|
|
Worship
Our worship "style" is relaxed and informal (almost no one wears a tie -- it really is "come as you are"). Music is led by a piano and includes both praise choruses and hymns, and the occasional vocal solo or instrumental ensemble. Lyrics and sermon visuals are projected on a screen, but there are also printed bulletins and printed music for music readers. Prayer is spontaneous and unscripted. Children are welcome to stay in worship with their parents, or to join the Sunday school team at the back of the sanctuary or in the education building. On the first Sunday of the month, Holy Communion is served, and all who love God and seek to live a peace with their neighbors (including children, who stay through the service on Communion Sundays) are invited to participate. From the time you enter the door, you will find laughter and a warm welcome!
Curious about the symbols and rituals that are part of the Christian worship experience? Ever wonder why certain colors are used, the significance of candles on the altar -- or what an altar is, for that matter? This fun and informative weekly video series can help answer some of those questions!
|
Because "Liturgy" Means "Work of the People..."
From March 24, 2013 Bulletin
The Worship Committee needs YOUR participation for our Easter season series, "A Place to Call Home."
- Please bring a framed photo of yourself or your family (it will be displayed on our "gallery wall").
- Please bring a photo of your home (printed on regular copy paper is fine) for decoration of our worship space.
- Think about an example of a time when you have experienced our church community as a "family of God" -- you may be asked (at coffee hour, perhaps) to share your story on camera for a special worship project.
- Be on the lookout for post-it notes in the bulletin which will invite your written blessings and reflections as part of worship in the coming weeks!
- If you have photos taken at church events in the past year or two (digital format preferred but we can scan hard copies, too), please share them with Bev Bailey. We are preparing a slide show for a special worship presentation.
Because music is a vital part of feeling "at home," and is tied to special memories of love and relationship, both with others and with God, during this season (March 31 through May 13) we'll be showcasing a different music genre every week. Our hope is that you will find a sense of "home" in at least one of these weeks, and that you'll extend hospitality to others by appreciating, or learning, their "down home" music throughout the season.
|
|
May Preaching & Worship (& Music) Schedule
The Theme as We Continue the Easter Season: “A Place to Call Home”
The scriptures of the Easter Season speak time and again of the family of God, of loving one another as brothers and sisters, children of God. Several times the word “abide” invites us to reside, to dwell in the presence of the Risen One. On Easter a messenger tells the disciples to meet the risen Jesus back at Galilee, the place they began together and the place where they lived and worked together during his ministry. So on Easter we invite all (especially visitors) to explore during these 7 weeks what it means to have “a place to call home” in their spiritual lives.
Because music is a vital part of feeling “at home,” and is tied to special memories of love and relationship, both with others and with God, during this season we will showcase different music styles each week. Our hope is that you will find a sense of “home” in at least one of these weeks, and that you’ll extend hospitality to others by appreciating, or learning, their “down home” music throughout the season.
|
May 5 - Sixth Sunday of Easter
“Residing in Love”
Texts: 1 Peter 3:13-22 and John 14:15-21
Musical Guests: Spirit Live Choir
May 12 - Ascension Sunday / Mother’s Day
“Always Blessing, Always Blessed”
Text: Ephesians 1:15-23 and Luke 24:44-53
Music: Classical
|
May 19 - Pentecost Sunday
“The Miracle of the Ear”
Text: Acts 2:1-21
Musical Guest: Mickale Jones (See bio below)
May 26 - Memorial Day Weekend
Guest Preacher: Lay Servant Jim Markus
“A Time to Remember”
Texts: Genesis 9:11-16 and Joshua 4:9-11
|
|
Wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome here at Windsor Community UMC!
|
|
Source - GodVine 2-2-12
|
From the Worship Team: A New Approach to Prayer in Worship
September Branch 2012
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Recognizing that not everyone is comfortable sharing their prayer requests aloud -- or making their prayer needs public -- we’d like to try something new in the coming weeks. Our hope is these practices will increase our prayer activity and extend care to newcomers and “regulars” alike. We will take time to reflect and evaluate after a trial period.
We will continue the practice of “Mosaic of Names” on Communion Sundays (when all are invited to simply call out the name of someone on their heart). On other Sundays, Pastor Laurie (or a designated Prayer Team member) will read names from prayer requests that are submitted in writing (you may also submit confidential prayer requests “for the pastor’s eyes only”).
Prayer cards may be found in the attendance sign-in folders and at the entrance. You may place completed cards in the nearby basket or hand deliver to an usher or Pastor Laurie before or at the beginning of worship.
Please exercise care and sensitivity when asking for prayer for someone else; remembering to ask, “May I share this concern with others?” is a good rule of thumb.
Due to privacy concerns, we will only print requests that concern immediate family members, or that are confirmed by the person named in the request.
Prayer requests for health and healing will appear in the bulletin for the following two weeks. All other requests will appear for one week. Long term illness and military lists will be published in the Branch.
If you would like to speak with Pastor Laurie, please check the appropriate box on the card and provide contact information or contact the church office (707-838-6898 or windsorumc@aol.com ).
If you are interested in joining a new Prayer Ministry Team, please contact Pastor Laurie.
|
|
WELCOMING OUR NEW PASTOR, LAURIE MC HUGH - July Branch, 2012
We have been busily focusing on saying farewell to Mike and it is now time to turn our attention to our new pastor, Laurie McHugh. Her first day in church will be July 1.
Pastor Laurie’s whole family will be with her. Husband Tim, who works for the Department of Homeland Security, mostly centered in Sacramento and Oakland, is also shortly to be in transition. Currently he will be spending his work week in an apartment in Sacramento. Son Tom, who will be a senior, plays the bass and sings in the choir and a madrigal group at Palo Alto High. This group will be going on a tour to Italy early this summer. He has three weeks of summer school in Palo Alto starting the 9th, and will be remaining in Palo Alto in order to graduate with his class next year. Daughter Katie will be an eighth grader at our own Windsor Middle School. She loves babysitting and enjoyed being on the yearbook staff at her school this year. She also performed with the San Francisco Children’s Musical Theater this spring and hopes to do so again this summer. The icing on the cake is that Laurie’s father and stepmother, Keith and Laura Padgett, from Utah, will be visiting until the 5th, and helping with the unpacking and settling-in process.
Following Laurie’s first worship service with us, we will be sharing a potluck meal with her. Names starting with A through G are asked to bring main dishes: H through M are asked to bring salads; N through Z are asked to bring bread and butter. Laurie’s cake will be provided by Bev and Jessica.
|
Rev. McHugh & Family Have Made It To Windsor
Rev. Laurie McHugh and her family will be moving into their new home this week on 239 Belfiori Ave. (off Starr Rd.) - Will be there about June 27th. Thanks to all who helped with the many details in getting her here.
If you have not already filled out a Church Information Form, please do so ASAP. This sheet will allow Pastor Laurie to get to know the congregation quickly.
******
Staff Parish Relations (SPR) Committee Update
Your Staff Parish Relations Committee met with District Superintendent Rev. Renae Extrum-Fernandez on Thursday, March 29th, 2012. The purpose of the meeting was three-fold:
1)Reverend Renae reviewed the formal procedure we will be observing in the transition to a new pastor.
2)We provided a completed “Church Profile” that included values, goals and trends in our local community.
3)We reported the maximum dollar figure the church could afford to offer the new pastor as a Compensation Package. This figured was arrived at after conferring with the Finance Committee.
Since this meeting, a new pastor has been appointed to Windsor Community UMC. The new pastor is Rev. Laurie McHugh, and she will begin her official duties here on Sunday, July 1st, 2012.
Should you have questions or input, the members of the SPR Committee are:
|
Welcome to our new Pastor, Rev. Laurie McHugh
 Laurie McHugh has served as Associate Pastor at Palo Alto United Methodist Church since July 2009. Previously, she served at Burlingame United Methodist Church for 8 years as Associate Pastor. She was raised in the Denver, CO area and graduated summa cum laude from Knox College in Galesburg, IL, with a B.A. in sociology-anthropology. Laurie earned her
Master of Divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley.
Previously, she has served at Ridge View UMC, San Francisco, and Fellowship UMC, Vallejo. She is a coordinator for the Bishop's Confirmation Retreats and is on the Tech Team for the California-Nevada Annual Conference Session.
Laurie is passionate about worship, discipleship and creating new things. A musician at heart as well as a minister, Laurie has been singing and playing piano for most of her life and employs these gifts in her ministry with children and young people and in worship. She and her husband Tim have two children, Tom and Katie. Tom is a bass player and sings in both the choir and a madrigal group at Palo Alto High School. The group will be going on tour to Italy early this summer. Katie loves babysitting and has enjoyed being on the yearbook staff at her school this year. She also performed with the San Francisco Children's Musical Theater.
|
Gratitude prayer: Thank you for the mortgage payments and rent notices, for they mean we have a roof over our heads. Thank you for the piles of laundry, for it means we are clothed and warm. Thank you for morning traffic jams, for they mean we have jobs to go to. Thank you for loud stereos, for they mean our teens are safe at home. Thanks you for notes from school, for they mean our children have teachers who care. Thank you for doctors waiting rooms, deductibles and co-pays, for they mean we have access to health care. Thank you, God, for ordinary days made extra-ordinary by your Holy Spirit.
|
|
