Garden Progressing Slowly but Surely

We picked a peck of oranges from the two trees on the church property and delivered them to Shepherd's Pantry for distribution to their clients (we also have a lemon tree and some unruly grapevines).

This is an overview shot of progress to date. In the foreground are a few of our six plots in various stages of production. In the middle background is our pumpkin patch (note the small mounds where pumpkin plants are sprouting). In the far background are loads of steer manure for fertilizer and tree chips for weed abatement. 

I'm not sure you quite believed me when I wrote that pumpkin plants are sprouting in those little mounds of earth. Each mound has its own drip water source.

Secretary Lizz prepares to break ground in her little Eden. I am supervising.

While Lizz sputters through the dust cloud she just made I double over with laughter (that's how I roll as a manger). By nightfall we had her little plot fairly well prepped.

Church Garden Update

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37-38 NIV

Our Church Garden Food Ministry Team met again last night to review our progress and plan next steps. Long-term site plans were discussed as well as the City of Glendora's new water restrictions.

We meet next on Thursday, July 9 at 7pm. All are welcome.

Sign Saying

DON'T WAIT FOR 

SIX STRONG MEN TO

BRING YOU TO CHURCH!

Church To Church Opportunity

Peter Pan Tickets Available

Katelyn is performing as "Smee" in Peter Pan the next two weekends. Opening night is tomorrow (Friday). There's a Saturday and Sunday matinee and a Saturday evening performance both weekends. We have a limited number of tickets for sale for $13 each ($19 at the door).

A Whole Lotta Self Going On

self sufficient

self torture

self starter

self seeker

self rule

self respect

self policing

self medicate

self sustaining

self care

self defeating

self composed

self feeding

self restrained

self controlled

self destruct

self defined

self conscious

self devotion

self preservation

self reproach

self serve

self knowledge

self hood

self inclusive

self indulgent

self interest

self hood

selfish

self save

yourself

self fulfilled

self hate

self help

self loathe

self important

self evident

self effacing

self educated

self discipline

self doubt

self contained

self concept

self esteem

self mutilation

self improvement

self aware

self identity

self injury

self protection

self perception

herself

himself

itself

myself

oneself

self same

self...

***************************************************

What about this one: selfless.

Or this one: self renunciation.

Jesus: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only Him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us."

William Penn: No Cross, No Crown

Sign Saying

SELF DENIAL DISCIPLINES:

FASTING, SUBMISSION, SOLITUDE,

SERVICE AND SIMPLICITY

Youth Promotion Party

Carpet Installed in High School Room

All these years we've lived with a painted floor in the high school room. In our grand scheme we just couldn't afford to carpet this 20ft by 30ft room with so many other pressing needs at church. But our friend, Rafael, generously donated his time and labor as well as the carpet, making this room warmer, quieter and more attractive (plus the carpet color matches the current paint scheme really well).

Morning Is Still by Gina Butler

The trees are standing

without breath

The sky lays heavy like

a comforting blanket.

Quiet is covering our

hearts.

Oh Lord, are you listening

to us?

We hear nothing but

love, mercy,

grace & truth.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Our church garden food ministry met for the second time last night to discuss our garden outreach ministry

We took action on two items.

1. We'll start planning for the long term by individually drafting site plans for the garden. We'll bring these drafts back to our next meeting on Thursday, June 25, 7pm, and pool our ideas to come up with the best overall long term plan.
2. Most of this season's garden will be planted in pumpkins. But about a fifth has been subdivided into six 3' x 20' plots. Drip water lines will be installed. Teams of two have been assigned to garden these plots. These plots are for this season and will not necessarily make it into the final long term plan (but then again, they may).

All are welcome to join us. We're not a happy gardening club to meet our own green thumb needs. We're gardening to advance the Good News of Jesus Christ in our community.

May Balance Sheet Observations

Highlights from our May 2009 Monthly Statement of Contributions and Expenses, prepared by Treasurer Phil J. This statement represents both May 2009 and the first eleven months of our fiscal year.

May General Giving $10,052

May Rent Income 1,702

TOTAL: General Income for May      11,754

Total Expenses for May 11,310

Positive Difference for May 444

General Giving Year to Date 110,971

Rent Income Year to Date 15,760

Total General Income Year to Date 126,731

Total Expenses Year to Date 130,650

Negative Difference Year to Date -3,919

Faith Promise Missions Giving for May 2,244

Faith Promise Missions Giving Year to Date 15,127

Total Designated Funds 9,166

Total Available Cash 6,102

Balance of Loan Payable (pay-off date: 03/01/10) 5,247

Proposed 2009-2010 Budget

At our upcoming Congregational Business Meeting this Sunday (12:30pm) the Stewardship Committee will be presenting the proposed 09-10 budget.

Some highlights of the proposal:

• It is $180 less per month than last year's budget.
• The only staff increase is $58 per month in health insurance costs.
• Our EFCSW First Fruits (Yearly Meeting assessment) amount will be lowered by $163 per month.
• Water is being increased from $160 t0 $230 per month (due mostly, we surmise, to increasing rates by the city of Glendora).
• Youth/College Ministries is being zeroed out this year due to a large surplus in savings.

To Twote Matt and Lois Kuffel

Tweeting in secret. Listening to Matt & Lois Kuffel, EFCSW missionaries to Cambodia.

Plan for one year, grow men; twenty years, trees; a hundred years, men.

Correction: plan for one year, grow rice.

Matt Kuffel recommends the book "Urban Halo" about micro-loans in Cambodia.

Vut, a Cambodian husband & father, was transformed by Jesus Christ & delivered from sins that devastated his family.

Health clinics & Cambodian health promoters open avenues to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Khmer Rouge atrocities still cause emotional & psychological suffering.

Kuffels use Skype to minister across vast distances & time.

Plan for eternity, grow churches.

A Cambodian high school girl who found Jesus 18 months ago rides 25 kilometerseach way by bike every Saturday to study the bible.

The Kuffels feel called to a rural area south of the Cambodian Capitol known as Kampat.

Cambodian culture does not understand the concept of forgiveness, but really get the idea of revenge.

the Kuffels ministry is an extension of our giving & prayers.

New Testament Background Illuminated

Bible scholar Dr. Ben Witherington posts a couple of neat stories about New Testament cities mentioned in Revelation: Laodicea and Smyrna. Good stuff for us bible archaeology and background geeks:

On Laodicea...

On Smyrna...

Ladies Visit to Living Well Medical Clinic

Catherine T reporting: These photos are from our Ladies Sunday School class field trip to Living Well Medical Clinic, a crisis pregnancy center in Pasadena. We have been collecting baby clothes for them and some of us went to deliver the clothes and have a tour. It is a great ministry. Their focus is to bring the love of Christ to these hurting women, and its incredible how many babies are saved through their work.

Tri-City Urban Demonstration Farm, Pomona, CA

This is the Tri-City Urban Demonstration Farm, located at 2016 N Garey Avenue in Pomona, is named after the Tri-City Mental Health Center right next door (the Center supplies the farm's water). The farm is on a vacant lot measuring about 60 X 300 feet. I met Randy, father to Amy of Amy's Farms, about which I have posted. Randy was a livestocksman by training but has grown a green thumb of late.

The farm is only two years old. They've made quite an impact in that time. They started with a plan (very key, I was told) detailing how they were going to use their space. Then they started cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. They had bit loads of wood chips dumped for free by tree trimmers as weed abatement. The plan calls for manageable vegetable beds like these. In the foreground are commercial crops that supply Amy's Farms. Behind them are 4  X 25 foot plots worked by neighborhood folks.

Water is supplied for each individual's plot.

About a third of the farm consists of fruit trees like these. Two year old trees are planted ten feet apart and pruned for two years. They are allowed to bear fruit on the fifth year. These beauties are only four years old. They are about to get another trim. The farm will be hosting a fruit tree pruning workshop on Friday, June 19, 2009 at 9am.

These apple and pear trees adorn the north wall. Planted in a French space-conserving style, the trees help maximize the growing space.

This is the work area. At right is the compost pile, supplied by Amy's Farms ($25 per yard). Next to it is a small tool shed. Individual community members who agree to the farm's rules are given keys to the gate and the shed. Wood chips and other piles of material are in the background.

Randy, a member of Pomona First Baptist Church, explained that the center feature of the farm was a labyrinth, a meditative path for prayer and reflection. Neat, huh?

Read more about Tri-City Urban Demonstration Farm and the philosophy behind it at www.agrariansolutions.org.

The Berry Patch

As an aside to our aspiring church food garden concept, Warren K has been transplanting berries from his backyard into a hilly plot beneath our sanctuary, on the north side of the property. Add some trellises, some carpet for weed barriers and an automatic watering system and you've got fresh berries galore.

Berry jelly, anyone?

Sign Saying

HE WHO CAN RETURN THANKS

FOR A LITTLE WILL ALWAYS

FIND HE HAS ENOUGH

Now That's A Cause I Can Get Behind

Talk about "value added"...

Insights Into Buddhism Seminar

"Insights into Buddhism" Seminar  

When: Saturday, June 6, 2009, 9am to 11am  
Where: Friends Church, Yorba Linda (Multi-Purpose Room) Link to Map

Who: Mission Team members or those interested in knowing more about Buddhism.
Speakers: Ray Canfield, Matt & Lois Kuffel

Contact: Rosalie Hamman @  Rosalieh@friendschurchsw.org to RSVP by June 1.

A Continental Breakfast will be provided. 

Missionary Visit This Sunday

Matt & Lois Kuffel, Evangelical Friends Church Southwest missionaries to Cambodia, are on furlough and will visit us this coming Sunday morning for the first time. They will bring greetings during the worship service and will share fully during a joint Sunday School hour.

Summer Ministers

Kudos to our Summer Ministers! Pray for these short-term mission ministers...

• Bethany J, Medical mission to Haiti/Dominican Republic, June 3-30
• Molly M, Vision mission to Ireland, June 3-30
• Ben C, Young Continentals West Coast tour, date TBA
• Jon S, Staff at Quaker Meadow Christian Camp
• Michael I, Staff at Quaker Meadow Christian Camp
• Richard I, Urban Promise, Camden, NJ
• Warren K, Czech Republic

Graduation Congratulations!

Kudos to our High School graduates! Pray for clear paths and encouragement...

• Katie C, San Dimas HS, June 10
• Douglas K, Bonita HS, June 9
• Jordan L, San Dimas HS, June 10
• Merissa O, Serrano HS, June 4
• Rachel O, Arcadia HS, June 12
• Michael P, Mt. SAC HS, July

Life Means Life

The murder of Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller is an abomination against God and the cause of life. Life means life in all its aspects.

I remember being embarrassed that the high profile Dr. Tiller lived and did his sinful deeds in my adopted home state of Kansas, America's heartland, not the crazy coasts or burly big cities. But never, ever should opposition rise to the level of murder, especially by those who claim to love Jesus and support life.

To me supporting life means life for all who face unnatural, untimely death: euthanasia, infanticide, abortion, war, capital punishment and other human contrived ends.