Quick Takes . . .
Every Family Has One
December 31, 2006
Ken Cureton, director of youth ministries at Windsor Community UMC, told the youth group: "Many people know about Jesus' cousin John. Most every family has one or two members who have clothes made of camel's hair and a leather belt around their waists, and whose food is locusts and wild honey, or some other kind of quirks." The church youth group performed a Christmas play, Christmas Presence, on Christmas Eve morning...
On the Sundays of Advent, Sebastopol UMC asked for "alternative" Christmas presents: to the homebuilding Habitat for Humanity; to a Santa Rosa food cupboard called FISH; to the international farm animal Heifer Project; or to Sebastopol UMC's own Church Door Ministry -- the food voucher program that grew out of needy people coming to the church office. On the Wednesday evenings of Advent, Sebastopol UMC opened its sanctuary for music and quiet meditation. The Rev. Judith Stone issued this invitation to the community: "You are invited to step aside from the holiday scurry and enter our church for an hour of reflection and prayer"...
Crystal Springs UMC began, after Labor Day, an every-Wednesday 7 p.m. support group for people in the Baby Boom generation (born 1946 to 1964) who are caring other family members, probably mainly parents. Pat Sita, who has previously led small groups dealing with domestic violence, is the faciltator. The Cyrstal Springs member says, "This group can provide a safe place for caregivers to vent frustrations without being judged, and to exchange information about resources in the community and health care system. We've had more and more requests for this from people going through this. I told Paul [the Rev. Paul Sweet, Crystal Springs pastor] we've got to do something."