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April Birthdays
6 Chris Turgeon
7 Melinda Durward
8 Diane Hansen
9 Steve Sheerin
10 Kendra Hasenick
11 Jane Leiper
14 Mikey Coolidge
20 Marcia Burkart
22 Sarah Gooding
24 Myra Gaiser
25 Ellen Rebstock
30 Donna Hendrickson
Please let us know if we accidentally left you off the Birthday list!
Online Resources Christ Church United Methodist
The People of the UMC
(The global UM site)
(The California - Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church)
Hurricane Sandy Volunteers in Mission (VIM) UMCOR
(United Methodist Committee on Relief)
Global Health Initiative
Upper Room
(Daily Devotional)
UMC publications
Connection
(CA-NV Publication)
SOCIAL CONCERNS
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 Looking ahead... APRIL 7 Music Committee, 10:30 AM CCUM Conference Room
APRIL 14
Network Leaders,
CCUM Conference Room
APRIL 27
10:00 AM-3:00 PM
PEOPLE'S SUMMIT
Unitarian Universalist Congregation,
547 Meendocino Ave. Santa Rosa
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Newsletter Deadline
Please submit articles and special CCUM events to Administrative Assistant Melissa Taylor office@srchristchurch.org before the 14th of the month for the following month's newsletter. All items are subject to approval and editing. Thank you.
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Pastor's Ponderings
Dear Friends,
We were quite blessed to welcome the Rev. Beth Crissman to share her "Longing to Belong" workshop. It was a poignant experience for those who were able to be there. If you were not so lucky, we do have books and DVDs for a small group study of the materials. The core that I took from the weekend was the importance of knowing "who we are and whose we are." That is a question I have been hearing around Christ Church for a little while. How do we speak to who we are as a community of faith together?
When we are clear on who we are and whose we are, it drives all our decisions. Tex Sample tells the story of his father not letting him go on an unchaperoned trip with friends at age 15. Tex complained "but everyone else is going." His father replied. "you are different, you are a Sample." He goes on to share that his father turned down some powerful support for political office if he would turn a blind eye to certain things.
Tex saw what it meant to "be a Sample" in the integrity his father showed in giving up political office to do what is right. Tex never complained "but everyone else is doing it" again.
What does it mean to be a Christ Church member? What does it mean to belong to a risen Jesus? The disciples took some time to sort out that question. Perhaps we can use this Eastertide season to do the same. What does it mean to follow Jesus here and now? What is our unique calling to bear witness to God's infinite love? And how will that guide our footsteps into God's preferred future?
Easter often brings more questions than answers. God is doing something new. We are catching glimpses of it, but the full bloom is yet to arrive. We have all these resources; our community, our wisdom, our traditions, our place in the world. As we move prayerfully through this joyful, confusing season, may we get a stronger sense, a clearer vision of the kindom of God in this place.
Blessings,
--Rev. Amy Beth
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Longing to Belong Workshop
Led by Beth Crissman
Second Weekend: Scheduled for May 3rd to 6th
The Administrative Council has invited the Rev. Beth Crissman to come and lead us through a workshop about relationships. Community is formed by layers of relationship and the stronger those bonds, the more effective ministry we can do together. It is our hope that this time together will help prepare us as a congregation for the next phase in our life together. We have celebrated 50 years of ministry in this place. What will God call us towards in these next 50? Please mark your calendar now.
Friday, May 3rd, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
- Weaving Our Stories with THE Story (review of Christ Church History and timeline) 2-3 members of the congregation will have prepared a timeline of the church's history that highlights how God has been at work in your midst from your beginning to the present.
Saturday, May 4th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Christian Conferencing Session around key questions:
- "What do you believe is God's promising future for Christ Church? (i.e. what do you believe God desires you to do and be about?").
- "What do you believe are challenges or obstacles you must address as a congregation to move forward in unity to that promising future?"
Saturday, May 4th, 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
FInding Your Burning Bush Workshop
Workshop and completion of spiritual gift inventory by congregation.
Sunday, May 5th, (following worship)
- Hearing the Cries of Our Neighbors in Need (review of area demographics conducted by Christ Church leadership prior to the weekend).
- Reviewing Our Unique Ability to Respond (review of gifts, passion, and joy for ministry).
- What is Definitive and Non-Negotiable (articulating Core Values).
- Imaging the Vision.
Monday evening, May 6th (6:30 - 9:00 pm)
- Finding the Intersection (articulating Mission, Vision, Core Values
- Putting the Vision into Action (process for developing ministry strategies).
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"After Church Conversations" Update
As a result of our Conversation after our Listening Campaign we decided to have several After Church Conversations on topics we felt define us as a congregation in order to have clarity about who we are. We had a wonderful workshop with Beth Crissman in March, and we learned about a process she claims is essential for churches in Longing to Belong: Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing. Because we are continuing our process with Beth in Longing to Belong on the first weekend in May, it seems appropriate to follow the flow she has outlined and ontinue with her before we start our After Church Conversations. Our first Conversation on Reconcilig was initiaully scheduled for April 21, and it seems appropriate to postpone that until after May 3-6 weekend.
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Christ Church Worship Notes
Winter/Spring 2013
Sunday, April 7 - Second Sunday of Easter
"What Does 'Risen' Mean?"
Sunday, April 14th - Native American Ministries Sunday
"Jesus, a Man who Cooks"
John 21: 1-19
Communion Celebrated
Rev. Amy Beth preaching
(Rev. Amy Beth staying after worship)
Sunday, April 21st - Earth Day Sunday
Psalm 23
Pastor Glo preaching
Sunday, April 28th - 5th Sunday of Easter
"God has Made the Unclean Things Clean"
Acts: 11: 1-18
Rev. Amy Beth preaching
"Longing to Belong" with Rev. Beth Crissman
Weekend of May 3rd - 6th
Time of Spiritual Conferencing and Visioning
Those who attended our first weekend with Beth in March
can attest to a wonderful learning experience. IF you were unable to attend, we do have books and DVDs to help you receive some of that learning. Our next session will be more focused on the experience of life together as the church.
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We had a meaningful and exciting Easter with the very special baptism of Mikey and Austin Coolidge and a fun sugar free Easter egg hunt after church.
Congratulations to all our kids who led the congreation in their Easter song. Thanks, Barb!
The Sunday school theme for April is Discovering the Bible.
Here's what we plan:
April 7th: We will show a fun cartoon movie introducing the Bible to young folks.
April 14th: The kids will learn what it was like in the times the Bible was written and how people shared their stories about God's love, compassion and fairness. We will make sandals and try on some costumes.
April 21st: This is Earth Day Sunday. We will talk about creation and taking good care of the Earth.
April 28th: We will learn about some of the Bible heroes and explore what makes a person a hero.
THANK YOU!
Thank you to all the hard workers who participated in the Trustees' Work Day! Thanks to Rose Knight, Gayle Pickerell and Hannah Wikse for doing child care so all of us could participate in Longing to Belong! Thanks, Linda Carroll for coordinating our delicious Lenten soup brunches! Thanks, Myra Gaiser for taking charge of our fellowship refreshments.
Thanks, Jill Metz for making sure we have Fair Trade Coffee each week!
Thanks Linda Carroll and Anne Colby for doing a great job arranging for Easter Sunday in the Sanctuary.
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RECONCILING CORNER
News from Reconciling Ministries Network
The Network is Growing! United Methodist churches are increasingly not waiting for the UMC to change their policies of exclusion -- they are being
the church now. They are choosing Biblical Obedience, whether that be in officiating same gender weddings or choosing not to host any wedding until it is legal for all. Churches are voting to be intentionally welcoming by becoming Reconciling. Individuals are being trained by the hundreds to help those churches in their process. Three prominent United Methodists made statements for LGBTQ inclusion this week--one was a bishop (Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster Western North Carolina Conference), one a former Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton), and one a GOP Senator; (Rob Portman, Ohio). The spirit of inclusion is moving and it is bringing change to places like Texas and South Carolina and every in between. Hearts are changing as we learned 58% of Americans are in favor of marriage equality. As Bishop Gene Robinson said, "I know in my heart how this ends: full LGBT inclusions in our country, institutions, temples, mosques, and churches. Knowing how it ends helps you get there."
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BOOK GROUP IN APRIL
The book to be discussed on Wednesday, April 8th at 7:00 pm is Gloria Naylor's The Women of Brewster Place. these are the stories of seven black women from the South whose lives touch in a project called Brewster Place, a city in the North.
Copperfield Books should have copies, and this book might easily be found in the library.
For more information, contact Anita Pitzer.
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VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION
(VIM)
Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Team
October 5th - 19th
The Hurricane Sandy VIM (Volunteers in Mission) team, organized by First United Methodist Church of Santa Rosa, is travelling to Ocean Grove, New Jersey to help restore homes in the Ocean Grove area. You are invited to join this disaster relief effort and help rebuild family lives by putting them back in their homes where they belong.
For more detailed information contact FUMC Santa Rosa at:
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SOCIAL ACTION
People's Summit
The "People's Summit", sponsored by the North Bay Organizing Project will be held on Saturday, April 27th from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm. The Summit is at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 547 Mendocino Ave. The theme for the summit is "Income Equality and Working Poverty" in Sonoma County.
CCUM is a member of the NBOP and is helping to sponsor the event. As a member organization it would be good if we could get a good turn out from our church.
--The Core Group of the NBOP
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IT'S HAPPENING!
The Annual, Always Awesome Christ Church Rummage Sale will be happening this year. Bob and Myra Gaiser will chair the event and with help from all of you, we will have another successful sale. Put Saturday August 3, 2013 on your calendar with indelible ink and start looking for the things that you have to donate.
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ELISHA'S PANTRY
Sometimes we learn from the children. This month a little girl by the name of Lizzie has decided to do a fund raiser at her school to help feed the needy. She has organized the fund raiser and will use proceeds for Elisha's Pantry and Twice Blessed Pantry at St. Marks on Mayette. Makes me feel good inside!
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 In our Prayers... "God does nothing except in response to believing prayer." ~John Wesley - Ed and Dolores Fitz and family
- Hinda Groner and Millie Burt
- Lois Nimmo
- Maurine Bennett's family
- Marguerite's son's friend, Ian
- Jill Brown and Valerie Borg
- Les Bennett
- George and Jean Houser
- Gary & Charlene Bunas' daughter-in-law, Helene
- Claudia Norby
- Our church family & community
- Friends, families & neighbors struggling financially
- Military personnel & their families
- Our government leaders
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 PRAYER CHAIN
One of the ways that we care for each other here at Christ Church is through prayer. We have a team of people who regularly pray for folks who are in need of spiritual and physical healing. Would you like to join those folks who pray daily for others in need? Do you have a joy or a concern you would like to be lifted up in prayer? If so, please call Darlene Davis at 542-2675. We also love to hear an update on how things are going.
We have listed names above so that we might all be in prayer for each other.
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