Orangethorpe United Methodist Church:
Lay Members' Page

Here are the literary contributions of various lay members and friends of OUMC. We kicked off this page in November 2010 with the inspirational articles of Fern McCallum and the poetry of Beth Robinson. We challenge other OUMCers to submit their creative contributions, whether they be descriptions of their faith journey, or commentaries on the everyday life of our church. Poetry, photos and art work are welcome. And of course, it goes without saying that whatever you see here reflects the beliefs and the opinions of the person who provided it.

• In October 2011, on Laity Sunday, the message was delivered by Richard Shea and Sharyl Lewis. We hope you'll find inspiration in what they had to say that morning:
  • Some Spiritual Flashbacks, by Rich    NEW OCTOBER 2011 
  • Sharyl's message is coming soon!
  
  
• Fern McCallum started attending our church in about 2009. She is a very welcome addition to our congregation. Fern became a regular volunteer at Orangethorpe Learning Center, where the kids love her. Here are Fern's contributions:
  
  
  • Why do I go to Church?
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • There is Joy in Serving
  • Jesus Use Me Today
  • A Heart Full of Love
  • God's Gift of Healing
  • He Took My Place
  • Mother's Day in May
  • Happy Mother's Day... Friends Forever
  • Father's Day
  • Reflecting God's Love
  • God's Wise Design
  • The Doors of School are Closed
  • FROG
  • Let's All Be Pumpkins    NEW OCTOBER 2011 
  
  
• Soon after joining our church, Beth Robinson joined our choir, where her strong alto voice makes a big difference. We discovered she was also a poet when she wrote and sang lyrics to Sibelius' Finlandia for Christmas 2009. These are her lyrics:
  
  
  • A Christmas Wish, which was presented by the OUMC choir at Christmas in 2010, set to music by our own accompanist Vern Nelson.
  • In Bethlehem Within a Stable Lowly, which she sang at Christmas in 2009.
  • Palace of the King, another poem set to Vern's music, which the choir presented in worship, March 27, 2011.
    
    
  • Beth was kind enough to turn over to us a volume of her prose and poetry entitled Aunt Beth's Attic, from which we'll add samples to this collection from time to time:
  • The Good Samaritan
  • Moses Remembers
  • The Older Brother    NEW JANUARY 2012 
  • Up a Tree    NEW JANUARY 2012 
    
    
  • Celebrating Valentine's Day 2011, Beth sent us a little collection of poems, plus one essay, which we know you'll love to read — Valentine's Day
  • And to celebrate Father's Day — A Love for the Ages
  • Another poem which is to be sung to Finlandia — Psalm XXIII
  • Thoughts from the Pit
    
    
  • In honor of Christmas 2011, Beth wrote Display    NEW DECEMBER 2011 
  
  
• Here's an article which Joseph LaRoche posted to Facebook after his encounter with prostate cancer; we hope Joseph will continue to contribute to these pages:
  
  
  • God's Radical Little Helper-Ectomy
  
  
• Although Patricia Liu isn't an OUMC member, during the last 8 or 9 years she has spent more time at our church than most members do, while tutoring the children of Orangethorpe Learning Center.
  
  
  • A Tragedy Which Made Me Stronger Forever is an essay Patricia wrote for her English class at Fullerton College which we hope you'll find inspiring.
  
  
• Your webservant will add a few contributions of his own from time to time. I make no claim that they match Beth's or Fern's works in literary quality, or Patricia's for real life drama, but they'll reflect whatever was on my mind and heart at a particular moment...
  
  
  • "Making a Difference Through Christ" was just a report I made, but it expresses my feelings about three ministries I'm involved in here.
  • A meditation which I put together when asked to give one at a meeting.
  • Laity Sunday message 1995. It used to be customary to have a service each year at which various lay members would bring the message. This was a message which I delivered on one such Sunday which I just found in my bottomless computer archives. Some of the references to people or events may be dated, but you might enjoy reading it anyway.
  • Vision. An article I wrote in 1996 for OUMC's newsletter, then known as the Churchfamily Scribe. It may still be relevant today. What do you think?
  
  
• Your name goes here. Please submit your own writings!