November Interfaith Meeting

Happy Thanksgiving!

The November meeting of Lompoc Interfaith is scheduled for Tuesday, November 28th at noon. Bring a lunch and join us for discussion as we build relationships within the broader religious community in Lompoc. We will discuss possible projects that we can join together on.

Meeting place is

First Christian Church
1517 W. College Avenue.

E-mail to lompocdisciples@impulse.net

Ken Boyd Candidates Forum -- Broadcast Information

The Ken Boyd Candidates Forum was held on Wednesday evening November 1 at First Presbyterian Church. The forum was video taped and is playing on TAP TV -- Channel 25. You can find it aring at 4 AM to 5:30 AM Saturday, on Sunday morning at 5. Then it will appear on Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 AM and run to 9 AM.

The forum also received coverage in the Lompoc Record on Friday, November 3. Picture is from the Lompoc Record. City Council Candidates appearing are from left to right: Darrell Tullis, Harry Keim, David Grill, Ann Ruhge, and Mike Siminski.

The forum, which focused on five specific questions, was moderated by Rev. Bob Cornwall of First Christian Church, and hosted by Rev. Julia Leeth of First Presbtyerian Church.

October Lompoc Interfaith Meeting

The next Lompoc Interfaith Meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 24th -- noon -- at First Christian Church (College and V in Lompoc). This is a brown bag lunch, so bring something to eat and come and share in dialogue.

This month, with the election just days away, we will look at the relationship of religion and politics -- sharing how our different traditions approach this issue, which has proven contentious and divisive within communities and within religious communities.

If you're planning to come, please RSVP to lompocdisciples@impulse.net

Ken Boyd Candidates Forum -- Further Information

The Ken Boyd Candidates Forum on Wednesday November 1, 2006, at 7:00 P.M. will feature five of six Lompoc City Council Candidates. This forum, which will be held at First Presbyterian Church (1600 Berkeley Drive, Lompoc), is co-sponsored by First Presbyterian Church and First Christian Church and is open to the entire community. The

This important pre-election event will be led by Rev. Julia Leeth, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church and Rev. Dr. Bob Cornwall, Pastor of First Christian Church and columnist for the Lompoc Record -- "Faith in the Public Square."

Come and listen as Mike Siminski, Darrell Tullis, David Grill, Anne Rughe and Harry Keim share their views on the important issues that face the community of Lompoc.

Ken Boyd Candidates Forum -- November 1

The Ken Boyd Candidates Forum will feature all six Lompoc City Council Candidates in a forum sponsored by First Presbyterian Church and First Christian Church. The event will be held November 1, the Wednesday prior to the election, at 7:00 P.M. at First Presbyterian Church.

The event will be hosted by Rev. Julia Leeth, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church and moderated by
Rev. Dr. Bob Cornwall, Pastor of First Christian Church and columnist for the Lompoc Record -- "Faith in the Public Square"

The candidates will be given the opportunity to answer questions provided by the two congregations and share their vision for Lompoc. Please come and consider carefully their answers before you vote.

Ken Boyd was Pastor for many years at First Presbyterian Church and during those years he would often host forums for candidates that were fair, balanced, and safe. This forum seeks to be in that tradition.

God Bless America Poster

There is much debate lately about the fate of the God Bless America poster that once hung in the lobby of the Lompoc Post Office. Local pastor and Lompoc Record columnist, Dr. Bob Cornwall, has given his take on the issue. Take a look and then offer a comment here.

http://www.lompocrecord.com/articles/2006/09/24/opinions/092406b.txt

What If?

What If?

If Christians read and really followed the teachings of Jesus;

If Jews read and really followed the teachings of Moses and the Prophets;

If Muslims read and really followed the teachings of Mohammed;

Then maybe we would stop slaughtering each other in GOD’s name!

We are ALL Brothers and Sisters, Spiritual descendants of Abraham,

who try to follow the God who called him and his descendants to be “A Blessing to All Nations.”

Let us all read and try to follow our own and try to understand each other’s Scriptures,

and not blindly obey our warring leaders!

I pray often that this day will come.

“If Jesus would preach in New York City, what HE preached in Galilee,

They’d lay Jesus Christ in HIS grave!” Woody Guthrie

Charles E. Blair

Charlie is a retired Air Force surgeon and resident of Lompoc.

September Interfaith Meeting

Lompoc Interfaith took the summer off, but we are looking forward to starting up again on Tuesday, September 26th. Yes, the first meeting of the Fall for Lompoc Interfaith will be held at noon on Tuesday, September 26th at First Christian Church. Please join us for conversation that leads to understanding and action on behalf of all humanity. Bring your lunch and share around the table.

First Christian Church is at the corner of College and V (1517 W. College Avenue). For more information send an e-mail to lompocdisciples@impulse.net.

Faith in the Public Square -- Forum

Faith in the Public Square

A Conversation about Religion, Politics, Culture and more
with
Dr. Bob Cornwall
Pastor, First Christian Church
and
Lompoc Record Columnist

Wednesday Evening -- September 27th -- 7:00 P.M.

At the
Grossman Gallery, Lompoc Public Library
501 E. North Avenue

for information: 736–9355 or lompocdisciples@impulse.net

May Interfaith Meeting

Lompoc Interfaith next meets on Wednesday May 24th -- noon -- at First Christian Church. The address is 1517 College Avenue. If you'd like to come send an e-mail to lompocdisciples@impulse.net. You can also call and leave a message at the First Christian Church office -- 736-9355.

This month we continue our discussion of the new hospital chapel space and the possibility of hosting a medical ethics conference with the hospital. So come and join us. This is a brown bag affair, so bring you lunch and share in building bridges in Lompoc

Mental Health and Housing in Lompoc

Information on the Appeal scheduled to go before
The Lompoc City Council
for Supportive Housing Initiative Act Housing

The City of Lompoc Planning Commission recently denied (3-2 vote) a housing application by the Transitions Mental Health Agency (TMHA) and the Santa Barbara Housing Assistance Corporation (SBHAC) to build and operate a low-rent 39-unit apartment complex (single studio rooms) for low income and for persons suffering from a mental disorder who are getting back into independent living with SSI and SSDI support. Seven residence staff would provide counseling, assistance on job hunting and SSI/SSDI paperwork, medical and treatment supervision, and therapy. Opportunities for group recreation would be available. 24-hour staff would ensure the physical and medical safety of the residents.

This type of housing is state-funded by the Supportive Housing Initiative Act of California (SHIA), passed in 1998 to transition the homeless and mentally ill back into successful living. Housing has already been established under this Act in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. It has been extremely successful all over California in that new medications in the past decades have provided stability to persons suffering from serious mental illness for beginning the process of insight, rehabilitation, assisted living and successful independent living.

The permit application was for the empty lot at 513 No. G St. The lot had previously been approved for a motel project, but the builder did not come through. TMHA has appealed the City Planning Commission’s decision. The appeal will go before the City Council at their regular meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, May 16th. The meeting begins at 7 pm. One of the persons planning to step up for public address representing MHSA to the City Council will ask how many in attendance are there to support the housing application, so you can show support without having to speak. Please come and support this next step in helping with a safe, secure transition for the homeless and those suffering with a mental illness to get back on their feet.

Additional Current Statistics, Compiled May, 2006:

. 160 MI homeless have accessed the Lompoc Drop in center in the
last fiscal year.
. Transitions MH Association has 2 houses and 1 apartment in SM that
houses 11 people with 44 receiving housing support through SHIA.
. They have 21 houses in SLO with 110 residents.
. They have successfully provided housing programs to MI for over 20yrs.


Representation in the audience at the City Hall Meeting Tuesday, May 16th at 7 pm can make a difference in reaching a positive outcome. Please encourage your church members and friends to attend.

Thank you!
Phyllis Daniels
733-1973

Yom HaShoah

Today is a holy day for most Jews. It is a day of remembrance of those who perished during the Holocaust. With genocide taking place in Darfur and Northern Uganda, it is important to stop and remember. Take time today to be silent in remembrance, that the march of death might stop. You may check out the column on this day of remembrance by Pastor Bob Cornwall:
http://www.lompocrecord.com/articles/2006/04/23/opinions/042306c.txt

Lompoc Interfaith Meeting

Join us at noon on Wednesday April 26th at First Christian Church (1517 W. College Avenue -- College and V) for the monthly meeting of Lompoc Interfaith. This is an open meeting and the purpose is to build bridges across confessional lines. In doing this we can be better servants to our community. RSVP at lompocdisciples@impulse.net.

Interfaith Calendar April 9-16

This week is a busy one for the religious community.

This past Sunday, April 9th began Holy Week for the Christian Community. Holy Week runs through Maundy/Holy Thursday and Good Friday to Easter. For the Eastern Orthodox traditions, Holy Week runs one week later, with Easter on April 23rd.

Wednesday April 12th at sundown, marks the beginning of Passover, an observance that runs through the following week.

These are important events in the lives of these traditions.

Interfaith Conversations in Lompoc

What value is there to interfaith conversations?We are beginning the process of creating an interfaith presence in Lompoc. It's grass roots, it's small, and it's tenuous. The value in this is simple--it's an opportunity to build bridges. As we watch the world clashing, often with religious motives, the question is, how do we make a difference? How do we build the bridges?This will not be an easy road, but by getting to know one another and by working on projects that unite rather than divide, we will move forward. Our first project is sharing in the design for a chapel/sacred space at the new Lompoc Hospital. We've met three times and the numbers and diversity is growing. But there is much left to accomplish! But if we're willing to share our voice in Lompoc, maybe the voice will be heard around the world, and then we can make a difference. Interfaith dialog is an important contribution to the betterment of our community. We will all be better off we can sit together civilly and respectfully -- perhaps for a meal and fellowship -- to learn about one another. That's the hope!

So, join us on the journey!


Bob Cornwall, Pastor, First Christian Church of Lompoc (http://www.lompocdisciples.org/)