Prayer Shawl Ministry

Evening Meetings: 4th Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm

(Next Meeting: May 26)

Daytime Meetings: 4th Wednesdays, 2:00-3:30 pm

(Next Meeting: May 27)

Come knit or crochet prayer shawls

for those in need of comfort and solace.
We will enjoy fellowship, tea & cookies,
and meditative music as we create the shawls.

All skill levels welcome—including those who want to learn.

For more information, contact Janie Fietz at 310-212-5950

May 7, 2009
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 Disciples Women’s Ministry
“WHAT A WONDROUS TIME IS SPRING
WHEN ALL THE TREES ARE BUDDING”
“The birds begin to sing – the flowers start their blooming” Those
words seem to express the joy we feel this time of year – the dark
time is past, Christ is risen, and the world is renewing itself once again!
Here at FCC, we are gearing up for the good times and new beginnings ahead. The
nominating committees are meeting, the VBS help flyers are being circulated, and
the Disciples’ women are gearing up with some great May events.

COME TO THE FAIR!!

Most country fairs are held in the late summer or early fall, to celebrate the harvest –
but we can’t wait! Combining the Friendship Dinner for adults, and the Family Night,
which has always included the kids, has turned out to be so much fun – you gotta be
there! We have games and prizes for the kids, some games (checkers?) and sur-
prises for the adults, and dinner cooking in the oven! Come on down, grab a plate of
oven fried chicken, mash potatoes and gravy, biscuits, and all the trimmings! Set a
spell, relax and talk with friends, play a game or two, and let the young gun’s play.
We’ll see if we can round up a rocker or two – or bring your own!. Around 7, we
have some real home-grown talent warming up to entertain you. During intermission,
we have some door prizes to give away, and some fresh pie for you to enjoy. If any-
one’s interested, we might do a line dance or two – your ideas are welcome, as are
your helping hands.
Come dressed comfy, bib overalls and gingham skirts are welcome! Tickets are $10
per person, $5 for 12 and under, and $15 for a family of four or more. Sunday, May
10th we hope to sell lots of tickets, so that we know how many chickens to round up.
You may call the office or check with Sakura Koontz with questions, or to volunteer
to join in the fun.

SATURDAY, MAY 16TH – 5:00 PM – SIPPEL HALL – Y’ALL COME – YA HEAR!

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 The DWF Board met in April, and part of the discussion was our ser-
vice project money from the March Luncheon. The “Kids for Kids”
program has expanded, and there are many more way to help the
people of Darfur in their struggle. The Board voted to send the money
with the recommendation that they purchase 1 donkey and 4 goats,
and the remaining $25 be applied to their administrative costs. It was a funny dis-
cussion “two donkeys – 2 goats” or “one donkey – 4 goats” or ….we really did try to
spend your donations wisely! This is a feel-good service project, and many thanks
go to you who contributed.

SPRING TEA LUNCHEON

The DWF Board is also firming up our Spring Tea Luncheon on
Sunday, May 31st, at 12 noon. New Hope is hosting this event,
and a few surprises are being planned by our Program Chair,
Sakura Koontz. Maureen Estolas will lead our worship. The
service project for May is OWIN; Orphans and Women in Need.
We have supported this project before, and it is very special to
our church, as the founder of this non-profit organization is our
own Dr. Lillian Asomugha. This charitable organization is dedicated to providing
aid to widows and orphans through out the African continent. You can check it out
on www.owinfoundation.org. Be sure to mark your calendars, and plan to join us.

While you have that calendar out, you may want to pencil in our June 28th lunch-
eon. This will be our installation of new officers, and Linda Huston will be our In-
stalling Officer. Come help us welcome some new leaders to the Board.
So many great things are happening as we, as disciples’ women share this special
ministry. There is so much that can be done, and we are a part of a larger group of
regional workers, with the same goals – serving our Lord. If you go on the FCC
website, and click on the “regional” tab, you will find a calendar of events through
our region that affect you as a Disciple’s Woman. It is certainly worth checking out!
Just in case you didn’t recognize the song at the beginning of this article – it ends
with
“That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it
You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring, you want to Pass it On.”

Perfect words for Spring!

Page 3
Dear Friends at First Christian,
Thank your for the outpouring of love and prayers these past weeks. Kelly and I have
felt each one and thank you for the comfort they have brought during this most pain-
ful time. Thank you too for your ministry of service by the Circle of Caring. Our friends
have commented on the peace and warmth they felt from the church family and from
Ted as he led the service in love. The service was healing to many who felt free to
share their struggles and grief due to the effects of suicide in their own lives.

Kelly and Justin Kephart, and Betty Sleeth

ENDOWMENT FUND UPDATE

We want to acknowledge the recent gift to the Endowment Fund from John & Ruth
Perry in memory of Mark Sleeth. Thank you.
In October of this year our Endowment Fund will celebrate its fifth year of operation.
It truly is our Endowment Fund since it exists because of the moral and financial sup-
port received from the members and friends of the First Christian Church of Tor-
rance. Over the past five years we have all witnessed periods of good economic
growth and some periods of no growth. Nevertheless, our church members and
friends have been faithful in their support and we, as directors, want to say thank you
and God Bless You.
We currently have nearly $140,000 in our Fund. The major part is on deposit with the
Christian Church Foundation in Indianapolis. The Foundation invests our money
along with that from other churches and we all share in the earnings. We also re-
cently opened a CD here in Torrance.
It is important to remember that the objective of the Endowment Fund is to receive
contributions, invest them responsibly, and distribute a portion of the earnings back
for use by our congregation here in Torrance. Our last distribution was for approxi-
mately $7,000 in 2007 and it was used to help our church debt at that time.
As always, we hope you will remember our Endowment Fund in your estate planning
and/or it may be a perfect way to honor and recognize a birthday, graduation, anni-
versary etc., for someone special. We welcome any gift large or small.
If you have any questions please contact one of the directors listed below.

Thank you

Doug Crawford Lee Sebaugh Andrea Whobrey Gene Wiehe Doris Wilson
Page 4
 CHURCH FAMILY PRAYERS & CONCERNS
Ed Shroyer has been well enough to be in worship, but continues to have
discomfort connected to dialysis treatment.

Delores Koontz continues to have good and not so good days in her struggle with respira-
tory disease.

Julie Vernon asks for prayer as she recovers from surgery related to Crohn’s Disease.
Julie is a former choir director for our church who now lives in Springfield, Illinois.

Shirley Bill asks for prayer on behalf of two cousins: Carolyn Schmidt, who has liver can-
cer, and Mary Ellen Crabtree, who has breast cancer.

Carole Jones’s 17 year old granddaughter, Cassandra, is home from the hospital, but still
under observation for symptoms of her congenital tumor-generating disease.

Marilyn Roehl asks prayers for her brother, Don, who will be having surgery for a cancer-
ous growth on his lung.

Anne Beecher asks for continued prayers for her brother, Brett, who must live with the
symptoms of a non-malignant mass in his inner ear.

Carol Wilk’s father, Jim Baker, has had a second surgery to re-implant a heart defibrillator,
and is doing well.

Gene & Doreen Jackson will be on vacation starting June 15th. If you can help tend to the
church roses while they are gone, please contact the church office.

Please continue to pray for the work of our church’s Mission Discernment Group, the Fi-
nance Committee, and the Nominating Committee.

With Christian Sympathy

After a long struggle with depression, Mark Sleeth took his life on April 18. Until recent
years, Mark had long been actively involved in our church, and filled many leadership
roles. On April 25, his life was celebrated here by family, and many friends from the many
circles that interconnected through him. Mark’s wife, Betty, his daughter, Kelly, and son-
in-law, Justin, are all in our prayers.
Please see Pastor Steve or Pastor Ted if you have questions about suicide.
Our prayers are also with Susan Babcock on the death of her cousin, Richard Allen, who
died as a result of a brain tumor.
Page 5
 May 2009 (Revised)
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thurs

WORSHIP SERVICES
8:30 and 10:30 am
Sunday School 9:30 am
3 4 5 6

Bible Study 10:00 a.m.

Chi Rho 12:00 Newsletter Worship Meeting New H
Education 7:00
CYF 12:00 Trustees 7:00 7:00 7:00 p

10 11 12 13

Youth Adventure 12:00 Disciple Women Bible Study 10:00 a.m. Cho
CYF 12:00 7:00 Cabinet 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p

17 18 19 20

Love Group 9:30 a.m.

Bible Study 10:00 a.m. Cho
His Hands 12:00 Newsletter Faith Group 1:30 p.m.
7:00 p
Elders 7:00 p.m.

24 25 26 27

Pentecost Offering Memorial Day Cho

Bible Study 10:00 a.m.
Feed the Hungry Church Office Closed 7:00 p

31

Youth Sunday

Women’s Lunch
12:00 Page 6
sday Friday Saturday
1 2
May Birthday’s
Doug Crawford (5)
Melanie Emmen (8)
Shirley Brummett (8)
Haley Crawford (9)
7 8 9 Camelia Olloque (12)
Carole Jones (16)
Melissa Bell (16)
Bj Chamberlain (17)
Hope Ryan Rogers (17)
p.m. Samantha Fender (20)
Shirley Fender (23)
James Johnston (23)
Betty Sleeth (24)
14 15 16 Clifford Marvin (24)
Ed Shroyer (24)
Jacob Gonzalez (25)
Gabrielle Carmona (26)
oir Robert Reeley (29)
Family Night William Dieker (29)
p.m.
Mabel Simmons (31)

21 22 23

oir
p.m.

28 29 30
ANNIVERSARIES
oir Bob & Mary Ann Swartzlander (1)
p.m. Gene & Doreen Jackson (1)
Ed & Kathy Shroyer (6)
Rich & Kathi Koontz (6)
Russell & Lynne Lear (20)
Aaron & Cynthia Fried (21)
John & Phyllis King (23)
Al & Samantha Lubrani (25)
Larry & Peggy Campbell (25)

Page 7
 Education Notes & News
Youth Sunday
On Sunday May 31st, our youth will be sharing of themselves with their church family. This
will be a morning that our young people will be leading both services. Both groups have al-
ready started preparing for this special morning and they hope that you will come and join
them. Parents check your calendars and let me know if your youth will be available.

Vacation Bible School

July 20th - 24th

“How great is the love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of
God!” 1 John 3:1
As Son Rock Campers you will learn how your life can be transformed by God’s great love
for you. Registration forms will be arriving soon.

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Youth Adventure has adopted a missionary family through Global Ministries. Our family is
Anil and Teresa Henry and they are in Mungeli India (Southern Asia). They have 3 children -
a daughter Ankita who is 16 and twin boys Abhisher and Abhijeet that have just turned 11 on
April 20th. Anil is a doctor and Teresa is an anesthesiologist appointed to serve a four-year
term with the Synodical Board of Health Services of the Church of North India. This is a
joint appointment by the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.
Please look up on the internet with your child to learn more about the Henry family at:
www.globalministries.org/news/sasia/you-wanted-a-challenge-you-got-html
http://travelwithevananddeborah.net/v-web/gallery/album07
I will be sending a letter to the Henry family made up of information and questions by our
Youth Adventure children. I don't have an email address for them so it will take time to re-
ceive a response due to snail mail.
Once our children become familiar with the Henry's, we will introduce our church family to
them.

In Christ, Shirley Woodman

Welcome New Members

Anne Beecher gave her confession of faith on Palm Sunday, and was baptized during our
Contemporary Service on April 19. Anne loves crafts, and has played a large part in the start
of our new Prayer Shawl Ministry. She is also a regular at our Wednesday morning Bible
Study. Her husband John grew up at First Christian Church, and they were married here.

Ryan Rogers gave his confession of faith almost two years ago, on Dick Talley’s last Sunday
as pastor, and he was baptized on April 26, during 8:30 Worship. Ryan works in the aero-
space industry, and he is an avid fisherman. He and his extended family have been a part of
First Christian Church for several years—he now joins wife Kelly and sons Dylan and Eli as a
baptized member.

Please add the following information for new member Paul Hextall to your directories:

Paul Hextall
936 Paseo La Cresta
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
310-791-4304
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Upcoming Sermons
May 10 – “Wives’ Tales” (Luke 24:1-11)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was met with joy and amazement—and also fear and disbe-
lief. The first witnesses were women, who, Luke tells us, were not believed. As we ob-
serve Mothers’ Day, what might the resurrection mean, not just for us as individuals, but for
our collective salvation?

May 17 – “Day by Day by Day by Day…” (Matthew 28:16-20)

Though Jesus is no longer a physical presence with his followers, we have the promise that
something of him continues with us even yet. In what ways does Jesus Christ work against
our isolation? And how does his abiding presence influence the call we receive to disciple
others?

May 24 – “Looking Up, Looking Out” (Acts 1:1-14)

Divine messengers tell the disciples not to look for Jesus up in the clouds. Yet much of our
imagery looks “up” to God, and for our ultimate hope. What if God’s will is found, not by
looking up, but by looking out, into the world God loves so much?

Sermons on line
Those wishing to listen to past sermons, or our Easter cantata, can access them on our
church website (www.fcctorrance.org) by clicking on Worship Media, and then the title or
date of the sermon. Dates are listed by year, month and day—for example, April 26, 2009
is 20090426.

Adult Sunday School

Lynne Redderson will continue to facilitate our excellent discussion on the book The Shack
through May 10. It is a very provocative story that touches on the nature of God, and the
meaning of human suffering. The book is widely available in both Christian and secular
bookstores.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Our Bible Study meets in Sippel Hall every Wednesday morning from 10:00 to
11:30 a.m. We are looking at a series on Jesus’ resurrection appearances, as re-
corded in the four gospels, through the end of May.

Page 10
 Footnotes
“Jesus asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘You are
the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” (Matthew 16:15-16)
Most Sundays, we note in some fashion that our church does not require any doctrinal
tests of faith—rather, we come together to offer a common confession—we bear wit-
ness to the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ. And we use a simple,
biblical phrase—“The Good Confession”—to articulate that relationship.
A couple of you have inquired about a recent change in the way we say the Confes-
sion—we’ve removed the line “with all my heart” from “I believe with all my heart
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” The quick answer is that the sim-
pler confession is closer to the biblical version. But from my point of view, that’s not
the full answer.
Certainly, it is good to aspire to whole-heartedness. “Blessed are the pure in heart…”
But honestly—please don’t be shocked!—on any given day, I don’t believe with “all
my heart.”
On some wonderful, exuberant days, I’m streaking along somewhere around 95% of
my heart. But many times, I’m probably closer to 70%. Mornings are often better
than afternoons, Sundays are almost always better than Mondays. But then there are
those days, rare but hard, where believing with any of my heart is a struggle. Perhaps
you have some of those days too?
Here’s the point: no matter how much of our heart we bring, we are always welcome at
the table—the symbolic table of worship, and the metaphorical altar of prayer. We’re
welcome not because of what we bring, but because of who God is. Blessed be the
God of grace and mercy!
Shalom, Steve
Home phone: 310-212-5950 email: [email protected]

Fourth Sunday Food Offering

Thanks to all those who contributed to our first Fourth Sunday Food Offer-
ing, which has been sent to His House. Our next Food Offering will be
May 24.

Next Newsletter articles need to be need to be at the church office by 5/18/09.

Page 11
 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
NON PROFIT ORG.

(Disciples of Christ)
PERMIT NO. 109
TORRANCE, CA

2930 El Dorado Street

Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 328-2820 Fax 310 328-2929
E-mail - [email protected]
Web address - fcctorrance.org
Sunday Schedule
8:30 a.m. - Worship - Informal
9:30 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
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Staff
Steven Fietz, Senior Pastor
Ted Oden-Minister of Contemporary Worship
Administrative Assistant– Camelia Olloque
Choir Director - Ken Potter
Nursery Attendant - Sherril Wiechmann
The Christian Messenger

Officers
Chair - Doug Crawford
TIME VALUE DATA

Vice Chair - Don Zukas

2930 El Dorado Street

DO NOT DELAY
First Christian Church

Torrance, CA 90503

Treasurer– Bill Wysong

EXPEDITE

Financial Secretary - Moggy Emmen

Clerk– Chery Carew

Page 12