th at 1:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Our hostess will be Betsy Ross Miale and the program will be presented by Rita Kelly.

Come, bring a friend. Guests are always welcome!

Men’s Lunch and Bible Study at Wayne Nash’s house!

(2219 E. Orange Grove Ave., Orange, CA 92867)

Tuesday, February 12th at 12:00 noon Please RSVP to Wayne Nash by Sunday, February 8th, 714-606-2343

Continued from page 3 . . .

I hope we begin to reorient ourselves to the importance and meaning behind Lent. I hope that our children come to Lent with an understanding of the need, want, and reliance upon God, and not the need, want, and reliance upon our own strength and understanding. May Lent be a coming back to Jesus moment for you. May Lent be a time for us to be renewed in the power and spirit of our God. May Lent remind us of the humility and servanthood that our Savior displayed and endured, and may we come out of the season being more like Jesus.

Grace and Peace, Peter Joseph (M.Div) Director of Faith Formation

GROUP EVENTS - JOIN US!

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February Birthdays

1 Leissa Nazzareno Carla Neal

Laura Raney

5 Sarah Swanson

10 Janeane Dominey

12 Meg Murray

15 Nancy Teigen 16 Anita Kelly

Ron Kelly

Betsy Ross Miale

18 Jerry Schaper

19 Ken Brown

Mary Lou Taylor

20 Marcia Norman

Terry Teigen

21 Florence Towers

23 Kevin George

Debbie Tanner

28 Douglas Lester

Anniversaries

Pray Without Ceasing Jay Farrell Jackie McCracken Carol Hilton Sybil Low Rob Kaiser Helen Martin

Carol Nameth Jane Parra Jim Sal ling Charles Schroeder Jerry Schaper Shirley Somers

Rita Suthers Bob Tanner Debbie Tanner Dwight Tipping Nena Williams Betty Wisely

Prayer & Praise Requests

Prayers of healing for Irving Davis, a friend of Ron Kelly who is suffering from a lot of pain.

Prayers for friends of Debbie George, Penny Franz and her husband Mark who has cancer that can’t be operated on. He is starting chemo & radiation.

Prayers for Ray at Legion Auto Repair whose shop burned in an early morning fire.

x� Prayers for Karla Turner, who had hip replacement.

x� Prayers of Jackie Hanson’s family in Utah over the the loss of her brother-in-law.

x� Prayers for Sandy Porter’s nephew, Eddie, who was in an accident that totaled his motorcycle and broke both his wrists.

x� Prayers for the family of Hank Mascola (Hank the Barber) who died at the age of 93.

x� Prayers for Shirley Katz’s daughter-in-law, Judy Brian, who was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

x� Prayers for Patricia Stone’s friend, Carolyn Rogalla, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

x� Prayers of healing for Angelina Gohil who had knee replacement surgery on January 21st.

x� Prayers for our shut-ins, the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the lonely, the unemployed, our military so far from home and all the others not mentioned, but known in our hearts.

4 Peter & Kelley Martinez 8 Orin & Debbie Fast 21 Robert & Anna Seibert 23 Phillip & Sue Dove Jr.

JOYS . . . CONCERNS . . . CELEBRATIONS

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Outreach Ministries of First UMC, Orange

FAMILY PROMISE Casey Crosbie, Exec. Dir. 714-353-0428

FUNCO Parent operated child-care Becky Billingsly, Coordinator 714-944-7156

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Orange Co. Central 714-556-4555 Meets Monday and Friday evenings in room 205

NARANON Meets Thursday evenings in room 205

HOMEWORK HOUSE Marcia Marcinko, Director 714-694-0965

161 South Orange St. Orange, Ca. 92866

Phone 714-532-6363 Fax 714-532-5496 www.fumco.org

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday Morning Schedule 8:30 a.m. ......... Choir Rehearsal 9:00 a.m. .. Adult Sunday School 10:00 a.m. ..... Coffee/Fellowship 10:30 a.m. .................... Worship

Sunday School for ages 4-6th grade following the

Word for Children.

United Methodist Youth Sunday Fellowship

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. 2nd & 4th Sundays

Office Staff Telephone Extensions: Dial 532-6363 and extension: Pastor 206 Rev. Bill Johnson

Administration 201 Karen Mendoza, Administrative Secretary 216 Carol Rathbun, Communications Secretary

Programs 203 Peter Joseph, Director of Faith Formation

Mike Short - Director of Music Sylvia Coussa - Bell Choir Director Joe Schubert - Organist

The deadline for the March edition of

The Forum

will be Tuesday, February 24th