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Next Sunday
Pastor Laurie will be preaching. Our 8:30 am communion service is on hiatus. The reading is: Luke 9:28-36. You are welcome here. Listen to a greeting from our senior pastor, the Rev. Michael Love. "Radical Renovation" : A Seven Session Lenten StudyJoin Pastor Michael for a seven session Lenten study. Radical Renovation is a powerful image of what can happen in our lives during the season of Lent. Just as a house can be rebuilt after it has fallen into disrepair or devastation, author James A. Harnish says, so God can enter in to our brokenness and completely rebuild our lives, so that we can become the kind of people in whom the living Christ can take up residence, and through whom the loving purpose of God can become a tangible reality in this world. "Radical Renovation" starts Sunday, February 21, 2010 and runs through Sunday, March 28, 2010 . The class meets at 9:00 am in Pat's Place. All are welcome Great Decisions
Become a more informed citizen of the world! Join us for nine thought- provoking and lively discussions on Global Issues and US Foreign Policy in the “Great Decisions” discussion series. The 2010 topics range from U.S.-China security relations to the Global Financial Crisis. Your experience as a citizen of the world and your concern for its future are all that's necessary to participate in and contribute to the discussions. First Church of Palo Alto is proud to host the Great Decisions Series again in 2010 as we’ve done for almost thirty years. The Great Decisions Briefing Book, published by the Foreign Policy Association, can be purchased at First Church or at any of the sessions for $20 per book. It includes helpful articles and background for pre-reading and future reference. When: The series runs for 9 weeks from January 31, 2010 through March 29, 2010. Discussion sessions are held on Sunday Mornings from 8:30am to 10:15am and again on Monday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. We'll have a pair of sessions for each topic, on Sunday and repeated on Monday. We're also having a "ninth session" this year to focus on the question -- How do we as people of faith respond? Where: All sessions will be held in Kohlstedt Hall of the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, 625 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto. More info: For questions or to purchase a briefing book please contact Felice at fswapp@gmail.com or 650-283-4343. Pastor Michael's February Insights Column“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” C. S. Lewis February 2010 Insights Column
By now, you might be settling into the new year. The important new business of the new year is also fully before you. You've figured out, probably, whether or not you're going to call it “twenty-ten” or “two- thousand-ten” or “2K10” or something else all together. It's a good thing we have significant matters like this to keep us busy, isn't it? For me the essential New Year's question is, “How do we move toward significance in the mission of Jesus Christ in the year ahead?” In other words, how do we cut through to the big stuff and not get swept up in the minutia that the devil puts out there to keep us merely busy, rather than genuinely productive? I ask myself this question at least once a year and the answer is always the same. “Practice, practice, practice.” Adopting personal spiritual practices (John Wesley called them Means of Grace) is the way that we hone our skills so we can be focused and strong in the work that God calls us to accomplish. And, as John Wesley noticed, this is not solitary practice. The leadership of a church and the community from which it draws membership requires persons of spiritual complexity and endurance. Those persons are ones who sanctify the gift of their service by entering into covenant with their brothers and sisters in Christ. In other words, they risk Christian conferencing, study, prayer and group accountability. The Methodist tribe found its start in such “Holy Clubs” as these and the result was an unstoppable renewal of the church and a powerful presence in world mission and ministry. Churches sometimes overlook this foundational step. It seems to some to be old- fashioned or too much religion. But I tell you that we skip this core practice of the church at our peril. Churches have always grown from a broad foundation of strong spiritual leadership into places of mission, ministry and program. Churches that try to grow from a broad array of mission, ministry and program into a place of spiritual strength quickly find that they are poorly equipped for the long haul. Much wiser folk than I have observed that we cannot share what we ourselves have not experienced. I give thanks, therefore, to be on this journey in a place like 1st Church. We are looking ahead to small groups dedicated to two purposes: leadership development through covenant group discipleship and multiplication of the groups to provide spiritual support for every person who desires this practice. I feel that this is one of those moments in the life of the church where, if we don't aim for heaven we won't get much more than what we already have, just dressed up in this season's outfit. I invite you to be on the lookout for the treasure that lasts in your relationship to God in Jesus Christ. I hope that you will find a small group soon to guide and nurture your journey as a disciple so that, together, we may fulfill the mission of the church: “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Blessings, Rev. Michael Love Read previous columns from our pastors. February Issue of Insights is Online!
Click here to read this month's news-filled issue!  Haiti Earthquake - How You Can HelpUMCOR Responds to the Earthquake in HaitiA major earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010, causing widespread destruction. Millions of people are affected and thousands are feared dead. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has close ties with the Methodist Church in Haiti and is responding to the devastating earthquake with funding, material resources and prayers.UMCOR executive, Melissa Crutchfield says, “We are working with our partners on the ground to provide immediate relief to the people in Haiti. UMCOR has worked in Haiti for many years. We anticipate that there will be years of rebuilding needed and are prepared to work with the people to help them through that process.” Working with partners, Action by Churches Together, Church World Service, Global Medic and the Methodist Church, UMCOR is channeling its resources to respond effectively to the people most in need. How You Can Help You can also donate by check. Checks can be made to UMCOR with Advance #418325 Haiti Emergency in the memo line. Checks can be put in the church offering plate this Sunday or mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. UMCOR Sager Brown is coordinating a shipment of health kits to provide individuals with basic necessities. Instructions for assembling and shipping health kits are available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/health-kit/. Please pray for all of the people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Thank you for your faithful support for all of God’s children. 100% of gifts made to this advance will go to help the people of Haiti.< 2010 Centennial Endowment Grant Application
Only official organized administrative groups within First Church are able to apply for a grant. Please also note that Centennial Endowment Committee members are available for consultation during this process. Should you have any questions, please ask the Committee for clarification and/or guidance before you submit your application. More details about the grant process, and a list of the current committee members are available in the Grant Application Information package. Applications may be submitted to the Church Business Administrator at any time up to 4:00PM on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. Late applications will not be considered. Click here to downloand the Grant Application package. Job Opening - Director of Children and Youth MinistriesThe First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto is seeking an able candidate for the position of Director of Children and Youth Ministries. The Director of Children and Youth Ministries is responsible for establishing and managing a comprehensive Christian Education and Youth Ministries program to prepare children and youth to live informed Christian lives in an every-changing world, under the supervision of the Senior Pastor (or his/her designated pastor). Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to: - Supervise and manage Sunday morning Christian Education program for children and youth. The successful candidate will have had professional or volunteer experience or training in Christian education and/or faith development in children and youth, appropriate training and/or experience with children and youth and training of youth leaders, and an understanding of Christian faith and especially appreciation for the United Methodist Church and its history, polity, and theology are preferred. This is a part-time position of approximately 20-25 hours per week. Weekly hours will be those required to plan and implement children and youth activities, oversee nursery care at church events, and attend meetings. Interested candidates, please email resume to michael@firstpaloalto.com No phone calls please. UMW Green
Genesis and the Psalms help us understand that Creation is a gift from God. Everything in creation is created by God, is good, and is interconnected. That is why we, and all other parts of Creation, have intrinsic worth and are sacred. In Genesis 2 we are asked to be stewards of creation. This message is more than requiring us to manage natural resources wisely. Throughout the Bible we are called to be good stewards. This means learn to also be good stewards of our time, and in the use of our talents and personal resources. We are to care for those in need. To share – to care. All giving and sharing is an act of stewardship. We recycle. We compost. As individual families and as a church, we are involved. The next step is to be aware. How are we spending our family income? Are we supporting our church, and programs that help others? Are we buying products that harm the earth in their manufacture? What happens when we are finished with the item? Does it just disappear in the landfill? No. It just disappears from our sight. Earth still has to contend with it. Are we setting good examples for the children around us? Are we teaching them to see others who are not as “lucky”, or privileged, and to ask how we can share? Are we teaching them to know where an item originates and where it ends up? Are we teaching them the wonders of nature and how our actions protect or harm our air, water, the very earth? There are opportunities all around us every day in God’s wonderful Creation. We just need to be aware of our personal impact. Follow Us On Twitter
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Join us for worship at 10:25 am.
Great Decisions 2010 is under way!
The February issue of our Insights newsletter is now online.
The Centennial Endowment Funds Committee is beginning the Grant Process for 2010.
The Women's Division of the United Methodist Women has made Green our favorite color.
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The First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, California - A Welcoming Church spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties since 1894. We're conveniently located in downtown Palo Alto near the Stanford University campus. Whether you're in the Silicon Valley or on the Peninsula, we want to be your Church home.
We invite you and your family to worship with us any Sunday morning.
Our members come from all over the San Francisco bay area including Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, Campbell, Castro Valley, Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Fremont, Gilroy, Half Moon Bay, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Newark, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Francisco, San Mateo, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Stanford, Sunnyvale and Walnut Creek.
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 Listen to Pastor Michael's greeting. You are welcome here!
Join us for worship at 10:25 am. Pastor Laurie will be preaching.
Our 8:30 am communion service is on hiatus. The reading for Sunday February 14th is Luke 9:28-36.
Starting February 21st, join Pastor Michael for this new class. Just as a house can be rebuilt after it has fallen into disrepair or devastation, so God can enter in to our brokenness and completely rebuild our lives.
Listen to Pastor Michael's January 31st sermon. Save it to your iPod.
Gain cogent insight on key issues facing American Foreign Policy. Duplicate classes Monday evenings and Sunday mornings
Read Pastor Michael's column from the February Insights
Read the latest issue today!
Listen and read to Pastor Laurie's January 24th sermon. Save it to your iPod. |