Bulletin and inserts 01.31.16 - Los Altos United Methodist Church

TUESDAY AT THE MOVIES
Tuesday, February 2, 1:00pm, Live Oak Room
Join us to view Night Train to Munich. Drinks and snacks are
provided. Contact Harriet Palmer (650-948-9527) with questions.
JAVA JOY – 10:30am, Creekside
Come enjoy a time of fellowship with a cup of
coffee and some goodies.
GUEST PREACHER: REV. DR. GRACE IMATHIU
Today, all services
Los Altos UMC is pleased to welcome Dr. Imathiu as our guest
preacher. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and currently serves
as the lead pastor of Community UMC in Naperville, Ill. She is a
prominent speaker and Bible study leader.
SALE-ABRATION
Today and Feb. 7, 9:00–1:00 & 4:30–7:00pm, Creekside
The Los Altos United Methodist Women have organized their
tenth annual fundraiser for our African Student Education Fund.
Shop for gifts for your valentine, baked treats, Super Bowl snacks,
floral arrangements, bean soup mix, and more!
AFRICA OUTREACH/INFORMATION FAIR
Today, 10:30am–1:00pm, Creekside
Learn about how Heifer International, BeadforLife, Sole Hope,
and the African Library Project are working to improve living
conditions in Africa. Try a hands-on activity such as making butter!
MEXICO MISSION TRIP ORIENTATION
Today, 3:00–4:30pm, Youth Room
The registration deadline for the April 9–16 intergenerational
house-building trip to Mexico has been extended! Interested?
Come to the orientation meeting, contact Leslie Carmichael
(carm-lee@pacbell.net), or visit www.laumc.org/mexico-2016.
AFRICAN ALL-CHURCH FAMILY DINNER
Today, 6:00pm, Creekside
Fred Mayo is preparing a special African dinner tonight. On the
menu are bobotie (a South African dish similar to meatloaf) and
spicy African yam soup, among other delicious options. Chakula
chema! (Swahili for bon appetit!)
WINTER COAT DRIVE
Through February 8
Make a New Year’s resolution to clean out your closets! The
Children’s Center is collecting coats, boots, mittens, gloves, etc.,
of all sizes for Head Start to give to families in need.
MUMS/CHILDREN’S CENTER: HONORING OURSELVES
Tuesday, February 2, 9:00–10:30am, Creekside A/B
Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Employee, Manager,
Housekeeper, Friend. Rev. Cate Noellert will discuss how we
honor these various roles while still honoring our unique selves.
Childcare is available. Visit mums.laumc.org or contact
BayAreaMUMs@yahoo.com for more information.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT MOVIE CLASS
Wednesday, February 3, 7:00–8:30pm, Creekside
Pastor Mariellen Yoshino and CJ Arnesen lead discussions on
current films. See the movie before the class and come with your
thoughts. This week’s film is Inside Out.
SENIOR CHAT: ACUPUNCTURE AND EASTERN MEDICINE
Friday, February 5, 10:00am, Garden Room
Join us for conversation and refreshments. Contact John Lehman
(johnl@seniornewways.com) with questions or for a ride.
GROUPLIFE OFFERS WORKSHOP FOR LENT
Saturday, February 6, 9:00am–12:00pm, Creekside C/D
GroupLife invites current small-group leaders and anyone
interested in potentially leading a small group for Lent to a
workshop that will inspire participants in their own spiritual
practices for Lent and equip them to use our Lenten study book,
The God Story, with their groups. Contact grouplife@laumc.org.
SCOUT SUNDAY
February 7, all services
Next Sunday we will honor our affiliated Boy Scout and Girl
Scout troops along with all scouts during worship. If you are a
scout, come to church in your uniform! If you would like to
participate in worship (greeting, reading, or speaking), please
contact John Vastano (john.vastano@gmail.com, boy scouts and
cub scouts) or Anne Murray Segar
(ann.murraydental@sbcglobal.net, girl scouts).
SUPER SOLE SUNDAY
Sunday, February 7, 12:00–1:30pm, Creekside
For lack of adequate footwear, children in Uganda suffer from
jigger bites and related infections. Come recycle old blue jeans
and plastic jugs into the materials needed to construct simple
shoes and save lives. The shoe parts we produce will be shipped
to Africa by Sole Hope, where local tailors and shoemakers
create the finished shoes. Bring an old pair of blue jeans, empty
plastic laundry detergent, milk or liter soda bottles, and a pair of
sharp scissors. Some extra supplies will be available. For more
information, contact Jan McDaniel (janmcdaniel2@yahoo.com).
Welcome to Los Altos
United Methodist Church!
We believe all persons are children
of God, and we welcome ALL, regardless
of age, cultural background, disabilities,
ethnicity, financial circumstances, gender
identity, marital status, religious tradition,
or sexual orientation.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Africa Sunday
Visitors, please come by the Connection Point to receive a gift.
Please turn off all cell phones and pager alarms.
Hearing assist devices are available: see an usher.
† Those able are invited to stand.
FWS: The Faith We Sing | UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
Gathering Music - Teaching Song
Sadoh
T. Paul Rosas, Senior Organist
Special Music
Freedom Trilogy
Halley
Bible Reading
Matthew 22:1-14
Pew Bible p. 24 (NT)
RADICAL HOSPITALITY
Message
Opening Music
When I Think of You
Smith/Rhodes
All Choirs
Call to Worship
IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD:
Please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick, or in
poverty because of natural and human-made disasters, and for the
workers who minister to them.
DEEPENING FAITH
Rev. Dr. Grace Imathiu
SPECIAL CONCERNS: Jeff Bouton, Vera Burns, Jim Eitel,
Wally Evans, Barbara Ferguson, Jim Giulie, Jane Holt, Jennifer Van
Schmus, Harriet Stenberg, Barbara Swedlow, Hal Taylor, Wendy
Yoshino Teal, Kay Woodley
† Song - Who Will Build the Church Now?
BOLD SERVICE & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Ron Lau, Sue Berry, Sandra Montoya
† Song - There’s No One in This World Like Jesus
† Sending Forth
† Welcome and Greeting Prayer
† Song of Blessing
† Song - There’s No One in This World Like Jesus
Closing Music - E Rora Ma Gb’ese (Walk Gently)
We hold our 2016 Confirmation Class in our prayers during this part
of their faith journey. Please pray for the 8th graders who are meeting
each week, their leaders, their parents, and their mentors, as they
explore what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and what it means to
be a part of this church.
SYMPATHY: Our sympathy to the family and friends of Jane
Heckman, who died on January 15. A service will be held
Saturday, February 13, at 2:00pm at The Forum.
Sadoh
MEMORIAL SERVICE: A memorial service for Annette
Boyenga will be held at Los Altos UMC on February 3 at 2:00pm.
DEEPENING FAITH
To view an extended Prayer Concerns list, or to
request prayers, please visit www.laumc.org/prayers/.
Prayers & Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
† Song - Amen, We Praise Your Name, O God
FWS 2067
EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY
Welcome
Africa Sunday Witness
Song
Response to Our Generous God
Offering - Song of Wisdom
Songs of Welcome
Sadoh
Hope Set High
Siyahamba
There’s No One in This World Like Jesus
Amen, We Praise Your Name, O God
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
† Song of Praise
Song
† Prayer of Dedication
Message
Song
MEN & WOMEN IN UNIFORM AROUND THE WORLD:
Ryan Bernacchi (USN), Brandon Blackford (USN), Rachel Z. E.
Blomenkamp (USAF), James Dobson, Tyler Elgin (USA), David
Chase Johnson (USN), Devin Kenny-Hernandez (USA), Phillip
Lyman (USA), Kelly McCoy (USA), Seth M. (USA), John Principe
(USA), Daniel Wood (USA), David Wood (USA), Jeffrey Wood
(USA).
If You Believe and I Believe
Rev. Dr. Grace Imathiu
Who Will Build the Church Now?
LAUMC is a Care Ministry Congregation with
trained, supportive, and loving people who are
available to provide you with confidential, caring
support in times of special need. If you need
care, call the church office (650-948-1083).
December 2015 update:
To the Los Altos United Methodist Church,
My name is Nyaradzo Ruwo. I am the last-born and only girl in a family
of four.
I am so humbled to be a recipient of a scholarship from Africa
University. I was at home for two years after high school. My peers are
now in their second year in university and I am in my first year.
I see that as motivation rather than as adversity. Being here is a true
sacrifice and I want to thank the donors for making it possible for me to
have an Africa University scholarship. This is a true sacrifice, for it is
being made by someone I have never seen and may never see!
I will work hard and be dedicated to my school work so that you will get
real value for your support through my performance. I will give back to
my community, beginning now in whatever small ways possible.
Thank you. God bless you always.
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am glad to hear
from you and grateful for your concern about my life and career. It is such a
delight for me and I thank you. Thanks to God, my family and I are all doing
great. Since the last time we were in touch, lots of things have changed.
I am currently employed as a counselor in the national penitentiary
service. My duty is to help inmates with mental disorders, and those
who struggle with low self-esteem, and any kind of bullying. I deal with
complicated cases on a daily basis. I have to confess that it’s a challenging
job, but at the end of the day, it reminds me of the journey of Jesus
Christ on earth. He helped as many people as he could. So our journey
as Christians is also challenging but to quit is never an option. When I do
my job, I am just following in the footsteps of God’s only begotten son.
My gospel career is on a roll. Now, I have my own band and we have
been performing in several concerts, on TV and radio shows, as well as
church services. My main challenge is to record an album due to the
high cost of recording here in Angola. It is not easy to find sponsors
because they say that it doesn’t pay off.
—Nyaradzo
Thank you, Los Altos United Methodist Church family.
Your gifts equip young women to lead as change agents in transforming lives.
Support Africa Sunday and the UMW’s Sale-Abration event on January 31 and
February 7. To make a gift or for more information, please contact Jan Lull
(janetrlull@att.net or 650-948-2044).
Through the challenges we face, we remain faithful. I believe that gospel
music is more than just singing. In fact, it is a lifestyle (in) which the
main goal is to spread the Word and bring people to Jesus Christ. My
hope to record my debut album is endless.
—Elizabeth
Find a Small Group for Lent
During Lent (February 10 – March 26), small groups may use a study that ties into
our worship theme, based on the book The God Story by Jacob Armstrong. Several
small groups welcome new participants to join them for this study, and at least one
new group is forming especially for Lent! If you are interested, check out one of
these options:
•
Mondays, 9:30am, Resource Center: Back to the Bible
•
Mondays, 12:00pm, Resource Center: Brown Bags and Bibles
•
Wednesdays, 7:00pm, Resource Center: The Big Questions
•
Mondays, 7:00pm, Garden Room: Perrie Erickson will form a new Lent group.
Another weekday morning group may form for Lent, depending on interest. For
more information about finding a group, email GroupLife Intern Kristen Wandryk
(kristenwandryk@laumc.org).