The Christian Caller

December 18, 2014

Julie's Jar Advent: Almost Christmas

It happens every year. I plan to leave space and time for waiting and for preparing, but those empty spaces on the calendar are empty and I fill them. The empty spaces get filled with re-scheduled meetings, classes, visits and new opportunities. All of these are also an important part of preparing and waiting for the Christ child. For instance, Mike and I, along with Alicia Martin are re-enacting the journey of the three Wise Men in just an hour and a half, trekking to Santa Barbara so we can hear and see our very own Jeffrey Schindler play ALL six Brandenberg concerti with the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra.

Sometimes our lives are just more full than others. Sometimes they are full because of things we plan. Sometimes they are full because of plans that get made for us, like an extra doctor's visit. There can also be opportunity to prepare and wait in the fullness. As we await the fullness of time, we can embrace the fullness of our living, even the fullness we'd rather we did not have. What can God reveal to us in this? What could God be speaking to you through this time?

There is fullness in our world too. Our world is full of activity and acrimony. As we wait and prepare, I wonder about the families in Pakistan whose children were brutally murdered by terrorists. As we wait and prepare, I wonder about the families and friends of the people taken hostage in Sydney, Australia and the people who were killed. The grief is palpable and I wonder, will peace ever prevail?

Yes, it will and peace has come among us. We may not see and hear it much on the news, because peace doesn't sell advertising. But peace continues to be born in our world and people around the globe who worship God in a multitude of ways are bearers of that peace in large and small ways.

Peace has come among us. We celebrate this every Christmas, among so much more. The Christ Child is God's Peace Among Us, With Us and Within Us. Our Christian witness in a world that appears so full of acrimony is to let the peace of Christ dwell richly in us. Our Christian witness is to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and shape our language and our actions.

We are reminded at Christmas how vulnerable peace can be. The infant child needs tending and protecting. The baby Jesus needs our care and nurture to be in this world. The fullness of God's time, God's salvation is being born again, and again, and again. We will continue to wait and prepare, bearing witness to the hope in our hearts. The Peace of Heaven itself is coming.

Easy Ways to Help Out

You can be part of the ministry of hospitality at FCC Pomona in many ways. A few simple ways are to help with coffee hour, greeting visitors at the door, or communion preparation on Sundays. Signup sheets are in the entryway. You can also call or email the church office: 909-622-1144 or [email protected]

UPCOMING EVENTS

Christmas Eve Communion

and Candlelight Service, 8 p.m.

This year's worship is patterned after the Festival of Lessons and Carols service. Lessons from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures are read, interspersed with carols and anthems. The Festival of Lessons and Carols was first developed in 1918 in Britain. At the time it was an incredible innovation.

Today, the Festival of Lessons and Carols continues to be a tradition in Britain and throughout the world as a way to retell the salvation history of God, culminating in the news that Christ is born. Our modified Festival of Lessons and Carols includes communion and a candlelighting liturgy at the end of the service. Come and hear the good news and let the joy of Christ's birth fill your spirit with hope!

All Church Retreat

January 17, 9:00 am - 4:00 p.m.

Please hold this important day in the life of our congregation and plan to attend the All Church Retreat. It has been almost 2 years since our last All Church Retreat. Out of our time we developed important ministries that have continued to benefit our congregation and grow our efforts to reach out. The Hospitality Group has done significant work in increasing the welcome on Sundays and has developed our hospitality to reach out beyond our walls through programs at Hope Partners, like Adopt a Family. The Technology Group is increasing the congregation's visibility on the web and social media.

The Board approved another church retreat to be held in 2015. It's a good time to build upon the strengths we are developing. The Program Cabinet is working with our pastors to plan the retreat and Russ Willoughby, pastor at Church of the Valley who helped lead our last retreat is excited to join us again.

The retreat will take place on Saturday, Jan. 17, 9:00 am - 4:00 p.m. in the Meeting Room at Hillcrest Retirement Community. We will follow the same Appreciative Inquiry process we did before so it is important to attend the entire time. Plans are developing for childcare so parents with young children can participate fully. Lunch is provided for everyone who registers and attends the retreat.

CHURCH CALENDAR

January 2014

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We'd love to wish you a happy anniversary here in The Caller too!

If you would like to have your anniversary listed, contact the church office: 909-622-1144 or [email protected]

January Birthdays

1^st ~ Jarod Davis
5^th ~ John Eckeard & Darlene Jones
6^th ~ Carol Bremer
12^th ~ Maxine Cramer
13^th ~ Jane Spees & Russ Bohse
14^th ~ Norma Puntney
17^th ~ Stan Adams
21^st ~ Laddie Dewolf
22^nd ~ Charles Kurtek
23^rd ~ Mel Adams
30^rd ~ Bea Ross & Velma Sanders

CELEBRATIONS AND PRAYER CONCERNS

We join together in prayer for our community and our world.

Please let us know if you would like to add someone to the list

or if someone should be removed.

CELEBRATIONS

We raised $130 in the Heifer Project quarters tube (on the coffee hour table in the entryway)!

HOMEBOUND & convalescing

Hilda Faulkner	Janice Newborn	Lois & Rhodes Thompson
Darlene Jones	Frances Genung	Bob & Jackie McCallister

PRAYERS AND CONCERNS

Charlie Han's family	Ed Ross	Jose Mendiola	Braylin Jenkins
Tim Jacobs & family	Carolyn McKee	Leonard family	Virginia Greeley
Jean Weddle's family	Velma Sanders	Tim Reed	Brothers Family
Dick & Lillian Arbenz	Bret Wiley	Charlie Han	Laddie DeWolf
Shirley Ewing & family	Elizabeth Akin	Ron Gorsuch	Donna Bahm
John and Dianne Snell	Rick Strother	Laura Zivnak	Chuck Pinckley
Evelyn Lepire & family	Roy Tomlinson	Sue Hunter	Lorraine Rogers
Donna Paulson & family	Frank Link	Janice Newborn	Betty Tudor
Shaun Diamond's family	Lois Thompson	Marcia Sluyter		Patty Page
Harry Butterbaugh's family		Jake, Marie, & Elaine Tillinger
Eloise Ketttenring's family		Peter Vlok

Our congregation's sister churches in Japan involved in our Christmas card project: Sendai Shoryo Church, Nihonmatsu Church, and Miyauchi Church.

Japan Churches Christmas Card Project

Thank you to everyone who put a word prayer in the Christmas greetings to our brothers and sisters at three congregations in Japan. These, our sister congregations, continue to serve in very difficult circumstances since the nuclear disaster at Fukushima. They will remain on our prayer list through at least the Christmas season. Please remember them in your own prayers as they seek to serve God as the hands and feet of Christ in a broken place.

Sendai Shoryo Church - 51 members.

Miyauchi Church - 14 members and

Nihonmatsu Church - 10 members.

Inland Valley Hope Partners Adopt a Family

For the first time, we as a church family (through the Hospitality Group) adopted a family for Christmas. We did this through the Inland Valley Hope Partners, who selected the family for us. From the first Sunday sign-up, we had a great response. Twelve of our church families gave according to the list provided to us for our adopted family's needs and wants. We gave to a family of three adults and three children (ages 14, 7 and 1 � years old). Thank you to all who participated. We know this family will have a wonderful Christmas. Thank you again from the Hospitality Group.

Here is a picture and translation of the thank you card from the family we sponsored:

"Thank you for the gifts for my family. We are very happy for your generosity. We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

About First Christian Church Pomona

We are an active, informed, progressive Christian community worshiping and serving in Pomona, CA. Our congregation is a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Denomination.

All are welcome to worship, take Communion and serve the world with us.

Join us for

Bible Study:
9 am Sunday

Join us for

Worship:

10 am Sunday

Contact Us

First Christian Church Pomona

1751 N. Park Ave.

Pomona, CA 91768

(909) 622-1144

[email protected]