This Sunday, our scripture text includes one of the most beloved verses from the bible, John 3:16. I love continuing on through the next verse, too:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
Our salvation is rooted in God's love. It's because of the depth of God's love for this world that God saves it (and us). God comes less for judgement and condemnation, and more for saving, healing, restoring and reconciling.
This is good news.
Among other things, it reminds us to notice and treasure this world and its inhabitants; we get to love like God loves. Some parts of this world are easier to love: people who are gracious to us, landscapes that are captivatingly beautiful. It's harder to love other people and places. This week, I challenge you to do that: to identify a person or place that is hard to love, and find a way of holding and sharing care for it, in prayer or action.
Love this world, as a reflection of God's deep love for it (and you).
grace and peace,
Pastor Molly
Don't forget the time change this weekend--spring forward and join us for worship! There's a potluck after the 10:30 service, too.
Sunday, March 11:
Fourth Sunday of Lent
“Such Love”
Rev. Molly Vetter, preaching
John 3:14-21
John 3:14 Just as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved. 18 Those who trust in him are not judged; those who do not trust have been judged already, in that they have not trusted in the one who is God’s only and unique Son.
19 “Now this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness rather than the light. Why? Because their actions were wicked. 20 For everyone who does evil things hates the light and avoids it, so that his actions won’t be exposed. 21 But everyone who does what is true comes to the light, so that all may see that his actions are accomplished through God.” (Complete Jewish Bible)
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes: John 3:14-21Verse 14
[14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
And as Moses — And even this single witness will soon be taken from you; yea, and in a most ignominious manner. Numbers 21:8,9.
Verse 15
[15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
That whosoever — He must be lifted up, that hereby he may purchase salvation for all believers: all those who look to him by faith recover spiritual health, even as all that looked at that serpent recovered bodily health.
Verse 16
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Yea, and this was the very design of God's love in sending him into the world.
Whosoever believeth on him — With that faith which worketh by love, and hold fast the beginning of his confidence steadfast to the end.
God so loved the world — That is, all men under heaven; even those that despise his love, and will for that cause finally perish. Otherwise not to believe would be no sin to them. For what should they believe? Ought they to believe that Christ was given for them? Then he was given for them.
He gave his only Son — Truly and seriously. And the Son of God gave himself, Galatians 4:4, truly and seriously.
Verse 17
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world — Although many accuse him of it.
Verse 18
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
He that believeth on him is not condemned — Is acquitted, is justified before God.
The name of the only-begotten Son of God — The name of a person is often put for the person himself. But perhaps it is farther intimated in that expression, that the person spoken of is great and magnificent. And therefore it is generally used to express either God the Father or the Son.
Verse 19
[19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
This is the condemnation — That is, the cause of it. So God is clear.
Verse 21
[21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
He that practiseth the truth (that is, true religion) cometh to the light - So even Nicodemus, afterward did.
Are wrought in God — That is, in the light, power, and love of God.
8:30am in Epworth Lounge
10:30am in the Sanctuary
Special Music: “God So Loved the World” sung by the Chancel Choir
For God so loved the world
That He gave His only begotten Son,
That everyone who believes into Him
Would not perish.
For God so loved the world
That He gave His only begotten Son,
That everyone who believes into Him
Would not perish,
But would have eternal life.
O how I adore my Lord,
For He has died for me.
O how I adore my Lord,
For He has given life to me.
For God so loved the world
That He gave His only begotten Son,
That everyone who believes into Him
Would not perish,
But would have eternal life.
Listen to Sermons online 
News From Our Members
There are so many plans for this Easter season that you may miss something important if you don't keep a good eye on the bulletin and mark your personal calendar accordingly.
Last Sunday the station in the Narthex had a complicated Lego plan displayed for all to...
Thursday, March 8, 2016
Bob PetersonBob Peterson's popular column for the Mainsail has found new life, online! Read his view from the pews about church life and community news. You'll enjoy keeping up with the many good things happening in our congregation!
Thursday, 8 March 2018 by Bob Peterson
This Sunday, March 11th turns out to be the day that Daylight Savings Time begins again so if you forget to set your clocks ahead one hour you might miss out on the all church pot-luck lunch right after worship. The food might have all been eaten by that time. It only becomes a problem if you don't remember to set that clock ahead.
There are so many plans for this Easter season that you may miss something important if you don't keep a good eye on the bulletin and mark your personal calendar accordingly.
Last Sunday the station in the Narthex had a complicated Lego plan displayed for all to see just inside the North door of the Sanctuary. It apparently was created by young Jack Potter, Grandson of David and Nancy Klinger. His older sister Carrie is now singing with our church choir. How times have flashed by to have these young ones that involved. They have previously been acolytes for worship and rang the church bell for services and so are very familiar with the various activities of our church. Older brother Todd helps run the sound system and has read his writings from the pulpit on various Sundays.
I have to say that it was a whale of a Rummage Sale last Saturday, March 3rd. Our UMW (United Methodist Women) outdid themselves while netting something over $8,000 for their various projects, donations and missions for the church. Many of the people of our congregation helped in some way to make it an all church success.
Many of us will miss seeing Francie Norton at her usual place in the front left row of our sanctuary on Sunday mornings. For the past several years she has been wheel chair bound and in the care of young care-givers helping her get to church and in many other ways. I first got acquainted with her when she excitedly donated a bronze church bell for our church tower. The previous cast iron bell had rusted so badly that it no longer rang beautifully and throughout its long life had banged worse and worse. After Francie's husband passed on, she took it upon herself to help with the location of the replacement bell, buy it, pay for it to be hung in our bell tower and then often would listen as the children of our church would climb up the tower stairs, find the bell rope and ring the bell so all our neighbors would hear the sound of the invitation to worship. It was her pleasure to have this done for the congregation. A Memorial Service for her is scheduled for Saturday, March 24 at 11:30 AM in our Sanctuary.
Click here for more of the Lay Looker
Coming at Church
Join us after 10:30 worship for a church potluck lunch! Bring a dish to share, and stay to enjoy the community. It's a great time to make new friends and catch up with old ones. (You can bring your own reusable dishes, or we will have disposable ones available.)
Small Groups to help you Grow
For a meaningful small group experience, sign up to join a six-week Grow Group. These small groups will give you a chance to connect with others as you go deeper in faith, connecting life and the scriptures. Groups meet at different times of day and of the week; 3 of the groups are meeting for the first time today! Join with a friend or by yourself. You'll connect with new people and deepen your love of God!
We are excited to have free tools to offer you, to help your faith grow this Spring. Starting on Sunday, you can pick up a packet with materials to use at home: a devotional based on scripture and poetry, and prayer coloring pages that use the Psalms.
The Devotional uses Scripture alongside poetry by Mary Oliver. Accessible reflection questions connect big, holy ideas to everyday life.
Lenten Prayer Stations
Each Sunday during Lent, we will have an interactive prayer station available in the narthex (at the back of the sanctuary). Before or after worship, we encourage you to stop there and share in a prayer. (The stations were designed for our Ash Wednesday Prayers and Ashes.)
Palm Sunday is March 25!
Palm Sunday is a special day at church, and this is a great time to invite friends! Click the image to go to our Facebook Event, and use it to invite other people.
Gather for a photo with our donkey starting at 9:30am. At 10am, we will have our donkey lead the Palm Sunday parade into our sanctuary! 10:30 worship will continue the story, through the powerful story of Christ's passion.
Good Friday: Service of Darkness
Worship with us on Good Friday, March 30 at 7:30pm, as we remember and contemplate Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
Our choir will sing Dale Wood's "Service of Darkness," which includes seven choral meditations on the last words of Jesus Christ. Interspersed with scripture readings of these words that Jesus spoke from the cross, the service will provide a prayerful and meditative space on this holy day.
Celebrate Resurrection with us.
Sunrise Worship on Torrance Beach at 6:30am
Casual Worship in Epworth Lounge on our campus at 8:30am
Festive Worship with Brass Ensemble in our sanctuary at 10:30am.
(Also: an Easter Egg Hunt for children at 9:45am!)
There is still a modest number of rummage items left in the Fellowship hall--including some small furniture and the old Hall piano, which are free for the taking. You can check them out during Sunday's potluck, and take them home!
RSVP now for Parent's Night out, March 16th!
Need a kid free evening? Want to grab sushi with your friends?
Bring your children to Parents Night out!
Drop off your children at church for three hours of programming, starting at 5pm.
The cost is $20.00 for the first child ($10 for the 2nd, $5 for 3rd+) and includes dinner.
Enjoy an evening out while your kids play games, make crafts, and enjoy fellowship!
It's a great night for all!
We request all spots be reserved by the Wednesday prior to the event.
Email Children's Ministry to save a spot!
Help Fill Easter Eggs
Easter is coming!
We will have plastic eggs on the patio before and after 10:30 worship, ready to be taken home by the dozen to be filled for our Children's Easter Egg hunt!
They can be filled with toys, candy and treats, but please no chocolate and no nuts.
Email Children's Ministry if you have any questions.
Vacation Bible School:
(age 3-8th grade) August 13-17
BeachFaith Kids Arts Camp:
(K-5th grade) July 30-August 3
Baja Mission Trip:
with Inalienable (youth & adults) July 7-14
Summer Camps:
at Lazy W Ranch & other sites
Baja Registration Is Open
You might think of the Baja Mission as a youth mission trip, but it's more than that! Each year, adults (even a Senior Citizen or two!) go from our church. The trip is organized to make good use of people's skills, so consider going!
For more info, click here!
Early Registration: $450
Normal Registration: $495
Save the date for this year's Crop Walk onMay 20, 2018. It will take place at the South Coast Botanical Gardens again! The event is from 10am - 2pm.
More information about our team and how you can register to walk and/or donate will be coming soon!
CROP Walk info
Want to help out? Email Children's Ministries!
Don't miss out on our very special arts camp!
Children will spend the week learning songs, dancing, and making original art pieces- all culminating in an art show and recital at the end of the week.
Open to all K-6th Graders
$200.00 per camper
Scholarships Available
Click here for more info!
Announcements
Men's Breakfast: Our next breakfast is Monday, March 19, at 7AM. Coco's Restaurant, 18120 Hawthorne Blvd. (Hawthorne and 182nd). All men of the church and their friends are welcome to join us for fellowship.
Prayer Quilt Ministry: Join us for our monthly quilting workshop Friday, March 9, 10am - noon in the choir room. We will try a new quilt pattern, using men's neckties. There's something for everyone to do to help. Even if you haven't tried quilt-making before, this is a great way to begin. Know someone in need of prayer? Anyone can sponsor a free prayer quilt. The Quilt Request Form is online or in the church office.
Meals and More: Did you know that we have a ministry that organizes meals and other assistance for church folks in times of need? In the past, we've helped arrange rides to medical appointments, meals for people recovering from surgery, and more. Leila Grantz coordinates this ministry, using online sign-up tools. If you want to be a part of the group that she emails when there is an opportunity to help, or if you know someone who's in need of a little help, please contact the church office or Leila.
Book Club, March 20, 2018 at 7PM: Helen Stockwell has selected “Peace Like a River,” a best-selling novel by Leif Enger, who took the title from the lyrics of the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul.” It is the beautifully written story of a loving family living in wintry Minnesota, who together experience miracles, hardships and tragedy, and was a Book of the Year, when it was published in 2001.We meet in May Day Parlor. For more information, contact Ann Gallagher.
This Week: Children, Youth & Adults
Nursery (6 weeks+): The Nursery is open during both services, for ages 6 weeks to 5 yrs old. Located right off of the parking lot across from Epworth Lounge. Please know that children of any age are always welcome in worship. Any questions email the Nursery Coordinator: Adriana Hwang
Children's Ministry (age 3 - 3rd Grade): We'll start out upstairs in the Sunday School room, sign in as early at 10:20. We will explore a Bible story, play, and make a craft! Afterward, we'll join our families in worship for Holy Communion.
Church R Us (Grades 4 & 5): Start out in Worship with your family, then head to class with our youth director, Stephen Hale during "Passing of the Peace". You'll head back to church for communion!
Youth Ministry (6th-12th grade):
-Middle School Sunday School? YES!!!!
-Youth Group(2-4pm on Sunday)? Yes! We're continuing with Lent.
Young Adults (19-not very specific):
"Grow Groups" have started for Lent! There are many to choose from, Young Adults and young families are encouraged to join the Monday night group that meets at church, but are welcome at any of them. Click here for more info!
Adult Sunday School: Bible Study and Discussion in May Day Parlor. Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15am. Led by Helen Stockwell. During Lent, the group will meet as a Lenten Grow Group. All are welcome.
Thursday Pastor's Bible Study:
We usually meet Thursday mornings from 11:00-noon, in May Day Parlor. Starting February 22, the group will meet as a Lenten Grow Group. All are welcome.
United Methodist News & Events
Our congregation is a part of the El Tordondo Mission Area, in the West District of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
First United Methodist Church of Redondo Beach
310-372-8445 main
310-372-5696 fax
Ongoing Ministries
Offering food and friendship to those in need, every Wednesday night since 1992. More info here.
SHARED BREAD NEEDS DONATIONS OF:
Men’s jeans waist sizes 32- 38; Men’s new socks, white or grey only- all sizes; Men’s tennis shoes - especially sizes 9.5 to 11.5
Please bring them to church on Sunday, or to the office during the week.
DESSERTS FOR SHARED BREAD
Homemade treats are treasured by our guests – but purchased treats would be wonderful, as well. Please wrap desserts tightly and mark for Shared Bread. Deliver Sunday (when you come for church) through Wednesday to the church kitchen (or the office if kitchen is closed.) Wednesday deliveries
should be here by 4:00pm to help us plan our meal better. THANK YOU!
Thursday, March 8, 2016 - Music Notes
Music Director, Jim Raycroft, will share upcoming worship music
selections and a little bit of history, too.
Jim Raycroft
Thursday, 8 March 2018 by Jim Raycroft
Sir John Stainer was an English composer (1840-1901) who was very influential in the musical world of the Anglican Church, especially as a choir trainer and organist. A parallel can be drawn between him and Antonio Salieri of the movie Amadeus fame in that his music was very popular during his lifetime, but very little of it has survived and is performed today. He ultimately ended up as the organist at St. Paul's Cathedral, and upon retiring there due to bad eyesight, he became a professor of music at Oxford University. One of his biggest contributions to modern musical literature was in the publishing of Christmas Carols New And Old (1871), which he followed with a second volume the next year due to its success. In these volumes, he capitalized on a renewed interest in Christmas carols, and filled the books with arrangements of tunes that have become classic and are still in use today, such as his arrangements of Greensleeves (What Child Is This), In Dulci Jubilo (Good Christian Men, Rejoice), Good King Wenceslas and God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen. The one original piece of his that is still performed, especially this time of year, is his cantata The Crucifixion, which he published in 1887. It was scored for SATB choir and organ, and Stainer insisted that "it would be within the scope of most church choirs". By today's standards, the music is very dated, and ironically, Stainer himself described the piece as "rubbish", but in the middle of the work (#9 out of 20 pieces) is a gem of an anthem titled God So Loved The World, using the classic text from John 3:16. It's written to be sung a cappella, and has become a standard in the world of church choir music.
Dear Evan Hansen is an original musical written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and opened on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in December of 2016. The title character, Evan Hansen, is a high school senior with a social anxiety disorder who finds himself amid the turmoil that follows a classmate's death. The song You Will Be Found is the finale to act 1 and involves the entire cast (although we're doing it as a solo). The cast album debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200, and at last Sunday night's Tony Awards, Kevin Spacey opened the show with You Will Be Found. The show was nominated for 9 Tony Awards, and won for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score Written for the Theatre and Best Orchestrations.
David Wallace Crowder, who goes by the mononymous stage name Crowder (in the finest tradition of Cher, Madonna, Adele and Prince), was the lead singer in the now defunct David Crowder Band, a contemporary worship band that disbanded in 2012. He has since gone on to a solo career, releasing his first solo studio album in 2014, under the sixsteps/sparrow label, called Neon Steeple. The song How He Loves is a song by independent artist John Mark McMillan for his second studio album, The Song Inside The Sounds Of Breaking Down. It has been covered by several artists, in this case Crowder, and in Spanish by Christine D'Clario and Seth Condrey. Crowder released his version on the Church Music album in 2009, where it peaked at #8 on Billboard's Christian Songs chart.
Hailing from the small coastal town of Bangor in Northern Ireland, the Rend Collective is a group of "twenty-somethings" that gathered at Rend, what the band describes as "a ministry for spiritually hungry young adults, desperately seeking an authentic, raw and real expression of church, which was informally pastored by bandleader, Gareth Gilkeson." Their first album – Homemade Worship by Handmade People – was released in 2012, and was followed by a string of hits in the contemporary Christian music world. Their music is based around older instruments - their native Irish folk instruments, old rock and roll guitars and assorted other whimsical musical toys - and has a raw, uninhibited style that gets the toes tapping and the feet stomping. They don't call themselves a folk band, but insist rather "We are not actually an indie-folk band - despite all the beards and bow-ties and banjos. We are a celebration band. It's just a coincidence that folk music and celebration make a great pairing!" Their song Rescuer (Good News) is a brand new song, released in July of last year, from the album Good News.
Click here to read more Music Notes!
Looking for a Way to Volunteer?
The Welcome Team is looking for volunteers who can help about once a month between the two services and/or immediately after the 10:30 service. Go to our "Want to Help" page to learn more about this awesome ministry, as well as several other current ways you can lend a hand in ministry.
Do you have a couple hours once or twice a month to help maintain our beautiful church gardens? Tasks would include pruning, planting, weeding and watering. Whatever you can help with, we'd love to have you join our team! Duties could change seasonally. Sign up through the church office, or by talking with Jody Wilkinson.
Acolytes are needed for 10:30 worship each week. If you've been trained, you can sign up via our "sign up genius" (click here!)
If you are interested in being trained, email children's ministries!
Circle Meeting Time
- Naomi Circle 2nd Tuesday @ 10:00am
- Hannah Circle 2nd Tuesday @ 7:00pm
- Mary Circle 4th Monday @ 7:00pm
United Methodist Women’s Reading Program: There are many titles to choose from with new ones added every year! Books are available in the UMW library located in May Day Parlor. Any one can read the books and our own local UMW unit will get credit! click here for information about the program.
Support missions through recycling!
Bring your plastic bottles, aluminum cans AND CRV glass bottles to church every Sunday. By recycling we can support Corazon, Crop Walk, Habitat for Humanity and some of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) programs: Syrian refugee relief, eradicating hunger, clean water, ending malaria and fighting HIV/AIDS. Please bring your cans and bottles.
Sunday Worship Liturgist Sign Up
Campus WiFi network is: First UMC Guests; Password is: openhearts
Parking Reminder: If you are able, we encourage you to park at the Wells Fargo bank on Sunday mornings, and walk across the street, reserving the parking lot for those with mobility challenges or for new visitors. We also have a bike rack on the patio. Thanks for your consideration.
Hearing Assistance Devices are available on Sunday mornings. Just ask for one at the audio/video booth in the sanctuary.
Connect with us
First United Methodist Church
243 South Broadway
Redondo Beach, California 90277, United States
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