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PAST AND PRESENT COPIES OF THE FELLOWSHIP NEWS MAY BE VIEWED AT www.scribd.com
2013 - ISSUE 21 October 29, 2013

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

Pray continually. - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Dear Church, I have learned that every task, every chore, is an opportunity for prayer. Washing the dishes, for example, is an opportunity to give thanks for clean water and sanitation, things I usually take for granted, but which so many in this world lack. And when I wash dishes in our church kitchen after one of our Wednesday Night Dinners, I have even more to be thankful for: community, love, fellowship and friendship. I wish I could say that I always take advantage of every one of these opportunities for prayer, but the truth is that, too often, I still see them as nothing more than a job or a chore to be done. I try to do the task as quickly as possible, to get it over with. In that sense, I am still learning. As we continue to focus on excellence, I invite you to consider the tasks you do for the church. The tasks we have are many: setting up communion, arranging the chairs and tables, preparing refreshments, counting money, attending meetings, writing newsletter articles, even writing checks for the offering, or just getting dressed to come to worship. All of these are tasks that we do. Each of these tasks can be viewed as nothing more than a chore that has to be done, or as an opportunity to pray. Instead of shrugging and saying to ourselves, well, somebodys got to do it, I guess its me, we can say things like: Preparing this communion, I give thanks for the Spirits presence. Cleaning up from fellowship time, I am thankful for coffee that fosters conversation, and cookies that bring smiles to children and adults. Washing these dishes, I am reminded of my baptism, which unites me to Christ. Writing this check, I am thankful for my church, and I pledge to support its ministry. As I set these chairs around the table, I pray for those whose bodies will find rest as they sit here. I invite you to think of a task that you normally find distracting or annoying. Write a one or two sentence prayer that you can recite the next time you do that task. Remember to have your written prayer with you when you go to the task. If possible, place it there now, so you wont forget. Once you do that for your church-related tasks, you can add it in to other areas of your life: Brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth, I vow to speak cleanly, with love and kindness. Paying these bills, I am thankful to have money in my account; may I use it in ways that benefit the world. As I scrub and clean, may my mind and heart grow clearer. Rinsing these jars for recycling, I give thanks to God, who transforms the old into new. Once youve written your prayers, Id love to read them, if you are willing to share. Perhaps Ill even include them in a future article. Blessings, Pastor Danny
Writing this article, I give thanks for the ability to communicate. May I do so thoughtfully. Amen

Veterans Day is Nov. 11. Let our men and women know they are never forgotten. Ex-

Cards for Veterans

Prayer Concerns:
Ester Troxel, Sumbal Sardar, Keri Clark, Ed Bremel, Sean May, Charlie Edwards, Phil OLaughlin, James Owen, Nargis & family in Pakistan, Janie Oden (G. Kobel), Keri France , Ellis Spikes Jr. (A. Hillig)

press your appreciation with cards for veter-

Christian Womens Fellowship

Next Sunday, Nov. 3, the CWF Bake Sale will take place during fellowship hour. This is CWFs only fund raiser for the year to meet our budget for Disciples Mission Fund. Come check out the treats.

ans. The cards must be received by Nov. 3 for delivery to the Veterans Hospital. A box for the cards will be on the narthex table.

News & Notes

*
BKCC member Carol McGlasson passed away Oct. 24. She had requested that no services be held. Her name will be included in the list of lives remembered next Sunday, Nov. 3 (All Saints Sunday).

Bereavement:
Carol McGlasson

The scouts of Troop 29 and Ship 529 spent several hours last Saturday doing some volunteer cleaning at the church, and repainting the parking lot stripes.

Cries of the Heart continues through November. Sundays, 10:15.

All Saints Sunday Nov. 3

On Nov. 3, a list of names of those who have passed away in the past year will be read as part of our worship service. If you have a name you would like to include on this list, please notify the church office as soon as possible.

Did you see the chalice-o-lantern at church this past Sunday? Well, theres more seasonal fun in store this week. Just come to our Wednesday Night Dinner on Oct. 30 at 6pm in your favorite costume, and be prepared for a special Halloween meal with friends!

= Applebees (scrip now available $25 denominations)

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the South Coast Interfaith Council! To celebrate this monumental and historic occasion the SCIC is holding a Gala Celebration. Sunday, November 10, 2013, 6pm 9pm!! 6:00 7:00PM: Social Hour with Rainn Wilson (Appetizers & Hosted Bar) $125 7:00 9:00PM: Dinner, Awards Program & Silent Auction $75 The Reef on the Water: 880 Harbor Scenic Drive, Long Beach, CA 90802 Keynote Address by: RAINN WILSON! Rainn Wilson is best known for playing Dwight on NBCs Emmy Winning show, The Office. Mr. Wilson is also a devout practitioner of the Bahai faith and will be speaking on the unifying message of Bahaullah. For Reservations, please call the SCIC office at 562-9831665 Reservation Deadline: November 4, 2013 James, Gretchen, and Adam Rugh along with Danny & Ethan Bradfield attended the Regional Gathering last week in Orange. (Dont the Rughs look great in their BKCC t-shirts!) Powerful speakers (like General Minister Sharon Watkins, and Central Rocky Mountain Regional Minister Jose Morales) and inspiring worship made this a wonderful event. Among the business conducted was the formal affirmation of the ministry of our co-regional ministers, Don Dewey & Susan Gonzales Dewey, and the call to them to another 6-year term.

Bixby Knolls Christian Church welcomes and affirms all Gods children though differing in race, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, physical or mental ability, political stance or theological perspective."

In honor of our

the church office will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11.

Just a Golden Autumn Note!

So much has been happening this fall that its hard to keep up with the music department here at Bixby Knolls Christian Church. Adult choir is in full swing with one of our 2 men always available to balance the ladies! We have a 6:30 Wednesday mens choir practice (for 25 minutes) for the Christmas concert. Anyone high school age and older is welcome. This is just to work on the mens section of the music. Our wonderful Improv for God group has continued to write and work on their own play while doing mini rehearsals for Sunday Services. Thanks Ethan and TJ for your skit this Sunday. They continue to meet on Wednesdays at 5pm at church. Even if you can only make it once in awhile please come and have fun with us! Dinner follows! It is with great sadness that Handbells will be ringing without their longtime member Carol If the Chancel looked crowded last Sunday..IT WAS!!! Our little praise team is expanding! Samantha Kobel has been playing with us for 6+ months as a keyboard bassist. This week Ethan Bradfield joined us on ukulele and Madison Kobel on electric bass. It was a true blessing to be playing with everyone. Blessings, Barb McGlasson. She has been a Thanks Ken, Danny and Angela for your patience with our younger members! Thanks to to Kiersti Hillig for signing for the doxology. Kiersti is the only high schooler singing weekly with the adult choir. Her ability to do sign language is a blessing we will be using even more in the coming weeks. Thanks Kiersti for sharing your gift. On a more personal note. Thanks to everyone who worked on the music October 13th (interfaith Sunday) so that I could take my mom to Canada for Thanksgiving..yes they celebrate earlier than we do. We had 27plus family members come together from across the US and Canada for a family weekend headed by my 93 yr old Auntie! Thank you all for helping out so that I could take my mom North!!! mainstay musically for over the decade that I have been directing and for many, many years previous to that. Carol and I used to always joke that she was near deaf and almost blind but could play better and more accurately than most of us on any given day. We know she is in such a better place and probably running around for the first time in years! Carol will keep on counting and ringing in heaven and they are so lucky to get such a great Ringer and wonderfully kind Human being. Carol will be missed!

Just a reminder to keep on creating your donations for the Alternative Christmas. Sew, knit, crochet, make jewelry, hair accessories, ornaments, artisan bake, the possibilities are endless. Looking forward to your handcrafted items! Contact Gretchen Rugh to answer any questions.

From the members of BKCC to Boy Scout Troop 29 and Ship 529 Thank you!!!

for washing the walls

for striping the parking lot

and for painting the church office hallway

November
Margo Morales Nov. 2 LaWahna Eldred Nov. 3 Monica Sar Nov 3

FOR CHRISTMAS

Sarith Sar Nov. 3

Ismael Pheng Nov. 6 Samantha Kobel Nov. 15

Heather Ruiz Nov. 9

Joseph Torres Nov. 15

Ken Jeglum Nov. 16

and these are just a sampling of the variety of scrip that can be ordered to benefit BKCC. Beat the holiday rush and order your scrip now. Marcias table is always open to you.
It is time to set those clocks back!!! Daylight savings time ends 2:00 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3. Set your clocks back one hour before heading to bed on Saturday night.

Ginger Bradfield Nov. 19 Chuck Fowler Nov. 28

Blessings!!

Birthday
A CALL TO SERVE
Ruth M. Walsh wrote: I was naked, and you questioned my lack of modesty in my appearance. I was imprisoned, and you debated the legal aspects of interference. I was penniless, and you discussed tax-deductible donations from your wealth. I was sick, and you thanked the Lord for the blessings of your health. I was hungry, and you formed a committee to study malnutrition. I was homeless, and you said Gods love was shelter under any condition. I was lonely, and you left me by myself while you and your friends prayed. You seem so holy and close to God, yet Im still sick and alone and afraid! By contrast, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus says, Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40, NRSV). When we fail to serve our neighbors, we fail to serve Jesus. Yet when we feed the hungry, were actually feeding Jesus. When we visit the sick, were actually visiting Jesus. And when we love one another, were actually loving Jesus.

Submit your articles for the next newsletter by Sunday, November 17

Check us out on Facebook

www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch website: www.bixbyknollschurch.org

Nov 3 All Saints Sunday Psalm 29 (Common English Bible) Cry of the Heart: The Lords Voice

A Prayer for Bixby Knolls Christian Church

Use me to bring wholeness to my neighbor. Use my church to bring wholeness to our community. Show us how your kingdom of shalom can be made real on earth through us.

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.

BIXBY KNOLLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH

CHURCH STAFF:

(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

BOARD OFFICERS: Ken Brown Pastor Daniel Bradfield -Board President -Minister Leo Dittemore Monica Lanz -Vice President -Church Secretary Pat Cohen Barbara Neal-Peebles -Secretary -Music Director/Organist Angela Hillig Christine Perkinson - Treasurer - Church Child Care Chrysan Naw Suzie Romero - Financial Secretary - Custodian -Church Clerk