The First Christian Church of Torrance

Disciples of Christ
2930 El Dorado Street
Torrance, CA 90503

Invites you to join us

In celebrating the Installation

Of

Reverend Steven Fietz

Sunday, October 12, 2008

10 o’clock in the morning
at a Blended Service

Reverends
Donald Dewey and Susan Gonzales Dewey
Co Regional Ministers will join us in this special event

Luncheon Reception to follow

October 9, 2008
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 Disciples Women’s Ministry
CAN IT BE OCTOBER – ALREADY!
There is an old saying that goes “if you want something done, ask the
busiest person you know”. That certainly holds true of the busy
women at our church. The summer was warm and wonderful, and September just
sort of stepped up the pace, and now, as I turned my calendar page to October – it’s
easy to see we are on the move again.

The World Communion Sunday was wonderful and uplifting. The flags and
the beautiful and bountiful communion table, and the music and our visitors
from the Korean church – they all made for a wonderful morning. Thanks
to the worship committee for a lot of yummy refreshments. A really feel
good day, and a great way to start October!
On Sunday, October 12th, we will all work together as we share in the installation of
Pastor Steve. A luncheon is being planned, and lots of memories to be made.

October 16-18th will bring the Regional Assembly in San Bernardino, and many of our
Disciples Women will be attending. It promises to be a wonderful time of worship
and fellowship.

To round out a busy month, don’t forget to mark your calendars for
Sunday, October 26th, for our Disciples Women’s luncheon. You
are in for a real treat, as our lunch is being prepared by Moggy Em-
men, Lillian Asomugha, and Mary Ibe. We are not sure what the
menu is, but it is bound to be a special one! Our worship will be led by Shirley Wood-
man. The speaker for the afternoon is Dr. Carol Shim. Dr. Shim graduated from the
Southern California College of Optometry. She is affiliated with the Cedar Sinai Medi-
cal Group. This past August, Dr. Shim traveled to Paraguay with a dentist, an acu-
puncturist, and an optometrist on a mission sponsored by the Cerritos Presbyterian
Church. She will share with us her experiences in Paraguay with the children and
adults. Our service project for October will be The Optometry Mission to Paraguay.
Please join us for an uplifting program, some great food, and the warm fellowship of
your sisters in Christ. See you there!

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 COME JOIN OUR INSTALLATION CELEBRATION!
Another milestone in the history of the First Christian Church in Torrance will be
taking place on Sunday, October 12, 2008, with the installation of Reverend Steven
Fietz as our Senior Pastor. Pastor Steve and his wife Janie joined our church family
about four months ago, and it has been a wonderful time of getting to know each
other and learning to work together. A special day has been planned, and we know
you will want to join in this celebration of welcome, dedication and promise.
This exciting day will start at 10:00 a.m. There will be a blended service, and eve-
ryone is invited to join in the celebration. Our installing officers will be the Rever-
ends Donald Dewey and Susan Gonzales Dewey, our co-regional ministers. An
original composition, based on Psalm 50, will be presented by the choir. It was
composed by our Choir Director Ken Potter especially for this occasion. Following
the service, there will be a reception and luncheon in Sippel Hall.
You won’t want to miss this important event in the life of our church. As we move
forward together, please join us on October 12. We will worship together, witness
our new Pastor’s installation, and pledge our support in service to God as Disciples
of Christ. It’s going to be a great day!

The Worship Committee

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Every Wednesday at 10 a.m., a dedicated group gathers in Sippel Hall,
where we sing a few hymns, lift up our prayers, and study God’s Word.
We are currently looking at a 10-week overview of the Bible.
Each lesson is self-contained, so no one who joins in the middle need feel like they’re be-
hind. In the next few weeks, we will look at the Psalms, wisdom writings, and the prophets.

The Trustees would like to thank Wally & Jenna Sandberg for painting all
the roof vents on the Sunday school and Church building; also for trimming
our trees around the church property . We appreciate it!

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 Newcomers’ Lunch—October 19
The Membership Committee is hosting a Newcomers’ Lunch
on Sunday, October 19, after our second worship service.
This is being offered as an opportunity to meet other new folk,
to receive some basic information about our church, and to ask
questions—and there’s no such thing as a “dumb question!”
If you are a recent member, or have recently started attending
our church, or have been around a little while but are curious to
know more about our church, you are invited to come.
We want “Newcomers” to be self-defining. If you think you’d
like to come, then you should come! But please RSVP to the
church office if you’re going to be there!

Greetings FCC Torrance!

The D.O.C. family at Chapman University would like to thank you for your continuous
commitment and support to our program. Your generosity makes a difference to so
many.

Thank You!

Peace & Love,

Chapman University
Disciples on Campus

A Big Thank You to Dave Marvin for washing and cleaning the steps in-
side our gym. We appreciate it!

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 CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
Bob Wright is out of the hospital, and in Bible Study—10:00 a.m.,
The Earlwood Convalescent Center, where (Wednesdays)
he is receiving care for advancing Parkin- Choir—7:00 p.m., (Thursdays)
son’s Disease.
Bonnie Evans has had outpatient eye sur-
gery postponed.
Hilda Coleman is doing well after success-
ful carpel tunnel surgery. She asks for
prayers for a friend in Texas, Toni Steele,
who is battling uterine cancer.
Anne Beecher asks for safe travels for her
sister, brother-in-law and family who are fly-
ing from England to New Zealand, with a
brief stop here en route.
Terry Thomas asks for prayers on behalf of
her nephew, Adam Steemack, who has
been in a coma since a mid-August acci-
dent.
David Eldik is home again, with the good
news that he is producing his own red
blood-cells. His father Mosbeh returns to
Iraq on October 11, so his “Mimi,” Janie
Fietz will be going back to Las Vegas for a
while to help David’s mother Lauren with
continued monitoring needs and multiple
doctor visits.
Priscilla Crawford’s five year-old great-
grandson, Vincent, was killed in a farming
accident on September 28. Our heartfelt
thoughts and prayers are with Priscilla and
her family, especially Vincent’s mother, Tay-
lor, who lives near Spokane, Washington.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Praise Team Practice—6:00 p.m., (Thursdays)
Installation Service—10:00 a.m., Oct. 12.
Boutique Workshop—12:00 p.m., Oct. 12.
Columbus Day—Church Office Closed Oct. 13.
Disciple Women’s Board—7:00 p.m., Oct. 14.
Series on Grieving—7:00 p.m., Oct. 15.
Regional Assembly—Oct. 16-18.
C.M.F.—8:30 a.m., Oct. 18.
New Comer Lunch—12:00 p.m., Oct. 19.
Love Group—9:30 a.m., Oct. 21.
Faith Group—1:30 p.m., Oct. 21.
Elders—7:00 p.m., Oct. 21.
Series on Grieving—7:00 p.m., Oct. 22.
Disciple Women’s Lunch—12:00 p.m. Oct. 26.
Series on Grieving—7:00 p.m., Oct. 29.
Friends in our church ask for prayers for Mark
Robertson and his family, Karen and Lana, as
Mark is receiving chemotherapy for a brain tu-
mor…Prayers are requested for all others,
known and unknown, who are being treated for
cancer.
Friends in our congregation ask for prayers on
behalf of Steve Kroesen, a Torrance Police Offi-
cer who’s experienced a second relapse of non-
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma; his father has also been
diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.
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 October 2008 (Revised
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursd

WORSHIP SERVICES
8:30 and 10:30 am
Sunday School 9:30 am
1

5 6 7 8

12 13 14 15

Installation Blended Bible Study 10:00 a.m.

Disciple Women’s
Service 10:00 Church Office Closed Choir
Board
Boutique Workshop Columbus Day Series on Grieving 7:00 p.m
7:00
12:00 7:00 p.m.

19 20 21 22
Love Group 9:30 a.m.
Bible Study 10:00 a.m.
New Comer Lunch Newsletter Faith Group 1:30 p.m.
Choir
12:00 Elders 7:00 p.m.
Series on Grieving 7:00 p.m
Youth Adventure 12:00
7:00 p.m.

26 27 28 29
Bible Study 10:00 a.m.

Series on Grieving
Disciple Women’s 7:00 p.m. Choir
Lunch 12:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m

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d)
day Friday Saturday
October Birthday’s
Aron Fried (2)
Helen Adams (3)
Chery Carew (3)
Gene Wiehe (3)
Jenna Sandberg (4)
2 3 4 Devyn Galyardt (6)
Deborah Galyardt (6)
Bridgett Lubrani (13)
Robert Fenton (19)
John King (21)
Brianna Livernois (22)
9 10 11 Brenlee Griego (24)
Landon Colby (26)
Mark Sleeth (28)
Hugh Finlay (28)
Beverly Roseberry (28)
Robert Swartzlander (29)
Linda Houston (30)

16 17 18

C.M.F.
Regional Assembly San Bernardino
r 8:30 a.m.
m.
ANNIVERSARIES
Jim & Andrea Whobrey (1)
23 24 25 Melvin & Helen Adams (3)
Richard & Tamara Griego (26)
Bob & Terry Thomas (26)
r Bob & Kim Rogers (27)
m.

30 31

r
m.

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 Education Notes & News
Do you hear the call? The education committee is still looking for one more
volunteer to help with our Sunday morning program. We need someone to
do the Kid’s Sermon for our 3rd-5th graders during second service on the
second Sunday of the month. Call Jill Foster if you are interested or have
questions.

October-November Youth Calendar:

October 12th:

12:00 Chi Rho (grades 6-8)

12:00 CYF (grades 9-12)

October 19th:

12:00 Youth Adventure (grades 3-5) will meet in Room 3. They will be taking a trip
to the Pumpkin Patch. Please bring money for lunch and for the Pumpkin Patch.

12:00 CYF will be eating lunch with Steve at Steve’s Burgers

October 26th:

12:00 Chi Rho

12:00 CYF

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 November 2nd:

12:00 Youth Adventure (light lunch provided)

12:00 CYF

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Korean BBQ Fundraiser and Youth Auction to raise money for the
Hayride-Sponsored by our youth groups-November 23rd

Christmas Hayride-December 14Th

Adult Sunday School

Ted Oden continues to lead his very practical and transforming dis-
cussion of “Boundaries” through the end of October. Starting in No-
vember, David Matson will teach a three-week series based on some
exciting research he’s done recently on Disciples History. On the
Sunday before Thanksgiving, Steve Fietz will lead a class on “The
Faith of Abraham Lincoln.”
It’s a great and growing group, with lots of helpful discussion. Unless Sippel Hall
is being used for something else, the Adult Class is there each Sunday at 9:30
a.m.

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Upcoming Sermons
October 12 – The Installation of Pastor Steve Fietz (with Susan & Don Dewey)

Our regional co-ministers will be with us to share in the official installation of our new pas-
tor. We will bring forward the ninth* Disciples Principle of Identity as we celebrate our
church’s mission and ministry: “We affirm the priesthood of all believers, rejoicing in the
gifts of the Holy Spirit – which includes the gift of leadership – that God has given for the
common good.”
October 19 – Ted Oden will bring the message

Pastor Ted will be considering the Disciples Fifth Principle of Identity: “We structure our
community around the biblical idea of covenant, emphasizing not obedience to human au-
thority, but accountability to one another because of our shared obedience to Christ.
October 26 – “Hilarious Faith” (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 9:6—9)

From its first generation, the church was an international movement, as is expressed in the
Disciples Sixth Principle of Identity: “We participate in God’s mission for the world, work-
ing with partners to heal the brokenness of creation, and to bring justice and peace to the
whole human family.”

*NOTE: We are doing some of the principles out of order so that appropriate themes will
coincide with special celebrations. An outline of the series is available on Sunday mornings
for those who’d like a closer look. For more on the Disciples Principles of Identity, please
visit www.disciples.org.

Wednesday Evening Series on Grieving

We are offering a three-week series on “Life and Loss.” We will meet the last three
Wednesday evenings in October (the 15th, 22nd & 29th) from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Infor-
mation will be offered; discussion will be encouraged, but not required.
Please let the church office know if you are interested in attending. For more infor-
mation, see the pastor’s column, or give Steve a call: 310-328-2820 or 310-212-
5950.

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 Footnotes
The simplest and best definition I know for grief is this: Grief is how we respond to
change.

The implication, then, is that grief is something all of us experience—because all of us

are dealing with change in some form or another. Some changes have sharper edges
that cause deeper grieving; but even good changes are accompanied by a grief re-
sponse.

Everyone goes through their grief in their own way. And yet, there are some things
that we seem to have in common. Certain feelings and patterns arise in most people.
Some familiarity with this common ground will probably not remove our pain—but it
may ease us through. And it can help us to understand that we are not alone in our ex-
perience.

And so we are offering a three-week series on “Life and Loss.” We will meet the last
three Wednesday evenings in October (the 15th, 22nd & 29th) from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
Information will be offered; discussion will be encouraged, but not required.

If you feel you might be helped by such a series, come. If you think this time might
help you help others, come. Our goals include helping those who are struggling with
loss, whether recent or long-term. We also hope to help those who may be placed in
the position of caring for or comforting those with significant losses.

Please let me know if you have any ideas for a mid-week series—we hope to have
more as schedules allow. We will also be looking to offer a day-time version of this
series soon.

Shalom, Steve

**Next Newsletter articles need to be at the church office by 10/20/08.

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 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
For birth through age 3 during Sunday School
and the 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 - Sherril Wiechmann
The Christian Messenger

Officers
Chair - Doug Crawford
TIME VALUE DATA

Vice Chair - Don Zukas

2930 El Dorado Street

DO NOT DELAY
First Christian Church

Torrance, CA 90503

Treasurer– Bill Wysong

EXPEDITE

Financial Secretary - Moggy Emmen

Clerk– Chery Carew

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