DECEMBER 13TH HAPPENINGS morning at 11:00 AM theWINDOWd284f45nftegze.cloudfront.net/ccucclosal/Window Nov_Dec 2015.pdf · Dear CCUCC Community and Friends, Here is my attempt to summarize

November/December 2015

WINDOWthe

Community Congregational United Church of Christ, Los Alamitos

4111 Katella Ave. Los Alamitos, CA 90720 • 714-527-2343 • [email protected]

October 2014

in this Issue• WORDS FROM PASTOR SAM

• HOLIDAY PARTY: DECEMBER 13TH

• CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

Words From Pastor Sam

Sunday Worship Service: Come worship with us on Sunday at 10:00am

Sacred Listening Bible Study:Join us every Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM

Dear CCUCC Community and Friends,

Here is my attempt to summarize the good news of the Christian faith in one sentence: God is with you before you were born, throughout your life, and after your death.

In just two short months at CCUCC, I have experienced God’s presence in babies not yet born, in the busy lives of our congregation members, and in the lives we honored after death in the All Saints service. I would like to share some of the sacred moments that show me that the Holy Spirit is with us, and God is still speaking to our church.


page 2

WINDOWthe


November/December 2015Words From Pastor Sam (continue)

Hours for the main office are:

Monday through Friday 8:00am –4:00pm.

The office phone number is

(714) 527-2343.

There was the day that I was planning to visit Laurel Park Manor in order to intro-duce myself and establish a professional relationship with the management of the facility. I was sitting in my office with thoughts buzzing in my head like mosquitos: “Should I call ahead of time? How will I get buzzed through the gate? If I just show up, will they welcome me, or wonder why I am there?”

My ruminating was interrupted when Susie knocked on my door and said, “There’s someone here to see you.” Standing at the door to the church office was an elderly Korean woman who looked at me with a curious twinkle in her eye. She spoke very little English and handed me a hand-written note. It said she was looking for the manager of the facility because she had a question about an important meeting she had missed.

Huh? I wondered. She asked if I was in charge. I looked over both my shoulders, and seeing no one else, I replied, “I think so.” She was so happy! She handed me the note again. It dawned on me that she was probably a resident from Laurel Park Manor. I asked her, “What is your name?” “Mrs. Kim,” she replied.“Do you live in the apartments?” I asked. “Yes!” she proclaimed.

It dawned on me that she probably had dementia. I couldn’t help smiling as I real-ized that God had sent an unexpected messenger to bring me to Laurel Park Man-or. I offered to escort her back to the apartment. She seemed overjoyed as I walked with her, arm-in-arm, back to the entrance to the apartments. When we arrived at the gate, she took out her access card and buzzed us in. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you…

With Mrs. Kim as my auspicious escort, I was introduced to both the manager and the social worker for Laurel Park Manor. They were so grateful that I had brought Mrs. Kim back to her home. I was so grateful that she had brought me to meet the management!

After this encounter, I was invited to return to Laurel Park Manor for the monthly birthday celebration. I invited David Kim and other deacons from the Great Sarang Korean Church to attend on Oct. 13, and we played music and led the residents in singing, “Amazing Grace,” in Korean. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…

Out of this collaboration came the idea to celebrate a Thanksgiving Feast together with the Korean and Samoan congregations. Our food will be blessed with a soulful rendition of Amazing Grace, with verses sung in Samoan, Korean, English, and to challenge us all, in Spanish!

To me, these are sure signs that God is in charge: when unexpected visitors guide us to where we need to go; when people are brought together across cultures, in spite of language differences; and when we work together for a common purpose. We are called to share the good news that God is with us before we are born, throughout our lives, and after our deaths.

In Christ,

Pastor [email protected]

Be happy when

God answers

your prayer,

but be happier when

you are an answer to

others prayers.

-Unkown-


page 3

WINDOWthe



CCUCC Special ServicesIt’s been an exciting two months since Rev. Pullen joined CCUCC Los Alamitos as our pastor. In October we had a Blessing of the Animals service and the first Sunday in November we celebrated All Saint’s Sunday by honoring our loved ones. Join us for the upcoming holidays as Pastor Sam has a lot in store for us.

...................................................

All Saint’s Day

Blessing of the

Animals

Judy’s KitchenSaturday, Nov 21 & Dec 17

Multicultural ThanksgivingSunday, Nov 22

Men’s FellowshipWednesday, Dec. 2

Women’s FellowshipTuesday, Dec. 7

Christmas Lunch & CarolingSunday, Dec 13

Christmas Eve ServiceThursday at 7 pm in the Church Sanctuary

Sacred Listening Bible StudyTuesdays at 11am in the Church Sanctuary

Save These Dates!


page 4

WINDOWthe



Birthdays & Anniversaries

Rick RheaumeMarch 9

Betty StappMarch 10

Florance TinkhamMarch 18

Silvia EstabrookMarch 18

Harry BochmanApril 18

Kamryn O’GaraApril 10

Jennifer DeWittApril 11

Beverly SmithApril 13

Jim LowerreApril 23

Birthdays:

Denise MillerNovember 7

Peggy CarterNovember 8 Andrea O’GaraNovember 9 Eleanor Bochman November 23

Alberta BroseDecember 1

Ardyth BroersmaDecember 8

Anniversaries:

The Smith’sDecember 28

“When we lose

one blessing,

another is often

most unexpectedly

given in its place.”

-C.S. Lewis-

We’re on the web @www.ccucclosal.org

2016 Stewardship Pledge CardsTrust in the Promise“For surely I know the plans I have for you. . .to give you a future with hope.”—Jeremiah 29:11

Using the gifts God has given us to do the work God is calling us to do. All that we have and all that we are is a gift from God. The gifts we have been given–time, talent, and money–are our primary means to carry out that purpose. Our church’s most import-ant mission is to bring people into a closer relationship with God. Worship, education and fellowship at CCUCC Los Alamitos are not simply social functions-they are fundamental aspects of our Godly relationship. And because God has been generous to us, we are called to joyfully respond with our own generosity of time, talent and money.

Giving of our personal resources in order to carry out God’s purpose in the world is a significant spiritual act. Won’t you consider giving something of your time, talent and money? Pledge cards are available in the Narthex. Please take one, fill out and turn into the offering plate.

...................................................


page 5

WINDOWthe



“Blessed are they

who see beautiful

things in

humble places

where other people

see nothing.”

- Camille Pissarro-

Sunday, December 13, 2015 @ NoonHosted by Scott & Denise Miller11282 Loch Lomond Rd., Rossmoor.

Please bring a grocery store gift card in the amount of $10 or more to be donated to We Care.

RSVP to Denise by December 6th by calling (562) 413-2423.

Our Moderator, Leigh Ann Tipton got married to Rich Fisler on Saturday, November 7th, 2015.

What a magical evening it was! Congratulations Leigh Ann Tipton Fisler

Men’s FellowshipThe men’s group meets evey month

at a different restraunt to break bread and fellowship. Here is

the upcoming schedule:

November 5thKatella Deli

Katella

December 3rdCalifornia Pizza Kitchen

Los Al & Rossmoor

For info please contact Rick Rheaume at (714) 499-4173

DECK THE HALLS!

Christmas Cleaning & Decorating

Join us Saturday, December 5th at 9:00 AM to help us with

Christmas Cleaning & Decorating. Pastries & Coffee will be served.

Like us at Community Congregational UCC,

Los Alamitos

All-Church Christmas Lunch & Caroling

Leigh Annand Rich

Leigh Ann

and Rich


page 6

WINDOWthe



NovemberMark Your Calendar

1 Sunday 10:00 AM Church Service/Sanctuary

Communion Sunday

2 Monday 12:30 PM Women’s Fellowship/Fireside Room

3 Tuesday 11:00 AM Sacred Listening Bible Study/Fireside Room

4 Wednesday 7:00 PM Choir Practice/Sanctuary

5 Thursday 7:00 PM Men’s Fellowship/Katella Deli


11:30 AM Church Council Meeting/Fireside Room



14 Saturday 11:00 AM Clayton Tinkham Memorial Service & Luncheon/

Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall




21 Saturday 11:00 AM Judy’s Kitchen 22 Sunday 10:00 AM Joint Church Service with the Samoan congregation Emanuelu UCC /Sanctuary

11:30 AM Multicultural Thanksgiving Feast Joint Thanksgiving feast with the Korean, Samoan, and English speaking congregations



“Not what we

say about our

blessings, but

how we use them,

is the true

measure of our

thanksgiving.”

-W. T. Purkiser-


page 7

WINDOWthe



DecemberMark Your Calendar



3 Thursday 7:00 PM Men’s Fellowship/CPK Los Al & Rossmoor

5 Saturday 9:00 AM Christmas Cleaning & Decorating/Sanctuary


Communion Sunday

11:30 AM Church Council Meeting/Fireside Room

7 Monday 12:30 PM Women’s Fellowship/ Fireside Room




12:00 PM Christmas Party/Miller’s home

1:00 PM Musique Sur La Mer - Merry Concert/Sanctuary



19 Saturday 11:00 AM Judy’s Kitchen




24 Thursday 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service/Sanctuary



“Reflect upon your

present blessings, of

which every man has

plenty; not on your

past misfortunes,

of which all men

have some.”

-Charles Dickens-

Pastor Sam will be on vacation between Dec. 25th & Jan. 1stPlease contact Silvia Estabrook at 714.833.2008 if you have

any urgent spiritual matters during this time.


page 8

WINDOWthe



A Breath of Fresh Air!A special thanks goes to Fred Greene for changing the air filters above the preschool, and to Pastor Sam for taking the picture!


page 9

WINDOWthe



Pastor Sam, Leigh Ann Tipton & Noel Estrada

Halloween FestivitiesEveryone got involved in theMayflower Halloween Celebration

Denise hands out candy

Bob joins in on the fun!

Documents

DECEMBER 13TH HAPPENINGS morning at 11:00 AM theWINDOWd284f45nftegze.cloudfront.net/ccucclosal/Window Nov_Dec 2015.pdf · Dear CCUCC Community and Friends, Here is my attempt to summarize