Mission Community UMC

A UMNS Report
By Kelly C. Martini*
Jan. 20, 2010

Haiti, long an outpost for United Methodist mission and relief workers, looks toward the denomination for guideposts toward rebirth.

And it won’t be easy. Now, in addition to continuing the long-standing mission of helping relieve the suffering spurred by historical poverty and official neglect, the denomination must help the country rise again once the bottom has been reached on this epochal human crisis.

“We’re talking about a country who will be starting from ground zero,’’ says Harvey Dupiton, a member of the United Nations Association of Haiti.

Dupiton, a Haitian, points out that for many years non-governmental organizations have worked with The United Methodist Church in efforts to assist the poorest land in the Western Hemisphere.

But the Jan. 12 earthquake increases the needs dramatically. Not only is aid needed in dealing with immediate human suffering, but also in helping rebuild the infrastructure and the spirit of the country and its residents. continue reading

Elizabeth Carlos, a long-time member of MCUMC, passed away Monday morning, November 23, 2009 at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, CA. She was 85. Viewing is scheduled on December 4 from 6-8pm at Hillside Chapel Gate 17 in Rosehills Memorial Park in Whittier, CA. Service of Celebration of Life will be on December 5 at 11:00AM. Burial will be at 12:30pm.

The Cambodian Ministry of Mission Community UMC is having special event on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 2:30 to 5:30 PM at the church campus. This special thanksgiving gathering will highlight Fruit Parade, Worship Service and Dinner Fellowship. The general public is invited to attend and enjoy the fellowship and delicious Cambodian delicacies.

Victory Fellowship met Oct. 15th with 12 present including Pastor George Cisneros and Pastor Rei Eusebio & Zenda and Juliet Secretario. Dick Pendleton & Flor Santos were Host & Hostess providing a Halloween Motif and a Birthday Cake for Flor Santos. A Video of Anacapa Island was shown.

NEXT POTLUCK: Nov. 19th ( Thursday ) 6:00pm Church Lounge

Pastor George Cisneros is Host and providing Entertainment
A THANKSGIVING PLANNED POTLUCK:

Ham – Pastor George Cisneros
Turkey, Gravy & Stuffing , Yams – Santillas
Pasta – Rufinos
Fruit Salad – Eusebios
Cranberry Sauce or Jello – Agnes Bryan
Vegetables – Bea Mycroft
Mashed Potatoes and Pumpkin Pies -         Pendleton and Santos

Everyone is Welcome!!

COME JOIN US !!!

Dick Pendleton, President

A special screening of Amazing Grace will be held at Mission Community UMC on Friday, October 23 at 7PM.  Amazing Grace is  based on the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce.  Wilberforce led efforts as a member of Parliament in 18th-century England to end slavery and the slave trade in the British empire. Wilberforce was elected to the House of Commons at 21 and took on the issue of slavery, successfully assembling a diverse coalition that went up against the most powerful men of the time.

Amazing Grace is directed by Michael Apted (The World is Not Enough, Coal Miner’s Daughter) from an original screenplay written by Academy Award® nominee Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things).

The film stars Ioan Gruffudd (Black Hawk Down), Albert Finney (Erin Brockovich), Romola Garai (Vanity Fair), Michael Gambon (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Benedict Cumberbatch (Hawking), Rufus Sewell (Legend of Zorro), Ciaran Hinds (Rome) and introduces Youssou N’Dour.

The screening is open to the public. Potluck dinner will follow after the showing.

Download bible study guide here.

By Linda Bloom*
Oct. 2, 2009 | NEW YORK (UMNS)

United Methodists have been working to get emergency supplies to families affected Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines.

“With the limited supplies we had on hand, we were able to supply immediate relief to about 500 families,” reported Melissa Crutchfield, the executive in charge of international disaster response for the United Methodist Committee on Relief
Volunteers are preparing supplies at UMCOR’s Philippines Office, located on the campus of Union Theological Seminary in Cavite, about 50 miles south of Manila. They are assembling packets of rice, sardines, coffee, oil, sugar, and special items for women and children to distribute in evacuation centers. Some blankets also were available for flood victims.

Church members in the United Methodist Manila Episcopal Area are collecting supplies as well, Crutchfield noted.

Nearly 2 million people in the Manila area were affected by the flooding from the late September storm, which at one point left most of the capital city under water and resulted in the deaths of nearly 300 people in the Philippines.  continue reading

Of Words and Wildfires

James 3:1-12

What is common with rapper Kanye West, tennis star Serena Williams, Congressman Joe Wilson and President Barack Obama? CARELESS WORDS CAUGHT ON CAMERA. They were all in the news last week because of the words they said that caught the the world’s attention. Many years ago, a high leader of a country was caught saying the F word during a break in a TV interview.

I myself had a really embarrassing experience.  I didn’t notice that my wireless lapel mic was still on after preaching in a worship service. The sound tech was somewhere outside and did not turn off the wireless receiver. I also forgot to turn off my mic. In other words, I was on “broadcast mode” while greeting, talking to people. The mic caught everything I said for more than 15 minutes. It was practically “me” talking in my “usual self” and everyone in the room heard every word I said. I could only wish I didn’t say careless words. It was a learning experience about words. We never know if somebody is listening. We know for sure, however, that God is listening to us.

Today’s passage comes from the book of James. The book’s theme  is “practical Christian living.” James’ focus is not how a person can become a Christian but how anyone could demonstrate that he really is  a Christian. The main idea in the book is that our faith must be proven by our action, attitude and speech. “Faith without works is dead.” In earlier verses he said, ¹⁸… someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”  Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  ¹⁹You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.  ²⁰You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:18-20)

James speaks more about the tongue than any other book in the Bible. If James is truly a book for practical Christian living, then there must be something essential about the tongue, our words and living an effective Christian life. Our words have something to do with our faith. Continue reading →