In Sunday School, our kids learn how to LIVE BIG (Believing in God). LIVE BIG is a multimedia Christian Education event for kids of all ages. If you want to see what we are teaching, you can research it yourself on www.ilivebig.com We have a Preschool Class for our little people. They meet in downstairs in room 3 with Miss Kayla. We have a K/2 class in Room 4 with Ms. Debi and her youth assistants Miss Molly and Miss Olivia. Our elementary kids meet upstairs with Mr. Richard.
On Sundays, the children start out with the full congregation in worship for music and the children's moment. Then they leave for Sunday School, which happens during the remaining 45 minutes of worship. On Communion Sundays (first Sundays), we invite our kids back into worship to take Communion.
Beach Baptism
Going to Galatia
This summer - the sermon series will parallel an online Bible study of the book of Galatians. Join us as we engage the work of the Holy Spirit - then and now! Join the online discussion by emailing pastorpaige@cvumc.org.
Read & Practice Peacemaking
Our group engages church members and friends in reading and discussion of current books on local and global peace-making.
Books already on our Peacemaker's Bookshelf:
* Boulding & Ikeda's Into Full Flower, a conversation between a Quaker and a Buddhist about peacemaking at every level - from home to the UN. A peaceful read.
* Currently reading Aaron Glantz's The War Comes Home, a frightening, compassionate look at the lack of care our veterans receive when they return broken and beat-up from war.
* Fitzgerald & Gould'sAfghanistan: An Invisible History - An amazing (and, OK, amazingly dense history that helped our group understand more of what is happening in Afghanistan. We wish President Obama would read it, too.
Chris Hedges' Empire of Illusion -Hedges will really wake you up to the ways in which Americans are being lured into an inattentive sleepiness to complex issues. An experienced journalist who is also a person of faith, Hedges nonetheless left us wound up with wariness, soothed only a little by the closing 2 pages about the triumph of hope. As Jesus-followers, we are left to work out faithful solutions on our own.
Mark Kurlansky's Nonviolence: The History of a Dangerous Idea - We were so inspired by this book that we did additional research on history's courageous nonviolent heroes, and now we're working up portrayals of them for Halloween and beyond. Easy to read, hard to put down. From the publisher: New York Times bestselling author Mark Kurlansky discusses nonviolence as a distinct entity, a course of action, rather than a mere state of mind. Nonviolence can and should be a technique for overcoming social injustice and ending wars, he asserts, which is why it is the preferred method of those who speak truth to power.
John Dear's Living Peace: A Jesuit priest and respected leader of the ecumenical peace movement, Dear led us through a journey of contemplation and action. His persistent call for peace and crazy, radical actions for peace both soothed and incited us.
Michael Henderson's No Enemy to Conquer: Forgiveness in an Unforgiving World: An amazing compilation of stories from every context in the world where enemies found each other and found forgiveness - Northern Ireland, Rwanda, Israel/Palestine, Nazi Germany, South Africa. In a world of violence, it's hard to believe that so many people are reaching out to one another to heal old wounds...so that we can go forward together in a new way.
Code Pink's Stop the Next War Now: Effective Responses to Violence and Terrorism:This anthology of peace advocacy draws on hundreds of leading female voices, each one taking risks and devoting her life to peacemaking in her own way. Our group learned a lot about who is out there doing what - and therefore we were pulled in many directions at once!
Women's Ministries
Our 3rd Annual Women's Retreat was significant for so many of our women!
God is Speaking In Your Dreams
with Rhea Zakich
Aldersgate Retreat Center
Our UMW women are part of an international, historical movement of women in the Methodist Church. Women have remained at the forefront of mission and ministry for over 135 years. (You can find out a lot about the movement at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/UMW/about)
The CVUMC women faithfully participate in missions training and funding. Recent regional training have included a study of Israeli-Palestinian issues and another on peace traditions in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Fair Trade Olive Oil from Palestine will be available for Christmas gifts. An introduction to fair trade coffee is leading our church into a commitment to serve products that help coffee farmers invest locally in their businesses, families, and communities. www.equalexchange.org
The CVUMC women have successfully connected our entire congregation to the Learning Works! Charter School in Pasadena. The school helps at-risk young people finish high school and find their footing. Our outreach is to teen moms trying to finish school with babies and jobs.
We have a UMW circle that meets monthly for study, prayer, support and service.
* Women at the Well: Join this group of spiritual women for a monthly time of study and fellowship. 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. These meetings are in homes. The church office would be happy to connect you with a group member who will help you find the right place.
Youth Ministries
Our Youth Group is a lively crowd of kids who go to Rosemont, CVHS, and Village Christian. We're on summer break from regular meetings for now, and we're gearing up for a big Sierra Service Project mission trip in August!
In the fall, regular youth gatherings will begin again on Sunday evenings:
9th - 12th grade 4:00 - 4:45
Dinner and Games 4:45 - 5:15 together
Middle School 5:15 - 6:00
Other Opportunities for Service and Fellowship:
Seniors Ministry Core Team: Our core team meets regularly to pray, research, and discern God's call to enhance our care for seniors in our church and community. We create one-time and ongoing opportunities for others in our congregation to minister to our homebound friends. If you love seniors and have gifts for seniors' ministries, you're invited. Contact the church office for more information.
CVUMC Reaches Out: See Get Connected to find out how we're helping in our community and the world.
Chancel Choir: The Chancel Choir blesses our worship with song. They also provide special music programs several times a year. Rehearsals are Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and immediately after church at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Wayne Hinton is the extremely capable Director of Music for CVUMC. Contact Wayne for more information: wdh@verizon.net
Beach Baptism
