 The
United Church of Los Alamos
United
Chimes: Vol. 41, No. 8, August 2004
Table
of Contents
Front
Page News
Sunday
Morning Classes Being Offered This Fall
Please
Take Note
Church
News and Announcements
Spring
Time Garden
Welcoming
Sunday August 29th
New
Library Books for Adults
From
the Senior Pastor Search Committee
Help
Needed
3rd
Annual Men’s Retreat
Men’s
Group
Holiday
Highlights Refrigerator Calendar
August
Sunday Worship Themes
Church
Attendance
Coffee
Hosts for August
Reminders!
Chimes
Newsletter Deadline
Lunch
Bunch Callers for August
Companions
in Christ Sign Up
Mission
Corner - July 2004
Fall
Women’s Retreat
Prayers,
Praises, Thanks and More
Prayer
Concerns
New
Office Hours
Prayer
Letter
NEW
email list
Congratulations
Chimes
Newsletter
From
Our Interim Senior Pastor
August
Heat
Front
Page News
Sunday
Morning Classes Being Offered This Fall
These classes
are open to all Adults and High School Students
The book
Remedial
Christianity: What Every Believer Should Know About the Faith but
Probably Doesn’t, will be the focus of a discussion group led by Brian
Newnam, Arnie Nance, and Sandy Charles. Quoting the author, “The
purpose of this book…[is] to inform Christian believers about their faith
tradition in a clear and compelling way, and in so doing to free them to
inquire and think about it intentionally and seriously.” The book
was written by Paul Alan Laughlin, Professor and Chair of the Department
of Religion and Philosophy at Otterbein College. Class will meet
in Sangrey Chapel.
Yours
Are the Hands of Christ will be taught by Steve Renfro.
The study of Biblical texts that reflect the many ways Jesus used his hands
will lead participants to think about ways they can live more like Jesus
by using their hands to make a difference in the world. Class will
meet in the CE Lounge.
The Bible
from Scratch: The Old Testament for Beginners will be taught by Pastor
Kathleen Logan. This class will appeal to those who have—or fear
they have—little or no Bible knowledge. It will offer an overview
of what is in the Old Testament and introduce participants to some basic
tools and skills for Bible study. Class will meet in the center section
of Graves Hall.
Return
to Table of Contents
Please
Take Note
The next
CHIMES deadline is Sunday, August 22nd, 2004 at 12:00 noon for
the September 2004 issue. Articles may be sent via email to:
UCChimes@hotmail.com (note new email address) or put in the CHIMES Editor’s
mail box in the Church Annex (room just outside the Church Office).
Return
to Table of Contents
Church
News and Announcements
Spring
Time Garden
I just
LOVE Spring-time!
The Garden
Come to
the Garden Alone, While Dew is Still on the Roses.
For the
Garden of Your Daily Living
Plant Three
Rows of Peace:
Peace of
mind
Peace of
heart
Peace of
soul
Plant Four Rows of Squash:
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness
Plant Four Rows of Lettuce:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be patient
Lettuce really love one another
No Garden is Without Turnips:
Turnip for meetings
Turnip for service
Turnip to help one another
To Conclude
Our Garden We Must Have Thyme:
Thyme for
each other
Thyme for
family
Thyme for
friends
Water Freely
With Patience and Cultivate With Love. There is Much Fruit in Your Garden
Because You Reap What You Sow.
Return
to Table of Contents
Welcoming
Sunday August 29th
If you
have been waiting all year to invite someone to our church, but needed
a good excuse, now is your opportunity. Tell that friend or neighbor
that it’s Welcoming Sunday at United Church, a good time to visit and see
what we have to offer. After the 9:30 service there will be fellowship
coffee time out on the lawn where the Boards will display what their Boards
do. A Pot-Luck Luncheon will be served at 11:00 in Graves Hall.
Visitors are not expected to bring something, but YOU in our congregation
are expected to bring some good home cooking to share, let's show our guests
what good old church pot lucks used to be like with lots of delicious homemade
dishes. Please bring enough to serve 12 people, more if you have
more than 4 in your family: A-G Salad, H-P Main Dish, Q-U Dessert,
V-Z Bread.
Show you
care, Be there, Bring a guest, We'll do the rest!
Return
to Table of Contents
New
Library Books for Adults
"It's Not
About Me" by Max Lucado....."Glorious Appearing" by Tim LaHaye
"Creating
True Peace" by Thich Nhat Hanh
"Excavating
Jesus" by John Crossan.....this book is the topic for The All Church Camp
this Labor Day weekend
Gifts
"The Oath"
by Frank Peretti........."Proverbs" by Timothy Botts
"Pocket
Gardens" by James Trulove
"A Greater
Freedom" edited by Oliver North............this books tells stories
of faith
among soldiers in Iraq.
The books
and magazines in the Library can be checked out for a 3 Week period. Do come in
and have a look at what is in the Library.
Bulletin
Board
Note the
bulletin board this summer. It is for the "whimsical" in each of
us.
Let yourself
go!!.................
Return
to Table of Contents
From
the Senior Pastor Search Committee
The Senior
Pastor Search Committee has been very busy conducting interviews over the
past weeks. We are continuing to evaluate the candidates on our short
list and will be conducting additional interviews in the near future.
We are committed to discerning a call to the person who can best lead The
United Church in the next phase of our life together as a community of
faith. Although Greg Boebinger and his family are moving to Florida,
he will continue to be involved in our search process through the miracle
of modern communication technology. He has become a valuable member
of our team over the past year, and we are grateful for his commitment
to the completion of the task before us. Please continue to pray
with us and for the future of our church.
Committee
Members: Sandie Berner, Greg Boebinger, Mary Freese (Chair), Altana
Gray, Jerry Grindstaff, Paul Mutschlecner, and Jennifer Schmierer
Return
to Table of Contents
Help
Needed
Chef Mac
will head the food committee for All-Church Camp again this year. He needs
volunteers to help cook burgers and chicken on Friday night, and help set
up breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. If you would like to help,
please contact him.
Return
to Table of Contents
3rd
Annual Men’s Retreat
It’s not
too early to start thinking about United Church’s 3rd Annual Men’s Retreat
at Sonlight Christian Camp in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Be sure to reserve
October 15-17 on your calendar! Last year’s retreat worked great with the
youth sharing the camp and everyone participating in a shared campfire.
Sonlight is a beautiful camp with nice sleeping accommodations, fun things
to do, and phenomenal food.
Return
to Table of Contents
Men’s
Group
The Men’s
Group is up and running again! This group welcomes all men of United Church.
The plan is to meet every other week on a weeknight for food, fellowship
and discussion. A BBQ was hosted at Steve Paglieri’s home on Wed. July
14 where we decided to discuss the book “Excavating Jesus: Beneath the
Stones, Behind the Texts,” written by this year’s All Church Camp speaker,
Dr. Jonathan L. Reed. Come to our next gathering to pick up your own copy,
or email me soon so that the book can be ordered for you. Or just show
up to join in the discussion. We will be meeting next at Steve’s home again,
in White Rock, on Wednesday, July 28 at 6 p.m. The first meeting in August
will be at Chris Bjork’s home in White Rock, on Wednesday, August 11 at
6 p.m. Please bring a few dollars if you would like dinner. For more information,
please call Steve.
Return
to Table of Contents
Holiday
Highlights Refrigerator Calendar
JULY 25
6 pm SUNDAES FOR SUNDAY in the
Sanctuary
(This service invites all families to a family friendly
worship service and then invited out on the lawn for
complementary ice cream)
AUGUST 9
7 pm MEMBERSHIP EVENGALISM BOARD, Lounge
AUGUST 12
7 pm TRUSTEES BOARD, Library
AUGUST 17
6:30 pm FINANCE BOARD, Library
7 pm ELDERS BOARD, Lounge
7 pm MISSION BOARD, Room 115
AUGUST 22
CHIMES DEADLINE AT NOON
6 pm SUNDAES FOR SUNDAY in the Sanctuary
(This service invites all families to a family friendly
worship service and then invited out on the lawn for
complementary ice cream)
AUGUST 24
7 pm EXECUTIVE BOARD, Lounge
AUGUST 29
WELCOMING SUNDAY
(If you have been waiting all year to invite someone, tell that friend
or neighbor that it is WELCOMING SUNDAY at the United Church, a good time
to visit and see what we have to offer. At 9:30 am, we will worship in
the Sanctuary, followed by a pot luck luncheon in Graves Hall in the CE
Building. All the Boards will be displaying what each one does.
Return
to Table of Contents
August
Sunday Worship Themes
| August
1st |
Rev. Logan
is preaching today. Communion will be served at this service. |
| August
8th |
Today,
Rev. Grant will preach on “Getting Ready” based on Luke 12:32-40. |
| August
15th |
“Our Heritage”
is the title of Rev. Grant’s message today. He is using Hebrews 11:8-16;
12:1-2 for his text. Communion will be served at this service. |
| August
22nd |
Rev. Grant
will speak today on “Dealing with Contorted Lives” using Luke 13:10-17
for his text. |
| August
29th |
“A Place
of Honor” will be Rev. Grant’s topic today. Luke 14:7-12 is his text. |
Return
to Table of Contents
Church
Attendance
| Date |
8:00 Service |
9:30 Service |
| June 20th |
20 |
177 |
| June 27th
6 pm Sundaes
on
Sunday
Family
Worship |
23
55
|
|
| July 4th |
59 |
174 |
| July 11th |
22 |
174 |
Return
to Table of Contents
Coffee
Hosts for August
August
1st: We need you!!
August 8th:
Rick and Judy Posada
August 15:
Steve and Sandy Paglieri
August 22nd:
David and Irene Powell
August 29th:
Mark and Julie Mundt (Welcoming Sunday)
If anyone
can fill in for August 1st, please call Irene Powell. Thank you!
If you
get to the church by 9:00, that should be time enough to have the coffee
ready by 10:30. Please let Mardel know if you run out of things.
Be sure to give the Elders room for preparing the trays for communion on
those Sundays. Many thanks!
Return
to Table of Contents
Reminders!
Liturgists
for August: Sandie Berner, Arnie Sierk, Brian Newnam, Ani Pickrell
and Pamela Massey.
Greeters
for August: Eric & Kathy Bjorklund, Bob & Wilma Cowan,
Youth, Tim & Leslie Wallstrom and John & D’Ann Bretzke.
Return
to Table of Contents
Chimes
Newsletter Deadline
September
2004 deadline is Sunday, August 22nd, 2004
Return
to Table of Contents
Lunch
Bunch Callers for August
Lunch Bunch
Callers for August are: Emily Engel, Pamela Massey, Jan Mercer-Smith, Janet
Tallman, Margaret Browne, Sandra Tolmie, Evelyn Latimer and Janie Kelly.
If you would
like to be included in Lunch Bunch but didn’t get into this year’s booklet,
please remind me so I can add your name month by month.
Janet Tallman,
Lunch Bunch
Coordinator
Return
to Table of Contents
Companions
in Christ Sign Up
An Invitation
to Sign Up
For Companions in
Christ
Companions in Christ
is:
A small
group committed to deepening prayer and listening for the Spirit.
Individuals
who study each day about prayer, scripture, and discernment, and who keep
a personal notebook or journal of their learnings and questions.
A small
group of people who meet weekly to support one another, share about what
God is revealing in their reflections, and open themselves to exploring
on a deeper level the theme of the week. Individuals who know
that daily spiritual disciplines and weekly meetings offer a good balance
and provide holy ground for growing in faith.
If you wish
to develop your daily disciplines and you long for a small group with which
to share the journey of faith, come join Companions in Christ.
Two Class
times will be available this year:
Sunday Morning from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
A weekday or evening session at a time convenient to participants
For more
information contact
Pastor
Kathleen Logan
Registration
deadline is September 5th
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Companions
in Christ
Registration
Form
Name____________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________
Phone:
Day______________________ Evening__________________________
E-mail___________________________
Preferred
Meeting Day/Time__________________________________________
Return
to Table of Contents
Mission
Corner - July 2004
A "Moment
for Mission" at the July 25th Service, 9:30 AM and the Los Alamos Community
Food Bank call for volunteers.
Los Alamos
Community Food Bank was instituted in 1996 and is located on DP Road next
to the Monitor. The original design involved gleaning food from Furr's
(now Smith's) which was then offered to the general public in return for
donations or volunteer work.
Semi-annual
food drives supported by postal service and local boy-scouts provide non-perishable
food which is distributed to people experiencing financial crises. In this
way LAFB has been able to provide assistance to 150 to 200 households each
year and also pay part of its operating costs. Support from the United
Church of Los Alamos along with other sponsors allows LAFB to make up for
shortfalls.
An invitation
from one of the Mission we are supporting:
Bread for
the World's New Mexico 30th Anniversary Event- Sept 18
In conjunction
with Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty,
sponsored
by the National Council of Churches and the New Mexico Conference of Churches
Saturday,
September 18
9:00 A.M.-3:00
P.M.
Immanuel
Presbyterian Church
114 Carlisle
SE Albuquerque (south of Central Ave.)
Featuring:
The Rev. William Byron, S.J.
Father
Byron was among the group of Protestant and Catholic ministers who along
with the Rev. Art Simon created Bread for the World in 1974. He went
on to serve as chair of the board for many years. An economist
by training, he is past president of Loyola University New Orleans, the
University of Scranton and The Catholic University of America.
He recently served as pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington,
D.C. His biweekly column, "Looking Around," is syndicated through
Catholic News Service. Special Guests: Jim McDonald, Bread for the
World's Vice President for Policy and Programs and Zelinda Welch, Bread
for the World's Western Region Organizer
United Church
missions in our community and in the world….
The UC Mission
board disbursement of funds for this month was made to Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), World Vision, and Campus Crusade for Christ International
as part of the missions benefiting from the Church regular support.
The following
is an outline of the missions who benefited from your support:
Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)
http://www.disciples.org/discover/index.htm
“The mission
of the Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) is to be and to share the
good news of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps
to the end of the earth”. The Christian Church works to make a difference
in neighborhoods and the wider community in soup kitchens and food pantries,
sheltering the homeless and caring for children. Its shared ministries
reach out across North America repairing homes and community centers, cleaning
up after natural disasters and bringing hope where there is despair. Disciples’
facilities care for abused children and their families, persons with disabling
conditions and senior adults. Its higher education institutions educate
and train women and men for the ministry and for careers in other fields.
Disciples’ overseas ministries stretch around the world. With partner churches;
the Christian Church tell the Good News, help dig wells, train pastors,
immunize children, help persons in times of natural disaster, economic
upheaval and war.
World
Vision
http://www.wvi.org/wvi/home.htm
World Vision
International is a Christian relief and development organization working
for the well being of all people, especially children. Through emergency
relief, education, health care, economic development and promotion of justice,
World Vision helps communities help themselves. Established in 1950 to
care for orphans in Asia, World Vision has grown to embrace the larger
ssues of community development and advocacy for the poor in its mission
to help children and their families build sustainable futures. Working
on six continents, World Vision is one of the largest Christian relief
and development organizations in the world. The heart of World Vision's
work is in helping communities build stronger and healthier relationships.
The absence of such relationships impoverishes communities. World
Vision focuses on children because they are the best indicator of a community's
social health. When children are fed, sheltered, schooled, protected, valued,
and loved, a community thrives.
Campus
Crusade for Christ International
http://www.ccci.org/
Campus
Crusade for Christ International is an interdenominational ministry committed
to helping take the gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations. We cooperate
with millions of Christians from churches of many denominations and hundreds
of other Christian organizations around the world to help Christians grow
in their faith and share the Gospel message with their fellow countrymen.
Return
to Table of Contents
Fall
Women’s Retreat
“The Gift
of Music: Growing in Faith Together”
When:
October 8-10
Where:
Sonlight Christian Camp, Pagosa Springs, CO
Cost:
$115.00 - covers seminar/lodging/meals (Fri. dinner through Sun. lunch)
Full fee due with registration by September 24 (space available basis
thereafter). Partial scholarships are available and donations
accepted for
scholarship fund (contact Kathleen Logan at 662-2971)
Speaker:
Kay Roberts
Kay Roberts grew up in the United Church and graduated from LAHS.
Years later Kay returned to “The Hill” to teach at Los Alamos Middle School.
After her four children graduated from Los Alamos High School, Kay decided
to leave teaching for seminary training. The United Church was her
sending faith community.
Kay’s vocal music experience began when she sang with United Church Cherubs
as a kindergartener, then later as a member of Youth Choir from 7th -12th
grade. Years later, as Kay began to compose songs and play guitar,
she drew upon her childhood music experiences.
Now an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, serving as pastor
of a church in Kent, Ohio, Kay often uses music in her sermons. Sometimes
she says that music is her best preaching voice.
About the retreat, Kay says, “Come join in the dance and the song, whether
or not you can keep rhythm and carry a tune. We will make music together,
and we need your contribution to complete the symphony!” “Make a
joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 100).
Kay’s songwriting and recorded music already have touched many of our lives.
Whether or not you’ve met Kay before, bring a friend and come join us for
this special weekend.
AGENDA
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
5:00
PM check in
8:30 AM Breakfast
8:30 AM Breakfast
6:30
PM dinner
9:30 AM Session I
9:30 AM Session III
7:30
PM gathering 12:30 PM Lunch
11:00 AM Worship
Afternoon free
12:00 PM Lunch
6:00 PM Dinner
1:00 PM Homeward
7:00 PM Session II
Name: ____________________
Emergency Contact: __________________________
Phone:
___________________
Phone: __________________________
Address:
__________________
Access Needs: __________________________
_________________________
Dietary Needs: __________________________
Email:_____________________
Transportation
will be available if you don’t wish to drive.
REGISTRATION
DEADLINE: September 24 (space available thereafter)
$115.00 due at time of registration
Make checks
payable to: United Church (memo: Women’s
Retreat)
Mail or
hand carry to: United Church
of Los Alamos
2525 Canyon Rd.
Los Alamos, NM 87544
For more
information, please contact the United Church office at 662-2971
Return
to Table of Contents
Prayers,
Praises, Thanks and More
Prayer
Concerns
Barbara
Jean Wilson
Joe Mariner
Vicki Cobble
Marjorie
Bell Chambers
Joshua Hildebrand
Return
to Table of Contents
New
Office Hours
Monday
– Friday
8:30 –
11:30 & 1 – 4:30 pm
CLOSED Thursday
mornings
Return
to Table of Contents
Prayer
Letter
To receive
the Prayer Letter, Please contact the Church Office at 662-2971 or email
at UCoffice@losalamos.org
It is Jesus’
name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete
healing to him, as you can all see.
Acts 3:16b
Return
to Table of Contents
NEW
email list
The church
office cannot send out any emails because of over-loaded email boxes or
address changes. There have been some new prayer concerns and I am
unable to send out the emails. Please email the church office at ucoffice@losalamos.org
if you would like to be on the NEW email list. Thank you, Mardel
(church secretary).
Return
to Table of Contents
Congratulations
A baby
girl, Sahra Marie Catherine Roberts, born to Jack and Bridget Roberts on
July 7, 2004.
Return
to Table of Contents
Chimes
Newsletter
Now available
on our WEB site! If you prefer not to have a hard copy sent to you,
opting to read the CHIMES on the web monthly, please e-mail us your request
at: UCoffice@losalamos.org or call the church office at 662-2971.
Return
to Table of Contents
From
Our Interim Senior Pastor
August
Heat
Wow! Here’s August again, and it’s hot, hot, hot!
That physical heat sometimes heats up our tempers as well. Once long
ago I saw this cartoon of Dagwood doing a particularly fiendish thing to
his neighbor Herb Woodley. A wicked smile crossed Dagwood’s face.
The balloon above his head announced, “Heh, heh, heh. I hate myself
when I do things like this.”
Sometimes I’m like Dagwood. Once in college I set my good friend’s watch
and clock ahead an hour so he would get up and go to class an hour early.
I was mad at him about something which I can’t remember. Afterwards
I felt embarrassed for tricking my friend.
People are like that. We may be mad at a friend over some passing thing.
The vestige of anger or hatred boils in our soul. We do some inane thing
to “get even.” But often we don’t feel any better afterwards.
Maybe I’m getting a little religious on you, but forgiveness is needed
here. That truly is what would make us feel better. In the heat of
the moment our minds don’t think of it, or we don’t know how to do it.
Jesus teaches us and shows us that the only way to break a
constant
cycle of living in anger, vengeance, and retribution is to forgive.
We need to let go the hate and to really love our neighbor.
Jesus encourages us to relate to our enemy with that same love we have
for our friend. These are hard teachings! They are based in
Jesus’ understanding that every human is our neighbor, created by God,
and deserving of our love. Christ’s teachings do, over time, bring
changes in our lives.
Ronald Reagan’s daughter Patti Davis was reunited with him after many years
of
pouring
out rejection. At the California Memorial Service for her dad she
said: “I returned to my family, the prodigal child, in October 1994, two
months before my father disclosed to the world that he had been diagnosed
with Alzheimer’s.” We can only guess what caused the estrangement.
She told us of returning, “I would walk beside him along the beach, after
he had already begun slipping into the shadows of Alzheimer's. . . .
“The
years between . . . [my estrangement from him and my return] were often
Wartorn,
weighed down with sorrow - with words he found difficult to say and words
I wish I'd never said.”
Family angers such as these sometimes prevent healing until it’s too late.
In marriage, one partner or the other, or both, may talk on the basis of
assumptions they are making about each other. The result? All
their communication is sieved through their views and is, therefore,
garbled and divisive.
Reuel Howe once wrote, “I have seen couples break through this kind of
image
impasse
and say after true communication . . ., ‘I never knew [you], I didn’t know
you were like this; I didn’t know you thought this way; I never knew how
you felt.’”
In showing such Christian love, we may be freed to see a new and beautiful
side of our self only previously known to God. Then we may say, “That
is the real me I want to
become.”
The possibility of such healing is ours because Christ first forgave us.
His love is cool!
Return
to Table of Contents
|
