San Marino Congregational Church United Church of Christ will host a morning of discussions on race in America beginning at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday, May 18, 2008, at the church located at 2560 Huntington Drive in San Marino, CA. A panel-led open discussion, featuring selected excerpts from Bill Moyers’ recent PBS interview with former Trinity UCC pastor Jeremiah Wright, will follow a sermon on the topic given by San Marino UCC’s pastor, Rev. Art Cribbs. In response to Senator Barack Obama’s March 18, 2008, speech on race, San Marino UCC is one of nearly 6,000 UCC congregations nationwide invited to participate in the important May 18 dialogue.

“While America has come a long way in its struggle to overcome racial bigotry and fear, racism remains a wound at the heart of our nation that cannot be wished away or treated carelessly,” said Rev. Cribbs. “On May 18, we hope to engage our community in a deep and sustainable dialogue that is urgently needed in our churches, homes and workplaces, as well as in the halls of power, if our nation is to find genuine healing.”

San Marino UCC invites the community to participate in any or all of the following May 18 activities:

• 10:00 A.M. – Sunday morning worship hour, which will include pastor Cribbs’ sermon titled “Race and Racism in America”
• 11:00 A.M. – Refreshments
• 11:30 A.M. – Panel-led open discussion, which will include playback of portions of Bill Moyers’ interview with Rev. Jeremiah Wright
• 1:00 P.M. – Adjournment

The 11:30 A.M. discussion will feature an informed panel of individuals with diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives on race. The panelists include:

• Dr. Bill Grier, a psychiatrist, and former professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Meharry Medical School in Nashville, TN. He is also the author of “Black Rage,” a widely acclaimed work that tells of the insidious effects of the heritage of slavery
• Dr. Corrie Ort, professor of sociology and faculty advisor to the student club of Amnesty International at San Diego Miramar College. She received her doctorate in sociology and anthropology from Leiden University in the Netherlands
• Clive Hoffman, president of his own public relations firm in Los Angeles. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, he is founding president of the Community Magnet School, Los Angeles’ first integrated neighborhood magnet school, and former director of youth and communications for the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ)

Moderating the panel discussion will be Rev. Cribbs, a former radio talk show host, television reporter and Emmy award winning producer himself. He is also former executive director of the UCC Office of Communication.

Learn more, meet the cast and read the reviews!

A young nun has died under mysterious circumstances in a remote parish in northern Michigan, and her superior, Father Rivard, has been charged with her murder.  What led to the murder?  Was anything “improper” going on in this small up-country parish?  The true nature of God and love are at the heart of this searing drama.

On Saturday, May 3rd the Youth will be congregating at the church at 8:30am to join Bret Naylor who will be taking them on a tour of his workplace—Jet Propulsion Laboratories in La Cañada. All are invited to join the tour. Just show up at 8:30!

Editor’s note: On Sunday May 11th we will receive our “Strengthen the Church” offering—what follows is an article from ucc.org about how Strengthen the Church assisted one of our congregations in the UCC.

“A congregation rooted in the belief that God is still speaking to all of us, beseeching us to create changing lives in changing times”… this is the vision for church renewal in First Church of North Miami Congregational UCC.

Founded in 1912, First UCC experienced membership decline common to many mature congregations. No longer able to support a full-time pastor, core members worked diligently to keep the doors open. Dependence on supply pastors with no connection to or vision for the church, further contributed to decline.

Located in a vibrant part of North Miami, the congregation wanted to be a beacon of light and hope where many are excluded because of their immigrant status, economic status, sexual orientation or lack of language skills. First UCC was willing to take the steps to live out the extravagant welcome of the UCC.

Such steps entail risk, courage, faith, change and plain hard work. Visioning retreats and discerning workshops were held. Worship services were reshaped to begin with intercessory prayer, include contemporary music, and encourage worshipers to respond as the spirit moves them. Weekly Bible Study and Discipleship classes were begun. Welcoming skills were practiced. In an act of faith, members extended a full-time call to the Rev. Aqueelah As-Salaam.

Today the church building is used every day and nearly every evening. The “God is Still Speaking” banner inside and the “All God’s People Are Welcome Here” sign outside proclaim its welcome. Now 20% Jamaican, 20% Haitian, 20% Afro-American, 10% Hispanic, 30% Anglo, and openly gay members serve in leadership, First UCC lives its extravagant welcome.

Renewing churches need just a little help from us to thrive once again. Strengthen the Church grants enable full time pastoral leadership, a critical factor in visioning and fostering change. With these grants we all partner in changing lives in changing times.

The Central Association of the Southern California/Nevada United Church of Christ Conference will meet on Saturday, May 17th for the Spring Association Meeting.

Registration begins at 8:30am and continues through lunch. The meeting will include worship as well as business sessions and elections.

The program promises to be festive and will be held at the First Samoan Church of Los Angeles (UCC) at 1749 West 125th Street, L.A. (just off Western Avenue). Everyone is welcome!

Fun and breezy, free and easy--does that describe your favorite pair of shorts? Well, put ‘em on and wear ‘em to our next “Spirit & the Screen” event on Saturday, May the 24th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Stillspeaking Theatre. It’ll be a whole evening of shorts!

After some particularly heavy offerings in recent months, it’s time to kick back and have some laughs with some lighter fare that all ages can enjoy.

But fear not! It wouldn’t be “Spirit & the Screen” without that certain something that turns each offering we see into a provocative meditation on God, spirituality, and the Life of Faith.

Among other places, we’ll journey from the pews of Springfield in the classic “Simpsons” episode “Homer the Heretic” (recently--and brilliantly--enacted at our retreat by our Not-Ready-For-Primetime San Marino Players) to the World of Tomorrow in the Emmy Award-winning “Futurama” episode, “Godfellas”…and beyond. Fun! Food! Surprises! Prizes! Shorts!

If you have a short attention span, this night is yours, baby!

On Saturday, May 31st from 10am to noon, one of our magnificent sopranos, Alexandra Loutsion, will be teaching us how to make a Greek treat—Spanakopita (Greek "σπανάκι + πίτα", spinach + pie)!

Alex will show us how to make this delectable phyllo, egg and cheese dish she’s enjoyed in her family since she was a small child. Mark your calendars and join us in cooking and EATING! Sign ups are available after church or call the church office.

Our congregation is blessed with an amazing variety of gifts and abilities among members and friends. Would you like to share some secret (or even not-so-secret) talent of yours with our wonderful, intelligent, and creative children and youth?

Starting June 22 during the morning worship hour, you have the opportunity to get to know our exceptional children and contribute to their spiritual growth. You can reveal one of your talents, hobbies, or passions, or you may read a story, play a game, show a movie, do a service project, or teach a lesson using curriculum (provided). The main thing is to spend time together so you get to know the kids and they get to know you.

Please contact Rev. Cathy (818/242-3312) to schedule your Sunday.

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