Fall Sermon Series

Sunday, September 7, will be the first in a twelve-week sermon

series on Disciples Identity, based on twelve “Identity Statements”
that can be found at www.disciples.org.
The goal of this series is not to preach the “party line,” but to help
us all think about our Christian values, especially those we hold in common,
and to be intentional about talking to one another about our deepest beliefs.
An outline of the series will be available on Sunday mornings, for those
who’d like to take a closer look at how we’re addressing the question of our
church identity and values.

Upcoming Sermons
August 31 – “My Boss Is a Jewish Tekton” (Mark 6:1-6)
We say Jesus was a “carpenter,” but does our image of that work match up to what Jesus
actually did? As our culture observes Labor Day, what do Jesus’ human labors have to
teach us about our own work?

September 7 – “Who Do You Say That I Am?” (Matthew 16:13-16)

First in our series on Disciples Principles of Identity, addressing the first principle: “We
confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and proclaim him Lord and
Savior of the world, requiring nothing more - and nothing less - as a basis of our life to-
gether.”

September 14 – “But Seriously…” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Second in our series on Disciples Principles of Identity, addressing the second principle:
“We hold the centrality of scripture, recognizing that each person has the freedom - and
the responsibility - to study God's Word within the community of the church.”

August 28, 2008

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 Disciples Women’s Ministry
A SEPTEMBER SONG…
Hasn’t it been a great summer! As Disciples Women, we have been
able to relax a little. There have been movies on the lawn, beach par-
ties with the youth, and time for that extra cup of coffee and a chat
after church. The New Hope circle went bowling one evening, and
the Faith Circle had Beverly Townsend and Harriet Sherwood visiting
their meeting – it was wonderful to see old friends. If you don’t belong to one of our
women’s groups – you are missing a part of life in this church - why? There is
something for everyone – come join us!
We’ve had a little time to “smell the roses”, and enjoy the summer sun.
There are always trade offs, of course. No luncheon to cook, but then,
no program to inspire us, or service projects. Doris Wilson leads the
service projects for Faith Circle, and she spearheaded an August ser-
vice project for the members, who brought food for His House, and filled
2 bins with food! Those bins, by the way, sit in the anteroom of Sippel
Hall, and are always in need of your donations. It’s easy to not see them after a
while, but perhaps you could think about the hungry who will benefit from them, and
next time you shop, pick up an extra can or two.
By the time you read this, September will probably be here – time to sing
our September song again. Committees are meeting, dates are being dis-
cussed, and soon it will be time for our Back to Sunday School excitement –
the picnic on September 14th, the choir will be coming back, and we are off
and running! The Disciples Women’s last meeting brought lots of ideas and
enthusiasm to the table, and we hope every woman will want to be a part of
our fall plans. We are still hoping and praying for a volunteer chairman for each of
the DWF special nights. We need someone for our Friendship Dinner in February
and another for our Family Night in May. Michelle Wood is waiting for you to say
“that would be me” – call her!
One thing starting in September will be our Prayer Sister’s Program. Sa-
kura Koontz will have sign up sheets ready to distribute very soon, so
watch for them. They can be returned to the Church Office, and Sakura
will randomly pair up women who want to participate. It is a simple and
lovely way to connect with another woman of the church, exchanging
cards, letters, ideas, and most of all, prayers for each other. It can be whatever you
and your Prayer Sister want it to be.
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If you have any questions, Sakura will be glad to answer them for you. Those
women who have participated in the past have found it a great experience – we
hope you will want to be a part of this spiritual sharing.
Your September calendar is going to fill up fast – so don’t forget to mark
September 28th for our DWF luncheon. Michelle Wood will be speaking
on “Spiritual Life Tapestries” – an intriguing topic you won’t want to
miss, and our service project will be the Family Crisis Center. You will
find all the dates for our 2008-2009 luncheons in your little Disciples Women’s Di-
rectory. We hope you have picked up your free copy by now – they are available in
the Church office.
As Disciples Women, we serve our Lord with strength and with purpose,
and with joy - doing all we do in His service. We invite you to join us in this
year ahead. The last lines of the September Song say “these precious
days, I’ll spend with you” – let’s do it!

LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!

Winter seems far away, but it’s time to start thinking of how you can help
with the SNOWMAN WONDERLAND BOUTIQUE. Our annual
Boutique, put on by the Disciple Women, is scheduled for Saturday, No-
vember 8th. That gives us 11 weeks to get things together. We have
already had two workshops and two more are scheduled for September 21st and
October 12th. Please join us after church on these dates to make items for the sale.
Craftiness is not necessary; you just need a willingness to work.
I heard a rumor that some of our women’s circles might also be working
on crafts to sell. You go girls!!! We also depend upon our talented women
who are working at home making items to sell for our biggest fundraiser of
the year. Nothing is too big or too small so if you have an idea, go for it.
The money we make is disseminated at the end of the year to worthy or-
ganizations both in and out of our church family. Don’t forget to also save your
gently used treasures that can be sold at Grandma’s Attic. There will be plenty of
other opportunities like making candy for the Candy Shoppe, baking for our Bake
Sale and volunteering your time on the days before, during and after the boutique.
More details to follow. It’s always a wonderful weekend and we invite all of you to
join in.

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 The Regional Assembly
October 16-18, 2008
First Christian Church, San Bernardino
Greetings to the Pacific Southwest Region Family!
This year First Christian Church of San Bernardino will be
hosting our October 16-18, 2008 Regional Assembly . Our theme this year is, “One Church,
New Church, Transformed” based on Romans 12: 1-2. The registration deadline is September
12. Registration forms are located in your church office or by visiting our website
www.disciplespswr.org
See you in San Bernardino!

4th ANNUAL PSWR GOLF CLASSIC

MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2008
ALTA VISTA COUNTRY CLUB, PLACENTIA

Prizes and Trophies!

On-Course Contests!
Pre-Event Putting Contest!
Silent & Live Auctions – more contributions welcome & needed!
Banquet – spouses & friends welcome. Must register!

New feature this year! – Two golf pros for the Alta Vista Country Club staff on the driving
range to provide instruction prior to the shot-gun start at 11:00am. 2008 Opportunity Draw-
ing: First prize - 50” flat panel plasma TV. There will be a second & third prize, too! Tickets
for the Opportunity Drawing will be available through your church by early September and at
the Regional Assembly.

For additional information, contact Ed Linberg, Golf Committee Chair,

909-392-6688 or Ted Oden at 310-782-1650.

Page 4
 CHURCH FAMILY NEWS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Paul Crossman was feeling well Bible Study—10:00 a.m.,
enough to attend worship recently, but
(Wednesdays)
still needs our prayers.
Choir—7:00 p.m., (Thursdays)
Arly Jahn (Jack Rogers’ sister and one Praise Team Practice—6:00 p.m., (Thursdays)
of our home-bound members) is back at Labor Day—Sept. 1, Church Office Closed
her care facility room after some time in Worship Meeting—7:00 p.m., Sept. 2.
the hospital, but still needs our prayers. Trustee Meeting—7:00 p.m., Sept. 2.
Kathi Koontz continues to gain strength Education Meeting—7:00 p.m., Sept. 3.
after surgery, but more slowly than ex- New Hope—7:00 p.m., Sept. 4.
pected.
His Hands—12:00 p.m., Sept. 7.
Marlen Sanchez is back from Florida CYF—5:30 p.m., Sept.7.
where she was helping to care for her Amazing Gray’s—1:00 p.m., Sept. 8.
father, who is doing better, and who will Women’s Board Meeting—7:00 p.m., Sept. 9.
be coming to California soon. Board Meeting—7:00 p.m., Sept. 10.
Kick-off Sunday & Picnic—10:00 a.m. Sept. 14.
David Eldik is up over 5 lbs., but needs
a more consistent heart-rate before he Love Group—9:30 a.m., Sept. 16.
can go home. His grandmother Janie Faith Group—1:30 p.m. Sept. 16.
Fietz will be helping out in Las Vegas Elders Meeting—7:00 p.m., Sept. 16.
until his father, Mosbeh, comes home on CMF—8:30 a.m., Sept. 20.
paternity leave from Iraq in early Sep- Boutique Workshop—12:00 p.m., Sept. 21.
tember. CYF—5:30 p.m., Sept. 21.
Disciple Women’s Lunch—12:00 p.m. Sept. 28.
John & Phyllis King continue to enjoy
hearing about all the “goings-on” at their CYF—5:30 p.m., Sept.28.
church of 50 years. They wish they did-
n’t have so much smoke from the Cali-
fornia wild fires. Save The Date
For a Loch Leven Work Weekend,
Thanks… October 3-5! All will be gathering
to do a variety of jobs in the great
To Rich & Jimmy Koontz,
outdoors; Plenty of music and fun in the eve-
who recently waxed the floors
nings. Come on down!
in Sippel Hall and the
kitchen—looks great! For information, contact Tom Perring at
perringfarms1@sbcglobal.net.

Page 5
 September 2008
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursd

WORSHIP SERVICES
8:30 and 10:30 am
Sunday School 9:30 am

1 2 3
Worship Meeting Bible Study 10:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m. New Ho
Education Meeting 7:00 p.m
Trustees 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
7 8 9 10

Bible Study 10:00 a.m.

Amazing Gray’s Disciple Women’s
His Hands 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. Board Meeting Board Meeting
CYF 5:30 p.m.
Newsletter 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

14 15 16 17

Love Group 9:30 a.m.

Kick-off Sunday &
Faith Group 1:30 p.m.
Picnic Bible Study 10:00 a.m.
Elders 7:00 p.m.
CYF 5:30 p.m.

21 22 23 24

Boutique Workshop Newsletter

12:00 p.m. Bible Study 10:00 a.m.
CYF 5:30 p.m.

28 29 30

Disciple Women’s .
Lunch 12:00 p.m.

Page 6
day Friday Saturday
September Birthday’s
Jack Rogers 2
Matt Galyardt 2
Greg Oden 4
Walter Morrison 4
Susie Noble 4
4 5 6 Brandon Williams 5
Virginia Peck 6
Rich Koontz 9
ope Robert Fender12
Harding Peck14
m. Chal Strayer 16
Matthew Reeley17
Karen Jackson 19
11 12 13 Bobbi Lotrick 19
Dick Talley 20
Ashley Whobrey 20
Uy Vu 21
Regional Assembly Betsy Galyardt 22
Vicki Johns 22
Registration Deadline Janie Fietz 23
June Perkins 24
Kara Ryan 24
Jaryd Griego 25
18 19 20 Catherine Paour 25
Hilda Corless 26
Helen Williams 26
C.M.F. Gwen Jonas 27
8:30 a.m. Katelynn Rogers 27
Nneji Ibe 30

25 26 27

ANNIVERSARIES
Charles & Catherine Bales 1
Jerry & Lynn Jonas 2
Harding & Virginia Peck 3
Chal & Helene Strayer 4
Bill & Ester Adams 5
Lee & Pat Sebaugh 7
Mike & Kel Henderson 7
Morrie & Virginia Gober 12
Grant & Betsy Galyardt 23
Mike & Toshiko Morotani 29

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 Education Notes & News
FROM THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Mark your calendars for our SEPTEMBER SUNDAY SCHOOL KICK-OFF.
All children and adults are invited to join in for breakfast goodies, singing (look
for some VBS favorites!) and a chance to meet your teachers. We will meet at
9:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 14th. Our blended service starts at 10:00 a.m. and
will be followed by the All-Church Picnic. What a day!

The Education Committee is looking for volunteers to help out with our Sunday
morning programs. One position that needs to be filled is that of the Worship and
Wonder Greeter. This person is responsible for bringing the children out of the
sanctuary after the Children’s Moment and taking them to the Worship and Won-
der room. The greeter would then support the Storyteller by helping the children
to listen and focus on the story.

We are also looking for adults to take our 3rd through 5th graders out of the sanc-
tuary during sermon time to meet with them and present a children’s sermon or
lesson that is at their level. Resources would be available to help plan this pro-
gram if needed. The commitment for both positions would be once a month,
with different adults taking a given Sunday a month. Please see Jill Foster or call at 310-378-
4981 if you are interested in helping and/or would like more information.

August-September Youth Calendar:

August 31st
HOLIDAY

September 7th
12:00 Youth Adventure
(grades 3-5) (light lunch provided)
5:30 CYF (grades 9-12) at church with parents

September 14th
All youth invited to attend blended service at 10:00 a.m. and stay for fun at the
Kick-Off picnic immediately following.

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 September 21st
12:00 Youth Adventure (light lunch provided)
5:30 CYF

September 28th
4:00 Chi Rho (grades 6-8)
5:30 CYF

Adult Sunday School

Steve Fietz continues to facilitate a series on “How We Approach the Bi-
ble” through September 7. We will celebrate Kick-Off Sunday with the
Education Committee on September 14.
Barbara Myers has agreed to do two more Sunday classes on “The Names of God” to fin-
ish out September.
Class topics for October are still being worked out, but in November, we’re looking for-
ward to a 3-week series from David Matson based on some exciting research he’s done
recently on Disciples History.

Recycling Program
Most churches generate a fair amount of paper each week – worship
materials, class handouts, financial reports and so on. All of it is impor-
tant, but we don’t always use or keep everything. Knowing that we are called to be stew-
ards of God’s earth, it just doesn’t feel right to a lot of us to throw things away.

SO… we’re asking that you keep your eyes out for the humble boxes and other containers
that we’re beginning to use for leftover church paper. If you can’t find a recycling con-
tainer, feel free to leave leftover paper out where it’s visible, and someone else will get it
into recycling.

Please remember also that there is recycling for cans in our gym (thanks to
Don and Mary Jo Kohlmiller!)

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 Outreach News
The Backpack Project was a great success. We filled 200 backpacks and they were
delivered to Love INC with the help of the Rogers Family. I want to thank everyone
who participated in this much needed project. You gave your time, your finances,
your donations and just a willing heart. Without the support of the church, this pro-
ject would not be possible. Upon completion, Love INC was able to distribute 1800
backpacks to underprivileged children in the South Bay area. What a great accom-
plishment.
Also the Kids Kloset continues to reach out and help those mothers and children in
need. If you know a family in need of these resources, please contact Sherril
Wiechmann at 310-339-7649.
Blessings in Christ,
Sherrill Wiechmann
Outreach Chair
(Brotherly love is still the distinguishing badge of every true Christian.) -Matthew Henry

Dear Torrance FCC VBS Team,

Did you hear the oohs and ahs, hosanna and hallelujahs from Northeast Los Ange-
les County on August 10th, when Kel brought the VBS murals and posters from
FCC Torrance to Whittier?
We are in awe of your artistry, playful talent and generosity. Our children were ex-
cited about the colorful wall displays produced by your creative VBS crew.
Bountiful Blessings to you from a grateful Whittier VBS Bunch.

Kathleen Hunt, Kel’s Mom

Dear Church Family

Thank you for the 50th Wedding Anniversary cards and get well cards for Duane’s
recovery from cancer. A big thank you for those of you that provided our dinner
meals.
In His Love,

Duane & Shirley Johnson

Page 10
 Footnotes
Well, I’m excited about the future of First Christian Church of Torrance. The
leadership of your church has been working together on some themes and em-
phases for the next several months. They shape out around the general out-
line of:

1. Who are we?

2. What are our gifts?
3. How shall we use those gifts?

This coming fall, our worship themes will focus on our identity as a Disciples
of Christ congregation (see the article on the cover for more info). This is the
“Who are we?” piece—we may find that we don’t match all those identity prin-
ciples, but I’ll wager we fit a lot of them. Even more important: wherever we
land regarding the statements, it is essential and exciting to talk about them!

Early in 2009, we’ll begin a whole church focus on discerning our spiritual gifts.
We’re in the early stages on this, but it will involve elements of worship and
adult education, as well as some special events. Then, as we move into
spring, we’ll be prayerfully considering how our congregation and each individ-
ual in it can make best use of our gifts.

Throughout the coming months, we are asking that everyone who participates
at First Christian hold this process in prayer, asking and seeking God’s will for
our congregation. I would also add my personal request for your input – for
any suggestions, questions, or concerns you might have – and that we all keep
our spiritual knees flexed and ready for what comes!

Shalom, Steve

**Next Newsletter articles need to be at the church office by 9/8/08.

Page 11
 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
NON PROFIT ORG.

(Disciples of Christ)
PERMIT NO. 109
TORRANCE, CA

2930 El Dorado Street

Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 328-2820 Fax 310 328-2929
E-mail - fcctorr@pacbell.net
Web address - fcctorrance.org
Sunday Schedule
8:30 a.m. - Worship - Informal
9:30 a.m. - Church School for all ages
10:30 a.m. - Worship - Traditional
Children’s Worship - Ages Pre-school through
2nd Grade
(During the Traditional Worship Service)
Nursery Provided
For birth through age 3 during Sunday School
and the Traditional Service
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Staff
Steven Fietz, Senior Pastor
Ted Oden-Minister of Contemporary Worship
Administrative Assistant– Camelia Olloque
Choir Director - Ken Potter
Nursery Attendant - Sherril Wiechmann
The Christian Messenger

Officers
Chair - Doug Crawford
TIME VALUE DATA

Vice Chair - Don Zukas

2930 El Dorado Street

DO NOT DELAY
First Christian Church

Torrance, CA 90503

Treasurer– Bill Wysong

EXPEDITE

Financial Secretary - Moggy Emmen

Clerk– Chery Carew

Page 12