I've heard your frustrations, along with your enthusiasm, about changes in our Sunday worship.  

I want to say a bit more about why I've been excited about the changes we've been making.

I believe that one of the greatest strengths of our congregation is the warm, caring spirit shared in our intergenerational community. I love watching the way older members of the church care about our youth, the beauty that young families find in a church community that includes extra "grandparents," and the friendships that connect us with people we might not otherwise know, except that we're "church" together. I feel a hunger in our time and culture for that connection across generations, and I'm delighted that it's something that feels so natural here.

It's one of the things I think church ought to be--but that doesn't always happen. I think it's a special gift we have, which we ought to honor and share. 

It's this special gift that has motivated my sense of calling to combine our worship services. I hope our worship will reflect this rich gift--I believe that the best worship reflects the life of the congregation doing the worshiping. For this to happen, we have to be together--sitting side by side, and sharing together in prayer and at the communion table. Young and old and in-between, lovers of organ music and guitars and choirs and drums and pianos. 

Music has such a beautiful power to shape our worship, but worship cannot be primarily about the music--it's a way that we connect to something bigger than ourselves, something words alone can't say. The familiar hymns our grandparents taught us can connect us to memories and feelings that are incredibly powerful. The fresh sound of contemporary music can elevate our spirits and connect our worship life to the life and music we share in our everyday. There is an amazing breadth of worship music from which we might choose our songs any Sunday, stretching through time and geography. Our task is to find ways of singing and worshiping that connect us to God and one another.

We are continuing to figure out the best ways to set our worship to music, so that it connects with everyone. But the center of worship can't be about doing what makes us most comfortable--we're drawn together by the powerful message of God's love. We gather at the table of Christ's grace, and we seek to be disciples of Christ together. 

Never has this been as clearly visible to me as Confirmation Sunday this past June, when I was moved by the line of adult mentors standing alongside the young people who were professing their faith in Christ. The room was filled with the excitement and beauty of this kind of community.

All of which is to say that I want to ask for your help: will you help encourage and shape our worship to be both welcoming to others and meaningful to yourself? Will you be present, and invite others, too? We are a different (and more beautiful) church because of your presence in our midst.

grace and peace, 

Pastor Molly

Worship Through Community Service!

Join in a church team at the 

This year, we are gathering a church team of walkers to participate in the Pier to Pier Friendship Walk, which raises funds for Friendship Circle's programming for kids with special needs, as well as for the educational foundations in our beach cities.

Because it's on Sunday morning, we'll meet up for a prayer before we begin, and walk together as community service worship. (There will not be children's Sunday School that morning--Katherine and Lisa will be leading our team!) 

Other UM churches in our El Tordondo Mission Area are walking, as well--sign up or make donations online!

  9:00am - 4:00pm

Mary & Joseph Retreat Center in 

Palos Verdes

Facilitator: Pastor Molly

Cost: $20.00 (includes lunch)

 Information flyers will be available at church this Sunday.

The SPRC is preparing the evaluations for our upcoming Charge Conference. This is an important time of year when we look at the accomplishments of the current year and establish goals for 2015. The committee has been meeting and sharing our thoughts with the staff and lay leadership. We have created an email address to provideyou with the opportunity to share your joys or concerns with our committee. SPRC@BeachFaith.com This e-mail address is private and will only be accessed through our committee. If you would prefer to speak to someone personally, here is the list of members:

Gary Baughman, Sabrina Callender-Clewett, Nancy Colwell, Ron Day ,Johnna Kosnoff, Kathy McCandless, Jonathan Tuuholoaki, Darrell Uran and Joe Zeiler

The SPRC is working hard to provide our wonderful staff with the support they need to be successful. We encourage you to be a part of this work. Thank you for your support of our church.   

Community Events and Other Opportunities:

click these links for more information

Young Adult Mission Opportunities -The UMC Global Ministries, Generation Transformation group is looking for young adults, ages 18-30, who are interested in missionary work. They offer 3 mission service tracks: Global Mission Fellows, Global Justice Volunteers and Individual Volunteers. Applications must be submitted by October 15. Learn more at Generation Transformation's web page at www.umcmission.org/GT.

Human Trafficking Workshop - (at Hope UMC in Torrance)Saturday, October 18, 9:30am-1pm