DON’T MISS THE ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT THIS 
SATURDAY IN MEMORIAL PARK AT 10:00 AM! 

SIERRA MADRE EDITION


SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017 

VOLUME 11 NO. 15

An Easter Message 
From Bethany Christian 
Church:

DOUBTING 
THOMAS NO 
MORE 

(John 20:24-29)

This Sunday, we celebrate 
the resurrection of Jesus! 
Our hearts sing for joy! We 
rejoice because Jesus has 
defeated all the enemies 
threatening our peace: 
sickness, sin, doubt, failure-
you name it. We celebrate 
because the grave is empty, 
our debt has been paid in full and our life stories have been rewritten!

 Jesus has a scandalous love affair with broken people and this Sunday, as we celebrate, we will see how 
one man’s life story was changed from doubt to shout! Thomas is known to most of us as doubting 
Thomas. He was that disciple of Jesus who when presented with the news of Jesus’ resurrection shot 
back: “Unless I see in his hands the marks of the nails and place my finger in the mark of the nails 
and place my hands into his side, I will never believe!” We like to pile on Thomas but he is much like 
us. We all have doubts; I certainly have had my share of doubts. But Jesus, in his love for us never 
let’s us escape-he goes after us like the hound of heaven! Eight days after, (John 20:24-29) Thomas is 
finally with the other disciples, locked up behind closed doors. Jesus shows up before them and directly 
addressed Thomas. I love this about Jesus. He goes right to him: here it is Thomas, what you’ve asked 
for! “Reach here and touch the scares!” (V.26)

 Thomas looses it! “My Lord and my God!” He shouts, as he falls to his knees! Thomas had his doubts 
settled that day. He saw alive, a man whose lifeless body was taken down from a cross and buried just 
a few days earlier. His life story was changed. That’s what Jesus does; he changes us, transforms us and 
then releases us into abundant life! There is no question Jesus cannot answer. If you have questions 
bring them, Jesus takes it from there.

Thomas shows us that doubt can serve to confirm our faith, if we go to Jesus with them. Remember 
that Jesus is God for Broken People. He sees past our brokenness to our need. Let’s trust him to meet 
our need this Easter!

 Will you join us this Sunday as we revel in a risen Lord, who knows us and loves us and keeps after us 
until we see like Thomas saw that Jesus never quits believing in us?

Pastor Briant Cuffy, Senior Pastor, Bethany Church of Sierra Madre

Briant@berhanychurchsm.org 


JAY WHITCRAFT IS SIERRA MADRE'S 

OLDER AMERICAN OF THE YEAR


The Sierra Madre Senior 
Community Commission 
announced this week that Sierra 
Madre resident Jay Whitcraft 
has been chosen as the city's 
2017 Older American. His 
selection was based on his years 
of dedicated volunteerism not 
only to the City of Sierra Madre, 
but throughout LA County.

Jay has a true passion for 
volunteering and living life to 
the fullest. Chances are you 
have seen him around town 
working on his many projects. 
You might also see Jay in his 
cycling attire tooling through 
town. You may also have seen 
him at Beantown working 
on a Oral History Project, or 
at a Sierra Madre Historical 
Preservation Society meeting or 
at a Library Trustees meeting. 
Wherever you saw him you 
would soon realize that the title 
of Jay Whitcraft - Supernova 
Volunteer, bestowed upon him 
in the Mountain Views News 
Spotlight on Volunteers article 
in 2009, is an understatement. 
(http://mtnviewsnews.com/v03/
htm/n16/p05.htm).

 Whitcraft could be called “the 
man for all seasons.” His giving 
in some form fills every day of 
his life and shines upon the 
world much like a very bright 
star.

The 40-year resident came to live 
in Sierra Madre after taking a bus 
tour, led by Phyllis Chapman, 
covering Sierra Madre historical 
sights. He decided to move here, 
and have been enthusiastic 
residents since.

“On the bus tour I saw the 
Richardson House and Lizzie’s 
Trail Inn, and I decided I wanted 
to work there.” He was curator of 
the Museum for 5 years, a docent 
for 20 years and a Life Member 
r of the Sierra Madre Historical 
and Preservation Society.

 Seventeen years ago he 
became a trustee at the Sierra 
Madre Library and served for 9 
years, (2 as Chair). Jay’s dream 
when he was chairman of the 
Board of Trustees is to have a 
coffee cart in the library garden 
where people will discuss ideas 
gleaned from the books they’ve 
read. He calls it “a lifelong 
learning quest.” He also works 
the used book sales every two 
months.

 Over 18 years ago Jay was one 
of the community leaders to 
investigate starting a community 
foundation, and they formed 
Sierra Madre Community 
Foundation under the umbrella 
of the California Community 
Foundation. Jay was the second 
chairman, following Eph 
Konigsberg’s first term.

 Born and raised in Wynnewood, 
Pa. he graduated with a Bachelor 
of Mechanial Engineering from 
the University of Pennsylvania. 
He served in the Army Air 
Corps during World War II and 
came to California 40 years ago 
to work for IBM.

 Jay joins an impressive list of 
previous recipients of this honor 
including: Dick Johnson, Joan 
Crow, Jerry & Nan Carlton, Pat 
Alcorn, Fran Garbaccio, Ken

Anhalt, Eph Konigsberg, Russ 
Anderson, George Throop, 
Loyal Camacho, John Grijalva, 
Joylouise Harte-Smith, James 
Heasley, Midge Morash, James 
Tyler, Isabella Paegal, Bonnie 
Garner, Rose Fafach, Ed 
Wellman, Celeste McCleary, 
Dorothy Tillquist, Doris 
Webster, Elsie Dammeyer, 
George Mauer, Karl Teigler, 
Laurie Cooper, Lucille Flanders 
& Ann Tyler.

 A reception honoring Jay will 
be held on The honoree will also 
be recognized at a city reception 
held in their honor on Friday, 
May 12th, 2017. 

For additonal information 
contact City Hall at 626-355-
7135.

S. Henderson/MVNews

Sierra Madre Senior Commissioners surprise Whitcraft with 
their announcement. Left to right: Sally Olson, Suzanne 
Decker, Jay Whitcraft, Jacquie Pergola and Nina Bartolai. 
Photo by MVNews


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com