munities of diverse religious

backgrounds to be better stew-

ards of the world.

So, this month, our first step

towards better stewardship is to

implement recycling bins for

plastic and aluminum on the

church campus. We have made a

concerted effort to eliminate

paper waste and use electronic

communication whenever possi-

ble (do we have your email ad-

dress?!!) We have chosen not to

use pesticides in the campus

gardens. We’ve made a start,

and are committed to continuing

in our environmental growth.

From the streets and crossroads,

Wisdom cries out. Imagine Wis-

dom calling from the streets of

our community. What is she

crying?

We are all invited to join in Wis-

dom’s call to joy and responsibil-

ity. Amen!

In the Book of Proverbs, Wis-

dom calls to all of us from the

streets, begging us to look at the

moon and the stars, the moun-

tains and the seas, the springs

and the soil and—the rising car-

bon dioxide levels.

Okay, okay, the Book of Prov-

erbs doesn’t really mention car-

bon dioxide specifically, but it

isn’t hard to imagine that God is

grieving over humanity’s devour-

ing and polluting of creation.

In light of rising carbon dioxide

levels as well as other environ-

mental concerns, it might just be

time to reconsider how we are

stewards of this earth.

Environmental issues are com-

plex and often controversial.

The news can be gloomy and

depressing. But the headlines in

the news can guide us toward a

deeper sense of connection with

the environment and offer a

place to begin conversations that

will assist all God’s people in

delighting in creation once more.

It’s time to start listening to the

voice of Wisdom! Allowing Wis-

dom to be our teacher means

opening ourselves to the joy of

creation, taking delight in what

God has made, and not polluting

or wasting the foundations of the

earth.

The United Methodist Church is

a part of an interfaith movement

called “GreenFaith” which was

established in 1992 to help com-

06/02—Worship at 9:30 a.m.—

Communion will be served and

all are welcome!

06/02—6:30 p.m., The Gather-

ing- an hour of prayer and medi-

tation with music in the style of

Taize

06/03—7:00 p.m., the West-

chester Neighborhood Assoc.

will meet in the sanctuary.

06/07—the Center will be closed

for Staff Development.

06/09—9:30 a.m., Worship

The Hymn Dingers will perform!

06/10—Camp Crossroads Begins

06/12-15—Annual Conference at

the University of Redlands

06/16—9:30 a.m., Worship

Happy Father’s Day!

06/16—C4C meets after worship

06/18—6:30 p.m., Ad Council

meets in Chapel Lounge

06/23—9:30 a.m., Worship

06/30—9:30 a.m., Worship

The Hymn Dingers’ final per-

formance before going on a well-

deserved vacation!

Wisdom is calling us to care

for our world!

Wisdom is Crying Out for Us to Listen!

Dates to Remember . . .

La Tijera United Methodist Church

& Center for Children Newsletter J U N E 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E I I I , I S S U E 6

Messy Church is

coming SOON.

If an evening

once a month

with kids, teen-

agers, young

adults, old

adults, parents,

grandparents,

and everyone

else, where

creativity, cele-

bration and hos-

pitality are val-

ued, then Messy

Church just

might be what

you are looking

for. Make some

noise, have fun

with art, and

come as you

are—Messy

Church!

P A G E 2

Come walk or run with

us on September 22nd

as part of the La

Tijera team at Didi

Hirsch Mental Health

Services’ Alive and

Running 5K Walk/Run

for Suicide Prevention.

We are forming a

team now—if you are

interested, let Lyda

know!

www.umcor.org

We are Alive and Running—Wanna Come?

More Messy Church

Disaster Relief . . . Ways to Help It seems like every time the

news comes on, there are

reports of disasters—

tornadoes, floods, drought,

and earthquakes.

It is devastating to see the

damage done to Oklahoma by

the recent tornadoes, and it

can be overwhelming to even

begin to think about how we

here in California can help.

But we can help, and here’s

how . . .

UMCOR (United Methodist

Committee on Relief) is right

there, in the heart of each

disaster, lending aid and help-

ing put people’s lives back

together. 100% of monies

given to UMCOR reach the

disaster area and victims,

which is as it should be!

So far, La Tijera UMC has

raised $255.00 towards disas-

ter relief in Oklahoma. If you

are interested in Oklahoma

disaster relief, there are two

ways you can help—the first is

to simply drop off a check

made out to La Tijera UMC

and note in the subject line,

“Oklahoma” and we will add it

to monies already collected. If

you would like to donate

online, please visit UMCOR’s

website at http://

www.umcor.org

Even if you are not able to

donate at this time, I encour-

age you to visit the website

and read about the inspiring

work UMCOR is doing across

the globe—in Sierra Leone, in

Oklahoma, in Zimbabwe, in

the Congo, with those living

with HIV . . .wherever there is

a need, UMCOR is there.

how many of you have ever

pretended to be one of the

animals on the ark? Or the

voice of God telling Noah to

build a big wooden boat, even

though everyone was laughing

at him? Or imagine what it’s

like to be Noah, who probably

would have liked it better had

God told him to build a really

cool house? Have you ever

flown like a dove looking for

Do you know the story of

Noah’s Ark? Yup, it’s the one

where it rained 40

days and 40 nights,

there were lots of

animals stuck on a

boat the entire time,

and God set a rainbow

in the sky.

Okay, probably most

of you know the story. BUT—

land after being cooped up for

40 days and 40 nights? Well, if

you haven’t, then you are in-

vited to Messy Church!

At Messy Church, you don’t sit

quietly while you hear about

stories from long ago—you get

to fly, dance, pretend, make

noise, and laugh!

Messy Church . . . Coming

soon!

I got to thinking . . .it’s

great that we are sponsors,

it’s fabulous that we will be

out there giving our sup-

port to the participants in

the 5K Walk/Run . . .but

wouldn't it be awesome

if we formed a team

and PARTICIPATED?!!!

And so, La Tijera UMC is

putting together a team to

walk, run, jog, and perhaps

even crawl in this year’s

event.

If you are interested in join-

ing our team of walkers and

runners (or in my case,

slow-poke chat with every-

one you meet-ers) let me

know. Our team is forming

now, and we would love to

have you join us. The

more, the merrier! See

you on September 22nd!

La Tijera UMC is a proud

sponsor of this year’s Alive

and Running 5K Walk/Run

for Suicide Prevention. On

Sunday, September 22nd,

we will be north of LAX at

88th Street and La Tijera

Blvd. La Tijera UMC will be

volunteering, supporting

the runners (and walkers)

and cheering like crazy!

But wait—there’s more!

Help us

stop Malaria

now!

L A T I J E R A U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T

Annual Conference 2013

P A G E 3 V O L U M E I I I , I S S U E 6

Our Annual Conference theme this

year is, “How Firm a Foundation.”

Everyone who hears these words of

mine and acts on them will be like a

wise man who built his house on

rock.” Matthew 7:24

This 29th Annual Session of the

California-Pacific Conference of the

United Methodist Church will mark

the first session under the leader-

ship of Bishop Minerva.

Annual Conference celebrates

God’s wondrous work through our

local churches in the California-

Pacific Conference, and our con-

nectional ministries.

Annual Conference is a time of

discerning God’s will for us in this

season of our life and work as

United Methodists.

At Annual Conference, voting

members are faced with many is-

sues vital to the life of the United

Methodist Church. We are active

in issues of justice, such as immigra-

tion, racism in our judicial system,

and labor issues. Annual Confer-

ence attendees review and vote on

changes to legislature within the

United Methodist Church, and this

year will be the first Annual Conference with our

new Districts—North, South, East, West, Hawaii

District, and the Western Jurisdiction Korean Mis-

sion.

Annual Conference is also a time of celebration and

connection as we come together to share our

dreams and visions of what it means to be the hands

and feet of Christ in the world. A chance to work

together, to greet familiar friends and to embrace

new opportunities and relationships.

Bishop Minerva invites us all to join her in praying

for God to bless our California-Pacific Conference’s

2013 Annual Session, and to lead us into our future

as the people of God.

you absorb their attitude, which often includes

an unreasonable amount of optimism; their

humor, which features a keen sense of the

absurd; and their sense of time, which teaches

an unusual amount of patience.—Tom Hirsch-

field

It’s easy to wind back thirty or forty years to

other times when Dad and I have been to-

gether in the woods beside a stream. It never

really mattered where we were or whether

Rules without relationship lead to rebellion.—

Josh McDowell

When your child seems ready to break a rule,

get down on her eye level and talk right to

her. Ask her to repeat the rule after you.

Then you know she has heard you. She is

more likely to hear what you say if you use a

firm but kind voice rather than if you yell.—

Fred Rogers

The more time you spend with kids, the more

we had caught many trout or found a lot

of birds. Time and place were irrelevant

as long as we shared them.—William Tap-

ply

Just displaying his or her picture on a re-

frigerator or at the office can make a four

year old as proud as an artist at a gallery

opening.—Fred Rogers

Happy Father’s Day.

graduation as an official Local Lay

Servant! Mimi finished the Basic

Lay Servant Course in May. Lay

Servant (formerly Lay Speaking)

Ministries is a program to provide

training opportunities and experi-

ences to equip laity to respond to

and recognize their personal call to

ministry. Lay Servants combine

words and actions in leadership

roles within their churches and

communities. As lay servants com-

bine words and actions, they find

ways to care for others. Lay ser-

vants often lead Bible studies, or speak

in youth and children’s ministry pro-

grams, and so much more.

We are very lucky to have Mimi as

not only our Lay Leader, but now as a

Lay Servant. The leadership of the

laity has a long history in the United

Methodist Church. While Methodist

pastors traveled from church to

church, it was the leadership of the lay

members that kept the congregational

ministry going.

Congratulations to all our graduates!

Congratulations to Isabelle and

Fiona De Rego as they culminate

from Middle School this June.

Good luck and many blessings to

you both as you prepare for High

School in the fall.

Congratulations to Killian De Rego

on his culmination from elementary

school. Good luck, many blessings

and tons of fun as you get ready for

Middle School.

Congratulations to Mimi Muro, our

awesome Lay Leader, on her

Congratulations Graduates!

Thoughts for Dads

“Dads are most

ordinary men

turned by love

into heroes,

adventurers,

story-tellers,

singers of

songs.”

- Pam Brown

P A G E 4

Don’t forget to pack

sunscreen, a hat,

bathing suit, towel,

and extra clothes

(including socks and

shoes) for your little

ones—summer is

almost here! Don’t

forget to label all

belongings.

Thank you!

A reminder—the

Center will be

closed on

Friday, June 7th

for Staff

Development.

Stage I

Stage II

Mayola’s Corner As the summer quickly ap-

proaches and the 2012-13 school

year comes to a close, we begin

to think of vacations, graduations

and spending quality time with

family both far and near. It sad-

dens me that we must say good-

bye to some of our friends who

will be moving on for one reason

or another. For families who are

taking extended vacations or leav-

ing the program, it is important

that you share this information

with me as I prepare to make

summer vacation schedules for

my staff.

Hats off to my staff who have

worked hard to provide each of

our students with a solid foun-

dation: one that will help them

succeed and motivate them to

become successful in their

adventures.

Our teachers have a great

summer planned! Flyers and

calendars have been distrib-

uted. If you haven’t received

your copy, please stop by the

office to get a copy for your-

self and maybe an extra for a

family member or friend.

Good news! Our infant pro-

gram is blooming! As we seek

the approval for an infant

room expansion, you may see

some important changes happen-

ing. Details will follow as pro-

gress is made. Stay tuned!

Camp Crossroads will officially

start on June 10th. Don’t forget

our entire program will imple-

ment summer fun.

Thank you to all our families who

are continuing to make La Tijera

your childcare of choice and

entrusting your children to our

care.

Happy summer!

ray!

I would like to say a big “thank

you!” to everybody for all your

support and prayers for my

mom. I am happy to share

that they worked! She is recu-

perating at home and is doing

very well.

For important dates, check the

This month we celebrate our

dads! Happy Father’s Day!

We will continue to go outside

for playtime and put up our

tent when the weather is nice.

We will also have singing and

arts and crafts time.

Happy birthday to James—he

will turn 1 on the 19th! Hoo-

front of the newsletter.

Please remember to label all

clothing and belongings with

your child’s name.

Thank you and have a wonder-

ful month and Happy Father’s

Day!

- Teacher Rosy

and hats because we are going

outside!

A big La Tijera welcome to

new baby Declan and his fam-

ily. We are proud to have you

with us!

Happy birthday to Teacher

Melanie!

-

Teachers Kris,

Melanie, Janet,

Shay, Lynnette &

Winnie

We’re looking forward to a

fun summer in Stage I as our

little ones continue to blossom

and grow. Everyday they

amaze us with their abilities

and new skills. We see los of

rolling from back to tummy,

one of their favorite things to

do! We count our blessings

every day with these beautiful

babies.

This month we hope to set up

the big tarp when the weather

permits, and take some buggy

rides. Bring on the sunscreen

L A T I J E R A U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T

Happy babies!

Pre-K Transition II

P A G E 5 V O L U M E I I I , I S S U E 6

First, I would like to thank our

parents for all their love and sup-

port. Congratulations to Madeleine

Lucy, Delilah Shields and Noah

Gonzalez as they will be moving on

to kindergarten in the fall. We

wish them a safe summer and won-

derful new adventures. Nyla,

Nicholas and Nathan—you were

eager learners and did a great job.

We look forward to seeing you in

the fall for our 2013/14 school year.

- Teacher Sharon & Teacher Suzy

Summer is around the corner and

our class is getting ready to explore

the summer fun activities. During

the summer, each week children

will experience different activities

related to our weekly theme, which

is posted on our bulletin board.

Children will enjoy the blast on hot

days with water play at least twice a

week. Parents—please bring hats,

towels, extra clothes, bathing suits,

socks, and shoes. I thank all my

parents who attended the Parent/

Teacher Conferences for sharing

their thoughts, feelings about their

wonderful children, concerns, and

comments. I am fortunate to have

such wonderful parents and kids in

my class. I wish you all a wonderful

Father’s Day and enjoy the best

with your families.

- Teacher Mary

They will also explore rice & beans,

rolling, ice cubes, and to complete

simple puzzles.

A big welcome to Jalen and Ian to

our class. It is a pleasure to have

you both.

Thank you so much to our wonder-

ful parents for your prayers and

support. Our Mighty God has

made a miracle in my mother’s

Hello Parents! Summer is just

around the corner and our class is

getting prepared for the exciting

summer activities, and also to cele-

brate our fathers.

Curriculum for June: Father’s Day,

sports and summer. They will be

very busy learning the letters Y, Z;

the numbers 4 & 5; the color blue;

and the rectangle shape.

health. God bless you all!

- Teacher Claudia

to join us and participate in our

planned summer activities. Please

notify the teacher and let us know

what activities you

would like to share

with us!

- Teacher Chestina

Kudos Parents—it’s great to be

appreciated and thank you for the

gifts. I enjoyed meeting with you at

Parent/Teacher Conferences; it was

very enlightening and a great learn-

ing experience to get such great

information about your children.

The overlap of home and the Cen-

ter reinforces their development.

Summer is upon us and it is time to

explore and have fun. We hope

families have great vacation time

and enjoy the summer. We are

looking forward to those who want

Transition I

Stage III

Good times!

Two of our graduates—

Madeleine and Noah!

could not with any integrity turn down his

son’s request to do it.

On October 24, 2012, a complaint was filed

against him after the wedding was publicized

in the New York Times wedding announce-

ments. The complaint set in motion a disci-

plinary process within the church that has

now resulted in the case being referred to

church counsel (the equivalent of a prose-

cutor) to draw up formal charges, which are

expected to lead to a trial.

“The noblest pleasure,” said Leonardo

Da Vinci, “is the joy of understanding.”

The church is having a hard time. We

are all being lumped together and

viewed by all the harm that has been

done in the name of “church’ - sexual

abuse cover ups, the Westboro Baptist

angry people, and the exclusive language

in our very own Book of Discipline that

is in the limelight right now as we watch

the story of Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Ogle-

tree unfold. Rev. Ogletree is a United

Methodist minister and a distinguished

theologian whose scholarly expertise is

Christian ethics.

On October 20, 2012, Rev. Ogletree

presided over the wedding of his son,

Thomas Ogletree, to Nicholas Haddad.

Rev. Ogletree describes this as “one of

the most significant ritual acts of my life

as a pastor.” He performed this legal

wedding in New York State knowing

that the United Methodist Church bans

such ceremonies but convinced that he

And we wonder why people don’t want

to come to church. John Wesley, co-

founder of the United Methodist Church

lived by three simple rules:

1. Do No Harm.

2. Do Good

3. Stay in Love with God.

Hmmm . . .looks like the Book of Disci-

pline is not doing so well with those,

doesn’t it?

I believe that God is all about under-

standing. God’s extraordinary and pow-

erful Spirit can burst across boundaries.

As followers of Christ, our job is to

reflect and honor diversity as a gift of

God’s Spirit– to find ways to listen, to

understand, to look at where we are and

where we need to go so that God’s

Spirit is renewal for all of creation.

I pray that the church will finally get it.

www.latijeraumc.org

7400 Osage Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Church phone: (310) 649-6267

Center phone: (310) 641-4173

Lyda email: lyda@latijeraumc.org

Mayola email: mayola@latijeraumc.org

La Tijera United Methodist

Church & Center for Children

From Lyda . . .

We are a Reconciling Church!

ALL are welcome here.

Re-Think Church . . .

Re-Think Possibilities!

We’re on the web! Latijeraumc.org