News (Page 18)

easter

Reflecting on Easter

Dear Friends, What a glorious Easter Sunday we shared! One bright spot among many was the children and youth activities and ministries going on. The newly named children’s chorus, Hallelujah Kid’s Choir sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” under the direction of Heidi and accompanist Carolyn. They were followed by the Emma Circle Singers who presented the anthem “Echoes of Joy,” led by Cleta and accompanied by Rachelle. These musical offerings were given during the 9:15 service.…

Food Drive

First Sunday Food Drive for Sawyer Family Service Center (formerly His House). As we come to share in Holy Communion, we remember those who are hungry by bringing non-perishable food items to share. Especially needed are dry milk (individual packets or small boxes); dry cereal, beans, rice, pasta, macaroni and cheese; small cans of fruit and vegetables; peanut butter; canned tuna, pork and beans, chili, spaghettis, corned beef, hash, stew, etc.; can openers. A collection box is located in the…
resurrection

Reflecting on the Resurrection

Dear Friends, In thinking about the narrative of the resurrection in the gospels, did you know that Matthew, Mark, and Luke only devoted one chapter each to tell about Jesus’ rising and what happens after that? The writer of John is the only one who devotes two chapters. In total, Matthew wrote twenty-eight chapters, Mark wrote sixteen chapters, Luke twenty-four chapters, and John twenty-two. Perhaps the reason why there is much less proportionately in the resurrection narrative is that Jesus…
aloha spirit

Aloha Spirit

Dear Friends, During my trip back to Hawaii, Marlou and I joined with other members of the family and went to worship at Aldersgate UMC, just west of downtown Honolulu. It was the church I grew up in. I was pleasantly surprised to see how some things had changed, but yet how some things remained the same. The changes included a whole new audio-visual system – two projection screens mounted on the front wall of the chancel, like ours at…
sand and desert

Make Some Desert

Dear Friends, During Lent I’ve been reading the devotional Small Surrenders by Emilie Griffin. On one of the days Griffin quotes Carlo Carretto who says: If you cannot go into the desert, you must nonetheless “make some desert” in your life. Every now and then leaving… and looking for solitude to restore, in prolonged silence and prayer, the stuff of your soul. [Brewster, Mass: Paraclete Press, 2007, p.40] The common image of the desert is present throughout the Bible. The…
bible study

Young Adult Bible Study

New!  Young adults (ages 18-40) are welcome to get together on Thursdays from 7:30pm-9:30pm in the Upper Room (youth room) at church.  This is a weekly gathering to hang out and discuss the matters of faith and philosophy that interest, concern, and confuse us as college students and young adults.  Info:  Tyler Dobbs, tyler@firstumctorrance.org

Lois Balsley Scholarship Available

Lois Balsley was a tiny woman (only 4′ 11″ tall) with a big heart. She had a passion for education, young people, social justice, world travel and good music. Lois was an active member of Torrance First UMC from 1951 until her death in 2001. In establishing the Lois Balsley Living Trust, Lois left all of her worldly goods to the California-Pacific United Methodist Foundation. The Foundation Board of Directors decided a portion of Lois’ legacy would be used to…
archives

Sermon Archive

Sermons, and other information, posted prior to the site refresh are located at the old location: https://firstumctorrance.org/ep