February 5, 2011

A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6th, 2011

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 when I was outside. Of course this is nothing compared to Pastor Shane Edwards who is from Canada. His wife went in the backyard and tossed boiling water in the air that froze before it hit the ground. Now that’s cold.

I BRING YOU GREETINGS from many of the pastors and missionaries that participated in our FOCUS retreat this past week. They ask about you and I am always so proud to report how you are doing in life and faith and with one another. Ed Lewis and TK and John McIntosh and Tom Avey and many others send their greetings. I will give a brief report this evening at Walking in the Word.

I bring good news that our SOCAL TEAM (pastors, missionaries and church leaders that come from churches in Southern California) beat our NORCAL TEAM in Human FoosBall at our Focus Retreat. We brought the championship trophy home and have a year to gloat in our victory before we have to defend the title in January, 2012. You can see us in action on the photo gallery page at our church website (www.whittierbrethren.net).

Studies in Ephesians 3:16-19

Monday- Fully Alive!

Tuesday PM- Who Am I to Christ

Tuesday AM-Let’s Meet God

Wednesday-God, Me, and My Ministry

 

The conference I attended this past week was held at THE OAKS CONFERENCE CENTER up in the Castaic Lake area (east of Magic Mountain). One of the staff members at the camp is Christine. She came to some of us and shared that she used to attend a church in our fellowship. Before I could ask her what church she had attended she asked me where I pastor. I told her: Whittier, California. Then I asked her where she had attended church. Christine mentioned that she had moved to a town in east Texas and found a great group of believers in that town that were also operating a Christian school and that was just what she needed for her children. The name of the town? Longview, Texas. And her pastor? Pastor John Mayes. Then I shared with her the sweet story that just before Pastor John moved to Longview to start that church, he was pastor of the church in Whittier where I pastor today. And that was a blessing to Christine and me and I hope to you and to all the family of Pastor John.

 

CAN I HEAR AN AMEN? We got a green light on February 1st from the City of Whittier to go FULL SPEED AHEAD on our new church home.

 

Pray for the group of our young people who are at WILLING WORKERS at Forest Home Conference Center that ends today (they are finishing up their responsibilities as you read this). Sheri Elisaldez is heading up our group this year (Jerry Perry is the guy counselor). And when you have a group of young people there is always a crew of drivers who get them there and bring them home safely. Thanks goes to all of you helping in that way today.

 

We worship at the Senior Center  on Walnut once again on February 13th. Regular schedule with Adult Bible Fellowships at 9:30 and worship at 10:45. We should continue at that facility until we move to our new church home later this Spring.

 

Do you have a birthday or anniversary in February? How about hosting the FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY BASH?

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

My writings or whatever you want to call them are regularly emailed to missionaries and others wanting to keep in touch with the Community Grace Brethren family.  You can find my writings and view our church photo album and other material by going to whittierbrethren.net and follow the links.

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