Change the World Weekend // Fin de Semana para Cambiar el Mundo
“Oh, God, here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service! I’m ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of God. I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do, and I’ll do it in company with his people….” Psalm 116:13-18, The Message
Jesus taught us to serve. Serve your neighbor, change the world. It’s that simple. Ask yourself: Are you more interested in being served in church, or are you more interested in becoming a servant in the church? There’s a big difference.
I heard a story once about a group of young children, who were sitting in a circle with their teacher. She was going around asking each of them questions.
“Davy, what noise does a cow make?” He said, “It goes moo.” “Alice, what noise does a cat make?” “It goes meow,” she answered. “Jamie, what sound does a lamb make?” “It goes baa,” he said. “Jennifer, what sound does a mouse make?” Without hesitation she answered, “It goes click!”
And she’s right; that’s what a computer mouse does. That little girl is dealing with change, and she doesn’t even know it. Here at Watsonville First United Methodist church, we strive to face change head on. We look for opportunities to share our ministry with strangers, whatever it takes. We want to become servants of God in new ways.
This year, the hands of thousands across our nation will join together in service during Change the World weekend, May 17-18. And we will, too!
Many women do not have swaddling clothes with which to welcome their child into the world. Distributed by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR,) Layette kits provide basic supplies for their baby’s needs. This year for Change the World Weekend, we are collecting the supplies needed for UMCOR Layette kits. This is a great opportunity for us to work together to help those in need. Are you ready to change the world?
For more details regarding the Layette kits we’ll be assembling, or to sew a Layette nightgown, call the church office for more details or find it online. We will collect the necessary supplies and then assemble the kits for UMCOR on Sunday, May 18th, and continue to collect supplies thereafter!
Color Eggs for Easter // Coloriando Huevos de Pascua
Saturday, April 19th at 2:00 pm
Children and Youth are invited to the Church to color Easter eggs.
We will have an Easter egg hunt for the children after worship at 10 am on Sunday, April 20, 2014.
Sábado 19 de abril a las 2:00 de la tarde
Niños y jóvenes están invitados a la Iglesia para colorear huevos de pascua.
Tendremos una búsqueda de huevos de Pascua para los niños después de servicio de adoración 10:00 de la mañana, domingo 20 de abril, 2014.
Special Event 2014 // Evento Especial 2014
AR and Fred Pointer: 2014 Hunger Fighters of the Year!
“… for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me….” Matthew 25:35
AR and Fred Pointer, longtime leaders of Watsonville First United Methodist Church, have been chosen by Second Harvest Food Bank as 2014 Hunger Fighters of the year. Congratulations! AR and Fred have been passionate about fighting hunger for as long as I have known them. They spearhead the efforts of our church to support hungry people in every way we can.
As members of the Advisory Committee of the South County Winter Shelter Program, AR and Fred have been active participants in the weekly winter meal program provided by the City of Watsonville through the Salvation Army. They set up and maintain our yearly schedule, obtain food, organize the food storage area, pantry and kitchen, and coordinate volunteer teams of cooks and helpers from our church, as well as from other organizations in our community, to cook and serve meals every Saturday night. Wow!
AR & Fred have also volunteered directly at Second Harvest for years. They have been instrumental in getting the Food For Children program into our neighborhood, where we provide Second Harvest food and fresh produce in our back parking lot on the first Thursday of the month for up to 80 families. They meet with the families, obtain necessary paperwork and identification, and then help individuals carry the food to their cars.
AR and Fred Pointer have dedicated themselves to helping those in need, especially the hungry and the homeless. Working with Second Harvest Food Bank, they inspire our church and community to become the hunger fighters God calls us to be.
Truly, AR & Fred Pointer have been instrumental in making our mission to serve others a reality! What a blessing. I hope you’ll consider attending their awards dinner in Santa Cruz on Wednesday, March 12, 2014. Call the church office for more details, or online.