After a twenty-five-year hiatus, Carol Wise is delighted to be back in La Verne as an interim pastor. The La Verne Church of the Brethren was the first congregation that she served following her graduation with an M.Div. from the Iliff School of Theology. Most recently, Carol has had a long tenure as the director of the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests, an organization that has worked for queer justice within the Mennonite and Church of the Brethren traditions for over 45 years. She credits her experience at La Verne for providing the hope and imagination necessary to persist in the challenging work of social justice and social change. A day at the library, a bike ride, a long walk or an afternoon of cross country skiing are all enjoyments. Carol lives with her spouse, Kim, and their very social cat, Miriam.
Kitchen Catch-Up
Thanks to the generosity of this congregation, we’ve been able to continue providing meals to Hope for Home. With a small, mighty crew we provide three full meals a month to 150 participants. I’m truly overwhelmed with this congregation’s commitment to serve our neighbors in need. Thank you!
We work at creating a home cooked meal and often serve a simple casserole or baked pasta dish, a green salad, fruit and cornbread or garlic bread. Sometimes our budget allows for dessert and I’m told the participants appreciate our efforts, when we’re successful. When possible, we incorporate harvests from the Peace and Carrots Garden to offer a true Farm to Table experience. We are full of gratitude to the families that garden and share their bounty with us. There just isn’t anything better tasting than a garden-fresh meal.
This program happens because of a generous congregation and amazing volunteers. Special thanks to those who have helped and continue to help.
From my grateful heart,
Corlan
Lenten Connect Groups
Sign-up to lead a Lenten Connect Group
Lent is the time of the Christian year where we connect and refresh our relationships as we contemplate and examine our lives. During this season we have Lenten Connect groups which meet weekly during the 6-weeks prior to Easter (February 26 through April 2). In the past, groups have formed around Bible study, bird-watching, walking, games, music, and spiritual disciplines, to name a few. What these groups all have in common is that they were all started by someone who has decided to share their passion or interests and welcomes others joining them.
Do you have an interest you would like to share? Is there an area of interest you would like to invite others to explore with you?
Click HERE to register the group you’d like to lead.
Forms are due by Sunday, January 22.
Sign-ups to join groups as a participant will begin Sunday, February 5.
Questions: Dena Pence at 909-593-1364 or dena@lavernecob.org
Resources for Native/Indigenous History Month
Local articles to start getting a perspective:
- https://laist.com/news/entertainment/a-brief-history-of-the-tongva-people
- https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/genocide-slavery-and-l-a-s-role-in-the-decimation-of-native-californians
- https://www.cpp.edu/~tgyoung/Pom_Parks/Kizh%20not%20Tongva_9-27-17.pdf
- https://mila.ss.ucla.edu/
Adult books by indigenous authors: https://kaitlincurtice.com/2018/09/06/25-books-by-indigenous-authors-you-should-be-reading/
For kids: https://bookriot.com/native-american-childrens-books/
Dig deeper:
Peace Camp 2021
Peace Camp 2021, Peace Builders: Shaping our World with Creative Tools, was a weeklong experience for children in our congregation and community to learn and interact with peace building concepts.
Daily themes included: Peace is built when we care for all bodies. Peace is built when we share a smile and our food. Peace is built when we care for the Earth. Peace is built when we create art, out of anything!
Seventeen children and their families participated in a hybrid style Peace Camp, with Zoom activities taking place Monday through Thursday and an In-Person Peace Celebration taking place on Friday. Children received their very own Peace Camp Supply Bag, dropped on their doorstep, as well as a Peace Camp Service Project Kit. Peace Camp activities included Qi Gong, cooking peace pancakes, planting squash seeds, and the creation of a peace mandala. An original activity book was created for Peace Campers, but is available as a free resource HERE. As our service project, Peace Campers put together 55 educational supply kits for students in need, who attend Pomona Hope, a local after school program. Despite the pandemic, we were able to create a safe, well-curated Peace Camp for children, which was a beautiful thing!