CROSS CURRENTS May, 2020

Alpine Community Church (UCC), Alpine CA

Vol. 31 No. 5

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Palm Sunday 2020 at ACC

Palm Sunday was celebrated at the Alpine Community Church during the Coronavirus

Pandemic with members standing in front of the church waving Palm Branches at cars

as they drove by. Because of the social distancing order by the Governor of California,

all church services were held online by churches throughout California and the world.

Pastor Ken led a online Palm Sunday Service on YouTube from the sanctuary. His wife,

Tracy, was the liturgist and soloist. Their daughter, Micaela, video taped the service. At

this time, all worship services will be taped and presented on YouTube until further

notice. Please join us for worship during our time of sheltering at home. Pastor Ken will

send a link to his service on the Saturday before each service. If you have any questions

or don’t have email, please contact Pastor Ken at (619) 249-8890.

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Easter Sunday 2020 at ACC

We all have experienced a very

different Easter while sheltering at

home due to the Coronavirus

Pandemic. Our congregation provided

a beautiful way for our people and the

community to experience Easter

through our Easter Flower Cross.

Everyone was invited to share a

flower for the cross marking Easter

Hope and helping all of us realize that

we aren’t alone. Many thanks to those

who helped decorate our “flower”

cross. It helps us remember that we

are all in this together!

Pastor Colman, his wife Tracy and

their daughter, Micaela, shared a

beautiful virtual Easter Service for

everyone via YouTube. If you missed

it, it is available on our church website

https://alpineucc.org/worship.

Join us every Sunday for virtual

worship! Pastor Ken will send a link

to his weekly services via email.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Our church bills continue to come in despite the

pandemic! So please don’t forget to pay your pledge to God and our

church. You can either mail your pledge contribution to the church or

drop it off in the church office mail slot.

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After her mother died in 1905, Miss Anna Jarvis

wished to memorialize her life and started

campaigning for a national day to honor all

mothers.

Her mother, known as “Mother Jarvis,” was a

young Appalachian homemaker and lifelong

activist who had organized “Mother’s Work Days”

to save the lives of those dying from polluted

water. During the Civil War, Mother Jarvis had

also organized women’s brigades, encouraging

women to help without regard for which side their

men had chosen. At the time, there were many

special days for men, but none for women.

On May 10, 1908, a Mother’s Day service was held at a church in Grafton, West Virginia,

where Anna’s mother had taught. Thus was born the idea that the second Sunday in May

be set aside to honor all mothers, dead or alive.

Anna Jarvis, bombarded public figures and various civic organizations with telegrams,

letters, and in-person discussions. She addressed groups large and small. At her own

expense, she wrote, printed, and distributed booklets extolling her idea.

Her efforts came to the attention of the mayor of Philadelphia, who proclaimed a local

Mother’s Day. From the local level she went on to Washington, D.C. The politicians there

knew a good thing when they saw it and were quick to lend verbal support.

West Virginia was the first state to officially adopt the holiday, and others followed suit.

Proclamation of the day by the various states led Representative J. Thomas Heflin of

Alabama and Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas to present a joint resolution to Congress

that Mother’s Day be observed nation-wide. The resolution was passed by both houses.

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill designating the second Sunday in May

as a legal holiday to be called “Mother’s Day”—dedicated “to the best mother in the world,

your mother.”

Source: The 1972 Old Farmer's Almanac

Mother’s Day—May 10, 2020

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Memorial Day (previously but now seldom

called Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in

the United States for remembering, honoring,

and mourning the military personnel that had

died while serving in the United States Armed

Forces. The holiday is now observed on the

last Monday of May (May 25, 2020). Originally,

Memorial Day was observed on May 30 from

1868 to 1970.

The first state to recognize the day was New

York. On the first, official Memorial Day a large ceremony was held at Arlington National

Cemetery and flowers were placed on the headstones.

Most southern states refused to recognize the day officially until after WWI. After WWI,

the Day was adjusted to celebrate the deceased in all wars.

A National Holiday Act was signed by Congress in 1971, ensuring a three day weekend

for the Federal Holiday. Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina,

Louisiana, and Tennessee, all have separate days to honor the South's Civil War hero's.

Red poppies are the unofficial flower of Memorial Day. The VFW was the first veterans'

organization to sell poppies nationally. The "Buddy" Poppy Program sells imitation

poppies made by veterans.

In 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance was initiated. The National Moment of

remembrance asks that all Americans at 3:00 pm, pause from any action to somehow

honor the deceased of our many wars.

In 1951 the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began the placement of 150,000 flags

at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. This tradition still stands. On Memorial Day the

flag should be flown at half staff until noon and full staff the rest of the day.

Source: Wikipedia and National Archives

Memorial Day—May 25, 2020

NEW ADDRESS: Roy and Wilma Athey, 2211 Massachusetts Ave. Lemon Grove, Ca. 91945

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Christ Has Risen, He has risen indeed!!! I am writing this article the day after Easter and all I can think about is the hope that comes with the Good News of Christ resurrection. May we all be blessed in leaning on this hope through this season. I look forward to the day when we can gather as a congregation to sing and to praise God.

It has been a lot of work creating the on-line service, yet it has been fulfilling too. I am learning so many new things and new ways of doing worship, what is most important is that we are together through the Spirit if not in body. The church is the people and our faith coming together. It is not a way we do church; faith is what keeps us together. Thanks be to

God.

There is good news for all of us. We have survived doing Church in a new way, so when we gather again let’s try new ways to worship God through new music, different liturgy, and who knows what else. If you have an idea that you think the Spirit is calling us let me know. I challenge all of us to continue to open for wherever God is calling us.

You all continue to be in my prayers daily. I want to give a thank you to Micaela and Tracy Colman for all they are doing to help with the worship service. I am truly blessed with their love.

Shalom, Ken

“Colman Contemplations”

Pastor Ken and Robin Bellas need some help with the youth group. We meet twice a

month and there are time that one of us can not be present. If there is anyone who

believes in youth and would like to help lead our youth through their high school

years please give Pastor Ken a call.

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Message from the Moderator....

Do you remember that song that says: “If you're worried and you

can't sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep…”? That can

be a real challenge for some of us during this Coronavirus

epidemic. So, let me mention a few “blessings” for which we at

the Alpine Community Church can be thankful.

First, our Pastor, Ken Colman, has found new and creative ways

to conduct worship services on-line to reach all who are able to

explore the offerings of Zoom, YouTube and other popular

internet platforms. We also very much appreciate the musical

offerings of our musical director, William Young, and the special acapella hymns from

Tracey Colman. Of course, none of this would be possible without the video production

talent and skills of Micaela Colman. Thank you all for providing inspiring and uplifting

Sunday services for the entire internet-connected community.

Next, I want to mention the many blessings we receive from members of our

congregation. The Guild is keeping in touch with us all by phone, reaching out make sure

that we are connected even though we are maintaining our physical distance. Other

church members are making face masks for us to use when we venture out for essential

groceries, pharmacy needs and the like. Many of you are re-stocking the Blessing Box to

make sure that others in our community will always have access to essential food and

toiletries. Our Treasurer, Trustees, and Office Manager are making sure that all our bills

are paid, and that essential maintenance and operations are continuing. And our Alpine

community receives a blessing every Sunday morning when Pastor Ken makes a special

trip to the church to ring our historic bell.

Thanks to each of you for the role you are playing to bring blessings and hope and love to

our congregation and the wider community of Alpine.

Tom Myers

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All In This Together!

As I write this, we are preparing to celebrate Easter without

each other. Since Easter will be passed by the time you read

this, I hope that we all passed the time with joy! As we

struggle through this quarantine due to the virus, we find

ourselves “going to church” online and looking at our friends

and family through the window.

As strange as it all is, there is one phrase that everyone keeps

using: “We are all in this together.” Though there are

different variations of the phrase, the word “together” is what keeps coming out. As the

social distancing continues, I am thinking about how united we are as a country and a

world. In times of crisis, we all pull together

as a people to help one another. We have

never pulled together and been so far apart,

but we are seeing spiritual and religious

deeds in action. Everyone is stepping up to

help their fellow man in different ways. As

sad and tragic as it has been, we also can feel

very comforted because everyone else in the

world is doing much the same thing as we.

We are sharing in each other’s sadness and

feeling what little joy there is to feel. We once sat in church and shared each other’s joys

and concerns. Now, we are doing it with the whole world. What we need to remember,

long after the coronavirus has passed, is that we are forever, “all in this together.” We

should always feel the joys and sorrows around us. In times of trouble, and times of joy,

let us stand together and “hold hands” with the world as we once did, and will do again,

with our church family.

I sincerely pray that when this appears in the next issue of the Cross Currents, our church

family will once again be reunited. Yet, if it is not to be, remember that, through this crisis,

we have learned the true meaning of the phrase sisters and brothers in Christ, and citizens

of a great world.

See you soon! Jordan O’Neal

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Homer Walter Krantz 1936-2020

Homer Walter Krantz passed away peacefully from complications of dementia on Palm

Sunday, April 5, 2020, in El Cajon. Homer was born on September 3, 1936, to Homer

Walter Krantz, Sr. and Marilyn Tai Lau, in Hilo, Hawaii where his father was stationed in

the US Army.

Over the years, Homer worked at Sears, the Big Wheel, Cash and Carry, and Home Depot,

where he retired in July 2015. He enjoyed his work helping people with his experience,

patience and loving smile.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marcella, of almost 62 years. His daughters Marcella

Thomas, Michele Murphy, and his five grandchildren.

His personality, love, and caring for his family and others will shine in our hearts forever.

A Celebration of His Life will be held at a later date.

- by Marcella Krantz

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Birthdays and Anniversaries

MAY BIRTHDAY WISHES:

MAUZY, Stacy 05/02

FREEMAN, Richard 05/06

SHAW, Norine 05/16

HAMES, Debbie 05/31

PRICE, Megan 05/31

MAY ANNIVERSARIES:

O’NEAL, Al & Dee Ann 05/10

POINDEXTER, Rob & Darlene 05/16

REUTER, Hans & Anne 05/22

FREEMAN, Richard & Vicki 05/23

Rich and Vicki’s 50th Wedding Anniversary

KRANTZ, Marcella & Homer 05/29

CROTEAU, Normand & Esther 05/30

Please send articles and pictures for the Cross Currents to:

Cross Currents Editor: Rev. Dr. Richard D. Freeman Email: rdfreeman@outlook.com Cell Phone: (619) 701-0517

Well, here we are during the “new” normal. I just wanted to reach out and let you know the office will be

mostly closed as Pastor Ken works from home & I come in just to check the phone for voice mail

messages and the computer for e-mail messages. I will also make daily trips to the post office and mail

box as well as keeping the office responsibilities current. If you have any questions or concerns, call or e

-mail and we will get back to you ASAP. Watch for an e-mail message from Pastor Ken with a link to the

Sunday Service via you tube, he will be sending it out tomorrow. In the meantime, I keep you all in my

thoughts and prayers. Take care & wash your hands a lot. - Denise Horan

IMPORTANT: Church Office Hours

Hello Friends! I know National City is a bit of a drive but just wanted to let you know there is a

birthday wishes car parade scheduled for Mom’s (Dolly Vertel) 100th birthday. Paradise Village will

have Mom seated in the little parking lot fountain area in front of the Plaza Building at Paradise

Village, 2740 E. 4th St. National City on Monday, April 27, at 2:00 PM The location is in the middle of a

loop through the parking lot—easy to spot to find. It might be a fun drive to get you out of the house

for a little while! Thanks to all of you who have sent cards. She appreciates them all. Sending love and

warmest wishes as we go through this time of isolation and reflection together wherever we may be.

- Joanie Bogle

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NO CALENDAR FOR MAY

The normal calendar for the month of May will not appear in this edition of

Cross Currents. There are so many events that have been canceled or moved

to online. So, please check your email DAILY to see if your event is canceled or

moved to online. Pastor Ken and Denise will be keeping you posted.

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CROSS CURRENTS Published Monthly Editor Rev. Dr. Richard Freeman

Production Manager Denise Horan

The editor welcomes contributions

But they must be received by the third Sunday of each month.

ALPINE COMMUNITY

CHURCH United Church of Christ

2225 W. Victoria Drive

P.O. Box 212

Alpine, CA 91903-0212

Mission Statement Our Mission as the Alpine Community Church is to serve God by

creating an environment of fellowship following the teachings of Jesus

Christ. We minister to the needs of our congregation and community,

motivating ourselves with love, faith and hope.

Join us each Sunday

9:00 AM Worship and Sunday School

Holy Communion offered every Sunday

10:00 AM Fellowship in Fuller Hall follows worship