 The
United Church of Los Alamos
United Chimes: Vol. 40, No. 2, February 2004
Table
of Contents
“Baby?” my daughter Sarah says, pointing at my stomach. “Baby?” “That’s right,” I tell her, patting my stomach, thrilled that she seems to understand what’s happening. “There’s a baby in there.” “Baby?” she then says, pointing at her own stomach…. Well, maybe she doesn’t quite understand what’s happening as well as I thought she did. But then again, it’s not necessarily easy to understand. At least not all of the ramifications of “what’s happening.” The “what” to which I’m referring, of course, is the fact that Chris and I are expecting our second child on March 27 of this year. And with that comes all kinds of things, such as choosing a name, deciding if “he” and Sarah will share a room, thinking about whether he’ll be traumatized if he wears his big sister’s pink “onesies” in his first few months of life, and all kinds of other earth-shaking decisions! Along with those I’ve just mentioned, however, a far more significant decision, I suspect, from your perspective, is the decision I’ve made to resign as the Pastor For Youth Ministries at The United Church, effective March 1, 2004. With the anticipation of caring for a newborn as well as a 2 year old (Sarah will be two in April), I have decided that it will once again be time for me to turn all of my attentions and energy toward motherhood. It will be time once again to move from a ministry with the youth of The United Church to a ministry of motherhood with my children. This was not
a decision I took lightly or made quickly; I have felt it a privilege to
work and serve among you all for the past 5+ years (minus one), particularly
the mid school, high school, and college-aged youth. And I have most
certainly been blessed to be a part of the wonderful staff at our church.
But it seemed to be the right decision, and it has continued to seem so,
which allows me to not only have a sense of peace about it for myself and
our family but also stirs in me a sense that somehow things will work out
for the best for the youth
And so as I prepare for this, my final month on the staff at The United Church (which does seem strange to think about, I must admit), I want to say thank you to all of you for allowing me to work and teach and make mistakes and learn and laugh and cry and serve among you for the past five, or so, years. And while I will no longer be walking among you as one of your pastors, I will certainly still be walking among you as one of you! And so I offer as a closing not “Vaya con Dios” (“Go with God”) but rather “Vayamos con Dios” (Let’s go, together, with God), and let’s see where God leads us! In Christ,
A
Few Words About Deborah Worley
I thank God for Deb and Chris and Sarah. Our congregation is excited as we wait for Sarah shortly to be joined with her brother. Blessings and love from The United Church to this wonderful ordained pastor, as she is further ordained in double motherhood. -- Howard Grant, Interim Pastor Please
Take Note
Family Strengths Network will conduct workshops promoting the development of healthy families on Saturday February 7th, from 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at the church. The program consists of a series of classes taught by local experts. The 3 tracks include preschool, school age, and preteen/teenager. The cost is $20 per person or $25 per parental couple. Childcare is available, although space is limited. For more information or to sign up and reserve childcare, contact the Family Resource Center at 662-4515 or visit their website at http://www.losalamos.com/familystrengths/celebrate.htm. Discipleship
Dates to Remember
Rock
On! “Justifide” Is Coming To Town!
For more information about the band, check out their website at www.justifide.com, and for more information about the concert, check out the posters around the church or call Deb (662-2971). February 1st The Mustard Seed February 8th The Great Pearl February 15th Lenten Puzzle February 22nd Jesus and the Children February 29th Jesus and Bartimaeus Cathy Renfro is the coordinator for Children’s Worship. Please contact her at if you can be a storyteller or greeter (helper). Vacation
Bible School
KAC
Sunday
School
The dawn of 2004 reawakens our spirit and renews our hope for the blessings God has in store for us this year. The members of the Youth Ministry Search Committee has learned a great deal from you, the congregation of the United Church, about the qualities you value in a youth leader as well as the programming you feel would nurture our youth. We are following up our congregational survey with a number of focus group meetings for youth, and parents, in order to gain a deeper understanding of our congregation’s values and perspectives. Our youth have let us know that a youth leader does not necessarily need to be ordained to be effective. He or she does, according to our youth, need to possess strong communication skills, work well with youth and their families, engage in small group discussions, develop a dynamic core of adult volunteers to support youth programming, and coordinate community-wide Christian youth activities. During our regular Wednesday evening meetings, the Committee is working diligently to compile the data we have collected into the job packages that will be used to advertise our youth leader position. Mary Freese and the Senior Pastor Search Committee have been an invaluable resource to us by supplying us with church demographic and financial data needed for this process. Also instrumental, has been the information provided by Brian Newnam of the Personnel Board, who has enlightened us about salary and benefits issues. On behalf of the Committee, I would like to thank all of you who have supported our work by attending focus group meetings, completing surveys, and above all, for keeping our mission in your prayers. Karen Edwards In 2004, may our Lord bless your life to overflowing that you might be moved to share your gifts and talents with our youth. Photo
Directory Status
February
Highlights Refrigerator Calendar
February 3 Christian Education Board meeting at 6 pm in Lounge February 8 6 pm Stephen Ministry Supervision – Lounge February 9 M&E Board at 7 pm in the Lounge February 12 Trustees Board meeting at 7 pm in the Library February 13 9 am MOMS & MORE Tea with the WCSS Circle’s in Graves Hall February 16 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED February
17 6:00 pm Elders Board Meeting in Lounge
February
21 Discipleship Class overnight
February 24 7:30 pm Executive Board in Lounge February 25 Ash Wednesday February 29 Discipleship Class joins the church at the 9:30 am Service of Worship February
Sunday Worship Themes
Special
Lenten Series
Please phone
the church office, 662-2971, on or before March 14th in order to enroll.
Come
To Tea!
On Friday, February 13, from 9:30 -11:00 AM, we will be gathering in Graves Hall for a Valentine’s Day Tea, and we would love to have you join us so that we all might get better acquainted. Not to mention that we’ll need some help making sure the tea, coffee, scones, and cookies that will also be there don’t go to waste! Call Jennifer Schmierer or Deb Worley for more information. We hope to see you there! Lunch
Bunch Callers for February
Janet Tallman,
Exciting
New Curriclum for Special Adults
There is a new and exciting curriculum for the Special Adults. It is both relevant and appropriate to the abilities of the students. However, to be most effective the leaders guide suggests that each student have a mentor/friend for PART of each session. After the social time and opening which involves the class as a whole, the mentor is needed to help with reading, writing and simple craft projects. Youth (probably over 12), individuals, and couples are welcome. At present there are only 4 or 5 students, so hopefully there would be enough friends to “double team” to allow for illness, travel, etc. So contact Jean Pickard or Barbara Seeger to sign up. Enjoy the Fellowship Hour and then come over and join us. Make a new friend for the New Year. We didn’t get any takers before, so we’ll try again. The new curriculum is really great, but does take some one-on-one time. Reminders
Liturgists for February: Bob Weeks, Sandy Berner, Betty Apperson and the Youth. Coffee Hosts for February: Arnie & Chris Sierk, John & Norma Puckett and David & Irene Powell. March 2004 deadline is Sunday, February 22nd, 2004 Chimes
Newsletter on the Web
Moms
and More
Childcare is always provided during Moms & More, and a $2.00 per child contribution is greatly appreciated.
Prayer
Concerns
Ruth Miles Sandie Berner Nancy Bliss Martha MacMillian Barbara Jean Wilson Prayer
Letter Telephone Prayer Chain
To receive the Prayer Letter, 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.
Congratulations
Welcome
Newest Members of the United Church
Lonna Evans Don & Jewel Roberts Sympathy
Doth in these candels lie… — Barnaby Gouge, The Popish Kingdome With a loving kiss, I awaken her. “Happy Groundhog Day, Sweetheart!” “How do you always remember Groundhog Day?” she asks. With a smile I announce, “I’m just better with calendars than you.” Joyce grimaces. But dates just seem to pop into my mind, how can I help it? People thought that February 2nd was the middle day of winter. Now let me see: Official winter is approximately 91.3125 days long. So half of that is 45.65625 days. Winter began on December 23rd in 2003. So, if I add 45.65625 days to December 23rd what do I get? Well, 31 days gets me to January 23rd then 8 more days gets me to January 31st. That leaves 6.65625 days going into February. Aha! We are celebrating Groundhog day 4.65625 days early. The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck (Marmota monax), is a member of the squirrel family. We see marmots in the mountains even around here. They often eat succulent green plants. Still what has Groundhog Day (even if celebrated on February 2nd) to do with the Christian calendar, or with the Christian life for that matter? Good question! This celebration came from pagan traditions in the Old World. This is the day early Celts celebrated Imbolc, a season belonging to Brigid, a Celtic goddess. Adding to that, when Europeans arrived here, they found Native Americans with related ceremonies. The Delawares considered groundhogs honorable ancestors.According to tribal creation beliefs, their forebears began life as animals in "Mother Earth" and emerged centuries later to hunt and live as humans. Our German, Scottish, and English ancestors also brought a Christian tradition with them to America. It was Candlemas Day, a service to bless those candles the faithful used to light their homes during the long nights of winter. Candles symbolized the light that Christ would bring to the Gentiles, according to the prophecy of Simeon, who recognized the baby Jesus at the Temple as the Messiah of Israel, and as a “light to lighten the Gentiles.”(Luke 2:32). In our lives here at midwinter, we look forward to the light of Spring which Christ offers our souls. Lighting a candle or flipping a light switch reminds us that Jesus truly is “a light to the Gentiles.” May it be so for you, and may God bless you this Candlemas! In Christ’s Spirit, Howard |
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