Richmond First United Methodist News and Events
Pastor’s Perspective
Learning to Follow, Mark 1:14-20
Pastor Dan Damon, Richmond 1st UMC, 1-25-15
Introduction
This week I was given some deep and abiding first impressions of our church from five years ago. The person kept coming back and has become a member. Putting them in my language, the first impressions are: This church is Universal, Personal, and Egalitarian. It is universal in its outreach to people everywhere in the world, and in its respect for various faith traditions. It is small enough to be personal. We get to know everyone by name. We discover what people do well, what they like to do, and invite them to do it with us. It is egalitarian in the sense that the leadership does not rule from a stone tower, but labors in the vineyard as a gardener. People from all walks of life have both voice and vote in this church. Human rights are respected and valued. These are good things to notice and to cultivate: a church which is and will continue to be Universal, Personal, and Egalitarian.
Retell the Scripture Story
[This is Mark’s call story. Last week it was John’s version] After John was put in prison Jesus came into Galilee preaching the good news of the kingdom of God. He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel.” And walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew casting a net into the sea. Jesus called to them: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men [women and children].
According to Mark, they immediately left their nets and followed Jesus.
When they had walked a little farther along the shore, Jesus saw James and his brother John. He called to them and they immediately left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and followed Jesus.
Application
It occurred to me this week that there must have been some grief at these sudden departures to points unknown. The lives of Simon [Peter] and Andrew, James and John would never be the same. The lives of their families would be forever changed. Jesus did not call every one to follow him so radically, but he did call twelve disciples. [We have three times that many people here today.] These twelve changed the world.
I was away Tuesday through Thursday this week leading music at the Gathering of Orders at Mount Hermon retreat center near Santa Cruz. Three hundred pastors attended from the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Our topic, led by pastor and therapist Catherine Noellert, was emotional resilience. Here are some things I learned this week:
Misbeliefs about grief:
It should end relatively quickly.
Feeling grief means something is wrong with you.
“Normal” existence means feeling happy.
Replacing what is lost will help.
Grieve alone.
Time will heal the pain of loss.
It is appropriate, and even commendable, to ignore your own pain of loss in favor of being strong for others.
Keep busy.
Common responses from others to grief:
Intellectualize it:
This too shall pass
She lived a full life
Be grateful you still have…
It could have been worse
Changing the subject
Not really listening/hearing
Trying to fix
Displaying obvious discomfort (This implicitly asks us to care for them)
Replacing feelings with faith
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross gave us five stages of grief in 1969 [denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance]. These can be helpful, but we were given four tasks of grief this week as a better way of working through grief. These tasks come from J. William Worden [Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy: a handbook for the mental health practitioner, 4th ed., Springer Publishing Company, 2009]:
1 To accept the reality of the loss: This means knowing that the deceased person is no longer alive and won’t be part of our everyday lives.
2 To experience the pain of grief: This means that we may experience a variety of intense feelings and begin to work through them as part of the grieving process.
3 To adjust to the new environment where the deceased person is missing: This is the part where we struggle with all of the changes that happen as a result of the person being gone. These include all of the practical parts of daily living (responsibilities at home) and all of the effects their loss has upon our sense of who we are and how we see the world [suddenly feeling life is “not fair” or being frustrated with friends who “don’t understand us anymore.”
4 To reinvest energy in life, loosen ties to the deceased and forge a new type of relationship with them based on memory, spirit, and love: This means that we begin to acknowledge the value of the relationship we had with the person who died and everything we may have learned or loved or respected or disagreed with about them. We recognize that we don’t need to forget them, and that it is okay to care and connect with other people and to continue to live our lives even though we miss them.
Learning to follow Jesus, involves grief— the grief of leaving our nets behind. These tasks may help us understand the process. They may help us to be patient. They may help us to reinvest spirit and energy in following the one who called the fishermen by the sea so many centuries ago.
Let us be in prayer.
: Richmond First United Methodist News and Event
Joys and Concerns
Lauren McLeod welcomes your prayers for healing.
Sandra Kokoruda (Fran Smith’s daughter) up date: Sandra has an infection in her wound. She has been started on antibiotics. Please keep her in your prayers for healing.
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.
Deby McFadyen is asking for prayers for her father, Jack McFadyen, who has lung cancer. Currently he is doing well.
Deby is currently looking for a new job.
Pat Dornan and Linda Pereira continue to need your prayers of support and healing. Update: Linda went home on Monday, much improved with her walking. Pat is on vacation in Panama and a stop in Costa Rica as her ship heads for home. Drop in and visit with Linda if you are able.
Robbie Robinson would appreciate your prayers.
Helen Wysham welcomes your prayers for healing as she undergoes chemotherapy.
Please keep the people of Camp Liberty in your prayers as chaos reigns in Iraq and near the camp.
News
The General Board of Church and Society sends a newsletter every week highlighting the various issues the church is addressing. Current issues such as Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Human Justice and this weekend the first seminar on Drone Warfare is being held at Princeton University. It is encouraging to see that people of faith are working so hard to make the world a better place. The email address to sign up to receive the news is: umc-gbcs.org.
Generosity
Don’t forget that donations for Imagine No Malaria are always welcome.
Events
Saturday, January 31, 1pm, Finance Committee Meeting, at Jennifer and Matthew Foster’s home, 1052 Hawthorne Dr., Rodeo, CA.
Saturday, January 31, 7:00 pm “A Spiritual Experience: Indian Classical Music and Dance” which is a fundraiser for Developing Indigenous Resources working with a poverty stricken slum in northern India to improve health, education and income. Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Lawson Road, Kensington. Donations $20 but no one will be turned away. Flyers in Friendship Hall.
Sunday, February 1, Worship Committee Meeting, after church. Anyone interested in planning worship is welcome.
Friday, February 6, 7:30 pm. The Konevets Quartet from St. Petersburg, Russia, is presenting an evening of Russian choral music and chamber music. This male quartet has performed worldwide with great acclaim over their blending of voices and creation of a beautiful sound. Check them out at konevetsquartet.com with links to utube and hear their sound. Tickets are $15. El Sobrante United Methodist Church, 671 Appian Way, El Sobrante.
Friday, February 6, 6:30-9:30 pm, Lunafest, short films by. for and about women. These are new films. Kala Art Institute and Gallery, 2990 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. This is the old Heinz Ketchup factory, corner of Ashby and San Pablo. Entrance is the middle of the building facing San Pablo Ave.. The Gallery is on the first floor just to the left of the entrance, three stairs at the entry with a sturdy railing. Street parking or large parking lot behind the building that can be entered from Ashby or 9th St. behind Berkeley Bowl West. Refreshments at 6:30, films at 7:00 pm. This is a fundraiser for Zonta Club who supports fighting breast cancer and human trafficking. Tickets are #25 on line and $30 at the door. Men are welcome.
Saturday, February 7, 9:30 am to 4 pm, Bridges District Revival. Come for a day of opening your hearts to God’s love. Come and receive the gift of spirit worship through prayer and song. Main speaker is Bishop Warner Brown. Special collection for Imagine No Malaria. Fairfield Community Methodist Church, 1875 Fairfield Ave., Fairfield, CA. $10 donation to cover refreshments and lunch. See flyers in Friendship Hall.
Thursday, February 12, 7 pm, Administrative Board Meeting in Friendship Hall. All are welcome.
Friday, February 13, 7:30 pm, Point Richmond Acoustic presents Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman. Melody is from the Bay Area and Jacob is from the Blue Ridge Mountains which makes their music a unique blend of styles. Winners of the Chris Austin Songwriting at MerleFest, and Telluride and Rocky Grass Competitions with their Bluegrass project, Front Country. Mike Witcher is a fantastic Dobro player. First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond. Tickets on line $15 at the door $20. For more information and ticket purchase: pointacoustic.org.
Saturday, February 14, 1-3 pm, United Methodist Women Meeting at Doreen Leighton’s home, 236 Castro St. Point Richmond. All women of the church are welcome.
Thursday, February 19, Prayer and Self Denial gathering in Friendship Hall. We are providing a soup made by Doreen Leighton and hosting the event. St. Luke’s will be presenting the program on Gratitude. The women of the church are welcome to attend and prepare for Lent. Time TBA.
Sunday, February 22, 10 am, Celebrating Fruitfulness and Faithfulness with Bishop Warner Brown. Inspirational preaching by Bishop Brown, Cal/Nev Conference Bishop as well as President of the Council of Bishops speaking about the areas of fruitfulness and faithfulness that he is most excited about. Town Hall style of Q&A time led by the Bishop. Taylor Memorial UMC, 1188 12th St, Oakland. Reception following at 2 pm at Epworth UMC, 1953 Hopkins St., Berkeley. Flyers in Friendship Hall.
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