WHERE DOES SPORTS INTERSECT WITH OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH? (8/14/16)
Our own Mando can cook. He’s a good golfer and Dodger fan and he is a realtor plus he is also a good chef. Breakfast type. He is cooking up a storm of food for this Saturday morning at 9am here in the Plaza. Men’s Fellowship. Tell Mando you are coming so he will buy an extra pound of bacon.
Our summer baptism and final Summer Sunday is next Sunday, August 21, at 5:30pm. Enjoy dinner plus celebrate with the people being baptized. Speak with Larry Olguin today if that is your hearts desire.
There is something special about sitting in Angel Stadium and watching a baseball game and a few days later sitting in the same seats hearing a message about God’s love from Greg Laurie. Harvest Crusade with Greg Laurie is August 26-28. I’ve put some of the special invites at the Information Center for you to use with your friends this coming week.
Don’t forget extra prayers for our friends under the weather: David Fierro, Mrs. Ramos, Lee, Sally and a bunch of you. Share your requests when you gather in your small groups.
We enjoyed a good baseball game just last night at the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes stadium where the kids ran the bases and they give prizes away every game, etc. Let’s go again next August.
Our message for August 14 will be considering the question WHERE DOES SPORTS INTERSECT WITH OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH?
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard Todd
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
WE HAD THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD EVER IN HOLLAND, MICHIGAN
Yep, some of you on vacation there shared these words in writing this week. But really, Holland, Michigan for good Mexican food?
SECOND QUOTE OF THE WEEK
COME HOME TO WHITTIER, HECTOR & MARGIE. YOU’VE BEEN AWAY FROM LOS ANGELES TOO LONG.
I also overheard these words this week.
CLAUDIA AND I ARE HOME AGAIN (8/7/16)
Claudia and I returned home yesterday from being up in the local mountains for the week at Forest Home family camp. Every day was full of fun and food great child care plus Bible teachers from all over the United States. Our speakers taught from the book of Joshua and 1 Corinthians 13. Some years a group of you families come with us. Speak with Claudia or myself if you are interested in attending with us in 2017. Forest Home is the same conference center that our Willing Workers and Men’s Retreats go to.
I handed out the treasures from my Toronto trip on Sunday morning, July 31. I wandered around during the 60 Count and shared the bottles of Canadian Maple Leaf Syrup plus a Canadian football along with a few other trinkets. The financial reports and ministry reports are on the table in the lobby for you to stop by and pick up.
August 21 is our final Summer Sunday for 2016. We will have dinner and a speaker and our summer baptism all at my house. If you would like to be baptized that day, please speak with Larry Olguin today.
Does the California bill SB 1146 threaten California Christian Colleges’ religious freedom? I have a letter the President of Grace College sent me recently that I want to share with you plus an insightful article from Christianity Today magazine. I have placed copies of this material at the Information Center today for you.
Mrs. Ramos is recovering from her recent knee surgery. She is planning on returning to her piano playing during our services upon her full recovery.
Tomorrow evening is the final Concert in the Park at our house. Get the details on the ad on the next page.
This coming Saturday we are having a goodbye gathering for Kyle Cherryholmes from 2-5pm (he will be in church with us on August 14 for our final hug and prayer send off). After the gathering for Kyle we are heading out to the Quakes baseball game which starts at 7:05pm. Buy your tickets today from Ryan Todd for $10 or contact the church office at (562) 693-7680.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
I MISSED YOU, PASTOR RICH (7/31/16)
I missed you, too. I always have moments when people ask how you are doing and I don’t just say a throwaway comment. I shared about your joy in our recent Vacation Bible School and a number of other joys I have with you.
I brought a few items home for you from Toronto, Canada.
Reports, flyers, announcements. I’ve put them on the table in the lobby. Take what you want to read. Plus I have a bag of gifts to share with you during the 60 count today.
Does the bill in our California bill SB 1146 threaten California
Christian Colleges’ religious freedom? I have a letter the President of Grace College sent me this week that I want to share with you plus a solid article from Christianity Today magazine. I have placed copies of this material at the Information Center today for you.
Claudia and I will be heading off to Forest Home Family Camp this afternoon for a week long camp. Ask Claudia about it if you would like to join us in 2017.
Here is a listing of a few people you may know that were recognized in a special way this year while I was in Toronto:
SPECIAL AWARDS shared at the conference I attended in the New York area:
1) LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was given posthumously to Wayne Beaver.
2) PASTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD was given to Kurt Miller.
3) EXCELLENCE IN MINISTRY AWARD was given to Ron Manahan
A group of you worked this past Thursday afternoon in our Plaza to assemble 500 backpacks at the Backpack Giveaway that was held just down the street from us yesterday. Another group of you came yesterday to meet families as the backpacks were handed out. I willgive you a report today.
It’s good to be home with the exception of the heat,
Pastor Richard
HELLO FROM TORONTO (7/24/16)
I send my greetings to you from Toronto, Canada where I am worshipping today along with many missionaries and church leaders from churches in the USA and Canada and the uttermost parts of the earth. I am jotting my thoughts to you from Underground Toronto (think Cerritos Mall and Brea Mall combined but underground).
Today, Friday, is the birthday of Ed Lewis. Our church in Whittier is host to many friends of Ed Lewis but only a few of us knew Ed WAY BACK WHEN. I am now calling it B.C.E. (figure it out?). Several hundred of us are heading over to watch the Toronto Bluejays baseball game tonight where I hope they will sing to Ed during the seventh inning stretch.
The Backpack Giveaway is coming up in a few days. We join with a group of people reaching out to neighborhood families with school supplies for kids that attend school nearby us. We are the closest church to the park where the event occurs (Greenleaf and La Cuarta). Speak with Oralia for ideas in helping out.
We gathered for Summer Sunday on July 17th for BIBLE Q&A NIGHT (that’s questions and answers). One of the questions asked for BIBLICAL GUIDANCE FOR PRAYER IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. Another question was BIBLICAL INSIGHT INTO THE QUESTION OF SECURITY in this world. One of the lighter questions was WHERE WAS JESUS BORN? Plus other questions.
I miss being with you in worship today. I enjoyed sharing from Colossians 4:2-6 with you on July 17. We considered that God wants us to do three things PROPERLY. Do you remember them? Look at the passage again for some review assistance. Summer messages usually stand alone and not a series with your vacation schedules and mine and this conference of churches that I attend each July. By the way, Bob Hetzler is here with me and sends his greets to you.
Tim Ramos is bringing the heat from God’s Word to you today. And then Kyle Cherryholmes will be preaching his last message in Whittier for a while as he leaves for ministry in Ireland in August.
Esperanza Fellowship (we meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the Fellowship Hall) has begun a study in the Old Testament book of Judges and I will miss chapter one today.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
A GREAT WEEK AT VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (7/17/16)
It was the singing, the Bible stories, the Gospel being shared, and the big cross where kids were posting notes to God on it. It was playing Red Rover and Dodge Ball and cutting up squares of aluminum foil for something and classes meeting inside popup tents in the plaza. What was really cool was the first thing you did when you arrived and registered you had a chance to post a prayer request on the board. The boys and girls club down the street? No, it was Vacation Bible School this past week here on our church campus.
Every summer a group of missionaries, church leaders and pastors that are part of our fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches worldwide meet up for a time of planning, prayer and fellowship. This year the gathering is in Toronto, Canada. I will be representing you and our church family at that conference that begins July 22 and continues through July 25. I plan to rejoin you July 31 in worship. You can follow the schedule of events for this conference at http://www.visionconference.us/
You can follow our activities in Toronto on Facebook at “GraceConnect”
Summer Sunday today starts at 5:30 with pizza (provided) and then Bible Answer Men at 6:30. There is a sheet in your bulletin today (also at Information Center) to submit a question or submit one tonight when you arrive.
I appreciate your prayers in my travels this coming Thursday traveling to Toronto and then Tuesday, July 26 on my return trip.
Right after Labor Day in September we are going to turn to God’s Word on Sunday mornings and consider WHAT OF THE FUTURE? We’ve got a lot of ground to cover so get ready.
We are partnering with the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce in their Backpack Giveaway again at the end of this month. Speak with Oralia in the Church Office to help out.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
THIS IS VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL WEEK (7/10/16)
Vacation Bible School week means all sorts of people working together for the spiritual benefits of the kids that attend here on our church campus starting tomorrow evening. This week Priscilla and Tami came over and painted a VBS mural on our Greenleaf windows. Plus a group of you have been out in the neighborhood inviting our church campus neighbors to attend VBS. And some of you are staying after church today to set up. And some of you are bringing snacks and toys for the treasure chest. Then there are the slides and rooms and music to get ready. And pray for this year’s VBS leader, Sheri Elisaldez.
Summer Sunday meets tonight at 5:30 for dinner in the shade of my back yard. We have shady seating and plenty of parking for you. It’s Italian Night tonight and can testify that it tastes great.
Concerts in the Park meets tomorrow night. See ad in bulletin for details. If you are helping out in VBS there are plenty more Monday Night Concerts in the Park for you to attend after tomorrow.
I just calculated that all of my sons were involved in camping programs already this summer: My son, Ryan, headed up the Whittier Explorer Camp for a week. My son, Riley, counseled a group of Jr. High boys for a week at Forest Home. My son, Rory, is part of the team of high school students backpacking/camping out of Bass Lake right now. What about Claudia and I? We are doing our camping at Forest Home later this month (More comforts than my sons had. We get chocolate chip shakes, yeah).
I’ve added Darin Elisaldez to my prayer list since I last wrote to you. Plus, we’ve added Lee to our prayer list. Lee is the gal who prays in our Prayer Huddle right after the service and she always prays for others and not herself. It’s her turn right now.
My message of July 3rd was from 1 Timothy 2:1-4. Today’s message is ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR REWARD? It is a verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
I WILL BE OLD AND WRINKLY BY THEN
We were talking with my grand daughter, Haylee, about someday she will be in eleventh grade in high school. She thought a moment and then proclaimed these words about how long into the future that will be.
REMEMBER THAT PREGNANT MOM WHO LED US IN WORSHIP? (7/3/16)
Mom Liz Milian was leading us in worship a few weeks ago but found it hard to breath for two and sing out at the same time. It will be easier for Liz to sing now that her daughter, Emyliah Caroline Millian, was born on June 30.
I have a CONGRATULATIONS card for you to sign today for Mommy Liz and family. Angela Pompa has it so just touch base with her today before you leave campus.
My message on June 26 was from 2 Timothy 2 where I had been wanting to speak to you from Scripture on the issue WITNESSING BY SHOUTING. The Bible shows us how not to ARGUE WITH UNBELIEVERS. Our Scripture study today is from 1 Timothy 2.
We did a Graduation Congratulation for Christopher Bates on July 26th. We also congratulated Charlene Limen. And we have at least one more congratulation ahead.
I am sooooo excited to share with you that some of you went out in the neighborhood just yesterday to invite our neighbors to join us in Vacation Bible School this year. VBS is July 11-15. Sheri Elisaldez is the director. Speak with her if you would like to help out. The theme this year is WEIRD ANIMALS.
REMEMBER, no Summer Sunday today due to the Independence Day holiday.
Also, REMEMBER that there is no Concert in the Park tomorrow evening. They resume July 11th.
The Grace Brethren churches in Southern California and Arizona have rebranded under the name Grace Churches Network, which will serve as the doing-business-as name for their corporate name, Grace Brethren Conference of Southern California–Arizona, Inc. At the same time, the district ministerium in the region has adopted the name, the Grace Leaders Network.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
THE BIBLE SPEAKS TODAY AT SUMMER SUNDAYS (6/26/16)
What did I do on fathers day after church? Claudia and I left church and had lunch with our church ANNOUNCERMAN (my son and his family). Then we headed out to Hemet to be with her father and grab a bite with him.
How are you doing with our Graduation Congratulations Weekly Quiz? Anyone at 100%? I’ve got a few more questions for you today.
VBS is July 11-15. Sheri Elisaldez is the director. Speak with her if you would like to help out. The theme this year is WIERD ANIMALS.
There is a Q&A fact sheet that is now available on the Charis Alliance that was not included in the Information envelope I prepared. Stop by the Information Center and get your copy.
The Summer Sunday brochure for 2016 is at the Information Center. The theme isTHE BIBLE SPEAKS TODAY. We start today at 5:30pm. There is plenty of shade at my house so come and cool off.
Summer schedules for some of your fellowship groups are now in place. Please check the calendar in your bulletin for updates. Thirty minutes of prayer will still meet on Wednesdays at 6:00pm.
Claudia and I invite you to join us tomorrow evening and every Monday evening for six weeks (excluding July 4) for the Whittier Concerts in the Park series. Come enjoy the concerts with us in OUR FRONT YARD. This is one of those special times to bring friends and family to meet with others of your church family/community. I’ve put a few maps showing the route to our house at the Information Center. Plenty of parking (approximately 60 spaces right behind our house but it is on a first come, first served basis).
What does the Bible say about arguing with atheists? That’s the title of our Scripture study for June 26th. We still have another message in 1 Corinthians 3 and then Ephesians 6 in our Spiritual Growth series.
Graduation Congratulations will continue into July.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
DID YOU PASS THE GRADUATION CONGRATULATION QUIZ? (6/19/16)
We had our first Graduation Congratulation Quiz on June 12th and we have another one today. The first question was WHO GRADUATED FROM ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY THIS SEASON? The answer is Tori Bates. I have another tough quiz for you today.
We congratulated Priscilla Ramos and Salina Juarez on June 12th. Today is Father’s Day to honor fathers so we will do more graduation congratulations on June 26th.
Kyle Cherryholmes walked us through the teaching of the Bible on the subject of sin on June 12th. The title of his message was A HOLE IN THE HEART IS UNIVERSAL. He shared a collection of Scriptures that reveals some great insights on the hole in everyone’s heart that sin has caused. I have printed off the list of Scriptures Kyle walked us through and placed some at the Information Center for you to pick up today.
VBS is July 11-15. Sheri Elisaldez is the director. Speak with her if you would like to help out. The theme this year is WILD ANIMALS.
There is a Q&A fact sheet that is now available on the Charis Alliance that was not included in the Information envelope I prepared. Stop by the Information Center and get your copy.
The Summer Sunday brochure for 2016 is at the Information Center. The theme isTHE BIBLE SPEAKS TODAY. We start on June 26 at 5:30pm.
Summer schedules for some of your fellowship groups are now in place. Please check the calendar in your bulletin for updates.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
ARE YOU READY FOR THE GRADUATION CONGRATULATION QUIZ? (6/12/16)
We are in the midst of Graduation Congratulations season. We congratulated Gloria Camacho and prayed with her on June 5th. Gloria graduated from Whittier High School and is headed to Biola this Fall.
We have started posting Graduation Congratulations on the Media page of our church website (whittierbrethren.net). You can listen to our recent special Graduation Congratulations with Gloria Camacho or download it.
VBS is July 11-15. Sheri Elisaldez is the director. Speak with her if you would like to help out.
There is a Q&A fact sheet that is now available on the Chris Alliance that was not included in the Information envelope I prepared. Stop by the Information Center and get your copy.
The Summer Sunday brochure for 2016 is at the Information Center. The theme isTHE BIBLE SPEAKS TODAY. We start on June 26 at 5:30pm.
We are having our first GRADUATION CONGRATULATION QUIZ today on the people we have been celebrating with during this season of the year.
Our message for June 12th will be given by Kyle Cherryholmes. His title is A HOLE IN THE HEART IS UNIVERSAL. HE will be teaching from Romans 3 and Romans 6 and 1 Corinthians 6 for starters.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
TWO LITTLES CALL HIM POPPY. SOME CALL HIM PASTOR OR DAD. I CALL HIM HONEY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEY. PRAYER FOR MANY MORE HEALTHY YEARS FOR YOU!
Two days ago I had a birthday and Claudia posted these tender words on her Facebook page for me.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
IT’S 98 DEGREES HERE IN WHITTIER. HOWS THE WEATHER IN YOUR AREA? 55 DEGREES AND I JUST LIT A FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE.
Who am I talking about? We won’t see Lyn and Ann again until the end of the summer.
MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCES (6/5/16)
The special Memorial Day presentation we viewed on May 29 contained the poem A Soldier Died Today by Lawrence Vaincourt. Some of you inquired about it so I have placed a few copies of it at the Information Center for you today.
One more study in our series Growing Up in God’s Family takes us to 1 Corinthians 3 today and the subject of rewards from God. It is titled LIFE’S REWARDS.
We are in the midst of Graduation Congratulations season. Sam Becerra was our first congratulation on May 22nd. Sam graduated from Grace College in Indiana and started training at Enterprise a few days ago. We congratulated Tori Bates on May 29th. Tori just graduated from Arizona Christian University and has been accepted at Fuller Seminary.
We say aloha to Lyn and Ann Sapp this weekend as they head up to Oregon for their annual summer break. They plan to be back around Labor Day.
Father’s Day is June 19th.
Summer Sunday is coming beginning the Sunday after Father’s Day.
Ever studied the Old Testament book of Judges? Join me on Sundays at 5:30pm in the Chapel as we begin this verse by verse study.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
P.S. We are hosting the state elections for our neighborhood this coming week. Pray with me that we might be able to connect with some of our neighbors.
ARE YOU A BABE IN THE FAITH, YOUNG PERSON OR FATHER? (5/29/16)
1 John 2 points out three levels of spiritual growth: 1)baby, 2) young man, and 3) father. We grow in grace and in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus starting out as a babe in the faith (1 Peter 2:2). That was our observation from Scripture on May 22. We next look at verse 15 where it says LOVE NOT THE WORLD.
JUST A COMMON SOLDER is the special presentation we are sharing today with Memorial Day being tomorrow. You can find it online to share with others. Memorial Day is tomorrow...let's not forget it's not just a day to bbq & kick off the summer.
We are in the midst of Graduation Congratulations season. Sam Becerra was our first congratulation on May 22nd. Sam graduated from Grace College in Indiana and started training at Enterprise a few days ago.
Missionary Partners, Ted & Vivian Ruiz, shared their hearts and footsteps with us on Sunday evening, May 22. Their daughter, Beka, sent a prayer list for Vietnam if you would like one. Stop by the Information Center today.
The Charis Alliance is now moving forward. I have put packets of material together for you to read. Stop by the Information Center today.
Summer Sunday is coming beginning the Sunday after Father’s Day.
God’s best to you,
Pastor Richard
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
YOU’LL ALWAYS HAVE A HOME HERE, CONNOR
Connor attended Vacation Bible School here on our church campus and came to faith in Jesus several years ago. He has attended Vacation Bible School and been part of our church family since that time. He and his family are now moving back East so we had a send off prayer with him and for him on May 22nd. I heard these words shared by one of you.