You are invited to join this discussion group every Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Green Room downstairs.

This is a safe place to come together to discuss the issues of our lives and the ways in which we hear God's still speaking voice. Everyone is welcome to share their thoughts, their laughter, their love.

You are invited to take a culinary tour of France with Chef Sunny Kim on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at 9:00am in the kitchen of San Marino Congregational United Church of Christ.

Chef Sunny will teach us how to bake his Aunt Helene’s French Pear Cake. As a bonus, he will teach in the French language! He also will share stories about his stay in France and his passion for French cooking.

A light lunch will be served along with café au lait to go along with freshly baked pear cake.

Bring your appetite and prepare your tongue for delectable treats prepared for your enjoyment. The fee is $10 per person or $15 per couple; so, come with your friends or family.

To sign up or for more information, please contact Kana Cribbs at (626) 234-2007 no later than February 3. Bon appetit.

-- Kana Cribbs

On Sunday, February 7, 2010, we will launch “Scripture Social” or “Have a Little Tea with Us” immediately after the morning worship service. We will read Scriptures and share our thoughts while sipping tea and nibbling finger foods.

This will be a great opportunity to get to know each other better…beyond just our names and faces…through personal conversations and Bible discussions. The best part is that you do not need any knowledge of the Bible to participate.

Pastor Art often says, “We don’t just read the Bible, but the Bible reads us.” Learning what happened in the stories of the Bible is not as important as knowing how we feel and think about them. Whether we agree or disagree, we will seek a deeper understanding of God and us.

Our first “Scripture Social” or “Have A Little Tea with Us” will be based around the theme, "Be an Encourager" and will focus on Judges 4-5. We will explore the story of Deborah, a judge and prophetess, who encouraged a young man named Barak to lead his people into battle against the powerful Canaanite army.

Looking ahead to March, we will continue our conversation by reflecting on the theme, “Be Obedient,” from Judges 6 and 7.

We hope you will come and “Have A Little Tea With Us.”

-- Kana Cribbs

6:00pm Potluck
7:00pm Service
at Glendale UCC
2001 Canada Blvd.
Glendale, California 91208
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Author Ray McGinnis

Come play with words. Come and discover ways to unlock your creativity and give expression to your own spiritual journey through writing.

On Sunday, February 21, from 2pm to 4:30pm, author Ray McGinnis, will show you some of the timeless poetic forms present in the Hebrew Psalms. Alongside the Psalms, he’ll draw from a splendid range of spiritual seekers who wrote poetry from St. Francis of Assisi to Rumi to Mary Oliver. He’ll offer selected Psalms, poems and journal writing exercises as prompts to help you to express your own longings and experiences of the sacred in the ordinary on paper.

In an open and hospitable setting Ray invites you to write down what is on your heart: whether gratitude, lament, trust, wisdom, vision, forgiveness, loving-kindness or other emotions in your unfolding relationship with the God.

Whether you are a seasoned writer or have never put pen to paper, you'll be expertly guided, step-by-step, to a place where you'll emerge with your own new psalms/sacred poems.

You'll emerge from this workshop with ideas for how to use poem-making as a tool to write your own new Psalms, and as a companion on your own spiritual journey.

Ray McGinnis is a poet and has written in journals all his life. He has taught over 9,000 people how to write prayers, poetry, and autobiographies,
all the while guiding them to bring their whole heart, mind, and spirit to the process.

His book, Writing the Sacred is in it's third printing. He lives in Vancouver and attends Canadian Memorial United Church.

To register, please contact Donald at the church office: (626) 292-2080 or donaldshenk@sanmarinoucc.org.

A $15 class fee will be collected at the door.

I’m very excited to announce a bold new experiment in our evenings of screenings.  Many enthusiastic Spirit and the Screen fans have approached me over the years with title suggestions, and, borrowing from the successful format of Turner Classic Movies, we’re going to sprinkle our 2010 screenings with fare selected by special guest programmers. 

Join me and Kim Van Horsen as we screen the 1994 film, The Secret of Roan Inish, written and directed by independent filmmaking phenomenon John Sayles and lovingly photographed by master cinematographer Haskell Wexler. 

The Secret of Roan Inish is an all-ages-appropriate period tale of a Selkie, a magical character out of Celtic legend, and the family that learns of her secret.  Trust me when I say that this is one film that definitely has the approval of a seal! 

Kim and I will have a conversation and group discussion, and we want you to join in on the fun. 

Mark your calendars, because St. Patrick’s Day comes a little early this year when we’ll visit the Irish seacoast at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night, February 27th, in the Stillspeaking Theatre.  And who knows what tasty food we’ll be enjoying?  It’s a secret!  Don’t keep this event a secret, though—bring a friend!

-- Warren Scherffius

Our all-church, inter-generational retreat will be held on Saturday, March 20, at the Monrovia Canyon Park. As usual, it will be a low-key time to get together in the great outdoors – indoors, too, in a beautiful Great Room setting.

Opportunities for activities include worshipping, playing indoor and outdoor games, socializing, hiking, crafting, eating, just hanging out, and otherwise celebrating the glory of the mellow, Southern California lifestyle.

Mark your calendar now to join us. More details will follow in next month’s SPIRE.

-- Rev. Cathy Kotowski

Food First EVERY Sunday

The Late Elizabeth Rose Cameron

“Several weeks ago Pastor Art talked about how powerful we are as individuals.

The Deacons want to challenge our power as a church. We have been participating in a program called Food First Sunday, bringing food and money to share with those in need on the first Sunday of the month.

What if our church got in the habit of bringing something—a canned good and/or change, every Sunday! How much could we collect in a month’s time?? How much would we have to share with those in our congregation, those who come by our church, and those in our wider community?? Please put a can by your purse or some extra change next to your wallet every Sunday and drop it in the collection boxes that will be available at the back of the church. Canned goods will also be accepted every Sunday in the baskets provided for your donations. Thanks!!”
-Liz Cameron, Deacon

SOUL FOOD
Every Tuesday 7:00pm
You are invited to join this discussion group every Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Pastor's Office. This is a safe place to come together to discuss the issues of our lives and the ways in which we hear God's still speaking voice. Everyone is welcome to share their thoughts, their laughter, their love.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY
1st & 3rd Sunday Noon-2pm
A new Adult Bible Study group started in the New Year. The group will be meeting on the first and third Sundays of every month from 12pm to 2pm in the Stillspeaking Theatre. The study has begun with the first seven chapters of the Book of Job. The group is open to all adults and you are welcome to join at any time.