A FEW WORDS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY, MARCH 13th, 2011
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 you’d still like to sponsor their day of work let me know this morning. And remember, your time and mine to help out is coming.
This past Wednesday, March 9, millions upon millions of people flocked to their churches to receive a cross shaped smudge of ashes on their foreheads. This day is referred to as Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of the liturgical season of the year called LENT which involves 40 days (NOT COUNTING SUNDAYS) of fasting and penitential preparation leading up to Easter. Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days after the ascension of Jesus as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All Christian churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The early followers of Christ also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles.
You were given a BELIEF TEST and a BEHAVIOR TEST from our most recent study in 1 John. The belief test was how well you know God. The behavior test was moving from sin to _________?
Our High Impact Men’s Conference this spring is April 15-17 at Forest Home Conference Center. See Ed Faranda for the details. Payment is due soon.
EAT PIZZA AND HELP SAMMY! We are having a SHAKEY’S NIGHT tomorrow evening from 5pm to 9pm, as a fundraiser for the support of Sammy Becerra for Operation Barnabas. I love those mojos and chicken and pizza. Get a flyer from one of our students that has all the details.
Claudia and I slipped away to see two Spring Training games with our Los Angeles Dodgers this past week at Camelback Ball Park in Phoenix, Arizona. How was the trip? The sun was shining, the air was clear, the freeways were clear, my head was clear, gas was selling for $3.49 a gallon, the Dodgers lost, and the stadium serves Dodger dogs (yes, I ate one). The best part of our trip was the time with our friends, Ed & Debbie Waken, who attended the games with us. Ed & Debbie served on the staff of our church here in Whittier until 1994 when they relocated to the Phoenix, Arizona area and have been pastoring Valley Life Church and planting other churches in the Southwest USA. Check with Claudia for a current update on Debbie’s health status.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
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10 months ago • Notes