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CAST~A~NET FEBRUARY 2025 PAGE 1
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HOPE, JOY AND LOVE RISING
FRBRUARY 2025
275 North Halcyon Road . Arroyo Grande . CA 93420 . (805) 481-2692
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Sun. Feb. 09 Superbowl Chili Takeout
After second service
$20 serves 2
Sign ups encouraged
Sun. Feb. 16 UMM Sweetheart
Pancake Breakfast
Serving: 9:15 - 10:45 AM
Tickets: $10 per person
From the Pastor:
Sat. March 15: Morro Bay Natural History Museum and
Morro Bay State Park Boardwalk
Leave church 12:15 Admission $3
Pastor Mary is on vacation as
this month's issue goes to
print. She will return later this
week!
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WORSHIP
LITURGISTS
FEBRUARY 2
8:30 a.m.---------------------Joe Brown
10:30 a.m.----------------Joyce Singleman
FEBRUARY 9
8:30 a.m.—Mary Throndson
10:30 a.m.-- Michelle Richardson
FEBRUARY 16
8:30 a.m.-----------Lucy Jacob
10:30 a.m.-----------Rosslyn Clauson
FEBRUARY 23
8:30 a.m.--------------Elwood Hyden
10:30 a.m.-------------Carolyn Anderson
~ submitted by Carolyn Anderson
As of December 31, we are halfway through our Fiscal year, which started July 1. Regular tithes and oerings are at 109% of plan. This
is good, but is primarily due to a few of our generous members who give once a year at the end of the calendar year. I appreciate
these wonderful gifts, but we have to remember that these funds have to last us through the rest of the year. In previous years were
usually further ahead of plan at the end of December. Thanksgiving and Christmas oerings fell about $3700 below plan and $3,100
below last year. This leaves a gap in our funding. Overall expenses have been running essentially at plan. A number of our expenses
are increasing in 2025. Overall, our income is somewhat less that where I would like it to be at this time, but we are only halfway
through our scal year, so there is plenty of opportunity to catch up. We need EVERYONE to continue their generous giving so that
we can end the scal year without of decit. It always looks good when a retiring pastor leaves a church with a scal year surplus
rather than a decit.
We are having a very generous response towards the Los Angeles Fire Relief. Over $9000 was raised in just two weeks!! The funds
are being remitted weekly to our Annual Conference which is headquartered in Pasadena. They are close to the res and apply the
funds to where the needs are greatest. Initially funds were being used to provide Target and Walmart gift cards to families that lost
everything in the res.
- Joel Anderson
Acng Treasurer
Devastating res leave the Altadena and Pacic Palisades Methodist
churches and community without homes. Our church is supporting both
churches through the District drive.
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FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY
As the Castanet goes to press, we are
visiting the Elephant Seals.
Friday, March 28, we will tour the
Mighty Cap Mushroom in Paso Robles.
A 45 minute tour is set for 11 AM. You
will get the chance to see how
mushrooms are grown in Paso Robles.
There is a $20 fee per adult and $10 for
each child 13 and under. Sign up soon -
as there is a limit of 15 people on the
tour.
We are also busy coming up with new
ideas!
---submitted by Gerry McGuire,
Fellowship chair
Would you like to
transfer your
membership from
your previous church
home to this
congregation in
Arroyo Grande? Are
you making the
decision to join a
church for the very
rst time? Wherever
you are on the faith
journey, we welcome
you to come to a
gathering on
February 23, 2025 ,
from 9:45 am to 10:15
am at church, to meet
and bring your
questions. We will
invite you to tell us a
little bit about
yourself, where you
are coming from, and
what you need in a
church as we answer
your questions and
give you information
about our First United
Methodist Church of
Arroyo Grande.
New Membership Class for February
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United Women in Faith seeks to connect and
nurture women through Christian spiritual
formation, leadership development, creative
fellowship, and education so that they can inspire,
inuence and impact local and global communities.
The UWF Book Club will discuss an unusual book, The
Midnight Library, by Ma Haig, on Friday, February
14th at 10:30 AM in the church library. The main
premise is that a midnight library exists lled with
books that give people a chance to try out a dierent
life than they have chosen. In the science con
account of a Midnight Library beyond the edge of the
universe, books reveal the story of another possible
life as well as the one you have led.
What kind of life could you have led if you
had made dierent choices? Would your
life be beer? In the book, Nora Seed
explores the Midnight Library selecons to
try to decide what is meaningful in life.
Join us in discussing this thought provoking
book on February 14th. See Mary Whitson if you
would like to borrow one from a library book kit.
FEBRUARY 2025 UWF BOOK CLUB SELECTION:
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
---submitted by Judy Leonard
FEBRUARY 2025
A new circle is forming especially for working women and
those looking for an early evening circle. If you are
interested, contact Susan Throndson or leave your name
with the oce, or Gerry McGuire or Mary Hawkins. Be
one of the founding members!
UWF had a very successful Pizza and Bingo in January,
doubling the number of people anticipated. What fun we
had and with quick action we managed to get enough
pizza for everyone! As a fund raiser, we raised a lot of
money for our charities.
Superbowl chili is soon going to be here again. Sunday,
February 9 is the day! You get enough chili, cornbread
and cookies to serve 2 people, all for $20. You may
choose between turkey, or beef, with or without beans,
or vegetarian.
Circles and Groups
Mary, Martha, Esther Circle meets on the last Wednesday
of the month.
Joy Circle meets the third Tuesday of the month, 3-5 pm in
members' homes. Check with Kerren Brown for more
information.
Sew and Sews meet every Tuesday in the McMillen Room
at 10 until 1. Bring a sandwich if you want to stay for
lunch. We encourage those interested in quilting,
crocheting, knitting and just plain visiting and sharing.
Book Club will meet the 3rd Friday, in the Library at 10:30
AM. Contact Judy Leonard for a book if interested.
Two Memorial Services will be held in February:
Bill Weitkamp on the 8th at 10 AM
Wayne Huggins on the 15th at 11 AM
-submitted by Gerry McGuire, UWF President
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THE "EASTER BERNIE"
•
Wishing Frances the very best in her retirement!
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Piedras Blancas trip to see the Elephant Seals
Pictures courtesy of Lucy Jacob and Nan Lippett.
Nan reported:
The trip to the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery was an exceptional
experience!! We saw an elephant seal being born directly in front of
us. We all thoroughly enjoyed docent Amanda who travels all the way
from southern Los Angeles to volunteer. She was especially great at
sharing.
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Remembering Loved Ones Through The Tree of Life
Most of you have probably noced the Tree of Life located in the narthex of our church. This tree isn’t found
growing in a pot but consists of branches, leaves, and stones mounted on the wall. As a cornerstone of the
Endowment Fund, it honors the memory of loved ones and friends in the First United Methodist Church of
Arroyo Grande. Or it can be used to commemorate special occasions such as weddings or anniversaries, or
honor parents, children, family, or friends.
The stones at the base of the tree and leaves along the branches are inscribed as requested by the donor.
The stones are reserved for contribuons of $2000 or more while the leaves are inscribed for a minimum
contribuon of $500. The funds from your Tree of Life donaon are distributed to a church need of your
choice. If not designated, the funds will be used for such needs as mission outreach, charitable and
educaonal acvies, scholarships, and maintaining church property.
A leaf or stone on The Tree of Life is a lasng memorial to loved ones who have passed away or special
people or occasions in our lives. If you are interested in donang to The Tree of Life, pick up a green
applicaon located beside it.
WEBSITE UPDATES
Please check out the latest updates to our church
website: WorshipWeekly.com
Our webmaster Jamie Foster has added pages featuring
pictures of our recent fun events including the Christmas
Extravaganza, Christmas Crafts Fair, Christmas Eve
Service UWF Boutique and the 140th Anniversary
Celebration. Check out the Recent Fun Events link on the
home page.
There is a link to the excellent video by Susan Throndson
that was presented at our recent Charge Conference.
The video reviews our new Mission Statement in
conjunction with the many activities that take place in
our congregation.
The home page lists upcoming church events. Please let
Joel Anderson know if you would like an event or activity
listed.
There are also links to our worship service videos, Cast-A
-Net, weekly bullet+ins, our church’s history, the
Children’s Center, on-line giving and much more. The
“Find” tab brings up a powerful search engine. The
search engine can be used to research past events,
people or ??.
Part-time Church Secretary 25 Hours Per Week
Qualications include: Computer Skills, People Skills and
Communication skills. Contact the Church oce or Mary
Hawkins.
Experience Required: A minimum of ve years of
increasingly responsible secretarial experience.
The detailed job description and application are also
available at: SLOJOBS.COM
CAST~A~NET JULY 2022 PAGE 9
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We have put up the bulletin board in the Criswell Hall showing a
list of resources in the Five Cities Area and elsewhere. We have
asked the Church Council if we can put this information in our
display area that shows our monthly calendar so that anyone can
see it.
At our Alternative Christmas we sent Heifers International $2,045.
and the church matched that amount for a total of $4,090. The
Heifers International had a generous donor that matched our
amount by 4 times for a grand total of $16,360.00. We are so
blessed that we were able to donate so much.
Mission Team decided to continue to support Katherine Parker in
Nepal again this year.
We will be meeting with Janna Nichols from the 5 Cities Coalition
and the Homeless Warming Center to see if we can help provide
food for them as well as the People’s Kitchen.
We would like to thank the congregation for their donations of
warm winter clothing and toiletries. It was greatfully appreciated
by the People’s Kitchen.
Frank Williams picks up food weekly at Smart and Final and
delivers it to the 5 Cities Christian Women’s Food Pantry. Thank
you for your service.
Nancy Imwold from the People’s Kitchen says they are looking for
a couple people to help in their kitchen. They call them Kitchen
Angels. They would be keeping the kitchen clean and doing the
dishes. They have a dishwasher. A person usually takes a day a
week, same day each week. Hours are 11:45 until 1:15ish, or until all
dishes are done and put away. Simple job, but they really could
use a couple. If not on a weekly basis, then as a back up as
needed. If you would like more information, you can call Nancy at
805-458-1992. Thank you.
Next month Janna Nichols will come to our Mission Team meeting
to discuss with us the possibility of us making food for the 5 Cities
Coalition facilities community room and the Homeless warming
Center.
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM WANTS YOUR PICTURES
The Communications team is creating an on-line photo library of the many activities that
take place at our church. Photos are used on our website, in the Cast-A-Net, for publicity
for upcoming events and will help document our activities for future generations. Please
send pictures of both past and future church activities to Joel Anderson by e-mail or text
or e-mail them to the Communications Team at FUMCAGcommunications@gmail.com.
Photos from the successful Alternative Christmas Drive
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CAST~A~NET FEBRUARY 2025 PAGE 10
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
8:30 AM
Contemporary
Worship Service
10:30 AM
Traditional
Worship Service
3
6 PM Gerry's Quilt
Class-CH
4
9 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10 AM Sew & Sews-
MMR
5 PM Bell Choir
Rehearsal-HR
7:00 PM Board of
Trustees-MMR
5
9 AM Church Work
Morning -CH
10 AM UWF
Steering-L
1:30 PM Mission
Team-MMR
6
9 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
5 PM Bell Choir
Rehearsal-HR
6:30PM Chancel
Choir Rehearsal-S
7
8
9
8:30 AM
Contemporary
Worship Service
10:30 AM
Traditional
Worship Service
Superbowl Chili
pickup after second
service $20 feeds 2
people
10
6 PM Gerry's Quilt
Class-CH
11
9 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10 AM Sew & Sews-
MMR
11 AM Chair Yoga-CH
1:30 PM Finance
Meeting-Library
12
9 AM Church Work
Morning-CH
2:00 PM Church
Council-MMR
13
9 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10:30 AM Staff
Parish--PS
11 AM Chair Yoga-CH
4 PM Children's
Center Board-MMR
5 PM Bell Choir
Rehearsal-HR
6:30 PM Chancel
Choir Rehearsal-S
14
10:30 AM UWF
Book Club-L
15
16
8:30 AM
Contemporary
Worship Service
10:30 AM
Traditional Worship
Service
UMM Sweeheart Pan-
cake Breakfast
Serving: 9:15-10:45
AM
$10 per person
17
6 PM Gerry's Quilt
Class-CH
President's Day
Observance
Church Office
Closed for Holiday
18
9 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10 AM Sew & Sews-
MMR
11:00 AM Chair Yoga-
CH
1 PM Bible Study-CH
3 PM JOY Circle-at
homes
5 PM Bell Choir
Rehearsal-HR
19
9 AM Church Work
Morning-CH
20
9 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
11 AM Chair Yoga-CH
5 PM Bell Choir
Rehearsal-HR
6:30 PM Chancel
Choir Rehearsal-S
21
11:00 AM
Nominations-PS
22
23
8:30 AM
Contemporary
Worship Service
10:30 AM
Traditional
Worship Service
24
4:30 PM-
Communications-
6 PM Gerry's Quilt
Class-CH
25
9 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10 AM Sew & Sews-
MMR
11 AM Chair Yoga-CH
1 PM Bible Study-CH
5 PM Bell Choir
Rehearsal-HR
26
9 AM Church Work
Morning-CH
10 AM Mary-
Martha-Esther-
MMR
27
9 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
11 AM Chair Yoga-CH
5 PM Bell Choir
Rehearsal-HR
6:30 PM Chancel
Choir Rehearsal-
28
Hello
March
heart
CAST~A~NET JULY 2022 PAGE 11
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Layout Editor:
Proofreading, Mailing and
Oce Assistance:
Mary Whitson, Dave Bolterman
Dorine Bolterman
Other contributors:
Teams /Committees/
Oce Angels
Have we missed your
birthday? If so, it is not listed in
our data base. Please contact the
church oce and we will be glad
to add your birthday to our
monthly birthday list!
Church Oce: (805) 481-2692
E-mail: fumcag@yahoo.com
Website:
www.worshipweekly.com
Find us on Facebook at: United
Methodist Church of Arroyo
Grande
www.facebook.com/fumcag
Pastor: Rev. Mary B. Birgelaitis
E-mail: mbirgelaitis@gmail.com
Oce Administrator:
Website Manager: Jamie Foster
Children’s Education Director:
Carolyn Russell
Music Director: Julia Burns
Praise Team Director: Mike Clark
Choral Pianist: Dennis Eiler
Handbell Choir Director:
Leonard Lutz
Worship Video Editor:
Susan Throndson
Bishop: Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank
District Superintendent
DS Rev. Garth Gilliam
Preschool Director:
Madrigale Quaglino
E-mail: agumcc@sbcglobal.net
Preschool Oce: (805) 481-2223
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HONOR A
LOVED ONE WITH FLOWERS?
Do you enjoy the beautiful ower
arrangements placed on the altar on
Sundays? Dates are available for Sunday
morning ower dedications in upcoming
months. Your oral tributes are
welcomed and will be placed on the
altar for both services on Sunday.
You can pick up your arrangement after
the second service.
Contact Frances in the Church Oce
The cost for altar owers is $30.
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Facilitated by Nancy St. Laurent
Meets on
Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. In Criswell Hall
Next Bible Study book is:
CONTEXT
by Josh Scott
and begins on Tuesday, January 21
Books are ordered and will be available
soon from Nancy.
All are welcome to join us!
Devin Paredes......02/02
Barbara Reineke....02/03
Isabella Russell...02/03
Betty Ashton...02/05
John Roan...02/05
Mark Moore...02/06
Irene Kliesch...02/19
Maddy Quaglino...02/22
Leonard Lutz...02/23
Michelle Paredes...02/25
Chloe Keith...02/29
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COVER STORY
Photos from BINGO
From the Pastor, Coming Events.................2
Treasurer, Liturgists, Prayers.......................3
Fellowship Ministry, Member Care..............4
United Women in Faith, UWF Book Club....5
Retirement Party..........................................6
Elephant Seal Rookery.................................7
Tree of Life, Website Info, ...........................8
Mission Team, Your pictures wanted.........9
February Calendar.......................................10
Bible Study, Flowers, Birthdays.................11
Sunday Hospitality, Mission Statement....12
Children's Center Chronicle
First United Methodist Church
of Arroyo Grande
275 North Halcyon Road
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 (805) 481-2692
Find us on Facebook at United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande
www.facebook.com/fumcag
2025
STAMP
SUNDAY HOSPITALITY
SNACK HOSTS
Endowment/ELT
UWF
UMM
Mission Team
FEB 2
FEB 9
FEB 16
FEB 23
Mission Statement
of the First United Methodist Church
of Arroyo Grande
The First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande
is a joyful, active and fun-loving faith community.
We worship on Sunday mornings and oer
opportunities for Christian growth, fellowship,
health and increased well-being all week long.
Members represent a wide range of theological
and political views and commit to treating each
other with love and respect in the midst of
dierences. We nurture spiritual growth and
a deeper understanding of God’s love in Christ
as we work together to spread the love of God
in our community and in the world.
FEBRUARY
