Richmond First United Methodist News and Events
Pastor’s Perspective
Walking This Earth, James 5:13-20
Pastor Dan Damon, Richmond 1st UMC, 9-27-15
Introduction
Today the Joyful Noise Choir sang a stewardship hymn written [this week] after a meeting with Susan Peters, Executive Director of the California-Nevada United Methodist Foundation, regarding starting an endowment fund for Richmond First United Methodist Church. The tune is named for Silver Fork Campground in the Sierra Nevada Mountains off of U.S. Route 50 in California. I will be driving up highway 50 this afternoon on my way to Journey Farthest Out Camp. Bethany Reynolds is coming up. You are all invited to the camps. There is one in June at Mt. Lassen near Mineral [Jean attends this one], one in July at Monte Toyon Campground near Aptos, and the Autumn camp at Zephyr Point. We meet for prayer in small groups every afternoon around 4 pm. Pray for us this week as we pray for you.
Retell the Scripture Story
Matthew 5:13 gives us the pithy and famous sentence: “You are the salt of the earth.” Mark 9:50 puts it this way: “Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Thanksgiving is coming. We will use a little salt as, with the expert guidance of chefs Paul Garnett and Tinna Manansala, we cook up another traditional Thanksgiving feast and serve it free to those who will come. All year we are salt in the city of Richmond. We season the year with love, prayer, and good works. All are invited to help. Talk to Fran Smith if you’d like to get involved.
The Art Auction was a lot of fun yesterday evening: art, jewelry, crafts, food, music, and great people enjoying the Richmond waterfront. Warm thanks to all who worked hard to make it a joyful experience for the community. We extend our thanks especially to Debbie Benko and Diane Frary for their leadership of the event. Every time we gather, there are many benefits. The money we raise allows us to do our work of mission in the city of Richmond and the world. We are building and sustaining a loving community as a witness to love and hope in this tangled and troubled world.
James is a very practical letter. I read it a lot while I was growing up in Rapid City, South Dakota. I underlined a few verses that still speak to me today:
Be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. [1:19]
Faith without works is dead. [2:26]
Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you. [4:8]
If you know how to do good, and do it not, it is a sin. [4:17]
Today we look at the last eight verses in the letter. Here is how it goes in the New American Standard Bible:
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Application
As we walk this earth we have many experiences, some joyful, some painful. The writer of James mentions a few human experiences as he closes his letter: Suffering, prayer; cheerfulness, praise; sickness, healing oil and the prayer of faith; God’s power to raise us up; sin, confession, and forgiveness; drought, rain, and fruit; straying from the truth, someone there to draw the person back.
These are some of the things we try to do in the church, generation after generation. We are grateful to those pioneers who came before us donating land and materials to build this building. We are grateful to those sitting here today who have made strong commitments to the church in the present and future years. Today we open our hearts to the message of hope for future years at this location, trusting that God’s Spirit will inspire new generations to care as we have done, to sing and pray as we do now, and to move in the ways of love as the Spirit moves.
I want you to hear the stewardship text I wrote this week in time to teach the choir Wednesday. These words may change slightly as I polish the text and harmonization this week at Journey Farthest Out Camp. We are moving on to perfection.
I will not always walk this earth
with gentle step and caring heart,
but now I pray, prepare, and give
to lasting good and living art.
My back is strong. My mind is sound.
Today I lift and carry on,
but younger generations wake
to worship in an unknown dawn.
What can I do with what I have
to help the church in years ahead ?
What gift can I now place in trust
for future needs for home or bread?
For children’s children yet to come
like flowers living life’s brief span,
I give this church a lasting gift,
a pledge, a promise, and a plan.
So join with me in heart and voice
and celebrate our time on earth.
Come sing with me of future years,
and trust the Spirit for new birth.
Daniel Charles Damon
WORDS © 2015 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.
Let us be in prayer.
Joys and Concerns
Our dear church friend, Pat King, is requesting prayers for healing. She is slowly recovering from surgery and anticipates further surgery later in the fall. Pat was at the concert Sunday night. She looks good and feels pretty good. She would love to come to church services but has some difficulty getting on top of some abdominal pain in the mornings.
Please keep Katherine Parker, our missionary, and the people of Nepal in your prayers.
Deby McFadyen is requesting prayers for three young friends who are battling cancer. Please remember Sarah Talkington, Carolyn Thomas a Jimmy Lowe in your prayers.
Pat Dornan and Linda Pereira continue to need your prayers of support. Update: Hospice services continue. Pat says that Linda is not able to get out of bed and is sleeping most of the time. Lorraine, Linda’s mother, is home with attendant care and volunteers are bringing her over to see Linda to supplement Pat’s help. Pat is very grateful for the assistance.
Helen Wysham welcomes your prayers for healing as she undergoes chemotherapy.
News
Our Art Auction Fundraiser was this past Saturday. We had a lot of volunteers who helped move things from the church and set up the tables and displays, brought yummy food treats and helped take down and cleanup. The ambience at the auction was fun and pleasing. Background music was provided by Pastor Dan Damon, piano and Kit Eakle, violin both contributing to the feeling of the event. We heartily thank all who helped and special thanks to Debbie Benco and Diane Frary for their hours and days of work to make this such a special event. Thank you to the Point San Pablo Yacht Club for letting us use their facility. We made $4000 for the church. Well done!
Pinole UMC is celebrating 125 Years of Blessedness with events throughout October. October 3 Walkathon; October 10 Concert; October 18 Worship Homecoming; October 30 Trunk or Treat. See attached flyer. 2000 San Pablo Ave., Pinole. Support our sister church if you can.
Pastor Dan will be away at Journey Farthest Out Camp at lake Tahoe, Sept. 27 through Oct.4. Fran Smith will be speaking about her experience regarding reconciling ministries at the San Antonio conference “Gather at the River”. If you are interested in attending the JFO Camp at Zephyr Cove, contact Carol Horn at 530 595 3290 to see if any spaces remain.
News from Camp Liberty in Iraq: Since July 13th the Iraqi government has stopped supplies from entering Camp Liberty. They have prevented supplies of food, fuel and septic tank trucks from entering the compound. The lack of fuel means that the generators can not function so there is no electricity, no sewage system, no air conditioners with the temperature reaching 120 degrees. The United States Committee for Camp Ashraf is asking our Secretary of State, John Kerry, to intervene as well as the United Nations. Please remember these people in your prayers and that actions are taken to reverse this situation. One man has died due to refusal to allow his treatment for cancer.
Katherine Parker, missionary in Nepal: Katherine reports that the emphasis now will be on long-term recovery.
New Public Address System: Donations are coming in to support our new system. Donations are $45 for a whole piano key which you can color and sign and donations of any amount are welcome. Karen Merkle, who died early in June left a Memorial Donation of $500 to our church. The Memorial Committee has donated the money to our new sound system. Karen would be pleased since music was such a large part of her life. See the display of piano keys and further information at the desk in the back in Friendship Hall. We are about halfway to our goal.
Generosity
We are continuing to move ahead with plans for the long-term financing of our church for generations to come through an Endowment program.
Preparing an estate plan is good Christian stewardship-saying thanks to God, expressing your love and concern for family, and showing charity towards others.
Imagine No Malaria continues to need your donations.
Events
Thursday, October 8, 7 pm, Administrative Board Meeting, Friendship Hall.
Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 pm – Point Richmond Acoustic Series returns with Reid Jamieson and Carolyn Mill to open the 2015-2016 season. This duo excels with beautiful voices, incredible harmony & award-winning songs. Jaspar Lepak opens this show. This Americana songstress has a gift for melody that is only surpassed by her poetry. For more info & to get $15 tickets online, see www.pointrichmondacoustic.org , $20 tickets at the door the night of the concert.
Saturday, October 10: You are invited to a Korean Tea. There are two seatings: 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. We will have three people in authentic Korean dress. Come and enjoy yourselves and learn more about Korean culture and tradition and feast on authentic Korean foods. This should be a fun event for all ages. Bring your friends and children. $20 adults, $10 children. For reservations contact Doreen Leighton at 510 307 5461 or d3leighton@icloud.com. This is a fundraiser for the United Methodist Women to continue their good works in the church and community. First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina Street, Point Richmond.
Sunday, October 11, Special Sunday, World Communion Sunday. On World Communion Sunday your giving helps to provide scholarships for national and international graduate students whom God has gifted to learn and to serve.
Sunday, October 11, 6 pm: The Hymn Society Presents,An evening of Singing with Jim & Jean Strathdee.
Internationally honored song writers, worship leaders and concert artists, their music offers hope and encouragement with songs of love, justice, and healing and for all the Earth. Free will offering, reception to follow. El Sobrante United Methodist Church, 670 Appian Way, El Sobrante.
