We will be celebrating Christ’s birth with three services on Sunday, December 24
For many, the holidays don’t feel like a time to celebrate, deck the halls, and spread the joy of the coming Christ child. Instead, this is a time punctuated with sadness, grief, and loss. Unfortunately, those suffering are too often forced into the shadows or compelled to put on a happy face while enduring those lustily singing “Joy to the World” and gleefully trimming the tree.
In an era obsessed with optimism, positivity, and motivational quips, Blue Christmas services bring to the foreground very common everyday realities. Whether faced with loss, grief, depression, disease, divorce, or any other hardship, the Blue Christmas service is designed specifically for you. It is intended to meet those experiencing grief and sadness exactly where they are in the darkness of this season, offering healing and hope, rather than forcing cheer.
We know that the Christmas season can be a time of loneliness, sorrow, alienation and sadness for many people. Our Congregational Care Ministers are leading a quiet, contemplative worship that offers a way for people to claim those feelings and still feel surrounded by the compassionate love of God. This worship service will create a sacred space for people dealing with difficult life issues and bring healing and hope. Invitations to invite a friend or loved who might be in need of this service are on the welcome table.
Friends,
A new day is dawning in the life of the church. New generations are drawn to the hope, joy, peace, and integrity of the Gospel. Jesus’ message of radical inclusion is transforming the hearts and minds of long standing disciples. We are moved by the rediscovery of ancient traditions and innovative ways bringing praise to God.
We affirm what God has done and look forward to how we will serve God in this new day. As I have met with you and learned your stories, you have shared what is important to you in this community of faith, and have shared your vision of who we are now meant to be. These ideas have been compiled with great skill and artistry by Liz Smilor. This is our vision for the future:
I See a New Church
Our church —Community United Methodist Church in Huntington Beach — is built on a foundation of love, family, faith and service. Our “new church” will build upon this foundation to continue to serve God, one another, our community and our world.
“Three things will last forever — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
We believe in God’s unconditional love for all. We are and will continue to be a church welcoming all people to serve God in all ways — regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. We are a family connected by faith and we endeavor to connect others to God through loving, learning, singing and serving.
“Do all the good you can …” (John Wesley)
Our Community translates love into action. We are the “outreach” church. We serve our local area through many services for the poor and homeless, neighborhood events such as Messy Church, and interfaith connections. We serve the world through our notable support of missionaries and other organizations. Service is a vital part of our mission that connects us and attracts others to our church.
This is not the final draft. We want to hear your responses and suggestions before we adopt a finished draft at our Church Conference on November 12. Please read through this statement a few times. Consider what changes you might make. Then send those comments and suggestions to me at pastorGeorge@CUMCHB.org.
Yours in the service of Christ,
George Hooper
This month’s Upside Down Church theme revolves around Dia de los Muertos. We’ll be flipping the way we view death upside down looking at how different cultures mourn and celebrate death.
We hope you’ll join us for Upside Down Church!
The disciples faced a crisis. They had shared the joy of knowing Jesus personally and of witnessing his works of grace and mercy. They had also heard him speak of what was to come. Now he was gone. What would they do? They were in the great “in-between” Jesus’ presence on earth. Should they just wait for his return, reliving the glory of the past? Fortunately the answer was no! At Pentecost the Holy Spirit filled them and enabled them to become the church: the community of believers and body of Christ in the world in the present age.
Community United Methodist Church of Huntington Beach is at an in-between time: We have vacated our beloved worship space, so full of memories and are enjoying our wilderness time in Moore Hall. We have shared the vision of what will be, and have seen the plans and weekly progress. We know that we will be in the renewed space in the new year. This update will allow us to engage the greater community in ministry in new ways.
Ministry has not been put on hold. We have experienced new vitality in our worship and in our times of fellowship, study and service. In this in-between time we are starting two new initiatives for worship! “Upside-Down” is our Fourth-Saturday gathering, designed to be nothing like your grandparents’ worship service and develop community with those looking for something new. “Engage” is our First-Saturday time of service, offering our neighbors opportunities to connect with and serve their neighbors.
We are confident that the Holy Spirit is guiding our vision for the future. We invite you to participate in our “2020 Vision” as we prepare for a renewed church and community. Over the next few weeks we will share the vision you have shared with us; we will share stories of what Community means in the life of our members and friends; we will present a proposed budget for the coming year; and we will invite you to step out in faith and support Community with your prayers, your presence, your witness, your service and your gifts.
Please continue to support the current budget of the church. Some of you were hesitant to give, or to fully support apportionment giving because of what is happening in our denomination. I am very happy to share with you that our Annual Conference has created two alternative funds for giving beyond the local church that will provide funding to ministries which “do no harm.” In this way we can be cheerful givers, secure in the knowledge that our gifts extend the love and welcome of God around the world and here at home. Even as you prepare for your 2020 giving, I encourage you to consider increasing your 2019 giving or to participate in our special apportionment drive.
Yours in the service of Christ,
George Hooper, Pastor
(C) Community United Methodist Church, Huntington Beach 2025