Thursday, October 22, 2020 |
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Spotlight Reflections
As I write this spotlight reflection, I can’t believe we have just finished our 32nd week of live-streaming from Mission Valley! I have never claimed to be a math whiz, but I can tell you it has been a long eight months. I have seen a few of you that have volunteered to read scripture and offer prayers on Sunday mornings, and it is indeed a blessing and a thrill to greet you in person. Many of those with whom I’ve spoken tell me they feel like they see me all the time! I actually hadn’t really considered that, because of course I don’t have that perspective from my place behind the camera, and as such, I miss you all tremendously.
I am grateful to be able to continue to provide you with songs each week while we worship and I sincerely hope you are singing along. I look forward to the time when we can bring the Water’s Edge Band back together again, and to seeing you all on a regular basis; but for now, I am excited to work with Pastor Adam each week (starting very soon), through Advent, Christmas, and into the new year as we continue to livestream our worship service.
I’ll “see” you all on Sunday!
Stephanie Wright
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Communion Distribution Pick-up
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 3:30 - 5:30 PM | Mission Valley Campus | P2 parking lot
November 1, is Communion Sunday at First Church. Since the shut-down, we have offered safe, prepared communion elements for pick-up in our parking lot. Please enter the west driveway and turn into parking lot P2 where a pastor will offer you a blessing from a safe distance. You'll then be invited to pull forward to pick up the number of elements you will need for your household from a table all while remaining in your vehicle.
Thanksgiving Food Drive 2020 begins this Sunday
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 3:30 - 4:30 PM | P2 parking lot
First Church is again partnering with Wesley UMC to distribute ingredients for a full Thanksgiving dinner to hungry San Diego families. We are asking you to prayerfully consider these options:
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Donate to the "Special Gifts - Wesley Thanksgiving Fund", either by check or online (select "special gifts" and write "Wesley Thanksgiving Fund" in the memo line).
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Shop for items on this list and bring to First Church where it will be sorted and packaged for distribution at Wesley.
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Volunteer to help sort, and package food bags for distribution on Monday, November 23, or volunteer to monitor health practices at Wesley during distribution on Tuesday, November 24.
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All Saints Communion Services |
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Sunday, Nov. 1 | OB Campus Court Yard
Join us for an in-person, small group, outdoor gathering on the OB campus under careful guidelines. The service will be brief, as we gather to remember the saints who have gone before us - those we have loved and remember with gratitude to God for their lives. We will also celebrate Holy Communion together.
Attendance is restricted to 25 people, registration is mandatory, and safety measures will be taken. No walk-ins please!
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New Beginnings Membership Class
Sunday, October 25 | 12 - 2 PM
Sign up today for this personal conversation with Pastors Trudy and Jessica via Zoom. Together we will explore: what does Church membership mean? What is First Church all about? The blessings of company on our Christian journey. The responsibilities of belonging to a community of faith.
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Pastor's Bible Study
Sundays, 8 AM
While Rev. Jessica is on maternity leave, Dr. Bill Stephenson will be substituting for her. During the month of October, the Bible Study will be looking at the various wells in the Bible. On Oct. 18, is Jesus and the woman at Jacob's Well. On Oct. 25, the class will discuss Jacob and the well in a dramatic format.
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"Conversations"
Wednesdays | 7 PM
You are welcome to join this group for discussion and conversation on various topics. Dr. Bill Stephenson and Curt Goldacker are the primary facilitators.
Join the 18-week fall curriculum called "24 and Me: A Divine DNA Search for Relatives in the Bible " written by Bill Stephenson Ph. D. See upcoming schedule.
Water's Edge Children and Youth
Sundays | 6 & 7 PM
Sundays | 10:45 AM
Prayers of the People
Wednesdays | 9:30 AM
Grief Support Group
Sundays through Dec. 13 | 11:30 AM
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Did you miss the "State of the Church" Message?
Stewardship Season is here!
We want you to feel good about being a part of the future of the church through your commitment to pledge. To that end, here's a brief message to let you know the "state of the church," and some of our plans for the future.
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Annual Church Conference & Council Meeting
Sunday, Nov. 8 | 12 PM | Via Zoom
Don't miss the opportunity to reflect on the past year and give thanks for the ministries and people of the church. We will conduct some essential business for the coming year, including nominations for the lay leadership of the church, pastors' compensation packages, and membership reports. We will hear from our District Superintendent John Farley in his last year of his superintendency.
This annual Church Conference and Council Meeting is an opportunity for us to give thanks to God for God's presence in this unusual year, for the church's ability to serve others, and for all of the people who love First Church. All are welcome to attend.
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Build an Adirondack Chair Project
Through Oct. 31, 2020 | Cost: $69 /chair
In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, volunteers from First United Methodist Church have spent hundreds of hours building homes and interacting the community in order to give low-income families the security and comfort that comes with homeownership. Although Habitat has scaled back work on jobsites to outside volunteers, they have presented the First Church with a unique opportunity to get our “hands dirty” in a safe environment that still supports this ministry, in the form of purchase and assembly of Adirondack chairs . Each chair can be purchased online, assembled as a family, or household project and donated to the Habitat Re-Store where the profits back put back into building projects. If you are interested, please rsvp below.
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Affordable Housing and the Water’s Edge
Our vision at the Water's Edge is to dive deep in community and pour out God's love. We have seen that many of our neighbors in Ocean Beach struggle to stay housed, keep up with rising rental costs, or do not have housing at all. We are exploring what it might look like to use our resources to support Affordable Housing efforts even more as a church. Please read the draft of current ideas, and let us know your thoughts!
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Tips for live-stream worship:
Gather and light a candle to signify the holy presence of Christ.
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World Communion Sunday Live-stream Worship
October 18 | 10 AM | Join Rev. Jessica and Stephanie online this Sunday
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How to give when the church office is closed and worship is online?
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Give online using your credit or debit card. Gifts can be one-time or automatically recurring each week or month, however you’d like.
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TEXT to Give. Just text MYCHURCHGIFT to 73256 and see how easy it can be!
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Mail your check directly to the church via US postal service: First United Methodist Church of San Diego, 2111 Camino del Rio S. San Diego, CA 92108.
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First Church Anti-Racism Response Update
Together we become the change...
What are we doing about it?
First Church is taking steps to make sure our siblings who are people of color are valued in our world. The Church Council and Trustees have created a Racial Justice Endowment which will allow for a yearly distribution of grants to organizations and non-profits who are devoted to eliminating racist practices and advocating for anti-racist policies. We anticipate the first distribution to be in December 2020 and the church’s commitment is to continue supporting these efforts through grants long into the future.
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Water's Edge Faith Community
Join us on Sundays, at 10 AM
1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd in Ocean Beach
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