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

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

 

 

Second Harvest Food Giveaway Food for Families

Dear Ones:

Our church is part of an ongoing program where we normally distribute fresh food for families on the first Thursday of each month, in partnership with our local Second Harvest Food Bank.  (AR & Fred Pointer oversee this program for us!)  

However, back on April 2, the 35 families waiting in our back parking lot that day got nothing, because the food bank ran out of food!  To remedy this, Second Harvest has agreed to provide us with 70 bags of fresh produce TODAY April 23 at our church, for pickup by families at 4:30 pm.  Our Watsonville NETworX Coordinators led by Angelica Martinez are leading the effort, and safe distancing protocols will be in place.  We’re asking folks to please patiently wait in line in the back parking lot inside your vehicle, and groceries will be put in your trunk until we run out. 

Please let anyone know who is experiencing food shortage or financial difficulties about this.  If they’re unable to make it, the Food Bank will also be giving out food at the fairgrounds tomorrow (Friday, April 24) beginning at 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, 2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville.  

Thank you for your consideration and help, and please keep us and our community in your prayers!   

Blessings,

Pastora Robin

 

 

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

 

We’re Almost Ready for Our Easter Online Gathering April 12

Dear Ones:

We’re almost ready for our Easter Online Gathering, featuring our talented worship team and musical guests!

But that’s not all. Over the past two days, we’ve given away 65 lilies to local church families plus our Watsonville NETworX families, along with over 440 plastic Easter eggs, candies, and the written story of Easter for kids in English and Spanish, for those with children in the home.

This was one special Holy Saturday I can tell you!

Premiering at 10:00 am, all of our Sunday morning Online Gatherings can also be viewed later on our Facebook Page or YouTube. To make it easier to find them, both our Facebook and YouTube pages are now linked to this website! One click and you’re there. 

I can barely wait! See you then.

Yours in Christ,

Pastora Robin