Windows
UNITED CHURCH
of
CHRIST
at LAUCC
February
2015
5550 Atherton Street ∙ Long Beach, CA 90815 ∙ Phone (562) 596-6718 ∙ Fax (562) 596-5228 ∙ www.losaltosucc.com
From our Interim Pastor…
Where I think We Are
In the past several weeks I have spent time thinking about this church and the future. I think that has been
prompted by the very clear financial picture that has emerged in recent months. There is another thought
that has been much on my mind almost since I arrived as your interim minister. That thought is centered on
the notion of energy to engage in whatever is needed to reverse the decline in membership. While it is
certainly true that churches are seeing sharp declines generally, including in the last year or two even the
mega-churches that have had so much success in the last 40 years, that is cold comfort. Nevertheless, there
is an apparent sharp decline.
Here’s what the Malphurs Group (a non-profit consulting company) has to say by way of summary:
Researcher David Olson paints a realistic portrait of the decline in churched people and the state of the
American church. He notes that “the percentage of the population attending church on any given weekend in
America in 2007 was 17 percent.” (This figure includes Catholic, Evangelical, Mainline and Orthodox
churches.)
According to the Census Bureau, the population of the US continues to climb –from 248,709,873 in 1990 to
308,745,538 in 2010. This is a 24% gain, which yields an Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) of 1.1 percent.
Yet Olson informs us that the number of worshipers remains virtually unchanged: 51.8 million in 1990 and
51.7 million in 2006. There is some evidence of a bit of an alarming possibility with statistical analysis as
reflected by some research reported in the Huffington Post. When folks in the 1950s were asked if they went
to church and said that they did, it meant that they did. That same question asked today is thought to elicit a
response that is actually a lie. It may be that church attendance numbers are inflated by as much as 50%.
Large churches have grown larger. Smaller churches have grown smaller. Many churches ceased to exist. The
net effect is no measurable growth in church attendance.
If church attendance simply kept pace with population growth, the number of those attending would have
grown at 1.1 percent per year for 16 years, resulting in church attendance increasing by nearly 10,000,000
people. Instead there has been a decline in church people.
There are lots of reasons given for decline in churches, but the essence seems to me to be an issue of
perceived relevance. If people have more choices about what to do with the resources of time, money and
energy, then it seems likely that the church will have to compete for those resources. There seems to be a
growing trend that suggests that young people are considering carefully the “bang for the buck” so to speak.
(continued on page 3)
Men’s Fellowship Dinner – Monday, February16 at 6pm @ Polly’s
1
Jerry Garber
Interim Pastor
David Joseph
Music Director
Ginger Joseph
Christian Ed. Director
WWFC WINTER SESSION
WHAT:
WHERE:
Sumer Lesser
Youth Coordinator
Maria Shrout
Preschool Director
WACKY WEDNESDAY FUN CLUB
LOS ALTOS UCC
5550 ATHERTON
LONG BEACH
EVERY WEDNESDAY
Based on LBUSD calendar
2:30 – 4:30
PRE-KINDERGARTEN TO 5TH GRADE
GAMES, MUSIC, SNACKS, CRAFTS, STORIES
WHEN:
Cindy Dufford
Office Manager
TIME:
WHO:
WHAT:
Leadership Council
FUN, FUN, FUN!
NO COST!
BRING A FRIEND
Moderator
Robin Erickson
REGISTER TODAY!
Moderator-Elect
Call Ginger at 562-458-3004 or
Email: [email protected]
Sarah Allen
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Christian Education Chair
Heather Lytwynec
Facilities Chair
Please contact Ginger if you would like to be a WWFC
volunteer. In addition to adult volunteers high school youth
and college students relate really well to our children and
make great volunteers. Service points and recommendations
available.
Tom Provencher
Volunteers have as much FUN as the kids!
Communications Co-Chairs
Marilou Sams
Sarah Allen
Fellowship Chair
OPEN
Finance Co -Chairs
Dave Lampert
Jonathan Joseph
February
Altar Flowers
Membership & Mission
Co-Chairs
Carol Brooks
Bonnie Mortensen
Outreach Chair
Wendy Parden
Worship Chair
5
9
10
12
15
17
Vern Joseph
Clark Poston
Janet Brandts
Ellie Taylor
Sumer Lesser
Tom Thornton
18
20
23
25
27
Tara Schall
Cody Wilks
Gwen Parden
Tyler Weiper
Kenny Sams
Kathe Lampert
2
1
8
15
22
The Morrisons
The Northrops
The Josephs
OPEN
Please see the 2015 Flower
Calendar in the narthex to
reserve your special date. We
have many dates available.
So, it seems that Los Altos finds itself in a large group of churches in decline. Since churches in decline use
resources differently than growing churches do, I decided to take a look at the numbers. I examined the
2014 budget. The typical Protestant church in the U.S. spends about 45% of budget on salaries. Growing
churches spend less than churches that have plateaued or are in decline. Los Altos spends 71% of the
budget on salaries, 26% more than average. So, what does this mean?
I can’t offer a pat answer. What I do think I know is that the number indicates that staffing has replaced
ministry by the membership. Growing churches spend less on salaries because people in the congregation
are doing the work that sometimes later becomes done by paid personnel. And, when it is “done for us”
then “we” don’t have to do it. Over time, I believe that leads to a kind of loss of psychological ownership, a
raison d’être, something to rally around that provides meaning and purpose. Incidentally, it is often in my
view true that clergy, in an effort to be helpful, step in and take over aspects of church life that are better
left to the membership.
I have said before that I believe Los Altos does have a de facto mission. It showed up in Kathe’s research.
In response to the statement, “Our church is primarily oriented to serving our members OR to serving the
world beyond our membership,” the responses clearly indicated the reality. On a 1 to 7 scale with 1 being
“serving our members” and 7 being “serving the world” here is the distribution:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
23%
31%
31%
12%
4%
0%
0%
Serving our members
Serving the World
It also happens that churches in decline tend to put resources into areas that do not yield growth.
Consultant Gary McIntosh1 describes this tendency as growing over time. Here is how it works. In the
formative years of a church, the staffing and resources are directed to find new people, and keep new
people. Later that becomes find new people, keep new people and celebrate with people. So there is a
continuum of pastoral tasks that looks like this:
Find New People
Keep People Celebrate
Educate
Oversee
Care
Continuum >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Reading left to right new churches staff for the first three and as the churches grow and mature, they move
into a maintenance mode and tend to concentrate on the three tasks on the right. Staffing over time usually
reflects the shift to the right side of the continuum.
I think the mission at Los Altos, in reality, is taking care of those who are here now. There is nothing wrong
with that. The question is whether or not that mindset is conducive to doing what is necessary to grow.
Growth means survival, and for that reason most will say something like, “Sure, we need more young
families. We need to grow” But, when asked if they are ready to do something – and perhaps something
“new” – to try to achieve that growth, I find substantially less being said.
That’s my take on where we are.
JG
----------------------------------------1
Gary Talbot directs the Doctor of Ministry program at Biola University. He publishes a monthly newsletter
on church growth – the McIntosh Church growth Network Newsletter
3
February 11, 2015
Valentines are in the air! With our month of
love (and candy), we have our first fieldtrip
of the school year for the three-year-old
class. We will make special cards for our
family and mail them home. We walk to the
mailbox and put in our letters. This is very
exciting for our little ones.
For:
Pre-preschoolers, preschoolers,
Moms, Dads, Caregivers
When:
9:00 – 10:00am,
2nd Wednesday of each month
Where: Patterson Hall
What:
Special Toddler Valentine’s Day
activities, Snacks, Legos, trains, play
kitchen, etc.
Purpose: To provide a time for parents and
caregivers to have an opportunity to
relax, do crafts with their children and
share adult conversation while watching
the little ones playing and interacting
with other children in a safe
environment. This program is open to
everyone, so please feel free to invite
friends and relatives who care for
young children to join us.
We are also gearing up for our upcoming
assessments and parent conferences. Each
child who will be going to kindergarten in the
fall will be assessed. We have taken the
information from Long Beach Unified as to
what is important for an incoming
kindergartener to know. The children always
leave our school well prepared for their new
school experience. It is a busy time of year
for us.
Volunteers are welcome! So if you would like to
play with the little ones, talk and interact with the
caregivers, help with refreshments or crafts,
please join us on February 11, 2015...
It is with great joy that I announce a new
teacher for the Red room. Miss Hannah
Jackman will be joining our team the middle
of this month. She has subbed for us in the
past and is thrilled to be teaching for us.
Stop by and say hi.
Maria Shrout & Ginger Joseph
Maria Shrout
“Creative Hands”
February 4, 2015
10:00am in Patterson Hall
 Prepare Valentine & Chinese New Year Crafts
for WWFC
 Bring a craft, art project, needlework project,
etc. to share or to work on.
 Mark your calendars and Join us.
The next Priscilla Circle meeting will
be on Thursday, February 19, at
12:30 pm in Patterson Hall. This will
be a sandwich potluck lunch; so
each member is asked to bring a
sandwich cut into fourths. Mary will
be the hostess. We will have a
short business meeting followed by
a Bible study with Ginger. All
Everyone is welcome! Invite a friend.
We have a lot of fun and fellowship while keeping
our hands busy and doing our part for the Wacky
Wednesday program.
women are invited.
4
Even though 2015 has just
started I must say that 2015 has
started with a bang. This past
Sunday I was able to meet with three of the
youth and have an amazing lunch and meeting
to plan out events in 2015. We had lunch at BJs
in Cerritos where we were able to hang out and
make plans for the upcoming months. I am
excited to say that the youth have some great
ideas for activities and fundraisers to help raise
money to go to Florida for our National Youth
Event in 2016. We will be having a yard sale,
bake sales, movie nights, some dine-ins at
church, and dinner out to help raise money for
this event. On top of fundraising we will also be
doing service projects and having fun at youth
and church events. As always if you have any
ideas for an event that the youth can attend
please let me know.
All Ages
Lent Event
Sunday, February 22nd
McNeil Hall
POT-LUCK LUNCH
Following Annual Meeting
Sign up in Patterson Hall
LENT & EASTER CRAFTS
 Ukrainian Eggs
 Fuse Bead Lenten Symbols
 Life of Jesus Stained Glass
Paintings
 Matchstick Crosses
Here is a schedule of our upcoming youth events:
February
8
13-16
22
EVERYONE WELCOME!
BRING A FRIEND!
Bake Sale
Feb Camp at Pilgrim Pines
Annual Meeting followed by a
potluck and Lent Event
Sumer Lesser
Youth Director
Fundraiser
In June of 2016 I am excited to say that the youth and I have the opportunity to attend the National Youth event
in Florida where we will attend worship, workshops, a mission project, and have a fun day with close to 3,000
other UCC youth from all over the country. Even though the event is still over a year away the youth have
come up with many ideas to help fundraise for this event to help bring down the cost. I am excited to say that
Domenico’s has agreed to partner with us for one of our first fundraiser events. Flyers are available in the
church office and will be distributed at the Annual meeting and Lent Event on Sunday, February 22. You must
bring the flyer with you to qualify for the 25% donation from Dominico’s. Please plan to join us on February
23rd at Domenico’s where you can have a nice dinner out while helping us raise money for our trip to Florida in
2016. If you have any questions please feel free to let me know. If anyone needs transportation to this event
please let me know so that we can find you a ride.
5
PILGRIM PINES CAMP DATES FOR 2015
WINTER CAMPS
It's that time! Youth, get your winter coats and boots and keep your fingers crossed for SNOW!
FEB Camp (for high school youth, February 13-16)
Youth attending: Erica Brown, Gwen Parden, Parker Schall and Emma Thornton
Adult Adviser: Tom Provencher (Thank you, Tom!)
SPRING EXTRAVAGANZA April 24-26
All Church weekend similar to Fall Fun 4 All
SUMMER CAMPS “Power Up! Living in the Spirit”
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
0
1
2
3
4
July
July
July
July
July
1-4
Big Feet/Little Feet
5-11
CIT training for high school students
12-18
CYMC for high school students
19-26
CYMC for high school students
27-Aug 1 Creative Expressions for everyone
*Except for Week 0, ALL ages attend camp each week. Changes noted are for High School campers (grades
9-12 & 2015 graduates)
** Week 3 has been designated as LAUCC week but campers may choose other weeks to attend as well.
Summer Camp Registration will open mid February and directions for registering will be available from
Ginger Joseph and Sumer Lesser. Be sure to let Sumer or Ginger know if you are interested in attending
camp at Pilgrim Pines this summer so they can provide you with the necessary information! We do
encourage registering early.
Volunteer Counselors and Directors NEEDED for all weeks. Forms will be available online mid February.
Camperships available for all campers!
Priscilla Circle’s
“Garden Patch”
If you have fruit or vegetables from your
garden that you wish to share with your
church family, you can put them in a basket
on the table by the front door into Patterson
Hall. You will find a basket along with a jar
for donations and a sign that reads “Priscilla
Circle’s Garden Patch” in the desk/secretary
in Patterson Hall. All donations collected will
help Priscilla Circle support the “Wacky
Wednesday” program and the mailing of
cards each month to our “Homebound”
members. Help Priscilla Circle support
these programs. Thank You
SAVE THOSE ALUMINUM CANS
and CLEAR PLASTIC BOTTLES!!
Our aluminum can barrels are located in the Patterson Hall kitchen
in the cupboard under the microwave and in the patio. Please DO
NOT SMASH THE CANS, and just put them loose in the barrel
and NOT in little plastic bags.
We now also have a can in the patio for plastic bottles. They must
be CLEAR plastic and have the CA redemption on the label. The
caps must be removed.
Please think about where you throw that can or water bottle. Help
us raise money to defer the cost of camps at Pilgrim Pines for all
ages.
We are also collecting old batteries - any size or shape. Put them
in the box in the front hallway
PLEASE RECYCLE !
6
February
Sun
Mon
1
10am Worship
2
1pm Taeao Fou
Worship
11:30am Christian
Ed. Committee
6pm Dinner Out
at Fantastic
Café
8
9
10am Worship
11am Youth
Bake Sale
Tue
3
4
10:30am
Bible Study
Hands
10:30am
Bible Study
6:30pm Joint
1pm Taeao Fou
Planning
Committee
Meeting
Worship
10am Creative
2:30pm Wacky
Wednesday Fun
Club
10
Preschool
Closed
Wed
Thu
5
9am Discovery
10am
Wednesday Fun
Club
Sat
7
8am-Noon
Taeao Fou
Choir rehearsal
7pm Choir
Rehearsal
12
2:30pm Wacky
6
5pm
Bible Study
11
Time
Fri
13
14
Membership and
Mission
5pm
Bible Study
8am-Noon
Taeao Fou
7pm Choir
Rehearsal
4-11pm
Taeao Fou
Valentine
Event
Feb Camp thru
2/16
15
10am Worship
11:30am Finance
Committee
11:30am Facilities
Committee
16
PRESIDENTS
DAY
Preschool
Closed
6pm Dinner Out
at Deli News
6pm Men’s
Fellowship
Dinner
17
10:30am
Bible Study
6:30pm
Leadership
Council
18
ASH
WEDNESDAY
2:30pm WWFC
7pm Ash
Wednesday
Service
10am Worship
11:30am Annual
Congregational
Meeting
Lent Event
(following Annual
Meeting)
23
Dominico’s
Youth
Fundraiser
20
21
8am-Noon
Taeao Fou
NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE
10am Book
Club
12:30pm
Priscilla Circle
5pm
Bible Study
7pm Choir
Rehearsal
Feb Camp
22
19
24
25
26
10:30am
Bible Study
2:30pm WWFC
5pm
Bible Study
27
28
8am-Noon
Taeao Fou
7pm Choir
Rehearsal
1pm Taeao Fou
Worship
2015
Windows
at LAUCC
5550 Atherton Street ∙ Long Beach, CA 90815
Phone (562) 596-6718 ∙ Fax (562) 596-5228
www.losaltosucc.com
[email protected]
[email protected]
2015