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Blended Service Sunday, April 6, 10:00 a.m. It is time to come together once again and enjoy a Blended Service. There has been so much positive feedback on this and on April 6th there will indeed be reason to worship and rejoice together. So, who doesn’t know Ted Oden? Well if there is even one of you who doesn’t, then for sure you will want to come, and for those of us who do, well, we wouldn’t miss this for the world. You see, this is the day that after much study, prayer, and service, Ted will be installed as our Minister of Contemporary Worship here at FCC Torrance. The installation shall follow the worship service. We hope you will all be a part of this sacred and wonderful event. Congratulations, Ted, for all you have done, and for all that is ahead for you in your service to our God and God’s people. Page 1 March 27, 2008 Disciples Women’s Ministry TEAMWORK – TORRANCE FCC STYLE! If you have been anywhere near the church in the last few weeks, you have been busy! It has been a wonderful time of fellowship and togetherness. Everywhere anyone looked, our Disciples Women were working together in the many tasks that need to be done this time of year cooking, cleaning, moving tables, decorating; preparing for our times of worship together. And right there with them, the men and the young people of our church gave of their time and effort in support. Under the leadership and amazing stamina of our DWF president, Chery Carew, much was accomplished to make our Holy Week deliberations meaningful and traditional. In the sanctuary, you might have seen Ken Potter working on the magnificent original Cantata that was presented on Maundy Thursday. The kitchen was almost always full of women cooking something! Pastor Kel was always 10 places at once, always patient, always caring. Our young people helped everywhere, from a great Puppet Show on Palm Sunday, to cooking gigantic pancakes Easter morning. All the regular meetings and obligations and studies flowed on as usual, mixed in with the joy and enthusiasm of the traditions of faith that are dear to us all. Culminating it all, of course, a glorious Easter morning, a church full of love, and “He is Risen” filling our hearts! May “fellowship in faith” always be our watchword – something to be thankful for in the life of our church. Time, now, to move on to new challenges. But before we close the books on our recent Friendship Dinner, the Disciples Women’s Board was excited to find that there was money left after the bills were paid! It was voted to allow $200 to be added to the monies collected for Project Impact at our last Luncheon. This very worthwhile project is a unit of our own Disciples of Christ Pacific Southwest Region, and will be receiving a total of $500 from our Disciples Women’s Fellowship. Thanks to everyone for their support of the dinner; which made this extra donation possible. Page 2 And so, believe it or not, April is just around the corner. Don’t forget our Spring Event on April 12th. Jill Foster has all the information, and answers to your questions. Registration forms are available, and carpools are planned, but time is getting short – so contact her soon. April 27th will be our next luncheon, and our speaker will be Reverend Katherine Pershey, Pastor of the South Bay Christian Church. Our service project will be scholarships for church camps, and the luncheon will be hosted by the Faith Women’s Group. Get this date on your calendar, and watch for more information in the next newsletter. Greetings from the Worship Committee. It is our hope that you and your family enjoyed a meaningful and joyous Easter. We thank you for the opportunity of trying new and cherishing some of our traditional ways of worship together. After the ‘extraordinary time’ of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, comes the opportunity to reflect on how we want to continue our journey of faith in action. The next series of sermons will be observing this ‘Eastertide’ with the theme “I Love to Tell the Story.” No, not necessarily personal testimonials, but ways in which we are changed, how it is now possible to see with new eyes, how others have written and acted on the promises made to us all through Christ. Below are the names of those bringing the message through April: March 30th, Rev. Galen Goben will present the message. April 6th will be a Blended Service celebrating each other and honoring and installing Ted Oden as Pastor. This will be a time of sacred….great….huge… enthusiastic… rejoicing! April 13th will be Pastor Kel. April 20th will be Rev. Dave Matson. April 27th will be Youth Sunday. Page 3 I have been asked by a few folks as to “why did the church put Easter so early this year?” I tried to explain that the date for Easter is not arbitrarily chosen. Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20.) This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar. Upon doing some research it has been discovered that Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives and none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier. The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now.) The last time it was this early was 1913. The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now.) The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year. Blessing, Pastor Kel Worship, Serve, Grow Be part of the All Church Retreat Saturday, April 19, 9:00 – 3:00 @ Mary and Joseph Center Fun, food, fellowship Please sign up in the fellowship hall, or see Kel or Sakura Donations accepted to help cover costs Page 4 CHURCH FAMILY NEWS Suzanne Nelson was in the hospital with a stomach infection. She is home now and is on her way to a healthy recovery. Congratulations to Marie Wood who was baptized on Easter Sunday. By her Declaration of Faith, she enters the newness of life and is made one with the Body of Christ. Many thanks to Rich Koontz for coming out and waxing and buffing the floors in Sippel Hall and in the kitchen. He makes sure they are shiny and bright and kept up nicely. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Bible Study—10:00 a.m. (Wednesdays) Choir—7:00 p.m., (Thursdays) Praise Team Practice—6:00 p.m., (Thursdays) Worship Committee Mtg—7:00 p.m., April 1. Trustee Meeting—7:30 p.m., April 1. New Hope—7:00 p.m., April. 3. Blended Service—10:00 a.m., April 6. Amazing Gray’s—12:30 p.m., April 7. Women’s Board—7:00 p.m., April 8. Cabinet Meeting—7:00 p.m., April 9. Love Group—9:30 a.m., April 15. Faith Group—1:30 p.m., April 15. Elders Meeting—7:00 p.m., April 15. C.M.F.—8:30 a.m., April 19. All Church Retreat—9:00-3:00 p.m., April 19. David Matson Preaching—April 20. Monthly Gathering—7:00-9:00 p.m., April 23. All Church Workday—9:00-1:00 p.m., April 26. Youth Sunday—April 27. Disciple Women’s Lunch—12:00 p.m., April 27. DID YOU KNOW… that Tetlo Emmen will be trying out for a spot on this year’s Olympic track and field team? He is currently in training and will be attending try outs very soon. Lets keep him in our prayers and wish him good luck. The church is still experiencing doors left unlocked. Also with the summer months coming up, please be mindful and remember to shut the windows. Remember we are our own best security, so let’s all do our part to keep our church safe and free from vandalism. Page 5 April 2008 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday WORSHIP SERVICES 8:30 and 10:30 am Sunday School 9:15 am 1 Worship Meeting 7:00 p.m. Trustees Meeting 7:30 p.m. Thursd 2 New Hope 7 6 Blended Service 10:00 a.m. Youth/Young Adults Dodge ball Amazing Gray’s 12:30 potluck Education Meeting 7:00 p.m. Newsletter 7 8 Bible Study 10:00 to 11:30 a.m Cabinet Meeting 7:00 p.m. 9 Women’s Board Meeting 7:00 p.m. Choir 7:00 p.m 13 Pastor Kel Preaching Youth trip to Cal State Long Beach 12:30-4:00 14 Love Group 9:30 a.m. Faith Group 1:30 p.m. Elders 7:00 p.m. 15 Bible Study 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. 16 Choir 7:00 p.m 20 David Matson Preaching Chi Rho 12:00-1:30 CYF 6:30-8:00 Newsletter 21 22 23 Bible Study 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Monthly Gathering 7:00-9:00 p.m. Choir 7:00 p.m 27 Youth Sunday Women’s Lunch 12:00 p.m. 28 29 30 Page 6 ay Friday Saturday April Birthday’s Laurel Nelson (6) Rick Reeley (7) Maxine Wanbaugh (8) Stephanie (Sebaugh) O’Brien (9) Bill Adams (9) 5 Kevin Mine (10) Sue Zukas (12) Carol Wright (12) Sharon Dexter (13) Jack Perry (14) Kevin Session (14) 12 Charles Bales (14) Amanda Thompson (15) Brandon Matson (16) Disciple Women’s Susan Babcock (17) Harriett Sherwood (17) Spring Event Bonnie Evans (18) (All Peoples Christian Center) Mott Farrell (19) Basil Ibe (20) Andrea Whobrey (20) Matt Townsend (20) 19 Bryce Matson (26) Doris Wilson (26) Rod Norris (26) C.M.F. Stan Carew (27) 8:30 a.m. Daniel Nelson (27) All Church Retreat Jerry Gimbrone (28) Glenn Oden (28) 9:00 to 3:00 Bronze Ibe (28) William Wheatley (30) 3 :00 p.m. 4 10 11 . 17 18 . 24 25 26 . All Church Workday 9:00-1:00 ANNIVERSARIES Kurt & Suzanne Nelson (18) Eric & Vicki Johns (22) Page 7 Relay for Life May 3 & 4 2008 9am-9am South High School Stadium It’s almost here!! The American Cancer Society (ACS) is sponsoring the 5th Annual South Bay Relay for Life on May 3 & 4, 2008, from 9am Sat, to 9am, Sun at South High Stadium. In case you didn’t know, Relay for Life is a 24 hour event and there’s no finish line until we find a cure. If you’d like to be on the His Hands of FCC Torrance team, then come by our booth after church and find out how. Again, our campsite at the Relay will be decorated in a surfer theme in memory of our beloved Don Bill. There are a number of ways our church family can participate in this event: • Sign up for a one hour time slot (day or night) and walk with other supporters throughout the 24 hour period. • Choose to provide food donations for the sale of Taco Boats etc. at the Relay (to raise money for ACS.) • Make a financial contribution or sponsor a walker. • Purchase a Luminaria for $15, which is an inspiring way to honor someone in memory of or in survival of cancer. • Visit the His Hands of FCC campsite and cheer on all the walkers! Please join His Hands in supporting FCC’s effort to fight cancer. To find out how you can make a difference please stop by our booth or call, Tamara Griego 310-320-4070, Gail Grove 310-370-9498 or Sue Zukas at 310-618-8375. Page 8 Mile Markers Traveling the road together as Disciples in Ministry Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Mark 12:30 (NIV) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 (MSG) The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy. Historically, we Disciples have been known as people of the “Book”. So here is our second of twelve “Marks of Identity” for Disciples: “We hold the centrality of scripture, recognizing that each person has the freedom - and the responsibility - to study God’s word within the community of the church.” Some of you may have heard us introduce ourselves in a sermon we’ve done titled “The Rule of Love” by saying Susan is a rule follower- she likes to cross the street with the light and in the crosswalk; and Don is a rule breaker- you can ask him more about that. But we look at this second mark of identity from two different views. Susan reads this and hears the word responsibility and Don reads this and hears the word freedom. When we were serving local congregations, we gave Bibles at the occasion of Baptism with the reminder to read the book every day. In fact Susan was known to drill the congregation regularly on how often they should read their bible. They would respond (often with attitude), “Every day!” Our children were trained about how often to read the bible, so just to check and see if it was still there, we sent our daughter, Leah, a text and asked, “How often should you read the bible?” She replied: “Wait, what? Every day I guess.” In his book, The Faith We Affirm, Ronald Osborn tells a story about an Archbishop from Yugoslavia who did not know English. When he came to visit Christian Theological Seminary, he knew our name (Disciples of Christ) in German, as die Junger Christi. His translator had him addressing the community as “Jesus Pupils.” Dr. Osborn says, “We smiled” because that was exactly the point of the name Disciples: we are learners, followers. As disciples and followers of Jesus Christ, we are life-long learners and it is our personal responsibility to study the scripture and keep learning the new things it has to teach us. So as we look at this second mark of Disciples identity, we hear the responsibility aspect and that’s the invitation for life-long learning. It also says there is freedom. Many may not take the Bible literally (as the inerrant, infallible word of God), but we Disciples do take the Bible seriously. Ron Osborn goes on to say, “While the Disciple mind is biblical, it is more than that. It is reasonable: it thinks the Bible through with common sense. It is empirical: it reads the Bible in light of the knowledge that comes through the sciences. It is pragmatic: it tests in action the teachings of scripture and all religious notions.” So for us, this second mark of identity means that we keep the scripture at the center of our lives and have the responsibility to read and study the scriptures regularly, on the one hand, and on the other hand, we have the freedom to use all of our God-given gifts of spirituality, intellect and experience to understand it’s meaning for our life today. So, how often should you read your Bible? Every day! And how should you read your Bible? With an open and discerning mind! Together in Ministry, Don and Susan Co-Regional Ministers Page 9 EDUCATION NEWS Adult Education Come and join us in April as Basil Ibe begins a new study topic entitled, “Reconciled in Christ.” This will be a study of the book of Ephesians and with Basil teaching, you know it will be interesting and interactive. Please come join him Sunday, April 6, at 9:15 a.m. Children & Youth Everyone did a great job this Easter season. With their palm branches and song of Hosanna, our young people filled the sanctuary with the joy this Palm Sunday. They were happy singers because they were able to fill up on “empty tomb buns” in church school. Thank you to all our young people and to their teachers who made it all possible. The joy of Palm Sunday continued with our traditional Easter Eggcitement. Sippel Hall was filled with eager egg hunters, who enjoyed our light lunch and our Easter puppet show before they went out on the lawn to fill their baskets. While they were hunting, they met a furry friend who brought them Easter wishes. All in all it was a great day. Thank you all for making it happen. Youth Calendar for April April 6th – Youth/Young Adults Dodge ball in the gym after Ted’s installation. th April 13 - Youth trip to Cal State Long Beach 12:30 -4:00 p.m. April 20th - Chi Rho 12:00-1:30 p.m. CYF 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. April 27th - Youth Sunday – Youth Groups go bowling after church. Page 10 Amazing Grays Our next meeting will be April 27. We will be having a potluck lunch at the church at 12:30 p.m. Yes, of course there will be a game to go with it. Come and join in the fun. Monthly Gathering For April’s monthly gathering, I hope to have a Labyrinth available for folks to walk in Sippel Hall. A labyrinth is a continuous meditative walking path. Walking the labyrinth is yet another way people bring themselves in closer connection with their God. The Regional Disciple Women have a labyrinth available to congregations. I hope to have it here to walk on Wednesday, April 23. Attendance Cards The Attendance CARDS arrived just in time for Easter Sunday. Our first tally was a success. We had very positive comments, and a few visitors. We had one visitor who came to visit her sister and wanted to visit our church because she got married here 17 years ago. Every Sunday, each member of the congregation will be asked to fill out a card and place it in the offering plate as an expression of their stewardship time in church. The cards will also be used to help keep in touch with those who haven’t been seen for a while. We don’t want anyone to feel that we don’t care about them or miss them. Sometimes it is too easy to let people in our family “fall through the cracks”. A comment section will be included for you to write messages about anything you wish the church to know (suggestions, requests, questions, ideas, etc.) These will then be passed on to the appropriate person. A better record and contact information about visitors is also a goal. Thanks again, The Membership Committee **Next Newsletter articles need to be at the church office by 4/7/08. Page 11 NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) 2930 El Dorado Street Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 328-2820 Fax 310 328-2929 E-mail - fcctorr@pacbell.net Web address - fcctorrance.org Sunday Schedule 8:30 a.m. - Worship - Informal 9:15 a.m. - Church School for all ages 10:30 a.m. - Worship - Traditional Children’s Worship - Ages Pre-school through 2nd Grade (During the Traditional Worship Service) Nursery Provided For birth through age 3 during Sunday School and the Traditional Service Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Staff Associate Pastor - Kel Henderson Administrative Assistant– Camelia Olloque Choir Director - Ken Potter Nursery Attendant - Sherril Wiechmann TORRANCE, CA PERMIT NO. 109 The Christian Messenger First Christian Church 2930 El Dorado Street Torrance, CA 90503 TIME VALUE DATA DO NOT DELAY EXPEDITE Officers Chair - Basil Ibe Vice Chair - Doug Crawford Treasurer– Richard Koontz Financial Secretary - Moggy Emmen Clerk– Chery Carew Page 12


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