March 11, 2010

Dear Friends,

Time for the biweekly e-bulletin coming your way with info on upcoming events and a piece of good news. This issue’s good news comes from Denise Leichter, Santa Barbara Pastor and SCMC Congregational Support Minister. As always, please send us your good news…we can never have too much! And thank you for all you do in the service of God's people.

• Good News: “El Segundo: The Sequel? (o El Tercero)””
• Women's Retreat: “Tuning In: Getting in Touch with the YOU God Intended”
• Young Adult Retreat in the Rockies
• Unity in Our Community Cancelled
• Upcoming Events

Good News: “El Segundo: The Sequel? (o El Tercero)”

What is the good news of closing a congregation?

Over the last few months, deliberate planning has been taking place to celebrate the last worship service of the El Segundo Congregation. Many of the items on the list were about the logistics, but a few concerned reflections and honoring relationships. What an amazing journey the people from Lennox and El Segundo have taken dating back to 1934 and what incredible things have occurred over the years because of their faithful trek. The last few months of home visits, phone calls, e-mails, and letter writing resulted in a packed sanctuary at St Michael’s Episcopal Church (El Segundo’s home for more than the last decade), with special friends and guests richly blessing the celebration service.

The roll call of Presiding Elders and Leaders include notable pioneers – ordinary people that took the message to the streets and helped shape a ministry that has made a difference around the world! The bad news of having the Lennox property taken in 1987, and then not investing in another building became the GOOD NEWS of investing in people and projects for nearly 25 more years.

Funds invested in

• Hispanic ministries helped send young people to Graceland;
• local vocational grants helped change lives of at-risk youth;
• fostering sanctuary and spiritual needs in Los Angeles and Tecate helped birth new congregations;
• camperships helped ensure no child would miss the opportunity to attend a potentially life-changing youth camp;
• Outreach International helped bring disaster relief and provided backing for “sustainable” projects that will change communities for generations to come.

Some of the children from Freeman Avenue that are now adults came back for the celebration to share in tearful gratitude for the opportunity they were given, and what they are now giving back to their communities as Graceland board members, small business owners, teachers, police officers and good neighbors.

Through the years this faithful band in Lennox and El Segundo lived out the mission of the church by responding in courageous LOVE, planting seeds of PEACE with ongoing and long suffering cultivation, listening to the hard life stories with new JOY, and ultimately leaving a sense of tremendous HOPE. There will be a “sequel” to this story as members visit and join new congregations and add their life testimonies and service. The Freeman Avenue Gang of Goodness is already planning new types of reunions and opportunities with La Nueva Esperanza en Cristo to mentor and encourage others. There are final distributions of generosity pending for new church plants, children and youth ministry, and meeting the needs of these special members and many other seniors in the Mission Center for new types of advocacy and care.

Since the closing service, the chorus of a favorite song has inspired a slightly different rendering in my mind…

Lord, you’ve prepared us to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, we’ll continue to be
A Living Sanctuary for you!

This little group of faithful stewards of El Segundo has produced, and continues to produce, one of the largest and most diverse group of disciples we have ever had in our mission center, not because of who came in, but because of those who were blessed and sent forth to serve!

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Women’s Retreat – “Tuning In: Getting to Know the YOU God Intended”

Women of both Southwest International and Southern California mission centers will gather at Buckhorn March 12-14 for a weekend of renewal and reconnecting. With special guest Carol LeBeau, longtime San Diego news anchor, the 2010 Women’s Retreat will feature the theme: Tuning In: Getting to Know the “You” God Intended. For more information and to register, go to http://cofchristla.org/womensretreat.htm.

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Young Adult Retreat in the Rockies

The Rocky Mountain Mission Center invites all of our young adults to the Rockies Young Adult Retreat and Vision Project, May 28-30, 2010 at Peaceful Valley Ranch in Lyons, CO. President Steve Veazey and Young Adult Ministry Erica Blevins Nye will be the special guests. For more information go to www.cofchristrm.org or on Facebook: ROCKIES Young Adults.

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Unity in Our Community Cancelled

Because we could not secure our desired location for this year’s event, this year’s Unity in Our Community is cancelled. We anticipate resuming this event (which has grown each year) next year. Thanks to all who were set to help out with this community-building and community-connecting event.

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Upcoming Events

• March 12-14  —  Women’s Retreat – Buckhorn
• March 26-28  —  Youth Hunger Challenge
• April 10-17  —  World Conference
• May 3-9  —  Buckhorn Work Week
• May 22-23  —  LEADS – Mission and Evangelism – Kris Judd – Temple City
• May 28-30  —  Rocky Mountain Young Adult Retreat (details above)

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Terry A. Read
Community of Christ
Southern California Mission Center President
909-606-8636
909-631-0499 (mobile)
tread@cofchristla.org
www.cofchristla.org