First United Methodist Church of Orange

The Forum Volume 84 issue #1 March 2015

Lent Opportunities 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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A MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR …you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,

and with all your mind, and with all your strength…

—Mark 12:30—

Chief among the many advices and instructions John Wesley gave to the United Societies (our Methodist ancestors) has to be this simple exhortation: "stay in love with God." The love of God is infinitely patient, it knows no bounds or limits. The love of God "hopes and endures all things". The love of God “casts away evil” and fixes the heart on higher and holier things. God's love heals and brings restoration to the soul. And the foundation for God's love is relationship...first with God through Christ, and then through the experience of this divine love comes healing and hope for our relationships with one another. When the author of 1st Timothy shows patience toward a struggling member of his faith community, he does so by reminding himself and readers that he (the author) was the "foremost of sinners...therefore God has shown me the utmost patience” (1 Timothy 1:16). Through the love of God comes healing for all other relationships; in Christ even old enemies find the space, comfort, and assurance to cease their warring ways and make the case for peace. Such is the power of the love of God, and so the importance for every Christian of finding the love of God blooming in his or her heart...and having once experienced the love of God the greater importance of "staying in love with God." "Stay in love with God." This is a simple phrase, and we often find it rolling easily off our tongues. But as with all matters of discipleship to Jesus Christ, the saying of the thing is not the difficult part. It is the keeping of simple commandments, the living out of the (seemingly) easiest tasks of discipleship that so often prove to be the most challenging. Each day brings so many diffusions and distractions that tear us away from this one guiding principle and pursuit, namely staying in love with God. We carry wounds inflicted by the malice or thoughtlessness of others. We find heart within which is overcrowded with resentments, remembered scars, bitterness and even hatred and no longer has room for the one thing which might be the remedy for its wounded self. We have schedules which reflect nothing of our heart’s chief and only the demands of others upon us…and still we schedule no time for God. The love and the grace of God comes seeking a place to dwell, and finds no path for entry, no branch on which to alight. I have to constantly remind myself when I hit the spiritual “doldrums” that staying in love with God is a Christian advice which, like most of the essential matters of discipleship, is fixed first in the will, and only afterward established and experienced in the heart. There are too many individuals, and far too many congregations, which have grown listless, lifeless, discouraged, bitter, frustrated, and lacking any kind of zeal or hope, who cannot see any way to recapture the strong feelings for God they once had…and so have become paralyzed, inactive, and undisciplined in their daily behaviors. For us as individuals and congregations the best path forward is to pick up do the next simple thing we know that God would have us do. To engage our wills - without argument or excuse - in a simple act of obediencethe most discouraged disciple finds a flicker of hope stirring again when he or she is bathed in joy of obedience to God’s will. So the advice of the early Methodists is still wonderful advice today: stay in love with God. We show our eagerness to respond not by seeking to change our emotional feeling but by willing and doing what we know God would have us do. May I ask you, if your are having doubts about your faith, “what simple thing do you know in your core self that you MUST do, between today and a week from now, to call yourself a faithful disciple of Jesus?” Pick up and do that thing next, and your faith and feelings of love for God will come round in time, for as George McDonald once said “the first step of obedience is the death warrant of doubt.”

I’ll see you in church! Pastor Bill

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SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS & FAITH FORMATION SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS AND FAITH FORMATION

As we are in the midst of the season of Lent, many of us think about something to “give up.” Unfortunately, these things often have little impact up on our life and walk with Christ. With that said, I would like to offer up 40 things you might consider giving up for Lent this year that I read on a recent blog. There is one for each day of the season. And these are things to give up not just for Lent, but it’s a good practice to remember to let go of these things in our faith walks. . . 1. Fear of Failure – You don’t succeed without experiencing failure. Just make sure you fail forward. 2. Your Comfort Zone – It’s outside our comfort zones where new discoveries are made. 3. Feelings of Unworthiness – You are fearfully & wonderfully made by your creator. (see Psalm 39:14) 4. Impatience – God’s timing is the perfect timing. 5. Retirement – As long as you are still breathing, you are here for a reason. You have a purpose to

influence others for Christ. Our work is not always tied to a paycheck. 6. People Pleasing – I can’t please everyone anyways. There is only one I need to strive to please. 7. Comparison – I have my own unique contribution to make and there is no one else like me. 8. Blame – I am not going to pass the buck. I will take responsibility for my actions. 9. Guilt – I am loved by Jesus and he has forgiven my sins. Today is a new day and the past is behind. 10. Overcommitment – Do less better and accomplish more. 11. Lack of Counsel – Wise decisions are rarely made in a vacuum. 12. Impurity – Live lives pure and without blemish. 13. Entitlement – The world does not owe me anything. God does not owe me anything. I live in humility

and grace. 14. Apathy – Life is too short not to care. 15. Hatred – Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). 16. Negativity – I will put the best construction on everything when it comes to other people. I will also

minimize my contact with people who are negative and toxic. 17. The Spirit of Poverty – Believe that with God there is always more than enough and never a lack. 18. Going Through the Motions – The more you invest yourself, the more you will get back. 19. Complaint – Instead of contributing to the problem, be the solution. 20. The Pursuit of Happiness – God wants something greater and more lasting than happiness. It is

called joy. 21. Bitterness – The only person I am hurting by holding on to this is myself. 22. Distraction – Life is filled with distractions that will take our eyes off the prize. 23. Giving up – God never gives up on us. 24. Mediocrity – If you are going to do something, then give it all you got. 25. Destructive Speech – Encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching

(see Hebrews 10:25). 26. Busyness – It is a badge of honor to be busy. But that does not always translate to abundance. 27. Loneliness – With Jesus I am never alone. He is with me wherever I go. 28. Disunity – If two of you agree on earth about anything, it will be done for them by the Heavenly Father

(see Matthew 18:19) 29. The Quick Fix – Rarely does true transformation happen overnight.

. . . Continued on page 8

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CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS Dear Church Family, We are asking that you please honor these new deadlines we have set aside for communication.

Newsletter Articles are now due the 21st of each month for the following month, turn into Carol Rathbun (carol.rathbun@fumco.org)

Vital Connections and News & Notes are due Wednesday at 12 noon of each week, turn into Carol Rathbun (carol.rathbun@fumco.org)

Church e-blasts/Website Posts for events need to be turned in a month before the actual event, turn into Peter Joseph (peter@fumco.org)

Social Media Posts (Facebook or Twitter) can be turned in at anytime into Peter Joseph (peter@fumco.org)

Order of Worship/Liturgy is due in the church office by Monday at 6 pm of each week, turn into either Peter Joseph (peter@fumco.org) or Carol Rathbun (carol.rathbun@fumco.org) Please keep these rules of thumb when you are sending your announcement or event details:

What is the message?

Who is the audience?

What end result do you desire? Why are we doing this as a church family? We need consistent messaging across the board. We also want to create a consistent visual identity that ties back to our mission statement (To make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world) our values (daily prayer, daily searching the Scripture, accountability, weekly worship attendance, and doing works of love), and our theme (Where God’s Love is Touching the Earth). It is important for us to be purposeful, and to plan ahead. So we now have a procedure in place and have everything flow essentially through me or the church office. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Grace and Peace . . . Peter Joseph (M.Div), Director of Faith Formation

Dear Church Family,

I just want to take this time to acknowledge my team members who work behind the scenes tirelessly and don’t get acknowledged on a consistent basis. These individuals volunteer to market our church in new and innovative ways through our Worship on Sunday mornings, through social media, and through our website. I greatly appreciate all of their hard work, endurance, passion, as well as their love for the church and our community. Please take a moment this month to thanks each person for all the work they are doing to further the kingdom of God.

A/V Sound & Worship Pro-Presenter Team Ken Martin, Sarah Fast, Danika Dickerson, Sandy Porter, Jacquie Tidball, James Sweeney, Bill Utter and Chris Simpson

Social Media Team Sharon Tipping, Sarah Fast and Shirley Katz

Website Team James Sweeney, Danika Dickerson, Sarah Fast and Stan Leland

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The next Confirmation class takes place on Sunday, March 22nd, from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Cellar. The evening’s topic will be: Celebrate New Life - Easter / Commit to a Life of Service.

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

March 8th at 5:30 p.m. Fellowship, Bible Study and Wacky Games

along with free pizza & drinks!

March 22nd at 5:30 p.m. Nerf War 3

Community Project: Easter Eggs!

Spread the Word and Bring a Friend!

Peter Joseph Director of Faith Formation

Email: peter@fumco.org

Cell: 714-473-8086

Office: 714-532-6363 x203

August 2-9, 2015 Tsaile, AZ

YOUTH & CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Car Scavenger Hunt Selfie

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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.

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.

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN . . . TIME FOR OUR ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT!

The Easter Egg Hunt for our children is quickly approaching. Please donate Easter Eggs, along with small prizes, stickers, and candy (hard candy and jelly beans - preferable not to have chocolate since it melts), and put them in the labeled basket in the Narthex beginning Sunday, March 1st. Please see Peter Joseph, Director of Faith Formation for more information.

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UNITED METHODIST WOMEN MARCH LUNCHEON MEETING

March 12, 2015, 11:30 am Lorri Galloway, founder and Executive Director of The Eli Home for Abused Children, will be our speaker at our March meeting. The Eli Home provides abused children and their mothers with shelter, and domestic violence prevention programs, throughout Orange County. Through emergency shelter, advocacy and outreach, Eli has benefited thousands of victims since 1983 and received numerous accolades, including two Presidential Awards. Lorri has over 30 years of helping families in crisis. Her passion and dedication clearly work to improve the lives of the under-served. This is one of our mission outreach programs, so come learn more about how this wonderful program. Plan now to join us on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2015 at 11:30 am, in Messenger Hall. All ladies are welcome.

READING PROGRAM We are pleased to announce that the Santa Ana District won the award for the most books read in our Conference. You wonderful UMW ladies helped achieve this honor by reading over 200 books in 2014. Keep up the good work by visiting the book cart on Sunday morning and checking on some new titles.

QUILTING GUILD As many of you know, the quilters meet every Monday morning to work on quilts which are delivered throughout the years to various mission organizations. Below is a picture of our wonderful quilters as they made ready to deliver some of their lovely quilts. A big thanks for all their hard work.

March 10, 2015 Mission Team Meeting 9:30 a.m., Library

March 12, 2015 UMW Luncheon Meeting 11:30 a.m., Messenger Hall

March 17, 2015 Ruth Circle 7:00 p.m., Messenger Hall

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Men’s Lunch and Bible Study Led by Rev. Bill Johnson

Tuesday, March 10th

at 12:00 noon in Messenger Hall Please RSVP to Wayne Nash by Sunday, March 8th, 714-606-2343

GROUP EVENTS - JOIN US, NEWCOMERS ARE WELCOME!

Continued from page 3 . . . 30. Worry – God is in control and worrying will not help. 31. Idolizing – Don’t assign anyone a standard they cannot live up to. 32. Resistance to Change – Change is certain. It is not if we will change, but how we will change. 33. Pride – Blessed are the humble. 34. Small View of God – Don’t tell God how big your problem is, tell your problem how big your God is. 35. Envy – I am blessed. My value is not found in my possessions, but in my relationship with my

Heavenly Father. 36. Ungratefulness – You have been blessed in a way greater than you realize. 37. Selfish Ambition – God has a mission for me that is bigger than me. 38. Self-Sufficiency – Jesus is my strength. I can do all things through him (see Philippians 4:13) 39. Sorrow – Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5b) 40. My Life – Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal

life (John 12:25).

Homesteaders Bunco Night The Homesteaders Social Group will be having a Bunco Night on Sunday evening, March 15th at 5:30 p.m. Bonita Chavis will be hosting, assisted by Albert and Sylvia Coussa. The place for this annual fun event is Bonita’s condominium Activity Room, located at 353 S. Tustin St. Orange. Bring finger food to share and a “loose” wrist to shake the dice. Newcomers are always welcome! RSVP to the Coussa’s at 714-667-7813 or coussaexcite .com.

Twigbenders March Dinner The Twigbenders Social Group will be having their March Dinner Meeting on Friday, March 20 in Messenger Hall. The social time begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by the catered dinner at 6:30. The evening’s entertain-ment will be Mr. Terry Como, “crooning” those favorite melodies from the 1940’s. Please RSVP by March 16 to Betsy Ross Miale at 714-532-5024. Newcomers are always welcome.

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March Birthdays

2 Carol Rathbun 4 Scott Swanson

5 Jo Hanson

6 Ann Robison

10 Dwain Raney

11 Richard Helmick

12 Warren Monroe 15 Jan Quintanilla

16 Chip Dickerson

17 Wayne Nash

20 Vini Asgar

Judy Reynolds

Raulin Villegas

22 Julie Wakefield

29 Ada Landes

30 Beverly Helmick

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

Patricia Stone Rita Suthers Dwight Tipping Karla Turner Nena Williams Betty Wisely

Prayer & Praise Requests

Prayers for Mike Short and his family following the passing of his mom, Martha Short, on February 24th.

Prayers for Bonita Chvis’ sister-in-law, Pinkie, who appears to be in the final stages of cancer.

Prayers for Helen Huston’s niece, Kim Kraemer, as she battles lung problems.

Prayers for Vince Cleveland's 92 year old mother, Maria, who is in the hospital with elevated blood pressure and heart rate.

Prayers for Cassandra, a co-worker and friend of Bonnie Joseph, who is struggling with child custody issues.

Prayers for Koren Conway, Rebeca Espinoza’s cousin’s wife, who is hospitalized after having an aneurysm.

Prayers for Diane Brown who was diagnosed with a collapsed wrist.

Prayers for Nadine Tardie’s sister, Ellen Wichman, who was hospitalized in early February and under-went teats for serious G. I. tract symptoms.

Prayers for Kim Miller, a friend and former co-worker of Susan Simpson & Julie Connel, whose son, Jesus, was murdered on January 20th.

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

Prayers for Barr Hoggatt’s boss, Colleen, who has been diagnosed with cancer.

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.

8 Mohamed & Vini Asgar 16 Douglas & Marti Lester 19 Lind & Marlene Cook 27 Jarod & Katie (Short) Hicks 29 William & Anabelle Landes

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 April edition of

The Forum

will be March 21st