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Watsonville First United Methodist Church

Watsonville, CA

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Ash & Dash

February 5, 2021

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:1

Missing in-person worship?  Missing us?  Missing Communion together in the same room, and now Ash Wednesday?  We’ve got you covered!  We are working out the details to offer you “Ash and Dash” – a COVID safe, drive through option for our church members, friends and neighbors who love Ash Wednesday like we do, and want to start out Lent with a bang.  Wear a mask and stay in your car, and we’ll do the rest, with genuine ashes burned from last year’s palms, and a Lenten take away bag to begin your Lenten journey. 

We miss you too, and let’s do something positive about it!

Here’s why.  What Barbara Streisand sang is true, that, “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world….”  Children instinctively know it, and we should remember it, too.  We need each other, and how.  Even in a pandemic; especially in a pandemic.  That’s what relationships are all about!  As Jesus says, “Children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.”  (Mark 10:15)  Oh, to have the perspective of a kid again.  We could learn a lot.     

In answer to the question, “When was our nation founded?”  One little boy wrote: “I didn’t even know it was losted!”  (James W. Moore)  Asked to describe the famous painting of Whistler’s mother, one student explained: “It shows a nice little lady sitting in a chair, waiting for the repairman to bring back her TV set!”  And then how about these interesting answers: “A horse divided against itself can’t stand”!  Or this one: “The death of Thomas Jefferson was a big turning point in his life!”

But here is my favorite: A little girl was asked to define the word “People,” and this is what she wrote: “People are composed of girls and boys and men and women.  Girls are nice.  Boys are no good until they are grown up and married.  My mother is a woman, which is a grown-up girl with children.  My father is so nice that I think he must have been a girl when he was a boy!”

Can I get an amen?!

People need people.  I need you and we need each other, at least, that’s one of the many reasons I belong to this church.  How appropriate that Ash Wednesday this February 17 marks the first step in our 40 day (plus Sundays) spiritual walk to Easter.  The question is, where do we find hope?  It’s all about strong, healthy relationships, beginning with Jesus of course, and on from there.  Believers like us know that being a Christian is a group effort. 

The forty plus days called Lent have changed over the centuries.  Traditionally, the experts tell us that Lent began as a time of purification and preparation.  Most people figure it’s a time to give something up and feel miserable, but we United Methodists don’t approach it quite that way.  Surprisingly, the word “Lent” originally meant “springtime,” and if you think about it, that implies a whole heap of possibilities: new perspectives, opportunities for growth, even change.  All good!

The only question is how to get there!  Won’t you join us in the journey? 

Shalom,

Pastora Robin

Tagged With: Ash Wednesday, church, Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Watsonville, sunday worship, Watsonville, watsonville first united methodist church, Worship

Join Partners in Caring on Feb 10!

February 2, 2021

Partners in Caring Virtual Gathering
Life Review – Reflecting and Making Meaning at End of Life
Wednesday, February 10, 12:00 – 1:00pm 
Register Here
Life review is an important part of bringing one’s life to a close and a core aspect of spiritual care. Join us as we explore how faith leaders play a valuable role in this process.
Neil Vargas-Gladen, Lead Spiritual Care Counselor at Hospice of Santa Cruz County, will discuss how he uses life review and legacy in his work and will share tools for helping individuals at end of life to reflect and recognize the value and meaning of their experiences. The presentation will be followed by peer-to-peer discussion groups.
Please share this invitation with others who may be interested in attending including: clergy, lay leaders, and anyone who ministers to the aging or those with serious illness.
Warmly, 
Vanessa Silverstein
Education and Outreach Coordinator

Tagged With: 2021, church, community of watsonville, Hospice, Partners in Caring, Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Watsonville, Watsonville, watsonville first united methodist church

My 2021 Pledge Survey // Encuesta de Mi Promesa Financiera de 2021

November 20, 2020

You can now submit your 2021 pledge online! Simply complete our survey using the following link, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RP2VZH2.
 
¡Ahora puede hacer su promesa financiera de 2021 en línea! Simplemente complete nuestra encuesta utilizando el siguiente enlace, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RP2VZH2

Tagged With: 2021, church, pledge 2021, pledge survey, Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Watsonville, promesa financiera 2021, support your church, Watsonville, watsonville first united methodist church

Virtual National Night Out Today!

October 6, 2020

Today is our Virtual National Night Out event! Please join us!

Starting at 3:00 pm all videos will be available on the City of Watsonville – City Gov’t, Watsonville Fire Department, Watsonville Police Activities League (PAL) and Watsonville Police Department Facebook pages! 

You’ll also have the opportunity to enter a raffle by participating in a short trivia quiz following the videos. The winner will be announced during a Facebook Live on Watsonville Police Department’s page on Friday, October 9th at 4:00 pm

Trivia Rules:

1. Must be a resident within the city of Watsonville limits.

2. 1 Submission per person in the household.

3. Must watch all safety videos.

4. Must answer all the questions in order to qualify.

Tagged With: 2020, Community, community of watsonville, community outreach, National Night Out, national night out 2020, Public announcement, Watsonville, watsonville first united methodist church, Watsonville Police Department

¡Noche Nacional de Salir 2020 Ahora es Virtual!

October 1, 2020

A pesar de los muchos desafíos y obstáculos que todos hemos enfrentado este año, ¡todavía encontramos una manera de traer el evento a usted!
 
Únase a nosotros el martes, 6 de octubre para una serie de videos de seguridad pública presentados por la Policía de Watsonville (WPD) y el Departamento de Bomberos.
 
WPD le presentará su unidad de perros policía y cómo entrena para dar con los delincuentes, cómo la tecnología avanzada se utiliza para mantener a los oficiales seguros durante algunas de las situaciones más peligrosas y lo que los peatones y conductores deben saber.
 
También los llevaremos en un recorrido exclusivo de la estación 1 del Departamento de Bomberos de Watsonville y le daremos un vistazo a uno de los camiones más grandes de toda la ciudad. Los videos comenzarán a las 3pm y se publicarán cada media hora hasta las 6pm. Tendrán acceso a los videos en la página de Facebook de la Ciudad de Watsonville, el Departamento de Policía de Watsonville, el Departamento de Bomberos de Watsonville y Watsonville PAL.
 
También tendrá la oportunidad de participar en un sorteo, en el que tendrá que llenar un breve cuestionario de trivia después de los videos. El ganador será anunciado durante un Facebook Live en la página del Departamento de Policía de Watsonville el viernes 9 de octubre a las 4 p.m.
 
Reglas de Trivia:
1. Debe ser un residente dentro de los límites de la ciudad de Watsonville.
2. Solamente una (1) entrada de rifa por hogar.
3. Debe ver todos los vídeos de seguridad.
4. Debe responder a todas las preguntas para calificar.
 

Tagged With: Community, community outreach, National Night Out, Noche Nacional de Salir, Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Watsonville, Watsonville, watsonville first united methodist church

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