Cal-Pac Update
Serving United Methodists in Guam, Hawaii,
Saipan and Southern California
Friday, August 11, 2006
Cal-Pac Update is designed to be a weekly
electronic newsletter with tidbits of information from the national, conference
and local church level.
Conference News and Events
The National Plan for Hispanic/Latino
Ministry
The Executive
Committee of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry (NPHLM) is
announcing the election of the Rev. Francisco Cañas as the new Coordinator of
the NPHLM. Rev. Cañas will begin his work on September 1, 2006. The primary
responsibilities of his new position shall be to work with the National
Committee of NPHLM in its coordination and overseeing the implementation of all
components of the plan with general agencies and conferences. Other
responsibilities will include providing leadership to the development of program
initiatives in collaboration with general agencies, seminaries, and annual
conferences and coordinate/analyze information related to issues and concerns of
the Hispanic/Latino American population in the United States. Rev. Cañas,
originally from El Salvador, has been a Los Angeles resident for the last 22
years. He came to the United States during the years of political and military
conflict in Central America. He is an Ordained Elder and member of The
California Pacific Annual Conference and is currently the Pastor of the First
United Methodist Church of San Fernando, holding the position since 2005. He
has also been serving the church in other capacities at the national and
conference levels. Rev. Cañas has been involved in various concepts and
practices of Urban Ministry for more than 17 years, and has a passion for
serving in multi-cultural ministry settings. Rev. Cañas will relocate to New
York and occupy the NPHLM office at the General Board of Global Ministry, 475
Riverside Drive, New York.
Summary of School of Congregational Development Online
The largest School of Congregational
Development on record took place in San Diego this past week. Bishop Swenson was
the episcopal host at this annual school sponsored jointly by the General Boards
of Global Ministries and Discipleship. Elliott Wright, Information Officer,
General Board of Global Ministries announced earlier this week that a summary of
the event is available here http://new.gbgm-umc.org/news/themes/2006schoolcongregationaldevel/. Watch for more Cal-Pac coverage in the September
issue of Circuit West.
Appeal for Funds to Aid in Pre-School Donation
By Rev. Sara L Armstrong, Conference
Director Connections/Justice
Julie and Van Windham of Glendora UMC closed their preschool in June and
are donating all the educational and playground equipment to two preschools at
Handsboro UMC and Mississippi City UMC in Gulfport, Mississippi, that were
destroyed in the hurricane and tornados last September. This equipment will be
invaluable in the recovery of these two congregation and their communities. The
cost for transporting this love gift to Mississippi is $13,000. This is not a
small amount to raise, but we have faith that our church members will come
forward, be generous and support this project. Whatever funds are in excess of
the actual moving cost will be sent to the churches to pay for installation of
cabinets, bookcases, and so forth. We plan to have the moving van ready to pack
up by the end of August. Please be in prayer for this effort. If you feel called
to donate, please make your check payable to California-Pacific Annual
Conference. Place “preschool furniture” on the memo line of the check.
Send your check ATTN: Sara Armstrong, United Methodist Center, P.O. Box
6006, Pasadena, CA 91102.
Easy Action Items for Expressing Concern about the Middle East
Conflict
The Cal-Pac
Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) recognizes that many of us may be
feeling overwhelmed by the news of the Middle East conflict and finding it
difficult to know where and how to express our concern. Here, they offer several
easy ways you may have a positive influence in the current crisis. 1 - Make one
phone call (to the White House comment line). 2 - Send three emails (to your 2
Senators and your Congressional Rep - support 2 pieces of legislation). 3 -
Donate some money. (The UMCOR Appeal for Middle East Relief Work is a good one.)
4 - Join with others in prayer, worship, dialogue. An Interfaith Prayer with the
Peoples of Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon to share in your groups or in worship
can be found here: http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=16558. For more information about MFSA, go to
http://www.mfsaweb.org/.
Cokesbury Christian Education Showcase
We offer you resources for teaching mission all
year long and for the next two weeks, August 14-26 we are offering free
shipping of education material. This is a great time to order your fall
curriculum, including the NEW LIVE B.I.G., which we are really excited about – a
new innovative way to share the good news of our Lord with the children of
today. We also have our standard Exploring Faith, Adult Bible Study, Biblezone
Live, Beginnings, Disciple Studies, Jesus in the Gospels and Christian Believer
series to name a few. Come by and see us if you can, if not, give us a call and
we look forward to serving you. Make it a new and exciting year for your
students! We are located at 478 E Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, Ca 91101. Call the
store at 877-432-8802 or 626-796-5773.
Healthy Dining
Extravaganza
Methodist
Hospital, Arcadia, with support from UniHealth Foundation, will present A
Healthy Dining Extravaganza on Thursday, August 31, from 3:30-5 pm in
Packard Hall at Westminster Gardens, 1420 Santo Domingo Avenue, Duarte. Come
with an appetite for fun, great food and advice as you experience how to lighten
up when you dine out. An insightful seminar by Anita Jones, MPH, will give the
inside skinny on healthy dining at your favorite restaurants. You will also be
able to try generous and healthy samples from several Los Angeles restaurants.
You will also receive a copy of a trendsetting publication called Healthy
Dining In Los Angeles. Reservations are required. Call by Monday, August 28,
to 626-358-3569, ext. 139.
Local Church
News and Events
Interfaith Service of Lamentation
Lament for Lost Lives, an interfaith service of
lamentation, will be held at 3 pm on Sunday, August 13, at Hollywood
United Methodist Church, 6817 Franklin Avenue (at Highland), Hollywood. This
will be the second in a series of Sunday afternoon Laments organized by ICUJP:
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace. The third Lament on
August 20 will also be at Hollywood UMC. Three more lamentations will be
held on August 27, September 3 and September 10 at La Plaza United Methodist
Church. Join us for any or all. Please see www.icujp.org for the latest information on weekly participants.
Concert
The Music Department of Grace United Methodist
Church will present Just Music on August 20 at 4 pm. The concert will
feature Spirit Chorale and OperAnd with Leberta Clark and Sheila Tate. Special
guest will be Keithly Garnett. Tickets are $10. More information is available by
calling 323-294-6653. The church is located at 4112 West Slauson Avenue, Los
Angeles.
National
News
Gunmen
Kill United Methodist Local Pastor In Philippines
By United Methodist News Service
A United Methodist in the Philippines
who had served as a local pastor was shot dead by gunmen outside his home.
According to a story in the Aug. 6 edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer,
Isaias Sta. Rosa was found dead in Malabago, Daraga, Albay, on Aug. 3. He
was near a creek, alongside another dead man with gunshot wounds who was
identified as an army corporal, according to the newspaper. Police said that
soldier was believed to be one of about 10 masked gunmen who forced their way
into the pastor's home, and neighbors of Sta. Rosa speculated that the corporal
might have been killed by mistake and his body left with the pastor's to make it
appear that the slaying was the work of a rebel group, according to the
Manila Bulletin Online. Sta. Rosa's brother's home nearby also had been
entered and the case was listed by police as a "robbery with homicide." The
brother, Jonathan Rosa, said he had been asked where Isaias was and ordered to
knock at the door of his house. He said Isaias was beaten up and taken from the
house to the creek. Sta. Rosa, in his mid-40s, was a freelance writer and
project consultant for nongovernmental organizations and a member of Legazpi
City United Methodist Church. United Methodist Bishop Leo A. Soriano, who leads
the church's Davao Area, condemned the killing and urged civil and military
authorities to bring the guilty parties to justice. Read more here: http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2004911/k.BC11/Gunmen_kill_United_Methodist_local_pastor_in_Philippines.htm.
Young People's Unit Sees Leadership Change, Approves
Grants
By Kathy L.
Gilbert, UMNS
"I feel like I am
in the Lord," William Tolentino told a gathering of youth and young adults from
a pulpit in the United Methodist Upper Room. "Until today, the Upper Room has
just been a dream; I have only seen photographs of this place," he said. "Being
inside this room feels like I am inside the Lord." Tolentino and Mighty Rasing,
youth from the Philippines, were overjoyed to be at the annual meeting of the
United Methodist Board of Discipleship's Division on Ministries with Young
People. Since the division was formed in 2004, this is the first time youth from
the Philippines have succeeded in getting visas to visit the United States.
Tolentino, president of the United Methodist Young Adult Fellowship, and Rasing,
president of the United Methodist Youth Fellowship in the Philippines, led the
opening worship service for the division, which met Aug. 3-6 in Nashville. Their
presence energized a meeting that was highlighted by discussions about
leadership changes, grants for ministry projects and plans for upcoming youth
gatherings. Fifty-nine youth, young adults, and adult workers with young people
from around the world serve on the Division on Ministries with Young People. The
2004 General Conference approved the formation of the division to connect young
people and those in ministries with young people to each other and the church.
The division models a global community with 17 representatives from 11 countries
other than the United States. The rest of this article can be found here:
http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2005005/k.C3A0/Young_peoples_unit_sees_leadership_change_approves_grants.htm.
Pastor as Song Leader
by Dean McIntyre
Who should lead the congregation in its singing? A
song leader? The choir? The praise team? The organist or pianist? In many of our
churches, the people sing hymns without the leadership of any of these. In a
time when it is increasingly difficult to find and hire capable musicians, the
congregation is often left to sing its song on its own. In many churches the
pastor serves as song leader. There may be a piano and pianist, or not; but
having announced the hymn, the pastor, as principal worship leader and presider,
also serves as de facto song leader. The truth is, however, that most clergy are
not musicians. Their gifts and training are in other areas of worship. But
having announced the hymn to the people, they look to the pastor for when to
begin singing, how to sing, how loud, how fast, when to stop singing, even for
an appropriate emotional response to the hymn. Read the rest of this article
here: http://www.gbod.org/musicmusings.
United Methodist Church Opens Hearts, Minds, Doors in
Lithuania
A grant from United
Methodist Communications has made it possible to bring the "Open hearts. Open
minds. Open doors." media campaign to Lithuanian television. The $15,554 grant –
the first Igniting Ministry grant given to a church outside the U.S. – paid for
nineteen 30-second commercial spots that aired on LIETUVOS TELEVISIO, the major
television station in Lithuania. The Lithuanian language commercials mark a new
expansion of the advertising campaign into languages other than English.
Commercials have been produced in Spanish and Korean for Spanish and Korean
language audiences in the United States. The television campaign was conducted
in conjunction with an outreach evangelism project in Lithuania to distribute
brochures about The United Methodist Church to people across the country. "My
vision is that every Lithuanian deserves how to know God personally and to know
something about our great church and where to find it," said the Rev. Herbert
Lange, a missionary and retired minister serving in Lithuania. Lange is a
native of Lithuania who later moved to Germany and then to the U.S., where he
graduated from Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Ken., and was ordained as a pastor in
The United Methodist Church. Lange said that the Igniting Ministry commercials
were "very relevant to the life of Lithuania." While the voices in the
commercials had to be redubbed in the Lithuanian language, the images were felt
to be appropriate to the culture. The commercials that were used were Advice,
which asks viewers to renew forgotten relationships with each other and with
God; Rain/Fence, which utilizes simple occurrences in our lives as reasons for
people to pause and gain new perspectives; and A Thousand Hands, which reminds
us "It takes more than a building to make a church. And it takes more than one
hour on Sunday to understand why." From July 24 to 29, United Methodists from
churches all over Lithuania came to Vilnius, the capital city, to distribute
brochures. Buses brought people from various cities to gather in the church,
which is located above a car repair shop. The volunteers then went out in teams
to selected areas and stood on the streets handing out more than 65,000
brochures. The television commercials ran concurrently during this time period.
The brochure distribution campaign was adopted by the Lithuanian Annual
Conference as their evangelism outreach project for 2006-2007. They plan to do
the same thing in other cities. The United Methodist Church began its "Open
hearts. Open minds. Open doors." advertising and welcoming campaign in 2001.
United Methodist Communications offers $1 million in funding annually to local
churches, districts and conferences to help expand a welcoming ministry through
an advertising presence in their communities.
Making Sense of Praise & Worship
Music
Praise and worship
music (PW) is big business and it is having a major impact on music publishing,
performance, and worship. But what is it? What makes it different from
traditional worship music? This article gives some of the common characteristics
of PW: http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=16776&loc_id=17,823.
March for the People of Lebanon & Gaza
Assemble at Olympic & Broadway in
downtown Los Angeles at 1 pm on Saturday, August 12, to march for the
people of Lebanon and Gaza. For more information please call (323) 464-1636 or
email ANSWER LA at answerla@answerla.org.
You may also find information at the American Friends Service Committee
calendar: http://www.afsc.org/calendar/event.php?calendar=19&category=&event=4123&full=true&date=2006-08-12. Carpools are coming from Riverside, Ventura,
Orange County, the Inland Empire, Long Beach, Santa Barbara and more. Please
bring your family, friends, and co-workers.
Please Support the Katrina Church
Recovery Effort
Katrina is
not over. Please join the efforts to restore our congregations, parsonages and
mission facilities.
We mourn with
our brothers and sisters their great losses while we embrace this opportunity
for United Methodists to show commitment to our faith and to one another.
Together we can restore mission and ministry while moving into a strong future.
Please open your hearts and your wallets to the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal
#818-001. The Council of Bishops have asked congregations to take a
special offering for the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal August 27, the
Sunday closest to the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s first strike
to the United States coast on August 25, 2006. DONATE ONLINE or through local church offerings—Send to
conference treasurer. In the memo portion of the check, write Bishops’ Appeal
#818-001.
United Methodist Relief Agency Needs Funds for Middle East
Crisis
The United Methodist
Committee on Relief (UMCOR) today issued an urgent appeal for funds to assist
civilians caught in the renewed fighting in the Middle East. "Our funds for
Middle East emergencies are painfully low," said the Rev. Paul Dirdak, UMCOR
director. "As Christians and as a denomination, we need to equip ourselves to
do our part in responding to humanitarian needs in this tragic situation."
Contributions should go to the Middle East Emergency Fund (#601740) of the
Advance for Christ and His Church, the United Methodist designated mission
giving fund. (See giving instructions below.) Dirdak said that this general fund
allows UMCOR to respond to civilian needs on any front in the confrontation. "We
are concerned for all civilians in this ongoing crisis," he said. "We have a
number of options for channeling assistance into Lebanon, Gaza, and Israel. We
are deeply involved in the dialogue among humanitarian groups as to how to best
respond to the emergency. We can do very little unless the United Methodist
people are, yet again, willing to dig deep into their pockets for dollars that
can translate prayers into action." A small contribution of $5,000 has been sent
from general UMCOR funds for emergency aid in Lebanon. Another $20,000 grant is
in the emergency approval process. UMCOR has years of experience in working with
refugees in the Middle East and in assisting families and individuals affected
by periodic wars there. It has several partners with which it can work in
Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. In Israel, the agency relies on United
Methodist missionaries to identify clinics and other facilities serving those in
greatest need. "The humanitarian aid of The United Methodist Church knows no
political or national boundaries," Dirdak said. "In recent weeks, we have been
concerned with families in Gaza affected by Israel bombing. Now we are also
concerned about civilians in Lebanon and about civilians in Israel whose lives
are being torn apart by the military action." Give to UMCOR Advance Middle East
Emergency #601740. Please write the Advance # and name and in the memo line of
your check. Give through your local church offering plate or online here:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/newsroom/releases/archives06/20060725/.
For national news, log on to http://umns.umc.org or http://www.reporterinteractive.org.
For general United Methodist information and other resources, log on
to the national website at http://www.umc.org.
For
information about the Igniting Ministry media campaign, log on to
http://www.ignitingministry.org.
For information about national United Methodist giving log on to
http://www.umcgiving.org.
Other
Resources and Events
Sojourners Conference Registration Deadline Extended
You've been thinking about attending our
exciting Politics and
Spirituality conference on
September 8-10 in Pasadena, California, but just haven't gotten around to
registering. We understand. These are the lazy days of summer. So we've
extended our early bird deadline to August 14! It's not too late to save
some summer bucks by signing up for our $195 early-bird full-conference rate or
$99 one-day pass! We have also made it easier than ever for parents to attend by
arranging for child care! E-mail: conferences@cacradicalgrace.org to make arrangements. (Additional fees apply.) Our Politics and
Spirituality Conference: Outer Witness, Inner Faith brings together Anne
Lamott, Richard Rohr, and Jim Wallis to engage us on the vital connection
between inner spiritual life and outer public witness. The Politics and
Spirituality conference is hosted by Sojourners and the Center for Action and
Contemplation.
Sponsors include:
Eastern
University, Middle East
Fellowship, Sierra Club, Living the Questions,
Harvard Divinity
School, Progressive Christian
Witness. Go here to learn more
and to register: http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/conferences/psca/registration.php.
Wonders of Technology Tour
Enhance your ministry to disabled persons in your
congregation by learning about the Computer Access Center. A program and tour
will be held on Thursday, August 17, at 4:30 pm at the center located at
6234 West 87th Street, Los Angeles. The Computer Access Center is a non-profit
organization that provides extraordinary services for people with disabilities.
Come learn about Assistive Technology and Meet our program staff & our
clients. RSVP to Marcy Kaplan or Ralph Gottlieb at 310-338-1597 ..
Visit our website for further information and directions: www.cac.org.
Job Openings
Business Administrator
Aldersgate United Methodist Church located in Tustin, California is
seeking a full-time professional Business Administrator to manage the financial
and operational affairs of the church. This position will have some direct
reports while maintaining responsibility for many key areas of the church
including: Human Resources, Facilities, Information Technology and Treasury
function. Oversight will include fiscal and budgetary work, physical plant
maintenance and operations, computer systems and administrative support. The
position will work closely with the Pastoral staff and will report directly to
the Staff Parrish Relations Committee. The position will work in a
collaborative environment with other church staff, committees and membership to
carry out the mission and ministry of the church. A B.A. degree or equivalent
experience is required; business/supervisory experience preferred; accounting,
finance, maintenance, information technology (with Microsoft Office
applications), Human Resources and management knowledge required. For more
information about this position or to apply, e-mail AUMCjobs@aol.com.
Director of Family Ministries
Riviera United Methodist Church in Redondo Beach
is looking for a full-time Director of Family Ministries to provide leadership
of the congregational family life and education ministries of the church. This
person will lead the Congregational and Family Life Team and the Education
Team. For more information call Senior Pastor Terry Bushart at
310-378-9273.
Organist
Riviera
United Methodist Church in Redondo Beach is seeking an organist to become a part
of its growing music program. For more information and/or an employment
application form, please contact Rev. Terry Bushart at (310) 378-9273 .
Reruns
Single Parent Family Retreat
“REJOICE” is the theme of this year’s camp to be
held over Labor Day Weekend at Lazy W Ranch in San Juan Capistrano. There
are still openings and we invite you to find the single parents and children in
your congregations and offer them this wonderful, spiritual, fun filled weekend.
The retreat has run for 15 years and most of the returnees are back because
their children have loved it so much. We would like you to open your hearts to
sending a single parent family to camp so that his or her family can have a
great time! Happy children make happy parents make a happier world. Questions
please contact Rosemary
310-287-2748. Carol Mayer, 626-568-7354, 800-244-8622. The brochure and
registration are on the Cal-Pac Web site at www.cal-pac.org on the right side. We are looking forward to each one of you reaching
out and helping send a family to camp!
To submit news items to Cal-Pac Update send an
e-mail with your name, contact information, and the event to kfry@cal-pac.org. The deadline is the Wednesday before the Friday of publication.
Open hearts, open minds, open
doors
Director of Communications
California-Pacific Conference
United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 6006
Pasadena, CA 91102-6006
(626) 568-7329 (office)
(626) 755-6948 (cell)
(626) 796-7297 (fax)