You are invited to the in-person Worship on January 29 at 10 am. The bulletin for this Sunday is available for viewing HERE. 

You can worship live on ZOOM by clicking the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9658816441 or Meeting ID: 965 881 6441

You can also watch Sunday services at your convenience by going to our website “watsonville1stumc.org” and click YouTube or Facebook. Each Sunday worship will be uploaded on Sunday afternoon for your viewing.

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany 
Sunday, January 29, 2023, 10 am

Children’s Time   “Let’s Build an Ark” by Pastor John

Special Music               Waltz by P. Tchaikovsky                     Marina Thomas

Message                 Replacing Adam Project with Noah Project          Rev. John Song
Part 3) “The Ark: Darkness Before Light”

The 4-part Sermon Series on Replacing Adam Project with Noah Project continues. In Part 3) “The Ark: Darkness Before Light“, Pastor John will share his search for meaning following his near-death experience of getting shot one evening at a dance party right after high school. His 5 years of searching culminated in the mystical white-light experience of union with God. He shares what he learned from that profound spiritual experience about the nature of God, reality, and his relationship with God and the world.

       Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the Lord;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the desolate pit,
out of the mud and mire.
He set my feet upon a rock,
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my heart,
   a song of praise to our God.

You are invited to the in-person Worship on January 22 at 10 am. The bulletin for this Sunday is available for viewing HERE. 

You can worship live on ZOOM by clicking the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9658816441 or Meeting ID: 965 881 6441

You can also watch Sunday services at your convenience by going to our website “watsonville1stumc.org” and click YouTube or Facebook. Each Sunday worship will be uploaded on Sunday afternoon for your viewing.

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
Sunday, January 22, 2023, 10 am

This Sunday is In-Person Lego Sunday!
First, children will be in worship. Following the Special Music,
our Sunday School teacher, Joan Culbertson, will lead our children to the Nursery Room.

Special Music                           Why Me Lord                             John Song, Solo
Words & Music by Kris Kristofferson 

[By the early 1970s, Kris Kristofferson was one of the biggest names in Nashville and country music. But it was this classic country gospel song “Why Me Lord” that would become the biggest hit of his career. The song reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country songs list (the only solo number one of his career). It was also a certified gold record. 

The song was written by Kristofferson during a low period in his life. He was inspired by a profound religious experience he had at a worship service. Kristofferson said, “I carried around a big load of guilt from my past. I knelt and I was just out of control, crying. It was a release. It really shook me up.” “Why Me Lord” is about a man who, after living a wayward life and lost, was now ready to come to the Lord and humble himself before Jesus.]

Message          Replacing Adam Project with Noah Project        Rev. John Song
Part 2) “The Ark”

The 3-part Sermon Series on Replacing Adam Project with Noah Project: : Part 1) “The Flood”, Part 2) “The Ark”, Part 3) “The New World”, is an attempt to look at Noah’s story to see if there is a message of hope and the pathway out of our current human predicaments. In Noah’s story of The Flood, God regrets ever having created humans and sees His original creative Adam Project as a failure. God chooses Noah who is found to be the only “righteous man” among humans and decides to start all over with the Noah Project. It’s like the artist who shreds all unsuccessful drafts and retains only the one that approximates His original intention. The Noah Project represents a readjustment of human’s relations with God and the world.  It is God’s hope that Noah will neutralize the primal curse of Adam.

In Part 2) “The Ark”, Pastor John will explore Noah’s experience of being shut in the darkness of the ark for 12 months before God commended him to “Come out the ark.” (He will explain why the duration inside of the ark was 12 months and not 40 days as most people believe.) Pastor John will share his own personal journey of darkness that culminated in the mystical white-light experience of union with God. He shares what he learned from that profound spiritual experience.

Psalm 142 (The Message)
David Prays for Deliverance in the Cave

I cry out loudly to God,
    loudly I plead with God for mercy.
I spill out all my complaints before him,
    and spell out my troubles in detail:
 “As I sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away,
    you know how I’m feeling,
I’m up against the wall, with no exit—
    it’s just me, all alone.
I cry out to God:
    ‘You’re my last chance, my only hope for life!’
Oh listen, please listen;
    I’ve never been this low.
Get me out of this prison!

Gary Larson “Far Side”

Gary Larson “Far Side”

You are invited to the in-person Worship on January 15 at 10 am. The bulletin for this Sunday is available for viewing HERE. 

You can worship live on ZOOM by clicking the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9658816441 or Meeting ID: 965 881 6441

You can also watch Sunday services at your convenience by going to our website “watsonville1stumc.org” and click YouTube or Facebook. Each Sunday worship will be uploaded on Sunday afternoon for your viewing.

Third Sunday of Epiphany
Sunday, January 15, 2023, 10 am

Children’s Time    “The Flood and The Noah’s Ark”      Pastor John
Children will learn the story of The Flood and the Noah’s Ark.
In addition they will learn to sing Noah’s song, Rise and Shine.

Choir Anthem       God Hath Not Promised
Music: Alfred B. Smith, Words: Annie Johnson Flint

Message: Replacing Adam Project with Noah Project: Part 1) “The Flood” by Rev. John Song

This Sunday begins the 3-part Sermon Series on Replacing Adam Project with Noah Project: Part 1) “The Flood”, Part 2) “The Ark”, Part 3) “The New World”. I was inspired by Dr. Haley’s message on “The Flood” from Noah’s story last Sunday. I watched on YouTube on our church website. (Our weekly worship is posted on the front page of our website under “YouTube”.)

The total rainfall in California over the past few weeks has been seven times its average level, according to federal officials. It feels like we are living through Noah’s story of the flood that lasted “40 days and 40 nights” that destroyed all living things, save the Noah’s Ark. As we are all going through these unprecedented, unrelenting rain storms, I am wondering if this might not be an anomaly but a new norm. Effects of climate change and global warming are upon us in a way that leaves us feeling uneasy, anxious, helpless and hopeless about our unknown collective future.

The 3-part Sermon Series on Replacing Adam Project with Noah Project is an attempt to look at Noah’s story to see if there is a message of hope and the pathway out of our current predicaments. In Noah’s story of The Flood, God regrets ever having created humans and sees His original creative Adam Project as a failure. God chooses Noah who is found to be the only “righteous man” among humans and decides to start all over with the Noah Project. It’s like the artist who shreds all unsuccessful drafts and retains only the one that approximates His original intention. The Noah Project represents a readjustment of human’s relations with the world.  It is God’s hope that Noah will neutralize the primal curse of Adam.

Gary Larson “Far Side”

All Things Pertaining to Christian Faith and Life
Conversation with the Pastor

What is this study about? 
This is a 30-minute discussion group that meets each Sunday to have a lively conversation with the pastor on All Things Pertaining to Christian Faith and Life. This is a deep dive into the pastor’s core theological and spiritual foundation that informs his ministry and life.

Pastor John writes, “I don’t expect you to agree with everything I believe in. Instead, I encourage you to think for yourself and reflect deeply in these areas of Christian life. It is my hope that our conversation will lead to developing and forming your own living faith that will guide your life.”

When and Where?
It begins Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, 11:30 am – 12 pm, St. Stephen’s room. This will be repeated until the course is over.

What will we discuss?
Everything and anything that pertains to life of faith. You are encouraged to ask questions and share your thoughts as we cover various topics. At the first meeting you’ll receive a study companion that addresses following topics:

• Spiritual Journey         
• Daily Mantra                
• Nine Permissions                     
• The Trinity                                                                    
• Jesus Christ                                                                  
• The Bible                                                                       
• Wesleyan Heritage                                                       
• Radical Inclusive Love of God 
• Beloved Community    
• Nonviolent Communication               
• Sacred Activism                                                           
• Interfaith Dialogue                                                      
• Fidelity to Truth and Reality                                      
• Jesus as the Template for Transformation
• Calling                                                                           
• The Goal of Christian Life
• Benevolent Universe    

Do I have to show up to every class?
No. This is for you for your own enrichment and edification. So, attend as much or as little as you want.

How do I sign-up?
Call or email the church office so we can print out the study companion that you will need for the discussion group.Email: [email protected]|Phone: (831) 724-4434

You are invited to the in-person Worship on January 8 at 10 am. The bulletin for this Sunday is available for viewing HERE. 

You can worship live on ZOOM by clicking the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9658816441 or Meeting ID: 965 881 6441

You can also watch Sunday services at your convenience by going to our website “watsonville1stumc.org” and click YouTube or Facebook. Each Sunday worship will be uploaded on Sunday afternoon for your viewing.

Second Sunday After the Epiphany 
Sunday, January 8, 2023, 10 am 

This Sunday is In-Person Lego Sunday! 
First, children will be in worship. Following the Special Music,
our Sunday School teacher, Joan Culbertson, will lead our children to the Nursery Room.

Children’s Time   “A Lesson from the Magi”        Dr. Haley Feuerbacher 

What did the Magi risk and might have feared when they followed the star and what gave them hope? How does God show up in unexpected places?  What we can expect is that God shows up in all the spaces that are life-giving, joyful, loving, and just, and we are called to follow that truth. We will ask each other what brave thing we want to do, knowing that God is with us every step of the way? What is the star that is beckoning us to follow?

Special Music                            St. Ita’s Vision                             Dr. Emily Sinclair, Soprano 

[Dr. Emily Sinclair, soprano, has performed in opera and concert across the United States, including at the Caramoor Festival, Central City Opera, and Opera Colorado. In the Bay Area, Emily has performed with the San Francisco Choral Society, West Bay Opera, and most recently as the soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with Cantare Chorale in Walnut Creek. Emily received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, and holds additional degrees from Northwestern University, Manhattan School of Music and Yale University. 

In Santa Cruz, she conducts Fiat Musica and the Temple Beth El choir, and teaches voice and vocal repertoire at the University of California, Santa Cruz.  Upcoming performances include the MAH Common Ground Festival and Santa Cruz Chamber Players.]

Message                      “Floods, Birds, and Stars”                  Dr. Haley Feuerbacher

[Dr. Haley Feuerbacher is a storyteller, creator, adventurer, facilitator, spiritual activist, and theologian. She attended Vanderbilt Divinity School and Brite Divinity School for her Master’s in Theological Studies and completed her Ph.D. at Southern Methodist University in Religion and Culture and Women’s and Gender Studies. A recent transplant to California from Texas, Haley was a faculty member at SMU and The Seattle School for Theology & Psychology and served for several years as a youth minister and then as campus minister for a United Methodist Reconciling college ministry. Passionate about the power of joy and compassion for personal and systemic transformation, Haley is currently the founder and executive director of the Center for Courageous Compassion, which is creating a movement of fierce survivor-centeredness and transformation of trauma in which our helpers, caregivers, activists, leaders, and ministers engage in courageously compassionate work, life, and being that yields sustainable joy and resists systems and patterns that lead to vicarious trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Haley is also a running coach, yoga facilitator, surfing and outdoor enthusiast, partner to SB and mother to son Christian.]

What does the story of the flood have to do with the Magi and the new year? In this message, we will talk about answering the call to a wild journey and how connecting the God who is with us gives us the wisdom and courage to take risks and let go of what we know in order to follow what will grow.

Themes: Courage, following God into the unknown, God doing a new thing, letting go of or leaving what is not life-giving, God with us/God made flesh, the scandal of leaving dogma and power and privilege and comfort for the sake of life and liberation – even when the world does not understand or follow suit.

“Enter through the narrow gate,
for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction,
and there are many who take it.
For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life,
and there are few who find it.” 
~ Matthew 7:13-14