From Pastor Molly: Cosmic
I feel so grateful to have gotten to experience a total solar eclipse this past Monday--it was a more intense experience that I had expected. I've been trying to consider why, and don't know that I've got it figured out. I do think it had something to do with how immersive the moment was and how, for those two minutes, the rhythms of day and night that I've counted on all my life were suspended.
There was sunrise light in all directions. The sun disappeared, and the moon looked unlike anything I'd seen. The temperature changed in a moment, and planets were visible like stars in the daytime sky.
The preciousness and unlikeliness of the cycles of life of which we depend was revealed in being obscured for a time.
This Sunday, in our scripture, Jesus names Simon Peter as the rock on which he will build the church. The Greek words here are full of significance: Peter means rock (like a little rock or a stone). Upon a "petra," or rock (like a cliff or crag or rocky ground), Jesus will build up (like an inhabitation) his Church (a gathering of people). There's a strange interplay between rocks and living things.
As I ponder that moving moment when a total social eclipse made me viscerally aware of my belonging on a planetary rock circling a star, the boundaries between rocks and life seem blurrier than ever. I'm reminded of the preciousness of life, of our belonging together in those who share life on our beloved planet, and of the invitation to see the holy in the midst of it all. May it be so.
grace and peace,
Pastor Molly
We will be offering a "Blessing of the Backpacks" in worship this Sunday, at 8:30 & 10:30. Anyone in school is encouraged to bring their school bag or backpack for a special prayer.
In Worship This WeekSunday, August 27th
"Named"
Rev. Molly Vetter, preaching
Matthew 16:13-20
Matthew 16:13 When Yeshua came into the territory around Caesarea Philippi, he asked his talmidim, “Who are people saying the Son of Man is?” 14 They said, “Well, some say Yochanan the Immerser, others Eliyahu, still others Yirmeyahu or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” he said to them, “who do you say I am?” 16 Shim‘on Kefa answered, “You are the Mashiach, the Son of the living God.” 17 “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan,” Yeshua said to him, “how blessed you are! For no human being revealed this to you, no, it was my Father in heaven. 18 I also tell you this: you are Kefa,” [which means ‘Rock,’] “and on this rock I will build my Community, and the gates of Sh’ol will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” 20 Then he warned the talmidim not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Matthew 16:13-20
Verse 13
[13] When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
And Jesus coming — There was a large interval of time between what has been related, and what follows. The passages that follow were but a short time before our Lord suffered. Mark 8:27; Luke 9:18.
Verse 14
[14] And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Jeremiah, or one of the prophets — There was at that time a current tradition among the Jews, that either Jeremiah, or some other of the ancient prophets would rise again before the Messiah came.
Verse 16
[16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Peter — Who was generally the most forward to speak.
Verse 17
[17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Flesh and blood — That is, thy own reason, or any natural power whatsoever.
Verse 18
[18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
On this rock — Alluding to his name, which signifies a rock, namely, the faith which thou hast now professed; I will build my Church - But perhaps when our Lord uttered these words, he pointed to himself, in like manner as when he said, Destroy this temple, John 2:19; meaning the temple of his body. And it is certain, that as he is spoken of in Scripture, as the only foundation of the Church, so this is that which the apostles and evangelists laid in their preaching. It is in respect of laying this, that the names of the twelve apostles (not of St. Peter only) were equally inscribed on the twelve foundations of the city of God, Revelation 21:14.
The gates of hell — As gates and walls were the strength of cities, and as courts of judicature were held in their gates, this phrase properly signifies the power and policy of Satan and his instruments.
Shall not prevail against it — Not against the Church universal, so as to destroy it. And they never did. There hath been a small remnant in all ages.
Verse 19
[19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven — Indeed not to him alone, (for they were equally given to all the apostles at the same time, John 20:21,22,23;) but to him were first given the keys both of doctrine and discipline. He first, after our Lord's resurrection, exercised the apostleship, Acts 1:15. And he first by preaching opened the kingdom of heaven, both to the Jews, Acts 2:14 etc., and to the Gentiles, Acts 10:34 etc. Under the term of binding and loosing are contained all those acts of discipline which Peter and his brethren performed as apostles: and undoubtedly what they thus performed on earth, God confirmed in heaven. Matthew 18:18.
Verse 20
[20] Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Then charged he his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ — Jesus himself had not said it expressly even to his apostles, but left them tb infer it from his doctrine and miracles. Neither was it proper the apostles should say this openly, before that grand proof of it, his resurrection. If they had, they who believed them would the more earnestly have sought to take and make him a king: and they who did not believe them would the snore vehemently have rejected and opposed such a Messiah.
8:30am in Epworth Lounge10:30am in the Sanctuary
Special Music: sung by Colleen and Kelly McCandless
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News From Our Members
Monday, 8/21 was the day of the big eclipse. At least three church families headed for areas where the eclipse was total and perhaps there are several more. But we here in Southern California saw about 69% of the total eclipse. Pastor Molly and her family were in Nebraska where the family farm is, to see the total eclipse. Rick & Kathy McCandless went to eastern Idaho looking for a parking place from which to view the eclipse and the Leila and Art Grantz family planned to find a place in Wyoming from which to see the total eclipse. I know there are more but I haven't heard about anyone else. Believe me, when I say that there are many more...
Thursday, August 24, 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!
Thursday, 24 August 2017 by Bob Peterson
Monday, 8/21 was the day of the big eclipse. At least three church families headed for areas where the eclipse was total and perhaps there are several more. But we here in Southern California saw about 69% of the total eclipse. Pastor Molly and her family were in Nebraska where the family farm is, to see the total eclipse. Rick & Kathy McCandless went to eastern Idaho looking for a parking place from which to view the eclipse and the Leila and Art Grantz family planned to find a place in Wyoming from which to see the total eclipse. I know there are more, but I haven't heard about anyone else. Believe me, when I say that there are many more people traveling afar to witness this experience, the last of which was about 39 years ago in the USA.
Ron and Norma Day had planned to be honored at their Redondo Beach White & Day Colonial Mortuary's re-opening following a full reconstruction at the location on Torrance Blvd. at Prospect Blvd in Redondo Beach. I missed the ceremony but was there following it and inspected the beautiful new facility with its wonderful chapel, reception area, kitchen and the out of doors patio with three or four tables for those who wish. There is a beautiful new flag pole with the American flag flying and the entire set up is wonderful. I'm certain that if you wish to drop in you will be impressed by this new facility. Ron Day has been in service to his fathers business for 65 years and was honored for that time of service to the South Bay Community Wednesday, August 16th. Ron and Norma have been singing in our church choir since their days together in high school at RUHS and his parents were also regulars in the choir for many years. What a wonderful legacy they are leaving for us all. Ron was unable to attend the dedication of the flag pole, but Norma and some of their family were there.
Sunday 8/20 the Rick McCandless family quartet sang for us and many commented on how beautiful they sang and how well they blended. They too have been providing us beautiful music for many years from time to time.
An announcement was made concerning Rae Linda Brown's passing last week and our prayers have gone out to her family and friends and the many wonderful years she spent here as our church organist. Early in her tenure she contacted me to act as her substitute. She knew I didn't play keyboard but our new electronic organ had the ability to pre-record music, so she had done the entire Sunday worship service, prelude, hymns, anthem, offertory and postlude and invited me to sit at the organ and punch the right button at the right time and turn it off, ready for the next music. It was easy for me to sit at the keyboard of our organ and play Rae Linda's recorded music. For several weeks following, my friends would say, "Bob, I didn't know you played organ," and I would explain the situation. Being familiar with the order or worship made the "job" easier. What a wonderful person Rae Linda was and our church was better for her talented service here. We remember her many times of playing for our worship services, weddings and funeral
Click here to read more of the Lay Looker.
Coming at Church
This Sunday, August 27
Students of all ages are invited to bring their backpacks to worship on Sunday, August 27--we will share in a special prayer blessing as we begin a new school year. In worship at 8:30am and 10:30am.
Fall Ministry Fair on Sept 10:
YOU ARE HERE Sunday
On Sunday, September 10, we will host a ministry fair to launch our fall season here at church, with breakfast, fellowship and meaningful ways to get involved in the work of the church. (We hope you can be here!)
Breakfast and the Fair begin at 9:30, with opportunities after the 10:30 service as well.
Go to our sign up genius for food and volunteer options
Readiness 360+
This fall, our congregation will join a cohort of United Methodist Churches in our West District for a 15-month project of church growth and deepening vitality. In coming weeks, we will seek input from the congregation as we begin this work. We encourage you to pray for those who will join the leadership team, and for everyone who will be a part of our shared work!
Welcome to Lisa Welstead, Youth Assistant!We are pleased to welcome Lisa Welstead as our new Youth Assistant! Lisa will work with adult volunteers in our youth group, leading small group discussions, planning big events, and hanging out with teenagers. She has a lengthy background working with young people professionally, and will make us better at loving young people.
Lisa has been at our church for the better part of a year now helping with arts camp and setting up communion on Sundays. Keep an eye out for her and husband Daniel on Sunday (or her two boys Hudson and Wyatt), and say hello!
Youth Lock-In And Santa Monica!
There’s a Lock-In in Two weeks (August 25-6)! And we’re doing things a LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY!!!
We're going to the Santa Monica Pier! Then we'll come back to church for Lock-In traditions.
Click here for details!
Liturgists Gathering
September 15-16, High School youth will attend the Liturgists Gathering at Hollywood UMC! It'll be a great time to explore our maturing faiths.
Click here for more info!
Youth Group Resumes Sept 3
We're starting out the fall by talking about wisdom. Wisdom makes you awesome. See what we did there?
See you at 2pm on Sept 3!
Church R Us Ice Cream Party!
On September 3rd, Children's Ministries will be hosting an ice cream party for all Church R Us-ers! Church R Us is a group just for 4th and 5th graders.
We'll meet in the Fellowship Hall right after 10:30 worship and party for about forty-five minutes! Feel free to bring a friend.
We love having kids with us in worship! But we also have one more week of Summer Fun-Day School, for age 3 through 5th grade! On August 27, your kids can start out in church, then during "Passing of the Peace" we'll head to the fellowship hall for a fun activity! We'll rejoin our families for communion! Whenever there is no Sunday School, the nursery is available for children up to 5 years old. This Sunday, worship will include a special Time with Children, too.
Fall Sunday School Starts: Sept 10
There are still a few more weeks of summer...but we want you to know we're excited for the fall Sunday School year to begin! Regular 10:30am Sunday School for children and youth from age 3 through 8th grade will begin on September 10. Kids begin the hour in Sunday School, and join us in worship for Holy Communion.
Limited Space for Children's Spanish Classes!
Spanish Classes for our 2017 FaWinter Session begin in October and will run through May, every Tuesday.
(Holidays and Breaks TBA.)
Tuesdays, 3:45-4:45pm - Limited Spaces
Tuesdays, 5:00-6:00pm - FULL
To register or for more info click here
Parents Night Out is Back this Fall
Save the dates for our Fall 2017 PNO's!
- September 15th
- October 27th
- November 17th
- December 15th
The evening costs $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!
To ensure your child's spot, always be sure to RSVP by the Monday before!
Directions for Faith
This fall, Pastor Molly will preach a sermon series with directions for how to live out your faith. Using tools from our Methodist tradition, we will look at how to live out our faith, with devotion to God and service to others. The series begins September 10, and continues for 7 weeks. Read more online.
Mid-Year Finance Update
We are pleased to share the good news that our financial giving in the first half of 2017 has been ahead of our projections! We set our ministry budget conservatively--we are hopeful that your continued generosity will allow us to go beyond the budget we set to fund ministries in our church and beyond, including the full payment of our apportionment asking.
October 21: Golf Tournament
We are excited to announce our 2017 BeachFaith Church Golf Tournament, this year at Los Verdes Golf Club in RPV. Again, it will be a four-person scramble--invite a team of friends to play for a day of fun, fellowship and fundraising in support of church ministries. Register online.
Book Club, Tuesday, Sep. 19: Our Book Club had the summer off and we're eager to begin meeting again. Join us in May Day Parlor at 7pm, Tuesday, September 19. We plan to discuss the four summer reading selections: “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.
Sept 30: Fall Rummage Sale
Mark your calendars for our UMW fall rummage sale! It will be One Day Only, on Saturday, Sept. 30!
CalPac Young Adult Retreat at Lazy W October 6-8
Young Adult Retreat at Lazy W is an annual event for any young adult, ages 18-35(ish) who seeks to nourish their relationship with God through Jesus Christ, or just explore what that means.
Get more information and register here: CLICK ME!
Register before September 1st to save $20! Register now and your program, food, and lodging are included in the $65 registration fee. ($10 deposit required).
Announcements
Men's Breakfast: Our next breakfast is Monday, September 4, 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.
Church Council: Our September meeting will be on Monday, September 18 at 7pm in Epworth Lounge. For more information, contact Chair Dan Martens.
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, September 8, 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 will star out in church, be sure to bring your backpacks for our back to school blessing! Then we will head out for a fun activity before we return for communion with our families!
Youth Ministry (6th-12th grade):
-Middle School Sunday School? Nope, but it'll start again on September 10th!
-Youth Group(3-5pm on Sunday)? Nope! But normal youth group resumes on Sept. 3!
-We've got a Lock-In and visit to Santa Monica Pier this weekend! Click here for details!
-High School! Consider the Liturgists Gathering in mid-September! Click here for deets!
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:
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.
Bishop Grant Hagiya's call to prayer for Guam and Korea invites us to be in prayer for peace.
Our UMC leadership denounces the recent violence and racism in Charlottesville and calls for all United Methodists to Love in Action. Read more here.
First United Methodist Church of Redondo Beach
243 South Broadway
Redondo Beach, California 90277, United States
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.
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!
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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.
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.
Connect with us
First United Methodist Church
243 South Broadway
Redondo Beach, California 90277, United States
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