 The
United Church of Los Alamos
United
Chimes: Vol. 39, No. 3, March 2003
Table
of Contents
Front
Page News
Mexico
Mission Auction
Please
Take Note
"Ellingboe
Requiem"
For
Our Childern and Youth
Childern's
Worship
Spring
Break Fun
Nursery
Help
Vacation
Bible School
Lego
Night
What's
Going On?
Church
News and Announcements
New
Member Orientation
Pancake
Breakfast
Church
Attendance
Chimes
Newsletter on the Web
Truchas
Day Care Center
Moms
and More
".
. . . and indeed, it was very good."
The
Mens Group
March
Worship Themes
WCSS
Circle Meetings
Sonlight
Summer Camps
March
2003 Lunch Bunch
Ushers
Needed
Reminders!
Coffee
Hosts for March
Prayer
Concerns
A
Big Thank You
Sympathy
A
Message From Michael
Prayer
Letter Telephone Prayer Chain
Members
of the Month
From
Our Pastor
Conrad's
Corner
Front
Page News
Mexico
Mission Auction
Sunday,
March 9, 2003, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
This year during
Spring Break, March 29th - April 5th, 2003, The United Church will be sponsoring
the 18th Annual Mexico Mission Trip. Youth from the United Church
and other local churches will be traveling to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to
build three homes for families. They anticipate needing approximately
$10,000 for the cost of building supplies. The major fund raiser
for this important mission is the MEXICO MISSION AUCTION 2003 which will
be held Sunday, March 9th beginning at 2:00 pm in Graves Hall. The
money raised at the auction will purchase building supplies. Please
mark your calendars for this event and if you have any items to donate,
please bring them to the church office or call 662-2971.
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Please
Take Note
The next CHIMES
deadline is Sunday, March 23rd at 12:00 noon for the April 2003 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).
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"Ellingboe
Requiem"
REQUIEM by
New Mexico composer, Bradley Ellingboe will be performed at the United
Church on March 23rd, 2003 at 4 p.m. Our Sanctuary Choir will be
joined by the choir from First United Methodist to present this recently
(2002) composed work for mixed choir and chamber ensemble. The chamber
ensemble consists of organ, flute, oboe, cello, harp and timpani and we
will be using local instrumentalists as well as players from other parts
of the state, including cellist, UNM professor Joanna de Keyser, who actually
was the inspiration for the hauntingly beautiful cello "centerpiece" solos.
Both choirs
were combined for an introductory workshop given by the composer, on January
25th and will combine again to present selections from the REQUIEM at both
churches for morning worship: March 16th at United Church and March
23rd at First Methodist.
We hope that
you will plan to attend the afternoon full performance, March 23rd, 2003
in the Sanctuary at 4:00 p.m. It will be conducted by the composer,
Dr. Ellingboe and promises to be a wonderful experience for all, especially
since its texts are most appropriate for the Lenten season.
Suzanne Johnson,
Director of Music Ministries
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For
Our Childern and Youth
Childern's
Worship
March 2nd:
Jesus and Bartimaeus
(Feast Day)
March 9th:
Jesus and Zaccheaus
March 16th:
The Good Samaritan
March 23rd:
Jesus and The King
March 30th:
No Children's Worship
(Spring Break)
Children's
Worship is for children in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade during the last
half of the 9:30 worship service. This special program meets in Room
105.
Greeters and
Storytellers are needed!
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Spring
Break Fun
Check out
the church library and Video collection (in the workroom) for entertainment
over Spring Break. You'll be glad you did!
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Nursery
Help
We are still
seeking a nursery coordinator or paid nursery help. If you know of
someone who can help in the nursery contact Jean Picard or the Church office.
Until the nursery position is filled, we need volunteer help in the nursery
during the 9:30 church service and during Sunday School. We need adults
and youth helpers. Your help is appreciated. Contact Jean Picard,
662-2971.
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Vacation
Bible School
Planning for
Vacation Bible School has begun. Join the fun and be part of the
team that will provide a fun- filled week for our elementary-aged kids.
Your help is needed. Please contact Jean Picard at 662-2971 and find
out how you can help.
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Lego
Night
Your are all
invited to Lego Night at the United Church, on March 6th from 6:30 - 8
p.m. Whether you are 8 or 80, you will want to be part of this building
extravaganza. Join us for a night of fun and fellowship. Bring
a Lego creation for show and tell or just come and build; we will provide
the Lego's. Kids 10 and under should bring a parent or adult to build
with. Call the church office at 662-2971 to reserve a spot at one
of our Lego building stations. Questions' Contact Jean Pickard
at 662-2971.
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What's
Going On?
The Youth
Ministries are moving into full Spring Swing. The Discipleship Class
will have an in-town retreat on March 7th & 8th, and participate in
preparations for the Mexico Mission Auction on the 9th, and then join the
church along with the other newcomers on March 16th. There are seven
pairs of disciples and mentors. The Mid-high group has recently participated
in gathering materials for the Mexico Mission Auction, even though the
kids are too young to actually go to Mexico. They are learning skills
that will help them in the years to come, and meanwhile sending their "sweat
and smiles" to Mexico. Bravo, kids!
A SECOND WEEKLY
MID-HIGH EVENT has been started on Wednesdays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., for
the benefit of those kids who are not able to make the Friday event.
Almost all of the high school and mid-high kids are participating in the
Puppet Show on February 23rd, which will have taken place by the time you
read this. Practice sessions have been taking place during the Sunday
School time. Sunday School will resume in March. Preparations
for the Mexico Mission are of course accelerating. About 28
youth from Los Alamos, including many of our own, are registered at this
time. An improvised "street Spanish" class is meeting on Thursdays
from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in Craig Hall. Please call Michael at 662-2971
for further information.
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Church
News and Announcements
New
Member Orientation
A new member
orientation, conducted by Jay Dee Conrad, will be held Sunday, March 2nd,
at 12:00 noon. A lunch will be served. If you are interested
in church membership, we encourage your attendance. We also encourage
you to read Jay Dee's small book, The A-maz-ing United Church, prior to
the orientation. (Copies are available in the church office).
The orientation will be over by 2:00 p.m. Child care will be available,
if needed.
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Pancake
Breakfast
On Palm Sunday,
April 13th from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM the United Church will sponsor a Pancake
Breakfast in Graves Hall. The breakfast is provided at
no charge, although contributions will be accepted. All offerings
from the breakfast will be donated to One Great Hour of Sharing.
Please join us.
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Church Attendance
| Date |
8:00 Service |
9:30 Service |
| January
19th |
32 |
197 |
| January
26th |
40 |
215 |
| February
2nd |
40 |
225 |
| February
9th |
34 |
226 |
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Chimes Newsletter on the Web
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.
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Truchas Day Care Center
Christmas
Comes to Truchas Day Care Center
Christmas at
the Truchas Day Care Center was fun-filled and exciting. The children
celebrated the occasion with the Senior Center members. Santa
Claus (John Charles) brought gaily wrapped presents to all. A group
of Seniors from Espanola provided choral music in English and Spanish,
and some of the littlest Day Care Center girls joined in the singing and
swung their arms and bodies in time to the music. Everyone enjoyed
the Christmas luncheon. Because of the generosity of United Church
members, each youngster received two pairs of gloves, candy, books, balls,
stuffed animals, tooth brushes and tooth paste, crayons, paper, etc.
A big and much appreciated gift was a big indoor basketball hoop for the
Day Care Center. Thank you all very much. We really showed
our love.
There will
be an Easter party for the Day Care Center the week before Easter.
Several from the Church will go and take goodies for the kids. If
you are interested in going along, call Virginia Stovall.
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Moms and More
This group
of moms meets every Thursday around 9ish, in the lounge for coffee, conversation
and a little learning too. The topics range from discipline and diet to
babies and baking. If you'd like a copy of the schedule or would like to
be added to the email list call Bernadette Lauritzen.
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". . . . and indeed, it was very good."
Many of you
have probably noticed the recent renovation of Graves Hall which included
new paint, window shades and valances. The committee which oversaw
this project also discussed the addition of art which would be appropriate
to the many and varied uses of this space. The fact that there is
a wide range of ages and levels of activity involved was emphasized.
Thus, the idea of using quilts evolved. They could be visually interesting,
unbreakable, durable and absorb some of the noise that is often generated
in this area.
Further observation
of the space identified 7 spaces conducive to this type of treatment and
very soon thereafter the seven days of the Creation Story came to mind.
The process
by which this project could be accomplished seems to logically break down
into 4 Phases:
Phase I - Exploration of the Creation Texts in the Scriptures
and Gleaning Imagery that is Generated
Phase II - Finalizing Designs for each of 7 Panels to be executed
in the Medium of Fabric
Phase III - Fabrication of the 7 Panels
Phase IV - Installation of the Panels with a Dedication Event
The desire
arose to tap the gifts and talents within this congregation to design and
fabricate these pieces. Thus, the first meeting of Phase I has been
set for Sunday Afternoon, March 16th, 2003, 2-5 pm. Anyone (male
and female, youth and adult) interested in exploring the ideas and imagery
contained within the Creation Story are welcome. Participants in
this part of the process need not be familiar with the medium of quilting.
Also, participation
in one phase does not necessitate participation in all phases. However,
those who are interested in all 4 Phases are definitely welcomed.
For further information and/or to express interest in this project, please
call Marilyn Robbins.
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The Mens Group
The Men's
Group continues to meet, twice monthly. Please contact Steve Paglieri
if you would like more information.
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March Worship Themes
| March 2nd |
"Run Like
Cushi" is the title of Pastor Conrad's sermon today. It is based
on II Samuel 18:6-15, 19-33. The theme is a lead-in to a Lenten sermon
series on journeys. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be served. |
| March 9th |
Today, the
first Sunday of Lent, Jay Dee Conrad begins a sermon series on journeys.
From Genesis 12:1-7, 13-14 and Hebrews 11:8-10, today's sermon on
Abraham is titled, "Into The Unknown." |
| March 16th |
A combined
choir composed of our choir and that of 1st Methodist sings portions of
Bradley Ellingboe's REQUIEM as part of our worship. The Lord's Prayer
will be a featured piece and Jay Dee will preach a sermon on the prayer.
We will receive new members and the discipleship class today. |
| March 23rd |
Moses' journey
to Egypt is the theme this morning from Exodus 3:1-5; 4:1-5, 10-17.
"Some Excuses I Have Heard" is Dr. Conrad's sermon title. |
| March 30th |
"There and
Back Again" is the title of Kathleen Logan's sermon this day as she explores
the journey Jonah took when both inside and outside the whale. The
book of Jonah serves as the scriptural text. |
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WCSS Circle Meetings
| Circle
I |
Tuesday, March
11th, at
9:15 a.m. |
Lounge, Rosemary
Benton, Hostess |
| Circle
IV |
Tuesday, March
11th, at 1:00 p.m. |
1001 Oppenheimer
Pl., Patio Room, Basement, Jeanne Peterson, Hostess |
Moms &
More |
Thursdays
at 9:00 a.m. |
Lounge and
nursery |
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Sonlight Summer Camps
"Run the Race"
This year,
Sonlight Christian Camp in Pagosa Springs is offering a wide range of camping
experiences for kids. Of special importance to our kids are the following
offerings.
For kids entering
3rd, 4th and 5th grades:
Session
1: June 8th - 14th
Session
2: June 15th - 21st
For kids entering
6th, 7th, and 8th grades:
Session
1: June 29th - July 5th
Session
2: August 3rd - 9th
Those entering
9th, 10th,11th,and 12th grades, only 1 Session: July 6th - 12th
Make your plans
soon, the camps fill up quickly. Camps cost $275 if registered on
or before March 1st. For more information on Sonlight camps contact
the church office or Sonlight's web site: www.sonlightcamp.org
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March 2003 Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch
Callers for March 2003 are: Janet Tallman, Myrna Strong, Betsy Comly,
Sally Dessauer, Ione Ross, Laura Erickson, Rosemary Benton and Irene Powell.
Janet Tallman
Lunch Bunch
Coordinator
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Ushers Needed
Three or four
more ushers are needed for this year. If you would like to
be an usher or an alternate, please contact Dee Wilson.
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Reminders!
Greeters
for March: Bob
and Emily Nance, Andrea Gerstl, the Discipleship Class, Karen Edwards and
girls, Steven and Cathy Renfro & family.
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Liturgists for March:
Karen Edwards, Betty Smith, Quinn Girrens, Alex Gray
and Roger Smith
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Coffee Hosts for March
Coffee
Hosts for March are: Jeanne & Gil Butler, Nan Fife, Loree
Lynch and Altana and Rusty Gray.
Coffee host
volunteers are always in demand. If you can help one Sunday, please
call Karen Edwards.
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Prayer Concerns
Dana Elliott
Harold Ecke
Harriet Dodder
Harry Flaugh
Charmian Schaller
Richard LeSar
Loree Lynch
Lynn Smith
Margaret Browne
Emme Mooday
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A Big Thank You
A BIG THANK
YOU goes to Chuck Tallman who has installed a new sound system in Graves
Hall !!
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Sympathy
Sympathy to
the family and friends of Jessie Smith, a long time member, whose memorial
service was held at the United Church.
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A Message From Michael
Personally,
I am coming to the completion of my year here at United, and I thank all
of you very much for this wonderfully rich time of learning, and of sharing
with the young people and receiving so much from them. I wish United
all of the best of God's grace in the planning of the future of the Youth
Ministries here. Grace, peace, and Happiness.
Michael Ross
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Prayer Letter Telephone Prayer Chain
If you want
prayer for yourself or someone close to you, don't hesitate to call the
coordinator, Shelly Wageman.
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.
Acts 3:16b
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Members of the Month
Lori Merrill and Frank Samuelson moved to Los Alamos in September of 1999
from Ames, Iowa and joined United Church a few months later. They
got involved in the children's programs at United Church because they wanted
their son, Eli, to have a good Sunday school program. They served
as the Sunday school coordinators for the three-four-year-olds for two
years. This year, they chose to help teach the same age group. They
also belong to a dinner group that meets once a month for a couple's bible
study and discussion.
Volunteering is not new to Lori. She served as a youth elder in the
Presbyterian Church while growing up on a farm in central New York State.
Since her arrival here, she has become involved in Praise Choir, the church
volleyball team, and Deb's Tuesday bible study. Currently, she is
delivering cookies for the Membership and Evangelism Board and corresponding
by email for Deb's bible study group.
Frank grew up in the Methodist tradition in a small town in Wisconsin.
In high school, he was the leader of a local polka band. Frank is
currently serving his third year on the Christian Education Board, where
he is chair of the children's subcommittee.
When they first arrived in Los Alamos, they joined the Newcomer's Club.
Lori was asked to serve as treasurer, and she, Frank, and Eli did most
of the newcomer activities. They have also become involved in whatever
activities they could do with Eli, like Music Together and book shelving
at the Library.
Lori is a research technician in the Bioscience Division. She evaluates
environmental soil and air samples for DNA signatures of pathogens.
Having earned an MS in Microbiology at Iowa State, Lori did her Master's
research on hog waste. Although Lori had previous experience with
livestock waste, it wasn't the smell of waste, but the smell of money that
drew her to it. She needed money, and Iowa needed someone to study
microbial solutions of hog waste. In her leisure time, Lori enjoys scrap
booking and reading. She makes time in her busy schedule to read The Chimes
from cover to cover. Traveling is also high on her list of enjoyable
pastimes. When Frank presented his LANL research this last summer
in China, she and Eli went along.
Frank recently finished a Post Doc in astrophysics at the Laboratory working
on a gamma ray astronomy project using the Milagro telescope at Fenton
Hill. His dissertation topic at Iowa State University was Spectra
of Active Galactic Nuclei. They are believed to be black holes.
At ISU, he was part of a collaboration that used telescopes at Mt. Hopkins
in Arizona. When he's not working or at play with his family, he enjoys
computers. In the summer, the whole family enjoys hanging out at
the Golf Course pool.
Why do they volunteer? Lori was very involved in her church growing
up and wants Eli to learn to be involved as well. Both Frank and
Lori feel it's important to be involved in Eli's activities. Lori
adds that by being involved in the church and other groups she meets new
people.
As this family prepares to move on to the next stage of their lives, I
asked what their life goals were. Frank says he wants to work in
something interesting that makes money and gives him time to be with his
family. Lori hopes they will like their jobs and have the support
and friendships that they enjoy in Los Alamos and at the United Church.
By Angie Chipera
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From
Our Pastor
Conrad's
Corner
March 5th
is Ash Wednesday!
It
marks the beginning of the forty day journey . . .
excluding Sundays . . .
that leads to Easter . . . April 20th.
I
am working on a sermon series for Lent on journeys.
In the course of the series we will look at some of the
more significant Biblical journeys:
Abraham's journey into the unknown;
Moses' journey to Egypt;
Jonah's journey in the belly of a whale;
Jesus' journey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday;
The journey from the Upper Room to Gethsemane.
I'm looking forward to the series.
The
theme seems most appropriate to me personally . . .
as
I think of the journey of retirement.
When I think of retirement . . .
I remember reading of a ball player who once said . . .
"I've had a 360° change in attitude."
I think of those for whom retirement is a 360° change.
(This is what I call "Lab Retirement" J).
I
am looking forward to more of a 90° or 180° change.
I'll tell
you more about it later.
But
for now . . .
It's
the journey through Lent.
A journey that will take us to the cross . . . and beyond.
Will you join me on the Lenten journey . . .
the journey that takes us across the level plains . . .
and
through the valleys . . .
to the
mountaintop of Easter?
Traveling yours,
Jay Dee
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