Watsonville First United Methodist Church

Watsonville, CA

Blessing of the Animals Online Gathering

It’s time for the Blessing of the Animals Online Gathering, premiering on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 at 10:00 am, and available thereafter, on our Facebook and YouTube pages. I love this service and hope you do, too. It’s clear our task is to project and care for the animals–even the wild ones. Or to put it another way, we all have a place in the choir–or congregation! If you have a pet and want to join along, please do. We are also offering free “Certificates of Blessing” for those who are able to bless their animals with us. Just let us know the details of your animal–name and date you join in. 

I leave you with this blessing:

“God, the Divine Eagle, is strong enough to care for you and me. The mighty Creator of this vast universe has wings strong enough to save you – from your fears, from your present trouble, from your weakness, from yourself, and from your sins.

All of us have sins which enslave us, that hold us captive in weakness. But this God, who majors in strength, bursts asunder the chains of our bondage. So strong are the wings of our Eagle-God that even [God’s] name carries deliverance for us.”

I pray you are delivered by the Holy One. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Peace,
Pastora Robin

I Will Not Let You Go! w/Communion Online Gathering

It’s time for communion and another Watsonville First Online Gathering on YouTube and Facebook, linked at this website. This week we’re focusing on Jacob wrestling through the night in Genesis 32:22-31, with the theme: “I Will Not Let You Go!” We’ve also got new special guests and surprises in store. Be sure to get your bread and juice ready–or whatever food you have at hand, so you can join in.

As the words for communion so aptly put it: “Among the living you made and called humankind imprinting upon us your image, to be bearers of your glory in the world.  Though we failed to shine, and hid your image within us, you continued to call us into fellowship with you and to fulfill your mission for us through prophets, scriptures, priests, and a people you redeemed for yourself.”
  
What are you wrestling with this week?  God’s calling!  How will we answer?  Let’s worship God together in the name of Jesus Christ! 

A Compass & Native American Ministries Sunday Online Gathering

Dear Ones:

We are excited to update you on our latest Online Gathering, slated to premiere this Sunday, April 26, at 10:00 am.  See the links on this website for easy access.  But I have a question first.  Do you have a compass? 

You know, one of those little dealies you might have used as a Boy or Girl Scout, to find your way around in the woods? 

These days, most of us don’t have an actual compass sitting around the house.  But there are plenty of ’em in the App store of your smartphone.  They’re free and easy to use, and they help us figure out the 4 directions: North, East, South and West.  

HINT: If you’d like to join me this Sunday, please use your compass to determine the directions at your home before we start.  There’s a special blessing in store for you, and you’ll be able to join right in.  

I’m also thinking maybe we need to make better use of our spiritual compass, too.   United Methodist Pastor Charley Reeb puts it this way: “A compass always points to magnetic north to help us travel in the right direction. The good news is Jesus gave us “true north” in his teachings. When we are lost and confused all we have to do is remember Jesus’ most important lesson and we can get on the right path again.”  That sounds good to me!

This week in our Online Gathering we celebrate Native American Ministries, one of the special offerings taken in United Methodist Churches to benefit Native people and their communities within our denomination.   But that’s not all.  My Native American friend Derrick Rainbow will be sharing a special prayer with us, too.  Plus, there’s beautiful music and messages brought to you by our Worship Team.  It’s definitely a group effort, and we hope you’ll come.  Can’t make it Sunday?  That’s okay too, as our Online Gatherings are posted on Facebook and YouTube, giving you plenty of time to find us.   See you soon!

Peace,

Pastora Robin

“It is time for humanity to reset our spiritual compass from self-centeredness to other-centeredness.” Bernice King

 

 

The Celebration Continues! Join us for our Earth Day Sunday Online Gathering

Dear Ones:

Writer Robert Frost once said, “The people I am most afraid of are the people who are scared.”  We know what happens when people act from a place of fear.  Just look at the world today—it’s scary!  Admittedly, there’s more than enough to be afraid of.  In a pandemic, anything can happen.  

The question is, how do we cope?  How can we keep on going when so many things we’ve always relied on seem to be falling apart before our very eyes?  To put it another way, how can believers like us face our fears?  How can we move towards peace and healing even in times like this?  And where oh where is our courage? 

That of course is where God comes in.  Whatever way you want to describe it—a Higher Power, Creator of the Universe, mysterious and Almighty Yahweh, or Holy Spirit—we believers know that the buck doesn’t stop with us.  We know deep in our hearts where we belong, and that is together.   That’s the only way I know to face our fears.

And you know what else?  Even now, we trust that God is here.  

This Sunday, our celebration continues!  Join us for our Earth Day Sunday Online Gathering on April 19th, premiering at 10:00 am.  You won’t want to miss it.  As always, it can be viewed later on our Facebook or YouTube pages–just search the name of the church: Watsonville First United Methodist.  To make it easier to find, just go to our website.  One click and you’re there!  

Plus, there’s one more “first” for us.  Our talented website developer has added a “Donate” button to our website.  When it’s time to give your tithes and offerings, we’re here to help.  Check it out online at our church website, below.  And see you soon!

Yours in Christ,

Pastora Robin