I have an opportunity for you!! Starting on July 4th (10 a.m.) we will be having Share and Prayer small group meetings. We will meet in the sanctuary and branch out from there depending on how many people want to participate. Since our new pastor will be starting the service at 11:00 - we have an opportunity to strengthen our church; to strengthen our sense of being a church family.
Small groups are 6 to 8 people who meet to share what is happening in their lives, to support each other, and book-end that
meeting with prayer - an opening prayer and closing prayer. This is open to all ages, 7 or 8 years old up to 100. Multigenerational groups will probably have the most fun together. John Wesley built the Methodist Church on the members participating in small groups. Don’t be satisfied with keeping things the way they are.
This will be a way for us to support and care for each other. Getting to know each other better and being there when we need support. We may not realize how rich our lives can be unless we open ourselves up to the love of God by fellowshipping with ourChristian brothers and sisters.
Please join us!
Ruth P.
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It has always been difficult for me to leave a congregation. One of the privileges of being a pastor is that people invite you into their lives, and you get to knowthem in a very special way. And so, when it comes time to leave, the separation seems especially hard.
Leaving you here at Moreno Valley though, is harder than most separations for me. Whenever my pastoral friends have asked me how things are going here, I have always replied, “They are wonderful people, I’ve never served better. They are just in a difficult situation.” And I have meant it. I’ve never known a more kind and generous congregation. Right from the beginning I have felt your kindness washing over me, and I have been thankful.
So, why am I leaving? I’ve been asked this many times. I certainly don’t want to leave, and I believe that the congregation would be content to see me stay. All I can really say though is, because the Bishop asked me to go to Victorville. Yes, I could have said “no”. But I’ve always gone where any Bishop has asked me to go; I’ve never fought any assignment. And over the years I have found that God has had a hand in what the Bishop has said. This, to put it in military jargon, is what I signed up for and I’m not about to stop now. Besides, since I believe that God’s hand was in the Bishop’s decision to ask me to go to Victorville, so do I believe that God’s hand is in the decision to send Pastor Finau to Moreno Valley. I look forward to hearing how God will bless you through Pastor Finau. And I know that Pastor Finau will be equally blessed by you.
Thank you for all your love and support.
Roy
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Rev. Dr. Martin Niponi Finau’s Biography
As the Chair of our Staff Parrish Relations Committee, I am pleased to provide the following biographical sketch For Reverend Finau. His Bio was provided to me by one of his sons (I believe). I added some notations in italics at the end.
Steve M.
M. Niponi Finau was born and raised in Nuku’alofa, Tonga Island, South Pacific. His father was an Ordained Pastor of the Methodist church in Tonga and he is the third generation of ordained ministers in their family. After high school in Tonga, he moved to Hawaii in 1979 where he attended Hawaii Loa College, Methodist related College and received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and science.
He was ordained deacon in 1988 and elder in 1992 in California-Pacific Annual Conference. In 1986 he graduated from the School of Theology at Claremont with a Master of Divinity. In 1989 he was a teacher at Tupou College in Tonga Island. In 1999 he received his Doctorate in Ministry from the School of Theology at Claremont in Preaching and Homiletic. His interests are broad and varied including working with youth and with Ethnic ministries of diverse background and culture. His local pastoral ministry included Montclair UMC, First UMC Compton, Tala-Fungani UMC [Former Atlantic], and Chapel of the Hills UMC.
In 2000, Rev. Dr. M. Niponi Finau was sent by the General Board of Discipleship as a missionary to the Island of Fiji in the South Seas for six years. During that time, he also served as the head of the Ministry Department at the Pacific Theological College and the pastor of the Methodist church in Suva, Fiji. In 2006 he returned to California-Pacific Annual Conference as a pastor at the Chapel of the Hills UMC.
With his wife Milika, (a Lay Speaker) and five children, Rev. Dr. M. Niponi Finau maintains an active lifestyle as a father and pastor proclaiming the Good News to all and reaffirming his call, “God has chosen me even before I was born.” He has been urging the Tongan-American
churches for a redefinition of the purpose of the church in a rapidly changing world. He continues his pastoral care by leading the church with passion toward becoming a more inclusive community of faith, filled with grace, compassion and justice, growing in love of God and
neighbor.
Reverend Finau told me that he is happy to be addressed as Martin or Reverend Martin. He mentioned to SPRC during his introduction to us that he and Milika’s sons range in age from middle school through high school and into college. Moreover, their eldest son is planning to enter the ministry.
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