Season of change by Catalyst Mary Glenn
Each season brings new challenges, excitement and hope. We are entering into one of those new seasons. We are excited for what God is doing in Alhambra and the changes He is bringing. Soon we will be expanding Kingdom Causes Alhambra to Kingdom Causes Alhambra/Monterey Park and we are excited to be welcoming new staff in January 2009 (more details to come).
We saw more changes this past fall as we said goodbye to two staff members. Esther Siu, mental health liaison, has done an amazing job building bridges with churches and working closely with the mental health task force. As a result of that work, she is now working as Pastor Vern Ermeling's administrative assistant at Emmaus Lutheran Church. We also said goodbye to Ann Scharnorst, Community Development Coordinator. She did a wonderful job gathering information and doing research on Alhambra history. We are thankful for her investment into Alhambra.
So we are getting ready for the next season on the journey... Change brings new hope, new dreams, new reality and a heart of thankfulness for God's goodness.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
A Sneak Peek at the Mental Health Task Force by Esther Siu
There are many ways to spend Sunday afternoon. The mental health task force members come together once a month on a Sunday afternoon at the Emmaus Lutheran Church to discuss the needs of the churches in the community in regards to mental health and preventative resources. We seek to find ways to be a resource and encouragement to local pastors and churches. We also share our own needs and concerns. We find this is a meaningful way to spend the afternoon. Even though there is a lot of laughter during our meetings, we do take our work seriously!
We are a diverse group. Dr. Christine Wong who leads the task force is a practicing psychologist. Besides a psychologist, we also have police chaplain, grief counselor, therapists and more.
At our September meeting, we prepared for the round table discussion we hosted on September 25th focusing on two issues: youth/families and depression/grief . Our first round table discussion in May 2008 generated a lot of interesting sharing. The dialogue with pastors was valuable in helping us understand the needs of their congregations. It is a joy to see people collaborate and seek God's shalom in the city. For more info, please see our mental health webpage
There are many ways to spend Sunday afternoon. The mental health task force members come together once a month on a Sunday afternoon at the Emmaus Lutheran Church to discuss the needs of the churches in the community in regards to mental health and preventative resources. We seek to find ways to be a resource and encouragement to local pastors and churches. We also share our own needs and concerns. We find this is a meaningful way to spend the afternoon. Even though there is a lot of laughter during our meetings, we do take our work seriously!
We are a diverse group. Dr. Christine Wong who leads the task force is a practicing psychologist. Besides a psychologist, we also have police chaplain, grief counselor, therapists and more.
At our September meeting, we prepared for the round table discussion we hosted on September 25th focusing on two issues: youth/families and depression/grief . Our first round table discussion in May 2008 generated a lot of interesting sharing. The dialogue with pastors was valuable in helping us understand the needs of their congregations. It is a joy to see people collaborate and seek God's shalom in the city. For more info, please see our mental health webpage
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Alhambra: Past, Present, and Future
by Ann Scharnhorst
AmeriCorps Community Development Coordinator
As the newest member of the Kingdom Causes team, I have been taking some time to orient myself to Alhambra. From 2005-2007 I lived in Monterey Park, just south of the 10, so in some ways it feels like I've returned to my old stomping grounds. However, I've been gaining some powerful insights from studying the history of Alhambra that can't be acquired from the occasional trip to Noodle World or the Edwards Renaissance Cinema.
The last time I extensively studied local history was in the 4th grade, growing up in St. Louis, Missouri. In that part of the world, if you survived crossing the Mississippi River and fo
und some unoccupied land, you could claim it and settle it...or drive the Native Americans off of it. Later you could buy land from the government after their extensive Louisiana Purchase. The fact that the land of the city of Alhambra was owned by individuals like Benjamin "Don Benito" Wilson (pictured right) and Henry Huntington is simultaneously fascinating and perplexing to me. What are the implications of a city being founded as a business venture? Savvy business strategies and civic progress were hardly inseparable in Alhambra's early days. Willard Stanton was a prominent civic leader, serving as Alhambra's first postmaster and teacher, while also leading the group of investors for Alhambra's grandest building and business, the Alhambra Hotel. The expansion of business was seen as essential to the survival of the city, as a 
business would start on one city corner, then expand to a larger, newer location across the street (think of it as an early version of Starbucks). The goal of the early civic leaders was to make Alhambra a hub of commerce between Los Angeles, Pasadena, and the San Gabriel Mission, and that paradigm still motivates civic decisions today.
Last Tuesday I went with Mary to the Alhambra Rotary Club meeting. The guest speaker was City Manager Julio Fuentes, who eagerly presented the state of Alhambra to the Rotarians. His entire presentation detailed which corporate businesses the city was wooing to open their next store here, which shopping centers were going to be torn down or remodeled to create newer, brighter, shinier shopping centers, and which properties the Alhambra Redevelopment Agency was acquiring.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't think a city in the modern era can survive without corporations (and I LOVE Target), so this isn't a cry to bring back the mom-and-pop shop. In fact, I met a real life, perfectly happy mom-and-pop at the Rotary meeting who cashed in their chips, closed their meat market, and retired when they saw the winds changing. But what are the implications of a city pursuing corporate business rather than community? What are the ramifications when the numbers represent financial business ventures rather than people? Overall, I am dumbfounded at the extent to which the early methods of city planning have perpetuated into our present-day ideologies 125 years later. Or is it, instead, that our current methods influence how we interpret Alhambra's early history? Either way, I have gleaned the powerful influence of beginnings as I embark on building community in Alhambra.
by Ann Scharnhorst
AmeriCorps Community Development Coordinator
As the newest member of the Kingdom Causes team, I have been taking some time to orient myself to Alhambra. From 2005-2007 I lived in Monterey Park, just south of the 10, so in some ways it feels like I've returned to my old stomping grounds. However, I've been gaining some powerful insights from studying the history of Alhambra that can't be acquired from the occasional trip to Noodle World or the Edwards Renaissance Cinema.
The last time I extensively studied local history was in the 4th grade, growing up in St. Louis, Missouri. In that part of the world, if you survived crossing the Mississippi River and fo
und some unoccupied land, you could claim it and settle it...or drive the Native Americans off of it. Later you could buy land from the government after their extensive Louisiana Purchase. The fact that the land of the city of Alhambra was owned by individuals like Benjamin "Don Benito" Wilson (pictured right) and Henry Huntington is simultaneously fascinating and perplexing to me. What are the implications of a city being founded as a business venture? Savvy business strategies and civic progress were hardly inseparable in Alhambra's early days. Willard Stanton was a prominent civic leader, serving as Alhambra's first postmaster and teacher, while also leading the group of investors for Alhambra's grandest building and business, the Alhambra Hotel. The expansion of business was seen as essential to the survival of the city, as a 
business would start on one city corner, then expand to a larger, newer location across the street (think of it as an early version of Starbucks). The goal of the early civic leaders was to make Alhambra a hub of commerce between Los Angeles, Pasadena, and the San Gabriel Mission, and that paradigm still motivates civic decisions today.Last Tuesday I went with Mary to the Alhambra Rotary Club meeting. The guest speaker was City Manager Julio Fuentes, who eagerly presented the state of Alhambra to the Rotarians. His entire presentation detailed which corporate businesses the city was wooing to open their next store here, which shopping centers were going to be torn down or remodeled to create newer, brighter, shinier shopping centers, and which properties the Alhambra Redevelopment Agency was acquiring.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't think a city in the modern era can survive without corporations (and I LOVE Target), so this isn't a cry to bring back the mom-and-pop shop. In fact, I met a real life, perfectly happy mom-and-pop at the Rotary meeting who cashed in their chips, closed their meat market, and retired when they saw the winds changing. But what are the implications of a city pursuing corporate business rather than community? What are the ramifications when the numbers represent financial business ventures rather than people? Overall, I am dumbfounded at the extent to which the early methods of city planning have perpetuated into our present-day ideologies 125 years later. Or is it, instead, that our current methods influence how we interpret Alhambra's early history? Either way, I have gleaned the powerful influence of beginnings as I embark on building community in Alhambra.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Caring for our neighbors
I recently met with two of my friends Ana and Olivia who live in an apartment complex in my neighborhood in Alhambra. They have wanted to get to know their neighbors in their building but didn’t know how to break the ice. So they have decided to invite their neighbors over for dinner next month to talk about emergency preparedness. California will be participating in the largest drill in U.S. history in November 2008 (The Great Southern California Shakeout). This is a great opportunity as neighbors to work together on emergency preparedness, participate in the drill and get to know each other. I was inspired by their desire to know their neighbors and build community at home.
I recently met with two of my friends Ana and Olivia who live in an apartment complex in my neighborhood in Alhambra. They have wanted to get to know their neighbors in their building but didn’t know how to break the ice. So they have decided to invite their neighbors over for dinner next month to talk about emergency preparedness. California will be participating in the largest drill in U.S. history in November 2008 (The Great Southern California Shakeout). This is a great opportunity as neighbors to work together on emergency preparedness, participate in the drill and get to know each other. I was inspired by their desire to know their neighbors and build community at home.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Worship Services Remembered
By Esther Siu (Mental Health Liaison)
It is possible to experience a bit of church history in
During the Medieval Times, ordinary folks usually didn’t know Latin. Although I know a few Latin terms from my church history class, it was difficult to follow during the Latin Mass. To help us out, the church provided a booklet which acted as a guide. But the importance was not to understand every word said but rather to participate in the act of worship. Part of the service was a re-enactment of the story of the ten lepers based on chapter 17 of Luke’s Gospel. The lepers cried out to Christ and as they went to see the priest, they were healed but only one returned to thank Him. The priest who led the service guided us through the confession and pronounced the absolution. Before the Eucharist, he asked that we remember the gift of forgiveness through Christ’s body and blood. It was a meaningful service. I left the church with a sense of gratitude.
Martin Luther was called “the father of the Protestant Reformation”. As a reformer Luther sought to reform the Catholic Church. Our local
Are you ready for the big one?
LA experienced a mild earthquake just a few weeks ago. What will we do when the big one hits? According to Lucy Jones/Cal Tech we are overdue for an significant earthquake that usually hits our region every 150 years. Are we ready? This is our opportunity as the faith community of
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Saying goodbye to a few Alhambra Pastors....
Life is full of seasons: seasons of new beginnings and seasons of goodbyes. We have to say goodbye to several pastors who God has called into new ministries and cities/communities. Please join us in praying for them, for God to go before them in all they do.
- English Pastor Alan Chan of Mandarin Baptist Church LA is now ministering in Hong Kong. He was a great supporter of God's work in the city of Alhambra.
- Robert English, Youth Director of Sage Granada Park United Methodist Church has been called to a church on the west side of LA. His love for students and diversity will be missed.
- Kinoti Meme was the Outreach/Youth Director at 1st United Methodist Church for the past six years, graduated from Fuller Seminary in June 2008 with his PhD and he is now teaching/ministering in Central California. He did a wonderful job creating a basketball outreach program for local students.
- Father Rick Byrum of Holy Trinity/St. Benedict's Episcopal Church is now ministering in Orange County. We will miss his heart for the community and his work in building bridges among various agencies in the city.
- Pastor Brian Chan of One Thing Church will be relocating One Thing Church to Hollywood. Their last service in Alhambra was 8/3/08. Pastor Brian designed and painted the mural in the newly remodeled children's room at the Alhambra Police Department.
- We will be saying goodbye to Senior Pastor Simon Tam of Chinese Bible Missions Church this November as he will be a leading a church ministry in Seattle. We are so grateful for Pastor Simon's passion and love for the city of Alhambra.
Let's pray together for God's blessings and peace to abound to each of these pastors/leaders who have been gifts of God to our city.
Life is full of seasons: seasons of new beginnings and seasons of goodbyes. We have to say goodbye to several pastors who God has called into new ministries and cities/communities. Please join us in praying for them, for God to go before them in all they do.
- English Pastor Alan Chan of Mandarin Baptist Church LA is now ministering in Hong Kong. He was a great supporter of God's work in the city of Alhambra.
- Robert English, Youth Director of Sage Granada Park United Methodist Church has been called to a church on the west side of LA. His love for students and diversity will be missed.
- Kinoti Meme was the Outreach/Youth Director at 1st United Methodist Church for the past six years, graduated from Fuller Seminary in June 2008 with his PhD and he is now teaching/ministering in Central California. He did a wonderful job creating a basketball outreach program for local students.
- Father Rick Byrum of Holy Trinity/St. Benedict's Episcopal Church is now ministering in Orange County. We will miss his heart for the community and his work in building bridges among various agencies in the city.
- Pastor Brian Chan of One Thing Church will be relocating One Thing Church to Hollywood. Their last service in Alhambra was 8/3/08. Pastor Brian designed and painted the mural in the newly remodeled children's room at the Alhambra Police Department.
- We will be saying goodbye to Senior Pastor Simon Tam of Chinese Bible Missions Church this November as he will be a leading a church ministry in Seattle. We are so grateful for Pastor Simon's passion and love for the city of Alhambra.
Let's pray together for God's blessings and peace to abound to each of these pastors/leaders who have been gifts of God to our city.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Down Alhambra Road
by Esther Siu (Mental Health Liaison)
Heading home to Pasadena from the Kingdom Causes Alhambra offices, I often drive by Alhambra Road. On that road, there are three Catholic establishments St. Therese Church, the Sacred Heart Retreat House and the Carmelite Monastery on Alhambra Road that have been part of the history of the City.
St. Therese Catholic Church is a household name in the neighborhood. Many older residents remembered the church during their younger days. Some years ago, I got a hold of their bulletin and it was Christmas season. On the flip side of the bulletin was an article on the “joyful mysteries” of the incarnation. Since then each year during Advent, I would pull the bulletin out, read and think through the message. The current priest in charge Father Jan Lundberg is wonderful. If you attend Mass, you might be able to meet him.
A few blocks down is the Sacred Heart Retreat House founded by Mother Maria Luisa Josefa. The garden surrounding the Retreat House offers a quiet place for solitude and meditation. The Carmelite Sisters offer guided retreats each weekend throughout the year for women, couples and groups. If you are interested in joining them or would like to use the place during the weekdays for personal retreat (fees do apply) you can find out more information on their website at www.shretreathouse.org.
The Carmelite Monastery on Monterey Road is home to a group of cloistered Carmelite sisters. Surrounded by apartment buildings, nestled between trees and neatly trimmed hedges is a majestic brick building with arches and columns. The architecture is stunning but the place is tranquil. I spoke to one of the sisters who told me their “work” is to pray for the world and the City of Alhambra. Although they do not take visitors, you can join them for morning mass during the weekdays at 7:30 a.m. So next time when you stroll down Alhambra Road, let us remember how blessed we are to have these Catholic communities in our midst!
by Esther Siu (Mental Health Liaison)
Heading home to Pasadena from the Kingdom Causes Alhambra offices, I often drive by Alhambra Road. On that road, there are three Catholic establishments St. Therese Church, the Sacred Heart Retreat House and the Carmelite Monastery on Alhambra Road that have been part of the history of the City.
St. Therese Catholic Church is a household name in the neighborhood. Many older residents remembered the church during their younger days. Some years ago, I got a hold of their bulletin and it was Christmas season. On the flip side of the bulletin was an article on the “joyful mysteries” of the incarnation. Since then each year during Advent, I would pull the bulletin out, read and think through the message. The current priest in charge Father Jan Lundberg is wonderful. If you attend Mass, you might be able to meet him.
A few blocks down is the Sacred Heart Retreat House founded by Mother Maria Luisa Josefa. The garden surrounding the Retreat House offers a quiet place for solitude and meditation. The Carmelite Sisters offer guided retreats each weekend throughout the year for women, couples and groups. If you are interested in joining them or would like to use the place during the weekdays for personal retreat (fees do apply) you can find out more information on their website at www.shretreathouse.org.
The Carmelite Monastery on Monterey Road is home to a group of cloistered Carmelite sisters. Surrounded by apartment buildings, nestled between trees and neatly trimmed hedges is a majestic brick building with arches and columns. The architecture is stunning but the place is tranquil. I spoke to one of the sisters who told me their “work” is to pray for the world and the City of Alhambra. Although they do not take visitors, you can join them for morning mass during the weekdays at 7:30 a.m. So next time when you stroll down Alhambra Road, let us remember how blessed we are to have these Catholic communities in our midst!
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