Please join us for in-person worship this Sunday, December 26 at 10:00 am! The bulletin for this Sunday is available for viewing HERE.
*[Our 10 am in-person Sunday worship in the Sanctuary requires masks for all. Please continue to practice 6 feet physical distancing whenever possible.]
First Sunday After Christmas ~ Sunday, December 26, 2021, 10 am
Special Music: Children & Youth Piano Recital
Elizabeth R., Isaiah G., Allyson S., & Febe A.
Carmelita Abenoja recalls the last time she preached at our church was 23 years ago. So here is an opportunity to hear her rare Message “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” this Sunday after 23 years of more life experience and gleaning wisdom from it. She retired 6 years ago from a high-pressured job as the Administrative Assistant at the California Highway Patrol. She recalls the volume of paperwork that she dealt with every day was staggering.
In her own words: I was a Methodist even before I was born. From my home church in the Philippines, I was nurtured and given all opportunities to be involved and participate in church work and get elected to district and conference positions in the UM Youth organization while finishing a degree at a church-related school, Wesleyan University-Philippines. Taught college briefly but left the academy for the opportunity to travel as a Field Executive for the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
The wanderlust didn’t last long. Church related work beacons me when I was asked to work with an American missionary, head of the Board of Missions at the United Methodist Headquarters in Manila. I was given the privilege working in a place where three Bishops held offices during their term in office. (Not very many had that honor.)
While working there I took classes at the Union Theological Seminary hoping to finish a sacred music degree. But marriage & family was foremost. I was actively involved in the local church where we resided until my family and I immigrated to the US and became members of the Freedom UMC. I became involved in the church. “Wearing many hats” and volunteering as organist and music director, in between my government job until the church merged with Watsonville First UMC. And the rest is history.
Message: “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” Carmelita Abenoja
