First United Methodist Church of Orange

The Forum Volume 84 issue #6 June 2015

It’s not too late . . . Join us as we continue our

All-Church Prayer Vigil This is a time to be in prayer for our church

and God’s Vison for our future.

The Sanctuary is open every day from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Take a Look Ahead at What’s Coming Up this Summer at FUMCO!

Angels Group Game

Friday. July 17th

Tickets go on sale June 21st see page 4 for more information

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SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS & FAITH FORMATION

Friends, we are in the midst of our 21-day church wide prayer vigil, and my hope is as we wait expectantly for God’s voice, we will expect the unexpected from God.

We cannot read far into the Bible without coming across this intriguing concept called the Unexpected.. It isn’t comfortable. It isn’t normal. It isn’t . . . Well, anything you would expect, and God likes to employ it all the time.

And God being the ultimate storyteller, He will do what ultimate storytellers do. He’ll wait until the very last second, when the people who are going to lose hope have lost it and the people who haven’t are holding on with their last strength, and then, in complete amazing ways, He will step in and save the day, and the climax will be perfect. Afterward, the people are left with nothing but head-over-heals, exuberant, radical love and praise for Him, as well as a small, subtle thought in the back of their minds:

Why didn’t I trust Him more?

And why should I expect anything less? Maybe I should stop putting God in a box . . .

He always had a plan.

As long as you keep your eyes on Him, it was going to work out.

Why were you so concerned? God hears our prayers.

God is mysterious in all His ways to say the least. And just when you think we’re finally catching on, something will happen, and all at once we’ll realize - again - that what we know about God and what there is to be known about God are two very, very different viewpoints The created cannot put the Uncreated in a box. It just won’t work, which is why the Bible is filled with stories of men and women and some very odd, very nerve-wracking, very God-orchestrated rescues and blessings and miracles and surprises.

Let God show you the doors that you didn’t expect to open. And be pleasantly surprised when you open them . . .

To borrow an overused cliché, there is a reason for the season of prayer for you and for our church. God is calling you to a deeper level of intimacy with Him. He is removing those things in you that keep you from Him. Like fear. Like doubt. Like busyness. The plot of your entire life always has been about your heart and His heart and the proximity between the two. If we can remember this, we will come into greater and greater relationship with who He really is. And out of that relationship, God will lead us.

With regard to God’s answers to prayer, expect the unexpected. May you hear God’s voice, and may the Spirit lead you in this prayer vigil. I know one thing is for sure - God will bless you in ways you didn’t expect from this journey. Just remember to get out of the way so God may move in your life. Let us keep our minds, hearts, and doors open to the leading of the Spirit. God has a plan for you. God has a plan for our church. And God has a plan for our community. May God surprise you with the UNEXPECTED!

Grace and Peace, Peter Joseph (M.Div)

Director of Faith Formation First United Methodist Church of Orange www.fumco.org

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“The God Squad” Youth Fellowship for 6th – 12th grades

June 14th Angels Baseball Game!

12:30 to 4:30 p.m. You can still sign up this week.

Tickets are $15 . . . Friends are Free!

YOUTH & CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Peter Joseph Director of Faith Formation

Email: peter@fumco.org Cell: 714-473-8086 Office: 714-532-6363 x203

CALLING ALL YOUTH! We need youth and/or parents to help be shepherds and game leaders for our Vacation Bible School this Summer from July 13th thru the 17th from 9 am to 12:15 pm each day. If you are interested, please sign up with Peter Joseph ASAP, email him at peter@fumco.org.

CONFIRMATION 2015 Congratulations Skottlynne Roney, Alycia Roney and Nathan Meersman.

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BITS & PIECES

Thank you to my church family for your prayers, cards and notes which expressed both encouragement and concern, the visits, phone calls and the prayer shall during my recent medical incident. I was and am truly bleed by all of you.

With gratitude, Mona Ward

Two little words, THANK YOU, can’t express what I feel for all the kind words, prayers, and cards. When one is used to feeling 100%, 100% of the time, this has been a humbling experience. How fortunate I feel to have such a caring congregation.

With deep appreciation, Florence Towers

VBS supplies needed! Here’s what we need:

Pool Noodles (30) Hula Hoops Checkered Flags Bike Helmets Hubcaps Road Signs Scooters and/or bikes (to borrow) PVC Pipes Kites Red Cones (48) Rope Lights Old Ball Caps Any Sports Equipment Paper Plates Paper Towels Nerf Basketball Hoops (3) Clothespins Magnet Strips Containers filled with Small Plastic Balls Yarn Twine 4 inch Terra Cotta Pots (70) Bingo Dabbers

contact Peter Joseph for more information Email him at peter@fumco.org or call his office number: 714-532-6363 ext. 203.

Thanks to your generous donations our lunch bag program is doing great! In fact, the word has gotten out and we are serving more people than ever. Of course that means we need more food donations than ever! Items needed to fill the bags include: Vienna sausage, Beanie Weenie, granola bars, box juice drinks, individual applesauce or fruit cups, small boxes of raisins, cheese & crackers, peanut butter & crackers or any other item that would fit nicely into a sack lunch. All donations, large and small, are greatly appreciated. Please place your donated items in the specially marked collection bins in the Narthex on Sunday mornings or bring to the office during the week.

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CHURCH BUSINESS

Photo Release Form

I, ___________________________________, hereby grant full permission to any Please print full name here

First United Methodist Church of Orange staff/volunteer, to use photographs or any oth-

er records, including my name, for any legitimate purpose without compensation or re-

muneration to myself, my heirs, executors, administrators or assigns.

_________________________________ ____________ Parishoner’s Name ~ Please print Date __________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ City/State/ZIP (_______)__________________________________ Phone __________________________________________ Email If you are a Parent/Guardian of an underage child, please review, indicate your wishes and sign the following:

CONSENT TO RELEASE PHOTO/IMAGE Dear Parent/Guardian:

Your child’s image/photograph may be included in a church classroom or church sponsored project that could be used in one of the following ways:

Posted on the church web pages, the church social media pages such as Facebook and Twitter.

Videotaped to appear in a church related program or appear on videotape made during a church function

Used in a printed publication such as a church bulletin, church brochure or other church print media

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Your child’s name or any identifying information will not be published or used in any media. There is no monetary compensation for the use of the photo or images. Please indicate your wishes in the following and sign the form below and return this document to the church office.

Your permission grants us approval to publicize without prior notification and remains in effect until revoked.

Release Form ________I/We DO give permission for _____________________________’s Child’s full name image/photograph to be used a described above. We are willing to release this into the public

domain and understand that no monetary compensation

will be given for the use of the materials.

_____I/We DO NOT give permission for ____________________________’s Child’s full name

image/photograph to be used as described above.

Parent/Guardian Name____________________________________________ Please print clearly

____________________________________________ _________________ Parent/Guardian Signature Date Address________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code _____________________________________________ Phone Number_________________________ Date_________________________________

Please return this form to the Church Office

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UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

SPECIAL NOTICE In support of the 21-Day Prayer Vigil, the UMW Mission Team Meeting scheduled for June 9th and the UMW Luncheon Meeting scheduled for June 11th have been cancelled. Please use this extra time to be in prayer for our church, the Vision Team and where God might be leading us.

ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE July 27 – August 1, 2015

The time is drawing near for our GIANT Annual Rummage Sale. As most of you know, this is United Methodist Women’s largest fundraiser of the year, and proceeds from the sale go to help support Mission Giving in our country and around the world. You may begin bringing your items on or after July 1st; please at this time only bring items that can be placed on the stage in Messenger Hall “behind the curtain”. Please no large items or furniture before July 27th.. You may call Nancy Teigen or Neale Davis to schedule pick-up of large items during the week of July 27th,

USED RUMMAGE NEEDED: Kitchen items, dishes, small appliances; jewelry, lamps collectibles, books, pictures, knick-knacks, toys, games/puzzles; pet supplies, sport and camping equipment, sleeping bags, tools and bicycles. Clean, gently used clothing (dresses, suits and jackets on hangers if possible); purses, hats, shoes; linens, blankets, holiday decorations, backpacks, suitcases, small area rugs; furniture in good condition, overstuffed chairs and couches must be on good, clean conditions – no rips or stains; baby furniture, etc. (The key criteria is – if you wouldn’t use it, don’t bring it.)

WE CANNOT ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING: Magazines, console TVs, console stereos, very large heavy appliances or furniture, unframed mirrors, paint and chemicals, car parts, cosmetics and toiletries, food, office desks, hospital beds or equipment, drapes or window coverings and hardware, carpeting, mason jars, text books, library books, swing sets or large play equipment, organs, water beds, king-sized beds, headboard or mattresses. We can accept computers, monitors, printers, fax machines.

MANY THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL DAY The Mother-Daughter-Friend luncheon was a wonderful event with good food and fellowship and delightful entertainment provided by The Music Room with music centered around the theme of “There’s No Business Like Show Business”. Thanks to Cindy Wilson for arranging this wonderful program. We would like to express our thanks to Sandy Wilson for chairing this lovely event; to Joyce Claussen for recognition of spe-cial mothers and grandmothers; and for the wide variety of door prizes. Special thanks to all the men who volunteered in the kitchen and acted as our waiters, and to all the moms, daughters and friends who came to share this day. THANK YOU.

July 24-26 Mission U at Biola University

July 27 - Aug 1 RUMMAGE SALE

August Relax and enjoy your summer!

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FUN & FELLOWSHIP

Newcomer’s Fellowship x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�x�

Newcomers Fellowship is having a great time and would love for you to join us! Our last before the summer break will be Saturday, June 27th at 6pm in Messenger Hall. The United Methodist Women will be hosting and presenting on all the wonderful work they are doing at FUMCO and beyond. Don’t miss it! RSVP to the church office by Monday June 22nd. Contact Bonnie Joseph (bejoseph@att.net) for more information about Newcomers Fellowship.

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HOMESTEADERS and FRIENDS ANNUAL ICE CREAM SOCIAL

at FARRELL’S ICE CREAM PARLOUR & RESTAURANT Sunday, June 28th at 4:00 p.m.

at the Buena Park location - 8650 Beach Blvd. (at Stanton) Come enjoy a delightful salad, tasty sandwich and/or delicious ice cream!

Reservations appreciated - Contact Betty Wisely at 714-633-4382

It’s a Luncheon! Thursday, June 18th

1:30 p.m. at the home of Betsy Ross Miale

(1524 Canyon Lake, Santa Ana 92705)

Carpool if possible. Join us . . . Visitors are always welcome!

“Music and Munchies!” The Children’s Hand Chime Choir of First United Methodist Church of Orange invites you to a short musical concert immediately following the morning worship service on Sunday, June 28th. Light refreshments will be served. They have been working hard since January of this year learning to read music and to play the hand chimes. They are excited about sharing what they have accomplished with all the members and friends of their church. Please mark your calendars now and plan to at-tend to show your support for these children. The Hand Chime Choir is open to children in grades 3 through 6. They practice every Thursday evening from 6:15 to 7:15 in the downstairs Choir Room of the Sanctuary. Rehearsals will begin again in September.

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June Birthdays 3 Orin Fast

4 Marilyn Allen

11 Albert Coussa

Patti Farrell

13 Ted Showalter

16 Marcia Monroe

17 Bob Dietlin

Olivia Connell

18 Steve Carmichael

19 Charles Barnhouse

20 Shaundell Lentz

22 Margaret Beyer

26 Carol Haymond

28 Sandy Wilson

30 Ken Martin

Anniversaries

Prayer & Praise Requests x� Mike & Vicki Short are pleased to report that their

son Matthew became engaged to Jessica Frias!

x� Praise God for the birth of Connor Brooks McLarty, Judy Gillham’s new great-nephew!

x� Prayers for Shirley Katz, who had surgery on June 1st to put here heart back in normal rhythm.

x� Prayers for James Sweeney who had an eye procedure done on Tuesday, June 2nd.

x� Prayers for a friend of Leissa Nazzareno, Dani Mendenhall and her family - she has ALS and is progressing to end stages quickly.

x� Prayers for Bernie Franklin’s daughter, Carla Franklin, to find a new job.

x� Bonita Chavis is asking for prayers for the Stevenson family who lost two daughters in a car accident in Mississippi.

x� Prayers for Judy Bryan, the daughter-in-law of Shirley Katz, who is in the hospital with severe bleeding problems.

x� Prayers for Norman Hansen’s cousin Jim Eliason who has had 3 surgeries at Mayo Clinic for colon cancer and now has a permanent colostomy.

x� Prayers for our shut-ins, the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the lonely, the unemployed, our military so far from home and all the others not mentioned, but known in our hearts.

2 Rev. Bill & Judy Johnson 5 Buzz & Judy Reynolds 11 Jim & Jackie McCracken 21 Peter & Bonnie Joseph 19 Jim & Patricia Stone 22 Neale & Ruth Davis 30 Ken & Diane Brown Tim & Julie Connell

JOYS . . . CONCERNS . . . CELEBRATIONS

Marilyn Allen, Nancy Bjorkland, Diane Brown, Ken Brown, Jay Farrell, Bonnie Goodrich, Shirley Katz, Ada Landes, Cybil Low, Mary McKenerick, Bob Meyer, Jackie McCracken, Meg Murray, Carol Nameth, Wayne Nash, Jane Parra, Nick Rogers, Jim Salling, Jerry Schaper, Charles Schroeder, Shirley Somers, Freida Stevens, Patricia Stone, Rita Suthers, Joe Tardie, Florence Towers, Karla Turner, Nena Williams, Betty Wisely

Pray Without Ceasing

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Outreach Ministries of First UMC, Orange

FAMILY PROMISE Casey Crosbie, Exec. Dir. 714-353-0428

FUNCO Parent operated child-care Becky Billingsly, Coordinator 714-944-7156

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Orange Co. Central 714-556-4555 Meets Monday and Friday evenings in room 205

NARANON Meets Thursday evenings in room 205

161 South Orange St. Orange, CA 92866

Phone: 714-532-6363 Fax: 714-532-5496 www.fumco.org

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Sunday Morning Schedule 8:30 a.m. ......... Choir Rehearsal 9:00 a.m. .. Adult Sunday School 10:00 a.m. ..... Coffee/Fellowship 10:30 a.m. .................... Worship

Sunday School for ages 4-6th grade following the

Word for Children.

United Methodist Youth Sunday Fellowship

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. 2nd & 4th Sundays

Office Staff Telephone Extensions: Dial 532-6363 and extension: Pastor 206 Rev. Bill Johnson

Administration 204 Karen Mendoza, Office Manager 216 Carol Rathbun, Communications Secretary

Programs 203 Peter Joseph, Director of Faith Formation

Mike Short - Director of Music Sylvia Coussa - Bell Choir Director Joe Schubert - Organist

The deadline for the July edition of

The Forum

will be June 21st