This Sunday: "Walk to the Manger" during 10:30 worship for Thursday, 15 December 2016
From Pastor Molly: Singing LoveThis past spring, another medical research study made the rounds on my Facebook newsfeed, collaborating what many of us have long understood: singing with a choir improves your health. In this study, participants who rehearsed for an hour with their choirs reduced their stress, and increased their ability to fight disease.
One of the great parts of our worship tradition is that we invite people to sing together. At Christmas, more than any other time, we sing songs we know well. In the singing, we are changed. Last week, I loved listening to the children sing beloved Christmas carols during their pageant, and I loved getting to sing along, too. This Sunday, I’m looking forward to Christmas caroling in the afternoon, and to the choir’s special presentation of “The Story of Christmas” during 10:30 worship.
Even more than whatever health benefits we might show, our singing is an act of worship. It re-orients us in relationship to God, and reminds us that we are invited to sing to God, offering our praise not with just words, but with music.
Even if you wouldn’t call yourself a great singer, I hope you’ll find a time to sing some of the songs of Christmas. Even better, find someone to sing them with, or for. (You are certainly invited to come to my home for our open house on Sunday afternoon, between 3 & 5--we will send groups out during the party, to go caroling to some of our homebound church members!)
Grace and peace,
Pastor Molly Vetter
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During the week after Christmas, our church office will be open only on Thursday, December 29, from 9-3; Shared Bread will serve dinner as usual.
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In Worship This WeekSunday, December 18
Fourth Sunday of Advent
"Singing Love"
Rev. Molly Vetter, preaching
Luke 2:1-20
Scripture Text: Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.
10:30am in the Sanctuary
Special Presentation: Chancel Choir presents Roger Wagner's "The Story of Christmas" during 10:30 worship; traditional Walk to the Manger.Roger Wagner's "The Story of Christmas"
Listen to Sermons online
Visit our Website
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News From Our Members
Lay Looker will return week.
Read past columns here
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Fourth Sunday of Advent
"Singing Love"
Rev. Molly Vetter, preaching
Luke 2:1-20
Scripture Text: Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.
8 In the countryside nearby were some shepherds spending the night in the fields, guarding their flocks, 9 when an angel of Adonai appeared to them, and the Sh’khinah of Adonai shone around them. They were terrified; 10 but the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am here announcing to you Good News that will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 Here is how you will know: you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, along with the angel was a vast army from heaven praising God:
14 “In the highest heaven, glory to God!
And on earth, peace among people of good will!”
15 No sooner had the angels left them and gone back into heaven than the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go over to Beit-Lechem and see this thing that has happened, that Adonai has told us about.” 16 Hurrying off, they came and found Miryam and Yosef, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. 17 Upon seeing this, they made known what they had been told about this child; 18 and all who heard were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 19 Miryam treasured all these things and kept mulling them over in her heart. 20 Meanwhile, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen; it had been just as they had been told.
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Luke 2:1-20
(Read all of Luke 2)
Verse 2
[2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
When Cyrenius was governor of Syria — When Publius Sulpicius Quirinus governed the province of Syria, in which Judea was then included.
Verse 6
[6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered — Mary seems not to have known that the child must have been born in Bethlehem, agreeably to the prophecy. But the providence of God took care for it.
Verse 7
[7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
She laid him in the manger — Perhaps it might rather be translated in the stall. They were lodged in the ox stall, fitted up on occasion of the great concourse, for poor guests.
There was no room for them in the inn — Now also, there is seldom room for Christ in an inn. Matthew 1:25
Verse 11
[11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
To you — Shepherds; Israel; mankind.
Verse 14
[14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Glory be to God in the highest; on earth peace; good will toward men — The shouts of the multitude are generally broken into short sentences. This rejoicing acclamation strongly represents the piety and benevolence of these heavenly spirits: as if they had said, Glory be to God in the highest heavens: let all the angelic legions resound his praises. For with the Redeemer's birth, peace, and all kind of happiness, come down to dwell on earth: yea, the overflowings of Divine good will and favour are now exercised toward men.
Verse 20
[20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
For all the things that they had heard — From Mary; as it was told them - By the angels.
8:30am in Epworth Lounge10:30am in the Sanctuary
Special Presentation: Chancel Choir presents Roger Wagner's "The Story of Christmas" during 10:30 worship; traditional Walk to the Manger.Roger Wagner's "The Story of Christmas"
Listen to Sermons online
Visit our Website
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News From Our Members
Lay Looker will return week.
Read past columns here
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Coming at Church
I invite you to make all this season of busyness even more meaningful. Not just lovely, but life-changing. Not a burden of obligations, but a life-giving invitation to be a part of what God is doing.
I believe we can use all the activities of the season for something more than a Christmas party; I believe we can use it to help make the world ready for the coming of Christ’s kingdom.
Pastor Molly
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I invite you to make all this season of busyness even more meaningful. Not just lovely, but life-changing. Not a burden of obligations, but a life-giving invitation to be a part of what God is doing.
I believe we can use all the activities of the season for something more than a Christmas party; I believe we can use it to help make the world ready for the coming of Christ’s kingdom.
Pastor Molly
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Make Christmas MeaningfulWe have prepared a free Advent devotional for you to use at home. It's designed for people of all ages, to use alone, with your family or in a small group. You can pick up a copy on Sunday, or visit our website to find it online!
The devotional includes a reading for each week, along with questions for thought and conversation, and activities--as well as a page for drawing and imagining. Every day, we're posting a new story of inspiration on our site and on Facebook! (Follow and share!)
Help Shared Bread this Christmas!Help Shared Bread brighten the holidays for our guests on Wednesday, December 21 by decorating a table or baking a homemade dessert.
Tables Need: Plastic 108” tablecloth and a centerpiece. Other small party favors welcome. All are non-returnable. (We’ll use the placemats decorated by the congregation. Shared Bread will supply the plates, napkins, and flatware.)
Desserts: Deliver cupcakes, cake or pie on Wed., Dec 21 by 4:00pm. Ok to deliver tightly wrapped cookies on Sun., Dec. 18. Please email Nina Dooley to sign up for decorating and/or desserts.
Worship with us on Christmas Eve at 5pm and 11pm
Both worship times will include favorite carols, the Christmas story and candlelight. At 11pm, the choir will sing and we will share Communion.
"The Christmas Story" Dec 18 at 10:30Our Choir will share "The Christmas Story" as arranged by Roger Wagner during our 10:30 worship on Sunday December 18. This classic telling of the Christmas story will include our congregation's tradition of a "Walk to the Manger."
The devotional includes a reading for each week, along with questions for thought and conversation, and activities--as well as a page for drawing and imagining. Every day, we're posting a new story of inspiration on our site and on Facebook! (Follow and share!)
Help Shared Bread this Christmas!Help Shared Bread brighten the holidays for our guests on Wednesday, December 21 by decorating a table or baking a homemade dessert.
Tables Need: Plastic 108” tablecloth and a centerpiece. Other small party favors welcome. All are non-returnable. (We’ll use the placemats decorated by the congregation. Shared Bread will supply the plates, napkins, and flatware.)
Desserts: Deliver cupcakes, cake or pie on Wed., Dec 21 by 4:00pm. Ok to deliver tightly wrapped cookies on Sun., Dec. 18. Please email Nina Dooley to sign up for decorating and/or desserts.
Worship with us on Christmas Eve at 5pm and 11pm
Both worship times will include favorite carols, the Christmas story and candlelight. At 11pm, the choir will sing and we will share Communion.
"The Christmas Story" Dec 18 at 10:30Our Choir will share "The Christmas Story" as arranged by Roger Wagner during our 10:30 worship on Sunday December 18. This classic telling of the Christmas story will include our congregation's tradition of a "Walk to the Manger."
Sunday, December 18, 3-5pmPastor Molly and her family invite you to an open house at the parsonage (513 Faye Ln). From the open house, we'll go out in groups to sing carols at the homes of some of our older and homebound members.
One Worship Service at 10:30: Christmas Day and New Year's Day On Sundays December 25 and January 1, we will have just one worship service, at 10:30am in the sanctuary. Kids will be with us in worship!
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Check out photos from our Children's Christmas Pageant!Just click here to go to our Flickr.com site where you see photos from this year's pageant and so much more!
Our nursery will be closed
Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 25th, and Sunday, Jan.1st.
Sunday School is also on break and will resume January 8th!
We are excited to welcome children of all ages to be part of worship!
There will be coloring and activity sheets available at each service and as always, please feel free to use our children's corner in the Narthex during worship!
One Worship Service at 10:30: Christmas Day and New Year's Day On Sundays December 25 and January 1, we will have just one worship service, at 10:30am in the sanctuary. Kids will be with us in worship!
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Check out photos from our Children's Christmas Pageant!Just click here to go to our Flickr.com site where you see photos from this year's pageant and so much more!
Our nursery will be closed
Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 25th, and Sunday, Jan.1st.
Sunday School is also on break and will resume January 8th!
We are excited to welcome children of all ages to be part of worship!
There will be coloring and activity sheets available at each service and as always, please feel free to use our children's corner in the Narthex during worship!
Renewal Leave for Pastor MollyI am so grateful that I will be taking a leave for spiritual growth and renewal in early 2017, from January 23-February 22. We clergy are expected to take a month of such a leave once in every four years; now that I'm in my fifth year here, I have arranged to take this sabbath time away.I last took a renewal leave back in 2009, for two months; it was so good for my ministry and spirit, and I trust this opportunity will be rich, too.
During my leave, I plan to travel to France, where my husband Matt, will be working for a short while. I look forward to getting to learn and explore with our son, Jonah, too.
While I'm away, many of the pastoral responsibilities will be handled by Stephen Hale as a part of his seminary internship; Rev. Nicole Reilley will be supporting him, too. There will certainly be opportunities for many of you to step up and into some additional roles while I'm away, too, and I am so grateful for your willingness to make this possible.
Pastor Molly
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Book Club NewsThe book club met for a Christmas party and lively discussion of Backman’s “A Man Called Ove,” at Sally Donner’s house on Dec. 6. Our next selection is the novel, “The Nightingale,” by Kristin Hanna. We will meet in the church’s May Day Parlor at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 17. We shall also choose books for the next few months at that meeting. Why not start the new year by reading good books? Join us. For more information, email Ann
Acolyte Training December 22!All 4th-8th graders are invited to be trained to serve the church as Acolytes.
Training will be from 3:30-4:30, December 22nd in the sanctuary. Those who have already been trained as acolytes can arrive at 4:00.
Join us for a fun and informative meeting with Pastor Molly and we'll prepare to serve on Christmas Eve and through out the year as well!
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Better Together: Pledge Campaign for 2017 Update
Thank you to everyone who has given a pledge of financial support to the church for 2017. So far, we have received 66 pledges, for $280,830.; we are grateful to have received several pledges from people who have never pledged before! We hope to receive $300,000 in pledges, to support an annual ministry budget of $500,000.
We invite you to consider making a pledge of financial support to our church for 2017, if you haven't already.When you make a pledge of giving to the church, at least two things happen. It helps put your faith at the center of your financial decisions, because giving to the church is something you plan from the beginning. It also helps us as a congregation, to make more strategic plans for ministry for the coming year. We hope you will give prayerful thought to whether this is a step you are willing to take.
-Your 2016 Stewardship Team: Gary Baughman, Deirdre Briese, Grace and Jon Saari, Holly Walters, Stephen Hale and Pastor Molly Vetter
End of Year GivingWe encourage you to consider making an additional gift to the church here at the end of the year. We count on your generosity to make our ministries possible!!
In 2015, we received over 20% of our annual donations during December, and we depend on this same kind of generosity again this year, in order to make our ministry obligations.
To receive a charitable deduction for 2016 giving, we need to receive your gifts by December 31. You may give in person, by mail or online, through OnRealm, or through our website, via PayPal.
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AnnouncementsChurch Council: Our December Church Council meeting will be Monday, December 19 at 7pm in Epworth Lounge.
Men's Breakfast: Our next breakfast is Monday, December 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: Know someone in need of prayer? You can sponsor a free prayer quilt for them. Our next quilting workshop is Friday, January 13 at 10am. Join us for our monthly quilting workshop.--if you haven't tried quilt-making, this is a great easy way to begin. More information is online.
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.
This Week: Children, Youth & AdultsNursery (6 weeks+): The Nursery is open during both services, for ages 6 weeks to 6 yrs old. Located right off of the parking lot across from Epworth Lounge. Any questions email the Nursery Coordinator: Adriana Hwang
Children's Ministry (age 3 - 3rd Grade) No Sunday School this week! We will enjoy a beautiful service with tons of Christmas songs and Advent joy! Sunday School will resume January 8th!
Church R Us (Grades 4 & 5): No Sunday School this week! We will enjoy a beautiful service with tons of Christmas songs and Advent joy! Sunday School will resume January 8th!
Youth Ministry (6th-12th grade):
- Middle School Sunday School? Nope! Sunday School resumes Jan 8!
-Youth Group? Yep! It's gonna be great!
-The Christmas Party is Dec 23! It's a Progressive Dinner!
-The Winter Retreat is January 27-9!
Young Adults (19-not very specific):
We gather together socially on the regular, though somewhat erratically. Contact Stephen Hale in the church office to be kept in the loop!
Adult Sunday School: Bible Study and Discussion in May Day Parlor. Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15am. Led by Helen Stockwell and Paul Caldwell.
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Thursday Pastor's Bible Study:Thursday mornings from 11:00-noon, in May Day Parlor. All are welcome.
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United Methodist News & EventsOur 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.
The South Coast Interfaith Council is sponsoring a March Against Hate on Saturday, December 17, from 10am-2pm. The march starts at MLK Park in Long Beach, and ends at the Long Beach Islamic Centre.
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First United Methodist Church of Redondo Beach
243 South Broadway
Redondo Beach, California 90277, United States
310-372-8445 main
310-372-8445 main
310-372-5696 fax
Website
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Ongoing Ministries
Free Meal on Wednesday Nights
Offering food and friendship to those in need, every Wednesday night since 1992. More info here.
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In 1963, NBC contacted the legendary Roger Wagner about creating a Christmas show to be broadcast live. The result was a 20 minute concert of Christmas carols, separated by incidental music that underscored a narrator, who narrated the story of Christmas according to St. Luke. The show was broadcast in 1964, sung by the Roger Wagner Chorale, accompanied by the NBC Orchestra, conducted by Roger and narrated by Tennessee Ernie Ford. An accompanying album was released by Capitol and is still available on Amazon. From that year on, The Christmas Story According to...Music Notes by Jim Raycroft
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Ongoing Ministries
Offering food and friendship to those in need, every Wednesday night since 1992. More info here.
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In 1963, NBC contacted the legendary Roger Wagner about creating a Christmas show to be broadcast live. The result was a 20 minute concert of Christmas carols, separated by incidental music that underscored a narrator, who narrated the story of Christmas according to St. Luke. The show was broadcast in 1964, sung by the Roger Wagner Chorale, accompanied by the NBC Orchestra, conducted by Roger and narrated by Tennessee Ernie Ford. An accompanying album was released by Capitol and is still available on Amazon. From that year on, The Christmas Story According to...Music Notes by Jim Raycroft
Music Director, Jim Raycroft, will share upcoming worship music
selections and a little bit of history, too.
Jim Raycroft
Thursday, December 15, 2016 - Music Notes by Jim Raycroft
In 1963, NBC contacted the legendary Roger Wagner about creating a Christmas show to be broadcast live. The result was a 20 minute concert of Christmas carols, separated by incidental music that underscored a narrator, who narrated the story of Christmas according to St. Luke. The show was broadcast in 1964, sung by the Roger Wagner Chorale, accompanied by the NBC Orchestra, conducted by Roger and narrated by Tennessee Ernie Ford. An accompanying album was released by Capitol and is still available on Amazon. From that year on, The Christmas Story According to St. Luke was the closer for every Christmas concert performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and was always narrated by a celebrity narrator. I was fortunate to have experienced the last such concert (Christmas of 1985), as Roger retired from the Master Chorale at the end of that season. The narrator that year was Pernell Roberts, star of the hit television show Trapper John, M.D. (and Bonanza before that), and I recall that the concert was so long (2 hours and 45 minutes) that it forced the Chorale management to pay us overtime. I'm fond of this piece, as I think it has a strong appeal to young and old – classic without being trendy – and brings the story of the first Christmas to life in a way that's accessible to pretty much everyone. There are eight songs in the work, including one – The Virgin's Slumber Song by Max Reger – which I had never heard before singing this piece, and now that song is my favorite in the entire work.
Personent Hodie is a Christmas carol published in 1582 in a Finnish song book called Piae Cantiones, a collection of 74 medieval songs with Latin texts collected by Jaakko Suomalainen, a Swedish Lutheran cleric. The most common English translation is the one in our hymnbook, by Jane M. Josephs, who translated the title as On This Day Earth Shall Ring. The song become a prominent Christmas tune in England when it was arranged for unison voices and orchestra by Gustav Holst in 1916. Since then it has been arranged and/or covered by numerous artists, including John Rutter, the North Sea Radio Orchestra and jazz musician Wayne Shorter.
This week, by special request, our fabulous keyboardist/pianist Cris is reprising the piece he performed for our series Famous Postludes last spring – George Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue. If you saw the movie Fantasia 2000, you know this piece, and United Airlines has been using it for their theme song for several years now (it snuck into the last little snippet of music in their most recent commercial).
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful pianists Cris Monarch and MaryAnn Stickler, who have helped me with the music preparation for the Christmas Story. I handed them a stack of papers that looked like a herd of mice with ink on their feet ran across them, and he handed me back a stack of papers with just the piano part, another stack with just the organ part, another stack with just the bass part, and so on. This was a job that would have taken me weeks to do.
I also want to express my gratitude to everyone in our congregation for the wonderful support you've given all of us in the music department. Creating music for a church can be a blessing or a curse, and this church is truly a blessing to be part of. One thought I'd like to leave you all with – the church is always pestering you for money, because that's how we are able to do what we do. The music we make is the same – we are able to make the kind of extraordinary music we make because of the remarkable people we have and guest artists we enjoy. A large part of our music budget comes from an account that is totally separate from the main church budget, called The Friends of Music, which is supported by private donations from the congregation over and above the church budget. If anything we've ever done musically has touched you or given you a lift, you can help us to continue to do what we do with a separate contribution to the Friends of Music account. Every little bit helps, and anything you can do will enable us to keep doing what we're doing
Read more about our music here!
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Our choir is back for the fall, and regular rehearsals have moved to Thursday evenings! Join the choir for rehearsal each Thursday, from 7:30 to 9pm in the Choir Room. Contact Jim Raycroft for more info.
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United Methodist Women’s Reading Program 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.
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We have many spots to fill for liturgists on Sunday mornings. The following link will take you the sign up. Please check it out.
Sunday Worship Liturgist Sign Up
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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.
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Connect with us
First United Methodist Church
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Our choir is back for the fall, and regular rehearsals have moved to Thursday evenings! Join the choir for rehearsal each Thursday, from 7:30 to 9pm in the Choir Room. Contact Jim Raycroft for more info.
-------
United Methodist Women’s Reading Program 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.
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We have many spots to fill for liturgists on Sunday mornings. The following link will take you the sign up. Please check it out.
Sunday Worship Liturgist Sign Up
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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.
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Connect with us
First United Methodist Church
243 South Broadway
Redondo Beach, California 90277, United States
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