Fellowship News the

B i x b y K n o l l s C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h 1 2 4 0 E C a r s o n S t r e e t , L o n g B e a c h

( 5 6 2 ) 4 2 6 - 0 4 2 8

Issue 25 December 15,2015

Dear Church, At Sunday’s congre-

gational meeting, we ap-proved the budget and elected new officers for 2016.

The budget we ap-proved includes a signifi-cant deficit. This is not the first time we have approved a deficit budget. We have been fortunate in past years that unanticipated sources of income have eliminated or reduced the deficit, but recently the board did approve taking a portion of our permanent funds and moving it over to the general fund so we can continue operating. If income and spending predictions hold true, we will need to do so again in 2016. This is, of course, something we are con-cerned about.

At the same time, something truly remark-able and wonderful hap-pened at the congrega-tional meeting. Did you notice?

In smaller congrega-tions, it often happens that the same people rotate in and out of the same leadership posi-tions. When there aren’t that many people, there is no other choice.

But among the offi-cers and leaders elected by the congregation at Sunday’s meeting, there were some who had never held the leadership

Join us on this special day as we celebrate 70 years of

ministry. Regional Co-Minister Don Dewey will be pre-

sent, along with many current and former BKCC mem-

bers. Celebrate our history, and hear about what we

believe God is calling us to be and do in the years to

come.

Do you know anyone connected to BKCC in the

past? Be sure to invite them. Also: if you are on social

media, view and share pictures from our church’s his-

tory using the hashtag #BKCC70.

BKCC 70th Anniversary January 31, 2016

Worship at 10:15 Taco Lunch at 11:30

position to which they were elected. What a blessing it is to be able to have new leadership!

I am grateful for the leaders who have served this congregation – in some cases, over and over and over again – in the past. Now, a few new faces have joined them. This is evidence that God’s Spirit is still at work among us, that God still has plans for us in the years to come.

And why wouldn’t God still have plans for our church? Now, more than ever, Bixby Knolls Christian Church has a message for the world we live in. In recent months we have seen that racism and anti-religious (particularly anti-Muslim) bias is still prevalent. We’ve heard about how sexual minorities and transgender people have been murdered, beaten, and discriminated against.

Now, more than ever, the world needs the message of peace and understanding that is at the heart of our ministry.

Through us, the Spirit is at work, creating a new Bixby Knolls Chris-tian Church that is built upon the foundation of the past 70 years, but which brings God’s mes-sage to a new generation. Thank you for your sup-port and participation in our ministry. See you at church! Blessings, Pastor Danny

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED ON MONDAY, JAN 4, 9 :00 A.M. IT WILL BE TIME TO REMOVE THE CHRISMONS FROM OUR BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREE AND PUT AWAY ALL OUR CHRISTMAS ITEMS. YOUR HELP AS ALWAYS IS TRULY APPRECIATED.

Special New Year’s Eve Youth Group: For the third year

in a row, we will have a special youth group activity on

Dec. 31. This activity will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will include

fun, service, dinner, a continuation of our preparations for

Youth Sunday, and worship. The event will end at 12:01

a.m. on Jan. 1, 2016!

fore she was honored by

Long Beach Mayor Robert

Garcia with an official key

to the city! It was a won-

derful evening of inter-

generational conversa-

tion, and we thank Bob-

bie for joining us.

JanCamp / FebCamp Registration is now underway!

JANCAMP (January 15-18) is for grades 6-8.

FEBCAMP (February 12-15) is for grades 9-12.

Information and registrations forms are available at

www.disciplespswr.org/camp. Bixby Knolls Christian

Church pays 50% of the cost for BKCC youth who attend

camp.

January Birthdays

Danny Bradfield Jan 26 Sandy Jeglum Jan 29

The Bixby Knolls Christian

Church youth group re-

cently enjoyed a conver-

sation with longtime

BKCC member Bobbie

Smith, who shared a little

of her fascinating life

story – this, just days be-

Happy Birthday and Congratulations! Blessings to all!!

Sarah Stolze

Phil O’Laughlin

Sumbal Sardar

Keri Clark (daughter of M. Lanz)

Hattie Johnson

Grace Kobel

Porter Family, Ruthie Atkin (friends of B. Smith)

Nargis & family in Pakistan (family of Sumbal Sardar)

Keri France (family of A. Hillig)

Venus (friend of A. Hillig)

Doug Edwards (family of Bob & Shirley Dickison)

Choir Cantata

Images of Adoration

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20

There will be no scrip sales on December 27.

Pictures from our Advent Workshop:

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good-will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” -Calvin Coolidge

“Maybe Christmas, [the Grinch] thought, doesn’t come from a store.” -Dr. Seuss

BIXBY KNOLLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) SUNDAY SCHEDULE: 9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Adults 10:15 a.m. Morning Worship and Children’s Church OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Friday closed

CHURCH STAFF: Pastor Daniel Bradfield -Minister Monica Lanz -Church Secretary Barbara Neal-Peebles -Music Director/Organist Suzie Romero - Custodian

BOARD OFFICERS: Leo Dittemore -Board President Scheri Dubon -Vice President Pat Cohen -Secretary Angela Hillig - Treasurer Chrysan Naw - Financial Secretary-Church Clerk

Bixby Knolls Vision Statement To know what the Lord requires of us;

to do justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8)

Submit your articles for the next newsletter

January 3, 2016

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.

Check us out on Facebook

www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch

website: www.bixbyknollschurch.blogspot.com

Help cook food for Christian Outreach in Action (COA). Every 2nd Thursday at 8:00 a.m. in our church kitchen.

Our prayer circle meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in room 115. Join this dedicated group in praying for our church, community, & world.

Our next litter pickup is Dec. 27 at 11:45 a.m. Help pick up litter in Somerset Park and along our neighborhood sidewalks & gut-ters.

Wednesday Night Dinner: Join us each week at 6pm for a sim-ple yet hearty “pay-what-you-can” meal. (NO dinner on Dec. 23 or 30)