tower newsIn This Issue

Pastor John’s Message page 2

Calendar Agenda page 3

Get Connectedpage 4

Youth Summer Reportpage 5

Promised Land by Pastor Chrispage 6

UMW News & Bazaar Detailspage 7

September 2010

A publication provided by Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades to inform, encourage and inspire our community in spiritual growth.

welcome back.

S how love

The Fall sermon series isGod Takes our Little and Makes it Much

Fall is coming! And what a great Fall it will be! This Fall our theme

is “God takes our little and makes it much.”

What a great thought: All that we are able to accomplish, God can multiply.

He can take our energy and multiply it. He can take our effort and multiply it. He can take our enthusiasm and multiply it!

Kick-off Sunday is September 12. Mark your calendar. On that

Sunday we will celebrate with a luncheon and a preview of all the

wonderful Fall events and programs coming up. There are many spe-

cial opportunities for children, youth, families, and all ages that you

will not want to miss. So be sure to stay after the worship service on

September 12 to celebrate all that is ahead of us this Fall.

In particular, mark your calendar now for All Church Camp at Camp

Wrightwood in the San Bernardino Mountains on the weekend of

October 1-3.

We hope you take some time at the beginning of the Fall season to

think about all the opportunities you have to be a part of programs

here at Community United Methodist Church. Even if you haven’t

done it before, attend a class, sing in the choir, come to a fellowship

event, enjoy a children’s event. I guarantee your life will be blessed

and that your presence will bless others.

This Fall our church is poised and ready to help you be a part of all

the wonderful things happening at Community United Methodist

Church. We hope that you will participate in all that is going on, and

bring others to share in the excitement.

See you at church!

September 2010 | tower news page 2

Tower News is published monthly by Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades and distributed to church and Methodist Preschool attendees/families, as well as others interested in the church’s news and activities. We also provide this publication via email. If you are interested in receiving Tower News only via email, or in addition to a printed copy, contact us with your preference at Info@PalisadesMethodist.org.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CUMC, 801 Via de la Paz, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.

Our Staff:

Dr. John NagelSenior Pastor

Rev. Chris FracchiollaAssociate Pastor

Joey HargroveDirector of Youth

John Achen, IIAssistant Youth Director

Lori FrangipaneAsst. Director of Christian Education

Rebecca SielingChristian Education Assistant

Phil AzeltonDirector of Music

Jennifer AyresDirector of Outreach & Communications

Luisa DonatiPreschool Director

Community United Methodist

Church of Pacific

Palisades801 Via de la PazPacific Palisades, CA 90272

Main | 310-454-5529

Info@PalisadesMethodist.org

PalisadesMethodist.org

Office Hours | Weekdays 10 am - 3 pm

Sunday Worship | 10 am

A Message from our Pastor

Calendar agendaEvery Sunday8 am | Community Praise Band Rehearsal9 am | Chancel Choir Rehearsal10 am | Worship10 am | Church School for kids of all ages11:15 am | Coffee Fellowship Children’s Choir* (2nd & 4th Sundays) Pastor John’s Class* based on the sermon seriesEvery Monday5 pm | Senior High Youth Program*7:30 pm | Women’s Bible Study*Every Tuesday1:30 pm | Treasure Island* (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade)Every Wednesday9:15 am | Preschool Chapel* (1st & 3rd Wednesdays)12:30 pm | Treasure Island* (Preschool)3 pm | Captain’s Club* (3rd to 5th Grade)Every Thursday9:15 am | Preschool Chapel* (1st & 3rd Wednesdays) Every Friday5 pm | Junior High Youth Program*

SeptemberSun/5 11:15 am Membership Committee meets in the Program Center

Wed/86:30 pm Trustees Meeting in the Program Center

Sun/12 11:15 am Admin. Council Meeting & Luncheon

Fall 2010 Kick-Off Week - Fri/17-Sun/26 *New classes and activities resume this week

Fri/176:30 am Men’s Breakfast at Noah’s Bagels7 pm Youth Group Overnight Lock-In

Sun/1911:15 am Fall Kick-Off Sunday in Tauxe Hall11:15 am Finance Committee meets in the Program Center

Sun/2610 am Teacher Dedication Sunday (See below)11:15 am Missions Committee meets in the Hart Family Lounge

October previewFri/1 - Sun/3Family Camp at Camp Wrightwood (see page 5 for details)

Thur/21 - Fri/22UMW 2010 Country Bazaar & Luncheon (see page 7 for details)

Fri/285-8 pm Halloween Carnival in Tauxe Hall

September 2010 | tower news page 3

Worship Service Participants

Sermons9/5 Dr. John Nagel God Takes Your Little and Makes It Much | Every Day

9/12 Dr. John Nagel God Takes Your Little and Makes It Much | Moses

9/19 Dr. John Nagel God Takes Your Little and Makes It Much | Esther

9/26 Dr. John Nagel God Takes Your Little and Makes It Much | Lost Son

Greeters9/5 John Lange9/12 TBD9/19 TBD9/26 TBD

Liturgists9/5 Chris Fracchiolla9/12 Rebecca Sieling9/19 Bill Branch9/26 Mark Schaffer

Coffee Fellowship9/5 Michael & June Graves9/12 Admin. Meeting Luncheon9/19 Lynn & Vicki Borland9/26 Youth Group

Communion Stewards9/5 Mary Sue Hart & Leza McCord10/10 Vicki & Christine Borland

If you can’t make a scheduled date, please find a replacement, then contact the church office at 310/454-5529 or Jen@PalisadesMethodist.org to update the bulletin. Thank you!

Teacher Dedication Sunday

Please be sure to join us Sunday, September 26 as we dedicate our Sunday School. Your prayers and presence are so important to their mission and service to the Kingdom!

Sing together Consider joining the Chancel Choir

On September 12 the Chancel Choir will resume its services to Community United Methodist Church.

We are looking for a few more good people. I was wondering recently about the various ways a person could involve him/herself in something meaningful and artistic. We can paint, draw, sculpt, write, compose, play an instrument and many other singular activities. But to sing with others, to collaborate in music is something we can’t do on our own - and you can only get so many folks in your shower.

There is a great wealth of sacred music at our disposal. Some is written for large choruses, some for small ensembles. By increasing the choir’s numbers, it enables us to add to our repertoire, including adding instruments.

I think the faithfulness of our choristers is an indication of the joy with which they participate. One needs not have a solo voice, but the ability to follow the section leader. (However, I encourage anyone to sing a solo if they wish, without joining the choir.) Note: reading music is not required if one has good pitch memory.

Additionally, I encourage any in the youth group to join (before they graduate high school). It’s good training outside your school’s choral program.

We look forward to serving the church for another season.

Phil Azelton, Director of Music

October All-Church Family CampCamp dates are October 1-3.

Sign up now for All Church Family Camp! All ages are welcome to come enjoy a weekend of fun, food, games and spiritual renewal at Camp Wrightwood in the Angeles National Forest. Fill out the registration form at PalisadesMethodist.org under Events, or call 310/454-5529 for a registration form & details. Reserve your spot today!

Halloween Carnival is coming soonMark your calendar for Friday, October 29 from 4-6 pm, then choose your costumes and bone up on your carnival games. It’s the Palisades’ most fun, family-friendly spooktacular event!

Get ConnectedTreasure Island & Captain’s Club: the elementary after school solutionGet the kids registered today! See PalisadesMethodist.org or email PastorChris@PalisadesMethodist.org. This is the high-light of kids weeks. Starting back on the 21st & 22nd.

Kindergarten to 2nd grades meet Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3Preschoolers meet Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:30Captain’s Club (3rd-5th grades) meet Wednesdays 3 to 6

Women’s Monday night gatheringOur Monday Night Women’s Group will begin meeting again on Monday, September 20 at 7:30 in the youth lounge. All women are welcome to attend! We will finish our study on the Gospel of Matthew. This is an amazing and welcoming group of women. We will start back with Matthew, Chapter 16. If you have questions please feel free to email Joey Hargrove at Joey@palisadesmethodist.com or call 310/454-5529.

If you’re looking for a place where an awesome group of women of all ages get real, please come.

Men’s Breakfast at Noah’s is backStarting Friday, September 17 at 6:30 am, Pastor Chris will hang out with a great group of men (teens welcome, too) from the church at Noah’s Bagels. The group will meet every 1st and 3rd Fridays. It’s a casual time to connect, and get energized. It’s not to be missed. If you have any questions, send an email to PastorChris@PalisadesMethodist.org or call 310/454-5529.

Study with Pastor John Sunday mornings after worshipSunday mornings in the Youth Lounge at 11:15 amSeptember 19 through October 31.

Dr. John Nagel will lead a six-session, video-based study about key Scriptures that distinctively shape our lives. In each session we will take a look at a particular Bible passage that will help us grow as faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Also, during each session we will discuss how the day’s sermon can apply to our daily living–and truly discover how God can take our little and make it much.

9/17 The Story of Esther (Esther 4:1-17)9/26 The Story of the Lost Son (Luke 15:1-32)10/10 The Story of Peter (John 21:1-19)10/17 The Story of Moses (Exodus 3:1-20)10/24 The Story of the Church (Acts 2:1-13)10/31 We Are More Than Conquerors (Romans 8:28-39)

September 2010 | tower news page 4

Wow! So our youth group is finishing a very busy, but successful and rewarding, summer of programming! It started back in July when we headed to Teec Nos Pos, Arizona (near Four Corners) and spent seven days on the Navajo Reservation repairing homes with Sierra Service Project (SSP). We took 22 senior high youth this year – our highest number yet! And everyone had a great experience. It’s amazing what sleeping outside among the ants and sand, using port-a-potties and physically helping people in need under the hot desert sun for a week can do to put your life into perspective! SSP is truly an inspiring program and impacts our youth in such a positive (and at times emotional) way – that it’s an incredible blessing to belong to a church that is so supportive of the program. Thank you to everyone who donated money or sup-ported our fundraising for SSP. We are very blessed! I am especially thankful to Pastor Chris and Thomas Farnham for spending the trip with us and experiencing SSP with our youth group! I am thankful to have such committed adults/parents!

After we returned from SSP (by way of a day stop at the Grand Canyon) we only had one week until we left for the Lazy W Ranch. Unfortunately, we did not have enough older elementary kids sign up to support our overnight retreat – so instead Pastor Chris and I made a last minute decision to invite seven of our senior high youth for a Leadership Training Retreat at the Lazy W Ranch! This ended up working incredibly well! Maddie Brown-ing, Alice Fracchiolla, John Fracchiolla, Bret Frangipane, Dedrick McCord, Alex Polhill and Laura Sieling spent an intense night of “leadership training” to prepare themselves to lead the Junior High Retreat that started the next day. (This “training” included a three-hour “jam session,” singing and playing guitar until late into the night!) Five junior high girls arrived on Monday and were met by very enthusiastic senior high “counsel-ors!” Our theme was Soul Fire and we had three fun days of crafts, swimming, great small group sessions, a long hike to the crosses, powerful worships, great food (prepared by our resident camp chef

Youth Summer 2010 Report

September 2010 | tower news page 5

Nancy) and an intense run-in with some raccoons! Overall, the junior high retreat was a great success and the counselors were incredible!

We returned back to the Palisades for a total of four days before we took 14 senior high youth to Doheny State Beach for our second annual Surf Retreat. We set up our tents right along the beach and spent three days in the sun and the ocean. Our theme for the retreat was based on the scripture “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. The weather was beautiful. The food (thanks to Nancy again! – who truly outdid herself) was amazing! And somehow Chris even managed to get all our tents, guitars, surf-boards and belongings packed into the van!

During the retreat we began to plan our worship service for the next Sunday. If you missed the Youth Worship Service this year, you really missed out! On August 22nd the youth took over the entire worship service. They chose the music and led and played the songs! They greeted, acted as liturgist and did the Children’s Sermon. They even took to the pulpit to share about their experiences at SSP. Thirteen of the youth who attended expressed what the experi-ence meant to them and which Fruits of the Spirit they felt at SSP. My only regret about the worship service is that more of our congregation wasn’t able to attend it! The youth were incredible, enthusiastic, earnest, open and very inspiring! They are a blessing to our congregation in so many ways and I feel lucky to get to spend so much of my summers with them!

But summer wasn’t over yet. Youth Sunday was just the beginning of annual Youth Week. Our youth group (both junior and senior high) began a week of fun activities. Monday we went mini-golfing. Tuesday, we headed out to Santa Clarita for paintball in 116 degree heat! Wednesday was spent at Magic Mountain, again in extreme heat! Thursday was Laser Tag – thankfully inside in air conditioning! And then on Friday we volunteered at the Access Center in Santa Monica and then went to the beach

(the weather, being as uncooperative as possible, fell to a chilly 70 for our afternoon at the beach.) Our service that morning seemed to greatly impact the youth – they made and distributed sandwiches, unpacked and passed out clothing, entertained little kids and sorted mail for the homeless clients. I know many of the youth were especially impacted again by the need for clothing donations – especially for MEN’S CLOTHING! Please talk to any of our youth if you want to make a donation. We’d be happy to get it to the Access Center for you.

For Youth Week, we averaged about 14 youth per activity with a total of 20 youth participating throughout the week. I cannot thank Irina Sharpio enough for driving and participating all week and Pastor Chris for letting me borrow his van to shuttle the youth all around the greater Los Angeles area!

I am thankful that our summer programs were successful and I am (as always) extremely grateful for the congrega-tion’s generous and unfailing support of these incredible young people and their spiritual journeys! I am now ready to rest for a couple weeks and prepare for our upcoming fall programs! Start-ing with our Back-To-School-Lock-In (both Junior High and Senior High) on Friday, Sept. 17 from 7 pm until 10 am on Saturday September 18th.

Senior High Monday Night Youth Group starts back on Monday, Sept. 20th and Junior High Friday Night Youth Group starts back on Friday, the 24th. Both groups will meet from 5-7pm.

God Bless, Joey

Junior

High Retre

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w/Senior

High lead

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Senior High Beach Retreat Summer 2010

This summer I’ve had the pleasure of spending lots of time with our Senior High youth, those in the ninth through twelfth grades. I spent a wonderful week working alongside them deep in the Arizona desert on the Sierra Service Project mission trip. I passed a few days with a select group of them at the Lazy W Ranch as they helped facilitate the Jr. High retreat. Then, I spent three more days campingwith them at Doheny State Beach as they enjoyed their own spiritual retreat.

For the beach retreat, Joey put together an excellent devotional program that centered on this passage from the book of Joshua:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

As I reflected on this in preparation for our final worship, I began to think more and more about trust in God, our Youth, and this special time in their lives.

The book of Joshua opens in the long shadow of Moses. The great Moses had been called by God to challenge Pharaoh in God’s name. He had bravely led the people across the parted Red Sea, and then struggled to guide them through their forty-year-long wandering in the wilderness. Throughout Moses’ period of leadership the people witnessed his intimate relationship with God. They saw him ascend Mount Sinai and come back with the word of God that would order their society.

They saw Moses enter the Tabernacle and emerge glowing from his face-to-face en-counter with the living God. Because of this relationship between Moses and God and the obvious trust God placed in him, the people granted Moses authority over their lives. They knew they could trust him, they could follow him anywhere–out of Egypt in defiance of the greatest power on Earth, or across a sea peeled back and made dry, even through forty years of wandering.

Finally, the people followed Moses to the summit of the mountains overlooking the long-awaited object of God’s desire for His people: the Promised Land. But as they stand poised to move forward, Moses dies and God calls Joshua to take his place. Will the people follow him? Will they trust him as they trusted Moses? Is Joshua prepared?

In many ways, our young people are reaching the summit of the mountain of their childhood. They are getting a glimpse, even now, of their own Promised Land. Their dreams, their hopes and plans stretch out before them like that green, inviting valley. Up to now they have trusted in their parents and other adults not only to care for them physically, but to lead them spiritually. But soon they will step out on their own. In whom will they ultimately place their trust? Are they prepared to trust God?

I believe they are. The more time I was able to spend with this group the more they impressed me with their inquisitiveness, sincerity, and openness to the voice of God. I rejoice in this because I believe these are qualities that lead to trust in God, and to trust God is to be one with God.

At the moment of Joshua’s great step into

the Promised Land, he did not hesitate. He moved out in faith in God, completely in tune with His voice. God tells Joshua: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the LORD your God will be with you wher-ever you go.” And Joshua acts on that trust. But significantly, along with His encouragement and blessing God also reminds Joshua that He needs to listen and adhere to His Word:

“…do not turn from it to the right or to the left…meditate on it day and night…then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:7-8)

Our Youth and children are off to a good start in their relationship with God. They are in tune with His voice. But as we know, as they move into adulthood there will increasingly be other voices that will compete for their attention. As our young people prepare to head down into the valley we who are left on the summit need to enfold them richly in prayer.

God has given all of us—children, youth and adults, too—the gift of His presence with us in His Holy Spirit. We tune ourselves into that presence through the reading of His Word, through prayer, and through our wor-ship and sacraments. Let us pray for each other; that we all might tune in to His voice, walk in His ways, and trust in Him. And, alive to that dear pres-ence, may our Youth cast their eyes across their Jordan, gaze upon the meadows of their Promised Lands and say along with Joshua: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5)

God Bless your family,

Pastor Chris

children + family

ministryby Pastor Chris Fracchiolla

Photo by John Fracchiolla

September 2010 | tower news page 6

Promised Lands

September 2010 | tower news page 7

Plan Ahead to Support and Promote the UMW Country Bazaar

The Country Bazaar is a much-anticipated annual

event produced by the United Methodist Women and

coordinated by Doris Schock and Marjorie Buell.

The Church women have been working for months

producing unique gifts and Christmas decorations.

An exquisite hand-crafted, cross-stitched quilt will be

featured in the Opportunity Drawing, as other quilts

and special items will be on Silent Auction tables. The

Collectibles Table features both antiques and jewelry,

and the Food Booth features freshly baked goodness

of all sorts for you to take home and enjoy. You won’t

want to miss this. Mark your calendar today!

There are several ways you can play a role.

1 - Buy tickets for Preview Night. Get a first chance to select from the wide array items - plus get a great dessert to top it off!

2 - Bake something delicious for the Food Booth. Cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, breads - deliver your yummy eatables by 6:45 pm on Thursday or 9:30 am on Friday.

3 - Invite friends to the Dessert Preview or Gourmet Luncheon. Note: You will need to get your tickets early. Nancy Fracchiolla and her sous chefs produce a luncheon that will bring your taste buds to a whole new level.

4 - Add special items to The Collectibles Table. This is always a big draw and a big contributor to the Bazaar’s proceeds. Please bring your treasures to the church’s OK Room by Thursday morning, October 21.

5 - Volunteer to help sell tickets and/or to work at the Bazaar for at least a few hours. Help is needed on Thursday for set up, the Preview and dessert, as well as Friday for the Bazaar and Luncheon.

Everyone is welcome to lend a hand. Fun is guaranteed. Church members, preschool families and friends. Let Marj know if you’re interested at ambuell@charter.net.

A community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience

freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative

supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through

participation in the global ministries of the church.

Yay! It’s that Pie time of year againPecan pies in September. Apple pies in October.

Let’s get cooking! All women are invited to the Church kitchen to help prepare pies. Let’s have fun chatting and chopping to-gether. All help is greatly appreciated, even for an hour or two.

Pecan pie workshops are Wed. , Sept. 8 from 7 to 9 pm and also Sat., Sept. 11 from 9 am to 2 pm. The pies will be sold Sunday, September 12.

Apple pie workshops are Wed. , Oct. 6 from 7 to 9 pm and also Sat., Oct. 9 from 9 am to 2 pm. The pies will be sold Sunday, October 10.

Note: Pie making is in lieu of the Sept. & Oct. Evening Circles.

Country Bazaar 2010Preview Night: Thursday, October 21 from 7 to 9 pm$5 Admission, includes dessert

Friday, October 22 from 9 am to 3 pmFree Admission

Gourmet Luncheon is $15 - Two Seatings: 11:15 am & 12:30 pm

Reservations required. Please call: 310/459-0334

General Meeting Details

Our General Meeting resumes Thursday, September 9 at 12:15 pm. Please note the new time. The hostesses will be Helen Christie and Joy Detmer. Please come to our Share-a-Sandwich luncheon in the Hart Family Lounge. All women are welcome to join us.

Facebook Helps Us Keep In Touch

Did you know that Facebook, the online social networking phenomenon, is helping our congregation keep up to date with events, photos and more? If you already use Facebook, connect to us at Facebook.com/PalisadesMethodist and “Like” us. Go ahead. See who’s already connected. For help contact Info@PalisadesMethodist.org or 310/454-5529.

UMW United Methodist Women

801 Via de la PazPacific Palisades, CA 90272

Community United Methodist

Church of Pacific

Palisades

Good news

happy september.

Come to church.Get Fresh Pies!Sunday, Sept. 12 Pecan Pies

Sunday, Oct. 10Apple Pies

After church you can purchase the most delicious, fresh pies ever known to the Palisades. Our United Methodist Women gather in our church’s kitchen the days preceding both of these Sundays preparing these much-anticipated delicacies . They go fast, so don’t delay. They freeze nicely, too. So plan on picking up a few. Each just $12.

Interested in helping? See page 7 for details.

Fall Kick-Off WeekAll the fun begins again!Friday 9/17 through Sunday 9/26The start of new classes & programs -There’s something for EVERYONE!

The line-up (details on pages 3 & 4):PYouth Group Lock-InPMen’s Breakfast at Noah’s resumesPThe Praise Band is back in worshipPThe Chancel Choir starts againPPastor John’s new class beginsPYouth Groups are back in sessionPWomen’s Monday Night Group is backPTreasure Island & Captain’s Club resumePChildren’s Choir starts rehearsing again!