Immanuel's Blog

An Advent Reflection 11.30.11

immanuelpres — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:37:10 +0000

Love is most nearly itself
When here and now cease to matter.
Old men ought to be explorers
Here or there does not matter
We must be still and still moving
Into another intensity
For a further union, a deeper communion
Through the dark cold and the empty desolation,
The wave cry, the wind cry, the vast waters
Of the petrel and the porpoise. In my end is my beginning.

- the very last lines of T.S.Eliot’s East Coker

Newcomers Lunch + Almuerzo de los Recien Llegados 12.4.11

immanuelpres — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:33:47 +0000

Each first Sunday of the month newcomers to Immanuel are invited to learn more about the church, get to know some people, and consider beginning the journey toward membership. Please join us this Sunday in Room 105. Lunch provided.

Cada primer domingo del mes, los recien llegados a Immanuel estan invitados a aprender mas acerca la iglesia, conocer algunas personas y considerar el comienza de la jornada hacia membresia. Por favor unase con nosotros este domingo en el Salon 105. Proporcionaremos almuerzo.

Food Pantry News + Nuevos de la despensa de alimento

immanuelpres — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:16:24 +0000

Hoy tuvimos un exitoso día en la despensa de alimento – distribuimos 135 “bolsas” de comida y 25 bolsas de almuerzo. Esta comida incluye ñames, judías verdes, elote, fruta mezclada, tomates, relleno de pan de maíz, puré de papa, harina, y 6 pequeños vasos de duraznos. Servimos toda la gente quien vino por comida hoy, rechazando a nadie (hasta la 1 pm). En general todo marcho bien (tal vez no perfectamente), con el ayudo de unos magníficos voluntarios.

Además, dimos 70 pavos (por medio de la lotería) y 25 cartas de regalos, incluso a voluntarios de la despensa y el personal de mantenimiento de la iglesia.

Los pavos y la mayoría de la comida fueron donados por medio del programa anual de Comida para el Día de Acción de Gracias de la Iglesia Presbiteriana Bel Air.

Gracias a todos quien tomó parte en este programa el cual ayuda a muchas familias a tener una deliciosa celebración el jueves.

Dear Friends,
Just thought you all might want to know that we had a successful day at the pantry today — we distributed 135 “bags” of food and 25 lunch bags. This food included yams, green beans, corn, mixed fruit, tomatoes, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, flour and 6 small cups of peaches. We served all the people who came for food today, turning no one away (until 1 pm). In general things went well (maybe not smoothly!), with the help of some great volunteers.

Additionally we gave out 70 turkeys (through the lottery) and 25 gift cards, including to pantry volunteers and church maintenance staff.

The turkeys and much of the food was given to us through Bel Air Presbyterian Church’s annual Thanksgiving Food program.

Thanks to all who did their part to make this work so that so many families had a delicious celebration on Thursday.

Immanuel spelunking 2 + Spelunking en Immanuel 2: 12.3.11

immanuelpres — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:30:53 +0000

Saturday, December 3
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Back by popular demand! On Saturday, December 3, 9 am -12 pm we will again have a tour “behind the walls” of Immanuel. We will meet at the Church Office on Berendo Street. Those who did this in August will attest that it is very interesting! For more information, please contact Rod Sprott at 213.389.3191 x 102 or rod@immanuelpres.org.

Sabado, 3 de diciembre
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

¡A pedido del público! El sábado, 3 de diciembre, 9 am – 12 pm otra vez tendremos nuestra guia “atrás de las paredes” de Immanuel. Nos reuniremos en la Oficina de la Iglesia en la calle Berendo. ¡Aquellos que participaron en esto en agosto pueden atestiguar que fue muy interesante! Para mayor información por favor comuniquese con Rod Sprott, 213.389.3191 x 102 o rod@immanuelpres.org.

Advent Home Gatherings + Reuniones en Casa de Adviento

immanuelpres — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:26:40 +0000

Advent Home Gatherings are a time when members of the Immanuel family open their homes for us to share a potluck meal and Bible reflection together. Participants each bring a dish to share with the group. Please join whichever time and place is most convenient for you.

- Tuesday, December 6th, 6:30pm
- Wednesday, December 7th, 7 pm at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
- Sunday, December 11th, 5 pm at the home of William & Diane Baxa
- Friday, December 16th, 6:30 pm at the home of Michael & Tina Mata

For more information, or to RSVP to a home gathering, please contact Leticia at 213.389.3191 x 103 or leticia@immanuelpres.org.

Reuniones en Casa del Adviento son un tiempo cuando miembros de la familia de Immanuel abren sus casas a nosotros para compartir juntos una cena de traje y reflexión de la Biblia. Cada participante trae un plato para compartir con el grupo. Por favor únase a el horario y lugar el cual le mas conviene.

- martes, 6 de diciembre, 6:30 p,
- miércoles, 7 de diciembre, 7 pm en la Iglesia Presbiteriana Immanuel
- dominog, 11 de diciembre, 5 pm en la casa de William y Diane Baxa
- viernes, 16 de diciembre, 6:30 pm en la casa de Michael y Tina Mata

Para mayor información por favor comuniquese con Leticia al 213.389.3191 x 103 o leticia@immanuelpres.org.

Advent Photo Conversations – What are you waiting for? + Conversación de Fotos de Adviento – ¿Que estas esperando?

immanuelpres — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:22:02 +0000

What are you waiting for?
Test results? fruit to ripen? a green light?

As God’s family, we wait with hope during the four weeks of Advent as we prepare to welcome Jesus at Christmas. We wait with hope in the “in-between” remembering God’s promises with gratitude, noticing signs of new life, recognizing that more is still to come.

Join the Advent Photo Conversation – Take a picture of what you are waiting for and send it to leticia@immanuelpres.org – we’ll post the images on Immanuel’s Facebook page and in the Parlor & Cloister. Beginning November 27, we invite you to be mindful of the many ways in which we wait.

¿Que estas esperando?
¿Resultados de exámenes? Que fruta se madure? ¿Una luz verde?

Como la familia de Dios, esperamos con esperanza durante las cuatro semanas de Adviento mientras preparamos a recibir a Jesús en la Navidad. Esperamos con esperanza en el “intermedio,” recordando las promesas de Dios de gratitud, notando las señales de nueva vida, reconociendo que vendrá más.

Unase a la conversación de Fotos de Adviento – tome una foto de lo que usted está esperando y enviala a leticia@immanuelpres.org – las fijaremos en el Facebook de Immanuel, en el Parlor y en el claustro. Comenzando el domingo, 27 de noviembre, les invitamos a estar consientes en las varias maneras en que esperamos.

Advent + Adviento 2011

immanuelpres — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:45:07 +0000

Reflection

immanuelpres — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:41:28 +0000

The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community, so that when the battle’s over, a new relationship comes into being between the oppressed and the oppressor. The way of acquiescence leads to moral and spiritual suicide. The way of violence leads to bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. But, the way of nonviolence leads to redemption and the creation of the beloved community.
~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This Sunday + Este domingo: 11.27.11

immanuelpres — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:00:41 +0000

This Sunday + Este domingo
November 27, 2011 + 27 de noviembre de 2011
First Sunday of Advent + 1º domingo del adviento

10:30 am: Servicio en español (Santuario)
Mensaje: Anciano Ricardo Moreno

10:30 am: English service (Chichester Chapel)
Sermon: Rev. Dr. Chuck Robertson

11:30 am: Todos/as Juntos/as + All Together
Healing Service + Servicio de sanación
New Zehnder song! + ¡Nuevo canción para los Zehnder!

12:00 pm: Convivio

Reflection

immanuelpres — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:41:17 +0000

All through those weary first days in jail when I was in solitary confinement, the only thoughts that brought comfort to my soul were those lines in the Psalms that expressed the terror and misery of man suddenly stricken and abandoned. Solitude and hunger and weariness of spirit — these sharpened my perceptions so that I suffered not only my own sorrow but the sorrows of those about me. I was no longer myself. I was man. I was no longer a young girl, part of a radical movement seeking justice for those oppressed, I was the oppressed. I was that drug addict, screaming and tossing in her cell, beating her head against the wall. I was that shoplifter who for rebellion was sentenced to solitary. I was that woman who had killed her children, who had murdered her lover.

The blackness of hell was all about me. The sorrows of the world encompassed me. I was like one gone down into the pit. Hope had forsaken me. I was that mother whose child had been raped and slain. I was the mother who had borne the monster who had done it. I was even that monster, feeling in my own heart every abomination.

~Dorothy Day 1897-1980
from an autobiography, written as a letter to her brother