FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
8th & D Streets … PO Box 248
Ramona, CA 92065
PASTOR PRESENT:
A TreeFalls in
Milwaukee, A Tree Stands in Ramona I rose from my bed in Ramona
to the clatter of my mobile phone ringing a predawn wakeup call last
Saturday from our neighbor across the alley in Milwaukee, to tell me
that a tree, not planted as in the Psalm, but supplanted “by streams
of water” in our yard, just split, screamed and fell hard.That strong, longstanding haven for squirrels evicted from
our attic, raccoons and possums, toppled in the north whirl and
shake of the skirt of hurricane Ike, and dropped to rest in pieces
on our garage roof, power lines, and neighboring fence, with its
still-standing half leaning for a fall on our next-door neighbor’s
new garage (rock-a-bye treetop, in the highwires; down came that
baby, cradle and pole).
And the Wisconsin
lineman is still on the line – with insurance agents, contractor,
electrician, tree surgeon, W.E. energizer, and adjoining neighbors,
as we all rally in the most effective collective neighboring since
our last block party.
The wooden corpse squeaks its last gasp, the undertaker removes its
remains, our contracted burglar empties the “defridgerator”, and I
see the sad end of Psalm 1: “But the wicked [and the sick tree] are
like the chaff that the wind blows away.” I called a dear friend just
back in New Orleans after her
second evacuation in three years, to hear that her trees had held up
better than mine, and I realized, as you so well know in Ramona, how
vulnerable even the sturdiest trees and structures can be in the
rising wind, rain and fire.Then I heard the refrain of the Psalm I quoted in my
September 11 remembrance sermon: “We flourish like a flower; the
wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no
more.” Still Jesus says, “Look at the
flowers and birds.As
God cares for them, God will care for you.” A tree stands in Ramona – or
sways in the Estates – a pine whose top cones hang just below our
condo.Each day I go
out on the lanai, with raw peanut in hand, to draw from the tree the
blue jay our landlady bequeathed to us.Up from the pine, my fine feathered friend, hops up, pecks
the hand that feeds him, and takes off with his snack.So I am also a passing, yet fully present, peanut vendor for
the congregation – this sturdy century-old tree in Ramona, thankful
to be welcomed and trusted, holding out my hand and heart in the
sweet sense of September Song, singing, as Jesus would, “And these
few precious days I’ll spend with you.”
Tom Bentz
STEWARDSHIP
SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 9
During late October and November we will have the chance to take a
stewardship journey together to discover how “The World of the
Generous Gets Larger and Larger”.We’ll look at the many ways that God has blessed each of our
lives, and consider the most faithful ways that we continue reaching
a larger world.We’ll
learn how we can give freely, yet gain even more. (Proverbs 11:24)
Our Stewardship Moments, which mark our campaign, will begin Sunday
October 26.
FALL BIBLE STUDY
CONTINUES
Our Fall Bible Study, entitled “A
Study of the Holy Spirit”, will continue through this month.
It is never too late to become a part of the discussion. We
meet on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Please
think about joining us and establishing or renewing your
relationship with the Holy Spirit through the insightful leadings
and teachings of
José Jacinto.
CROP WALK: OCTOBER 5
You can feed the hungry.You can provide disaster relief.You can shelter refugees.Together we can make a difference.Circle the date of Sunday October 5th onyour calendars for this year’s CROP Walk for the Hungry.By finding sponsors and walking 5K we will help the hungry in
countries throughout the world and also right here in our community.A sign-up table for the walk will be on the patio beginning
September 14th.We’ll see you on the walk!
SEARCH
COMMITTEE UPDATE
Members of the Search Committee want to keep you informed.We are continuing to work on the Church Profile and to that
end have sent out our final survey, requesting information from you
directly on some key questions. By the time you receive this
newsletter, we should have received all responses and will combine
the answers to complete the profile and ready it posting.During this interim period, there is still a great work for
us to do.
Pastor Tom will be holding a Forum on October 26 to address and
discuss those issues we can tackle during these months we are
together.Please put
that date on your calendar and plan to attend.
FALL
HARVEST FAIR
The Annual Harvest Fair is Saturday the 18th of October
from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.The Women’s Fellowship is hoping to raise between $3,000 -
$5,000 to help the Trustees purchase a better kitchen range for the
Pilgrim Hall.Spend
this special day where you can visit with long time and new
residents, enjoy delectable homemade soups and pies and stocking up
on cakes, breads, jams, jellies and crafts for holiday
gift giving and maybe win a basket!Church cookbooks and a produce/plants area will offer some
Ramona favorites.If
you are good at guessing, have a look at the
peanut and mint
containers
and place your best and be a
winner!The Sr. High
Youth Group
will be there to wash your car while you shop.Come and enjoy the
socializing great lunch fare, and a game of checkers with a friend
at an old fashioned Harvest Fair.We can be successful if you sign up to help out and then come
have a good time!
CHRISTMAS
CANTATA REHEARSALS TO BEGIN
It’s very hard to believe, but Christmas is right around the corner!In order to prepare for our Cantata presentation of “Glorious
Joy” on December 15th, we will begin rehearsing on
October 30th at 6:30 p.m., right between Gospel Choir and Chancel
Choir rehearsals.If
you are interested please come to that first rehearsal, or let Sue
Trukken know you will be attending.Please feel free to invite your friends and family to join us
for this wonderful Christmas tradition!
READY-
SET- BUILD!Our next Corazón home-build will be on November 8th
and will change the lives of one family in
Tijuana, Mexico.Please plan to join us as we leave from the church parking
lot at 5:00 a.m. and caravan down to Tijuana to help give our friends a new home.Watch for the sign-up sheet
in the Narthex.If you’re unable to go, but would like to help, you
can sign-up to provide needed items on the “Make This House a Home”
list, then bring those items to church by October 26th.They will be delivered to the family along with the keys to
their new home!
WIDOWS’ FRIENDSHIP GROUP:
This month the Widows’ Friendship group will be having lunch at the
D’Carlos on Tuesday, Oct. 14th, at 12:00 p.m..We will meet at the church to share rides at 11:30 a.m.You must make reservations with Rosemary Taylor, 789-5697, before noon on the 13th
if you’d like to attend.
STEPHEN MINISTRY
CLASS HAS BEGUN!
Our new class has begun with six members! The skills our
Stephen Ministers learn and practice prepare them to provide a very
high level of Christian care giving. The 50 hours is intense
because it explores serious life issues, but it is also a growth
producing and enjoyable experience. When this class is
commissioned in January, our church will have trained 38 Stephen
Ministers since 2001. If you could benefit from the
confidential listening ear of a trained Stephen Minister, contact
Alison Jones.
BUTTER BRAID SALE!
Just in time for the Holidays! Back by popular demand - the
Children's Center will be offering a variety of the thaw and dessert
when there's little time to prepare. There will be a table out
on the patio after worship services on October 5th and 12th.
Junior High Youth Oct. 5:
CROP
WALK – I hope you are all trying to get your pledges and
talking to people about why we walk.
Oct. 12:
Regular Meeting beginning during Sunday School Class – 12:30p.m. in
the Youth
Building.
Oct.19:
Regular Meeting beginning during Sunday School Class – 12:30p.m. in
the YouthBuilding. Oct.
24 – 25:LOCK IN!!!We will meetat
the church YouthBuilding at8:00 p.m. for an all night lock-in. We will head down the
hill at 8:30 p.m. for either Laser-Tag or Bowling (cost TBA).Then we will return to the Youth
Building
for games and activities (hopefully a little sleep too) until 8:00
a.m. Saturday Morning.
Feel free to wear your Halloween costumes to the event!
Senior High Youth Oct. 5 : CROP
WALK- is this Sunday. I hope you are all trying to get
your pledges and talking to people about why we walk.Please join us for our regular meeting at 7:00 p.m., in the
YouthBuilding.
Oct. 12:
BBQ & Pool Party at the Pastor’s Pad!We will meet at Pastor Tom’s home for a pool party/BBQ at 3pm
– 7pm.It might be our
last chance for a pool party before the weather gets too cold!!You will need to RSVP for this event. Oct. 18:
The Harvest Fair is one of our church’s favorite annual events.As has been the tradition, the Sr. High Youth will be holding
a car wash to raise money for their Winter Retreat Ski Trip.
Oct.19:Regular Meeting Night in the YouthBuilding.Please join us for fun, fellowship and devotion from 7:00
p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Oct.26:
Regular Meeting Night in the
YouthBuilding.Please join us for fun, fellowship and devotion from 7:00
p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Turn the clocks back – November 1
All Saint’s Sunday – November 2
Corazón Home Build – November 8
Stewardship Sunday – November 9
Thanksgiving Sunday – November 23
Thanksgiving Day – November 27
First Sunday in Advent – November 30
Church E-mail Address:
Church Office = fccramona@oco.net
| Sunday Schedule
9:00 A.M. Worship Service
10:15 A.M. Worship Service
10:15 A.M. Sunday School
…Child care is provided
…a fellowship time follows the morning services
STEWARDSHIP
SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 9
FALL BIBLE STUDY
CONTINUES
SEARCH
COMMITTEE UPDATE
CHRISTMAS
CANTATA REHEARSALS TO BEGIN
READY-
SET- BUILD!
STEPHEN MINISTRY
CLASS HAS BEGUN!
Oct. 
Oct.
Oct. 
Oct. 18
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR