1. religion and spirituality

NEWSLETTER
February 18, 2015
FIRST CHURCH
of
Redwood City, UCC
Inside this Issue:
Calendar
Connections
3 Mission Statement
11 Opportunities
God of Many Voices 10 Prayer Requests
Humor
16 Weekly Message
2
6
15
4
Open & Affirming
Congregation
Page 2
Faith, in Redwood City
Living our Faith
Loving our Community
Since 1862
CALENDAR
Page 3
♥♥♥
Sunday
Feb 22
3:00pm
Monday
Feb 23
10:30am
Simple Service of
Prayer & Reflection
Chair Dancing
Wednesday Feb 25
11:00am
Prayer Circle
Friday
Feb 27
10:00am
Saturday
Feb 28
10:00am
Staff Retreat
Office Closed
CROSS Retreat
RSVP required
(See page 6)
Sunday
March 1
3:00pm
Monday
March 2
10:30am
Tuesday
March 3
12:30pm
Tuesday
March 3
5:15pm
Good Hope
Harry’s Hofbrau
Hillcrest Ministry Team
Wednesday March 4
11:00am
Prayer Circle
Wednesday March 4
6:00pm
Saturday
March 7
7:00pm
Soup Supper &
* Worship (See page 8)
Community Night!!!
Sunday
March 8
3:00pm
Monday
March 9
10:30am
Simple Service of
Prayer & Reflection
Chair Dancing
11:00am
Prayer Circle
Wednesday March 11
Simple Service
Of Prayer & Reflection
Chair Dancing
All meetings, gatherings & events take place at
1155 Broadway, Suite 130, Redwood City, 94063
unless otherwise noted.
Page 4
WEEKLY MESSAGE
The Next 6 Weeks…
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season
of Lent. Traditionally, these next six weeks have been about
immersing ourselves in the life story of Jesus, and as we do that,
examining the story of our own lives. The scriptures shared in
churches during this time typically emphasize the days of Jesus’
ministry, leading up to his death and culminating in his
resurrection.
As Christians, this is the central story of our faith. How did
Jesus live? What did he teach? How did he handle suffering? –
betrayal – disappointment? What did his final days show us
about forgiveness and acceptance? How can we draw on those
stories as we live our lives, seeking to love as fully as possible?
This Lent, I invite you to immerse yourself as much as you can
in this story. In addition to our regular worship services, there
are several meaningful ways to experience this season here at
First Church.
*We will be sharing a morning “mini-retreat” with Rev.
Susan Kemper on February 28th, as she leads us through a new
look at what the Cross means to our spirituality. (see page 6)
*There are Lenten devotional booklets available to you
again this year, containing short daily readings for each of the
next 40 days written by our much loved UCC Writers group.
*Finally, we will be participating in a shared Lenten series
with several UCC churches during the month of March, as every
Wednesday we will gather at one of the host churches for a
simple service and shared supper. (see page 8)
Instead of giving something up for Lent, I hope you will choose
one or more of these things to add into your life for the next six
WEEKLY MESSAGE
Page 5
weeks. It’s a short time, really. But it is an opportunity to
connect more deeply with the story that grounds us all. Jesus’s
story. Our story. I look forward to sharing that with you this
Lent – the next six weeks.
Kim
“Lent… is something we do in response to God’s love, to bring
about change within ourselves. Think of it this way. If your
garage is full of clutter, and you’ve just bought a shiny new
Prius and you want to use the garage for its intended purpose
(to shelter your car rather than your junk), then you have a
job to do. You need to clean out the garage. Likewise, Lent is a
time when we try to clean out the clutter in our hearts and
minds and souls, to prepare ourselves for the joyful gift of new
life, freely given to us through the mystery of Christ’s death
and resurrection.”
(Carl McColman)
Read more
Page 6
OPPORTUNITY
Experiencing the Cross in New Ways:
A Spiritual Workshop and Retreat
Led by Rev. Susan Kemper
As we continue our Lenten walk toward Easter, you are invited to a
morning of community and contemplation, as we look together at the
Cross: Christianity’s most recognizable and mysterious symbol.
What does the Cross mean to you? What do you know about the history
and various spiritual/theological traditions that have grown up around it?
Using scripture, music, and art, we will look at the Cross in new ways.
There will be time for individual reflection and community sharing, as well
as opportunities to create our own Crosses out of materials provided.
Bring friends – see old friends – enjoy new ones! Let your faith and your
connections be deepened as together we encounter the Cross.
RSVP to the office at 650-369-0344 or [email protected]
OPPORTUNITY
Page 7
LENT DEVOTIONALS for 2015
Get yours FREE at the Church Office
Contact us, if you would like your copy delivered
650.369.0344 or [email protected]
Page 8
OPPORTUNITY
UCC/MCC
Lenten Series 2015
Wednesday evenings during Lent
Soup Supper at 6 pm, followed by a short program
Meet some old friends and make some new ones!
Wednesday, March 4
College Heights UCC/Peninsula MCC
1150 West Hillsdale, San Mateo
Wednesday, March 11
Congregational Church of Belmont UCC
751 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont
Wednesday, March 18
Community UCC of San Carlos
1336 Arroyo Ave, San Carlos
(co-hosted with Island United Church, Foster City)
Wednesday, March 25
First Church of Redwood City UCC
1155 Broadway #130, Redwood City
OPPORTUNITY
Page 9
Day of the Children
Celebration
This spring, Puente and the Pescadero School District will host an evening of
family fun with bilingual books, games, raffles, and food that ends with the
distribution of gift bags to every child. The event is free, and participants are
only asked to bring a dish to share if they can. Every year, more than 100
children from the La Honda Pescadero Unified School District and their
parents come to celebrate. All children, even those outside of this school
district, are invited and welcomed!
We’ve been asked to collect and donate 150 glue sticks for the gift bags.
Can we do it????
Of course, we can!
Bring your new (unused) glue sticks to the Church Office between
now and March 22nd and help us reach our goal of...
150 glue sticks
Page 10
GOD OF MANY VOICES
Prayer for Overcoming Indifference
For the sin of silence,
For the sin of indifference,
For the secret complicity of the neutral,
For the closing of borders,
For the washing of hands,
For the crime of indifference,
For the sin of silence,
For the closing of borders.
For all that was done,
For all that was not done,
Let there be no forgetfulness before the Throne of Glory;
Let there be remembrance within the human heart;
And let there at last be forgiveness
When your children, O God,
Are free and at peace.
From Chaim Stern, editor, Gates of Repentance
(Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1978)
CONNECTIONS
Page 11
HARD at WORK at the RETREAT
Your Staff, Council Members, and Investment Advisor, Rob Lyman,
on Saturday, February 7th
Page 12
CONNECTIONS
What a Wonderful Experience…
Sunday evening
February 15th
We were joined by special guest Rev. Evelyn Vigil
Heartroot provided uplifting music
Then we enjoyed a warm and cozy, informal supper
CONNECTIONS
Page 13
Page 14
CONNECTIONS
Dawn Zermani, a cousin of Carol Chivers, launched a project for Gordon
Manor this year and Council voted to donate a small amount from our
Faith, in Ministry Fund to help with her expenses.
Below is a note from Dawn:
Dear Friends from the First Congregational Church,
Thank you very much for donating to our Santa Project for the
residents at Gordon Manor. They really enjoyed opening their hand
creams!
We wish you a wonderful and blessed New Year.
Sincerely, Dawn Zermani and Willi Johnson
Doris Vandeventer
February 21st
Page 15
CONNECTIONS
Dee Van Cleve
Mike Bitner
Rhonda Lyman
Connie Cameron
Gregg Hudson
Emily
Bob Uhlenberg
Pam Scurry
Evelyn Hunt
Frank Borges
Jyce Tanner
Lillian Dawson
Little Jack
Pat Moore
Jane & Kent
Annette Howitt
June Bury
Kathleen Mahany
Ed
Christiane Streeter
Betty Moran
Connie Wolff
Mark & Brad
Phyllis Happ
Don Reed
Vera
Kim Smith-Nilsson
Wanda Davisson
Robert Olsen
Mary Juett
Hue Truong
Gary Dawson
Paul Michel
Karen K
Randall Mullins
Tere Aicardi
Victor Frederick
Alice
Sue Subbot
Silicon Valley Progressive Faith Community
The Woman of His Dreams
First
Church
of Redwood City, UCC
1155 Broadway
Suite 130
Redwood City, 94063
650-369-0344
www.FirstChurchRWC.org
Chaplain
Rev. Kim Smith-Nilsson
650-964-8957
[email protected]
Executive Director
Kathie Fosgett
[email protected]
Church Council
Carol Chivers
Catherine Lyman
Bill Van Cleve
Patti Bury
Larry Fosgett
Howard Macway
Advisory Committee
Millie Cole
Annette Howitt
Kathleen Mahany
Peggy Smullin
young man called his mother and
announced excitedly that he had just
met the woman of his dreams. Now what
should he do?
His mother had an idea: "Why don't you
send her flowers, and on the card invite
her to your place for a home-cooked
meal?"
He thought this was a great strategy and
arranged a date for a week later. His
mother called the day after the big date
to see how things had gone.
"The evening was a disaster," he
moaned.
"Why, didn't she come over?" asked his
mother.
"Oh, she came over, but she refused to
cook."
Lottery:
A tax on people who are bad at math
I didn't fight my way to the top of
the food chain to be a vegetarian
Never answer an anonymous letter
I don't suffer from insanity;
I enjoy every minute of it