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February 22, 2013
Freshly sliced, carefully diced news-info-resources for serving all ministries. Check www.UMC.org for the big picture; www.cal-pac.org for Cal-Pac information and forms. Send proposed conference-wide announcements by noon each Wednesday to Update@cal-pac.org. In this issue: fiesta, candles, camp, “just under the wire” for this weekend, and a $100,000 bonus track.
Breaking News: Bishop Carcaño on the Phone with VP Joe Biden about Immigration
Details to follow…
This Week: Forty-Two Congregations Tackle Hunger with Conference Funds
The Hunger Committee is grateful to the Lord for the Hunger Grants we were able to allocate $25,202 to feeding ministries in Cal-Pac congregations. The source for these grants is the Conference Hunger Fund, which is partially fed by the Special Asking Hunger Appeal. In addition, funds are raised in local congregations: we ask churches to collect donations for the Hunger Fund and send them to the Conference Treasurer in conjunction with Hunger Awareness Sunday (3rd Sunday in May). In Christ's service, Ilse Peetz, Hunger Committee Chairperson
Diana Butler Bass to Speak at CST March 5
Renowned church historian, popular speaker and bestselling author Diana Butler Bass will speak on “The Evolution of Women in Ministry,” at this year’s annual Alumni/ae and Friends Day at Claremont School of Theology. Her lecture will be followed by a panel response, a festive luncheon on the Quad, and then a lecture by famed feminist theologian Professor Rosemary Radford Reuther, speaking on “Ecofeminism and Theology.” Cost is $40 for the March 5 event. All are invited! Register now for what is sure to be a stimulating and enjoyable day at www.cst.edu/aafd.
Invitation from the Cal-Pac Foundation
The California-Pacific United Methodist Foundation is available to assist you and your local church in meeting your long-term stewardship goals. We are happy to work with your legal and financial advisors to assist you in making a gift to your local church or to any United Methodist board, agency or organization. The Foundation offers the following services: manage funds entrusted to it in a competent and socially responsible manner; provide planned giving opportunities and stewardship education; develop endowment funds to support ministry opportunities. Please contact The Rev. Greg Batson, President/CEO, by email at GregBatson@cpumf.org or by phone at 626-568-7347 for more information.
Do All the Good You Can: One Example
In December of 2012, the West Los Angeles United Methodist Church (WLAUMC) joined with Imagine LA as a faith partner in collaboration to empower a family to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Led by Senior Minister Gary Oba, Associate Pastor Janet Cromwell, and Pastor Becky Hirata, a faith team of volunteers from the congregation made a two-year commitment to work with their matched family to provide the support and resources the family needs to maintain housing, attain self-sufficiency and ensure that every member of the family thrives. Imagine LA started as an initiative of the Bel Air Presbyterian Church in 2006, and is now a separate charitable organization working with families and faith communities throughout Los Angeles. To find out more about becoming a Faith Partner or to volunteer, visit www.imaginela.org or contact Shelley Weitzel at (323) 944-0210.
LAMAG Multi-Cultural Fiesta March 16
The Cal-Pac Latino Caucus L.A.M.A.G (Latin American Methodist Advocacy Group) is sponsoring a Multi-cultural FIESTA: everyone is invited to join in the celebration of ALL cultures! Bishop Minerva Carcaño will be the celebrant and preacher during the 10:00 AM worship service. For the noon meal and cultural Fiesta a $5 donation will be asked as a general admission with the exception of infants through 2 years old. You are encouraged to wear a native dress. March 16, 2013, 9:00a.m. Gathering, 10:00a.m. Worship, all at Hawthorne UMC. For more info, call the church at 310-675-2897, or write hawthornechurch@att.net . Event coordinators: Alberto Garcés and Rev. Teresa Santillana.
Colby Camp Open House! Y'All Come!
Summer camp programs are returning to Colby Camp & Retreat Center and this is your chance to preview the wonderful summer to come! On Sunday, April 14, from 2 to 6 PM, everyone is welcome to drive up to view the many changes, meet the summer camp leaders, play games, make crafts, enjoy music and devotions, and even register for camp and apply for camperships! And enjoy delicious food, of course! Contact Barbara Witman at momdog1@pacbell.net for more information.
2013 Annual Conference Theme Design Invitation: Feeling Artsy?
Bishop Carcaño has offered “How Firm a Foundation” as the theme for the annual Session in Redlands this June. In developing the plenaries and worship services, leaders will use Luke 6:46-49 and its parallel Matthew 7:24-27, as well as Isaiah 43:1-2 and Ephesians 2:17-22, which inspired the hymn “How Firm a Foundation.” Now all we need is a graphic, visual image to represent this theme on the web and all printed AC materials: all creative submissions considered.
- Criteria include: Use of at least the words "Firm Foundation; minimum two colors, maximum three; needs to work at both the scale of a web-page and on the big projection screen at the Session; must be sent in 2-3 varied file formats (one must be jpeg,) and open for editing to multiple use (re-sizing, adding information, etc. Deadline is April 1st: for questions and to submit your design, send to update@cal-pac.org. The artist selected will get two gold stars in the heavenly ledger and a gift card to Starbucks.
How to Make a Great Day of Service
2013 Culture of the Call Church Award
This annual award recognizes one local United Methodist Congregation with a culture that encourages young people to respond to God's call to full-time Christian service as a result of their being active in the life of that church. The Foundation for Evangelism, as part of its vision to raise up new generations of leaders with a passion for evangelism, awards this honor to highlight the outstanding work being done in the local church throughout the denomination. Information and nomination forms are available at: www.foundationforevangelism.org. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2013, and can be sent to nominations@FoundationforEvangelism.org
Alternative Giving Opportunity for Mother’s Day: INM
The Imagine No Malaria Mother’s Day campaign is an opportunity for everyone to honor their mothers or other women who have nurtured them. Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary effort by The United Methodist Church to reduce preventable malaria deaths in Africa. When the campaign started in 2010, a child died every 30 seconds from this mosquito-transmitted disease. Now deaths have been cut in half, and a person dies every 60 seconds from malaria. Mothers and children are the most vulnerable: children have not yet developed partial immunity to malaria, and pregnant women’s immunity inhibits their own partial immunity. Your congregation’s gifts to Imagine No Malaria will help the mothers in Africa who struggle each day to protect their children from malaria. Special Mothers' Day resources for worship services are at www.imaginenomalaria.org/ShareTheLove.
“From Warrior to Soul Mate” features Cal-Pac Chaplain
UMNS story by Kathy Gilbert
Marriage is never a walk in the park, but when you add in long deployments to dangerous, remote locations, for military couples it can feel like a walk in a war zone. After all, if your spouse is in Afghanistan when the car breaks down, your child comes home with the flu or your boss needs you to work overtime and you don’t have any backup, it can feel pretty lonely.
Executive Director-California: the Pine Summit Camp and Conference Center ( http://www.pinesummit.com) located in Big Bear Lake, California, is recruiting for an Executive Director. The Camp is owned and operated by the Salvation Army. The Camp has a budget exceeding $3M, and regularly employs 75 people. Applicant must be able to fully embrace and formulate leadership practices and principles based on the full Mission of The Salvation Army. Resumes for the position will be accepted through the following link until March 22, 2013. http://www1.usw.salvationarmy.org/usw/www_usw_sdm.nsf?open.
Just Under the Wire:
Los Altos to Host Brother from Taize This Sunday Feb. 24
Los Altos UMC will host Brother Emile from the community of Taize (tah –zay) in France. The community was a place of hospitality for the displaced during WWII and has become a host to thousands of young adults each week. The prayer of the Taize community is in the form of simple songs. Young Adults and youth will have an opportunity to be with Brother Emile at 4 PM, and everyone is welcome to share in a meal at 6 PM and hear about this powerful witness for peace in our world. We will conclude with a service of prayer using the music of Taize at 7 PM.
CLUE In-Gathering Tuesday, Feb.26
This year's CLUE-LA In-Gathering will focus on immigration reform and immigrant rights, both nationally and local measures to improve the lives of immigrant working people and their families. We'll have a text study with Rev. Dr. Matthew Colwell of Knox Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, co-author of Our God is Undocumented: Biblical Faith and Immigrant Justice. Please join us at Holman United Methodist Church (3320 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90018) on Tuesday, February 26th, from 11:00am-1:00pm (lunch provided for $15, no one will be turned away for lack of funds). Please RSVP. Quotable
"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness.
It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."
Helen Keller
Bonus Track: $100K Local Gift Creates New Scholarship at Africa University
During the regular worship service at Vista UMC on Sunday, February 17, 2013, representatives of Africa University announced the creation of “The United Methodist Church of Vista, California Endowed Scholarship Fund, honoring Margie and Tommy Thomson.” Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have been great promoters of world mission in general, and Africa University in particular. Mrs. Thomson died on December 12, 2012. In January 2013, the Church Council voted to note that the Scholarship honors the work of God in the life and missional drive of Margie and Tommy Thomson.
- James Salley, Associate Vice-Chancellor of Africa University, brought the message to the congregation in worship on Sunday, February 17, 2013. “The purpose of Africa University,” he stated, “is to prepare future leaders for the continent of Africa in the name of Jesus Christ.” Using Romans 12:9-21 as his text, he proclaimed “This is a blueprint for how to live out your faith each day.” He told the people of the congregation “Thank you for being the church, in Vista, in California, in the United States of America, but also in the world. You are making a difference!”
- Africa University, a United Methodist-related institution in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, celebrated its 18th commencement on June 9, 2012, graduating 400 students representing 21 of the 55 nations of Africa. With the 2012 graduating class, the AU alumni now number more than 4,400! In the 2012-2013 year, 52% of students are women. The University in in the midst of a year-long celebration of its 20th anniversary which will culminate with a celebration on March 23, 2013
- Bishop Minerva Carcaño (Los Angeles Area) is a member of the Board of Directors of Africa University. Africa University is supported through congregational giving beyond the local church, often called “Apportionments.”
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