January 2026

Sonora United Methodist Church Newsletter

From Rev. Kevin Campbell

Looking ahead to the New Year, one thing seems certain: it is going to be hard to guess what is coming. What will the economy do? Will prices rise? Will interest rates decline? Will we have a crisis with health insurance and rural health services being endangered? Will the mid-term elections bring about a sweeping change? Will we ever see peace in Ukraine or Gaza? What might happen is anyone’s guess. What I know is certain is that God will stay the same. Whatever happens, God will still be our God, and we will be God’s people. That is the Covenant, and why we start the year with part of Wesley’s Covenant Service. I want to share a bit of the history of this service, from the Book of Worship:

In 1663, Richard Alleine, a Puritan, published Vindiciae Pietatis: or, “A Vindication of Godliness in the Greater Strictness and Spirituality of It”. In 1753, it was again published in John Wesley's A Christian Library. Wesley used one chapter, "The Application of the Whole," on Monday, August 11, 1755, in what was probably the first real celebration of the Covenant Service in the Methodist movement.

Wesley found the service rich and meaningful, as expressed in his Journal: "Many mourned before God, and many were comforted" (April 1756); "It was, as usual, a time of remarkable blessing" (October 1765). "It was an occasion for a variety of spiritual experiences ... I do not know that we ever had a greater blessing. Afterwards, many desired to return thanks, either for a sense of pardon, for full salvation, or for a fresh manifestation of His graces, healing all their backslidings" (January 1, 1775). In London, these services were usually held on New Year's Day. Around the country, the Covenant Service was conducted whenever John Wesley visited the Methodist Societies.

After the time of Wesley, several versions of the Covenant Service were developed, gradually giving Wesley's material less place in the total service. The present service follows our Basic Pattern of worship, enables the congregation to participate more fully, and updates language. Most significantly, the liturgy beginning with the Invitation is taken directly from Wesley's service of 1780.

The heart of the service, focused on the Covenant Prayer, requires persons to commit themselves to God. This covenant is serious and assumes adequate preparation for and continual response to the covenant.

I hope this service will anchor us in our faith and prepare us for whatever lies ahead.

 

Scriptures and Sermon titles for January:

 

Jan 4: Epiphany

           "Seeing the Light"

           John 1: 10-18

 

Jan 11: Baptism of the Lord

             "Power of Presence"

             Psalm 29

             Matthew 3: 13-17

 

Jan 18: Human Relations Day

             "Show the Light"

              John 1: 29-42

 

Jan 25: "Gone Fishing"

             Matthew 4: 12-23

 

Shalom,

Pastor Kevin

 

                               

  Coming Activities

 

                             Beans, Rice, and Jesus Christ

Thursdays: Free Community Dinner every Thursday, 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

 Main dish, salad, dessert, and drink for anyone who wants to come. 

             

Fridays: 2 pm Bible Study using the Upper Room devotional booklet. 

Good discussions about how to be a Christian in the modern world.

 

Saturday, January 10th, at 9 am at church, the Women’s Fellowship will prepare a main dish for Beans, Rice, and Jesus Christ.  The dish is frozen and is used when needed.  Such a big help to the BRJC staff.

 

Saturday, January 24th, at 11:30.  A planning meeting for the Women’s Fellowship. If you are able to attend, bring a sack lunch and your ideas for the coming year. 

 

 

 

Dear Friends of Beans, Rice, and Jesus Christ,

 

          Dear Friends of BRJC

Only a couple more days before the New Year 2026 is here. Any New Year changes or resolutions? Well, there is a change for BRJC.  In case you missed last month's newsletter, I mentioned that I would no longer be the food coordinator of BRJC. I am now a certified Lay Servant and plan on continuing to pursue whatever God wants me to do in this special ministry.

 

I have relinquished my position as BRJC food coordinator to Alice Mansfield. But will continue in my position as BRJC financial organizer. This means I will be keeping track of the receipts from the foods we purchase, submitting an expense sheet, and still participating in Thursday's dinner and special events.

 

Speaking of special events, our Christmas dinner and giveaway were great.  It was raining very hard, and foggy off and on throughout the day. Unfortunately, we didn't have as many guests as in previous years because of these factors, as well as because three other local meals were being provided. We will continue giving gifts and certificates on Thursday, New Year's Day. 

 

We had new volunteers who did a fantastic job in helping to serve our Christmas dinner of ham, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, salad, rolls, pie, and cookies for dessert. It was fantastic and very much appreciated by all. A family of three came and wanted to help.

Also, the giveaway of new socks, hats, gloves, etc., and candy was a hit. But I think the $10.00 gift certificates were an ENORMOUS hit. It was wonderful to see the genuine surprise and smiles on so many faces.

 

A special thank you to Helen’s Faithful Sisters Bible Study, SUMC, NextDoor.com readers, and all the people who have given monetary gifts, food, time, and energy, and the many volunteers who have given so much to make this Christmas event successful. We could not have done it without the community coming together. 

 

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Thank you again for making BRJC in 2025 a prosperous and successful year. May God's blessings continue flowing with joy, happiness, and a zeal to serve God's people in 2026.

 

Love and Peace,

Janice Samuels Johnson 

BRJC Coordinator

 

 

Women’s Fellowship

 

          Greetings All, and Happy New Year!

I am grateful for all your hard work and donations this past year.

We have our dedicated monthly cooking group that provides meals for Beans and Rice and Jesus Christ. We collected 24 shoe box gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child. We held 2 rummage sales. We are able to continue to provide the Upper Room devotional for our congregation and friends. 

Through our fundraising efforts, we were able to send $150 gifts to each of the following: Center for a Non-violent Community, WATCH, Foothill Pregnancy Center, Heifer, Interfaith, and Beans and Rice dinner. There is still a little over $1,900 in our account that will help fund new flooring for the kitchen. 

Our next cooking day will be Saturday, January 10th, at 9 am.

This year, I would like to hold regular quarterly meetings. The first will be on Saturday, January 24th, at 11:30. If you are able to attend, bring a sack lunch and your ideas for the coming year. 

Thank you all again for the generosity of your time, talents, energy, and giving. 

 

Blessings, 

Karla Wasson 

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

1/2  Roger Francis

1/5  Peggy Florence

1/22  Dan Townsend

1/25  Bobbie Clapham

!/28  Marissa Mansfield

 

 

From Lorraine Vogt, Church Council Chair

 

          December was full of joyful events: the service at Morgan Chapel filled with the singing of favorite Christmas hymns, a fellowship time Christmas party with wonderful ham, cooked by Alice Townsend, Christmas Eve service, and Christmas day dinner, all enjoyed by those who attended.

 

           The Christmas Eve service had 45 adults and 8 children in attendance.  We held the service at 2 pm, and the fact that it was over before dark was mentioned by several people as a reason that they attended our service. I was very grateful to Mark Seiver, Carolyn Tuck, Janice Samuels Johnson, Rev. Kevin Campbell, and Loisi Hursky, who all read scriptures, and Dan-Joe Lopez and family, who lit the Advent Candles.

         

          Roberta Clapham, who plays the violin, and Juliet Simerley, our pianist, were more than wonderful as always.  They play for every service, and it adds so much to our worship all year.

 

          I am looking forward to spending time and worshiping with you in the New Year.