Let’s REALLY Get Together!
Kick-Off Sunday
Blended Service
September 12th 10:30 a.m.
Come join us as we, Pray Together-Take Communion Together,
enjoy the Praise Band, and welcome back the Choir. The 1st and 2nd
service will begin at 10:30, with the picnic to follow. Sunday School
will be at its usual time of 9:30. It will be so good to worship together,
please join in the praise and the fun. We are looking forward to
seeing each other and enjoying the fellowship time after. Join us for
some pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs, provided by the church.
Let’s eat, share vacation stories and watch the kids play on this
perfect day! Sign-up in Sippel Hall to bring salads, desserts, chips
and drinks. Invite your friends and neighbors as guests. Good food,
fun, activities and prizes for all. See Janet Wysong, Anne & John
Beecher, Ruth Singleton or Susan Babcock if you have any questions
or can help.
Page 1 September 2, 2010
Disciples Women’s Ministry
The spiritual Growth Retreat will be held October 1-3, 2010. Early registrations are
due September 6th – but if you haven’t had a chance to register yet – don’t worry.
Late registrations will be accepted thru September 20th. Please see Jill Foster if you
are interested in attending.
Speakers at the retreat are Brenda Poindexter, Pastor Maria Tafoya and Pastor Kel
Henderson. The theme for this year is “The Holiness of Work”. It was great fun last
year and I know it will be again this year.
Not For Sale: Regional event on Human Trafficking
There will be a Global Forum on Human Trafficking on October 14 – October 15,
2010 in Yorba Linda. This is a project that Disciple Women will be involved in for the
next four years.
From the website: “This year, the Not For Sale Campaign’s Global Forum on Human
Trafficking will provide attendees with the unique opportunity to network with other
individuals committed to ending human trafficking. In an open forum with global lead-
ers, participants will discuss effective and innovative methods to combat traffick-
ing, address the needs of at-risk populations, and provide relevant tools to build
a greater modern-day abolitionist movement.”
If you are interested in attending this event, please go to the Disciple Women’s page
and click on the link for the event. The event will be held at:
Yorba Linda Friends Church
5141 Lakeview Avenue
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
For more information go to the website at:
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/events/global-forum-on-human-trafficking/
or contact: globalforum@notforssale.org.
Page 2
Women’s Luncheon
The August luncheon was hosted by the women who went to the Quadrennial.
They were filled with fun stories, stories of inspiration. The ladies came back filled
with enthusiasm and eager to share the experience with us. They brought back the
Bras for the Cause to share with us. Thank you to all the ladies who contributed to
this project. Lynn Redderson had a beautiful design with an under the sea theme.
Thank you also to Roy Houston who had several designs donated by his students.
The next luncheon will be held on Sunday, September 26th. Michele Wood will be
the hostess of the luncheon. The theme for the lunch will be “Italian White Wed-
ding”. The program and service project will be for Child Life Services.
Child Life/Child Development Services
Hospitals can be a confusing environment for a child. Child Life/Child Development
Services seeks to ease that fear by familiarizing young children, adolescents and
their families with the hospital experience. For more than four decades, UCLA’s
Child Life/Child Development Services has been a pioneer and national model for
how to appropriately address the social, emotional and developmental needs of
each child and his or her family in a culturally sensitive manner. Our team attends
to the unique needs of pediatric patients — especially the critically and chronically
ill — by collaborating with other healthcare team members to help achieve a bal-
ance between the medical and psychosocial needs of the child and family.
Deck the Halls Boutique Workshops
The first workshop for the boutique was held on August 14th. We had lots of fun and
there was lots of laughter and good fellowship. Please join us for the next workshop
which will be held on Sunday, September 19th.
Women’s booklets for 2010/2011 are now available and you can pick one up in the
church office.
Dear Church Family,
Thank you so much for the fun, awesome baby shower! We are SO
blessed to have such a caring, loving church family! Jimmy and I are
excited for all of you to meet our baby soon! - Sakura & Jimmy
Page 3
You have seen “Bonnie, the Movie” and now is an opportunity for you to meet and
get acquainted with this amazing woman. Bonnie needs some help for her noon
meal on Sundays. We would like a few more folks to be available on a regular or ‘as
needed’ basis. Right now we are four and get to be with her once a month. She also
needs someone to meet her at her apartment (nearby on Ocean) to get to her home
and basically turn on her TV, position her to watch and chat a bit. We all have the
ability to do these simple things for her. Again, let us remind you of what a treat it is
to spend time with this remarkable woman. Give a call to the church office for more
information. Thanks so much!
We’re Recycling!
Don’t through that paper away! Hang onto that 2-litre bottle! We are mak-
ing an effort to recycle at First Christian Church. There is a marked box in
the church office for recyclable paper, and a large tub in the kitchen for bot-
tles and cans. Please help by doing your part when cleaning up, or dispos-
ing of recyclable products.
Part-Time Housekeeper Needed
Contact Laura Duncan at 310-830-5215 for more information.
VBS FUNDRAISER
A great big thank you to everyone who came out and supported the VBS Fundraisers
this summer. We have just received the final check and we just wanted to let you
know the results. Ruby’s Diner-$143.33, El Paso Cantina-$183.63, Sizzler-$90.06.
Total: $417.02
Thanks You so much!
Shirley Woodman
With Sympathy
Billy Adams life was celebrated at the First Baptist Church. Ester and their family remain in
our prayers.
Wally Sandberg’s brother-in-law, Ron Walls, died after a long battle with brain cancer. The
Sandberg’s are back from services in Oregon—we continue to hold their family in prayer.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kristi Marvin on the loss of her mother, Deanna Sannum,
who succumbed to lung cancer.
Page 4
CHURCH FAMILY PRAYERS & CONCERNS
Elba Woods is home and recovering from a successful procedure to isolate a brain aneu-
rysm.
Lynne Redderson’s father has moved from the hospital to a care facility. He continues to
suffer from serious lung and kidney ailments.
Diana Sencerbox’s mother, Faith Harder, has been moved from the hospital to a rehabilita-
tion facility as she is recovering from a stroke. She will be moving to a new home soon.
Keith McGiffin has gone home from transitional care, where he will continue treatment for
congestive heart failure.
Chuck Bruley is recovering from follow-up hip surgery.
Tests show that nerve damage in Janet Wysong’s arm and hand is not permanent; further
good news: Janet’s shoulder surgery has been scheduled for September 15.
Sarah Iannucci’s 88 year-old mother has been moved rather suddenly back to the Philip-
pines by Sarah’s half-siblings.
Carole Jones has received confirmation that her cancer has recurred. Further treatment
choices are being explored.
Greg Oden’s friend Joy is symptom-free after surgery for brain-cancer.
We continue to pray for those many other families touched by cancer: Dean Noble (Haley
& Madison Noble’s grandfather), Shawn Knutson (Kelly Rogers’s sister), Liz Parker
(Karen Jackson’s friend)…We receive many reports of thanksgiving for prayer shawls
given to cancer patients and others.
Prayers for those struggling with addiction, and for their families; Jennifer Teruya’s friend,
Philip Thompson, has asked us to pray for his struggle with alcohol addiction.
Prayers for those dealing with unemployment, underemployment, and other forms of job
insecurity—many of whom are seeing positive signs on the horizon.
Others needing prayer for various illnesses, injuries and conditions: Clair & Virginia John-
son, Ada Sykes, David Drolet, Jameson Weston (Beechers’ friend in Phoenix), Michelle
Kain (Charlotte Sandberg’s friend).
For James Sturges (Kelly Rogers’s brother), recently deployed to Afghanistan; and for all
others in harm’s way.
Page 5
September 2010
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thur
WORSHIP SERVICES
8:30 and 10:30 am
Sunday School 9:30 am
1
New
7:00
5 6 7 8
Bible Study 10:00
Labor Day Observed Prayer Ministry 5:45
Prayer Shawl 2:00
Church Office Closed Prayer Shawl 7:00
Choir 7:00
Trustees 7:00 p.m.
12 13 14 15
Bible Study 10:00
Kick-Off Sunday Prayer Ministry 5:45 Prayer Shawl 2:00
Blended Service 10:30 Newsletter Prayer Shawl 7:00 Backpack Stuffing Party
Picnic 12:00 7:00 p.m.
19 20 21 22
Faith Group 9:30
Love Group 1:30
Boutique Workshop
Prayer Ministry 5:45 Bible Study 10:00
12:00
Prayer Shawl 7:00 Prayer Shawl 2:00
CYF 6:30
Elders 7:00
26 27 28 29
Feed The Hungry
Sunday
Prayer Ministry 5:45
Disciple Women’s
Prayer Shawl 7:00 Bible Study 10:00
Lunch 12:00 Newsletter
Prayer Shawl 2:00
CYF 12:00
Page 6
rsday Friday Saturday
September Birthdays
Jack Rogers 2
Matt Galyardt 2
Ileana Iannucci (3)
2 3 4 Greg Oden 4
Walter Morrison 4
Susie Noble 4
w Hope Brandon Williams 5
0 p.m. Cynthia Fried (7)
Rich Koontz 9
Robert Fender12
9 10 11 Harding Peck14
Chal Strayer 16
Matthew Reeley17
Karen Jackson 19
Board Retreat Bobbi Lotrick 19
South Bay Church Dick Talley 20
9:00 to 1:00 p.m. Ashley Whobrey 20
Uy Vu 21
Betsy Galyardt 22
Vicki Johns 22
16 17 18 Janie Fietz 23
June Perkins 24
Men’s Breakfast Kara Ryan 24
Jaryd Griego 25
8:30 a.m. Catherine Paour 25
Helen Williams 26
Gwen Jonas 27
Katelynn Rogers 27
Nneji Ibe 30
23 24 25
ANNIVERSARIES
Jerry & Lynn Jonas 2
Chal & Helene Strayer 4
30 Lee & Pat Sebaugh 7
Mike & Kel Henderson 7
Morrie & Virginia Gober 12
Grant & Betsy Galyardt 23
Earl & Elba Woods (27)
Mike & Toshiko Morotani 29
Page 7
Education Notes & News
BIBLE EXPLORERS
We are so excited about our third year with our Bible Explorers program. We are
anxious to see all our FCC kids on September 5th when we kick-off our new year. All
children are welcome to attend and join in on the fun. We will all gather together in
Room 4 at 9:30am and then split off to the separate learning workshops. This year
we are having a scripture contest.
Anyone interested in teaching a workshop or being a shepherd, please contact
Shirley Woodman.
Children's Worship & Wonder
Our Children's Worship and Wonder program will also begin our new year on Sep-
tember 5th in Room 6 after the Children's Moment. All children age 3 to 3rd grade
are invited to join us to hear God's stories.
If you are interested in being an adult greeter or a storyteller for this program please
contact Shirley Woodman or Michele Wood.
Youth Adventure / Chi Rho (Grade 3 - Grade 8)
We will be meeting on 9/5 and 9/19 in Room 4. A light lunch will be provided. A
short discussion and a group activity will take place. Possible homebound visitation
on 9/19.
CYF Calendar
9/5 - Labor day weekend! Rest up for school! =)
9/12 - Helping with games during picnic
9/15 - Backpack Stuffing @ 7pm
9/19 - CYF @ 6:30 - Planning meeting
(Bring ideas for the year, have your homework done early!)
9/26 - CYF @ 12:00 - Lunch and Motivation
10/15 - 10/16 - Youth assembly sleep-over. Remember those friends you made at
camp? See them again! Register at www.disciplespswr.org/regionalassembly2010
--james koontz
310.626.3399
jameskoontz@cal.berkeley.edu
Page 8
2010 Love INC Backpack Project
THANK YOU once again for your tremendous support of our annual Backpack Pro-
ject. Your generous donations of school supplies and cash have gotten us very
close to our goal of being able to fill 250 backpacks!
We will be holding our regular “Packing Party” on Wednesday, September 15,
at 7:00 pm. (Because we are providing backpacks for the Department of Children
and Family Services [DCFS] our timing is not as dependant on the traditional school
year.)
Our church budget will underwrite the backpacks themselves, but we could still use
more of the following:
2" Three Ring Binders
Wide Rule Notebook Paper
Spiral Bound Notebooks
Pink Erasers
Pencil Sharpeners
Children's Scissors
Glue Sticks
Packages of #2 Pencils
Ballpoint Pens
Pocket Folders ("Pee Chee" Style)
As always, if you prefer to make a cash donation, we'd be happy to do the shopping
for you—just put a memo on your check to “Backpacks.” Again, thank you so much
for your continued generosity for the needy children of our community.
Blessings in Christ,
Janie Fietz - Outreach Chair
First Christian Church of Torrance
Page 9
Upcoming Sermons
September 5: “Thus Far By Faith?” (Hebrews 11:1-4, 8-16)
We will end our summer-long series on Genesis with a kind of recap and review of the les-
sons we’ve covered, filtered as we can through the New Testament lens of faith.
September 12: “The Greatest Picnic” (Mark 6:30-44)
One of the few miracle stories contained in all four gospels, the “feeding of the 5000” is
packed with symbol and meaning. We will draw nourishment from this great Word in a
10:30 Blended Service just before joining in the great feast of our own annual picnic.
September 19: “The Second-Greatest Picnic” (Mark 8:1-10)
Covered by only Mark and Matthew, the “feeding of the 4000” doesn’t get as much press as
the better-known earlier feeding. Still, there is much here for us and our understanding of
God’s mission. What can we learn from the similarities and differences in this follow-up
miracle meal?
Worship Prayer Journals
Using themes from the approaching Sunday worship, a daily prayer journal guide is avail-
able for those who want to explore a spiritual focus each day. An electronic version of the
Prayer Journal is also available—contact Don Zukas (Donald.zukas@gmail.com) if you
would like to be added to the list.
Wednesday Bible Study
Our Wednesday morning Bible Study is taking a break through early September. We will
be starting a study of the ‘Return from Exile’ on September 8. We meet in Sippel Hall at
10:00 a.m.—everyone is welcome!
Adult Sunday Class
Our Sunday morning Adult Class will continues to meet through the summer in Room 7 at
9:30—or as soon after first service as possible! Discussion is always lively and enlighten-
ing.
We are currently winding up a discussion of forgiveness, and on September 5 will be start-
ing a series on Islam. Other topics for the Fall include an overview of Catholicism, a dia-
logue on Judaism, a consideration of the Bill Mahr movie Religulous, and a discussion of
the meaning of Jesus’ atonement. All are welcome!
Page 10
Footnotes
I will confess: it has weighed heavy on my heart to see the yelling crowds in New
York, fighting over the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque.” Similar scenes are being
repeated in towns small and large across the country. Suddenly, many Americans are
apparently uncomfortable with mosques.
The opposition to the New York mosque includes those whose emotions around
Ground Zero are very fragile—especially “9/11 Families.” These people deserve our
absolute and utmost sympathy. It is worth noting, however, that not all 9/11 families
are opposed to the mosque—indeed, members of this same Islamic congregation were
also killed in the World Trade Center.
What exposure many of us have of Islam is focused on the horribly negative extremes
of the Muslim world, whose actions and views understandably generate fear and dis-
gust—feelings all too often manipulated by cynical media and political figures. But
knowledge is power. And so I’d like to make three suggestions that I hope will pro-
vide empowering information:
1. Study Islam! I have books to loan, and can recommend websites (but be careful
here!) Also, our Sunday Morning Adult Class has started a series on Islam.
2. Participate in “Open Mosque Day” on October 16—a nation-wide effort by a
number of Muslims to open their houses of worship to visitors. I am hoping that a
group from our church can make a visit, as some of us have in the past.
3. If you have a Muslim acquaintance, enter into a dialogue. Ask them about their
religion, their views. Listen to what it means to them to be Muslim and American.
Above all, I would encourage us to pray for greater understanding, compassion and
wisdom regarding this sometimes difficult and fraught topic.
Shalom & Salaam, Steve
Home phone: 310-212-5950 email: steefeets@hotmail.com
Next Newsletter articles need to be at the church office by September 13, 2010
Page 11
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
NON PROFIT ORG.
(Disciples of Christ)
PERMIT NO. 109
TORRANCE, CA
2930 El Dorado Street
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 328-2820 Fax 310 328-2929
E-mail - fcctorr@pacbell.net
Web address - fcctorrance.org
Sunday Schedule
8:30 a.m. - Worship - Informal
9:30 a.m. - Church School for all ages
10:30 a.m. - Worship - Traditional
Children’s Worship - Ages Pre-school through
2nd Grade
(During the Traditional Worship Service)
Nursery Provided
Or Current Resident
For birth through age 3 during Sunday School
and Contemporary & Traditional Service
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Staff
Steven Fietz, Senior Pastor
Ted Oden-Minister of Contemporary Worship
Administrative Assistant– Camelia Olloque
Choir Director - Ken Potter
Nursery Attendant - Amanda Ruhs
Dorie Hernandez
The Christian Messenger
Officers
TIME VALUE DATA
Chair - Chery Carew
2930 El Dorado Street
DO NOT DELAY
First Christian Church
Torrance, CA 90503
EXPEDITE
Vice Chair - Jerry Jonas
Treasurer– Jimmy Koontz
Financial Secretary - Charlotte Sandberg
Clerk– Angie Ahumada
Page 12
