Holy Week Observances:

March 28: Palm Sunday Worship, 8:30 & 10:30 am

“Easter Eggcitement” Children’s Program at Noon
April 1: Maundy Thursday Footwashing, 6:00 pm
Dinner & Last Supper Worship, 6:30 pm
April 2: Good Friday Prayer Vigil, 6:00 am—6:00 pm
Good Friday Prayer Service, 6:00 pm
April 4: Easter Sunday Worship, 8:30 & 10:30 am
Special musical offerings from choir at 10:30
Pancake Breakfast between services

PLEASE SIGN-UP for Maundy Thursday’s dinner (so we know how many to prepare for) and
for a 20-minute slot in our Good Friday Prayer Vigil. Sign-up sheets are available in Sippel
Hall on Sundays, and in the church office throughout the week.

Page 1 March 11, 2010

 EASTER EGGCITEMENT
We have a fun time planned for this year’s Easter Eggcitement. Join us after
second service for an afternoon filled with:

LUNCH-The Disciple Women will be offering soup, cornbread and

hot dogs for sale to help raise funds for Quadrennial.

BAKE SALE-Help yourself to dessert, which will also be a

Quadrennial fundraiser.

DIGNITY DUFFELS-Our children will be packing up Dignity

Duffels for other children who are in need of hygiene supplies be-
cause of less than perfect living situations. This is a great oppor-
tunity to reach out with love to others.

BUNNY HOP-Get your bunny slippers and don’t forget your cam-
eras because the Easter Bunny is coming to town.

EASTER EGG HUNT-Join in for the famous Easter egg hunt on

our own church lawn. Bring a dozen filled eggs per child and don’t
forget your Easter basket!

Everyone is invited and we’ll see you there!

Page 2
A big THANK YOU to all of you who were able to participate in the His
Hands Relay for Life fundraiser at El Paso Cantina. You all helped us
raise $257.20 toward our goal of $8,000.00, and you also got to enjoy
a great Mexican meal at the same time. The Relay is approaching fast,
April 24-25, and you will be hearing more in the near future. Please
prayerfully consider if and what you can do to help us reach our goal to
help eradicate cancer.

Gail Grove

Feed The Hungry Sunday

Our next Feed The Hungry Sunday is March 28. You have been so faithful
in providing the non-perishable food items for His House. With your help we
are able to feed many of the less fortunate that come to His House in Tor-
rance seeking food for their families. Here are some food suggestions:
canned tuna or chicken, canned vegetables, boxed juices, canned fruit,
granola bars, cereal, pasta, canned soups, cup of noodles and pudding cups.

A Lenten Poem
Forty days of wilderness
You ask of me, Lord;
What is it I am to seek?
What is it I am to find?

Forty days of wilderness

You give to me, Lord;
What will be your gift to me?
What will be your treasure?

I desire to seek you Lord;

I desire to find you,
You give the gift of your presence, Lord,
That will be my treasure!

Page 3
 “Dignity Duffels” Help Out Kids in Need
As part of our last project with Love INC, we delivered 200 backpacks filled
with school supplies to the Department of Child and Family Services here in
Torrance.

We are now focused on a new effort to provide 100 “Dignity Duffels” to chil-
dren who lack items most of us deem basic to our everyday life. Basic hygiene
supplies will be lovingly placed into individual child sized duffels to be distrib-
uted by Love INC to those most in need.

How can you help? Please donate any of the following items by March 24,
2010.

 Light-weight, Cotton Bath Towel

 Wash Cloth
 Bars of Soap
 Band-Aids
 Deodorant
 Shampoo
 Toothbrush
 Toothpaste
 Dental Floss
 Facial Tissues
 Moistened Towelette Pack

Our church’s children will be packing the “Dignity Duffels” with your donated
items as part of our Easter Eggcitement celebration on Palm Sunday, March
28.

Thank you for your support and please know you are making a tremendous
difference in the lives of our local children in need!

Page 4
 CHURCH FAMILY PRAYERS & CONCERNS
Marion Casey is moving through physical therapy after surgery for a malignant brain tu-
mor.

Karen Jackson and Bonnie Reniff are both recovering well from respective knee surgeries,
and have already made it to worship.

Charlotte Sandberg is home and recovering from hiatal hernia surgery. She will be off
work for about two weeks.

Arly Jahn (Jack Roger’s sister) is suffering from pneumonia. She is at Heritage Rehab.

Terry Linehan’s mother suffered a hairline fracture of the ankle in a recent fall. Terry also
asks prayer for Henry, a coworker who is recovering from heart surgery.

Ed Shroyer requests prayer for his friend, Lorrie, whose family is struggling with decision-
making for a mentally ill family member; he also invites prayer for his cousin Danny, Un-
cle Bob, Aunt Virginia and a long-time friend, Alvereta Lohr, all of whom are dealing with
significant health issues.

Marilyn Roehl has three brothers in need of continued prayer: Jim is recovering well from
a stroke; his twin, Joe, is recovering from surgery for an abdominal aneurysm; and Don
continues to respond well to chemotherapy.

Janet Wysong asks for prayer on behalf of Eleanor O’Neil, the five year-old daughter of a
friend—she is receiving chemotherapy for what is usually a very treatable form of cancer.

Chuck Bruley’s friend, Burt Mann, is doing better after kidney removal surgery.

Gerri Stoodley is entering a new treatment plan prescribed by her doctors at UCLA.

With Sympathy in Loss

A celebration of Rod Norris’s life will be held at our church in April. Dates and more de-
tailed arrangements with his family and fraternal organizations are still pending.
Susie Noble asks prayer for her friend, Jennifer Johnson, whose husband Bret Johnson died
suddenly of a heart attack. He was 51, and leaves behind three children.

Page 5
 March 2010
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thur
WORSHIP SERVICES
8:30 and 10:30 am
Sunday School 9:30 am
1 2 3
Unbinding Your Heart Prayer Ministry 5:45
Unbinding Your Heart Unbinding
7:00 (Fireside)
10:00 (Fireside) 7:00 (F
(Parsonage) Unbinding Your Heart
7:00 (Room 4)
7: 00 (Choir Room)
7 8 9 10
CYF 9:30 Unbinding Your Heart
Prayer Ministry 5:45 Unbinding Your Heart
Unbinding Your Heart 7:00 (Fireside)
Prayer Shawl 7:00 10:00 (Fireside) Unbinding
Youth Adventure/ (Parsonage)
Unbinding Your Heart Prayer Shawl 2:00 7:00 (F
Chi Rho 12:00
7: 00 (Choir Room) Young Adults 7:00
7:00 (Fireside) Newsletter
14 15 16 17
Love 9:30
CYF 9:30 .Unbinding Your Heart
Faith 1:30
Unbinding Your Heart Unbinding Your Heart 10:00 (Fireside)
Prayer Ministry 5:45 Unbinding
Youth Adventure/ 7:00 (Fireside) Prayer Shawl 2:00
Prayer Shawl 7:00 7:00 (F
Chi Rho 12:00 (Parsonage) 7:00 (Room 4)
7:00 (Fireside) Choir 7:00

21 22 23 24
CYF 9:30 Unbinding Your Heart
Unbinding Your Heart 10:00 (Fireside)
Newsletter Prayer Ministry 5:45
Youth Adventure/ Prayer Shawl 2:00
Unbinding Your Heart Prayer Shawl 7:00 Unbinding
Chi Rho 12:00 Unbinding Your Heart
7:00 (Fireside) Unbinding Your Heart (New H
His Hands 12:00 (Parsonage)
(Young Adults) 7:00
(Elders) 7:00
7:00 Study Choir 7:00
(Fireside)
28 29 30 31
Unbinding Your Heart
CYF 9:30 Unbinding Your Heart 10:00 (Fireside)
Unbinding Your Heart (Elders) 7:00
Unbinding Your Heart Unbinding Your Heart
Youth Adventure/
(Young Adults) 7:00
Chi Rho 12:00 7:00 (Fireside)
Feed The Hungry Sunday Choir 7:00
(Parsonage)
7:00 Study Page 6
(Fireside)
 rsday Friday Saturday

March Birthdays
Mary Ibe (1)
Linda Gilmore (2)
Dottie Taggart (3)
4 5 6 Hilda Coleman (4)
Gail Grove (5)
g Your Heart Gene Jackson (5)
Unbinding Your Heart Virginia Gober (6)
Fireside)
10:00 (Fireside) Wally Sandberg (6)
Kurt Nelson (9)
Ruth Morrison (10)
11 12 13 Terry Linehan (15)
Marion Casey (16)
Lois Sherwood (17)
Haley Noble (20)
g Your Heart Unbinding Your Heart Emma Hernandez (22)
Katie Redderson (22)
Fireside) 10:00 (Fireside) Orlando Martinez (24)
Charlene Bowring (26)
Kristin Karlin (28)
Ziggy Wilk (28)
18 19 20 Lois Sherwood (29)
Ruth Perry (29)
Men’s Breakfast Helen Reed (29)
Glenn Singleton (30)
g Your Heart 8:30 a.m. Kel Henderson (30)
Fireside) Unbinding Your Heart Mandy Fontaine (30)
10:00 (Fireside) Lilian Asomugha (31)

25 26 27

g Your Heart Unbinding Your Heart

Hope) 7:00 10:00

ANNIVERSARIES
Raymond & Donna Stent (18)
John & Anne Beecher (20)

Page 7
 Education Notes & News
Palm Sunday
We have some special mini workshops planned for Palm Sunday and you won’t
want to miss attending Sunday School on March 28th. Join us at 9:30 in the Sun-
day School rooms where we will be making (and eating) Empty Tomb Buns, mak-
ing an Easter wreath and then all are invited to be part of our traditional Palm Sun-
day procession during service time.

Easter Pancake Breakfast

Our CYF group will be hosting an Easter breakfast on Easter morning. Come join
them for a delicious Pancake Breakfast Bar at only $5 for adults and $3 for
children.

“Spring Fling” Retreat for 9th-12th graders

CYF members are encouraged to attend this year’s Spring Fling at Loch Leven. It is a leader-
ship training and spiritual retreat for youth on the weekend of April 9-11. If you liked Feb-
Camp, you’ll love Spring Fling! See Jimmy for more information. Scholarships available.

Loch Leven Retreat Rescheduled

“Filled With the Fullness of God” is the theme for this year’s retreat. It is based on Ephe-
sians 3:16-19 and those who attend will be exploring and experiencing prayer in a variety of
ways. This weekend for all ages has been rescheduled for May 21-23. Please talk to Saman-
tha Lubrani to reconfirm that you will be attending. If you weren’t able to attend in January,
but are available for this weekend talk to Samantha as well.

Vacation Bible School

The date has been set for VBS this summer so mark your calendars for July 26-30. Please
see Jill Foster if you are interested in being part of the leadership team for this event. We are
looking for workshop leaders, classroom shepherds and helpers and anyone willing to help
plan this great week.

Page 8
 Bible Explorers
th
All children ages PreK through 6 grade are invited to Bible Explorers at 9:30 on Sunday
mornings. March will focus on the story of Jesus’ resurrection. See schedule below.
Middle School students are invited to be shepherds for this program. See Jill if you are inter-
ested.
During the Lenten season Pastor Ted is leading our high schoolers in doing their own version
of “Unbinding the Heart” during their Sunday School time. It’s not too late to join them! See
Pastor Ted for more information.

BIBLE EXPLORER SCHEDULE

DATE CLASS WORKSHOP ROOM TEACHER

The Resurrection-He Lives!

3/14 PRE K-1 Art 2 JANIE FIETZ
3/14 2-5 Games 4 KARA
3/21 PRE K-1 Games 4 KARA
3/21 2-5 Drama 3 PEGGY & LARRY
3/28 Palm Sunday Empty Tomb Buns 4 SHIRLEY
Activities Easter Wreath Art 2 KARA

4/4 EASTER SUNDAY-NO CLASSES

March Youth Calendar

Sunday, March 14
11:00 CYF is going on a hike! After attending first service and Sunday School join in for an
early Spring hike in the local hills. Plans are to leave the church at 11:00.
12:00 Youth Adventure/Chi Rho-“Unbinding Your Heart”-Bring a sack lunch

Saturday, March 20
CYF is planning to attend Founder’s Day at Chapman University.

Sunday, March 21
12:00 Youth Adventure/Chi Rho-“Unbinding Your Heart”-Bring a sack lunch
12:00 CYF is going Karaoke Krazy!

Sunday, March 28
12:00 All ages invited to Easter Eggcitement!
Page 9
Upcoming Sermons
March 14, 2010 – “Spring Up, O Well” (John 4:5-29)
We say “actions speak louder than words”—and it’s true—but words can speak pretty
loudly. Most of us can remember a conversation that changed our lives. Our fourth Un-
binding Your Heart sermon looks at the longest exchange attributed to Jesus, and the power
he conveyed.

March 21, 2010 – “Mi Casa Es…” (Genesis 18:1-5; Mark 2:1-12)
Hospitality is a core virtue for biblical culture—in a desert culture, welcoming the stranger
could be a life or death issue. Our fifth Unbinding Your Heart message asks us to explore
our own mission of hospitality. It can be a life or death issue even yet!

March 28, 2010 – “Unbinding Your Heart” (John 15:12-17; 1 John 3:16)
On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem—and remember that the shadow
of the cross hangs over the parade. As Unbinding Your Heart draws to a close, we will con-
sider what our faith unbinds us from—and what God wants to unbind us for.

Sermons on line
Miss a Sunday? You can access past sermons on our church website
(www.fcctorrance.org). Click on Worship Media, then on the title or date of the sermon.
Let us know if you’re listening, and thank Jimmy Koontz for helping us to provide this ser-
vice!

Prayer Meeting – Each Tuesday at 5:45 pm

Under the guidance of our Prayer Team Coordinator, Elba Woods, our Tuesday night meet-
ing is undergirding the Unbinding Your Heart series with prayer, in addition to our regular
intercessions for one another and others. All are welcome.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Wednesday Morning Bible Study will reconvene on April 7 following our Unbinding Your
Heart series. At that time, we will begin a series on the Babylonian Exile—a time that dra-
matically shaped both modern Judaism and Christianity.

Page 10
 Footnotes
In our Unbinding Your Heart small groups, we have shared about “Goals with Grace.”

By goals, we mean that we want to develop our spiritual lives, our devotional disci-
plines—and we’re willing to let God stretch us beyond where we might have thought
we could go. We recognize that God has made us different, and not every form of
prayer or discipline is right for every person—but we also open ourselves to the
growth that is right for us.

And we acknowledge grace in our process of growth. We remember that prayer and
devotional activities are means, not ends. They are avenues for deeper relationship
with God. If and when they do not serve that purpose, then we prayerfully step back
from them.

And, ironically, we find that we have not stepped away from God, but closer, into the
divine grace that gives us permission to let go of the goal—permanently, perhaps, or
for a period—but always for good. Our good.

Shalom, Steve

Home phone: 310-212-5950 email: steefeets@hotmail.com

Adult Sunday Class

From now through March 28, our Adult Sunday morning class will be discussing some
of the issues of evangelism that arise out of our Unbinding Your Heart small groups.
We will not meet on Easter Sunday, instead taking part in the Easter Brunch.

On April 11, Steve Fietz will facilitate a discussion on “The Spirituality of Martin Lu-
ther King, Jr.” Starting on April 18, David Matson will offer a series on “Is Christian-
ity the Only True Religion?”

This class is a lively forum where all views are welcome! We meet in Room 7 at 9:30
am Sunday morning.

Next Newsletter articles need to be at the church office by March 22, 2010

Page 11
 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
NON PROFIT ORG.

(Disciples of Christ)
PERMIT NO. 109
TORRANCE, CA

2930 El Dorado Street

Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 328-2820 Fax 310 328-2929
E-mail - fcctorr@pacbell.net
Web address - fcctorrance.org
Sunday Schedule
8:30 a.m. - Worship - Informal
9:30 a.m. - Church School for all ages
10:30 a.m. - Worship - Traditional
Children’s Worship - Ages Pre-school through
2nd Grade
(During the Traditional Worship Service)
Nursery Provided
Or Current Resident

For birth through age 3 during Sunday School

and Contemporary & Traditional Service
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Staff
Steven Fietz, Senior Pastor
Ted Oden-Minister of Contemporary Worship
Administrative Assistant– Camelia Olloque
Choir Director - Ken Potter
Nursery Attendant - Kim Larson
Dorie Hernandez
The Christian Messenger

Officers
TIME VALUE DATA

Chair - Doug Crawford

2930 El Dorado Street

DO NOT DELAY
First Christian Church

Torrance, CA 90503

EXPEDITE

Vice Chair - Don Zukas

Treasurer– Bill Wysong
Financial Secretary - Charlotte Sandberg
Clerk– Angie Ahumada

Page 12