Watsonville First United Methodist Church

Watsonville, CA

Online Gathering featuring Documentary Film “P.A.N.D.A. No, Not the Bear”

For 2nd Lent we’re hosting documentary film producers and Cinematic Arts & Technology Dept. graduates of Cal. State Univ. Monterey Bay, Nathan Morris and our own Antonio Pantaleón, who collaborated to produce “P.A.N.D.A.S. No, Not the Bear.” Nathan will talk to us about his faith and how it sustains him, and we’ll watch their film together on our YouTube and Facebook pages Feb. 28, 2021 premiering at 10:00 am, and available anytime thereafter. See you there!

Working on final media projects in the “Cave” at the library (left to right)) Eros G. Molina, third year junior, Cinema Arts & Technology Major; Nathan Morris, third year junior [at the time,] Cinema Arts & Technology Major; Jerardo Herrera, fourth year senior, Cinema Arts & Technology Major. Photo by Yollette Merritt.

Day 5, December 5, 2020 . . . An Advent of Hope

Christmas, 1962

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  ~~~ Luke 2:15-16, New International Version

When I was young, we lived in several parts of the country.  Most holidays would be marked with a family gathering and shared meal.  Whatever relatives were nearby and available were part of those events, and the role of host home was rotated among all.

But Christmas was different. Christmas morning was a time for my sister and I to be with our parents.  We’d play Christmas carols on the record player, stay in our pajamas most of the morning, try out new toys, and enjoy the sparkly “icicles” and lights on the tree.  Later, dinner would be a special meal prepared by both Mom and Dad.  Regardless of where we were living at the time, the time together made it special.

As in the original Christmas story, when Mary and Joseph celebrated the birth of Jesus in their makeshift home, the specific location of the home was less important than being together.

Prayer for Advent Hope (Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.):  Help me to sit quietly in hope, and to close my eyes to create space to entrust myself to you, O God.  Amen.

Wanda G., Morgan Hill United Methodist Church

 

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

Peace with Justice Online Gathering with Chief David Honda

Dear Ones:

Chief Honda kneeling at protests in Watsonville, CA.

We are celebrating “Peace with Justice,” Sunday for our Online Gathering on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. It’s a timely subject. I say, let’s get real with our faith.

My message includes an exclusive interview with David Honda, Chief of the Watsonville Police Department.

We talk about the tragic death of George Floyd, police violence, peaceful protests vs. looting, defunding the police, taking a knee and more.

I hope you’ll join us.

Yours in Christ,
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