NUMC Church & Society

Church & Society Upcoming Events

Film The poignant film “The Stoning of Soraya M.” will be screened by Church and Society on Tuesday, September 14. This film, which is directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, is based on a true story of an innocent Iranian woman who was accused of infidelity by her husband, who wanted out of their marriage. She is convicted and stoned to death. The story is exposed by the victim’s aunt, a Muslim woman, who tells a journalist who is stranded in her village. The film also examines how Islam can be hijacked by people pursuing personal agendas and looks at the inequality of women under Sharia Law. The movie stars Shohreh Aghdashloo and Jim Caviezel and is rated R for a disturbing sequence of cruel and brutal violence and brief strong language. (Note: if you would like to see the film but are worried about the violence, we will give film-goers a heads-up before that short part of the film.) The movie will be shown at the Kendall Building at 7 p.m. For more info on the movie, go to http://www.thestoning.com/ School Supply Drive Church and Society is collecting school supplies with New You for North Valley Caring Services and local schools. Please bring items to the office or the Fellowship Hall on Sundays through mid-September. For a list of ideas, please see the attached flyer. Event Valley Interfaith Council is presenting its annual Labor Day picnic and program on Monday, September 6, at Northridge United Methodist Church. The program will includes keynote speaker Rev. Peter Laarman, who will discuss "A Moral Economy and the California Budget Crisis." Laarman is executive director of Progressive Christians Uniting. All are welcome (with no reservations required) and the event includes a free family BBQ at 5:30 p.m. The actual program begins at 7 p.m. and is intended to strengthen the religious and labor communities in support of common values. For more info, see the attached flyer or go to http://www.vic-la.org

These are from our recent Beach Clean Up Day, which was co-sponsored with the Family Ministires Team, where we volunteered through Heal the Bay. A group of 29 attendees participated in this event at Will Rogers State Beach. If you are interested in attending one of Heal the Bay's future monthly beach clean-ups, go to http://www.healthebay.org/volunteer/htbcleanup/default.asp


Recent discussion of Fair Elections (public fianancing of elections).	Church and Society's recent trip to see the Cesar Chavez Memorial in San Fernando.
Recent visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to see the Magna Carta
	Christmas Tradition Thanks to all who participated in the Children’s’ Christmas Mart on Saturday, December 17, 2009. It was a smashing success! 177 parents and 364 children participated in the event. 35 volunteers helped children pick out presents or wrap. The volunteers came from Northridge UMC, the girl scouts, and NVCS volunteers. 4 NVCS staff members made sure that all of the children had appointments, greeted the families and also assisted the children. A special thanks to all who showed up early Saturday morning to transport presents over to NVCS. An extra special thanks to everyone who donated items for the children to pick out. Also, Ric, Tandy and Salia Wilson who always make the children smile when they take their pictures. Next year’s Christmas Mart will be on Saturday, December 18, 2010. – Amybeth Lake , chair.
Hunger Walk Twelve walkers from NUMC assembled in Tarzana on November 8 to walk in the 34th annual San Fernando Valley CROP Walk hosted by St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Preliminary reports indicate that NUMC collected about $3,000 to be used here in the Valley and in areas around the world to assist in alleviating hunger and providing tools for hungry people to feed themselves and their families. Many thanks to walkers Jeri Barricklow, Joann DeSantis, Judy Kolstad, Teresa Priem, Carol Rogers and daughter Stephanie, Phyllis Schneider, Gordon and Hannah Sheldall, Mike and Barbara Shields, Pat Small, and Vicki Utley. Thanks also to the many generous donors for participating in a very successful effort to help the hungry!

Family Movie Night Here are pictures from our recent "Wall-E" screening, which featured a real robot demonstration.

more pictures from the Wall-e screening

The Mission of the Church and Society team is to “Live our faith and to seek justice by promoting awareness of social concerns, inspiring community involvement and encouraging political action.”

The Purpose of the team is to work, in accordance with the Book of Discipline, on issues of “peace and world order, human relations, political and economic affairs and health and general welfare.” The team often works with other members of the church and community on local social action projects. In this way, we follow the NUMC mission statement “to extend the hospitality of Christ to the San Fernando Valley” through participating in projects such as the Christmas Mart and CROP Walk. The team also informs the congregation of pertinent issues through movies, books, speakers and special events.

The Structure of the team is consistent with other such committees within the local UMC. The chair of the team is nominated by the Leadership Development Team, with consent of the Pastor and concurrence of the Church Council. The members of the Church and Society team confirm this appointment by open vote. The members of the team consist of the Chair, members responsible for various events and concerns and members who express an interest in the objectives of the committee.

The opinions expressed on various issues by Church and Society are the views of that committee and do not necessarily represent the position of the Northridge United Methodist Church.