In February of 2011, I flew to the Philippines to visit family, get in touch with my heritage, and meet Marlou Bella. Well, one year later I’m planning to fly again to Manila and stay through two Sundays, February 19 and 26. My flight leaves Sunday night, February 12 and my planned flight back is Monday, February 27.

Many of you are asking where Marlou and I stand or what the visa status is. In April of 2011, I applied for a K-1 fiancée visa and up until now we have been gathering and submitting papers, and fulfilling all the requirements. The week that I’m there, we will receive her medical results and then if she is cleared, go through an interview. The scheduled date of the interview is February 16 and I hope to be a part of the interview. Hopefully everything goes smoothly and a visa is issued when I’m there.

Due to extenuating circumstances and time needed to handle personal matters with family, she will fly to San Francisco at a time to be determined. Marlou has an older brother and sister, three aunts, and many cousins who live in the Bay area, while I have cousin who resides there as well. I intend to be back at our church on March 4.

During my absence in February, Andy Oquinn will be preaching on those two Sundays. I’ve asked Rev. Eric Scott from San Pedro UMC (310-548-1001) and Rev. Mark Sturgess from Riviera UMC (310-378-9273) to cover for me with regards to pastoral care issues during those weeks.

Many of you have been praying for us and our situation, and I would ask that you continue to do so. God’s timing and God’s will is very mysterious and often unpredictable. We believe that God has brought us together and have faith that things will ultimately work out. Thank you for all your care and support.

— Pastor Bob

Music by Messenger
Open The Eyes | 3:13 | 2.4 MB
Breathe | 4:27 | 3.2 MB

In conversations with the Christian Education Ministry Team, we are in transition with regards to Sunday school. As you know, we have changed the Sunday school time to 9:15 where the children and youth go directly downstairs to Wesley Hall as there is no children’s moment at the 9:15 service.

The Education Team has also decided to change the format of Sunday school for persons of kindergarten age through 5th grade to Children’s Church. There are elements of worship structured into that hour. There is singing, praying, a lesson sharing, offering and sometimes a craft lesson. The format is similar to Vacation Bible School, but there is no separation of grade levels or age classes. Youth in 6th through 12th grades attend their own Sunday school class.

We also decided to offer this Children’s Church program on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of the month beginning in March. The first Sunday of the month is Communion Sunday, so we are asking that all children and youth to attend the worship service in the sanctuary. If there is a 5th Sunday in the month, once again children and youth will be asked to stay with parents in the sanctuary as we have designated that Sunday to be Family Sunday.

All these decisions are resulting from a lack of response and a lack of volunteers to teach Sunday school. Moreover, several of the present staff are shifting their responsibilities to the 11:15 alternative worship service. If you are interested in being in ministry with our children and youth, please let us know. We are also in need of a Sunday School Superintendent as Wednesday S. is stepping out of that role to also focus on the 11:15 service. In order to sustain a viable education program and to build up our children’s ministry, we need persons who feel called and are passionate about this. Let us keep before us that part of our mission statement – “We are passing the faith to the next generation.” Please let us know, we need you!

— Pastor Bob

Music by Messenger
Eagle’s Wings | 3:55 | 5.6 MB
Shout To The Lord | 4:25 | 6.4 MB