First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto

Next Sunday	Thursday - Picnic in the Park	Church Administration Reorganization	July Issue of Insights is Online!
Summer Choir Is Here	Altar Flowers	Change for the Youth Sierra Service Project Trip	Blood Drive
Mark Your Calendars for Vacation Bible School	Youth Spaghetti Dinner/Talent Show Fundraiser	UMW Green	Family Swim Party

Next Sunday

Join us for our regular worship service at 10:30 am or our informal Communion service at 8:30 am.

Readings for Sunday, July 6, 2008: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Psalm 45:10-17, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

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Thursday - Picnic in the Park

On Thursday, July 10, 17 and 24 we'll be having a picnic

Join us from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto.

Great food, fun and fellowship. Bring a friend.

RSVP in the attendance pads on Sunday mornings or call the church office at 650-323-6167.

Can you help out with the picnics? Sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the church office.

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Church Administration Reorganization

The Committee on Lay Leadership has reconfigured some of our church committees and administrative groups to help us be more effective.

View Nancy Glaser's presentation to the June 29, 2008 Church Conference here.

Show rest of 'Church Administration Reorganization'...

First Church comprises a diverse set of worship, mission, education, nurture, and administrative functions. To oversee these disparate groups, the church relies on both lay members and clergy to serve as members of governing bodies and committees.

Committee Chairs
Click here for a list of all of the committee chairs

Church Officers
Click here for a list of the church officers

Charge Conference
The Charge Conference is the governing body of the local church and is convened and conducted by the district superintendent.

Annual Conference Lay Members
The Annual Conference Lay Members represent First Church at the Annual conference.

Administrative Board
The Administrative Board carries out and interprets the mission and ministry of the church between charge Conferences. It is the responsibility of the Board to enable and coordinate the program and administrative functions of the congregation. It meets as needed.

Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees consists of 9 members, each elected to serve a 3-year term, divided into 3 groups of 3 persons. The Board is responsible for First Church’s physical plant and financial obligations.

First School Board of Directors
The First School Board of Directors oversees the policies, procedures, and regulations of First School, a preschool located in the church
Memorial Garden Committee
The Memorial Garden Committee oversees maintenance and provides information to persons interested in having ashes buried in our Memorial Garden.

Archives Committee
The Archives Committee maintains First Church’s extensive archival collection.

Library Committee
The Library Committee maintains the church library.

Children's Fund Committee
The Children’s Fund Committee awards grants to local teachers of minority children.

Centennial Endowment Funds Committee
The Centennial Endowment Funds Committee oversees our Centennial Endowment Fundswhich awards grants to fund special projects in our church and in our community.

Human Resources

Committee on Lay Leadership
The Committee on Lay Leadership nominates First Church members to serve on various committees and work areas.

Lay Leader
The Lay Leader helps the congregation take on key roles and meets regularly with the pastors to discuss the state of the church and its ministry needs.

Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC)
The Staff-Parish Relations Committee fulfills First Church’s human resources needs.

Christian Education

Christian Education Council
The Christian Education Council oversees children’s Sunday school, children, & youth educational programs, and adult education.

Youth Council & United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) includes the JOY group (6-8th graders) and Senior High School youth (grades 9-12).
Sunday School meets regularly during the school calendar year as well as during the summer months.

Adult Education includes Great Decisions, Bible Studies, Special Speakers.

Vacation Bible School

Confirmation Class for 6-8th graders this annual class meets in the Spring of each year.

Christian Ministries

Council on Ministries
The Council of Ministries oversees the church’s programs.

Welcome Committee (Evangelism Committee) The Welcome Committee welcomes visitors and new members; oversees Membership, Ushers, Holy Tearers, Greeters
Marketing Team
The Marketing Team coordinates the marketing efforts of the church including budgeting advertising expenses & communicating event details to the Webmaster, Ad Designer, Advertising Coordinator, Community Events Coordinator and Banner Hanger.

Technology Committee
The Technology Committee oversees and controls the sound, audio/visual and lighting during worship and for other services.

Outreach Committee
The Outreach Committee coordinates First Church mission activities.

Sacred Space Guild
The Sacred Space Guild is in charge of the décor in the sanctuary & patio (e.g., hanging of the greens at Christmas).

Music Ministry
The Music Ministry represents all of the music programs in the church

Congregational Nurture Committee
The Congregational Nurture Committee fosters relationships among members, new members, and visitors through social events and fellowship opportunities. It convenes new member orientations and provides mentors for those who want to join First Church; includes Inclusiveness which promotes diversity.

Family Ministries focuses on families with preschool - middle school-aged children with fun and fellowship family events
Young Adult Ministries provides Christian fellowship, service, and study opportunities for singles and couples in their 20's and 30's. This group often expands to include an ecumenical circle of young adults from other Palo Alto congregations as well.

Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers are trained lay people who offer Christian care to those experiencing grief, loneliness, illness or a traumatic transition of any kind.

United Methodist Women (UMW)
United Methodist Women is part of the Women’s Division of the National United Methodist Women. The following Circles are part of our UMW: Clara Swaine Circle , Judy Newton Circle, D’vora Circle

Finance

Finance Committee
The Finance Committee develops and oversees First Church’s operating budget

Treasurer and Financial Secretaries (2)

Investment Committee
The Investment Committee is responsible for church funds investment policy.

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July Issue of Insights is Online!

The July issue of our Insights newsletter is now online.

Click here to read this month's news-filled issue!

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Summer Choir Is Here

Our choirs take a well-deserved break during the summer months, so we invite you to join our Summer Choir.

During the Summer months come to the Sanctuary at 9:30am for rehearsal. We'll rehearse an easily accessible anthem which we'll then present during the worship service.

Join us for one Sunday or every Sunday!

Everyone is welcome!

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Altar Flowers

You are invited to sign up to sponsor the altar flowers for Sunday worship in memory, honor, or celebration of a loved one or event.

The cost is $70.

You can sign up on the Flower Chart that is posted on the bulletin board across from the Reception desk.

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Change for the Youth Sierra Service Project Trip

Our youth are once again changing the world this summer.

Beginning on Sunday the "Change for Africa" jars will appear in the Narthex, this year as "Change for Sierra Service Project" jars.

Our fundraising goal, and we are already well on our way, is $7000 to send a team to Loleta, California and one youth will join up with a multi-church team to go to Honduras.

We invite you to empty your pockets and purses, dig between the couch cushions and bring us that pile of coins that has been piling up in your home for who knows how long to contribute to this summer of mission.

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Blood Drive

The Stanford Blood Center is in a very critical need of all blood types mostly O's and A's negative. They are not able to purchase any blood throughout the Western region, due to the fact that all blood centers have low inventory. Our local hospitals are heavily using all blood types at this time requesting more then they have in inventory. If they don't collect the blood needed soon the hospitals will have to start canceling surgeries.

On Monday July 21, 2008 the Stanford Blood Center Mobile Van be will be in our Webster Street parking lot from 11:30am to 3:30pm. The donation process takes about one hour from start to finish. After a mini physical and medical history, donors give one unit of blood, then spend a few minutes in the canteen where they’ll enjoy juice and cookies.

To make an appointment click here. Then click on "July 21, 2008" Alain Pinel Realtors, and follow the prompts to schedule your appointment.

Any questions, please call Mary at (650) 543-1005, or e-mail her at mmaclaughlin@apr.com.

The need for blood never take a vacation, holiday or day off. We never know when it will be a loved one in the hospital waiting for that precious lifesaving gift.

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Mark Your Calendars for Vacation Bible School

Mark Your Calendar!

Vacation Bible School 2008 is the last week of July.

This intergenerational event will be held in the evening.

Stay tuned for more details.

Enjoy some photos from Vacation Bible School 2006 and 2005.

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Youth Spaghetti Dinner/Talent Show Fundraiser

This summer we are sending 9 youth and 2 adult counselors/chaparones on Sierra Service Project mission trips.

One of our youth will be traveling with a Sierra Service Project team to Honduras in August. The other 10 participants (6 of our youth and 2 from the Tongan congregation, plus the two adults) will head to Loleta, California to serve with the Wiyot Tribe on the Table Bluff Reservation.

Click here to see photos from the 2007 Sierra Service Project trip.

To make these trips happen we planned two fundraisers.

The first fundraiser on May 18, 2007 featured the youth auctioning off their labor to the highest bidder. It was a big success raising over $1200!

The second fundraiser will be a spaghetti dinner and talent show at 7:00pm on Saturday, July 19, 2008 in Fellowship Hall. If you have a talent you would like to share, such as
magic tricks, comedy or music, please contact Katie or Marylee.

Here's a flyer for the talent show.

In all we need to raise approximately $7,000 across the two trips. Through donations and the Easter Sunrise Service offering some of these funds have already been raised.

Thank you in advance for your generous support.

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UMW Green

The Women's Division of the United Methodist Women has made Green our favorite color.

The National UMW Green Team continues its efforts to remove the use of Styrofoam products from every Methodist Church in the country. Our own church is phasing out the use of Styrofoam products already in supply and will replace them with recycled or recyclable products. But we need your help.

If your group meets within the church facilities, please help us by using alternate products.

Let's make FUMC a "Styrofoam Free Zone".

CELL PHONE REMINDER

Just a reminder to recycle that 'obsolete' cell phone. There are many organizations that can put them to good use, i.e. the Support Network for Battered Women (a United Way agency), 408-541-6100. Or log on to www.gooddeedfoundation.org/aarp and follow the easy instructions. People can make a huge difference just by giving away something they no longer use.

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Family Swim Party

Ready to get in the swim of things?

The Nurture Committee is hosting a Family Swim Outing on Saturday, September 6, 2008 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

The outing will be held at the Silliman Family Aquatic Center, which is located at 6800 Mowry Avenue in Newark, CA

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