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ISSUE NO. 1

JANUARY 9, 2013

Bixby Knolls Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) (562) 426-0428

IN THIS ISSUE ~ NEWS & NOTES ~

and so much more.....

Dear Church, After several weeks of holiday activities, special events & worship services, and some days of vacation, this weeks schedule returns to normal, more or less. I have a number of things on my to-do list, and one of the most important is writing some thank-you notes. The first note, I am writing right now, to you. Never have I been part of such a caring and supportive faith community of people as I am here at Bixby Knolls Christian Church. I am indeed blessed, and thankful that our ministry truly is one that we share. You support our ministry in many ways, through prayer, leadership, financial support, volunteer service, and presence; yes, your presence is a gift in and of itself, one for which I am truly grateful! It seems that its become a habit of mine at this time of year to ask you to do three things for your congregation. I suspect many of you already do these things (again, thank you!), but as a reminder, let me once again share them with you. In the coming year, I ask you to recommit yourself to the following: Attending worship regularly Praying for your church daily Tell someone about the ministry here at BKCC This year, I will also ask you to do one thing for me: please let me know how I can better serve as your pastor. I look forward to 2013 and all that God has in store for us this year. I know its going to be a good one! Blessings, Pastor Danny

Just a Note
Happy New Year! In with the new and out with the old! Music that is! Old illegal and illegible and ill-used copies! Knowing that the choir room has been a mess lately, it will get really bad (think teenage bedroom at end of semester before finals!) before it gets better and livable! PLEASE HAVE PATIENCE! I was given a request at church this morning to find a book in my room, small, sort of sparkly and maybe blue but not sure..we found it in seconds! So it is an organized mess but it will get worse and then better! If your new years resolution was to praise God more, help the church more, volunteer more, worship more or be more helpful to others..the music department is the place for you!! As Betsy, our music committee chair said..you dont need any talent we can teach anyone to sing! and I would add to that, play, read music, or swing a mean bell!! Come and join us as we always have a good time. The folders are empty and we start anew for this year in Joyous Bells, Chancel Choir, Improv for God and Praise teams. A wonderful time to start experiencing the joys of our church. Keep your eyes on this column as we start promoting our musical fundraiser this year! Pancakes anyone? A special thank you to one and all for your generous Christmas gift. It was very much appreciated and has gone to help me acquire a musical necessity by todays standards! A real joy! Blessings one and all Barb P.

21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Celebration Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 3:00 p.m. Gospel Memorial Church of God in Christ
1480 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach

January 12, 2013 - 3:00-5:00 p.m. At a beautiful oceanfront estate in Rancho Palos Verdes
Featuring renowned fitness instructor Richard Simmons! Join the interfaith and intercultural community as we ring in the new year learning how to live a balanced, happy, and healthy 2013 with meditation and exercise! This event will include a motivational talk along with a low impact aerobic class that will get your body moving and your heart pumping. Workout session is open to everyone, regardless of weight or fitness level. Cost: $25. This event is a fundraiser to support the work of the South Coast Interfaith Council. To register or for more info, call 562.983.1665.

Sponsored by: South Coast Interfaith Council Long Beach Religious Leaders Association NAACP Jewish World Watch Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization Habitat for Humanity Long Beach Chamber of Commerce The Guidance Center Councilperson Gerrie Schipske Council on American Muslim Relations Muslim Public Affairs Council Shura Islamic Council of Southern California Food Finders

Disciples Women Convocation

Transitory gods are not able to save or bring happiness to the human heart. Only God is able. It is faith we must rediscover. -Martin Luther King Jr.

Recycle Christmas Cards

Do you still have holidays cards and want to make good use of them? Mail them to: St. Judes Ranch for Children Recycled Card Program100 St. Judes Street Boulder City, NV 89005 March 1-2, 2013 Doubletree Hotel, Orange, CA For more info, visit http://pswdw.com/ Or ask for a registration form in the church office. Registration deadline is February 1. All types to greeting cards are accepted yearround. We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Years Day. -Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Junior High JANboree & FebCamp

These are our winter camps for youth in middle school & high school, respectively. Jr. High JANboree (for grades 6-8) takes place January 18-21, and FebCamp (for grades 9-12) takes place February 15-18. BKCC is sending five youth to Jr. High JANboree! Registration forms for FebCamp are now available and are due to Pastor Danny by January 23. BKCC will pay half the cost for youth interested in attending.

Rekindle
A monthly gathering of praise, prayer, conversation and table fellowship where every persons faith story and questions are honored. The next Rekindle is January 20, 6:12pm.

What Are You Doing Next Summer?

The dates for 2013 summer camps at Loch Leven have been announced. Registration materials will be available later, but please mark these dates on your calendar: Mini (entering grades 2 & 3): July 7 10 Junior (entering grades 4, 5 & 6): June 23 29 Chi-Rho (entering grades 7 & 8): June 30 July 6 CYF 1 (entering grades 9 & 10): July 21 July 27 CYF 2 (entering grades 11 & 12, and 13 grads): July 28 August 3 Special Needs Camp: July 7 10

The General Assembly is the biennial gathering of Disciples from across North America. For five days, children, youth and adults will gather in Orlando for worship, mission, business, workshops, and more. Info at www.disciples.org/ga.

Please keep in prayer: Ester Troxel, Sumbal Sardar and mother, Nargis, Betty Rollo, Keri Brindle-Clark, Sandy Rampton, Sarah Stolze, Paul, Linda and Sean May

Vacation School

Bible

Bixby Knolls Christian Church July 22-26, 2013

Holiday greetings were sent to our church family members via the CWF Christmas card tree from Pat Cohen Lawhana Eldred Bob & Shirley Dickison Alice Flaig Ken & Sandy Jeglum Chrysan Naw & Thunder Htin Betty Rollo Ruth Settle Tom & Lydia Sykes Betty Jo Williamson The donations of $221 that were given in place of sending cards will be used to finish the womens front bathroom and brides room. Through BKCC members support, a total of 273 cards were taken to the LB Veterans Hospital on December 19th. Thank you Hattie for delivering the cards. Valentines Day will be the next holiday for cards. The deadline for bringing cards to church will be February 10th.

Anonymous
A kindness was extended to me by an unknown individual. I wish to express my appreciation and say thank you to that person. Anonymous

On Christmas Sunday, BKCC received a phone call from Sumbal's mother, Nargis, from Pakistan. She wished us all a Merry Christmas and New Year Blessings. Keep Nargis and her sons in your prayers. It is a very difficult time there for Christians.

Advent at BKCC is always delightful.

The Legend of the Christmas King presented by our youth group, Improv for God, gave an interesting and enjoyable interpretation. The hosting of Fellowship Hour by our Mens Group was delicious and enjoyed by all. Our Choir Cantata was beautiful followed by our Christmas Tea that was also wonderfully delicious hosted by our CWF groups. To have your news, joys, or concerns Thank you to included in next months newsletter, all.
send a note to Pastor Danny at dannybradfield@gmail.com, or call the church office.

Escrip News
If you are not sure you are being included in the eScrip program at Vons just check your shopping register receipt. At Vons under your listed savings it will say Your qualifying purchases have been accumulated towards eScrip. The Ralphs fall quarter report was just under the $25 minimum to receive our check. The $23.55 will be added to the next quarter statement. Ralphs shows only 5 families participating. If you have forgotten to renew, you can renew at www.ralphs.com or pick up the bar code letter at the scrip table.

Christian Womens Fellowship

As the new year begins, CWF will continue to collect Campbells product proof of purchase bar codes and General Mills Box Tops for education coupons for the Long Beach Day Nursery, used postage stamps, eye glasses. The collection boxes are on the counter in the Fellowship Hall. Under Christian Outreach we are supporting the collection of manufacturers coupons for our military. The box is also in the Fellowship Hall. You can trim the coupons or just drop the whole sheets in the box. We thank you for your support of these projects.

Flowers and Coffee Hour signup sheets are up

Place your name on the designated date to provide flowers and/or host coffee hour. There has been no increase in the cost for flowers - it is still $45. You do not need a reason, but if you wish to remember a loved one, celebrate an occasion or for the Glory of God, this is a wonderful opportunity. Coffee hour is simple. You might share it with someone and provide cookies along with coffee and then clean-up.

a bible quiz
1. Who was the first woman to go against Jesus words You cannot serve God and mammon? Acts 5 2. Who referred to Mary as the mother of my Lord? Luke 1:41-43 3. Who anointed Jesus feet with precious ointment? John 12:3 4. Who had her conversation with Jesus interrupted by his disciples, who criticized him for speaking with a woman? John 4:27 5. What pagan woman of the Gospels is traditionally identified with the Christian woman Claudia mentioned in 2 Timothy? Matthew 27:19 6. What Christian woman was noted for helping the poor in the early church? Acts 9:36, 39 7. What woman, once possessed by demons, was the first to see the risen Christ? John 20:14 8. What was the proposed punishment for the woman taken in adultery, later forgiven by Jesus? John 8:3-11 9. What distraught woman failed at first to recognize the resurrected Jesus? John 20:14-15

UPCOMING SCRIPTURE
Jan. 13 Scripture: John 2:1-11

The Fellowship News A publication of Bixby Knolls Christian Church of Long Beach (a Disciples of Christ Church) 1240 E. Carson Street Long Beach, CA 90807 www.bixbyknollschurch.org Editor: Monica Lanz 562-426-0428 bkcchurch@aol.com fax 562-426-0429 Pastor: Daniel Bradfield The Fellowship News is published twice monthly.

Were online! Visit us at: www.bixbyknollschurch.org www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch

Please note: The church office will be closed on Monday, Jan. 21 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
CHURCH STAFF: Pastor Daniel Bradfield -Minister Monica Lanz -Church Secretary Barbara Neal-Peebles -Music Director/Organist Christine Perkinson - Church Child Care Suzie Romero - Custodian BOARD OFFICERS: David Rugh -Board President -Vice President Pat Cohen -Secretary Angela Hillig - Treasurer Chrysan Naw - Financial Secretary Phil OLaughlin -Church Clerk

BIXBY KNOLLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Disciples of Christ)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE: 9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Adults 10:15 a.m. Morning Worship and Childrens Church OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Friday closed