The Redondo Beach, California, United States First United States Newsletter for Thursday, 1 June 2017 "Youth Sunday: Celebrating Pentecost - Worship at 8:30 & 10:30am!"

The Redondo Beach, California, United States First United States Newsletter for Thursday, 1 June 2017 "Youth Sunday: Celebrating Pentecost -  Worship at 8:30 & 10:30am!" 

From Pastor Molly:  old and young

This Sunday is special for at least two reasons: it's Pentecost, and it's Youth Sunday.  On Pentecost, we celebrate the birth of the church, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and a diverse community of other Jews as they were gathered in Jerusalem. The holiday is a reminder that church exists because of this gift of the Spirit. Like the breath of God into Adam at creation, the Spirit's wind gives life to the church. Not for our own sake, but for God's sake. There is a tradition of wearing red on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit appeared with not only wind but with something like tongues of fire--red reminds us of this divine fire. I encourage you to wear something red this Sunday, if you are able. Let it remind you of the power of God. On Youth Sunday, our young people in middle and high school will lead worship. They have some exciting things planned; three of them will offer the message during worship. I look forward to worshiping with them, and am grateful for their leadership. (After worship, they also invite you to join in our annual Youth Banquet. This annual tradition is a fun way for the rest of us to see what's been going on in our youth program, and to offer our presence and support for this meaningful work!) All of this comes together in the words from the prophet Joel, which Peter quotes on the day of Pentecost--about a time when God's Spirit will let "the young see visions and the old dream dreams." Joel's prophesy includes description of how the Holy Spirit invites people of all ages to be a part of this new thing that God is doing through us.  This is one of my favorite things about our congregation: that we are a wonderful intergenerational community, where people young and old are invited to play a significant part in the work of Christ's church. We are better for doing this together. grace and peace, Pastor Molly

In Worship This Week Sunday, June 4 Pentecost "The Birth of the Church" Todd Potter, Bryan Hwang & Eunice Tuuholoaki, preaching Acts 2:1-21  Scripture Text: Acts 2:1 The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.5 Now there were staying in Yerushalayim religious Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered; they were confused, because each one heard the believers speaking in his own language. 7 Totally amazed, they asked, “How is this possible? Aren’t all these people who are speaking from the Galil? 8 How is it that we hear them speaking in our native languages? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Y’hudah, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome; 11 Jews by birth and proselytes; Jews from Crete and from Arabia. . . ! How is it that we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things God has done?” 12 Amazed and confused, they all went on asking each other, “What can this mean?” 13 But others made fun of them and said, “They’ve just had too much wine!” 14 Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me! 15 “These people ar en’t drunk, as you suppose — it’s only nine in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken about through the prophet Yo’el: 17 ‘Adonai says: “In the Last Days, I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my slaves, both men and women, will I pour out from my Spirit in those days; and they will prophesy. 19 I will perform miracles in the sky above and signs on the earth below — blood, fire and thick smoke. 20 The sun will become dark and the moon blood before the great and fearful Day of Adonai comes. 21 And then, whoever calls on the name of Adonai will be saved.”’[Acts 2:21 Joel 3:1–5(2:28–32)] John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Acts 2:1-21 The Book of Acts Chapter 2 Verses: 2:1 At the pentecost of Sinai, in the Old Testament, and the pentecost of Jerusalem, in the New, where the two grand manifestations of God, the legal and the evangelical; the one from the mountain, and the other from heaven; the terrible, and the merciful one. They were all with one accord in one place - So here was a conjunction of company, minds, and place; the whole hundred and twenty being present. 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven - So will the Son of man come to judgment. And it filled all the house - That is, all that part of the temple where they were sitting. 2:3 And there appeared distinct tongues, as of fire - That is, small flames of fire. This is all which the phrase, tongues of fire, means in the language of the seventy. Yet it might intimate God's touching their tongues as it were (together with their hearts) with Divine fire: his giving them such words as were active and penetrating, even as flaming fire. 2:4 And they began to speak with other tongues - The miracle was not in the ears of the hearers, (as some have unaccountably supposed,) but in the mouth of the speakers. And this family praising God together, with the tongues of all the world, was an earnest that the whole world should in due time praise God in their various tongues. As the Spirit gave them utterance - Moses, the type of the law, was of a slow tongue; but the Gospel speaks with a fiery and flaming one. 2:5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews - Gathered from all parts by the peculiar providence of God. 2:6 The multitude came together, and were confounded - The motions of their minds were swift and various. 2:9 Judea - The dialect of which greatly differed from that of Galilee. Asia - The country strictly so called. 2:10 Roman sojourners - Born at Rome, but now living at Jerusalem.These seem to have come to Jerusalem after those who are above mentioned. All of them were partly Jews by birth, and partly proselytes. 2:11 Cretans - One island seems to be mentioned for all. The wonderful works of God - Probably those which related to the miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, together with the effusion of his Spirit, as a fulfilment of his promises, and the glorious dispensations of Gospel grace. 2:12 They were all amazed - All the devout men. 2:13 But others mocking - The world begins with mocking, thence proceeds to cavilling, Acts 4:7 ; to threats, 4:17; to imprisoning, Acts 5:18 ; blows, 5:40; to slaughter, Acts 7:58 . These mockers appear to have been some of thenatives of Judea, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, (who understood only the dialect of the country,) by the apostle's immediately directing his discourse to them in the next verse. They are full of sweet wine - So the Greek word properly signifies. There was no new wine so early in the year as pentecost. Thus natural men are wont to ascribe supernatural things to mere natural causes; and many times as impudently and unskilfully as in the present case. 2:14 Then Peter standing up - All the gestures, all the words of Peter, show the utmost sobriety; lifted up his voice - With cheerfulness and boldness; and said to them - This discourse has three parts; each of which, Acts 2:14 ,22,29, begins with the same appellation, men: only to the last part he prefixes with more familiarity the additional word brethren. Men of Judea - That is, ye that are born in Judea. St. Peter spoke in Hebrew,which they all understood. 2:15 It is but the third hour of the day - That is, nine in the morning. And on the solemn festivals the Jews rarely ate or drank any thing till noon. 2:16 But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet - But there is another and better way of accounting for this. >Joel 2:28 2:17 The times of the Messiah are frequently called the last days, the Gospel being the last dispensation of Divine grace.I will pour out of my Spirit - Not on the day of pentecost only, upon all flesh - On persons of every age, sex, and rank. And your young men shall see visions - In young men the outward sense, are most vigorous, and the bodily strength is entire, whereby they are best qualified to sustain the shock which usually attends the visions of God. In old men the internal senses are most vigorous, suited to divine dreams. Not that the old are wholly excluded from the former, nor the young from the latter. 2:18 And upon my servants - On those who are literally in a state of servitude. 2:19 And I will show prodigies in heaven above, and signs on earth beneath - Great revelations of grace are usually attended with great judgments on those who reject it. In heaven - Treated of, Acts 2:20 .On earth - Described in this verse. Such signs were those mentioned, Acts 2:22 , before the passion of Christ; which are so mentioned as to include also those at the very time of the passion and resurrection, at the destruction of Jerusalem, and at the end of the world. Terrible indeed were those prodigies in particular which precededthe destruction of Jerusalem: such as the flaming sword hanging over the city, and the fiery comet pointing down upon it for a year; the light that shone upon the temple and the altar in the night, as if it had been noon - day; the opening of the great and heavy gate of the temple without hands; the voice heard from the most holy place, Let us depart hence; the admonition of Jesus the son of Ananus, crying for seven years together, Wo, wo, wo; the vision of contending armies in the air, and of entrenchments thrown up against a city there represented; the terrible thunders and lightnings, and dreadful earthquakes, which every one considered as portending some great evil: all which, through the singular providence of God, are particularly recorded by Josephus.Blood - War and slaughter. Fire - Burnings of houses and towns, involving all in clouds of smoke. 2:20 The moon shall be turned into blood - A bloody colour: before the day of the Lord - Eminently the last day; though not excluding any other day or season, wherein the Lord shall manifest his glory, in taking vengeance of his adversaries. 2:21 But - whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord - This expression implies the whole of religion, and particularly prayer uttered in faith; shall be saved - From all those plagues; from sin and hell. 8:30am in Epworth Lounge                                               10:30am in the Sanctuary Special Music: "Thanks Be to Thee" by Handel, Chancel Choir; Youth Band leading worship Listen to Sermons online

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News From Our Members

I missed church a week ago last Sunday and it was certainly good to find myself back with you all last week. There was Stephen Hale, just graduated from The Claremont School of Theology and Pastor Molly giving another great sermon as she has so many, many times and all the rest of you helpers of our church. The Choir, band, soloists, organist and pianist, ushers, greeters and just about half of us are all doing our thing which results in great worship together. I love it. My absence was due to a driving trip to Durango, Colorado with my son doing the vast majority of the driving. Me, I just enjoy not... Thursday, June 1, 2017 Bob Peterson Bob 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, 1 June 2017 by Bob Peterson       I missed church a week ago last Sunday and it was certainly good to find myself back with you all last week. There was Stephen Hale, just graduated from The Claremont School of Theology and Pastor Molly giving another great sermon as she has so many, many times and all the rest of you helpers of our church. The Choir, band, soloists, organist and pianist, ushers, greeters and just about half of us are all doing our thing which results in great worship together. I love it. My absence was due to a driving trip to Durango, Colorado with my son doing the vast majority of the driving. Me, I just enjoy not counting the thousands of trucks on interstate I-40. As a kid I would count the train cars, often all the way up to over a hundred. Now they all carry containers, so many of them headed for L. A. San Pedro and Long Beach Harbors. If I was beginning my career these days I would be looking into some form of transportation or its operation. It seems as if everything is made to be shipped somewhere from all around the world. Take a look at San Pedro/Long Beach Harbor if you doubt me. [June 4] our church is celebrating Youth Sunday with luncheon following the 10:30 Worship Service including the volunteers and young sixth graders as they graduate into higher learning. It'll be a catered lunch, so expect to donate the asked for $15.00 and have a great time. It was wonderful greeting all of you again and finding out that others as well had to miss church May 23rd but all is well as the staff and volunteers continue to make our experience meaningful, beautiful and educational and we continue to learn and worship together. Have a happy month of June. Read more Lay Looker here

Coming at Church

YOUTH BANQUET - JUNE 4!!! The whole church is encouraged to join us as we celebrate the youth program, volunteers, and incoming 6th graders! We'll gather after the 10:30 service in the Fellowship Hall. We'll have enchiladas catered from El Tarasco, and about an hour of programming. Come hear about the great stuff we've done this year, and a little bit about our plans for the next year! Tickets are available at the door for $15 each.

New Member Class Pastor Molly invites you to join her for a class about church membership, on Sunday, June 11 at 9:30am in Epworth Lounge. This class is especially designed for people who are new to our church, to explore what it means to belong to the church. Whether you are a life-long Methodist, brand new to faith, or have followed any other path to get to our church, this class is an opportunity for you to know more about our congregation, our beliefs and our tradition.

Baptism Class: Sunday, June 25 at 9:30am Join Pastor Molly for a one-day class about baptism. This class is designed especially for parents considering baptizing their children, but is open to all adults, youth and children who would want to know more about the sacrament of baptism, which is our formal initiation into the Church. (Even if you've already been baptized, or are not sure you would want to be baptized, you are welcome to come be a part of our conversation.) The class fulfills the required preparation for  baptism; at the class, you will also get more information about how and when to schedule a baptism. In Epworth Lounge.

Childcare will be available for young children during the class, in the nursery.

Our children need YOU!  This summer we expect to share God's amazing love with over 100 children from our community, can you help us make that happen? We need volunteers from age 16-26 to join us for a variety of roles! A Week In The Arts Camp: June 26-30  VBS Maker Fun Factory: July 31-Aug. 4th Email Children's Ministry to sign up!  Other ways you can help: Bring in clean, craftable recyclables  (cans, old kitchen utensils, craft supplies/scraps, useable hardware and old tools, paper towel rolls, lids, tops of squeezable apple sauce, and more!)

Time is running out to sign up for Week In the Arts!  $200 per camper Campers will get to have daily experiences with music, dance, and visual arts!  Optional extended after program care available!  Click here to register!  Financial assistance is available for all our summer programming, contact Children's Ministries for more info.

June 11: Celebrating All Graduates We would like to recognize those individuals who are graduating (at any level). If you have a family member who you'd like to include, please   email Ernie  in the church office, with their name, relationship to you, the school they're graduating from (and any degree/program information), as well as plans for what they will do next (if that applies). Please get us your information by Wednesday, June 7.

Farewell to Jen Jacques Jen Jacques recently finished college and her teaching credential! She'll start teaching Middle School this Fall. That's great news! Bad news? She's leaving our youth program! Come to the Youth Banquet Sunday, and we'll celebrate Jen, sending her off in style.

Celebrating Spanish Classes!  On Tuesday, our Beach Faith Kids Spanish class wrapped up for the school year! Twelve children grew in language and social skills under the guidance of Adriana Hwang, Grace Martens, and Bryan Hwang!  Their accomplishments were celebrated by learning to make tortillas from scratch, playing, and eating cake!  Classes start again in October, enrollment is now open!  Click Here for more!

Have an Old Camera to Donate? Do you have an older digital camera sitting in a drawer somewhere you would be willing to donate to the Baja Mission 2017 trip? If it still works, we've got a great use for it! The Baja trip will teach an Arts camp to elementary school children in a community of migrants, and we've got an idea for a photography class.                                                               If you've got one to donate (you won't get this camera back), please drop it off in the church office, or email Stephen with questions! Thanks!

VBS Supply Drive We are gathering supplies for our VBS and summer programming!  There are two ways you can help! Take a tag from the board on the patio on Sunday, purchase the item on the tag and bring it back to church...  OR!  Purchase something from our  Amazon Wishlist  & have it shipped directly to church!  (to find the VBS registry with out using the link, search for the list using the email Children@beachfaith.com)

Registration for Vacation Bible School is OPEN!  All 3 year olds through 8th graders are invited to join us for a fun week of learning we were designed by God for a purpose! VBS is $45.00 for one child, $75 for two, and $90.00 for three or more! Click here to register!

Book Club on Summer Hiatus: Our Book Club is taking a summer vacation, with no meetings in June, July, and August. We will meet again Tuesday, September 19. There are four selections for enjoyable summer reading: “I Capture the Castle,” by Dodie Smith; “Marriage of Opposites,” by Alice Hoffman; “Sally Ride,” by Lynn Sherr; and “The Shoemaker’s Wife,” by Adriana Trigiani. For more information, on our club,  contact Ann Gallagher.

Want to help with Welcome Team? The Welcome Team at church helps make sure visitors can find their way around, and get to know our church a little bit. It's also one of the more fun groups of people at our church! Are you interested in being part of that? 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. They promise to train you, give you the information you need ("uhm...what Children go to which classrooms?") and make this easy! If you'd like to volunteer, or ask questions, email our Welcome Team!

Announcements

Men's Breakfast: Our next breakfast is Monday, June 5, 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. Join us for our monthly quilting workshop Friday, June 16, 10am - noon in the choir room. Sue Christman will teach a new paper piecing quilt project.  Even if you haven't tried quilt-making before, this is a great 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.  Church Council: Council will meet Monday, June 19 at 7PM in Epworth Lounge. This is the monthly meeting of the governing body of the church, comprised of each committee chair and several at-large members. All are welcome to attend.

This Week: Children, Youth & Adults

Nursery (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) There is no Sunday School this week. We will all be together celebrating Pentecost, the birthday of the Church! Our youth are in charge of worship this week, so you won't want to miss this special day.  Church R Us (Grades 4 & 5) :  There is no CRU this week. We will all be together celebrating Pentecost, the birthday of the Church! Our youth are in charge of worship this week, don't miss out!  Youth Ministry (6th-12th grade):  - Middle School Sunday School? Nope! It's Youth Sunday! We run the service! - Youth Group(3-5pm on Sunday)? Nope! There's a Youth Banquet! But we are meeting Saturday (9-11am) to practice for Youth Sunday/Youth Banquet! -Want to help with sell Youth Banquet tickets on Sunday? Click here to get a slot! Young Adults (19-not very specific): We get together occasionally. Contact Stephen for more info! Adult Sunday School: Bible Study and Discussion in May Day Parlor. Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15am. Led by Paul Caldwell and  Helen Stockwell .  Thursday Pastor's Bible Study: Thursday mornings from 11:00-noon, in May Day Parlor. 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 | 243 S. Broadway | Redondo Beach | CA | 90277  310-372-8445 main | 310-372-5696 fax | Email | Website

Ongoing Ministries

Free Meal on Wednesday Nights Offering food and friendship to those in need, every Wednesday night since 1992. More info here. DESSERTS FOR  SHARED BREAD Our dessert supply is still low! Would you like to help? 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 through Wednesday to the church kitchen (or the office if kitchen is closed.)

Our youth band will be leading music during worship this week (along with Mary Ann, our organist). Read previous weeks' more music notes here

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.

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

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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First United Methodist Church of Redondo Beach
243 South Broadway
Redondo Beach, California 90277, United States                           

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