You are invited to in-person worship this Sunday, September 25 at 10 am. *Masks are optional. The bulletin for this Sunday is available for viewing HERE. You can also worship online by going to our website “watsonville1stumc.org” and click YouTube or Facebook. It will be uploaded on Sunday afternoon for your viewing.

Season of Ordinary Time 
Sunday, September 25, 2022, 10 am

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

Children’s Time: “Being Happy with What You Got” by Pastor John

Choir Anthem: Sing to the Lord a New Song  (Psalm 98)

Message: “What Is the Price of Self-Abandonment?” by Rev. John Song

The unfolding of one self is as beautiful, unique, and unrepeatable as a snowflake. It is something truly magnificent and a treasure to behold. But early on in our childhood we have learned to abandon ourselves to get approval, procure love, and to survive. The cost has been immense, not only to ourselves, but to those we claim to love.

I will be sharing my personal journey of coming to terms with a personal struggle with self-abandonment that was costly to myself, people I love, and ultimately to my God. I believe when we are drawn in and commit to honoring ourselves, we can thrive as we receive and embrace the fullness and joy of living our true lives. This is about opening our lives and turning towards the Self (God). This is about aligning ourselves to our souls and being a healing and loving force for God in the world.

“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground,
And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and the man became a living being.”
~ Genesis 2:7

“My deepest me is God!”
~ St. Catherine of Genoa (1447–1510)

“When you say ‘Yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘No’ to yourself.”
~ Paolo Coelho

“When you show up not being true to yourself,
you are harming us and the world.”
~ Rumi

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Come out and meet your neighbors and Watsonville Police Officers. You will also get to meet and talk with your local Council Members. There will be free food and drinks and plenty of entertainment for kids and adults. You won’t want to miss this!

You are invited to in-person worship this Sunday, September 18 at 10 am. Don’t miss out on a special treat this Sunday from our guest preacher, Rev. Clyde Vaughn and Ms. Emily Sinclair who will offer us special music. See details below.

*Masks are optional. The bulletin for this Sunday is available for viewing HERE. You can also worship online by going to our website “watsonville1stumc.org” and click YouTube or Facebook. It will be uploaded on Sunday afternoon for your viewing.

Season of Ordinary Time
Sunday, September 18, 2022, 10 am

Special Music: Liebst du um Schönheit by Clara Schumann, Emily Sinclair, soprano

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                         “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up”              Rev. Clyde Vaughn

Rev. Clyde Vaughn is a (semi-) retired minister, currently serving part time at the Boulder Creek UMC. He is known to most of the Watsonville UMC as he has been a frequent visitor over the years. Married to Sheila they have lived in Aptos for almost 30 years. Clyde is an active Board member of the Santa Cruz Symphony League, a fund-raising organization that supports the Santa Cruz Symphony. Children and grandchildren keep both Clyde & Sheila quite (happily) busy.

Mark 10:13-16
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13 People were bringing children to him in order that he might touch them, and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” ~ Angela Schwindt, homeschooling mom States

Please join us for our 170th Anniversary Celebration!

RSVP your lunch by Friday, October 7, 2022. Kindly fill out your responses HERE

You are invited to in-person worship this Sunday, September 11 at 10 am. *Masks are optional. The bulletin for this Sunday is available for viewing HERE. You can also worship online by going to our website “watsonville1stumc.org” and click YouTube or Facebook. It will be uploaded on Sunday afternoon for your viewing.

Season of Ordinary Time
Sunday, September 11, 2022, 10 am

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

Children’s Time: “How Jesus Sees Us” by Pastor John

Choir Anthem: Look for the Beautiful

Matthew 13:44-45
Buried Treasure Hidden in a Field
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and
reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

Pearl of Great Price
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;
46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Message                             Entering the Word of Icons                     Rev. John Song
Part 7: “The Christ of Sinai”

We are reaching the end of the sermon series of “Entering the Word of Icons”. I admire your dedication of showing up each Sunday during the icon tour to deepen your understanding and appreciation of each of these beautiful icons that informs our Christian faith.

This Sunday we will be learning about the Christ of Sinai icon. This icon is considered one of the oldest Byzantine religious icons and is the earliest known work. It is painted on a wood panel dating back to the 6th century from St. Catherine’s Monastery located in Sinai, Egypt. We are created in the image of God. Along the way our images got distorted. This icon, I believe, is the key to restoring our original image.

“All of us who are human beings are in the image of God. But to be in God’s likeness
belongs only to those who by great love have attached their freedom to God.”
~ Diadochus of Photike

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
~ Marcel Proust, the 20^th century French novelist

“Our deepest fears are the dragons that guard our greatest treasures.”
~ inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke