Advent candle lighting at ONE Worship

Howdy all,

Here are some photos taken of the Parish family (Ricky, Mayuko, Ricky Jr., Stephanie, Sachi, and Angelina) as they lit the Advent Candle at our ONE Worship service on Sunday, 11/29/09.

A letter from one of our members serving in the military: LTJG Richard Martinson

Friends, Family, Mentors,

I just wanted to let you all I know that I FINALLY qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO). This is a HUGE accomplish in my Navy Career and I just wanted to let you all know and thank you for all of your support continued support. I now have a warfare qualification in the Navy. Your support is appreciated more then you know. I can’t say that my time in the Navy since I graduated from the Air Force Academy has been a walk in the park because it hasn’t. The Navy is a totally different service then the Air Force in many ways. Earning the pin recently was the culmination of struggle, tears, and sacrifice. I honestly can’t say I was sure that today would ever happen. But after my oral board with my Captain (CO), Executive Officer (XO), Chief Engineering Officer (CHENG), Operations Officer (OPS), and Combat Systems Officer (CSO) I proved to them but more importantly I proved to myself I could do this. I still have a lot of work ahead to reach my ultimate goal but I feel as if I am back on track now. I must say that my confidence level has gone up so much since I earned my pin.

I’m 4 months into this deployment and I must say it’s been one of the hardest things I’ve done. Being away from family has been hard and something I’m not really use to. This has been my second Thanksgiving away from home and it will be my first Christmas & New Years away as well. General Petraus did come out and wish us a Happy Thanksgiving which was much appreciated. It was kind of surreal seeing the guy in person after reading and seeing him on the news so much. He is a very humorous and down to earth person. In case you’ve never heard of him his formal title is Commander U.S. Central Command, pretty much the top military officer in charge of all military operations in the middle east.

For those of who I haven’t told what I’m doing. I’m currently onboard the USS Sampson (DDG 102)  in the middle east as part of Combined Task Force 50 as part of the Nimitz Strike Group in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom.  The main watch that I stand is currently as the Surface Warfare Coordinator (SUWC) in the Combat Information Center (CIC). My job is to protect our ship and the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) against any and all surface threats.

I’ve attached some pictures of me getting pinned and also some other random ones of my time on deployment. We recently were in Dubai were the pictures in civilian clothing are from. I have more pictures if you’re interested.

Happy Holidays from the Middle East! I hope to hear from some of you! Please feel free to forward this e-mail to anyone that knows me. I’m sorry if I left you out!

Looking forward to hearing from you. Feel free to e-mail me anytime. I’d love to hear from you.

Cheers,

Richard Martinson

Spiritual Formation update

Last Monday the Spiritual Formation Group studied spiritual disciplines in the context of corporate worship and the church as a body of Christ.  We explored what makes up a “community” and discussed Oneonta’s “OASIS” community (OASIS is an acronym of Oneonta’s framework:  Outreach, Acceptance, Service, Inter-relational, and Spiritual Growth). The group read about Moses’ response to his encounter with God in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6) and Isaiah’s personal encounter with God (Isaiah 6:1-8).  We also looked at Jesus’ teaching against hypocrisy and how to tithe, pray and fast (Matthew 6:1-18), as well as His discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well about the location of worship not being the issue; but the heart and mind are where worship counts. (John 4:19-24). We will continue this study of spiritual discipline within community next week on Monday, November 30th, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Tower Room, when we look at what Paul wrote to the early church communities in Corinth and Philippi about spiritual formation. Count your blessings this Thanksgiving! Bernice Worley

Lectio Divina with Spiritual Formation Small Group

Last Monday, the Spiritual Formation Group explored the spiritual discipline of lectio divina (divine reading) – the slow, contemplative reading and praying of the Scriptures.  Here are the four steps to practice lectio divina:

(1)        “Lectio” or reading or sensing – take about 5 minutes to read a short passage of Scripture through slowly and reverently, allowing God to speak to you through his Word about how you can be obedient to His will for your life.

(2)        “Meditatio” or reflection/meditation or thinking – take about 10 minutes to read the passage again and think carefully about it, asking yourself questions and considering all possible meanings.  What does it say?  What does it mean?  How does it apply in my life?

(3)        “Oratio” or prayer or intuiting – take about 5 minutes to pray about the passage of Scripture.  Remember that prayer is a dialogue with God, so pour out your heart, but take time also to listen to God — “God, what are you saying to me today?” — and wait for his Spirit to show you, through the Word, what he wants you to know.

(4)        “Contemplatio” or contemplation or feeling – Note the distinction between contemplation and meditation.  Meditation is focusing on the Scripture’s meaning while contemplation is focusing on how to put God’s Word into action in your life.  Take 5 minutes to contemplate on the passage of Scripture.

The group experienced Psalm 15 through lectio divina and had a variety of individual insights to share with each other.  On Monday, November 16, the Spiritual Formation Group will meet in the Tower Room from 7:00-8:30 p.m. to study how God began the spiritual formation in the life of Saul, the first king of Israel (read 1 Samuel 9:1 – 10:13 in advance).

Bernice Worley

ONE Worship Anniversary Service- Sunday, November 15

 Join us this Sunday, November 15 as we celebrate the first anniversary of ONE Worship, Oneonta’s new contemporary worship service.

11am-11:30am: “Pre-glow” fellowship time in the Tower Room, including food, refreshments, and opportunities to make new friends! All are invited!

11:30am-12:30pm: A special Anniversary worship service featuring the ONE Worship Band, testimonies, and a special message given by Lincoln Skinner, Director of Family Ministries and Contemporary Worship. This will be a time to praise the Lord for all He has accomplished through ONE Worship in 2009 and an exciting look at the vision for 2010.

Contact: Lincoln Skinner 626-799-6161 lincoln@oneonta.org

See you there!

Spiritual Formation Small Group Update

The Spiritual Formation Group will meet in Redwood Chapel on Monday, Nov. 9th, from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Another group needs the space in the Tower Room for this one week, so we’ll enjoy a different location as we explore Lectio Divina (Latin for divine reading), a centuries-old method of reading Scripture to experience transformation.

Last Monday, the group discussed the benefit of fasting in today’s world. It is the disciplined person who can do what needs to be done when it needs to be done – i.e., there is a time to feast and a time to fast. There’s a long list of Biblical fasters that reads like a who’s who of Scripture, as well as many well known Christians throughout church history. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus gave explicit instructions of what not to do and what to do when fasting – note that he referred to when we fast, not if we fast (Matthew 6:16-24). Fasting is a way of humbling oneself before God and helps one to focus on a specific issue. Oneonta’s youth group can testify to this from their experience of World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine.

The central idea in fasting is the voluntary denial of an otherwise normal function (whether it’s eating or something else) for the sake of intense spiritual activity.

The group briefly discussed how fasting from people (making time for solitude), the phone and conversation (making time for silence) and consumerism can foster spiritual growth in an ever busy, noisy world. What do you need to fast from to grow closer to God?

-Bernice Worley

A quick story of encouragement!

Be careful what you pray for!

I started praying regularly a couple of weeks ago for the Lord to bring new people to our contemporary worship service, “ONE Worship”, each week. I usually pray for this, but lately I felt the Lord calling me to make this more of priority. The first Sunday following my prayers we had a new woman visit us named Cheryl, who had a great experience and has been coming regularly ever since. Last week we had 4 new people in ONE Worship! Woohoo! Also, a woman who lives in Pasadena called the church today asking about our Monkey Butler Comedy group. She heard about Oneonta because she is a member at the YMCA next door. I spoke with her for a bit and she said that she was looking at our website and was also interested in checking out ONE Worship. I described what we are all about and she was so excited she said she will definitely be at both Monkey Butler and at ONE this Sunday! (I got so excited that I forgot what her name was. Oops.) So if you see a new face this week, feel free to give her a big ONE Worship greeting!

There are so many good things here at our church! I am so excited to have an opportunity to share them with the community around us. I would like to invite you to pray with me each week, “Lord, please continue to bring new people to ONE Worship and Oneonta Church as a whole.” Amen!

Sincerely,

Lincoln Skinner -Director of Family Ministries & Contemporary Worship

Door of Hope Outreach Event on Saturday, Nov 7

How can I show love to my neighbor?

WHAT: Join us as we head up to “Door of Hope” Ministries in Pasadena to help clean and fix things in their residences for low-income families.

WHEN & WHERE: Saturday, November 7. Meet at the church parking lot at 8:30am. We will return around noon and enjoy lunch together while we share our experiences with each other. The event will end around 1PM.

CONTACT: Tom Stone if you have any questions- tom@mpmusic.us

For more info about Door of Hope Ministries visit http://www.doorofhope.us

Spiritual Formation small group update

The Spiritual Formation Group read and discussed Elijah’s encounter with God in the cave on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8-18).  “A hurricane ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t to be found in the earthquake; and after the earthquake came fire, but God wasn’t to be found in the fire; and after the fire, a gentle, quiet whisper.”  Like Elijah, in the quiet we can begin to hear the still, small voice of God. David had a lot to say about being still and waiting for the Lord.  “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope” (Psalm 130:5).  “My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation” (Psalm 62:1).  “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). The more hectic our lives, the more essential it is that we make space for silence and solitude.  Hans Margolis said, “Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves undistorted.  Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world.” Silence and solitude supply fuel for the soul.  There’s something about being alone and quiet that has the ability to renew, invigorate and energize us.  But it’s not just about being alone and quiet – it’s about being alone with God, and quiet so we can hear Him speak.  Try these three simple steps to take toward hearing God’s still, small voice:  (1) Find time to be alone; (2) Make it as quiet as possible; and (3) Practice the art of silence, which involves active listening. Next Monday evening the group will discuss the Biblical tradition of fasting – how do we practice this in the 21st century?  What are the benefits of exercising this spiritual discipline? -Bernice

Monkey Butler Improv Comedy Update

Join us Thursday nights from 8pm-10pm in the Tower Room for free Improv Comedy Worshops by critically acclaimed “Monkey Butler Comedy” team. This is a level 1 foundations class that is open to anyone age 17 and up. If you are new to improv comedy and want to come to check it out, great! If you are a pro who wants to come and refine your craft, this class is for you, too.

We had a great turnout last week at class. 16 people showed up and our fearless instructor, Eric Reeser, decided that we were ready to experiment with group “long form” imrov comedy. This is a technique in which two people act out a spontaneous scene and other actors can jump in and manipulate the story. It just as much fun to watch as it is to participate.

On another note, it is exciting to report that we have quite a fun community building here every Thursday night. Not only are we consistently seeing the same faces each week, but great friendships and hang out times are beginning to happen outside of class among our attendees. It really blesses me to see how people in the group are excited to come each week not only because they enjoy learning and performing improv, but because they feel like this is a safe place among friends.

If you are looking for a chance to have fun, make new friends, and learn more about improv comedy, please join us this week!

If you want to learn more about monkey butler, please visit www.monkeybutlercomedy.com

-Lincoln

Oneonta’s Monday Evening Spiritual Formation Group

What does it mean to imitate Christ?  Arthur Simon, founder of the international organization Bread for the World, grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and was taught by his father that “even the cows should know you are a Christian by the way you treat them.”  Last Monday, the Spiritual Formation Group studied the pattern of Jesus’ life and ministry as set forth in Mark 1:35-42.  In a nutshell, Jesus set an example of meditation, proclamation and compassion. Meditation (or spending quiet time alone with God) is necessary to face the challenges with which we are presented.  As a medieval monk prayed, “Lord, temper with tranquility our manifold activity, that we may do our work for thee with very great simplicity.” Proclamation (or preaching) was essential to Jesus’ ministry.  All Christian living is proclamation of that which masters us.  By deed as well as by word, we make a statement about the things in which we believe and an expression of our faith. Compassion (or love) is a natural blossom from the seed planted in meditation; and proclamation is futile without compassion.  As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe so aptly stated, “The highest cannot be spoken, it can only be acted” and “Knowing is not enough; we must apply.  Willing is not enough, we must do.” May the example that Christ gives us draw us to a fuller commitment of our lives to His way so that even the cows will know we are Christians! Next week the Spiritual Formation Group will explore the disciplines of silence and solitude and how they provide perspective and fuel for the soul. -Bernice Worley

Pics from Family Movie Night!

Spiritual Formation update

Last Monday, the Spiritual Formation Group explored the mysterious partnership we have with God in becoming more sanctified (or holy – or Christ-like).  Paul told the Philippians to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” indicating that we have an important, yet humble, role; but then he said, “For it is God who is at work within you.”  (Philippians 2:12-13)  So sanctification is empowered by God.  Just like a sailboat that requires action to hoist the sails and steer the rudder, we cannot be passive.  But, at the same time, we are utterly dependent on the wind.  Read John 3:8 to see what Jesus said about the “wind.”  Our job is to discern where the wind of the Spirit is blowing and to know how to catch it.

The group discussed how sanctification is a process that may be painstaking.  Paul wrote in Philippians 3:12-13 that he wasn’t there yet, but he presses on, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.  Finally the group talked about the goal or motivation behind pursuing sanctification (or spiritual growth).  The answer in one word is “love.”  God loves us even when we are hardest to love.  He wants to sanctify us and that’s no small thing – it’s God’s destiny for us.  If we miss out on that, we miss out on what we were made for – God’s intent is to sanctify us so we can love as He loves.  I think Oneonta got it right in our mission statement – “Our mission as Christians is to love God, love others, and serve humanity.”

Next week’s discussion will focus on imitating Christ – read Mark 1:35-42 – can you see a pattern of Jesus’ life that we can imitate?

Bernice Worley

Spiritual Formation small group update

 ”For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 (NIV).   Three of us met last Monday and shared how we interpret God working in our lives.  Sometimes what we first perceive to be problems turn out to be blessings.   

Next Monday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Tower Room, the group will explore further the mysterious partnership we have with God in growing spiritually.

Bernice Worley

Family Movie Night featuring DreamWorks “Monsters vs. Aliens”

You’re invited to this special event!

WHAT: Join us for Family Movie Night, featuring the recently released DreamWorks animated film, “Monsters vs. Aliens”.

WHEN: Saturday, October 17 from 5:30pm-8:00pm.

WHERE: Oneonta Congregational Church. Event will be in the church quad (grassy area in the center of the campus).

COST: Free event! Free dinner provided by “Mamas Brick Oven Pizza” and free dessert provided by “My Sweet Cupcake”. There will also be free refreshments and more!

BRING: This will be an outdoor event, so don’t forget to bring lawn chairs, blankets, warm clothes, etc.

RSVP: Please contact Lisa Petty at 323-257-8477 to rsvp.