Happy Thursday Dear Church



I don’t know about you, but I was blown away by Rev. Brandon’s sermon on Sunday. His words and ideas challenged me in new ways, especially as it was centered around the three wise people/men/kings etc. Thank you, Brandon, for sharing your heart with us. We are blessed to have you and your family as part of this community of faith. I wonder how you are pursuing God’s promises this week. For me, I have pursued God’s promises by returning to a discipline of reading. I like to read, especially works that are geared toward pastors. It is always enlightening to me see the many ways the Bible can be understood. The three books I am now reading:

• “Thou, Dear God … Prayers that Open Hearts and Spirits” a collection of prayers from The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

• “The Secret Message of Jesus” by Brian McLaren

• “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir ” by Matthew Perry

Obviously, the first two are ministry focused. The third is for enjoyment as you know what a fan of Perry’s I am. I am sure you will hear some about these works in the coming weeks as I often draw on novels for examples and inspiration.

This weekend, we will be celebrating the life, legacy, and teachings of The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., observing the MLK Holiday. As I have done many times before, I read and re-read some of Dr. King’s works in preparation for a message. This year, however, I am looking specifically at the prayers of Dr. King as opposed to his sermons and speeches. I hope you will be with us on Sunday to remember who we claim to be, often from the words and ideas of Dr. King, so that we may live more fully into the liberating message of Jesus.

The second party of our celebration will be honoring the work of both Assistant Pastor, Debbie Hallmark and Office Administrator, Pat Peterson, who are both are retiring. Congratulations ladies. After worship we will enjoy a Mexican potluck lunch. (Just to clarify, that means we are ALL bringing food to share.) If you have not been with us in person for a while, this would be a great Sunday to get out of the house and come to worship. FYI … in accordance with the traditions of the United Church of Christ, Pastor Debbie will be gone from us for at least 6 months, and you do not want to miss hugging her neck.

Until Sunday, continue to pursue the promises of God. As we pursue God … God draws near to us. That is a reason to celebrate. I love being your pastor.

Holding you close and lifting you high!

Pastor Greg

Worship and Justice

This Sunday we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr, a great spiritual leader and civil rights advocate in the United States. It makes me think of the connection between. Worship and justice are two sides of the same coin. Worship without justice is just empty words or actions. I think of Isaiah 1 where the prophet says he takes no pleasure in acts of worship if one does not stop doing wrong and rather learn to do right by seeking justice, defending the oppressed and taking up the cause of the fatherless and widow. James says something similar in his letter in the New Testament. On the other hand, justice justice without worship can become ungrounded either losing sight of the holistic needs of people or burning justice workers out as they do not draw on a deeper well of hope and love to do our work. Freedom songs, some of which we will sing on Sunday, were central to the work of the civil right movement. Similarly, the first “commandment” on the commitment card MLK had people sign to join the non-violence resistance movement was to “meditate daily on the life and teachings of Jesus.” I encourage you to listen to some freedom songs this week and contemplate the deep connection between worship and justice.

Here's a playlist that collects many of those we have recorded today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Web007rzSOI&list=PLdwXsh0WdkI3wI8PyhLl4OuYl2i0T04tO

Date change to THIS MONTH AT CCP a RedCross Blood Drive, for January 14th 8am-2pm!

💪 Join us at CCP for a blood drive that promises to warm your heart as you save lives.

Grab your spot and find your perfect time to shine with this link. Sponsor Code: Poway

https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?order=DATE&range=10&zipSponsor=Poway

When you donate blood, you're not just giving a part of yourself; you're giving the gift of life.

Imagine the feeling of knowing your simple act can make a world of difference to someone in need. It's a heroic deed that will fill you with pride and joy. Come on, January 14th is your day to be a lifesaver!

Hello Little Church On The Corner Who Loves Everyone

As you know, our dear Debbie Hallmark and Pat Peterson are retiring!!! We will be having a great party for them after Worship on Sun Jan 14, 2024 and everyone is welcome!

It will be a Mexican Themed Potluck, so start checking out your recipes and plan on bringing a Mexican dish to share.

For more information please contact Lynn Amabile (horsemamma1@gmail.com/858-229-3260). I would also like to decorate Fellowship Hall on Sat Jan 13 and if you’d like to help, please let me know. If anyone has cute decorations please feel free to bring them!

Lets send Pat and Debbie off with a fun time surrounded by great people and food!

Annual Meeting! January 21, 2024

We are delighted to extend an invitation to our esteemed members for the Annual Meeting scheduled on January 21, immediately following the worship service. This crucial gathering aims to discuss pivotal matters and make collective decisions that will shape the course of our Church’s future. Your attendance is highly valued, as your insights and contributions play a significant role in the decision-making process. The Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for open dialogue, fostering a sense of unity and shared responsibility.

We encourage all members to mark their calendars and prioritize this event, as it is not only a moment for reflection on the past year's accomplishments but also a time to chart the course for the upcoming year. Your active participation ensures that the decisions made are representative of the diverse perspectives within our Church.

See you after worship on Sunday 1/21/24!

Guatemala Info Meeting

February 4, 2024

Are you interested in going or learning about the CCP 2024 service trip to Guatemala? We will be having an informational meeting Feb. 4th after the service. This is such an amazing outreach that our church family has participated in for several years. Please come with your questions, ideas, and calendars to help plan the 2024 trip.

Contact Colleen Clementson if you have questions. 858-663-6584 or powclem@yahoo.com.

Happy New Year from Outreach!

The weather has certainly been wintery! So, it’s our pleasure to announce that for our Basket of Hope drive in the months of January and February, Outreach will be benefiting Ladle Fellowship.

We are asking particularly for Men’s items, especially shoes, as well as socks, jackets/coats/sweatshirts, pants/sweatpants, and sleeping bags. Cold weather items are appreciated, as well.

Your generosity last year, as always in the years before, helped to warm the hearts and bodies of so many people who needed that tangible love the most, so in 2024 let’s hit the ground running (Hebrews 12:1-3) and help many more!

The JOY of FOOD!

Each week there will be a “Recipe of the Week” for the Buzz!

There will be a red basket in the Narthex where you can drop off your favorite recipes or please email them to julie@ccpucc.org. It can be any recipe from family favorites to ones recently discovered! We will be encouraging you to share your thoughts after you made the dish too. 

No new recipes, so here is an older entry!

This weeks recipe is a Stuffed Artichokes recipe!

Click Here for a Stuffed Artichokes Recipe!

Adult Scripture Review:

Sunday’s following worship in the fireside room!

Email Susan Gurriell

at sgurriell@gmail.com

Books & More

On January 9, Books & More will begin discussing Blowout, a New York Times bestseller by Rachel Maddow. The TV host and political commentator interconnects a series of global events, all woven together by one thread, the oil and gas industry.

Books & More meets on Tuesdays at 10:30 am in the Fireside Room.

All are welcome to join us.  

Centering Prayer:

Tuesdays at 6:30pm

Contact Colleen Clementson at powclem@yahoo.com or on

her cell at 858-663-6584, for the ZOOM invite

Thank you for checking out our BUZZ! Here is what you were waiting for! If you have a favorite joke or any tips to make the BUZZ even better, please send emails to julie@ccpucc.org :)

Joke of the Week:

What is a pretzels favorite dance?

The TWIST…

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