From Pastor Molly: Water ActivatedNext week at this time, we will be in the midst of Vacation Bible School. Kids from age 3 up will be experiencing a taste of what it means to believe that we are created in God's image, and that we're given gifts to use to be creators of God's kingdom.
There will be games, snacks, crafts, songs and stories. A multitude of church volunteers will come together to make it happen. Thank you to all of you who have contributed supplies, prepared lessons and offered to lead groups. Thank you to everyone who has invited neighbors, registered your kids or offered to bring your grandkids.
I love the busyness of the week, and how the hours of VBS become an opportunity for us to "do church" for young people. We get to model commitment, grace, love and joy.
Whatever your involvement has been so far, I hope you will pray for our Vacation Bible School throughout this week. Pray for our volunteers, that they would be filled with a spirit of love and grace. Pray for the young people who come, that they would experience God's love and grow deeper in faith. Pray for the parents who drop them off, that they would catch a glimpse of the wonder of God's kingdom and of this congregation.
grace and peace,
Pastor Molly
This Sunday, during 10:30 worship, we will share in the sacrament of baptism, as we baptize Maria, Carrie and Jack Potter. We have been blessed by their involvement in our congregation for a long while--it will be a special joy to welcome with water and God's Spirit!
Sunday, July 30th"In the Mix"
Rev. Molly Vetter, preaching
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Scriptural Text: Matthew 13:31 Yeshua put before them another parable. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man takes and sows in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows up it is larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the birds flying about come and nest in its branches.”
33 And he told them yet another parable. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with a bushel of flour, then waited until the whole batch of dough rose.”
44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, hid it again, then in great joy went and sold everything he owned, and bought that field.
45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for fine pearls. 46 On finding one very valuable pearl he went away, sold everything he owned and bought it.
47 “Once more, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net thrown into the lake, that caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen brought the net up onto the shore, sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad fish away. 49 So it will be at the close of the age — the angels will go forth and separate the evil people from among the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will wail and grind their teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered. 52 He said to them, “So then, every Torah-teacher who has been made into a talmid for the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of a home who brings out of his storage room both new things and old.”
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Verse 31
[31] Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
He proposed to them another parable — The former parables relate chiefly to unfruitful hearers; these that follow, to those who bear good fruit.
The kingdom of heaven — Both the Gospel dispensation, and the inward kingdom. Mark 4:30; Luke 13:18.
Verse 32
[32] Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
The least — That is, one of the least: a way of speaking extremely common among the Jews.
It becometh a tree — In those countries it grows exceeding large and high. So will the Christian doctrine spread in the world, and the life of Christ in the soul.
Verse 33
[33] Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Three measures — This was the quantity which they usually baked at once: till the whole was leavened - Thus will the Gospel leaven the world and grace the Christian. Luke 13:20.
Verse 44
[44] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
The three following parables are proposed, not to the multitude, but peculiarly to the apostles: the two former of them relate to those who receive the Gospel; the third, both to those who receive, and those who preach it.
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field — The kingdom of God within us is a treasure indeed, but a treasure hid from the world, and from the most wise and prudent in it. He that finds this treasure, (perhaps when he thought it far from him,) hides it deep in his heart, and gives up all other happiness for it.
Verse 45
[45] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
The kingdom of heaven — That is, one who earnestly seeks for it: in verse Matthew 13:47 it means, the Gospel preached, which is like a net gathering of every kind: just so the Gospel, wherever it is preached, gathers at first both good and bad, who are for a season full of approbation and warm with good desires. But Christian discipline, and strong, close exhortation, begin that separation in this world, which shall be accomplished by the angels of God in the world to come.
Verse 52
[52] Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven — That is, every duly prepared preacher of the Gospel has a treasure of Divine knowledge, out of which he is able to bring forth all sorts of instructions. The word treasure signifies any collection of things whatsoever, and the places where such collections are kept.
8:30am in Epworth Lounge
10:30am in the Sanctuary, with baptismSpecial Music: "Ain't But The One" by Duke Ellington and "Precious Lord" by Thomas Dorsey, sung by Tonoccus McClain
"Ain't But The One" by Duke Ellington
Ain't but the one, just one.
Ain't but the one, just one.
Ain't but the one good Lord above.
Ain't but the one great God of love.
Who set the stars? Just one.
Who knows the jugdment? Just one.
Who is the power, who is the power?
Ain't but the one who knows the story.
Made them apples that fall from the tree.
Made the skies put fish in the see.
Who made the little flowers, gave honey to the bees.
Made the cripples walk and the blind man to see?
Ain't but the one, just one.
Ain't but the one, just one.
Ain't but the one good Lord above.
Ain't but the one great God of love.
Who set the stars? Just one.
Who knows the jugdment? Just one.
Who is the power, who is the power?
Ain't but the one who knows the story.
Brought water from solid stone, brought water like rain,
made a serpent wither from a walking stick,
made a snake out of a cane.
Made a million miracles, miracles that never fail,
snatched Jonah, yes he did, from the belly of the whale.
Ain't but the one, just one.
Ain't but the one, just one.
Ain't but the one good Lord above.
Ain't but the one great God of love.
"Precious Lord" by Thomas Dorsey
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News From Our Members
1. Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Refrain:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
2. When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Refrain:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
3. When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Refrain:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
Visit our Website
News From Our Members
We have been hearing quite a lot about our young people attending Baja and summer camp and this brings me memories of my own experiences. After World War II, I was back in my church in Los Angeles teaching a boys Sunday School class and my pastor asked if I could consider being a faculty member at Summer Camp. I asked what I could do and he said they needed a leader for the daily camp newspaper at Camp Radford in the San Bernardino Mountains. To make a long story short I said yes and I found myself with several amazing teens so eager to work that we put out a great daily paper on what was called a mimeograph machin...Thursday, July 27, 2017
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!
Thurday, 27 July 2017 by Bob Peterson
We have been hearing quite a lot about our young people attending Baja and summer camp and this brings me memories of my own experiences. After World War II, I was back in my church in Los Angeles teaching a boys Sunday School class and my pastor asked if I could consider being a faculty member at Summer Camp. I asked what I could do and he said they needed a leader for the daily camp newspaper at Camp Radford in the San Bernardino Mountains. To make a long story short I said yes and I found myself with several amazing teens so eager to work that we put out a great daily paper on what was called a mimeograph machine and our students not only got to print it, deliver it and see their own articles with by-lines. I am pleased to report that not only was it fun for the students, it was fun for me. No....I didn't save any copies of the camper's news which was mostly gossip anyway.
On most Sundays, if you are outside and perhaps even inside the sanctuary you can hear our church bell ringing shortly before worship .begins. Most Sundays David Klinger escorts his grandchildren up the South stairway and sees to it that they safely pull the rope that rings the bell. Last Sunday a boy asked me what that ringing was for and I told him it was to let all who could hear it know that church was happening here at Redondo Beach First UMC and that they were welcome to attend if they wished. I doubt that many respond, but several years ago a woman asked, at the South door, if she could come in and look at the sanctuary of this grand old church. I escorted her in and briefly explained a bit about our history before she left. Some people love that bell which replaced an old cast iron rusted bell that had lost its charm. Thanks to Francie Norton for her finding a beautiful bronze bell in mid-USA, having it shipped here and hung in memory of her late husband. Every time I hear it ring, I think of her generosity. Francie, if you don't know her, sits in the front row (left) and is escorted most Sundays by her young caregivers in her wheel chair.
I need to thank my volunteer Greeters who staff the sanctuary doors each Sunday. Carl, June, Samantha and Marilyn are the most regular and always say yes when asked. This fall we lose Carl, as he moves out of state to be with family in a place far from our cooling beach We will miss him.
Click here to read more of the Lay Looker.
Coming at Church
Coming at Church
VBS Starts Monday! It's not too late to volunteer to help!
Volunteers can be as young as entering 9th grade. Can't commit to the whole week? That's OK. We can always use extra help any day during the week. Just let us know when you're available.
VBS Maker Fun Factory:
July 31-Aug. 4th
Mark your calendars:
All Church Deck VBS Prep Day
July 29 at 9:00am
Many hands make light work-
all are welcome!!
Final VBS Meeting for all volunteers, July 30th!
This meeting will cover important topics and we'll hand out our shirts to wear for Monday of VBS. This meeting is mandatory. See ya there!
There's still time to join us!
New Members Welcome
By becoming a church member, you affirm or reaffirm the covenant of baptism, and claim your commitment to serve Christ through our congregation. We are planning to receive new members in church soon, and would be happy to welcome new people into the life of our congregation.
If you are interested in church membership, please contact Pastor Molly.
Endowment Fund Completes 19th Successful YearOur church‘s Endowment Fund was founded 19 years ago, with a $50,000 bequest from Edith Enbom on July 21, 1998. Additional bequests over the years from estates and gifts of members have been invested in securities for growth and income as a part of the Endowment Fund. Only income from dividends and interest is transferred to the church budget, bringing ministry funds each month. Capital gains are retained for future growth. The fund is managed by Ashland Investment Advisors and monitored by the Endowment Committee. The value of the fund on June 30, 2017 was $1,694,984.85 representing a gain of 7.72% for the year. So far this year, $22,248.33 in income has also been generated for our church budget.
Gifts to the Endowment Fund in honor of special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries and births are always welcomed.A donation or bequest to the Endowment Fund is the gift that keeps on giving.
I've Been Watching: Wonder Woman
(from Youth Director Stephen Hale)
Stephen Hale loved Wonder Woman, and shared some reflections about the theology of its characters--he wrote it especially to help youth leaders, but we thought you might enjoy it, too!
WONDER WOMAN AND HUMAN DEPRAVITY BY STEPHEN HALE
So you’ve probably seen Wonder Woman by now. If you haven’t, see it! On top of being a great action movie, giving girls a hero, and boys a helpful female hero, it engages deeply in theological conversations.
*WARNING: SPOILERS TO FOLLOW*
In the film, Diana’s (that’s Wonder Woman, Princess Diana of Themyscira) basic trajectory is to confront a simplistic understanding of evil in the world. She was raised in isolation on tales of Greek gods and their interaction with humans. She understands all war to be the product of Ares’ (the god of war) influence on humankind. Her people, the Amazonians of Themyscira, exist to oppose Ares’ work.As Diana interacts with Europe during World War I, she begins to realize that Ares did not cause this war. Human beings caused the war, and our idealistic hero is troubled. It is during the big finale that she must confront the idea that human beings are deeply evil.
Ares informs Wonder Woman that he whispered in the ears of mankind, but never caused a war. He had seen the deep evil in the human heart and believed the best thing for creation was for human beings to destroy themselves. He simply fostered the deep brokenness inside of human beings.
ARES & TOTAL DEPRAVITY
Implicitly, Ares believes something close to a Calvinist idea called Total Depravity. Total Depravity is the idea that human beings are totally depraved because of the fall. That is, they are completely ruined, with all ability to do good before God destroyed. Wayne Grudem, a Reformed/Calvinist theologian, writes
“In these passages, Scripture is not denying that unbelievers can do good in human society in some senses. But it is denying that they can do any spiritual good or be good in terms of a relationship with God.”[1]
However, many Calvinists go farther, believing even your good deeds are not truly good, as John Piper (a deeply Reformed thinker) articulates HERE. You might love puppies, but you only love puppies because they make you feel good. Without the healing of the human heart that comes with redemption, we are totally unable to do good. You can see this in Wonder Woman since humanity is totally unable to do works that impress Ares. As far as Ares is concerned, humans are totally ruined.[2]
COMPLEX REALITY
Initially, Wonder Woman is persuaded by Ares arguments. She can see, as a deeply ethical person, that this makes a lot of sense. However, she ultimately rejects this idea. As she remembers the loving things done by the flawed people she met through the movie, she realizes that reality is more complex. Humans are deeply flawed, but they are not completely ruined. This is a rough approximation of positions staked out by much of the rest of Christianity: humans are deeply scarred, but they are not totally depraved. Good, true good, remains in them.It is important to see that these positions rely on other questions about God and humanity. The Calvinist position really comes from Augustine’s later writings, where he argues with a man named Pelagius. Pelagius argued that good works earned God’s approval and ultimately, salvation.[3] Before Pelagius, Augustine believed strongly that fallen humans sometimes choose good and sometimes choose evil.[4] It is the debates with Pelagius that include Augustine’s insistence that humans are all evil. That is, the virtue Calvinists see in this position is that it clarifies that humans cannot earn salvation. If you are totally unable of doing any work that impresses God (that “merit’s God’s favor,” where merit is a technical term), then you are totally dependent upon grace for salvation.
Most other strains of mainstream Christianity argue this dramatic position is unnecessary. It certainly accomplishes the goal but in an excessive and semi-gnostic way. Varied Christians will take several approaches to this question, but a common approach is the position staked out by Wonder Woman. Humans can do both good (which God would certainly recognize, as the god Diana recognizes) and also do deeply evil things (which God and the gods in the movie would also recognize). Either position leaves humanity deeply sinful, in need of God’s salvation. The fact that humans do some good works (as much of Christianity endorses) does not mean they do all good work. If 60% of my actions are pleasing to God, I am still a sinner in need of God’s loving grace.
WHY DOES THIS DEBATE MATTER IN YOUR YOUTH GROUP?
After all, western Christians haven’t been able to agree on this. Will your group of adolescents figure out the right answer? I think this matters for a few reasons.First, simply having this debate, and making it clear that lots of good, Bible-loving Christians disagree, really opens youth to explore their faith. Learning that they can engage critically with ideas and that they are expected to think for themselves is often liberating. In most churches, most youth sort of implicitly assume they are supposed to simply memorize truths handed down. Thinking that way sabotages their faith. As soon as they have doubt about some detail of their church’s understanding of the Christian faith, they assume they are doubting Christianity itself. That might be the case, but it is just as likely they simply question a particular theological position. Discussing theological debates undermines abandoning Christianity.
Second, what we think about these ideas informs our understanding of ourselves and the Christian task. Our youth are in the middle of sorting out what they think of both. Too rarely, we fail to see how our theology affects our identities. If Ares and Grudem are right, this says something about who your youth are. Further, it says something about what exactly God is doing in Jesus. Both systems believe we need redemption, but the two approaches differ dramatically in understanding what Jesus’ redemption is doing. That means they differ in what the role of a Jesus-follower is today. That’s a big deal to any Christian.
Third? This movie’s awesome!
CONVERSATION STARTERS (:What does Ares think about human beings? What does Diana think about human beings at first? What does she think at the end of her fight with Ares?
I know Ares is the bad guy in the movie but is there any value in what he has to say? Have you ever been shocked by how evil someone’s actions are? Have you ever noticed how many people do evil things?What advantages are there to Diana’s approach?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Passages in Support of Total Depravity (as Reformed theologians understand it): Rom. 3:9-10, 18; 7:18; 14:23; John 3:20-21
- Passages often cited in opposition to Total Depravity: Deut 30:11; Josh 24:15; Acts 2:40; Mk. 4:11,12; Mark 6:6; James 2:24; Lk. 18:13-14.
If you’re interested in these discussions, keep reading elsewhere! However, it’s important to remember that these ideas are integrated into wider systems. Our understanding of human depravity is a cog in a bigger machine. It takes a central place in theological systems, so it must fit together with lots of other theological ideas. If you want to read further about this, keep that in mind!
- The THEOPEDIA ARTICLE on Total Depravity is a good defensive introduction to Calvinist understandings of the term.
- The WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE on Total Depravity gets into the debate a bit more. However, if you want to read a better presentation of a system (instead of rebuttals against Calvinism), you need to pick a system and read more about it. The Wikipedia article gives a few leads on that.
[2] It’s important to see that, for Calvinism, this is really a question about whether humans can do works good enough to merit God’s favor. Can you earn God’s love?
[3] It’s important to also know that Pelagius didn’t argue this exactly. This is something of a caricature of the actual man’s ideas.
[4] Serene Jones and Paul Lakeland, Constructive Theology: A Contemporary Approach to Classical Themes, 132-3.
Stephen Hale is Director of Youth Ministries at First United Methodist Church Redondo Beach. He is also Director of International Programs for INALIENABLE, a non-profit working for the dignity of migrants. He received a BA in Social Sciences from BIOLA, an MA in Theology from Fuller, and is finishing an M.Div from Claremont School of Theology in May (he hopes). You can keep up with him at STEPHENPHALE.WORDPRESS.COM.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the YS Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of YS.
Read Stephen's take on the theology of Wonder Woman here, on the Youth Specialties blog!
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.
Announcements
Men's Breakfast: Our next breakfast is Monday, August 7, 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, August 11, 10am - noon in the choir room. 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.
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) and Church R Us (Grades 4 & 5):
We're in church this week as prep for VBS! Go ahead and grab some fun activity sheets from the back and we'll see you there.
Youth Ministry (6th-12th grade):
-Middle School Sunday School? Nope, it's summer!
-Youth Group(3-5pm on Sunday)? Nope! Normal youth group is hibernating through the summer!
-We're going to Raging Waters on Tuesday, August 8th!
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:
Pastor's Bible Study will not meet next Thursday, 8/3, due to our exciting VBS program happening on campus. We usually meet 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 South Broadway
310-372-5696 fax
Ongoing Ministries
Free Meal on Wednesday Nights
Offering food and friendship to those in need, every Wednesday night since 1992.
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 (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!
This week we are joined by my long-time friend and colleague, Tonoccus McClain. Tonoccus was a member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale for several years (which is where I met him), and was the bass section leader at my last church position – Founders Church – where we both worked with the legendary Albert McNeil (who joined us for a worship service us last year). Together we sang barbershop and French wine tasting songs, and worked in the studios. Then he joined the touring company of The Lion King and was gone for several years. He recently returned and today could be seen hosting FOX Family's California Summer Countdown, ABC Family's Mall Star Countdown and reporting on Channel One News. In addition to performing in the North American tour of The Lion King, he’s been seen in LA Opera's Porgy and Bess (among other things), and has been heard singing...
Thursday, July 27, 2017 - Music Notes
Thursday, July 27, 2017 - Music Notes
Music Director, Jim Raycroft, will share upcoming worship music
selections and a little bit of history, too.
Jim Raycroft
Thursday, 27 July 2017 by Jim Raycroft
This week we are joined by my long-time friend and colleague, Tonoccus McClain. Tonoccus was a member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale for several years (which is where I met him), and was the bass section leader at my last church position – Founders Church – where we both worked with the legendary Albert McNeil (who joined us for a worship service us last year). Together we sang barbershop and French wine tasting songs, and worked in the studios. Then he joined the touring company of The Lion King and was gone for several years. He recently returned and today could be seen hosting FOX Family's California Summer Countdown, ABC Family's Mall Star Countdown and reporting on Channel One News. In addition to performing in the North American tour of The Lion King, he's been seen in LA Opera's Porgy and Bess (among other things), and has been heard singing on TV's The Lion Guard, Glee, The Good Wife, and Once Upon A Time, and film soundtracks Avatar, Star Trek, and The Simpsons Movie.
Duke Ellington was a very spiritual man, who carried a Bible and crucifix everywhere he went. He studied scripture every day, and so when he was approached in 1962 to create and execute a concert of music for the opening of the new Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, it was dream come true. Finally, he was allowed to write the music HE wanted to write – it didn't have to be commercial to make the publishers happy, and it didn't have to be 2 ½ minutes long to play on the radio. Most of all, it could be music that came from his soul, a soul that was deeply rooted in the church. He undertook what he called "the most important work I've ever done" and created what ultimately became three concerts that became known as "The Sacred Concerts".
He stated publicly many times that he was trying to avoid writing "a mass", and observers at the time commented that he brought the Cotton Club revue to the church. The music was familiar Ellington, and yet had modern esoteric elements that even today make music aficionados sit up and take notice. The most lasting thing to come out of all that is the song we know from the hymn book, known variously as "Come Sunday" or "Savior God Above". Like all good composers, he took that tune and reused it in a variety of places in the concert, including the tap dance number "David Danced" – yes, there were tap dancers in church. The original 1965 concert was filmed and can be seen on YouTube. Ain't But The One is #4 in the original concert order.
Take My Hand, Precious Lord is a classic gospel hymn written by Thomas A. Dorsey, who is generally considered to be the father of the gospel hymn. He wrote the words in his inconsolable grief after finding out that his wife, Nettie Harper, and infant son, August, had both died during childbirth in 1932. He later adapted the melody, drawing largely on the 1844 hymn tune Maitland. It was the favorite song of Martin Luther King, who frequently asked Mahalia Jackson to sing it at gatherings to help inspire the crowd. In fact, King's last words, before being assassinated, were a request for it to be played at a Mass he was scheduled to attend that night. Leontyne Price sang it at the funeral of Lyndon B. Johnson, and Aretha Franklin sang it at the funeral of Mahalia Jackson.
For the next 2 weeks, I'll be in Canada visiting relatives. Next week, watch for the VBS kids providing us with their music in the anthem spot and our own Tuuholoaki family will bring us their own unique and wonderful brand of music in the offertory spot.
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. 
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.
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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