You are invited to the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany with Holy Communion on February 1, 2026 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.
Fifth Sunday of Epiphany
with Holy Communion
Sunday, February 1, 2026, 10 am
Communion Presider: Rev. Steve Lundin, Retired Pastor of Salinas UMC
Choir Anthem
Come, Christians Join To Sing
Words: Christian Henry Bateman
Music: Traditional Melody, Incorporating “When Morning Gilds The Sky”
Message
“People of Word, Table, and Justice”
Aton Abril, the Lay Leader of the El Camino Real District
The Message will be a Methodist response to God’s call for Justice highlighting the words of The Great Thanksgiving (UM Hymnal p 9):
preach good news to the poor
proclaim release to the captives
recovering of sight to the blind
set at liberty those who are oppressed
healed the sick
feed the hungry
eat with sinners
Aton Larry Paul Gutierrez was born 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.
