12-11-08

“O COME LET US ADORE HIM” CHRIST THE LORD! Christmas Eve that most holy and beautiful of nights, when the world once again celebrates the birth of our Lord and Savior. Christmas Eve the night, when every Christian heart overflows with joy. Christmas Eve this Holy Night is one to be shared with music, prayers, candles, the reading of scripture. Christmas Eve A night for the sharing of hearts, the joy of friends gathered near.

You are invited to join in this evening of worship December 24th – 5:00 p.m. Join with your church family as we light the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and the Birth of Christ Join in singing the beautiful carols of Christmas Share in the readings and meditations Receive communion and participate in Lighting candles for a candlelit service of prayer and blessings Then go in peace to proclaim “Joy to the World – the Lord is come We hope to see you all at the Family Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Merry Christmas!

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December 11, 2008

Disciples Women’s Ministry “AND SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS” . . . and what have you done? Another year over – a new one soon begun”. Those words from an old John Lennon song seem really appropriate for this last newsletter article of the year. Although this space usually chronicles the upcoming activities of the women of the church, it seems only fitting to pause for a moment, and remember where we have been, and what we have done in the service of our Lord and our church in 2008. Our women’s ministries in this church seem to be ever intertwined, to the point where it is hard sometimes to remember which committee did what – and does it really matter? What has always been the goal is to provide fun, safe, inspirational activities for all, emphasizing always our Christian ideals, our service-oriented base, and our caring for each other and our world. And so, in the ebb and flow of our lives, we have welcomed new families to our church, and said goodbye to old friends with tears and wonderful memories. We have rejoiced with Pastor Ted on his new path, bid “Godspeed” to our dear friend Kel, and welcomed our new Pastor Steve and Janie, and of course, did it all with caring - and with food! Food is always a wonderful way to bring people together, and we have had increased attendance at our monthly luncheons, enjoyed picnics, our Friendship Dinner, Family Night, our Holy Week meals and many other happy times of sharing a big meal – or a simple cup of coffee – sharing communion – sharing each other. We have come together in so many ways this year. Our Circles have been productive and well attended. The Disciple Women’s Board has worked on our successful Boutique, and in bringing to fruition our beautiful new Communion table. Our women have attended the Spiritual Growth Retreat and the Spring Events, and represented our church in many ways. And of course, there is always the focus on the kids! Young people from all over the United States joined us this summer, and kept us busy with drivers and again – food, as they stayed in our gym, and did outreach in the community Our women give so much for the Sunday School programs, Vacation Bible School, the holidays with the Hanging of the Greens evening, the hayride, and so much more, making meaningful memories for our youth. If you were able to share in the Children’s Sunday on December 7th, you saw love in action. It was a perfect example of what is really important at First Christian Church–coming together to celebrate God’s love.

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Service to others has always guided Disciples Women in their endeavors. Outreach is one of the cores of our Christian beliefs, and in 2008, as always, it led us in our activities. Just a few of the Disciples Women’s many service projects were Diamonds in the Ruff, Family Crisis Center, the Optometry Mission to Paraguay, Kids for Kids, Blessing Boxes, Habitat for Humanity, Impact USA, and the list goes on! Look around the church. Even as you read this, there is a tree in Sippel Hall, waiting for you to choose a gift for a family who needs help, His House bins, a men’s clothing mission basket, the Kid’s Kloset--our love goes on. It’s not just a list - it is kids in Darfur being fed - it is a family who has a home – it is sight for someone in far off Paraguay – it is helping to get a kid off drugs – it is an abused child rescued – it is what we are. If the question is “and what have you done” – for the Women’s Ministry at First Christian Church, the answer is “my Father’s work”. It will soon be time to look back, to say goodbye to 2008, and start a brand new calendar! In the new year we can look forward to the beautiful circle of life that we share. When you open up that new calendar, be sure to mark our the Disciple Women’s luncheons, the Friendship Dinner, and all the activities we can share in 2009. Watch for dates and information in this newsletter, and make your New Year’s prayer that God will lead us all in new ways to serve Him in the coming year.

From your Disciples Women’s Board – Happy New Year! HOW MANY MEN DOES IT TAKE TO PUT UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE SANCTUARY? Well that’s easy to tell. On Friday evening November 28, Dave Marvin, Bill Wysong and Lee Sebaugh removed the pews from the choir loft in preparation for Saturday morning’s work party. On Saturday morning, nine men began the assembly and decoration of our Christmas Tree. In slightly over an hour the tree stood in its magnificence. A big thank you to those who participated - Chuck Bruley, Roger Grove, Rich Koontz, Wally Sandberg, Pastor Steve, Lee Sebaugh, Bob Schnepp and Bill Wysong. We missed two of our crew, Gene Brummett and Jack Colston who have passed into Heaven, no doubt working there. Thank you all/Jack Perry

Furnace Update As we have announced in Church Service, the heating system has been completely replaced in the Sonoma Parsonage at a cost of $5,100.00. Our Church Family has generously responded with $2,940.00 in donations as of 11/24/08 and we are very grateful for this response-THANK YOU!. Since there is a remaining balance, we will still be accepting gifts for this cause. Thank You, Doug Crawford Page 3

State of the Union Letter Time certainly does fly! It has been 5 months since Steve Fietz stepped into the role of our Pastor and the First Christian Church of Torrance is flourishing. In some ways it feels like he just arrived a few weeks ago but in other ways it feels as if he has been with us much longer. Personally, I attribute the later to both Steve and Janie as they are so warm and caring and filled with the spirit of the Lord. I suppose the Installation Ceremony made it all official, but for me, what I see happening in our Church Family since Steve arrived is what makes it real. God has blessed this Church Family in so many ways and all Thanks should be given to our Lord. Our Church Administration has been running smoothly and we must first thank our dedicated staff of Ted, Camelia, Ken, Sherril and the newest member Dorie Hernandez. Dorie will fill the role as the Nursery Attendant during the First Service so Sherril will be able to attend worship service during that time. In addition, we need to thank all of our dedicated and faithful members who volunteer their time, effort and talents to fill all of the other important positions in our church. I cannot begin to list their names and adequately describe all they do but their efforts are truly inspirational. We are currently working on a new updated Mission Statement. Our goal is to create a meaningful statement we can all identify with and will accurately and concisely reflect the mission of our Church Family. Our giving has been generous and we are currently meeting all of our financial obligations each month. However, with little in reserve, there is no cushion to fall back upon each month. This puts an emphasis upon our consistent stewardship. In addition, we have several important maintenance projects that are on hold until we can afford to have them completed. With that in mind, being good stewards with all that God has blessed us with is very important and everyone’s efforts are appreciated. The Cabinet and Trustees have begun looking into ways to generate new sources of income to better fund our current needs and to augment our important outreach efforts. Our rental fees for the current outside groups have been reviewed and increased where appropriate and the possibility of attracting a new congregation is being explored. This process is just getting started and our emphasis will be on searching for the “right fit” and then using the income generated for specific needs. If this search is successful and we find a group that seems to be the “right fit”, it will be presented to the Board and Congregation for their involvement and approval. I want to personally thank everyone for contributing to the faith and substance of our Church Family and in helping us to make a real difference in our community and the world in God’s name and glory. Doug Crawford/Board Chairman Page 4

CHURCH FAMILY PRAYERS & CONCERNS Paul Crossman is home from the hospital and doing much better as he recovers from hip replacement surgery. Beverly Roseberry is transitioning toward home after time in the hospital following surgery to remove squamous cell skin cancer from her leg. Dolores Koontz is feeling better after treatment for circulatory problems. Hilda Coleman’s vertigo has become far less severe, for which she gives thanks. Shirley Crawford (Doug’s mother) is undergoing tests to determine the cause of continued nausea; she is also suffering from osteoporosis. David Eldik continues to make good progress on a number of basic preemie issues. A match was found in the recent stem-cell drive for Steve Kroesen, giving far greater hope in the treatment of his Hodgkins lymphoma. Duane Johnson continues chemotherapy for skin cancer.

With Christian Sympathy Hilda Corless succumbed to complications from pneumonia on November 25. Her life and faith were celebrated here on December 6. We continue to hold her daughter, Sherril Wiechmann, in our prayers, as well as grandchildren Robert and Laurie, and greatgrandsons Dakota and Kailean. Chery Carew, Dorie Hernandez and their extending family are in our prayers on the passing of their Uncle Bill.

OFFICE HOURS DURING THE HOLIDAYS So that the staff may enjoy some of the holiday spirit, the office will be on limited office hours during the time between Christmas and New Years. The office will be closed on December 25, 26 and January 1. The schedule for December 29-January 2 will be 10:00 to 12:00 each day and closed in the afternoon. We will resume regular church office hours, Monday, January 5, 2009. A Newsletter Thank You A BIG thank you to all the volunteers that came out and helped fold and prepare the Newsletter this past year. They are; Susan Babcock, Carole Jones, Ellen McCune, Stella McGinnis, June Perkins, Eileen Powell and Ruth Totes. Page 5

December 2008 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursd

WORSHIP SERVICES 8:30 and 10:30 am Sunday School 9:30 am

Amazing Gray’s 1:00 Worship Meeting 7:00 Trustees 7:00

8

7 Christmas Program Youth Adventure Christmas Party 12:00 CYF 12:00 Women’s Lunch 12:00

14

15

Cantata 10:30 Christmas Party Sleigh Ride 5:30-9:00

22

10

Board Meeting 7:00

Bible Study 10:00 a.m.

24

23 Christmas Eve. Worship 5:00 p.m.

29

30

31

New Years Eve

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Choir 7:00 p.m

17

16

His Hands 12:00 Bell Choir Meeting 12:00

28

New Hope Education Meeting 7:00

Bible Study 10:00

Love Group 9:30 a.m. Faith Group 1:30 p.m. Elders 7:00 p.m.

21

Bible Study 10:00

9 Disciple Women’s Board 7:00

Newsletter

3

2

1

Choir 7:00 p.m

day

Saturday

Friday

December Birthday’s

4

5

11

12

18

19

e 7:00

r m.

.

r m.

25

26

Dorothy Rind (1) Mark Faaita (2) Arlene Zingery (2) Stacy Martinez (2) Tommy Wood (4) 6 Dylan Rogers (4) Mike Mine (5) Betty Fenton (5) Jean Steenson (6) Laura Duncan(8) Roger Grove (9) 13 Donis Johns (10) Ruthie Totes (10) Janie Oden (12) Kristi Marvin (13) Courtney Colston (14) Eric Johns (15) Lynn Jonas (18) Jun Pagdilao (18) Nduka Ibe (18) 20 Helene Strayer (19) Jose Gonzalez (19) Grant Galyardt (24) Carrie Fontaine (25) Ellen McCune (26) Phyllis King (27) Roy Houston (28) Steve Fietz (28) 27 Melissa Woodman (28) Nora Wiehe (28) Judy Musser (30)

Church Office Closed

ANNIVERSARIES Bill & Carol Rimmey (4) Joe & Debbie Gonzalez (16) Bernard & Jean Steenson (21) Bill & Janet Wysong (27) Page 7

Education Notes & News The International Dinner and Youth Auction was a big success. To date they have raised $752, some of which will fund the horse drawn sleigh ride. The rest of the money will go to youth related activities. The education committee gives a big thank you to Jimmy & Sakura Koontz, Shirley Woodman and all the youth who participated. We look forward to collecting on the work we bid on! Another shout out to our Sunday School teachers Shirley Woodman, Janie Oden and Kelly Rogers for putting together the children’s Christmas program. The kids and youth all did a great job.

All Church Christmas Party and Sleigh Ride Who: Everyone! Friends, family, neighbors, Santa Claus What: A fun evening together When: December 14, 2008 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Where: Fellowship Hall Why: To celebrate the Christmas season with our church family Menu: Taco boats, hot dogs, hot chocolate Activities: Sleigh ride with real horses, decorating gingerbread men, other fun holiday crafts, a visit from our favorite man in red Cost: $10 for 6 gingerbread men, $20 for 12

Bible Explorers This is the name of our new Sunday morning program. Sunday School is not a thing of the past; it’s just taking on a new look, a new name and a new focus. We invite all parents, children and anyone interested to join us for our kick-off on Sunday, January 11th. You will get the chance to visit and participate in 3 mini-rotations. Ask Jill Foster, Shirley Woodman or Chery Carew how you can be a part of this exciting program. As always, don’t forget to join us for our current Sunday School program for all ages on Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15 a.m.

Adult Sunday School Entitled “Christmas in the Amazon (.com),” Jeff Wood is continuing a wonderful discussion on the meaning and values reflected in how we celebrate this time of year. Steve Fietz will be leading a short Bible Study in January. Unless Sippel Hall is being used for something else, the Adult Class is there each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. If the hall is busy, we meet in Room 7. Page 8

December-January Youth Calendar December 14th 12:00 Chi Rho (grades 6-9) meets in Room 4 to make Gingerbread Houses 5:30 All Church Christmas Party and Sleigh Ride. December 21st 12:00 CYF (grades 9-12) No Youth Adventure today December 28th 12:00 Chi Rho has some New Year’s fun making fortune cookies No CYF today January 4th 12:00 Ice Skating at Seaside Lagoon for all youth groups and entire church

Loch Leven All Church Retreat Imagine contemplating God’s winter landscape while sitting on a bench by a stream. Imagine caravanning to a snowy hill and taking a ride on an inner tube while a cool wind blows through your hair. Imagine joining together with church family to play and get to know each other a little better. Imagine worshipping together atop a hill on a crisp Sunday morning as our song and prayers waft towards heaven. Imagine feeling part of God’s creation. You are invited to join your church family on the weekend of March 20-22nd, 2009 for an All Church Retreat to Loch Leven Camp and Conference Center in the San Bernardino Mountains. Cost will be $90 for adults and $67 for children (ages 4-12). Children 3 and under are free. A $25 deposit per person is required by January 30th to hold your spot. Financial assistance is available. We don’t want money to be the reason someone can’t join us. Look for more details in future newsletters. See Samantha Lubrani with questions or for more information. Dear Friends of Clinica Esperanza Thank you, thank you! We very much appreciate you and I wanted to personally thank you for being such an important influence on Clinica Esperanza’s success in the past. Without the help of generous donors like you, we wouldn’t be where we are today. As you can see from our recent e-newsletter which you can get at [email protected], we have been very busy. Our much anticipated birthing and pediatric inpatient center is about to open. Blessings, Peggy Stranges, RN Clinica Esperanza, Roatan, Honduras! Page 9

Special Christmas Offering Each year, our church receives four over-and-above special offerings for the work of our wider church. The theme for this year’s Christmas Offering, “God has done great things,” is from Mary’s Song (Luke 1:47-55). This offering lifts up the great things God is doing through our Regional Church, The Christian Church of the Pacific Southwest. Lead by our co-regional pastors, Don Dewey and Susan Gonzalez Dewey, our Regional Church provides excellent women’s programming, camps for youth and families, support and training for pastors and lay leaders, and helps in the development of new Disciples congregations. First Christian Church of Torrance has extra cause to support our Region, as Susan Gonzalez Dewey helped facilitate the call of our new pastor. Please prayerfully consider the Christmas gift you can offer for this vital ministry of our wider church.

Upcoming Sermons December 14 – “The Musical According to Luke” (Luke 1:39-55) The first chapter of Luke is a kind of ancient musical – and Mary’s song is a real show-stopper! It also has a powerful message for us now. (This message will be offered in the contemporary service only – we’ll be enjoying our choir’s Christmas Cantata at the traditional service.) December 21 – “Be Careful What You Dream” (Matthew 1:18-25) How do we make important decisions? Looking to the example of Joseph, we see how love can overcome the worst outcomes of our best intentions. December 28 – “Superstitious & Spiritual Strangers” (Matthew 2:1-12) The magi are led to Jesus through an odd and foreign set of beliefs. How do we respond to the spirituality of strangers? How is Jesus revealed through odd others? And how can their devotion inform and deepen our faith? January 4, 2009 – “Tough Love & the Gentle Truth” (Matthew 3:1-17) John the Baptist announces the arrival of one kind of savior—but in Jesus, he gets something a bit different. What expectations do we have of our Lord—and how does he meet them, or not? January 11 – “A Dangerous & Tempting Comfort” (Matthew 4:1-11) Jesus faces some very personal temptations. What do his responses offer to those who would seek to follow him? Page 10

Footnotes Have you ever had someone “should” on you? As in “You really should do this, or do that…” Preachers are tempted to should on others, but usually couch it with “we”—as in “We really should do this, or do that…” The challenges of parenting leave one vulnerable to shoulding on one’s children. (Combine pastor with parent, and it goes a long way towards explaining the many travails of preachers kids!) But I notice Christians are at least as likely to should on ourselves as anyone else. As in “I should do this or that…” Or even more daunting: the unfulfilled should, as in “I really should have done this or that…” And it seems Christmas, like it does everything else, really amplifies this tendency. As in “I really should have hung the lights, gotten out cards, baked cookies, knit a sweater, read the directions, given so-and-so such-and-such…” It’s why Advent continues to be so necessary for our spirits. Not as in, “I should do my devotionals more…” But as in helping us prioritize—helping us let go of our shoulds, so that we might claim the most important cans. As in, “I can say no to most of those shoulds…” Advent frees us from Christmas; Advent helps us empty a place where Christ may come and be born. Shalom, Steve

Wednesday Morning Bible Study Our Wednesday morning Bible Study will be taking a three week break. We’ll return with an overview of the epistles starting January 7. Bible Study is in Sippel Hall every Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m..

Grief Support Group During the Holidays On Monday, December 15, our Grief Support Group will gather to offer support and insight into how we experience this time of year. We are together from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. For more information, give Steve a call: 310328-2820 or 310-212-5950. **Next Newsletter articles for need to be at the church office by 1/5/09. Page 11

TORRANCE, CA PERMIT NO. 109

NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) 2930 El Dorado Street Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 328-2820 Fax 310 328-2929 E-mail - [email protected] Web address - fcctorrance.org Sunday Schedule 8:30 a.m. - Worship - Informal 9:30 a.m. - Church School for all ages 10:30 a.m. - Worship - Traditional Children’s Worship - Ages Pre-school through 2nd Grade (During the Traditional Worship Service) Nursery Provided For birth through age 3 during Sunday School and the Traditional Service Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Officers Chair - Doug Crawford Vice Chair - Don Zukas Treasurer– Bill Wysong Financial Secretary - Moggy Emmen Clerk– Chery Carew

TIME VALUE DATA

DO NOT DELAY EXPEDITE

First Christian Church 2930 El Dorado Street Torrance, CA 90503

The Christian Messenger

Staff Steven Fietz, Senior Pastor Ted Oden-Minister of Contemporary Worship Administrative Assistant– Camelia Olloque Choir Director - Ken Potter Nursery Attendant - Sherril Wiechmann

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