Richmond First United Methodist News and Events
Pastor’s Perspective
Dear Friends,
Here are my notes from last Sunday. Tanya Cothran, head of Spirit in Action admin@godsspiritinaction.org, will be preaching this Sunday. This is her third year in a row. I will be there, too.
Love and Hope,
Dan
Shepherd of Israel, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Pastor Dan Damon, Richmond 1st UMC, 11-30-14
Introduction
We experienced the joy and power of the living community of faith and hope this week. All are invited to the great feast. We are drawn daily to the table. We share a common need for nutrition. We nourish our bodies, and as we dine with others, we nourish our spirits, as well. The church was full to overflowing on Thanksgiving Day.
The next evening the sanctuary was filled with those who hunger and thirst for music to lift their spirits. The Afro-Cuban concert ministered to the needs of many using the wonder and mystery expressed when piano, bass, congas, flute, and violin play together in this lovely, warm, and lively space.
The following evening our Joyful Noise Choir gathered again on the Triangle by the Indian statue to sing the carols of Christmas which have become part of the folk music of our secular culture. Many who do not attend church enjoyed hearing us singing songs they have known since childhood. The tree is lit. Our sanctuary is decorated. We again hear and act out the story of Christmas, the story of God’s love, the story of the great gift of Jesus, and it becomes part of us. I am a Christian because these songs and stories took root in me in childhood. They are bearing fruit in my adult life and ministry in this local parish, and beyond.
Retell the Scripture Story
As we begin the Advent season, the season of preparation for the birth of Jesus, we are caught up in the excitement of holiday activities. We hear the stories of the ancient prophets in the writings collected as the book of Isaiah. The prophets all imagined a better world, and we join their prayer and their work for justice in our time. From our perspective as Christians, we learn to see the universal themes of prophets from all faith traditions: hope, peace, joy, love, to name just four areas of agreement. From the specific story of Jesus, we move to the universal themes, and we embrace a broad vision for peace and justice on earth.
In our lesson from the Mark’s gospel we hear stories of the end of time. Every generation produces a certain amount of apocalyptic literature. There is a large market for this, and the Bible contains some of it. I prefer to sum it up simply by saying, “We come from God, and we return to God when we die.” And my companion saying is, “God is with us.” In Mark Jesus says, “About that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” We live in time and space. God is beyond these. The choir created a mood of mystery and longing singing Brian Wren’s text:
There never was a time
when the Author had a thought,
and then the Word was spoken
upon the Spirit’s breath,
but endlessly from always
the Author freely speaks,
the Word is gladly spoken,
the Spirit freely moves,
for you are Three becoming One becoming
Three becoming One Becoming . . .
There never was a time
when the Source began to rise
to send the Living Water
that tumbles from the Spring
but endlessly from always
the Living Water shows
the beauty of the Wellspring,
the fullness of the Source,
for you are Three becoming One becoming
Three becoming One Becoming . . .
seeking saving sin forgiving
reconciling and inspiring
making tending recreating
finding freeing and uniting
You are the Three becoming One becoming
Three becoming One Becoming . . .
For you created time
and the earth in starry space.
You journeyed with your people,
and opened Mary’s womb,
and Jesus, filled with Spirit
to show the Source of love
was crucified among us,
and raised, and so we know
that you are Three becoming One becoming
Three becoming One Becoming . . .
Brian Wren, Words © 2014 Hope Publishing Company
Our Psalm today is a lesson of deep yearning, and thus is very appropriate for the first Sunday of Advent. In this season we express our longing for the coming of the Christ, the Messiah, the one who will bring peace. We sing, pray, and work in our time, as did those who have gone before us, the communion of saints.
Three thousand years ago the writer cries out to the “Shepherd of Israel” to listen, to help, to save, to restore. “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” (Ps. 80:3) The writer asks one of the great questions of the laments, “How long?” Laying bare the private feelings of grief, the writer says, “You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. Restore us, O God, let your face shine, that we may be saved. We will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name. Restore us, let your face shine, that we may be saved.” This is the cry of my heart as we move into our first holiday season without Liam Thompson. I will be reading the Christmas story at the Jazz Christmas Eve service this year. Liam read it every year, but he died last spring. I will try to help the congregation that meets on that evening to understand that the love and truth of these songs and stories can live on in new generations. We will again acknowledge our loss and our grief, in the context of the community of faith. Today the Psalm of lament helps us do this.
Application
Jesus was a Jew. He revered the temple, and the tradition of his childhood. As we read the biblical stories, look through the lens of our time. We long for comfort in sorrow, for justice and peace in the world, for water for our reservoirs, for clean air, for honesty and compassion in politics, for the new world expressed by prophets and poets in all faith traditions over the centuries.
Pope Francis is visiting Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country. He calls for dialogue. He says all people have the same human rights, and deserve the same respect. He praises Turkey’s generosity in sheltering refugees, and talks about the moral obligation of the international community to assist Turkey.
Our Christian faith needs to be put into practice. It is not something that stays in the mind. It is lived, day and night. In this season let us consider the person and work of Jesus, and together discover anew the majesty of what it means to be fully human. We are infused with light, filled with the glory and radiance of God and good. In body, mind, and spirit let us shine in our world today, and every day God gives to us.
Let us be in prayer.
Re: Richmond First United Methodist News and Event
Joys and Concerns
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Lauren McLeod welcomes your prayers for healing.
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Sandra Kokoruda (Fran Smith’s daughter) up date: Sandra is still in the hospital but doing better with a possible discharge early next week. She thanks us all for our prayers.
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Molly Smith is requesting prayers for her brother who has been treated for a brain tumor for several years and has recently entered the Hospice program. Prayers for his family and her brother as they go through this very difficult time.
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Deby McFadyen is asking for prayers for her father, Jack McFadyen, who has lung cancer and has started chemotherapy and radiation and is suffering from the side effects of the treatments.
- Pat Dornan and Linda Pereira continue to need your prayers of support and healing.
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Update on Linda
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The cancer is NOT active at this point but the serious side effects of the aggressive radiation are growing and will continue to increase. She is deeply depressed and tired of me in case anyone has 10 minutes to just pop i and say hi
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no huge commitment just needing other faces and other conversations
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Robbie Robinson would appreciate your prayers.
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Helen Wysham welcomes your prayers for healing as she undergoes chemotherapy.
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Please keep the people of Camp Liberty in your prayers as chaos reigns in Iraq and near the camp.
News
Our Annual Thanksgiving Feast was a resounding success with many people volunteering to make the dinner a good one. No figures as yet on how many we fed. A.special thank you to our coordinators, Fran Smith and Kristi Johnson for their hours of work to make it a success and to our wonderful volunteers.
Our sanctuary and Friendship Hall have been beautifully decorated for Advent. Many thanks to Pat Dornan who leads the group of volunteers who do such a lovely job. Many willing hands made the decorating easier. Thank you all.
How Are We Doing? The Ad Board met November 13. Our weekly contributions are up. We had a couple of large expenses this past month which has placed us $7000 behind our projected income for the year.
Generosity
Sarah Weems is collecting new unwrapped toys for the Hilltop Richmond YMCA to give to needy children. You may bring your gift to the church and Sarah will pick them up. They also are collecting warm coats. Check your closets for coats you never wear and bring them in!
Pat Dornan thinks you might like to help her with donations for GRIP:
I have 14 people from the GRIP shelter and have found people to purchase for most of the members but I am wondering if people of the church might be interested in assisting with what I have left.
2 month old girl, 16 year old girl and 17 year old boy
I have information on the parents but I have already gotten coats and shoes
I love to shop and wrap so that is something I can do if people want to just hand off $$$ LOL
Another opportunity to give to the Richmond Childhood Mental Health Program is their constant need for disposable diapers in small sizes (infant through two years) for the parents who have difficulty affording them. They may be left at the church as well.
Imagine No Malaria: At the 2013 Annual Conference we pledged to raise 2 million dollars to fight malaria in Africa. We have raised 1.5 million dollars and need 500,000 dollars to meet that pledge by June 2014 which breaks down to 100,000 dollars for our district. The $100,000 Challenge is on in amusing ways. Rev. Schuyler Rhodes, our district bishop, will publicly shave is head at the Annual Conference if the goal is met! The break down for our share is $4 per member and $11 per worshiper per month. Let’s do our share. Checks made out to FUMC with Imagine No Malaria will get there. Check out the website for other challenger promises and follow the contributions: calnevimagine.org.
umcmarket.org is hoping you will shop for the holidays through their website if you do your shopping on line. Go to the site and go to the store of your choice from there. A percentage of your order (no cost to you) comes directly to our church. This is a painless way to help us meet our budget!
Events
Saturday, Dec. 6, United Methodist Women Annual Christmas Dinner at 4 pm. You are invited to bring diapers (infant to toddler sizes) for The Richmond Childhood Mental Health Program participants as part of our giving for the Christmas season. Kristi and Russ Johnson are hosting at their new home: 1317 Ptarmigan Dr. #6, Walnut Creek. Parking is at a premium so we will carpool and Kristi needs to know who is driving and how many in the car to easily get us through the security gate. She will provide maps for parking and finding her unit. If you wish to bring some food, contact Kristi at kristija48@gmail.com. for suggestions.
Thursday, Dec. 11, 7 pm Ad Board Meeting in Friendship Hall. All are welcome.
Friday, Dec. 12 7:30 pm, Point Richmond Acoustic Presents Peter Case. Peter is known as the folk/rock/blues icon. Peter’s shows are high energy and varied with songs drawn from his 12CDs and three and a half decades of playing around the world. Grammy nominated three times with a unique style. His previous shows here have been SRO so get your tickets early through Brown Paper Tickets. Special Guests: Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan who enchant us with their music. This is an evening to remember. Richmond First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond. Advance tickets $15, at the door $20.
Annual Church Conference, Sunday Dec. 14 after church, to complete Lay Leader and Membership Reports and to authorize the Pastor Compensation Package. Rev. Mark Zier will chair the meeting. This should only be a 30 min meeting. Come and participate.
Saturday, Dec. 20, 9 am to 3 pm, Bake and Crafts Sale at the Point Richmond Community Center, 139 Washington Ave., Point Richmond. There will be a sign up for goodies in Friendship Hall. Cookies and pies are the best sellers. If you would like to donate, let Barbara Haley at bahcats@sbcglobal.net know. Bring your baked items or craft items to the Community Center between 8&9 am if possible. We always appreciate help with set-up and clean up. If you would like to help at one of the tables, let me know. This is a fundraiser for the First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women
Christmas Pageant, Sunday, December 21 at 11 am and 7 pm. This is the Christmas story in word and song with Masquers Playhouse volunteers. We have good singers, costumes, Angel Choir and fun! We already are hearing the rush of angel wings on Sunday mornings as the children come to rehearse carols under the direction of Tammara Plankers.
Christmas Eve Jazz Service, December 24 at 7 pm with the Dan Damon Quartet, Dan Damon, piano, Kurt Ribak, bass, Lincoln Adler, sax and Randy Odell, drums and , congregational singing with the band, soloists and the Christmas story. Come early, seats fill quickly as people have made this a tradition to share.
Friday, Dec.26 at 7:30 pm, Point Richmond Jazz presents brothers Matt and Kit Eakle in a Celebration of Boxing Day. Matt plays the flute with the David Grisman quintet and Kit plays the violin and is the presenter of Point Richmond Jazz. Join them for a fun evening of eclectic music. Tickets are $15 thru prjazz.org or $20 at the door. First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond.
Wednesday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve Celebration, 5 pm at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St., Berkeley. The Dan Damon Trio leads a worship service for the new year.
Please send submissions for FUMC News and Events to Barbara Haley, editor: bahcats@sbcglobal.net.
