You are invited to the Worship Service on August 18th 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 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.
Ordinary Time
Sunday, August 18, 2024, 10 am
Today is Sunday School with Joan!
First, children will be in worship. Following the Special Music,
the teacher, Joan Culbertson, will lead our children to the Nursery Room.
Lay Servant Ministry Sandra Hardin, Conference Lay Servant Ministries Coordinator
[The certified lay servant serves the local church or charge (or beyond the local church or charge) in ways in which his or her witness, leadership, and service inspires others to a deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship.]
Special Music Rolling Home Joan & Bob Culbertson, Duet
Words & music 1987, by British Folksinger John Tams
This song is from the repertoire of the Santa Cruz Peace Chorale
which Bob & Joan sang with for many years!
Message: “I Was A Stranger and You Welcomed Me”
Guest Preacher: Aton Abril, El Camino Real District Lay Leader
Leviticus 19:33-34
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Born Aton Larry Paul Gutierrez in rural East Texas, Aton Abril (who will discuss his name change during his message) grew up in a challenging environment. Raised by his deeply spiritual grandmother in the African American United Methodist Church, Aton became actively involved in his church from a young age. By 15, he was leading young adult groups, serving as an usher, singing in the choir, and participating in the nominations committee and church council.
Aton excelled academically and attended Stanford University, where he majored in Management Science and Engineering with a concentration in Technology, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship. After college, he pursued a career in technology support and is currently a Manager at Accenture, specializing in implementing Workday Human Resource software for global companies.
Aton is a dedicated member of Wesley United Methodist Church in San Jose. He has served on various committees and founded the Com(e)Passion ministry, which aims to improve the lives of those in the surrounding community while fostering spiritual growth beyond the church walls. It was at Wesley that Aton met his wife, Clarissa Johnston-Abril, whose mother, Lori, is a United Methodist pastor. Clarissa, a second-year principal in the Alum Rock School District, and Aton recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary.
In October 2023, Aton was appointed as the District Lay Leader for El Camino Real. In this role, he emphasizes the “Empowerment of the Laity” and established El Camino’s Board of Laity to unite and strengthen the laity’s involvement.
“Increasing fragmentation and ‘othering’ of groups of people
are huge problems that require our attention.”
~ John Song
“There’s a space that goes beyond separation.
And there’s a home for separation to melt.”
~ Thomas Hübl
“Love thy neighbor as yourself.”
~ Mark 12:31
