Merry Christmas Everyone!
Richmond First United Methodist News and Events
Pastor’s Perspective
Dear Friends,
I hope you enjoyed the string quartet last Sunday. I hope we can do that again this Easter. The strings sound so great in our sanctuary. The singing of Silent Night with the quartet touched my heart at a deep place. This week I am looking forward to the Christmas Pageant with our church family and our Masquers friends in costume. I hope you can attend either the 11 am worship with the shortened Pageant, or the 7 pm with the full version. Invite a friend to one or both services. I’ll be there with bells on.
Love and Joy,
Pastor Dan Damon
I hope you enjoyed the string quartet last Sunday. I hope we can do that again this Easter. The strings sound so great in our sanctuary. The singing of Silent Night with the quartet touched my heart at a deep place. This week I am looking forward to the Christmas Pageant with our church family and our Masquers friends in costume. I hope you can attend either the 11 am worship with the shortened Pageant, or the 7 pm with the full version. Invite a friend to one or both services. I’ll be there with bells on.
Love and Joy,
Pastor Dan Damon
Re: Richmond First United Methodist News and Event
Joys and Concerns
Lauren McLeod welcomes your prayers for healing.
Sandra Kokoruda (Fran Smith’s daughter) up date: Sandra went home this week with Visiting Nurse assistance. Please keep her in your prayers for healing.She thanks us all for our prayers.
Molly Smith is requesting prayers for her brother who has been treated for a brain tumor for several years and has recently entered the Hospice program. Prayers for his family and her brother as they go through this very difficult time.
Deby McFadyen is asking for prayers for her father, Jack McFadyen, who has lung cancer. Currently he is doing well.
Pat Dornan and Linda Pereira continue to need your prayers of support and healing. Pat is inviting people to pop in and say “Hello”. Linda is sad and needs some different faces to cheer her up.
Robbie Robinson would appreciate your prayers.
Helen Wysham welcomes your prayers for healing as she undergoes chemotherapy.
Please keep the people of Camp Liberty in your prayers as chaos reigns in Iraq and near the camp.
News
Our dear friend, Ensieh Yazdan has created a Kickstarter site to protest the throwing of acid in the faces of Irani women. In Oct. and Nov. of this year many women were accosted by men on motorcycles who threw acid in their faces because their faces were not properly veiled. Please visit the sites below for information and opportunities to help.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1009954205/i-am-a-woman
https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-am-a-woman-with-a-world-of-agony/554739127995695
https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-am-a-woman-with-a-world-of-agony/554739127995695
Generosity
Sarah Weems is collecting new unwrapped toys for the Hilltop Richmond YMCA to give to needy children. You may bring your gift to the church and Sarah will pick them up. They also are collecting warm coats. Check your closets for coats you never wear and bring them in!
Pat Dornan says “Thank you”.
A Huge thank you to all who assisted to providing Christmas for the two families at GRIP.
Everyone got a new coat and shoes as well as providing some wardrobe items for one individual who has recently gotten a job and needed clothing appropriate for work. Fun items were also provided for the children. Your help has assisted to provide happy holidays for dozen people at the Shelter. It was a joy to wrap each gift knowing it was given with the love of people at First Church.
Another opportunity to give to the Richmond Childhood Mental Health Program is their constant need for disposable diapers in small sizes (infant through two years) for the parents who have difficulty affording them. They may be left at the church as well.
Imagine No Malaria: At the 2013 Annual Conference we pledged to raise 2 million dollars to fight malaria in Africa. We have raised 1.5 million dollars and need 500,000 dollars to meet that pledge by June 2014 which breaks down to 100,000 dollars for our district. The $100,000 Challenge is on in amusing ways. Rev. Schuyler Rhodes, our district bishop, will publicly shave is head at the Annual Conference if the goal is met! The break down for our share is $4 per member and $11 per worshiper per month. Let’s do our share. Checks made out to FUMC with Imagine No Malaria will get there. Check out the website for other challenger promises and follow the contributions: calnevimagine.org.
umcmarket.org is hoping you will shop for the holidays through their website if you do your shopping on line. Go to the site and go to the store of your choice from there. A percentage of your order (no cost to you) comes directly to our church. This is a painless way to help us meet our budget!
Events
Saturday, Dec. 20, 9 am to 3 pm, Bake and Crafts Sale at the Point Richmond Community Center, 139 Washington Ave., Point Richmond. There will be a sign up for goodies in Friendship Hall. Cookies and pies are the best sellers. If you would like to donate, let Barbara Haley at bahcats@sbcglobal.net know. Bring your baked items or craft items to the Community Center between 8&9 am if possible. We always appreciate help with set-up and clean up. If you would like to help at one of the tables, let me know. This is a fundraiser for the First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women
Christmas Pageant, Sunday, December 21 at 11 am and 7 pm. This is the Christmas story in word and song with Masquers Playhouse volunteers. We have good singers, costumes, Angel Choir and fun! We already are hearing the rush of angel wings on Sunday mornings as the children come to rehearse carols under the direction of Tammara Plankers.
Christmas Eve Jazz Service, December 24 at 7 pm with the Dan Damon Quartet, Dan Damon, piano, Kurt Ribak, bass, Lincoln Adler, sax and Bryan Bowman, drums and , congregational singing with the band, soloists and the Christmas story. Come early, seats fill quickly as people have made this a tradition to share.
Friday, Dec.26 at 7:30 pm, Point Richmond Jazz presents brothers Matt and Kit Eakle in a Celebration of Boxing Day. Matt plays the flute with the David Grisman quintet and Kit plays the violin and is the presenter of Point Richmond Jazz. Join them for a fun evening of eclectic music. Tickets are $15 thru prjazz.org or $20 at the door. First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond.
Wednesday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve Celebration, 5 pm at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St., Berkeley. The Dan Damon Trio leads a worship service for the new year.
Friday, January 9, 6 pm Easter Hill UMC United Methodist Women are presenting missionary Carol Partridge. Carol has been the Director of Christian Education in Macedonia for the past fifteen years. Carol will speak about her experiences and show some videos. Please contact Arinel Greene at 510 223 4226 if you plan to attend. There will be light refreshments so they would like to know how many people are attending. There will be an offering to support Carol’s work if you care to donate. Easter Hill UMC, 3911 Cutting Blvd., Richmond.
Please send submissions for FUMC News and Events to Barbara Haley, editor: bahcats@sbcglobal.net.
