June 2011
4 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, JUNE 5,...
I WAS EXCITED!
I AM STILL EXCITED!
By Pastor Richard
We were given the green light to begin worshipping at our new church campus on Friday, May 27, 2011. Then we started calling to get the word out. I was excited as we moved in to our new church campus on Sunday, May 29, 2011. In the future, each Memorial Day weekend we will have an additional remembrance in that we occupied our new church...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MAY 29,...
IT IS THE END AND
THE BEGINNING!
By Pastor Richard
Welcome to your new church home and worship center. May 29th was the day we ended our being a church in rented facilities and started a new chapter of being a church with a permanent church campus. Our first Sunday on this path was Mother’s Day, May 2009 and during that time we met in various locations (you know I mean VARIOUS like...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MAY 22,...
WE MET THE GOAL
FOR SAMMY BECERRA
By Pastor Richard
We met the support goal for our Operation Barnabas 2011 project to send Sammy Becerra on OB. Thank you for your gifts of love and pizza eating. He leaves Los Angeles on Sunday, June 12. We will have a special sendoff for him in our service that morning. Read the ad on the other page for more details.
Thank you for helping out this past week...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MAY 15,...
A GREEN LIGHT SOON!!
By Pastor Richard
We are expecting the green light from all the approval groups very soon so we can move in to our new church campus. As I jot these words to you on Friday I am preparing to head over to our new church campus where one of the inspectors is doing his review (remember there are several stages to this final inspection that involve different city...
May 2011
2 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MAY 8,...
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
By Pastor Richard
We say a special thank you to our moms on Mother’s Day. It’s the good thing to do. As followers of Jesus we THANK GOD FOR OUR MOMS because God has chosen our moms for us (not our doing). We will be giving thanks for our moms in our time together today gathered here as a church family and then also later today when we are scattered throughout Southern...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MAY 1,...
ANY DAY NOW
By Pastor Richard
I am looking forward to making that much anticipated announcement once we have received our final approval from the City of Whittier to begin using our new church home for our worship services. For the upcoming worship service for Mother’s Day on May 8th, we will call you or you can call the church office or you can check the church website for the latest...
April 2011
4 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, APRIL...
HOW POPULAR ARE BUNNIES AT EASTER?
By Pastor Richard Todd
Even though bunnies, eggs and other commercial images saturate the marketplace, 55 percent of Americans polled identified Jesus as the most recognized symbol of Easter. Even 41 percent of people who do not identify themselves as Christians associate Christ on the cross with the holiday. Only 11 percent selected the Easter Bunny, eggs and...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, APRIL...
A VERY HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY TO WHO?
By Pastor Richard
One of the gal’s fellowship groups had an “unbirthday celebration” the other day by celebrating someone’s birthday when it wasn’t their birthday. The recipient of all that special attention was my wife, Claudia, whose birthday is not until June 4th. Was she surprised? Of course!
Jewish people will be observing the Passover that begins tomorrow...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, APRIL...
WE ARE NEAR THE END
AND NEAR THE BEGINNING!!!
By Pastor Richard
for the week of April 10-16, 2011
We have begun the FINAL PREPARATION phase of getting our new church campus ready so we can begin worship there. And that means we are very near the end of the construction phase. There is work we must do before we can begin worship services at 8109 Greenleaf Avenue. We have a growing list of you...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, APRIL...
WHICH SUNDAY WILL BE OUR
FIRST IN OUR NEW CAMPUS?
By Pastor Richard
It’s getting exciting knowing how close we are to moving in to our new church home. Very shortly we will begin the FINAL PREPARATION phase of getting our new church campus ready so we can begin worship there. Your level of volunteerism will determine our move-in schedule. There is work we must do before we can begin worship...
March 2011
4 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MARCH...
THAT’S A LOT OF MOJO POTATOS!
By Pastor Richard
Whoever thought that EATING PIZZA would help send one of our students on a summer mission project? Our Shakeys Pizza Night on March 14 raised $156.06 towards Sammy Becerra’s Operation Barnabas goal (see chart for most recent update). You also mentioned how good it was to sit and talk with everyone since on Sundays soon after our services end we...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MARCH...
IT IS TIME TO VOLUNTEER (read on)
By Pastor Richard Todd
Today is TRACT SUNDAY. Tract Sunday is where I spread out tracts that I think you might be interested in using in your witness. You may find one that you will want to order more of. Some of my favorite tracts are mixed in for you to review. Take what you can personally use. That means please don’t take a stack for the next Harvest...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MARCH...
WORK DAY NUMBER ONE
By Pastor Richard
Mark it down in the book! Our first work day at our new church campus was March 12, 2011 and it was our students who did the work. I invited some of you to sponsor their day of work and raise some monies for Sammy Becerra’s Operation Barnabas involvement this coming summer. Thank you for your help and I hope to announce how much we raised today. If...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MARCH...
WORK IS PROGRESSING
By Pastor Richard
Can you tell the changes when you drive by? Work is progressing on our new church home at 8109 Greenleaf Avenue. Several weeks from now the construction related work will be finishing up and then the preparation work for us to move in to our church home will begin. I will have be handing out a form soon for you to tell us when you can come and help out in...
February 2011
5 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
THE GOOD ANNOUNCEMENT WAS ABOUT SAMMY BECERRA
By Pastor Richard
Sammy Becerra has been accepted as a participant for Operation Barnabas this summer of 2011. Get a letter of explanation from him or stop by the church office and get a copy of the letter or email whittierbrethren@gmail.com and ask for a copy to be sent to you.
The disciples came to Jesus in Matthew 17 and asked why they were so...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
I LIKE SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS (of course, I mean the good ones)
By Pastor Richard
We have a special announcement for you about one of our students.
If you come to Walking N the Word or Women’s Fellowship on Wednesday evening or Prayer Meeting on Wednesday evening or Men’s Fellowship on Thursday evenings then you will be sitting in the new classroom chairs we will soon be using at our...
New Church Presentation Software
$25,000 Worship Resource Giveaway from Proclaim New church presentation software is coming out soon called Proclaim and it’s located here http://proclaimonline.com. Unlike all other church presentation software systems, this one will allow pastors, worship leaders, and worship team members to all access and add to the same presentation before it’s presented, and then use the same application to...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
PASTOR PICNICS ON GREENLEAF AVENUE???
By Pastor Richard
What was I doing this past Thursday around noon sitting at a table outside our new church home eating a hotdog and cake with whipped cream frosting with fresh strawberries underneath the whipped cream? Celebrating a birthday of one of our staff while watching the bulldozer preparing our new parking lot. I’m sure you are driving by...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
MORE LAYERS
By Pastor Richard Todd
I went out for my daily exercise routine (2 donuts and a cup of java, NOT!) at the Focus Retreat I participated in at Lake Hughes this past week. When I stepped outside at 5:30am I thought it was extremely cold so I checked and it was 26 degrees not counting wind chill. Needless to say, I got moving. I found out later that with wind chill the temperature was 13...
January 2011
4 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, JANUARY...
MR. ENTHUSIASM IS HERE IN PERSON!!!
By Pastor Richard Todd
Join me in giving a WHITTIER WELCOME to Ed Lewis today. Ed is from Winona Lake, Indiana and also Philadelphia, PA (yes, he lives in two cities but one at a time). I’ll let him explain. Ask me after the service if you would like to join our lunch group in taking Ed out (not the Mafia kind).
Next Sunday morning will be a WORSHIP...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, JANUARY...
IT’S NICE TO BE HOME (ALWAYS)!
By Pastor Richard
Claudia and I had a great trip. Lots of R&R. Met a boatload of people. Made a few new friends. No big challenges other than trying to walk my two miles a day in 43 mph winds. Claudia finished reading one book and started another. I read parts of five books and finished one (after I had returned home, whew!).
Biola University was...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, JANUARY...
FROM YOUR PASTOR ON VACATION
By Pastor Richard Todd
I jotted these thoughts to you this week while Claudia and I have been away for the week then sent them in to you electronically so they would printed for you today.
Give a Whittier welcome to TK today (yes, that’s his name). TK will give us a “first-hand update” on the kingdom work of CE National. A group of you are...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, JANUARY...
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CAUGHT RED-HANDED? By Pastor Richard Todd for the week beginning 1/9/11 There are some sermon series that never end and that, I think, is good. This is in contrast to some sermons that sometimes seem like they never end. There should always be another message for you from Proverbs and Psalms. All preachers continue to preach on Bible prophecy and marriage and family. I also...
December 2010
4 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, JANUARY...
I’VE GOT A BASKET OF GOODIES WITH NO CALORIES! By Pastor Richard Todd for the week of December 26-January 2 I’ve prepared a basket of Christmas greetings from people connected with our church family that we have been receiving on your behalf. You would enjoy looking at these so I will have them at Walking N the Word and at Prayer Meeting and in the church office for a while. Yes, the teddy bears...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
WHO ARE THE ELDER ANGELIC SPIRITS?
By Pastor Richard Todd
Each group of people at our Christmas Banquet was asked to choose a name for their table. The name that was awarded FIRST PLACE was allowed to go thru the buffet line first. First Place went to the table called SNOPLACE LIKE HOME (table leader was Tim Ramos who works for Disney…figures). Another winner in the top five was ELDER ANGELIC...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
THIS IS WEEK THREE By Pastor Richard Todd for the week of 12/12/10 December 12th marks the beginning of the THIRD WEEK of Advent and the theme Christians around the world will focus on is PREPARING. The beauty of observing the days before Christmas is the opportunity it gives to reflect on all the many spiritual joys of the season. This is a special time of unity, celebration, and worship that...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
YOU NEED TO PERSEVERE By Pastor Richard Todd for the week of 12/8/10
The four words above were the words we looked at in Hebrews 10 in our recent Sunday morning study. Can you remember one area we considered that Scripture calls us to endure in?
Sign up for our Christmas banquet on December 12th. I sure hope we have some sweet tamales this year (hint, hint). Let’s hear a shout for those of you...
November 2010
5 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
IT’S MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME
By Pastor Richard Todd
Today is your last day to join me in sending a Christmas greeting to one of our soldiers. See Oralia today during the “sixty count” and pick up a card. Each Christmas card has a Scripture booklet attached to it on the topic of hope and comfort. All you and I do is jot a note to a soldier and return it to Oralia. We will get them to the chaplain that...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
IT’S DEMOLITION DERBY TIME By Pastor Richard Todd for the week of Thanksgiving
Ok, it’s not quite “demolition derby” time in the way you might think when you watch tv, but this past week the crew went to work at our new church facility and piled up stuff and we are underway. We should have some behind the scenes pictures for you real soon.
I’ve prepared a simple Thanksgiving prayer card that you...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
YES, THE PASTOR WENT BACK FOR SECONDS
By Pastor Richard Todd
I met with some of our pastors and missionaries this past Tuesday out at Grace Church in Orange and Jim Hocking shared with us how he and his team are helping drill wells in several countries in Africa (GC, Orange is a great church). November is our PASTOR GIVE A BOOK AWAY month so I picked up some books for our new church library...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
WELCOME FRIEND!
By Pastor Richard Todd
IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE FRIENDS! Pastor Bill Kitchell and his family (wife, JoAnn and daughter, Hannah and son, Adam) from the Hemet area visited us here for worship on October 31. It was his birthday so Claudia and I and a group of over fifteen of you took Bill and his family out to lunch.
I have heard it said that A LITTLE CHANGE CHANGES A LOT and I have...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, OCTOBER...
THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY
By Pastor Richard Todd
I shared the story of the boy that made a model boat and sailed it on a pond near his house. The boat was lost when it sailed down the stream one windy day. The next year the boy saw his boat in a pawn shop and purchased it. I ended the story there but Clark Miller came up to me after the service and said the version of the story he knows adds this...
October 2010
4 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, OCTOBER...
SHOULD I SAY HAPPY HALLOWEEN?
By Pastor Richard Todd
May I offer some thoughts on how a follower of Jesus should approach Halloween? I have put some copies of an article that the Bible Answer Man (I listen to often on KKLA) wrote on this topic called “Halloween: Oppression or Opportunity?” Pick up your copy at the Information Center today.
The Whittier Pregnancy Care Clinic is having its’ annual...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, OCTOBER...
GOOD NEWS
By Pastor Richard Todd
I shared the GOOD NEWS on October 10th that the City of Whittier has agreed to extend another lease to us to worship here at the Community Center on Sunday mornings beginning the first Sunday in November. I also want to report to you that work is continuing at our new church campus (do you remember our new address?)
Alex Mata gave us an update on the community...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, OCTOBER...
WHICH IS IT?
THE PRAYERS GO UP AND THE
BLESSINGS COME DOWN OR VICE VERSA OR?
By Pastor Richard Todd
Do the prayers go up and the blessings come down or do the blessings come down and the prayers go up? Seems like both to me and not one or the other. And especially in recent days with a number of prayer matters we have been taking to the throne of heaven as a church and have had answers in the...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, OCTOBER...
YOU ASKED FOR THIS!
By Pastor Richard Todd
I know you have been sharing with your friends about our new church campus at 8109 Greenleaf and wanting to show them a picture: 1) you can direct them to our website to see a few pictures of it or 2) you can take them by yourself or give them the directions or 3) you could hand them your “Thanks Be To God” card that I handed out to you on September 5th...
September 2010
4 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
DID YOU SEE
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK?
By Pastor Richard Todd
People have been wondering for centuries about the unknown whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant that at one time sat in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. Curious? Join me at Walking N the Word at 5:30pm today as we retrace some of the steps of the Ark in history.
I don’t always recommend websites to you but this one is...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
WHAT DO RAY AND CAROLYN AND JOHN AND AARON HAVE IN COMMON?
By Pastor Richard Todd
Ray (not Bozigian) and Carolyn Peak and John Baker and Aaron Romero have something in common. Know what it is? They have all called out to me recently while I was out on my exercise routine on our local Whittier streets. They have waved and called out and tried to run me over (LOL). Ray is a newcomer to our...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
YES, I’VE BEEN TELLING EVERYONE
By Pastor Richard Todd
Yes, I’ve been telling lots of people this week about our church journey and the close of escrow on our new church campus. I told you there was a big announcement on September 5th and even though us Todds were out of town for the holiday I just couldn’t bear announcing such good news to you in print or utilizing video or FaceTime (iPhone users...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY,...
I’VE GOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT 4U!
By Pastor Richard Todd
I’ve got an announcement for you this morning that shouldn’t be made by handing out a flyer. I am jotting this note to you before leaving town for the weekend. But I promise the announcement will be made today. Just don’t leave the service early.
What’s this about Larry Williams being a REV? Larry was in the newspaper business for many years...
August 2010
5 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, AUGUST...
YOU ASKED FOR IT!
By Pastor Richard Todd
You have been asking for a picture of the building that may become our new church home. We had prayer cards printed some time ago and our supply has run out. As of today our church web site has a picture of 8109 Greenleaf on the home page.
DID WE OR DIDN’T WE? You have been asking if we closed escrow on 8109 Greenleaf in recent days which would make...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, AUGUST...
WHAT’S A DIEGO DOG?
By Pastor Richard Todd
I announced that I was grilling hot dogs for you at the final CONCERTS IN THE PARK on Monday, August 16, 2010. I felt guilty when you asked if I was serving Dodger Dogs and I couldn’t answer yes. Then I remembered being in San Diego a few weeks ago attending the Padres vs Dodgers matchup at Petco Stadium where they call them Diego Dogs. So I sent my...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, AUGUST...
A NEW DAY FOR COMMUNITY GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH
By Pastor Richard Todd
We are in a summer series on Sunday mornings I am calling A NEW DAY OF COMMUNITY (shortened from “A New Day of Community Grace Brethren Church”). Our first Sunday we looked at WHAT’S THIS VISION THING from Acts 16. Then we looked in Scripture at WHOSE MONEY IS IT? Today, we go one more step on this path of this new direction we...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, AUGUST...
YOU CAN BE A FAN OF THIS CHURCH
By Pastor Richard Todd
Yes, you can be a fan of our church on Facebook. Look up Community Grace Brethren Church and select our church. You can get up to date announcements and other postings.
This afternoon Claudia and I will be heading out of town with some of you families to attend a family camp at Forest Home Christian Conference Center (near Big Bear). We...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, AUGUST...
HOW HARD DO YOU WORK?
By Pastor Richard Todd
How do you feel about the work you do everyday? I gave you a survey and asked you to rate your satisfaction with your work in our recent study in the book of Proverbs on the topic of WORK. The good news is that I announced there weren’t too many SLUGGARDS in attendance that Sunday because SLUGGARDS according to Proverbs 6 sleep in. But I did caution...
July 2010
5 posts
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY...
WHAT ARE MEMPHIS MONDAYS AND TEXAS TUESDAYS?
By Pastor Richard Todd
I returned home from Cincinnati, Ohio several days ago from the conference I attended representing you and our church family. When I went to a diner or café or restaurant and the specials of the month were listed I saw they had all these strange names like MEMPHIS MONDAYS and...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, July...
WISH YOU WERE HERE IN OHIO
By Pastor “In Ohio” Richard Todd
I am worshipping in Cincinnati, Ohio this morning as you read this. Actually, I am probably eating lunch as you read this because of the time difference. The conference I am attending began several days ago and concludes July 20-21. I am meeting with a group of missionaries and other leaders from around the world at the...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY...
COME TO MY
HOUSE TOMORROW NIGHT
By Pastor Richard Todd
The Monday evening Whittier Concerts in the Park series where Claudia and I invite you all to come enjoy the concerts in OUR FRONT YARD WITH US begin tomorrow evening (see ad for details). This is always a special time to bring friends and family to meet others of your church family.
Yes, we enjoyed our fireworks on July 4th. We joined with...
A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY...
CHURCH IN A MORTUARY?
By Pastor Richard Todd
You and I are the guests today of the Guerra-Guiterrez families that own this chapel (the refreshments served and the chapel usage fee was waived). The director here is Ron who attended Norwalk Brethren Christian School in his early years and later graduated from Azusa Pacific University. A big thank you to Ron and the Guerra and Guiterrez...