JESUS IS MY LORD, THEY SAID (8/28/16)

Priscilla Ramos and Damien Galvan were baptized at our final 2016 Summer Sunday gathering on August 21. Both of them testified in word that “JESUS IS MY LORD” and then were baptized. It’s a great testimony when someone proclaims it. Interesting that Philippians 2 says all of humanity will one day make this confession. It’s just a question of when. Sooner or later. I prefer sooner.

We say WELCOME BACK to David Fierro who is back from recent surgery. The doctor said he can’t bowl anytime soon.

We say WELCOME BACK to Hector and Margie Martinez who are back from a special vacation back East. Ask them about it and also ask them about the great Mexican food in Holland, Michigan.

We say WELCOME HOME to Carolyn Peak who just returned from her annual vacation to a farm in Indiana (ask her for details).

We are LOOKING FORWARD to welcoming back Angie Garcia from an extended hospital stay but it will still be a few weeks before she rejoins us.

My BIRTHDAY RADAR is on today for people who have SUNDAY BIRTHDAYS. Ask Peter Wain.

Sally Rojas, it was nice to meet your sister and her husband on August 21 during their California visit from North Carolina. Turns out the husband and I lived a few blocks from each other when I lived in South Carolina a long time ago (ok, a long, long time ago).

Remember, no Summer Sunday today and no Concert in the Park tomorrow night.

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

GOD IS DOING SOMETHING IN AMERICA TODAY

Our Summer Sunday speaker for August 21st was Pastor Roy Halberg. He walked us through the Old Testament book of Habakkuk and challenged us to say these words out loud. He then challenged us to say GOD IS DOING SOMETHING IN MY LIFE TODAY. 

BUSY HOT OLYMPIC POLITICAL BAPTISM VACATION AUGUST (8/21/16)

Busy August. Hot August. Olympic August. And baptism and vacation August. And here comes September.

Tonight at 5:30 join me in my backyard for our final Summer Sunday meal of bbq chicken and pizza (you bring a side dish or dessert). We will provide tables and chairs and the bbq chicken, etc. Plenty of parking in lot behind our house. We will then have our final Summer Sunday speaker and then baptism and then dessert. Pokemon Go players don't come till 9pm.

We had send off prayer with Kyle Cherryholmes on August 14th. He departed Los Angeles a few days ago and has now arrived in Ireland to begin his two-year term of service with YWAM (Youth With a Mission).

We had a great summer men’s fellowship breakfast August 20th right here on campus. And our gourmet chef? Mando Rios along with a lot of you helping out. We should do this more often!

Wednesday 30 Minutes of Prayer is meeting now. Men’s and Women’s Fellowship groups resume from summer break right after Labor Day.

When Hector & Margie return to us from their vacation be sure to ask them about the BEST MEXICAN FOOD they had in HOLLAND, MICHIGAN (yes, you heard me right).

Claudia & I are taking our grandkids on a two-day excursion this week but we will be with you worship on August 28.

What blest me recently was hearing that our kids Sunday School lesson was right on track with the message of the morning from 1 Corinthians 9. God stuff.

My message on August 21st considers WHERE DOES HUMILITY COME FROM (Luke 18).

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

TELL EVERYBODY I’M OK

Angie Garcia sends this message to you during her recovery from surgery the week of August 15th.

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.

LET THE GRADUATION CONGRATULATIONS BEGIN (5/22/16)

We started our annual Graduation Congratulations May 22nd recognizing recent graduates (high school and above). The listof graduates this season is printed in the bulletin. 

Bob Hetzler teaches our Discovery Adult Bible Fellowship on Sunday Mornings. He is currently in Indiana for team meetings at Grace College (he is the West Coast representative for them).

Our missionary partners in the Philippines, Ted & Vivian Ruiz, will be with us on Sunday evening, May 22, at 5:30pm in our Chapel. Join me.

We studied Romans 10 on May 15th in our mini series on GREAT COMMISSION PASSAGES. Kyle Cherryholmes, who is headed to Ireland with YWAM, taught us about BEAUTIFUL FEET.

Wednesdays at 6:00pm I meet with a group of you here on campus for THIRTY MINUTES OF PRAYER. I share a different verse of Scripture and then we pray. The most recent verse I shared was from Numbers 10:35 “rise up Lord and let thine enemies be scattered.” Join me some Wednesday.

Have you ever wondered why Scripture refers to some Christians as “babes in Christ” and to some as “fathers?” Tim Ramos and I will be sharing with you today from the second chapter of the epistle of 1 John.

I would remind you how we are expressing our purpose as a church family: Community Grace Brethren Church is endeavoring to be the family of God together in joyful, Christ-centered worship and is committed to: leading men, women, and children to a personal saving faith in Jesus Christ; building ourselves in the faith on the Word of God; and serving others here and throughout the world.

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

WHAT NICKNAME DID YOUR MOM USE WITH YOU? (5/15/16)

We gave corsages to the moms in attendance with us on Mother’s Day (thank you Mona Castro for your labor of love). Then we asked some of our kids what special name their moms called them by. Some of the names were so special I felt moved to share the special name my mom called me by. You didn’t hear mine? Let’s change the subject.

Our missionary partners in the Philippines, Ted & Vivian Ruiz, will be with us on Sunday evening, May 22, at 5:30pm in our Chapel. Join me.

Our Mother’s Day message of May 8th was titled MOTHER’S OF INVENTION. Tim Ramos and I walked through Proverbs 31 and the description of a godly woman.

Our message today is WHAT DO YOUR FEET AND MINE HAVE TO DO WITH PREACHING THE GOSPEL? It is based on Romans 10.

We will be starting our annual Graduation Congratulations shortly to honor recent graduates (high school and above). Please let us know if there is someone that is part of our church family that needs to be added to the listof graduates this season printed in the bulletin. And I hear that we have a couple MAGNA CUM LAUDES and SUMMA CUM LAUDES

Wednesdays at 6:00pm I meet with a group of you here on campus for THIRTY MINUTES OF PRAYER. I share a different verse of Scripture and then we pray. The most recent verse I shared was the third chapter of the Psalms. It provides a portrait of crying out to God in the midst of great distress. “I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.” Join me some Wednesday.

Have you ever wondered why Scripture refers to some Christians as “babes in Christ” and to some as “fathers?” Join Tim Ramos and I on May 22nd as we study the second chapter of the epistle of 1 John.

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

OUR CITY PASTORS PRAYED FOR EACH OTHER (5/1/16)

A group of our Whittier area pastors met this past Thursday, April 28, right here on campus in the Plaza for our monthly gathering to encourage one another and pray for one another. I shared with them the story of our journey since we settled here on Greenleaf on Memorial Day, 2011. Lynn Sapp and Bob Hetzler joined me along with Mac and Oralia and Marta. I was encouraged just sharing the events of how God has brought us to this point.

Mother’s Day is next Sunday, May 8th and we often do special things to honor our moms, especially those who are present with us that day. I know some of you are preparing flower corsages.

We continue our GROWING UP IN GOD’S FAMILY series one more Sunday today as we consider DOES GOD CONTROL EVERYTHING? We will be looking at Romans 8:28

We gathered with more than 1,000 people from dozens of churches in Whittier on Sunday evening, April 21 and had a special time of singing and testimony and a challenge for our hearts.  Schedules are being arranged now for the 2017 Serve project.

The National Day of Prayer is this Thursday, May 5th. Christians will be observing it in workplaces and community locations as well as individually. Join me that evening at our Whittier City Hall steps (13230 Penn Street) at 6pm that day for a special time of prayer. You will see a number of community leaders that lead us all in our city regardless of political affiliation and Christian groups but that night they will be attending as followers of Jesus. I have placed some invite cards at the Information Center for you to use to invite a friend to come with you.

Sunday mornings during the month of May-June will give us time to give GRADUATION CONGRATULATIONS to graduates in our church from high school and above. This year three of our graduates are from out of state colleges. If you know of someone graduating/or has graduated recently that is not on this list then let me know.

I handed out copies of the children’s books I have written to the ministers that were here this week. You can look at them online at www.wordbooks.com.

The photo review from the Forest Home Men’s Retreat a few weeks ago is on the monitors in the lobby today and will be replace shortly.

We are getting ready to have our first GRADUATION CONGRATULATION on May 15 this year. We have a good sized group of graduates this year coming up.

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

TODAY IS SERVE WHITTIER DAY (4/24/16)

Today is the final day of SERVE WHITTIER weekend where people from approximately 40 churches in Whittier have done one or more acts of compassion all in the name of Jesus. Our church project this year was individuals doing special acts of compassion like Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25. Would you like to participate in a group project next year? Speak with Claudia Todd today to join in.

This coming Thursday morning the ministers of churches in the Whittier area will be meeting here on campus for their monthly gathering.  These are churches like Pastor Sam Gamboa from Good Shepherd Bible Church and Pastor Jim Ortiz from My New Friends House and Pastor David from Faith Community and you get the idea. We will meet in the Plaza for lunch then a time of sharing and prayer. 

You can view the photos from the recent Forest Home Men’s Conference we attended on the monitor in the lobby today.

I hope you heard Linda Headley the other Sunday say those beautiful words of commitment with you when she said YOU CAN COUNT ON ME.

You and I and all of us in attendance on April 17 here on campus prepared a video message for Lydia Salazar and then for her mom, Lucy:

We love you, Lydia

We are your family

We miss you being with us

Larry Olguin has the videos we prepared on Sunday morning, April 17, for Lydia and Lucy. He is taking the videos to show to them (or has already done so).

We tackled a few more questions of spiritual growth on April 24 from Philippians 1:6. I’ve titled the message Measuring Your Growth in God’s Grace.

We had a special painting of one of you church family people on display in the lobby last Sunday morning. The painting was done by a local artist as part of an art gallery exhibit. The person that was the focus of the painting? Our own John Baker. The painting is still on display for a time when you visit our church office during the week.

Today is the first day since we had our first service on this campus that the audio in the auditorium is being heard in the area of our Information Center at the same time. That means people like Joyce Faranda and Bob Hetzler who work at the Information Center can hear the progress of the service along with moms who step out of the service with a crying baby. Plus, those in our children’s ministries can hear the progress of the worship service to see if the pastor is still preaching or is done. Thank you Lynn Sapp and Paul Sapp and several others of you plus sound tech Steve Shoemaker of Steve Shoemaker Live Sound.

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

WELCOME MATT & WELCOME LINDA (4/17/16)

Matt Pompa shared with us on April 3rd that we can count on him in his commitment to this church family. Then Linda Headley shared the same message with us on April 10th. We welcome them to the family of committed believers here at Community.

April 10 was a special Sunday here at Community because it was UNCLE SUNDAY: 1) Uncle Bryson visited his nephew, Dennis, in church 2) Uncle Jimmy was visiting his niece, Helen (you fill in the last names) during the morning service.

A group of us men returned from the Men’s Retreat up at Forest Home during April 8-10th with full hearts spiritually. We also had a mini-golf tournament that resulted in one CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM that we want to recognize today.

Carol Duran was asked to give her testimony as a cancer survivor to a local cancer support group the other day. She did and was able to speak freely of how Jesus and people like you were a big support to her. Ask her for the details.

We tackle a few more questions of spiritual growth today from 1 John 2 and 2 Peter 1. I’ve titled the message WHAT IS MY PART IN SPIRITUAL GROWTH?

SERVE WHITTIER WEEKEND is coming up on April 24. Churches are doing all sorts of projects in the name of Jesus (Matthew 25) during the week and weekend and following then we will gather on Sunday evening, April 24 at Central Park in Uptown at 6pm for a service of singing and a challenge from Scripture.

You can give electronically to your church ministries by going to whittierbrethren.net and clicking on the “giving” tab.

You can also listen to or download some of our recent sermons at whittierbrethren.net

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

MANDO IN ALL HIS HUMILITY WILL ACCEPT THE TROPHY

Mando played a pretty good mini-golf game at our Men’s Retreat Golf Tournament. We played with teams of three men each. These words were heard after the 18th hole was completed.

I CAME DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO SHARE THIS MESSAGE (4/10/16)

I have come down from the mountains of Forest Home Conference Center to share my message with you this morning. The other men from our church who are part of our Forest Home Men’s Retreat are wrapping up their weekend conference right about now (and that includes eating all the bacon and eggs they can consume). The early Friday group of men headed up the mountain and fueled up along the way (do you like my choice of words “FUELED UP?”). Pray for these men as they both now and in the days ahead make decisions based on their time on the mountain with the Lord this weekend.

Our youth group went on one of the most wonderful events the other day. If you would like to know the details you need to ask Sheri Elisaldez for them.

Our missionary partners, Brenda and Bess, will be with us in January, 2017.

Our missionary partners, Ted & Vivian Ruiz, will be here on campus with us on Sunday, May 22, at 5:30pm in the Chapel.

SERVE WHITTIER is coming in the next few weeks. Speak with my wife, Claudia, if you would like to join with the team on our service project.

We are looking at THE SIGNATURE OF JESUS in today’s message from Matthew 11 and Luke 1.

Do you remember the question that comes up when you see a turtle on a fencepost? How did it get there?

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

YOU CAN COUNT ON ME

Matt Pompa shared with us on April 3rd that we can count on him in his commitment to this church family.