The Newsletter of First United Methodist Church of Pasadena
The Messenger
A Very Musical May
Spring has sprung, and our Music Department is in full bloom with several exciting musical opportunities this month:
Saturday, May 22, at 4:00 PM in the Sanctuary: Elijah
Our Chancel Choir will be joined by
Chorale Bel Canto and the Rio Hondo Chamber Singers (Linda Brown, director) to form a choir of over 100
voices to sing Felix Mendelssohn’s immortal masterpiece.
Many will recognize “He watching over Israel:”, “Cast
thy burden upon the Lord”, “If with all your hearts ye
truly seek me” - glorious music describing the dramatic
events in Elijah’s journey on earth. The musical event
of the decade. Tickets are on sale in the Church Office
or at Coffee Hour for $15. Buy now! At the door, all
tickets are $20 except for students and children ($5).
by Dr. Stephen Gothold
Director of Music
Ministries
Saturday, May 8, at 4:00 PM in the Sanctuary
David and Junko Garrett will present a program of works for cello and piano by Chopin and
Schumann, both of whom have bicentennial birthdays this year. David and Junko have been so generous with their remarkable talents - you won’t
want to miss this! Freewill offering will be received.
Sunday, May 9, Mother’s Day in Worship
The Children’s Music Program will present their
annual Mother’s Day musical in worship featuring the
Cherub Choir, Cantate/Alleluia Choirs and Handbells. The music is prepared by the music staff, and
Pam Marx wrote and will direct the production. Service music (Prelude, Offertory, Postlude) will be offered
by the Avenel Sextet (woodwind quintet and piano).
The group has appeared many times in our Chamber
Music series, but this will be the first time in worship.
Sunday, May 16, in Worship
The Marywood University Chamber Singers from Pennsylvania will be our service choir
as they are on tour in California. They will
sing anthem and responses in worship, and offer a brief program of sacred and secular pieces immediately following the organ postlude.
Saturday, June 5, at 4:00 PM in the Sanctuary:
Gala Concerto Concert
Four of our own talented musicians will play concertos accompanied by a professional orchestra:
Junko Garrett, piano, JS Bach: Concerto in D minor
David Garrett, cello, CPE Bach: Cello Concerto
in A major
Jeff Benedict, saxophone, Alexandre Glazunov:
Concerto for Saxophone in E flat
Cynthia Pearson, piano, Ernst Bloch: Concerto
Grosso for piano and strings
The concert is free, but will be followed by a special dinner prepared by Diane Garner, the proceeds of
which will benefit the Friends of Music Fund. The
dinner is $25 ($10 for children). Reservations are a
must! For reservations, call (626) 796-0157.
Volume 80 | Issue 7 | April 30, 2010
First United
Methodist Church
In this Issue
A Very Musical May
1
In Memoriam
2
Pasadena, CA 91101
Altar Art
3
Tel: (626) 796-0157
SpiritSeekers
4
Fax: (626) 568-1615
Seeking Asst. Wedding Director
5
office@fumcpasadena.org
Light from the Catacombs
6
www.fumcpasadena.org
Stewardship Message
7
500 E. Colorado Blvd.
About The
Messenger
The Messenger
is a biweekly
publication of
the First United
Methodist Church
of Pasadena,
California.
Material for The
Messenger should
be submitted
to dgarner@
fumcpasadena.org
no less than two
weeks before
publication.
Church Staff
Dr. Frank Trotter
In Memoriam
Eldon Osborn
Our prayers and Christian sympathy are extended to the family of Eldon Osborn
who entered life eternal on Tuesday, April 13, 2010. The memorial service will be held
in our sanctuary on Sunday, May 16, 2010, at 2:00 PM followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall.
Veta Campbell
Our prayers and Christian sympathy are also extended to the family of Veta Campbell who entered life eternal on Monday, April 19, 2010. The memorial service will be
held in our sanctuary on Friday, May 14, 2010, at 3:00 PM followed by a reception in
Fellowship Hall.
We pray that God will comfort these families during this time of loss.
Pasadena Methodist Foundation Scholarships
All new applicants and current recipients of academic scholarships from the
Pasadena Methodist Foundation must
apply annually for scholarship assistance.
The deadline each year is June 1 and we
will not be able to accept any applica-
tions for scholarships for the Fall 2010
school year after June 1, 2010. Please
pick up your initial/renewal application
in the Church Office and return it to
the Church Office no later than June 1,
2010.
senior pastor
Debbie Gara
associate pastor
Allison Mark
associate pastor
Dr. Stephen Gothold
director of music
ministries
Ae-Kyong Kim
organist
Timothy Sun
business manager
Diane Garner
office manager
Ruth MacPherson
librarian
Livingstone Zan
Announcing Vacation Bible School 2010
Galactic Blast: A Cosmic Adventure
Praising God!
July 26-30
3 year olds - 6th grade
Registration begins on June 13.
Want to be a part of the VBS team?
Contact Rev. Debbie Gara
minister of welcome &
sexton
Marcus Chone
maintenance staff
David Greenley
camp manager
Big Red Barrel
For the month of May, the Sunday School Big Red Barrel project invites you to donate:
Deodorant for both Men and Women
Big Red Barrel donations support FUMC’s Social Services Ministry. Donations may be
left in the red barrel by the Sunday School Office or the red box outside Fellowship Hall.
page 2
Altar Art in the Sunday Services
by Dr. Frank Trotter
I have begun to use various art
Parable of the Prodigal Son from
Senior Pastor
pieces on the altar during some of
Luke, Chapter 15. I happened to
our Sunday services as a way of providing a mention to Irmgard Frey that I was looking
focus to the theme of the sermon. Several of for some art that would fit the text – and she
you have asked about the various pieces so I told me she would be happy to loan me a
would like to provide you with some informa- wooden sculpture that she and Erich acquired
tion.
at the Polish Folk Art Store in Santa Fe, New
On February 28, the lesson was from Mexico. It is entitled “The Prodigal Son” and
Luke 13:31-35 – where Jesus says, “Oh, Jeru- the artist is Tadeusz Kacalak, a prominent folk
salem, how often have I desired to gather your artist, whose carvings are in private and muchildren together as a hen gathers her brood seum collections in many parts of the world.
under her wings, but you would not.” For All of his work is based on religious stories
this Sunday, I went on the Internet and typed and figures. For me, the way that the father is
in “mother hen sculpture.” A link to Amazon embracing the son is a sign of God’s uncondipopped up showing a metal sculpture featur- tional love for all of us.
ing a hen and four chicks (which you can buy
I won’t do this every Sunday, of course,
for $11.00 plus postage). If you would like to but I’m going to do it far more frequently. I
take a closer look at it, it’s in my office right hope that it will prove to be a way of inviting
now.
us into a deeper meditation on God’s word as
On Sunday, March 14, the lesson was the we worship together.
Sr. High
Youth Needs
a Car
If you are interested
in selling your gently
used, older car to a
FUMC family with
a Sr. High youth,
please contact Cheri
Ehrlich at (626) 6446012.
Children’s Camp at Sky Meadows
Jesus and Friends in the Mountains!
Twenty-one elementary chil- by Rev. Debbie Gara snow play and snowball makAssociate Pastor
ing, without having to deal with
dren and ten adults made it to Sky
Meadows March 20-21 for a weekend of all the challenges of snow covered roads,
joy and fun around the theme of friend- ground, and freezing temperatures!
Highlights of the weekend included:
ship as modeled and shared by Jesus. Our
a hike to the beautipreviously scheduled
ful “Chapel in the Sky”
January camp was
surrounded by the snow
“snowed out,” so it
felt like we had been
covered mountains and
waiting for this weekwarm sun; wonderful
end for a long time!
meals, thanks to meal
The waiting paid off
coordinator and chef,
well: we were the first
Diane Garner; focus
group to sleep on the
sessions with guided
new bunk beds recently installed in the small group time sharing about friendships
two lodges, Manzanita and Whispering in our lives as we remembered Jesus’ examPines, and we extend a huge thank you to ples and lessons of friendship in scriptures;
all who contributed towards the purchase worship under the Cathedral of the Oaks;
of the beds and participated in the instal- singing with Dan Gara; Easter crafts; and
lation. And, there was just enough snow a spontaneous talent show. But most of all,
left on the ground to have some good I know if you asked any child, or adult,
continued on page 4
page 3
Save the
Dates!
Memorial Day
Weekend Family
Camp ---May 28 to
May 31 --- at Camp
Sky Meadows.
Children’s Winter Camp
continued from page 3
the most important and meaningful thing
about church camp is the opportunity to
build relationship with one another and
make new and deeper friends. The extended period of time together (even just two
days) provides the opportunity to share experiences at a level that our limited church
experiences do not offer. We have a beautiful group of children at FUMC and they
did a wonderful job of embracing friendship and fun together. It was a blessed
weekend for all!
We look forward to many more camp
experiences! Thanks be to God!
More details to
follow.
Clockwise: The girls settling in; taking
a hike in the great out of doors; foot
washing during closing worship;
roasting marshmallows for s’mores; we
love the new bunk beds!
Aldersgate
Fellowship
Aldersgate
Fellowship will next
meet Friday,
June 11, at 12:30
PM in the
Church Lounge.
(The May 14
meeting has been
cancelled.)
page 4
Adult Sunday School: SpiritSeekers
“The Jesus I Never Knew” - Sundays, 9:00 AM in the Church Lounge
Philip Yancey’s study of Jesus began with a class he taught at LaSalle Street
Church in Chicago. The use of movies
about the life of Jesus, the discussion from
the class members, and his personal study
all combined to give him a new view of Jesus – hence the title of his bestselling book,
The Jesus I Never Knew.
Yet all along he had another goal in
mind: he wanted his quest for Jesus to
serve as a guide for other people. As Yancey himself wrote, “In the end, what does it
matter if a reader learns about ‘The Jesus
Philip Yancey Never Knew?’ What matters
infinitely more is for you to get to know
Jesus.”
Each week you will see several film depictions of Jesus, his life and his ministry.
Some will be funny, some will be profound,
and some will even be disturbing. After re-
acting to the film clips, you will turn to the
Gospel accounts of these same scenes and
discuss what you believe really happened.
Obviously, the filmmakers used their own
interpretations of what happened. The film
clips are there to help us think about Jesus
in a new way – to examine our own preconceived ideas in comparison with what the
Bible teaches.
For those of you who have been raised
in the church and have known Jesus all of
your lives, and for those who are meeting Jesus for the first time, Philip Yancey
challenges us to think about this man as
the Bible presents him – brilliant, creative,
challenging, fearless, compassionate, unpredictable, and ultimately, satisfying. We
hope the DVD clips combined with the Bible study and your own discussion will help
you to discover the Jesus you never knew!
Charles-Marie Widor’s Organ Toccata
by Ae-Kyong Kim
When I was asked by the Worduce a clear and crisp sound natuChurch Organist
ship Committee to write some backrally to handle the polyphonic style.
ground information about the organ music It is designed with an orchestral range with a
for The Messenger, I was very excited to have much warmer sound in order to handle the
a chance to share some valuable information homophonic style of writing. With Cavailléabout organ music. As your Church Organ- Coll’s organ in this period, the Romantic
ist, it is truly my honor and pleasure in pro- French Organ flourished along with great
viding some historical and musical content French composers such as César Franck, Alexto organ literature. I hope such information andre Guilmant, Louis Vierne, Charles-Marie
will help you understand and appreciate not Widor, Marcel Dupré, and Olivier Messiaen.
just the church liturgical music, but also great
The Symphony for Organ No. 5 by Widor
organ literature. Surely, preparing such infor- is truly expressed in its Romantic French Ormation will also give me a chance to reaffirm gan style throughout the music. He wrote it
and extend my own understanding and ap- in a sense of grandeur with the different sopreciation of the organ in general.
norities. The ninth and tenth symphonies are
Widor’s Toccata is the final move- considered his third group which are both
ment from the Symphony for Organ No. 5. themes derived from plainchant.
Charles-Marie Widor (February 21, 1844The Symphony for Organ No. 5 has five
March 12, 1937), French organist, compos- movements: 1. Allegro Vivace 2. Allegro caner and teacher, wrote ten Organ Symphonies tabile 3. Andantino quasi allegretto 4. Adagio
which were considered his most significant 5. Toccata (the famous Toccata). I have been
contribution to the organ. His symphonies playing this very well-known organ piece for
can be divided into three groups. The ear- the last 5 or 6 years in a row for the postlude
lier styles of his first four symphonies are put on Easter Sunday. It is a very challenging piece
together in Op. 13 (1872). The next four to play because of its technique and its fransymphonies called the Opus 42 show his tic, fast tempo. However, Widor was unhappy
mastery of techniques by exploring the full- with the fast tempo played by many organists.
est capabilities of the Cavaillé-Coll organs.
He much more preferred a more controlled arThe French organ builder, Aristide ticulation with a deliberate tempo. I definitely
Cavaillé-Coll, was a friend of the Widor fam- considered and have enjoyed playing Widor’s
ily. Also he was a pioneer who built an or- Toccata for the Easter Sunday’s Organ Postgan in a new fashion, “symphonic.” This new lude over the past several years because of its
style of organ contrasts with the Baroque and joyful and exuberant rhythm throughout the
Classical periods which were designed to pro- whole piece.
Seeking Assistant Wedding Director
First UMC is the location for several
weddings each year – mostly for non-members. To facilitate the arrangements, Sue
Tkocz serves as our Wedding Director and
makes contact with all bridal couples to ensure that everything goes as well as possible
on the wedding day.
We are seeking an Assistant Wedding
Director who would cover weddings when
Sue is unavailable. Sue would provide the
training for the person who will fill this position. There is a stipend that the Assistant Wedding Director will receive for each
wedding (s)he coordinates.
If you are interested, please contact
Charlene Reichert, Chair of Staff-Parish
Relations Committee (chreichert@earthlink.net), or Dr. Trotter.
Questers
will meet in the
Church Lounge
on Sunday, May
16, at 6:30 PM.
Following our usual
potluck, we will
hear from Brad W.
Dacus, President of
the Pacific Justice
Institute whose
primary mission is
to provide rigorous
defense for families
and religious
organizations when
their constitutionally
guaranteed
freedoms are
threatened. Their
legal representation
is always free of
charge to clients,
supported solely by
private donors who
recognize the value
of their work.
Everyone is
welcome. Call
Donna and
Dick Overton at
(626) 793-2646
for additional
information.
page 5
Music Man
Auditions!
FUMC’s Drama
Committee, and
Cynthia Crass,
artistic director,
have selected two
audition dates
for this summer’s
FUMC production
of Meredith
Willson’s MUSIC
MAN! Choose the
audition date that
best suits you;
either Saturday,
May 8, promptly
at 10:00 AM in
Great Hall or
Sunday, May 16,
promptly at 12:30
PM in the Church
Lounge. For youth
and adults! Those
wishing a solo or
small group singing
role must audition.
Bring music
with you, please;
accompanist
provided. If your
desire is “just” to
be an ensemble
member, please
come to one of the
auditions so we can
judge participation
interest! ‘76
Trombones’ here
we come!
page 6
Light from the Catacombs
by Pat Mann
Archivist
Eileen Ferguson: We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby!
Left: One of
1,870 women
accepted as a
WASP.
Right: Eileen
Ferguson
displaying her
Medal of Honor.
Who among us received our nation’s
highest honor for a civilian, the Congressional
Medal of Honor, on March 10, 2010?
It was February, 1943, as they were driving to an airfield outside of Baltimore that
Eileen and Lila began their plan to help win
this devastating World War. First, they would
take flying lessons until they had thirty-five
hour, twenty of them solo. This cost $15.00
an hour. After securing their pilot’s license,
they then applied to be a WASP (Women’s Air
Force Service Pilots). There were three interviews in Washington D.C. including a physical. Twenty-five thousand women applied
and Eileen was one of the 1,870 accepted.
She was sent to Avenger Field in Sweetwater,
Texas, for six months of training. They were
given men’s uniforms, baggy on a woman.
During a flight, loose threads from the sleeve
caught on her harness and disengaged it during a dive. This caused her forehead to crash
into the windshield and her body into the
stick. She had to muster up the strength to
bring her body away from the stick in order
for the instructor to be able to pull them out
of the dive before crashing. Upon arrival,
she was a bloody mess. She was threatened
to be washed out for not having her harness
fastened. Her instructor explained what had
happened and all was well. She was stitched
up and the next morning, he brought her a
piece of the broken windshield which she still
has. The soldiers had a $10,000 death benefit; the WASPs had a $151 death benefit. The
WASPs were never in combat, but 38 died in
flight.
After completing flight training on four
planes, both one and two engine trainees,
they were given their silver wings and their
assignment. It could be a ferrying command,
flying planes from where they were built to
where they would be flown from our bases
overseas by the Army or to other bases. It
could be an assignment to tow the target and
often there would be small holes in the plane.
Some were given extra training so that they
could fly fighter planes where needed. You
could be sent to a base where you patrolled
the coast looking for enemy subs. Soldiers in
training could be surprised by mock strafing.
Administrators were flown to meetings or
plane parts were transported. Eileen Ferguson was assigned to a base to test pilot planes
that had come back damaged and after the
mechanics worked their magic. She also flew
with cadets during their instrument training. On December 20, 1944, the WASPs
were deactivated. They had been paid $250
a month and now could pay their own way
home. Jackie Cochrin had tried to get them
militarized, but Congress would not approve
it so they had no benefits. In fact, Congress
sealed the records for 30 years. Women were
in all other parts of the military but not as
female pilots.
In 1977, Senator Goldwater forced a commission to look into this situation regarding
the military. Now, after 56 years, the change of
heart is so changed that the Senate and House
had so many sponsors that they did not need
to vote. Thank you, Eileen Wright Ferguson.
What a great maiden name for a flyer!
Stewardship Message
We are Family
We are a family here at Pasadena
ment is probably the first bill you
by Diane Harris
Stewardship Committee
FUMC, and as such, we share some
pay as providing a roof over your
Co-Chair
family obligations. As
family’s head is the most
a family, it is important
important family obligato maintain the family
tion.
Please take the
household. Members of
The same goes for
time to prayerthe family need to make
your church. In fact,
fully
consider
the
sure the house is clean,
the mortgage on your
the laundry is folded and
“heavenly home,” that
pledge you made
put away, the yard work is
is the church, is even
back in Novemdone. Most importantly,
more important than the
ber...
the bills need to be paid.
mortgage on your earthly
Now if a family were
home. The mortgage on
to let any of these chores
your “heavenly home” is
go for more than a week or two, things would paid in the form of your church pledge. It is
start to look pretty bad. The house would get the most important weekly or monthly oblidirty, laundry would start piling up and your gation that you have in your life.
neighbors might complain about your yard.
It is so hard to catch up once you fall beBut what would happen if you stopped pay- hind, whether it is in your monthly bill paying
ing your bills? Best case scenario: your credit or in your church pledge. If you are behind,
score would go down. Worst case scenario: the sooner you catch up, the easier it is to stay
you could lose your car or even your house.
up to date. Please take the time to prayerfully
I think we all know how important it is consider the pledge you made back in Novemto keep up with the monthly payments in our ber and bring it up to date if you have fallen
own households. The home mortgage pay- behind.
“
”
Preaching
Schedule
May 2
Dr. Frank Trotter
May 9
Dr. Frank Trotter
May 16
Dr. Frank Trotter
May 23
Confirmation
Rev. Allison Mark
May 30
Dr. Frank Trotter
Quiet Disciple Amongst Us
Pasadena District Spiritual Retreat/Quiet
Disciple Day was held at Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church on March 27, 2010. Our
UMW Hilltoppers submitted the name of Irene
Atkinson and she was given the Quiet Disciple
award. The following script was read by Phyllis
Underwood before the presentation:
“Do you need a youth counselor, a choir
tour chaperone; a UMW officer; a church office volunteer; a Methodist Hospital volunteer; a kitchen helper for church breakfasts,
lunches and dinners; someone to crochet
baby blankets for a pre-natal clinic; someone
to help with Vacation Bible School or the annual Advent Workshop?
“Do we have the woman for you! Irene
Atkinson has done all of these things, and
many of them simultaneously and while holding down a full time job and caring for her family. And not to mention her service to her children’s school and scout programs, and the many
years of being in charge of the voting precinct
in her community. Even though the years have
slowed her down a bit, she is still ready and willing to give of her time and energy whenever a
need arises. And she does it all in her quiet, dependable and unassuming way, never asking for
accolades or recognition---a true quiet disciple.
“They just don’t make them like Irene
Atkinson anymore! We salute you and thank
you for everything you have done for your
(and our) church.”
page 7
Weekly Events
SUNDAYS
9:00 AM SpiritSeekers
Church Lounge
9:00 AM Sunday School
for children and youth
10:00 AM Sunday Worship
11:30 AM Youth Handbell Choir
Bell Room
5:30 PM Youth Choir
Choir Room
6:45 PM UMYF Dinner & Program
Fellowship Hall
TUESDAYS
10:00 AM Social Services Great Hall
7:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 27
Scout Room
7:30 PM Adult Handbell Rehearsal
Bell Room
WEDNESDAYS
10:00 AM Foundation Office
open ‘til 6:00pm
7:30 PM Adult Choir Rehearsal
Choir Room
FUMC Prayer List
May Calendar
May 1 9:30 AM
2 11:30 AM
11:45 AM
3 7:00 PM
7:00 PM
5 4:00 PM
6 5:00 PM
7:15 PM
7 3:30 PM
8 9:00 AM
10:00 AM
4:00 PM
9 10:00 AM
11:30 AM
2:00 PM
10 7:00 PM
7:00 PM
11 9:30 AM
7:00 PM
14 3:00 PM
15
9:30 AM
16 2:00 PM
Please remember persons on our prayer list
in your regular prayers.
Prayer Quilt Ministry
Church Lounge
Friends and Family Lunch
Fellowship Hall
Girl Scout Troop 5291
Room 200
Invitation to Romans
Church Lounge
Disciple I
Library
Board of Trustees
Church Lounge
Confirmation
Jr. High Lounge
Home Group
Off-site
Shadow Program
Youth Lounge
Floral Arrangement Workshop
Church Lounge
Summer Youth Musical Auditions Great Hall
Belrose Duo Recital
Sanctuary
Children’s Pageant
Sanctuary
Worship Committee
Church Lounge
Mother’s Day Tea
Fellowship Hall
Invitation to Romans
Church Lounge
Disciple I
Library
Yarn Ministry
Church Lounge
Evangelism and Hospitality
Church Lounge
Memorial Service and Reception Sanctuary/Hall
for Veta Campbell
Confirmation Retreat
Camp Sky Meadows
Prayer Quilt Ministry
Church Lounge
Memorial Service and Reception Sanctuary/Hall
for Eldon Osborn
For Healing:
Debbie Anderson
Jacqueline Arcaris
Abbie Betinis
Juliet Borys
Lura Brown
Virgil Bryant
Ken DeVault
Bill Dietrich
Adeline Estrada
Marlene Farrell
Dorothy Fountain
Jim Greene
Gus Harding
Lois Hayes
Mary Beth Hayes
Carlos Hunter
Soledad Joco
Judy and Ron Keyson
Bekki Klimuck
Edna Laird
Minda La Torre
Denese Leath
Jun Cao Lu
Phil Lussier
Luanne Mc Clelland
Lauren Mark
Suzee Moran
Clarissa Noel
David Peterson
H Reid
Hazel Rice
Margarita Rivas
Rev. Manick Samuel
Sarojine Samuel
Norm Schmidt
Rosario Gonzalez Silva
Dottie Starkweather
Roby Trotter
Joyce Vilhauer
Elizabeth Wittry
Timothy Yim
For Comfort: Manuela Beltran, Jerry and Denise Campbell, Annette Field, Betty Osborn
and Family, Andrea Shea, Priscilla Yim
For Strength: Nellie Estrada
For Employment: Rafael Rivas, Christina
First United
Methodist Church
500 East Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Pasadena, CA
Permit No. 128